Manual cab tilt pump

Abstract

A cab tilt pump (2) comprising a pump body (3) which has an outer flat side which forms an operating surface (30) provided with a drive member, and an opposite outer flat side which forms a reservoir mounting surface (31) for mounting a reservoir to the pump body. The reservoir has a reservoir centre line (09) which extends from a head portion which is mounted to the reservoir mounting surface of the pump body to a bottom portion which outwardly extends away from the reservoir mounting surface. An improvement is obtained in that the reservoir centre line (09) is positioned under an angle of inclination α with respect to a surface normal of the operating surface (30). Beneficially, an inclined outer geometry of the cab tilt pump (2) may provide a solution in vehicle configurations which are very limited in available installation space for installing a cab tilt system.

Description

[0001] Title: Manual cab tilt pump.

[0002] The invention relates to a cab tilt pump which is manually operable by attaching a tool on a drive member of the cab tilt pump. Further, the invention relates to a cab tilt system and a vehicle which is provided with a cab tilt pump.

[0003] During maintenance of commercial vehicles having cabins that can be tilted to a raised position, such a cab tilt pump is used to drive a fluid actuator capable of raising the cabin to a servicing position and possibly also for lowering the cabin to its driving position. Generally, the cab tilt pump is manually operated by rotational or back-and-forth movements of the drive member.

[0004] EP 1.293.418 discloses a hand tilt pump for pressurising a tilting actuator. The hand tilt pump includes a radial plunger pump of a known type. The hand tilt pump has a housing with a rotatably mounted driveshaft. The driveshaft has an end which projects out of the housing. The end is provided with a spanner formation, e.g. a key way, hexagon or hexagon socket to allow a coupling with a separately provided motor tool, like a drilling tool, a pneumatic wrench or an electric screwdriver.

[0005] EP 2.669.152 discloses a hydraulic system to operate a manual tilt of a cabin. The hydraulic system includes a hydraulic pump which has a hub with a hexagonal section being suitable to be engaged by a tubular-shaped L-wrench. An alternate up and down action of the L-wrench activates the pump which compresses a fluid in a hydraulic piston determining the cabin tilt.

[0006] A challenge considering cab tilt systems is to get all components of the cab tilt system installed into typically narrow built-in spaces of a vehicle. Generally, only limited spaces are available for installing a hydraulic tilt cylinder, to connect hydraulic conduits and for placement of a cab tilt pump. Several solutions to overcome this problem are known. Instead of positioning a cab tilt pump at its regular position, US11.198.479 discloses a possible solution in which a cab tilt pump is placed at an uncommon place which is here behind a mudguard. A possible solution to overcome this problem of narrow built-in spaces might be to install a reservoir separately from a pump body of a cab tilt pump, or to install a supplemental reservoir separate from a main reservoir which is mounted to the pump body. However, all these solutions bring their own disadvantages and are for that reason not satisfying. It is an objective to find an alternative solution to cope with the limitations. Regarding the above-mentioned prior art, it is remarked that any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like included in the present specification is for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention, and is not to be taken as an admission that any such matters form part of the prior art or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention before the priority date of each claim of this application.

[0007] The general object of the present invention is to at least partially eliminate the above mentioned drawback and / or to provide a usable alternative. More specific, it is an object of the invention to provide a cab tilt system which may overcome installation difficulties due to narrow built-in spaces of a vehicle.

[0008] According to the invention, this object is achieved by a cab tilt pump according to claim 1.

[0009] The cab tilt pump is arranged to pressurise a hydraulic tilt cylinder for tilting a cabin of a vehicle relative to its chassis. The cab tilt pump comprises a pump body. The pump body has an outer flat side which forms an operating surface. The operating surface is provided with a drive member for driving a pump member inside the pump body. The pump body has another outer flat side which forms a reservoir mounting surface for mounting a reservoir to the pump body. The reservoir mounting surface is positioned opposite the operating surface of the pump body.

[0010] Further, the cab tilt pump comprises a reservoir for storing hydraulic fluid. Preferably, the reservoir is made out of a plastic material by injection moulding. The reservoir has a head portion which is mounted to the reservoir mounting surface of the pump body. The reservoir may be clamped by a tension band, strip or mounted by bolts to the pump body. The reservoir has a bottom portion which extends away from the reservoir mounting surface. A reservoir centre line extends from the head portion to the bottom portion of the reservoir.

