IN-CAB CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A FRONT DISCHARGE CONCRETE TRUCK

• US 20090238026A1
• Filed: 03/23/2009
• Published: 09/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Terex Advance Mixer Inc. (Terex Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Terex Advance Mixer Inc. (Terex Corporation)
• Inventors: Johnson, Michael W.
• Application Number:
  US12/408,964
• Publication Number:
  US 20090238026A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 366/43
• CPC Class Codes: B28C 5/4206 Control apparatus; Drive systems, e.g. coupled to the vehicle drive-system
• CPC Class Codes: B28C 5/4244 Discharging; Concrete conveyor means, chutes or spouts therefor in general B28C7/168

Abstract

A control system for a front discharge concrete truck including a joystick positioned within a cab of the truck. In one embodiment, the joystick to connect to both a secondary shift selector and a chute controller. The secondary shift selector is connected to the truck'"'"'s transmission. By actuating the secondary shift selector, the operator of the truck is capable of placing the truck'"'"'s transmission in one of a forward condition, a reverse condition, and a neutral condition, without removing the driver'"'"'s hand from the joystick. Similarly, the chute controller is connected to a discharge chute of the truck to direct the placement of concrete being offloaded from the truck. Thus, substantially concurrently with placing the transmission into one of a forward condition, a reverse condition and a neutral condition, the operator may actuate the joystick to correspondingly actuate the position of the discharge chute via the chute controller.

Claims

1. A control device for a front discharge concrete truck, the truck including an engine, a transmission coupled to the engine, the transmission having a forward condition, a reverse condition, and a neutral condition, a chassis supporting the engine and the transmission, a rotatable drum having a discharge opening positioned on the chassis, a chute configured to receive and direct material discharged from the drum through the discharge opening, a cab positioned on the chassis substantially adjacent the discharge opening, the cab including a driver'"'"'s seat, a steering wheel, and a primary shift selector positioned therein, wherein the primary shift selector is actuatable to cause the transmission to enter one of the forward condition, the reverse condition, and the neutral condition and leave another of the forward condition, the reverse condition, and the neutral condition, the control device comprising:

a joystick positioned within the cab, said joystick moveable on at least two substantially orthogonal joystick axes;

a chute controller connected to both said joystick and the chute, said chute controller operable to actuate the chute along at least two substantially orthogonal chute axes, said at least two substantially orthogonal chute axes corresponding to said at least two substantially orthogonal joystick axes, wherein actuation of said joystick along either of said at least two substantially orthogonal joystick axes results in corresponding actuation of the chute; and

a secondary shift selector positioned on said joystick, said secondary shift selector connected to the transmission, wherein actuation of said secondary shift selector results in the transmission entering one of the forward condition, the reverse condition, and the neutral condition and leaving another of the forward condition, the reverse condition, and the neutral condition.

2. The control device of claim 1, wherein said joystick comprises a lever moveable along said at least two substantially orthogonal joystick axes.

3. The control device of claim 1, wherein said joystick comprises a lever secured at a first end, said lever pivotable about said first end on said at least two substantially orthogonal joystick axes.

4. The control device of claim 1, wherein said connection between said chute controller and said joystick comprises at least one of an electronic connection, a hydraulic connection, a pneumatic connection, and a mechanical connection.

5. The control device of claim 1, wherein said connection between said chute controller and said chute comprises at least one of an electronic connection, a hydraulic connection, a pneumatic connection, and a mechanical connection.

6. The control device of claim 1, wherein said joystick is directly connected to said chute controller.

7. The control device of claim 1, wherein actuation of said joystick along either of said at least two substantially orthogonal joystick axes results in corresponding proportional actuation of the chute.

8. A front discharge concrete truck, comprising:

an engine;

a transmission coupled to the engine, said transmission having a forward condition, a reverse condition, and a neutral condition;

a chassis supporting the engine and the transmission;

a rotatable drum mounted on said chassis for holding concrete, said drum having a discharge opening, a discharge condition, and a charge condition, whereby, in said discharge condition, said drum discharges concrete through said discharge opening;

a chute configured to receive and direct concrete discharged from said drum through said discharge opening;

a cab positioned on said chassis substantially adjacent to and below said discharge opening;

a driver'"'"'s seat positioned within said cab;

a steering wheel positioned within said cab;

a primary shift selector positioned within said cab, said primary shift selector connected to said transmission, wherein said primary shift selector is actuatable to cause said transmission to enter one of said forward condition, said reverse condition, and said neutral condition and leave another of said forward condition, said reverse condition, and said neutral condition;

