DESC:FORM 2

THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENT RULES, 2003

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10 and Rule 13)

Title of invention:
ROLL-OVER PROTECTIVE SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR MOUNTING A CABIN OF A DUMP TRUCK

Applicant:
BEML Limited
A company Incorporated in India under the Companies Act, 1956
Having address:
BEML Soudha, 23/1, 4th Main,
Sampangirama Nagar, Bengaluru - 560 027,
Karnataka, India

The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND PRIORITY

[001] The present invention claims priority from Indian patent Provisional Application 202041006348 filed on 13 February 2020.

TECHNICAL FIELD
[002] The present subject matter described herein, in general, relates to a roll-over protective support structure and more specifically relates to a roll-over protective support structure for mounting a cabin of a dump truck.
BACKGROUND
[003] It is a common practice in modern day cab assemblies, to build the cab around a very structurally sound framework. The framework is intended to withstand tremendous forces that would be applied to the cab in the event that the vehicle to which the cab was attached should happen to roll over. This structure must be able to withstand forces at least equal to the weight of the vehicle to prevent the occupant of the cab from being crushed as the vehicle rolls over. This structure is commonly known as a roll-over protective structure or ROPS. Current ROPS structures include local gussets, plates, other external structural reinforcement that are each welded separately. In addition, the cab frame, itself, typically includes a plurality of structural members coupled to one another to form a relatively stiff structural frame.
[004] The present subject matter discloses an improved ROPS structure for mounting of a cabin on the dump truck configured to improve ROPS systems by reducing the cost and weight of ROPS components and/or by increasing the ease of installation of ROPS components between the cab and chassis frames and thereby overcoming the limitations stated above.
SUMMARY
[005] Before the present system and method are described, it is to be understood that this application is not limited to the particular machine or an apparatus, and methodologies described, as there can be multiple possible embodiments that are not expressly illustrated in the present disclosures. It is also to be understood that the terminology used in the description is for the purpose of describing the particular versions or embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present application. This summary is provided to introduce aspects related to a roll-over protective support structure for mounting a cabin of a dump truck, and the aspects are further elaborated below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify essential features of the proposed subject matter nor is it intended for use in determining or limiting the scope of the proposed subject matter.
[006] The present subject matter discloses a roll-over protective support structure for mounting a cabin of a dump truck. The roll-over protective support structure comprises a top horizontal member, a base horizontal member and a pair of vertical members. The top horizontal member is configured for mounting one side of the cabin. The base horizontal member is configured to be mounted with a first chassis frame of the dump truck. The pair of vertical members is configured to be mounted between the base horizontal member and the top horizontal member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[007] The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawing. For the purpose of illustrating the disclosure, there is shown in the present document example constructions of the disclosure, however, the disclosure is not limited to the specific methods and apparatus disclosed in the document and the drawing:
[008] The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figure. In the figure, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the drawing to refer like features and components.
[009] Figure 1 illustrates a view of a roll-over protective support structure, in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0010] Figure 2 illustrates another view of the roll-over protective support structure with mounting of cabin, in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0011] Figure 3 illustrates another view of the roll-over protective support structure, in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0012] Figure 4 illustrates another view of the roll-over protective support structure mounted on both sides of a dump truck, in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0013] The figure depicts various embodiments of the present disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following discussion that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] Some embodiments of this disclosure, illustrating all its features, will now be discussed in detail. The words "comprising", “having”, and "including," and other forms thereof, are intended to be equivalent in meaning and be open ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items, or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items. Although any systems and methods similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of embodiments of the present disclosure, the exemplary, systems and methods are now described. The disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the disclosure, which may be embodied in various forms.
[0015] Various modifications to the embodiment will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and the generic principles herein may be applied to other embodiments. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the embodiments illustrated, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features described herein.
[0016] Referring to figure 1, figure 2 and figure 3, in one aspect of the present subject matter, a roll-over protective support (ROPS) structure 100 for mounting a cabin 20 of a dump truck 10 is described. The ROPS Structure 100 is configured to be mounted between a base 32 of the cabin and the chassis frame 30 of the dump truck 10 to transfer load of the cabin 20 to the chassis frame 30. The ROPS Structure 100 comprises a top horizontal member 110, a base horizontal member 120 and a pair of vertical members 130. The top horizontal member 110 is configured for mounting one side of the cabin 20. The base horizontal member 120 is configured to be mounted with a first chassis frame 32 of the dump truck 10. The pair of vertical members 130 is configured to be mounted between the base horizontal member 120 and the top horizontal member 110. The cabin (20) is configured with a base 22 provided with plurality of mounting brackets 150. At least one pair of mounting brackets 150 is configured for securing the cabin 22 on the top horizontal member 110 and at least one pair of mounting brackets 150 is configured to be mounted with a second chassis frame 34 of the dump truck 10 Further the mounting brackets 150 of the cabin 20 are configured to be securely mounted on the top horizontal member 110 and the second chassis frame 34 through plurality of catch pins 140.
[0017] In another embodiment of the present subject matter the ROPS structure 100 comprises plurality of mounting provisions 132 on the pair of vertical members 130. The plurality of mounting provisions 132 are configured to mount ladder, cabin brackets, fender sheet, air cleaner, extended bumper structure etc. to eliminate dedicated mounting brackets and to reduce human efforts for mounting these elements. Further this eliminates space requirements for these elements during shipment of the dump truck or the ROPS structure.
[0018] In one aspect of the present subject matter, the ROPS structure 100 is configured to be mounted on one side of the dump truck below the cabin 20. Whereas in another aspect, as shown in figure 4, the ROPS structure 100 may be configured on both sides of the dump truck to provide additional support.
[0019] In another aspect, the base horizontal member 120 is configured for extension of the second chassis frame 34 to provide a work platform. Further the base horizontal member 120 may be configured for extension of the front bumper structure of the dump truck 10. Further in another aspect, the pair of vertical members 130 may be configured to be two seamless tubes capable for bearing load of the cabin 20.
[0020] In another embodiment, the top horizontal member 110 and the pair of vertical members 130 are secured through a strengthening bracket 112. Further, the base horizontal member 120 is configured to be a box type structure enclosed by flanges 122 on two sides and mounted on the first chassis frame 32 through plurality of bolts 124.
[0021] In another embodiment, the base 22 of the cabin 20 is configured to comprise four pairs of the mounting brackets 150. Two pairs of the mounting brackets are configured to be mounted on the first chassis frame 32 and another two pairs of the mounting brackets are configured to be mounted on the top horizontal member 110.
[0022] Exemplary embodiments discussed above may provide certain advantages. Though not required to practice aspects of the disclosure, these advantages may include those provided by the following features.
[0023] Some embodiments of the subject matter enable to provide optimum design, assembly friendly, easy shipment, customer satisfaction and cost reduction for cabin mounting.
[0024] Some embodiments of the subject matter enable to eliminate number of manufacturing sub-structures required separately to mount a few systems such as ROPs cabin structure, rigid fender, platform (deck), air cleaner and extended bumper structure.
[0025] Some embodiments of the subject matter enable to optimize design that reduces the overall weight of structure thus it contributes to maintain power to weight ratio and fuel efficiency of equipment thereby reducing the cost.
[0026] Some embodiments of the subject matter enable to eliminate number of sub-structure and less welding areas as compared to present design.
[0027] Some embodiments of the subject matter enable to adopt the ROPS structure for low capacity and mechanical dump truck.
[0028] Some embodiments of the subject matter enable to provide additional space required for a few structures such as ladder assembly, air cleaner and fender sheet.
[0029] Although implementations for the roll-over protective support structure 100 have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methods, it is to be understood that the appended claims are not necessarily limited to the specific features described. Rather, the specific features are disclosed as examples of implementation for the roll-over protective support structure 100.

