Adjustable loader direction control mechanism and using method

Abstract

The invention discloses an adjustable loader direction control mechanism and a using method, and belongs to the technical field of loader direction control mechanism adjusting.The adjustable loader direction control mechanism comprises a mechanism shell, a steering wheel, a direction column and a steering gear connecting structure, and the direction column and the steering gear connecting structure are arranged in the mechanism shell; the lower end of the steering column is connected with the steering gear connecting structure; a column casing is arranged at the end, close to the steering wheel, of the steering column, an instrument support is arranged on the outer side of the column casing, and an instrument assembly is arranged on the instrument support. An air spring structure is further arranged on the outer side of the column casing and can drive the column body to swing to achieve position adjustment. According to the device, angle adjustment operation of the steering column and the instrument panel is convenient and fast, automatic locking can be achieved after adjustment is in place, time and labor are saved, meanwhile, the structure is simple and durable, the device can be frequently used and is not prone to damage, multi-directional and multi-angle adjustment of the steering column and the instrument panel is provided for a driver, and the working efficiency is guaranteed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of loader direction control mechanism adjustment, and in particular to an adjustable loader direction control mechanism and a use method thereof. Background Art

[0002] A loader is a type of earthwork construction machinery widely used in construction projects such as roads, railways, buildings, hydropower, ports, and mines. It is mainly used to shovel bulk materials such as soil, sand, gravel, and lime, and is indispensable in the construction machinery industry.

[0003] Traditional loaders only focus on loading and unloading performance, and their steering control mechanisms are mostly fixed structures, that is, the height and angle of the steering machine and the instrument panel are fixed. This form ignores the driver's feelings. Due to the different heights and physiques of different drivers, the height and angle of the loader instrument panel and steering mechanism cannot be adjusted. For some drivers, this brings great operational troubles to construction operations and increases operator fatigue, which not only reduces construction quality and affects work efficiency, but is even prone to safety accidents. Once a safety accident occurs, it will bring great economic losses.

[0004] There are devices for adjusting the height of the steering column of a loader in the prior art, but the current devices often use mechanical structures such as gears and connecting rods to achieve adjustment. There are problems such as the adjustable mechanism getting stuck and being inflexible when not used for a long time, and the locking mechanism used in conjunction with the adjustment mechanism being inconvenient to open after being locked for a long time. In addition, the locking mechanism has the problem of deformation after long-term frequent use, which causes the locking force of the locking mechanism to slowly decrease, making locking more and more difficult until it fails. In addition, after the adjustment mechanism and the locking mechanism fail, the steering column and the instrument assembly need to be disassembled, which involves many situations such as housing installation and wiring harness connection, and the operation is very troublesome.

[0005] Therefore, how to design and provide an adjustable loader direction control mechanism and a method of use to avoid the above problems is a technical problem that is urgently needed to be solved. Summary of the invention

[0006] In view of the problems existing in the prior art, the present invention provides an adjustable loader steering control mechanism and a method of use, which has the function of adjusting the height and angle of the loader instrument assembly and the steering column. The adjustment operation is convenient and quick, and automatic locking can be achieved after the adjustment is in place, saving time and effort. At the same time, the structure is simple and durable, can be used frequently and is not easily damaged, and the driver can be provided with multi-directional and multi-angle adjustment of the steering column and the instrument panel, thereby improving the driver's working comfort and ensuring work efficiency.

[0007] The technical solution of the present invention is as follows:

[0008] In a first aspect of the present invention, an adjustable loader steering mechanism is provided, comprising a mechanism housing, a steering wheel, a steering column and a steering gear connecting structure, wherein the steering column and the steering gear connecting structure are arranged inside the mechanism housing; the upper end of the steering column is connected to the steering wheel in the driving compartment, and the lower end of the steering column is connected to the steering gear connecting structure; the steering column comprises an upper column body and a lower column body, and the upper column body and the lower column body are connected by a universal joint; a column barrel is provided at one end of the steering column close to the steering wheel, an instrument bracket is provided on the outer side of the column barrel, and an instrument assembly is provided on the instrument bracket; the column barrel comprises an upper column barrel and a lower column barrel, and the upper column barrel and the lower column barrel are mutually hinged and rotated through two sets of symmetrical hinge points, and the positions of the two sets of symmetrical hinge points correspond to the positions of the universal joints;

