U.S. patent application number 10/422944 was filed with the patent office on 2003-12-18 for seat apparatus for industrial vehicle.
This patent application is currently assigned to NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Itou, Hideki.
Application Number | 20030230920 10/422944 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29417189 |
Filed Date | 2003-12-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030230920 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Itou, Hideki |
December 18, 2003 |
Seat apparatus for industrial vehicle
Abstract
A seat apparatus is provided to ensure an operator's backward
visibility when a vehicle moves back. The seat apparatus includes a
seat 1 rotatably supported on a vehicle body 3 through a rotating
mechanism 5. The seat 1 has a mechanism for enabling its rotational
position against the vehicle body 3 to be adjusted. In addition to
an accelerator pedal 7 of the vehicle, an accelerator lever 10 is
provided to allow an operator to operate a vehicle traveling unit
manually.
Inventors: |
Itou, Hideki; (Tokyo,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FOLEY AND LARDNER
SUITE 500
3000 K STREET NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20007
US
|
Assignee: |
NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
|
Family ID: |
29417189 |
Appl. No.: |
10/422944 |
Filed: |
April 25, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/344.21 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60N 2/14 20130101; G05G
1/30 20130101; F02D 11/02 20130101; B60N 2/24 20130101; B60N 2/06
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/344.21 |
International
Class: |
A47C 001/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 29, 2002 |
JP |
2002-155202 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A seat apparatus for an industrial vehicle, the seat apparatus
comprising: an accelerator pedal for controlling a vehicle
traveling unit; a seat rotatably supported on a vehicle body
through a rotating mechanism, for controlling a rotating position
of the seat in relation to the vehicle body; and an accelerator
manipulating unit arranged about the seat, for operating the
vehicle traveling unit manually in place of the accelerator
pedal.
2. The seat apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a base plate
connected to the vehicle body and a rotating plate connected to the
seat, wherein the rotating mechanism includes: a bearing that
supports the rotating plate on the base plate rotatably; and a
low-friction sheet arranged between the base plate and the rotating
plate through a clearance so as to surround the bearing.
3. The seat apparatus of claim 2, wherein the rotating plate is
adapted to suppress its oscillation in a direction apart from the
base plate.
4. The seat apparatus of claim 2, wherein the rotating plate is
adapted to enable change of its rotating position to at least both
of a neutral position to direct the seat in front and a retreat
rotating position used at a vehicle's moving back and also adapted
so that the rotational movement of the rotating plate can be locked
on the neutral position and the retreat rotating position, and the
accelerator manipulating unit is arranged on a lock lever provided
on either the rotating plate or the seat, for releasing the locking
state of the rotating plate.
5. The seat apparatus of claim 4, wherein the rotating plate is
adapted to change its rotating position to a passenger's getting
on-and-off rotating position on the opposite side of the retreat
rotating position over the neutral position, the rotating plate can
be locked its rotational movement on the passenger's getting
on-and-off rotating position.
6. The seat apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a seat slide
mechanism arranged on the vehicle body to slide the seat, the
rotating mechanism arranged between the seat slide mechanism and
the seat.
7. The seat apparatus of claim 1, wherein an operator's manual
operation of the vehicle traveling unit with the accelerator
manipulating unit is permitted when the seat is in the retreat
rotating position used at a vehicle's moving back.
8. The seat apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vehicle traveling
unit is adapted to control a vehicle's traveling by operating a
throttle valve of an engine, and the accelerator manipulating unit
is adapted to operate an accelerator wire connected to the throttle
valve.
9. The seat apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vehicle traveling
unit is adapted to control a vehicle's traveling by controlling at
least the drive of an electrically-powered motor through a
controller, and the accelerator manipulating unit is adapted to
generate a signal corresponding to an operator's manipulating
amount to the controller.
10. A seat apparatus for an industrial vehicle, the seat apparatus
comprising: an accelerator pedal for controlling a vehicle
traveling unit; a seat rotatably supported on a vehicle body
through a rotating mechanism, for controlling a rotating position
of the seat in relation to the vehicle body; and an accelerator
manipulating means for operating the vehicle traveling unit
manually in place of the accelerator pedal, arranged about the
seat.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a seat apparatus for an
industrial vehicle, such as fork lift. More particularly, the
invention relates to a seat apparatus which can suppress reduction
of the operationality of a traveling manipulating device in case of
rotating a seat for the purpose of ensuring rearward visibility at
the retreat of the industrial vehicle.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2000-318498
discloses a conventional seat apparatus of this kind.
