LIFT ARM VEHICLE WINDOW

• US 20170130516A1
• Filed: 11/05/2015
• Published: 05/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wacker Corporation
• Original Assignee: Wacker Neuson Production Americas LLC (Wacker Neuson Se)
• Inventors: Hill, Aaron
• Granted Patent: US 10,000,907 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/10 responsive to conditions relating to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/3414 the arms being pivoted at the rear of the vehicle chassis, e.g. skid steer loader
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/16 Cabins, platforms, or the like, for drivers for motor vehicles in general B62D33/06, for cranes B66C13/54
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/163 Structures to protect drivers, e.g. cabins, doors for cabins; Falling object protection structure [FOPS]; Roll over protection structure [ROPS] for handrails mounted on cabins E02F9/0833 takes precedence; for vehicles in general B60R21/11, B60R21/13, for fork-lift trucks B66F9/07545
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2033 Limiting the movement of frames or implements, e.g. to avoid collision between implements and the cabin sub-groups of E02F3/431 of E02F3/435 take precedence; for turntables E02F9/123
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/268 with failure correction follow-up actions

Abstract

A window assembly that can be opened and closed includes a transparent grid to prevent an operator from extending an arm through the opened window and into the path of a lift arm without impairing the vision of the operator. The window assembly may include more than one openable panes and/or one or more transparent stationary panes. The window may also include a sensor to sense if the window is compromised and may cause the lift arm vehicle to take a safety action if a compromise is detected.

Claims

1. A window assembly for a cab, the window assembly comprising:

a transparent pane movable between a first position wherein an interior of the cab for a construction vehicle is not in fluid communication with an exterior of the cab and a second position wherein the interior of the cab is in fluid communication with the exterior of the cab;

an opening in the window assembly exposed when the at least one transparent pane is in the second position; and

a lattice made form a transparent material covering the opening so as to prevent a person in the cab from gaining access to the exterior of the cab through the opening.

2. The window assembly of claim 1 wherein the material is a transparent polymer.

3. The window assembly of claim 1 wherein the lattice is made from an injectable molded polycarbonate.

4. The window assembly of claim 1 wherein the transparent pane is movable in a horizontal direction.

5. The window assembly of claim 1 wherein the transparent pane is movable in a vertical direction.

6. The window assembly of claim 1 further comprising a stationary transparent pane and wherein the transparent pane is located at least partially behind the stationary transparent pane when the transparent pane is in the second position.

7. The window assembly of claim 6 further comprising a second stationary transparent pane.

8. The window assembly of claim 6 wherein the transparent pane and opening are located generally forward of the stationary transparent pane when the transparent pane is in the first position.

9. The window assembly of claim 6 wherein the transparent pane and opening are located generally rearward of the stationary transparent pane when the transparent pane is in the first position.

10. The window assembly of claim I further comprising a stationary transparent pane and wherein the transparent pane and opening are positioned in the stationary transparent pane.

11. A window for a side wall of a cab of a lift arm vehicle, the window comprising:

a frame for a construction vehicle;

grid made from a see-through material and attached to the frame;

a see-through portion attached to the frame and moveable between a closed position wherein the see-through portion covers the Gee through grid and an open position wherein the grid is least partially uncovered by the see-through portion.

12. The window of claim 11 wherein when the see-through portion is in the open position a first side of the grid is in fluid communication with a second side of the grid.

13. The window of claim 11 wherein when the see-through portion is in the closed position, a first side of the grid is not in fluid communication with a second side of the grid.

14. The window of claim 11 further comprising:

a second grid made from the see-through material and attached to the frame; and

a second see-through portion attached to the frame and moveable between a closed position wherein the second see-through portion covers the second grid and an open position wherein the second grid is at least partially uncovered by the second see-through portion.

15. The window of claim 11 wherein the see-through portion is moved by sliding the see-through portion down.

16. The window of claim 11 wherein the material is a material selected from a group consisting of automotive laminated safety glass and a polymer.

17. The window assembly of claim 16 wherein the grid is made from an injection molded polycarbonate.

18. The window of claim 11 further comprising a sensor operably connected to the window to sense if the window is compromised.

19. The window of claim 18 further comprising a stationary see-through portion connected to the frame and wherein the sensor is operably connected to the stationary see-through portion.

20. The window of claim 18 further comprising an electronic control unit, wherein when the electronic control unit receives a signal indicating that the window is compromised, the electronic control unit sends a signal to perform a safety action.

21. The window of claim 19 wherein the safety action performed is selected from a group consisting of locking at least one the lift arm, limiting an engine and limiting a drive system.

22. A construction vehicle comprising:

at least one lift arm;

a cab having a side wall; and

a window attached to the side wall, the window further comprising;

a clear stationary pane;

a track connected to the clear stationary pane;

a clear movable pane engaged with the track such that the clear movable pane can be moved between a first position wherein the window is closed and a second position wherein at least a portion of a hole is exposed in the window and the window is open; and

a clear lattice portion covering the hole such when the window is open, objects larger than openings in the clear lattice portion are prevented from passing through the hole.

23. The construction vehicle of claim 22 wherein the clear lattice portion is made from a polymer.

The construction vehicle of claim 23 wherein the polymer is selected from a group consisting of acrylic, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, cellophane, polycarbonate, polyethylenimine, polypropylene and thermoplastic polyurethane.

24. The construction vehicle of claim 23 wherein the polymer is selected from a group consisting of acrylic, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, cellophane, polycarbonate, polyethylenimine, polypropylene and thermoplastic polyurethane.