DE102018127268A1 - Control lever for a vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a control lever for a vehicle, comprising a control section with a control panel for a thumb and a support section arranged in a width direction of the control lever to the side of the control section with a support surface for the rest of a user's hand, the support surface comprising a plurality of three-dimensional depressions arranged next to one another and has at least two ventilation ducts running superficially on the contact surface.

Description

The invention relates to a control lever for a vehicle, comprising an operating section with a control panel for a thumb and a support section arranged in a width direction of the control lever to the side of the operating section with a support surface for the rest of a user's hand.

Control levers of this type are used, for example, in excavators, tractors or combine harvesters and offer the user the option of placing a hand comfortably with the palm of the hand on the support section, while the thumb of the same hand can reach and operate the control panel. However, especially during several hours of operation, the sweat produced by hand is not adequately removed between the skin and the contact surface, which often makes the contact surface feel uncomfortably moist and sticky to the user.

The object of the present invention is therefore to develop a control lever which provides the user with a pleasant-feeling surface even when used for a long time.

The object of the present invention is achieved by a control lever for a vehicle, comprising an operating section with a control panel for a thumb and a support section arranged in a width direction of the control lever to the side of the operating section with a support surface for the rest of a user's hand, the support surface being a plurality of three-dimensional depressions arranged next to one another and at least two ventilation channels running superficially on the contact surface.

The recesses offer several advantages.

On the one hand, it is ensured that the formation of depressions prevents full contact between the skin and the contact surface and thus excessive perspiration and reduced perspiration. It is ensured that there is still air in the recesses between the skin and the contact surface and thus an evaporation of the sweat from the skin is possible. This creates a kind of microclimate between the palm of the hand and the support surface.

On the other hand, the user can change his perception by pressing on the contact surface, since the skin of the hand of the user adapts to this structure through the multitude of depressions, which increases the grip (also called “grip”) and is perceived as pleasant. The depressions therefore ensure improved haptics and adaptive grip with low manufacturing costs.

In addition, the superficial, ie parallel to the surface of the support surface and ventilation channels arranged on it, ensure that air can flow past the skin through this. This ensures increased convection and effective removal of heat and sweat. These ventilation ducts are preferably arranged where the user's hand produces the most sweat or where the sweat feeling is strongest. The ventilation ducts are preferably arranged centrally on the contact surface. In addition, a kind of design feature can be created through an individual arrangement of the ventilation ducts.

The Alcantara synthetic leather has proven to be a pleasant material for the contact surface. Textile fabrics are also perceived as pleasant. It is also conceivable that the contact surface has an antibacterial plastic. In addition, the support surface can be made from a wide variety of materials such as leather, fabric, fabric, knit, wood, and preferably from plastic. The contact surface preferably forms a soft and / or microporous surface with respect to the hand of the user.

It would therefore be possible, for example, to deep-draw one of the materials mentioned in order to form the described shape of the contact surface. An inexpensive alternative to this provides that a plastic element forms the contact surface, which is produced, for example, by injection molding and / or is formed, for example, on a polyurethane basis.

The operating section and the support section are preferably arranged rigidly with respect to one another. The operating surface and the supporting surface are particularly preferably rigid and / or not parallel to one another, but rather are arranged to form an angle with a value from a range from 120 ° to 170 °. Thus, the user is preset an ergonomic arrangement for storing his thumb and palm, which he no longer has to readjust himself.

Furthermore, the operating section and the support section are preferably arranged in the height direction of the control lever above a base of the control lever. It can be advantageous if the operating section and the support section can be rotated about an axis individually or together relative to the base in order to meet the individual needs of the user. This axis is preferably arranged parallel to the height direction of the control lever.

According to a preferred embodiment, a plurality of ventilation openings perforating the support surface are also arranged. This allows the air to flow not only parallel to the contact surface, but also perpendicular to it, which further improves the removal of sweat.

In order to ensure not only a passive but also an active air transport through the ventilation openings, it is preferred that an active ventilation device is provided on a side of the element forming the support surface facing away from the support surface, which is suitable and designed to actively air through the To transport ventilation openings. This allows air to be actively blown against the palm of the user, which triggers forced convection and thus cools the skin pleasantly and accelerates the sweat removal. For example, this ventilation device is designed as a fan.

It is of course also conceivable that the air flow cannot or not only hit the palm of the hand, but can also be sucked off from it, which corresponds to an evacuation. It is therefore advantageous if the active ventilation device is set up and intended to expel and / or suck in air.

The ventilation openings together with the ventilation device ensure effective air conditioning. In addition, there is little risk that the ventilation openings will become clogged with dirt, since the pressure of the air flowing through can immediately remove any particles.

