Shielding for enclosing a control apparatus

摘要

A control console housing (32) is provided with a control aperture (76) through which the control lever (34, 36) extends. The housing (32) has enclosing walls defining an interior that typically houses a portion of the control linkage (40). The enclosing walls have an interior surface (80) and an exterior surface (78). A rigid shield (82) in the form of a circular disc is provided with a central opening (84). The circular disc (82) is slidably mounted on the control lever (34, 36). The disc (82) is provided with a top side (86) that is in free floating contact with the interior surface (80) of the control console housing (32). The free floating contact is maintained by a spring (90) that extends between the control linkage (40) and the bottom side (88) of the disc (82). The spring (90) biases the shield (82) upwardly so that the top side (86) of the shield (82) is in contact with the interior surface (80) of the housing (32) thereby covering the control aperture (76). The spring (90) comprises a coil spring defining an internal cylinder that is aligned with the central opening (84) and through which the control lever (34, 36) extends. <IMAGE>