Abstract
An operator workplace for a construction machine, comprising a driver seat with a seating surface, an armrest arranged next to the seating surface and having an arm support surface and a control wheel for controlling at least one machine function, the control wheel being rotatable about a control axis, the control axis of the control wheel being tilted relative to a vertical line by a tilt angle in a direction toward the arm support surface of the armrest. Moreover, the invention relates to a construction machine, in particular a ground compaction machine, for example a road roller or single-drum roller, or a road paver, having such an operator workplace.
Claims
1-14. (canceled)
15. An operator workplace for a construction machine, comprising: a driver seat with a seating surface; an armrest arranged next to the seating surface and having an arm support surface and a control wheel to control at least one machine function, the control wheel being rotatable about a control axis, and wherein the control axis of the control wheel is tilted relative to a vertical line by a tilt angle in a direction toward the arm support surface of the armrest.
16. The operator workplace according to claim 15, wherein the tilt angle is in a range from 20° to 70°.
17. The operator workplace according to claim 16, wherein the tilt angle is in the range from 30° to 60°.
18. The operator workplace according to claim 15, wherein the control wheel is arranged on the armrest in a swiveling manner and arrestable in various swivel positions such that the tilt angle is selectable by an operator in a range of the tilt angle, wherein the tilt angle is in a range from 20° to 70°.
19. The operator workplace according to claim 15, wherein the control wheel is arranged on the armrest inclined relative to the vertical line by an inclination angle oriented perpendicular to the tilt angle, wherein the inclination angle is in a range of up to 60°.
20. The operator workplace according to claim 15, wherein the control wheel is arranged on the armrest in a swiveling manner and arrestable in various swivel positions such that the inclination angle is selectable by an operator, wherein the inclination angle is in a range from 0° to 60°.
21. The operator workplace according to claim 20, wherein the inclination angle is in the range from 0° to 45°.
22. The operator workplace according to claim 15, wherein the control wheel is arranged at a distance from the seating surface in a horizontal plane and transverse to a front/rear direction.
23. The operator workplace according to claim 15, wherein a point of intersection of a wheel plane of the control wheel with the control axis is spaced apart by at least 15% of a width of the seating surface from the seating surface.
24. The operator workplace according to claim 23, wherein the point of intersection of the wheel plane of the control wheel with the control axis is spaced apart by at least 30% of the width of the seating surface from the seating surface.
25. The operator workplace according to claim 15, wherein a point of intersection of a wheel plane of the control wheel with the control axis is spaced apart by at least 20 cm from a center of a width of the seating surface or a seat index point (SIP) of the driver seat.
26. The operator workplace according to claim 15, wherein a point of intersection of a wheel plane of the control wheel with the control axis is arranged in a vertical direction in a range of +/−3 cm of a height of the arm support surface.
27. The operator workplace according to claim 15, wherein the control wheel has a diameter which corresponds, with a maximum deviation of +/−10%, to a width of the arm support surface.
28. The operator workplace according to claim 15, wherein the armrest comprises an arm support region supporting the arm support surface, a mounting region supporting the control wheel, and a console region connecting the arm support region to the mounting region, the mounting region extending obliquely away from the arm support surface and vertically upward.
29. The operator workplace according to claim 28, wherein the mounting region is arranged parallel to a wheel plane of the control wheel.
30. The operator workplace according to claim 15, wherein the armrest has a side recess in which the armrest recedes between the arm support surface and the control wheel in the horizontal plane in a direction away from the seating surface, the side recess extending in a direction away from the arm support surface.
31. The operator workplace according to claim 30, wherein the side recess extends in the direction away from the arm support surface beyond a front edge of the seating surface.
32. The operator workplace according to claim 15, wherein the control wheel has an operating aid in a form of a handle knob arranged rotatably on the control wheel, and/or a recess arranged on the control wheel.
33. The operator workplace according to claim 15, wherein an operating console with at least one operating element to control at least one machine function is arranged on the armrest between the control wheel and the arm support surface.
34. The operator workplace according to claim 15, wherein the operator workplace is disposed on a construction machine.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] The invention will be explained in more detail below by reference to the embodiment examples shown in the figures. In the schematic figures:
[0022] FIG. 1 is a side view of a tandem roller;
[0023] FIG. 2 is a side view of a single-drum roller;
[0024] FIG. 3 is a side view of a road paver;
[0025] FIG. 4 is a side view of an operator workplace;
[0026] FIG. 5 is a top view of an operator workplace;
[0027] FIG. 6 is a side view of an armrest; and
[0028] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an armrest.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0029] Like parts, or parts acting in a like manner, are designated by like reference numerals. Recurring parts are not designated separately in each figure.