It is further preferred that the ventilation device is assigned a device for changing a temperature of the air, that is to say a heating and / or cooling device (for example an air conditioning system). The temperature of the air flowing through the ventilation openings can thus be changed; for example, it can be heated at cold ambient temperatures and thus ensure that the user's hand is also heated.

For example, the control lever comprises a thermocouple and / or a moisture sensor, which detects a current value of the ambient temperature and / or the hand surface of the user or a current value of the ambient air humidity and / or a current value of the moisture level of the hand surface of the user, thereby using a control the heating and / or cooling device can be activated and / or the ventilation device can be controlled.

For example, a control device is provided for the control, which comprises electronics. For example, an algorithm is provided by means of the electronics, which regulates parameters of the ventilation device, such as the flow rate, and / or the connection and / or disconnection of the heating and / or cooling device as a function of the above-mentioned humidity and / or temperature.

A Peltier element can also be provided, which is designed to regulate the temperature and / or the humidity, i.e. to heat, to cool and / or to heat, to ventilate and / or to cool in sections by interval switching.

It is also preferred that the ventilation device can be switched on and / or off manually or automatically.

If, according to a preferred embodiment, the ventilation openings are arranged exclusively within the ventilation channels, it is ensured that the ventilation openings are not covered by the user's hand. In addition, the air flowing through the ventilation openings perpendicular to the support surface can be deflected parallel to the support surface and can continue to flow through the ventilation ducts. This ensures that there is always a fresh air supply below the user's hand.

Ventilation openings are preferably arranged over an entire length of at least one, preferably of each of the ventilation ducts at uniform intervals. The ventilation openings preferably each have a circular shape with an identical diameter.

It advantageously forms at least one of the ventilation openings together with one of the ventilation channels, within the longitudinal extension of which this ventilation opening is arranged, a coherent air transport channel.

The pressure of the air flowing through the ventilation openings can also be influenced by the selection of a suitable number and / or a suitable diameter of the ventilation openings.

It has also proven to be advantageous if the three-dimensional depressions in the form of a honeycomb structure are distributed homogeneously over the contact surface and / or are each plate-shaped or in the form of a spherical segment.

It goes without saying that the shapes mentioned (plate-shaped, spherical segment-shaped) of the three-dimensional depressions are each to be understood as a hollow shape. It also goes without saying that the homogeneous distribution affects the entire contact surface except for the locations where ventilation ducts and / or ventilation openings are arranged.

The term “plate-shaped” is understood to mean a shape of a flat cylinder in which the height is smaller than the diameter. The height preferably has a value from a range from 0.2 mm to 1.0 mm, more preferably from 0.5 mm. This cylinder can also have a curve on only one of its two circumferential edges, which separate the end faces from the lateral surface.

The ventilation ducts are preferably arranged only superficially on the support surface; This means that the air can always flow through the channels superficially and does not have to change the direction perpendicular to the contact surface, which prevents pressure losses. The ventilation ducts preferably have a cross-section with a rectangular shape along a plane in the longitudinal direction and width direction of the support surface, which preferably has rounded corners.

The ventilation ducts are preferably arranged without contact with one another; each ventilation duct is therefore completely separate from all other ventilation ducts and does not cut them. More preferably, each of the ventilation ducts has an intrinsically unbranched structure. This ensures that turbulence in the air flowing through at any crossing points of the ventilation ducts is reduced to a minimum.

Each of the ventilation ducts preferably has a structure that is open in itself, so that each of the ventilation ducts has two ends, which are each not arranged to be coincident but rather spaced apart. It is thereby ensured that fresh air always flows through the ventilation ducts, which, in contrast to the used air flowing out of the ventilation ducts, has not yet absorbed any thermal energy and / or sweat from the contact surface and therefore has no saturation in this regard.

Each of the ventilation ducts preferably has two sections, each of which is rectilinear and connected to one another by means of an arcuate section.

An embodiment has proven to be particularly effective for air transport, according to which a lower section of the ventilation ducts runs in each case in a height direction of the support surface and an upper section of the ventilation ducts is each angled to the lower section and runs in a height direction and a width direction of the support surface. whereby preferably two of the ventilation ducts are arranged in mirror image to one another with respect to a plane which is spanned by the height direction and a longitudinal direction of the support surface. This plane preferably runs centrally through the contact surface.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if a maximum depth of a recess, which is formed by the ventilation channels, has a higher value than a maximum depth of the three-dimensional recesses. This ensures that the edges of the ventilation duct have no unevenness.

