Machine Control System For Operating A Construction Machine

Abstract

A machine control system comprises operating elements for operating a construction machine in a loader mode and in an excavator mode. The machine control system further comprises a control device configured to selectively set a loader control layout or an excavator control layout of the operating elements. The loader control layout comprises an assignment of the operating elements with loader operating functions. The excavator control layout comprises an assignment of the operating elements with excavator operating functions that is different from the assignment of the operating elements with the loader operating functions. The machine control system further comprises a switch configured to communicate with the control device for selecting one of the loader control layout and the excavator control layout. The invention further relates to a construction machine that comprises such a machine control system.

Claims

1. A machine control system for operating a construction machine, wherein the machine control system comprises: a plurality of operating elements for operating the construction machine in a loader mode or in at least one excavator mode; a control device configured to selectively set a loader control layout or at least one excavator control layout, wherein: the loader control layout comprises an assignment of the plurality of operating elements with loader operating functions; the at least one excavator control layout comprises an assignment of the plurality of operating elements with excavator operating functions; and the assignment of the plurality of operating elements with excavator operating functions is different from the assignment of the plurality of operating elements with the loader operating functions; and a single switch configured to communicate with the control device for selecting one of the loader control layout or the at least one excavator control layout.

2. The machine control system according to claim 1, wherein the switch comprises: a loader position, in which the loader control layout is selected; at least one excavator position in which the at least one excavator control layout is selected; and a default position in which the loader control layout and the at least one excavator control layout are not selected.

3. The machine control system according to claim 1, wherein the switch comprises: a rotary knob that is rotatable in opposite directions of rotation for selecting one of the loader control layout or the at least one excavator control layout.

4. The machine control system according to claim 1, wherein operation of the switch for selecting one of the loader control layout or the at least one excavator control layout is at least partly blockable depending on a predefined position of an articulated boom of the construction machine, and wherein the predefined position is a locking position of an arm of the articulated boom.

5. The machine control system according to claim 1, wherein operation of the switch for selecting one of the loader control layout or the at least one excavator control layout is blockable depending on a state of a tool of the construction machine.

6. The machine control system according to claim 5, further comprising: at least one further switch for controlling the position of the tool of the construction machine, wherein the at least one further switch is configured for moving and/or locking a tool storage device of the construction machine storing the tool, and wherein a blockage of the switch depends on a switch position of the at least one further switch.

7. The machine control system according to claim 4, further comprising: an alarm device for emitting an alarm, wherein the alarm is a visual and/or an audible alarm, and wherein the alarm device emits the alarm if the operation of the switch is blocked.

8. The machine control system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of operating elements comprises at least two hand levers for operating the construction machine in the loader mode or in the at least one excavator mode.

9. The machine control system according to claim 8, further comprising: an operator seat wherein the at least two hand levers for operating the construction machine in the loader mode or in the at least one excavator mode are arranged next to the operator seat to allow an operator sitting on the seat to actuate the at least two hand levers.

10. The machine control system according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of operating elements comprises: at least one foot lever for operating the construction machine in the loader mode or in the at least one excavator mode.

11. The machine control system according to claim 10, wherein the at least one foot lever for operating the construction machine in the loader mode or in the at least one excavator mode is arranged at the operator seat for allowing an operator sitting on the seat to actuate it.

12. The machine control system according to claim 1, wherein the assignment of the plurality of operating elements with excavator operating functions allows for an operation of the construction machine in a dozer mode.

13. The machine control system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of operating elements comprises a hand lever for operating the construction machine in a dozer mode.

14. The machine control system according to claim 1, wherein the control device is configured to selectively set the loader control layout or one of two excavator control layouts of the plurality of operating elements, wherein the loader control layout comprises the assignment of the plurality of operating elements with the loader operating functions, and wherein the two excavator control layouts each comprise an assignment of the plurality of operating elements with respective excavator operating functions that are different from each other and that are both different from the assignment of the plurality of operating elements with the loader operating functions.

