Description:TECHNICAL FIELD
[001] The present invention relates generally to a control lever assembly for operating a control system of a vehicle, and more particularly, the present disclosure relates to a connector for a control lever assembly and the control lever assembly having the same.
BACKGROUND
[002] Directional control valves are essentially used for distribution of energy in a fluid power system. They establish the path through which a fluid traverses a given circuit. These valves are used to control the start, stop and change in direction of flow of pressurized fluid. The control valves are used to extend, retract, position, or reciprocate hydraulic cylinder and other components for linear motion. Based on the actuating mechanism, the directional control valves can be classified into manual actuation, mechanical actuation, solenoid of electrical actuation and hydraulic actuation. Manually operated/ actuated valves are actuated with levers or paddles connected to the control valves, wherein an operator applies force to operate the valve.
[003] In agriculture vehicles such as tractors, manually operated valves are operated through levers connected to the valves. The levers are positioned and designed such that levers are accessible for an operator seated in the vehicle.
[004] Conventionally, the control levers are connected to control valves by screwing the control lever into the valves through internal threads provided in valves and external threads provided on the levers. Commonly, in tractors, the control levers are assembled on the control valves by either attaching a link between the control valve and the lever, or by directly mounting the lever on the control valve. In such attachments, while tightening the lever during assembly, if the lever profile is not straight, it may foul to surrounding parts. In complex valve assemblies such as double spool valves which have multiple levers with different types of profiles, there are high chances that the levers will foul each other during assembling and dis-assembling of the valve assembly. Further, in the conventional valve assemblies, the orientation and height of the lever cannot be adjusted as per the operator’s requirement due to the lack of an adjustable connecting mechanism. Also, due to the lack of adjustability of orientation of the lever, assembling and disassembling of the levers is cumbersome and may cause fouling with other parts in the valve assembly’s vicinity.
[005] Therefore, there is a requirement for a lever with adjustable orientation and height and a connecting mechanism for connecting a lever with a valve, which obviates the aforementioned drawbacks of the existing systems/ mechanisms.
OBJECTS
[006] The principal object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide a connector for a control lever assembly and the control lever assembly having the same.
[007] Another object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide an adjustable connector for the control valve assembly which facilitates connection of a control lever to a control valve with adjustable orientation and height.
[008] Another object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide an adjustable connector which comprises of an upper threaded portion and a lower threaded portion for respectively engaging with a control lever and a control valve.
[009] Yet another object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide an adjustable connector which includes a lock nut, wherein the lock nut prevents a rotation of a control lever and secures the control lever with the adjustable connector at a selected predetermined orientation.
[0010] Still another object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide an adjustable connector for a control valve assembly which prevents fouling of a control lever during operation, while assembling, and disassembling of the control lever.
[0011] Another object of an embodiment of this invention is to provide a control lever with adjustable orientation and height for a control valve assembly of an agricultural vehicle.
[0012] These and other objects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0013] The embodiments herein are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:
[0014] Fig. 1a and Fig.1b depict a perspective view of a conventional link attached to a control valve assembly, wherein a control lever is attached to a control valve through a link;
[0015] Fig. 2a and Fig.2b depict a perspective view of a conventional direct mounted type control valve assembly, wherein the control lever is connected to the control valve by directly mounting the control lever on the control valve;
[0016] Fig. 3a depicts a perspective view of a control valve assembly having the control lever connected to a control valve through an adjustable connector; according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0017] Fig. 3b is an exploded view of the control valve assembly showing the control lever, the adjustable connector, and the control valve, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein; and
[0018] Fig. 3c is an enlarged perspective view of the adjustable connector, wherein the adjustable connector is connected to the control valve and the control lever, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
[0020] The embodiments herein achieve an adjustable connector for connecting a control lever to a control valve at an adjustable orientation and adjustable height. Further, the embodiments herein achieve the adjustable connector which comprises of an upper threaded portion and a lower threaded portion for respectively engaging with the control lever and the control valve. Furthermore, the embodiments herein achieve the adjustable connector which includes a lock nut which prevents a rotation of the control lever and secures the control lever with the adjustable connector, at a selected height and orientation. Additionally, the embodiments herein achieve the adjustable connector for a control valve assembly which prevents fouling of the control lever during operation, while assembling, and disassembling of the control lever. The embodiments herein achieve a control lever with adjustable orientation and height for a control valve assembly of an agricultural vehicle. Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 through 3, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown embodiments.

