Operating element for an industrial truck

p0001The present invention relates to an operating device for an industrial truck.

p0002Out <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="EP1350668A2"><text>EP 1350668 A2</text></patcit> is an operating element for an industrial truck has become known in which an arm extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and a plurality of controls on a front end of the armrest is arranged. From the operating elements have at least two operating an operating portion, said operating portions are arranged to be operated by a hand resting on the arm support. For this purpose, the operating portions are arranged along a curved line, which corresponds to an actuation circuit for the fingers of the hand resting on the arm support.

p0003Out <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="WO0064801A"><text>WO 00/64801</text></patcit> is an operating element for a working vehicle, in which the hand of an operator is supported on a hood-shaped shift lever, which is pivotable about an axis. Along the periphery buttons are arranged, which can be operated at a temperature lying on the shift hand over the thumb and index and middle fingers.

p0004Out <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="EP0655413A"><text>EP 0655413</text></patcit> is an operating element for a forklift truck is known in which a steering wheel as well as switching means are arranged on a common control arm, wherein the position of the control arm in the driver's cabin is adjustable.

p0005Out <patcit id="pcit0004" dnum="GB2328005A"><text>GB 2,328,005</text></patcit> is a manual control element with three levers known to control a reach truck. The three levers are pivotable about a common axis, wherein an outer shift lever is provided with additional buttons.

p0006Out <patcit id="pcit0005" dnum="EP1693334B1"><text>EP 693 334 B1 1</text></patcit> is a hand-operated control device for a work station of a truck became known to a stationary, raised, laterally adjacent to and ahead of the standing or sitting operator palm rest, with an upper bearing surface on which the palm of the hand of the operator can be placed from above, a front , remote from the operator area and one of the operator-facing surface and at least one control element for a function of the industrial truck on which the supporting surface facing away from the end of the palm rest, which is arranged such that it is operable with at least one finger, wherein the front and rear face are dimensioned so that the palm rest between the fingers and the wrist, which faces the proximal portion of the ball of the thumb to be gripped and a lying from the front surface, opposite the support surface lowered portion is arranged so that the fingers of the lying on the support surface hand angled can be and the operating element is arranged on the opposite side of the front surface of the lowered portion. The support surface and the depressed portion and front and rear surface are formed on a shell body, laterally in the shell body at least one operating element is so embedded that it is operable with the thumb of a hand which rests on the support surface.

p0007The invention has for its object to provide an operating device for an industrial truck, which allows an ergonomically favorable operation for as many functions even for different hand sizes and avoids accidental operation even when wearing work gloves.

p0008According to the invention the object is achieved by an operating element with the features of claim. 1 Advantageous embodiments form the subject matter of the subclaims.

p0009The operating element according to the invention is provided and intended for an industrial truck. The operating element has two operating lever and at least one is arranged between the operating levers switch. The operating levers are each designed for a two-axis movement, so that each control lever can be freely tilted in any direction. The controls are spatially spaced apart so that a positioned between the operating levers hand it allows to operate with your fingers the two levers and the at least one switch. Both operating lever can be operated with the bale and / or the fingers of one hand without changing the grip of the control lever so that both operating levers great effort or unnatural hand position can be simultaneously operated with one hand without. Preferably, both operating lever can be moved without a change in position of the hand just above your fingers. Also, the distance between the control levers is large enough so that incorrect operation of the control lever or the at least one switch is excluded.

p0010In order to provide a good surface for the hand, the operating lever has a lever located crowned Broadening end forming a support surface for the palm, especially for the palm.

p0011In a preferred embodiment of the switch or between the control levers are designed as pushbuttons. The buttons can be assigned different functions for the operation of the industrial truck. For example, may be assigned as a signal transmitter of the stylus. The other button can be provided for example as a confirmation button.

p0012In a preferred embodiment, the operating element with a shell-like housing cover is provided from which protrude the operating lever and the at least one button is located slightly recessed. The housing cover is used to store the hand or the palm of an operator. From this position, the control lever can be operated. Due to the slightly recessed pushbutton inadvertent manipulation of the switch is avoided.

p0013In a preferred embodiment, at least one of the operating lever, a switch associated with that is occupied by one or more hydraulic functions. The changeover switch is preferably embodied as a toggle switch which has two defined switching positions. A rocker switch can be provided.

p0014In a further preferred embodiment, a slide switch is provided centrally to the control levers, which has a parallel extending to an imaginary connecting line between the control levers slide. The slide switch is shifted to switch transversely to the connecting line.

p0015A preferred embodiment for the control element is explained in detail below.

p0016The single figure shows a shell-like housing part 10, which is preferably made of plastic and is integrated in a control room for a truck in the interior lining. From the housing part 10 are faced with two control levers 12 and 14th Each of the control lever 12, lever 14 has a head 16 that widens upwards and a bearing surface 18 for a palm of the hand is formed at its upper end. Each of the operating lever 12, 14 is like a joystick along the illustrated double arrows K movable. The movement in the two directions of the arrows can in this case be layered so that each operating lever can be swiveled in any direction. Alternatively, a guide streets over a corresponding shift gate is possible.

p0017The operating levers 12 and 14 each have a collar 20 having an accordion wise folded sheet to shield a lever mechanism of the operating lever to environmental influences such as dust, dirt and the like.

p0018Between the control levers 12, 14 two buttons 22, 24 are arranged. The button 22 is equipped as a signal transmitter for an acoustic warning signal. The button 24 is provided for example as a confirmation button. The use of industrial trucks, there are features such as the use of hydraulically operated clamps or holding arms, which must be a separate confirmation by the operator before opening the bracket or the holding arms to prevent inadvertent opening and operating. Such confirmation button, for example, the push-button 24. The buttons 22 and 24 are integrated into the housing 10 and slightly recessed.

p0019A switch 26 is constructed as a toggle switch and protrudes from the housing 10th The switch 26 is provided for switching between different hydraulic functions. Here, the toggle switch 26 may be formed such that its rocker arm 28 is always in the illustrated neutral position and is switched forward or rearward. Alternatively, the toggle switch 26 can also be designed such that the rocker arm 28 has a front and a rear position defined defined position, is switched between them.

p0020The operating element further comprises a shift lever 30 which is displaceable along the double arrow A. The shift lever 30 has a front slide body 32 and a rear sliding body 34. The sliding body 32 and 34 are connected together by a web 36th The rear sliding body 34 is arranged such that a resting on the operating lever 12 or 14 hand can press with the forefinger and the middle finger against the back wall 38 of the rear sliding body 34 in order to continue to push the slide in the direction of double arrow A of the operating lever. When pulling the slide of the rear sliding body 34 can be partially engaged behind with your index finger, so that the slider is pulled in total to the operating lever 12 and 14th