Integrated Excavator Lever Layout for Intuitive One-Hand Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Construction machines require operators to hold two levers to control the boom, arm, and attachment, limiting the ability to operate other devices simultaneously and leading to reduced operability and increased risk of erroneous operations due to the non-intuitive positioning and movement directions of the levers.
Innovation Solution
An integrated operation lever that combines boom, arm, attachment, and swing operation portions, allowing for intuitive control of the construction machine's operations while enabling the operation of other devices with one hand.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If two operation levers are used to control the boom, arm, and attachment, then the construction machine can perform excavation operations, but the operator cannot operate other devices simultaneously and the operability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple operation functions (boom operation, arm operation, attachment operation, and swing operation) into a single integrated operation lever. This merging of functions allows the operator to control all excavation components and the swing operation simultaneously with one hand, freeing the other hand to operate display devices or other controls, thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The single operation lever is designed to perform multiple functions: it controls the boom, arm, and attachment operations while also controlling the swing operation of the boom. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate levers for each function, improving operability without significantly increasing overall system complexity
2Ease of operation
If the swing operation is controlled by a seesaw pedal instead of the operation lever, then the operation lever can focus on boom, arm, and attachment control, but the swing operation becomes difficult to use and operability is lowered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the swing operation control into the main operation lever, merging it with the boom, arm, and attachment controls. This eliminates the separate seesaw pedal and provides a unified control interface that is easier to use, as the swing operation can now be controlled directly from the operation lever position rather than requiring foot operation
3Ease of operation
If the two operation levers are disposed side by side in the lateral direction, then the layout fits the cabin space, but the relation between operation target and operation levers is low and intuitive operation cannot be performed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the operation lever and its control functions along the longitudinal direction of the cabin, corresponding to the front-rear arrangement of the boom, arm, and attachment. This dimensional reorganization creates an intuitive spatial relationship where the operation lever's position and movement direction directly correspond to the operation targets, improving intuitiveness without significantly impacting cabin space
4Reliability
If the operation direction of the operation lever is allocated in the lateral direction, then the lever can be positioned in the cabin, but the relation between the movement direction of the operation target and the operation direction of the operation lever is low, causing erroneous operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the operation lever with an asymmetric configuration where the movement direction of the lever (front-rear) corresponds to the operational direction of the construction components (boom, arm, attachment). This asymmetric alignment creates a direct intuitive relationship between lever movement and machine response, reducing the likelihood of erroneous operations by making the control relationship obvious and consistent
Data Source
AI summary
An operation lever of a construction machine is constituted by integrally connecting a boom operation portion capable of operating a rotational-movement operation of a boom with respect to a machine body, an arm operation portion capable of operating the rotational-movement operation of an arm with respect to the boom, an attachment operation portion capable of operating an operation of an attachment, and a swing operation portion capable of operating a swing operation of the boom with respect to the machine body.