GB1604618A - Remote control mechanisms - Google Patents

Description

(54) REMOTE CONTROL MECHANISMS (71) We, TELEFLEX MORSE LIMI TED, a British company of Christopher Martin Road, Basildon, Essex, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is ta be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to remote control mechanisms and more particularly to control boxes therefor.

According to the invention there is provided a control box comprising a control member, at least one axially movable rod operatively connected to said control member, and a compression spring means mounted about the or each one rod and between a pair of spring abutment members of which a first one will move with said rod as said rod moves axially in one direction in response to an operating movement of said control member and of which the second one is restrained at that time from movement with said rod so that said spring means is compressed between said abutment members and acts through said first abutment member to exert a return bias upon said rod and hence said control member, said second abutment member moving with said rod as said rod moves axially in the opposite direction in response to another operating movement of said control member and said first abutment member being restrained at that time from movement with said rod so that said spring means is compressed between said abutment members and acts through said second abutment member to exert a return bias upon said rod and hence said control member.

In order that the invention may be well understood there will now be described some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly sectioned, of a "single axis" control box; Figure 2 is a section along line Il-Il of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a section along line Ill-Ill of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a section along line IV-IV of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a plan view of the same control box and shows the direction of lever movement; Figure 6 is a section along line VI--VI of Figure 1 with the control box fitted with a boot seal; Figure 7 is a section along line VI--VI of Figure 1 again with the boot seal in position;; Figure 8 is an end elevation, partly sectioned, of the same control box; Figure 9 is a sectioned side elevation taken along line IX-IX of Figure 11 of a "dual axis" second control box giving an "X" movement of the control lever; Figure 10 is a scrap section illustrating a "plug in" cable connection; Figure 11 is a section along line XI-XI of Figure 9; Figure 12 is a section along line XII-XII of Figure 9; Figure 13 is an elevation, partly sectioned, taken along line XIII-XIII of Figure 11; Figure 14 is a plan view of the "dual axis" control box shown in Figures 9 and 11 to 13 and depicts the diagonal "X" direction of lever movement; Figure 15 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of a "dual axis" third control box giving a "+" movement of the control lever;; Figure 16 is a section along line XVI--XVI of Figure 15; Figure 17 is a plan view of the third control box broken away to show the interior thereof; Figure 18 is a plan view of the third control box and illustrates the "+" direction of the dual axis lever movement; Figures 19 to 23 show five different ways of mounting the "single axis" control box; Figures 24 to, 26 show, in plan, a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 27 shows a sectioned side elevation of an alternative and preferred "single axis" control box to that shown in Figures 1 to 8; and Figure 28 shows a "single axis" giving "X" lever movement and "dual axis" giving "+" lever movement control boxes combined together.

Referring to Figures 1 to 8, a "single axis" control box 1 is so called because its operator lever 2 pivots about a single axis to translate a single control cable either way from a central position in response to the lever movement either way from a central position.

The control box 1 includes a housing H made up of a pair of hollow housing halves 3 and 4 of which the one is substantially a mirror image of the other except that the housing half 3 is deeper than the housing half 4.

The housing halves 3 and 4 are fastened together to complete the control box housing as by one or more screws 5. The operator lever 2 is fast with a block 6 which is mounted for pivotal movement in either sense about a single axis 7 between the housing halves 3 and 4.

To that end, the block 6 has fast therein a pivot pin 8 journalled as by nylon bearings 9 in lugs 10 integral with the respective housing halves 3 and 4.

Also fast with the block 6 is a ball post 11 which bears in an aperture 12 fashioned in an operating rod 13. Reference is best made to Figure 9 for details of the operating rod and its mounting. In common with the ball post 11, the operating rod 13 is positioned centrally of the line of juxtaposition L of the two housing halves 3 and 4.

The operating rod 13 is mounted for linear movement in a vertical direction, as considered in Figure 9 (and Figure 1), in response ta pivotal movement of the operator lever 2 about its single axis 7. Movement of the operator lever 2 to the left, as indicated by arrow 14 in Figure 5, will transmit via the ball post 11 an upward force ta the operating rod 13 thereby to move the rod upwardly. Conversely, pivotal movement of the operator lever about its single axis 7 in the opposite sense, as indicated by arrow 15, will cause the ball post 11 ta transmit a downward force to the operating rod 13 and so urge the rod downwardly.