15. A construction machine configured to be operated in a loader mode or in an excavator mode, wherein the construction machine comprises: operating elements for operating the construction machine in the loader mode or in the excavator mode; a control device configured to selectively set a loader control layout or an excavator control layout, wherein the loader control layout comprises a loader assignment of the operating elements with loader operating functions that differs from the excavator control layout that comprises an excavator assignment of the operating elements with excavator operating functions; and a single switch configured to communicate with the control device for selecting the loader control layout or the excavator control layout.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0021] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a construction machine according to an embodiment of the present invention in a loader mode.

[0022] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the construction machine of FIG. 1 in an excavator mode.

[0023] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the construction machine of FIG. 1 in dozer mode.

[0024] FIG. 4 shows a switch of a machine control system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 5 shows a switch of a machine control system according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 6 shows two further switches of a machine control system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 7 shows a machine control system according to an embodiment of the present invention in a loader control layout.

[0028] FIG. 8 shows a machine control system according to an embodiment of the present invention in an excavator control layout.

[0029] FIG. 9 shows ground drive element of a machine control system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] FIG. 10 shows ground drive element of a machine control system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0031] Embodiments of the present invention are subsequently described with reference to the attached FIGS. 1 to 10. FIGS. 1 to 3 show a construction machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the construction machine 1 is shown in three different operational modes. The construction machine 1 may comprise a chassis 4, an upper structure 5 and an articulated boom 2. The chassis 4 may be a track-driven chassis 4 or a wheel-driven chassis (not shown). The upper structure 5 may be arranged on the chassis 4 in a pivotable manner to be rotatable with respect to the chassis 4. The construction machine further comprises a machine control system (not shown in FIGS. 1 to 3) that is described in detail with respect to FIGS. 4 to 10. The upper structure 5 may comprise a machine frame 6 as a base frame or basic framework of the upper structure 5. The upper structure 5 may further comprise a driver's cabin 9 with a driver's seat (not shown in FIGS. 1 to 3). For example, the chassis 4, the upper structure 5 and/or the articulated boom 2 may be operated by an electric motor (not shown). A hydraulic pump (not shown) for operating hydraulic actuators and a swing drive (not shown) for rotating the upper structure 5 with respect to the chassis 4 may further be provided. The electric motor may drive the hydraulic pump. The driver's cabin 9 may be arranged on the machine frame 6. The upper structure 5 may further comprise a recess 7. The recess 7 may be formed above the machine frame 6 for accommodating at least part of the articulated boom 2, i.e. a proximal arm 62 of the articulated boom 2, when being folded towards or against the machine frame 6. The driver's cabin 9 may be arranged around the recess 7.

[0032] The articulated boom 2 may be arranged on the upper structure 5, wherein the articulated boom 2 may be in particular a three-armed boom 2. At one boom end, the articulated boom 2 may be pivotably attached to the machine frame 6 by means of a first articulation 61. The first articulation 61 may be a pivot joint. The first articulation 61 may be provided at a central position of the machine frame 6 in widthwise direction of the upper structure 5 and in front of the vertical axis of rotation of the upper structure 5 in lengthwise direction of the upper structure 5. At the other end of the articulated boom 2, which is not attached to the machine frame 6, a tool mount 3 may be pivotably arranged. The articulated boom 2 may comprise the proximal arm 62, an intermediate arm 64 and a distal arm 66. The proximal arm 62 may be hinged to the machine frame 6 by means of the first articulation 61, the intermediate arm 64 may be hinged to the proximal arm 62 by means of a second articulation 63 and/or the distal arm 66 may be hinged to the intermediate arm 64 by means of a third articulation 65. The articulations 61, 63, 65 may be designed as pivoting joints. The first articulation 61 may interconnect the proximal arm 62 and the upper structure 5 and the machine frame 6, respectively, the second articulation 63 may interconnect the intermediate arm 64 and the proximal arm 62 and the third articulation 65 may interconnect the distal arm 66 and the intermediate arm 64. The articulated boom 2 may further comprise a first positioning cylinder 82 for pivoting the proximal arm 62, a second positioning cylinder 84 for pivoting the intermediate arm 64, a third positioning cylinder 86 for pivoting the distal arm 66 and/or a fourth positioning cylinder 88 for pivoting the tool mount 3.

