Cab assembly

• US 5,273,340 A
• Filed: 10/19/1992
• Issued: 12/28/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Kelley, Craig B., Nelson, Peter M.
• Primary Examiner(s): SONG, ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US07/962,556
• Time in Patent Office: 435 Days
• Field of Search: 296/190, 296/204, 296/901
• US Class Current: 296/190.08
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/06 Drivers' cabs overhead guards, e.g. against loads falling down B60R21/11; roll-over protection B60R21/13

Abstract

Cab assemblies utilized on modern day construction vehicles normally include a myriad of sheet metal components that are welded or bolted together to provide the structural support and the mountings for the various components that comprise a cab. The number of components and the time required to fabricate and weld, or otherwise assemble them, is often quite extensive. The more piece-parts that are required in the configuration of a cab, the more time is required to complete the assembly process. This translates directly into the cost of a cab assembly. The present invention provides a cab assembly that utilizes a non-metallic floor member as an integral part of its structure. The floor member not only incorporates the hardware required for mounting various components housed within the cab assembly, it also provides support for the cab'"'"'s windshield assembly. The windshield assembly is mounted between the floor member and a structural member positioned in the vicinity of the cab'"'"'s roof. Both structural members are adapted to provide surfaces to which the windshield assembly may be bonded. The combined result of these features provides a cab assembly that has a greatly reduced number of components and is therefore extremely economical and efficient in its design.

Claims

1. A cab assembly, comprising:

a frame assembly having a lower portion and an upper portion, said lower and upper portions being spaced from one another and interconnected by a plurality of generally vertically oriented support members;

a seat assembly;

a plurality of vehicle controls;

a non-metallic floor member secured to the lower frame portion in load bearing relation thereto and being adapted for integrally mounting and supporting the seat assembly and vehicle controls thereon; and

a mounting support for a windshield assembly, said mounting support being integrally formed by the floor member.

2. A cab assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the mounting support further defines a projection having a supporting lip defined along an edge portion thereof, said projection extending laterally and slightly upwardly from a forward end portion of said floor member.

3. A cab assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein the windshield assembly includes a lower end portion engaged with the supporting lip defined by the projection of the floor member and an upper portion that is engaged with the upper portion of the frame assembly.

4. A cab assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the upper and lower frame portions include a plurality of generally horizontally extending tubular members that are secured together in a generally rectangular configuration.

5. A cab assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein the floor member rests upon and is bonded to the lower portion of the frame assembly and is sufficient for directly accommodating the loads that are transmitted thereto through the seat assembly and vehicle controls.

6. A cab assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein a plate member is attached to the upper portion of the frame assembly in overlying relationship thereto and engages the upper portion of the windshield assembly to secure it to the upper portion of the frame assembly.

7. A cab assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein the projection of the floor member and the plate member define an edge portion having three angled surfaces to which the windshield assembly is bonded to form a forwardly directed, angled windshield assembly which provides a substantially unobstructed view between the upper and lower frame portions.

8. A cab assembly forming an enclosure for a seat assembly and a plurality of vehicle controls, comprising:

a roll over protection structure having a generally rectangular lower portion and a generally rectangular upper portion and a plurality of vertically oriented posts interconnecting the upper and lower portions of the roll over protection structure at the corners thereof;

a plate member mounted on the upper portion in overlying relationship therewith;

a non-metallic floor member having a projection formed on an end portion thereof and a support lip defined on said projection, said non-metallic floor member being of a construction sufficient for placement upon the lower portion of the rollover protection structure in load carrying relationship therewith to mount and support said seat and vehicle controls, said floor member being positioned with said projection extending forwardly of the rollover protection structure; and

a windshield assembly having a lower end portion that is positioned for engagement with the support lip and is secured to the projection of the non-metallic floor member and an upper portion that is secured to the plate member that overlies the upper portion of the rollover protection structure.

9. A cab assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein the projection of the floor member and a forward portion of the plate member each define a forwardly directed edge portion having three angled surfaces, and the windshield assembly extending therebetween defines three angled panels of transparent material that have a configuration substantially the same as the respective surfaces defined by the floor member and the plate member to which the windshield assembly may be bonded.

10. A cab assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein a pair of angled members are attached to each of a respective forward pair of said posts, each angled member having a first leg portion attached to the respective posts and a second leg portion having a preselected, inwardly directed angle, said second leg portion forming a surface to which opposing sides of said windshield assembly may be bonded, said angled members and said angled surfaces defined by the respective plate member and floor member combining to permanently secure the windshield assembly to the cab assembly in a manner which provides substantially unobstructed visibility, from within the cab assembly, between the floor member and the plate member in a forward direction.

11. A cab assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein the non-metallic floor member is formed of fiber reenforced polyurethane and has a means for mounting the seat assembly and vehicle controls are integrally formed therein.

12. A cab assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein a cavity is integrally formed in the non-metallic floor member and is positioned behind the seat assembly and is sufficient for receiving heating and air conditioning components.

13. A cab assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein the non-metallic floor member defines relieved portions that are sufficiently configured to receive the vertically oriented posts that extend between the upper and lower portions of the rollover protection structure.