Tiller head for an industrial truck

Abstract

Tiller head for an industrial truck with at least one switching element (5) for controlling a lifting movement of a load-handling device and for controlling a drive motor of the industrial truck for forward and / or reverse travel, wherein the switching element (5) is arranged on an end face (4) of the tiller head opposite a tiller rod (2), characterized in that the switching element (5) has an actuating surface (6) rotatable about an X-axis and a Y-axis, wherein the X-axis and the Y-axis are perpendicular to one another, wherein the switching element (5) is circular and at least one further switch (10, 11) is arranged on the outer circumference of the switching element (5).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a tiller head for an industrial truck with at least one switching element for controlling a lifting movement of a load-handling device and the travel movements of the industrial truck, wherein the switching element is arranged on an end face of the tiller head opposite a tiller rod.

[0002] Tiller heads of this type are frequently used in pedestrian-operated industrial trucks or stand-on industrial trucks. While the truck is operating, the operator grasps a handle located on the tiller head. The switching elements are designed, for example, as microswitches or membrane switches and are located inside the tiller head. The tiller head features push buttons, for example, to actuate the switching elements. The tops of the push buttons form the actuating surfaces for the switching elements, and the switching elements are actuated by pressing these actuating surfaces.

[0003] The subsequently published DE 10 2007 063 223 A1 discloses a generic tiller head of an industrial truck.

[0004] DE 44 08 777 A1 discloses a tiller head of an industrial truck in which a switching element for controlling a drive motor of the industrial truck for forward and / or reverse travel is arranged on an end face of the tiller head opposite a tiller rod. This switching element, designed as a travel switch, is designed as a rocker switch that can be depressed in the upper and lower areas. The travel switch is thus designed as a single-axis rocker switch whose actuating surface can be rotated about an X-axis. On the top side of the tiller head, a switching element similar in structure to the travel switch is arranged, which controls the lifting movement of the load-handling device. Also arranged on the top side of the tiller head are a pair of buttons that control a side shift of the load-handling device, and a switch that controls the tilt drive of the lifting mast.

[0005] DE 36 20 564 A1 discloses a single-axis or dual-axis control lever for an industrial truck, which can be used to control control valves that control the movement of the mast or attachments mounted on a lifting carriage. The control lever is equipped with a safety device that prevents unintentional actuation of the control lever.

[0006] EP 0 812 799 A1 discloses a tiller head for an industrial truck with switching elements for controlling a lifting movement of a load-handling device and the travel movement of the industrial truck. An operating element generates a control signal for a lifting movement of the load-handling device. In particular, the document discloses a tiller head in which buttons for the lifting movement of the load-handling device are arranged on an upper side of the tiller head, and a rotary switch for controlling the travel movements is arranged in an extension of a tiller on the tiller head, adjacent to handle sections.

[0007] A disadvantage of this state-of-the-art design is that the tiller head, with its multiple mounting points for control elements, is complex to manufacture. Another disadvantage is the complex rotary switch. The control elements for operating the lifting movement are difficult to reach with the index fingers while holding the tiller head in the grip areas without releasing the handle.

[0008] The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a tiller head in which switching elements for operating the industrial truck are arranged within easy reach in a simple and cost-effective manner.

[0009] This object is achieved according to the invention by a drawbar head having the features of claim 1.

[0010] Advantageously, in a tiller head for an industrial truck with at least one switching element for controlling a lifting movement of a load-handling device and for controlling a drive motor of the industrial truck for forward and / or reverse travel, the switching element is arranged on a front side of the tiller head opposite a tiller rod. The switching element has an actuating surface rotatable about an X-axis and a Y-axis, the X-axis and the Y-axis being perpendicular to each other. The switching element is circular, and at least one further switch is arranged on the outer circumference of the switching element.

[0011] This makes it possible, when using an industrial truck equipped with the tiller head according to the invention, to operate the truck by small tilting movements of the operating surface rotating around the X and Y axes. In particular, the hand does not have to be removed from the tiller head during operation, and control can be achieved by small movements of a fingertip, which can be used to operate the operating surface designed as a joystick.