In addition, it is advantageous if a depth of the ventilation openings, which is measured starting from the boundary surface of the ventilation ducts to the side of the element forming the bearing surface facing away from the support surface, has a higher value than the maximum depth of the recess, which is formed by the ventilation ducts. Due to the sufficiently high depth of the ventilation openings, the vertical air flow can stabilize before it enters the ventilation ducts; this prevents turbulence.

It is also advantageous if a maximum diameter of the ventilation ducts, measured on a cross section perpendicular to a course of the ventilation ducts, has a higher value than a diameter of the ventilation openings. This prevents the ventilation openings from being covered by the ventilation ducts. Furthermore, the air flowing through the ventilation openings with a first pressure can be deflected into the larger cross section of the ventilation channels, which reduces the first pressure to a second pressure.

It is also advantageous if a maximum diameter of the three-dimensional depressions is larger than the maximum diameter of the ventilation ducts. This relation has proven to be advantageous for the best possible combination of feel and ventilation.

In order to ensure secure storage, it is also advantageous if a housing is provided with a front facing the user, which is formed by means of the support surface, and with an underside in which the ventilation device is integrated. Through this mounting of the ventilation device, power and signal lines can be easily laid down to the vehicle floor.

For example, this housing is designed in the form of a trapezoid in a cross section along the plane spanned by the height direction and a longitudinal direction of the support surface. Advantageously, the bottom and the Front of the housing to each other from an acute angle, the value of which is preferably greater than 45 ° and less than 90 °; for example, this value is 60 °. This ensures that the air transported from the underside upwards through the ventilation device not only flows past the front, but also hits the inside of the front and thus the ventilation openings and can be passed through them.

It is understood that a design of the support surface for a control device that is similar to the above examples can also be used for other support surfaces such as steering wheels or center consoles.

• 1A, 1B, 2: perspektivische Darstellungen zweier Ausführungsformen eines erfin dungsgemäßen Steuerhebels;
• 3A, 3B verschiedene Ansichten der Auflagefläche der Ausführungsform gemäß 2;
• 4 schematische Darstellung des Lufttransports innerhalb des Steuerhebels.

Further advantages, aims and properties of the present invention are explained with reference to the attached drawings and the following description, in which an example of a vehicle seat according to the invention or parts thereof are shown and described. The drawings show:

• 1A , 1B , 2nd : Perspective representations of two embodiments of an inventive control lever;
• 3A , 3B different views of the support surface according to the embodiment 2nd ;
• 4th schematic representation of the air transport within the control lever.

It should be mentioned in advance that the 1A and 1B the same embodiment of a control lever 1 demonstrate. Therefore, only that is described 1A to avoid repetitions.

Is shown according to the 1A a control lever 1 for a vehicle (not shown) comprising an operating section A1 with a control panel 2nd for a thumb D as well as one in a width direction 1y of the control lever 1 to the side of the operating section A1 arranged support section A2 with a contact surface 3rd for a remaining hand H of a user.

The 2nd shows an exploded view of another control lever 1 for a vehicle (not shown) comprising an operating section A1 with a control panel 2nd for a thumb D as well as one in a width direction 1y of the control lever 1 to the side of the operating section A1 arranged support section A2 with a contact surface 3rd for a remaining hand H of a user.

The shape of the contact surface 3rd according to the 1A / 1B differs slightly from the shape of the contact surface 3rd according to the 2nd . A reference surface is also shown 9 . However, these differences are irrelevant for further consideration. In particular, all explanations apply, which in connection with the 1A / 1B be taken, also for the 2nd .

The contact surface points 3rd a large number of three-dimensional depressions arranged side by side 7 and in the present case six on the support surface 3rd superficial ventilation ducts 4a , 4b , 4c , 4d , 4e , 4f on.

These are ventilation ducts 4a , 4b , 4c , 4d , 4e , 4f arranged where the hand H the user’s most sweaty or where sweaty feeling is strongest. In the example shown are the ventilation ducts 4a , 4b , 4c , 4d , 4e , 4f in the middle of the support surface 3rd arranged. In the present case, it forms a plastic element K the contact surface 3rd made of injection molding and formed on a polyurethane basis.

The operating section is present A1 and the support section A1 rigidly arranged to each other. The control panel is also present 2nd and the contact surface 3rd rigid to each other and not parallel, but arranged to form an angle with a value of 160 °.

Furthermore, the operating section A1 and the support section A2 in the height direction 1z of the control lever 1 above a base 8th of the control lever 1 arranged. Furthermore, the operating section A1 and the support section A2 together relative to the base 8th rotating around an axis 82 (please refer 2nd ) which are parallel to the height direction 1z of the control lever 1 is arranged, relocatable.