[0011] An improvement is obtained in that the reservoir centre line is positioned under an angle of inclination with respect to a surface normal of the operating surface. The reservoir is angled extending outward from the pump body. In particular, the reservoir centre line is angled between 10° and 45° relative to the surface normal of the operating surface of the pump body. In other words, the centre line of the reservoir is positioned neither in parallel with nor perpendicular to the surface normal of the operating surface.

[0012] Beneficially, an outer geometry of the cab tilt pump is provided which allows the cab tilt pump to be installed in a narrow built-in space. As shown in fig. 4, when seen from aside and keeping the operating surface upwards, due to the inclination of the reservoir with respect to the surface normal of the operating surface, the outer geometry of the cab tilt pump is downwardly inclined. The inclined outer geometry is provided by an angular positioning of the reservoir with respect to the operating surface of the pump body. The reservoir is not in alignment with a surface normal of the operating surface but extends away in a lateral direction from the surface normal. The centre line of the reservoir is positioned under an angle of inclination with respect to a surface normal of the operating surface, which beneficially may allow the cab tilt pump to be installed in a narrow built-in space. The installation may require only a minimum of lateral space or space depth. Herewith, the cab tilt pump may provide a solution in vehicle configurations which are very limited in available installation space for installing a cab tilt system.

[0013] In contrast to another solution in which a reservoir is split up in a main reservoir being mounted to the pump body and a supplementary reservoir being mounted elsewhere to the vehicle and requiring i.a. additional hydraulic conduits, the solution provided by the invention may provide a further advantage in that it may necessitate only a minimum of cab tilt system components.

[0014] In an embodiment of the cab tilt pump according to the invention, the angle of inclination has an inclined angle a of at least 10° and most 45°, in particular at least 10° and at most 30°.

[0015] In an embodiment of the cab tilt pump according to the invention, a surface normal of the reservoir mounting surface is positioned in an inclined angle a with respect to the surface normal of the operating surface. The angle of inclination between the reservoir centre line and the surface normal is determined by the angular operating surface and reservoir mounting surface. Alternatively, the reservoir may have an inclined head portion to obtain in an assembly with the pump body an angled reservoir centre line. Instead of such an inclined head portion of the reservoir, due to the angled surfaces of the pump body, a top face at the head portion of the reservoir may be configured in parallel with a bottom face at the bottom portion of the reservoir. Beneficially, the reservoir can be manufactured by injection moulding by a relatively simple mould.

[0016] In an embodiment of the cab tilt pump according to the invention, the pump body has a cylindrical shape including one end face, an opposite end face and at least four circumferential planar side surfaces including a top surface defining the operating surface and a bottom surface defining the reservoir mounting surface. The cylindrical shape of the pump body may contribute to a reduction of manufacturing costs. The pump body may be block-shaped having four planar side surfaces along its circumference. At the one end face of the cylindrical pump body, a borehole may be provided. The borehole may be plugged by a plug. The borehole may be configured to provide a pump cylinder for receiving the pump member, in particular a pump piston. At the opposite end face, a first and second hydraulic port may be provided. A first and second hydraulic conduit may be connected to respectively the first and second hydraulic port.

[0017] In an embodiment of the cab tilt pump according to the invention, the reservoir centre line is defined by an axial axis extending from the head portion to the bottom portion of the reservoir.

[0018] In an embodiment of the cab tilt pump according to the invention, the reservoir has a substantially rectangular cross-section. The reservoir is bin-shaped having a bottom side and a circumferential reservoir wall formed by two pairs of opposite sidewalls etc. In particular, at the head portion, the reservoir has a reservoir flange. In assembly of the pump body and the reservoir, the reservoir flange may be provided with a seal for sealing the reservoir to the pump body. Seen in the rectangular cross-section, a corner indentation is provided at a reservoir corner. The corner indentation extends from the bottom side in a direction in parallel with the centre line. In particular, the corner indentation extends along a whole length of the reservoir. Preferably, the pump body has a pump corner indentation which in the assembly of the pump body and the reservoir corresponds with the corner indentation of the reservoir. Herewith, the cab tilt pump has a full indentation along its whole length. The indentation may be further beneficial in installing the cab tilt pump in a narrow built-in space.