As will be appreciated, the ball post 11 will slide in the operating rod aperture 12 as it is swung up and down by pivotal movement of the operator lever 2, and hence the operating rod 13 is not constrained to move around an arc but, rather, can move linearly in a vertical direction, as described. The operating rod 13 has its lower end operably connected to the translatable core 16 of a control cable 17, and hence, by means of the aforesaid sliding connection between the ball post 11 and the operating rod 13, the control cable also is not subject to any arcuate motion.

The operating rod 13 is slidably mounted in both the juxtaposed housing halves 3 and 4 and in a pair of spaced apart spring cups 18 and 19 which are themselves suitably mounted in the juxtaposed housing halves. Circlips 20 and 21 are carried by the rod 13 to abut, in the central position of the operator lever 2, the top and bottom respectively of the upper and lower spring cups 18 and 19. Mounted about the rod 13 is a compression spring 22 whose ends abut the upper and lower spring cups 18 and 19. A sliding stop sleeve 23 is also mounted about the rod 13.

By the arrangement described, upward and downward travel of the operating rod 13 compresses the spring 22 so that pivotal movement under manual control of the operator lever 2 takes place against a spring bias. Thereby, when the manual load on the lever 2 is released, the lever will be returned by the spring 22 to its central position.

More precisely, when the operating rod 13 moves downwardly, the upper circlip 20 urges the upper spring cup 18 downwardly, thereby to compress the spring 22 against the lower spring cup 19 which, itself, is seated in the housing halves 3 and 4 and prevented from downward movement. Similarly, upward travel of the operating rod 13 causes the lower circlip 21 to urge the lower spring cup 19 upwardly, with the result that the spring 22 is cornpressed against the upper spring cup 18 which is restrained by its seating in the housing halves 3 and 4 from upward movement.

The degree of travel of the operating rod 13, and hence the operator lever 2, is governed by the sliding stop sleeve 23 which prevents further travel of the respective spring cup 18 or 19 and, therefore, the operating rod 13 when it abuts both spring cups. Thus, by providing sleeves 23 of different lengths, variable degrees of pivotal motion of the operator lever 2 and linear travel of the cable 17 are available.

The cable 17 has its casing 24 clamped between the housing halves 3 and 4 against movement with the cable core 16 by means of a pair of nut and bolt assemblies 25.

The cable core 16 may be connected to the operating rod 13 in any suitable manner. In a preferred connection, shown in Figure 10, the cable core rod end 26 is screwed into a tapered plug 27 and locked thereto by a nut 28.

The lower end of the operating rod 13 is fashioned with an aperture 30 for receiving the plug 27. An outwardly expanding circlip 29 is carried by the rod 13 to project into. the aperture 30, and the tapered plug 27 can be pushed past the circlip 29 into the aperture and held therein by the circlip snapping into an annular groove 31 in the periphery of the plug.

The housing is sealed at its top end by a flexible rubber boot 32 which snaps over a gaiter mounting 33 integral with each of the housing halves 3 and 4, and also seals against the operator lever 2.

The described "single axis" control box 1 could have many applications. As said, the operator lever 2 is rotated either way about a single axis ta either pull or push a cable core.

The cable could operate by remote control from the control box any suitable mechanism.

It is particularly intended that the control box should operate a spool valve of a hydraulic valve. As such, the control box is suitable for use in the remote control mechanism described our in our copending United Kingdom patent application No. 24878/77 (Serial NQ 1,604,616) and would then replace the control box featured in that mechanism.

In that environment of use, the present control box would be positioned in the driver's cab of a tractor and serve to control via a pushpull cable a hydraulic valve which could be located on an implement towed by the tractor and which hydraulically controls the function of that implement.

The construction of the present aforedescribed control box substantially constitutes a modular construction whereby a minimum number of parts can be assembled in different ways to provide three different control boxes giving three different modes of operation.

The simplest construction is that already described which basically constitutes two housing halves, one operating rod mechanism, and one operator lever with its blo,ck and a single ball post to operate the operating rod.

The second control box will now be described. For ease of understanding, similar parts in the already described first control box and the present (and more complicated) construction will be identified by similar reference numerals.

The second control box 1A has a single operator lever 2 which pivots about two mutually perpendicular axes to give an "X" movement of the lever such that diagonal lever movement on one diagonal can translate one only of a pair of push-pull control cables whilst the other cable remains stationary, and diagonal lever movement on the other diagonal will translate the cable previously held stationary and not move the other cable (previously translated).

Referring now to Figures 9 and 11 to 14, the second control box comprises two identical housings H1 and H2 each constituted by a pair c!f housing halves 3 and 4, as before, arranged back-to-back with the shallow half 4 of the housing H1 abutting the deeper half 3 of the other housing H2. The two housings H1 and H2 are secured together by nut and bolt assemblies 34.

