FR2857488A1 - Remote control for public works vehicle, has plunger movable towards exit position opposed to pushed position along axial direction in body cavity, and detection unit detecting plunger position - Google Patents

Abstract

The control has a body with a cavity (5) in which a plunger (3) moves along an axial direction between a rest position and a pushed position. The plunger is movable towards an exit position opposed to the pushed position. An elastic spring unit in the cavity returns the plunger towards the exit position such that the plunger possesses automatic ascending movement. A detection unit detects the plunger position.

Description

The present invention relates to the technical field of remote controls for

  public works machinery, in particular so-called electro-hydraulic remote controls.

  The invention relates more particularly to remote controls which are intended to allow the control of one or more receiving members, in particular users of fluid under pressure, from a handle operated by the operator to transmit a control signal to said organs. hydraulic receivers.

  The remote controls usually encountered on board public works machines comprise: a body which comprises at least one cavity extending between an open end on at least one upper face of the body and a bottom opposite to the open end; minus a first pusher which extends between a head and a foot, which is slidably reciprocated in said at least one body cavity in an axial direction between a rest position and a depressed position, and which is intended to allow the control of at least a first receiver outside the remote control, and - a handle which comprises a transverse skirt and which is pivotally mounted relative to the body facing the upper face of said body to control the movement of back and forth of said first pusher, the skirt being in simple support on the head of said pusher, and the axis of the handle forming with the axis of the pusher a variable acute angle .

  Even if such remote controls make it possible to control the movements of receiving organs with satisfaction, they require many component parts in that they must have several pushers each equipped with detection means that detect the occupied position of each of the pushers between their position. rest and their depressed position. The cost price of such remotes is therefore expensive and their reliability can be affected by one of the many component parts.

  The present invention therefore aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks by providing a remote control whose number of component parts is reduced while maintaining the same functionality.

  For this purpose, according to the present invention, the remote control of the aforementioned type is essentially characterized in that the first pusher is further movable towards an extended position which is opposite to the depressed position relative to said rest position, in that first elastic return means are housed in the cavity for biasing the pusher towards its extended position, so that the first pusher has an autonomous upward movement, and in that the remote control further comprises detection means for detecting the occupied position by the first pusher between its exit and depressed positions.

  Thus, thanks to these provisions, the number of pushers equipped with detection means is reduced since only one push is needed instead of two push buttons present in the remote controls of the prior art.

  Advantageously, the detection means are of the type without mechanical contact.

  Preferably, the detection means comprise a magnet 15 which is integral in movement with the pusher.

  In a preferred embodiment, the cavity is stepped and comprises a first shoulder substantially transverse to the displacement of the first pusher, and said pusher comprises an intermediate section which is situated between its head and its foot and which delimits a high abutment and a low abutment. , the upper abutment bearing against the first shoulder in the extended position of the pusher and the lower abutment bearing against the bottom of the cavity in the depressed position of said pusher.

  Preferably, the first return means comprise a flange carried by the intermediate section in the vicinity of the upper stop, and a first compression spring interposed between the flange and the bottom of the cavity.

  Still preferably, second elastic return means are housed in the cavity to return the first pusher from its depressed position to its rest position.

  Advantageously, the second return means comprise a ring concentric with the first pusher, a second compression spring which is interposed between the ring and the bottom of the cavity, and a peripheral relief secured to the first pusher and intended to bear on the ring, the cavity further comprising a second shoulder on which the ring abuts in the rest position of the first pusher.

  Preferably, the foot of the first pusher is mounted through the bottom of the cavity and internally carries the magnet.

  Alternatively, a Hall effect sensor is mounted in the body of the remote control, facing the displacement of the magnet between the depressed and output positions of the first pusher.

  Advantageously, a second pusher is mounted in a second cavity of the body and extends between the levels defined by the bottom and the second shoulder of the first cavity, the second pusher being resiliently biased by a third compression spring so that the effort to exert on the handle to drive one of the first and second pushers is substantially constant.

  Alternatively, the second pusher is located opposite the first pusher relative to the axis of the handle.

  In yet another variation, the Hall effect sensor is embedded in resin to be placed in a sealed region.

