Control apparatus for soil compacting apparatus, with handlebar and rotational speed lever

Abstract

A control apparatus for a soil compacting apparatus which can be driven by a drive motor. The control apparatus includes a running-direction operating element, which is pivotable about a first axis, for predetermining a running direction of the soil compacting apparatus by an operator, and further includes a rotational-speed operating element, which is pivotable about a second axis, for setting a rotational speed of the drive motor. The first axis and the second axis are congruent and form a common pivot axis.

Claims

1. A control apparatus for a soil compacting apparatus which can be driven by a drive motor, comprising: a running-direction operating element, which is pivotable about a first axis for predetermining a running direction of the soil compacting apparatus by an operator; and a rotational-speed operating element, which is pivotable about a second axis, for setting a rotational speed of the drive motor; wherein the first axis and the second axis are congruent and form a common pivot axis.

2. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the running-direction operating element and the rotational-speed operating element are held by a control housing.

3. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a hydraulic connection device is provided, to which hydraulic components of the soil compacting apparatus can be connected; and wherein the running-direction operating element is coupled to a running-direction transmission device for transmitting a pivoting movement of the running-direction operating element to the hydraulic components of the soil compacting apparatus via the hydraulic connection device.

4. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a rotational-speed transmission device is provided for transmitting a pivoting position of the rotational-speed operating element to a motor controller of the drive motor.

5. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least the following operating states of the soil compacting apparatus can be activated by the running-direction operating element: maximum forward travel of the soil compacting apparatus; maximum rearward travel of the soil compacting apparatus; and standstill of the soil compacting apparatus.

6. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotational-speed operating element can be pivoted into at least the following positions which correspond to corresponding operating states of the drive motor: maximum position for a maximum rotational speed of the drive motor; and idling position for an idling rotational speed of the drive motor.

7. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein an envelope of the running-direction operating element circumscribes a virtual space; and wherein the rotational-speed operating element is at least partially arranged in the virtual space in a “switched-off” operating state thereof.

8. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the running-direction operating element takes up a frontmost pivoting position in the “switched-off” operating state thereof; and wherein the rotational-speed operating element takes up an idling position in the “switched-off” operating state thereof.

9. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a resetting device is provided for generating a resetting torque on the rotational-speed operating element when the rotational-speed operating element is rotated by the operator from the idling position into a switching-off position; and wherein when the rotational-speed operating element is released by the operator, the resetting device uses the resetting torque to bring about a rotation of the rotational-speed operating element from the switching-off position into the idling position.

10. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the running-direction operating element comprises a handlebar; the handlebar is fastened to a shaft bolt, the center axis of which corresponds to the common pivot axis; and wherein the handlebar can be pivoted together with the shaft bolt about the common pivot axis.

11. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the rotational-speed operating element is coupled to a bearing drum which is mounted in the control housing and which can be rotated in a manner corresponding to a movement of the rotational-speed operating element; wherein the bearing drum is rotatable about the common pivot axis; and wherein the rotational-speed transmission device is designed to transmit a rotational position of the bearing drum to the motor controller of the drive motor.

12. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the bearing drum includes a sleeve which surrounds the shaft bolt on the circumference.

13. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a starting operating device is provided for activating a starter apparatus which can be coupled to the control apparatus and which can start the drive motor upon actuation by an operator; and wherein a covering device which is coupled to the rotational-speed operating element is provided for covering the starting operating device depending on a position of the rotational-speed operating element.

14. The control apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the rotational-speed operating element is coupled to the covering device in such a manner that the starting operating device is covered by the covering device if the rotational-speed operating element is in a position which brings about a rotational speed of the drive motor greater than the idling rotational speed.

15. A vibratory plate comprising: a soil contact plate, an unbalance exciter mounted on the soil contact plate; a longitudinally extending drawbar provided on the vibratory plate and having a free end, a control apparatus provided on the free end of the drawbar, the control apparatus including a running-direction operating element, which is pivotable about a first axis, for predetermining a running direction of the soil compacting apparatus by an operator; and a rotational-speed operating element, which is pivotable about a second axis, for setting a rotational speed of the drive motor; wherein the first axis and the second axis are congruent and form a common pivot axis.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) These and further advantages and features of the invention will be explained in more detail below using examples with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows, in a perspective view, a control apparatus according to the invention for a soil compacting apparatus;

(3) FIG. 2 shows the control apparatus from FIG. 1 in a partial sectional illustration;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a variant of the control apparatus in a perspective view;

(5) FIG. 4 shows the control apparatus from FIG. 3 in another operating state; and

(6) FIG. 5 schematically shows a vibratory plate fitted with the control apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) FIGS. 1 and 2 show a control apparatus 50 for a soil compacting apparatus, in particular for a vibratory plate.

