EP4326949A1

EP4326949A1 - Control lever connection system

Info

Publication number: EP4326949A1
Application number: EP22828895.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Abdullah Çömek; Fethi ÇEKICI; Hakan TELISIK
Original assignee: Hidromek Hidrolik Ve Mekanik Makina Imalat Sanayi Ve Ticaret AS
Current assignee: Hidromek Hidrolik Ve Mekanik Makina Imalat Sanayi Ve Ticaret AS
Priority date: 2021-06-22
Filing date: 2022-05-26
Publication date: 2024-02-28

Abstract

The invention relates to a control lever connection system that prevents the user from involuntarily contacting the control lever that controls the movements of the construction machine during the operation of the construction machine and increases the operation safety of the construction machine. In particular, the invention relates to a control lever connection system in construction machines that are used particularly for digging and/or loading operations that prevents the user from involuntarily contacting the control lever when the control lever is not being used, the said control lever being located close to the user's seat and allowing the movements of the construction machine to be controlled, and that prevents accidents or faulty operations that may occur during the operation of the construction machine.

Description

CONTROL LEVER CONNECTION SYSTEM

Technical Field

The invention relates to a control lever connection system that prevents the user from involuntarily contacting the control lever that controls the movements of the construction machine during the operation of the construction machine and increases the operation safety of the construction machine.

In particular, the invention relates to a control lever connection system in construction machines that are used particularly for digging and/or loading operations that prevents the user from involuntarily contacting the control lever when the control lever is not being used, the said control lever being located close to the user's seat and allowing the movements of the construction machine to be controlled, and that prevents accidents or faulty operations that may occur during the operation of the construction machine.

State of the Art

In excavator loader group construction machines such as earth diggers, which are generally used in the construction industry, one or more control levers located close to the seat of the user are used for digging, transporting the excavated material or loading it on a truck. In the existing excavator and loader construction machines, two control levers (joysticks) are generally used, which are integrated into the seat or armrests of the user and located in a position within the reach of the user's hand. These control levers are activated when the user makes the machine ready for digging or loading, and they allow the user to control the movements of the machine to carry out digging or loading operations. When the user brings the work machine to a suitable position for the digging process, both of these control levers become active and usable. When the construction machine is brought to a suitable position for loading and/or transportation, only one of the said control levers becomes active and usable. This way, it is possible for the user to control the steering wheel of the construction machine with the hand that does not control the said active control lever during the loading and/or transportation process. However, during the loading and/or transportation process, as a result of the user's arm that controls the steering wheel of the construction machine striking or hitting the inactive and unused control level, undesirable situations arise that make it difficult to control the construction machine. This situation causes a decrease in the maneuvering and mobility ability of the user making it difficult for the user to control the construction machine, disrupting the work ergonomics at best, and at worst, causes the user to lose control of the construction machine, resulting in dangerous situations for both the user and the surrounding objects or people.

In a patent document numbered US7409879B2, which is in the state of the art, a control lever suitable for use in construction machines such as crawler excavators or digging machines and which allows controlling of the movements of the construction machine by an electronic control system is explained. The said control lever includes a control rod that can move in more than one direction, an activation element that allows the movements of the construction machine to be directed by activating the control lever or prevents the movements of the construction machine from being directed by deactivating the control lever, and a sensor element which is in connection with the actuation element and allows sensing of the movement of the control lever and detection of the amount of its movement. With the control lever described in the said document, the user's movement of the control rod is detected, and the control lever is activated, and the movements of the construction machine are controlled in accordance with the speed and amount of the user's movement of the control rod. It is also mentioned in the document that the control handle is placed in a position where the user's hand can easily reach it. However, the said document does not mention preventing the user's arm from involuntarily touching, snagging or hitting the inactive and/or unused control lever during the use of the construction machine.

Another state-of-the-art patent document numbered US20050016822A1 describes the control lever system suitable for use in a construction machine such as an agricultural tractor. The said control lever system comprises a control panel containing control keys that enable the different functions of the construction machine to be controlled, a control rod connected to the control panel, suitable for moving in more than one direction and directing the movements of the construction machine. The system also includes a locking element that is associated with the control rod and prevents the control rod from being moved when not in use, and a support element located on the control rod that allows the user to rest his arm on the control rod. However, the said document does not mention preventing the user's arm from involuntarily touching, snagging or hitting the inactive and/or unused control arm during the use of the construction machine during the use of the construction machine

Therefore, especially in construction machines used in excavation and/or loading operations, there is a need to develop a control lever connection system that prevents the user from involuntarily contacting the control lever when it is not in use, the said control lever being located close to the user's seat and provides for the control of the movements of the construction machine, thus preventing accidents or faulty operations that may occur during the operation of the construction machine and improves operator ergonomics.

