GB2491855A - Control lever with interchangeable hand grip - Google Patents

Control lever with interchangeable hand grip Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2491855A
GB2491855A GB1109978.5A GB201109978A GB2491855A GB 2491855 A GB2491855 A GB 2491855A GB 201109978 A GB201109978 A GB 201109978A GB 2491855 A GB2491855 A GB 2491855A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
main body
hand grip
body member
operator
control lever
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB1109978.5A
Other versions
GB201109978D0 (en
Inventor
Joerg Bethge
Jan Weigand
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
AGCO International GmbH
Original Assignee
AGCO International GmbH
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by AGCO International GmbH filed Critical AGCO International GmbH
Priority to GB1109978.5A priority Critical patent/GB2491855A/en
Publication of GB201109978D0 publication Critical patent/GB201109978D0/en
Publication of GB2491855A publication Critical patent/GB2491855A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
    • G05G—CONTROL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS INSOFAR AS CHARACTERISED BY MECHANICAL FEATURES ONLY
    • G05G1/00—Controlling members, e.g. knobs or handles; Assemblies or arrangements thereof; Indicating position of controlling members
    • G05G1/04—Controlling members for hand actuation by pivoting movement, e.g. levers
    • G05G1/06—Details of their grip parts
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
    • G05G—CONTROL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS INSOFAR AS CHARACTERISED BY MECHANICAL FEATURES ONLY
    • G05G9/00—Manually-actuated control mechanisms provided with one single controlling member co-operating with two or more controlled members, e.g. selectively, simultaneously
    • G05G9/02—Manually-actuated control mechanisms provided with one single controlling member co-operating with two or more controlled members, e.g. selectively, simultaneously the controlling member being movable in different independent ways, movement in each individual way actuating one controlled member only
    • G05G9/04—Manually-actuated control mechanisms provided with one single controlling member co-operating with two or more controlled members, e.g. selectively, simultaneously the controlling member being movable in different independent ways, movement in each individual way actuating one controlled member only in which movement in two or more ways can occur simultaneously
    • G05G9/047—Manually-actuated control mechanisms provided with one single controlling member co-operating with two or more controlled members, e.g. selectively, simultaneously the controlling member being movable in different independent ways, movement in each individual way actuating one controlled member only in which movement in two or more ways can occur simultaneously the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks
    • G05G9/04785—Manually-actuated control mechanisms provided with one single controlling member co-operating with two or more controlled members, e.g. selectively, simultaneously the controlling member being movable in different independent ways, movement in each individual way actuating one controlled member only in which movement in two or more ways can occur simultaneously the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks the controlling member being the operating part of a switch arrangement
    • G05G9/04788—Manually-actuated control mechanisms provided with one single controlling member co-operating with two or more controlled members, e.g. selectively, simultaneously the controlling member being movable in different independent ways, movement in each individual way actuating one controlled member only in which movement in two or more ways can occur simultaneously the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks the controlling member being the operating part of a switch arrangement comprising additional control elements
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
    • G05G—CONTROL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS INSOFAR AS CHARACTERISED BY MECHANICAL FEATURES ONLY
    • G05G9/00—Manually-actuated control mechanisms provided with one single controlling member co-operating with two or more controlled members, e.g. selectively, simultaneously
    • G05G9/02—Manually-actuated control mechanisms provided with one single controlling member co-operating with two or more controlled members, e.g. selectively, simultaneously the controlling member being movable in different independent ways, movement in each individual way actuating one controlled member only
    • G05G9/04—Manually-actuated control mechanisms provided with one single controlling member co-operating with two or more controlled members, e.g. selectively, simultaneously the controlling member being movable in different independent ways, movement in each individual way actuating one controlled member only in which movement in two or more ways can occur simultaneously
    • G05G9/047—Manually-actuated control mechanisms provided with one single controlling member co-operating with two or more controlled members, e.g. selectively, simultaneously the controlling member being movable in different independent ways, movement in each individual way actuating one controlled member only in which movement in two or more ways can occur simultaneously the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks
    • G05G2009/04774—Manually-actuated control mechanisms provided with one single controlling member co-operating with two or more controlled members, e.g. selectively, simultaneously the controlling member being movable in different independent ways, movement in each individual way actuating one controlled member only in which movement in two or more ways can occur simultaneously the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks with additional switches or sensors on the handle

Abstract

A control lever joystick has a main body member 11 with a mount at a lower end and a head portion 12 at the other upper end on which a plurality of switches, buttons or other control members C, D, G, H, I are mounted for operation by the thumb or fingers of an operator's hand. The main body portion carries an interchangeable hand grip portion 13 which extends upwards along the main body portion to be gripped by the operator's hand and which includes an integral lower support portion 23 which extends generally perpendicular to the main body member and which supports the lower edge of the operator's palm. Different hand grip portions 13 having differently shaped support portions 23 are provided so that an operator's thumb and fingers can be supported appropriately to operate the switches, buttons or other control members. The lower end portion 24 of the main body member 11 also extends generally perpendicular to the main body member and supports the lower support portion 23 of the interchangeable hand grip l3. The interchangeable hand grip 13 comprises a shell-like component which overlies and is detachably secured to the main body member of the lever.

