DE20021453U1 - Kit for control panels - Google Patents

Description

Applicant: MULAG Fahrzeugwerk H. Wössner GmbH & Co. KG

Our file: 52434 Al/Wa/Gr

Control panel kit I. Area of application

&iacgr;&ogr; The invention relates to an operating unit for one or more working devices, in particular working devices arranged on a vehicle.

II. Technical background

A typical case is the mowing equipment, cleaning equipment, etc. arranged on a vehicle at the front and at the rear by means of boom arms, with which the verges of roads are mowed or cleaned while the vehicle is driving on the road.

In this case, the driver or passenger must control the working equipment, for example with regard to the position of the boom arms and thus also of the working head, i.e. mowing head or cleaning head, with regard to lateral distance, longitudinal position and, if necessary, height, relative to the vehicle.

Since a large number of functions, such as extraction and heat generation, must also be constantly monitored for these tools, control units and a display unit, preferably with a text display field, are necessary.

The control units each comprise at least one control element, i.e. an element that protrudes from the control housing and can be pivoted in at least two spatial directions, either in the form of a large joystick that can be grasped with the whole fist, or in the form of much smaller control levers that can only be grasped between two fingers.

In addition to this main element, which rises up from the top of the control housing, a control unit has at least one on switch and one off switch, which switches the implement or the function of the implement on or off, which is controlled with the control lever or joystick of the same control unit. In addition, the control unit has a controller, analogue or stepped, usually in the form of a rotary control, which regulates the ratio between the control movement and the movement caused on the implement.

In addition, an emergency switch may also be present, which is preferably arranged on the front face of the control housing.

The control housing is primarily a cubic housing, but with a stepped top, i.e. a higher, larger part of the top and a lower, smaller part of the top, which is preferably located on the front side, closer to the operator.

The control element is usually located on the higher top side, while the on/off switch and, if applicable, the rotary control that regulates the gear ratio are located on the lower top side to prevent the on/off switch from being accidentally activated when the joystick or control lever is operated.

The display unit is essentially flat, i.e. flat cubic, and has a text display field on its functional surface on the front,

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In addition, there are keys, usually membrane keys, for calling up the individual functions and, if necessary, some additional indicator lights in the form of LEDs. Some of the function keys can be designed or programmed as arrow keys for scrolling through the menu of the text display field.

The problem with vehicles carrying one or more implements is that, depending on the location and type of attachment of the implement in the cab of the vehicle and the resulting problems with visibility of the implement, the operator can choose to work on the driver's side or on the

&iacgr;&ogr; must sit on the passenger side and the control unit must be operable from one of the two seats, depending on this. In addition, depending on the type of base vehicle used, there are different boundary conditions which, for example, in one case allow a compact control unit to be arranged in the space between the driver and passenger, for example above a center console, attached or attached to the dashboard, while in other vehicles this is not possible due to the circuitry or other functional elements present there.

In addition, there are different preferences of operators, who either want a single, different control unit or want them distributed on both sides of the operator, i.e. to the right and left of the seat on which the operator sits. In addition, there is the number of implements to be controlled, which requires a corresponding number of control units:

III. Description of the invention a) Technical problem

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a kit for an operating unit which enables the individual elements

to create either a single, closed control unit with different construction forms, or a split control unit.

b) Solution to the task

This object is achieved by the features of claims 1 and 13. Advantageous embodiments emerge from the subordinate claims.

&iacgr;&ogr; By dividing the system into a control unit and a display unit, it is possible to combine a display unit with a varying number of control units, all of which use the same display unit to display functions. On the other hand, even when building a compact operating unit, i.e. a single display unit with all the required control units, it is also possible to design these differently. For example, the control units can be mounted parallel to one another and the display can be arranged at an angle behind them, or the display can be placed between two control units, which means that the two joysticks or control levers of the two control units are placed at a distance that corresponds to the natural hand position.

In addition, the arrangement at the front ends of the armrests is also possible, on which preferably a control unit is mounted, whereby the display unit is arranged on one of the control units, usually the right control unit, i.e. facing the working device.