[0005] In this seat apparatus, for the purpose of preventing the
reduction in operationality of various pedals since an operator's
foot gets away from the pedals in rotating a rotatable seat in
order to ensure rearward visibility with ease at a vehicle's
retreating, the rotating center of the rotatable seat is positioned
in front of a seat cushion. Thus, in order to facilitate an
operator's manipulating of various pedals, the seat apparatus is
constructed so as to reduce a movement of an operator's foot as
possible even if rotating the seat at a predetermined angle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In the above conventional device, however, there is a
limitation to enlarge the rotating angle of the seat since the
device is directed to ensure an operator's operationality of the
pedals despite rotation of the seat, causing a possibility that it
becomes difficult for an operator to take a manipulating amount to
ensure rearward visibility at a vehicle's going back.
[0007] The present invention is provided to solve the
above-mentioned problem. An object of the present invention is to
provide a seat apparatus for an industrial vehicle, which can take
a driving posture enabling an operator to ensure an operator's
backward visibility when the industrial vehicle moves back.
[0008] According to the present invention, the above-mentioned
object is accomplished by a seat apparatus for an industrial
vehicle, the seat apparatus comprising:
[0009] an accelerator pedal for controlling a vehicle traveling
unit;
[0010] a seat rotatably supported on a vehicle body through a
rotating mechanism, for controlling a rotating position of the seat
in relation to the vehicle body; and
[0011] an accelerator manipulating unit arranged about the seat,
for allowing an operator to operate the vehicle traveling unit
manually in place of the accelerator pedal.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a layout view showing a seat apparatus for an
industrial vehicle in accordance with the first embodiment of the
present invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a front view of the seat apparatus of FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a side view of the seat apparatus of FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a plan view of a rotating mechanism of the seat
apparatus of FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the rotating mechanism of FIG.
4;
[0017] FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the seat apparatus;
[0018] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of an accelerator
interlocking unit;
[0019] FIG. 8 is a front view of the accelerator interlocking
unit;
[0020] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the rotating mechanism while
the seat apparatus is in neutral;
[0021] FIG. 10 is a layout view showing the relationship in
position between pedals and the seat apparatus in neutral;
[0022] FIG. 11 is perspective view of the rotating mechanism when
the seat apparatus is in its backward rotational position;
[0023] FIG. 12 is a layout view showing the relationship in
position between the pedals and the seat apparatus in its backward
rotational position;
[0024] FIG. 13 is a layout view showing the relationship in
position between the pedals and the seat apparatus in its position
for an operator to get on and off;
[0025] FIG. 14 is a side view showing accelerator operating means
of a seat apparatus for an industrial vehicle in a modification of
the invention;
[0026] FIG. 15 is a side view showing an accelerator pedal of the
seat apparatus of FIG. 14; and
[0027] FIG. 16 is a circuit diagram of the seat apparatus of FIGS.
14 and 15.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0028] Referring to accompanying drawings, an embodiment of the
present invention will be described below.
[0029] FIGS. 1 to 8 show one example of a seat apparatus for an
industrial vehicle on the application of the present invention.
FIG. 1 is a layout view of the seat apparatus. FIG. 2 is a front
view of the seat apparatus. FIG. 3 is a side view of the seat
apparatus. FIG. 4 is a plan view of a rotating mechanism of the
seat apparatus. FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the rotating
mechanism of FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the seat
apparatus. FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of an accelerator
interlocking unit. FIG. 8 is a front view of the accelerator
interlocking unit.
[0030] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a seat 1 of a fork lift is mounted
on an upper surface of a top panel 3 (engine hood) forming part of
a vehicle body 2, through seat slides 4 and a rotating mechanism 5.