Description

CONTROL LEVERS
This invention relates to control levers and in particular to such control levers in the form of joysticks which are pivotally mounted at a lower end and have a head portion at the other upper end on which a plurality of switches, buttons or other control members are mounted for operation by an operator's hand.
Such control levers are well known and are used to control a wide range of machines or operations. For long term stress free ergonomic operation of the control lever it is important that the operator's hand is correctly positioned on the control lever relative to the control members on the head portion of the lever. This can be difficult to achieve when the control lever is to be operated by operators with vastly different sized hands.
It is an object of the present invention to provide such a control lever which is readily adaptable for use by a range of operators with differently sized hands.
Thus according to the present invention there is provided a control lever comprising a main body member with a mount at a lower end and a head portion at the other upper end on which a plurality of switches, buttons or other control members are mounted for operation by the thumb or fingers of an operator's hand, the main body portion carrying an interchangeable hand grip portion which extends upwards along the main body portion to be gripped by the operator's hand and which includes an integral lower support portion which extends generally perpendicular to the main body member and which supports the lower edge of the operator's palm, different hand grip portions having differently shaped support portions so that an operator's thumb and fingers can be supported appropriately to operate the switches, buttons or other control members.
As will be appreciated the above control lever arrangement is readily adaptable for use by a range of operators with differently sized hands. The control lever is suitable, for example, for use in the control of agricultural machines such as forage harvesters where a wide range of function can conveniently be controlled from a single control lever.
Conveniently, a lower end portion of the main body member of the control lever also extends generally perpendicular to the main body member and supports the lower support portion of the interchangeable hand grip.
The interchangeable hand grip may comprise a shell-like component which overlics and is detachably secured to the main body member of the lever.
The interchangeable hand grip portion may be is secured to the main body member by recessed screws which extend through the main body portion and engage projections on a rear surface of the hand grip portion.
The main body portion may comprise two parts held together by recessed screws which extend through the main body part and engage internal bores in the other main body part.
The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a control lever in accordance with the present invention; Figures 2 and 3 show sections on the planes indicated by the lines A and B respectively of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a rear perspective view of the control lever of Figure 1, and Figures 5 and 6 show partially exploded perspective views of the control lever with differently sized hand grip portions about to be fitted to the control lever.
Referring to the drawings, ajoy stick 10 for the control of various ftinctions on a forage harvester has a main body member 11 whose lower end is pivoted at 1 ta on a driver's seat arm rest or other suitable support structure in a forage harvester cab. The main body member 11 has a head portion 12 on which a plurality of switches, buttons or other control members C -I are mounted for operation by the thumb or fingers of an operator's hand which grips an interchangeable hand grip portion 13 of the joy stick.
The interchangeable hand grip portion 13 is of a shell-like form which overlies and is detachably secured to the main body member 11 of the joy stick. As best seen in Figures 2 and 3, the main body portion of the joy stick is in two parts 14 and 15 which are secured together by screws 16 which are recessed at 17 into one of the main body parts 14 and engage bores 18 in the other main body part 15.
The interchangeable hand grip portion 13 is similarly secured to the main body portions 14 and 15 by bolts 19 which are recessed at 20 in the main body part 14 and engage bores 21 in projections 22 formed on a rear surface 13a of the interchangeable hand grip portion 13. Alternatively, hand grip portion 13 may be attached by using a clip mechanism or hook-and-pile fastening means or any other suitable detachable mounting arrangement.
The hand grip portion has a lower support portion 23 which extends generally perpendicular to the remainder of the main body member 13 and which supports the lower edge of the operator's palm. This support portion 23 helps the operator to maintain his thumb and fingers in the correct relationship to the switches, buttons and other control members C -I provided on the head portion 12 of the joy stick.
The support portion 23 of the interchangeable hand grip portion is itself supported by a section 24 of the main body portion of the joy stick which extends generally perpendicular to the remainder of the joy stick body.
In accordance with the present invention different sizes of interchangeable hand grip portion 13 may be provided so that operator's hands of different sizes can be supported with their thumb/fingers in the correct position for the operation of the switches, buttons and other control members C-I.
This is shown, for example, in Figures 5 and 6 in which interchangeable hand grip portion 13A is provided in which the distance X between the upper end of the hand grip portion and the outer end of the lower end portion 23 is of a length of say 102mm.
Figure 6 shows a differently sized interchangeable hand grip portions 13B in which the distance X is of a length of approximately 78mm. Hand grip portions of a range of different lengths X can also he provided.
As will be appreciated the interchangeable hand grip portion 13A is capable of supporting larger sized operator's hands in the correct position relative to the switches, buttons and other control members C-I as compared to the interchangeable hand grip portion 13b which is used by operator's with smaller sized hands.
The present invention does provided a control lever arrangement which is readily adaptable for operation by operator's having a wide range of different sized hands.
When used for the controller of a forage harvester the functions controlled by the control members C-I are as follows:-Button C controls the lifting valve for controlling the height of a front crop processing unit relative to the chassis of the forage harvester. Pressing section Cl of button C raises the front unit to a set value relative to the chassis. Similarly pressing button portion C2 lowers the front unit to a set unit relative to the chassis. The use of the indicator A on these portions Cl and C2 of button C indicate that the front unit will be raised or lowered automatically to the defined height. By pressing sections C3 and C4 the front unit can be raised and lowered manually relative to the chassis with the operator maintaining his finger/thumb on the button for a sufficient time period to achieve the height required.
Button D is an emergency stop button which is pressed by the operator to stop the roller in-feed system and chopper drum in the event of an emergency.
Button E is pressed to move the discharge spout of the forage harvester from one side of the harvester to its minor position on the other side of the harvester.
Pressing button F activates an auto guidance mode of the harvester in which the steering is controlled either by Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) based information or crop row detection.
Button G is used to control the discharge spout of the forage harvester. Pressing portion GI raises a spout flap provided on the end of the spout as described in UK patent application number GB 1013942.6 whereas pressing button portion G2 lowers this spout flap. Pressing button portion G3 rotates the spout clockwise whereas pressing the button portion G4 rotates the spout anti-clockwise as described in GB 1006966.4. Thus by pressing the appropriate portion of button G the direction of discharge of the mown crop from the spout can be fully controlled by the forage harvester operator.
Button H is used to control the intake of the forage harvester. By pressing button portion Hi the intake is arranged to be driven in its normal forward moving operating mode. Pressing H2 turns the intake feed of the forage harvester off and, if button portion H2 is pressed for a long time, this is arranged to reverse the direction of rotation of the intake system in order to unblock the intake.
Button I is a spare button which can be assigned to any operation of the forage harvester which the operator may choose.
The reverse of the head portion 12 of the joy stick has a switch J which must be activated before moving the vehicle or operating a function which may cause danger such as starting the operation of the crop intake system. A further button K is provided on the back of the joystick which can be assigned to operate a single hydraulic control valve to control, for example, the grass pick-up of the forage harvester.
Whilst the present invention has been described above in relation to a pivotable joystick, the invention is equally applicable to levers which do not move or which make linear movements.
A control lever according the present invention improves the driver's comfort whilst reducing costs and may be used in self-propelled agricultural vehicles, especially harvesting and application machinery, but can also be used in any other self-propelled machinery like construction machinery, transportation vehicles or forestry equipment.

