Multiple Mode Control Lever Assembly

This invention relates to an operator-movable, single lever control lever assembly with friction-held, detent-held and spring-centered operational modes.

It is well-known to use manual control levers to remotely control hydraulic functions, such as hydraulic motors or cylinders. For example, friction-held control levers are used to remotely control implement hitches on agricultural vehicles wherein the control lever is moved to a friction-held displaced position to cause the hitch to raise or lower to a new position corresponding to the displaced control lever position. A friction-held control lever is also used to control the rotation speed of hydraulic motors where the rotation speed is maintained at a value corresponding to the control lever position. Spring-centered and detent-held control levers are used to control hydraulic functions through a selective control valve, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,721,160. In such an application, the control lever is moved to a detent-held displaced position to hydraulically extend or retract a hydraulic cylinder. When the actuated hydraulic cylinder reaches the end of its stroke, the detent is automatically released by a pressure signal and the lever returns to its neutral position under the influence of a centering spring, whereupon the cylinder is held in the extended or retracted position. Single levers with both friction-held and spring-centered operational modes are disclosed in U.S. patent applications, Ser. No. 307,704, filed Oct. 2, 1981 and Ser. No. 333,601, (attorney's file no. E-12050), filed Dec. 23, 1981, both assigned to the assignee of the present application. Although functional, both designs were subject to certain shortcomings. For example, in the first design, the mode-selecting solenoid is pivotal with the movable lever, thus subjecting the connecting electrical wires to wear from repeated flexing. Also, that design was energy-inefficient because the mode-selecting solenoid had to be constantly energized during its spring-centered operational mode. Furthermore, in that design, the friction force provided by the friction disks was somewhat less than desirable. Also, in the first design, separate actuators are required to operate the detent and centering spring mechanisms. In the second design, the centering spring is never uncoupled, thus requiring that the friction mechanism provides friction sufficient to overcome the centering spring during the friction-held operational mode. Furthermore, the second design required multiple energizations of the mode-selecting solenoid to switch between the friction and spring-centered operational modes. Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a compact, multiple mode, single lever control lever assembly with adequate durability, improved energy utilization and with a centering spring which may be de-coupled.

An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a multiple mode control lever assembly with a friction disk-type friction mechanism and a releasable centering spring.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides an energy-efficient, mode-selecting mechanism.

A further advantage of the present invention is that it provides a compact multiple mode control lever assembly with a single unitary index member operatively engageable with a friction mechanism, a centering spring and a detent mechanism.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a compact multiple mode control lever assembly with a single movable arm carrying a detent follower and a spring coupling member.

These and other advantages are achieved by the present invention which includes a lever fixed for rotation with a pivot member pivotally mounted in a housing. The pivot member includes a plurality of detent recesses, a first spring-engaging tab and a friction disk-engaging finger projecting therefrom. An arm is movable in the housing and carries a detent follower, a second spring-engaging tab and an index follower. A centering spring is engageable with the spring tabs to urge the pivot member from a displaced to a neutral position. An index member is mounted in the housing for rotational and axial movement therein. The index member includes a cam surface engaging a corresponding cam surface on the housing to cause axial movement of the index member upon its rotation in the housing. The index member rotates to couple and uncouple the detent and spring-centering mechanisms and moves axially to couple and uncouple the friction holding mechanism.

FIG. 1 is an assembly view of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along lines 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2a is a sectional view taken along lines 2a--2a of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view in the direction of arrows 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view in the direction of arrows 4--4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view along lines 5--5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view along lines 6--6 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a top view of the pivot member of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a top view of the index member of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view along lines 9--9 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a profile view taken in the direction of arrows 10--10 of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of an exemplary system utilizing a functional mode of the present invention.

A control lever assembly 10 includes a housing 12 which threadably receives a pivot shaft 14 which includes a flange 16 and a pair of axially extending grooves 18. The axially facing surface of the housing 12 surrounding the shaft 14 includes a plurality of ramp surfaces 20 which extend between high and low cam surfaces 22 and 24, respectively, as best seen in FIGS. 2, 2a and 3.