[0019] In an embodiment of the cab tilt pump according to the invention, the drive member comprises an actuable shaft end. The shaft end projects above the operating surface. The shaft end is provided with a spanner information, preferably a hexagonal shape or a socket head to be engaged with a commonly available handtool, like a wrench or ring spanner.

[0020] In an embodiment of the cab tilt pump according to the invention, the cab tilt pump is a reciprocating pump. In particular, the reciprocating pump is operable by a swinging back-and- forth movement of the drive member. In particular, the pump member of the cab tilt pump comprises a pump piston being positioned in a pump cylinder formed by a borehole in the pump body. The pump piston is arranged to make a reciprocal pumping movement.

[0021] In an embodiment of the cab tilt pump according to the invention, the operating surface of the pump body is provided with a control valve. The control valve is manually operable. The control valve may have a control valve portion protruding above the operating surface. The control valve portion may be provided with a control valve handle which is engageable by the operator’s hand. An operator may switch the control valve from a neutral position to a first tilting position for raising the cabin or to a second tilting position for lowering the cabin. In an embodiment of the cab tilt pump according to the invention, the operating surface of the pump body is provided with a pressure relief valve. The pressure relief valve is positioned at the operating surface of the pump body. The drive member, the control valve and a pressure relief valve may be beneficially grouped together at one side of the pump body at the operating surface.

[0022] Further, the invention relates to a cab tilt system comprising a hydraulic tilt cylinder for tilting a cabin of a vehicle from a lowered position to a full forward tilt position. The hydraulic tilt cylinder is mountable between the cabin and a chassis of the vehicle. The cab tilt system comprises a manually driveable cab tilt pump according to the invention which is attachable to the vehicle for supplying pressurised hydraulic fluid to the tilt cylinder. The cab tilt system according to the invention is beneficial in that the system may still fit despite a limited available built-in installation space.

[0023] In an embodiment of the cab tilt system according to the invention, the hydraulic tilt cylinder comprises a cylinder housing including a lost-motion arrangement. The lost-motion arrangement is provided at a bottom region of the cylinder housing to allow a cabin motion relative to the chassis of the vehicle in a driving position of the cabin. The lost-motion arrangement is configured to allow the cab to move relative to the chassis. Such a lost-motion arrangement is a well-known feature of a cab tilt cylinder. The lost-motion arrangement is provided at the tilting cylinder to allow a reciprocating movement of a piston-piston rod assembly within a lost-motion range in which the piston-piston rod assembly is able to move up and down when the cab, which is in its driving position, executes spring movements. The lost-motion arrangement allows the piston-piston rod assembly to be mobile in a retracted position to anticipate on spring movements of a cabin relative to a chassis. An exemplary configuration of a lost-motion arrangement is disclosed in US7.055.637B2.

[0024] Further, the invention relates to a vehicle comprising a chassis and a tiltable cab. A hydraulic tilt cylinder is provided between the chassis and the cab for tilting the cab. The hydraulic tilt cylinder has one or more connections for a supply and / or removal of hydraulic fluid. A cab tilt pump is provided which is attached to the vehicle for supplying pressurised hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic tilt cylinder. The cab tilt pump incorporates a reservoir for hydraulic fluid which reservoir is mounted to a pump body. The pump body has an operating surface provided with a drive member for manually driving the cab tilt pump. The cab tilt pump is manually driveable which means that to enable operation of the cab tilt pump, an operator may attach a hand tool, like a wrench, to the drive member of the cab tilt pump. The drive member is accessible on the outside of the cab tilt pump for coupling a manually operable tool, like a wrench or battery driven screw tool to the drive member.