Each housing H1 and H2 includes a line of weakening W (see Figure 9) in the upper region of its opposite side walls Sd and Ss.

The abutting side walls Ss and Sd of the two secured together housings H1 and H2 respectively are broken away along these lines of weakening W so that the upper interiors of the housings communicate with one another and together provide a chamber spanning the overall depth of the juxtaposed housings.

In this instance, the lever block 6 is not pivotally mounted in one housing between the lugs 10 thereon. Indeed, it will be appreciated that the lugs of the abutting side walls Ss and Sd have been removed together with the side wall portions bounded by the lines of weakening W. Instead, there is provided a reaction post 35 the Lower part of which is formed as a Tee-bolt 36 which is slidably engaged in a Tee-slot 37a fashioned in one side of the deeper housing half 3 of the housing H2 and clamped therein by the abutting shallow hous ing half 4 of the housing H1. The reaction post 35 is restrained from rotation by having opposed side flats engaging complementary surfaces of the Tee-slot 37a.

The upper region of the reaction post 35 is fashioned similarly to the operating rod 13 and has an aperture 38 therein. The lever block 6 carries, not one ball post 11 as before, but three such ball posts gila, lib and lic, as is best seen in Figure 11, which are arranged in the same plane and are substantially mutually perpendicular. The ball post 1 la bears in the reaction post aperture 38.

Since the control box 1A is required to operate a pair of push-pull cables 17, each housing H1, H2 has assembled to it a spring loaded operating rod 13 ..... identified res pectively by suflfxes A and B in Figure 11 ..... in the same manner as the housing H of the "single axis" control box with each such rod operably connected, as already des cribed, to the respective control cable. The other two ball posts 1 ib and 1 1c bear, respec tively, in the apertured operating rods 13A and 13B of the housings H1 and H2 respectively.

With the described arrangement, the operator can urge the operator lever 2 in either of two mutually perpendicular diagonal direc tions as indicated in Figure 14. When urged in one diagonal direction, the operating rod of one housing is urged upwardly or downwardly to correspondingly pull or push its control cable, in dependence on the direction of that diagonal movement, and during that time the operating rod of the other housing remains stationary.

With the operator lever 2 urged in the other diagonal direction, the previously stationary operating rod is now urged upwardly or downwardly, as determined by the direction of that diagonal movement, to pull or push, respectively, its control cable, the other ..previously moved .. operating rod now remaining stationary.

More particularly, when the operator lever 2 is moved in the diagonal direction indicated by arrow 39, the ball post ila will rock in the aperture 38 of the reaction post 35, which takes most of the load, the operating rod 13A will act as a "steady", and the ball post lic will swing upwardly to translate upwardly the operation rod 13B and attached cable 17 of the housing H2.

When the operator lever 2 is moved on the same diagonal but in the opposite direction indicated by arrow 40, the ball post 1 la will ro,ck in the opposite sense in the apertured reaction post 35, the operating rod 13A again acts as a "steady", and the ball post 1 1c is swung downwardly to translate downwardly its operating rod 13B and connected cable of the housing H2.

Movement of the operator lever 2 on the other diagonal and in the direction denoted by arrow 41 causes the ball post 1 lea again to rock in the apertured reaction post 35, but this time the operating rod 13B acts as a "steady", and the ball post 1 1b is swung downwardly to urge linearly downwardly its operating rod 13A together with the cable 17 connected thereto of the housing H1.

Operation of the operator lever 2 on the same diagonal but in the opposite direction indicated by arrow 42, rocks the ball post 1 la in the reaction post 35 and, with the operating rod 13B still serving as a "steady", the ball post 1 ib is swung upwardly to translate up wardly the operating rod 13A and the connected cable 17 of the housing H1.

As with the first control box, the dual axis "X" control box would have a flexible rubber boot sealing off the upper region of the cam- posite housing.

The dual axis "X" control box would be utilized when the control box is either to be at the side of the operator or between the operator's legs, since it is found that a diagonal arm movement is the easiest to apply.

The aforesaid control box could serve to operate a pair of spool valves, one by each control cable, of a pair of hydraulic valves, and hence control two functions. For example, the control box could be fitted to a combine harvester and used to operate two implements thereof.

The third control box will now be described.

Again, parts in this control box similar to those in the first and second control boxes will be denoted by similar reference numerals.

In the third control box 1B, a single operator lever 2 pivots about two mutually perpendicular axes, to give a "+" movement of the lever such that longitudinal lever movement will translate one only of a pair of push-pull control cables whilst the other cable remains stationary, and lateral lever movement will translate the cable previously held stationary and not move the other cable.