[0009] A gas spring structure is also provided on the outside of the column tube. The upper and lower ends of the gas spring structure are hinged to the outer wall of the upper column tube and the outer wall of the lower column tube respectively. The gas spring structure can drive the upper column body to swing relative to the lower column body.

[0010] In some embodiments of the present invention, the upper end of the upper column is engaged with the steering wheel via a spline, the lower end of the upper column is connected to the lower column via a universal joint, and the lower end of the lower column is connected to the steering gear connection structure.

[0011] In some embodiments of the present invention, the lower end of the lower column is flexibly connected to the upper end of the lower shaft welded via a rubber pad, and the welded lower end of the lower shaft is connected to the steering gear connection structure.

[0012] In some embodiments of the present invention, the steering gear connection structure is connected to the frame through multiple groups of shock absorbers.

[0013] In some embodiments of the present invention, an instrument bracket fixing plate is provided on the side wall of the upper column tube, an instrument bracket is connected to the instrument bracket fixing plate, and an instrument assembly is provided on the instrument bracket; a lower column tube mounting plate is provided on the side wall of the lower column tube, and the lower column tube mounting plate is used to fix the entire steering column.

[0014] In some embodiments of the present invention, the gas spring structure includes a handle, an ejector pin, a piston rod, an ejector pin seat and a cylinder, wherein a first piston and a second piston are disposed in the cylinder;

[0015] The handle is connected to the upper end of the ejector pin, and the ejector pin is slidably arranged inside the piston rod. The lower end of the piston rod extends into the cylinder and is connected to the first piston. The first piston is axially provided with a hollow cylindrical structure, and an ejector pin seat is arranged inside the hollow cylindrical structure. The lower end of the ejector pin is connected to the ejector pin seat, and the lower end of the ejector pin seat passes through the first piston and is provided with a disc structure, and the diameter of the disc structure is greater than the diameter of the hollow cylindrical structure. The second piston is arranged at a certain distance below the first piston.

[0016] In some embodiments of the present invention, the first piston and the upper portion of the cylinder form a first cavity, the first piston and the second piston form a second cavity, and the second piston and the lower portion of the cylinder form a third cavity, the first cavity and the second cavity are filled with hydraulic oil, and the third cavity is filled with compressed air.

[0017] In some embodiments of the present invention, a special-shaped groove is provided on the handle, and a protruding structure is provided on the upper end of the ejector pin, and the protruding structure is engaged with the special-shaped groove on the handle.

[0018] In some embodiments of the present invention, a hydraulic oil channel is provided on the side of the first piston, and the hydraulic oil channel is communicated with the first cavity; an annular groove is provided on the ejector seat, and the annular groove is communicated with the hydraulic oil channel.

[0019] In a second aspect of the present invention, a method for using an adjustable loader direction control mechanism is provided, comprising:

[0020] When the steering column needs to be adjusted, the handle is controlled to move the ejector pin and the ejector pin seat downward by a certain distance, and the disc structure at the lower end of the ejector pin seat moves downward to leave the bottom end surface of the first piston, and the annular groove at the lower end of the ejector pin seat is connected with the hydraulic oil channel of the first piston, so that the hydraulic oil of the second cavity and the first cavity can flow mutually, and the piston rod can move up and down in the first cavity and the second cavity, and the steering wheel is adjusted up and down to realize the angle adjustment of the steering column;

[0021] When the steering column is adjusted into position, the handle is released, and the ejector pin and the ejector pin seat move upward under the pressure of the compressed gas in the third cavity. The disc structure at the lower end of the ejector pin seat moves upward and presses against the bottom end face of the first piston. The annular groove at the lower end of the ejector pin seat and the hydraulic oil channel of the first piston are closed, so that the hydraulic oil cannot flow between the first cavity and the second cavity. At this time, the steering column position is locked.

[0022] One or more technical solutions of the present invention have the following beneficial effects:

[0023] The adjustable loader steering control mechanism and use method provided by the present invention have the function of adjusting the height and angle of the loader instrument assembly and the steering column. The adjustment operation is convenient and quick. After the adjustment is in place, it can be automatically locked, saving time and effort. At the same time, the structure is simple and durable, and it can be used frequently without being easily damaged. The steering column and instrument panel can be adjusted in multiple directions and angles for the driver, thereby improving the working comfort of the driver and ensuring work efficiency. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the external structure of the assembly of the steering column and instrument panel of a loader provided in Example 1 of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the assembly structure of a steering column and a steering wheel of a loader provided in Example 1 of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 3 The structure of the steering column of the loader provided in Example 1 of the present invention is schematically shown. Figure 1 ;

[0027] Figure 4 The structure of the steering column of the loader provided in Example 1 of the present invention is schematically shown. Figure 2 ;

[0028] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the gas spring provided in Example 1 of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 6 The embodiment 1 of the present invention provides Figure 5 A local enlarged schematic diagram of point A in the middle.

[0030] In the figure: 1. steering wheel; 2. instrument assembly; 3. instrument front casing; 4. steering column casing; 5. instrument rear casing; 6. instrument bracket; 7. upper column; 8. lower column; 9. handle; 10. gas spring structure; 101. special-shaped groove; 102. ejector pin; 103. piston rod; 104. first piston; 105. sealing ring; 106. ejector pin seat; 107. cylinder; 108. second piston; 109. compressed gas; 110. hydraulic oil channel; 11. lower column; 12. rubber pad; 13. sound insulation cotton; 14. steering gear connection structure; 15. lower shaft welding; 16. spline; 17. first hinge point; 18. upper hinge point; 19. lower hinge point; 20. upper column; 21. instrument bracket fixing plate; 22. lower column mounting plate. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] The present invention will be further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0032] Example 1

[0033] In a typical embodiment of the present invention, an adjustable loader steering mechanism is proposed, comprising a mechanism housing, a steering wheel 1, a steering column and a steering gear connection structure 14, wherein the steering column and the steering gear connection structure 14 are arranged inside the mechanism housing; the upper end of the steering column is connected to the steering wheel 1 in the driving compartment, and the lower end of the steering column is connected to the steering gear connection structure 14; the steering column comprises an upper column body 20 and a lower column body 11, wherein the upper column body 20 and the lower column body 11 are connected via a universal joint; a column barrel is provided at one end of the steering column close to the steering wheel 1, an instrument bracket 6 is provided on the outer side of the column barrel, and an instrument assembly 2 is provided on the instrument bracket 6; the column barrel comprises an upper column barrel 7 and a lower column barrel 8, wherein the upper column barrel 7 and the lower column barrel 8 are mutually hinged and rotated via two sets of symmetrical hinge points, and the positions of the two sets of symmetrical hinge points correspond to the positions of the universal joints;

[0034] A gas spring structure 10 is also provided on the outside of the column tube, and the upper and lower ends of the gas spring structure 10 are respectively hinged to the outer wall of the upper column tube 7 and the outer wall of the lower column tube 8. The gas spring structure 10 can drive the upper column 20 to swing relative to the lower column 11.

[0035] In this embodiment, if Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the upper column tube 7 and the lower column tube 8 are hinged and rotated with each other through two groups of symmetrical first hinges 17, the outer wall of the upper column tube 7 is provided with an upper extension structure, the upper end of the gas spring structure 10 and the upper extension structure provided on the outer wall of the upper column tube 7 are hinged through two groups of symmetrical upper hinges 18, the outer wall of the lower column tube 8 is provided with a lower extension structure, and the lower end of the gas spring structure 10 and the lower extension structure provided on the outer wall of the lower column tube 8 are hinged through two groups of symmetrical lower hinges 19.

