FR2790231A1 - Ergonomic console for agricultural tractor has control console built into armrest formed by casing with support for console - Google Patents

Abstract

The ergonomic console (10) for an agricultural tractor forms the armrest for the drivers seat. The armrest carries the controls for the vehicle drive and acts on the drive, and the working implements. The armrest is formed by a casing (16) with an extension to receive the control module (16B) connected to the casing via a support. The control module can have a face extending perpendicularly to the upper face (22) of the casing.

Description

"Ergonomic control console for a commercial vehicle" The present

invention relates to a console

  ergonomic control for a utility vehicle.

  The invention relates more particularly to an ergonomic console, in particular for an agricultural tractor, of the type forming an armrest for the driver's seat and which carries members for, on the one hand, controlling the advancement of the vehicle by acting in particular on the powertrain io and, on the other hand, order the implementation of equipment

of work.

  The piloting of a utility vehicle, whether it is a public works machine or more particularly an agricultural tractor, requires on the part of its driver to use a

very large number of orders.

  Indeed, a first part of these commands relates to the functions related to the advancement of the vehicle and it relates in particular to the choice and the variation of the driving speed of the vehicle, the direction of advancement, the direction of advancement and the choice of a powertrain transmission ratio according to the nature of the terrain, the vehicle load, etc. A second part of the commands available to the driver relates to work equipment of the commercial vehicle so that the driver can operate his vehicle by implementing many functions which are inherent in the nature of the vehicle and which, for example in the case of an agricultural tractor, include for example the up-and-down implementation of a tool arranged at the rear or at the front of the tractor, different hydraulic functions controlled by distributors making it possible to adjust the tools or machines associated with the tractor, and stopping or starting a PTO intended to motorize

some of these tools.

  Given the large number of these controls and the complexity of their daily use, in particular with regard to the controls for the implementation of work equipment, it has proved necessary to arrange the cabin or cockpit of the vehicle. in the most

io ergonomic possible.

  The possibility of having electrical or electro-hydraulic control members has made it possible to eliminate all the control members requiring physical effort on the part of the driver. The ergonomics have been greatly improved by grouping all the controls close to the driver's seat and in particular in the form of a console

  ergonomic integrated into the armrest of the driver's seat.

  An ergonomic console of the type mentioned above has thus been proposed, thanks to which the main control members mentioned above are available to the driver in a globally grouped manner to allow him to act on these control members without having to disperse their attention in a too large area, and in particular their visual attention, to seek

  the position of the cabin controls.

  However, it is noted that the known designs of an ergonomic console of the type mentioned above have the drawbacks of multiplying the relative movements of the

  driver's arm, and more specifically his forearm

  arm, relative to the armrest incorporating the console and that they thus cause excessive fatigue, in particular of the hand, wrist, arm and shoulder joints of the driver. In order to remedy these drawbacks, the invention has the characteristic of an armrest which consists of a body in the extension of which is arranged a control module

  connected to said body by means of a support.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the control module comprises a face oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular to an upper face of the body

  io and which supports a first group of control members.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the first group of members comprises a vehicle acceleration wheel whose axis of rotation is substantially horizontal and

  perpendicular to the main face of the control module.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the first group of members comprises a second dial, for adjusting

  of the headland engine speed stop.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the wheel is concentric with the wheel and has a diameter less than this

last.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the knobs are located in the upper left corner of the control module. According to another characteristic of the invention, a second group of control members is arranged in the front half of the body and that it comprises a button for invoking the headland speed, said speed being defined by means of the scroll wheel. According to another characteristic of the invention, the second group includes a button for recalling the headland speed ratio. According to another characteristic of the invention, the second group comprises at least one button for controlling the work equipment, located in the lower right part of the group, Other characteristics and advantages of the invention

  will appear on reading the detailed description which follows

  jo for the understanding of which reference will be made to the accompanying drawing in which: - Figure 1 is a perspective view, which illustrates an embodiment of a control console according to the teachings of the invention belonging to the passenger compartment 'a

i5 agricultural tractor.

  FIG. 1 shows a control console which forms part of the armrest of the driver's seat (not shown) fitted to the cabin of an agricultural tractor. The console 10 is in the form of a body 16, of generally elongated rectangular parallelepiped shape, in the general direction of the driver's forearm, and the upper face of which extends generally in a horizontal plane in the cabin of the tractor, the body 16 comprises at its front end a control module 16B connected to said body 16 by a support 56. The support 56, in our embodiment, is fixed but it can also include an adjustment means ( not shown) for positioning the

16B control module.

  The control module 16B has a main face 23 oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular to the upper face 22 of the body 16. This face

  main 23 receives control members.

