GB2228905A

GB2228905A - Moveable driving position for motor vehicles

Info

Publication number: GB2228905A
Application number: GB8904834A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Barry Haskey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-03-03
Filing date: 1989-03-03
Publication date: 1990-09-12
Anticipated expiration: 2009-03-03
Also published as: GB2228905B; GB8904834D0

Abstract

A console which embodies all the driving functions for a road transport vehicle including the driver's seat is moveable from one side to the other in guides such that the driver can take up the driving position appropriate to the rule of the road of the country in which he is driving. The lateral movement of the console can be achieved by well known mechanical means or it can be pushed manually without disconnecting any systems so that the change of position will not interfere with the integrity of the driving systems. In each driving position the console is locked securely to the chassis. The console can be connected to the control elements on the engine and chassis by electrical cables, flexible hydraulic or pneumatic tubes or mechanical linkages.

Description

MOVEABLE DRIVING POSITION FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

The invention relates to road transport vehicles which are required to carry-out journeys from one country to another each country one to the other having mutually opposite rules of the road.

A vehicle permanently fitted for driving under one country's rule is a hazard to safe driving when operating in a country of opposite rule especially in extremes of weather at night time and in dense and mixed traffic. Road transport activity will be materially increased under future EEC trading developments and with the advent of the Channel Tunnel.

The invention provides means so that the driver (or similarly qualified person) can readily change the position of his seat and all controls and instruments to the position in the vehicle to suit the rule of the road.

This change will be possible with minimum of delay and effort and without interferring with the integrity of the driving and control systems. This change will not only be confined to the drivers position but will also permit entry and exit from a passenger coach (or driver's cab) to be made on the near-side with consequential maintenance of safety for passengers entering and leaving the vehicle whilst in a road-way. Insurance premiums and operating costs could be advantaged by this invention for the carriage of freight passengers and live animals.

According to the invention the drivers position including his seat and related controls with instruments to carry out all the functions of driving will be embodied in a console so installed in the vehicle as to be capable of being moved from one side to the other without breaking into or interferring in any way with the integrity of the systems and without debasing the driving functions. The console will be restricted to movement sideways by lateral guides mounted on the vehicle's chassis and it will be rigidly locked in its driving position such that the console becomes integrated structurally with the chassis. Rigid engagements of locks can be indicated visually and/or remotely on the instrument panel and an interlock with the engine ignition system will prevent the starting or the running of the engine if the console is not secured properly.

The movement of the console can be by any well known jacking mechanisms operated by the vehicle's power system or by screw jack or a rack and pinion or an endless rope/chair system any of which could be motorised or operated manually or it could be simply pushed from side to side without the use of these aids.

The connecting means between the console and the control elements on the engine and chassis may be by electrical cables pressure (hydraulic and preumatic) tubes which may be flexible and direct mechanical linkages each connection being dictated by the systems used on the basic vehicle. Flexible members may loop freely or swing under appropriate restraint so that the console can take up either driving position without any disconnection or interference. Physical movements can be transmitted electrically or hydraulically or preumatically or in combination. Direct and positive mechanical linkages between the console and the control components on the chassis may be desirable for steering brakes accelerator etc. The means are described by reference to a braking system.On the underside of the base plate is mounted a rotatable element in a bearing block and with which is integrated a radial arm or lever and this lever is linked directly to the foot-pedal.

A shaft is mounted on the chassis laterally and is rotatable in end bearings and it carries a radial arm or lever which rotates with the shaft. This lever is directly linked to the braking component on the chassis. The console is assembled in the vehicle with the shaft passing through the rotatable element under the console and the console is able to slide on the shaft when moved sideways. The rotatable element is keyed to the shaft so that the element and shaft rotate in unison and the key slides in a key-way in the shaft for the lateral movements. Pressure on the foot-pedal turns the lever under the base plate and so turns the shaft through the key-way and the lever at the end of the shaft moves in unison and operates the braking component. Other systems could have similar arrangements but each system would be separate and unique.The shaft may be splined to allow for adjusting the relation of the levers on assembly or the shaft may be square in place of key-ways.

The console can carry a panel which would embody the information instruments such as gauges meters indicators engine starting and other switches including lights and the like all these not being involved in the continuous driving functions. Alternatively this panel may be installed on the chassis and carried on a rotatable pedastal in a central position in the cab. The pedastal would allow the panel to be so adjusted that it would be in the driver's line of sight and all switches etc would be to hand with the console in either position.

The area under the console in either position may embody steps and the like to give entry into and exit from the vehicle so that when the console is on the off-side entrance to the vehicle will be on the near-side and the same standard of safety will obtain under both rules of the road.

Claims

1. A moveable driving position in transport vehicles such that the driver of the vehicle (or similarly qualified person) can readily change the position of the seat and all controls and instruments to the desired position in the vehicle to suit the rule of the road.

2. A moveable driving position in transport vehicles as claimed in Claim 1 which will permit entry to and exit from a passenger coach (or driver's cab) on the rear-side of the driving position.

3. A moveable driving position in transport vehicles as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the driver's position including his seat and all controls and instruments necessary to carry out the functions of driving will be embodied in a console so installed in the vehicle as to be capable of being moved from one side to the other without breaking into or interferring with the integrity of the controls and systems.

4. A moveable driving position in transport vehicles as claimed in Claims 1 and 3 provides for the console to be restricted to side-ways movements by lateral guides mounted on the vehicle's chassis and the console will be rigidly locked in its driving position such that it becomes integrated structurely with the chassis. The locking arrangement may embody an inter-lock with the engine starting system.

5. A moveable driving position in transport vehicles as claimed in Claims 1 and 3 provides the console with a known system to move the console sideways. It may use the power available on the vehicle or be manually operated. Or pushed from side to side manually.

6. A moveable driving position in transport vehicles as claimed in Claim 1 and 3 in which the control and instrument systems are connected to the respective elements on the engine and chassis by members which are flexible or by mechanical linkages assembled in such manner as to allow the console to be moved sideways.

7. A moveable driving position in transport vehicles as claimed in Claims 1 and 3 whereby unique physical control movements by the driver may be transmitted mechanically from the console control to the chassis system such means embodying on the console a rotatable element linked to the driver 5 control this rotatable element being in sliding relationship with a laterally fixed shaft on the chassis but being rotatably fixed to the shaft which is linked to the control system on the chassis. Each system will have its unique rotating element and shaft combination.

8. A moveable driving position in transport vehicles as claimed in Claim 1 and 3 the console may embody a panel carrying secondary instruments switches and indicators to be in the line of sight of the driver.

9. A moveable driving position in transport vehicles as claimed in Claim 1 may involve an independent panel to carry the secondary instruments switches and indicators the panel being set on the vehicle structure so that it can be turned towards the driver in either driving position.

10. A moveable driving position in transport vehicles substantially as described herein.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A moveable driving position in transport vehicles such that the driver of the vehicle (or similarly qualified person) can readily move sideways the position of the seat with åll~controls and instruments to the desired position in the vehicle to suit the rule of the road.

2. A moveable driving position in transport vehicles as claimed in Claim 1 which will permit entry to and exit from a passenger coach (or driver's cab) on the near-side of the driving position.