Patent Publication Number: US-2009224898-A1

Title: Relocatable Machine Monitor

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present disclosure relates to a vehicle having a monitor. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a vehicle having a relocatable monitor, and to methods for installing the same. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Work vehicles may be provided with a blade for pushing, shearing, carrying, and leveling dirt and other material. Motor graders, for example, may be used in the construction and maintenance of roads to prepare flat surfaces. To assist an operator while operating the vehicle, the vehicle may include a monitor or display device. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a vehicle is provided that includes a chassis, a ground engaging mechanism configured to support and propel the chassis, and an operator station within the chassis. The vehicle further includes at least one monitor and a plurality of installation locations within the operator station. Each installation location includes a mount and an electrical connector. The mount is configured to support the monitor. The electrical connector is configured to provide power, data, or both, to the monitor. During original manufacture of the vehicle, at least one of the installation locations lacks a monitor. 
     According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a vehicle is provided that includes a chassis, a ground engaging mechanism configured to support and propel the chassis, and an operator station within the chassis. The vehicle further includes an OEM monitor, a first installation location within the operator station, and a second installation location within the operator station. The first installation location includes a mount configured to support the OEM monitor and an electrical connector configured to provide power, data, or both, to the OEM monitor. The second installation location also includes a mount configured to support the OEM monitor and an electrical connector configured to provide power, data, or both, to the OEM monitor. During original manufacture of the vehicle, the second installation location lacks a monitor. 
     According to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, a method is provided for manufacturing a vehicle. The method involves providing, during original manufacture, the vehicle having a first installation location with an OEM monitor installed in the first installation location and a second installation location without a monitor installed in the second installation location. The first installation location includes a mount configured to support the OEM monitor and an electrical connector configured to provide power, data, or both to the OEM monitor. The second installation location also includes a mount configured to support the OEM monitor and an electrical connector configured to provide power, data, or both, to the OEM monitor. 
     According to still yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, a method is provided for installing a monitor in a vehicle. During original manufacture, the method involves providing the vehicle having a first installation location with a first monitor and a second installation location without a monitor. Each installation location includes a mount configured to support the first monitor and an electrical connector configured to provide power, data, or both, to the first monitor. After providing the vehicle, the method involves installing a second monitor in either the first installation location or the second installation location. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above-mentioned and other features of the present disclosure will become more apparent and the present disclosure itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the present disclosure taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a vehicle of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an operator station of the vehicle having multiple installation locations; 
         FIG. 3  is a view similar to  FIG. 2  of the operator station having a first monitor installed in one of the installation locations; and 
         FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 3  of the operator station having the first monitor installed in one of the installation locations and a second monitor installed in another of the installation locations. 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a vehicle in the form of motor grader  10  is provided. Although the vehicle is illustrated and described herein as motor grader  10 , the vehicle may include any other type of vehicle including, for example, a tractor, an excavator, and a bulldozer. Motor grader  10  includes chassis  12  and ground engaging mechanism  14 . Ground engaging mechanism  14  may include any device capable of supporting and/or propelling chassis  12 . For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , ground engaging mechanism  14  may include wheels. Motor grader  10  also includes blade  16  mounted to chassis  12  for pushing, spreading, and leveling dirt and other material. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-2 , motor grader  10  further includes operator station  18  for an operator of motor grader  10 . As shown, operator station  18  includes exterior walls that may surround and protect the operator within operator station  18 , including front wall  20 , rear wall  22 , and side walls  24 ,  26 . The operator may face front wall  20  during operation of motor grader  10 . The exterior walls of operator station  18 , including front wall  20 , may include windows or openings to provide the operator with an adequate line of sight beyond operator station  18 . While operating motor grader  10 , the operator should have an adequate view of the ground, any obstacles on the ground, and, if applicable, blade  16 . Operator station  18  of motor grader  10  further includes steering mechanism  28 , such as a steering wheel, configured to steer motor grader  10  during operation. Steering mechanism  28  may be located toward front wall  20  of operator station  18 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , operator station  18  of motor grader  10  further includes a plurality of installation locations, illustrated herein as first installation location  30  and second installation location  32 . First installation location  30  may be located toward front wall  20  of operator station  18 . More specifically, first installation location  30  may be located above steering mechanism  28  toward front wall  20  of operator station  18 . Second installation location  32  may be located on side wall  24  or side wall  26  of operator station  18 . Both first installation location  30  and second installation location  32  may include mount  34  and/or electrical connector  36 . 
