Control lever device for the operation of a vehicle

Abstract

Control lever device (10) for the operation of a vehicle (100), comprising a base body (20) with a mounting interface (22) for mounting in the interior of the vehicle in a mounting position (BP) and a control lever (30) with an elongated extension along a control axis (KA), which is movably mounted on the base body (20) in a neutral position (NP) for a tilting movement in at least one tilting direction (KR) about a rotation axis (DA), which in the mounting position (BP) has an acute first control angle (K1) with respect to a direction of travel (FA) of the vehicle for an inclination of the control lever (30) from the neutral position (NP) transversely to the direction of travel (FA) of the vehicle (100), characterized in that the rotation axis (DA) has an acute second control angle (K2) in a range between ± 5° and ± 10° with respect to a plane formed by the direction of travel (FA) and a vertical axis (VA).the base body (20) and / or the control lever (30) has a variation device (40) which is configured to vary the first control angle (K1), which is formed in a range of 45° ± 15°, and the control lever (30) has a tilting clearance along the at least one tilting direction (KR), which is formed between ± 5° and ± 45°.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a control lever device for the operation of a vehicle and to a vehicle with such a control lever device.

[0002] It is known that vehicles can be controlled using control lever devices, so-called joysticks, as an alternative to the classic steering wheel. Such control levers can be used, for example, to activate the forward and reverse directions of the vehicle or to control acceleration and braking. It is also known that steering movements for turning the steering wheel to the left and / or right are possible by tilting or twisting such a joystick to the side.

[0003] A disadvantage of existing solutions is that the alignment of such control lever devices is usually uncomfortable. Over extended periods, their use becomes tiring, which is why they have not yet become widespread in vehicles. In addition to the fatigue factor, existing control lever devices lack the sensitivity required for maneuvering or making subtle vehicle movements.

[0004] The object of the present invention is to at least partially overcome the disadvantages described above. In particular, the object of the present invention is to improve the ergonomics of a control lever device in a cost-effective and simple manner.

[0005] The foregoing problem is solved by a control lever device having the features of claim 1 and a vehicle having the features of claim 10. Further features and details of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, the description, and the drawings. Features and details described in connection with the control lever device according to the invention naturally also apply in connection with the vehicle according to the invention, and vice versa, so that the disclosure of the individual aspects of the invention always includes, or allows for, reciprocal reference.

[0006] According to the invention, a control lever device serves to control the operation of a vehicle. Such a control lever device has a base body with a mounting interface for attachment in the interior of the vehicle in a mounting position. Furthermore, the control lever device is equipped with a control lever extending elongated along a control axis, which is movably mounted on the base body in a neutral position for a tilting movement in at least one tilting direction about a pivot axis. In the mounting position, this pivot axis has an acute first control angle relative to a driving axis of the vehicle, allowing the control lever to tilt from the neutral position transversely to the driving axis of the vehicle.

[0007] According to the invention, a control lever device is used to control, steer, or regulate the vehicle's driving operation, at least in one tilting direction. For this purpose, the control lever device is designed for mounting and fastening inside the vehicle. Because the attached base body has a fastening interface, the mechanical fastening ensures a precise alignment in the mounting position within the vehicle. This allows the final alignment of the control lever with respect to the vehicle to be predetermined and predefined for subsequent installation by aligning the control lever with the base body and the fastening interface.

[0008] According to the invention, it is now possible to specify at least one predefined tilting direction when mounting the control lever device, which, in the form of the acute first control angle to the axis of rotation, tilts the control lever in the installed and mounted mounting position from the neutral position transversely to the driving axis of the vehicle.

[0009] Vehicles are typically defined by a vehicle-fixed coordinate system. This vehicle-fixed coordinate system has three axes: a directional axis along the vehicle, a transverse axis perpendicular to the directional axis, and a vertical axis perpendicular to the plane between the directional axis and the transverse axis. According to the invention, the inclination in the mounting position for the control axis therefore occurs with respect to the directional axis and the transverse axis. This inclination refers to the neutral position of the control lever. In other words, the axis of rotation of the control lever, when the control lever device is mounted, is inclined forward or downward within the vehicle with respect to the direction of travel.