Two coordinate systems are shown on the basis of the figures. The first coordinate system is from the longitudinal direction 1x , the width direction 1y and the height direction 1z of the entire control lever 1 educated. It is true that these directions 1x , 1y , 1z are arranged parallel to the respective directions of the vehicle, not shown. The second coordinate system is from the longitudinal direction 3x , the width direction 3y and the height direction 3z the contact surface 3rd formed with the width direction 3y parallel to the width direction 1y is arranged. Due to the inclination of the contact surface 3rd around the width direction 3y but are the longitudinal direction 3x and the height direction 3z forming an angle to the corresponding direction of the control lever 1 (Longitudinal direction 1x and height direction 1z) arranged (see in particular representation of the two coordinate systems using the 4th ).

In addition, several are the contact surface 3rd perforating vents 5 arranged.

especially the 4th shows that on one of the bearing surface 3rd opposite side 3 ' of the Contact surface 3rd training element K an active ventilation device 10th is provided, which is suitable and designed to actively air L through the ventilation openings 5 to transport. This ventilation device is present 10th designed as a fan.

The ventilation device is present 10th air conditioning KA assigned by means of which the temperature of the air L through the ventilation openings 5 flows, can be changed. The control lever also includes 1 a thermocouple S , which detects a current value of the ambient temperature and via a first signal 80 to a controller CU which then passes on the air conditioning KA for regulating a temperature of the air transported by means of the ventilation device via a second signal 81 actively controlled.

The ventilation device is present 10th can be switched on and / or off manually or automatically.

3A shows that, according to a preferred embodiment, the ventilation openings 5 only within the ventilation ducts 4a-4f are arranged. This can be done through the ventilation openings 5 perpendicular to the contact surface 3rd flowing air L parallel to this contact surface 3rd be distracted and continue through the ventilation ducts 4a-4f flow (see representation of the air flow according to 4th ).

Are present over an entire length of each of the ventilation ducts 4a-4f ventilation openings at regular intervals 5 (only marked as an example), each of which is a circular shape with an identical diameter d5 (shown using the 3B ) exhibit.

It advantageously forms each of the ventilation openings 5 together with one of the ventilation ducts 4a-f , within its longitudinal extent this ventilation opening 5 is arranged from a coherent air transport channel.

3A also shows that the three-dimensional depressions 7 in the form of a honeycomb structure homogeneously over the contact surface 3rd are distributed and each designed plate-shaped, the plate shape is to be understood as a hollow shape. It also goes without saying that the homogeneous distribution covers the entire contact area 3rd except for the places where ventilation ducts 4a-f and / or ventilation openings 5 are arranged concerns.

The three-dimensional depressions 7 thus have a shape of a flat cylinder, in which the height, here as depth t7 is smaller than the diameter d7 . The present shows the depth t7 a value of 0.5 mm. The cylinder also has a curve on only one of its two circumferential edges, which separate the end faces from the lateral surface (see section B in accordance with FIG 3B ).

The ventilation ducts are present 4a-f only superficially on the contact surface 3rd arranged. The ventilation ducts also point 4a-f here along a plane E2 longitudinal 3x and width direction 3y the contact surface 3rd a cross section with a rectangular shape, which in the present case has a length d4 and a depth t4 and has rounded corners.

According to the on the basis of 3A The example shown shows that the ventilation ducts 4a-f are arranged contactless with each other; thus every ventilation duct runs 4a-f (for example the ventilation duct 4a) completely separate from all other ventilation ducts 4a-f (in the example of the ventilation duct 4a , for example from the ventilation ducts 4b-f , and does not cut them. Each of the ventilation ducts shown also shows 4a-f each have an unbranched structure.

Furthermore, each of the ventilation ducts shown 4a-f an open structure, so that each of the ventilation ducts 4a-f two ends 43 , 44 has (only marked using the example of the ventilation duct 4a) , which are each not coincident, but spaced apart.

Each of the ventilation ducts preferably has 4a-f two sections 41 , 42 on (only marked using the example of the ventilation duct 4a) , which are each rectilinear and by means of an arcuate section 45 are interconnected. In the present case, these two sections correspond to a lower section 41 and an upper section 42 .

What is shown is the lower section 41 of the ventilation ducts 4a-4f each in a height direction 3z the contact surface 3rd bleeding and the upper section 42 of the ventilation ducts 4a-4f each angled to the lower section 41 and in a height direction 3z and a width direction 3y the contact surface 3rd is arranged progressively. A level is also shown E1 which by the height direction 3z and a longitudinal direction 3x the contact surface 3rd is spanned. It is shown that in each case two of the ventilation ducts, namely the ventilation duct 4a to the ventilation duct 4f , the ventilation duct 4b to the ventilation duct 4e as well as the ventilation duct 4c to the ventilation duct 4d regarding the level E1 are arranged in mirror image to each other. This level runs in the present case E1 in the middle through the contact surface 3rd .