[0033] Different tools 10, 20, 30 may be provided on the construction machine 1, which are configured to be mounted to the tool mount 3 that may be pivotably attached to the distal arm 66. A fourth articulation 67 may interconnect the distal arm 66 and the tool mount 3. Tools 10, 20, 30 not mounted to the tool mount 3 may be carried by the construction machine 1 on a tool storage. A first tool 10 may be a loader bucket 11, a second tool 20 may be an excavator bucket 21 and a third tool 30 may be a hammer 31, wherein at least the loader bucket 11 and the excavator bucket 21 may be provided on the construction machine 1. The hammer 31 may be a hydraulic hammer. Alternatively, only two tools out of the different tools 10, 20, 30 may be provided on the machine.

[0034] The chassis 4 may comprise a first tool carrier 40 and the upper structure 5 may further comprise a second tool carrier 50, wherein the first tool carrier 40 and/or the second tool carrier 50 may provide the tool storage on the construction machine 1. The second tool carrier 50 may be configured as a tool changer. The first tool carrier 40 may be arranged at the rear side of the chassis 4 and may be configured to carry the first tool 10. The first tool carrier 40 may be tiltable and may be moved between an upward position and a downward position. The upward position may serve for carrying the first tool 10 and the downward position may serve for utilizing the first tool 10, e.g. the loader bucket 11, for carrying out dozer work with the construction machine 1. In other words, in the upward position, the first tool 10 is spaced from the ground, whereas it is in contact with or at least in proximity of the ground in the downward position. The second tool carrier 50 may be arranged at the front end of the upper structure 5, wherein the second tool carrier 50 may be positioned adjacent to the articulated boom 2 in widthwise direction of the upper structure 5. The articulated boom 2 may be arranged in between the driver's cabin 9 and the second tool carrier 50. The second tool carrier 50 may be accommodated in a frame recess of the machine frame 6 and may be pivoted from a stowed position to at least one pivot position. For that purpose, the second tool carrier 50 may be pivotably attached to the machine frame 6. Two tools 20, 30 may be carried on the second tool carrier 50. The tools 20, 30 may be the excavator bucket 21 and the hammer 31, both mountable to the tool mount 3.

[0035] The different operational modes of the construction machine 1 are subsequently described in detail with reference to the FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 1 shows the construction machine 1 in a loader mode as an operational mode of the construction machine 1. In this operational mode, the articulated boom 2 may be arranged in a partly locked configuration, in which the first articulation 61 may be blocked by interlocking the proximal arm 62 of the articulated boom 2 with the upper structure 5 and/or the machine frame 6 of the construction machine 1. In the loader mode, the articulated boom 2 may be de facto a two-armed boom. The loader bucket 11 may be mounted to the tool mount 3, and the excavator bucket 21 and the hammer 31 may be carried by the construction machine 1. FIG. 2 shows the construction machine 1 in an excavator mode being a further operational mode of the construction machine 1. In this operational mode, the articulated boom 2 may be arranged in an unlocked configuration such that all boom articulations 61, 63, 65, 67 are unlocked and all arms 62, 64, 66 are movable. In this excavator mode, the excavator bucket 21 may be mounted to the tool mount 3. The loader bucket 11 and the hammer 31 may be carried by the construction machine 1 by depositing them in the tool storage, i.e. the first tool carrier 40 or second tool carrier 50. FIG. 3 shows the construction machine 1 in a dozer mode as a further optional operational mode of the construction machine 1. This operational mode may be the excavator mode, wherein the articulated boom 2 may not be operated. The loader bucket 11 mounted on the first tool carrier 40 may be tilted downwards providing a dozer blade-functionality.

