LI, Yougang (No.1, Yunhe Road Yunmenshan Community Neighborhood Offic, Qingzhou Shandong 0, 262500, CN)
KINSINGER, Malcolm (Room 301, No.169 Songling Roa, Qingdao Shandong 1, 266061, CN)
MEN, Shizong (No.1, Yunhe Road Yunmenshan Community Neighborhood Offic, Qingzhou Shandong 0, 262500, CN)
GUO, Jinhai (No.1, Yunhe Road Yunmenshan Community Neighborhood Offic, Qingzhou Shandong 0, 262500, CN)
LIU, Xiaolong (No.1, Yunhe Road Yunmenshan Community Neighborhood Offic, Qingzhou Shandong 0, 262500, CN)
CUI, Yuemei (No.1, Yunhe Road Yunmenshan Community Neighborhood Offic, Qingzhou Shandong 0, 262500, CN)
HU, Qibao (Room 301, No.169 Songling Roa, Qingdao Shandong 1, 266061, CN)
LIU, Changquan (No.1, Yunhe Road Yunmenshan Community Neighborhood Offic, Qingzhou Shandong 0, 262500, CN)
LI, Yougang (No.1, Yunhe Road Yunmenshan Community Neighborhood Offic, Qingzhou Shandong 0, 262500, CN)
KINSINGER, Malcolm (Room 301, No.169 Songling Roa, Qingdao Shandong 1, 266061, CN)
MEN, Shizong (No.1, Yunhe Road Yunmenshan Community Neighborhood Offic, Qingzhou Shandong 0, 262500, CN)
GUO, Jinhai (No.1, Yunhe Road Yunmenshan Community Neighborhood Offic, Qingzhou Shandong 0, 262500, CN)
LIU, Xiaolong (No.1, Yunhe Road Yunmenshan Community Neighborhood Offic, Qingzhou Shandong 0, 262500, CN)
CUI, Yuemei (No.1, Yunhe Road Yunmenshan Community Neighborhood Offic, Qingzhou Shandong 0, 262500, CN)
HU, Qibao (Room 301, No.169 Songling Roa, Qingdao Shandong 1, 266061, CN)
What is claimed is:
1. A control device (1) for a machine, comprising: an operating lever (4); a first control lever (10) movably coupled to said operating lever (4); and a second control lever (13) rotatable about an axis of the first control lever (10) and pivotally coupled to said operating lever by means of a pivot (6), wherein a rotary movement of said operating lever (4) about the pivot (6) moves said first control lever (10) axially, and wherein a rotary movement of said operating lever (4) about the axis of said first control lever rotates said second control lever about the axis of said first control lever.
2. A control device for a machine according to claim 1, wherein said operating lever (4) is pivotally coupled to the first control lever (10).
3. A control device for a machine according to claim 2, further comprising a first linkage assembly (2) with a first end connected to the first control lever (10) and a second end provided with a U-shaped recess, one end (401) of the operating lever (4) being engaged in the U-shaped recess and pivotally connected to the first control lever (10).
4. A control device for a machine according to claim 1, further comprising a operating lever holder (3) with a first end fixedly connected to the second control lever and a second end connected to the operating lever (4) by means of the pivot (6).
5. A control device for a machine according to claim 4, wherein the second end of the operating lever holder (3) is provided with a U-shaped recess, and the operating lever (4) passes through the U-shaped recess and is pivotally connected to the operating lever holder (3).
6. A control device for a machine according to claim 4, further comprising: a sleeve (301) engaged outside of said second control lever (13) and fixedly attached to said control lever (13), the operating lever holder (3) being fixedly attached to the sleeve (301).
7. A control device for a machine according to claim 1, wherein the second control lever is a hollow tube, and the first control lever passes through the hollow structure of the second control lever.
8. A control device for a machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first control lever (10) acts as a speed control lever and said second control lever (13) acts as a forward and reverse control lever.
9. A control device for a machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said first control lever (10) acts as a forward and reverse control lever and said second control lever (13) acts as a speed control lever.
10. A machine, comprising a operating table and the control device according to any one of the preceding claims.
11. A machine according to claim 10, further comprising a cover (8) covering an upper portion of the control device and provided with an opening to allow the operating lever (4) to extend out and rotate.
12, A machine according to claim 10 or 11, further comprising a mounting sleeve (16) fixed onto the operating table of the machine, wherein the operating lever holder (3) is mounted on the mounting sleeve (16) and the first control lever (10) passes through the mounting sleeve.
