JP2010210071A - Operating lever device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an operating lever device enabling miniaturization of an entire device by attaining a small detent mechanism. <P>SOLUTION: The operating lever device includes: control valves 10, 11 each having a piston 20 and a spool 30 which moves within a spool hole 30h inside a valve body 6 as it receives secondary hydraulic pressure at one end and receives the pressure of the piston 20 from the other end and which converts the primary hydraulic pressure inputted into the secondary hydraulic pressure according to the amount of movement of the piston 20 and outputs the secondary hydraulic pressure; a guide member 40 for guiding the movement of the piston 20; and an operating lever 3 which makes contact with the other end of the piston 20 to generate pressure and control the amount of movement of the piston 20. A detent mechanism comprising a stepped portion 44 and a pressing mechanism 45 is provided near the guide surfaces of the guide member 40 and the piston 20. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an operation lever device having a detent function that applies a load to an operation lever at a desired detent position and teaches an operator the current operation state or the next operation state, and in particular, operates a PPC valve that generates pilot hydraulic pressure. The present invention relates to an operation lever device.

  In general, construction machines, industrial machines, and the like use an operation lever device that operates a PPC valve to operate a hydraulic cylinder control, a transmission control, and the like. In the operation lever device, in the PPC valve, the operation amount of the operation lever is reduced to a pilot hydraulic pressure and output.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 converts the operation amount of the operation lever into hydraulic pressure and outputs it, and includes a cam member for operating the spool and an operation lever for rotating the cam member. The detent mechanism is realized by providing the cam member with a detent groove corresponding to the working position.

JP-A-10-252937 JP 2002-168205 A

  However, although the conventional operating lever device has a detent mechanism for teaching the operator the current operating state of the operating lever, since the detent mechanism is realized by rotating the cam member, the detent mechanism becomes larger and the operation There has been a problem that miniaturization of the entire lever device is hindered.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an operating lever device that can realize a small detent mechanism and reduce the size of the entire device.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, an operation lever device according to the present invention receives a secondary hydraulic pressure at one end side and a pressing force of the piston from the other end side in the valve body. And a guide for guiding the movement of the piston, and a control valve having a spool that converts the primary hydraulic pressure input to the secondary hydraulic pressure and outputs the secondary hydraulic pressure in accordance with the amount of movement of the piston. A detent mechanism on the guide surface of the guide member and the piston, and a control lever that contacts the other end of the piston to generate the pressing force and manipulate the movement amount of the piston. It is characterized by that.

  The operating lever device according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the above invention, a step is provided on the guide surface on the guide member side, and a pressing mechanism for pressing the guide member side is provided on the guide surface on the piston side. And

  In the operation lever device according to the present invention, in the above invention, the detent mechanism is provided with a step on the guide surface on the piston side and a pressing mechanism for pressing the piston side on the guide surface on the guide member side. It is characterized by that.

  In the operation lever device according to the present invention, in the above invention, the pressing mechanism includes a hole formed in a direction perpendicular to the guide surface, and a hole disposed in the hole and perpendicular to the guide surface. And a sphere provided at one end of the extension member, capable of projecting and retracting into the hole, and abutting against an opposing guide surface.

  In the operation lever device according to the present invention, in the above invention, the pressing mechanism includes a hole formed in a direction perpendicular to the guide surface, and a hole disposed in the hole and perpendicular to the guide surface. An extension member that extends in any direction, and a sphere that is provided at one end of the extension member and that can protrude and retract into the hole and abuts against an opposing guide surface, the hole being a through hole, The spheres are provided at both ends of the extension member.

  The operating lever device according to the present invention has a conduction path for transmitting the secondary hydraulic pressure to the piston side in the above invention, and assists the pressing force of the piston by the secondary hydraulic pressure through the conduction path. An operating force assist mechanism is provided.

  In the operation lever device according to the present invention, in the above invention, the operation lever is connected to the valve body by a universal joint, and the control valve, the guide member, and the detent mechanism are disposed around the universal joint. A plurality of valve mechanisms are provided, and the operation lever operates one or more control valves by moving one or more pistons.

  According to the present invention, since the detent mechanism is provided on the guide surface of the piston and the piston guide member that applies the pressing force to the spool, a small detent mechanism is realized, and as a result, the entire operation lever device is reduced in size. can do.