[0036] In this embodiment, if Figure 1 As shown, the mechanism housing includes a front instrument housing 3, a steering column housing 4 and a rear instrument housing 5, which are respectively arranged outside the mechanism to protect the entire mechanism from damage.

[0037] Further, such as Figure 4 As shown, the upper end of the upper column 20 is meshed with the steering wheel 1 through a spline 16 , the lower end of the upper column 20 is connected to the lower column 11 through a universal joint, and the lower end of the lower column 11 is connected to the steering gear connection structure 14 .

[0038] Furthermore, the lower end of the lower column 11 is flexibly connected to the upper end of the lower shaft weld 15 through a rubber pad 12 , and the lower end of the lower shaft weld 15 is connected to the steering gear connection structure 14 through a spline 16 .

[0039] In this embodiment, a sound insulation cotton 13 is provided on the steering gear connection structure 14, and the sound insulation cotton 13 can reduce the noise generated when the multiple groups of shock absorbers provided on the steering gear connection structure 14 are connected to the frame during use.

[0040] Furthermore, the steering gear connection structure 14 is connected to the frame through multiple groups of shock absorbers.

[0041] Furthermore, an instrument bracket fixing plate 21 is provided on the side wall of the upper column tube 7, and the instrument bracket fixing plate 21 is connected to the instrument bracket 6, and the instrument bracket 6 is provided with an instrument assembly 2; a lower column tube mounting plate 22 is provided on the side wall of the lower column tube 8, and the lower column tube mounting plate 22 is used to fix the entire steering column.

[0042] Further, such as Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the gas spring structure 10 includes a handle 9, an ejector pin 102, a piston rod 103, an ejector pin seat 106 and a cylinder 107, wherein a first piston 104 and a second piston 108 are disposed in the cylinder 107;

[0043] The handle 9 is connected to the upper end of the ejector pin 102, and the ejector pin 102 is slidably arranged inside the piston rod 103. The lower end of the piston rod 103 extends into the cylinder 107 to connect with the first piston 104. The first piston 104 is axially provided with a hollow cylindrical structure, and an ejector pin seat 106 is arranged inside the hollow cylindrical structure. The lower end of the ejector pin 102 is connected to the ejector pin seat 106, and the lower end of the ejector pin seat 106 passes through the first piston 104 and is provided with a disc structure, and the diameter of the disc structure is greater than the diameter of the hollow cylindrical structure. The second piston 108 is arranged at a certain distance at the lower part of the first piston 104.

[0044] In this embodiment, the lower end of the piston rod 103 is connected to the first piston 104 via threads. With this arrangement, the first piston 104 will not move independently inside the cylinder 107 .

[0045] Furthermore, the first piston 104 and the upper part of the cylinder 107 form a first cavity, the first piston 104 and the second piston 108 form a second cavity, and the second piston 108 and the lower part of the cylinder 107 form a third cavity. The first cavity and the second cavity are filled with hydraulic oil, and the third cavity is filled with compressed air.

[0046] Furthermore, the handle 9 is provided with a special-shaped groove 101 , and the upper end of the ejector pin 102 is provided with a protruding structure, and the protruding structure is engaged with the special-shaped groove 101 on the handle 9 .

[0047] Furthermore, a hydraulic oil passage 110 is provided on the side of the first piston 104 , and the hydraulic oil passage 110 is communicated with the first cavity; an annular groove is provided on the ejector seat 106 , and the annular groove is communicated with the hydraulic oil passage 110 .

[0048] In this embodiment, the first piston 104 is configured as a segmented cylindrical structure, the diameter of the upper cylindrical structure of the first piston 104 is smaller than the diameter of the lower cylindrical structure, an annular cavity space is formed between the upper cylindrical structure and the cylinder 107, and the upper cylindrical structure is provided with a hydraulic oil channel 110, and the annular cavity space is connected to the hydraulic oil channel 110; the lower cylindrical structure is in contact with the inner wall of the cylinder 107, and an annular sealing ring 105 is provided at the position where the lower cylindrical structure contacts the inner wall of the cylinder 107 to ensure sealing.

