U.S. patent application number 10/138292 was filed with the patent office on 2002-11-14 for advanced motor grader controls.
Invention is credited to McGugan, Edward.
Application Number | 20020166267 10/138292 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 4168960 |
Filed Date | 2002-11-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020166267 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
McGugan, Edward |
November 14, 2002 |
Advanced motor grader controls
Abstract
A motor grader control arrangement uses a joystick control
arrangement to control the operating functions of the motor grader.
Two joystick controllers are provided on opposite sides of an
operator's chair and the most convenient movement of each joystick
controller, for example, fore-aft, side to side, and right and left
rotation, are assigned to the most common grader adjustments. Each
controller also includes an offset control surface with a series of
thumb actuated press buttons for adjusting a given hydraulic
component in a positive or negative response. The forward face of
each joystick controller can include finger actuated press buttons.
The distribution of the control functions between joystick
controllers maintains similar activity to void operator fatigue in
one hand. This also provides better operator control.
Inventors: |
McGugan, Edward; (Ontario,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DENNISON ASSOCIATES
133 RICHMOND STREET WEST
SUITE 301
TORONTO
ON
M5H 2L7
CA
|
Family ID: |
4168960 |
Appl. No.: |
10/138292 |
Filed: |
May 6, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
37/348 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G05G 9/04785 20130101;
E02F 3/76 20130101; G05G 2009/04774 20130101; E02F 9/2004
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
37/348 |
International
Class: |
E02F 005/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 4, 2001 |
CA |
2,345,951 |
Claims
1. A motor grader control arrangement comprising an operator
seating position with a right hand joystick controller and a left
hand joystick controller mounted on opposite sides of said seating
position, each joystick controller controlling a plurality of
operating functions of the motor grader, each joystick controller
being movable in a fore aft direction, a side to side direction and
a right and left horizontal rotation and thereby control six
functions, each joystick controller further including a series of
thumb actuated buttons with said buttons being paired and each pair
controls a hydraulic cylinder with one button of the pair causing a
first direction of movement of the hydraulic component and the
other button of the pair causing an opposite direction of movement
of the hydraulic component.
2. A motor grader control arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein
said hydraulic components include any hydraulic cylinders,
hydraulic motors, hydraulic valves and hydraulic actuators.
3. A motor grader control arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein
each joystick controller includes an enlarged inwardly extending
control surface and said series of buttons are located on said
control surface.
4. A motor grader control arrangement as claimed in claim 3 wherein
each pair of buttons on said control surface have a unique textured
surface associated therewith.
5. A motor grader control arrangement as claimed in claim 4 wherein
said unique textured surface is associated with an elongate region
of said control surface extending between the respective buttons of
the pair.
6. A motor grader control arrangement as claimed in claim 3 wherein
said inwardly extending control surface is of a curved exterior
shape.
7. A motor grader control arrangement as claimed in claim 6 wherein
said control surface forms a paddle shaped extension of said
joystick controller.
8. A motor grader control arrangement as claimed in claim 7 wherein
some of said pairs of buttons are positioned on said control
surface in a generally side by side relationship and some of said
pairs of buttons are positioned on said control surface in a
generally top bottom relationship.
9. A motor grader control arrangement as claimed in claim 2 wherein
at least one of said joystick controllers includes one of said
pairs of buttons on a rear surface of said joystick controller.
10. A motor grader control management as claimed in claim 1,
wherein one of said joystick controllers, controls steering of
front wheels of the grader by a side to side pivotting movement,
and side to side movement of the other joystick controller,
controls wheel lean of the grader.
11. A motor grader control arrangement as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the control functions of the grader are assigned to said
joystick controllers in a manner to distribute the workload
therebetween such operation of the grader each hand of the operator
is active.
12. A motor grader control arrangement as claimed in claim 3,
wherein said series of buttons are pairs of buttons, and said pairs
of buttons on each joystick controller have a different shape
distinguishable by touch.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to motor grader controls, and
in particular, an improved control arrangement which uses right and
left hand joystick controllers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Operation of a motor grader requires considerable skill due
to the number of hand operated controls and the general complexity
of motion associated with the various implements of the vehicle.
The difficulty in achieving a satisfactory level of control is
further compounded as the actuation direction of the traditional
control levers of the vehicle is not necessarily aligned with the
desired motion to be imparted to the actual implement. For example,
the control lever could be a fore aft direction of movement for
extending or contracting a side shift cylinder in basically a side
to side direction. The fore aft movement of the lever has no direct
correspondence to the movement of the actuator.