To realize these arrangements, only a few different connecting elements are necessary, usually angle plates, which allow the individual elements to be screwed together in the desired position to one another or to the surrounding load-bearing component.

c) Examples of implementation

Embodiments according to the invention are described in more detail below using the figures as examples. They show:

Figure 1: a control unit with a large joystick,
Figure 2: a control unit with two small control levers,

Figure 3: the display unit,

Figure 4: an operating unit with control units arranged directly next to each other,

Figure 5: a control unit with control units spaced apart via a display unit and

Figure 6: a control unit mounted on two armrests,

in Figures 1-5 in perspective view and with regard to Figure 6 in plan view.

Figures 1 and 2 show a large joystick unit (Figure 1) and a small joystick unit (Figure 2), both of which have control housings 6 of the same size, and where "large/small" refers only to the size of the control element, i.e. in one case the joystick 2 and in the other case the small joystick 5.

Both protrude essentially vertically upwards from the upper side, which usually runs parallel to the underside of the control housing 6, and are provided with

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its one free end is pivotably mounted by a certain angle in the control housing 6. Sensors are arranged there in a known manner, which electrically or electro-mechanically register the deflection movement of the control stick 4 or control lever 5 with regard to deflection angle, deflection speed and/or deflection duration and convert it into a corresponding movement of the associated work device.

The upper side 13 of the control housing 6 is designed in two parts and offset in height, with a higher, further back and usually larger area 13a from which the control element protrudes, and a lower, front upper side area 13b.

A separate on switch 16 and off switch 17 are arranged on the lower part 13b of the top, as well as a rotary control 18 between them. The height offset of the two parts of the top is greater than the height of these three elements, in particular the rotary control, so that grasping and deflecting the control stick 4, for example, cannot lead to an accidental adjustment of the rotary control or switching of the off switch.

An emergency switch 15 in the form of a button is arranged on the front side facing the operator, which stops the corresponding work device or the function of the work device controlled by the control unit. The emergency switch can also be operated with the knee, depending on the arrangement of the control unit.

The two side walls of the control housing 6 are arranged perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other.

Figure 2 shows that in the version with smaller control levers that are operated with only two fingers, several, e.g. two control levers 5 can be arranged next to each other on the higher upper side 13a.

and additional function switches, usually toggle switches, can be accommodated on the same part 13a of the upper side.

Figure 3 shows the display unit 1 with the display housing 7, which has the shape of a flat cuboid. On the top, the side with the largest extension of the display housing, there is also a display field 8, which is also suitable for displaying text.

Next to and below this are keys, usually membrane keys, for switching different functions and display modes of the display. In particular, the membrane keys 20 arranged next to the display can be arranged as arrow keys for scrolling within the text displayed in the text display field 8.

In addition, light-emitting diodes 21 are arranged above the display field as control or warning lights.

Figure 4 shows the assembly of the individual components into a first control unit.

A large joystick unit 2 and a small joystick unit 3 are arranged directly next to each other with a display unit 1 that rises diagonally upwards behind the control units 2,3. All three modules are connected to each other via a connecting element 9a in the form of an angle plate, i.e. glued or screwed, in that the front end of the display unit 1 and the rear end faces 11 of the control units 2,3 are connected to the connecting element 9a. This connecting element 9a usually has an internal angle of less than 90°, for example between 30° and 60°, so that the front surface of the display unit 1 rises diagonally upwards from the aligned upper rear edges of the control housings 6 of the control units 2,3.

The display unit 1 does not protrude laterally beyond the two control housings 6 positioned next to each other.

In contrast, Figure 5 shows a second control unit 10b, in which a large joystick unit 2 is attached to the two narrow sides of a display unit 1 in such a way that the top of the display unit is either at the level of the higher, rear part of the top 13a of the control housing 6, or at the level of the lower, front, deeper

&iacgr;&ogr; Top 13b.

In both cases, however, the rear edge of the display unit 1 is aligned with the rear edge of the control housing 6.

The connection is made by means of angle plates, in this case rectangular, as connecting elements 9b, which are either - as shown on the left side of Figure 5, screwed in the free angle below the display unit 1 on the one hand to the base of the display unit 1 and on the other hand to the side surface 14b of the control housing 6 facing the display unit or - as shown on the right side of Figure 5 - with one leg protruding between the side surface of the display unit 1 and the adjacent side wall, in this case 14a, of the adjacent control housing.

In the latter case, this intermediate leg of the connecting element 9b is preferably designed to project so long that it extends almost to the top of the display unit 1. This optically more appealing screw connection or bonding is, however, disadvantageous in terms of accessibility for the screw connection.