a joystick positioned within said cab, said joystick moveable on at least two substantially orthogonal joystick axes;

a chute controller connected to both said joystick and said chute, said chute controller operable to actuate said chute along at least two substantially orthogonal chute axes, said at least two substantially orthogonal chute axes corresponding to said at least two substantially orthogonal joystick axes, wherein actuation of said joystick along either of said at least two substantially orthogonal joystick axes results in corresponding actuation of said chute; and

a secondary shift selector positioned on said joystick, said secondary shift selector connected to said transmission, wherein actuation of said secondary shift selector results in said transmission entering one of said forward condition, said reverse condition, and said neutral condition and leaving another of said forward condition, said reverse condition, and said neutral condition.

9. The front discharge concrete truck of claim 8, further comprising a transmission shift selector connected to said transmission, said transmission shift selector having a first condition wherein said primary shift selector is operable to control said transmission and a second condition wherein said secondary shift selector is operable to control said transmission.

10. The front discharge concrete truck of claim 8, further comprising a drum condition selector positioned on said joystick, said drum condition selector connected to said drum, wherein actuation of said drum condition selector results in said drum entering one of said charge condition and said discharge condition from the other of said charge condition and said discharge condition.

11. The front discharge concrete truck of claim 8, wherein said joystick comprises a lever moveable along said at least two substantially orthogonal joystick axes.

12. The front discharge concrete truck of claim 8, wherein said joystick comprises a lever secured at a first end, said lever pivotable about said first end on said at least two substantially orthogonal joystick axes.

13. The front discharge concrete truck of claim 8, wherein actuation of said joystick along either of said at least two substantially orthogonal joystick axes results in corresponding proportional actuation of said chute.

14. The front discharge concrete truck of claim 8, wherein said connection between said chute controller and said joystick comprises at least one of an electronic connection, a hydraulic connection, a pneumatic connection, and a mechanical connection.

15. The front discharge concrete truck of claim 8, wherein said connection between said chute controller and said chute comprises at least one of an electronic connection, a hydraulic connection, a pneumatic connection, and a mechanical connection.

16. The front discharge concrete truck of claim 8, wherein said joystick controller is directly connected to said chute controller.

17. A control system for a front discharge concrete truck, the truck including an engine, a transmission coupled to the engine, the transmission having a forward condition, a reverse condition, and a neutral condition, a chassis supporting the engine and the transmission, a rotatable drum having a discharge opening positioned on the chassis, a chute configured to receive and direct material discharged from the drum through the discharge opening, a cab positioned on the chassis substantially adjacent to the discharge opening, the cab including a driver'"'"'s seat, a steering wheel, and a primary shift selector positioned therein, wherein the primary shift selector is actuatable to cause the transmission to enter one of the forward condition, the reverse condition, and the neutral condition and leave another of the forward condition, the reverse condition, and the neutral condition, the control system comprising:

a joystick positioned within the cab, said joystick moveable on at least two substantially orthogonal joystick axes;

a chute controller electronically connected to said joystick, said chute controller operable to actuate the chute along at least two substantially orthogonal chute axes, said at least two substantially orthogonal chute axes corresponding to said at least two substantially orthogonal joystick axes, wherein actuation of said joystick along either of said at least two substantially orthogonal joystick axes results in said joystick sending an electronic signal to said chute controller causing said chute controller to correspondingly actuate the chute in accordance with the electronic signal received from the joystick;

a transmission control module connected to the transmission, wherein said transmission control module actuates the transmission to enter one of the forward condition, the reverse condition, and the neutral condition and leave another of the forward condition, the reverse condition, and the neutral condition; and

a secondary shift selector positioned on said joystick, said secondary shift selector electronically connected to said transmission control module, wherein actuation of said secondary shift selector results in said secondary shift selector sending an electronic signal to said transmission control module and said transmission control module actuates the transmission to enter one of the forward condition, the reverse condition, and the neutral condition and leave another of the forward condition, the reverse condition, and the neutral condition in accordance with the electronic signal received from the secondary shift selector.

18. The control system of claim 17, further comprising an electronic control module, wherein said chute controller is electronically connected to said joystick via said electronic control module.

19. The control system of claim 17, further comprising an electronic control module, wherein said secondary shift selector is electronically connected to said transmission control module via said electronic control module.

20. The control system of claim 17, further comprising an electronic control module, wherein said joystick, said chute controller, said transmission control module, and said secondary shift selector are electronically connected to one another via said electronic control module.