AU2003244548A1 - Control Seat - Google Patents

Description

1 CONTROL SEAT The present invention relates to the control of a work machine. In particular, the present invention relates to a control seat for operating a joystick to govern the movement of a work machine.

Many work machines such as tractors and agricultural equipment are configured with work implements on the front and rear of the work machine. Generally the operator will drive the tractor or work machine from a position facing frontwards. Generally the front facing position will be used to operate the main work implement that is mounted on the front of the work machine. In order to operate the implement on the rear of the work machine a second operating position may be provided in a second location or operator's chair may be rotated to face the rear of the work machine.

The controls are generally fixed to the cabin and a first set of controls may be employed when facing frontwards and a second set of fixed controls may be used to operate the rear work implement either from the second chair or by rotating the operator's chair to face rearwardly. The provision of a second set of controls requires the operator to enable and disenable the respective controls so that inadvertent operation of the controls behind the operator does not result in damage to the machine or injury to the operator or others.

The use of joysticks to control work machines such as tractors, other agricultural equipment and heavy machinery has enabled the joysticks to be located on the operator's chair whereby the operator may use the joystick irrespective of the orientation of the operator's chair. Generally multiple joysticks will be provided in order to operate the movement of the work machine and the control of the work implements attached thereto.

Controlling the movement of the work machine using a joystick when the operator is facing the forward direction is generally intuitive whereby forward movement of the joystick causes the work machine to move in a forwards direction, movement of the joystick to the left or right cause the work machine to turn towards the left or right respectively and movement of the joystick backwards causes the work machine to move backwards. However, upon rotation of the operator's chair to a rearward facing position renders the joystick counter-intuitive. That is movement of the joystick in any direction causes the work machine to move in the opposite direction. Thus, movement of the joystick to the left causes the work machine to move to the right.

Movement of the joystick towards the rear of the work machine causes the work machine to move in a forward direction. The use of joysticks in this manner is limited because of the need to train operators to be able to use the joystick in intuitive and counter-intuitive manners depending upon the orientation of the operator's seat.

We have now found a control seat for a work machine that permits the operator to utilise joystick controls in an intuitive manner irrespective of the direction in which the operator's chair facing, overcomes at least one of the disadvantages described above or provides the consumer with a useful or commercial choice. Accordingly there is provided a control seat for a work machine, the control seat comprising a chair rotatably mounted on a support, said chair having controls for the work machine, said controls including at least one joystick for controlling the movement of the work machine, wherein rotation of said chair about said support from a first operating position to a second operating position conditions a switching assembly whereby movement of the work machine in relation to the operating position of the chair is governed by the condition of the switching assembly and movement of the joystick.

In a basic form of the present invention the switching assembly may have a forward condition and a rearward condition corresponding to the direction the operator faces when operating the work machine. Whilst the operator faces forward relative to the work machine the joystick operates in an intuitive manner whereby movement of the joystick by the operator towards the operator's left causes the work machine to turn towards the left relative to the frame of reference of the operator and also towards the left relative to the work machine. Similarly, movement of the joystick to the operator's right results in the turning of the work machine towards the right relative to the operator's frame of reference and also relative to the work machine. Movement of the joystick forward relative to the operator results in the movement or acceleration of the work machine forward relative to the operator and to the work machine. Movement of the joystick rearwardly relative to the operator results in the rearward movement or acceleration of the work machine relative to both the operator and the work machine.

Upon reorientation of the operator's chair to a rearward facing direction the switching assembly causes the effect of the joystick upon the movement of the work machine to be reversed. That is, movement of the joystick in a forward direction relative to the frame of reference of the operator results in the movement of the work machine in a rearward direction relative to the original orientation of the work machine. It would be appreciated that with the operator facing in a forward orientation relative to the original orientation of the work machine movement of the joystick away from the operator causes the work machine to move in a forward direction and with the operator facing rearwardly relative to the original orientation of the work machine movement of the joystick away from the operator causes the work machine to move in a rearward direction relative to the original orientation of the work machine. Similarly, movement of the joystick to the operator's left causes the work machine to turn to the right relative to the original orientation of the work machine but in an intuitive sense to the left relative to the orientation of the operator.