[0030] FIGS. 1 to 3 show various examples of generic construction machines 1. In particular, FIG. 1 shows a pivot-steered tandem roller, FIG. 2 shows a single-drum roller, and FIG. 3 shows a road paver. However, the invention is not limited to the three types of construction machines 1 shown, but may also be applied to other types of construction machines 1. The construction machines 1 comprise, for example, an operator platform 2, which is supported in particular by a machine frame 3. The machine frame 3 is in turn preferably supported by a travel mechanism which, for example in the case of the tandem roller according to FIG. 1, may comprise two roller drums 5. The travel mechanism of the single-drum roller according to FIG. 2 in turn preferably comprises a front roller drum 5 and rear wheels 7, while the travel mechanism of the road paver according to FIG. 3 preferably comprises a crawler track mechanism 6. In addition, the construction machines 1 preferably have a drive motor 4, which may be, for example, an internal combustion engine, in particular a diesel engine, or an electric motor. The construction machines 1 are thus preferably self-propelled and move using their own drive unit. With their travel mechanism, the construction machines 1 move, for example, in or against the working direction x over the ground 8, which is compacted by the roller drums 5 or on which a paving layer is laid by the road paver. For this purpose, the roller drums 5 may also be set into vibration in a known manner. For paving a layer, the road paver preferably has a material hopper 9 as shown in FIG. 3 in a known manner, from which the material to be paved, e.g. asphalt, is transported backward through the road paver to a paving screed 10. The paving material is then distributed transversely to the working direction x and is pre-compacted via the paving screed 10.
[0031] On the operator platform 2, the construction machines 1 preferably each have an operator workplace 11, which is shown in a side view in FIG. 4 and in a top view in FIG. 5. There may be more than one operator workplace 1 provided. The operator workplace 11 preferably comprises a driver seat 12, which in turn comprises a seating surface 13, optionally a backrest 14, and an armrest 15. The armrest 15 is, for example, attached to the driver seat 12 or a substructure of the driver seat 12 via a mounting bracket 27. The armrest 15 may be height-adjustable in a vertical direction by means of a mechanism that is not shown. Additionally or alternatively, the armrest 15 may swivel about a vertical swivel axis 32. The armrest 15 supports a control wheel 19, as will be discussed in more detail below. As can be seen from the top view in FIG. 5, the driver seat 12 preferably also comprises a further armrest 25, on which various operating elements may be arranged as well. The armrest 25 may be mirrored but identical to the armrest 15, or may differ from the armrest 15. Via the control wheel 19 on the armrest 15, an operator sitting on the driver seat 12 and in particular the seating surface 13 can control a machine function. For example, the operator may steer the construction machine 1 using the control wheel 19 as if using a conventional steering wheel. To facilitate operation of the control wheel 19, the latter preferably comprises an operating aid, for example in the form of a handle knob 22 rotatably mounted on the control wheel 19. Additionally or alternatively, the control wheel 19 may also have a recess 33, which is arranged in particular on the outer surface of the control wheel 19, and which may be engaged by an operator.
[0032] A specific exemplary structure of the armrest 15 is best seen in the detail views of FIGS. 6 and 7. For purposes of the present description, it is assumed that the driver seat 12 is oriented straight ahead in the working direction x, so that the working direction x also corresponds to a front/rear direction for a driver sitting on the driver seat 12. If the driver seat 12 is rotatable about a vertical axis, the reference direction x will rotate with it. The armrest 15 therefore preferably extends in the front/rear direction or in the working direction x next to the seating surface 13 of the driver seat 12. Any reference in this description to “front”, “rear” and “lateral” likewise refers to this direction, with “lateral” referring to a direction transverse to the front/rear direction. As shown in FIG. 6, the armrest 15 may, for example, have three different regions, more specifically an arm support region 28 located at the rear, a console region 29 following toward the front, and a mounting region 30 closing off the armrest 15 toward the front. In the arm support region 28, the armrest 15 has an arm support surface 16 that is configured such that an operator sitting on the seating surface 13 can rest his arm, in particular his forearm, on it in a comfortable sitting posture. For this purpose, the arm support surface 16 preferably comprises a padding which is partially rounded, in particular in cross-section, in order to provide a safeguard against lateral slipping of an arm resting on the arm support surface 16. In particular, the arm support surface 16 may be slid forward or backward on the armrest 15, depending on the operator's preference. In the console region 29, in turn, the armrest 15 preferably has an operating console 17 on which at least one operating element 24, such as a switch, a slider or a knob, is preferably arranged. The operator can preferably use this operating element 24 to control further machine functions.