[0021] The embodiments herein provide an adjustable connector for connecting a control lever with a control valve at adjustable orientation and height, and also provide the control lever having the adjustable connector. For the purpose of this description and ease of understanding, the embodiments of the invention are explained herein below with reference to an agricultural vehicle such as a tractor. However, it is also within the scope of the invention to use the adjustable connector and the adjustable lever in any other vehicle or any other assemblies and systems which include control valve assembly, without otherwise deterring the intended function of the connector and the lever, as can be deduced from the description and corresponding drawings.
[0022] Fig. 1a and Fig. 1b depict a conventional control valve assembly (100) of an agriculture vehicle. In the conventional control valve assembly as shown in Fig. 1, the control lever (102) is connected to the control valve (101) through a link (103). The link is attached to one end of the lever (102) and it connects the lever at a specific angle with a connecting portion of the control valve (101). In this type of valve assembly, the angle and height at which lever (102) is positioned is fixed.
[0023] Fig. 2a and Fig. 2b depict another type of conventional control valve assembly (200) of an agriculture vehicle, wherein the control lever (202) is directly mounted on the control valve (201). In this type of conventional assembly (200), the control lever (202) is directly secured with the connecting part of the valve (201). The control lever includes a hub with threads which engage with the threads provided on the connecting part of the valve. A cross bolt is used to tighten the control lever with the valve. The position and height of the lever cannot be adjusted in this type of assembly, as the adjustment of the lever may cause the lever to loosen and disengage from the valve.
[0024] Fig. 3a and Fig. 3c depict the perspective views of a control valve assembly (300) comprising a control valve (301), a control lever (302) and an adjustable connector (400). The control valve (301) includes a connecting member (301A) extending from a body of the control valve (301). The connecting member (301A) is adapted to receive a portion of the adjustable connector (400). In an embodiment, the connecting member (301A) comprises a bore defined into the connecting member (301A), wherein threads are defined into the bore such that the connector (400) securely engages with the connecting member (301A) of the valve (301). Further, the control lever (302) comprises a hub (302A) connected to a lower end of the lever (302). The hub (302A) is adapted to engage with a portion of the adjustable connector (400). In an embodiment, internal threads are defined in the hub (302A) for securely engaging with the adjustable connector (400) (hereinafter referred to as “connector”). As shown in Fig. 3b, the adjustable connector (400) comprises an upper portion (400UP), a lower portion (400LP), and a nut (400N) disposed at a mid portion of the connector (400). In an embodiment, the connector (400) comprises a tubular/ cylindrical body. External threads are defined on the upper portion (400UP) of connector (400) such that the upper portion (400UP) engages with the hub (302A) of the lever (302). The external threads of the connector (400) securely engage with the internal threads provided in the hub (302A) of the lever (302). Further, external threads are defined on the lower portion (400LP) of the connector (400) such that the lower portion (400LP) securely engages with the connecting member (301A) of the control valve (301). The external threads of the lower portion (400LP) of the connector (400) securely engage with the internal threads defined in the bore of the connecting member (301A) of the valve (301).
[0025] Further, the control lever assembly (300) includes a lock nut (302LN) which includes internal threads defined in an inner side of the lock nut (302LN) such that the internal threads of the lock nut (302LN) engage with external threads defined in the hub (302A) to lock the control lever (302) at a predetermined position.
[0026] For assembling the control lever (302) with the control valve (301) in a control valve assembly (300) of an agriculture vehicle, the lower portion (400UP) of the connector (400) is threaded into the connecting member (301A) of the valve (301) and tightened against the internal threads provided in the bore of the connecting member (301A) of the control valve (301). The entirety of the lower portion (400LP) of the connector (400) is inserted into the bore of the connecting member (301A). Further, the nut (400N) is positioned above the lower portion (400LP) of the connector (400) such that the nut (400N) rests above the connecting member (301A) of the valve (301). Further, the control lever (302) is connected with the upper portion (400UP) of the connector (400) by screwing the hub (302A) having internal threads with the external threads provided on the upper portion (400UP) of the connector (400). The position and the orientation of the lever (302) can be adjusted by selecting the extent/ height up to which the lever (302) is screwed onto the upper portion (400UP) of the connector (400). The nut (400N) is tightened against the lever (302), that is, tightened against the hub (302A) of the lever (302), after an operator has adjusted the orientation and height of the lever (302) on the connector (400). The lock nut (302LN) locks the lever (302) on the upper portion (400UP) of the connector (400), therefore preventing loosening of the lever (302) against the connector (400) during operation of the lever (302).
[0027] An agriculture vehicle such as tractor includes multiple control valves and complex control valve assemblies such as two-spool auxiliary valve assemblies, which require installation of multiple levers with different and irregular profiles, to operate the control valves. The adjustable connector (400) allows the operator of the vehicle to adjust the position of the lever (302) by selecting the height and orientation of the lever (302). For example, in a tractor, the operator can adjust the orientation of an auxiliary lever (302) either away or towards the fender of the tractor (not shown) as per the operator’s convenience. The operator can also select the height at which auxiliary lever (302) is positioned as per the comfort of operation of the operator. The connector (400) also eliminates the issue of fouling by providing the flexibility to select the orientation and height of the levers during assembling. The connector (400), therefore, removes the constraint on the orientation of the lever (302) being dependent on the bend and profile of the lever (302). Thus, the connector (400) provides greater freedom to design levers with different profiles.
[0028] The embodiment herein also provides an adjustable lever (302) (as shown in Fig. 3a) comprising a rod (302B), a handle (302C) connected to an upper end of the rod (302B), a hub (302A) connected to a lower end of the rod (302B), and the adjustable connector (400) removably engaged with the hub (302A) of the lever (302). The adjustable lever (302) is assembled with the control valve (301) by screwing the lower portion (400LP) of the connector (400) into the connecting member (301A) of the control valve (301). The hub (302A) of the lever (302) is tightened against the threads of the upper portion (400UP) of the connector (400N) and the position of the lever (302) is locked by tightening the lock nut (302LN) of the connector (400) against the hub (302A) of the lever (302). The lever (302), therefore, can be adjusted to a desired height and in desired orientation, thus removing designing constraints on the profile of the lever (302).
[0029] The technical advantages achieved by the embodiments disclosed herein include a connector for a control valve assembly which facilitates the assembling of a control lever with a control valve at an adjustable orientation and adjustable height, easy assembling and disassembling of control levers on control valve assemblies, eliminating issue of fouling during assembling and disassembling of levers with irregular profiles, removal of design constraint for levers by providing ease of connecting with valve through the connector, freedom to adjust the orientation and height of the control lever as per an operator’s convenience, and reducing assembling time and complexity.
[0030] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
, Claims:We claim,
1. An adjustable connector (400) for a control lever assembly (300) comprising at least one control lever (302) and at least one control valve (301), said adjustable connector (400) comprising:
a body having an upper portion (400UP) and a lower portion (400LP);
wherein,
said upper portion (400UP) of the body of said adjustable connector (400) is adapted to engage with a hub (302A) of said control lever (302), and
said lower portion (400LP) of the body of said adjustable connector (400) is adapted to engage with a connecting member (301A) of said control valve (301); and
a nut (400N) defined at a mid-portion on said body of the connector (400).
2. The adjustable connector (400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein
a plurality of external threads are defined on said upper portion (400UP) of the body of said adjustable connector (400), and adapted to engage with internal threads defined on an inner portion of said hub (302A) of said lever (302); and
a plurality of external threads are defined on said lower portion (400LP) of the body of said adjustable connector (400), said threads are adapted to engage with said connecting member (301A) of said control valve (301),
wherein,
such that said lower portion (400LP) of said adjustable connector (400) is completely inserted into said connecting member (301A) of said control valve (301).
3. The adjustable connector (400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said body of said adjustable connector (400) has a tubular shape.