[0036] Embodiments of a machine control system 100 with a single switch 130 are further described with respect to FIGS. 4 to 10. The machine control system 100 serves for operating the construction machine 1, namely the boom 2, i.e. the different arms of the boom 62, 64, 66, the swing drive between the upper structure 5 and the chassis 4, the first and the second tools 10, 20 and the ground drive for macroscopically moving the entire construction machine. FIGS. 7 and 8 show a machine control system 100 for operating the construction machine 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 according to an embodiment of the invention. The machine control system 100 comprises a plurality of operating elements 110, a control device 120 and a single switch 130. The plurality of operating elements 110 and the single switch 130 may be arranged in an operator's cabin 9 around a driver's seat 101.

[0037] FIG. 4 shows a single switch 130 of the machine control system 100 for controlling the construction machine of FIGS. 1-3 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The switch 130 may be configured as a rotary switch comprising a rotary knob 131. The rotary knob 131 may be rotated, for example to the left, to an excavator position 134 of the switch 130. The rotary knob 131 may also be rotated, for example to the right, to a loader position 132 of the switch 130. The switch 130 may further comprise a default position 138 in between the excavator position 134 and the loader position 132. The default position 138 may be an initial position prior to switching to one of the operation mode positions 132, 134. The switch 130 may further comprise position indicators 133, 135, 139 indicating the loader position 132, the excavator position 134 and the default position 138. A loader indicator 133 with a loader symbol may be arranged at the loader position 132. An excavator indicator 135 with an excavator symbol may be arranged at the excavator position 134. A default indicator 139 with a default symbol may be arranged at the default position 138. The position indicators 133, 135, 139 may be illuminated. The rotary knob may also comprise an arrow indicator 131a selectively pointing at one of the positions 132, 134, 138.

[0038] FIG. 5 shows a switch 130 of the machine control system 100 according to a further embodiment of the present invention. The switch 130 of FIG. 5 corresponds to the switch of FIG. 4 except for the differences described below. Compared to the switch 130 shown in FIG. 4, a further excavator position 136 is provided by the switch 130 of FIG. 5. The rotary knob 131 may thus be rotated, for example to the left, to a first excavator position 134 of the switch 130, and further to a second excavator position 136 of the switch 130. The switch 130 may thus further comprise position indicators 135, 137 indicating the first excavator position 134 and the second excavator position 136. A first excavator indicator 135 with a first excavator symbol may be arranged at the first excavator position 134. A second excavator indicator 137 with a second excavator symbol may be arranged at the second excavator position 136.

[0039] As described in detail in the following, turning the rotary knob 131 of the switch 130 of FIG. 4 or FIG. 5 to the loader position 132 assigns a loader control layout L, which is shown in FIG. 7, to a plurality of operating elements of the machine. Further, turning the rotary knob 131 to an excavator position 134 (or 136) assigns an excavator control layout E1 (or E2) to the operating elements, the layout(s) E1 (and E2) being shown in FIG. 8.

[0040] Furthermore, the machine control system 100 may further be configured to control the second tool carrier 50. For that purpose, as shown in FIG. 6, the machine control system 100 may comprise two further switches 150, 155. A first further switch 150 may be a toggle switch with two switch positions 151, 153. In the first switch position 151, the second tool carrier 50 may be stowed or pivoted towards the machine frame 6. In the second switch position 153, the second tool carrier 50 may be unstowed or pivoted outwards from the machine frame 6. A second further switch 155 may also be a toggle switch with two switch positions 157, 159. In the first switch position 157, a tool on the tool carrier 50 may locked on the second tool carrier 50. In the second switch position 159, the tool on the tool carrier 50 may be unlocked on the second tool carrier 50. Alternatively, with respect to the second further switch 155, in the first switch position 157, the proximal arm 62 of the articulated boom 2 may be interlocked with the upper structure 5 and/or with the machine frame 6 of the construction machine 1. In the second switch position 159, the interlocking of the proximal arm 62 of the articulated boom 2 with the upper structure 5 and/or the machine frame 6 of the construction machine 1 may be released. The control device 120 of the machine control system 100 may be electrically connected with the respective components and/or switches and configured to perform the above-described functions.

