Operation Device Lever Stand Pivoting Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing expansion-type remote control valve units require multiple operations to unlock and rotate, leading to potential user frustration with operability, particularly due to the need to lift the unit and manually unlock the lock mechanism.

Innovation Solution

An operation device with a lever stand, lever stand support portion, base portion, and holding plate that allows the lever stand to pivot from a first posture to a second, enabling the lever stand support portion to select between third and fourth postures, thereby improving the operability of the expansion-type operation device by simplifying the locking and unlocking process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a lock mechanism with lock pin and lock hole is used to lock the remote control valve unit, then the remote control valve unit can be securely locked in position, but the number of operations required to rotate the unit increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocking reliabilityVSAvoidoperability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The holding plate is pre-positioned to automatically engage with the lever stand support portion when the lever stand is in the first posture, locking the remote control valve unit in place without requiring manual intervention. This preliminary positioning action eliminates the need for separate locking operations while maintaining secure locking reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent removes the traditional lock pin and lock hole mechanism from the system, replacing it with a holding plate structure that achieves the same locking function through a different mechanism. By extracting the complex lock pin insertion/removal sequence, the design reduces the number of operations required while maintaining reliable positioning

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the remote control valve unit is made rotatable between expanded and narrowed positions, then the adaptability of the operation device is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition adjustment capabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The lever stand support portion is designed to be dynamically pivotable between a first posture (locked) and a second posture (unlocked), allowing the remote control valve unit to rotate between expanded and narrowed positions. This dynamic design enables position adjustment capability while using simple pivot motion rather than complex locking mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The holding plate serves multiple functions: it acts as a support structure for the lever stand, provides automatic locking in the first posture, and enables rotation to the second posture. By making this single component multi-functional, the patent achieves position adaptability without increasing overall device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4455410A1Operation device and work machine
Publication Date: 2024.10.30 YANMAR HLDG CO LTD
  • EP4455410A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4455410A1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP4455410A1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

[Problem] A technique capable of improving the operability of an expansion-type operation device is provided. [Solution] An exemplary operation device includes: a lever stand that is disposed on a side of a seat and has an operation lever; a lever stand support portion that supports the lever stand so that the lever stand is pivotable up and down; a base portion that is disposed below the lever stand support portion and supports the lever stand support portion so that the lever stand support portion is pivotable left and right; and a holding plate that is supported by the base portion and disposed above a bottom portion of the lever stand support portion. When the lever stand is pivoted from the first posture to the second posture, the lever stand support portion is made pivotable in a left-right direction to select a third posture or a fourth posture. The holding plate holds, in the third posture or the fourth posture, the lever stand support portion supporting the lever stand in the first posture.