Method of converting backhoe controls

A method of converting a backhoe control mechanism operably connected to a hydraulic valve body having a plurality of spools oriented in a given configuration from a two lever system to a system utilizing three control levers comprising the steps of:

• maintaining the configuration of the hydraulic valve body;
• removing the existing two levers, together with their connecting structure from the hydraulic valve body;
• mounting said three control levers on a first shaft member for individual pivotal movement thereof about a first pivot axis defined by said first shaft member, one selected control lever being mounted for pivotal movement within a corresponding plane of movement transversely spaced from the spool to be operatively connected thereto, the two remaining said control levers being positioned such that the corresponding plane of movement thereof is substantially aligned with the spool associated therewith;
• mounting collar means on a second shaft defining a second pivot axis vertically spaced below said first pivot axis, said collar means being operable to transfer the pivotal movement of said at least one selected control lever to the corresponding said spool positioned transversely from the plane of movement of said corresponding selected control lever;
• installing foot pedal means for pivotal movement about a third pivot axis;
• interconnecting said selected control lever, said collar means, and the corresponding transversely spaced spool with a set of first links to permit the pivotal movement of said selected control lever to be transferred through said collar means to the corresponding transversely spaced spool;
• directly connecting the remaining said control levers with the corresponding aligned spools with second links;
• and
• further interconnecting said foot pedal means, additional collar means mounted on said second shaft, and a corresponding spool operatively connected thereto with a set of third links to permit the pivotal movement of said foot pedal means to be transferred through said collar means to the associated said spool.

A method of converting a backhoe control mechanism operably connected to a hydraulic valve body having a plurality of spools oriented in a given configuration from a two lever system to a system utilizing four control levers comprising the steps of:

• maintaining the configuration of the hydraulic valve body;
• removing the existing two levers, together with their connecting structure from the hydraulic valve body;
• mounting said four control levers on a first shaft member for individual pivotal movement thereof about a first pivot axis defined by said first shaft member, a selected two of said control levers being mounted for pivotal movement within a corresponding plane of movement transversely spaced from the spool to be operatively connected thereto, the remaining said control levers being positioned such that the corresponding plane of movement thereof is substantially aligned with the spool associated therewith;
• mounting collar means on a second shaft defining a second pivot axis vertically spaced below said first pivot axis, said collar means being operable to transfer the pivotal movement of said selected control levers to the corresponding said spools positioned transversely from the plane of movement of said corresponding selected control levers;
• interconnecting said selected control levers, said collar means, and each said corresponding transversely spaced spool with a set of first links to permit the pivotal movement of each said selected control lever to be transferred through said collar means to the corresponding transversely spaced spool;
• and
• directly connecting the remaining said control levers with the corresponding aligned spools with second links.

A method of converting a backhoe control mechanism operably connected to a hydraulic valve body having a plurality of spools oriented in a given configuration from a two lever system to a system utilizing more than two levers comprising the steps of:

• maintaining the configuration of the hydraulic valve body;
• removing the existing two levers, together with their connecting structure from the hydraulic valve body;
• mounting three control levers on a first shaft member for individual pivotal movement thereof about a first pivot axis defined by said first shaft member, one of said control levers being mounted for pivotal movement within a corresponding plane of movement transversely spaced from the spool to be operatively associated therewith, the remaining said control levers being positioned such that the corresponding plane of movement thereof is substantially aligned with the spool associated therewith;
• fixing first and second spaced-apart collars on a second shaft defining a second pivot axis vertically spaced below said first pivot axis, said second shaft being rotatably supported such that both said first and second collars rotate in unison with said second shaft about said second pivot axis;
• connecting said one control lever with said first collar by a first link, and connecting said second collar with said corresponding transversely spaced spool by a second link to permit the pivotal movement of said one control lever to be transferred through said spaced-apart collars and said second shaft to the corresponding transversely spaced spool;
• and
• directly connecting the remaining said control levers with the corresponding aligned spools with corresponding third links.