13. A method for operating the control device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the operating lever (4) is actuated to rotate about the axis of the first control lever (10), so that the second control lever (13) rotates about the axis of the first control lever (10); or the operating lever (4) is actuated to rotate about the pivot (6), so that the first control lever (10) movably coupled to the operating lever rotates about the axis of the first control lever (10).
14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the operating lever (4) is actuated in horizontal direction as the machine is required to forward or reverse; and the operating lever (4) is actuated in vertical direction as the machine is required to change the speed.
15. A method according to claim 13, wherein the operating lever (4) is actuated in vertical direction as the machine is required to forward or reverse; and the operating lever (4) is actuated in horizontal direction as the machine is required to change the speed. |
Control Device for Machine, Method for Operating the Same and
Machine Comprising the Same
Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure generally relates to the field of machine, and more specifically, to a control device for a machine and a method for operating the control device. The present disclosure also relates to a machine comprising the control device.
Background of the Disclosure
In typical controlling devices for a transmission system of a machine, such as a loader, a rough terrain lift truck, and a dump carrier etc., a forward and reverse control lever and a speed control lever are used to control a forward and reverse gear and a speed gear of the transmission system independently. Specifically, on one hand, a driver can operate the forward and reverse control lever with a forward and reverse operating handle to control the forward and reverse gear of the transmission system, so that the forward and reverse control of the machine is realized. On the other hand, the driver can operate the speed lever with a speed operating handle to control the speed gear of the transmission system, so that the speed control of the machine is realized. Such an arrangement usually occupies more space within a driving cab of the machine due to the forward and reverse operating handle and the speed operating handle being arranged independently.
Further, it is also known to operate the forward and reverse control lever and the speed control lever with a single operating handle.
However, in the prior art, the forward and reverse control lever and the speed control lever for the transmission system are respectively arranged on positions away from each other within the driving cab. Thus, such an arrangement also occupies more space in the driving cab.
Such space-occupied arrangement renders the driver uncomfortable and unsafe when
driving. The operation is not convenient and the efficiency is low.
While a machine incorporating an electronic control device with a single operating handle is known, which comprises an electronic controller and an electro-hydraulic directional control valve, the electronic control device has a complex structure with high cost but limited application in the industry.
Therefore, there is especially a need in the art for a control device for a machine which can integrate the speed control lever with the forward and reverse control lever to save the available space in the driving cab with lower cost and better comfortability for the driver.
Summary of the Disclosure
The present disclosure is directed to a control device for machine which can integrate a speed control lever with a forward and reverse control lever for a transmission system of machine and has a single operating lever, while maintaining simple structure and low cost.
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a control device for a machine, comprising; an operating lever; a first control lever movably coupled to said operating lever; and a second control lever rotatable about an axis of the first control lever and pivotally coupled to said operating lever by means of a pivot, wherein a rotary movement of said operating lever about the pivot moves said first control lever axially, and wherein a rotary movement of said operating lever about the axis of said first control lever rotates said second control lever about the axis of said first control lever.
According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, there is also provided a machine comprising a operating table and the control device.
According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method for operating the control device, wherein the operating lever is actuated to rotate about the axis of the first control lever, so that the second control lever rotates about the axis of the first control lever; or the operating lever is actuated to rotate about the pivot, so that the first control lever movably coupled to the operating lever rotates about the axis of the first control lever.
Compared with the traditional mechanical control device with double operating levers, the control device according to the present disclosure occupies less space in the driving cab, and is easier to operate and with high comfortability for the driver. Compared with the electronic control device, the control device according to the present disclosure saves the manufacturing cost significantly.
The control device according to the present disclosure can also relieve the fatigue of the driver. For example, when using a loader mounted with control device according to the present disclosure, the driver operates the steering wheel with his left hand while operating the single lever forward, backward, upward or downward with his right hand, without considering on which lever to put the right hand and thus can concentrate on loading.
The features and advantages of the present disclosure will be described in the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present disclosure. For those skilled in the art, other features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a control device for a machine according to one embodiment of the present disclosure and two rocker devices coupled to the control device, in which one of the rocker device is connected with the forward and reverse control valve, and the other is connected with the speed control valve;
Fig. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of a connecting portion of an upper end portion of a control tube of the control device according to the present disclosure and a connecting sleeve, also showing a mounting sleeve on the operating table of the machine;
Fig. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of a connecting portion of an lower end portion of the control tube of the control device according to the present disclosure and a rocker device; and
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a control device for a machine according to the present disclosure mounted with a cover.
Detailed Description of the Disclosure
Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments described herein are only by way of examples, not intended to limit any aspects of the present disclosure. In the accompanying drawings, the like reference numbers represent the like components.
