EP0084243A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Control lever assembly
Assignee: Deere and Co
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Filing: 1982-12-20
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2002-12-20
Abstract
Abstract A control lever is attached to a hub (30, 32) rotatable in a housing (12). A cam (50) is rotatable about the same axis as the hub and includes an edge-cam (60) controlling a spring-loaded radial arm (90). In the illustrated position, the head (96) of the arm arrests a centering spring (110) for returning the control lever to its neutral position automatically on release. The arm (90) also carries a detent roller for engagement with notches (38, 42) for holding the control lever in a displaced position. Slight clockwise rotation of the cam (50) by a reversible electric motor (80), gear (84) and rack (62) on the cam, causes the detent roller to disengage while leaving the arm head (96) engaged between the ends (112) of the centering spring (110). 90° rotation clockwise, however, disengages the detent and disengages the arm from the spring. Moreover a face cam shifts the cam (50) axially to compress a multiplate friction brake providing for a friction-held mode of the control lever.
Inventors
- 👤 Carl Edwin Kittle
- 👤 James Edward Roach
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 09:05
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05G; G05G5/00; G05G5/12; G05G1/00; G05G1/04; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20576; Y10T74/20636; Y10T74/2066
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
A control lever assembly comprising a housing (12), operator-movable control lever (22) pivotally mounted in the housing, and friction means (70,74) frictionally coupling the control lever to the housing to cause the lever to hold the position to which it is moved, characterised by resilient means (110) biased to urge the control lever (26,30) from a displaced position to a neutral position relative to the housing, a detent device (92,98) biased to engage the control lever and hold it in a displaced position against the action of the resilient means, and a single can member (50) rotatably mounted in the housing (12) and acting on the friction means, (70,74), the resilient means (110) and the detent device (90,88) to couple and uncouple the friction means from the lever, to couple and uncouple the resilient means and to couple and uncouple the detent device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
A control lever assembly comprising a housing (12), operator-movable control lever (22) pivotally mounted in the housing, and friction means (70,74) frictionally coupling the control lever to the housing to cause the lever to hold the position to which it is moved, characterised by resilient means (110) biased to urge the control lever (26,30) from a displaced position to a neutral position relative to the housing, a detent device (92,98) biased to engage the control lever and hold it in a displaced position against the action of the resilient means, and a single can member (50) rotatably mounted in the housing (12) and acting on the friction means, (70,74), the resilient means (110) and the detent device (90,88) to couple and uncouple the friction means from the lever, to couple and uncouple the resilient means and to couple and uncouple the detent device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
A control lever assembly according to claim 1, characterised in that the cam member (50) has a first position in which it couples only the friction means (70,74) to the lever (26,30), a second position in which it couples both the resilient means (110) and the detent device (90,98) to the lever, and a third position in which it couples only the resilient means to the lever.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A control lever assembly according to claim 2, characterised in that the third position is between the first and second positions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
A control lever assembly according to claims 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that the cam member (50) includes a face cam (52) by which the cam member (50) is moved axially as it rotates, the axial movement applying pressure to couple the friction means (70,74).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A control lever assembly according to claim 4, characterised in that the friction means comprise a plate friction brake with disks (70) coupled to the housing and disks (74) coupled to the lever (26, 30).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A control lever assembly according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the cam member (50) rotates about the same axis as the lever (26,30).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
67 words
A control lever assembly according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterised by a radially movable arm (901 slidable,in the housing and having a projected position in which it arrests the resilient means (110) and a retracted position in which it releases the resilient means to rotate freely with the lever (26, 30), and a cam follower (100) on the arm engaging the cam member (50).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A control lever assembly according to claim 7, characterised in that the cam member (50) includes a ramped edge-cam (60) engaging the cam follower (100).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
A control lever assembly according to claim 7 or 8, characterised in that the resilient means is a coil spring (110) with end portions (112) straddling a tab (34) on the lever (26,30) and also straddling the end (96) of the arm (90) when the arm is not retracted.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
A control lever assembly according to claim 7, 8 or 9, characterised in that the detent device comprises a detent (98) mounted on the arm (90) and cooperating with at least one detent notch (38,40,42) in the lever (26,30).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
A control lever assembly according to claims 2 and 10, characterised in that the third position of the cam member (50) retracts the arm (90) only partially so as to disengage the detent (98) from the recess (30, 40 or 42) without disengaging the arm from the resilient means (110).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A control lever assembly according to any of claims 7 to 11, characterised in that the arm (90) is spring biased (106) inwardly to the advanced position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A control lever assembly according to any of claims 1 to 12, characterised by an actuating mechanism (80,84,62) for rotating the cam member (50).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
A control lever assembly according to claim 13, characterised in that the actuating mechanism comprises a reversible electric motor (80) driving a gear (84) in mesh with a rack (62) on the cam member (50).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
A control lever assembly according to claims 4 and 14, characterised in that the rack (62) is inclined from one end to the other to maintain engagement with the gear (84) as the cam member (50) moves axially.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
A control lever assembly according to any of claims 1 to 15, characterised by a position transducer (120) coupled to the lever (26,30).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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