The housing 12 also pivotally supports a control lever handle 26 with a shaft 28 which is butted against the end of pivot shaft 14, as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 2a. A pivot member 30 is fixed via a pin for rotation with the shaft 28. Pivot member 30 includes a central hub 32. A lug or tab 34 is spaced apart from the hub 32 and extends axially away from the pivot member body, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 5. A finger 36, best seen in FIG. 2a, extends axially from the other side of the body of pivot member 30. Detent recesss 38, 40 and 42 are formed in an outer surface of the pivot member 30. A rack of gear teeth 44 is formed in another portion of pivot member 30.

An index or mode select member 50 is pivotally mounted in the housing about the flange of pivot shaft 14. Index member 50 includes a central cam portion 52, best seen in FIG. 4, which includes ramp surfaces 54, high surfaces 56 and low surfaces 58 which are complimentary to and engageable with the cam surfaces 20, 22 and 24 of the housing 12. As best seen in FIGS. 1, 8 and 10, index member 50 also includes a detent controlling ramp or cam surface 60 and an inclined or sloping rack of gear teeth 62. The rack 62 slopes gradually downward from a high end 55 to a low end at 57, viewing FIGS. 8 and 10. As best seen in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, the index member 50 also includes a ridge 59 which projects from and extends along an edge of the index member 50. The ridge terminates at an edge 61 beyond which is a space 64 which is backed by the outer edge of the rack 62. The outer peripheral surface of ridge 59 includes a notch 66.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 2a, a pair of disk-shaped friction plates 70 each carry annular friction pads 72 on opposite sides thereof. The plates 70 are fixed non-rotatably to the pivot shaft 14 via tabs which are received by the shaft grooves 18. Alternately stacked with the friction plates 70 are clutch disks or separator plates 74. Each separator plate 74 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 14 and includes a notch which receives the finger 36 of the pivot member 30, so that each separator plate 74 is constrained to rotate with the pivot member 30. A stack of Belleville washers 76 is mounted on the shaft 14 between the outer separator plate 74 and the index member 50.

A drive means, such as a reversible DC motor 80, best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, is mounted in the housing 12 and has a gear wheel 84 non-rotatably attached to its driven shaft 82. The gear wheel 84 meshingly engages the gear rack 62 of the index member so that the index member 50 rotates as the motor shaft 82 and the gear wheel 84 spin. The slope of the rack 62 permits proper uniform meshing between gear wheel 84 and rack 62 as the index member 50 rotates and shifts axially.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 5, an arm 90 includes a shaft 92 which is slidably received in a bore 94 formed in part of the housing 12. A head or tab 96 on the end of shaft 92 rotatably carries a detent roller 98 for engagement with the detent recesses 38, 40 and 42. The head 96 also rotatably carries, via pin 97, an index roller 100 which engages the index cam surface 60 of the index member 50 and a guide roller 102 which slides between a pair of alignment or guide walls 104 and 106 formed by part of the housing 12. A resilient member 108, such as a coil spring, is coupled between the housing 12 and the head 96 to urge the arm 90 out of bore 94 and towards the pivot member 30 and the index member 50.

A centering spring 110 includes a coil mounted around the hub 32 of pivot member 30 and a pair of arms 112 and 114 which are disposed on opposite sides of the stub 34 of pivot member 30 and the head 96 on the arm 90, as best seen in FIG. 1.

A rotary potentiometer 120, best seen in FIGS. 1 and 6, is mounted via a bracket 122 in the housing 12 and includes a shaft-supported gear wheel 124 which meshingly engages the gear rack 44 on the pivot member 30.

A pair of micro switches 126 and 128 are fixed to the housing 12 in a stacked manner, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 9. Micro switch 126 includes a spring-mounted roller 130 which is received by recess or space 64 when the index member 50 is in the illustrated position. Micro switch 128 includes a spring-mounted roller 132 which is receivable by recess 66, depending upon the position of the index member 50.

