Operator vehicle with auxiliary centering equipment

Abstract

The present application discloses an operator vehicle with an auxiliary centering device, the operator vehicle comprising: a platform (2) equipped with a seat (3); a tower (T) coupled to the seat (3) in a manner that allows rotation around a main rotation axis; a motor device arranged to rotate the tower (T) around the main rotation axis; and a detector arranged to detect movement of the angular position of the tower relative to the main rotation axis towards a reference angular position and configured to emit a corresponding proximity signal.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an assisted centring device for a tower of a manipulator vehicle. Background Art

[0002] In operator vehicles equipped with a rotating tower, the tower must be locked in a central position during road travel. Typically, in this central position, the operator arm or tool supported by the rotating tower faces forward or backward in such a way that the overall lateral dimensions of the vehicle are not exceeded.

[0003] Currently, the centering of the tower is performed empirically by an operator with the help of sensors that alert the operator when the center position is reached. In short, the operator controls the rotation of the tower towards the center position. When the center position is reached, the operator receives a visual signal, such as a warning light.

[0004] Since it is not possible to stop the rotation of the tower immediately upon receiving the signal, the operator exceeds the central position and is therefore forced to calibrate the position of the tower several times, reversing its rotation. This is therefore a rather laborious and inefficient process. Furthermore, in current vehicles, once the central position of the tower has been reached, the operator has to manually activate a locking device to prevent it from leaving the central position due to the inertial load caused by the vehicle's movement. Summary of the invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks by providing an operator vehicle equipped with a rotating tower, for which positioning of the tower and locking of the tower in a central position is simple, rapid and precise.

[0006] The operator vehicle according to the invention comprises: a platform equipped with a seat, a rotating tower coupled to the seat in a rotatable manner around a main rotation axis, a motor arrangement arranged to determine a rotation of the tower around the main rotation axis. The operator vehicle comprises a detector arranged to detect a movement of an angular position of the tower relative to the main rotation axis towards a reference angular position, and the detector is arranged to emit a corresponding proximity signal. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent by following the detailed description of embodiments of the invention illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0008] Figure 1 is an isometric view of an operator vehicle according to the present invention.

[0009] Figure 2 is equipped with an arm in a rotating position and equipped with a tower Figure 1top view of vehicle.

[0010] Figure 3 Shown is a centrally located tower Figure 2 of vehicles. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011] The operator vehicle comprises a platform 2. In short, the platform 2 is the part of the vehicle that comprises a carrying frame to which are associated wheels, an engine and other equipment for driving and controlling the vehicle. The platform 2 has different characteristics depending on the type of vehicle, size and tools carried, as is known in the art.

[0012] The platform 2 comprises a seat 3 arranged to be coupled in a rotatable manner about a main rotation axis to a coupling portion 4 of a tower T. For example, the main rotation axis is perpendicular to the supporting surface of the vehicle, that is to say the bearing surface of the wheels is vertical.

[0013] According to the embodiment shown, the coupling 4 defined by the rear part of the tower T is the lower support of a telescopic arm A equipped with two or more extendable sliding members. The telescopic arm A may also be provided with the possibility of rotation relative to the coupling 4 about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the main axis. The tower T also supports the cab of the vehicle.

[0014] To facilitate the rotation of the tower T, a rotatable coupling device, such as a frame known in the industry, is provided between the tower T and the seat 3. The motor device comprises, for example, a hydraulic motor or an electric motor.

[0015] The vehicle according to the invention comprises a detector arranged to detect a movement of the angular position of the tower T relative to the main axis towards a reference angular position and arranged to emit a corresponding proximity signal.

[0016] According to the embodiment shown, the reference angular position corresponds substantially to an angular position in which the longitudinal axis S of the tower T is parallel to the direction of travel F of the vehicle. For example, the reference angular position is the central position of the tower T, that is to say the central position of the coupling 4. In this position, the cab faces forward in the direction of travel F, while the arm A is positioned parallel to the direction of travel F. Obviously, in other vehicles, depending on the shape of the vehicle and the shape of the supported tool, the reference angular position may refer to different axes and directions. A person skilled in the art will be able to select the reference axis or direction as required.

