METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR CONTROLLING DRIVING STATES OF A UTILITY VEHICLE

Abstract

A method is provided for alternately triggering driving states of a utility vehicle. The method includes providing a control element and a transmission selectively engageable in a forward driving state (F) for forward travel of the utility vehicle, a reverse driving state (R) for reverse travel, and a standstill driving state (S) for a stationary output of the transmission without disconnection of the drivetrain in the utility vehicle. The method further includes operating the transmission in a current driving state, operably selecting a target driving state while operating in the current driving state, and controllably triggering the transmission to the standstill driving state before shifting the transmission to the target driving state.

Claims

1. A method for alternately triggering driving states of a utility vehicle, comprising: providing a control element and a transmission selectively engageable in a forward driving state (F) for forward travel of the utility vehicle, a reverse driving state (R) for reverse travel, and a standstill driving state (S) for a stationary output of the transmission without disconnection of the drivetrain in the utility vehicle; operating the transmission in a current driving state; operably selecting a target driving state while operating in the current driving state; and controllably triggering the transmission to the standstill driving state before shifting the transmission to the target driving state.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: performing a change-control movement by the control element to trigger the target driving state; and triggering the transmission to the standstill driving state before or during the performing step.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising releasably locking the control element during the current driving state and before the performing step.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising releasing a locking element to trigger the standstill driving state.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising triggering the standstill driving state by a basic control movement as a component of the change-control movement of the control element.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the change-control movement of the control element for triggering the target driving state comprises a repeated performance of the basic control movement of the control element.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising detachably engaging the control element during the change-control movement or a basic control movement via at least one catch position.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising triggering the standstill driving state by transferring the control element into one of the at least one catch position.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising triggering the target driving state by transferring the control element into one of the at least one catch position.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising positioning the control element in a resting position during the current driving state.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising returning the control element to the resting position after triggering the transmission to the standstill driving state or the target driving state.

12. A system for alternately triggering a utility vehicle between a plurality of driving states, comprising: a transmission selectively operable in at least a forward driving state for forward travel of the utility vehicle, a reverse driving state for reverse travel, and a standstill driving state (S) for a stationary output of the transmission without disconnection of the drivetrain in the utility vehicle; and a control element configured to alternately trigger the transmission between driving states; wherein, the control element is operably triggered to a target driving state from a current driving state; further wherein, the control element is operably controlled to select the standstill driving state before triggering the target driving state.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the control element comprises a pivoting control lever.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the control element comprises a rotatable control roller.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the control element is arranged on an actuating instrument for operably controlling at least one work function by means of the utility vehicle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The above-mentioned aspects of the present disclosure and the manner of obtaining them will become more apparent and the disclosure itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of the embodiments of the disclosure, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0026] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of handling a control element in a first embodiment,

[0027] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of handling a control element in a second embodiment,

[0028] FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of handling a control element in a third embodiment,

[0029] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an additional embodiment of the control element, and

[0030] FIG. 5 is a perspective representation of an actuating instrument having an integrated control element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] In a first embodiment, the method and the arrangement with a control element 10 for controlling a drive direction change of a utility vehicle will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1-5. At least the following driving states may be possible for the utility vehicle: [0032] “Forward” (with reference sign “F”) for forward travel driven by the transmission of the utility vehicle; [0033] “Reverse” (with reference sign “R”) for reverse travel driven by the transmission of the utility vehicle; and [0034] “Standstill” (with reference sign “S”) for stationary output of the transmission without disconnection of the drivetrain in the utility vehicle. For transmissions that do not have an active standstill, the neutral position of the transmission or the disengagement of the drive clutch can take the place of such an active standstill.

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment for the handling and mode of operation of a lever-like control element 10, which is mounted pivotably about a schematically shown pivot bearing 12. The pivot bearing 12 is coupled, in a manner not shown here, to a control mechanism that activates a desired new driving state (target driving state) depending on the pivot position of the control element 10. During a current driving state F, R, or S, the control element 10 is in a center resting position 14. In this resting position 14, the control element 10 is releasably locked, for example, by means of a locking pin 13 that engages with the pivot bearing 12 under a preload from a spring force and that can be pressed out of the pivot bearing 12 by actuating the pushbutton 16.

