Control device and arm support

• US 4,140,200 A
• Filed: 05/27/1977
• Issued: 02/20/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Case Corporation (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Original Assignee: J. I. Case Company
• Inventors: Tucek, Frank J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mar, Michael
• Application Number:
  US05/801,149
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 180/77 R, 180/77 S, 180/77 H, 180/77 HT, 74/471 R, 74/471 XY, 74/491
• US Class Current: 180/333
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2004 Control mechanisms, e.g. control levers control levers per se G05G
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/04 in which movement in two or more ways can occur simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2009/068 with switches mounted on a handlebar, e.g. for motorcycles, fork lift trucks, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20201 Control moves in two planes

Abstract

A control system for operating a plurality of controlled devices forming part of a vehicle that has an operator'"'"'s seat which includes an arm rest which is pivotally supported on the frame and is movable in the fore-and-aft direction to operate at least one of the controlled devices. The arm rest pivotally supports a control lever which is movable about a fixed axis on the arm rest for actuating a second controlled device and the control lever is positioned so that the forearm of the operator can remain resting on the arm rest during operation of all of the controlled devices. The system is also designed so that the upper portion of the arm rest which has the control lever supported thereon can be pivoted with respect to a lower portion without effecting operation of any of the controlled devices.

Claims

1. A control system for a vehicle including a frame supporting an operator'"'"'s seat having an arm rest and a plurality of controlled devices, a control lever, mounting means supporting said control lever for rotational movement about a generally fore-and-aft horizontal axis on said arm rest, said control lever having a handle adjacent a free end of said arm rest, said control lever and handle being positioned so that an operator seated on said seat can grip said handle and pivot said control lever about said axis while having a forearm supported on said arm rest, first linkage means connecting said control lever to at least one of said controlled devices and operated in response to pivotal movement of said control lever about said horizontal axis, support means on said frame for pivotally supporting said arm rest on said frame about a second axis extending generally perpendicular to said horizontal axis, said first linkage means having means accommodating pivotal movement of said arm rest about said second axis without movement of said at least one of said controlled devices, and second linkage means connecting said arm rest to another of said controlled devices for actuation thereof in response to pivotal movement of said arm rest about said second axis.

2. A control system as defined in claim 1, further including electrical switch means in said handle and connected to a controlled device which is electrically actuated.

3. A control system as defined in claim 1, in which said arm rest is located on one side of said seat, further including a substantially identical second arm rest and control lever on an opposite side of said operator'"'"'s seat.

4. A control system for a vehicle including a frame supporting an operator'"'"'s seat with a pair of arm rests respectively located on opposite sides, each of said arm rests including a generally vertical portion extending above said frame and a generally horizontal portion at the upper end of said vertical portion, said horizontal portion being adapted to support a forearm of an operator;

mounting means for mounting said vertical portion on said frame for movement with respect thereto;

first linkage means connected to said vertical portion for moving an actuating device in response to movement of said vertical portion with respect to said frame;

a control lever pivoted about a fixed axis on said generally horizontal portion, second linkage means connecting said control lever to an actuating device; and

a control handle on said control lever positioned so that an operator can grip said handle while resting a forearm on said horizontal portion.

5. A control system as defined in claim 4, in which each mounting means defines a generally horizontal pivot axis and in which said fixed axis extends perpendicular to said generally horizontal pivot axis, further including pivot means defining a further pivot axis between at least one vertical portion and horizontal portion.

6. A control system as defined in claim 5, further including switch means in each handle for actuating an electrical actuating device.

7. A control system for a vehicle including a frame supporting an operator'"'"'s seat having an arm rest and a plurality of controlled devices, a control lever, mounting means supporting said control lever for rotational movement about a generally horizontal axis on said arm rest and extending generally fore-and-aft of said vehicle, said control lever having a handle adjacent a free end of said arm rest, said control lever and handle being positioned so that an operator seated on said seat can grip said handle and pivot said control lever about said axis while having a forearm supported on said arm rest, first linkage means connecting said control lever to at least one of said controlled devices and operated in response to pivotal movement of said control lever about said axis, support means on said frame for pivotally supporting said arm rest on said frame about a second axis extending generally transversely of said vehicle, said first linkage means having means accommodating pivotal movement of said arm rest about said second axis without movement of said at least one of said controlled devices, and second linkage means connecting said arm rest to another of said controlled devices for actuation thereof in response to pivotal movement of said arm rest about said second axis, said arm rest including generally vertical portion pivoted on said second axis and a generally horizontal portion pivoted on an upper end of said generally vertical portion about a third axis extending parallel to said second axis with said control lever pivoted on said generally horizontal portion and in which said first linkage means on said control lever has a pivotal connection aligned with said third axis so that said generally horizontal portion and said control lever can be pivoted about said third axis without changing the position of any of said controlled devices.

8. A control system for a vehicle including a frame supporting an operator'"'"'s seat having a hollow arm rest and a plurality of controlled devices, a control lever, mounting means supporting said control lever for rotational movement about a generally horizontal axis on said arm rest, said control lever having a handle adjacent a free end of said arm rest, said control lever and handle being positioned so that an operator seated on said seat can grip said handle and pivot said control lever about said axis while having a forearm supported on said arm rest, first linkage means connecting said control lever to at least one of said controlled devices and operated in response to pivotal movement of said control lever about said axis, support means on said frame for pivotally supporting said arm rest on said frame about a second axis extending generally perpendicular to said horizontal axis, said first linkage means having means accommodating pivotal movement of said arm rest about said second axis without movement of said at least one of said controlled devices, and second linkage means connecting said arm rest to another of said controlled devices for actuation thereof in response to pivotal movement of said arm rest about said second axis, said first linkage means including a shaft rotated about said horizontal axis in said arm rest with a member extending radially therefrom, a link in said arm rest having a ball joint connection at one end with a free end of said member, and bell crank pivoted about an axis parallel to and adjacent to said second axis with a ball joint connection between one arm of said bell crank and an opposite end of said link and a second arm of said bell crank connected to said at least one of said controlled devices.