The present invention is applicable to a wide variety of applications, but has particularly used in respect of agricultural equipment such as tractors and the like. The control seat of the present invention may be used with particular advantage in articulated vehicles such as articulated tractors having work implements mounted both on the front and rear sections of the articulated tractor.

The control seat comprises a chair rotatably mounted on a support.

The chair may be of any convenient configuration and is preferably selected to provide durability and comfort. The chair incorporates the controls for the work machine and these controls include at least one joystick used to control the movement of the work machine. The chair may also have additional controls, such as for the operation of any work implements. [n a preferred embodiment the orientation of the control seat determines the implement that is controlled by the additional controls. In a first condition, the additional controls operate the front implement and in a second condition, the additional controls operate the rear implement. Typically the chair will include armrests with joysticks positioned at the ends of the armrests for easy operation by the user.

The chair is rotatably mounted on a support. The rotatable mounting may be in the form of a swivel assembly including a bearing fixed to a support. The support may be secured to the cabin of the work machine.

The rotatable mount supports the weight of the chair and the operator and may be freely rotatable on the bearing relative to the support. Alternatively, and more preferably, the rotatable mount may allow the chair to be positioned in a number of set orientations. For example, the rotatable mount may include a circular base plate secured to the support where the base plate has a number of notches cut in the periphery that correspond to preselected orientations for the chair. A latch arrangement may be provided on the chair whereby the latch engages the notches on the periphery of the base plate. It is preferred that such a latching assembly be used to prevent the operation of the work machine when the chair is in an unlatched condition and the latch is not in engagement with the notches in the base plate. Thus, when the latch engages a notch in the base plate the controls are enlivened, enabling the operator to operate the work machine. It will be appreciated that other configurations may be used to control the orientation of the chair relative to the support and to engage or disengage the operator's controls.

The switching assembly may be incorporated into the latching mechanism described above. For example the engagement of the latch with a particular notch in the base plate may govern the output from the joystick and thereby govern the movement of the work machine. Alternatively, other switching means may be used. For example, it is preferred that a proximity switch be used wherein a proximity switch is positioned on the base of the chair and a proximity switch path is positioned on the support, preferably upon a base plate. As the proximity switch is positioned adjacent the proximity switch path the proximity switch may govern the output from the joystick and thus the movement of the work machine upon operation of the joystick. For example, in a preferred aspect a proximity switch path may be provided around the rearward portion of the rotatable mount whereby upon rotation of the chair to a rearward facing direction the proximity switch is positioned adjacent the proximity switch path and thus mirrors the output from the joystick enabling intuitive control of the movement of the work machine.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the chair includes controls for the operation of the work implements. It is preferred that a single set of controls is used to control both the front and rear work implement, dependent upon the orientation of the chair. When the operator is facing frontwards the controls for the work implement operate the front work implement and upon reorientation of the chair to a rearward orientation the same work implement controls operate the rear work implement. The switching assembly used to govern the output of the joystick and the movement of the work machine may be used to engage or disengage the operation of the respective work implements.

The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will be understood that the accompanying drawings are provided for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

Figure 1 is an isometric drawing of a control seat according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the control seat shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an isometric drawing of the support for the control seat shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an isometric drawing of the support shown in Figure 3 including the chair platform.

Figure 5 is an isometric drawing of an articulated tractor incorporating a control seat of the type shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1 shows a control seat 1 formed from a chair 2 and a support 3. The chair 2 is rotatably mounted on the support 3. The chair includes armrests 4 having joysticks 5, 6 located at the distal end of the armrests 4. The chair also includes a latch 7. The latch 7 controls the rotation of the chair 2 relative to the support 3. Figure 2 shows the control seat 1 oriented toward the front, or blade end of the tractor shown in Figure Rotation of the chair 2 relative to the support 3 such that the chair 2 is facing the rear, mulcher end, of the tractor shown in Figure 5 causes the logic of the control systems to automatically mirror the controls so that the motion of the tractor is still in the direction in which the joystick is moved. In this way movement of joysticks 5, 6 toward the front end or blade end of the tractor irrespective or whether or not the chair is positioned facing the front end or rear end of the tractor will cause the tractor to move in a forward direction.