[0033] The front end of the armrest 15 is preferably formed by the mounting region 30. It is advantageous in this case if the arm support region 28 and the mounting region 30 protrude beyond the console region 29 in vertical direction, so that the armrest 15 has an overall U-shaped configuration as viewed from the side. The mounting region 30 preferably comprises a control wheel support 18 on which the control wheel 19 is rotatably mounted. The control wheel 19 has a wheel plane 21 (FIGS. 4 and 6) corresponding to the plane of rotation of the control wheel 19, and in particular a control axis 20 corresponding to the rotation axis of the control wheel 19. As shown in particular in FIG. 6, according to the invention, the control axis 20 is inclined by a tilt angle W1 with respect to the vertical line V, namely in a direction toward the arm support surface 16, when the course of the control axis 20 is viewed vertically upward. In other words, the control axis 20 is tilted backward by the tilt angle W1 with respect to the vertical line V. The same tilt angle W1 is also found between the wheel plane 21 and a horizontal plane H. In the embodiment example shown, the tilt angle W1 is approximately 45°, but may also assume other values. As a result, the plane of rotation thus runs in a plane x ascending in the forward direction. By arranging the control wheel 19 such that the control wheel 19 is tilted backward toward the operator, the operator can control the control wheel 19 in an intuitive, ergonomic manner with an arm resting on the arm support surface 16, and can do so for extended periods of time without fatigue or adverse health effects. The tilt angle W1 may be either fixed or freely selectable or adjustable by the operator.
[0034] FIG. 5 shows that the seating surface 13 may have a width B2. The width B2 of the seating surface 13 is measured in particular transverse to the front/rear direction. The seat index point SIP of the driver seat 12 is located at the center of the width B2 of the seating surface 13. It is to be determined according to DIN EN ISO 5353. The intersection point S between the wheel plane 21 and the control axis 20 is located at the center of the control wheel 19. The distance A between the intersection point S and the seating surface 13, which is also shown, is preferably likewise measured transverse to the front/rear direction. The distance A is preferably at least 15% of the width B2 of the seating surface 13. The distance A1 between the intersection point S and the center of the width B2 of the seating surface 13 or the seat index point SIP is also preferably measured transverse to the front/rear direction. The distance A1 is preferably at least 30 cm. The diameter B1 of the control wheel 19 in turn preferably corresponds essentially to the width B3 of the arm support surface 16. This width B3 is likewise measured in particular transverse to the front/rear direction. All of this ensures that the operator can comfortably reach and use the control wheel 19 with the arm resting on the arm support surface 10.
[0035] This is further facilitated by the arrangement of the control wheel 19 in the vertical direction, i.e. along the vertical line V. This is shown in FIG. 6. The height of the arm support surface 16 in the vertical direction is shown in FIG. 6 by the lower of the two horizontal planes H shown. The height of the arm support surface 16 in the vertical direction designates in particular the vertical height of the lowest point of an operator's arm resting on the arm support surface 16. The upper of the two shown horizontal planes H, on the other hand, runs through the intersection point S between the wheel plane 21 and the control axis 20. The vertical distance B4 between the arm support surface 16 and the intersection point S is preferably in the range of a few centimeters. This likewise ensures ergonomic handling of the control wheel 19 by the operator.
[0036] FIG. 5 also shows a measure that ensures the greatest possible freedom of movement for the operator, for example leg space. Specifically, a side recess 26 may be provided on the armrest 15, particularly in the mounting 30. The side recess 26 is preferably located on the inner side of the armrest 15 facing the seating surface 13, so that it recedes at this point and provides additional space for the operator. The side recess 26 is configured such that it extends transverse to the front/rear direction to the point of intersection S of the control axis 20 with the wheel plane 21. In the front/rear direction, the side recess 26 preferably extends beyond a front edge 23 of the seating surface 13. The front edge 23 designates the forward end of the seating surface 13. The side recess 26 preferably completely penetrates the armrest 15 in the vertical direction, so that the armrest 15 is open both in downward and upward direction. In this manner, the side recess 26 cooperates advantageously with a free space 31, which is shown, for example, in FIG. 6, and which is created in particular by the control wheel support 18, i.e., the section of the armrest 15 in the mounting region 30, extending obliquely forward and upward. In this manner, the free space 31 is preferably created in vertical direction below the control wheel support 18, which likewise increases the leg space of the operator. It is now particularly preferred that the side recess 26 and the free space 31 form a continuous free space. In other words, the side recess 26 and the free space 31 merge into each other without forming any obstructions, thus providing an overall free space that can be used by the operator, for example, during certain leg movements and is perceived as comfortable.
[0037] As shown in FIG. 7, in addition to the inclination of the control wheel 19 by the tilt angle W1, a further inclination by the inclination angle W2 may also be provided. The inclination angle W2 is arranged perpendicular to the tilt angle W1 and designates an inclination of the control wheel 19 or the wheel plane 21 and the control axis 20 in a direction toward the seating surface 13. The inclination angle W2 may likewise be either fixed or freely selectable or adjustable by the operator.
[0038] Overall, the invention enables intuitive, ergonomic operation of the control wheel 19, which can be operated for extended periods without causing health consequences for the driver.
