Patent ID: 6971194
Filing Date: 2005-12-06
Classification: E02F

Abstract:
1. A control station for a work vehicle, the work vehicle including an operator compartment, a chassis, a boom pivotally coupled to the chassis, a dipper pivotally coupled to the boom, an implement pivotally coupled to the dipper, at least one boom swing cylinder coupled to the boom to pivot the boom about a vertical axis, and a plurality of hydraulic cylinders including a boom lift hydraulic cylinder coupled to the boom to pivot the boom about a horizontal axis a dipper hydraulic cylinder coupled to the dipper to pivot the dipper about a vertical axis, and an implement hydraulic cylinder coupled to the implement to pivot the implement about a vertical axis, the control station comprising: an operator seat; a first control tower disposed adjacent to one side of the seat the first control tower having an upper and a lower end, the lower end pivotally coupled to the vehicle adjacent to the floor of the operator compartment to pivot generally fore-and-aft, the first control tower further comprising a first joystick operable to move at least two of the plurality of hydraulic cylinders; a second control tower disposed adjacent an opposing side of the seat and having an upper and a lower end, the second tower having its lower end pivotally coupled to the vehicle adjacent the floor of the operator compartment to pivot generally fore-and-aft, the second control tower further comprising a second joystick operable to move at least two other of the hydraulic cylinders; and an elongate member coupled to and between the first and second control towers to constrain the towers to pivot fore-and-aft simultaneously, wherein each of the first and second control towers includes upper and lower members having upper and lower ends, the lower end of each of the upper members being pivotally coupled to the upper end of a corresponding one of the lower members.