Figure 3 shows the support 3 having a mounting plate 10 fixed to a bearing 11 enabling the mounting plate 10 to rotate relative to a base plate 12. The base plate 12 is secured to the floor of the cabin shown in Figure Base plate 12 is circular and includes a plurality of positioning notches 13 around the periphery of base plate 12. A latch 7 engages notch 13 that is disposed adjacent latch 7 and prevents rotation of the chair 2. An operator may withdraw the latch 7 to enable the chair 2 to rotate relative to the support 3. In a preferred configuration, the controls are disabled whilst the latch 7 is in a withdrawn configuration and activated when the latch 7 is disposed within a notch 13. The base plate 12 includes a proximity switch path 14 that is disposed along the rear part of the base plate 12. As the chair 2 is rotated to face rearwardly a proximity switch mounting on the underside of chair 2 is operated by the proximity switch path 14 and causes the logic of the joystick control to be mirrored so as to provide intuitive control of the tractor shown in Figure 5 irrespective of the orientation of the chair 2.

Figure 4 shows the chair platform 15 bolted to the mounting plate for rotation relative to base plate 12. Proximity switch 16 is affixed to the chair platform Figure 5 shows an articulated tractor 101. The articulated tractor 101 has a first chassis section 111 and a second chassis section 112. The second chassis section 112 has a pair of opposed tandem drive wheels 121, 122.

The second chassis section 112 supports a diesel engine (not shown) that drives hydraulic pumps (not shown). The hydraulic pumps provide drive to the tandem drive wheel assemblies 121, 123 and the front drive wheels 113 and 114. The second chassis section includes a work implement 115 in the form of a mulcher. The mulcher 115 is driven by the hydraulic pumps.

The first chassis section supports the cooling system 116 and the cabin 117. The cabin 117 houses the control seat (as shown in Figures 1-4) thereby allowing the operator to operate the articulated tractor 101 in a forward and rearward direction using a joystick in an intuitive sense irrespective of whether the operator is facing forward or rearward.

Furthermore, the control seat shown in Figures 1-4 permits the operation of the blade 118 and mulcher 115 using the same control systems dependent upon the orientation of the operator's chair.

In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.

Claims (14)

1. A control seat for a work machine, the control seat comprising a chair rotatably mounted on a support, said chair having controls for the work machine, said controls including at least one joystick for controlling the movement of the work machine, wherein rotation of said chair about said support from a first operating position to a second operating position conditions a switching assembly whereby movement of the work machine in relation to the operating position of the chair is governed by the condition of the switching assembly and movement of the joystick.

2. A control seat for a work machine according to claim 1 wherein the rotatable mounting may be in the form of a swivel assembly including a bearing fixed to a support.

3. A control seat for a work machine according to claim 2 wherein the rotatable mount includes a circular base plate secured to the support where the base plate has a number of notches cut in the periphery that correspond to preselected orientations for the chair.

4. A control seat for a work machine according to claim 3 wherein the control seat includes a latch arrangement provided on the chair whereby the latch engages the notches on the periphery of the base plate.

5. A control seat for a work machine according to claim 4 wherein the latching assembly prevents the operation of the work machine when the chair is in an unlatched condition and the latch is not in engagement with the notches in the base plate.

6. A control seat for a work machine according to claim 5 wherein the switching assembly is incorporated into the latching assembly.

7. A control seat for a work machine according to claim 6 wherein the engagement of the latch with a selected notch in the base plate governs the output from the joystick and thereby govern the operation of the work machine.

8. A control seat for a work machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein a proximity switch is positioned on the base of the chair and a proximity switch path is positioned on the support.

9. A control seat for a work machine according to claim 8 wherein the proximity switch path is provided around the rearward portion of the rotatable mount whereby upon rotation of the chair to a rearward facing direction the proximity switch is positioned adjacent the proximity switch path.

A control seat for a work machine according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the chair includes controls for the operation of the work implements.

11. A control seat for a work machine according to claim 9 wherein a single set of controls is used to control both the front and rear work implement, dependent upon the orientation of the chair.

12. A control seat for a work machine according to any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the work machine is a piece of agricultural equipment.

13. A control seat for a work machine according to claim 12 wherein the piece of agricultural equipment is a tractor.

14. A control seat for a work machine substantially as hereinabove described with reference to the drawings. DATED this 4 th day of September 2003 Ephemere Pty Ltd By their Patent Attorneys CULLEN CO.