Abstract:
A hand activated incremental power dumping control for power buggies for enhanced safety and ease of use. A hand control lever mounted on the handle bars of the buggy adjacent the hand grips in which control power elevation and dumping activation can be achieved with incremental engagement locking and safety release mechanism which allows the operator to terminate precise dumping rate and optional hands free continuous dumping operation.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     This device relates to load transportation machines of the small self-propelled type having a storage bucket thereon generally referred to in the industry as “power buggies”. Such devices allow the operator to transport heavy bulky loads over short distances and power dump the contents where needed. 
     2. Description of Prior Art 
     Prior art devices of this type are well known within the art as power buggies designed to haul loads up to several tons. Such devices are operated by a single user and are self-contained having an onboard engine and drive capabilities. A storage bucket typically has a hydraulic dumping mechanism that is activated by the operator upon reaching the desired dump area. The controls for operation include forward and reverse with associated throttle control, brakes and storage dumping activation, all available to the operator typically from a central operation console. 
     Heretofore, dumping controls have been positioned adjacent the control input area and can only be activated by the operator removing their hand from the steering handle bars for activation. Such power buggies and their control features as seen in prior art U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,207,022, 5,360,256, 6,155,648, 6,322,151 and 6,619,754. 
     U.S. Pat. 4,207,022 is directed to a power vehicle for loading and transporting and unloaded heaped materials. The vehicle, a multiple wheeled frame with self-contained power source and drive assembly, has a dump hopper and scooping configuration associated therewith. 
     U.S. Pat. 5,360,256 discloses a container and dumping apparatus for use on a motorized vehicle with a resilient release cord associated therewith. 
     U.S. Pat. 6,155,648 claims a power buggy with bi-directional hand control grips. 
     U.S. Pat. 6,322,151 shows a power buggy having multiple controls located near the hand grips including a bi-directional twist activation hand grip association. 
     U.S. Pat. 6,619,754 is on a power buggy that incorporates a kill switch with other controls near the hand grips for operator safety. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An activation control lever switch assembly on a power buggy for selective continuous and incremental dumping control of the storage and transportation bin thereon. The control lever extends from the handle bar for operator engagement without removing operator&#39;s hand therefrom. Sequential locking activation allows for multiple fixed dumping positions with a quick release for return to non-activation or continuous lever control dumping positions. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of a power buggy equipped with the control dumping lever of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged partial side elevational view of the dumping lever assembly and operator handle bars; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged partial side elevational view of the dumping lever assembly with activation portions illustrated in broken lines; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged partial top plan view thereof; 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged partial section view thereof; and 
         FIG. 6  is a partial side elevational view of the control cylinder of the dumping assembly portions shown in broken lines. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  of the drawings, a power buggy  10  is shown having a support frame  11  with multiple wheel assemblies  12  and  13  thereon. A material transport bin  14  is pivotally secured to the frame  11  for controlled tilting and dumping as indicated in broken lines by a hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly  15 . The power buggy  10  has a self-contained engine and hydrostatic drive assembly generally indicated at  16 . 
     A steering assembly  17  connects to the dual wheel assembly  12  with an interconnecting steering column  18 . A pair of steering and control handle bars  19  extend from the steering column  18  and have respective hand grips  20 A thereon in vertical spaced relation to a control support console  21  as will be well understood by those skilled in the art. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2–4  of the drawings, a dual dump actuation control assembly  22  of the invention can be seen positioned on one of the handle bars  19  adjacent the hand grip  20 A. The dump control assembly  22  has a bifurcated hand activated leer grip  23  pivotally secured to the handle bar  19  by respective apertured mounting tabs  23 A and  23 B in longitudinally spaced relation to the hand grip  20 A. A second dump control element is also provided having a dump knob  24  threadably secured to an end of an upstanding control rod  25  that extends through the handle bar  19  and is pivotally secured through a transversely extending main lever support pivot pin  26  as best seen in  FIG. 5  of the drawings. The free end  25 A of the rod  25  is pivotally secured to a secondary pivot pin  27  extending through oppositely disposed aligned apertures at  28  in the lever grip  23  below the lever support pivot pin  26 . This arrangement affords the operator, not shown, a secondary control input which may be applicable in certain situations. 
     The dump control assembly  22  as illustrated has a cylinder activation control cable  27 A extending therefrom that is secured to the lever grip  23  by a fixation fastener  24 A. The cable  27 A extends through multiple cable mounts  28 A and  28 B to a cylinder control valve  29 , best seen in  FIG. 6  of the drawings, for operation of the hydraulic piston and cylinder dump assembly  15 . A progressive lock and quick release bracket  30  of the dump control assembly  22  is pivotally secured to the handle bar  19  in longitudinally spaced relation to said hand lever pivot by a pair of depending apertured tabs  31  formed on its end thereof. The locking and release bracket  30  has a cable engagement arm  32  extending from one of its apertured tabs  31 . The arm  32  is apertured at  32 A through which the cable  27  can freely pass. A limitation lock and release lever  33  extends on a horizontal plane from the hereinbefore described tabs  31  in vertically spaced parallel relation beside the handle bar  19  as best seen in  FIGS. 4 and 5  of the drawings. 
     The lock and release lever  33  has an upstanding engagement tab  34  on its free end which provides the operator, not shown, activation release and selective engagement as will be described hereinafter. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 6  of the drawings, the operation of the dump activation control assembly  22  can be seen wherein the lever grip  23  is moved upwardly as indicated in broken lines in  FIG. 3  of the drawings and the cable  27  so attached will move the activation cylinder valve  29 . Simultaneously the locking and release bracket  30  can be wedgeably engaged on the cable  27  as it extends therethrough holding it in selective position by operator input on the tab  34  as best seen in  FIG. 3  of the drawings. 
     Conversely, the locking and release bracket  30  can be selectively released by the operator, returning the lever grip  23  back to a non-activation fail safe position as shown in solid lines in  FIG. 2  of the drawings. 
     It will be seen that by use of the dual dump activation lever control assembly  22  of the invention, the relative position and therefore degree of operational dumping of material transportation bin  14  can be achieved in continuous or incremental lock position affording a precise continuous control of the material transportation bin  14  during the dumping operation. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention.