CA1336105C - Tractor operator presence indicator switch mounting - Google Patents

Tractor operator presence indicator switch mounting

Info

Publication number
CA1336105C
CA1336105C CA000616714A CA616714A CA1336105C CA 1336105 C CA1336105 C CA 1336105C CA 000616714 A CA000616714 A CA 000616714A CA 616714 A CA616714 A CA 616714A CA 1336105 C CA1336105 C CA 1336105C
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
pair
seat
switch
tractor
compression springs
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
CA000616714A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
David Roy Holm
Mark Francis Hopp
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Deere and Co
Original Assignee
Deere and Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US07/226,249 external-priority patent/US4969533A/en
Application filed by Deere and Co filed Critical Deere and Co
Priority to CA000616714A priority Critical patent/CA1336105C/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1336105C publication Critical patent/CA1336105C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Landscapes

  • Cooling, Air Intake And Gas Exhaust, And Fuel Tank Arrangements In Propulsion Units (AREA)
  • Seats For Vehicles (AREA)
  • Steering Controls (AREA)
  • Arrangement Or Mounting Of Control Devices For Change-Speed Gearing (AREA)
  • Steering-Linkage Mechanisms And Four-Wheel Steering (AREA)
  • Control Of Fluid Gearings (AREA)

Abstract

An electrical circuit for sensing the presence of a tractor operator seated in a tractor seat includes a switch which is incorporated in the seat suspension such that an operator presence will be sensed with as little as 20 kg of weight on the seat and the presence of the operator will be sensed on slopes up to and including 15° with the operator seated on one or the other of the extreme edges of the seat.

Description

~ TRACTOR OPBRATOR PRE8ENCE INDICATOR SWITCH MOUNTING
Related Application This is a divisional of Canadian application Serial Number 604,977 filed on 06 July 1989.
Backqround of the Invention The present invention relates to an operator presence sensing system and more particularly relates to an indicator switch mounting for such a sensing system.
Lawn and garden tractors are often equipped with safety interlock systems embodying an operator presence sensing switch which have the objective of preventing certain operating procedures from being done unless the operator is properly seated on the operator seat.
Heretofore, the mountings for the operator presence sensing switches of these systems have suffered from one or more of the drawbacks of being too complex, of requiring constant adjustments and of not working well on slopes.
Summary of the Invention According to the present invention, there is provided a lawn and garden tractor having an improved operator presence sensing system and more, specifically, there is provided an improved manner of mounting an operator presence sensing switch to the seat structure of such a tractor.
An object of the invention is to provide a lawn and garden tractor with a mounting operator presence sensing switch which is relatively simple in construction and capable of sensing an operator's presence even though the tractor may be working on a 15 slope.
A more specific object of the invention is to provide a tractor with an operator presence sensing system including a beam extending transversely beneath the seat and being spring biased away from the seat by relatively soft spring means, the beam being carried by the seat suspension and biased toward the seat by a relatively stiff spring means whereby only a small amount of force is required to be exerted downwardly on the seat to effect compression of the relatively soft spring means and closing of a switch carried by the beam.

