Excavator operator cab
AssigneeKobelco America, Inc.
InventorsMasahiro Takahasi, Shu Yoshida, Michael P. Norris
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An excavator operator cab (10) has an operator seat (12) and a control console (15) mounted beside the seat. A forward control stick (20) and a rear control stick (22) are positioned in the console (15) such that the rear control stick supports the arm of the operator while he grips the forward control stick. The forward and rear control sticks (20,22) are manipulated independently or in concert with one another.
Claims4
An excavator operator cab having an operator seat and a control console mounted beside said seat with a forward control stick positioned aside a forward portion of said seat and with a rear control stick positioned rearwardly of said forward control stick aside a mid-portion of said seat, said rear control stick being neutrally positioned uprightly and said forward control stick being neutrally positioned along an incline that extends forwardly at an acute angle with said rear control stick upright neutral position whereby an operator sitting on the seat may extend and retract his forearm from hand gripping positions about the forward and rear control sticks without significant cocking of the wrist.
A method of manually manipulating two controls of an excavator using simultaneously a hand and a forearm of one arm while seated in an operator cab seat comprising the steps of (a) placing the hand of the arm upon a forward control and placing the forearm of the arm on a rear control;
- and (b) manipulating the forward control with the hand while manipulating the rear control with the forearm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.