In FIG. 1, the assembly 10 is shown in its spring-centered, detent-held operational mode. This operational mode can best be described with reference to the system 200 shown in FIG. 11. The system shown in FIG. 11 is merely exemplary and forms no part of the present invention. The system 200 includes a pair of comparators 202 and 204 with (+) and (-) inputs, respectively, coupled to receive the signal from the potentiometer 120. The (-) and (+) inputs, respectively, of comparators 202 and 204 are coupled to reference voltages Vr1 and Vr2. A solenoid-operated directional control valve 206 includes solenoids 208 and 210, coupled to the outputs of comparators 202 and 204, respectively. Valve 206 controls fluid communication between pump 212, reservoir 214 and cylinder 216.

A check valve 218 communicates a pressure signal to a logic control circuit 220 which includes a normally open pressure-operated switch 222 which receives the pressure signal from check valve 218. Switch 222 is coupled to an input of a monostable multi-vibrator (or one-shot) 224. The output of one-shot 224 is coupled to an input of OR gate 226, to an input of OR gate 228 and to the set input, S, of flip-flop 230. A friction mode-selecting momentary contact switch 232 is coupled between voltage +V and an input of OR gate 226 and an input of OR gate 228. A detent mode-selecting momentary contact switch 234 is coupled between voltage +V and an input of OR gate 228 and the reset input, R, of flip-flop 236. The output of OR gate 228 is coupled to the set input, S, of flip-flop 238.

One terminal of each of switches 126 and 128 is grounded. Their other terminals are coupled to voltage +V via "pull-up" resistors R1 and R2, respectively. The ungrounded terminal of switch 126 is also coupled to the clock input, CLK, of flip-flops 230 and 238. The ungrounded terminal of switch 128 is also coupled to an input of AND gate 240. The other input of AND gate 240 is coupled to the Q output of flip-flop 230. The output of AND gate 240 is coupled to the CLK input of flip-flop 236. The output of OR gate 226 is coupled to the set input, S, of flip-flop 236. The D inputs of flip-flops 230, 236 and 238 are all grounded. The Q output of flip-flop 238 is coupled to an input of each of AND gates 242 and 244. The Q output of flip-flop 236 is coupled to an input of AND gate 242 and the Q output of flip-flop 236 is coupled to the other input of AND gate 244.

The output of AND gate 242 is coupled to the forward drive input, FWD, of a well-known transistor bridge forward-reverse D.C. motor driver 246. The output of AND gate 244 is coupled to the reverse drive input, REV, of the motor driver 246.

When it is desired to operate the control lever assembly 10 in the spring-centered and detent-held operational mode, the operator may momentarily depress switch 234. This sets flip-flop 238 via OR gate 228 and resets flip-flop 236 to thereby energize the reverse drive input, REV, of motor driver 246 via AND gate 244. This causes motor 80 to rotate index member 50 counterclockwise, viewing FIG. 1, until the index member 50 reaches the position shown in FIG. 1, wherein switch 126 opens. The opening of switch 126 pulls the CLK input of flip-flop 238 high which causes the Q output of flip-flop 238 and AND gate 244 to return to low states, thus disabling the motor driver 246 and the motor 80.

When the lever 26 is pivoted off of dead-center, the signal from potentiometer 120 turns on either comparator 202 or 204, depending upon which direction the lever 26 is pivoted. This energizes solenoid 208 or 210 to retract or extend cylinder 216. If the lever 26 is pivoted far enough, then either detent recess 38 or 42 will receive the detent roller 98 and the lever 26 will be held in its displaced position despite the centering force of spring 110.

