AU2011211366A1 - Roll Over Protection Structure - Google Patents

Abstract

A roll over protection structure (ROPS) for a vehicle having a chassis and a cab, in which the ROPS has a roll over protection frame (100, 200) comprising a headboard (10) and a canopy frame (50). The roll over protection frame (100, 200) is fixedly yet removably secured behind the cab to the chassis via a bracket means 600 secured directly to the chassis. The headboard (10) and the canopy frame (50) are secured in hinged relation such that the canopy frame (50) can in use be rotated away from the cab to allow the cab to rotate forward for servicing. F i

Description

Pool Secton 29 Regulation 3.2(2)) AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Application Number: Lodged: Invention Title: Roll Over Protection Structure The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: P111AAAUO610 I ROLL OVER PROTECTION STRUCTURE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to roll over protection structures (ROPS). 5 Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 10 The following discussion of the background art is intended to facilitate an understanding of the present invention only. It should be appreciated that the discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any of the material referred to was part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of the application. 15 Vehicles that operate in difficult conditions, such as mining and forestry environments, are susceptible to overturning. When this happens, the cab of the vehicle or truck often crushes, thereby exposing the driver and any passengers to significant danger of injury, maiming or death. Several proposals have been made to minimise suck risks by building roll 20 over protection bars welded integrally into the body of the truck. Whilst these bars have generally been successful, such proposals suffer from several deficiencies. One such deficiency is that when a truck is disposed of, the ROPS is also disposed of, even though the new use of the truck does not require ROPS. 25 Another deficiency is that if a second-hand truck is used where a ROPS is required, then the body of the truck has to be reworked to allow a ROPS to be integrated and, importantly, tested to comply with applicable standards and regulations. As truck bodies vary in design and construction, according to the 30 manufacturer's make and model, a number of ROPS designs are also required or must be custom fabricated.

2 There is accordingly a need for improvements in ROPS which at least attempt to address these other limitations of the existing art, or provide a useful alternative. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 5 The present invention, in one aspect, provides a roll over protection structure for a vehicle, the structure including: a roll over protection frame to be operatively disposed behind the vehicle cab and extending above the height of the vehicle cab for roll over protection thereof, and bracket means adapted to be secured to the vehicle chassis behind 10 the vehicle cab for removably securing the roll over protection frame to the vehicle chassis in an operative position. The roll over protection frame preferably includes a plurality of support pillars, whereby two main pillars are fixedly spaced apart by cross-bracing means at a distance commensurate to a transverse extent of the vehicle chassis. 15 The bracket means preferably comprises discrete brackets operatively secured to the terminal ends of each main pillar and constructed as required to fit to the chassis of a specific make and model. A range of vehicle-specific brackets may be provided to suit different makes and models. Consequently, the roll over protection frame can be used interchangeably between a range of vehicle makes 20 and models of comparable size or weight, where the bracket means is adapted to suit the chassis of the particular make and model in question. The roll over protection structure preferably includes a canopy frame extending from the support pillars in hinged relationship thereto and operatively disposed above the vehicle cab, and support means to support the canopy frame 25 in operation at a fixed angular position relative to the support pillars of the headboard, and to prevent further rotation of the canopy frame towards the vehicle cab. The canopy frame can be selectively rotated away from the fixed angular position and the vehicle cab to allow sufficient clearance for the vehicle cab to tilt forward. 30 The bracket means and roll over protection frame preferably use a universal coupling comprising a pair of matching end plates using a common matching bolt pattern of bosses thereon for removably securing the roll over protection frame to the bracket means.