[0049] In this embodiment, since the lower end of the piston rod 103 is connected to the first piston 104 by a thread, the first piston 104 will not move independently inside the cylinder 107. The ejector pin 102 is driven to move axially inside the piston rod 103 by controlling the handle, so that the annular groove at the lower end of the ejector pin seat 106 and the hydraulic oil channel 110 of the first piston 104 are opened and closed, thereby realizing the functions of steering column angle adjustment and position locking.

[0050] In a second aspect of the present invention, a method for using an adjustable loader direction control mechanism is provided, comprising:

[0051] When the steering column needs to be adjusted, the control handle 9 moves the ejector pin 102 and the ejector pin seat 106 downward. During the downward movement, the disc structure at the lower end of the ejector pin seat 106 moves downward and leaves the bottom end surface of the first piston 104. The annular groove at the lower end of the ejector pin seat 106 is connected with the hydraulic oil channel 110 of the first piston 104, so that the hydraulic oil of the second cavity and the first cavity can flow mutually. The piston rod 103 can move up and down in the first cavity and the second cavity, and the up and down positions of the steering wheel 1 are adjusted to realize the angle adjustment of the steering column.

[0052] When the steering column is adjusted into position, the handle 9 is released, and the ejector pin 102 and the ejector pin seat 106 move upward under the pressure of the compressed gas 109 in the third cavity, and the disc structure at the lower end of the ejector pin seat 106 moves upward to press against the bottom end surface of the first piston 104. The annular groove at the lower end of the ejector pin seat 106 and the hydraulic oil channel 110 of the first piston 104 are closed, so that the hydraulic oil cannot flow between the first cavity and the second cavity. At this time, the steering column position is automatically locked.

[0053] It should be noted that, in the process of controlling the handle 9 to move downward to drive the ejector pin 102 and the ejector pin seat 106 to move so that the hydraulic oil in the second cavity and the first cavity can flow between each other, the handle 9 needs to be manually pressed down to ensure that the disc structure at the lower end of the ejector pin seat 106 does not contact the bottom end surface of the first piston 104, so that the oil circuits of the first cavity and the second cavity are connected.

[0054] In addition, the compressed gas 109 in the third chamber here, since the first piston 104 is connected to the piston rod 103, the first piston 104 will not move independently, and the ejector pin 102 and the ejector pin seat 106 are controlled by the handle 9. The hydraulic oil is incompressible, and the upward pressure provided by it will not cause the ejector pin and the ejector pin seat or the first piston to move upward, and will not affect the angle adjustment.

[0055] The adjustable loader steering control mechanism and use method provided by the present invention have the function of adjusting the height and angle of the loader instrument assembly and the steering column. The adjustment operation is convenient and quick. After the adjustment is in place, it can be automatically locked, saving time and effort. At the same time, the structure is simple and durable, and it can be used frequently without being easily damaged. The steering column and instrument panel can be adjusted in multiple directions and angles for the driver, thereby improving the working comfort of the driver and ensuring work efficiency.

[0056] Although the above describes the specific implementation mode of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it is not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that various modifications or variations that can be made by those skilled in the art on the basis of the technical solution of the present invention without creative work are still within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. An adjustable loader direction control mechanism, characterized in that: It comprises a mechanism housing, a steering wheel, a steering column and a steering gear connecting structure, wherein the steering column and the steering gear connecting structure are arranged inside the mechanism housing; the upper end of the steering column is connected to the steering wheel in the driving compartment, and the lower end of the steering column is connected to the steering gear connecting structure; the steering column comprises an upper column body and a lower column body, and the upper column body and the lower column body are connected through a universal joint; a column cylinder is provided at one end of the steering column close to the steering wheel, an instrument bracket is provided on the outer side of the column cylinder, and an instrument assembly is provided on the instrument bracket; the column cylinder comprises an upper column cylinder and a lower column cylinder, and the upper column cylinder and the lower column cylinder are mutually hinged and rotated through two groups of symmetrical hinge points, and the positions of the two groups of symmetrical hinge points correspond to the positions of the universal joints; A gas spring structure is also provided on the outside of the column tube. The upper and lower ends of the gas spring structure are hinged to the outer wall of the upper column tube and the outer wall of the lower column tube respectively. The gas spring structure can drive the upper column body to swing relative to the lower column body.

