Steering lever system for work vehicle

• US 10,208,852 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2017
• Issued: 02/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kubota Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kubota Corporation
• Inventors: Aoki, Hideki, Spitz, David, Yamada, Masahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): MacArthur, Victor L
• Application Number:
  US15/479,684
• Publication Number:
  US 20180292001A1
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 180 632
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 69/007 Steering or guiding of agricultural vehicles, e.g. steering of the tractor to keep the plough in the furrow
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 2101/00 Lawn-mowers
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/66 with two or more cutters
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/664 Disc cutter bars
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/12 Hand levers
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 11/006 Mechanical control systems
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 11/02 by differentially driving ground-engaging elements on opposite vehicle sides
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 11/12 using separate change-speed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/0256 Levers for forward-reverse selection only, e.g. for working machines having a separate lever for switching between forward and reverse mode
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/044 consisting of electrical switches or sensors range selectors with electric switches or sensors F16H59/105
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/06 the ratio being infinitely variable

Abstract

A steering lever system includes a pair of lever bodies, a pivotal body coupled to each of the lever bodies and a neutral position detector. The pivotal body includes a first boss portion and a second boss portion. The lever body is pivotable about a first pivot axis of the first boss portion from a neutral position to a neutral end position. The lever body is also pivotable about a second pivot axis of the second boss portion from a forward traveling end position through a neutral position to a reverse traveling end position. The neutral position detector is responsive to a detected portion provided in an auxiliary member fixed to the lever body, at the neutral end position of the lever body. The detected portion is offset from a pivotal locus of the lever body about the first pivot axis.

Claims

1. A steering lever system for controlling forward traveling and reverse traveling of a work vehicle, the system comprising:

a pair of lever bodies;

a pivotal body coupled to each of the lever bodies, the pivotal body including a second boss portion and a first boss portion, wherein the lever body is pivotable about a first pivot axis of the first boss portion from a neutral position to a neutral end position, and the lever body is also pivotable about a second pivot axis of the second boss portion from a forward traveling end position through a neutral position to a reverse traveling end position, the second pivot axis extending in a direction transverse to the first pivot axis;

an auxiliary member fixed to the lever body, the auxiliary member forming a detected portion configured to create a pivotal locus that is laterally offset from a pivotal locus of the lever body about the first pivot axis; and

a neutral position detector responsive to the detected portion at the neutral end position of the lever body, wherein the neutral position detector is actuated in the neutral position through contact with the detected portion and the detected portion is disposed on an opposite side of the lever body from the neutral position detector.

2. The steering lever system of claim 1, wherein a lever boss portion formed at a lower portion of the lever body and the first boss are disposed side by side along the first pivot axis, and the lever body is pivotally coupled with the first boss via the first pivot axis.

3. The steering lever system of claim 2, wherein the auxiliary member, during a pivotal movement of the lever body from the neutral position to the neutral end position, passes over the second boss portion with a spacing relative thereto.

4. The steering lever system of claim 1, wherein a housing is provided for covering the pivotal body, the auxiliary member and the neutral position detector, and the housing defines a guide groove through which the lever body extends.