'a - These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the ensuing description together with the appended drawings.
Brief Description of the Drawings FIG. 1 is a right front perspective view of a tractor embodying the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a right side elevational view of an operator seat structure embodying one version of an operator presence sensing switch made in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a partial rear view of the seat structure and switch mounting shown in FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view illustrating the switch support beam of the seat structure shown in FIG. 2.
FIG. 5 is a partial right side elevational view of an operator seat structure embodying an alternate mounting of an operator presence sensing switch made in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a view taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 is a view taken along line 7--7 of FIG. 5.
Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a work vehicle in the form of a lawn and garden tractor 20 including a longitudinally extending main frame 22 supported on a front pair of steerable wheels 30 and 32 and a rear pair of drive wheels 46 and 48. An engine (not shown) is supported on a forward portion of the frame 22 in a compartment defined in part by a hood 50. Mounted to the frame 22 rearwardly of the hood 50 is a combined operator platform and fender deck structure 68. An operator seat 76 incorporates an operator presence sensing system 78 (FIG. 2) or 78a (FIG. 5) and is mounted to the structure 68 so as to position an operator within easy reach of various tractor and implement controls including a steering wheel 38 located forwardly of the seat assembly.
Referring now to FIGS. 2 - 4, there is shown the operator presence sensing system 78 associated with the suspension for ,~ 3, ~the operator seat 76. Specifically, fixed to a central portion of the combined platform and fender deck 68 is a lower seat support bracket 450 including a pair of transversely spaced, upright legs 451. Pivotally connected to the respective legs 451 are the forward ends of a pair of upper seat support brackets 454 and 456 which are L-shaped in cross-section and are fixed to the bottom of the seat 76. In respective rear portions of each of respective depending legs of the seat brackets is formed a set of spaced rear and front vertically elongated apertures 460 and 462. A channel-like beam 466 has opposite ends each of which are provided with a set of front and rear tabs respectively received in an adjacent set of the apertures 460 and 462, the tabs having a height less than that of the apertures which allows the beam to move vertically relative to the brackets 454 and 456.
Mounted to a central location of the beam 466 between opposite ends thereof is a conventional operator presence sensing switch 470 forming part of a conventional safety interlock system (not shown) and having an upwardly projecting plunger 490. A pair of relatively soft springs 476 and 478, i.e., springs having a relatively low spring rate, have their respective lower ends received in wells, provided in the upper surface of the beam 466 adjacent opposite ends thereof, and their respective upper ends engaged with respective horizontal legs of the brackets 454 and 456. The springs 476 and 478 are normally under compression and act to bias the beam 466 away from the seat 76 whereby the set of tabs at the opposite ends of the beam 466 normally occupy the bottom of the apertures 460 and 462 and the switch plunger 490 is normally fully extended. Additionally, a pair of relatively stiff springs 480 and 482, i.e., springs having a relatively high spring rate and therefore having much greater resistance to compression than the springs 476 and 478, are positioned beneath the beam in respective locations in axial alignment with the springs 476 and 478, the springs 480 and 482 normally being in an uncompressed state wherein they support the beam 466 and hence the rear portion of the seat 76. The relatively -soft springs 476 and 478 will become completely compressed under a load as small as approximately 20 kg with the result that the seat 76 will travel towards the beam 466 and depress the plunger 490 to close the switch 470. The plunger 490 is positioned such that it will remain depressed as long as at least one or the other of the springs 476 and 478 is compressed which compression will occur even if the vehicle is operating on a hillside having up to a 15 slope or if the vehicle is operating on rough terrain, unless the operator is bounced completely off the seat.
A second embodiment of an operator presence sensing switch mounting is shown in FIGS. 5 - 7, this embodiment being similar in principle to that just described. Specifically, there is shown an operator sensing switch mounting 78a wherein right- and left-hand channel-like upper seat support brackets 454a and 456a are fixed to the bottom of the seat 76 and have downwardly projecting lugs at the forward ends thereof respectively pivotally connected to respective forward upward projections of right and left lower seat support brackets 450a (only the right bracket being shown) fixed to the top of the structure 68. The rear portion of each of the brackets 454a and 456a includes a horizontal inward projection located just behind a rear end of an inner flange of a respective one of the brackets. Respective outer flanges of the brackets 454a and 456a are each provided with a set of rear and front vertically elongated apertures 460a and 462a. Relatively soft springs 476a and 478a have their respective lower ends received in a respective well provided in the beam 466a and have their respective upper ends in engagement with the inward projections of the brackets 454a and 454b, the springs normally biasing the seat 76 away from the beam 466a such that the tabs of the beam are located in the bottoms of the sets of apertures 460a and 462a. Located outboard of the springs 476a and 478a, respectively are relatively stiff springs 480a and 482a having their lower ends engaged with respective horizontal flanges of the lower support brackets 450a and having their upper ends respectively engaged with opposite end -portions of the beam 466a. Mounted to the support beam 466a at a location beneath the inner end of the horizontal projection of the support bracket 456a is a switch 470a having a depressible plunger 490a projecting upwardly to a location adjacent the horizontal projection. The location of the switch 470a is offset to the left of the center of the beam 466a, the location of the mounting of the previously described switch 470. However, the spring rate of the springs 476a and 478a and their positions relative to the switch 470a are such that a load as small as 20 kg will deflect the springs and, even if such load is applied to the right side of the seat, the deflection of the spring 476a will result in the seat moving toward the beam 466a such that the plunger 490a is depressed by the horizontal projection of the upper support bracket 456a.

Claims (6)

1. In a tractor including an operator's platform, a seat mounting bracket fixed to the platform, a seat coupled to the bracket by a suspension permitting the seat to move vertically relative to the bracket between an upward location which it occupies in the absence of an operator being seated thereon and a lower location which it occupies when an operator is seated thereon, and a normally open operator presence sensing switch being mounted for being closed only when an operator is present in the seat, an improved seat suspension and switch mounting arrangement comprising:
a lower seat mounting bracket means defining a pair of parallel spaced apart legs fixed to and extending upwardly from said platform;
an upper seat mounting bracket means vertically pivotally mounted to said spaced apart legs and including a pair of parallel, spaced apart depending legs which are each provided with at least one vertically elongated slot;
a beam extending between said depending legs and having at least one vertical tab at each end thereof received in a corresponding slot of an adjacent one of the depending legs, the tabs each having a height less than that of the slot;
a first pair of coil compression springs respectively positioned adjacent the opposite ends of and being beneath the beam and having respective lower ends engaged with one of the platform or lower seat mounting bracket means;
a second pair of coil compression springs positioned between the upper seat mounting bracket means and the beam and respectively being adjacent opposite ends of the beam, the second pair of coil compression springs having a spring rate which is relatively low in comparison to that of the first pair of coil compression springs; and said normally open switch being mounted to the beam and having a depressible plunger positioned between one of said seat and upper seat mounting bracket means so as to be depressed to effect closing of the switch upon sufficient force being applied to the seat to effect deflection of said second pair of coil compression springs.
2. The tractor of claim 2 wherein said second pair of coil compression springs are respectively located in axial alignment with said first pair of coil compression springs.
3. The tractor of claim 1 wherein said switch is located centrally between opposite ends of said beam.
4. The tractor of claim 1 wherein said beam is in the form of a downwardly opening channel with each end thereof being provided with a set of front and rear tabs respectively received in a set of front and rear slots provided in an adjacent leg of the upper seat mounting bracket means.
5. The tractor of claim 1 wherein said upper seat mounting bracket means includes a pair of inwardly extending projections respectively located above opposite end portions of said beam;
said second pair of coil compression springs respectively having their upper ends engaged with the pair of projections;
and said switch being located such that its plunger is beneath one of the projections.
6. The tractor of claim 1 wherein the beam, springs and switch are so located relative to each other and the spring rate of the second pair of compression springs is such that the switch plunger will remain depressed with as little as about 20 kg being imposed on the seat and with the tractor operating on a slope as steep as about 15°.
CA000616714A 1988-07-29 1993-09-09 Tractor operator presence indicator switch mounting Expired - Fee Related CA1336105C (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA000616714A CA1336105C (en) 1988-07-29 1993-09-09 Tractor operator presence indicator switch mounting

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US226,249 1988-07-29
US07/226,249 US4969533A (en) 1988-07-29 1988-07-29 Work vehicle
CA000604977A CA1325888C (en) 1988-07-29 1989-07-06 Work vehicle
CA000616714A CA1336105C (en) 1988-07-29 1993-09-09 Tractor operator presence indicator switch mounting

Related Parent Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA000604977A Division CA1325888C (en) 1988-07-29 1989-07-06 Work vehicle

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1336105C true CA1336105C (en) 1995-06-27

Family

ID=25672863

Family Applications (6)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA000616715A Expired - Fee Related CA1334368C (en) 1988-07-29 1993-09-09 Steering effort and responsiveness adjustment
CA000616713A Expired - Fee Related CA1334369C (en) 1988-07-29 1993-09-09 Steering wheel tilt mechanism
CA000616712A Expired - Fee Related CA1335422C (en) 1988-07-29 1993-09-09 Hydrostatic transmission bypass valve assembly
CA000616711A Expired - Fee Related CA1334816C (en) 1988-07-29 1993-09-09 Cooling and combustion air filtering system for a tractor
CA000616714A Expired - Fee Related CA1336105C (en) 1988-07-29 1993-09-09 Tractor operator presence indicator switch mounting
CA000616710A Expired - Fee Related CA1335421C (en) 1988-07-29 1993-09-09 Speed and direction control system for tractor hydrostatic transmission

Family Applications Before (4)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA000616715A Expired - Fee Related CA1334368C (en) 1988-07-29 1993-09-09 Steering effort and responsiveness adjustment
CA000616713A Expired - Fee Related CA1334369C (en) 1988-07-29 1993-09-09 Steering wheel tilt mechanism
CA000616712A Expired - Fee Related CA1335422C (en) 1988-07-29 1993-09-09 Hydrostatic transmission bypass valve assembly
CA000616711A Expired - Fee Related CA1334816C (en) 1988-07-29 1993-09-09 Cooling and combustion air filtering system for a tractor

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA000616710A Expired - Fee Related CA1335421C (en) 1988-07-29 1993-09-09 Speed and direction control system for tractor hydrostatic transmission

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (6) CA1334368C (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ITMI20082159A1 (en) * 2008-12-05 2010-06-06 Ggp Italy Spa SAFETY DEVICE CONNECTED TO THE PRESENCE OF THE OPERATOR ON THE SEAT OF A TRACTOR

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ITMI20082159A1 (en) * 2008-12-05 2010-06-06 Ggp Italy Spa SAFETY DEVICE CONNECTED TO THE PRESENCE OF THE OPERATOR ON THE SEAT OF A TRACTOR
EP2193703A1 (en) * 2008-12-05 2010-06-09 GGP Italy S.p.A. Safety device based on a presence of the operator on the seat of a tractor

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA1335422C (en) 1995-05-02
CA1334816C (en) 1995-03-21
CA1334369C (en) 1995-02-14
CA1334368C (en) 1995-02-14
CA1335421C (en) 1995-05-02

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