Description:VEHICLE CABIN TILTING DEVICE

TECHNICAL FIELD

[001] This disclosure relates generally to a tilting device, and more particularly to a vehicle cabin tilting device.
BACKGROUND

[002] Many commercial vehicles consist of a tiltable cabin area. Commercial vehicles are generally heavy-duty vehicles that have their engine bay under the front cabin. Therefore, to service the engine, the cabin is required to be raised or titled upwards in order to access the engine bay. Due to extensive use and running of commercial vehicles, there is a frequent requirement for maintenance of commercial vehicles. In general, a hydraulic system is pre-installed in most commercial vehicles and includes a tilt pump that may raise the cabin area by pressurizing a hydraulic cylinder. In conventional systems, the tilt pump is operated manually to actuate the hydraulic piston and cylinder assemblies in order to raise or lower the cabin according to the requirement. In such conventional systems, to operate the tilt pump, a manual pump lever coupled to the tilt pump may be provided.
[003] However, manual pumping using the pump lever may be a strenuous operation for the operator. Moreover, in order to manually operate the pump, the operator needs to stand close to the vehicle thereby making the operator susceptible to injuries while raising or lowering the cabin.
[004] Therefore, there is a need for a device that enables easy and efficient raising and lowering of the vehicle cabin while ensuring safety of the vehicle operator.
SUMMARY

