Tire skirt system with window for compactor machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9630657-B2
Application number	US-201514595916-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 13, 2015
Priority date	Jan 13, 2015
Publication date	Apr 25, 2017
Grant date	Apr 25, 2017

Abstract

A tire skirt system configured for attachment to a vehicle is disclosed. The system may include a first skirt bracket adapted for attachment to the vehicle, a skirt panel having a first edge adapted for attachment to the first skirt bracket, and a transparent window in the first skirt bracket, the window having an outside face and an inside face. The window may be aligned with at least a portion of a tire when the tire skirt system is attached to the vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pneumatic compactor, comprising:
a frame;
an operator station coupled to the frame;
a compacting member rotatably coupled to the frame and configured to rotate in contact with a paving material, wherein the compacting member includes a tire, and wherein at least a portion of the tire protrudes from beneath the frame and is within a direct line of sight of an operator in the operator station;
a tire skirt system including a skirt bracket attached to the frame, a skirt panel attached to the skirt bracket, and a transparent window in the skirt bracket, the window having an outside face and an inside face, and wherein the window is aligned with at least a portion of the tire and is configured to provide the operator with a direct line of sight to at least a portion of the tire while operating the compactor; and
a plurality of transparent tear-off sheets disposed at the inside face of the window and at least partially covering the window, the tear-off sheets configured for individual removal.

2. The pneumatic compactor of claim 1 , wherein the skirt bracket extends in a direction generally perpendicular to the frame at a distance greater than that of the protruding portion of the tire, and the skirt panel is spaced away from the frame at a distance greater than that of the protruding portion of the tire.

3. The pneumatic compactor of claim 1 , wherein the window is located vertically above the tire.

4. The pneumatic compactor of claim 1 , wherein the tire skirt system is removable.

5. The pneumatic compactor of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tear-off sheets is replaceable.

6. The pneumatic compactor of claim 1 , wherein the tear-off sheets are bonded together by an adhesive disposed at one or more edges of the tear-off sheets.

7. The pneumatic compactor of claim 1 , wherein the tear-off sheets include a removal tab.

8. The pneumatic compactor of claim 1 , wherein the tire skirt system further comprises a second skirt bracket adapted for attachment to the frame, the skirt panel adapted for attachment to the second skirt bracket.

9. The pneumatic compactor of claim 8 , further comprising a transparent side window in the second skirt bracket, the side window having an outside face and an inside face, and wherein the side window is aligned with at least a portion of the tire.

10. The pneumatic compactor of claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of transparent tear-off sheets disposed at the inside face of the side window and configured for individual removal.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Paving Products Inc

Inventors

• Ries Michael William

Classifications

• E01C19/23

  Rollers therefor; Such rollers usable also for compacting soil ({E01C19/41,} E01C19/43, {E01C19/52, E01C23/065} take precedence; specially adapted for agricultural purposes A01B29/00; garden rollers A01G20/35; making or maintaining surfaces of snow or ice E01H4/00; solely for soil compaction E02D3/026) · CPC title

• B62D25/168 Primary

  Mud guards for utility vehicles · CPC title

• B62D25/163

  Mounting devices · CPC title

• B62D25/182 Primary

  Movable mudguards, or mudguards comprising movable or detachable parts (B62D25/188 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E01C19/238

  Wetting, cleaning or heating rolling elements, e.g. oiling, wiping, scraping · CPC title