In a variation, a suspension 6 may be interposed between the
rotating mechanism 5 and the seat 1. The seat slide 5 fixes the
rotating mechanism 5 and the seat 1 on the top panel 3 slidably in
the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle (fork lift). The seat 1
includes a seat cushion 1A providing a seat face, a seat back 1B
and hip supports 1C for supporting an operator's hip. The seat 1 is
also equipped with an accelerator lever 10 as an accelerator
operating unit. The accelerator lever 10 is connected with a
not-shown throttle valve of an engine (not shown) through the
intermediary of an accelerator wire 11 and an accelerator interlock
12. As is well known, on a floor in front of the seat, there are
generally arranged an accelerator pedal 7, a brake pedal 8 and a
clutch pedal (or an inching pedal) 9, in order from the right side
of the vehicle.
[0031] As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the rotating mechanism 5 includes
a base plate 15 connected with the seat slides 4, a rotating plate
16 connected with the seat 1 and a bearing mechanism 17 formed by a
taper roller bearing 17A that supports the rotating plate 16 in
relation to the base plate 15 rotatably. The bearing mechanism 17
interposes the taper roller bearing 17A between a boss 15A
projecting from the base plate 15 and a hub 16A of the rotating
plate 16. The taper roller bearing 17A includes an inner race 17B
having a conical pitch face having its upper part of a small
diameter, and an outer race 17C. In assembly, the inner race 17b is
fitted to the outer periphery of the boss 15A, while the outer race
17C is fitted to the inner periphery of the hub 16A. In order to
prevent the inner race 17B and the outer race 17C from slipping
out, the bearing mechanism 17 further includes a fixing bolt 17D
and a nut 17E. Between the base plate 15 and the rotating plate 16
around the bearing mechanism 17, a low-friction sheet 18 is
arranged to reduce frictional resistance when the plate 15 makes
contact with the plate 16. The rotating plate 16 and the seat 1 are
rotatably supported on the base plate 15 owing to the bearing
mechanism 17. When an offset load is applied from the seat 1, the
rotating plate 16 comes into contact with the low-friction sheet 18
without contacting with base plate 15, accomplishing the smooth
rotation. Owing to the constitution of the base plate 15, the
rotating plate 16 rotatable by the bearing 17 and the low-friction
sheet 18 between the plate 15 and the plate 16, the so-constructed
rotating mechanism 5 is provided with a reduced vertical dimension.
In the illustrated example, the rotating center of the rotating
mechanism 5 is arranged so as to pass through the center part of
the seat cushion 1A. Nevertheless, the rotating center of the
rotating mechanism 5 is not always required to coincide with the
center part of the seat cushion 1A and may be shifted to a margin
part of the seat cushion 1A as an intended purpose demands.
[0032] For the purpose of suppressing the rotating plate 16 from
oscillating in the vertical direction, an oscillation control unit
19 is arranged between the plate 16 and the base plate 15. As for
this oscillation control unit 19, an arc guide opening 15B is
formed in the front part of the base plate 15 so as to center the
bearing mechanism 17. While, a hole 16B is formed in the front part
of the rotating plate 16. The oscillation control unit 19 is formed
by a bolt 19A consisting of a shaft part 19B and a head part 19C
and a nut 19D. In assembly, the shaft part 19B of the bolt 19A is
inserted into the guide opening 15B of the base plate 15 from its
underside. Penetrating the rotating plate 16 through the hole 16B,
the shaft part 19B of the bolt 19A is screwed into the nut 19D. In
operation, when the rotating plate 16 oscillates apart from the
base plate 15, the head part 19C of the bolt 19 abuts on the base
plate 15, thereby restricting a further oscillation of the rotating
plate 16. Again, the oscillation control unit 19 has an additional
function to define the rotational range of the rotating plate 16
(and the seat 1) since the shaft part 19B of the bolt 19A can abut
on both ends of the guide opening 15B. In the modification, the
bolt 19A may be replaced with an element having an engagement part
similar to the head part 19C although it is not shown in the
figure.
[0033] On either side of the rear part of the rotating plate 16
(e.g. right side in the shown example), a bracket 20 having rising
sides opposing each other is fixed to the plate 16. A support shaft
21 having both sides supported by the rising sides of the bracket
20 is arranged in the left-and-right direction of the vehicle. A
lock lever 22 is provided with a pair of collars 23 fixed thereto.
The collars 23 are rotatably engaged with the support shaft 21.
