Operator protection apparatus with an over-center linkage

• US 10,562,479 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2017
• Issued: 02/18/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Excel Industries Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Excel Industries Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bartel, Harlan John, Nebel, Brian L., Steinert, Royce A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Freedman, Laura
• Application Number:
  US15/418,402
• Publication Number:
  US 20170136974A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 2101/00 Lawn-mowers
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/64 mounted on a vehicle, e.g. a tractor, or drawn by an animal or a vehicle A01D34/695 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/824 Handle arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/828 Safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 75/20 Devices for protecting men or animals
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4808 Sensing means arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/11 Overhead guards, e.g. against loads falling down specially adapted for fork-lift trucks B66F9/07545
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/48 Control systems, alarms, or interlock systems, for the correct application of the belt or harness
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/04 Pivotal connections hinges for doors, windows or wings E05D
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/10 Arrangements for locking
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2310/00 Agricultural machines in general A01

Abstract

Aspects hereof relate to an operator protection apparatus having at least one over-center linkage. In some aspects, an operator protection apparatus can be raised and lowered by an operator from a seated position, for example, on a terrain working vehicle. Additionally, the at least one over-center linkage may automatically lock in the operator protection apparatus in a raised position. Accordingly, a mechanical force is then required to overcome the lock, and allow the operator protection apparatus to return to a lowered position.

Claims

1. An operator protection apparatus comprising:

a lower portion pivotably coupled to an upper portion at a first pivot joint such that the upper portion is movable relative to the lower portion between a raised position and a lowered position; and

an over-center linkage comprising;

a lower link movably coupled to the lower portion at a second pivot joint; and

an upper link movably coupled to the upper portion at a third pivot joint, the upper link coupled to the lower link at a fourth pivot joint,

wherein the over-center linkage is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position.

2. The operator protection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the over-center linkage limits movement of the upper portion relative to the lower portion in the locked position.

3. The operator protection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the over-center linkage allows movement of the upper portion relative to the lower portion in the unlocked position.

4. The operator protection apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the over-center linkage is in the locked position, the over-center linkage maintains the upper portion in the raised position.

5. The operator protection apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the over-center linkage is in the unlocked position, the over-center linkage allows movement of the upper portion to the lowered position.

6. The operator protection apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an actuator coupled to the over-center linkage, the actuator effective to move the over-center linkage between the locked position and the unlocked position, and effective to move the upper portion between the raised position and the lowered position.

7. The operator protection apparatus of claim 6, wherein the actuator comprises one or more of a hand lever and a powered actuator.

8. The operator protection apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a gas cylinder coupled with one of the over-center linkage and the upper portion.

9. An operator protection apparatus for a terrain working vehicle, the operator protection apparatus comprising:

a lower portion configured to be coupled with the terrain working vehicle;

an upper portion pivotably coupled to the lower portion and movable relative to the lower portion between a raised position and a lowered position;

an over-center linkage pivotably coupled to the lower portion and the upper portion, wherein the over-center linkage is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position;

one or more sensors coupled with the operator protection apparatus and associated with the terrain working vehicle, the one or more sensors configured to generate sensor data associated with the operator protection apparatus, the one or more sensors comprising a position sensor configured to detect one or more positions of the operator protection apparatus; and

a controller communicatively coupled with the one or more sensors coupled with the operator protection apparatus.

10. The operator protection apparatus of claim 9, wherein the controller comprises a computing device storing logic for determining one or more commands based on the sensor data associated with the operator protection apparatus.

11. The operator protection apparatus of claim 10, wherein the one or more commands determined by the controller are determined based on terrain working vehicle sensor data from the one or more sensors associated with the terrain working vehicle.

12. The operator protection apparatus of claim 11, wherein the one or more sensors associated with the terrain working vehicle comprise a seatbelt sensor.

13. The operator protection apparatus of claim 11, wherein the one or more sensors associated with the terrain working vehicle comprise a tilt sensor.

14. The operator protection apparatus of claim 11, further comprising one or more indicators for providing an indication in response to the one or more commands.

15. The operator protection apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a hand lever pivotably coupled to the over-center linkage.

16. The operator protection apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a hand-lever actuator linkage pivotably coupled to the hand lever and pivotably coupled to a lower link of the over-center linkage.