  The control module 16B comprises a first group G1 of organs for controlling the progress of the tractor. A second group G2 of control members for the implementation of the work equipment of the tractor is arranged on the body 16 and more particularly on the half

before 16A of said body 16.

  o0 All the organs of the second group G2 arranged in the front half 16A of the upper face 22 are substantially

flush with the latter.

  Thus, as can be seen by considering FIG. 1, the design according to the invention of the control console 10 is particularly ergonomic insofar as the driver can access all of the control members belonging to the second group G2 by positioning his forearm retracted on the armrest so as to be able to access all the control members belonging to this second group G2 without having to move

longitudinally his forearm.

  To this end, and as can be seen in FIG. 1, the control members of the two groups G1 and G2 are arranged respectively in an implantation area whose size corresponds substantially to the dimensions of the driver's hand so that '' it can act on the various control organs by limiting movements

wrist and forearm.

  In order to improve the ergonomics of the console 10, in particular by preventing the driver from making movements requiring effort and requesting the articulation of his wrist, the first group of control members G1 comprises an accelerator which is produced under the form of an acceleration wheel 32 which is rotatably mounted about a substantially horizontal axis and perpendicular to the main face of the control module. This acceleration wheel 32 is more particularly located in the upper left corner of the control module 16B, in our embodiment example, in order to be easily actuated by the driver's fingers. The diameter of the dial 32

  io conditions the precision of engine speed adjustment.

  In addition, the control module 16B comprises a second wheel 33, of a diameter smaller than the first wheel 32 and concentric with the latter. The difference in diameter preventing an involuntary action on one of the wheels during the adjustment of the other. This second wheel 33 has the function of adjusting the stop of the headland engine speed. The function of this thumbwheel 33 is in relation to a control button 34 for calling the headland speed located on the left front part of the group G2. This speed is defined by means of the wheel 33. This button 34 is contiguous with a second button 35 for calling up the headland speed ratio. The position of buttons 34 and 35 shown in

  As an example in Figure 1, can be reversed.

  Among the other control members belonging to the first group G1, there has also been shown a first series, here of three control buttons 36, making it possible to choose the direction of advance of the tractor, that is to say towards the forward, backward or neutral, and a second series, here of two buttons 38, allowing to select a gear ratio, lower or higher, of the group

tractor power train.

  In the second group G2 of control members, there is shown a first series of three buttons 40 making it possible to act on hydraulic distributors belonging to hydraulic circuits for controlling various pieces of tractor equipment and on which the driver can act selectively by his fingers without moving his hand. The three buttons 40 are completed by a fourth 41, having the same type of function as the three buttons 40. This fourth button 41 being usable when the driver of the vehicle is returned to monitor the progress of his maneuver. As shown in our embodiment, the fourth button 41 is advantageously located in the lower right part of the

group G2.

  The second group G2 also includes a rocker or switch 42, which could also be replaced by a thumb wheel, for lifting an equipment and two other associated control buttons 44 on which, as for the rocker 42, the driver can act with his thumb without

move his hand.

  As can be seen in FIG. 1, a selection button 48, making it possible to control the PTO of the

  tractor, is arranged on the right side wall 50 of the body 16.

  This selector has, for example, three positions.

  It also results therefrom that a zone 46 existing between the support of the control module and the front part of the body 16 of the console 10 also allows the driver's hand to adopt a rest position in which his fingers

  extend opposite the control buttons 40.

Claims (10)

  1. Ergonomic console (10) for controlling a utility vehicle, in particular for an agricultural tractor, of the type forming an armrest for the driver's seat and which carries members for, on the one hand, controlling the advancement of the vehicle by acting on the powertrain and, on the other hand, command the implementation of work equipment, characterized in that the armrest consists of a body (16) in the extension of which is disposed a control module (16B) connected to said body through a support (56).   2. Console according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the control module comprises a face oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular to an upper face (22) of the body (16) and which supports a   first group (G1) of control elements.   3. Console according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the first group of members (G1) comprises a wheel (32) for acceleration of the vehicle whose axis of rotation is substantially horizontal and   perpendicular to the main face of the control module.   4. Console according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the first group of members (G1) comprises a second wheel (33), for adjusting the stop of the headland engine speed.   5. Console according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the wheel (33) is concentric with the   wheel (32) and of diameter smaller than the latter.   6. Console according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the knobs (32, 33) are located   in the upper left corner of the control module.   7. Console according to claim 1, characterized in that a second group (G2) of control members is arranged in the front half (16A) of the body (16) and that it comprises a button (34) of call of the pound regime, said regime being   defined by means of the wheel (33).   8. Console according to the preceding claim, io characterized in that the second group (G2) comprises a   headland speed report recall button (35).   9. Console according to the preceding claim,   characterized in that the buttons (34) and (35) are contiguous.   10. Console according to claim 7, characterized in that the second group (G2) comprises at least one button (41) for controlling the work equipment, located in the lower right part of the group (G2),