ROPS mount for work vehicle display interface

• US 9,056,587 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2013
• Issued: 06/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Montgomery, James L., Lahey, Jason C., Cufr, Randal A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Larson, Justin
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCNURLEN, SCOTT THOMAS
• Application Number:
  US13/783,042
• Publication Number:
  US 20140246468A1
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: 224/548, 224553-554, 224/410, 224/443, 224/281, 224/510, 224/929, 224/274, 224/495, 384 57- 58, 384/21, 384/35, 384/53, 248/920, 248/480, 248/279.1, 248/298.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/61 Specially adapted for utility vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/61 Specially adapted for utility vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/67 Foldable or movable displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/81 Fastening of instruments, e.g. to dashboard
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/22 Display screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/50 Instruments characterised by their means of attachment to or integration in the vehicle B60K35/231 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/53 Movable instruments, e.g. slidable
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0229 for displays, e.g. cathodic tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/008 Adjustable or movable supports
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0084 with adjustment by linear movement in their operational position
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/20 Off-Road Vehicles

Abstract

An adjustable mounting assembly capable of mounting an operator display interface to the ROPS of a work vehicle that has front and rear implements, such as the front loader and rear excavator of a backhoe. The adjustable mounting assembly can have a telescoping compound slide assembly with at least one movable rail and slider. The moveable rail and slider can translate to move a display mount linearly between the front or rear of the vehicle. A display bracket can rotate about a generally vertical axis. Detents or other positioning elements can be provided on the rails and slider as well as at preset angular orientations of the display mount. The adjustable mounting assembly thus allows the vehicle operator to readily adjust the display interface to be viewable when in the front and rear facing seating orientations of the vehicle.

Claims

1. In a work vehicle having an operator compartment and first and second operational sides, an adjustable mounting device for a display interface, comprising:

at least one mounting bracket mountable to a support member of the operator compartment;

a first rail mounted to the at least one mounting bracket within the operator compartment to extend primarily in the direction between the first and second operational sides of the operator compartment, the first rail defining a first track and a first member-receiving channel at a first face of the first rail;

a second rail aligned with the first face of the first rail and defining a second track and a second member-receiving channel at a second face of the second rail so as to open in the same direction as the first member-receiving channel, the second rail having at least one low friction member received in the first member-receiving channel so that the second rail is connected to the first rail to translate in the direction between the first and second operational sides of the operator compartment;

a slider having at least one low friction member received in the second member-receiving channel so that the slider is connected to the second rail to translate along the second rail; and

a display mount connected to the slider to translate therewith along the second rail, the display mount providing a mounting location for the display interface that is movable about a pivot axis which is at an angle with respect to the slider;

wherein the display mount is positioned in proximity to the first operational side of the operator compartment when the second rail and the slider are in a first end of travel position and wherein the display mount is positioned in proximity to the second operational side of the operator compartment when the second rail and the slider are in a second end of travel position linearly opposite the first end of travel position with respect to the first rail; and

wherein the display interface is rotatable about the pivot axis to be in a first angular orientation when the second rail and the slider are in the first end of travel position and the display interface is rotatable about the pivot axis to be in a second angular orientation when the second rail and the slider are in the second end of travel position.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one mounting bracket includes a channel member having legs defining a channel therebetween for receiving the support member and at least one adjustable fastener disposed through each of the channel member legs for contacting the support member when disposed in the channel.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one low friction members of the second rail and the slider are rollers.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the second rail is mounted to the first rail by a plurality of rollers, and wherein at least one of the plurality of rollers is eccentrically mounted and adjustable to apply a load force against the first rail.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the slider translates along the second rail and is positively held at the first end of travel position and at the second end of travel position via detent connections including divots formed in the second track.

6. The device of claim 3, wherein the slider is mounted to the second rail by a plurality of rollers, and wherein at least one of the plurality of rollers is eccentrically mounted and adjustable with respect to the slider to apply a load force against the second rail.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the display mount has an angled hanger bracket defining a platform essentially parallel with the slider to which is connected a display bracket providing the mounting location for connecting the display interface to the hanger bracket.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the display bracket is connected to the hanger bracket by a pivot pin extending along a pivot axis such that the display bracket is rotatable about the pivot axis between a first angular orientation location and a second angular orientation location.

