Roll over protection system rattle reduction

A roll over protection system for a vehicle having a first upright portion with a first end and a second end defining a first aperture, a second upright portion having a first end and a second end defining a second aperture, a third upright portion having a first end defining a first borehole and connected to first upright portion and a second end having a second borehole and connected to the second portion, a first pin and a first bushing are positioned in the first aperture and the first borehole, a second pin and a second bushing are positioned in the second aperture and the second borehole, the first and second bushings having first inner diameters that are greater than second inner diameters, the first and second pins having diameters that are greater than the second inner diameters and less than or equal to the first inner diameters.

BACKGROUND

The present application relates to roll over protection systems for vehicles. Roll over protections systems are designed to protect a vehicle operator in the event that the vehicle tips or rolls over. However, the height of the roll over protection system may be greater than the height of a barn door or the height of branches around which the vehicle moves. Sometimes, it is desirable for an operator to lower the roll over protection system. However, in the past, a substantial amount of noise was created when the components of the roll over protection system rattled during vehicle operation. Various attempts have been made to address this problem. However, the present application provides a unique solution to the problem of rattling in roll over protection systems.

SUMMARY

In some embodiments, the disclosure provides a roll over protection system for a vehicle having a frame, a left side, a right side, a front end, a rear end, and a prime mover operable to move the vehicle. The roll over protection system includes a first upright portion including a first end connected to the vehicle left side and a second end spaced from the vehicle left side. The first upright portion defines a first aperture near the second end. A second upright portion includes a first end connected to the vehicle right side and a second end spaced from the vehicle right side. The second upright portion defines a second aperture proximate the second end. A third upright portion includes a first end having a first borehole and being connected for rotation with respect to the second end of the first upright portion and a second end having a second borehole and being connected for rotation with respect to the second portion. A first pin extends through the first aperture of the first upright portion and the first borehole of the third upright portion. The first pin defines a first pin diameter. A second pin extends through the second aperture of the second upright portion and the second borehole of the third upright portion. The second pin defines a second pin diameter. A first bushing is positioned in the first borehole of the third upright portion. The first bushing has a first inner diameter and a second inner diameter. The first inner diameter is greater than the second inner diameter, the first inner diameter is greater than the first pin diameter and the second inner diameter is less than or equal to the first pin diameter. A second bushing extends through the second borehole of the third upright portion. The second bushing has a first inner diameter and a second inner diameter. The first inner diameter is greater than the second inner diameter, the first inner diameter is greater than the second pin diameter and the second inner diameter is less than or equal to the second pin diameter.

In some embodiments, the disclosure provides a vehicle including a frame having a left side, a right side, a front end and a rear end, a prime mover operable to move the vehicle, and a roll over protection system. The roll over protection includes a first upright portion having a first end connected to the vehicle left side and a second end spaced from the vehicle left side. The first upright portion defines a first aperture near the second end. A second upright portion has a first end connected to the vehicle right side and a second end spaced from the vehicle right side. The second upright portion defines a second aperture near the second end. A third upright portion has a first end having a first borehole and being connected for rotation with respect to the second end of the first upright portion and a second end having a second borehole and being connected for rotation with respect to the second portion. A first pin extends through the first aperture of the first upright portion and the first borehole of the third upright portion. The first pin defines a first pin diameter. A second pin extends through the second aperture of the second upright portion and the second borehole of the third upright portion. The second pin defines a second pin diameter. A first bushing is positioned in the first borehole of the third upright portion. The first bushing has a first inner diameter and a second inner diameter in which the first inner diameter is greater than the second inner diameter. The first inner diameter is greater than the first pin diameter, and the second inner diameter being less than or equal to the first pin diameter. A second bushing is positioned in the second borehole of the third upright portion and the second bushing has a first inner diameter and a second inner diameter in which the first inner diameter is greater than the second inner diameter. The first inner diameter is greater than the second pin diameter and the second inner diameter is less than or equal to the second pin diameter.