[0010] This forward- or downward-tilted orientation of the pivot axis offers numerous advantages. While previous solutions typically had the pivot axis positioned along the vehicle's main axis, this new design features a downward tilt along the direction of travel. Movement around this pivot axis results in improved ergonomics. Specifically, gripping the control lever in its neutral position and subsequently moving it along at least one tilting direction allows for a combination of tilting and rolling movements of the user's arm and hand. This, in turn, engages combined arm movements and muscle groups. The combination of two different muscle groups in the user's arm—namely, a rolling and a tilting motion—allows for significantly more precise control of the lever.This allows one of the two muscle groups to perform stabilization work, while the second muscle group is available for the tilting movement and thus the control movement. Compared to previously known solutions, this division into two separate muscle groups, by positioning them along the axis of travel, allows for fatigue-free or low-fatigue operation of the vehicle over longer periods, while simultaneously enabling very sensitive and intuitive operation. A further advantage arises from the fact that the handle follows the combined tilting-rolling movement of the hand and arm. In this way, tensile stress or unwanted twisting between the control lever and the hand can be reduced or even avoided.

[0011] The aforementioned advantages are achieved primarily with very simple means, which can be implemented cost-effectively in the vehicle. For example, the control lever itself and its electrical or electromechanical components can be easily provided as standard components. The correct tilt is ensured by the appropriate installation, so that in this way a cost-effective and simple solution can offer the advantages of the invention. The base body itself, with its mounting interface, serves for a defined alignment during final assembly, i.e., when arranging the control lever device in the vehicle's interior.

[0012] It should also be noted that the control lever device can, of course, have more than just one tilting direction. For example, two opposing tilting directions are conceivable, for instance, for controlling the acceleration and braking of the vehicle in accordance with the present invention.

[0013] It can be advantageous if, in a control lever device according to the invention, the first control angle between the axis of rotation and the axis of travel or the forearm axis of the driver is formed within a range of approximately 45° ± 15°. Selecting such an angle offers a number of advantages and, in particular, improves the ergonomic benefits already described. It prevents the control lever from being tilted too far forward, which would otherwise negate the ergonomic advantages. At the same time, however, the tilt is sufficient to actually achieve the desired degree of benefit. Last but not least, a control angle in this range also offers assembly advantages in this embodiment, as it improves the compactness of the control lever device assembly.

[0014] It is also advantageous if, in a control lever device according to the invention, the axis of rotation has an acute second control angle relative to a plane from the direction of travel around the vertical axis, particularly in a range between ±5° and ±10°. If the control lever is located laterally next to the driver, where it is typically positioned, i.e., in the door area and / or in the center console area, this second acute control angle represents a rotation towards or away from the driver. In this embodiment, the control lever is oriented in space with its axis of rotation, namely firstly forward along the direction of travel and secondly laterally around the vertical axis. The ergonomic advantages described in the invention can thus be achieved even more effectively.This lateral tilting further enhances the effect of the division across the different muscle groups, thus improving fatigue resistance and significantly increasing sensitivity.

[0015] Further advantages arise if, in a control lever device according to the invention, the control lever has a tilting clearance of less than 90° along at least one tilting direction. These advantages are available not only for the neutral position but also for the extreme positions in the direction of the at least one tilting direction. Preferably, all tilting directions have the same or substantially the same tilting clearance. These advantages can thus be achieved simultaneously for all tilting directions and therefore for all control tasks.

[0016] It can also be advantageous if, in a control lever device according to the invention, the tilting clearance is designed in the range between ±5° and ±45° around the axis of rotation. Similar to what has already been explained for the first and second control angles, this tilting clearance is a section that is sufficiently large for fine adjustment and small enough for adequate compactness. The size of the tilting clearance can preferably depend on the length of the control lever. A shorter control lever with a correspondingly larger tilting clearance is preferred.

[0017] Further advantages can be achieved if, in a control device according to the invention, the base body and / or the control lever have a variation device for varying the first control angle. This allows not only the fundamental ergonomic advantages of the invention to be provided, but also an ergonomic adaptation to the user's actual situation. The variation can be provided manually, motor-driven, or semi-motor-driven. To perform the variation, the control lever is preferably released from its neutral position, the corresponding variation of the first control angle and / or the second control angle is carried out, and the control lever is then fixed or locked again in the newly achieved neutral position after the variation.

[0018] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the base body of a control lever device according to the invention has an armrest and / or is attached to an armrest. The armrest further reduces fatigue, as the user no longer needs to hold or lift their arm when using the control lever. The armrest can also help define the inclination or the initial control angle. The armrest can be flat or designed with lateral guidance for the arm. Preferably, the armrest is aligned along the axis of travel or substantially along the axis of travel and / or perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the vertical axis in the mounting position of the control lever device.

[0019] Furthermore, advantages arise if, in a control lever device according to the invention, the armrest has an adjustment mechanism for adjusting its orientation. Similar to what has already been explained with regard to a variation device, the ergonomics can be further adapted to the actual user requirements. The armrest's orientation by adjustment can be configured with respect to the base body, with respect to the vehicle, and / or with respect to the control axis of the control lever.