     Mount  34  may include any device or arrangement configured to support a monitor or display device. For example, as shown in  FIG. 2 , mount  34  may include a U-shaped bracket configured to be secured onto an exterior wall of operator station  18  and screwed, bolted, or otherwise secured to a monitor. In this form, the bracket may include an adjustable and movable arm. Another example of mount  34  is a plate configured to be secured onto an exterior wall of operator station  18  and slid into a receptacle within a monitor. Yet another example of mount  34  is at least one hole within an exterior wall of operator station  18  configured to receive a screw, a bolt, or another fastener from a monitor. 
     Electrical connector  36  may include any device configured to provide power, data, or both, to a monitor or display device. For example, electrical connector  36  may include a universal serial bus (USB) connector, a VGA connector, a digital video interface (DVI) connector, an RCA connector, or an S-video connector. Electrical connector  36  may also include a purpose-built harness with, for example, Deutsch or Metri-Pack connectors. 
     According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, illustrated in  FIG. 3 , motor grader  10  may be provided during original manufacture with first monitor  38 . As used herein, “original manufacture” includes the period before motor grader  10  is sold and delivered to a third party, such as a distributor or a customer. First monitor  38  may be a device of the original equipment manufacturer (OEM). As used herein, an “OEM monitor” includes a monitor that is installed in motor grader  10  during original manufacture of motor grader  10 . An “OEM monitor” may be manufactured by the manufacturer of motor grader  10  or by a third party. As shown, first monitor  38  may be installed in first installation location  30 . In other words, first monitor  38  may be installed above steering mechanism  28  toward front wall  20  of operator station  18 . First monitor  38  may be attached to mount  34  of first installation location  30  and may be connected to electrical connector  36  of first installation location  30  to receive power, data, or both. In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, first monitor  38  installed in first installation location  30  should be within the operator&#39;s line of sight without significantly obstructing the operator&#39;s line of sight beyond operator station  18 . 
     According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, illustrated in  FIG. 4 , second monitor  40  may be provided after original manufacture of motor grader  10  and mounted in first installation location  30 . Second monitor  40  may be an after-market device installed after motor grader  10  is sold and delivered to a third party. Second monitor  40  may be supplied by a different manufacturer than motor grader  10  and, if applicable, by a different manufacturer than first monitor  38 . Second monitor  40  may be part of a supplemental control system. For example, second monitor  40  may be part of a supplemental grade control system used to monitor the operation and maneuvers of blade  16 . Using second monitor  40 , the operator may view the actual position of blade  16  in relation to a digital design plan. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , first monitor  38  may be moved from first installation location  30  to second installation location  32  to accommodate second monitor  40 . In other words, first monitor  38  may be moved from front wall  20  of operator station  18  to side wall  24  or side wall  26  of operator station  18 . To relocate first monitor  38 , first monitor  38  may be detached from mount  34  of first installation location  30  and disconnected from electrical connector  36  of first installation location  30 . Then, without having to install a bracket in second installation location  32  or run wires to second installation location  32 , first monitor  38  may be attached to existing mount  34  of second installation location  32  and may be connected to existing electrical connector  36  of second installation location  32  to receive power, data, or both. In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, first monitor  38  installed in second installation location  32  should be within the operator&#39;s line of sight without significantly obstructing the operator&#39;s line of sight to second monitor  40  or the operator&#39;s line of site beyond operator station  18 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , second monitor  40  may replace first monitor  38  in first installation location  30 . In other words, second monitor  40  may be installed above steering mechanism  28  toward front wall  20  of operator station  18 . Second monitor  40  may be supported by mount  34  of first installation location  30  and may be connected to electrical connector  36  of first installation location  30  to receive power, data, or both. In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, second monitor  40  installed in first installation location  30 , like first monitor  38  previously installed in first installation location  30 , should be within the operator&#39;s line of sight without significantly obstructing the operator&#39;s line of sight to first monitor  38  or the operator&#39;s line of site beyond operator station  18 . 
     It is within the scope of the present disclosure that first monitor  38  may remain in first installation location  30 , while second monitor  40  may be installed in second installation location  32 . Similarly, it is within the scope of the present disclosure that first monitor  38  and second monitor  40  may be moved back and forth between first installation location  30  and second installation location  32 , depending on the operator&#39;s preference and/or the operator&#39;s current use of motor grader  10 . 
     The present disclosure is not limited to first installation location  30  and second installation location  32 . For example, motor grader  10  may be provided with a third installation location to accommodate a third monitor. In an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the third monitor installed in the third installation location should be within the operator&#39;s line of sight without significantly obstructing the operator&#39;s line of sight to the other monitors or the operator&#39;s line of sight beyond operator station  18 . 
     While this invention has been described as having preferred designs, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.