Thus, the support shaft 21 supports the lock lever 22 rotatably
about an axis extending in the left-and-right direction of the
vehicle. The lock lever 22 is formed to extend forward along the
lateral side of the seat 1 and also provided, at the tip of the
lever 22, with a manipulating grip 22A. A coil spring 24 is
arranged between the collars 23 and the support shaft 21 (or the
bracket 20) to urge the lock lever 22 in a direction to rotate the
grip 22A downward. The other end of the lock lever 22 is bent so as
to penetrate a notch 25 of the rotating plate 16 and project
downward, providing a lock pin 27 for engagement with lock grooves
26 of the base plate 15.
[0034] The lock grooves 26 of the base plate 15 are positioned so
as to engage with the lock pin 27 of the lever 22 when the rotating
seat 1 is in a neutral position, a retreat rotating position and a
"passenger's getting on-and-off" position, respectively. The lock
grooves 26 are formed in an circular margin 28 centering the
bearing mechanism 17. Due to urging force of the coil spring 24,
the lock pin 27 engages with a neutral lock groove 26A when the
seat 1 is in the neutral position. When the seat 1 is in the
retreat rotating position, the lock pin 27 engages with a retreat
lock groove 26B. When the seat 1 is in the "passenger's getting
on-and-off" position, the lock pin 27 engages with a "passenger's
getting on-and-off" lock groove 26C. With these engagements of the
lock pin 27, the seat 1 is prohibited from rotating freely. When
the seat 1 is in the retreat rotating position, there is
established one condition where the shaft part 19B of the bolt 19A
abuts on one end of the guide opening 15B of the oscillation
control unit 19. Further, when the seat 1 is in the "passenger's
getting on-and-off" position, there is established another
condition where the shaft part 19B of the bolt 19A abuts on the
other end of the guide opening 15B of the oscillation control unit
19. The engagements of the lock pin 27 with the lock grooves 26A to
26C can be canceled by rotating the lock lever 22 in opposition to
the coil spring 24 by means of the grip 22A. When the seat 1 is
rotated for any length subsequently to the above rotation of the
lock lever 22, the lock pin 27 of the lock lever 22 comes into
contact with the circular margin 28, allowing the seat 1 to be
rotated to an operator's intended position.
[0035] As shown in FIG. 3, an accelerator lever 10 (as an
accelerator manipulating unit) is pivotally arranged in the
vicinity of the grip 22A. The manipulation on the accelerator lever
10 is transmitted to a throttle lever 30 of an accelerator
interlock 12 through an accelerator wire 11 in the form of a
pull-cable or a push-pull cable. Together with a shaft 32, a pedal
lever 33 is rotatably supported on a bracket 31. The accelerator
pedal 7 allows this pedal lever 33 to be rotated corresponding to
an operating span of the accelerator pedal 7 and also allows a
throttle valve (not shown) of an engine to be opened or closed
through a lever 34 fixed on the shaft 32 and a pull (or push-pull)
wire 35. The throttle lever 30 is rotatably supported on the shaft
32 of the pedal lever 33. Since the throttle lever 30 is provided,
at an intermediate part thereof, with a claw 30A for engagement
with the other end of the pedal lever 33, the manipulation of the
lever 33 allows the throttle valve of the engine to be operated.
That is, according to the embodiment, the throttle valve of the
engine can be controlled by both of the accelerator pedal 7 and the
accelerator pedal 10. Noted that although the accelerator lever 10
forms the accelerator manipulating unit in the above description,
it may be formed by a rotary-type manipulator to rotate the grip
22A or a joy-stick type manipulator both not shown in the figure.
Further, as for the grip(rotary)-type manipulator or the joy-stick
type manipulator, an operating span thereon may be converted to
electrical signals to drive a not-shown motor etc. for actuating
the accelerator interlock 12 mechanically.
[0036] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the accelerator interlock 12
includes a vacuum actuator 36 having a rod 38. When the vacuum
actuator 36 is in an inactivated state, the rod 38 is urged by a
built-in spring 37 to occupy its forward position. When the vacuum
actuator 36 is activated, the rod 38 is moved to its backward
position in opposition to the built-in spring 37. In the forward
position, the rod 38 intersects with a rotational track of the
throttle lever 30 to engage with a hole 31A formed in the bracket
31, thereby preventing the throttle lever 30 from moving in a
direction to open the throttle valve. The vacuum actuator 36 is
driven by negative pressure supplied from a vacuum switching valve
39.