Fig. 1 shows a control device 1 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The control device 1 may be applied in a machine, such as a loader, a rough terrain lift truck, and a dump carrier etc. The control device in accordance with the present disclosure can comprise an operating lever 4. The operating lever 4 can be elongated and have a round cross section or rectangular cross section or their combination, A handle 7 can be attached to one end of the operating lever 4. The handle 7 can be integrated with the operating lever 4 or connected with the latter by means of suitable joining manners, such as welding or threading, snap fitting etc. The handle 7 is shaped and sized to be grasped by man's hand. The driver may operate the control device by actuating the operating lever 4 with the handle 7.
A first control lever, the control lever 10 in one preferred embodiment, is connected to the other end 401 of the operating lever 4, so that the end 401 of the operating lever 4 can drive the control lever 10 to move axially. Preferably, the operating lever 4 is pivotally connected to the control lever 10, More preferably, the operating lever 4 is pivotally connected to the control lever 10 by means of a first linkage assembly 2 with a first end connectable to the control lever 10 and a second end provided with a U-shaped recess 201. The end 401 of the operating lever 4 is engaged in the U-shaped recess and pivotally connected to the first linkage assembly 2, The U-shaped recess 201 can be connected with the operating lever 4 by means of a pivot pin 202 or the like, as shown in Fig. 1.
The U-shaped recess 201 of the first linkage assembly 2 can have a threaded hole on the bottom thereof. An upper end 101 of the control lever 10 is engaged into the hole. The U-shaped
recess 201 can rotate about the axis of the control lever 10. In this way, the control lever 10 is coupled to the operating lever 4 at the upper end 101 by means of the first linkage assembly 2. As described above, the control lever 10 can be connected to the operating lever 4 directly without the first linkage assembly 2. As will be appreciated by the skilled in the art, the connecting manners between the operating lever 4 and the control lever 10 described herein and shown in the drawings are only given by way of examples, and any other manners allowing the linkage can be used. The shape and configuration of the operating lever 4 and the first linkage assembly 2 are only given by way of examples. Depending on the specific demand of design, they can have various shapes and configurations adapted to achieve the linkage. The control lever 10 can be elongated and have a solid or hollow tubular structure.
As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the control device 1 for the machine according to the present disclosure can further comprise a second control lever 13 preferably with a hollow structure, and in one preferred embodiment the second control lever 13 is embodies as a control tube 13. The control tube 13 can rotate about the axis of the control lever 10 and is pivotally connected to the operating lever 4 by means of a pivot 6 so that the operating lever 4 and the control tube 13 can rotate about the axis of the control lever 10 together. Preferably, the operating lever 4 can connected to control 13 by means of an operating lever holder 3. A first end of the operating lever 3 is fixed to the control tube 13, and a second end thereof is connected to the operating lever 4 by means of the pivot 6. More preferably, a sleeve 301 is engaged outside of said control tube 13 and fixedly attached to said control tube 13. The operating lever holder 3 is fixedly attached to the sleeve 301. In this way, the operating lever 4 can drive the sleeve 301 and the control tube 13 to rotate about the axis of the control lever 10 by means of the operating lever holder 3. As described above, the second control lever 13 is not necessary to be hollow as long as it can rotate about the axis of the control lever 10 together with the operating lever 4. The control tube 13 with a hollow structure has an inner diameter larger than the control lever's outer diameter. The control lever 10 passes through the hollow structure of the control tube 13. Thus, as shown in Fig. 1, the control lever 10 can pass through the hollow structure of the control tube 13 and extend out from the two ends 131 and 132 of the control
tube 13.
Preferably, the part of the control lever 10 extending out from the end 131 of the control tube 13, i.e. the upper end portion of the control lever 10, is coupled to the first linkage assembly 2, so that the control lever 10 coupled to the first linkage assembly 2 moves together with the first linkage assembly 2. The upper end 101 of the control lever 10 can also be connected directly to the operating lever 4.
The lower end 102 of the control lever 10 can be connected to a forward and reverse rocker or a speed rocker of the machine. In one preferred embodiment and as shown in Fig. 3, the lower end 102 of the control lever 10 extending out from the lower end 132 of the control tube 13 can be coupled to a forward and reverse rocker or a speed rocker, which will be described in detail below.
The control tube 13 can extend axially downward. A forward and reverse rocker or a speed rocker of the machine can be connected to the lower end 132 of the control tube 13.
