EP3635183B1

EP3635183B1 - Mechanism for position adjustment of a mechanical control console integrated to construction equipments

Info

Publication number: EP3635183B1
Application number: EP18811083.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hakan TELISIK; Hasan Basri Bozkurt; Muslum ERSOY; Tugrul BASAL
Original assignee: Hidromek Hidrolik Ve Mekanik Makina Imalat Sanayi Ve Ticaret AS
Current assignee: Hidromek-Hidrolik Ve Mekanik Makina Imalat Sanayi Ve Ticaret AS
Priority date: 2017-06-05
Filing date: 2018-05-09
Publication date: 2020-08-19
Anticipated expiration: 2038-05-09
Also published as: ES2832948T3; TR201708279A2; EP3635183A2; WO2019027402A2; WO2019027402A3

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention addresses the automotive industry and relates to a control console that controls mechanisms of construction equipment.
The invention in particular relates to a mechanism for position adjustment that adjusts position of the control console controlling mechanisms of construction equipment.

THE PRIOR ART

The control console provided in construction equipment are in general provided with joysticks thereon and these joysticks are employed in mechanical operations including load lifting and landing by controlling the mechanical arms or arrangements provided in the construction equipment and the like.
Gas springs are typically used in adjusting the position of a console by the prior art mechanism for position adjustment. Some of the drawbacks in damper systems are: wire breakage, any failure in dampers or their insufficient resistance to harsh use conditions by an operator.
Some applications have been found in the related national and international patent literature regarding mechanisms for position adjustment of a control console.
A national application numbered TR200300446 discusses that the columns in radius form of the joysticks that control the functions of excavator attachments of the excavator-loader construction equipment intended to be used for loading and excavating can be individually adjusted forward-upward and backward-downward in different operational positions with taking the hardest operational position of the operator into consideration.
An international application numbered US2004261300 relates to a modular control station of an excavator. The control station has 2 control consoles attached to a support profile adjacent to a base of the excavator and having joysticks on their upper portion. The control consoles can be kept in any desired position by controlling a hydraulic cylinder adjustable in several positions. The upper portion of the control consoles is also supported with a joint, which also enables the upper portion to be movable linearly.
A further position adjustment mechanism for a control console of a construction machine is known from JP H04 138460U , which is considered to form the closest prior art.
In conclusion, the presence of the aforementioned problems and the lack of a current solution have led to the need for making a development in the related technical field.

AIMS OF THE INVENTION

An aim of the invention is to solve the aforementioned drawbacks, to eliminate all disadvantages, and to bring additional advantages to the structure.
The primary aim of the present invention is to eliminate the problem of wire breakage that occurs by the use of the prior art gas spring. In order to achieve this aim, a mechanism formed of a structural gearing system and a shaft that guides the gears is developed. Thus, the drawbacks including wire breakage, any failure in the damper, and the breakdowns in harsh use conditions are eliminated. Springs are also employed in the structure of the mechanism and said springs allow the position adjustment console to operate in idle mode.
The structural and characteristic properties, operational principle, and also the advantages of the present invention would be apperceived more clearly thanks to the drawings presented below and the detailed description drafted with reference to these drawings. Therefore, the evaluation should be made by taking these drawings and the detailed description into account.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Figure 1. shows the location of a position adjustment mechanism on a control console in both opened and closed statuses.
Figure 2. shows the position adjustment mechanism on the control console from different perspectives, and shows a gearing system in a detailed view.
Figure 3. shows the operational principle of the position adjustment mechanism from different perspectives.
Figure 4. shows triggering of the position adjustment mechanism with different triggers.

LIST OF THE REFERENCE NUMBERS

1. Control console
2. Control arm
3. Body
4. Base support
5. Connector
100. Position adjustment mechanism
- 110. Trigger
  - 111. Trigger mechanism
  - 112. Trigger body
  - 113. Joint point
  - 120. Transfer arm
- 130. Coupling mechanism
  - 131. Main coupling
    - 131.1 Coupling gears
    - 131.2 Cocoon duct
  - 132. Additional coupling
  - 133. Retaining spring
  - 134. Bushing
  - 135. Movement clearance
  - 140. Fixed gear
  - 150. Idle spring