[0012] In an advantageous embodiment, the X-axis and Y-axis lie essentially in the plane of the front side.

[0013] This makes it possible to rotate the actuating surface around both axes with the thumb or index finger if the drawbar head is grasped with one hand in its grip area, which usually consists of a cross tube on the end opposite a drawbar rod.

[0014] Advantageously, the actuating surface is arranged on a spherical surface and is movable on this.

[0015] This allows a very low overall structure to be achieved and a very short movement of the actuating surface with the fingertip already leads to a significant rotation around an axis when the actuating surface slides along the spherical surface.

[0016] In a favorable embodiment, the spherical surface and the actuating surface are arranged in a recess of the switching element.

[0017] This protects them against unintentional misuse and at the same time the actuating surface of the switching element can be easily felt in the recess with the finger for operation.

[0018] According to the invention, the switching element is circular and at least one further switch is arranged on the outer circumference of the circular shape.

[0019] This allows additional operating functions to be integrated into the control element, such as a horn switch or an emergency stop switch. An emergency stop switch, in particular, can be advantageously positioned on the outer circumference of the control element so that it is activated when the tiller head hits an obstacle, thus protecting against a person being crushed, for example, against a wall.

[0020] In a favorable embodiment, the X-axis is aligned with a handle section of the tiller head and a movement around the X-axis controls the travel movement.

[0021] This means that twisting or tilting the actuating surface in the longitudinal direction of the industrial truck can control the travel movement and the control of the travel movement is intuitive for an operator of the industrial truck.

[0022] Advantageously, the Y-axis is arranged perpendicular to a handle section of the tiller head and a movement around the Y-axis controls a lifting movement.

[0023] If the movement transverse to the control movement of the driving controls the lifting or setting down of a load, this very frequently occurring control function can be integrated into the switching element according to the invention.

[0024] In a favorable embodiment, the actuating surface can be pushed or pulled out in the direction of a Z-axis which is perpendicular to the X-axis and the Y-axis.

[0025] In an alternative advantageous embodiment, the actuating surface is rotatable about a Z-axis which is perpendicular to the X-axis and the Y-axis.

[0026] Advantageously, when the actuating surface is pressed or pulled out in the direction of the Z-axis or rotated about the Z-axis, the movement of the actuating surface about the Y-axis can control a lifting movement in a wider height range and / or a lifting movement with a higher lifting speed.

[0027] This allows for faster further lifting on a forklift truck with a higher lift, for example, by pressing the actuating surface and then rotating it around the Y-axis, depending on the direction of lifting or lowering. The lift control can thus be switched between two speed levels. Alternatively or additionally, a larger lifting range can be enabled in this way.

[0028] By simultaneously rotating around the Z-axis and rotating around the Y-axis, a lifting movement can be carried out at a higher speed or a larger lifting range can be released.

[0029] The movement of the actuating surface can advantageously be detected contactlessly by Hall effect potentiometers.

[0030] Further advantages and details of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the schematic figures. Fig. 1 a perspective view of a drawbar head according to the invention, Fig. 2 in detail the switching element of the drawbar head from the Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 schematically shows a high-lift truck with a tiller head according to the invention.

[0031] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a drawbar head according to the invention with tubular handle sections 1. The drawbar head is attached to a drawbar rod 2 and consists of an open handle ring 3, which is partially formed by the handle sections 1. On an end face 4 facing away from the drawbar rod 2, a switching element 5 with an actuating surface 6 is arranged, which is arranged on a spherical surface 7 in a substantially circular recess 8 of the switching element 5. An emergency stop switch 11 is arranged on the front side of the circularly designed switching element 5.