  In any case, the invention will be better understood from the description which follows, with reference to the attached schematic drawing showing, by way of non-limiting example, an embodiment of the remote control according to the present invention.

  Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the remote control equipped with a first pusher according to the present invention, the second pusher being a passive pusher which is not intended to transmit a control signal to a receiving member.

  FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the first pusher of FIG.

  Figures 3 and 4 are views similar to those of Figures 1 and 2, the handle has been tilted to move the first pusher to its depressed position.

  Figures 5 and 6 are views similar to those of Figures 1 and 2, the handle having been tilted to the opposite position to allow movement of the first pusher to its extended position.

  FIG. 1 shows a remote control 1 for public works machines which comprises, in a manner known per se, a body 2, at least one first pusher 3 which is slidably mounted in the body 2 and a handle 4 which is pivotally mounted relative to this body for controlling the back and forth movements of the first pusher 3 inside the body 2.

  The first pusher 3 is slidably mounted inside a first cavity 5 which extends between a through end 6 on at least one upper face 7 of the body 2 and a bottom 8 opposite this open end 6.

  The body 2 has a longitudinal axis X-X and the first pusher 3 slides parallel to this axis X-X.

  The handle 4 is pivotally mounted relative to the body 2, facing the upper face 7 of this body to control the movements of go-and-fro said first pusher 3. This handle 4 is YY axis and has a transverse skirt 10 which allows to control said at least one first pusher 3. The YY axis of the handle 4 forms with the axis of the pusher 3 a variable acute angle which is a function of the position to be given to the pusher. When the handle 4 is in the rest position, it extends along the axis XX of the body 2 as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The positions of the handle shown in Figures 3 and 5 to control said first pusher 3 respectively to its depressed position, and its output position.

  For this purpose, said pusher 3 extends between a head 12 and a foot 13. The head 12 is mounted to move back and forth at the open end 6 of the body 2 so that the skirt 10 of the handle 4 is in simple support on the head 12. The foot 13 of the pusher 3 is housed in the bottom 8 of the cavity 5 to allow the control of at least a first external receiver to the remote control.

  The head 12 of the first pusher 3 comes into abutment under the skirt 10 of the handle 4 and is controlled between its rest position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and its depressed position as represented in FIGS. is well known in the state of the art.

  According to an essential characteristic of the present invention, this first pusher 3 is also movable towards an extended position as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, this extended position being opposite to the depressed position relative to the rest position.

  For this purpose, the remote control according to the present invention has first elastic return means 15 which are housed in the cavity 5 to urge the first pusher 3 towards its extended position so that the pusher has an upward movement of its own . During this upward movement, the handle 4 is tilted so as to disengage the head 12 from the pusher 3 so that the head 12 has an upward movement to follow the skirt 10 under the sole action of the first elastic return means 15.

  Moreover, in order to control said first external receiver, the remote control 1 further comprises detection means 17 which detect any position occupied by the first pusher 3 between its output and depressed positions.

  Preferably, the cavity 5 is stepped and comprises a first shoulder 20 located below the emergent end 6 and which extends substantially transversely to the displacement of the first pusher 3 that is to say, substantially perpendicular to the axis XX. Furthermore, the pusher 3 has an intermediate portion 22 which is larger in diameter than the head 12 and the foot 13 of the pusher and which is implanted along the length of said pusher. This intermediate section thus has an upper face 23 which delimits an upper stop and a lower face 24 which delimits a lower stop. The upper face 23 is turned towards the first shoulder 20 while the lower face 24 is turned towards the bottom 8 of the cavity 5.

  Thus, during the back and forth movements of the pusher 3 inside this cavity 5, the upper abutment 23 is intended to abut against the first shoulder 20 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 to define the the output position of this pusher 3 while the lower stop 24 is intended to bear against the bottom 8 of this cavity in the depressed position of the pusher as shown in Figures 3 and 4.

  The first return means 15 preferably comprise a collar 26 which is carried by the intermediate section 22, in the vicinity of the upper stop 23, this collar being turned towards the bottom 8 of the cavity 5. The first elastic return means 15 also comprise a first compression spring 27 which is interposed between the collar 26 and the bottom 8 of the cavity 5. This compression spring 27 is of a diameter slightly greater than that of the intermediate section 22 so as to be fitted on this section to reach the collar 26.