  Hereinafter, an operation lever device which is the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an operation lever device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention when the operation lever is in a neutral state. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of the operation lever device shown in FIG. Furthermore, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the operating lever device when the operating lever is in a full stroke state. This operating lever device 1 is for controlling four PPC valves such as a direction switching valve of a hydraulic cylinder of a construction machine such as a bucket with two axes.

  1 to 3, the operating lever device 1 has an operating lever 3 that rotates around a universal joint 2, and one end of the operating lever 3 is provided with a handle (not shown) that is held by an operator. The other end of the lever 3 is connected to the universal joint 2 via the plug 4 and the disk 5. The universal joint 2 is provided in the upper part of the valve main body 6, and the control valves 10-13 which are four PPC valves are provided in the both sides of the valve main body 6 so that the universal joint 2 may be enclosed by an upper part. The operation lever 3 can be inclined with respect to the entire circumference of the installation plate 50. As a result, the operation lever 3 can operate one or two control valves simultaneously and with individual operation amounts.

  For example, the control valve 10 is a PPC valve that raises the boom, the direction Fa is a boom raising operation, the control valve 13 is a PPC valve that lowers the boom, and the direction Fb is a boom lowering operation. is there. The control valve 11 is a PPC valve for excavating the bucket, the direction Fc is an excavation operation for the bucket, the control valve 12 is a PPC valve for dumping the bucket, and the direction Fd is an operation for dumping the bucket. is there. In this operation lever device 1, two operations can be performed simultaneously. For example, when the operation lever device 1 is operated in the direction F1, the bucket excavation operation and the boom raising operation can be performed simultaneously and individually by one operation lever 3. Can be done in quantity. As shown in FIG. 2, the control valves 10 to 13 are symmetrically arranged around the axis of the operation lever 3 in the neutral position and the operation is the same. Therefore, the structure of the control valve 10 and the operation lever 3 are moved in the direction Fa. The operation when it is defeated will be described.

  The control valve 10 has a piston 20 and a spool 30, and the opening degree of the communication hole 31 of the spool 30 that moves up and down in the ± Z direction corresponding to the up and down movement of the piston 20 in the ± Z direction is adjusted. The primary hydraulic pressure that is the pump hydraulic pressure input from the input port PT1 is converted and output from the output port PT2 as the secondary hydraulic pressure that is the pilot hydraulic pressure that has been adjusted to be reduced.

  The piston 20 has an upper end portion 21 and a lower end portion 22. The upper end 21 slides in the guide hole 40h of the guide member 40 provided in the upper part of the installation plate 50 provided in the upper part of the valve body 6 and in the upper end hole 21h formed by the oil seal 51, and the upper end is spherical. To contact the disk 5. The lower end portion 22 slides in a lower end hole 22h which is a tank formed to be connected to a lower portion of the upper end hole 21h. Here, the diameter of the lower end portion 22 is larger than the diameter of the upper end portion 21, and the length of the lower end hole 22 h regulates the maximum stroke S of the vertical movement of the piston 20. In comparison, it is formed longer by the same length Sb (= Sa = S) as the maximum stroke S. Further, since the upper end portion 21 has a smaller diameter than the lower end portion 22, the oil seal 51 described above is provided via the sleeve 21s at the lower portion of the installation plate 50 and at the periphery of the upper end hole 21h. The sleeve 21s forms the upper side of the lower end hole 22h.

  A cylindrical space into which the spool 30 is inserted is formed inside the lower end and the lower end 22 of the upper end 21, and a step portion 23 is formed between the upper end 21 and the lower end 22. A retainer 24 is provided on the inner wall of the step portion 23. A narrow diameter portion 32 having substantially the same length as the maximum stroke S is formed at the upper end portion of the spool 30, and this narrow diameter portion 32 passes through a hole provided at the center of the retainer 24. For this reason, the spool 30 is restricted from moving up and down relative to the retainer 24.

