# US 2017/0285681 A1 · Work machine

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- Number: US 2017/0285681 A1
- Document ID: US20170285681A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/630,958
- Filed: 2017-06-23
- Published: 2017-10-05
- Earliest claimed: 2015-03-30
- Assignees: Kubota Corporation
- Applicants: Kubota Corporation
- Inventors: Yoichi NISHIGORI; Yoshihiro KATO; Toshihiro NAKAO
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170285681A1

## CPC

- E02F 9/166: {movable, tiltable or pivoting, e.g. movable seats, dampening arrangements of cabins (seats for vehicles in general B60N2/00)}
- B60N 2/646: {shape of the cushion}
- E02F 9/163: {Structures to protect drivers, e.g. cabins, doors for cabins; Falling object protection structure [FOPS]; Roll over protection structure [ROPS] (for handrails mounted on cabins E02F9/0833 takes precedence; for vehicles in general B60R21/11, B60R21/13, for fork-lift trucks B66F9/07545)}
- E02F 9/2004: {Control mechanisms, e.g. control levers (control levers per se G05G)}
- E02F 9/2012: {Setting the functions of the control levers, e.g. changing assigned functions among operations levers, setting functions dependent on the operator or seat orientation}
- E02F 9/2045: {Guiding machines along a predetermined path (for graders E02F3/841; machines for construction of roads E01C19/004)}
- E02F 9/221: {for generating actuator vibration (buckets with vibrating means E02F3/405)}
- G05G 5/005: {for preventing unintentional use of a control mechanism (G05G5/28 takes precedence)}
- E02F 9/2271: {Actuators and supports therefor and protection therefor}
- G05G 2009/04774: {with additional switches or sensors on the handle}
- E02F: DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING (winning peat E21C49/00)
- B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G05G: CONTROL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS INSOFAR AS CHARACTERISED BY MECHANICAL FEATURES ONLY ("Bowden" or like mechanisms F16C1/10; gearings or mechanisms not peculiar to this purpose F16H; speed changing or reversing mechanisms for gearings conveying rotary motion F16H59/00 - F16H63/00)

## Abstract

A work machine includes an unload lever swingably supported by an operation box, the unload lever being configured to be swung to select whether or not to supply an operation fluid to the hydraulic actuator. The unload lever includes a second guide pin to move in a first guide groove in accordance with the swinging of the unload lever, the second guide pin being positioned on a first end of the first guide groove when the unload lever is positioned to a pushed-down position and positioned on a second end of the first guide groove when the unload lever is positioned to a pulled-up position. The first guide groove includes a first latch portion to latch the second guide pin at the first end of the first guide groove, and a second latch portion to latch the second guide pin at the second end of the first guide groove.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A work machine comprising:
an operator seat;
a work device having a hydraulic actuator;
a support bracket disposed on a side of the operator seat, the support bracket having a first guide groove, the first guide groove having a first end and a second end opposite to the first end in a lengthwise direction of the first guide groove;
an operation box pivotally supported by a first lateral shaft disposed on the support bracket to be rotatable about the first lateral shaft, the operation box having an operation lever;
an unload lever swingably supported by the operation box, the unload lever being configured to be swung to select whether or not to supply an operation fluid to the hydraulic actuator; and
a cam body pivotally supported by a second lateral shaft disposed on the operation box to be rotatable about the second lateral shaft, the cam body having a cam groove, the cam groove having a first side and a second side opposite to the first side in a lengthwise direction of the cam groove, the support bracket comprising a first guide pin to move in the cam groove in accordance with the swinging of the unload lever, the first guide pin being positioned on the first side of the cam groove when the unload lever is positioned to a pushed-down position and positioned on the second side of the cam groove when the unload lever is positioned to a pulled-up position, the unload lever comprising a second guide pin to move in the first guide groove in accordance with the swinging of the unload lever, the second guide pin being positioned on the first end of the first guide groove when the unload lever is positioned to the pushed-down position and positioned on the second end of the first guide groove when the unload lever is positioned to the pulled-up position, the first guide groove comprising:
a first latch portion to latch the second guide pin at the first end of the first guide groove; and
a second latch portion to latch the second guide pin at the second end of the first guide groove.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The work machine according to claim 1,
wherein the unload lever is pivotally supported by a third lateral shaft disposed on the cam body to be tunable about the third lateral shaft between a first position and a second position lower than the first position, and
wherein the second guide pin is released from the second latch portion when the unload lever turns from the first position to the second position.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The work machine according to claim 2,
wherein the cam body includes a second guide groove, and
wherein the unload lever includes a third guide pin to be positioned on the first side of the second guide groove when the unload lever is positioned to the first position and to be positioned on the second side of the second guide groove when the unload lever is positioned to the second position.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The work machine according to claim 2, comprising:
a biasing member to provide a biasing force with which the unload lever is turned upward to keep the unload lever to the first position.

