FIREFIGHTING VEHICLE

• US 20140238704A1
• Filed: 05/05/2014
• Published: 08/28/2014
• 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 9,327,150 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 includes 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 positioned at a front portion of the chassis, and an engine supported by the chassis. The operator cab has a floor section extending laterally between a driver seat and a passenger seat at a position forward of the axis of rotation, and the floor section is substantially flat. 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 positioned at a front portion of the chassis, the operator cab having a floor section extending laterally between a driver seat and a passenger seat at a position forward of the axis of rotation, the floor section being substantially flat; 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, wherein the fire pump is positioned at least partially rearward of the engine.

3. The firefighting vehicle of claim 2, wherein the fire pump disposed is at least partially under a rear portion of the operator cab.

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

5. The firefighting vehicle of claim 1, wherein the floor section has a height that is less than approximately 40 inches from a 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 disposed rearward of the operator cab.

7. The firefighting vehicle of claim 6, further comprising a body portion coupled to the chassis and positioned rearward of the operator cab, wherein the heat exchanger is disposed in a substantially horizontal orientation along a top portion of the body portion.

8. The firefighting vehicle of claim 7, wherein the cooling system comprises a fan positioned 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 positioned at a front portion of the chassis;

an engine coupled to the chassis, wherein the engine is positioned under the operator cab and positioned 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 positioned 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 between 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 coupled to the chassis and positioned rearward of the engine.

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

15. The firefighting vehicle of claim 9, further comprising a body portion coupled to the chassis and positioned rearward of the operator cab, the body portion being configured to support at least one of a tank, a storage area, and a hose 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 positioned at a front portion of the chassis, the operator cab having a floor section extending laterally across a width of the operator cab between a driver seat and a passenger seat 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 coupled to the chassis and positioned rearward of the engine.

19. The firefighting vehicle of claim 18, wherein the fire pump is disposed at least partially 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.