[0025] Embodiments are described in the following clauses:

[0026] 1 . Cab tilt pump (2) for pressurising a hydraulic tilt cylinder to tilt a cabin with respect of a chassis, which cab tilt pump comprises

[0027] - a pump body (3) which has an outer flat side forming an operating surface (30), in which the operating surface is provided with a drive member (4) for driving a pump member inside the pump body and in which the pump body has an outer flat side forming a reservoir mounting surface (31) for mounting a reservoir to the pump body which reservoir mounting surface (31) is positioned opposite the operating surface (30) of the pump body (3); and

[0028] - a reservoir (9) for storing hydraulic fluid, in which the reservoir has a head portion (90) which is mounted to the reservoir mounting surface (31) of the pump body and a bottom portion (91) which extends away from the reservoir mounting surface (31), wherein a reservoir centre line (09) extends from the head portion to the bottom portion, characterised in that the reservoir centre line (09) is positioned under an angle of inclination (a) with respect to a surface normal of the operating surface (30).

[0029] 2. Cab tilt pump (2) according to clause 1 , wherein the angle of inclination has an angle a of at least 10° and at most 45°.

[0030] 3. Cab tilt pump (2) according to clause 1 or 2, wherein a surface normal of the reservoir mounting surface (31) is positioned under an angle a with respect to the surface normal of the operating surface (30).

[0031] 4. Cab tilt pump (2) according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the pump body (3) is cylindrical including one end face, an opposite end face and at least four circumferential planar side surfaces including a top surface defining the operating surface (30) and a bottom surface defining the reservoir mounting surface (31).

[0032] 5. Cab tilt pump (2) according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the reservoir centre line (09) is defined by an axial axis extending from the head portion (90) to the bottom portion (91) of the reservoir. 6. Cab tilt pump (2) according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the reservoir (9) has a substantially rectangular cross section in which a corner indentation (95) is provided at a reservoir corner and extending from the bottom portion (91) of the reservoir.

[0033] 7. Cab tilt pump (2) according to clause 6, wherein the corner indentation (95) extends from the bottom portion (91) to the head portion (90) over a whole length of the reservoir (9).

[0034] 8. Cab tilt pump (2) according to clause 7, wherein the pump body (3) comprises a pump corner indentation which in an assembly corresponds with the corner indentation (95) of the reservoir.

[0035] 9. Cab tilt pump (2) according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the drive member (4) comprises an actuable shaft end (40), wherein in particular the drive member is provided with a spanner formation, preferably a hexagonal shape or a socket head wrenched recess, for the purpose of coupling a handtool to the drive member.

[0036] 10. Cab tilt pump (2) according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the cab tilt pump (2) is a reciprocating pump, wherein in particular the reciprocating pump is operable by an alternating back-and-forth movement of the drive member (4).

[0037] 11. Cab tilt pump (2) according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the operating surface (30) of the pump body is provided with a control valve (5).

[0038] 12. Cab tilt pump (2) according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the operating surface of the pump body is provided with a supply port (6), in particular further provided with a pressure relief valve.

[0039] 13. Cab tilt system (120) comprising a hydraulic tilt cylinder (106) for tilting a cabin of a vehicle from a lowered position to a full forward tilt position, wherein the hydraulic tilt cylinder is mountable between the cabin and a chassis of the vehicle, the cab tilt system comprises a manually driveable cab tilt pump (2) being attachable to the vehicle for supplying hydraulic fluid to the tilt cylinder, wherein the cab tilt pump is configured according to any of the preceding clauses.

[0040] 14. Cab tilt system (120) according to clause 13, wherein the hydraulic tilt cylinder (106) comprises cylinder housing provided with a lost-motion arrangement at a bottom region to allow a cabin motion relative to the chassis in a driving position of the cabin. 15. Vehicle (101) comprising a chassis (102) and a cab (104) which is tiltable with respect to the chassis, wherein a hydraulic tilt cylinder (106) is arranged between the chassis and the cab for tilting the cab, which hydraulic tilt cylinder (106) has one or more connections (107, 108) for a supply and / or removal of hydraulic fluid and wherein a manually driveable cab tilt pump (2) is attached to the vehicle for supplying hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic tilt cylinder (106), wherein the cab tilt pump (2) incorporates a reservoir (9) for hydraulic fluid which reservoir is mounted to a pump body (3), wherein the pump body (3) has an operating surface (30) provided with a drive member (4) for driving the cab tilt pump which drive member is accessible on the outside of the cab tilt pump (2) for coupling the drive member (4) to a manually operable tool and wherein the cab tilt pump (2) is configured according to any of the preceding clauses.

