Control device for a dual function machine

Claim 2

A control device for use in a machine having a swivel-type operator's seat mounted for movement between first and second positions and first and second equipment mounted on such machine, each such equipment being powered by at least one hydraulic cylinder, the control device including: a first switch for selectively permitting the operation of the first equipment; a second switch for selectively permitting the operation of the second equipment; the first and second switches being actuated substantially simultaneously in accordance with the position of such seat, the second equipment being disabled when the first equipment is operated and the first equipment being disabled when the second equipment is operated.

Claim 3

The control device of claim 1 wherein the first and second switches are actuated so that the first equipment is operative and the second equipment is disabled when the seat is in the first position.

Claim 4

The control device of claim 2 wherein the operator's seat may be swivelled through an arc of about 180 degrees and wherein the first switch is actuated for disabling the second equipment when the seat is within no more than 30 degrees of the first position.

Claim 5

The control device of claim 3 further including a first control knob operable by a machine operator for controlling the first equipment when the seat is in the first position.

Claim 6

The control device of claim 4 further including a second control knob operable by a machine operator for controlling the second equipment when the seat is in the second position.

Claim 7

The control device of claim 5 further including an auxiliary control whereby the second equipment may be operated notwithstanding the seat is in the first position.

Claim 8

The control device of claim 2 further including an auxiliary control whereby the second equipment may be operated notwithstanding the seat is in the first position.

Claim 9

The control device of claim 1 further including first and second control knobs, wherein the first knob and the second knob are operable for controlling the first equipment when the seat is in the first position and wherein the second knob is operable for controlling the second equipment when the seat is in the second position.

Claim 10

A control device for a machine having at least first and second sets of equipment disposed thereon, each such set of equipment being operable by at least one hydraulic actuator which is operable by a control valve, the control device including: a seat for a machine operator, such seat being mounted to swivel between two positions, the seat having a first control knob provided thereon for operating the first set of equipment by operating a corresponding control valve, the seat further having a second control knob provided thereon for operating the second set of equipment by operating a corresponding control valve; a first control path connected between the first knob and a corresponding control valve for operating the first set of equipment; a second control path connected between the second control knob and a corresponding control valve for operating the second set of equipment; a circuit interruption device connected in the first path and the second path, the interruption device being controlled in accordance with the swivelled position of the seat, to prevent the first and second sets of equipment from being operated simultaneously.

Claim 11

A control device for a machine having at least first and second sets of equipment disposed thereon, each such set of equipment being operable by at least one hydraulic actuator which is operable by a control valve, the control device including: a seat for a machine operator, such seat being mounted to swivel between two positions, the seat having a first control knob provided thereon for operating the first set of equipment by operating a corresponding control valve, the seat further having a second control knob provided thereon for operating the second set of equipment by operating a corresponding control valve; a first control path connected between the first knob and a corresponding control valve for operating the first set of equipment; a second control path connected between the second control knob and a corresponding control valve for operating the second set of equipment; a circuit interruption device connected in the first path and the second path, the interruption device being controlled in accordance with the swivelled position of the seat, to prevent the first and second sets of equipment from being operated simultaneously.

Claim 12

A control device according to claim 9, wherein at least one of the control paths is of the electrical type and wherein at least one of control valves is electrically operated.

Claim 13

A control device according to claim 10, wherein all of the control valves associated with one of the sets of equipment are of the electrically operated type and wherein all such control valves are electrically connected to a common remote control knob.

Claim 14

A control device according to claim 11, wherein both of the control knobs are active when the seat is in the first position and wherein one of the control knobs is inactive when the seat is in the second position.

Claim 15

A control device according to claim 9 wherein at least one of the control paths is of the pneumatic type and wherein at least one of the control valves is of the pneumatically operated type.

Claim 16

A control device according to claim 9 wherein at least one of the control paths is of the hydraulic type and wherein at least one of the control valves is of the hydraulically operated type.

Claim 17

A control device for a machine having first and second sets of equipment disposed thereon, each such set of equipment being operable by at least one hydraulic actuator which is operable by a control valve, the control device including: a seat for a machine operator, such seat being mounted to swivel between two positions, a plurality of electrically-operated first control valves for operating the first set of equipment; a plurality of electrically-operated second control valves for operating the second set of equipment; a first control knob and a second control knob, such knobs being linked through a first control path to the first control valves for operating the first set of equipment when the seat is in the first position; the first control knob being linked through a second control path to the second control valves for operating the second set of equipment when the seat is in the second position; a first multipole switch interposed in the first control path for selectively opening and closing such first control path; a second multipole switch interposed in the second control path for selectively opening and closing such second control path; each such multipole switch being connected to a rod, the position of each rod being dependent upon the swivelled position of the seat, thereby preventing simultaneous closure of the first switch and the second switch.

Claim 18

A control device for a machine having first and second sets of equipment disposed thereon, each such set of equipment being operable by at least one hydraulic actuator which is operable by a control valve, the control device including: a seat for a machine operator, such seat being mounted to swivel between two positions, a plurality of electrically-operated first control valves for operating the first set of equipment; a plurality of electrically-operated second control valves for operating the second set of equipment; a first control knob and a second control knob, such knobs being linked through a first control path to the first control valves for operating the first set of equipment when the seat is in the first position; the first control knob being linked through a second control path to the second control valves for operating the second set of equipment when the seat is in the second position; a first multipole switch interposed in the first control path for selectively opening and closing such first control path; a second multipole switch interposed in the second control path for selectively opening and closing such second control path; each such multipole switch being connected to a rod, the position of each rod being dependent upon the swivelled position of the seat, thereby preventing simultaneous closure of the first switch and the second switch.

Claim 19

The control device of claim 15 wherein the two sets of equipment include functions which are analogous one to the other and wherein the first control knob is alternately inked to analogous functions for the operation thereof when the seat is moved between the first position and the second position.

Claim 20

The control device of claim 16 further including a manually operated auxiliary control whereby the second function is permitted to be operated notwithstanding that the seat is in the first position.

Claim 21

The control device of claim 17 wherein the auxiliary control includes a switch which bridges across an open second control path, thereby permitting operation of the second set of equipment notwithstanding that the seat is in the first position, the auxiliary control further including another switch which interrupts circuits in the first control path when the second set of equipment is being operated with the seat in the first position.

Claim 22

The control device of claim 15 further including an auxiliary control whereby the second function is permitted to be operated notwithstanding that the seat is in the first position.

Claim 23

The control device of claim 19 wherein the auxiliary control includes a switch which bridges across an open second control path, thereby permitting operation of the second set of equipment notwithstanding that the seat is in the first position, the auxiliary control further including another switch which interrupts circuits in the first control path when the second set of equipment is being operated with the seat in the first position.