3 According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a roll over protection frame to be operatively disposed behind a vehicle cab and extending above the height of the vehicle cab for roll over protection thereof, the frame having a coupling means for removably securing the frame to a bracket means 5 adapted to be secured to a vehicle chassis, such that the roll over protection frame may be secured to the vehicle chassis in an operative position. The present invention, in a further aspect, provides a roll over protection structure for a vehicle, the structure including: a roll over protection frame having: a headboard operatively disposed 10 behind the vehicle cab and extending above the height of the vehicle cab for roll over protection thereof; and a canopy frame secured to the headboard in hinged relation to extend therefrom for operative positioning above the vehicle cab; wherein the canopy frame can be operatively rotated away from the vehicle cab to allow clearance for the vehicle cab to tilt forward. 15 The roll over protection structure according to this further aspect of the invention preferably comprising bracket means according to the first aspect of the invention. By virtue of preferred aspects of the invention, vehicle cabs constructed to tilt forward to allow access to the powertrain, suspension and other componentry 20 for maintenance, servicing and inspection can still be fitted with roll over protection structures for safety purposes. Moreover, the canopy frame of the roll over protection structure can be positioned in proximity to the cab to provide roll over protection, yet be selectively rotated away from the vehicle when required to allow sufficient clearance for the vehicle cab to tilt forward. 25 Preferably, support brackets are constructed integrally with the headboard to prevent excessive rotation of the canopy frame towards the vehicle cab. A mechanical actuator in the form of a hydraulic arm is preferably used to rotate the canopy frame away from the vehicle cab when required. A further hydraulic arm is preferably used to assist in locking the canopy frame is two operative positions by 30 means of a locking mechanism. The hydraulic arms can be powered and controlled by a controllable source of hydraulic pressure, and preferably can be controlled by a simple control panel located unobtrusively near the headboard or adjacent regions of the chassis. Other means can be used, such as a simple 4 lockable bolt arrangement, in which the canopy frame is rotated away from the vehicle cab manually, or by the provision of linear actuators that are electrically operated. Preferred embodiments of the present invention have particular 5 advantages. Use of a universal coupling between the bracket and roll over protection frame allows for fabrication of roll over protection frames to a selected number of standard designs according to a range of vehicle sizes or weights. A suitable bracket can be selected or custom fabricated for a relevant make and model of vehicle, and bolted to one of a range of suitable ROPS designs. 10 The brackets can be fabricated to be relatively small and simple in construction (albeit tailored to the vehicle in question) in contrast with the more involved fabrication of the roll over protection frame itself. The roll over protection frame can thus be removable and reusable on any other make and model of vehicle, within a comparable size or weight range. Only the roll over protection 15 frame need be replaced in the event of a roll over, BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Fig. I is a perspective view of a roll over protection frame for a roll over protection structure according to a first embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the roll over protection frame of Fig. 1. 20 Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the roll over protection frame of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a top view of the roll over protection frame of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the roll over protection frame of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a roll over protection frame for a roll over protection structure according to a second embodiment of the invention. 25 Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the roll over protection frame of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the roll over protection frame of Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a top view of the roll over protection frame of Fig. 6. Fig. 10 is a bottom view of the roll over protection frame of Fig. 6. Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a detail of roll over protection frame of rig. 30 6, illustrating a mechanism joining the headboard and the canopy frame of the roll over protection frame. Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a roll over protection frame for a roll over protection structure of Fig. 1, when secured via a bracket to a vehicle chassis.

