Folding rollover protection system

• US 7,971,905 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2009
• Issued: 07/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Childs, Gregory E., McCord, Christopher T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coker; Robert A
• Application Number:
  US12/604,729
• Publication Number:
  US 20110095514A1
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 280/748, 280/756, 296/105, 296/190.03, 296/190.04, 403/93, 403/100
• US Class Current: 280/756
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/131 Protective devices for drivers in case of overturning of tractors means for preventing overturning or tipping of tractors B62D49/08

Abstract

A folding rollover protection system includes an upper ROPS hinged to a lower ROPS and movable between an upright position and a folded down position. An isolation member may be urged between the upper and lower ROPS to separate them from each other. The isolation member may be a resilient wedge-shaped member positioned between a first wedge and a second wedge. The first wedge is movable toward the second wedge to urge the isolation member against one of the ROPS, isolating the upper ROPS from the lower ROPS.

Claims

1. A folding rollover protection system, comprising:

an upper ROPS (Rollover Protection System) hinged to a lower ROPS and movable between an upright position and a folded down position;

a resilient isolation member positioned between a first wedge and a second wedge;

the first wedge movable toward the second wedge to urge the isolation member tightly between the upper ROPS and lower ROPS.

2. The folding rollover protection system of claim 1 further comprising a tensioning screw extending through the isolation member and in threaded engagement with the first wedge.

3. The folding rollover protection system of claim 1 further comprising a hinge mechanism having a pair of parallel plates fastened to the lower ROPS and pivotably connected to the upper ROPS.

4. The folding rollover protection system of claim 3 further comprising a pin extending between each pair of plates on which the upper ROPS pivots.

5. The folding rollover protection system of claim 3 further comprising a pin insertable through holes in the upper ROPS and pair of plates to hold the upper ROPS in the upright position.

6. The folding rollover protection system of claim 5 wherein the isolation member urges the upper ROPS upwardly so that the hole in the upper ROPS engages the pin to hold the pin stationary.

7. A folding rollover protection system, comprising:

an upper ROPS pivotably mounted to a lower ROPS;

an isolation member positioned between the lower ROPS and the upper ROPS;

a control to urge the isolation member tightly against at least one of the upper and lower ROPS and isolate the upper ROPS from the lower ROPS;

wherein the control is an externally threaded tensioning screw; and

a first wedge adjacent the isolation member and internally threaded to the tensioning screw.

8. The folding rollover protection system of claim 7 wherein the upper ROPS includes a pair of upright portions and a crossbar.

9. A folding rollover protection system, comprising:

an inverted U-shaped upper ROPS (Rollover Protection System) hinged to a lower ROPS;

each of the upper ROPS and lower ROPS being tubular steel with a generally rectangular cross section; and

a wedge-shaped isolation member positioned between a drive wedge and a stationary wedge, the isolation member abutting one of the upper and lower ROPS in response to movement of the drive wedge toward the stationary wedge.

10. The folding rollover protection system of claim 9 further comprising a tensioning screw engageable with the drive wedge.

11. The folding rollover protection system of claim 9 wherein the isolation member is rubber.

12. The folding rollover protection system of claim 9 further comprising a pin extending through the tubular steel upper ROPS for locking the upper ROPS in an upright position.