[0037] The vacuum switching valve 39 includes an output port 39A
communicating with the actuator 36, an atmospheric port 39B
communicating with atmospheric air and a vacuum port 39C
communicating with an intake manifold of the engine. When a
solenoid 40 is inactivated, the atmospheric port 39B communicates
with the output port 39A, so that the actuator 36 is brought into
the inactivated state. When the solenoid 40 is activated, the
vacuum port 39C communicates with the output port 39A, so that the
actuator 36 is brought into the activated state. The solenoid 40 is
connected with a battery 44 through the intermediary of a
seat-rotating detecting switch 43, a fuse 42 and a key switch 41.
The seat-rotating detecting switch 43 is turned on when the seat 1
is positioned in the retreat rotating position. The solenoid 40 is
activated providing that the key switch 41 is turned on and the
seat-rotating detecting switch 43 detects the seat 1 in the retreat
rotating position. Then, the actuator 36 causes the rod 38 to be
withdrawn to allow the rotation of the throttle lever 30, thereby
allowing the opening/closing action of the throttle valve by means
of the accelerator lever 10.
[0038] The above-constructed seat apparatus for an industrial
vehicle operates as follows.
[0039] In the neutral state of the seat 1, as shown in FIGS. 9 and
10, the lock pin 27 of the lock lever 22 engages in the neutral
lock groove 26A to lock the rotating mechanism 5, so that an
operator takes a seat in the normal posture directing ahead of the
vehicle. Accordingly, the operator can manipulate the accelerator
pedal 7, the brake pedal 8, the inching pedal 9, etc. to travel the
vehicle, as usual. Then, the seat-rotating detecting switch 43 is
in OFF state and both of the vacuum switching valve 39 and the
actuator 36 are together turned off. Thus, the rod 38 occupies its
projecting position to obstruct the action of the throttle lever
30, thereby establishing a condition disenabling manipulating the
throttle valve despite an operator's manipulation of the
accelerator lever 10.
[0040] In case of manipulating the seat 1 from the above state to
the retreat rotating position for reverse travel of the vehicle, as
shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, an operator pulls up the lock lever 22 by
an operator's right hand. Then, the lock lever 22 rotates about the
support shaft 21, so that the lock pin 27 disengages from the
neutral lock groove 26A and abuts on the bottom of the notch 25 in
the rotating plate 16, whereby the lock lever 22 is prevented from
further rotating.
[0041] Successively, when an operator twists an operator's body to
the right (in this case), the seat 1 rotates around the taper
roller bearing 17A of the rotating mechanism 5 as the rotating
center, smoothly. In this state, since the lock pin 27 bears on the
circular margin 28 with the rotation of the seat 1, it can rotate
even if stopping the pulling action of the lock lever 22. Here, we
describe a case of rotating the seat 1 while keeping on pulling up
the lock lever 22. With the rotation of the seat 1, the bolt 19A of
the oscillation control unit 19 abuts on the end of the guide
opening 15B to obstruct a further rotation of the seat 1, while the
lock pin 27 faces the retreat lock groove 26B. When stopping
pulling up the lock lever 22 in the above state, the lock lever 22
rotates about the support shaft 21 by the coil spring 24 and the
lock pin 27 engages in the retreat lock groove 26B thereby locking
the seat 1 in the retreat rotating position. If rotating the seat 1
while stopping pulling up the lock lever 22, the lock pin 27
engages in the retreat lock groove 26B at the same time of facing
it.
[0042] The engagement between the lock pin 27 and the retreat lock
groove 26b causes the seat-rotating detecting switch 43 to be
turned on. As a result, the solenoid 40 of the vacuum switching
valve 39 is activated to communicate the vacuum port 39C with the
output port 39A, so that the vacuum actuator 36 is supplied with
negative pressure of an intake manifold of an engine. Then, the
vacuum actuator 36 moves the rod 38 back in opposition to the
built-in spring 37, allowing rotation of the throttle lever 30.
