초록 ▼

A control system for a small work vehicle such as a compact track propelled loader has a control handle that is mounted onto a swinging support plate. The support plate swings about a vertical axis positioned forwardly of the control handle, and the control handle is mounted on the support plate abo

A control system for a small work vehicle such as a compact track propelled loader has a control handle that is mounted onto a swinging support plate. The support plate swings about a vertical axis positioned forwardly of the control handle, and the control handle is mounted on the support plate about a horizontal axis. Linkages are provided between the control handle and the pivotal mounting about the upright axis to respective motor control levers for operating motors on opposite sides of the vehicle for steering and propelling the vehicle. Moving the control handle about the horizontal axis causes a drive selectively in forward and reverse direction, and moving the support plate and the control handle about the vertical axis provides differential movement for steering control.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A work vehicle comprising: a frame; a source of power carried on the frame; a traction system on the frame for propelling the frame in forward and reverse directions, and for steering and turning the frame, the traction system being coupled to the power source for operation a

What is claimed is: 1. A work vehicle comprising: a frame; a source of power carried on the frame; a traction system on the frame for propelling the frame in forward and reverse directions, and for steering and turning the frame, the traction system being coupled to the power source for operation and including separate drive motors, for driving traction elements on opposite sides of the frame, the motors having movable control members for controlling motor direction of drive and speed; a control system for operating the traction system, including a control handle pivotally mounted on the frame on an uprightly extending support about a first stationary upright axis and mounted to an upper end of the support about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, a bracket mounted on a lower portion of the support about a third pivot axis parallel to the second axis, the bracket having spaced wall portions, and a coupling link from the control handle to the bracket and second links from the wall portions to the control members for controlling the motors, the control members being moved by movement of the control handle about the first and second pivot axes of the control handle, and wherein the first axis is spaced forwardly of the second axis. 2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein a spring return mechanism is coupled to each of the control members to return the control members to a centered neutral position when the control handle is released from external force. 3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the control handle is pivotally mounted on a support plate comprising the upper end of the uprightly extending support about the second axis. 4. The vehicle of claim 3, and a reference bar member fixed to the support plate, and including bar elements at a forward side and a rearward side of the control handle. 5. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein said support plate is mounted onto a sleeve, a fixed shaft supported relative to the frame, said sleeve being mounted on the fixed shaft for rotation about the first upright axis. 6. A work vehicle comprising a frame, a source of power carried on the frame, a traction system on the frame for propelling the frame in forward and reverse directions, and for steering and turning the frame, the traction system being coupled to the power source for operation, a control system for operating the traction system, including a control handle, a fixed upright shaft mounted on the frame, a sleeve pivotally mounted on the shaft about a first upright axis, the sleeve having an upper control handle support extending laterally from the sleeve, the control handle being pivotally mounted to the control handle support about a second axis, perpendicular to and spaced rearwardly from the first upright axis, the traction system including a pair of motors for driving traction elements on opposite sides of the frame, respectively, and a coupling from the control handle to control levers that are pivotally movable for controlling the motors, the control levers being moved by movement of the control handle about the second axis, a pair of links pivotally mounted to a lower portion of the sleeve about a third axis substantially parallel to the second axis, said links extending to be mounted to the control lever for a respective motor for controlling propelling of the vehicle. 7. The vehicle of claim 6, including a bracket supported on the sleeve for pivotal movement about a fourth axis, the pair of links being pivotally mounted to the bracket about the third axis at laterally spaced locations and the third axis being spaced from the fourth axis of the mounting of the bracket to the sleeve. 8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein said control handle has an arm mounted thereon, a link between the arm and the bracket on the sleeve, such that movement of the control handle about the second axis controls movement of the bracket about the fourth axis. 9. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the bracket has a base wall and a pair of spaced legs on the base wall and positioned on opposite sides of the sleeve, the legs being pivoted to the sleeve at the fourth axis and the links being pivoted to the legs about the third axis, whereby movement of the control handle about the upright axis causes differential movement between the links in fore and aft direction. 10. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the control handle has a member thereon that moves relative to the support plate about the second axis when the control handle is pivoted about the second axis, and an adjustable stop on the support plate to engage the member and limit rearward pivoting of the control handle. 11. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein there is a first member extending outwardly from the second axis which is moved by the control handle as the control handle is pivoted about the second axis, and a wedge shaped second member having an edge inclined relative to and adapted to be moved to engage the first member at selected positions of the inclined edge to stop movement of the control handle in at least one direction at positions determined by the position of the inclined edge laterally of the first member extending outwardly from the axis of the control handle. 