[0003] A motor grader due to its particular application and
complexity has a host of different controls and requires extensive
experience to become efficient.
[0004] As a result of the complexity of the machine and the
numerous controls, the operator learning curve is long and
relatively shallow. In addition, the previous controls have forced
the operator to move his hands between different types of controls
and actually release one control to move a different control.
[0005] There have been numerous proposals to simplify the controls
and operation of a motor grader. United States Statutory Invention
Registration H1, 831 discloses two joystick controllers for
controlling the function of a motor grader. These joystick
assemblies control the blade, the vehicle drive and the steering
system of the vehicle. Attempts have been made to make the
direction and motion of the controls more compatible with the
implements that they control. Although it is recognized that a
better control for a motor grader is required, the structure
disclosed in the Statutory Invention Registration is quite complex
and has not been readily accepted.
[0006] The present invention provides an improved control
arrangement which overcomes a number of the difficulties described
above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The motor control arrangement according to the present
invention comprises an operator seating position with a right hand
joystick controller and a left had joystick controller mounted on
opposite sides of the seating position. Each joystick controller
controls a plurality of operating functions of the motor grader and
each joystick is movable in a fore and aft direction, a side to
side direction, and a right and left horizontal rotation. This
provides six control functions.
[0008] Each joystick controller further includes a series of thumb
actuator buttons with the buttons being paired and each pair
controlling a hydraulic component. Actuation of one button of the
pair causing a first direction of movement of the hydraulic
component and actuation of the other button of the pair causing an
opposite direction of movement of the hydraulic component.
[0009] According to an aspect of the invention, the hydraulic
components controlled by the joysticks include any of hydraulic
cylinders, hydraulic motors, hydraulic valves and hydraulic
actuators.
[0010] According to a further aspect of the invention, each
joystick controller includes an enlarged inwardly extending control
surface and the series of buttons are located on the control
surface.
[0011] According to yet a further aspect of the invention, each
pair of buttons on the control surface has a unique textured
surface associated therewith.
[0012] According to yet a further aspect of the invention, the
unique textured surface associated with each pair of buttons is an
elongate region, which extends between the respective buttons.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the
drawings, wherein:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a motor grader with
various components thereof;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the joystick control
arrangement;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a rear view of one of the joystick
controllers;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a front view of the controllers; and
[0018] FIG. 5 shows distinctive shapes applied to the button
actuators.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0019] The motor grader 2 has a rearwardly extending draw bar 3
attached to the front of the frame 4 with a high lift arrangement 6
supporting the rear of the draw bar. The grader blade 7 is
supported below the draw bar and is rotatable about a vertical axis
to change the angle of the grader blade 7 beneath the grader. The
grader blade 7 is also slidable longitudinally beneath the draw bar
and is tiltable in the fore aft direction to change the cutting
angle.
[0020] The rear portion of the draw bar is movable beneath the
grader frame from side to side of the motor grader by means of the
side shift cylinder 5. High lift cylinders 10 control the position
of the grader blade and move it from the raised position of FIG. 1
downwardly to a ground engaging position.
[0021] An operator controls the grader from within the cab 15.
There have been a host of arrangements for controlling the motor of
the grader, the transmission of the grader, the articulation of the
grader, the lean of the front wheels of the grader, the steering of
the front wheels of the grader, and a series of controls associated
with the grader blade 7. Recently, it has been proposed to control
the main operating functions of the grader, namely the various
controls associated with the grader blade, and the steering and
propulsion functions of the grader using joystick controllers
provided at an operating station within the cab 15. The control
arrangement 20 shown in FIG. 2 provides a significant advance and
provides an ergonomic as well as intuitive control arrangement for
the motor grader. The arrangement includes a left hand joystick
controller 30 and a right hand joystick controller 32.
[0022] The following functions are controlled by the left hand
joystick controller 30 and the right hand joystick controller 32.
These controllers are positioned either side of the operator
seating position generally shown as 34. The blade lift or height of
the blade is controlled by the hydraulic lift cylinders 10 provided
either side of the motor grader. The left blade lift cylinder is
controlled by the fore aft movement 36 of the left controller 30.
The right blade lift cylinder is controlled by the fore aft
movement 38 of the right hand controller 32. Forward movement of
the joystick controller causes the respective cylinder to lower and
rearward movement of the controller causes the respective cylinder
to lift the blade. This is the conventional direction of movement
associated with the traditional series of control levers that
grader operators are familiar with. These functions are the most
often used of all of the blade controls and are the most important
with respect to response time and accuracy. The controller channels
associated with these movements are fully proportional in that the
actuation of the hydraulic valve from the movement of the handle is
accurate and is also designed electronically for precise
proportional response based on movement of the respective joystick
controller.
