FIREFIGHTING VEHICLE

• US 20120193109A1
• Filed: 01/31/2011
• Published: 08/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pierce Manufacturing Incorporated (Oshkosh Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Pierce Manufacturing Incorporated (Oshkosh Corporation)
• Inventors: Moore, Michael R., Trinkner, Chad, Schultz, John, Fochs, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 8,739,892 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 169/24
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 27/00 Fire-fighting land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/04 Arrangement or mounting of radiators, radiator shutters, or radiator blinds B60K11/085 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2005/003 the internal combustion or jet propulsion unit is arranged between the front and the rear axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/40 Special vehicles

Abstract

A firefighting vehicle is disclosed that includes a chassis and a front wheel assembly coupled to the chassis. The front wheel assembly has at least one front wheel defining an axis of rotation that is substantially perpendicular to the chassis when in a straight position. The firefighting vehicle also includes an operator cab supported at a front portion of the chassis. The firefighting vehicle further includes an engine supported by the chassis. The engine is disposed under the operator cab and at least partially rearward of the axis of rotation.

Claims

1. A firefighting vehicle comprising:

a chassis;

a front wheel assembly coupled to the chassis and having at least one front wheel defining an axis of rotation that is substantially perpendicular to the chassis when in a straight position;

an operator cab supported at a front portion of the chassis, the operator cab having a floor section extending laterally across a width of the operator cab in an area of a driver seat and passenger seat that is forward of the axis of rotation, the floor section being substantially flat and having a height that is less than approximately 40 inches from a ground surface; and

an engine supported by the chassis, the engine being disposed under the operator cab and at least partially rearward of the axis of rotation.

2. The firefighting vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a fire pump supported by the chassis.

3. The firefighting vehicle of claim 2, wherein the fire pump is supported rearward of the engine.

4. The firefighting vehicle of claim 3, wherein the fire pump is at least partially disposed under a rear portion of the operator cab.

5. The firefighting vehicle of claim 1, wherein the operator cab includes a front windshield that is positioned such that a lower edge of front windshield is less than approximately 65 inches from the ground surface.

6. The firefighting vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a cooling system coupled to the engine and having a heat exchanger, the heat exchanger being supported rearward of the operator cab.

7. The firefighting vehicle of claim 6, wherein the heat exchanger is supported in a substantially horizontal orientation on top of a body portion of the vehicle, the body portion being supported on the chassis rearward of the operator cab.

8. The firefighting vehicle of claim 7, wherein the cooling system comprises a fan supported under the heat exchanger in a substantially horizontal orientation.

9. A firefighting vehicle comprising:

a chassis;

a front wheel assembly coupled to the chassis and having at least one front wheel defining an axis of rotation that is substantially perpendicular to the chassis when in a straight position;

an operator cab supported at a front portion of the chassis;

an engine supported by the chassis under the operator cab and at least partially rearward of the axis of rotation; and

a cooling system coupled to the engine and having a heat exchanger, the heat exchanger being supported rearward of the operator cab.

10. The firefighting vehicle of claim 9, wherein the operator cab has a floor section extending laterally across a width of the operator cab in an area of a driver seat and a passenger seat forward of the axis of rotation, the floor section being substantially flat.

11. The firefighting vehicle of claim 10, wherein the floor section has a height that is less than approximately 40 inches from a ground surface.

12. The firefighting vehicle of claim 9, wherein a front end of the engine is positioned rearward of the axis of rotation.

13. The firefighting vehicle of claim 9, further comprising a fire pump supported by the chassis rearward of the engine.

14. The firefighting vehicle of claim 13, wherein the fire pump is at least partially disposed under a rear portion of the operator cab.

15. The firefighting vehicle of claim 9, further comprising a body portion supported by the chassis rearward of the operator cab, the body portion being configured to support at least one of a tank, a storage area and a house bed.

16. A firefighting vehicle comprising:

a chassis;

a front wheel assembly coupled to the chassis and having at least one front wheel defining an axis of rotation that is substantially perpendicular to the chassis when in a straight position;

an operator cab supported at a front portion of the chassis, the operator cab having a floor section extending laterally across a width of the operator cab in an area forward of the axis of rotation, the floor section being substantially flat; and

an engine supported by the chassis, the engine disposed under the operator cab with a front end of the engine being positioned rearward of the axis of rotation.

17. The firefighting vehicle of claim 16, wherein the floor section has a height that is less than approximately 40 inches from a ground surface.

18. The firefighting vehicle of claim 16, further comprising a fire pump supported by the chassis rearward of the engine.

19. The firefighting vehicle of claim 18, wherein the fire pump is at least partially disposed under a rear portion of the operator cab.

20. The firefighting vehicle of claim 18, further comprising a transmission coupled to the engine, the transmission being disposed at least partially beneath the fire pump.