[0041] The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the appended drawings. The drawings show a practical embodiment according to the invention, which may not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention. Specific features may also be considered apart from the shown embodiment and may be taken into account in a broader context as a delimiting feature, not only for the shown embodiment but as a common feature for all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims, in which:

[0042] Fig. 1 shows a schematic side view of a front section of a vehicle with a driver’s cab tilted forwards and a hydraulic tilting system;

[0043] Fig. 2 - 4 show respectively a perspective, frontal and side view of a cab tilt pump in an embodiment according to the invention having a reservoir oriented in an inclined position with respect to a surface normal of an operating surface of a pump body;

[0044] Fig. 5 shows an exploded view of the reservoir being mountable by bolts to a reservoir mounting surface of the pump body;

[0045] Fig. 6 shows a side view of the pump body presenting an angle of inclination between a centre line of the reservoir and a surface normal of the operating surface of the pump body;

[0046] Fig. 7 shows a top view of the cab tilt pump and Fig. 8 shows a corresponding exploded view of the embodiment of Fig. 2 - 5 illustrating a corner indentation;

[0047] Fig. 9 shows a rear view in perspective of the pump body provided with a drive member, control valve, pressure relief valve etc.; and

[0048] Fig. 10 shows a rear view of the cab tilt pump of Fig. 2-5 illustrating the reservoir provided with a corner indentation. Identical reference signs are used in the drawings to indicate identical or functionally similar components.

[0049] Fig. 1 shows in a diagrammatic side view a vehicle 101 , in particular a cab-over-engine type truck, including a chassis 102 supported by wheels and supporting an engine 105 drivingly connected to the wheels. The vehicle 101 includes a tiltable cab 104, also called a driver’s cab, pivotally mounted on the chassis 102 over the engine 105 by suitable hinges 1 of 3. The cab 104 is tiltable forwardly from a lowered or full-down operating position to a full forward tilt position (as shown) wherein the engine is uncovered for maintenance.

[0050] A cab tilt system 120 is provided which includes a hydraulic tilting actuator 106 for causing a pivotal movement of the cab 104 between the lowered operating position and the forward tilted position. The hydraulic tilting actuator is a double acting hydraulic tilt cylinder which has one end pivotally journalled to the chassis 102 and an opposite end pivotally connected to the cab 104.

[0051] The cab 104 is tiltable through an angle of approximately 70° between the operating position and the forward tilted position. In a preferred embodiment, the hydraulic tilt cylinder 106 is arranged to lift the cab 1 of 4 to about a 45° position and then restrain the cab or control movement of the cab as the weight of the cab causes the cab to move from the 45° position to the forward tilted position. The hydraulic tilt cylinder 106 similarly causes a return movement of the cab 104 from the forward tilted position to the 45° position, and then provides restrained controlled movement of the cab as it moves between the 45° position and the operating position.

[0052] A cab tilt pump 109 is provided for operating the hydraulic tilt cylinder 106. The cab tilt pump is configured to pressurise the hydraulic tilt cylinder to tilt the cab with respect to the chassis. The cab tilt pump 109 is arranged for selectively supplying hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic tilt cylinder 106 to control operation of the hydraulic tilt cylinder 106 and to achieve controlled movement of the cab 104.

[0053] Fig. 2 - 5 show a configuration of a cab tilt pump 2 in an embodiment according to the invention in more detail in several views. In this embodiment, the cab tilt pump 2 is a reciprocating pump. Components of this cab tilt pump 2 are similar to the components of the manually operable cab tilt pump as disclosed in US4.739.854 which is here incorporated by reference. The cab tilt pump 2 comprises a pump body 3. The pump body 3 is configured to hold and fluidly interconnect several pump components 4-9. The pump body 3 has a channel circuit including channel sections. The pump body 3 is block-shaped. At one end face, the pump body 3 has a first and second port 331 , 332 for connecting a first and second hydraulic conduit 7, 8. In a cab tilt system 20, the first and second hydraulic conduit 7, 8 are fluidly connected to a tilt cylinder.