5 Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the bracket illustrated in Fig. 12. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Figs. I to 5 collectively illustrate a first set of embodiments of a roll over protection frame 100 suitable for use in a ROPS. 5 The roll over protection frame 100 consists of a headboard 10 and a canopy frame 50. The headboard consists of two end plates 12, which terminate pillars 14 secured thereto with the assistance of supporting plates 16. Crossbars 18 join the pillars 14 to each other and end posts 20. Further crossbars 26, 28 brace the pillars 14 and also join to the endposts 20. At the top of the headboard 10 '10, the pillars are joined by a top bar 22, which extends to join the end posts 20 via corner bars 24. A bracing piece 30 extends between the pillars 20 and is also joined to the top bar 22. The headboard 10 is also furnished with barrier sheeting 31 between crossbars 18, 26 and between end posts 20 and pillars 14 as illustrated. 15 The headboard 10 is joined to a canopy frame 50 as illustrated. The canopy frame consists of ribs 52 which extend from the top bar 22 of the headboard and are joined by an end bar 54 via corner bars 56. Corner braces 58 are provided between the ribs 52 and the top bar 22 to improve rigidity. The abovementioned elements of the roli over protection frame 100 can be 20 provided by metal tubing, which provides an advantageous compromise between weight and strength of the resulting frame 100. Steel tubing of circular or rectangular profile is advantageously use, optionally with rounded or chamfered edges. The abovementioned elements are advantageously joined by welded joints using equipment and techniques suitable for structural welding. 25 The end plates 12 are machined to provide a standard bolt pattern for securing to a bracket as described in further detail below. Figs. 6 to 11 collectively illustrate a second set of embodiments of a roll over protection frame 200 suitable for use in a ROPS. The roll over protection frame 200 is similar in many respects to the roll over protection frame 100 30 described above with reference to Figs. I to 5, and corresponding reference numerals are accordingly used where appropriate. The roll over protection frame 200 has end plates 12', joined to pillars 14' with the assistance of bracing plates 16'. A bracing piece 30' is also provided, 6 joining the pillars 14'. A top bar 22' is joined to a canopy frame 50', which has ribs 52', which extend outwardly from the headboard 10' so as to join end bar 54' The top bar 22' is joined to the pillars 14' not by a welded joint but via a locking mechanism 300 and hinged mechanism 400 apparent in Figs. 6 to 11. 5 Hinged mechanism 400 is most clearly illustrated in Figs. 8 to 10, while the locking mechanism is most clearly illustrated in Fig. 11. The hinged mechanism 400 is adapted to rotate the canopy frame 50' relative to the headboard 10'. The locking mechanism 300 is adapted to secure the canopy frame 50' relative to the headboard 10" in one of two positions - namely a 'down' position (Figs. 6 to 10) 10 in which the canopy frame 50' extends substantially horizontally from the headboard 10', and an 'up' position (Fig. 11) in which the canopy frame 50' extends upwardly from the headboard 10' at an arbitrary inclined angle determined by the configuration of the locking mechanism 300. The locking mechanism 300 and hinged mechanism 400 thus co-operate to both join the 15 headboard 10' and the canopy frame 50', and actuate the canopy frame 50' between two secured orientations relative to the headboard 10' by relative rotation of the canopy frame 50' and the headboard 10'. The hinged mechanism 400 has two hinges 62 connecting respective pillars 14' to the top bar 22'. Any suitable hinge arrangement can be used, and 20 preferably a heavy-duty sandwich arrangement of plates is used in which inner plates 64 are joined to the pillars 14' and sandwiched between outer plates 66, and secured in place in hinged relation by a central pin 68. As illustrated the central pin 68 passes through both of the pair of hinges 62, and is optionally supported by a bracket 72 centrally located between the pillars 14'. 25 The locking mechanism 300 comprises various elements, including support brackets 40 which support the canopy frame 50' in the 'down' position, and which serve in co-operation with the top of the pillars 14' to prevent any further downward rotation of the canopy frame 50' below the 'down' position. The locking mechanism 300 further comprises a hydraulic ram 34, which is secured in 30 a vertical orientation to one of the pillars 14' via a bracket 36, and at a distal end of the piston 35 to the ribs 52' via another bracket 38. The hydraulic ram 34 is actuated by a fitting (not illustrated) connected to a controllable source of hydraulic pressure (not illustrated) to move the canopy frame 50' between the 7 'down' and 'up' positions. The controllable source of hydraulic pressure extends and retracts the rod 35 from and into the hydraulic ram 34 during operation. The vertical hydraulic ram 34 acting on the canopy frame 50' co-operates with a horizontal hydraulic ram 44 which has a rod 45 disposed at the distal end 5 of the piston of the ram. The rod 45 acts as a locking pin which engages and retracts from one or the other of a pair of transversely spaced apertures provided in a transverse locking plate 48 through which the rod extends. By selective engagement and retraction of the rod 45 with one or the other of the apertures on operation of the ram 44, and selective extension or retraction of the piston 35 by 10 operation of the ram 34, the abovementioned 'up' and 'down' positions of the canopy frame 50' may be attained. Accordingly, the securing plate 48 is joined to the top bar 22' and the hydraulic ram 44 is joined to a pillar 14 and supported by a mounting plate 46. The securing engagement of the rod 45 with the locking plate 48 is assisted by supporting plates 47 joined to a supporting crossbar 32 which 15 extends between the pillars 14' and to which the bracing piece 30' is joined. The