In some embodiments the disclosure provides an upright for a roll over protection system for a vehicle. The upright includes a first end defining a first borehole and the first end can be connected to a first portion of the vehicle. A second end defines a second borehole and the second end can be connected to a second portion of the vehicle. A first bushing can be inserted into the first borehole. The first bushing has a first inner diameter and a second inner diameter in which the first inner diameter is greater than the second inner diameter. A first pin can extend through the first bushing and defines a first pin diameter. A second bushing can be inserted into the second borehole and has a first inner diameter and a second inner diameter in which the first inner diameter is greater than the second inner diameter. A second pin can extend through the second bushing. The first inner diameter of the first bushing is greater than the first pin diameter and the second inner diameter of the first bushing is less than or equal to the first pin diameter. The first inner diameter of the second bushing is greater than the second pin diameter and the second inner diameter of the second bushing is less than or equal to the second pin diameter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Also, it is to be understood that phraseology and terminology used herein with reference to device or element orientation (such as, for example, terms like “central,” “upper,” “lower,” “front,” “rear,” and the like) are only used to simplify description of the roll over protection system, and do not alone indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a particular orientation. In addition, terms such as “first” and “second” are used herein for purposes of description and are not intended to indicate or imply relative importance or significance.

FIG. 1illustrates one possible embodiment of a vehicle10with a roll over protection system12. The illustrated vehicle10includes a frame14, a prime mover16and a plurality of wheels18. The illustrated vehicle10defines a left side20, a right side22, a front end24and a rear end26oriented with respect to an operator positioned on the tractor. The prime mover16is operable to move the vehicle10on the plurality of wheels18. While the illustrated vehicle10is a tractor, the roll over protection system12can be attached to any suitable vehicle.

As shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, the roll over protection system12includes a first upright portion30, a second upright portion32, a third upright portion34, first, second, third and fourth pins36,38,40and42, respectively, and first, second, third and fourth bushings44,46,48and50, respectively.

The first upright portion30has a first end54and a second end56spaced from the first end54. The first end54is coupled to the left side20of the vehicle10by a plurality of fasteners58. The illustrated fasteners58are nuts and bolts, but other suitable fasteners can be utilized to connect the first end54of the first upright portion30to the left side20of the vehicle10. The illustrated second end56includes a bracket that defines a first aperture60aand a third aperture60bextending therethrough. In some embodiments, the bracket is affixed to the elongate portion (e.g., by welding) such that the bracket is part of the first upright portion30. In other embodiments, the bracket can be a separate component.

The second upright portion32has a first end64and a second end66spaced from the first end64. The first end64is coupled to the right side22of the vehicle10by a plurality of fasteners68. The illustrated fasteners68are nuts and bolts, but other suitable fasteners can be utilized to connect the first end64of the second upright portion32to the right side22of the vehicle10. The illustrated second end66includes a bracket that defines a second aperture70aand a fourth aperture70bextending therethrough. In some embodiments, the bracket is affixed to the elongate portion (e.g., by welding) such that the bracket is part of the second upright portion32. In other embodiments, the bracket can be a separate component.

The third upright portion34has a first end72and a second end74spaced from the first end72. The illustrated first end72defines a first borehole76aand a third borehole76bextending therethrough. The illustrated second end74defines a second borehole78aand a fourth borehole78bextending therethrough. The first end72of the third upright portion34is connected to the second end56of the first upright portion30and the second end74of the third upright portion34is connected to the second end66of the second upright portion32.

As shown inFIGS. 3-6, the illustrated first pin36extends into the first aperture60aof the first upright portion30and the first borehole76aof the third upright portion34. The illustrated first pin36includes a first end having a handle36aand a second end having a retaining pin36b. The illustrated first pin36defines an opening36cextending substantially perpendicular to the axial length of the first pin36. The first pin36defines a first pin diameter36dthat is constant over a portion of the length of the first pin36.

With specific reference toFIG. 3, the illustrated second pin38is a mirror image of the first pin36and extends into the second aperture70aof the second upright portion32and the second borehole78aof the third upright portion34. The illustrated second pin38includes a first end having a handle38aand a second end having a retaining pin38b. The illustrated second pin38defines an opening38cextending substantially perpendicular to the axial length of the second pin38. The second pin38defines a second pin diameter38dthat is constant over a portion of the length of the second pin40.

As shown inFIGS. 3-5, the illustrated third pin40extends into the third aperture60bof the first upright portion30and the third borehole76bof the third upright portion34. The illustrated third pin40includes a first end having a cable40aconnected to the retaining pin36aof the first pin36and a second end having a snap ring40b. The illustrated third pin40defines an opening40cextending substantially perpendicular to the axial length of the third pin40. The third pin40defines a third pin diameter40dthat is constant over a portion of the length of the third pin38.

