Caterpillar Tractor Co.

Caterpillar Inc.

Gary S Peifer

Charles R Russell

David D Shulke

Virgil H Johnson

The combined instrument mounting and air conducting housing provides both the instrument mounting and air conduction and distribution in a single compact housing. The housing includes an upper central instrument mounting portion. The housing further includes a generally Y-shaped portion for conduction of air through the housing. The Y-shaped portion includes a lower portion defining an air inlet chamber and an upper portion defining a pair of laterally spaced air distribution channels. The laterally spaced distribution channels are individually disposed at respective laterally outer edges of the upper central instrument mounting portion. The upper ends of the air distribution channels are joined in fluid communication by a connection air channel defined by the upper portion of the housing. Suitable discharge openings and adjustable air discharge vents are provided to direct air in the appropriate directions within the cab.

Combined instrument mounting and air conducting housing

In the operator's station of a vehicle, it has been common practice to mount the steering wheel and the control levers needed to manipulate the vehicle on an adjustable control console. The control console may then be moved fore and aft to accommodate the individual operators that may operate the vehicle to enhance their comfort. Mechanical latching mechanisms have been used that provide only a selected number of positions to which the control console may be placed, and are often rather cumbersome. Hydraulic cylinders have also been incorporated into an adjustable control console design to provide an unlimited number of positions that the control console may assume. These designs, however, are quite complex, involving a plurality of hydraulic cylinders and extensive valving componentry. The present invention overcomes these problems by providing an actuating mechanism that is positioned about one of the pivot shafts that is utilized in the pivotal mounting of the control console to the vehicle frame. The actuating mechanism serves as a mounting member for a position locking device and allows the control console to be locked in a position anywhere between its maximum travel limits. A centering mechanism is also mounted about the same pivot shaft to maintain the actuating mechanism in a preselected position. With the actuating mechanism and the centering mechanism mounted about the pivot shaft the entire mechanism remains very effective and compact in structure.

Centering device

In the operator's station of a vehicle, it has been common practice to mount the steering wheel and the control levers needed to manipulate the vehicle on an adjustable control console. The control console may then be moved fore and aft to accommodate the individual operators that may operate the vehicle to enhance their comfort. Mechanical latching mechanisms have been used that provide only a selected number of positions to which the control console may be place, and are often rather cumbersome. Hydraulic cylinders have also been incorporated into an adjustable control console design to provide an unlimited number of positions that the control console may assume. These designs, however, are quite complex, involving a plurality of hydraulic cylinders and extensive valving componentry. The present invention overcomes these problems by providing an actuating means that is positioned about one of the pivot shafts that is utilized in the pivotal mounting of the control console to the vehicle frame. The actuating means serves as a mounting member for a position locking device and allows the control console to be locked in a position anywhere between its maximum travel limits. A centering mechanism is also mounted about the same pivot shaft to maintain the actuating means in a preselected position. With the actuating means and the centering mechanism mounted about the pivot shaft the entire mechanism remains very effective and compact in structure.

Adjustable control console

Multiple, interconnected shielding portions (26,28,30) constitute a protection structure (22) which may be arranged relative to a console (10) in an obstructing position so as to shield instruments contained in the console (10) from damage. The multiple shielding portions (26,28,30) are relatively displaceable to permit common occupation of all the shielding portions (26,28,30) in an envelope formed by one of the shielding portions (26). Such common occupation or self-storing design permits the protection structure (22), when removed from the console (10), to be stored in a minimum of space. The protection structure (22) may be assembled in obstructing relationship with the console (10) by displacing the individual shielding portions (26,28,30) to predetermined positions prior to interconnecting the console (10) and one of the components (28) with tabs (38) connected to the component (28) into slots in the console (10). Such interconnection obtains from pivoting the shielding components (26,28,30) simultaneously with inserting the tabs (38) in the slots. At the end of such pivoting movement, a lock (36) disposed on a different shielding portion (26) is engageable with the console to prevent unauthorized pivoting and removal thereof.

Portable, self-storing console protection structure

A motor vehicle has a cab that has forward observation windows in the front wall on opposite sides of the main frame below the windshield, and an access door at one side with cab side windows in the door and on the opposite side. A pivoted, outwardly opening window structure may be used in either location. The window structure has a lock to secure it in any desired position between a sealed closed position and a fully open position. The lock operates by clamping onto a hinge pin, and is readily manually manipulated from inside the cab. As used on a forward observation window, the pivot axis is so located that opening the window does not interfere with a windshield wiper arm and blade for the window that occupies a generally upright parked position near the main frame.

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Waynesville, IL, United States of America

Gary S Peifer