Hydraulic remote control joystick

A joystick controller having a handle which has an axis with respect to which it is pivoted about a point and a means for transmitting a movement in the handle to a plurality of auxilary spools, the auxilary spools actuating a plurality of remote direction control spools to remotely control hydraulic directional control valves and the movement controlling a solenoid for actuating a pressure build-up valve in an actuator circuit comprising:

• (a) a light emitting diode carried by the handle, said diode emitting light generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the handle;
• (b) a photosensitive transistor for receiving said light from said light emitting diode;
• (c) said photosensitive transistor providing a control signal dependent upon a relative movement of the handle, thereby controlling the remote solenoid which activates a pressure build-up valve;
• (d) a fiber optic light conductor extending from said light emitting diode toward said photosensitive transistor and terminating at a position spaced from said photosensitive transistor, thereby providing a passage for the light from said light emitting diode to said photosensitive transistor;
• and
• (e) a receptacle positioned between said light emitting diode and said photosensitive transistor, said receptacle having a hole to allow said light from said light emitting diode to be received by said photosensitive transistor when said handle is in a neutral position and said receptacle to block said light when the handle is moved off the neutral position.

A joystick controller in a hydraulic control to remotely control hydraulic directional control valves and a solenoid for actuating a pressure build-up valve in an actuator circuit comprising:

• (a) a housing having a supply passage for connection to a supply, a discharge passage for connection to a reservoir, a first, second, third and fourth axial bore connected to said supply and discharge passage;
• (b) said first bore connected to a first end of a first remote directional control spool, said second bore connected to a second end of a first remote directional control spool, said third bore connected to a first end of a second remote directional control spool and said fourth bore connected to a second end of a second remote directional control spool;
• (c) a mounting plate cooperatively connected to said housing;
• (d) a handle having a pivot ball at one end;
• (e) a ball pivot socket cooperatively connected to said mounting plate;
• (f) said pivot ball cooperatively connected to said ball pivot socket;
• (g) means for actuating an auxiliary spool in each of said bores, whereby the first and second directional control spools are displaced;
• (h) radiant energy means carried by the handle and emitting radiant energy generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of said handle;
• (i) means for receiving said radiant energy and said receiving means providing a control signal dependent upon a relative movement of said handle, thereby controlling remote solenoid that is operable by said control signal, wherein when said handle is in a position which starts to close off an open center in the directional control valve and directs a main pump flow to work ports in the directional control valve, said receiving means is not to be irradiated by said radiant energy from said radiant energy means.

Apparatus for actuating a pressure build-up valve in a hydraulic device which includes a plurality of spools controlled by a joystick controller which has an axis with respect to which it is pivoted about a point between a neutral position and various offset positions in which the spools are moved to effect operation of the device, comprising:

• (a) radiant energy emitting means carried by the controller and transmitting energy unidirectionally;
• (b) a radiant energy receiver disposed such that said radiant energy irradiates said receiver when the controller is one of in and closely proximate its neutral position;
• (c) means responsive to movement of the controller for providing a control signal, said control signal operatively connected to a pressure build-up valve for energizing a pressure build-up valve when said receiver is not irradiated and for de-energizing a valve when said receiver is irradiated;
• and
• (d) a receptacle positioned between said radiant energy means and said receiving means, said receptacle having a hole to allow the radiant energy to be received by said receiving means when said handle is in a neutral position and said receptacle to block said radiant energy when the handle moves off the neutral position.

In a hydraulic control system of the type having a joystick controller having a handle which has an axis with respect to which it is pivoted about a point and a means for transmitting a movement in the handle to a plurality of auxiliary spools, the auxiliary spools actuating a plurality of remote directional control spools to remotely control hydraulic directional control valves and an actuator device circuit, wherein the improvement comprises:

• (a) radiant energy means carried by the handle and emitting radiant energy generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the handle;
• (b) means for receiving said radiant energy and providing a control signal dependent upon a relative movement of the handle, thereby controlling the device circuit that is operable by said control signal;
• and
• (c) a receptacle positioned between said radiant energy means and said receiving means, said receptacle having a hole to allow the radiant energy to be received by said receiving means when said handle is in a neutral position and said receptacle to block said radiant energy when the handle moves off the neutral position.