Slide up cab door for work machine
A compact work machine, such as a compact track loader and/or a compact utility loader, which can carry and operate a wide range of attachments while maintaining a reduced operating footprint.
1 . A loader configured for travel primarily in a forward direction, said loader comprising:
a cab defining an operator area therein,
said cab including a door shiftable from a closed position to an open position, wherein the open position facilitates operator access to the operator area,
said door being disposed at a forward portion of the cab when in the closed position and being at least substantially received within and/or disposed above the operator area when in the open position,
said cab further including a door casing engaging the door when the door is in the closed position,
said door including a door panel and a guide element fixed relative to the door panel to move therewith,
said door casing including a guide structure engaging said guide element during shifting of the door from the closed position to the open position, such that the guide structure directs the guide element along a generally upward travel path,
said travel path including a primary path segment extending upwardly and forwardly such that the guide element and an adjacent portion of the door panel primarily travel upward and forward during shifting of the door from the closed position to the open position.
2 . The loader of claim 1 ,
said travel path further including a terminal path segment upward of and interconnecting with the primary path segment,
said terminal path segment extending upwardly and rearwardly.
3 . The loader of claim 2 ,
said travel path further including an initial path segment downward of and interconnecting with the primary path segment,
said initial path segment extending upwardly and rearwardly.
4 . The loader of claim 1 ,
said travel path having a total path length,
said primary path segment having a primary path segment length greater than 50% of the total path length.
5 . The loader of claim 4 ,
said primary path segment length being between about 65% and about 80% of the total path length.
6 . The loader of claim 1 ,
said guide structure including a track defining a channel,
said guide element being at least substantially received within said channel during shifting of the door from the closed position to the open position, said channel at least substantially defining said travel path.
7 . The loader of claim 6 ,
said track including a base and a pair of sidewalls each extending perpendicular to the base.
8 . The loader of claim 1 ,
said cab including a top side,
said door panel being disposed generally parallel with and adjacent the top side when the door is in the open position.
9 . The loader of claim 1 ,
said door in its entirety being received within the operator area when in the open position.
10 . The loader of claim 1 ,
said door panel presenting top and bottom margins,
said guide element being disposed adjacent the bottom margin.
11 . The loader of claim 10 ,
said door panel tilting forward when the door is in the closed position, such that the top margin is disposed forward of the bottom margin.
12 . The loader of claim 1 ,
said door panel extending parallel to the primary travel path segment when the door is in the closed position.
13 . The loader of claim 1 ,
said forward direction being defined along a fore-aft travel axis,
said primary travel path segment forming a forward tilt angle of between about 80 degrees and about 87.5 degrees relative to the fore-aft travel axis.
14 . The loader of claim 1 ,
said primary travel path segment extending between bottom and top endpoints,
said top endpoint being disposed forward of said bottom endpoint by a forward travel distance,
said forward travel distance being between about 2 inches and about 4 inches.
15 . The loader of claim 1 ,
said primary travel path segment extending between bottom and top endpoints,
said top endpoint being disposed forward of said bottom endpoint by a forward travel distance,
said primary travel path segment having a primary travel path segment length defined between the bottom and top endpoints,
said forward travel distance being between about 7% and about 11% of the primary travel path segment length.
16 . The loader of claim 1 ,
said cab further including an actuating mechanism configured to assist in shifting of the door from the closed position to the open position,
said actuating mechanism extending between and interconnecting the door and the door casing.
17 . The loader of claim 16 ,
said actuating mechanism including an arm,
said arm including a proximal end pivotably attached to the door casing and a distal end pivotably attached to the door.
18 . The loader of claim 17 ,
said actuating mechanism further including a force-generating assistive element extending between and interconnecting the arm and the door casing.
19 . The loader of claim 1 ,
said door including a frame supporting the door panel,
said guide element being fixed to said frame.
20 . The loader of claim 1 ,
said door panel presenting top and bottom margins when the door is in the closed position,
said bottom margin being disposed in a bottom margin closed position and said top margin being disposed in a top margin closed position when the door is in the closed position,
said bottom margin being disposed in a bottom margin open position and said top margin being disposed in a top margin open position when the door is in the open position,
said bottom margin open position and said top margin open position each being spaced upwardly from the top margin closed position.