US 11,186,009 B2 · Multi-function joystick for concrete mixer vehicle

Abstract

A controller for a concrete mixer vehicle includes a base, an elongated shaft extending from the base, and a control portion positioned at free end of the elongated shaft. The control portion has a grip portion and a button interface providing at least one of a plurality of controls. The plurality of controls facilitate selectively operating (i) a hopper actuator to reposition a charge hopper between a first position and a second position, (ii) a first chute actuator to pivot a chute about a lateral axis to raise and lower a distal end of the chute, (iii) a second chute actuator to pivot the chute about a vertical axis to move the distal end left and right, (iv) a drum driver to control at least one of a speed or a rotational direction of a mixing drum, and (v) a transmission of the concrete mixer vehicle in one of a plurality of modes.

A concrete mixer vehicle comprising:

a chassis;
an engine coupled to the chassis;
a front axle coupled to the chassis;
a rear axle coupled to the chassis;
a transmission coupled to the engine and at least one of the front axle or the rear axle, the transmission selectively operable in a plurality of modes including a drive mode, a neutral mode, and a reverse mode;
a cab coupled to the chassis, the cab defining an interior compartment;
a drum assembly coupled to the chassis, the drum assembly including:
a mixing drum defining an aperture and an internal volume;
a charge hopper positioned proximate the aperture;
and
a chute positioned proximate the aperture, beneath the charge hopper;
a hopper actuator positioned to move the charge hopper between a first position and a second position, the first position facilitating loading materials into the internal volume of the mixing drum via the charge hopper through the aperture, the second position facilitating discharging the materials from the internal volume, through the aperture, and to the chute;
a first chute actuator positioned to pivot the chute about a lateral axis;
a second chute actuator positioned to pivot the chute about a vertical axis;
a drum driver positioned to drive the mixing drum;
and
a single joystick positioned within the interior compartment of the cab that provides a plurality of controls that facilitate selectively operating:
(i) the hopper actuator to reposition the charge hopper between the first position and the second position;
(ii) the first chute actuator to pivot the chute about the lateral axis to raise and lower a distal end of the chute;
(iii) the second chute actuator to pivot the chute about the vertical axis to move the distal end left and right;
(iv) the drum driver to control at least one of a speed or a rotational direction of the mixing drum;
and
(v) the transmission in one of the plurality of modes;
wherein the single joystick includes:
a base;
an elongated shaft extending from the base;
and
a control portion positioned at free end of the elongated shaft, the control portion having a grip portion for a hand of an operator and a button interface providing at least one of the plurality of controls;
wherein the base is selectively repositionable within a x-y plane in response to movement of the grip portion by the operator, wherein movement of the base in one of a x-direction or a y-direction selectively operates the first chute actuator, and wherein movement of the base in the other of the x-direction or the y-direction selectively operates the second chute actuator;
wherein the button interface includes a first charge hopper button and a second charge hopper button, wherein engagement of the first charge hopper button selectively operates the hopper actuator to reposition the charge hopper from the first position to the second position, and wherein engagement of the second charge hopper button selectively operates the hopper actuator to reposition the charge hopper from the second position to the first position;
and
wherein the button interface includes a first dial selectively repositionable in a first direction and an opposing second direction from a neutral position to selectively operate the drum driver, wherein the first dial is spring-biased to the neutral position, wherein movement of the first dial in the first direction facilitates at least one of (i) starting rotation of the mixing drum in a first rotational direction, (ii) increasing the speed of the mixing drum in the first rotational direction, (iii) slowing the speed of the mixing drum if rotating in an opposing second rotational direction, or (iv) flipping the rotational direction of the mixing drum from the opposing second rotational direction to the first rotational direction if rotating in the opposing second rotational direction, and wherein movement of the first dial in the opposing second direction facilitates at least one of (i) starting rotation of the mixing drum in the opposing second rotational direction, (ii) increasing the speed of the mixing drum in the opposing second rotational direction, (iii) slowing the speed of the mixing drum if rotating in the first rotational direction, or (iv) flipping the rotational direction of the mixing drum from the first rotational direction to the opposing second rotational direction if rotating in the first rotational direction.

29 more elements

Multi-function joystick for concrete mixer vehicle

Life of this patent

Multi-function joystick for concrete mixer vehicle

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14