  An operating force spring 25 is provided between the retainer 24 and the lower end surface of the lower end hole 22h. The operating force spring 25 generates a reaction force proportional to the pressing amount (operating amount) of the piston 20. On the other hand, a stepped portion 33 is formed at the center of the spool 30, and a pressure reducing spring is provided between the stepped portion 33 and the retainer 24 on the outer periphery of the spool 30 and the inner periphery of the operating force spring 25. 26 is provided. The pressure reducing spring 26 generates a reaction force proportional to the upward movement amount of the spool 30. Here, an output hole 34 that is a cylindrical space communicating with the communication hole 31 and the output port PT2 is formed at the lower end of the spool 30. For this reason, the pressure reducing spring 26 generates a reaction force proportional to an increase in the upward movement force of the spool 30 due to the secondary oil pressure of the output hole 34, and the spool 30 is subjected to the pressure of the secondary oil pressure and the pressure reducing spring 26. Are set to a balanced vertical position.

  The upper peripheral outer diameter of the lower end portion 22 of the piston 20 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the lower end hole 22h, and a groove 27 is formed between the sleeve 20 and the sleeve 21s. The groove 27 and the output port PT2 communicate with each other, and a conduction path 28 for outputting the secondary hydraulic pressure to the groove 27 is provided. The secondary hydraulic pressure is output to the groove 27 via the conduction path 28 and pushes down the ring-shaped stepped portion 27 a that forms the groove 27. The pressing force by the stepped portion 27a is proportional to the magnitude of the secondary oil pressure, and assists the pressing force (operation force) of the piston 20. That is, a pressing force that increases with the pressing amount of the piston 20 is generated.

  Here, in the first embodiment, a through hole 41 is formed in the upper end portion 21 in a direction perpendicular to the guide hole 40h, and an extension spring 42 is inserted into the through hole 41. A sphere 43 having a diameter substantially the same as the diameter of the through hole 41 is fitted, and the sphere 43 has a pressing mechanism 45 that can press and retract into the guide hole 40h. Here, the inner wall surface of the guide hole 40h and the outer peripheral surface of the upper end portion 21 each form a guide surface. The inner diameter of the upper end side of the guide hole 40h is formed slightly larger than the diameter of the upper end portion 21 up to the step portion 44, and the sphere 43 protrudes from the side surface of the upper end portion 21 with respect to the guide hole 40h up to the step portion 44. It will be in the state. Instead of the communication hole 41, two holes may be provided individually. In this case, one sphere 43 is provided on each opening side of each hole. The pressing mechanism 45 preferably has a symmetric structure, but may not have a symmetric structure. For example, a pressing mechanism that presses one end side may be used.

  A boot 7 that covers the disk 5, the universal joint 2, the upper end 21 of the piston 20, and the like is provided between the installation plate 50 and the plug 4 forming the mounting surface, and dust and drip-proof measures on the mounting surface are provided. Has been given.

  Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described. First, when the operation lever 3 is tilted in the direction Fa, for example, the upper end of the piston 20 is pushed down by the disk-shaped portion of the disk 5 extending in a substantially horizontal direction (XY plane) corresponding to the tilt angle θ, and the tilt angle thereof. The piston 20 moves downward according to θ. When the piston 20 moves downward, the operating force spring 25 is compressed, and a reaction force corresponding to the inclination angle θ is applied to the operating force.

  On the other hand, the spool 30 has a small diameter portion 32 as the piston 20 moves downward, but the pressure reducing spring 26 is compressed because the retainer 24 moves downward, and the spool 30 moves downward due to the expansion force of the pressure reducing spring 26. To do. When the spool 30 moves downward, the input port PT1 and the output port PT2 begin to communicate with each other through the communication hole 31, and oil begins to flow from the input port PT1 side to the output port PT2 side. The opening degree of the communication hole 31 is adjusted, and pressure control is performed.

  Here, the secondary hydraulic pressure of the output port PT2 generates a force that moves the spool 30 upward, and as described above, the spool 30 is moved up and down by the balance between the spring pressure of the pressure reducing spring 26 and the secondary hydraulic pressure. The position is balanced. If the inclination angle θ is further increased while performing this balance setting, the opening degree of the communication hole 31 increases corresponding to the inclination angle θ, and a secondary hydraulic pressure corresponding to the inclination angle θ is generated and output.

  As described above, since the secondary hydraulic pressure is supplied to the stepped portion 27a through the conduction path 28, the secondary hydraulic pressure corresponding to the magnitude of the inclination angle θ is supplied to the stepped portion 27a, and the operation lever 3 The operating force of the operating lever 3 for the operator is realized.

