Operator cabs and methods for constructing same

1. A method of constructing a wall assembly of an operator cab, the method comprising:

fastening a generally planar inner surface of a sheet-metal exterior wall body of the wall assembly to a generally planar outer surface of a sheet-metal structural wall body of the wall assembly; and

fastening a generally planar inner surface of the sheet-metal structural wall body to a generally planar outer surface of a sheet-metal interior wall body of the wall assembly;

wherein the sheet-metal structural wall body defines at least one weight-reducing opening extending between the generally planar inner surface of the sheet-metal structural wall body and the generally planar outer surface of the sheet-metal structural wall body; and

wherein fastening the generally planar inner surface of the sheet-metal exterior wall body to the generally planar outer surface of the sheet-metal structural wall body comprises fastening the generally planar inner surface of the sheet-metal exterior wall body to the generally planar outer surface of the sheet-metal structural wall body when a portion of the sheet-metal exterior wall body covers the at least one weight-reducing opening.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

before fastening the generally planar inner surface of the sheet-metal exterior wall body to the generally planar outer surface of the sheet-metal structural wall body, aligning the sheet-metal exterior wall body relative to the sheet-metal structural wall body; and

before fastening the generally planar inner surface of the sheet-metal structural wall body to the generally planar outer surface of the sheet-metal interior wall body, aligning the sheet-metal structural wall body relative to the sheet-metal interior wall body;

wherein aligning the sheet-metal exterior wall body relative to the sheet-metal structural wall body and aligning the sheet-metal structural wall body relative to the sheet-metal interior wall body comprise positioning a plurality of fasteners through respective alignment holes in the sheet-metal exterior wall body, through respective alignment holes in the sheet-metal structural wall body, and through respective alignment holes in the sheet-metal interior wall body.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

welding a floor body directly to the sheet-metal wall assembly;

welding a ceiling body directly to the sheet-metal wall assembly;

welding a rear wall body directly to the sheet-metal wall assembly; and

welding a front wall body directly to the sheet-metal wall assembly.

4. An operator cab comprising:

a wall assembly comprising:

a sheet-metal exterior wall body comprising a generally planar inner surface;

a sheet-metal structural wall body comprising a generally planar inner surface and a generally planar outer surface, wherein the generally planar inner surface of the sheet-metal exterior wall body is fastened to the generally planar outer surface of the sheet-metal structural wall body, and wherein the sheet-metal structural wall body defines at least one weight-reducing opening extending between the generally planar inner surface of the sheet-metal structural wall body and the generally planar outer surface of the sheet-metal structural wall body; and

a sheet-metal interior wall body comprising a generally planar outer surface, wherein the generally planar inner surface of the sheet-metal structural wall body is fastened to the generally planar outer surface of the sheet-metal interior wall body, and wherein a portion of the sheet-metal exterior wall body covers the at least one weight-reducing opening.

5. The operator cab of claim 4 wherein:

the sheet-metal structural wall body defines a window opening in addition to the at least one weight-reducing opening and extending between the generally planar inner surface of the sheet-metal structural wall body and the generally planar outer surface of the sheet-metal structural wall body;

the sheet-metal interior wall body defines a window opening extending between a generally planar inner surface of the sheet-metal interior wall body and the generally planar outer surface of the sheet-metal interior wall body;

the window opening defined by the sheet-metal structural wall body is larger than the window opening defined by the sheet-metal interior wall body; and

a portion of the generally planar outer surface of the sheet-metal interior wall body faces into the window opening defined by the sheet-metal structural wall body.

6. The operator cab of claim 5 further comprising a window comprising a generally planar inner surface, wherein at least a portion of the window is received within the window opening defined by the sheet-metal structural wall body, and wherein the generally planar inner surface of the window is fastened to the portion of the generally planar outer surface of the sheet-metal interior wall body.

7. The operator cab of claim 5 wherein the at least one weight-reducing opening comprises at least two weight-reducing openings, in addition to the window opening defined by the sheet-metal structural wall body, the at least two weight-reducing openings extending between the generally planar inner surface of the sheet-metal structural wall body and the generally planar outer surface of the sheet-metal structural wall body, wherein the at least two weight-reducing openings define at least one structural member in the sheet-metal structural wall body, and wherein the portion of the sheet-metal exterior wall body covers the at least two weight-reducing openings and the at least one structural member.

8. The operator cab of claim 7 wherein:

the sheet-metal structural wall body is thicker than the sheet-metal exterior wall body; and

the sheet-metal structural wall body is thicker than the sheet-metal interior wall body.