As described above, in a preferred embodiment, a sleeve 301 fixedly attached the operating lever holder 3 is disposed over the outside of the upper end 131 of the control tube 13. The outer diameter of the upper end 131 of the control tube 13 can be smaller than the inner diameter of the sleeve 301. Thus, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the upper end 131 of the control tube 13 can be located in the annular space between the control lever 10 and the sleeve 301. The outer diameter of the control lever 10 outside the upper end 131 of the control tube 13 is normally arranged to be smaller than the outer diameter of other portions of control lever 10. In this way, as shown in
Fig. 2, at the upper end 131 of the control tube 13, the control tube 13 can be coupled to the sleeve 301 by means of a connecting member such as a pin 14. The pin 14 can pass through the walls of the sleeve 301 and the control tube 13 without contacting with the control lever 10, so that the axial movement of the control lever 10 is not interfered. The sleeve 301 and the control tube 13 can be connected by any other means which enable them to rotate together about the axis of the control lever 10.
In a preferred embodiment, the control tube 13 can extend axially downward and the axial length of the control tube 13 is smaller than that of control lever 10 passing through the control
tube 13 and much larger than that of the sleeve 301, Furthermore, a forward and reverse rocker or a speed rocker can be connected to the lower end 132 of the control tube 13, which will be described in detailed below.
An upper end of the operating lever holder 3 can have a U-shaped recess structure as shown in Fig. 1, and a lower end of which is fixedly attached to the sleeve 301 by various joining methods such as welding or integrated with the latter by other processes such as casting. As described above, one end of the operating lever 4 is disposed in the U-shaped recess 201 of the first linkage assembly 2 by a pivot pin, and similarly, the middle portion of the operating lever 4 is disposed in the U-shaped space of the upper end of the operating lever 3 by the pivot 6. As shown in Fig. 1, a hole is provided in the middle portion of the operating lever and another hole is provided on the upper end of the operating lever 3. The pivot 6 passes through these holes on the operating lever 4 and the upper end of the operating lever 3 so as to connect the operating lever 4 to the operating lever holder 3.
In this way, the operating lever 4 is connected with the control tube 13 by means of the pivot 6 and the operating lever holder 3. When the operating lever 4 rotates about the axis of the control lever 10, the control tube 13 can rotate about the axis of the control lever 10 due to the presence of the operating lever holder 3, Namely, the rotary movement of the operating lever 4 about the axis of the control lever 10 can be transmitted to the control tube 13 to rotate about the axis of the control lever 10 by the operating lever holder. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the operating lever holder in the present disclosure can also have any other structures which can transmit the rotary movement of the operating lever 4 about the axis of the control lever 10 to the control tube 13. As can be easily understood by the skilled in the art, the operating lever 3 can be connected directly to the control tube 13 to transmit the rotary movement and the sleeve 301 and the pins 14 can be eliminated. The control tube 13 can also be directly connected to the operating lever 4. The sleeve 301 can be integrated with the control tube 13.
The sleeve 301 of the operating lever holder 3 can be detachably mounted to a mounting sleeve 16 of the machine at a lower end surface of the sleeve 301. In this way, the operating
lever holder 3 can not make transitional movement in the axial direction of the control tube 13. As a result, the operating lever 4 can rotate about the pivot 6 and the rotary movement of the operating lever 10 can be converted into the axial transitional movement of the control lever 10 by means of the first linkage assembly 2. A bearing especially a rolling bearing can be disposed between the hole in the middle portion of the operating lever 4 and the pivot 6 so as to reduce the friction therebetween as the operating lever 4 rotates about the pivot 6.
As shown in Fig. 4, a cover 8 can be disposed outside of the upper portion of the control device to prevent the dust and the like from entering into the control device. The cover 8 can have an opening to allow the operating lever 4 to extend out and rotate. Indication of forward, reverse, high speed, and/or low speed can be provided on the cover 8 to facilitate the operation.
As mentioned above, a speed rocker or a forward and reverse rocker can be connected to the lower end 102 of the control lever 10 and the lower end 132 of the control tube 13, respectively.
In a preferred embodiment, as shown in Fig, 3, a portion of a forward and reverse rocker 18 can be fixed at the lower end 132 of the control tube 13 by means of a connecting pin 19. Further, a speed rocker 21 can also be fixed at the lower end 102 of the control lever 10 by means of a similar structure. In this case, the control lever 10 acts as a speed control lever, while the control tube 13 acts as a forward and reverse control lever. On one hand, the axial movement of the control lever 10 can be transmitted to the speed control valve of the machine transmission system via the speed rocker 21 so as to control the speed. On the other hand, the rotary movement of the control tube 13 can be transmitted to the forward and reverse control valve of the machine transmission system via the forward and reverse rocker 18 to achieve the forward and reverse control. The structures of the forward and reverse rocker and the speed rocker, and the ways to connect the forward and reverse rocker and the speed rocker to the forward and reverse control valve and the speed control valve respectively are well known in the art, so the detailed descriptions thereto are omitted herein.