[0041] The plurality of operating elements 110 of the machine control system 100 may comprise at least two hand levers, a first hand lever 112 and a second hand lever 114. Optionally, the plurality of operating elements 110 may further comprise an additional hand lever 118. The first hand lever 112 may be arranged at a right-hand side of the driver's seat 101, wherein the first hand lever 112 may be actuated with the operator's right hand. The first hand lever 112 may be arranged at a front portion of the right-hand side, for example on a front portion of a right armrest of the driver's seat 101. The second hand lever 114 may be arranged at a left-hand side of the driver's seat 101, wherein the second hand lever 114 may be actuated with the operator's left hand. The second hand lever 114 may be arranged at a front portion of the left-hand side, for example on a front portion of a left armrest of the driver's seat 101. The additional hand lever 118 may be arranged at the right-hand side of the driver's seat 101, wherein the additional hand lever 118 may be actuated with the operator's right hand. The additional hand lever 118 may be arranged at a rear portion of the right-hand side, for example on a rear portion of the right armrest of the driver's seat 101. The plurality of operating elements 110 may further comprise a foot lever 116. Additionally, the plurality of operating elements 110 may further comprise ground drive operating elements 170 that are further described below with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. Optionally, the plurality of operating elements 110 may further comprise an auxiliary foot lever 117 that may be additionally or alternatively assigned with any one of the operating functions described herein.

[0042] A switch 130 of the machine control system 100 as described in connection with FIG. 4 or FIG. 5 may be arranged at the right-hand side (as exemplary shown in FIG. 7) or at the left-hand side of the driver's seat 101. The control device 120 may also be arranged at the right-hand side or at the left-hand side of the driver's seat 101. Alternatively, the control device 120 may be arranged spaced apart from the driver' seat 101 (as exemplary shown in FIG. 7) on the construction machine 1 and/or spaced apart from the construction machine 1.

[0043] The control device 120 may be connected with the plurality of operating elements in a wire-based manner or in a wireless manner. The control device 120 may be connected with the first hand lever 112, the second hand lever 114, the foot lever 116 and the switch 130. The control device 120 may be further connected with the additional hand lever 118.

[0044] In FIG. 7, a loader control layout L of the plurality of operating elements 110 is shown. The control layout L comprises assignments of the plurality of operating elements 110 with loader operating functions. The control device 120 may be configured to only allow the machine control system 100 to be changed to a loader control layout L if certain preconditions are fulfilled. A first precondition that must be fulfilled may be that the second tool carrier 50 is stowed in the machine frame 6 as shown in FIG. 1. A second precondition may be that the proximal arm 62 of the articulated boom 2 of the construction machine 1 is interlocked with the upper structure 5 and/or the machine frame 6 of the construction machine 1 as further shown in FIG. 1. If these preconditions are fulfilled, the control device 120 may release the knob 131 to allow it to be turned to the loader position 132 shown in FIG. 4 or 5. For example, for verifying whether the preconditions are fulfilled, the control device 120 may be configured to verify whether two further switches 150, 155 shown in FIG. 6 may be respectively actuated. The two further switches 150, 155 may also be connected with the control device 120 and may be arranged at the left-hand side (as exemplary shown in FIG. 7) or at the right-hand side of the driver's seat 101. In case that at least one of the preconditions for the loader control layout L is not fulfilled, an alarm device 160 may emit a visual and/or an audible alarm. The alarm device 160 may comprise a warning lamp and/or a loudspeaker (both not shown in FIG. 7). The alarm device 160 may be connected with the control device 120 and may be arranged at the right-hand side (as exemplary shown in FIG. 7) or at the left-hand side of the driver's seat 101. The alarm device 160 may also be integrated in or combined with the switch 130.