  Thus, the first pusher 3 has an upward movement which is forced by the first compression spring 27 so that when the head 12 of this pusher 3 is disengaged by the skirt 10 of the handle 4, the pusher 3 has an upward movement towards its output position through the compression means 27.

  Furthermore, according to another essential characteristic of the invention, the remote control 1 has second resilient return means 30 which are housed in the cavity 5 to recall the first pushbutton 3 from its depressed position as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, towards its rest position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

  As shown more particularly in FIGS. 3 and 4, the second elastic return means 30 comprise a ring 31 which is concentric with the first pusher 3, a second compression spring 32 which is interposed between the ring 31 and the bottom 8 of the cavity 5, and a peripheral relief 33 which is integral in movement of the first pusher 3 and which is intended to bear on the ring 31. Moreover, the cavity 5 has a second shoulder 35 located at an intermediate level between the first shoulder 20 and the bottom 8 of the cavity 5. The second compression spring 32 biases the ring 31 towards the second shoulder 35 so that this ring 31 abuts against this second shoulder when the first pusher 3 is in its position. rest position as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The second shoulder 35 thus defines somehow the rest position of the pusher 3.

  The pusher 3 is thus in equilibrium in its rest position between the action exerted by the skirt 10 on the head 12 which tends to drive the pusher 3, and the action of the first compression spring and the second compression spring 27 and 32. In this rest position, the ring 31 abuts against the second shoulder 35 while the peripheral relief 33 abuts against this ring 31 under the action of the handle 4.

  On the other hand, when the pusher 3 is in its depressed position as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the skirt 10 of the handle 4 biases the head 12 of the pusher 3 so that the intermediate section 22 drives in descending motion concentric ring 31 and compresses the compression springs 27 and 32 until this intermediate portion 22 is at a low abutment against the bottom 8 of the cavity 5.

  In contrast, when the pusher 3 is in its output position as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the head 12 of the pusher has been released by the skirt 10 of the handle 4 so that the intermediate section 22 has come in high abutment against the first shoulder 20 under the action of the first compression spring 27. During the return movement from the depressed position to the extended position, the compression springs 27 and 32 relax. The concentric ring 31 abuts against the second shoulder 35 of the cavity 5 while the peripheral relief 33 is no longer in contact with the ring 31 when the pusher passes from its rest position to its extended position.

  Depending on the inclination of the handle 4, the pusher 12 occupies any position between its depressed position and its extended position.

  The foot 13 of the pusher 3 extends beyond the bottom 8 of the cavity 5 so as to cross the bottom reciprocating between its output and depressed positions.

  Preferably, the detection means 17 are of the type without mechanical contact and comprise for example a magnet 40 which is integral in movement of the pusher 3 being mounted inside the foot 13 of this pusher, as well as an effect sensor. Hall 41 which is mounted in the body 2 of the remote control 1, facing the displacement of the magnet 40 between the depressed and output positions of the first pusher 3. More specifically, the Hall effect sensor 41 is mounted in the body 2, beyond the bottom 8 of the cavity 5. Thus, this sensor 41 may be embedded in a material such as resin to make it waterproof.

  Moreover, even if this first pusher 3 can control alone a first receiving member, a second pusher 50 is implanted in the body 2 of the remote control 1 to allow the balance of the handle 4. This second pusher 50 is a passive pusher in that it does not allow to transmit a control signal to a receiving member. It is implanted in a cavity 51 formed in the body 2 opposite the first cavity 5 with respect to the axis of the handle 4. This second pusher 50 also has a head 52 bearing under the skirt 10 of the handle 4 and a foot 53. This foot 53 abuts in the bottom of the second cavity 51 and has a collar 55 which abuts against the upper portion 56 of the cavity 51. This cavity 51 extends parallel to the axis XX and between the levels defined by the bottom 8 of the first cavity 5 and the rest position defined by the second shoulder 35 of the first cavity 5.

  Furthermore, this second pusher 50 is biased by a third compression spring 60 which is interposed between the flange 55 and the bottom of this cavity so as to resiliently bias this second pusher 50 and to cause the operator the same effort on the handle 4 to push the first pusher 3 or the second pusher 50.