[0020] Further advantages can be achieved if, in a control lever device according to the invention, the base body, the control lever, and the armrest form a single assembly. This assembly can then be easily and quickly mounted in the vehicle's interior using the mounting interface. The alignment of the individual components of the assembly relative to each other is thus modularly pre-defined within the assembly, thereby combining the advantages of the invention with simple and cost-effective assembly. The mounting interface can be located directly on the base body and / or on the armrest.

[0021] The present invention also relates to a vehicle with at least one control lever device according to the invention. A vehicle according to the invention thus offers the same advantages as those explained in detail with reference to a control lever device according to the invention.

[0022] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in detail with reference to the drawings. The features mentioned in the claims and in the description can be essential to the invention individually or in any combination. The drawings schematically show: Fig. 1 an embodiment of a control lever device according to the invention, Fig. 2. Another schematic representation of an alignment option according to the Fig. 1.

[0023] Fig. Figure 1 schematically shows a control lever device according to the invention. 10 in a schematically represented vehicle 100 This control lever device 10 is with a basic body 20 equipped, which here has an armrest 50 , a fastening interface 22 possesses. Via this mounting interface 22 can in the vehicle 100 Mounting in the BP fastening position can be achieved, as described by the Fig. 1 represents.

[0024] In the Fig. 1. It can further be seen that the defined mounting position BP also results in a defined correlation of the control lever device. 10 to the direction of travel axis FA and the vertical axis VA of the vehicle 100 can be assumed. This refers, for example, to the orientation of the armrest. 50 approximately perpendicular to the vertical axis VA and along the direction of travel axis FA.

[0025] In order to achieve the advantages of the invention, the axis of rotation DA of the control lever is now 30 The control lever is inclined downwards in neutral position NP relative to the direction of travel FA. To perform a control movement, the control lever can be moved from neutral position NP. 30 along at least one tilting direction KR around the axis of rotation DA. The tilting direction KR here is transverse to the axis of travel FA and can be equated, for example, with lateral guidance of the vehicle. Of course, other tilting directions KR, such as braking and acceleration movements, can also be controlled by the control lever. 30 make possible.

[0026] In order to provide further variations, the control lever device 10 here with a variation device 40 equipped. This variation device 40The adjustment of the control axis KA relative to the vertical axis VA and the direction of travel FA is permitted. The armrest is also included. 50 is equipped with an adjustment device 60 trained so that the armrest also 50 with appropriate adjustment options to adapt to the actual user ergonomics.

[0027] In Fig. 2 is a schematic top view of Fig. Figure 1 shows the direction of travel FA and the vertical axis VA spanning a plane which is in Fig. 2 extends vertically upwards to the drawing plane. The preceding explanation of the embodiments describes the present invention solely by way of examples. Naturally, individual features of the embodiments can be freely combined with one another, provided this is technically feasible, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

[1] Control lever device (10) for the operation of a vehicle (100), comprising a base body (20) with a mounting interface (22) for mounting in the interior of the vehicle in a mounting position (BP) and a control lever (30) with an elongated extension along a control axis (KA), which is movably mounted on the base body (20) in a neutral position (NP) for a tilting movement in at least one tilting direction (KR) about a rotation axis (DA), which in the mounting position (BP) has an acute first control angle (K1) to a driving direction axis (FA) of the vehicle for an inclination of the control lever (30) from the neutral position (NP) transversely to the driving direction axis (FA) of the vehicle (100). [2] Control lever device (10) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the first control angle (K1) is formed in a range of approximately 45° ± 15°. [3] Control lever device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the axis of rotation (DA) has an acute second control angle (K2) to a plane formed by the direction of travel (FA) and a vertical axis (VA), particularly in a range between ± 5° and ±10°. [4] Control lever device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the control lever (30) has a tilting clearance along the at least one tilting direction (KR) which is less than 90°. [5] Control lever device (10) according to claim 4, characterized by , that the tilting clearance is formed in the range between ±5° and ±45°. [6] Control lever device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the base body (20) and / or the control lever (30) has a variation device (40) for a variation possibility of the first control angle (K1). [7] Control lever device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by that the base body (20) has an armrest (50) and / or is attached to an armrest (50). [8] Control lever device (10) according to claim 7, characterized by that the armrest (50) has an adjustment device (60) for adjusting the orientation of the armrest (50). [9] Control lever device (10) according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized by , that the base body (20), the control lever (30) and the armrest (50) form a common assembly. [10] Vehicle (100) with at least one control lever device (10) having the features of any one of claims 1 to 9.

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