[005] In one embodiment, a vehicle cabin tilting device is provided. The vehicle cabin tilting device may include a crank, a connecting rod, and a gripping member. The crank may be configured to be coupled to a motor. The crank may further include a coupling point through which the crank may be coupled to a motor shaft of the motor. The crank may further include a pin that may be offset from the coupling point. The connecting rod may be configured to be coupled to the crank. In an embodiment, the connecting rod may include a first slot that may be configured to receive and slidably enclose the pin. The connecting rod may further include a second slot that may be selectively enclosable via a removable fastener. The gripping member may further include a third slot. In an embodiment, the third slot may be configured to interlock with the second slot via the removable fastener. The gripping member may further include a fourth slot that may be configured to receive and grip a pumping rod.
[006] In an embodiment, the vehicle cabin tilting device may include a base to support an assembly of the crank, the connecting rod, and the gripping member. The vehicle cabin tilting device may include at least one first support member that may be coupled to the base. Further, the vehicle cabin tilting device may include at least one second support member that may be coupled to the base.
[007] In an embodiment, a guide clamp may be attached to the first support member and the second support member. In an embodiment, the guide clamp may be configured to interface with the connecting rod. In an embodiment, the guide clamp may be configured to restrict the movement of the connecting rod in a single vertical direction.
[008] In an embodiment, the vehicle cabin tilting device may include a motor that may be coupled to the one second support member. In an embodiment, the motor shaft of the motor may couple with the coupling point of the crank.
[009] In an embodiment, the vehicle cabin tilting device may include a trolley that may be configured to attach to and support the base. In an embodiment, the base may rest on the trolley.
[0010] In an embodiment, the pumping rod may be configured to be attached to a cabin tilt pump. In an embodiment, the motor may transfer a rotary movement to the crank. In an embodiment, the crank may transfer the rotary movement to a vertical movement of the connecting rod, via the pin that may be slidably received and enclosed within the first slot. In an embodiment, the connecting rod may transfer the vertical movement of the connecting rod to the pumping movement of the pumping rod that may be gripped within the fourth slot. The connecting rod may transfer the vertical movement of the connecting rod to the pumping movement of the pumping rod via the interlocked second slot and third slot. Accordingly, the pumping movement of the pumping rod may operate the cabin tilt pump to tilt a vehicle cabin.
[0011] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate exemplary embodiments and, together with the description, explain the disclosed principles.
[0013] FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B illustrate a front perspective view and a rear perspective view of a vehicle cabin tilting device respectively, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0014] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary scenario of the vehicle cabin tilting device connected to the tilt motor of a vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0015] FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the vehicle cabin tilting device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0016] FIG. 4 illustrates a rear view of the vehicle cabin tilting device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0017] FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of the vehicle cabin tilting device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] The foregoing description has broadly outlined the features and technical advantages of the present disclosure in order that the detailed description of the disclosure that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the disclosure. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying other devices, systems, assemblies, and mechanisms for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that, such equivalent constructions do not depart from the scope of the disclosure as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristics of the disclosure, to its device or system, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present disclosure.
[0019] The terms “including”, “comprises”, “comprising”, “comprising of” or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusions, such that a system or a device that comprises a list of components or steps does not include only those components or steps but may include other components or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such setup or device. In other words, one or more elements in a system or apparatus proceeded by “comprises… a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or apparatus.
[0020] Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same numerals have been used to refer to the same or like parts. The following paragraphs describe the present disclosure with reference to FIG. 1A-5. It is to be noted that the system may be employed in any vehicle including but not limited to a passenger vehicle, a utility vehicle, commercial vehicles, and any other vehicle with a tiltable cabin system.
[0021] Referring now to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, a front perspective view and a rear perspective view of a vehicle cabin tilting device 100 respectively, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The vehicle cabin tilting device 100 facilitates easy and efficient tilting (raising and/or lowering) of a vehicle cabin while ensuring the safety of a vehicle operator. To this end, the vehicle cabin tilting device 100 may grip a pumping rod 132 which may further be attached to a cabin tilt pump 134. In order to operate the cabin tilt pump 134, the vehicle cabin tilting device 100 may impart a pumping movement to the pumping rod 132, which may then be transferred to the cabin tilt pump 134 in order to tilt the vehicle cabin (not shown). Based on the requirement of the vehicle operator, the titling of the vehicle cabin may either be to raise or lower it. Additionally, the pumping movement may vary based on requirement of the vehicle operator, i.e., whether the vehicle cabin is to be lowered or raised.
[0022] In order to enable and provide the above discussed functionalities, the vehicle cabin tilting device 100 may include a crank 114, a connecting rod 118, and a gripping member 124. As further explained in detail, the crank 114 may couple with the connecting rod 118, while the connecting rod 118 may further couple with the gripping member 124. The gripping member 124 may finally grip the pumping rod 132. Thus, the connecting rod 118 may be coupled to both the crank 114 and the gripping member 124. In other words, the connecting rod 118 (as the name suggests) acts as a bridge between the crank 114 and the gripping member 124. This is further explained in detail below. In order to support the assembly of the crank 114, the connecting rod 118, and the gripping member 124, the vehicle cabin tilting device 100 includes a base 102 that may further include one or more support members 104. The one or more support members 104 are connected to the base 102 and are perpendicular to the base 102.
[0023] The one or more support members 104 may further include one or more guide clamps 106 to support the connecting rod 118. In order to interface with the connecting rod 118, each of the one or more guide clamps 106 may include a slot 105 through which the connecting rod 118 may pass. Thus, the guide clamps 106 may restrict the movement of the connecting rod 118 in a vertical direction. As mentioned before, the connecting rod 118 couples with both the crank 114 and the gripping member 124. In order to couple with the crank 114, the connecting rod 118 may include a first slot 120 at one end, which may slidably enclose a pin 116 of the crank 114. The crank 114 may also include a coupling point (not shown) that is oppositely disposed from the pin 116, in such a way, that the pin 116 is at an offset distance from the coupling point. The crank 114, via the coupling point, may further be coupled to a motor shaft (not shown) of a motor 112. The motor 112, for example, may be, but is not limited to, a DC motor (DC shunt motor, separately excited motor, series motor, PMDC motor, compound motor), AC motor (induction motor, synchronous motor), stepper motor, brushless motor, hysteresis motor, reluctance motor, or a universal motor. In order to support the motor 112 and absorb its vibrations during operation, the base 102 may include one or more second support members 110. The motor 112 may be placed on and attached to the one or more second support members 110.
