Mary Lou Kuhn

US Patent:

59880139, Nov 23, 1999

Filed:

Dec 1, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/982094

Inventors:

Charles W. Carr - Naperville IL
Max D. Fryrear - Oswego IL
Derek D. Greving - Morton IL
Mary A. Kuhn - Brookfield IL

Assignee:

Caterpillar Inc. - Peoria IL

International Classification:

G05G 505

US Classification:

74532

Abstract:

In the operation of construction machines having multiple functions it has been a problem to provide a mounting arrangement for the levers that incorporates low lever effort operational detents without experiencing undue wear within the components. The present invention provides a mounting arrangement for a control lever that has a plurality of upraised ribs defined thereon in a preselected array. A plurality of grooves are positioned on an adjacent bearing member that are positioned to engage the upraised ribs in a first condition of the control lever. The control lever may be rotated out of engagement with the ribs to operate in a second condition while at the same time being engageable with a plurality of operational detents to provided feedback to an operator as to impending operational conditions.