Staggered Control Lever Mechanism for Work Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing work vehicles with front loaders attached to tractors face challenges in arranging control levers and control valves due to spatial constraints, leading to a complex interlocking mechanism and potential soil spillage issues when the bucket inclines towards the driver's seat.
Innovation Solution
A work vehicle design featuring a rockable control lever and laterally disposed control valves with bent interlocking links that allow for a simplified interlocking mechanism, even with staggered link connectors and spools, and a soil spill preventive mechanism using a rocking arm and feedback mechanism to prevent bucket inclination beyond a predetermined degree.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the control lever and control valves are arranged vertically with control valves under the control lever, then the interlocking mechanism can be simplified using straight links, but the operability of the control lever and convenience in accommodating the control lever and control valves deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a vertical arrangement (control valves directly under the control lever) to a staggered arrangement in both fore-aft and transverse directions. This dimensional change allows the control lever to maintain good operability while the control valves are positioned in available space, and the bent interlocking links bridge the staggered positions without requiring multiple relays.
2Ease of operation
If the control lever and control valves are arranged staggered in fore and aft direction and transverse direction to avoid obstacles, then the operability and accommodation convenience are improved, but the interlocking mechanism becomes complex requiring multiple relays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs bent interlocking links instead of straight links to connect the control lever and control valves that are positioned in staggered arrangement. The curvature of the links allows them to navigate around obstacles and connect components that are not in direct alignment, eliminating the need for multiple relay mechanisms while maintaining the advantageous staggered positioning.
3Adaptability or versatility
If link connectors and spools are staggered in transverse direction and fore and aft direction, then the arrangement flexibility is improved, but twisting force occurs between the spool and valve body
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a rocking arm as an intermediary component between the bent interlocking link and the spool. The rocking arm rockably supports the spool and converts the rocking motion transmitted through the bent link into linear movement of the spool, thereby eliminating twisting forces while maintaining the flexibility of the staggered arrangement.
Data Source
AI summary
A work vehicle with a working implement, comprising: a control lever 49 for controlling the working implement 3, the control lever being rockably disposed laterally of a driver's seat 16 mounted on a vehicle body 7; a control valve 52 disposed laterally of the vehicle body for controlling actuators 32, 44 that drive the working implement; and interlocking links 56, 57 for interlocking the control lever and spools 54, 55 of the control valve 52, and transmitting rocking of the control lever to the spools; wherein the control lever 49 and the spools 54, 55 are staggered transversely and longitudinally of the vehicle body 7, and the interlocking links 56, 57 are bent, one end of each interlocking link being connected to a first link connector 72, 68c connected to the control lever, the other end of each interlocking link being connected to a second link connector connected to one of the spools.