[0054] At the opposite end face, the pump body 3 is provided with a plug. The pump body 3 has a plugged piston bore which forms a pump chamber 32 (see fig. 9) for holding a pump piston inside the pump body 3. The pump piston is axially movable in the piston bore. By reciprocating moving the pump piston, a fluid flow is generated and pumped through a channel section to one of the first and second port 331 , 332.

[0055] The reciprocating cab tilt pump 2 is operable by a drive member 4, in particular by a back-and- forth movement. The drive member 4 is provided with a spanner formation 40 which here has a hexagonal shape. Alternatively, the spanner formation 40 may include a socket head wrenched recess for coupling a tool to the drive member. Herewith, such a tool may form a pump handle being attachable to the drive member 4 by an operator.

[0056] The pump body 3 has a valve bore for housing a control valve 5. Such a control valve is commonly known for manually operable cab tilt pumps. The control valve 5 forms a switch for selecting a tilt motion. By rotating the control valve, an operator may select a lifting, restraining or a lowering movement of the hydraulic tilt cylinder.

[0057] The control valve 5 has a control valve portion which protrudes outside the pump body. The control valve portion is provided with a valve handle which is manually operable to set the connected pump in selectively a tilt or return position. A first and second stopper 51 , 52 are positioned at a circumference of the control valve portion to define a first and second position of the control valve. The pump body is provided with a channel circuit for conducting hydraulic fluid. The channel circuit provides channel sections which can be interconnected or blocked by the control valve for controlling a direction of the fluid flow.

[0058] Further, the pump body 3 may contain a pressure relief valve (not shown). The pressure relief valve provides a safety measure to prevent an overload situation. The pressure relief valve is in fluid communication with a channel section of the channel circuit. The pump body 3 has a flat outer side which forms an operating surface 30. The drive member 4 for driving a pump and the control valve 5 are positioned at this operating surface. In particular, also the pressure relief valve may be positioned at the operating surface.

[0059] Further, the pump body 3 may comprise a supply port 6 for supplying hydraulic fluid to the cab tilt system. An external pump may be connected to the supply port 6 for supplying hydraulic fluid to the cab tilt system after installation of the capital system or during maintenance. The supply port 6 is in fluid communication with a channel section of the channel circuit. Preferably, the supply port is positioned at the operating surface. Preferably, the operating surface 30 is provided with the drive member, the control valve and the supply port.

[0060] The cab tilt pump 2 comprises a hydraulic reservoir 9 for storing hydraulic fluid. The hydraulic reservoir 9 is mounted to the pump body 3. The pump body and the hydraulic reservoir together form an assembly. Here, in this embodiment, the hydraulic reservoir 9 has a reservoir flange 92 which is mounted to the pump body 3 by several bolts 93. In an alternative embodiment, instead of bolts, the hydraulic reservoir 9 may be clamped to the pump body 3, e.g. by a tensioning band or strip having one strip end firmly connected to the pump body and the other strip end provided with a hook to be hooked onto the reservoir. The hydraulic reservoir 9 is connected to the pump body 3 at a reservoir mounting surface 31. The reservoir mounting surface 31 is positioned opposite the operating surface 30 of the pump body 3.

[0061] As shown in Fig. 4 - 6, according to the invention, an improvement is provided by providing a beneficial outer geometry of the cab tilt pump 2 which allows the cab tilt pump to be installed in a narrow built-in space. Laterally seen, as shown in Fig. 4, the outer geometry of the cab tilt pump 2 is inclined. The inclined outer geometry is provided by an angled positioning of the reservoir 9 with respect to the operating surface 30 of the pump body 3. Instead of an aligned or perpendicular orientation of the reservoir 9 with respect to the operating surface 30, an inclination of the reservoir 9 with respect to the operating surface 30 is provided.

[0062] According to the invention, the reservoir 9 has a centre line 09 which is positioned under an angle of inclination a with respect to a surface normal 03 of the operating surface 30. The reservoir 9 has a head portion 90 which is mounted to the reservoir mounting surface 31 of the pump body 3 and a bottom portion 91 which extends away from this reservoir mounting surface 31. The reservoir centre line 09 is defined by an axial axis of the reservoir 9 extending from the head portion 90 to the bottom portion 91. The reservoir centre line 09 is positioned under an angle of inclination a with respect to the surface normal 03 of the operating surface 30 which beneficially may allow the cab tilt pump 2 to be installed in a narrow built-in space which provides only a minimum of lateral space or space depth. Herewith, the cab tilt pump 2 may provide a solution in vehicle configurations which are very limited in space for installing a cab tilt system.

