VEHICLE CONTROL CONSOLE HAVING FINGERTIP CONTROLS

摘要

2122125 9409216 PCTABS00032 Control consoles are normally utilized to provide ready access to the operator of the controls necessary to perfom the various operating functions of the vehicle. Since vehicles, such as construction vehicles, are traversing rough terrain, it is advantageous to stabilize mouvement of the hand of the operator relative to the controls of the vehicle. In this subject arrangement a control console assembly (66) is provided and has a handrest (76) located thereon. The handrest (76) is adapted to receive the hand of the operator such that the heel of the operator's hand remains in intimate contact with a raised portion (78) of the handrest (76). A pair of levers (106, 108) are mounted on the control console assembly (66) adjacent the handrest (76) and operatively actuated by the fingertips of the operator's hand. A rotary knob (86) is oriented on the side of the handrest (76) and operative to be rotated by the thumb of the operator's hand. The various controls for the operating function of the earthworking vehicle is controlled by the fingers of the operator without having to move the heel of his hand from the raised portion (78) of the handrest (76). This allows the operator to have a more finite and smooth control of the various operating functions of the vehicle even though his body is being jostled around due to the earthworking vehicle traversing rough terrain.