9. The device of claim 8, further including a traveling pin mounted to the display bracket and disposed within an arcuate slot in the hanger bracket platform through which the traveling pin moves as the display bracket pivots about the pivot axis.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the display mount includes a spring plunger mounted to the display bracket the plunger of which is received in openings in the hanger bracket platform at the first and second angular orientation locations.

11. In a work vehicle having an operator compartment, first and second operational sides, and a roll over protection system (ROPS), an adjustable mounting device for a display interface, comprising:

a mounting bracket adapted to connect to the ROPS;

a linear translation mechanism connected to the mounting bracket to extend primarily in the direction between the first and second operational sides of the operator compartment, the translation mechanism having at least two rails and a slider coupled to at least one of the rails to translate thereon; and

a rotational display mount connected to the slider and providing a mounting location for the display interface;

wherein the display mount is positioned in proximity to the first operational side of the operator compartment when the translation mechanism is in a first end of travel position and wherein the display mount is positioned in proximity to the second operational side of the operator compartment when the translation mechanism is in a second end of travel position, and wherein the display mount is rotatable about a pivot axis between a first angular orientation detent location and a second angular orientation detent location; and

wherein the linear translation system includes detent mechanisms such that when in the first and second end of travel positions the at least two rails are positively held in a fixed position relative to one another and the slider is positively held in a fixed position relative to the at least two rails.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the mounting bracket includes a channel member having legs defining a channel therebetween for receiving a support member of the ROPS and at least one adjustable fastener disposed through each of the channel member legs for contacting the support member when disposed in the channel.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the display mount has an angled hanger bracket defining a platform essentially parallel with the slider to which is connected a display bracket providing the mounting location for connecting the display interface to the hanger bracket.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the display mount includes a spring plunger mounted to the display bracket the plunger of which is received in openings in the hanger bracket platform at the first and second angular orientation detent locations.

15. The device of claim 11, wherein the second rail is mounted to the first rail by a first plurality of rollers and the slider is mounted to the second rail by a second plurality of rollers, and wherein at least one roller of each of the first and second plurality of rollers is eccentrically mounted and adjustable to apply a load force against the associated first and second rail.

16. In a work vehicle having an operator compartment, first and second operational sides, and a roll over protection system (ROPS), an adjustable mounting device for a display interface, comprising:

a linear translation mechanism adapted to be connected to a support member of the ROPS to extend primarily in the direction between the first and second operational sides of the operator compartment, the translation mechanism having at least two rails and a slider coupled to at least one of the rails to translate thereon; and

a display mount having a hanger bracket connected to the slider, the hanger bracket being angled to define a platform essentially parallel with the slider to which is connected a display bracket for connecting the display interface to the hanger bracket, the display bracket being rotatable about a pivot axis essentially perpendicular to the hanger bracket platform to move between a first angular orientation and a second angular orientation;

wherein the display mount is positioned in proximity to the first operational side of the operator compartment when the translation mechanism is in a first end of travel position and in proximity to the second operational side of the operator compartment when the translation mechanism is in a second end of travel position, and wherein the display mount is positionable in the first angular orientation when the translation mechanism is in the first end of travel position and in the second angular orientation when the translation mechanism is in the second end of travel position; and

wherein the linear translation system includes detent mechanisms such that when in the first and second end of travel positions the at least two rails are positively held in a fixed position relative to one another, the slider is positively held in a fixed position relative to the at least two rails, and the display interface is positively held in a fixed position relative to the display mount.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the at least two rails include first and second rails, and wherein the second rail is mounted to the first rail by a first plurality of rollers and the slider is mounted to the second rail by a second plurality of rollers.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein at least one roller of each of the first and second plurality of rollers is eccentrically mounted with respect to the other rollers.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the detent mechanisms include divots proximate opposite ends of the first and second rails which are configured to receive the at least one eccentrically mounted rollers of the respective first and second plurality of rollers.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the at least one eccentrically mounted rollers are adjustable to apply a load force against the associated first and second rail.