[0024] Further, in order to couple with the gripping member 124, the connecting rod 118 may include a second slot 122 oppositely disposed from the from the first slot 120. In an embodiment, the first slot 120 may form the bottom end of the connecting rod 118 that is coupled to the crank 114 and the second slot 122 may form the top end of the connecting rod 118 that is coupled to the gripping member 124. In other words, as mentioned before, the connecting rod 118 connects or bridges the crank 114 and the gripping member 124. The second slot 122 may interlock with a third slot 126 of the gripping member 124 through a removable fastener 128. In an embodiment, the removable fastener 128 may removably (thus selectively) enclose the second slot 122 in order to interlock with the third slot 126 of the gripping member 124. Thus, as a result, the removable fastener 128 may selectively interlock the gripping member 124 with the connecting rod 118. The gripping member 124 may further include a fourth slot 130 at the top end in order to receive and subsequently grip a pumping rod 132. It may be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the gripping member 124 may be adaptable to receive varying sizes and shapes of the pumping rod 132.
[0025] In some embodiments, the gripping member 124 may include two oppositely disposed plates (not shown) with a portion of the fourth slot 130 formed therein. The oppositely disposed plates may at least be partially attached to each other by way of one or more fasteners 138. Once the pumping rod 132 is received between the oppositely disposed plates in the respective portions of the fourth slot 130, the one or more fasteners 138 may be screwed to bring the oppositely disposed plates closer so as to tightly grip and lock the pumping rod 132 within the fully formed fourth slot 130. In some embodiment, there may be an additional locking mechanism (not shown) within the gripping member 124 to ensure that once the pumping rod 132 is received it stays locked therein. Thus, the pumping rod 132 is gripped by the gripping member 124 at one end and is attached to the cabin tilt pump 134 on the other end (as mentioned before).
[0026] For ease of use of the vehicle cabin tilting device 100, it is desirable to make the vehicle cabin tilting device 100 easily maneuverable. Easy maneuverability ensures that the vehicle cabin tilting device 100 may be moved closer or away from the vehicle based on requirement of the vehicle operator. Thus, in some embodiments, the base 102, which supports the assembly of the assembly of the crank 114, the connecting rod 118, the gripping member 124, and the motor 112, may rest on a trolley (not shown). The trolley may include a plurality of wheels 136 which may enable maneuvering the vehicle cabin tilting device 100 from one place to another. To this end, the base 102 may further include a handle 108 which may be used by the vehicle operator to maneuver the vehicle cabin tilting device 100. In some embodiments, the trolley may also be height adjustable in order to lift or lower the vehicle cabin tilting device 100 to accurately align the pumping rod 132 with the cabin tilting pump 134.
[0027] Now that the vehicle cabin tilting device 100, various components therein, and their cooperation and interaction with each other has been explained, reference is made to FIG. 2 that illustrates an exemplary scenario 200 of the vehicle cabin tilting device 100 being connected to the cabin tilt pump 134 of a vehicle 202, in accordance with an embodiment. The exemplary scenario 200 describes operation of the vehicle cabin tilting device 100. As explained in FIG. 1B, the base 102 of the vehicle cabin tilting device 100 may rest on a trolley (not shown). The trolley may thus be used to move the vehicle cabin tilting device 100 and appropriately place it near the vehicle 202 such that one end of the pumping rod 132 may be gripped by the gripping member 124, while the other end of the pumping rod 132 may be attached to the cabin tilt pump 134.
[0028] Once the vehicle cabin tilting device 100 is in position, the motor 112 may be actuated, based on whether a vehicle cabin 204 is to be raised or lowered in an anticlockwise or clockwise direction. In some embodiments, when the vehicle cabin 204 is to be raised the motor 112 be actuated such that the motor shaft rotates in a clockwise direction. In contrast, when the vehicle cabin 204 is to be lowered, the motor 112 be actuated such that the motor shaft rotates in an anticlockwise direction. Reverse of the above mechanism may also be used in a different configuration.
[0029] Irrespective of the intent of either raising or lowering the vehicle cabin 204, when the motor 112 is actuated, the motor shaft rotates, which further rotates the crank 114 coupled to the motor shaft via the coupling point. When the crank 114 starts rotating, the pin 116 of the crank 114 that is slidably received and enclosed within the first slot 120 of the connecting rod 118 starts imparting a linear motion to the connecting rod 118 in the vertical direction. The crank 114, by way of the slidably received pin 116 within the first slot 120, transfers the rotary movement imparted by the motor 112 to the vertical movement of the connecting rod 118. In other words, the connecting rod 118 may be forced to move up and down in the vertical direction with respect to the ground, while being guided or restricted by the one or more guide clamps 106. Now, as explained in detail in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, since the second slot 122 (or the top end) of the connecting rod 118 is attached to the third slot 126 of the gripping member 124, once the connecting rod 118 starts moving up and down in the vertical direction, the gripping member 125 also rhythmically starts moving up and down in the vertical direction. The up and down movement of the gripping member 124 may further leads to an up and down movement of the pumping rod 132. Thus, the vertical movement of the connecting rod 118 is now transferred to a pumping movement of the pumping rod 132. Since the pumping rod 132 is attached to the cabin tilt pump 134, the pumping movement imparted to the pumping rod 132 ultimately enables tilting of the vehicle cabin 204. As discussed before, tilting of the vehicle cabin 204 may either be to raise or lower the vehicle cabin 204. This would depend on the current configuration and direction of rotation of the motor shaft, when the motor 112 is actuated. In other words, the vehicle cabin tilting device 100 may be used to raise or lower the vehicle cabin 204 as per requirement of the vehicle operator. In some embodiments, the motor 112 coupled to the vehicle cabin tilting device 100 may be actuated by using an external power source. In some other embodiments, the vehicle cabin tilting device 100 may be equipped with a rechargeable or a replaceable battery that may provide power to actuate the motor 112.
[0030] Referring now to FIG. 3, a side view 300 of the vehicle cabin tilting device 100 is illustrated, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The side view 300 shows the coupling point 302 of the crank 114 which may be coupled to the motor shaft (not shown). Accordingly, the pin 116 may be offset from the coupling point 302 in order for the rotatory motion of motor shaft and the coupling point 302 to be converted to a linear motion the connecting rod 118 via the pin 116 slidably received and enclosed within the first slot 120..
[0031] In accordance with some embodiments, a rear view 400 of the vehicle cabin tilting device 100 is illustrated in FIG. 4 and a top view 500 of the vehicle cabin tilting device 100 is illustrated in FIG. 5.
[0032] Accordingly, the vehicle cabin tilting device 100 advantageously provides required pumping action to the cabin tilt pump 134 automatically without any requirement of a manual interference of the operator thus avoiding any physical strain. Further, the automatic pumping action provided by the vehicle cabin tilting device 100 ensures efficient tilting of the vehicle cabin in lesser time than manual pumping.
[0033] With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.
[026] It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”
[027] In addition, where features or aspects of the disclosure are described in terms of Markush groups, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure is also thereby described in terms of any individual member or subgroup of members of the Markush group.
[028] While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.
, Claims:
CLAIMS
I/We claim:
1. A vehicle cabin tilting device (100) comprising:
a crank (114) configured to be coupled to a motor (112), the crank (114) comprising:
a coupling point configured to be coupled to a motor shaft; and
a pin (116) offset from the coupling point;
a connecting rod (118) configured to be coupled to the crank (114), wherein the connecting rod (118) comprises:
a first slot (120) configured to receive and slidably enclose the pin (116); and
a second slot (122), wherein the second slot (122) is selectively enclosable via a removable fastener (128); and
a gripping member (124) comprising:
a third slot (126) configured to interlock with the second slot (122) via the removable fastener (128); and
a fourth slot (130) configured to receive and grip a pumping rod (132).

