Caterpillar Tractor Co.

Gary D Blomstrom

Lyle E York

Thomas E Cochran

Mohamed Abdel-Fattah Abdel-Latif

An apparatus (38) for tilting a pivotally mounted vehicle operator cab (21) has an actuator (40) for exerting a tilting force, a link (60) for directing the tilting force in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (58) of the actuator (40), and a strut (46) for absorbing a substantial portion of the tilting force to prevent damage to the vehicle elements.

Operator cab tilting apparatus

A mounting assembly resiliently and releasably mounting a tiltable operator's cab on the frame of a tractor including first and second mating connectors respectively secured to the platform and frame and a T-shaped latch carried by the first connector for rotary movement between locked and unlocked positions. A cross member of the T-shaped latch overlies the mating end of the first connector and is movable into locking, but nonsupportive, engagement within a pair of complementary slots respectively located in a pair of upwardly projecting arms of the second connector. In the unlocked position, the cross member is disengaged from the slots and aligned within a latch cavity between the arms to allow separation of the connectors. An elongate stem of the latch member accessibly protrudes from one end of the first connector for rotation by a wrench and is resiliently mounted for axial movement to align the cross member with the complementary slots. A female guide surface defined by beveled ends of the second connector arms guides a male guide surface of the first connector into full mating load-bearing engagement therewith in the event of slight misalignment between the connectors. The second connector is resiliently secured to the frame to isolate the cab from vibrations generated within the frame by means spaced from the bearing surfaces and the latch.

Shock mounted tilting operator platform

A locking mechanism to prevent accidental lowering of a tiltable operator's cab of an earthmoving vehicle. The locking mechanism includes an elongate rod secured to one end of the cab for movement therewith and a latch. The latch is resiliently urged toward a locked position, but is prevented from moving thereto by blocking engagement with the side of the rod, until a selected tilted position is reached, and a free end of the rod is aligned with the latch. Upon alignment, the latch automatically springs to its locked position underlying the end of the rod thereby preventing downward movement of the rod and the cab supportable thereby. The one end of the rod is mounted to the cab for pivotal movement relative thereto about an axis substantially coincident with that of a pivotal mount for a hydraulic ram energizable to raise the cab.

Tilting operator platform safety lock

A track-type vehicle comprises a main frame having a pair of laterally spaced track roller frames pivotally mounted on either side thereof. The rearward ends of the track roller frames are pivotally mounted for vertical movements on opposite ends of an axle extending transversely therebetween. The axle is mounted on the main frame by a pair of self-aligning spherical bearing assemblies.

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Waverly, NB, United States of America

Gary D Blomstrom