Exactly the same parts can be used for the third control box 1B as for the second control box 1A, the difference being in the way those parts are assembled together.

Referring now to Figures 15 to 18, it will be seen that the two housings H1 and H2 are juxtaposed so that their shallow housing halves 3 abut one another. For ocnvenience, the hous ing H1 can be considered to have the same orientation as in the second control box, and the housing H2 to have been turned about through 180 degrees. The relatively reorien tated housings H1 and H2 are secured together by nut and bolt assemblies 34, as before.

The same reaction post 35 is, this time, not positioned at the side of one of the housings and clamped thereagainst by the other housing, but is positioned between the two housing halves 3 and 4 of a particular housing, namely the housing H2.

To this end, the housing ... H2 ... has a second Tee-slot 37b formed in its deeper housing half 3 in the side thereof opposite that having the Telot 37a. The two Tee-slots are also mutually laterally offset owing to the geometrical module proportions of the construction. It should be noted that the housir.g HI also has the Tee-slots 37a and 37b, and although not used, it will be realized that they could be instead of those in the housing H2.

Each housing is provided with the Tee-slots for full adaptability, although only the Teeslots in one housing of a pair come into use at any one time.

The reaction post 35 is clamped in the Teeslot 37b by a protruding wall 43 integral with the shallow housing half 4 of the housing H2.

Obviously, the shallow housing half 4 of the housing H1 also has such a wall 43 aligned with the, at this time, inoperative Tee-slot 37b of that housing.

To enable the lever block 6 with its ball posts 11a, 11b and 11c to be operably positioned, the weakened region of the wall Ss between the line of weakening W therein of the housing H2 is broken away (instead of the wall Sd of that housing) so again forming a chamber spanning the two housings.

Each housing H1, H2, as before, is provided with its spring biased operating rods 13A, 13B, respectively. The three ball posts are operably connected with those operating rods and the reaction post 35. If the ball pcst lia is, as before, positioned in the apertured reaction post 35, then the ball posts 11b and lic would operably connect in the operating rods 13B and 13A, respectively.

In operation, the operator can urge the operator lever 2 in either of two mutually perpendicular directions, either longitudinally or laterally, as indicated in Figure 18. When moved on one line of movement, the operating rod of one housing is urged upwardly or downwardly to correspondingly pull or push its con trol cable, in dependence on the direction along that line of movement, during that time the operating rod of the other housing remaining stationary. With the operator lever 2 moved on the other line of movement, the previously stationary operating rod is now urged upwardly or downwardly, as determined by the direction along that second line of movement, the pull or push, respectively, its control cable, the other ... previously moved . . operating rod remaining stationary.

Thus, when the operator lever 2 is moved longitudinally away from the operator in the direction indicated by the arrow 44, the ball post 1 1a will rock in the apertured reaction post 35, which takes most of the load, the operating rod 13B will act as a "steady", and the ball post 11c will swing downwardly to translate downwardly the operating rod 13A and push downwardly the attached cable 17 of the housing H1.

When the operator lever 2 is moved longitudinally towards the operator in the opposite direction indicated by the arrow 45, the ball post l1a will rock in the opposite sense in the reaction post 35, the operating rod 13B will again act as a "steady", and the ball post lic will be swung upwardly to upwardly translate the operating rod 13A and pull upwardly the second attached cable 17 of the housing H1.

Transverse movement of the operator lever 2 of the operator in the direction of the arrow 46 rocks the ball post 1 lea in the reaction post 35, but now the operating rod 13A acts as a "steady", and the ball post 1 ib is swung downwardly to translate downwardly the operating rod 13B and push downwardly the attached cable 17 of the housing H2.

When the operator transversely moves the operator lever 2 in the opposite direction as indicated by the arrow 47, the ball post 1 lea rocks in the opposite sense in the reaction post 35, the operating rod 13A again acts as a "steady", and the ball post 11b swings upwardly to translate upwardly the operating rod 13B and pull upwardly the second attached cable 17 of the housing H2.

The third control box could be utilized in the same environment of use as the second control box since it can serve to control two spool valves. It would be used when the control box is to be positioned immediately forwardly of the operator since then the "+" direction of movement of the operator lever is the most convenient.

As best seen in Figure 16, the housing halves 3 and 4 of each housing H1 and H2 are fashioned so as to make a "click" connection with one another, as by one housing half having a raised lip 48 and the other a complementary recess 49. Similarly, the two housings themselves may be so joined.