[0017] The detector may consist of or include any sensor (or sensors) capable of detecting the angular position of the tower T, such as, but not limited to the scope of the invention, a proximity sensor associated with the tower or the seat 3, or associated with the platform 2 or an encoder, or any other sensor suitable for this purpose. If a proximity sensor is used, a reference part may be associated with the tower T, with the seat 3 or with the platform 2, if necessary, according to a possible embodiment, to interact with the proximity sensor in a position representing the reference angular position. For example, the reference part may be integral with the seat 3, while the proximity sensor may be associated with the tower T, or vice versa. Instead of the seat 3, the proximity sensor or the reference part may be associated with the platform 2.

[0018] The detector is configured to detect and signal the approach to the reference angular position starting from a predetermined initial angle. In other words, according to the embodiment shown, when the angle formed between the longitudinal axis S of the tower T (specifically, the longitudinal axis of the main substructure of the tower T supporting the coupling part 4 at the rear) and the feed direction F drops below the predetermined initial angle, the detector signals the approach to the reference angular position.

[0019] When the detector detects the approach to the reference angular position, the detector sends a corresponding approach signal, which can be configured to change as the angle between the angular position of the coupling part 4 and the reference angular position decreases. The signal can be conveyed to the operator in a visual or auditory way, and the operator, by rotating the tower T, can slow down the rotation and thus stop the rotation when the reference angular position is reached. Relative to the approach signal, the precise arrival of the reference angular position can be signaled in a specific and different way. For example, when the central position is approached, the signal is transmitted to the operator in a variable form. In the case of an auditory signal, the signal can change its intensity and / or frequency when the central position is approached. In the case of a visual signal, the signal can change color and / or shape when the central position is approached.

[0020] For example, the frequency of the auditory signal may gradually increase as the center position T of the tower is approached, if necessary, until it becomes continuous when the angle drops below a predetermined proximity threshold, and the visual signal may be an index presented on the display, the color and / or shape of which gradually changes in proportion to the degree of closeness of the alignment, such as a series of bars of different heights, or bars of varying length and color, etc.

[0021] Due to the presence of the detector, it is made more precise and easier to expertly find the reference angular position of the tower T.

[0022] According to a possible embodiment, the vehicle is equipped with a control module which is connected to the motor arrangement in order to regulate and control the operation.

[0023] According to a manner known in the art, the control module mentioned in this specification is generally represented as a single unit, but in fact it can be equipped with separate functional modules (memory modules or operating modules), each of which is designed to control predetermined devices of the operator vehicle and / or for operating cycles. For example, in addition to the motor device, the control module is also designed to control pumps and actuators present on the vehicle, as well as the main motor of the vehicle. In short, the control module can consist of a single electronic device programmed to perform the functions described, and the various functional modules can correspond to hardware units and / or software routines that form part of the programmed device. Alternatively or additionally, the functions can be performed by multiple electronic devices, on which the above-mentioned functional modules can be distributed. The processing unit may also have one or more processors for executing instructions contained in the storage module. The unit and the above-mentioned functional modules can also be distributed locally or remotely on different computers based on the network architecture in which they are encapsulated.

[0024] The control module is configured to receive the proximity signal emitted by the detector and to control the driving of the motor arrangement according to the received proximity signal.

[0025] According to a possible embodiment, the control module is arranged to slow down the rotation produced by the motor means upon receipt of the proximity signal emitted by the detector. In this case, the operator does not need to modify his / her actions on the rotation command of the tower to slow down the rotation, but the control module acts directly on the motor means to slow down the rotation of the tower.

[0026] According to the above embodiment, the detector is substantially arranged to detect at least a first proximity position F1 separated by a first operating angle relative to a reference angular position. The control module is arranged to slow down the rotation generated by the motor device upon receipt of a proximity signal at the first proximity position. The stopping of the rotation can be controlled at the reference angular position by an operator by means of a command at his / her disposal or by means of the control module.

[0027] According to other possible embodiments, the control module is arranged to stop the rotation generated by the motor means upon receipt of the proximity signal emitted by the detector. In this case, the first proximity position is very close to the reference angular position. Also in this case, the operator does not need to change his / her action of the rotation command of the tower to stop the rotation, but the control module directly acts on the motor means to stop the rotation of the tower.

