Vehicle

• US 8,028,599 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2008
• Issued: 10/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kaessbohrer Gelaendefahrzeug AG
• Original Assignee: Kaessbohrer Gelaendefahrzeug AG
• Inventors: Mack, Franz
• Primary Examiner(s): Hannon; Thomas R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Johnson; Phillip A
• Application Number:
  US12/082,694
• Publication Number:
  US 20080250889A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,271 Days
• Field of Search: 744/71.XY, 463/36, 463/37, 463/38, 463/43, 345/161, 345/173, 345/174, 324/207.25, 701/29, 701/31, 714 25- 57, 434/29, 434/30, 434/33, 434/45, 434/61, 434/62, 434/71
• US Class Current: 74/471.0XY
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 20/02 of initiating means control mechanisms in general G05G
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 26/02 of initiating means or elements
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/046 Adaptations on rotatable parts of the steering wheel for accommodation of switches
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/12 Hand levers
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04774 with additional switches or sensors on the handle
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 5/005 for preventing unintentional use of a control mechanism G05G5/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20201 Control moves in two planes

Abstract

1. Vehicle (10), in particular tracked vehicle (10).

2.1 The invention relates to a vehicle (10), in particular a tracked vehicle (10), having a manual controller (40) for controlling driving functions of the vehicle (10) and/or additional functions of the vehicle (10), the manual controller (40) having a base (42) and a handle which can move in relation to the base (44) and is designed such that it can pivot at least about a substantially horizontal pivot axis (44a, 44b) for control purposes.

2.2 According to the invention, the handle (44) has a contact zone (46) which is to be held by the inner surface of a hand, the manual controller (40) having at least one touch sensor (50, 52) which is designed to detect that a user is touching the handle (44).

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a manual controller for controlling driving functions of the vehicle and/or additional functions of the vehicle, the manual controller having a base and a handle which is movable in relation to the base and is designed such that it is pivotable at least about a substantially horizontal pivot axis for control purposes and

a control unit which is connected to the manual controller and by means of which output data from at least one manually operable control element and/or output data relating to a pivot position of the handle in relation to the base are processed,

said control unit including means for facilitating the user to assign the control element and/or the pivot position of the handle to a driving function and/or additional functions,

said control unit having an output device by means of which the output data from the manual controller are reproduced and

said control unit being switchable to an inspection mode in which operation of the manual controller is reproduced by the output device, but the driving functions and/or additional functions are not influenced.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the manual controller is connected to the control unit by means of a bus system.

3. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the output device is an output screen.

4. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the additional functions controllable by the manual controller comprise at least one additional function selected from the group consisting of setting the alignment of a rake blade, movement an extension arm, and controlling a winch.

5. A vehicle, comprising:

a manual controller for controlling driving functions of the vehicle, the manual controller having a base and a handle which is moveable in relation to the base and is designed such that it is pivotable at least about a substantially horizontal pivot axis for control purposes and

a control unit which is connected to the manual controller and by means of which output data from at least one manually operable control element and/or output data relating to a pivot position of the handle in relation to the base are processed,

said control unit including means for facilitating the user to assign the control element and/or the pivot position of the handle to a driving function,

said control unit having an output device by means of which the output data from the manual controller are reproduced and

said control unit being switchable to an inspection mode in which operation of the manual controller is reproduced by the output device, but the driving functions are not influenced.