Quick release floor panel system for a work machine

A work machine includes a frame and an operator cabin having a floor panel. The floor panel includes a floor plate, a floor mat, an access hole, and an access door assembly. The floor plate is connected to the frame. The floor mat is connected to the floor plate. The access hole is through the floor plate and the floor mat. The access door assembly is pivotally connected to the floor plate and positioned in the access hole. The access door assembly includes a door plate and a floor mat section. The door plate is pivotally connected the floor plate. The floor mat section is connected to and substantially covers the door plate. The access door assembly is configured to move between a closed state in which the access door assembly covers the access hole and an open state in which the access door assembly uncovers the access hole.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a quick release floor panel system for a work machine.

BACKGROUND

In some circumstances, operators of agricultural, industrial, construction and other heavy machinery need quick access to the area below the operator cabin to check for, inter alia, fire and leaks. Japan Patent No. JP5881128, entitled “CARGO HANDLING VEHICLE,” and filed on Dec. 19, 2014, is directed to a cargo handling vehicle capable of improving safety while protecting an operator from electric shock even when the operator inserts an arm through an opening of a vehicle body and touches an electric apparatus inside a vehicle body. Patent Cooperation Treaty Publication No. WO2017086450, entitled “LID OPENING/CLOSING STRUCTURE,” and filed Nov. 19, 2015, is directed to a lid opening/closing structure that can be easily opened and that can ensure the required sealing pressure. There may be challenges not met by or additional features that may compliment such prior systems.

SUMMARY

In an example according to this disclosure, a work machine includes a frame and an operator cabin having a floor panel. The floor panel includes a floor plate, a floor mat, an access hole, and an access door assembly. The floor plate is connected to the frame. The floor mat is connected to the floor plate. The access hole is through the floor plate and the floor mat. The access door assembly is pivotally connected to the floor plate and positioned in the access hole. The access door assembly includes a door plate and a floor mat section. The door plate is pivotally connected the floor plate. The floor mat section is connected to and substantially covers the door plate. The access door assembly is configured to move between a closed state in which the access door assembly covers the access hole and an open state in which the access door assembly uncovers the access hole.

Another example according to this disclosure is a floor panel for an operator cabin of a work machine. The floor panel includes a floor plate, a floor mat, an access hole, and an access door assembly. The floor plate is configured to be connected to a frame of the work machine. The floor mat is connected to the floor plate. The access hole is through the floor plate and the floor mat. The access door assembly is pivotally connected to the floor plate and positioned in the access hole. The access door assembly includes a door plate and a floor mat section. The door plate is pivotally connected the floor plate. The floor mat section is connected to and substantially covers the door plate. The access door assembly is configured to move between a closed state in which the access door assembly covers the access hole and an open state in which the access door assembly uncovers the access hole.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Examples according to this disclosure are directed to a quick release floor panel system for a work machine.

FIG. 1depicts an example machine100in accordance with this disclosure. InFIG. 1, machine100includes frame102, wheels104, and implement106. Example machine100is a wheel loader. In other examples, however, the machine may be other types of machines related to various industries, including, as examples, construction, agriculture, forestry, transportation, material handling, waste management, and so on. Accordingly, although a number of examples are described with reference to a wheel loader machine, examples according to this disclosure are also applicable to other types of machines including graders, scrapers, dozers, excavators, compactors, material haulers like dump trucks, along with other example machine types.

Machine100includes frame102mounted on four wheels104, although, in other examples, the machine could have more than four wheels. Frame102is configured to support and/or mount one or more components of machine100. For example, machine100includes enclosure108coupled to frame102. Enclosure108can house, among other components, an engine and/or other drive system to propel the machine over various terrain via wheels106. The engine can include various power generation platforms, including, for example, an internal combustion engine, whether gasoline or diesel.

Machine100includes implement106coupled to the frame102through linkage assembly110, which is configured to be actuated to articulate bucket112of implement106. Bucket112of implement106may be configured to transfer material such as, soil or debris, from one location to another. Linkage assembly110can include one or more cylinders114configured to be actuated hydraulically or pneumatically, for example, to articulate bucket112. For example, linkage assembly110can be actuated by cylinders114to raise and lower and/or rotate bucket112relative to frame102of machine100.

Platform116is coupled to frame102and provides access to various locations on machine100for operational and/or maintenance purposes. Machine100also includes an operator cabin118, which can be open or enclosed and may be accessed via platform114. Operator cabin118may include one or more control devices (not shown) such as, a joystick, a steering wheel, pedals, levers, buttons, switches, among other examples. The control devices are configured to enable the operator to control machine100and/or the implement106. Operator cabin118may also include an operator interface such as, a display device, a sound source, a light source, or a combination thereof.

In an example, operator cabin118includes an input/output device to review and enter various parameters controlling operation of machine100. For example, operator cabin118can include a touch-screen input and display device, by which an operator of machine100can review machine operating parameters and also enter desired values for such parameters. Machine100can also include a controller. The controller of machine100can include or be incorporated into various systems of machine100. For example, the controller of machine100may be an electronic control unit (ECU) of machine100. As another example, the controller of machine100may be included in/incorporated into a touch-screen device in operator cabin118. In any event, the controller of machine100can be configured to execute one or more programs related to operation of machine100.

Operator cabin118can also include a quick release floor panel system for work machine100. For example, operator cabin can include a floor panel system by which an operator of machine100can quickly and easily open and close an access door in the floor of operator cabin118to gain access to areas underneath the cabin. In one example, operator cabin118includes a floor panel including a floor plate, a floor mat, an access hole, and an access door assembly. The floor plate is connected to frame102of work machine100. The floor mat is connected to (or, in some examples, integral with) the floor plate. The access hole is through the floor plate and the floor mat. The access door assembly is pivotally connected to the floor plate and positioned in the access hole. The access door assembly includes a door plate and a floor mat section. The door plate is pivotally connected the floor plate. The floor mat section is connected to and substantially covering the door plate. The access door assembly is configured to move between a closed state in which the access door assembly covers the access hole and an open state in which the access door assembly uncovers the access hole.

