Latch system for hood of a machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016208528-A1
Application number	US-201514601706-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 21, 2015
Priority date	Jan 21, 2015
Publication date	Jul 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An interlock lever for actuating a latch member of a machine is disclosed. The latch member is configured to lock a hood of the machine in a closed position thereof. The machine has an input member being movable in a first direction to move the hood towards an opened position and a second direction to move the hood towards the closed position. The interlock lever includes a body coupled to a frame of the machine and a slot defined in the body. The body is movable between a first position and a second position. In the second position of the body, the slot allows movement of the input member in the first direction and actuates the latch member to allow the hood to move from the closed position. In the first position of the body, the slot prevents movement of the input member in the first direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An interlock lever for actuating a latch member of a machine, the latch member configured to selectively lock a hood of the machine in a closed position of the hood, the machine having an input member configured to move the hood between the closed position and an opened position, the input member being movable in a first direction to move the hood towards the opened position and a second direction to move the hood towards the closed position, the interlock lever comprising:
a body movable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the second position the body is configured to actuate the latch member to allow the hood to move from the closed position thereof; and a slot defined in the body, wherein in the first position of the body, the slot is configured to prevent movement of the input member in the first direction, and wherein in the second position of the body, the slot is configured to allow movement of the input member in the first direction.

2 . The interlock lever of claim 1 , wherein in the first position of the body of the interlock lever, the input member is configured to be moved in the second direction.

3 . The interlock lever of claim 2 , wherein in the first position of the body, the slot allows movement of the input member in the second direction.

4 . The interlock lever of claim 1 further comprising a pivot member disposed adjacent to an end of the body, the pivot member configured to couple the body of the interlock lever to a frame of the machine, and wherein the body is movable between the first position and the second position about the pivot member.

5 . The interlock lever of claim 4 further comprising a coupling portion defined in the body between the pivot member and the slot.

6 . The interlock lever of claim 5 further comprising a cable member coupled to the coupling portion of the interlock lever and the latch member, wherein in the second position of the body of the interlock lever, the cable member actuates the latch member to allow the hood to move from the closed position thereof.

7 . A latch system for a hood of a machine having an input member configured to move the hood between a closed position and an opened position, the input member being movable in a first direction to move the hood towards the opened position and a second direction to move the hood towards the closed position, the latch system comprising:
a latch member switchable between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration, wherein in the locked configuration, the latch member is configured to retain the hood in the closed position thereof, and wherein in the unlocked configuration, the latch member is configured to allow movement of the hood from the closed position thereof; and an interlock lever movable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position, the interlock lever is configured to prevent the movement of the input member in the first direction, and wherein in the second position, the interlock lever is configured to actuate the latch member to the unlocked configuration thereof and allow movement of the input member in the first direction.

8 . The latch system of claim 7 , wherein in the first position of the interlock lever, the input member is configured to be moved in the second direction.

9 . The latch system of claim 7 , wherein the interlock lever defines a slot therethrough, the slot configured to abut the input member in the first position of the interlock lever to prevent movement of the input member in the first direction.

10 . The latch system of claim 9 , wherein in the first position of the interlock lever the slot allows movement of the input member in the second direction.

11 . The latch system of claim 9 , wherein the interlock lever comprises a pivot member to pivotally couple the interlock lever to a frame of the machine, and wherein the interlock lever is movable between the first position and the second position about the pivot member.

12 . The latch system of claim 9 , wherein the interlock lever further comprises a coupling portion defined between the pivot member and the slot.

13 . The latch system of claim 12 further comprising a cable member coupled to the coupling portion of the interlock lever and the latch member, wherein in the second position of the interlock lever, the cable member actuates the latch member to the unlocked configuration thereof.

14 . A machine comprising:
a frame; a hood coupled to the frame and movable between an opened position and a closed position; an actuator configured to selectively move the hood between the opened position and the closed position; an input member coupled to the actuator and configured to actuate the actuator based on a user input, the input member movable in a first direction to move the hood towards the opened position and a second direction to move the hood towards the closed position; a latch member switchable between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration, wherein in the locked configuration, the latch member is configured to retain the hood in the closed position thereof, and wherein in the unlocked configuration, the latch member is configured to allow movement of the hood from the closed position thereof; and an interlock lever movable between a first position and a second position; wherein in the first position, the interlock lever is configured to prevent movement of the input member in the first direction, and wherein in the second position, the interlock lever is configured to actuate the latch member to the unlocked configuration thereof and allow movement of the input member in the first direction.

15 . The machine of claim 14 , wherein in the first position of the interlock lever the input member is configured to be moved in the second direction.

16 . The machine of claim 14 , wherein the interlock lever defines a slot therethrough, the slot configured to abut the input member in the first position of the interlock lever to prevent movement of the input member in the first direction.

17 . The machine of claim 16 , wherein in the first position of the interlock lever, the slot allows movement of the input member in the second direction.

18 . The machine of claim 16 , wherein the interlock lever comprises a pivot member to pivotally couple the interlock lever to the frame of the machine, and wherein the interlock lever is movable between the first position and the second position about the pivot member.

19 . The machine of claim 16 , wherein the interlock lever further comprises a coupling portion defined between the pivot member and the slot.

20 . The machine of claim 19 further comprising a cable member coupled to the coupling portion of the interlock lever and the latch member, wherein in the second position of the interlock lever, the cable member actuates the latch member to the unlocked configuration thereof.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Hartz Phillip A
• Gavin Gerald W
• Hatfield Daniel A
• Budzynski Brian P
• Runestad Christopher M

Classifications

• E05C19/00

  Other devices specially designed for securing wings, {e.g. with suction cups}(movable draft sealings additionally used for bolting E06B7/18) · CPC title

• E05F7/04

  Arrangements affording protection against rattling (with buffering action E05F5/00) · CPC title

• E05C17/02 Primary

  by mechanical means (E05C17/60 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E02F9/0891

  Lids or bonnets or doors or details thereof (doors for cabins E02F9/163 takes precedence; for motor vehicles B62D25/10) · CPC title

• E02F9/0833 Primary

  Improving access, e.g. for maintenance, steps for improving driver's access, handrails · CPC title