Therefore, when an operator manipulates the accelerator lever 10,
the movement is transmitted to the throttle lever of the engine
through the accelerator wire 11, the throttle lever 30, the claw
30A, the pedal lever 33, the shaft 32, the lever 34, etc., thereby
allowing a vehicle speed etc. to be controlled.
[0043] In this state, as shown in FIG. 12, since an operator makes
an angle of 40 to 45 degrees with the forward traveling direction
of the vehicle, an operator can identify obstacles etc. existing in
the backward traveling direction without twisting an operator's
body greatly. On the other hand, an operator's left foot approaches
the brake pedal 8 to enable maintaining to manipulate it, while an
operator's right foot leaves the accelerator pedal 7 greatly to
disenable manipulating it. However, owing to the provision of the
lock lever 22 accompanied with the accelerator lever 10, the
operator can control a traveling speed of the vehicle by means of
the accelerator lever 10 while identifying the backside of the
vehicle.
[0044] In order to return the seat 1 into the neutral state, it is
performed to lower the lock lever 22 to make the lock pin 27 apart
from the retreat lock groove 26B and twist an operator's body to a
neutral direction (left). Then, the operator releases an operator's
hand from the lock lever 22 when the seat 1 begins to rotate. With
a further rotation of the seat 1, it rotates up to its straight
state. When the lock pin 27 faces the neutral lock groove 26A, an
urging force of the coil spring 24 allows the lock pin 27 to engage
in the neutral lock groove 26A under lock automatically. As soon as
the lock lever 22 is pulled up, the seat-rotating switch 43 is
inactivated. Then, the excitation of the solenoid 40 is canceled to
release the operation of the vacuum actuator 36, so that the rod 38
goes ahead to obstruct the action of the throttle lever 30. That
is, in the neutral state of the seat 1, it becomes possible to
control the throttle valve by means of the accelerator pedal 7
only, thereby preventing wrong operation of an operator. In case of
continuing the pulling-up operation of the lock lever 33 even after
the rotation of the seat 1, an operator has only to stop the
pulling-up operation of the lock lever 22 after confirming the
recovery of the seat 1 to the neutral state. Then, it is checked
whether the seat 1 is in the neutral state or not. For example, if
a detent mechanism is built in the rotating mechanism 5, then it is
possible to attain accurate operation of the lock lever 22.
[0045] In order to change the seat 1 from the neutral state to the
"passenger's getting on-and-off" position, it is performed to pull
up the lock lever 22 to make the lock pin 27 apart from the neutral
lock groove 26A and twist an operator's body toward the
"passenger's getting on-and-off" position. As a result, the seat 1
rotates about the taper roller bearing 17A of the rotating
mechanism 5 smoothly. Since the lock pin 27 faces the circular
margin 28 with the rotation of the seat 1, it can rotate in this
state even if stopping the pulling-up operation of the lock lever
22. Here, we describe a case of rotating the seat 1 while keeping
on pulling up the lock lever 22. With the rotation of the seat 1,
the bolt 19A of the oscillation control unit 19 abuts on the other
end of the guide opening 15B to obstruct a further rotation of the
seat 1, while the lock pin 27 faces the "passenger's getting
on-and-off" lock groove 26C. When stopping pulling up the lock
lever 22 in the above state, the lock lever 22 rotates about the
support shaft 21 by the coil spring 24 and the lock pin 27 engages
in the "passenger's getting on-and-off" lock groove 26C thereby
locking the seat 1 in the "passenger's getting on-and-off" rotating
position. If rotating the seat 1 while stopping pulling up the lock
lever 22, the lock pin 27 engages in the "passenger's getting
on-and-off" lock groove 26C at the same time when the lock pin 27
faces the groove 26C.
[0046] As shown in FIG. 13, the "passenger's getting on-and-off"
rotating position is mainly utilized in getting on-and-off the
vehicle, forming a seat-rotating position facilitating an
operator's getting on-and-off the vehicle. Then, in the accelerator
interlock 12, the actuator 36 is so inactivated that the rod 38
occupies the forward position to obstruct rotating of the throttle
lever 30, disenabling manipulating of the accelerator lever 10. In
case of traveling the vehicle for any reason, since the pedals are
not apart from the seat 1 so much, an operator can manipulate the
accelerator pedal 7 by an operator's right foot and also the brake
pedal 8 and the inching pedal 9 by an operator's left foot,
allowing traveling of the vehicle.
