Abstract: An interlock for a skid steer vehicle with a rear engine compartment and a rear door to that compartment includes a beam that is mounted transversely to the bottom of the door and has an upward facing surface that, like the beam, extends across the entire rear engine compartment opening. An interlocking second member is fixed to the chassis and extends across the rear engine compartment opening. When the door is impacted and forced upward, the first beam engages the second interlocking member over its width and transfers the force from the door (and beam) to the chassis When the door is impacted with a forward-directed force, the first beam also contacts the second member and transfers the forward forces through the second member to the chassis. Injury to the door is reduced or eliminated by transferring door impact forces to the chassis since the first beam extends substantially the entire distance across the door and is fixed to an inner surface of the door's frame.

Abstract: A radiator mounting system for a skid steer vehicle includes an air box with a front wall having an opening sized to receive engine fan blades, an oil cooler disposed in the air box, a radiator; and a radiator frame supporting the radiator that is hingeably coupled to the air box. The radiator has plastic tanks and an aluminum core and the frame extends around the periphery of the radiator.

Abstract: An interlock for a skid steer vehicle with a rear engine compartment and a rear door to that compartment includes a beam that is mounted transversely to the bottom of the door and has an upward facing surface that, like the beam, extends across the entire rear engine compartment opening. An interlocking second member is fixed to the chassis and extends across the rear engine compartment opening. When the door is impacted and forced upward, the first beam engages the second interlocking member over its width and transfers the force from the door (and beam) to the chassis. When the door is impacted with a forward-directed force, the first beam also contacts the second member and transfers the forward forces through the second member to the chassis. Injury to the door is reduced or eliminated by transferring door impact forces to the chassis since the first beam extends substantially the entire distance across the door and is fixed to an inner surface of the door's frame.

Abstract: An interlock for a skid steer vehicle with a rear engine compartment and a rear door to that compartment includes a beam that is mounted transversely to the bottom of the door and has an upward facing surface that, like the beam, extends across the entire rear engine compartment opening. An interlocking second member is fixed to the chassis and extends across the rear engine compartment opening. When the door is impacted and forced upward, the first beam engages the second interlocking member over its width and transfers the force from the door (and beam) to the chassis When the door is impacted with a forward-directed force, the first beam also contacts the second member and transfers the forward forces through the second member to the chassis. Injury to the door is reduced or eliminated by transferring door impact forces to the chassis since the first beam extends substantially the entire distance across the door and is fixed to an inner surface of the door's frame.

Abstract: A radiator mounting system for a skid steer vehicle includes an air box with a front wall having an opening sized to receive engine fan blades, an oil cooler disposed in the air box, a radiator; and a radiator frame supporting the radiator that is hingeably coupled to the air box. The radiator has plastic tanks and an aluminum core and the frame extends around the periphery of the radiator.

Abstract: A rear hinged pivotable hood for enclosing a tractor engine is disclosed wherein a hinge member pivotally mounts the hood to the tractor chassis for movement about a generally horizontal, transverse hinge access between a closed position in which the engine is inaccessibly covered and an opened position in which the engine is accessible. The engine hood includes a primary hood member that is pivotally movable about the hinge axis and a fixed portion that includes a pair of laterally spaced daily access doors pivotally mounted for outward movement to gain access to preselected frequently accessed service components of the engine. The lateral width of the primary hood member is substantially greater that the lateral spacing of the daily access doors so that the operator may have greater visibility of the position where said front tires engage the ground.

Abstract: A rearwardly pivotable hood for enclosing a tractor engine is disclosed wherein a hinge member pivotally mounts the hood to the tractor chassis. The hinge member includes an upper hinge portion movably supported on a lower hinge portion, which is fixed to the chassis of the tractor. The upper hinge portion carries a generally transverse and horizontally extending hinge axis which is connected to the hood to allow a rearwardly pivotable movement thereof. An adjustment mechanism to provide a side-to-side movement of the hood includes a centrally positioned vertical pivot pin interconnecting the upper and lower hinge portions to define an axis of rotation about which the upper hinge portion is movable into a selected orientation relative to the lower hinge portion. A pair of bolts passing through slotted openings serve to clamp the upper and lower hinge portions together.

Abstract: A rearwardly pivotable hood for enclosing a tractor engine is disclosed wherein a latching mechanism selectively retains the hood in a closed position. The latching mechanism includes a releasable clasp member mounted on the subframe structure supporting the air intake apparatus for the engine along a longitudinally extending centerline of the chassis forwardly of said hinge axis. The latching mechanism further includes a centrally positioned latch pin supported from the hood in alignable with the clasp member. A remote release mechanism, including a pivoted handle and a connecting linkage transferring pivotal motion of the handle to the clasp member for actuation thereof, is operable to effect actuation of the latching mechanism from a location along a transverse side of the hood. The pivoted handle can be access through the opening of the daily access door to initiate the raising of the hood for full access to the engine.

Abstract: A sealing apparatus for a tractor having a rearwardly pivotable hood for enclosing a tractor engine is disclosed wherein the top radiator seal is a closed cell foam seal affixed by adhesive to the hood structure to be compressed against the radiator when the hood is moved to the closed position. The radiator side seals are formed by rubber flapper seals bolted to the lateral sides of the radiator and compressed against the hood structure when the hood is moved to the closed position. The radiator side seals are oriented such that the pressure differential caused by the engine fan urges the side seals against the hood member. The sealing apparatus prevents hot air from re-circulating from the engine compartment to be passed back through the radiator.