  Thus, only the first pusher 3 is equipped with means for controlling a receiving member while the second pusher 50 is simply there for the symmetry of the forces to exert on the handle 4. The number of component parts is thus reduced so as to minimize the cost price and the risks of technical failure.

  Furthermore, a positive mechanical connection can also be created between the head 12 of the pusher 3 to overcome a possible failure of one of the compression springs or for the case where the pusher 3 remains stuck during its upward movement.

  Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples described above and various modifications can be made without departing from its scope.

Claims (12)

  1. Remote control for public works vehicle of the type comprising: - a body (2) which comprises at least one cavity (5) extending between an open end (6) on at least one upper face (7) of the body (2) ) and a bottom (8) opposite the open end, - at least one first pusher (3) which extends between a head (12) and a foot (13), which is slidably mounted in movement of va-and in said at least one cavity (5) of the body (2) in an axial direction between a rest position and a depressed position, and which is intended to allow the control of at least a first external receiver on the remote control, and - a handle (4) which comprises a transverse skirt (10) and which is pivotally mounted relative to the body (2) facing the upper face (7) of said body (2) to control the movement of va-et- comes from said first pusher (3), the skirt (10) being in simple support on the head (12) of said pusher (3), and the axis (YY) of the poig born (4) forming with the axis (XX) of the pusher 3 a variable acute angle, characterized in that the first pusher (3) is further movable to an extended position which is opposed to the depressed position relative to said position resting, in that first elastic return means (15) are accommodated in the cavity (5) to bias the pusher (3) towards its extended position, so that the first pusher (3) has an autonomous upward movement, and in that the remote control (1) further comprises detection means (17) for detecting the position occupied by the first pusher (3) between its output and depressed positions.   2. Remote control according to claim 1, characterized in that the detection means (17) are of the type without mechanical contact.   3. Remote control according to claim 2, characterized in that the detection means (17) comprise a magnet (40) which is integral in motion of the pusher (3).   4. Remote control according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the cavity (5) is stepped and comprises a first shoulder (20) substantially transverse to the displacement of the first pusher (3), and in that said pusher (3) comprises an intermediate section (22) which is located between its head (12) and its foot (13) and which delimits an upper stop (23) and a lower stop (24), the upper stop (23) coming into bearing against the first shoulder (20) in the output position of the pusher (3) and the lower stop (24) bearing against the bottom (8) of the cavity (5) in the depressed position of said pusher (3).   5. Remote control according to claim 4, characterized in that the first return means (15) comprise a flange (26) carried by the intermediate portion (22) in the vicinity of the upper stop (23), and a first compression spring (27) interposed between the flange (26) and the bottom (8) of the cavity (5).   6. Remote control according to claim 5, characterized in that second elastic return means (30) are housed in the cavity (5) to return the first pusher (3) from its depressed position to its rest position.   7. Remote control according to claim 6, characterized in that the second return means (30) comprise a ring (31) concentric with the first pusher (3), a second compression spring (32) which is interposed between the ring ( 31) and the bottom (8) of the cavity (3), and a peripheral relief (33) secured to the first pusher (3) and intended to bear on the ring (31), the cavity (5) further comprising a second shoulder (35) on which the ring (31) abuts in the rest position of the first pusher (3).   8. Remote control according to any one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the foot (13) of the first pusher (3) is mounted through the bottom (8) of the cavity (5) and internally carries the magnet (40).   9. Remote control according to claim 8, characterized in that a Hall effect sensor (41) is mounted in the body (2) of the remote control (1), facing the displacement of the magnet (40) between the positions depressed and exit the first pusher (3).   10. Remote control according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that a second pusher (50) is mounted in a second cavity (51) of the body (2) and extends between the levels defined by the bottom (8) and the second shoulder (35) of the first cavity (5), the second pusher (50) being resiliently biased by a third compression spring (60) so that the force exerted on the handle (4) to drive one of the first (3) and second (50) pushers is substantially constant.   11. Remote control according to claim 10, characterized in that the second pusher (50) is located opposite the first pusher (3) 5 relative to the axis of the handle (4).   12. Remote control according to claim 9, characterized in that the Hall effect sensor is embedded in the resin to be placed in a sealed region.