[0032] Fig. 2 shows in detail the switching element 5 of the drawbar head from the Fig. 1. The actuating surface 6 is arranged on the switching element 5 and is pivotably mounted on the spherical surface 7 in the recess 8 of the switching element 5. The actuating surface 6 is itself spherical and, in the area facing the handle sections, has lateral flange surfaces 9a which protrude laterally and upwards from the actuating surface 6. Together with a front flange surface 9b and a rear flange surface 9b, the flange surfaces 9a, 9b, 9c lie in a hat-brim shape around the actuating surface 6. The emergency stop switch 11 is arranged on the front side of the circularly designed switching element 5, as well as a further switch 10 for a signal horn opposite. For clarity, the two axes of rotation of the X-axis, which is oriented in the direction of the handle sections 1, and the Y-axis, which lies perpendicularly thereto in the plane of the end face 4, are shown.In the present embodiment, the actuating surface can be pressed in the orientation of a Z-axis toward the spherical surface 7, wherein the Z-axis is arranged perpendicular to the X-axis and Y-axis.

[0033] When operating the switching element 5, the recess 8 and, in this recess 8, the actuating surface 6 with the flange surfaces 9a, 9b, 9c can be easily felt with a finger. By pressing the front flange surface 9b and the rear flange surface 9c, the actuating surface 6 can be rotated about the X-axis on the spherical surface 7, thereby controlling the travel movement of the industrial truck. By pressing the side flange surfaces 9b, the actuating surface 6 can be rotated about the Y-axis, thereby controlling a slow lifting movement or a lifting movement in a low lifting range. If, at the same time, the actuating surface 6 is pressed in the direction of the Z-axis and thus the spherical surface 7, the lifting movement occurs at a greater speed and a lifting movement at a greater lifting height is also enabled.

[0034] Fig.3 schematically shows a high-lift truck with a tiller head according to the invention. In a high-lift truck with a tiller head according to the invention, the initial lift of load arms 12 can be carried out by rotating the actuating surface 6 about the Y-axis. The high-lift truck also has a lifting mast 13 with a load-bearing fork 14, which rests on the load arms 12 when lowered. The load fork 14 can be raised further by the lifting mast 13's own lifting mechanism, here a hydraulic cylinder 15. If the actuating surface 6 is now pressed in the direction of the Z-axis and thus the spherical surface 7, the lifting mechanism can be controlled by rotating the actuating surface about the Y-axis instead of the initial lift, and the load fork 14 can be lifted away from the load arms 12.

[0035] Advantageously, the movement of the actuating surface 6 is detected contactlessly by Hall effect potentiometers.

Claims

[1] Tiller head for an industrial truck with at least one switching element (5) for controlling a lifting movement of a load-carrying device and for controlling a drive motor of the industrial truck for forward and / or reverse travel, wherein the switching element (5) is arranged on an end face (4) of the tiller head opposite a tiller rod (2), characterized by that the switching element (5) has an actuating surface (6) rotatable about an X-axis and a Y-axis, wherein the X-axis and the Y-axis are perpendicular to each other, wherein the switching element (5) is circular and at least one further switch (10, 11) is arranged on the outer circumference of the switching element (5). [2] Drawbar head according to claim 1, characterized by that the X-axis and Y-axis lie essentially in the plane of the front side (4). [3] Drawbar head according to one of the preceding claims characterized bythat the actuating surface (6) is arranged on a spherical surface (7) and is movable thereon. [4] Drawbar head according to claim 3, characterized by that the spherical surface (7) and the actuating surface (6) are arranged in a recess (8) of the switching element (5). [5] Drawbar head according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the X-axis is oriented with a handle section (1) of the drawbar head and a movement around the X-axis controls the travel movement. [6] Drawbar head according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the Y-axis is oriented perpendicular to a handle section (1) of the drawbar head and a movement around the Y-axis controls the lifting movement. [7] Drawbar head according to claim 2, characterized by that the actuating surface (6) can be pushed or pulled out in the direction of a Z-axis which is perpendicular to the X-axis and the Y-axis. [8] Drawbar head according to claim 2, characterized by that the actuating surface (6) is rotatable about a Z-axis which is perpendicular to the X-axis and the Y-axis. [9] Drawbar head according to claim 7 or 8, characterized by that when the actuating surface (6) is pressed or pulled out in the direction of the Z-axis or rotated about the Z-axis, the movement of the actuating surface (6) about the Y-axis controls a lifting movement in a wider height range and / or a lifting movement with a higher lifting speed. [10] Drawbar head according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that Hall effect potentiometers can detect the movement of the actuating surface (6) without contact.

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