Hydraulic shovel

• US 20020157284A1
• Filed: 04/25/2002
• Published: 10/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Inventors: Kimoto, Kenzo, Tamaru, Masatake, Naruse, Masami
• Granted Patent: US 6,675,508 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 37/348
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/16 Cabins, platforms, or the like, for drivers for motor vehicles in general B62D33/06, for cranes B66C13/54
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2004 Control mechanisms, e.g. control levers control levers per se G05G
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04781 with additional rotation of the controlling member
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/047 the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks for switches H01H25/04
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/04792 for rotary control around the axis of the controlling member

Abstract

A hydraulic shovel is provided which comprises a pair of left and right running/rotation pedals (3L and 3R) for running or rotating a vehicle, and a single running/rotation lever 7 which is installed separately from said pedals for similarly running or rotating the vehicle. The shovel allows the operator to run or rotate the vehicle by operating on the running/rotation pedals 3L and 3R, as well as by manipulating the running/rotation lever 7. Moreover, because the running/rotation lever 7 consists of a single lever, the operator can easily manipulate it by one hand, being relieved of complicated operations and inconveniencies encountered with the conventional machine, which ensures the improved operability.

Claims

1. A hydraulic shovel comprising:

running/rotation pedals (3) for running/rotating a vehicle;

a single running/rotation lever (7) installed separately from the running/rotation pedals (3) for similarly running/rotating the vehicle; and

a control means (8) which permits operation via either the running/rotation pedals (3) or the running/rotation lever (7) at a given moment.

3. A hydraulic shovel according to claim 1 wherein:

the running/rotation lever (7) is installed close to one side of an operator'"'"'s seat (2).

5. A hydraulic shovel according to claim 3 wherein:

a console (5) is provided on one side of the seat (2), and the running/rotation lever (7) is provided on the console (5).

7. A hydraulic shovel according to claim 1 wherein:

the control means (8) permits the running/rotation lever (7) to run or rotate the vehicle in preference to the running/rotation pedals (3).

9. A hydraulic shovel according to claim 7 wherein:

the running/rotation lever (7) is provided with a signal output means (20) for outputting a signal to the control means (8) when it is manipulated for running or rotating the vehicle; and

the control means (8) permits the running/rotation pedals (3) to run or rotate the vehicle as long as the control means does not receive any signal from the signal output means (20).

11. A hydraulic shovel according to claim 9 wherein:

the signal output means (20) is a grip detection sensor (20) which monitors whether or not the running/rotation lever (7) is gripped, and outputs a signal whenever it detects the lever being gripped.

13. A hydraulic shovel according to claim 1 wherein:

the running/rotation lever (7) comprises a lever body (71) capable of being slanted, and a rotational knob (72) attached to the lever body (71);

slanting the lever body (71) forward or backward causes a running signal (S_D) to be outputted which is responsible for running the vehicle forward or backward;

rotating the rotational knob (72) while the lever body (71) is slanted forward or backward causes a steering signal (S_S) to be outputted which is responsible for turning the running vehicle leftward or rightward, whereas rotating the rotational knob (72) while the lever body (71) is kept at a neutral position causes a steering signal (S_S) to be outputted which is responsible for rotating the vehicle standing on a spot.

15. A hydraulic shovel according to claim 13 wherein:

the lever body (71) of the running/rotation lever (7) outputs, when slanted leftward or rightward, a gauge width adjustment signal (S_G) which is responsible for altering a distance between left and right tracks of a running system.

16. A hydraulic shovel according to claim 14 wherein:

the lever body (71) of the running/rotation lever (7) outputs, when slanted leftward or rightward, a gauge width adjustment signal (S_G) which is responsible for altering a distance between left and right tracks of a running system.

17. A hydraulic shovel according to claim 15 wherein:

a guide groove (74) is provided to the running/rotation lever (71) so as to restrict the slanting direction of the lever.

18. A hydraulic shovel according to claim 16 wherein:

a guide groove (74) is provided to the running/rotation lever (71) so as to restrict the slanting direction of the lever.

19. A hydraulic shovel according to claim 15 wherein:

the running/rotation lever (7) is provided with a restriction means (75) to restrict the operation responsible for altering the inter-track distance.

20. A hydraulic shovel according to claim 16 wherein:

the running/rotation lever (7) is provided with a restriction means (75) to restrict the operation responsible for altering the inter-track distance.

2. A hydraulic shovel comprising:

a pair of left and right running/rotation pedals (3L and 3R) which, when simultaneously depressed forward or backward, output running signals (P_L and P_R) responsible for running a vehicle forward or backward, and, when singly depressed forward or backward, outputs running signals (P_L and P_R) responsible for turning the running vehicle leftward or rightward;

a single running/rotation lever (7) which, when slanted forward or backward, outputs a running signal (S_D) responsible for running the vehicle forward or backward, and, when rotated while the lever being slanted forward or backward, outputs a steering signal (S_S) responsible for turning the running vehicle leftward or rightward, and, when rotated while the lever being at a neutral position, outputs a rotation signal (S_S) responsible for rotating the vehicle standing on a spot; and

a control means (8) which permits operation via either the running/rotation pedals (3L and 3R) or the running/rotation lever (7) for a given moment.

4. A hydraulic shovel according to claim 2 wherein:

the running/rotation lever (7) is installed close to one side of an operator'"'"'s seat (2).

6. A hydraulic shovel according to claim 4 wherein:

a console (5) is provided on one side of the seat (2), and the running/rotation lever (7) is provided on the console (5).

8. A hydraulic shovel according to claim 2 wherein:

the control means (8) permits the running/rotation lever (7) to run or rotate the vehicle in preference to the running/rotation pedals (3).

10. A hydraulic shovel according to claim 8 wherein:

the running/rotation lever (7) is provided with a signal output means (20) for outputting a signal to the control means (8) when it is manipulated for running or rotating the vehicle; and

the control means (8) permits the running/rotation pedals (3) to run or rotate the vehicle as long as the control means does not receive any signal from the signal output means (20).

12. A hydraulic shovel according to claim 10 wherein:

the signal output means (20) is a grip detection sensor (20) which monitors whether or not the running/rotation lever (7) is gripped, and outputs a signal whenever it detects the lever being gripped.

14. A hydraulic shovel according to claim 2 wherein:

the running/rotation lever (7) comprises a lever body (71) capable of being slanted, and a rotational knob (72) attached to the lever body (71);

slanting the lever body (71) forward or backward causes a running signal (S_D) to be outputted which is responsible for running the vehicle forward or backward;

rotating the rotational knob (72) while the lever body (71) is slanted forward or backward causes a steering signal (S_S) to be outputted which is responsible for turning the running vehicle leftward or rightward, whereas rotating the rotational knob (72) while the lever body (71) is kept at a neutral position causes a steering signal (S_S) to be outputted which is responsible for rotating the vehicle standing on a spot.