(8) The control apparatus 50 is arranged in or on a control housing 1 which can be designed at the same time as a drawbar head which, in turn, is arranged at the end of a guide drawbar 106 of a vibratory plate 100 as schematically shown in FIG. 5. The vibratory plate 100 includes a soil contact plate 102, on which an unbalance exciter 104 is mounted which, for example, has two eccentric shafts which can be rotated in opposite directions and can be set in opposed rotation by a drive. The control apparatus 50 is provided at a free end of the drawbar 106 and forms a drawbar head.

(9) Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, two operating elements are provided on the control housing 1. The operating elements are a handlebar 2 (switchover handle) serving as running-direction operating element, and a rotational speed lever 3 serving as a rotational-speed operating element.

(10) The handlebar 2 is configured robustly and has a substantially rectangular shape in front view (FIG. 2), wherein the corners are rounded. The handlebar 2 is generally manufactured from a stable, curved tube, to the ends of which two sheet-metal tabs 4 are welded, the ends of which in turn are screwed to each other via a shaft bolt 5. The shaft bolt 5 is mounted in a suitable manner in the control housing 1. The handlebar 2 with the sheet-metal tabs 4 and the shaft bolt 5 therefore forms a closed encircling form which increases the stability.

(11) When the handlebar 2 is actuated, the latter therefore pivots with the sheet-metal tabs 4 and the shaft bolt 5 about a pivot axis 6 serving as the first axis.

(12) The shaft bolt 5 is coupled to a running-direction transmission device, not illustrated. This can have, for example, a pinion which is fastened to the shaft bolt 5 and, via a rack, shifts a master piston in a master cylinder axially to and fro. Via a hydraulic coupling, the resulting hydraulic signal is transmitted to a slave piston in a slave cylinder which can be provided in the vibratory plate on an unbalance exciter. The unbalance shafts in the unbalance exciter can be adjusted in respect of their rotational position or phase position with the aid of the slave piston in order to adjust the direction of the force vector resulting during rotation of the two unbalance shafts relative to each other. The running direction of the vibratory plate can thereby be influenced. In particular, running directions with a maximum forward travel, maximum rearward travel and at standstill of the vibratory plate can therefore be achieved, wherein any desired intermediate positions are also possible. The positions correspond here to a respective pivoting position of the handlebar 2 relative to the control housing 1.

(13) The described principle for activating hand-guided vibratory plates is well known and therefore does not need to be explained in more detail at this juncture.

(14) By contrast, a new feature is that the rotational speed lever 3 is also mounted on the control housing 1 coaxially with respect to the handlebar 2.

(15) For this purpose, the rotational speed lever 3 is coupled rigidly or screwed fixedly to a bearing drum 7. The bearing drum 7 is mounted captively and rotatably in the control housing 1, in particular with the aid of a plain bearing formed on the outer circumference of the bearing drum 7. At its outside diameter, the bearing drum 7 has an encircling recess 8 in which a wire 9 of a Bowden cable is guided.

(16) By rotation of the rotational speed lever 3 and therefore of the bearing drum 7, the wire 9 of the Bowden cable is thereby wound up to a greater or lesser extent, that is to say is tightened or released. The other end of the wire 9 and of the Bowden cable, not illustrated, is coupled to a carburetor of an internal combustion engine belonging to the vibratory plate. The position of a throttle valve in the carburetor can thereby be adjusted via the Bowden cable and the wire 9 by pivoting of the rotational speed lever 3. Alternatively, the Bowden cable can also act on a different regulating device, such as, for example, an injection pump in the case of diesel engines.