### Claim 5

A work machine comprising:
an operator seat;
a work device having a hydraulic actuator;
a support bracket disposed on a side of the operator seat;
an operation box pivotally supported by a first lateral shaft disposed on the support bracket to be rotatable about the first lateral shaft, the operation box having an operation lever;
an unload lever swingably supported by the operation box, the unload lever being configured to be swung to select whether or not to supply an operation fluid to the hydraulic actuator;
a cam body pivotally supported by a second lateral shaft disposed on the operation box to be rotatable about the second lateral shaft, the cam body having a cam groove, the cam groove having a first side and a second side opposite to the first side in a lengthwise direction of the cam groove;
a fourth guide pin to move in the cam groove in accordance with the swinging of the unload lever, the fourth guide pin being positioned on the first side of the cam groove when the unload lever is positioned to a pushed-down position and positioned on the second side of the cam groove when the unload lever is positioned to a pulled-up position;
a pressing member to provide a biasing force with which the cam body is to be turned about the second lateral shaft; and
a switch mechanism to switch a direction of the biasing force to a first direction where the cam body turns to a third direction when the fourth guide pin is at the first side of the cam groove and to a second direction where the cam turns to a fourth direction opposite to the third direction when the fourth guide pin is at the second side of the cam groove.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The work machine according to claim 5,
wherein the switch mechanism includes
a cam link pivotally supported by a fourth lateral shaft disposed on the support bracket and being rotatable about the first lateral shaft, and
a fifth guide pin disposed on and protruding from the cam body,
wherein the fifth guide pin is disposed under the cam groove,
wherein the biasing member connects the cam link to the operation box,
wherein the cam link includes a latch portion to be caught by the fifth guide pin, and
wherein the cam body is to turn about the fifth guide pin in synchronization with the cam link.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The work machine according to claim 6,
wherein the cam body is to turn downward in synchronization with the cam link turning to a fifth direction and turns upward in synchronization with the cam link turning to a sixth direction opposite to the fifth direction, and
wherein the biasing member provides a biasing force with which the cam link is to be turned to the third direction when the fourth guide pin is at the second side of the cam groove and provides a biasing force with which the cam link is to be turned to the fourth direction when the fourth guide pin is at the first side of the cam groove.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The work machine according to claim 5,
wherein a widen width portion is formed on the second side of the cam groove, the widen width portion having a width larger than a diameter of the fourth guide pin.

### Claim 9

A work machine comprising:
an operator seat;
a work device having a hydraulic actuator;
a support bracket disposed on a side of the operator seat;
an operation box pivotally supported by a first lateral shaft to be rotatable about the first lateral shaft, the operation box having an operation lever;
an unload lever swingably supported by the operation box, the unload lever being configured to be swung to select whether or not to supply an operation fluid to the hydraulic actuator;
a cam body pivotally supported by a second lateral shaft disposed on the operation box to be rotatable about the second lateral shaft, the cam body having a cam groove, the cam groove having a first side and a second side opposite to the first side in a lengthwise direction of the cam groove; and
a sixth guide pin to moves in the cam groove in accordance with the swinging of the unload lever, the sixth guide pin being positioned on the first side of the cam groove when the unload lever is positioned to a pushed-down position and positioned on the second side of the cam groove when the unload lever is positioned to a pulled-up position, the unload lever comprising a lock portion to lock the sixth guide pin when the sixth guide pin is at the second side of the gam groove.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The work machine according to claim 9,
wherein the unload lever includes a lever portion pivotally supported by a fifth lateral shaft disposed on the cam body to be rotatable about the fifth lateral shaft,
wherein the cam body includes a connection pin protruding from the cam body and connected to the lever portion,
wherein the lever portion includes
a pivotal support portion pivotally supported by the fifth lateral shaft, and
a slotted hole through which the connection pin is inserted,
wherein the slotted hole includes
a first position, and
a second position higher than the first position,
wherein the connection pin is positioned at the first position when the lever portion is turned to an upward turn position about the fifth lateral shaft and positioned at the second position when the lever position is turned to a downward turning position, and
wherein the lock portion locks the sixth guide pin when the connection pin is at the first position and release the locking when the connection pin is at the second position.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The work machine according to claim 10, comprising:
a biasing member to push the lever portion to a direction where the lever portion is turned upward about the fifth lateral shaft.