Tractor seat-operated hydraulic valve control

• US 4,466,504 A
• Filed: 02/03/1983
• Issued: 08/21/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Textron IPMP L.P
• Original Assignee: Textron Inc
• Inventors: Saiia, Anthony J., Giandenoto, Frank J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fugate, D. Lynn
• Application Number:
  US06/463,403
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 180/273, 56/10.2, 56/10.5, 56/DIG. 15, 188/109
• US Class Current: 180/273
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/04 responsive to presence or absence of the driver, e.g. to weight or lack thereof

Abstract

A tractor seat-operated hydraulic valve control including a power tractor and a hydraulically powered implement connected with the tractor. A hydraulic valve on the tractor is controlled by a manual lever connected therewith and by a mechanical connection between a pivotally mounted operator'"'"'s seat and the valve. When the operator is off the seat the control moves the valve to the neutral position.

Claims

1. A tractor seat-operated hydraulic valve control, comprising a powered tractor, a hydraulically powered implement connected with said tractor, a hydraulic valve and a hydraulic motor operatively interconnected and operatively connected with said implement for powering said implement, said hydraulic valve having a neutral position where no fluid is passed to said hydraulic motor, a manual control mounted on said tractor and operatively connected with said hydraulic valve for controlling the flow of fluid through said valve and to said hydraulic motor, said manual control including a pivotally mounted member interconnected with said valve for operating said valve, including setting said valve in said neutral position, an uprightly disposed and vertically movable member having its lower end interconnected with said pivotally mounted member for positioning said pivotally mounted member in said neutral position, when said vertically movable member is in an upward position, a vertically movable operator'"'"'s seat on said tractor, a spring on said tractor and operative on said seat for moving said seat to an upward position in the absence of the weight of the operator on said seat, and said vertically movable member being connected with said operator'"'"'s seat and being movable to said upward position along with said seat for positioning said pivotally mounted member in said neutral position.

2. The tractor seat-operated hydraulic valve control as claimed in claim 1, wherein said vertically movable member includes a lost motion connection in the interconnection between said pivotally mounted member and said operator seat.

3. A tractor seat-operated hydraulic valve control, comprising a powered tractor, a hydraulically powered implement connected with said tractor, a hydraulic valve and a hydraulic motor operatively interconnected and operatively connected with said implement for powering said implement, said hydraulic valve having a neutral position where no fluid is passed to said hydraulic motor, a manual control mounted on said tractor and operatively connected with said hydraulic valve for controlling the flow of fluid through said valve and to said hydraulic motor, an over-ride control movably mounted on said tractor to one position and interconnected with said hydraulic valve for moving said hydraulic valve to said neutral position, a vertically movable operator'"'"'s seat mounted on said tractor and connected with said over-ride control and being downwardly movable under the weight of an operator for actuating said over-ride control in a direction away from said one position, and a spring on said tractor and operatively related to said seat for moving said seat upwardly when said seat is not occupied by the operator and to thereby move said over-ride control to said one position for restricting operation of said hydraulic motor.

4. A tractor seat-operated hydraulic valve control, comprising a powered tractor, a hydraulically powered implement connected with said tractor, a hydraulic valve and a hydraulic motor operatively interconnected and operatively connected with said implement for powering said implement, said hydraulic valve having a neutral position where no fluid is passed to said hydraulic motor, said valve having an axially movable valve spool extending thereon, a manual control mounted on said tractor and including a pivotal member mounted for pivotal movement in the vertical plane and being pinned to said valve spool for axial displacement of said valve spool upon pivotal movement of said pivotal member, including setting said valve in said neutral position, a vertically mounted operator'"'"'s seat on said tractor, a spring on said tractor and operative on said seat for moving said seat to an upward position in the absence of the weight of the operator on said seat, and means interconnected between said seat and said pivotal member and responsive to the vertical movement of said seat and being dimensioned to move and position said pivotal member in said neutral position in said upward position of said seat.

5. The tractor seat-operated hydraulic valve control as claimed in claim 4, wherein said means includes a lost motion connected in the interconnection between said seat and said pivotal member.

6. The tractor seat-operated hydraulic valve control as claimed in claim 5, wherein said valve neutral position is a central position for said valve spool, and said lost-motion connection has its lost-motion action disposed for movement of said spool in only one axial direction from said central position.

7. The tractor seat-operated hydraulic valve control as claimed in claim 4, wherein said manual control includes a bell crank pivotal on said tractor in a vertical plane and with one end of said bell crank being pinned with said valve spool, and said means being movable in the vertical plane and directly connected with said bell crank for limiting pivotal movement of said bell crank.

8. The tractor seat-operated hydraulic valve control as claimed in claim 4, wherein said means includes two bell cranks on separate axes and operable in vertical planes for multiple crank action.

9. The tractor seat-operated hydraulic valve control as claimed in claim 4, wherein said means includes a lost-motion connection arranged for positioning said pivotal member in said neutral position at one end of said lost-motion connection, and arranged for movement of said pivotal member in only one direction from said neutral position.

10. The tractor seat-operated hydraulic valve control as claimed in claim 4, including a switch mounted on said tractor and operated by said manual control and being connected with the power of said tractor for controlling same when said manual control is in one position.