[0028] According to a particular embodiment, the detector is arranged to detect: at least a first proximity position separated by a first operating angle relative to a reference angular position; and at least a second proximity position separated by a second operating angle less than the first operating angle relative to the reference angular position. According to this embodiment, the control module is arranged to slow down the rotation generated by the motor device when a proximity signal is received at the first proximity position, and to stop the rotation generated by the motor device when a proximity signal is received at the second proximity position. In this case, the second proximity position is very close to the reference angular position, or coincides with the reference angular position.

[0029] According to a possible embodiment, the control module is arranged to independently activate the motor means after a corresponding command to position the tower T in a reference angular position. In short, the control module is equipped with an algorithm which, after receiving a command from an operator, activates the motor means using sensors according to the method described above to rotate the coupling into a reference angular position.

[0030] The invention facilitates the centering of the tower T, that is to say the alignment of the tower with the axis S of the vehicle chassis, for the operator, both in the manual version and in the automatic version, for any type of use or purpose, whether required for machining operations as described, for example in the discussion of the prior art, or for road transport.

[0031] The operator vehicle according to the invention may also be equipped with an automatic locking device for locking the tower T in a reference angular position.

[0032] The locking device is known in its general structure to those skilled in the art and is equipped with an actuator connected to a control module. The actuator is controlled by the control module to adopt an operational configuration, in which the actuator actuates the locking device in an activated position to lock the tower T in a reference angular position, and a non-operational configuration, in which the actuator actuates the locking device in a non-activated position to allow the tower T to rotate freely about the main axis.

[0033] When the tower T is in the reference angular position and the tower T is stationary, the control module is configured to activate the locking device in the activated position after a command. When the control module receives a command from an operator to rotate the tower T, the control module moves the locking device to the inactivated position.

Claims

1. An operator vehicle, comprising: A platform (2) provided with a seat (3); a rotating tower (T) coupled to the seat (3) in a rotatable manner about a main rotation axis; motor means arranged to determine the rotation of said tower (T) about said main axis of rotation; characterised in that the operator vehicle comprises a detector arranged to detect a movement of the angular position of the tower (T) relative to the main rotation axis towards a reference angular position and arranged to emit a corresponding proximity signal; The operator vehicle includes a control module configured to receive the proximity signal emitted by the detector and control driving of the motor device according to the received proximity signal; The detector is arranged to detect: at least a first proximity position separated by a first operating angle relative to the reference angular position; and at least a second proximity position separated by a second operating angle relative to the reference angular position, the second operating angle being smaller than the first operating angle; The control module is configured to slow down the rotation generated by the motor device when the proximity signal is received at the first proximity position, and to stop the rotation generated by the motor device when the proximity signal is received at the second proximity position.

2. The operator vehicle according to claim 1, wherein: The control module is arranged to slow down the rotation produced by the motor arrangement upon receipt of the proximity signal emitted by the detector.

3. The operator vehicle according to claim 1, wherein: The control module is arranged to stop the rotation produced by the motor arrangement upon receipt of the proximity signal emitted by the detector.

4. The operator vehicle of claim 1, wherein: the detector being arranged to detect at least a first proximity position separated by a first operating angle relative to the reference angular position; The control module is arranged to slow down or stop rotation produced by the motor arrangement upon receipt of the proximity signal at the first proximity position.

5. The operator vehicle according to claim 1, wherein: The control module is arranged to independently activate the motor arrangement following a corresponding command in order to position the coupling portion (4) in the reference angular position.

6. The operator vehicle according to claim 1, wherein: The detector comprises at least one proximity sensor associated with the tower (T) or with the seat (3) or with the platform (2).

7. The operator vehicle according to claim 6, wherein: The control module is arranged to activate the motor means independently following a respective command in order to position the tower (T) in the reference angular position.

8. The operator vehicle according to claim 7, wherein: The control module is equipped with an algorithm which, after receiving a command from an operator, activates the motor arrangement using the sensor to rotate the coupling into the reference angular position.

9. The operator vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising an automatic locking device designed for locking the tower (T) in the reference angular position.

10. The operator vehicle according to claim 9, wherein: The locking device is equipped with an actuator connected to the control module, and wherein the actuator is controlled by the control module to adopt an operational configuration, in which the actuator actuates the locking device into an activated position to lock the tower (T) in the reference angular position, and a non-operational configuration, in which the actuator actuates the locking device into a non-activated position to allow the tower (T) to rotate freely around the main rotation axis.

Images