Each of the three control boxes is constructed so as to have available to it five different mounting options. These will now be described and illustrated with reference to the first "single axis" control box, but are equally available to either of the "dual axis" constructions, as will be readily appreciated.

As shown in Figure 19, the vertical side 50 of the housing H has two keyhole slots 51 formed therein (partly in the housing half 3 and partly in the housing half 4) to take hexagonal head bolts 52 by which the control box 1 can be bolted endwise on to a support structure.

Figure 20 shows a pair of angles 53 bolted at 54 to, opposite side faces 55 of the housing, the horizontal legs 56 of the angles being apertured at 57 so that they can rest on a horizontal support surface and be bolted thereto.

Figure 21 again shows an endwise vertical mounting, but this time the dovetailed vertical end face 58 is slid downwardly on to a comple mentary bracket 59 which would be rigidly fixed to the equipment.

In Figure 22, there is shown a vertical side wall mounting, three mounting bolts 60 bolting the support structure 61 to the housing side face 55 at holes 62 (shown in Figure 20).

An angled face mounting is depicted in Figure 23, in which keyhole slots 63 fashioned m the composite angled end face 64 of the housing H receive the hexagon heads of bolts 65 securing the housing to a structure 66.

A particular advantage of the described modular construction is that there results a reduced inventory of parts needed toi be stocked by the manufacturer to meet the customer demand and, also, which the customer needs to stock to meet his own field requirements.

The geometric module dimensions appro priate to the hereinbefore described control boxes have not been detailed since those skilled in the art, having regard to the information given herein, will be able readily to determine what the geometry and module proportions should be in any particular case.

However, tc, assist the reader there will now be briefly described a second embodiment shown in Figures 24 to 26. Again, a control box may be used on its own or in combination with another similar control box orientated in either of two different positions to give a "+" or lever movement. The individual control box may be regarded as being constructed basically as that in the first embodiment. However, in this instance, different lever blocks 6 are re quired for the two dual axis constructions to suit the particular geometrical modules.

Referring first to Figure 24, a single axis control box H is shown in which the depth d of the shallow housing 4 is 15 units and the depth D of the deeper housing 3 is 27 units making a total lepth D+d of 42 units. The spacing S between the axis of the operating rod 13 . . . and the axes of the ball post 11 .

and the centre of the Tee-slot 37a is 20.5 units.

The distance D1 between the centre of the Tee-slot 37a and the axis of the operating rod 13 is 30 units and is centrally positioned of the length L of the housing. The Tee-slot 37b which is not shown in Figure 24 but is in Figures 25 and 26 is directly vertically below the lever 2 and hence also is 30 units from the rod 13. The plane P containing the centres of the Tee-slots 37a and 37b is at right angles to the line of junction L which contains the centres of the Tee-slots 37b and operating rod 13.

Figures 25 and 26 shc.w, respectively, a dual axis "X" and "+" control box each consisting of two housings H1 and H2 constructed generally and orientated, as in the first embodiment.

It should be emphasized that the dimension H3 (equals H1 + H2) in Figure 25 is the same as the dimension D3 in Figure 26 and is calculated using the Pythagorus Theorem. As such, D3 . . and hence H3 . . is s/7+D12 equals TSUO units, when D and D1 are 30 units, i.e. D3 is approximately 42 units.

An alternative "single axis" control box 80 is shown in Figure 27. Generally, its construction is similar to, that of the "single axis" control box as featured in Figures 1 to 8. The principal difference is that the ball post connection between the operator lever and the operating rod is replaced by a direct acting link.

The operator lever 81 is fast with a block 82 which is mounted for pivotal movement in either sense within a housing 83 formed by a pair of housing halves (similar to the housing halves 3 and 4) secured together. To that end, the block 82 is fast with a horizontal pivot pin 84 journalled for rotation in those housing halves. The block 82 is slotted at 85, and a short link 86 has one end mounted by a horizontal pivot pin 87 within that slot and its other end mounted by a horizontal pivot pin 88 within the slotted end 89 of an operating rod 90 which is mounted for vertical movement within the housing halves. Shifting of the operator lever 81 to the left as viewed in Figure 10 will transmit via the link 86 an upward force to the rod 90 thereby to translate the rod upwardly.Conversely, shifting of the operator lever 81 to the right will transmit via the link 86 a downward force to the rod 90 to translate the rod downwardly.

The operating rod 90 has its lower end connected to the translatable core 16 of the control cable 17 whose casing 24 is fixed against movement ... both by means to be described, so that pivotal motion of the operator lever 81 will translate the cable core in one direction or the other and so activate the hydraulic valve.