[0045] In case that the preconditions for the loader control layout L are fulfilled and the switch 130 is turned to its loader position 132, the plurality of operating elements 110 may be assigned with loader operating functions as follows: In the loader control layout L, the first hand lever 112 may be assigned in its longitudinal moving direction with operating functions for moving the intermediate arm 64 of the articulated boom 2. A forward movement f1 of the first hand lever 112 may cause a downward pivoting of the intermediate arm 64 of the articulated boom 2. A backward movement b1 of the first hand lever 112 may cause an upward pivoting of the intermediate arm 64. The first hand lever 112 may be further assigned in its lateral moving direction with operating functions for moving the loader bucket 11 mounted on the tool mount 3 of the articulated boom 2. A left movement 11 of the first hand lever 112 may cause a upward tilting of the loader bucket 11. A right movement r1 of the first hand lever 112 may cause a downward tilting of the loader bucket 11. Further, the second hand lever 114 may be assigned in its longitudinal moving direction with operating functions for driving the construction machine. A forward movement f2 of the second hand lever 114 may cause a forward driving of the construction machine 1. A backward movement b2 of the second hand lever 114 may cause a rearward driving of the construction machine 1. The second hand lever 114 may be further assigned in its lateral moving direction with operating functions for steering the construction machine 1. A left movement 12 of the second hand lever 114 may cause a left steering of the construction machine 1. A right movement r2 of the second hand lever 114 may cause a right steering of the construction machine 1. The additional hand lever 118 may not be assigned with any operating functions in the loader control layout L. For example, the additional hand lever 118 may be deactivated by the control device 120. In addition, the foot lever 116 may be assigned in its longitudinal moving direction with operating functions for moving the distal arm 66 of the articulated boom 2. A pushing f3 of the foot lever 116 may cause an outward pivoting of the distal arm 66 of the articulated boom 2. A releasing b3 of the foot lever 116 may cause an inward pivoting of the distal arm 66 of the articulated boom 2.

[0046] In FIG. 8, two alternative excavator control layouts E1, E2 of the plurality of operating elements 110 are shown. In case that the machine control system 100 is configured with a switch 130 according to FIG. 4, one of the excavator control layouts E1, E2 may be selectable in the excavator position 134. In case that the machine control system 100 is configured with a switch 130 according to FIG. 5, one of the excavator control layouts E1, E2 may be selectable in the first excavator position 134 and the other one of the excavator control layouts E1, E2 may be selectable in the second excavator position 136. The excavator control layout E1 may be one out of two excavator control layouts, i.e. a first excavator control layout E1. The excavator control layout E1 comprises assignments of the plurality of operating elements 110 with excavator operating functions, said excavator operating functions being at least partly different from the loader operating functions assigned to the different operating elements 110 in FIG. 7. The further excavator control layout E2 may be another one out of two excavator control layouts, i.e. a second excavator control layout E2. The control layout E2 comprises assignments of the plurality of operating elements 110 with excavator operating functions, said excavator operating functions being at least partly different from the loader operating functions assigned to the different operating elements 110 in FIG. 7.

[0047] The control device 120 may be configured to only allow the machine control system 100 to be changed to an excavator control layout E1, E2 if certain preconditions are fulfilled. A precondition may be that the second tool carrier 50 is stowed in the machine frame 6 as shown in FIG. 2. If the precondition is fulfilled, the control device 120 may release the knob 131 to allow it to be turned to the excavator position 134 shown in FIG. 4 or 5. For example, for verifying whether the precondition is fulfilled, the control device 120 may be configured to verify whether a switch 150, 155 shown in FIG. 6 may be respectively actuated. In case that the precondition for the excavator control layout E1 is not fulfilled, the alarm device 160 as described with respect to FIG. 7 may be operated by the control device 120.