[0023] Steering of the wheels of the grader is controlled by the
side to side movement 40 of the left hand controller. Left movement
causes the wheels to steer left and right movement causes the
wheels to steer right. This steering control is also fully
proportional to allow the operator to control the grader in an
efficient and time responsive manner.
[0024] Wheel lean of the front wheels is typically used for
offsetting blade side loads. Basically, an angled blade can
transfer a significant side load to the grader and leaning of the
front wheels can assist in providing an efficient offsetting load.
Left hand movement of the right hand controller causes the wheels
to lean to the left and right movement causes the wheels to lean
right. The wheel lean control movement is indicated as 42. This
function is also fully proportional. It should be noted that a
return to the neutral position maintains the lean that has been
imparted to the wheels. If the wheels are to be returned to a more
vertical position, then the joystick needs to be moved in the
opposite direction.
[0025] The blade of the motor grader is supported on a very large
rotatable gear, rotatably supported beneath the draw bar of the
grader. This is commonly referred to as the circle turn. The
rotation of the circle turn is controlled by rotating the left hand
controller about its vertical axis as indicated by the movement 44.
Rotation of the joystick controller in a clockwise manner moves the
circle clockwise. Twisting of the handle of the controller in a
counterclockwise direction moves the circle in a counterclockwise
manner. This function is a simple on/off electronic control as the
circle rotates slowly and therefore, can be controlled accurately
without proportional electronics.
[0026] Articulation of the motor grader frame is also a function
that is somewhat unique to a motor grader. Basically, the frame 4
of the motor grader is pivoted about a vertical axis at position 19
(FIG. 1) and the front wheels of the motor grader can be offset to
either side of the tandem drive. Articulation of the grader frame
is controlled by twisting the handle of the right hand controller
about its vertical axis indicated as 46. Twisting the handle
clockwise offsets the frame to the right or clockwise, and twisting
the handle counterclockwise offset the frame to the left. Once
again, this is a simple on/off function and is typically an
adjustment that is completed relatively slowly. The right hand
joystick controller controls the ability to articulate the grader
frame once it has been released.
[0027] A motor grader also has the ability to allow the blade to
float. Blade float allows the lift cylinders to move freely up and
down as the blade follows the contour of the ground or road. This
operation is initiated by double clicking the respective triggers
48 and 50 on the front of the left and right hand, pressing the
trigger twice within a preset time limit, typically in the order of
one second. Double clicking, pressing the trigger twice within a
short time period allows the respective lift cylinders to float.
Moving the left handle, for example, in the fore aft direction such
as to directly control the left lift cylinder will result in the
termination of the float feature and return to normal control. Thus
the triggers 48 and 50 allow activation of the respective float
feature of the lift cylinders. Thus, each joystick controller
controls the respective lift cylinder float feature.
[0028] Blade tilt is controlled by the two left most buttons 52 and
54 on the rear or operator side of the left hand joystick. The
upper button 52 when depressed will cause the blade to tilt
forward. The lower button 54 when depressed will cause the blade to
tilt rearwardly.
[0029] Each pair of buttons on a joystick controller preferably has
a unique shape which is recognizable by touch. In this way, the
operator can confirm without visually confirming his hand position
that the correct button actuator is being engaged. Several
different top surfaces of the buttons are shown in FIG. 5. In this
case, one of the buttons has a projecting top surface, one of the
buttons has a recessed grid top surface, and one button has a
concave top surface. Other distinctive shapes and top surfaces can
be used.
[0030] A motor grader also has the capability of having a series of
different attachments mounted to the front of the grader. Typical
attachments include a bulldozer blade type attachment and a
snowplow attachment. The raising and lowering of the equipment is
controlled by the two center buttons 56 and 58 on the rear or
operator's side of the left joytstick controller handle. The upper
button 56 when depressed will lower the attachment. Depressing the
lower button 58 will raise the attachment; double clicking the
upper button within a specified time period will float the front
attachment. Activating either button again will disengage the float
and return to the raising and lowering controls to the buttons.
[0031] A ripper or scarifier can be attached to the grader and is a
toothed attachment used for tearing of a surface. There are certain
types of rippers, which are attached to the rear of the motor
grader, and there are other rippers secured behind the front axle
of the motor grader. The raising or lowering of this equipment is
controlled by the two right most buttons 60 and 62 on the rear or
operator's side of the left controller handle. Depressing the upper
button 60 will lower the equipment and depressing the lower button
62 will raise the attachment.
