GB2302934A

GB2302934A - Bimanual control console with hand rest

Info

Publication number: GB2302934A
Application number: GB9613760A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christian Bessas; Jacques Maurin
Original assignee: Schneider Electric SE
Current assignee: Schneider Electric SE
Priority date: 1995-06-30
Filing date: 1996-07-01
Publication date: 1997-02-05
Anticipated expiration: 2016-07-01
Also published as: IT1286131B1; ES2136498B1; FR2736188A1; GB9613760D0; DE19626073A1; ITTO960552A1; ES2136498A1; ITTO960552A0; FR2736188B1; GB2302934B

Description

2302934 1 BIMANUAL CONTROL CONSOLE The present invention relates to a

bimanual control console which can be used to control a process in real time.

Consoles of this type, which are mounted in a stationary manner on infrastructures, generally comprise a control panel carried by a support structure which is secured, for example, to a piece of tubular metal having a vertical axis. The control panel comprises a central portion, which is preferably reserved for display and signalling, and, one on each side of that central portion, two side portions equipped with two respective manual control devices which are to be operated simultaneously by the operator's two hands.

In order to prevent any possibility of inadvertent operation of the control devices by external elements, the two side portions of the panel are protected by two respective hoods which delimit two housings which are open in the area of the front face of the console.

These two housings, each of which contains a control device, are of a size such that they can receive the front portion of the operator's hands.

2 For reasons of space, the dimensions of the console, and in particular those of its horizontal crosssection, are just sufficient to contain the control devices and the display elements. However, the spacing between the two areas must be sufficient to enable the operator's hands to be placed naturally in the housings without any discomfort which in the long term could cause abnormal fatigue of the upper limbs or painful phenomena, such as cramp.

In order further to improve the operator's comfort, the control panel is slightly inclined relative to the horizontal at an angle enabling the hands and arms of the operator to be placed in the least constraining position possible from a muscular point of view.

Nevertheless, it is found in use that the operator whose hands have necessarily to remain engaged in the housings in order to be able to effect a command at any moment suffers fatigue owing to the fact that only a fraction of the front portion of the hands can rest on the console (one or more fingers of the hand having to remain permanently on the control device in order to exert pressure on it).

The aim of the invention is therefore more especially to overcome this disadvantage by means of a simple 3 arrangement which is inexpensive but very ergonomic.

is To that end it proposes a console having a control panel of the abovementioned type, characterised in that it also comprises a horizontal support bar which is secured to the support structure and which extends parallel to the front edge of the panel, at a distance from that edge at most equal to the length of a normal-sized hand.

Advantageously, the support bar may have a C-shape of which the two parallel wings are bent to face the side faces of the console.

The control panel may have at least one portion which is inclined towards the base, in the direction towards the front edge. In that case, the support bar may extend slightly below the level of the plane of the inclined portion.

The angular regions of the support bar may have a curved portion extending at least partially at rightangles to the openings of the housings delimited by the hoods. The centre of curvature of these curved portions may then be offset relative to the axis of the corresponding control devices.

4 owing to these arrangements, the operator can rest the palms of his hands on the bar whilst still being able to carry out control operations. Owing to their offset arrangement, the curved portions of the bar enable him to find the most suitable position, bearing in mind his morphology.

An embodiment of the invention will be described hereinafter by way of non-limiting example with reference to the appended drawings in which:

Figs. 1 and 2 are, respectively, a plan view (Fig. 1) and a front elevation (Fig. 2) of a control console according to the invention; Fig. 3 is a section along A-A of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the console shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In this example the control console has, viewed from above, a rectangular shape of which the angular regions adjacent to the front edge are curved inwards.

It comprises a control panel 1 in three portions, viz:

- a rectangular central portion 2 inclined relative to the horizontal in a plane perpendicular to its front edge 3 (inclination towards the base in the direction towards the edge 3); - two side portions 5, 6 which are arranged one on each side of the central portion 2 and which have a substantially trapezoidal shape.

The central portion 2 of the control panel 1 has five openings 0, to 0, in which control and signalling elements BR and V are engaged, as indicated in Fig. 4.

of course, the remainder of the surface of the central portion 2 may be used to display information, such as an electrical, pneumatic or hydraulic circuit, instructions for use and/or security, etc...

