Joystick Steering Lever Structure for Signal Output Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Steering operation devices with electric levers in work machines face reliability issues due to the potential failure of electric levers not outputting electrical signals, which affects the control of steering actuators.
Innovation Solution
The work machine incorporates a vehicular body frame with a steering actuator and a steering operation device that includes a joystick, at least one electric lever, and an input unit with elongated holes, allowing the lever unit to tilt relative to the main body unit, enhancing the reliability of the electric lever's operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an electric lever is used to detect joystick operation and output electrical signals, then the steering control precision is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to potential signal output failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a pilot valve as an intermediary component between the joystick operation and the hydraulic system. The pilot valve receives mechanical input from the joystick through a pilot oil pressure mechanism and generates control signals independently of the electric lever, serving as a backup mediation path that ensures steering control reliability even when the electric lever fails to output signals
2Device complexity
If the lever unit is directly connected to the main body unit, then the structural complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates due to unintended tilting and load-induced failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the electric lever into a main body unit and a lever unit that are tiltable relative to each other, rather than being directly connected. This segmentation allows the lever unit to tilt independently within an elongated hole, preventing unintended tilting forces from being transmitted to the main body unit and reducing load-induced failures while maintaining operational functionality
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a work machine allowing a steering operation device to be enhanced in reliability. The steering operation device includes a joystick, a first electric lever, and an input unit. The joystick receives an operator's operation. The first electric lever includes a first main body unit and a first lever unit tiltable with respect to the first main body unit, and outputs a tilt angle of the first lever unit with respect to the first main body unit. The input unit inputs an input to the first lever unit of the first electric lever to tilt the first lever unit with respect to the first main body unit of the first electric lever. The input unit has an elongated hole extending in the frontward/rearward direction. The first lever unit is disposed in the elongated hole.