Objective of the Invention

The present invention relates to a control lever connection system that meets the requirements mentioned above, eliminates all disadvantages and provides some additional advantages.

The main objective of the control lever connection system, which is the subject of the invention, is to provide a control lever connection system that prevents the user from contacting the control lever, which provides for the controlling of the movements of the construction machine, when the control lever is not being used.

Another objective of the invention is to provide a safe and effective control lever connection system which prevents the occurrence of work accidents or faulty operations by preventing the user's arm or hand from catching or hitting the unused control lever during the use of the construction machine.

Another objective of the invention is to provide a healthy control lever connection system that improves the body ergonomics of the construction machine operator during the use of the construction machine.

Another objective of the invention is to provide an efficient and practical control lever connection system that positions the control lever at suitable location for the user's access and fixes it in this location for reuse. In order to achieve the objectives given above in the most general form, the control lever connection system, which is suitable for use with at least one control lever that provides for the controlling of the movements of the construction machine, that enables fixing of the control lever to the seat where the user is sitting, prevents the user from involuntarily contacting the control lever when the control lever is not in use, and allows the user to comfortably operate the construction machine comprises the following: at least one body element that enables the elements of the system to be supported and attached to the seat; at least one support member providing support for the control lever; at least one connecting element which is suitable for rotation about an axis extending parallel to the floor that connects the support element to the body element, provides for the movement of the support element closer to the seat and brings the control lever to a first position with its movement in a first direction, provides for the movement of the support element away from the seat and brings the control lever to a second position so as to make an angle with the floor with its movement in a second direction; at least one fixation element that provides for fixing the control element in the first position after the support element is brought closer to the seat; at least one locking element that allows the control lever to be fixed in the first position by holding onto the fixation element with movement in the first direction and allowing the control lever to be brought to the second position by being separated from the fixation element with movement in the second direction.

The structural and characteristic features of the invention and all its advantages will be understood more clearly by means of the figures provided below and the detailed explanation written with reference to these figures, and therefore the evaluation should be made by taking these figures and detailed explanation into account

Figures to Help Understand the Invention

In order to best understand the embodiment and advantages of the present invention, it should be considered together with the figures described below.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the control lever connection system, which is the subject of the invention. Figure 2 is a front view of the control lever connection system, which is the subject of the invention, in the first position.

Figure 3 is a front view of the control lever connection system, which is the subject of the invention, in the second position.

Figure 4 is another perspective view of the control lever connection system, which is the subject of the invention.

Figure 5 is a front view of the control lever connection system, which is the subject of the invention.

Part References

1. Body element

2. Support element

3. Connection element

4. Fixation element

5. Locking element

6. Triggering element

7. Holding element

A. Control lever

B. Seat

Detailed Description of the Invention

This detailed explanation describes the preferred embodiments of the control lever connection system of the present invention only for a better understanding of the subject and without causing any limiting effect.

The control lever connection system developed with the present invention, front view of which is provided in Figure 1 , which is suitable for use with at least one control lever (A) that provides for the controlling of the movements of the construction machine, that enables fixing of the control lever (A) to the seat (B) where the user is sitting at a position easily reachable by the user, prevents the user from involuntarily contacting the control lever (A) when the control lever (A) is not in use, and allows the user to comfortably operate the construction machine comprises the following: at least one body element (1) attached to the seat that has a suitable structure for fixing the elements of the system on it and that enables the elements of the system to be supported and attached to the seat (B); at least one support member (2) attached to the control lever (A) that has a suitable structure for fixing the control lever (A) on it providing support for the control lever (A); at least one connecting element (3) which is connected to the support element (2) and the body element (1) and which is suitable for rotation about an axis extending parallel to the floor that connects the support element (2) to the body element (1), provides for the movement of the support element (2) closer to the seat (B) and brings the control lever (A) to a first position for the user to easily reach it with its movement in a first direction by rotating about the said axis, provides for the movement of the support element (2) away from the seat (B) and brings the control lever (A) to a second position so as to make an angle of preferably 15 degrees with the floor with its movement in a second direction by rotating about the said axis and preferably having a hinge structure; at least one fixation element (4) which is positioned in close proximity of the said support element (2) in connection with said body element (1) that has a suitable structure for attaching a locking elements similar to a tab that helps fix the control element (A) in the first position after the support element (2) is approached to the seat (B); at least one locking element (5), which is positioned in close proximity of the fixation element (4) in connection with the support element (2) that has a suitable structure for attaching the fixation element (4) on it that allows the control lever (A) to be fixed in the first position by holding onto the fixation element (4) with movement in the first direction and allowing the control lever (A) to be brought to the second position by being separated from the fixation element (4) with movement in the second direction.