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A control console (1) is the structure that controls mechanisms of construction equipment, and is comprised of a base support (4), a movable body (3), and a control arm (2), and a position adjustment mechanism (100).
The base support (4) is an embedded support adjacent to the bottom of construction equipment, and it is also the structure in which the control console (1) is fixed.
The body (3) is connected to the base support (4), which is also the structure that bears the position adjustment mechanism (100) and the control arm (2) thereon. The body (3) is capable of angularly moving together with the position adjustment mechanism (100) at a determined angle in clockwise and anticlockwise directions.
The control arm (2) is located on the uppermost point of the control console (1), which is the structure that controls the mechanisms of construction equipment.
A connector (5) is a part that allows said body (3) to rotate clockwise or anticlockwise, which is located between the base supports (4) and transits through the base supports (4). Said connector (5) is a circular-section rod, and is supported by the rings on both sides of the base supports (4).
The position adjustment mechanism (100) is a mechanism that allows the control console (1) to move from its body (3) and adjusts the control console (1) relative to the position of operator. The position adjustment mechanism (100) generally is comprised of a trigger (110), a transfer arm (120), a coupling mechanism (130), a fixed gear (140), and 2 idle springs (150) as well as it is in a mirrored position on front and back faces of the base support (4).
The coupling mechanism (130) is formed of a main coupling (131), an additional coupling (132), a retaining spring (133), a bushing (134), and a movement clearance (135), which allow the body (3) to be located in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction. The main coupling (131) has a particular geometry in a "Y" shape, and is also adjustable by being coupled to the body (3) together with the bushing (134) at its one end and to the transfer arm (120) via the movement clearance (135) at its other end in addition to the fixed gear (140) due to its ribbed structure relative to the position of the body (3) at its other free end. The additional coupling (132) has a particular geometry in a "1" shape, and is also adjustable by being coupled to the body (3) together with the bushing (134) at its one end and to the transfer arm (120) via the movement clearance (135) at its other end in addition to the fixed gear (140) due to its ribbed structure relative to the position of the body (3) at its other free end. There are provided 2 retaining springs (133); one is connected to the main coupling (131) and the other is connected to the additional coupling (132). The retaining spring (133) is the spring that forces the main coupling (131) and the additional coupling (132) to be in idle position if it is in idle position while to be in coupling position if it is in coupling position, and is located at the point where the transfer arm (120) is connected to the main coupling (131) and the additional coupling (132). The bushing (134) allows the main coupling (131) and the additional coupling (132) to be connected to the body (3), and also enables the main coupling (131) and the additional coupling (132) to move angularly at a determined angle around the point where they are supported to the body (3). There are provided 2 movement clearances (135); one opens to the main coupling (131) and the other opens to the additional coupling (132). The movement clearance (135) is a duct at a determined length at the point where the main coupling (131) and the additional coupling (132) pass through the body (3), and also allows the main coupling (131) and the additional coupling (132) to move in a (+x) or (-x) direction. Furthermore, it preferably comprises two coupling gears (131.1) that enable communication between the main coupling (131) and the additional coupling (132), and the fixed gear (140).
The trigger (110) is located close to the control arm (2) at the upper portion of the control console (1). The trigger (110) can be driven by hand or foot. The trigger (110) can be integrated to the position adjustment mechanism (100) as an arm when it is intended to be driven by hand while it would be integrated to the same as a pedal when it is intended to be driven by foot. The trigger (110) enables the coupling mechanism (130) to switch to idle mode or coupling position. On the other hand, it comprises a trigger body (112) configured between the trigger (110) and the transfer arm (120), and also a trigger mechanism (111) having a joint point (113).
The transfer arm (120) is coupled to the trigger (110), and is an arm extending from the trigger (110) to the coupling mechanism (130). The transfer arm (120) transfers the movement of the trigger (110) to the coupling mechanism (130). A cocoon duct (131.2) is formed on the main structure, which allows movement of one end of the main coupling (131) in communication with the retaining spring (133).
The fixed gear (140) is connected to the base support (4) on 2 faces of the later, and is engaged thereto when the coupling mechanism (130) shifts to coupling position. This coupling position is ensured by the main coupling (131) and the additional coupling (132). The control console (1) would be adjusted and fixed in a desired position once the main coupling (131) and the additional coupling (132) are engaged to the fixed gear (140).
There are provided 2 idle springs (150), which are the springs that are connected to 2 sides of the movement direction of the body (3). The idle springs (150) allow the body (3) to move at a determined angle in clockwise or anticlockwise direction and also smoothly with a determined force when the coupling mechanism (130) is in idle mode. The idle springs (150) are characterized by its particular structure that displaces, in other words, contracts or extends in clockwise or anticlockwise direction relative to movement direction of the body (3). When the body (3) moves in clockwise or anticlockwise direction, one of the idle springs (150) contracts while the other extends.
Operational principle of the position adjustment mechanism (100) is as described below:
Once the trigger (110) is driven, the transfer arm (120) transfers this movement to the main coupling (131) via the retaining spring (133). The main coupling (131) partially rotates around the bushing (134), and moves in (+x) direction. With this movement, the additional coupling (132) moves in (+x) direction, and the main coupling (131) separates from the fixed gear (140) in cooperation with the additional coupling (132). The main coupling (131) and the additional coupling (132) retract with the retaining spring (133), and react to the movement in an opposite direction. This reaction allows the trigger (110) to make its backward movement. The body (3) connected on the base support (4) performs a partial angular movement in clockwise or anticlockwise direction. When the body (3) is in the desired position according to preference of the operator, the operator releases the trigger (110). With the effect of the retaining spring (133), the main coupling (131) and the additional coupling (132) switches to the fixed gear (140) and retains the control console (1). When the main coupling (131) and the additional coupling (132) rotate mutually, it restricts and retains movement of the body (3) in clockwise or anticlockwise direction with the gravitational force of the retaining spring (133).