The operating rod 90 is mounted for sliding vertical movement in the housing halves within a pair of upper and lower abutment members 91 and 92 respectively which are themselves seated in the housing halves. Circlips 93 and 94 are carried by the rod 90 to abut, in the central position of the operator lever 81, the top and bottom respectively of the upper and lower abutment members 91 and 92. Mounted about the rod 90 is a compression spring 95 whose ends seat against the abutment members 91 and 92.

By the arrangement described, upward and downward travel of the operating rod 90 effects compression of the spring 95 so that pivotal movement in either sense from neutral under manual control of the operator lever 81 takes place against a spring bias. Thereby, when the manual load on the lever 81 is released, the lever will be returned by the spring 95 to its central, or neutral, position.

More precisely, when the operating rod 90 moves downwardly, the upper circlip 9; urges the upper abutment member 91 downwardly thereby to compress the spring 95 against the lower abutment member 92 which, itself, is seated in the housing so as to be prevented from downward movement. Similarly, upward travel of the operating rod 90 causes the lower circlip 94 to urge the lower abutment member 92 upwardly, with the result that the spring 95 is compressed against the upper abutment member 91 which is restrained by its seating in the housing halves from upward movement.

Means are provided for limiting the degree of travel of the operating rod 90 and hence the operator lever 81. The means comprise a pair of lugs 96 on the lower abutment member 92 which slide in vertical slots 97 in the housing, and a pair of lugs 98 (displaced through 90" relative to the lugs 96) on the upper abutment member 91 which slide in vertical slots 99 in the housing. Thus, the degree of travel available to the operating rod is governed by the lengths of the slots 97 and 99, and by varying the length of one set of slots relative to the other the lever 81 can be arranged to pivot further in one sense from neutral than the other and hence actuate the hydraulic valve further in one direction ... which may be desirable in certain applications.

The cable casing 24 is affixed as by swaging to a hollow hub 100 which is mounted in the halves of the housing 83 as by cotter bolts 101 which makes for positive securement. The cable core 16 is affixed as by swaging to. a rod 102 whose upper end terminates in an enlarged head 103. The head 103 fits within a threaded hole 104 in the lower end of the operating rod 90. A bush 105 is slidably mounted on the rod 102 to screw into the hole 104 and so trap the head 103 therein. The bush 105 has a polygonal end 106 so that purchase thereon can be obtained with a spanner.With this construction, the cable core 16 can be readily connected (and disconnected) from the operating rod 90 by pivoting the operator lever 81 te. urge the rod 90 so that its lower end projects outwardly from the housing 83 at which time the rod head 103 can be inserted into the hole 104, the bush 105 threaded by hand into the same hole and then turned home by a spanner.

The control box 80 provides for demounting from the vehicle cab by carrying a blade spring 107 having a central dimple 108 and having its ends mounted in recesses 109 in an angled wall of the housing 83. A stud plate 110 is secured to the cab and is fashioned to be received in recesses 111 in the same housing wall and receive at its central aperture 112 the spring dimple 108. The arrangement is such that the control box can be slid downwardly upon the stud plate 110, and the blade spring 107 will bear against the plate to prevent rattling. As will be appreciated, the construction described provides for mounting the control box 80 to an angled wall of the cab.

Mounting of the control box to a vertical cab wall is also provided for by the opposite vertical face 113 of the housing 83 having similar recesses 109 and 111.

The housing 83 is sealed at its top end by a flexible rubber boot 114 which snaps over the upper end walls of the housing halves and also seals against the operator lever 81.

Referring now to Figure 28, a particular feature of note which applies to all the described embodiments is that the basic construction lends itself to a series of control boxes, for example, a "single axis" 1, a "dual axis" with "X" lever movement 1A and a "dual axis" with "+" lever movement 1B, being through bolted as at 115 thereby enabling boxes to be ganged together in a common mounting and providing easily accessible manual control over a multitude of functions as governed by the individual boxes.

It will be appreciated, in relation to the "dual axis" control boxes, that the operator lever is not actually constrained to move only in the "X" or "+" directions, as the case may be. Such constraint could be obtained by the provision of a suitable gate within which the lever would move. Without such constraint, the operator lever is free to make universal movement and take up intermediate positions be tween the "intended" "X" and "+" paths, with the result that any combination of cable movements can be achieved and both cables can be translated at the same time by differing or the same amounts.

Attention is drawn to our copending patent application No. 36241/77 (Serial No.

