Vandalism-resistant information interface apparatus for an earth working machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10735042-B2
Application number	US-201916243466-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 9, 2019
Priority date	Feb 8, 2018
Publication date	Aug 4, 2020
Grant date	Aug 4, 2020

Abstract

An information interface apparatus (27, 27a) in particular for an operator's platform (24) of an earth working machine (10), for example a road milling machine, recycler, stabilizer, or surface miner, having an interface subassembly (52) encompassing a housing (54) and a functional surface (56) that is received in the housing (54) and embodied to input and/or output information, is characterized in that the information interface apparatus (27, 27a) comprises a protective plate (58), embodied separately from the interface subassembly (52), to cover the functional surface (56); the protective plate (58) comprising an anchoring portion (64) with which the protective plate (58) is anchorable on a counterpart anchoring portion (68) of the interface subassembly (52) and the anchoring portion (64) is thus securable against removal from the functional surface (56); and the protective plate (58) comprising a latching portion (66), different from the anchoring portion (64), with which the protective plate (58) is releasably latchable on a counterpart latching portion (72) of the interface subassembly (52) and the latching portion (66) is thus securable against removal from the functional surface (56).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An information interface apparatus for an earth working machine, the apparatus comprising:
an interface subassembly, including a housing and a functional surface received in the housing, the functional surface being configured to input and output information;
a protective plate embodied separately from the interface subassembly, the protective plate being configured to cover the functional surface, the protective plate including an anchoring portion and a latching portion, the latching portion being separate from the anchoring portion;
the interface subassembly including a counterpart anchoring portion and a counterpart latching portion;
wherein the anchoring portion of the protective plate is anchorable on the counterpart anchoring portion of the interface subassembly such that the anchoring portion is securable against removal from the functional surface; and
wherein the latching portion of the protective plate is releasably latchable by the counterpart latching portion of the interface subassembly such that the latching portion is securable against removal from the functional surface;
wherein the counterpart latching portion includes a latch configuration displaceable between a latching position and a release position;
wherein in the latching position, when the anchoring portion is anchored on the counterpart anchoring portion, a positive engagement between the latching portion and the counterpart latching portion prevents removal of the latching portion from the functional surface; and
wherein in the release position, when the anchoring portion is anchored on the counterpart anchoring portion, the latching portion is removable from the functional surface.

2. The information interface apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the anchoring portion and the latching portion are provided at mutually opposite longitudinal ends of the protective plate.

3. The information interface apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the functional surface includes an output side facing away from the housing during operation, and the functional surface includes a technology side located oppositely from the output side and facing toward the housing; and
the housing protrudes beyond the output side of the functional surface.

4. The information interface apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
one of the anchoring portion and the counterpart anchoring portion includes at least one of a protrusion and a groove.

5. The information interface apparatus of claim 4 , wherein:
the counterpart anchoring portion includes the protrusion and the groove, the protrusion being formed on the housing and extending parallel to the functional surface, the protrusion together with the housing defining the groove; and
the anchoring portion of the protective plate being introducible into the groove for anchoring the protective plate on the interface subassembly.

6. The information interface apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising: a locking apparatus provided on the interface subassembly, the locking apparatus being configured to lock the latch configuration to inhibit a displacement movement of the latch configuration from its latching position.

7. The information interface apparatus of claim 6 , wherein:
the interface subassembly defines a support structure which carries the latch configuration displaceably relative to the support structure;
the locking apparatus including a locking body displaceably received in the support structure between a locking position inhibiting a displacement movement of the latch configuration, and an enabling position permitting the displacement movement of the latch configuration;
the latch configuration including a locking recess movable with the latch configuration and into which the locking body projects in the locking position so as to inhibit the displacement movement of the latch configuration.

8. The information interface apparatus of claim 1 , in combination with an operator's platform for the earth working machine.

9. The information interface apparatus of claim 1 , in combination with an external control panel for the earth working machine.

10. The information interface apparatus of claim 1 , in combination with an operator's platform and the earth working machine.

11. The information interface apparatus of claim 1 , in combination with an external control platform and the earth working machine.

12. The information interface apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the anchoring portion can be removed from an anchoring engagement with the counterpart anchoring portion only when the latching portion is not in latching engagement with the counterpart latching engagement.

13. The information interface apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the protective plate is formed as a single piece.

14. The information interface apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the protective plate is entirely separable from the interface subassembly.

15. An information interface apparatus for an earth working machine, the apparatus comprising:
an interface subassembly, including a housing and a functional surface received in the housing, the functional surface being configured to input and output information;
a protective plate embodied separately from the interface subassembly, the protective plate being configured to cover the functional surface, the protective plate including an anchoring portion and a latching portion, the latching portion being separate from the anchoring portion;
the interface subassembly including a counterpart anchoring portion and a counterpart latching portion;
wherein the anchoring portion of the protective plate is anchorable on the counterpart anchoring portion of the interface subassembly such that the anchoring portion is securable against removal from the functional surface; and
wherein the latching portion of the protective plate is releasably latchable by the counterpart latching portion of the interface subassembly such that the latching portion is securable against removal from the functional surface,
wherein one of the latching portion and the counterpart latching portion includes a latch configuration displaceable between a latching position and a release position;
wherein in the latching position, when the anchoring portion is anchored on the counterpart anchoring portion, a positive engagement between the latching portion and the counterpart latching portion prevents removal of the latching portion from the functional surface; and
wherein in the release position, when the anchoring portion is anchored on the counterpart anchoring portion, the latching portion is removable from the functional surface;
wherein the information interface apparatus further comprises:
a locking apparatus provided on one of the interface subassembly and the protective plate, the locking apparatus being configured to lock the latch configuration to inhibit a displacement movement of the latch configuration from its latching position;
wherein one of the interface subassembly and the protective plate defines a support structure which carries the latch configuration displaceably relative to the support structure;
the locking apparatus including a locking body displaceably received in the support structure between a locking position inhibiting a displacement movement of the latch configuration, and an enabling position permitting the displacement movement of the latch configuration;
the latch configuration including a locking recess movable with the latch configuration and into which the locking body projects in the locking position so as to inhibit the displacement movement of the latch configuration;
wherein t

Assignees

• Wirtgen Gmbh

Inventors

• Barimani Cyrus
• Drumm Stephan

Classifications

• B60K35/20 Primary

  Output arrangements, i.e. from vehicle to user, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor · CPC title

• B60K35/10 Primary

  Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor · CPC title

• B60Y2200/41

  Construction vehicles, e.g. graders, excavators · CPC title

• E02F9/24

  Safety devices {, e.g. for preventing overload (E02F9/226 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• H04B1/3888 Primary

  Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers · CPC title