mechanical structure and operation of the locking mechanism 300 is apparent from Fig. 11. The action of the hydraulic rams 34, 44 is co-ordinated such that they operate in concert to firstly unlock the canopy frame 50' from its current position, move the canopy frame 50' between its 'up' and 'down' positions 20 (in either direction), and then relock the canopy frame 50' in its new position. To avoid delays, these actions are co-ordinated such that they closely follow each other: that is, vertical hydraulic ram 34 is actuated shortly after rod 45 of the horizontal hydraulic ram 44 clears the locking plate 48 by retracting and, once rotated to its other position, the rod 45 of the horizontal hydraulic ram 44 engages 25 the locking plate 48 again shortly after the vertical hydraulic ram swings the canopy frame 50' into position. In short, the horizontal hydraulic ram 44 retracts the rod or locking pin 45 and then the vertical hydraulic ram 34 lifts the canopy frame 50' whereupon the hydraulic ram 44 actuates to engage the locking pin 45 in the other aperture in the locking plate 48. 30 The hydraulic rams 34, 44 are used as mechanical actuators operated by a controllable source of hydraulic pressure. The rams 34, 44 are thus operated by a hydraulic system not illustrated in Fig. 11 but, by way of example, consisting generally of a hydraulic pump, hydraulic hoses connected to the rams 34, 44, a 8 hydraulic reservoir, control valves, and an interface to a control panel. The hydraulic fluid used is a suitable oil. The hydraulic pump may be driven by an electric motor driven powered from the vehicle battery in conjunction with a high-output alternator. In other 5 embodiments, energy from a power takeoff (PTO) drive may be used to drive the hydraulic pump, The hydraulic pump draws hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic reservoir, and transfers energy supplied to the pump via the hydraulic fluid through the lines or hoses and ultimately to the rams 34, 44 so that they can be actuated in the manner described. The fluid is channelled via the control valves. 10 Any suitable design of hydraulic system can be used to actuate the rams 34, 44 in the manner described. The hydraulic pump may be uni or bi-directional, and act in concert with a suitable arrangement of actuated control arms. The system can be controlled by a suitable control interface, which may be as simple as an onloff switch, and a position switch for moving between positions. The control interface 15 may provide cable, pneumatic or electrical actuation of the hydraulic system, though a simple electrically actuated control is preferred given the simplicity of operation between two positions. Alternatively, the action of the hydraulic arms 34, 44 as described above may instead be achieved by use of electrically operated linear actuators as a 20 replacement for the hydraulic arms 34, 44. Such actuators can be operated using a source of low voltage powered supplied by the vehicle via its charging and storage systems provided by an alternator, battery, regulator and associated componentry, operating in conjunction with each other to supply 12V or 24V to the actuators. The actuators are similarly activated and controlled in an entirely 25 analogous manner to the arms 34, 44, and the controls are preferably electrically actuated. Fig. 12 shows the roll over protection frame 100 of Figs. 1 to 5, installed on a chassis, depicted as a pair of chassis rails 500 formed as U-beams. The frame 100 is attached to the chassis rails 500 via a bracket means in the form of 30 a pair of brackets 600 joined to outer vertical faces of the chassis rails 500. Fig. 13 shows the bracket 600 depicted in Fig. 12 in further detail, in perspective view. The bracket 600 is a simple L-shaped member, consisting of a face plate 610 and a securing plate 620. The securing plate 620 is used to 9 securely join the bracket 600 to a matching outer surface of the chassis rail 500, which the face plate 610 is machined to carry a bolt pattern of four bolt holes 630 arranged in a rectangular array as depicted, The face plate 610 is designed to mate with the corresponding end plate 12 of the roll over protection frame 100 as 5 depicted in Fig. 12. The surfaces of the end plates 12 and the face plates 620 are coterminous in extent and sufficient to adequately support the frame 100, and carry matching bolt patterns with which they can be securely joined using heavy duty bolts (not shown in Fig. 12). The brackets 600 depicted in Fig. 12 are of identical design in accordance with Fig. 13, and are used in both positions on 10 each of the chassis rails 500. Similarly or differently designed brackets may be constructed for different chassis, as required, or indeed for different designs of roll over protection frames. As an example, the roll over protection frame 200 has end plates 12' which differ from those of frame 100 by having different dimensions and a different bolt pattern. 15 As described above, the various elements of the frames 100, 200 are joined together to each other by any suitable structural welding technique, and the materials, elements and their arrangement are adapted to comply with prevailing engineering standards and regulations that apply to ROPS and similar structures used in conjunction with vehicles. The brackets 600 are similarly 20 attached using suitable structural welding techniques to the vehicle chassis. the brackets 600 are removably bolted to the frame 100 using heavy-duty bolts of suitable material and gauge, and are appropriately fastened to remain secure yet remain removable as required. Environmental protection against salt or other corrosive agents may be provided through the use of suitable materials (for 25 example, grade 316 stainless steel for bolts) or treatments (galvanising, powder coating or other surface treatments for components of the frame 100, 200), The designs for ROPS and frames therefor described herein can be fabricated by a person of ordinary skill in the art, and modified according to requirements at hand without departing from the scope of the present invention. 30