1,604,617) frora which the present application is divided and to our copending patent applica tion No. 24878/77 (Serial No. 1,604,616) which discloses a similar control box.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A control box comprising a control member, at least one axially movable rod operatively connected to said control member, and a compression spring means mounted about the or each one rod and between a pair of spring abutment members of which a first one. will move with said rod as said rod moves axially in one direction in response to an operating movement of said control member and of which the second one is restrained at that time from movement with said rod so that said spring means is compressed between said abutment members and acts through said first abutment member to exert a return bias upon said rod and hence said control member, said second abutment member moving with said rod as said rod moves axially in the opposite direction in response to another operating movement of said control member and said first abutment member being restrained at that time from movement with said rod so that said spring means is compressed between said abutment members and acts through said second abutment member to exert a return bias upon said rod and hence said control member.

2. A control box as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control member comprises a lever mounted to pivot about a single axis, and wherein there is a single said axially movable rod operatively connected at one end to said lever, said first-mentioned operating movement of said control member being a pivotal movement of said lever in one sense about said single axis, and said second-mentioned operating movement of said control member being a pivotal movement of said lever in the opposite sense about said single axis.

3. A control box as claimed in claim 2, including a housing providing seatings for said spring abutment members, a first urging means carried by said axially movable rod to urge, upon axial movement of said rod in said one direction, said first abutment member to move away from its seat and with said rod to compress said spring means against said second abutment member which seats, at that time, in said housing thereby to be restrained against axial movement in said one direction with said rod, and a second urging means carried by said axially movable rod to urge, upon axial movement of said rod in said opposite direction, said second abutment member to move away from its seat and with said rod to compress said spring means against said first abutment member which seats, at that time, in said housing thereby to be restrained against axial movement in said opposite direction with said rod.

4. A control box as claimed in claim 3, wherein said lever is pivotally mounted by a pivot pin to said housing.

5. A control box as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control member comprises a pivotal lever, and wherein there are a pair of axialy movable rods each operatively connected at one end to said lever, said control box further including a reaction post acting as a fixed fulcrum with respect to pivotal movement of said lever.

6. A control box as claimed in claim 5, wherein said lever can be pivoted in either of opposite senses about one axis passing through said reaction post and one of said axially movable rods and further pivoted in either of opposite senses about a second axis passing through said reaction post and the other of said axially movable rods, said one axially movable rod acting as a "steady" when said lever is pivoted about said one axis at which time said other axially movable rod will be axially moved in a direction depending on the sense of pivotal movement of said lever about said one axis, said other axially movable rod acting as a "steady" when said lever is pivoted about said second axis at which time said one axially movable rod will be axially moved in a direc ticn depending on the sense of pivotal movement of said lever about said second axis.

7. A control box as claimed in claim 6, wherein said one axis and said second axis are mutually perpendicular.

8. A control box as claimed in claim 6 or

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (18)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. The housing 83 is sealed at its top end by a flexible rubber boot 114 which snaps over the upper end walls of the housing halves and also seals against the operator lever 81. Referring now to Figure 28, a particular feature of note which applies to all the described embodiments is that the basic construction lends itself to a series of control boxes, for example, a "single axis" 1, a "dual axis" with "X" lever movement 1A and a "dual axis" with "+" lever movement 1B, being through bolted as at 115 thereby enabling boxes to be ganged together in a common mounting and providing easily accessible manual control over a multitude of functions as governed by the individual boxes. It will be appreciated, in relation to the "dual axis" control boxes, that the operator lever is not actually constrained to move only in the "X" or "+" directions, as the case may be. Such constraint could be obtained by the provision of a suitable gate within which the lever would move. Without such constraint, the operator lever is free to make universal movement and take up intermediate positions be tween the "intended" "X" and "+" paths, with the result that any combination of cable movements can be achieved and both cables can be translated at the same time by differing or the same amounts. Attention is drawn to our copending patent application No. 36241/77 (Serial No. 1,604,617) frora which the present application is divided and to our copending patent applica tion No. 24878/77 (Serial No. 1,604,616) which discloses a similar control box. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A control box comprising a control member, at least one axially movable rod operatively connected to said control member, and a compression spring means mounted about the or each one rod and between a pair of spring abutment members of which a first one. will move with said rod as said rod moves axially in one direction in response to an operating movement of said control member and of which the second one is restrained at that time from movement with said rod so that said spring means is compressed between said abutment members and acts through said first abutment member to exert a return bias upon said rod and hence said control member, said second abutment member moving with said rod as said rod moves axially in the opposite direction in response to another operating movement of said control member and said first abutment member being restrained at that time from movement with said rod so that said spring means is compressed between said abutment members and acts through said second abutment member to exert a return bias upon said rod and hence said control member.