Figure 6 shows a split third connection unit 10c:

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The two joystick units 2 used are arranged separately in front of the front end of an armrest of a vehicle seat and are connected to it via a plate-shaped connecting element 9c, which has a maximum width corresponding to the width of a control housing 6, but has a greater length, and therefore overlaps the armrest on the one hand and the control housing 6 on the other hand on the underside and is screwed to both from below.

On one of the joystick units 2, a display unit 1 is arranged in an oblique manner by means of the first angled connecting element 9a, which protrudes beyond this single control housing 6 in width on both sides or only on one side.

Additionally, a toggle switch 19 is usually arranged on the free, upper face of the joystick 4 in order to be able to switch the function of the joystick back and forth between two or more possible functions.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

5 1 Display unit 2 large joystick unit 3 small control lever unit 4 Joystick 10 5 Control lever 6 Control housing 7 Display housing 8th Text display field 9a,b Fasteners 15 1Oa,b,c Control unit 11 rear frontal surface 12 front face 13a,b Top 14a,b Side surface 20 15 Emergency switch 16 Power switch 17 Off switch 18 Rotary control 19 Toggle switch 25 20 Membrane keys 21 led

Claims (16)

1. Kit for the control unit (10a, b, c) of a working device with - a display unit (1) which has at least one text display field (8) in a display housing (7), at least one control unit (2, 3) with a control housing (6) and a control element protruding therefrom and pivotably mounted relative to the control housing (6), and - at least one connecting element (9a, b) for connecting the display unit (1) to the at least one control unit (2, 3). 2. Kit according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit (2, 3) has a joystick (4) as a joystick unit (2) or at least one control lever (5) smaller than the joystick (4) as a control lever unit (3). 3. Kit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting element (9a) is an angle plate for screwing the display unit (1) to the rear end face (11) of a control unit or of two control units (2, 3) arranged next to one another. 4. Kit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting element (9b) is an angle plate for screwing the display unit (1) to the side surface (14a, b) of a control housing (6) of a control unit (2, 3). 5. Kit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control housing (6) comprises a stepped upper side with a higher upper side (13a), adjacent to the rear end face (11) and a lower front upper side (13b) in comparison thereto, and in particular the control elements protrude from the higher, in particular rear, upper side (13a). 6. Kit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an emergency switch (15), in particular designed as a button, is arranged on the front end face (12). 7. Kit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the side surfaces (14a, b) of the control housing (6) run parallel to each other and have no functional elements. 8. Kit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rear end face (11) of the control housing (6) has no functional elements. 9. Kit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the lower, in particular front, upper side (13b) there is an on switch (16) and an off switch (17) for this control unit and in particular a controller, in particular in the form of a rotary controller (18). 10. Kit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the joystick (4) has a switch, in particular a toggle switch (19), on its upper end face. 11. Kit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the width of the display unit (1) is greater than the width of a control housing (6), but in particular equal to or shorter than twice the width of a control housing (6). 12. Kit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the depth, i.e. the second dimension of the main plane of the display unit (1), corresponds at least to the length of the higher part (13a) of the upper side (13) measured from the rear to the front end face. 13. Driver's cab of a vehicle with an operating unit for one or more working devices arranged on a vehicle, characterized in that the operating unit (10a) consists of two control units (2, 3) adjacent to one another, i.e. with the side surfaces (14a, b) adjoining one another, in particular a control lever unit (2) and a control stick unit (3), as well as a display unit (1) extending behind the rear end surface and transversely behind both control housings (6). 14. Driver’s cab of a vehicle with a control unit for one or more implements mounted on a vehicle with - a display unit (1) and - two control units (2, 3) attached to the side of the display unit (1) by their side surfaces (14a, b). 15. Driver's cab with control unit according to claim 11 or claim 12, characterized in that the control unit is fastened between the driver's seat and the passenger seat, in particular on the center console or the dashboard, and is arranged in particular at an angle in the direction of view towards the driver's seat. 16. Driver's cab with control unit for several working devices arranged on a vehicle, characterized in that a control unit (2, 3) is fastened to the front, free ends, in particular in front of the front, free ends, of the armrests of the passenger seat of the vehicle and a display unit (11) is fastened behind the rear end face (1) of at least one of the control units (2, 3).