Claims

A position adjustment mechanism (100) that controls the mechanisms of construction equipment, said position adjustment mechanism comprising of a control console (1), a base support (4), and a body (3) that is movable relative to said base support (4) and passing through the base supports (4), which adjusts the location of the control console (1) relative to the driver, which is formed of a connector (5) allowing the said body (3) to rotate clockwise or anticlockwise, and comprising a trigger (110) that shifts said body (3) to an idle mode; further comprising:
• A transfer arm (120) that transfers movement of said trigger (110),

• A coupling mechanism (130) that is in communication with said transfer arm (120), and shifts said body (3) to an idle mode or allows it to be retained in a desired position,

• A fixed gear (140),
wherein said coupling mechanism (130) is engaged to said fixed gear (140) when it switches to coupling position.
characterized in that the movable body (3) is located between the base supports (4) and in that the fixed gear (140) is connected to said base support (4) on its two sidewalls.
The position adjustment mechanism (100) according to the Claim 1; wherein said coupling mechanism (130) comprises a main coupling (131), one end of which is in communication with the transfer arm (120), the other is in communication with said body (3), and which can be connected to and disconnected from said fixed gear (140) at its free end.
The position adjustment mechanism (100) according to Claim 2; wherein said coupling mechanism (130) comprises an additional coupling (132), one end of which is coupled to the transfer arm (120), the other is coupled to the said body (3), and that moves relative to movement of the said main coupling (131) and also can be connected to and disconnected from said fixed gear (140) at its free end.
The position adjustment mechanism (100) according to r Claim 3; wherein said main coupling (131) and said additional coupling (132) comprise coupling gears (131.1) that allow their communication with the fixed gear (140).
The position adjustment mechanism (100) according to the Claim 3; wherein said coupling mechanism (130) comprises 2 retaining springs (133), one end of which is coupled to the transfer arm (120), the other being coupled to the main coupling (131), and one end of which is coupled to the transfer arm (120), the other being coupled to the additional coupling (132).
The position adjustment mechanism (100) according to the Claim 1; wherein it comprises an idle spring (150) that is coupled to 2 sides of movement direction of the body (3), allows the body (3) to move at a determined angle in clockwise or anticlockwise direction and also smoothly with a determined force when the coupling mechanism (130) switches to idle mode, and is capable of contracting or extending relative to movement direction of the body (3).
The position adjustment mechanism (100) according to the Claim 3; wherein it comprises a bushing (134) that allows the main coupling (131) and the additional coupling (132) to be coupled to the body (3), and allows the main coupling (131) and the additional coupling (132) to angularly move at a determined angle around the point where they are supported to the body (3).
The position adjustment mechanism (100) according to the Claim 3; wherein it comprises two movement clearances (135); one opens to said main coupling (131) and the other opens to said additional coupling (132), that are located at the point where said main coupling (131) and said additional coupling (132) pass through said body (3), and allow said main coupling (131) and said additional coupling (132) to move in (+x) or (-x) direction.
The position adjustment mechanism (100) according to the Claim 1; wherein it comprises a trigger mechanism (111) having a trigger body (112) configured between the trigger (110) and the transfer arm (120) and a joint point (113).
The position adjustment mechanism (100) according to the Claim 2; wherein it comprises a cocoon duct (131.2) that allows movement of an end of said main coupling (131) in communication with the retaining spring (133).