2. A control box as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control member comprises a lever mounted to pivot about a single axis, and wherein there is a single said axially movable rod operatively connected at one end to said lever, said first-mentioned operating movement of said control member being a pivotal movement of said lever in one sense about said single axis, and said second-mentioned operating movement of said control member being a pivotal movement of said lever in the opposite sense about said single axis.

3. A control box as claimed in claim 2, including a housing providing seatings for said spring abutment members, a first urging means carried by said axially movable rod to urge, upon axial movement of said rod in said one direction, said first abutment member to move away from its seat and with said rod to compress said spring means against said second abutment member which seats, at that time, in said housing thereby to be restrained against axial movement in said one direction with said rod, and a second urging means carried by said axially movable rod to urge, upon axial movement of said rod in said opposite direction, said second abutment member to move away from its seat and with said rod to compress said spring means against said first abutment member which seats, at that time, in said housing thereby to be restrained against axial movement in said opposite direction with said rod.

4. A control box as claimed in claim 3, wherein said lever is pivotally mounted by a pivot pin to said housing.

5. A control box as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control member comprises a pivotal lever, and wherein there are a pair of axialy movable rods each operatively connected at one end to said lever, said control box further including a reaction post acting as a fixed fulcrum with respect to pivotal movement of said lever.

6. A control box as claimed in claim 5, wherein said lever can be pivoted in either of opposite senses about one axis passing through said reaction post and one of said axially movable rods and further pivoted in either of opposite senses about a second axis passing through said reaction post and the other of said axially movable rods, said one axially movable rod acting as a "steady" when said lever is pivoted about said one axis at which time said other axially movable rod will be axially moved in a direction depending on the sense of pivotal movement of said lever about said one axis, said other axially movable rod acting as a "steady" when said lever is pivoted about said second axis at which time said one axially movable rod will be axially moved in a direc ticn depending on the sense of pivotal movement of said lever about said second axis.

7. A control box as claimed in claim 6, wherein said one axis and said second axis are mutually perpendicular.

8. A control box as claimed in claim 6 or

claim 7, wherein said lever is constrained to pivot only about said one and said second axis the orientations of which are such as to provide in use of said control box for an movement of said lever.

9. A control box as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, wherein said lever is constrained to pivot only about said one and said second axis the orientation of which are such as to provide in use of said control box for a "+ movement of said lever.

10. A control box as claimed in claim 5, wherein said lever can be universally pivoted about said fixed fulcrum in such a manner as to axially move in either of opposite directions one axially movable rod only whilst the other rod remains stationary, axially move in either of opposite directions said other rod whilst said one rod remains stationary, or axially move both rods either by the same or different amounts and in the same or different directions.

11. A control box as claimed in any of claims 5 to 10, including a plurality of ball posts, one for each of said rods and for said reaction post, fast with said lever and each with the ball end thereof operatively mounted within an aperture in the associated rod or post, by which said rods are operatively connected with said lever and by which said reaction post will act as a fixed fulcrum with respect to pivotal movement of said lever.

12. A control box as claimed in any of claims 1 and 5 to 11, including a housing providing seatings for each pair of spring abutment members, a first urging means carried by each axially movable rod to urge, upon axial movement of the associated rod in said one direction, the associated first abutment member to move away from its seat and with said rod to compress the associated spring means against the associated second abutment member which seats, at that time, in said housing thereby to be restrained against axial movement in said one direction with said rod, and a second urging means carried by each axially movable rod to urge, upon axial movement of the associated rod in said opposite direction, the associated second abutment member to move away from its seat and with said rod to compress the associated spring means against the associated first abutment member which seats, at that time, in said housing thereby to be restrained against axial movement in said opposite direction with said rod.

13. A control box as claimed in claim 12, wherein said reaction post has a Tee end and said housing has a Tee slot receiving said Tee end by which to mount said reaction post.

14. A control box as claimed in claim 3, claim 4, claim 12 or claim 13, wherein each of said urging means comprises a circlip.

15. A control box as claimed in any of the preceding claims, including means for limiting the degree of axial travel available to the or each axially movable rod, as the case may be.

16. A control box as claimed in claim 15 when appendant to claim 3 or claim 12, wherein said means are associated with said housing and the or each axially movable rod, as the case may be.

17. A control box as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the or each axially movable rod, as the case may be, is slidably mounted in the or the associated, respectively, pair of spring abutment members.

18. A remote control mechanism comprising a control box as claimed in any of the preceding claims in combination with a push-pull cable for the or each axially movable rod, as the case may be, so that the cable core will axially translate upon axial movement of the, or the associated, rod.