[0047] FIGS. 14 to 16 show a modification of the seat apparatus for
an industrial vehicle of the present invention. In the
modification, the above-mentioned mechanical accelerator interlock
is replaced with an electrical accelerator interlock. FIG. 14 shows
the structure in the circumference of an accelerator lever, while
FIG. 15 shows the structure in the circumference of an accelerator
pedal. FIG. 16 shows the structure of an electrical circuit.
[0048] In FIG. 14, a manipulation amount about the accelerator
lever 10 is inputted to a rotary encoder 51 through a rod 50. Then,
the rotary encoder 51 converts the manipulating amount about the
accelerator lever 10 to an electric signal and further outputs the
signal to a controller 52.
[0049] In FIG. 15, a manipulation amount about the accelerator
pedal 7 is inputted to a rotary encoder 54 through a rod 53. Then,
the rotary encoder 54 converts the manipulating amount about the
accelerator pedal 7 to an electric signal and further outputs the
signal to the controller 52.
[0050] The rotary encoder 51 for the accelerator lever 10 is
connected with the rotary encoder 54 for the accelerator pedal 7,
as shown in FIG. 16. The encoders 51, 54 include variable
resistances 51A, 54A to which voltages are applied from the
controller 52, respectively. Output voltages from the variable
resistances 51A, 54A are respectively inputted to a switching relay
55. The switching relay 55 outputs an output of the rotary encoder
54, which corresponds to the manipulating amount of the accelerator
pedal 7, to the controller 52 when a built-in solenoid 55A is not
excited. While, when the solenoid 55A is excited, the switching
relay 55 outputs an output of the rotary encoder 51, which
corresponds to the manipulating amount of the accelerator lever 10,
to the controller 52. The solenoid 55A of the switching relay 55 is
connected to the seat-rotating switch 43 and therefore, the relay
55 is activated when the switch 43 operates. When the seat-rotating
switch 43 is turned off, a signal corresponding to a manipulating
amount of the accelerator pedal 7 is inputted to the controller 52.
While, when the seat-rotating switch 43 is turned on, a signal
corresponding to a manipulating amount of the accelerator lever 10
is inputted to the controller 52. Then, the controller 52 operates
a traveling motor 56 or a brake 57 corresponding to the above
signals, thereby controlling the traveling condition of the
vehicle.
[0051] Also in this modification, since the switching relay 55
generates a signal corresponding to the manipulating amount of the
accelerator lever 10 to the controller 52 when the seat-rotating
switch 43 detects the seat 1 being rotated to the backward
traveling position, an operator can manipulate the accelerator
lever 10 on the lock lever 22 while identifying obstacles etc.
existing in the backward traveling direction without collapsing an
operator's driving posture, thereby allowing a vehicle's traveling
condition to be controlled corresponding to an operator's
manipulation.
[0052] Since the switching relay 55 generates a signal
corresponding to the manipulating amount of the accelerator pedal 7
to the controller 52 when it is detected due to the inactivation of
the seat-rotating switch 43 that the seat 1 is in the neutral
rotating position or the "passenger's getting on-and-off" rotating
position, an operator can control a vehicle's traveling condition
corresponding to an operator's manipulation on the accelerator
pedal 7 while identifying obstacles etc. existing in the forward
traveling direction.
[0053] According to the embodiment of the invention, it is possible
to bring about the following effects.
[0054] First, the seat 1 is equipped, in place of the accelerator
pedal 7, with the accelerator lever 10 (as the accelerator
manipulating unit) allowing a vehicle traveling unit to be
controlled manually. Therefore, even when an operator is getting on
the seat 1, the operator can control the vehicle traveling unit by
the accelerator lever 10 manually, allowing a rotating angle of the
seat 1 to be increased without taking operationality about the
accelerator pedal 7 into consideration. Thus, it is possible to
rotate the seat 1 up to an ideal angle required to ensure field of
vision at a vehicle's backward traveling, whereby an operator's
fatigue due to a strained driving posture can be reduced
remarkably.