  On the other hand, in the first embodiment, a detent mechanism is realized by the above-described guide member 40 and the pressing mechanism 45 provided on the upper end portion 21 of the piston 20. That is, when the operation lever 3 is operated, the ball 43 of the pressing mechanism 45 gets over the stepped portion 44 at a position where the output pressure (secondary hydraulic pressure) becomes a predetermined pressure, and temporarily goes over the stepped portion 44. A large operating force is applied to the operating lever 3.

  In FIG. 4, in the operation lever device that does not have the secondary hydraulic assist mechanism using the conduction path 28, the operation force is the secondary hydraulic pressure (output) with the stroke amount S <b> 1 as shown by the curve L <b> 1 with respect to the stroke amount S. When pressure starts to occur, a large operating force is required. For this reason, for example, if a detent mechanism is provided to the stroke amount S2 corresponding to the output pressure P1 at which the working machine such as a bucket starts to move, an operation force curve such as a curve L3 is obtained, and the stroke amount S2 is temporarily large. Although an operation force is required, the operation force itself at this time is large, so it is difficult to recognize the position of the stroke amount S2.

  On the other hand, when an assist mechanism using the conduction path 28 is provided, an operation force curve such as a curve L2 is obtained, and the operator can operate the operation lever 3 with a small operation force. In such a case, for example, if the detent mechanism is provided at the position of the stroke amount S2, the operation position can be easily known with a small operation force, and the operability is remarkably improved. A plurality of such detent mechanisms may be provided. In this case, a plurality of step portions corresponding to the step portion 44 may be provided. Moreover, the magnitude of the temporary operating force by the detent mechanism may be adjusted by adjusting the step amount of the step portion.

  In the first embodiment, even with an operating lever device that achieves light operability using an assist mechanism using the conduction path 28, the detent mechanism teaches the working position at which the actual output pressure becomes a predetermined value. Therefore, the operability is greatly improved. In particular, the detent mechanism is provided near the upper end of the piston 20 where the piston 20 is pressed by the disk 5 and in the vicinity of the sliding surface of the vertical movement of the piston 20, thus affecting the entire operation lever device 1. Therefore, the detent mechanism can be reduced in size, and as a result, the entire operation lever device 1 can be reduced in size.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the first embodiment described above, the detent mechanism is provided with the pressing mechanism 45 on the piston. However, in the second embodiment, the detent mechanism is provided with the pressing mechanism on the guide member side for guiding the piston.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of an operation lever device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. Further, FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. In FIG. 5 to FIG. 7, four control valves 110 to 113 corresponding to the control valves 10 to 13 are arranged in parallel on the valve body 106 corresponding to the valve body 6. As with the control valves 10 to 13, each control valve 110 to 113 controls the opening of the communication hole 31 by moving the spool 30 up and down in response to the up and down movement of the piston 120 corresponding to the piston 20. The primary hydraulic pressure of PT1 is reduced and converted to the secondary hydraulic pressure and output from the output port PT2. Further, the operating force is assisted by the output pressure via the conduction path 28, and a light operating force is realized.

  In the second embodiment, as described above, the detent mechanism is different from the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, instead of the stepped portion 44 provided on the guide member 40 side, a groove 144 is provided on the piston 120 side, and a pressing mechanism 45 provided on the piston 20 side is provided on the guide member 140 side.

  That is, a groove 144 is formed at a position corresponding to the detent position on the sliding side surface of the piston 120, and a pair of pressing mechanisms 145 that press the sliding side surface of the piston 120 from both side surfaces on the guide member 140 side. Is provided. The pressing mechanism 145 is formed in a direction perpendicular to the sliding surface of the piston 120. The pressing mechanism 145 is provided with a hole 141 having an opening on the sliding surface side of the piston 120, and an extension spring 142 is inserted into the hole 141. The ball 143 is provided in a retractable manner. The hole 141 is a through hole, and one end is covered with a plug. Of course, the hole 141 may be formed by directly forming a hole having a bottom instead of the plug. As a result, when the piston 120 moves up and down, a large operating force can be temporarily generated when the piston 120 crosses the groove 145.

  Here, even if the pressing mechanism 145 is provided on the guide member 140 side, the pressing direction of the pressing mechanism 145 can be installed so as to be different from the inclination direction of the operation lever 3, so that downsizing of the apparatus is not hindered. For example, in order to reduce the size of the apparatus, it is preferable that the pressing direction of the pressing mechanism 145 is the circumferential direction.

  Even in the second embodiment, even if the control lever is controlled by a single operation lever and the control lever device that achieves light operability by using an assist mechanism using the conduction path 28, Since the working position at which the output pressure becomes a predetermined value is taught by the detent mechanism, the operability is remarkably improved. In particular, this detent mechanism is provided in the vicinity of the upper end of the piston 120 where the piston 120 is pressed by the disk 5 and in the vicinity of the sliding surface for the vertical movement of the piston 120. Therefore, the detent mechanism can be reduced in size, and as a result, the entire operation lever device 101 can be reduced in size.

  In Embodiments 1 and 2 described above, the two-axis control lever device is used. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a single-axis control lever device may be used.

It is sectional drawing which shows the structure in the neutral position of the operating lever apparatus which is Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is the sectional view on the AA line of the operation lever apparatus shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure in the maximum stroke amount position of the operating lever apparatus which is Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the state of the operation force and output pressure corresponding to the stroke amount of an operation lever, and operation | movement of a detent mechanism. It is sectional drawing (CC sectional view taken on the line CC of FIG. 6) which shows the structure in the neutral position of the operating lever apparatus which is Embodiment 2 of this invention. FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 5. It is CC sectional view taken on the line of FIG. 6, and is a figure which shows the state which made the operating lever apparatus the maximum stroke amount position.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,101 Operation lever apparatus 2,102 Universal joint 3 Operation lever 4 Plug 5 Disc 6,106 Valve main body 7 Boot 10-13,110-113 Control valve 20,120 Piston 21 Upper end part 21h Upper end hole 21s Sleeve 22 Lower end part 22h Lower end hole 23, 33, 44 Stepped portion 24 Retainer 25 Operating force spring 26 Depressurization spring 27, 144 Groove 28 Conducting path 30 Spool 30h Spool hole 31 Communication hole 34 Output hole 40, 140 Guide member 40h Guide hole 41 Through hole 42 , 142 Extension spring 43, 143 Ball 45, 145 Press mechanism 50, 150 Installation plate 51 Oil seal 141 Hole PT1 Input port PT2 Output port

Claims (7)

The piston receives the secondary hydraulic pressure at one end side and moves from the other end side in the hole in the valve body by receiving the pressing force of the piston, and the primary hydraulic pressure inputted according to the movement amount of the piston A control valve having a spool for converting to the secondary hydraulic pressure and outputting the spool;
A guide member for guiding the movement of the piston;
An operation lever that abuts against the other end of the piston to generate the pressing force and manipulates the amount of movement of the piston;
With
An operating lever device, wherein a detent mechanism is provided on a guide surface between the guide member and the piston. The detent mechanism is
A step is provided on the guide surface on the guide member side,
The operating lever device according to claim 1, wherein a pressing mechanism that presses the guide member side is provided on the guide surface on the piston side. The detent mechanism is
A step is provided on the guide surface on the piston side,
The operating lever device according to claim 1, wherein a pressing mechanism that presses the piston side is provided on the guide surface on the guide member side. The pressing mechanism is
A hole formed in a direction perpendicular to the guide surface;
An extension member disposed in the hole and extending in a direction perpendicular to the guide surface;
A sphere provided at one end of the extension member, projectable into the hole, and abutting against an opposing guide surface;
The operating lever device according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising: The pressing mechanism is
A hole formed in a direction perpendicular to the guide surface;
An extension member disposed in the hole and extending in a direction perpendicular to the guide surface;
A sphere provided at one end of the extension member, projectable into the hole, and abutting against an opposing guide surface;
With
The hole is a through hole;
The operation lever device according to claim 3, wherein the sphere is provided at both ends of the extension member.   2. An operation force assist mechanism that includes a conduction path that transmits the secondary hydraulic pressure to the piston side and that assists the pressing force of the piston by the secondary hydraulic pressure via the conduction path. The operation lever device according to any one of? The operation lever is connected to the valve body by a universal joint,
A plurality of valve mechanisms having the control valve, the guide member, and the detent mechanism are provided around the universal joint,
The operation lever device according to claim 1, wherein the operation lever operates one or more of the control valves by moving one or more of the pistons.

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