Patent Publication Number: US-2021170838-A1

Title: Self-propelled operating machine equipped with an improved cabin

Description:
This invention relates to a self-propelled operating machine, with reference in particular to a telehandler, equipped with an improved control cabin. There are prior art telescopic handlers (“telehandlers”) consisting of a vehicle equipped with a movable frame on wheels, a driver&#39;s cab and an operating arm which can be extended telescopically. 
     At the distal end of the arm there is an apparatus for lifting and/or moving loads, such as, for example, a fork, a cage, a lateral transfer unit, a hoist, etc. 
     On the frame there is a control cabin designed to house the operator and comprising a control panel for controlling the movement of the machine and the actuation of the operating unit (or units). 
     Firstly, the cabin must meet safety and efficiency requirements linked mainly to visibility by the operator during both operation and movement of the machine. 
     During the movement of the operating units, the operator may be positioned facing the sun and thus operate in a very disadvantageous situation. 
     Even if the operator is adequately positioned against the sun, the light which penetrates through the transparent windows of the cab and reflected by the surfaces inside the cab can reduce the comfort for the operator. 
     Moreover, the sun&#39;s rays which continuously pass through the transparent windows of the cab determine in certain conditions a considerable increase in the temperature inside the cab, reducing the level of comfort for the operator and sometimes making it inaccessible. 
     Currently, in order to protect the operator from the sun&#39;s rays, the cabs mount internally, at the roof, a blind which can be operated manually and, at the windscreen, sunshade flaps which are not unlike those in use in automobiles. 
     These measures are inconvenient and require the operator to carry out a continuous and annoying manipulation, because they force the operator to find a compromise between visibility for work and protection from the sun which varies with changes in the operating steps and with changes in the brightness conditions during the day. 
     Moreover, disadvantageously these systems reduce the habitable volume of the control cabin and are subject to high wear which limits their effectiveness or requires frequent replacement. 
     In this context, the technical purpose which forms the basis of the invention is to provide a self-propelled operating machine which overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art. 
     The technical purpose indicated and the aims specified are substantially achieved by a self-propelled operating machine according to claim  1 . 
    
    
     