Claims (17)

1. A roll over protection structure for a vehicle, the structure including: a roll over protection frame to be operatively disposed behind a cab of the vehicle and extending above the height of the cab for roll over protection thereof; 5 and bracket means adapted to be secured behind the cab to a chassis of the vehicle for removably securing the roll over protection frame to the vehicle chassis in an operative position.

2. A roll over protection structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the roll over 10 protection frame and the bracket means are secured by respective coupling means on the roll over protection frame and the bracket means.

3. A roll over protection structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the respective coupling means both comprise a pair of spaced end plates having a matching bolt pattern machined therein for fixedly yet removably bolting together 15 the roll over protection frame and the bracket means.

4. A roll over protection structure as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the roll over protection frame comprises a pair of support pillars fixedly spaced apart by cross-bracing means at a distance commensurate to a transverse extent of the vehicle chassis, and joined at their terminal ends to the coupling means. 20

5. A roll over protection structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a canopy frame joined to the roll over protection frame and adapted to operatively extend over the cab for roll over protection thereof.

6. A roll over protection structure as claimed in claim 5 as dependent on claim 4, wherein the canopy frame is hingedly connected to the support pillars 25 and the roll over protection structure includes support means to support the canopy frame in operation at a fixed angular position relative to the support pillars and to prevent further rotation of the canopy frame towards the vehicle cab. 11

7. A roll over protection structure as claimed in claim 6, wherein the support means is selectively operable to rotate the canopy frame away from the fixed angular position and the vehicle cab to allow sufficient clearance for the vehicle cab to tilt forward. 5

8. A roll over protection structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bracket means comprises discrete brackets having a support plate operatively secured to the chassis and a face plate for removably securing to the roll over protection frame.

9. A roll over protection structure for a vehicle, the structure including: 10 a roll over protection frame having a headboard operatively disposed behind the vehicle cab and extending above the height of the vehicle cab for roll over protection thereof, and a canopy frame extending from the headboard and operatively disposed above the vehicle cab and secured to the headboard in hinged relation; 15 wherein the canopy frame can be operatively rotated away from the vehicle cab to allow clearance for the vehicle cab to tilt forward.

10. A roll over protection structure as claimed in claim 9, wherein the headboard has two pillars to which the end plates are connected, and which form primary structural elements of the roll over protection frame. 20

11. A roll over protection structure as claimed in claim 9 or 10, further including stop brackets and hinged connectors secured to the headboard and the canopy frame for securing the canopy frame to the headboard.

12. A roll over protection structure as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 11, further including a hydraulic ram connected to the canopy frame and the 25 headboard for actuating movement of the canopy frame relative to the headboard.

13. A roll over protection frame suitable for constructing a roll over protection structure, the roll over protection frame operatively adapted to extend behind and 12 optionally above a vehicle cab for roll over protection thereof, and having a coupling means for releasably securing the roll over protection frame to a bracket adapted to be secured to a vehicle chassis.

14. A roll over protection structure as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 13, 5 wherein the roll over protection frame is adapted to be fixedly yet removably secured to bracket means for securing the roll over protection frame to a chassis of the vehicle. 14. A method of providing a roll over protection structure for a vehicle, the roll over protection structure having a roll over protection frame to be operatively 10 disposed behind a cab of the vehicle and extending above the height of the cab for roll over protection thereof, the method including securing bracket means to a chassis of the vehicle; and securing a roll over protection frame to the bracket; wherein the roll over protection frame is fixedly yet removably secured to the bracket means.

15 15. A roll over protection structure substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings as appropriate.

16. A roll over protection frame substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings as appropriate.

17. A method of providing a roll over protection structure for a vehicle 20 substantially as described hereing, whith reference to the accompanying drawings as appropriate. JOSEPH ALEXANDER DICKINSON & BENJAMIN JAMES DICKINSON WATERMARK PATENT & TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS P34863AU00