4. The adjustable connector (400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein an outer dimension of said nut (400N) is at least equal to or greater than an outer dimension of said hub (302A) of said control lever (302).

5. An adjustable control lever (302) for actuating a control valve (301) of a control lever assembly (300) installed on an agriculture vehicle, said adjustable control lever (302) comprising:
a rod (302B);
a hub (302A) connected to a lower end of said rod (302B), said hub (302A) having internal threads defined in an inner portion of said hub (302A);
an adjustable connector (400) comprising a threaded upper portion (400UP), a threaded lower portion (400LP), and
a lock nut (302LN) disposed above said hub (302A);
wherein,
said lower portion (400LP) of said adjustable connector (400) is adapted to securely engage with a connecting member (301A) of said control valve (301);
said upper portion (400UP) of said adjustable connector (400) is adapted to engage with said hub (302A) of said adjustable control lever (302); and
said lock nut (302LN) adapted to lock said adjustable control lever (302) on said hub (302A) at a selected height and selected orientation.

6. The adjustable control lever (302) as claimed in claim 5, wherein said lock nut (302LN) comprises internal threads defined on an inner side of said lock nut (302LN) and adapted to engage with said hub (302A).

7. The adjustable control lever (302) as claimed in claim 6, wherein an outer dimension of said lock nut (302LN) is at least equal to or greater than an outer dimension of said hub (302A) of said adjustable control lever (302).

8. The adjustable control lever (302) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the body of said adjustable connector (400) has a tubular shape.
9. The adjustable control lever (302) as claimed in claim 6, wherein said control lever (302) comprises a handle (302C) attached to an upper end of said rod (302B).