[0048] In case that the precondition for the excavator control layout E1 is fulfilled and the switch 130 is moved to its excavator position 134, the plurality of operating elements 110 may be assigned with excavator operating functions as follows: In the excavator control layout E1, the first hand lever 112 may be assigned in its longitudinal moving direction with operating functions for moving the proximal arm 62 of the articulated boom 2. A forward movement f1 of the first hand lever 112 may cause an outward pivoting of the proximal arm 62 of the articulated boom 2. A backward movement b1 of the first hand lever 112 may cause an inward pivoting of the proximal arm 62. The first hand lever 112 may be further assigned in its lateral moving direction with operating functions for moving the excavator bucket 21 mounted on the tool mount 3 of the articulated boom 2. A left movement 11 of the first hand lever 112 may cause a inward tilting of the excavator bucket 21. A right movement r1 of the first hand lever 112 may cause an outward tilting of the excavator bucket 21. Further, the second hand lever 114 may be assigned in its longitudinal moving direction with operating functions for moving the distal arm 66 of the articulated boom 2. A forward movement f2 of the second hand lever 114 may cause an outward pivoting of the distal arm 66 of the articulated boom 2. A backward movement b2 of the second hand lever 114 may cause an inward pivoting of the distal arm 66 of the articulated boom 2. The second hand lever 114 may be further assigned in its lateral moving direction with operating functions for rotating the upper structure 5 together with the articulated boom 2 with respect to the chassis 4 of the construction machine 1. A left movement 12 of the second hand lever 114 may cause a left rotation of the upper structure 5. A right movement r2 of the second hand lever 114 may cause a right rotation of the upper structure 5. Further, the additional hand lever 118 may be assigned in its longitudinal moving direction with operating functions for moving the loader bucket 11 mounted to the first tool carrier 40 as shown in FIG. 3. A forward movement f4 of the additional hand lever 118 may cause a downward tilting of the loader bucket 11. A backward movement b4 of the additional hand lever 118 may cause an upward tilting of the loader bucket 11. The construction machine 1 may be operated in a dozer mode when tilting the loader bucket 11 accordingly. Further, in the first excavator control layout E1, the foot lever 116 may be assigned with operating functions for moving the intermediate arm 64 of the articulated boom 2. A pushing f3 of the foot lever 116 may cause an outward pivoting of the intermediate arm 64 of the articulated boom 2. A releasing b3 of the foot lever 116 may cause an inward pivoting of the intermediate arm 64 of the articulated boom 2. In the further excavator control layout E2, the assignments of excavator control functions to the respective operating elements 110 corresponds to the assignments in the control layout E1 with the difference that the excavator functions assigned to the longitudinal movements of the first and second hand lever 112, 114 are interchanged in the control layout E2 compared to the control layout E1.

[0049] In FIGS. 9 and 10, the ground drive operating elements 170 of FIGS. 7 and 8 are shown in detail. The plurality of operating elements 110 may comprise these ground drive operating elements 170 for driving the construction machine 1. The assignments of operating functions to the ground drive operating elements 170 may be combined with all previous described operating control layouts.

[0050] In FIG. 9, ground drive operating elements 170 for a track-driven construction machine 1 as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 are shown. Two additional foot levers 172, 174 are arranged next to the foot lever 116. A left foot lever 172 may be assigned with operating functions for operating a left track of the construction machine 1. A forward movement f5 of the foot lever 172 may cause a forward driving of the left track. A backward movement b5 of the foot lever 172 may cause a rearward driving of the left track. A right foot lever 174 may be assigned with operating functions for operating a right track of the construction machine 1. A forward movement f6 of the foot lever 174 may cause a forward driving of the right track. A backward movement b6 of the foot lever 174 may cause a rearward driving of the right track. The foot levers 172, 174 may further be configured as combined hand-foot-levers. The foot levers 172, 174 may comprise hand levers 173, 175 being each mounted to the foot levers 172, 174 for moving them in their longitudinal moving direction alternatively by hand.

[0051] In FIG. 10, alternative ground drive operating elements 170 for a wheel-driven construction machine are shown. A steering column 176 comprising a steering wheel 177 is arranged in front of the driver's seat 101 for steering the construction machine 1. A further foot lever 178 is arranged next to the steering column 176 having an operating function as a service brake.