12. The vehicle of claim 1, and a panel pivotally mounted on the frame and having a portion extending in a first longitudinal direction from the frame, said panel including a portion that engages a part of the coupling between the control handle and the control members to cause the traction system to be returned to a neutral position when the pivoting panel is pivoted in a second opposite longitudinal direction relative to the frame more than a selected amount. 13. A self-propelled work vehicle comprising: a frame having a longitudinal axis extending forwardly and rearwardly between a front and rear of the frame; a source of power on the frame; a traction system carried on the frame for propelling the frame in forward and reverse directions and for steering and turning the frame, comprising separately controlled motors that drive ground engaging supports on opposite sides of the frame; and a control system on the frame for controlling operation of the motors, the control system comprising a support plate pivotally mounted about a first upright axis, a control handle pivotally mounted on the support plate about a second axis spaced rearwardly of and substantially perpendicular to the first upright axis, and a linkage from the control handle and support plate to control the traction system, whereby movement of the control handle about the second axis controls forward and reverse directions of movement of the frame, and rotating the support plate about the first upright axis causes steering movement of the frame. 14. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the control handle forms a hand grip and at least two transverse bar sections fixed to the support plate and positioned ahead of and behind the control handle, respectively. 15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the controls for the traction system include movable levers pivotally mounted adjacent the motors, the levers being pivotable by the linkage from a center non-driving position in forward and rearward directions to control direction and speed of rotation of the associated motor, a spring loaded mechanism located adjacent the motors for centering each of the levers when the control handle is released from external force. 16. A self-propelled work vehicle comprising: a frame having a longitudinal axis extending forwardly and rearwardly between a front and rear of the frame; a source of power on the frame; a traction system carried on the frame for propelling the frame in forward and reverse directions, and a steering system for steering the frame; and a control system for controlling forward and reverse movement and steering of the frame, the control system comprising a support pivotally mounted about a first generally upright axis, and a control handle pivotally mounted on the support plate about a second transverse axis, a linkage including a bracket moveable with the support about the upright axis and including differentially moving first links for providing steering signals when the support is pivoted about the upright axis, the bracket being pivoted about a third transverse axis parallel to the second transverse axis, the linkage having a connection from the control handle to the bracket, wherein pivoting the control handle about the second axis pivots the bracket about the third axis to operate drive controls selectively to cause forward and reverse movement of the frame. 17. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein movable levers are provided to form drive controls for separate motors on opposite sides of the frame and comprising portions of the traction system, the levers being pivotable by the linkage from a center non-driving position selectively in forward and reverse directions when the bracket is pivoted about the third axis. 18. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the differentially moving links are connected to the levers to separately drive the respective motor for steering control. 19. The vehicle of claim 18, wherein the differentially moving links are offset from the third axis in an upright direction and actuate the levers in forward and reverse directions. 20. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the differentially movable links are connected to controls that provide power to steer the vehicle. 21. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the support plate is mounted on an upright pivot that is fixed to the frame, and the second axis being rearwardly of the first upright axis. 22. A vehicle comprising: a frame having a longitudinal axis extending forwardly and rearwardly between a front and rear of the frame; a source of power on the frame; a traction and steering system carried on the frame for propelling the frame in forward and reverse directions, and for steering the frame, and a control system for controlling forward and reverse movement and steering of the frame, the control system being coupled to the traction and steering system and comprising a support pivotally mounted with respect to the frame about a first upright axis, a control handle pivotally mounted on the support about a second axis transverse to the upright axis, a linkage moving with the support about the upright axis and pivoted about a third axis parallel to the second axis and movable when the control handle is pivoted, movement of the control handle about the second axis causing portions of the linkage to pivot about the third axis and control forward and reverse movement of the frame, and wherein moving the support about the first upright axis steers the frame. 23. The vehicle of claim 22, and operating stops between the frame and the support for limiting movement of the support about the first upright axis from a centered neutral position. 24. The vehicle of claim 22, wherein there is an adjustable stop to limit movement of the control handle in at least one direction of pivoting. 25. The vehicle of claim 22, and a moveable plate at the rear of the vehicle coupled to move the linkage to a neutral position when the vehicle is moving in a first direction and a portion of the movable plate moves in a second direction opposite from the first direction relative to the frame. 26. A control system for a vehicle having a frame; a powered traction ground drive on the frame for propelling the frame in forward and reverse directions; a steering linkage for steering the frame; the control system comprising a support plate pivotally mounted with respect to the frame about a first upright axis and coupled to the steering linkage for steering the frame; and a control handle pivotally mounted on the support plate about a second axis transverse to the upright axis and coupled to the powered traction ground drive to propel the frame selectively in forward and reverse directions. 27. The control system of claim 26, wherein the upright axis is ahead of the transverse axis. 28. The control system of claim 27, wherein the upright axis is on a pivot member fixed with respect to the frame. 29. The control system of claim 28, and at least one fixed reference bar fixedly mounted on the support plate and spaced from the control handle.