[0063] As shown in fig. 6, the centre line 09 of the reservoir may coincidence with a surface normal of the reservoir mounting surface 31 of the pump body 3. In an alternative embodiment, the centre line 09 of the reservoir may incline with a surface normal of the reservoir mounting surface 31 which implies that the head portion 90 of the reservoir has a top face which is inclined instead of perpendicular to the centreline of the reservoir.

[0064] As further shown in fig. 7 - 10, the cab tilt pump 2 may include a reservoir which has a rectangular cross-section. As shown in respectively Fig. 9 and Fig. 10, the pump body 3 and the reservoir 9 are each provided with a corner indentation 35, 95. The corner indentation of the pump body 3 extends from a top surface, here the operating surface 30, to a bottom surface which is here the reservoir mounting surface 31. The corner indentation of the reservoir 9 extends from the head portion 90 to the bottom portion 91 over a whole length of the reservoir 9. The corner indentations 35, 95 may further increase a compactness of a configuration of the cab tilt pump 2 without compromising a housing of components.

[0065] Numerous variants are possible in addition to the embodiment shown in the figures. For example, in a variant of the illustrated embodiment of the cab tilt pump, in an alternative embodiment of the cab tilt pump, a head portion of the reservoir may be inclined with respect to the bottom wall of the reservoir to provide the angle of inclination between the reservoir centreline and the surface normal of the operating surface of the pump body. In an alternative embodiment of the cab tilt pump, the reservoir may be mounted by a clamped to the pump body instead of bolts. In an alternative embodiment, another pump mechanism may be provided inside the pump body for generating pressurised fluid.

[0066] Although the present invention has been described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. It is intended that all such changes and modifications be encompassed within the scope of the present disclosure and claims.

[0067] Further, it is remarked that any feature of the system according to the invention which is described in the embodiments and / or mentioned in the dependent claims is in itself considered patentable without any dependency to another presented feature. In particular, any measure presented in a dependent claim is also considered patentable without dependency of the independent claim, e.g. the feature of the corner indentation can be considered independent from an inclined mounting of the reservoir to the pump body.

[0068] Thus, the invention provides a cab tilt pump 2, a cab tilt system 20 and a vehicle comprising a pump body 3 which has an outer flat side which forms an operating surface 30 provided with a drive member 4, and an opposite outer flat side which forms a reservoir mounting surface 31 for mounting a reservoir 9 to the pump body 3. The reservoir 9 has a reservoir centre line 09 which extends from a head portion 90 which is mounted to the reservoir mounting surface of the pump body to a bottom portion 91 which outwardly extends away from the reservoir mounting surface. An improvement is obtained in that the reservoir centre line 09 is positioned under an angle of inclination a with respect to a surface normal of the operating surface 30. Beneficially, an inclined outer geometry of the cab tilt pump 2 may provide a solution in vehicle configurations which are very limited in available installation space for installing a cab tilt system.

[0069] Reference signs list: 101 vehicle; cab-over-engine type truck

[0070] 102 chassis 32 pump chamber

[0071] 103 hinge 331 first port

[0072] 104 driver’s cab 332 second port

[0073] 105 engine 35 corner indentation 106 tilt cylinder

[0074] 107, 108 hydraulic conduit 4 drive member

[0075] 109 cab tilt pump 40 shaft end; spanner formation

[0076] 120 cab tilt system

[0077] 5 control valve; switch 2 cab tilt pump 51 first stopper

[0078] 20 cab tilt system 52 second stopper

[0079] 3 pump body 6 supply port

[0080] 30 operating surface 03 surface normal 7, 8 hydraulic conduit

[0081] 31 reservoir mounting surface a inclination angle 9 reservoir reservoir centre line 93 bolt head portion 94 reservoir seal bottom portion 95 corner indentation reservoir flange

