Penny and Giles Controls, Limited

Wayne Edmunds

A joystick controller comprises a housing () and a joystick () mounted for pivotal movement relative to the housing () by means of a ball () and socket joint (). A yoke () resolves directional movement of the joystick () into a component direction. A sensor senses movement of the yoke () and generates an output indicative of movement of the joystick in the component direction. The socket () of the ball () and socket joint () is formed by the yoke ().

Joystick controller

A joystick controller has a lever mounted for pivotal movement relative to a housing, a seat member affixed to the housing, and a slider member biased towards the seat member. The seat member has a profiled surface that cooperates with a corresponding surface of the slider member. In one aspect, the profiled surface includes at least one lock position for engaging the slider member at a predetermined angle of pivotal displacement of the lever about a first axis. The slider member is shaped to allow pivotal movement of the lever about a second axis, without movement of the slider member, but to prevent movement of the lever about the first axis when engaged in the lock position. In another aspect, the profiled surface has a profile in a first direction whereby the biasing force remains substantially constant when the lever is pivotally displaced about a first axis, and a profile in a second direction whereby displacement of the lever about a second axis displaces the slider member so as to alter the biasing force.

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Gwent, United Kingdom

Wayne Edmunds