It is also shown (see 3B ) that maximum depth t4 a recess through the ventilation ducts 4a-4f formed has a higher value than a maximum depth t7 of the three-dimensional depressions 7 .

Based on 3B is also a depth t5 of the ventilation openings 5 shown which starting from the boundary surface 46 of the ventilation ducts 4a-f up to the contact surface 3rd opposite side 3 ' of the bearing surface 3rd training element K is measured. That depth t5 has a higher value than the maximum depth t4 the recess through the ventilation ducts 4a-4f is formed.

The also shows 3B that a maximum diameter d4 of the ventilation ducts 4a-4f , measured on a cross section perpendicular to a course of the ventilation ducts 4a-4f , has a higher value than a diameter d5 of the ventilation openings 5 .

It is also advantageous if a maximum diameter d7 of the three-dimensional depressions 7 is larger than the maximum diameter d4 of the ventilation ducts 4a-4f .

Based on 4th it is further shown that a housing 6 with the user (see marked remaining hand H ) facing front 61 which by means of the contact surface 3rd is formed, and with a bottom 62 in which the ventilation device 10th is integrated, is provided.

This case is present 6 in a cross section along the plane E1 which by the height direction 3z and a longitudinal direction 3x the contact surface 3rd is stretched, designed in the shape of a trapezoid. It forms the bottom 62 and the front 61 of the housing 6 to each other an acute angle, the value of which is 70 ° in the present case.

All features disclosed in the application documents are claimed as essential to the invention, provided that they are new to the prior art, individually or in combination.

Reference list

1

Control lever

1x, 3x

Longitudinal direction

1y, 3y

Width direction

1z, 3z

Height direction

2nd

Control panel

3rd

Contact surface

3 '

page

4a-4f

Ventilation ducts

5

Ventilation opening

6

casing

7

deepening

8th

Base

9

Reference surface

10th

Ventilation device

41

lower section

42

upper section

43.44

The End

45

arcuate section

61

front

62

bottom

80.81

signal

82

axis

A1

Operating section

A2

Support section

D

thumb

CU

control

E1, E2

level

H

hand

K

Plastic element

KA

air conditioner

L

air

d4, d5, d7

diameter

S

sensor

t4, t5, t7

depth

Claims (8)

Control lever (1) for a vehicle, comprising an operating section (A1) with a control panel (2) for a thumb (D) and a support section (A2) arranged to the side of the operating section (A1) in a width direction (1y) of the control lever (1) With a support surface (3) for a remaining hand (H) of a user, characterized in that the support surface (3) has a plurality of three-dimensional depressions (7) arranged next to one another and at least two ventilation channels (4a) running superficially on the support surface (3). 4f). Control lever (1) after Claim 1 , characterized in that a plurality of ventilation openings (5) perforating the bearing surface (3) are arranged. Control lever (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an active ventilation device (10) is provided on a side (3 ') of the support section (A2) facing away from the support surface (3), which is suitable and designed to actively air (L) through the ventilation openings (5). Control lever (1) after Claim 2 , characterized in that the ventilation openings (5) are arranged exclusively within the ventilation channels (4a-4f). Control lever (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the three-dimensional depressions (7) in the form of a honeycomb structure are homogeneously distributed over the bearing surface (3) and / or are each plate-shaped or in the form of a spherical segment. Control lever (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a lower section (41) of the ventilation ducts (4a-4f) each running in a vertical direction (3z) of the bearing surface (3) and an upper section (42) of the ventilation ducts ( 4a-4f) is arranged at an angle to the lower section (41) and in a height direction (3z) and a width direction (3y) of the support surface (3), preferably two of the ventilation ducts (4a, 4f; 4b, 4e; 4c , 4d) with respect to a plane (E1), which is spanned by the height direction (3z) and a longitudinal direction (3x) of the support surface (3), are arranged in mirror image to one another. Control lever (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a maximum depth (t4) of a recess, which is formed by the ventilation channels (4a, 4f; 4b, 4e; 4c, 4d), has a higher value than a maximum Depth (t7) of the three-dimensional depressions (7). Control lever (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a housing (6) with a user-facing front (61), which is formed by means of the support surface (3), and with an underside (62) in which the Ventilation device (10) is integrated, is provided.

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