2. The vehicle cabin tilting device (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprising:
a base (102) to support an assembly comprising the crank (114), the connecting rod (118), and the gripping member (124);
at least one first support member (104) coupled to the base (102); and
at least one second support member (110) coupled to the base (102).

3. The vehicle cabin tilting device (100) as claimed in claim 2, comprising:
at least one guide clamp (106) attached to the at least one first support member (104), wherein the at least one guide clamp (106) is configured to:
interface with the connecting rod (118); and
restrict movement of the connecting rod (118) in a single vertical direction.

4. The vehicle cabin tilting device (100) as claimed in claim 2, comprising:
the motor (112) coupled to the at least one second support member (110), wherein the motor shaft of the motor (112) couples with the coupling point of the crank (114).

5. The vehicle cabin tilting device (100) as claimed in claim 2, comprising a trolley configured to attach to and support the base (102), wherein the base (102) rests on the trolley.

6. The vehicle cabin tilting device (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pumping rod (132) is configured to be attached to a cabin tilt pump (134).

7. The vehicle cabin tilting device (100) as claimed in claim 6,
wherein the motor (112) transfers a rotary movement to the crank (114),
wherein the crank (114), via the pin (116) slidably received and enclosed within the first slot (120), transfers the rotary movement to a vertical movement of the connecting rod (118),
wherein the connecting rod (118), via the interlocked second slot (122) and third slot (126), transfers the vertical movement of the connecting rod (118) to pumping movement of the pumping rod (132) gripped within the fourth slot (130), and
wherein the pumping movement of the pumping rod (132) operates the cabin tilt pump (134) to tilt a vehicle cabin (204).