In an exemplary embodiment of the control arm connection system developed with the present invention, the body element (1) is connected to the seat (B) in such a way that the user can reach it easily. Afterwards, it is ensured that the support element (2) is connected to the body element (1) by means of the connecting element (3) and the control arm (A) is fixed on the transport element (2). When the control lever (A) is not active and is not being used by the user, the locking element (5) is separated from the fixation element (4) by moving the support element (2) and the control lever (A) connected with the carrying element (2) away from the user. Meanwhile, the support element (2) is rotated around an axis parallel to the ground and moved in the second direction by means of the connecting element (3). Thus, it is ensured that the support element (2) is moved away from the seat (B) and that the control lever (A) is brought to the second position in such a way that it makes an angle to the ground. In this way, when the control lever (A) is not in use, the user's arm or hand is prevented from catching or hitting the control lever (A). When the user needs to use the control lever (A), moving the support element (2) and the control lever (A) connected to the support element (2) to approach towards the user and rotating the support element (2) around the said axis through the connection element (3) accomplished the movement in the first direction. Thus, control lever (A) is moved towards the seat (B) and the control lever (A) is brought to a position easily accessible by the user. Afterwards, the control lever (A) is fixed at the first position through the locking element (5) holding onto the fixation element (6).

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mentioned control lever connection system preferably comprises at least one trigger element (6) in the form of a movable latch, which is connected with the said locking element (5) and controls the attachment of the said locking element (5) to the said fixation element (4) and/or its separation from the said fixing element (4).

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the said control lever connection system preferably comprises at least one holding element (7) in the form of a handle, which is connected with said support element (2) and provides a gripping surface for the user to move the said support element (3) in said first direction and said second direction.

By means of the control arm connection system developed with the present invention, especially in excavator loader type construction machines, the control lever (A) that controls the movements of the work machine is connected to the user's seat (B), and the inactive and/or unused control lever (A) is removed from the seat (B) preventing the user's arm or hand from hitting the control lever (A). In this manner, a safe, effective and practical control lever connection system is obtained, which allows the user to control the construction machine comfortably and prevents work accidents or faulty operations that occur as a result of the user hitting or tripping on the control lever (A).

Claims

1. The control lever connection system developed with the present invention, which is suitable for use with at least one control lever (A) that provides for the controlling of the movements of the said construction machine, that enables fixing of the control lever (A) to the seat (B) where the user is sitting at a position easily reachable by the user, prevents the user from involuntarily contacting the control lever (A) when the control lever (A) is not in use, and allows the user to comfortably operate the construction machine, characterized by comprising, the following: at least one body element (1) attached to the said seat that has a suitable structure for fixing the elements of the system on it and that enables the elements of the system to be supported and attached to the seat (B); at least one support member (2) attached to the said control lever (A) that has a suitable structure for fixing the control lever (A) on it providing support for the said control lever (A); at least one connecting element (3) which is connected to the said support element (2) and the said body element (1) and which is suitable for rotation about an axis extending parallel to the floor that connects the said support element (2) to the said body element (1), provides for the movement of the said support element (2) closer to the said seat (B) and brings the said control lever (A) to a first position for the user to easily reach it with its movement in a first direction by rotating about the said axis, provides for the movement of the said support element (2) away from the said seat (B) and brings the said control lever (A) to a second position so as to make an angle of preferably 15 degrees with the floor with its movement in a second direction by rotating about the said axis; at least one fixation element (4) which is positioned in close proximity of the said support element (2) in connection with said body element (1), that has a suitable structure for attaching a locking element on it, that helps fix the said control element (A) in the first position after the said support element (2) is approached to the said seat (B); at least one locking element (5), which is positioned in close proximity of the said fixation element (4) in connection with the said support element (2) that has a suitable structure for attaching the said fixation element (4) on it that allows the said control lever (A) to be fixed in the first position by holding onto the said fixation element (4) with movement in the first direction and allowing the said control lever (A) to be brought to the second position by being separated from the said fixation element (4) with movement in the second direction.

2. The control lever connection system according to claim 1, wherein; the value of the said angle is 15 degrees.

3. The control lever connection system according to claim 1 , wherein; the said connection element (3) has a hinge structure.

4. The control lever connection system according to claim 1 , wherein; the said locking element (3) has a moving tab structure.

5. The control lever connection system according to claim 1 , wherein; the control lever connection system comprises at least one trigger element (6), preferably in the form of a movable latch, which is connected with the said locking element (5) and controls the attachment of the said locking element (5) to the said fixation element (4) and/or its separation from the said fixing element (4).

6. The control lever connection system according to claim 1 , wherein the control lever connection system comprises at least one holding element (7), preferably in the form of a handle, which is connected with said support element (2) and provides a gripping surface for the user to move the said support element (3) in said first direction and said second direction.