9. The operator cab of claim 4 wherein the sheet-metal exterior wall body is welded to the sheet-metal structural wall body.

10. The operator cab of claim 4 wherein the sheet-metal structural wall body is welded to the sheet-metal interior wall body.

11. The operator cab of claim 4 further comprising:

a floor body welded directly to the sheet-metal wall assembly;

a ceiling body welded directly to the sheet-metal wall assembly;

a rear wall body welded directly to the sheet-metal wall assembly; and

a front wall body welded directly to the sheet-metal wall assembly.

12. The operator cab of claim 11 wherein a portion of a lateral edge of the sheet-metal front wall body is complementary to at least a portion of a front edge of the sheet-metal structural wall body.

13. The operator cab of claim 12 wherein a portion of the sheet-metal front wall body is curved at a generally constant radius of curvature relative to a generally transverse axis of rotation.

14. The operator cab of claim 4 wherein:

the sheet-metal structural wall body is thicker than the sheet-metal exterior wall body; and

the sheet-metal structural wall body is thicker than the sheet-metal interior wall body.

15. The operator cab of claim 4 wherein the sheet-metal exterior wall body is thicker than the sheet-metal interior wall body.

16. An operator cab comprising:

a first sheet-metal wall assembly comprising a first wall of the operator cab;

a second sheet-metal wall assembly spaced apart from the first sheet-metal wall assembly and comprising a second wall of the operator cab;

a floor body comprising a floor of the operator cab and fastened directly to the first and second sheet-metal wall assemblies;

a rear wall body comprising a rear wall of the operator cab and fastened directly to the first and second sheet-metal wall assemblies and to the floor body;

a front wall body comprising a front wall of the operator cab and fastened directly to the first and second sheet-metal wall assemblies and to the floor body; and

a ceiling body comprising a ceiling of the operator cab and fastened directly to the first and second sheet-metal wall assemblies.

17. The operator cab of claim 16 wherein:

the floor body is welded directly to the first and second sheet-metal wall assemblies;

the rear wall body is welded directly to the first and second sheet-metal wall assemblies;

the front wall body is welded directly to the first and second sheet-metal wall assemblies; and

the ceiling body is welded directly to the first and second sheet-metal wall assemblies.

18. The operator cab of claim 16 wherein:

the first wall assembly comprises:

a first sheet-metal exterior wall body comprising a generally planar inner surface;

a first sheet-metal structural wall body comprising a generally planar inner surface and a generally planar outer surface, wherein the generally planar inner surface of first the sheet-metal exterior wall body is fastened to the generally planar outer surface of the first sheet-metal structural wall body; and

a first sheet-metal interior wall body comprising a generally planar outer surface, wherein the generally planar inner surface of the first sheet-metal structural wall body is fastened to the generally planar outer surface of the first sheet-metal interior wall body; and

the second wall assembly comprises:

a second sheet-metal exterior wall body comprising a generally planar inner surface;

a second sheet-metal structural wall body comprising a generally planar inner surface and a generally planar outer surface, wherein the generally planar inner surface of the second sheet-metal exterior wall body is fastened to the generally planar outer surface of the second sheet-metal structural wall body; and

a second sheet-metal interior wall body comprising a generally planar outer surface, wherein the generally planar inner surface of the second sheet-metal structural wall body is fastened to the generally planar outer surface of the second sheet-metal interior wall body.

19. The operator cab of claim 18 wherein each of the first and second sheet-metal structural wall bodies defines at least one weight-reducing opening extending between the generally planar inner surface and the generally planar outer surface.

20. The operator cab of claim 19 wherein:

a portion of the first sheet-metal exterior wall body covers the at least one weight-reducing opening of the first sheet-metal structural wall body; and

a portion of the second sheet-metal exterior wall body covers the at least one weight-reducing opening of the second sheet-metal structural wall body.

21. The operator cab of claim 16 further comprising a door assembly mounted to the second sheet-metal wall assembly to allow the door assembly to slide relative to the second sheet-metal wall assembly.

22. The operator cab of claim 21 wherein the door assembly comprises:

a third sheet-metal exterior wall body comprising a generally planar inner surface;

a third sheet-metal structural wall body comprising a generally planar inner surface and a generally planar outer surface, wherein the generally planar inner surface of the third sheet-metal exterior wall body is fastened to the generally planar outer surface of the third sheet-metal structural wall body; and

a third sheet-metal interior wall body comprising a generally planar outer surface, wherein the generally planar inner surface of the third sheet-metal structural wall body is fastened to the generally planar outer surface of the third sheet-metal interior wall body.