(17) The rotational speed lever 3 with the bearing drum 7 is likewise pivotable about the pivot axis 6 which to this extent also serves as the second axis. The pivot axis 6 is therefore a common pivot axis both for the rotational speed lever 3 and for the handlebar 2. A highly compact design of the control apparatus is thereby possible.

(18) As FIG. 2 shows, the handlebar 2 is mounted in the left part of the control housing 1 via the shaft bolt 5, for example with the aid of a plain bearing, not illustrated. The bearing drum 7 is mounted directly next to it, in the right part of the control housing 1. The shaft bolt 5 extends through the hollow-cylindrical, sleeve-like bearing drum 7 without touching the latter. The mountings of handlebar 2 and rotational speed lever 3 can thereby be readily separated from each other in order to prevent them undesirably influencing each other.

(19) In addition, FIGS. 1 and 2 show that the handlebar 2 extends in a protective manner around the rotational speed lever 3. The handlebar 2 provides a type of protective frame around the rotational speed lever 3. The rotational speed lever 3 and the handlebar 2 are aligned, as viewed from the side, as is also apparent from FIGS. 1 and 2.

(20) As a result, the rotational speed lever 3 which is configured to be overall weaker and more sensitive and is equipped with a knob 10 at its end can be effectively protected by the handlebar 2 against mechanical actions from the outside.

(21) The position of the handlebar 2 and of the rotational speed lever 3 that is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 corresponds to a position which the two operating elements automatically take up when the internal combustion engine and therefore the vibratory plate are switched off. This therefore also involves the position with which the vibratory plate is, for example, transported and loaded.

(22) In particular, the handlebar 2 in this case is in its frontmost pivoting position (arrow direction V) which takes place automatically owing to the action of inertia of the unbalance masses in the unbalance exciter and the transmission via the hydraulics to the handlebar 2. If the operator releases the handlebar 2, the frontmost position (maximum forward travel) shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 arises automatically.

(23) The rotational speed lever 3 is also in a position which arises automatically when the motor is switched off. This is in particular the idling position which is also expedient if the motor is intended to be started again.

(24) A resetting device, not illustrated, which automatically pivots the rotational speed lever 3 into the shown idling position can optionally be provided. For example, in order to switch off the internal combustion engine, a switching-off position can be taken up by the rotational speed lever 3 and the bearing drum 7, in which the rotational speed lever 3 is pivoted out of the idling position shown in FIG. 1 counter to the arrow direction V. In this case, for example, an electric switching-off contact can be actuated which electrically switches off the internal combustion engine. The rotational speed can thereby also be reduced to such an extent that the internal combustion engine comes to a standstill. As soon as the operator releases the rotational speed lever 3, the resetting device causes the rotational speed lever 3 and the bearing drum 7 to pivot in the arrow direction V into the idling position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The rotational speed lever 3 is then readily protected by the handlebar 2 in this position.

(25) For simpler operation of the rotational speed lever 3, a pictogram 11 can be provided on the upper side of the control housing 1, the pictogram clarifying the “idling rotational speed” and “maximum rotational speed” positions by means of a simple symbolic illustration.

(26) FIGS. 3 and 4 shows a variant in which the control apparatus 150 that can be fitted on the vibratory plate 100 of FIG. 5. In addition to incorporating the components of the control apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2, control apparatus is additionally equipped with a starting button 12 serving as starting operating device (FIG. 3). By actuation of the starting button 12, the operator can activate a starter which starts the internal combustion engine in the known manner.

(27) The starting button 12 is readily accessible in FIG. 3 and can be easily actuated by the operator.

(28) However, a covering 13 is formed on the rotational speed lever 3, said covering, in the example shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, being connected integrally to the rotational speed lever 3. It can, of course, also be coupled to the rotational speed lever 3 in a different way.

(29) In the position shown in FIG. 4, the rotational speed lever 3 is pivoted forward in the arrow direction V, as a result of which the covering 13 is pivoted via the starting button 12. In this state, the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine is increased relative to the idling mode via the rotational speed lever 3 and may also correspond, for example, to a maximum rotational speed. It would then be extremely damaging for the starter (electric starter) if it were accidentally activated once again by the operator by actuating the starting button 12.

(30) In order to prevent this, the covering 13 is pivoted over the starting button 12 such that the latter is no longer accessible and also cannot be inadvertently actuated by the operator