Claims

CLAIMS1 . Cab tilt pump (2) for pressurising a hydraulic tilt cylinder to tilt a cabin with respect of a chassis, which cab tilt pump comprises- a pump body (3) which has an outer flat side forming an operating surface (30), in which the operating surface is provided with a drive member (4) for driving a pump member inside the pump body and in which the pump body has an outer flat side forming a reservoir mounting surface (31) for mounting a reservoir to the pump body which reservoir mounting surface (31) is positioned opposite the operating surface (30) of the pump body (3); and- a reservoir (9) for storing hydraulic fluid, in which the reservoir has a head portion (90) which is mounted to the reservoir mounting surface (31) of the pump body and a bottom portion (91) which extends away from the reservoir mounting surface (31), wherein a reservoir centre line (09) extends from the head portion to the bottom portion, characterised in that the reservoir centre line (09) is positioned under an angle of inclination (a) with respect to a surface normal of the operating surface (30).

2. Cab tilt pump (2) according to claim 1 , wherein the angle of inclination has an angle a of at least 10° and at most 45°.

3. Cab tilt pump (2) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a surface normal of the reservoir mounting surface (31) is positioned under an angle a with respect to the surface normal of the operating surface (30).

4. Cab tilt pump (2) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the pump body (3) is cylindrical including one end face, an opposite end face and at least four circumferential planar side surfaces including a top surface defining the operating surface (30) and a bottom surface defining the reservoir mounting surface (31).

5. Cab tilt pump (2) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the reservoir centre line (09) is defined by an axial axis extending from the head portion (90) to the bottom portion (91) of the reservoir.

6. Cab tilt pump (2) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the reservoir (9) has a substantially rectangular cross section in which a corner indentation (95) is provided at a reservoir corner and extending from the bottom portion (91) of the reservoir.

7. Cab tilt pump (2) according to claim 6, wherein the corner indentation (95) extends from the bottom portion (91) to the head portion (90) over a whole length of the reservoir (9).

8. Cab tilt pump (2) according to claim 7, wherein the pump body (3) comprises a pump corner indentation which in an assembly corresponds with the corner indentation (95) of the reservoir.

9. Cab tilt pump (2) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the drive member (4) comprises an actuable shaft end (40), wherein in particular the drive member is provided with a spanner formation, preferably a hexagonal shape or a socket head wrenched recess, for the purpose of coupling a handtool to the drive member.

10. Cab tilt pump (2) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cab tilt pump (2) is a reciprocating pump, wherein in particular the reciprocating pump is operable by an alternating back-and-forth movement of the drive member (4).

11. Cab tilt pump (2) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the operating surface (30) of the pump body is provided with a control valve (5).

12. Cab tilt pump (2) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the operating surface of the pump body is provided with a supply port (6), in particular further provided with a pressure relief valve.

13. Cab tilt system (120) comprising a hydraulic tilt cylinder (106) for tilting a cabin of a vehicle from a lowered position to a full forward tilt position, wherein the hydraulic tilt cylinder is mountable between the cabin and a chassis of the vehicle, the cab tilt system comprises a manually driveable cab tilt pump (2) being attachable to the vehicle for supplying hydraulic fluid to the tilt cylinder, wherein the cab tilt pump is configured according to any of the preceding claims.

14. Cab tilt system (120) according to claim 13, wherein the hydraulic tilt cylinder (106) comprises cylinder housing provided with a lost-motion arrangement at a bottom region to allow a cabin motion relative to the chassis in a driving position of the cabin.

15. Vehicle (101) comprising a chassis (102) and a cab (104) which is tiltable with respect to the chassis, wherein a hydraulic tilt cylinder (106) is arranged between the chassis and the cab for tilting the cab, which hydraulic tilt cylinder (106) has one or more connections (107, 108) for a supply and / or removal of hydraulic fluid and wherein a manually driveable cab tilt pump (2) isattached to the vehicle for supplying hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic tilt cylinder (106), wherein the cab tilt pump (2) incorporates a reservoir (9) for hydraulic fluid which reservoir is mounted to a pump body (3), wherein the pump body (3) has an operating surface (30) provided with a drive member (4) for driving the cab tilt pump which drive member is accessible on the outside of the cab tilt pump (2) for coupling the drive member (4) to a manually operable tool and wherein the cab tilt pump (2) is configured according to any of the preceding claims.

Images