Now, initially, in this spring-centered operational mode, switch 126 is open, switch 128 is closed and switch 222 is open and the outputs of both AND gates 242 and 244 are low and neither the forward nor reverse inputs of the motor driver 246 are energized. However, when the cylinder 216 reaches the end of its stroke, a pressure signal is communicated via check valve 218 to close the normally open pressure-operated switch 222. This sets all three flip-flops, 230, 236 and 238 and causes the output of AND gate 242 to go high, thus energizing only the forward drive input, FWD, of motor driver 246, while the output of AND gate 244 remains low.

The resulting forward rotation of motor 80 pivots the index member 50 clockwise viewing FIG. 1, with the result that cam surface 60 forces roller 100 (see FIG. 5) and detent roller 98 away from the pivot member 30, thus pulling the detent roller 98 out of the particular detent recess 38 or 42. Then, the centering spring 110 immediately returns the pivot member 30 and the control lever 26 to their initial neutral positions, whereupon the valve 206 is returned to center to prevent further movement of the cylinder 216, thus terminating the pressure signal to check valve 218 and allowing switch 222 to re-open. At this point, however, the flip-flops 236 and 238 are still set and the motor 80 continues its forward rotation.

After motor 80 has rotated the pivot member 30 approximately 10 degrees clockwise from the position shown in FIG. 1, then the roller of switch 128 will engage notch 66 and switch 128 will be opened. This pulls AND gate 240 and the CLK input of flip-flop 236 high, thus causing the Q and Q outputs of flip-flop 236 to go low and high, respectively. This causes the output of AND gate 242 to go low and causes the output of AND gate 244 to go high, thus de-energizing the forward drive input, FWD, and energizing the reverse input, REV, of motor driver 246. The reversed motor 80 rotates the index member 50 counterclockwise, viewing FIG. 1, until notch 64 engages and opens switch 126, whereupon flip-flops 230 and 238 are cleared via the low-to-high transistion applied to their CLK inputs, and whereupon the output of both AND gates 242 and 244 are once again both low and both inputs of the motor driver 246 are de-energized until another similar operational cycle is initiated by a subsequent movement of lever 26. The stack of friction elements is provided with sufficient free play such that the 10 degree movement of the index member 50 does not hinder the centering of the pivot member 30.

A friction-held operational mode may be selected by momentarily depressing switch 232 which sets flip-flops 238 and 236 and energizes the FWD input of motor driver 246 and causes motor 80 to rotate index member 50 clockwise, viewing FIG. 1, until the index member is rotated 90 degrees from the position shown in FIG. 1, whereupon switch 126 opens as the extreme edge 67 of index member 50 moves past the roller of switch 126. As described previously, the opening of switch 126 clears flip-flop 238, forces AND gate 242 low and de-energizes the motor driver 246. This clockwise rotation of the index member 50 causes the index member 50 to move axially upwards, viewing FIG. 2, due to the cooperation of the complimentary cam surfaces on the index member 50 and the housing 12, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The upward movement of the index member acts through the stack of Belleville washers 76 to compress the stack of friction plates 70 and separator plates 74. This creates a frictional coupling between the pivot member 30 and the non-rotatable shaft 14 sufficient to hold the lever 26 and the pivot member 30 in the displaced position into which they are moved. The clockwise rotation of index member 50 also causes ramp or cam surface 60 acting on index roller 100 to move arm 90 against spring 108 and into the bore 94, viewing FIG. 5. This movement uncouples detent roller 98 from the pivot member 30 and uncouples the head 96 from the arms 112 and 114 of the centering spring 110. In this manner, neither the detent roller 98 nor the centering spring 110 interferes with the friction-held operational mode.

The control lever assembly 10 may then be operated by coupling the signal from potentiometer 120 to an electrohydraulic system with position feedback, as described in detail with respect to FIG. 8 of previously mentioned U.S. application, Ser. No. 307,704. A conventional switch 121 may be used to direct the signal from potentiometer 120 to the comparators 202 and 204 or to the error detector of the electrohydraulic system with position feedback, depending upon which hydraulic function it is desired to control via the control lever assembly 10.