Work machine tool control console

• US 20060021819A1
• Filed: 07/30/2004
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Kelley, Craig B., Leaders, Royce E., Shearer, Daniel Edward
• Granted Patent: US 7,635,045 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/321
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2004 Control mechanisms, e.g. control levers control levers per se G05G
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/047 the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks for switches H01H25/04

Abstract

A control console for a work machine having at least one work tool has a rest and a plurality of operator control devices. The plurality of operator control devices are adjustable relative to the rest and configured to control at least one function of the at least one work tool.

Claims

1. A control console for a work machine having at least one work tool, comprising:

a rest; and

a plurality of operator control devices adjustable relative to the rest and configured to control at least one function of the at least one work tool.

2. The control console of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of operator control devices is linearly adjustable relative to the rest.

3. The control console of claim 1, wherein an actuation condition of at least one of the operator control devices is related to a movement speed of the at least one work tool.

4. The control console of claim 1, further including at least one joystick.

5. The control console of claim 4, wherein the at least one joystick is configured for two axes of controlling movement.

6. The control console of claim 4, wherein the at least one joystick is operable by the fingers of an operator'"'"'s hand while the palm of the hand is positioned on the rest.

7. The control console of claim 4, wherein the joystick includes at least one soft detent.

8. The control console of claim 7, wherein the at least one soft detent controls a float function of the at least one work tool.

9. The control console of claim 8, further including at least one LED indicator associated with the float function of the at least one work tool.

10. The control console of claim 4, wherein each of the plurality of operator control devices is operable by a finger of an operator'"'"'s hand while the palm of the hand is positioned on the rest.

11. The control console of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of operator control devices includes a concave surface configured to accommodate a finger of an operator'"'"'s hand.

12. The control console of claim 10, further including a partition disposed between each of the plurality of operator control devices.

13. The control console of claim 10, wherein at least one of the plurality of operator control devices includes a soft detent.

14. The control console of claim 13, further including at least one LED indicator associated with the soft detent

15. The control console of claim 10, wherein at least one of the plurality of operator control devices is spring centered.

16. The control console of claim 1, wherein the rest includes a convex surface configured to accommodate the palm of an operator'"'"'s hand.

17. The control console of claim 1, wherein the rest includes a recess configured to accommodate the fingers of an operator'"'"'s hand.

18. An operator station for a work machine having at least one optional work tool, comprising:

a seat;

a work machine console disposed proximal to the seat and configured to control at least one permanent function of the work machine;

an optional work tool console removably and proximally disposed relative to the work machine console, the optional work tool console including;

a rest; and

a plurality of operator control devices configured to control at least one function of the at least one optional work tool.

19. The operator station of claim 18, wherein the optional work tool console is removably attached to at least one of the work machine console and the seat.

20. The operator station of claim 18, wherein the plurality of operator control devices is linearly adjustable relative to the rest.

21. The operator station of claim 18, wherein an actuation condition of at least one of the plurality of operator control devices is related to a movement speed of the at least one optional work tool.

22. The operator station of claim 18, wherein the optional work tool console further includes a two-axis joystick having at least one soft detent that controls a float function of the at least one work tool.

23. The operator station of claim 18, wherein each of the plurality of operator control devices further includes a concave surface configured to accommodate a finger of an operator'"'"'s hand, and a partition is disposed between each of the plurality of finger control devices.

24. The operator station of claim 18, wherein at least one of the plurality of operator control devices includes a soft detent and is spring centered.

25. The operator station of claim 18, wherein the rest includes a convex surface configured to accommodate the palm of an operator'"'"'s hand and a recess configured to accommodate the fingers of an operator'"'"'s hand. A work machine, comprising:

at least one optional work tool; and

an operator station, including;

a seat;

a work machine console disposed proximal to the seat and configured to control at least one permanent function of the work machine; and

an optional work tool console removably attached to the work machine console, the optional work tool console including;

a base member;

a rest connected to the base member;

a plurality of operator control devices configured to control at least one function of the at least one optional work tool, the plurality of operator control devices being adjustable relative to the rest; and

a two-axis joystick having at least one soft detent that controls a float function of the at least one work tool.

26. The work machine of claim 25, wherein the rest includes:

a convex surface configured to accommodate the palm of an operator'"'"'s hand; and

a recess configured to accommodate the fingers of an operator'"'"'s hand.

27. The work machine of claim 25, wherein each of the plurality of operator control devices includes a concave surface configured to accommodate a finger of an operator'"'"'s hand and a partition is disposed between each of the plurality of finger control devices.

28. The work machine of claim 25, wherein an actuation condition of at least one of the operator control devices is related to a speed of the at least one function and at least one of the plurality of operator control devices includes a soft detent and is spring centered.

29. A method of controlling at least one work tool on a work machine, comprising:

positioning at least one of a hand and an arm on a rest;

adjusting a location of a plurality of operator control devices relative to the rest; and

actuating at least one of the plurality of operator control devices to control a function of the at least one work tool.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein adjusting includes linearly adjusting the location of the plurality of operator control devices relative to the rest.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein an actuation condition of at least one of the plurality of operator control devices is related to a control speed of the function.

32. The method of claim 29, further including actuating each of the plurality of operator control devices while the at least one of a hand and an arm remains positioned on the rest.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein actuating includes tilting a joystick about at least one axis.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein tilting the joystick includes tilting the joystick into a soft detent region to actuate a float function of the at least one work tool.