The illustrated fourth pin42is a mirror image of the third pin40and extends into the fourth aperture70bof the second upright portion32and the fourth borehole78bof the third upright portion34. The illustrated fourth pin42includes a first end having a cable42aconnected to the retaining pin38bof the second pin38and a second end having a snap ring42b. The illustrated fourth pin42defines an opening42cextending substantially perpendicular to the axial length of the fourth pin42. The fourth pin42defines a fourth pin diameter42dthat is constant over a portion of the length of the fourth pin42.

With reference toFIGS. 5 and 6, the first bushing44is positioned in the first borehole76aof the third upright portion34. The first bushing44includes a first end44a, a second end44band a middle portion44c. The first end44aof the first bushing44defines a first inner diameter44d1, the second end44bof the first bushing44defines a second inner diameter44d2and the middle portion44cof the first bushing44defines a third inner diameter44d3. In the illustrated embodiment, the first diameter44d1is equal to the second diameter44d2and the third diameter44d3is less than the first diameter44d1and less than the second diameter44d2. The first pin diameter36dis less than the first inner diameter44d1and less than the second inner diameter44d2. The illustrated first bushing44is tapered between the first diameter44d1and the third diameter44d3and between the third diameter44d3and the second diameter44d2. The illustrated first bushing44is a double taper bushing, but other bushings with differing diameters along the length are within the scope of the present application.

The first pin diameter36dis greater than or equal to the third inner diameter44d3. Therefore, when the first pin36is inserted into the first bushing44, the first pin36contacts the middle portion44cof the first bushing44and is spaced from the first end44aand the second end44bof the first bushing44. When the first pin36is inserted into the first bushing44, the first pin36contacts the second end56of the first upright portion30and is spaced from the first end72of the third upright portion34.

While the illustrated first bushing44is shown in great detail, the illustrated second, third and fourth bushings46,48and50are identical to the illustrated first bushing44. Specifically, the second, third and fourth bushings46,48and50each include third inner diameters that are smaller than inner diameters at first and second ends. Further, the third diameters of the second, third and fourth bushings46,48and50are less than or equal to the respective pin diameters38d,40dand42d. The diameters at the first and second ends of the second, third and fourth bushings46,48and50are greater than the respective pin diameters38d,40dand42d. The illustrated second, third and fourth bushings46,48and50are double taper bushings, but other bushings with differing diameters along the length are within the scope of the present application.

In operation, the roll over protection system12is in the operational position as illustrated inFIG. 1. When an operator desires to lower the roll over protection system to the stowed position shown inFIG. 7, the operator removes the retaining pin36bfrom the first pin36and slides the first pin36out of the first bushing44. The first pin36is suspended from the third pin40by the cable40asuch that the first pin36remains connected to the roll over protection system12even when removed from the first bushing44. The operator then removes the retaining pin38bfrom the second pin38and slides the second pin38out of the second bushing46. The second pin38is suspended from the fourth pin42by the cable42asuch that the second pin38remains connected to the roll over protection system12even when removed from the second bushing46. When the first and second pins36,38are removed from the respective bushings44,46, the third upright portion34is pivotable with respect to the first and second upright portions30,32about the third and fourth pins40,42. The third upright portion34is pivoted from the operational position ofFIG. 1into the stowed position shown inFIG. 7.

When the operator desires to raise the roll over protection system into the operational position, the operator rotates the third upright portion34such that the first borehole76aand first bushing44are substantially aligned with the first aperture60aof the first upright portion30and such that the second borehole78aand the second bushing46are substantially aligned with the second aperture70ain the second upright portion32. Then, the operator inserts the first pin36into the first bushing44and inserts the retaining pin36binto the opening36cof the first pin36. Also, the operator inserts the second pin38into the second bushing46and inserts the retaining pin38binto an opening of the second pin38. The opening of the second pin38substantially corresponds to the opening36cof the first pin36.

When the pins36,38,40,42are all installed as shown inFIG. 1, each of the pins36,38,40,42includes three points of contact with the uprights30,32,34. Specifically, the first pin36contacts the first upright potion30at two locations (left and right inFIGS. 5, 6) and contacts the first bushing44in one location because of the double taper shape of the first bushing44. Previously, the pin would have four points of contact (two with the first upright portion and two with the third upright portion). Similarly, the other pins38,40,42each have three points of contact: two with the respective upright portion30,32and one with the respective bushing46,48,50. Reducing the points of contact from four to three per pin allows tighter tolerances to be used and decreases any rattling between the upright portions30,32,34.