[0036] If the utility vehicle is currently driving in reverse R and a change of driving direction to F is to be performed, the user first releases the locking of the control element 10. A pushbutton 16 is pressed in the direction of the pivot bearing 12 for this purpose. This actuation of the pushbutton 16 automatically activates the driving state S. In this manner, the reverse driving of the utility vehicle is first terminated in a defined and automatic manner before the actual change of driving direction. Only after the locking is released, i.e., only after activation of the driving state S, can the control element 10 carry out a change-control movement 18 by being pivoted in the direction of a target position 20. For a current driving state R, this target position 20 corresponds to the target driving state F.

[0037] In principle, the same actuation of the control element 10 is provided if the vehicle is to change to the target driving state R while in a current driving state F. The control element 10 carries out a change-control movement 22 in the opposite direction of the change-control movement 18, in the direction of a target position 21 which corresponds to the target driving state R. After triggering the target driving state F or R, the control element 10 is automatically returned to its rest position 14 by means of a suitable mechanism.

[0038] The control element 10 according to FIG. 2 is again in the resting position during a current driving state F, R, or S. The control element 10 can be protected against unintended movements out of the rest position by a spring force or releasable locking or the like. The control element 10 is again pivoted in order to carry out a change-control movement 18 or 22 for a driving direction change. Here, however, the change-control movement 18 or 22 is composed of two successively performed basic control movements 24 or 26. The basic control movement 24 or 26 is thus repeated once in order to trigger the target driving state. After carrying out the basic control movement 24 or 26 or the change-control movement 18 or 22, i.e., after activation of the driving state S or the driving state F or R—the control element 10 is automatically returned by means of a suitable mechanism to its resting position 14. In this control scheme, the user must also necessarily or automatically first activate the driving state S before the desired target driving state F or R is triggered.

[0039] The control element 10 according to FIG. 3 differs from the variant according to FIG. 2 particularly by a different design of the change-control movement 18 or 22. The basic control movement 24 or 26 for triggering the temporary driving state S in this case forms a first portion of the overall change-control movement 18 or 22. After the entire change-control movement 18 or 22 has been performed, the desired target driving state F or R is activated. A user-friendly handling of the control element 10 is supported in that, starting from the resting position 14, the states S, F, and R to be triggered each correspond to a specific catch position 28, 30, 32, or 34. In these catch positions 28, 30, 32, 34, the control element 10 is releasably engaged so that the triggered driving state is unambiguously signaled to the user. This releasable engagement is achieved, for example, by a catch element 36 that, under a preload from a spring force, presses against a control track 38 of the pivot bearing 12 or engages with individual recesses 40, 42 of this control track 38.

[0040] In the variant according to FIG. 3, the control element 10 is automatically returned by a suitable mechanism to its resting position 14 at least after performing the change-control movement 18 or 22, i.e., after activating the target driving state F or R.

[0041] As illustrated on the basis of FIGS. 1-3, the control element 10 can be constructed as a pivoting control lever. Alternatively, the control element 10 can be constructed according to FIG. 4 as a turnable or rotatable control roller, which is suitable for operation by means of a finger or thumb of the user. In principle, the same control schemes or control movements as those shown with FIGS. 1-3 can be implemented with this control unit.

[0042] FIG. 5 shows an actuating instrument 44 (e.g. a joystick) that is equipped with corresponding control functions for controlling various work functions of a utility vehicle, e.g., a tractor or some other agricultural vehicle. The control element 10 is integrated into this actuating instrument by being arranged on a side surface of the actuating instrument 44. Varying from this, an arrangement on a top, front, rear or lower surface of the actuating instrument 44 can also be provided. The user or driver of the utility vehicle can therefore control both work functions and desired driving direction changes in a user-friendly manner with one hand and a single actuating instrument.

[0043] While embodiments incorporating the principles of the present disclosure have been described hereinabove, the present disclosure is not limited to the described embodiments. Instead, this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the disclosure using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this disclosure pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.