Deere & Company

Jesse J Bender

Noah F Homan

Jade E Bender

One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for a new coolant tank that may also provide a structural element to the frame of the engine compartment. The coolant tank is comprised of a rear wall that also makes up a portion of the firewall in the engine compartment. A structural coolant tank component is engaged with the rear wall to form the coolant reservoir. The coolant reservoir can provide support to attach structural elements of the vehicle, and can also allow for improved space efficiency in the engine compartment. Further, improved access to the filling port is provided, while continued operation and desired function is maintained even at extreme vehicle tilt.

Vehicle coolant reservoir

Structural coolant tank

An engine mounting assembly includes a front frame element defining, in part, a structural load bearing assembly, a differential case mounted to the frame at a frame mounting area, and an oil pan having upright and bottom walls defining an oil sump. The differential case has an opening configured to receive an axle assembly and has walls defining a pan-receiving recess. The oil pan is configured to conform to the pan-receiving recess to be supported by the differential case and overlap the frame mounting area. The oil pan has a mounting flange extending from the upright walls and mounting bores that receives mounting bolts for coupling the oil pan to the engine and the oil pan to the differential case. The differential case and the oil pan form part of the structural load bearing assembly of the work vehicle to transfer structural loads to and from the front frame element.

Engine mounting assembly for a work vehicle

A latch assembly includes a striker plate and a latch plate. The striker plate is pivotal to a locked position securing the latch assembly to a striker bar and to an unlocked position wherein the striker bar can be inserted and removed therefrom. The latch plate is pivotal on a pivot pin to a latched position holding the striker plate in its locked position and to an unlatched position wherein the striker plate can be pivoted into and out of its locked position. A latch pin projects from the latch plate. A lever is pivotally mounted on the pivot pin. The lever is engagable with the latch pin to move the latch member from the latched position to the unlatched position. The lever is longer than a length of the latch plate. A spring is coupled to the lever and biased to urge the lever away from the latch pin. A link coupled to the lever is operable to move the lever towards the latch pin. The latch plate is pivotal independently of the lever when the striker plate is pivoting to its locked position.

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Waterloo, IA, United States of America

Jesse J Bender