[0055] Since the rotating mechanism 5 is formed by the bearing 17
that supports the rotating plate 16 to the base plate 15 rotatably
and the low-friction sheet 18 disposed between the base plate 15
and the rotating plate 16 through a clearance while surrounding the
bearing 17, the rotating mechanism 5 can be thinned as a whole,
whereby it is possible to suppress raising of a hip point about the
seat 1 to the utmost. A load applied on the seat 1 is mostly born
by the bearing 17, while the low-friction sheet 18 bears the load
only when the rotating plate 16 is bent. Therefore, the seat 1 can
be rotated by only twisting an operator's body slightly, thereby
requiring no motive energy to rotate the seat 1.
[0056] Since an oscillation of the rotating plate 16 allowing it to
apart from the base plate 15 is restricted by the oscillation
control unit 19, even if the seat back 1B is subjected to a great
input at breaking etc., it is possible to prevent the rotating
plate 16 from lifting, thereby preventing a change in posture of an
operator on the seat 1.
[0057] The position of the rotating plate 16 in relation to the
base plate 15 can be altered at least between the neutral position
and the retreat rotating position and also locked up in each of the
neutral position and the retreat rotating position. Furthermore,
the lock lever 22 for releasing these locking states is equipped
with the accelerator lever 10 as the accelerator manipulating unit.
Therefore, it is possible for an operator to manipulate the
accelerator lever 10 while gripping the lock lever 22 after the
rotation of the seat 1 has been completed, whereby a smooth
shifting to the backward traveling can be accomplished, thereby
improving the operating efficiency of an operator.
[0058] Additionally, if allowing the releasing direction of the
lock lever 22 to coincide with the rotating direction of the seat
1, then an operator's twisting direction to rotate the seat 1
coincides with the manipulating direction of the lock lever 22,
thereby facilitating rotating of the seat 1 furthermore.
[0059] The position of the rotating plate 16 can be altered to the
"passenger's getting on-and-off" rotating position on the opposite
side of the retreat rotating position over the neutral position and
also locked up in the "passenger's getting on-and-off" rotating
position. Therefore, when the rotating plate 16 is in the
"passenger's getting on-and-off" rotating position, the seat 1
faces in the "passenger's getting on-and-off" direction, whereby
the passenger's boarding and alighting capability can be improved
remarkably. Particularly, the seat apparatus of the embodiment is
effective for the latest mainstream hip-support seat for holding an
operator.
[0060] Since the rotating mechanism 5 is disposed between the seat
slide mechanism 4 and the seat 1, the relationship between a hip
point of the seat 1 and its rotating center is usually fixed
irrespective of the sliding position of the seat 1, thereby
producing no operator's sense of discomfort in rotating the seat 1
and also producing a constant power necessary for an operator to
rotate the seat 1.
[0061] Since the seat apparatus of the embodiment enables an
operator to manually operate the vehicle traveling unit by means of
the accelerator lever 10 as the accelerator manipulating unit when
the seat 1 is positioned in the retreat rotating position, it is
possible to prevent an operator's wrong operation at a vehicle's
forward movement etc., thereby improving safety.
[0062] According to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 13, since the seat
apparatus is constructed so that an operator can control the
traveling of an industrial vehicle with a throttle valve for drive
control by means of the accelerator lever 10 (as the accelerator
manipulating unit) communicated with the throttle valve through an
accelerator wire 11, the seat apparatus is suitable for an
industrial vehicle, such as fork lift equipped with an engine, and
is available at a popular price.
[0063] According to the modification of FIGS. 14 to 16, for an
industrial vehicle equipped with at least the electric motor 56 to
be controlled by the controller 52, since the seat apparatus is
adapted so as to generate a signal corresponding to an operator's
manipulating amount for accelerator lever 10 (as the accelerator
manipulating unit) to the controller 52. Accordingly, the seat
apparatus of the modification is suitable for an
electrically-operated industrial vehicle, such as battery-type fork
lift. Furthermore, the seat apparatus is available at a popular
price and also easy in layout.
[0064] Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-155202 is incorporated
herein by reference in its entirety.
[0065] The scope of the invention is defined with reference to the
following claims.
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