Machine element or mechanism – Control lever and linkage systems – Multiple controlled elements
Patent
1990-12-06
1992-08-25
Braun, Leslie A.
Machine element or mechanism
Control lever and linkage systems
Multiple controlled elements
74491, 1376362, 371175, 37118R, G05G 902
Patent
active
051408651
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a control lever assembly and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a control lever assembly for controlling hydraulic valves in an excavating and/or loading vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Art
A control lever assembly is known for controlling three functions in such a manner that either one of a pair of control levers can be used to control a particular one of the three functions, for example as described in previous patent application GB 2085131.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is one object of the present invention to provide a new or improved control lever assembly.
According to one aspect of the present invention we provide a control lever assembly including first and second control levers, the first control lever being mounted for movement about first and second transverse axes, movement of the first lever about the first axis operating a first function, and movement of the first lever about the second axis operating a second function, and a second control lever mounted for movement about a third axis generally coincident with or parallel to the first axis, movement of the second lever about the third axis operating a third function, the first lever being generally rigid with a mounting member and the second lever being movably mounted on the mounting member whereby upon movement of the first lever about the second axis, the second lever is carried by the mounting member so that the third axis remains generally coincident with or parallel to the first axis.
With such a construction an operator may always operate both the first and second levers simultaneously with one hand provided that the graspable portion of the second lever is mounted within reach of the graspable portion of the first lever because the spacial relationship between the two graspable portions of the levers remains substantially constant when the first lever is moved about the second axis.
According to a second aspect of the invention we provide an excavating/loading vehicle having three functions controlled by a control lever assembly according to the first aspect of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a side illustrative view of a vehicle having a control lever assembly in accordance with the invention,
FIG. 2 is a plan view of a control lever assembly in accordance with the invention,
FIG. 3 is a side view of the control lever assembly of FIG. 2, and,
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the control lever assembly of FIGS. 2 and 3 .
Referring first to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a combined loading and excavating vehicle comprises a body 10 having two pairs of ground wheels 11 and 12 and an operator's cab 13. At the front of the vehicle a loading arm 15 is provided which is movable about a first horizontal axis 16 by a pair of hydraulic rams 17 (only one of which is seen), and a bucket 18 is mounted for movement about a second horizontal axis 19 on the boom 15 via one or more hydraulic rams 20. The bucket 18 has a front jaw section 21 which is movable by another hydraulic ram (not seen) for movement about a third horizontal axis 22.
At the rear of the vehicle, an excavating arm 23 is provided which comprises a boom 24 mounted for movement about a vertical axis V on the body 10 of the vehicle, by one or more hydraulic rams (not seen), and movement relative to the body 10 about a first generally horizontal axis 25.
A dipper arm 26 is pivotally mounted on the boom 24 for movement about a second generally horizontal axis 27 via hydraulic ram 28 and a bucket 29 is mounted on the dipper 26 for movement about a third generally horizontal axis 30 by a ram 31.
The bucket 29 includes a jaw section J which is pivotal relative to the bucket 29 by a further ram (not seen) for movement about a fourth generally horizontal axis A.
The various hydraulic rams which actuate movement of loading arm 15, bucket 18 and jaw 21 are controlled by hydraulic valv
REFERENCES:
patent: 3338269 (1967-08-01), Carbert et al.
patent: 3517790 (1970-06-01), Damon
patent: 4169443 (1979-10-01), Todeschini
patent: 4389151 (1983-06-01), Brown
patent: 4489805 (1984-12-01), Okage
patent: 4526204 (1985-07-01), Primdahl
patent: 4541497 (1985-09-01), Riediger et al.
patent: 4736647 (1988-04-01), Shimoie et al.
Braun Leslie A.
J. C. Bamford Excavators Limited
Yip Winnie
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