2. An adjustable loader direction control mechanism as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The upper end of the upper column is meshed with the steering wheel through a spline, the lower end of the upper column is connected to the lower column through a universal joint, and the lower end of the lower column is connected to the steering gear connection structure.

3. An adjustable loader direction control mechanism as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that: The lower end of the lower column is flexibly connected to the upper end of the lower shaft welded together through a rubber pad, and the welded lower end of the lower shaft is connected to the steering gear connection structure.

4. An adjustable loader direction control mechanism as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that: The steering gear connection structure is connected to the frame through multiple groups of shock absorbers.

5. The adjustable loader direction control mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: An instrument bracket fixing plate is provided on the side wall of the upper column tube, to which the instrument bracket is connected, and an instrument assembly is provided on the instrument bracket; a lower column tube mounting plate is provided on the side wall of the lower column tube, and the lower column tube mounting plate is used to fix the entire steering column.

6. An adjustable loader direction control mechanism as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The gas spring structure comprises a handle, an ejector pin, a piston rod, an ejector pin seat and a cylinder barrel, wherein a first piston and a second piston are arranged in the cylinder barrel; The handle is connected to the upper end of the ejector pin, and the ejector pin is slidably arranged inside the piston rod. The lower end of the piston rod extends into the cylinder and is connected to the first piston. The first piston is axially provided with a hollow cylindrical structure, and an ejector pin seat is arranged inside the hollow cylindrical structure. The lower end of the ejector pin is connected to the ejector pin seat, and the lower end of the ejector pin seat passes through the first piston and is provided with a disc structure, and the diameter of the disc structure is greater than the diameter of the hollow cylindrical structure. The second piston is arranged at a certain distance below the first piston.

7. An adjustable loader direction control mechanism as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that: The first piston and the upper part of the cylinder form a first cavity, the first piston and the second piston form a second cavity, and the second piston and the lower part of the cylinder form a third cavity. The first cavity and the second cavity are filled with hydraulic oil, and the third cavity is filled with compressed air.

8. An adjustable loader direction control mechanism as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that: The handle is provided with a special-shaped groove, the upper end of the ejector pin is provided with a convex structure, and the convex structure is clamped with the special-shaped groove on the handle.

9. An adjustable loader direction control mechanism as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that: A hydraulic oil channel is provided on the side of the first piston, and the hydraulic oil channel is communicated with the first cavity; an annular groove is provided on the ejector seat, and the annular groove is communicated with the hydraulic oil channel.

10. A method for using an adjustable loader direction control mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: include: When the steering column needs to be adjusted, the handle is controlled to move the ejector pin and the ejector pin seat downward by a certain distance, and the disc structure at the lower end of the ejector pin seat moves downward to leave the bottom end surface of the first piston, and the annular groove at the lower end of the ejector pin seat is connected with the hydraulic oil channel of the first piston, so that the hydraulic oil of the second cavity and the first cavity can flow mutually, and the piston rod can move up and down in the first cavity and the second cavity, and the steering wheel is adjusted up and down to realize the angle adjustment of the steering column; When the steering column is adjusted into position, the handle is released, and the ejector pin and the ejector pin seat move upward under the pressure of the compressed gas in the third cavity. The disc structure at the lower end of the ejector pin seat moves upward and presses against the bottom end face of the first piston. The annular groove at the lower end of the ejector pin seat and the hydraulic oil channel of the first piston are closed, so that the hydraulic oil cannot flow between the first cavity and the second cavity. At this time, the steering column position is locked.

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