It should be understood by those skilled in the art that depending on the real design requirement, the forward and reverse rocker can also be connected to the control lever 10, and
the speed rocker can be connected to the control tube 13. In this case, the control lever 10 can act as a forward and reverse control lever, while the control tube 13 can act as a speed control lever.
As mentioned above and shown in Fig. 2, the machine according to the present disclosure can also comprise a mounting sleeve 16 with a hollow structure, which is fixed at an appropriate position such as an operating table in the driving cab. The mounting sleeve 16 can have a larger inner diameter than the outer diameter of the control tube 13. As shown in Fig. 2, the sleeve 301 is engaged outside of the control tube 13 and the control tube 13 can pass through the hollow structure of the mounting sleeve 16. The lower end surface 302 of the sleeve 301 is seated on the upper end surface 160 of the mounting sleeve 16. Preferably, a gasket 20 is disposed inside of the mounting sleeve and the upper end surface 21 of the gasket 20 is in contact with the lower end surface 302 of the sleeve 301 to reduce the friction as the sleeve 301 rotates. The lower portion 162 of the mounting sleeve 16 has a outer diameter larger than the that of upper portion 163 thereof to form a mounting step surface 161. Onto the operating table 100, a mounting hole 105 having a outer diameter larger that of the lower portion 162 and smaller than that of the upper portion 163 is disposed. The mounting sleeve 16 can be inserted into the mounting hole 105 and the step surface 161 is seated on the operating table 100. The mounting sleeve 16 can be fixed to the operating table 100. The mounting sleeve 16 can be in a stationary state when the control device is operated, while the control tube 13 can be rotatable within the hollow mounting sleeve 16. Thus, the control device for the machine according to the present disclosure can be mounted at an appropriate position in the driving cab by means of the mounting sleeve 16. The control tube 13 can be directly attached to n appropriate position such as an operating table in the driving cab to restrict the axial motion of the control tube.
Industrial Applicability of the Disclosure
Below is a brief description about how to operate the control device for a machine of a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure. For the convenience of description, the control lever 10 acts as a speed control lever, while the control tube 13 acts as a forward and reverse
control lever. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this detail. The control lever 10 can act as a forward and reverse control lever, while the control tube 13 can act as a speed control lever.
On one hand, when a driver needs to change the speed, he can actuate the operating lever, preferably pull upward or push downward the handle 7 so as to enable the operating lever 4 to rotate about the pivot 6, i.e. rotate with the pivot 6 as a fulcrum. By means of the first linkage assembly 2, the above-mentioned rotary movement of the operating lever 4 can be converted into the axial movement of control lever 10. And then, the speed rocker connected to the lower end of the control lever 10 can be used to transmit the axial movement of the control lever 10 to the speed gear of the machine transmission system in order to realize the speed control.
On the other hand, when the driver needs to forward and reverse the machine, he can actuate the operating lever, preferably pull forward or push backward the handle 7 so as to enable the operating lever 4 to rotate about the axis of the control lever 10. By means of the operating lever holder 3, the above-mentioned rotary movement of the operating lever 4 can be transmitted to the control tube 13 to rotate around the axis of the control lever 10. Next, the rotary movement of the control tube 13 can be further transmitted to the forward and reverse gear of the machine transmission system via the forward and reverse rocker connected to the lower end of the control tube 13 in order to realize the forward and reverse control.
This invention can integrate the speed control lever with the forward and reverse control lever and form a single operating lever structure, and thereby achieving a compact control device with simple structure and less cost for a machine transmission system.
While the preferable embodiments of the present disclosure have been particularly shown and described herein, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present disclosure is not limited only to those embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
List of the components 1 — control device
2 — first linkage assembly
3 — operating lever holder
A — operating lever
6 — pivot 7 — handle
8 — cover
10 — control lever
13 — control tube
14 — pin 16 — mounting sleeve
18 — forward and reverse rocker
19 — connecting pin
21 — speed rocker
131 — upper end of control tube 132 — lower end of control tube
301 — connecting sleeve
201 — U-shaped recess
202— pivot pin
101 — upper end of control lever 102 — lower end of control lever
401 — one end of operating lever
302 — lower end surface of sleeve
21 — upper end surface of gasket
160 — lower end surface of sleeve 161 — mounting step surface
162 — lower portion of mounting sleeve
163 — upper portion of mounting sleeve
100 — operating table
105 — mounting hole in operating table