[0032] Motor graders are also used for snow plowing. In some cases,
a snow wing is attached to one side of the grader for this
particular function. The snow wing includes a forward mast and a
rearward mast for raising and lowering of the snow wing. The front
of the left controller is equipped with two buttons. The upper
right button when depressed raises the front wing mast. The lower
left button when depressed will lower the front wing mast.
[0033] The two lower most buttons 66 and 68 on the rear or
operator's side of the right hand controller operate on the snow
wing lift. Depressing the right button 68 causes the wing to lower
or displace outwardly to the right. Depressing the left button 66
causes the wing to raise or displace inwardly to the left.
[0034] The snow wing also includes a rear snow wing mast. The front
surface 51 of the right controller 32 is equipped with two buttons
70 and 72. Depressing the lower right button 72 will lower the rear
mast. Depressing the upper left 70 button will raise the mast.
[0035] As previously described, the grader blade 7 is also slidable
below the circle gear. The two upper most buttons 74 and 76 on the
front face of the right hand joystick controller operate the blade
slide. Depressing the right button 76 causes the blade to slide to
the right, depressing the left button 74 causes the blade to slide
to the left.
[0036] The position of the rear of the drawbar 3 is controlled by
the side shift cylinder 5. The two center buttons 78 and 80 on the
front face of the right hand joystick controller 32 operate the
circle side shift cylinder. Depressing the right button 80 causes
the drawbar to be displaced to the right and depressing the left
hand button 78 causes the circle to displace to the left.
[0037] As can be appreciated, the operator controls the speed of
the grader and the transmission of the grader. The left hand
controller 30 is equipped with a three position rocker switch 82
with a small lock button. The switch, when rocked forward will
place the transmission in the forward range. Rocking the switch
rearwardly or downwardly will place the transmission in reverse.
When the switch is in the center or neutral position, the
transmission is in neutral. The lock button on the rocker switch
prevents the switch from moving from the center position until the
lock button is depressed and the switch moved into the desired
position.
[0038] Transmission gear control is provided on the right hand
controller 32. The controller has a three position momentary rocker
switch 84 with a small lock button. The switch when rocked
rearwardly will down shift the transmission. Rocking the switch in
the opposite direction causes an up shift of the transmission. The
lock button on the rocker switch prevents the rocker switch from
moving from the center position until the lock button is depressed
and the switch is rocked into the desired position.
[0039] Additional functions can be added to the control arrangement
as required.
[0040] Turning to FIGS. 3 and 4, it can be seen that the joystick
controllers have a grip portion 100 with a paddle or control
portion 102 thereabove. The various buttons are provided on the
control portion 102 and this area has also been textured about
button pairs to allow the operator to recognize where his thumb is
located for actuating appropriate buttons. As shown in FIG. 4, the
left hand controller includes three unique textured areas 51, 53
and 55. Similarly, right hand controller 32 has unique textured
areas 57, 59 and 61. The control buttons can also be shaped, colour
coded or paired to provide a visual indication. The most frequently
used controls are associated with the three way action of the
joystick controllers. This is particularly true with respect to the
fore and aft direction of the joystick controller and the side to
side direction of the control stick of the controllers.
[0041] The stick portion or grip portion of the controller is
always maintained in the operator's grasp and his thumb is
primarily used for selecting of the various button controls. Some
control buttons are provided on the front surface of the control
portion 102 (See FIG. 3) and these can be actuated using one or two
of the fingers of the operator. As can be appreciated, there is
extensive movement and dexterity capabilities with respect to the
operator's thumb and this provides easy control.
[0042] In the present design, the control functions of the motor
grader have been divided or distributed such that each hand of the
operator basically shares the numerous operating movements required
to control the grader. In this way, each hand is active and one
hand is not extensively overloaded. Consideration has been given to
assigning the control functions in a logical, intuitive manner
without overloading any one hand. Maintaining each hand active
reduces hand and arm strain and reduces operator fatigue. In
addition, better control of the grader is provided due to the
sharing of the workload. The convenient layout and thumb and finger
actuation allows easy transfer between grader functions. Control of
two functions simultaneously, is also practical as each hand
functions independently.
[0043] Although various preferred embodiments of the present
invention have been described herein in detail, it will be
appreciated by those skilled in the art, that variations may be
made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention or
the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *