Caterpillar Inc.

John P Mackoway, Jr

David M Fee

Charles E Holzinger

Stephen A Haytcher

Raymond T Schenck

Phillip P Kartcheske

An armrest adjusting mechanism is disclosed which includes a base plate mountable to an article of construction machinery and a first working plate movable relative to the base plate. First and second shafts are mounted to the first working plate. The first shaft is guided by first and second spherical bearings fixedly mounted to the base plate. The second shaft is guided by a third spherical bearing adjustably mounted to the base plate. The third spherical bearing is attached to a third shaft which is disposed normal to the first and second shafts. A cylindrical bearing guides the third shaft as it moves in response to misalignment between the first and second shafts. In a similar manner, fourth and fifth shafts are mounted to the first working plate. The fourth shaft is guided by fourth and fifth spherical bearings fixedly mounted to a second working plate. The fifth shaft is guided by a sixth spherical bearing adjustably mounted to the second working plate. The sixth spherical bearing is attached to a sixth shaft which is disposed normal to the fourth and fifth shafts. A second cylindrical bearing guides the sixth shaft as it moves in response to misalignment between the fourth and fifth shafts.

Armrest adjusting mechanism

Control consoles are normally utilized to provide ready access to the operator of the controls necessary to perform the various operating functions of the vehicle. Since vehicles, such as construction vehicles, are traversing rough terrain, it is advantageous to stabilize movement of the hand of the operator relative to the controls of the vehicle. In this subject arrangement a control console assembly is provided and has a handrest located thereon. The handrest is adapted to receive the hand of the operator such that the heel of the operator's hand remains in intimate contact with a raised portion of the handrest. A pair of levers are mounted on the control console assembly adjacent the handrest and operatively actuated by the fingertips of the operator's hand. A rotary knob is oriented on the side of the handrest and operative to be rotated by the thumb of the operator's hand. The various controls for the operating function of the earthworking vehicle is controlled by the fingers of the operator without having to move the heel of his hand from the raised portion of the handrest. This allows the operator to have a more finite and smooth control of the various operating functions of the vehicle even though the his body is being jostled around due to the earthworking vehicle traversing rough terrain.

Vehicle control console having finger tip controls

Detent mechanisms are useful for retaining a stem of a control valve at predetermined operating positions. The ball type detents commonly used in control valves tend to slide thereby causing the operator to extend additional energy to overcome the sliding friction. The subject detent mechanism includes a roller rotatably disposed on a pin carried by a roller carrier. The roller has an annular arcuate surface in rolling contact with the peripheral surface of the stem. The arcuate surface increases the contact surface between the roller and the stem to thereby insure that the roller rolls on the stem and minimizes the lever effort necessary to move the stem.

Detent mechanism for a fluid control valve

A vehicular control mechanism is known that incorporates a steering assembly swingable about an upstanding axis in either direction from a central NEUTRAL position. Even if the transmission is not powerably driving an associated cross drive mechanism the angular displacement of the steering assembly away from NEUTRAL could cause an input to the cross drive and an undesirable movement of the vehicle under some circumstances. To obviate this, an indexing device is provided that is responsive to the movement of an actuating lever pivotally mounted on a steering assembly between BRAKE-OFF and BRAKE-ON positions. The vehicle frame defines an indexing pocket, and an elongate locking element is reciprocally mounted on the steering assembly and interconnectable with the pocket when the steering assembly is angularly positioned in NEUTRAL. The operator is quickly aware that the steering assembly is displaced from NEUTRAL when he is prevented from moving the actuating lever to the BRAKE-ON position by the indexing device. A microswitch is also activated to allow restarting of an engine starting circuit when the actuating lever is moved to the BRAKE-ON position.

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Washington, IL, United States of America

John P Mackoway, Jr