,CLAIMS:
1. A roll-over protective support structure (100) for mounting a cabin (20) of a dump truck (10) comprising:
a top horizontal member (110) configured for mounting one side of the cabin (20),
a base horizontal member (120) configured to be mounted with a first chassis frame (32) of the dump truck (10); and
a pair of vertical members (130) configured to be mounted between the base horizontal member (120) and the top horizontal member (110).
2. The roll-over protective support structure, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cabin (20) is configured with a base (22) provided with plurality of mounting brackets (150), wherein at least one pair of mounting brackets (150) is configured for securing the cabin (22) on the top horizontal member (110) and at least one pair of mounting brackets (150) is configured to be mounted with a second chassis frame (34) of the dump truck (10).
3. The roll-over protective support structure, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mounting brackets (150) of the cabin (20) are configured to be securely mounted on the top horizontal member (110) and the second chassis frame (34) through plurality of catch pins (140).
4. The roll-over protective support structure, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the roll-over protective support structure is configured to transfer load of the cabin (20) to the first chassis frame (32).
5. The roll-over protective support structure, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the roll-over protective support structure is configured to be mounted on at least one side of the dump truck (10) below the cabin (20).
6. The roll-over protective support structure, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the roll-over protective support structure is configured to be mounted on both sides of the dump truck (10) to provide additional support.
7. The roll-over protective support structure, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pair of vertical members (130) is configured to be seamless tubes capable for bearing load of the cabin (20).
8. The roll-over protective support structure, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the roll-over protective support structure is configured with plurality of mounting provisions (132) on the pair of vertical members (130) to mount ladder, cabin brackets, fender sheet, air cleaner, and extended bumper structure.
9. The roll-over protective support structure, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top horizontal member (110) and the pair of vertical members (130) are secured through a strengthening bracket (112).
10. The roll-over protective support structure, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base horizontal member (120) is configured to be a box type structure enclosed by flanges (122) on two sides and mounted on the first chassis frame (32) through plurality of bolts (124).