Claims (6)

  1. CLAIMS1) A control lever comprising a main body member with a mount at a lower end and a head portion at the other upper end on which a plurality of switches, buttons or other control members are mounted for operation by the thumb or fingers of an operator's hand, the main body portion carrying an interchangeable hand grip portion which extends upwards along the main body portion to be gripped by the operator's hand and which includes an integral lower support portion which extends generally perpendicular to the main body member and which supports the lower edge of the operator's palm, different hand grip portions having differently shaped support portions so that an operator's thumb and fingers can be supported appropriately to operate the switches, buttons or other control members.
  2. 2) A control lever according to claim I in which a lower end portion of the main body member also extends generally perpendicular to the main body member and supports the lower support portion of the interchangeable hand grip.
  3. 3) A control lever according to claim 1 or 2 in which the interchangeable hand grip comprises a shell-like component which overlies and is detachably secured to the main body member of the lever.
  4. 4) A control lever according to claim 3 in which the interchangeable hand grip portion is secured to the main body member by recessed screws which extend through the main body portion and engage projections on a rear surface of the hand grip portion.
  5. 5) A control lever according to claim 3 or 4 in which the main body portion comprises two parts held together by recessed screws which extend through the main body part and engage internal bores in the other main body part.
  6. 6) A control lever constructed and arrange substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
GB1109978.5A 2011-06-14 2011-06-14 Control lever with interchangeable hand grip Withdrawn GB2491855A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1109978.5A GB2491855A (en) 2011-06-14 2011-06-14 Control lever with interchangeable hand grip