The side portions 5, 6 are for their part inclined relative to the horizontal both in a vertical plane perpendicular to the edge 3 and in a plane parallel to the edge 3 (their height decreasing progressively in the direction towards the edge 3 and the side edges 8, 9).

Each of the side portions 5, 6 carries in its centre a push-button BP,, BP, on which the operator must exert pressure in order to transmit a control order to the system.

6 These control buttons BP,, BPI are protected from the external environment by two respective hoods C,, Cl which delimit two spaces which are open in the plane of the front face and into which the operator can introduce his fingers.

Each of the hoods Cf, Cl has a horizontal f lat upper face 10 which extends above the corresponding side portion 5, 6 of the panel, and also three substantially vertical walls PLI, PLI, PL, which extend from the side edges and from the rear edge of the upper face 10 and converge at the corresponding edges of the lateral portion 5, 6. The front edge of the upper face 10 has a rounded shape 11 in the area of the angular region formed between the front edge 3 and the external side edge of the side portion of the panel.

The control panel 1 is carried by a support structure 12 which extends vertically from its edges 3, 4.

According to the invention, the console is equipped with a support bar 13 in the shape of a C of which the central core 14 extends in a horizontal plane, parallel to the front edge 3 of the panel 1, slightly below the plane of the central portion 2. The bar 13 is in the form of a tube having a circular cross- 7 sect ion.

The side wings 14, 15 of the bar 13, which are likewise horizontal, are bent to face the vertical side walls of the support structure 12. The elbowed regions of the bar 13 have a radius of curvature similar to that of the rounded shapes 11 of the edge of the upper face 10 of the hoods C,, C2.

The bar 13 is secured to the support structure by means of securing blocks 16 acting as struts which maintain the bar 13 (in the area of its core) at a distance from the front edge 3 of the panel that is less than the length of a hand and preferably less than two-thirds of a normal- sized hand.

This distance is determined in such a manner as to enable the palm of the operator's hand to rest on the bar 13 while enabling his fingers to exert pressure on the control buttons BP,, BPt.

As mentioned above, the elbowed regions of the bar 13, which are not concentric with the buttons BP,, BP2, enable the operator to choose a position which corresponds best to his morphology: in fact, in the area of the elbowed regions, the spacing between the bar 13 and the button BP,, BP2 is continuously variable 8 as a function of the angular position.

Of course, the console according to the invention may be used for electrical, hydraulic or even pneumatic control.

9

Claims

1. Bimanual control console of the type including a control panel carried by a support structure, the control panel comprising a central portion and two side portions, one on each side of the central portion, each side portion being equipped with a control device protected by a hood which is open toward the front of the console and is of a size such that it can receive the front portion of an operator's hand, in use, the console further comprising a support element which is secured to the support structure and on which an operator can rest the rear portion of his hand in use.

2. Console according to claim 1, wherein the support element is secured to the support structure by at least one spacer element.

3. Console according to claim 2, wherein the support element is at a distance from the front edge of the control panel which is at most equal to the length of a normal-sized hand.

4. Console according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the support element is a bar which extends parallel to the front edge of the control panel.

5. Console according to claim 4, characterised in that the bar has a C-shape of which the two arms are bent to face the side faces of the support structure.

6. Console according to claim 5, characterised in that the angled regions of the support bar are curved, and in that each curved portion extends partially at right-angles to the openings of the hoods.

7. Console according to claim 5 or 6, characterised in that the centre of curvature of the curved portions is offset relative to the axis of the control devices.

8. Console according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the control panel has at least one portion which is inclined towards the base in the direction towards the front edge, and in that the support element extends slightly below the plane of the inclined portion.

9. Console according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the central portion of the control panel is substantially planar and inclined relative to the horizontal to lie in a plane parallel 11 to the axis of the front edge of the panel.

10. Console according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that each side portion of the panel is substantially planar and inclined down to the front edge of the panel.

11. Console according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each side portion of the control panel is substantially planar and inclined down to the respective side edge of the control panel.

12. A console substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.