       Further features and advantages of this invention are more apparent in the detailed description below, with reference to a preferred, non-limiting embodiment of a self-propelled operating machine as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a self-propelled operating machine according to a possible embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a portion of the self-propelled operating machine of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 3 a -3 i    schematically illustrate a plurality of possible embodiments of a portion of the self-propelled operating machine of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     With reference to the accompanying drawings, the numeral  1  denotes in its entirety a self-propelled operating machine made according to the invention. 
     Preferably, the machine according to the invention consists of a telehandler  1 , both fixed, rotary and articulated. 
     The operating machine  1  comprises at least one control cabin  2  and a telescopic operating arm  3  at the distal end of which is removably coupled an apparatus for lifting and moving a load. 
     The cabin  2  comprises a mounting frame  4  designed to delimit a cab  5  for the operator. 
     The control cabin  2  comprises a door  6  giving access to the cab  5 . 
     The control cabin  2  comprises at least one transparent wall  7  applied to the supporting frame  4  in such a way as to delimit the cab  5 . 
     In particular, the transparent wall  7  is configured to give the operator a large visibility in such a way as to increase the safety in the movement of the loads during the operating steps. 
     According to a possible embodiment and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the control cabin  2  has at least one upper wall  8 , which acts as a roof, and a front wall  9 , which acts as a windscreen, which may form a continuous single glazing. 
     More generally speaking, the transparent wall  7  may be continuous and at least partly extend in the upper wall  8  and in the front wall  9  (as illustrated in  FIG. 3 g   ). 
     In accordance with that embodiment, the control cabin  2  guarantees the operator a continuous view of the load being moved, for example during a movement along a vertical direction, preventing structural elements, for example portions of the supporting frame  4  joining the front wall  9  and the upper wall  8 , from being interposed between the operator and the load. 
     The control cabin  2  may also have a rear wall  10  and/or at least one side wall  11  operatively connected to form the cab  5  for the operator. 
     In practice, the control cabin  2  may comprise a plurality of transparent walls  7  applied to the supporting frame  4  and delimiting the cab  5  for the operator. 
     The transparent wall  7  may be made of composite glass (or layered glass) configured to guarantee a high level of safety inside the cabin  5  during the operating steps of the operating machine  1 . 
     According to an important aspect of the invention, the transparent wall  7  of the control cabin  2  can be made opaque in a controlled fashion. 
     In other words, the control cabin  2  comprises at least one transparent wall  7  whose opaqueness is adjustable in order to define a plurality of different operating conditions inside the cab  5 . 
     In this way it is possible to limit the brightness level inside the cab  5  reducing the risk of glare and, therefore, increasing the comfort for the operator during the operating steps of the operating machine  1 . 
     Moreover, the transparent walls  7  which can be made opaque allow the luminosity inside the control cabin to be limited, guaranteeing at the same time a complete view of the operating unit for the operator. 
     In other words, the transparent walls  7  which can be made opaque reduce the brightness inside the control cabin without the need to interpose external elements which would reduce the view of the operator. 
     According to a possible embodiment, the transparent wall  7  houses internally a plurality of electrically reactive elements. The electrically reactive elements are configured to define an opaqueness of the transparent wall  7  following electrical energising exerted by a power supply unit (not illustrated in the accompanying drawings). 
     In particular, the transparent wall  7  may comprise a central layer interposed between a first and a second outer layer. 
     The first and second outer layers are configured to house the above-mentioned plurality of electrically reactive elements. 
     Advantageously, the at least one transparent wall  7  which can be made opaque may be positioned on the front wall  9  and/or on the upper wall  8 . In that way, the transparent wall  7  guarantees that the operator has continuous protection against the risk of glare caused by sunlight when the operating unit  3  is moved. 
     According to a possible embodiment and as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 a , 3 b , 3 c   , the control cabin  2  may comprise one or more transparent walls  7  which are separate from each other and can be made opaque in a selective fashion. 
     Moreover, the control cabin  2  may comprise at least one transparent wall  7  divided into a plurality of transparent portions  70  which can be made opaque in a selective fashion ( FIGS. 3 d , 3 e , 3 f   ). 
     In other words, the transparent wall  7  may have a plurality of portions  70  which can be made opaque independently of each other in such a way as to obtain a sectorial opaqueness of the transparent wall  7 . 
     According to further possible embodiments and as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 h , 3 i   , the control cabin  2  may have one or more transparent walls  7  which are separate from each other at least one of which is divided into a plurality of transparent portions  70  which can be made opaque in a selective fashion. 
     Advantageously, the transparent walls  7  and/or the transparent portions  70  which can be made opaque in a selective fashion can be positioned in succession from the front wall  9  towards the upper wall  8  to guarantee a high level of customisation of the operating conditions inside the cab  5 . 
     According to a particular embodiment, the operating machine  1  comprises a control unit (not illustrated in the accompanying drawings) configured for detecting and/or receiving at least one operating parameter of the operating machine  1 . 
     In particular, the control unit is configured to act on the transparent wall  7  in such a way as to modify the degree of opaqueness, or also for modifying that of the transparent portions  70 , as a function of the operating parameter detected and/or received. 
     Advantageously, the above-mentioned operating parameter may comprise information correlated with the positioning of the load positioned on the movement unit  3 . 
     Moreover, the control unit may be configured to detect and/or receive information relating to the positioning of the sun. 
     In this way, the control unit can modify the degree of opaqueness of the transparent wall  7  and/or of the transparent portions  70  to guarantee a high visibility for the operator, reducing the probability of glare. 
     The operating machine  1  may comprise activation means (not illustrated in the accompanying drawings) which can be operated by the operator for activating and/or deactivating an opaqueness of the transparent wall  7  and/or the transparent portions  70 . 
     Moreover, the operating machine  1  may comprise adjustment means (not illustrated in the accompanying drawings) configured for setting up and/or varying a level of opaqueness of the transparent wall  7  and/or of the transparent portions  70 . 
     In other words, the adjustment means make it possible to modify the degree of opaqueness of the transparent wall  7  and/or of the transparent portions  70  in such a way as to create a plurality of operating conditions inside the cab  5  designed to improve visibility and thus the comfort of the operator during the operating steps. 
     In particular, the adjustment means may define an adjustment of the opaqueness of the transparent wall  7  and/or of the transparent portions  70  according to a plurality of different and preset levels of opacity. 
     Moreover, the adjustment means can also provide continuous adjustment of the opaqueness of the transparent wall  7  and of the transparent portions  70 . 
     Preferably, the adjustment means can allow an adjustment according to a plurality of different and preset levels of opacity and, alternatively, according to a continuous adjustment of the percentage of opacity. 
     According to some possible embodiments, the activation and/or the adjustment means are operatively connected to the control unit in such a way as to allow both an autonomous and manual activation and/or adjustment of the opaqueness of the transparent wall  7  and/or of the transparent portions  70 . 
     It should be noted, therefore, that the invention achieves the preset aims by providing a self-propelled operating machine having a control cabin which is able to increase the safety during the operations for moving loads and/or during the movement of the self-propelled operating machine thanks to the presence of at least one transparent wall which can be made opaque in a controlled fashion which improves the conditions of visibility and limits the risk of glare for the operator. 
     In this way, moreover, the self-propelled operating machine contributes to increasing the comfort for the operator during the operating steps. 
     Moreover, advantageously, the large transparent walls of the control cabin guarantee a continuous view of the load being moved by the operator, limiting the possibility that structural elements, for example portions of the supporting frame, are interposed between the operator and the load. 
     Advantageously, the transparent walls and/or the transparent portions which can be made opaque in a selective fashion guarantee a high level of customisation of the conditions of visibility inside the cabin. 
     Moreover, advantageously, the above-mentioned opaque walls and/or portions limit the entrance of the sun&#39;s rays which, for example during the summer, determine a considerable increase in the temperature inside the cab.