Machine100can include a tank compartment connected to frame102and including fuel tank120. Fuel tank120is fluidly coupled to the engine. Tank120is configured to store a fuel therein and serve as a source for supply of the fuel to the engine of machine100. Machine100may also include other tanks, for example, to store and supply hydraulic fluid to implement106or other components of machine100.

Machine100can be used in a variety of industrial, construction, commercial or other applications. Machine100can be operated by an operator in operator cabin118. The operator can, for example, drive machine100to and from various locations on a work site and can also pick up and deposit loads of material using bucket112of implement106. As an example, machine100can be used to excavate a portion of a work site by actuating cylinders114to articulate bucket112via linkage110to dig into and remove dirt, rock, sand, etc. from a portion of the work site and deposit this load in another location.

FIGS. 2A-2Care perspective views depicting example floor panel200for an operator cabin of a work machine. InFIG. 2A, floor panel200includes floor plate202, floor mat204, access hole206(closed inFIG. 2), and access door assembly208. Floor panel200can be included in an operator cabin of a work machine, including, for example, operator cabin118of work machine100ofFIG. 1. Floor plate202of floor panel200can be connected to the frame of a work machine. Floor mat204is connected to or, in some examples, integral with floor plate202. Access door assembly208is pivotally connected to floor plate202and positioned in access hole206.

Access door assembly208includes door plate210(shown inFIG. 2B) and floor mat section212. Referring toFIGS. 2A and 2B, door plate210is connected to floor plate202. Floor mat section212is connected to and substantially covering door plate210. Access door assembly208is configured to move between a closed state, as depicted inFIG. 2A, in which the access door assembly covers access hole206and an open state, as depicted inFIG. 2B, in which the access door assembly uncovers the access hole.

Referring toFIGS. 2A-2C, floor panel200also includes hinges214, handle216, foot pedal218, latch220, and insulation panel(s)222. Example floor panel200includes three hinges214pivotally connecting door plate210of access door assembly208to floor plate202. In other examples, a floor panel system could include more or fewer hinges, including, for example, two hinges214and four hinges214. Hinges214allow door plate210to pivot relative to floor plate202to move access door assembly208between open and closed states. In an example, each of hinges214comprises a constant torque spring. The spring force of the constant torque springs in each of hinges214may be selected to provide a total a spring force that substantially counteracts a weight of access door assembly208. Thus, once an operator releases access door assembly208from latch220, spring loaded hinges214may function to bias access door assembly into an open state. In other examples according to this disclosure alternative weight counterbalance mechanisms may be employed, including, for example, pneumatic or hydraulic pistons, cams, pulleys, and/or springs, among other examples.

As noted above, floor panel200includes handle216and foot rest218. Handle216is connected to and included as part of access door assembly208. Handle216can be employed by an operator to open and close access door assembly. Additionally, handle216, in the closed state of access door assembly208, can be ergonomically positioned as a foot pedal for the operator of the work machine to which floor panel200is connected. Foot pedal218can be fixedly connected to floor plate202of floor panel200and can be ergonomically positioned for an operator to rest a foot on foot pedal218when operating the work machine.

Floor panel200includes two latches220. Latches220pivotally connects access door assembly208to floor plate202and can be configured to hold access door assembly208in a closed state. Each of latches220can include a spring release mechanism that is configured to release access door assembly208to move from a closed into an open state. For example, referring toFIG. 2C, each of latches220include spring clip224and post226. Spring clip224is connected to access door assembly208and is sized and shaped to selectively receive and release post226, which is connected to floor plate202of floor panel200.

Floor panel200also includes insulation panel222. In general, insulation panel222is configured to insulate the operator cabin and operator from conditions underneath the operator cabin, including from conditions like fire or other temperature variations and/or sound. In the example of floor panel200, insulation panel222includes a first insulation panel222aand a second insulation panel222b. First insulation panel222ais connected to door plate210. Second insulation panel222bis connected to floor plate202. First insulation panel222ais sized and shaped to fit within an opening, channel, notch, or other aperture in or contour of second insulation panel222b. Insulation panels employed in examples according to this disclosure can be fabricated from a variety of insulation materials.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

In an operating example of a work machine according to this disclosure, the operator of work machine100manipulates machine200and bucket112of implement106to pick up and deposit loads of material using bucket112. During operation of machine100, the operator may become aware of one or more conditions occurring under the operator cabin. For example, the operator may detect or discover, either by visual or other sense perception or by some alarm, alert, sensor, etc., that a fire has ignited underneath the operator cabin. In such circumstances, the operator of machine100may need to inspect the area underneath the operator cabin.

The operator may bring machine100to a stop upon discovering the condition(s) underneath the cabin. The operator may then move feet and any other obstructions from over and/or on access door assembly208. The operator can lift door plate210of access door assembly208using handle216. The operator may exert enough force on access door assembly208to overcome the spring force of spring clips224on posts226. As the operator lifts door plate210, access door assembly208pivots relative to floor plate202at hinges214and access door assembly208moves from a closed state (FIGS. 2A and 2C) in which the access door assembly covers access hole206to an open state (FIG. 2B) in which the access door assembly uncovers the access hole through the operator cabin. Thus, the operator can gain access to areas underneath the operator cabin to inspect or attend to conditions found therein.