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1109978.5A GB2491855A (en) 2011-06-14 2011-06-14 Control lever with interchangeable hand grip

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB201109978D0 GB201109978D0 (en) 2011-07-27
GB2491855A true GB2491855A (en) 2012-12-19

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB1109978.5A Withdrawn GB2491855A (en) 2011-06-14 2011-06-14 Control lever with interchangeable hand grip

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2491855A (en)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10863671B2 (en) 2017-12-01 2020-12-15 Agco Corporation Unloading conveyor swing control system
WO2021248116A1 (en) * 2020-06-05 2021-12-09 Joby Aero, Inc. Aircraft control system and method
EP3844062A4 (en) * 2018-08-30 2022-06-01 Essex Industries, Inc. Collective control system for a rotorcraft
FR3124610A1 (en) * 2021-06-29 2022-12-30 Kuhn-Audureau Sas Device for controlling one or more work function(s) of an agricultural machine and agricultural machine fitted with said control device

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0478867A1 (en) * 1989-08-16 1992-04-08 ABUS Kransysteme GmbH & Co. KG. Hanging push-button box for controlling hoists and/or cranes
US5566586A (en) * 1992-02-13 1996-10-22 Zf Friedrichshafen Ab Steering stick for switching or actuating components of a utility vehicle
JP2002322677A (en) * 2001-04-24 2002-11-08 Komatsu Ltd Working machine operation lever
US20040011154A1 (en) * 2002-07-22 2004-01-22 Deere & Company, A Delaware Corporation Joystick with enabling sensors
EP1568651A2 (en) * 2004-02-12 2005-08-31 Still Gmbh Operating arrangement of a mobile working machine
FR2903204A1 (en) * 2006-06-30 2008-01-04 Noremat Sa Machine`s e.g. scrub cutter, mower manual control device, has main assembly with rounded conformation for receiving part of size adapted to size of palm of operator hand, and positioning unit connected to elements placed interior to device
US20080128253A1 (en) * 2006-12-01 2008-06-05 Franz Mack Manual control unit for a vehicle

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0478867A1 (en) * 1989-08-16 1992-04-08 ABUS Kransysteme GmbH & Co. KG. Hanging push-button box for controlling hoists and/or cranes
US5566586A (en) * 1992-02-13 1996-10-22 Zf Friedrichshafen Ab Steering stick for switching or actuating components of a utility vehicle
JP2002322677A (en) * 2001-04-24 2002-11-08 Komatsu Ltd Working machine operation lever
US20040011154A1 (en) * 2002-07-22 2004-01-22 Deere & Company, A Delaware Corporation Joystick with enabling sensors
EP1568651A2 (en) * 2004-02-12 2005-08-31 Still Gmbh Operating arrangement of a mobile working machine
FR2903204A1 (en) * 2006-06-30 2008-01-04 Noremat Sa Machine`s e.g. scrub cutter, mower manual control device, has main assembly with rounded conformation for receiving part of size adapted to size of palm of operator hand, and positioning unit connected to elements placed interior to device
US20080128253A1 (en) * 2006-12-01 2008-06-05 Franz Mack Manual control unit for a vehicle

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10863671B2 (en) 2017-12-01 2020-12-15 Agco Corporation Unloading conveyor swing control system
EP3844062A4 (en) * 2018-08-30 2022-06-01 Essex Industries, Inc. Collective control system for a rotorcraft
US11960314B1 (en) 2018-08-30 2024-04-16 Essex Industries, Inc. Collective control system for a rotorcraft
WO2021248116A1 (en) * 2020-06-05 2021-12-09 Joby Aero, Inc. Aircraft control system and method
US11673649B2 (en) 2020-06-05 2023-06-13 Joby Aero, Inc. Aircraft control system and method
FR3124610A1 (en) * 2021-06-29 2022-12-30 Kuhn-Audureau Sas Device for controlling one or more work function(s) of an agricultural machine and agricultural machine fitted with said control device
EP4116796A1 (en) * 2021-06-29 2023-01-11 Kuhn-Audureau SAS Control device for one or more working functions of an agricultural machine and agricultural machine provided with said control device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB201109978D0 (en) 2011-07-27

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WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)