Patent Publication Number: US-11656649-B2

Title: Platform control system for boom lifts

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to heavy equipment and more specifically to a platform control system for boom lifts, which includes left and right joysticks for movement of a boom lift. 
     2. Discussion of the Prior Art 
     It appears that the prior art does not disclose a platform control system for boom lifts, which includes left and right joysticks for movement of a boom lift. 
     Accordingly, there is clearly felt need in the art for a platform control system for boom lifts, which includes left and right joysticks for movement of a boom lift and other functions; which includes all boom lift control buttons located on left and right joystick; and which includes an operator having better control of the machine, because the operator does not have to take their hands off the left and right joysticks or look at a control panel to activate some function of the boom lift. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a platform control system for boom lifts, which includes left and right joysticks for movement of a boom lift. The platform control system for boom lifts (boom lift control system) preferably includes a control panel, a left joystick and a right joystick. The left joystick includes a left palm grip shaped handle; a left platform ON-OFF-ON rocker switch for controlling a platform rotation; a left height ON-OFF-ON rocker switch for controlling lowering and raising of a jib; a left articulating ON-OFF-ON rocker switch for controlling folding and unfolding of an articulating upper boom; a left extension ON-OFF-ON rocker switch for controlling the extension and retraction of the articulating upper boom; a left leveling ON-OFF-ON rocker switch for controlling platform leveling; and a left disabling ON-OFF push button for enabling and disabling a function of all the switches assembled on the left joystick. The left disabling ON-OFF push button acts as an additional safety mechanism to prevent the inadvertent actuation of both the left joystick and the switches mounted to the left joystick. 
     The right joystick includes a right palm grip shaped handle; a right slewing ON-OFF rocker switch for controlling the slewing of a turret; a right stability ON-OFF-ON rocker switch for controlling the extension and retraction of the axles; a right jib ON-OFF-ON rocker switch for controlling the extension and retraction of the jib; a right crabbing ON-OFF push button for controlling crab steering of the wheels; a right coordination ON-OFF push button switch for controlling coordinated steering of the wheels; and a right disabling ON-OFF push button for enabling and disabling a function of all the switches on the right joystick. The left and right joysticks can be configured to work on a telescopic boom lift machine as well as on an articulating boom lift machine. When using the boom lift control system for boom lifts for a telescopic boom lift platform, the rocker switch controlling the folding and unfolding of the articulating upper boom, and the rocker switch controlling the extension and retraction of the articulating upper boom are not installed. The mounting hole of these switches may be plugged with a cap. 
     The control panel preferably includes a display screen, a plurality of switches, a rotary knob, a display light and a screen shroud. The display screen is mounted in a middle of the control panel. The display screen includes a plurality of proceed lights, a plurality of warning lights and a plurality of error lights pertaining to the functions of the left and right joysticks. The screen shroud partially covers the display screen to eliminate sun glare. The plurality of switches, the rotary knob and the display light are located on left and right open areas of the control panel. A horn button and an emergency stop button are located in front of the display screen. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a boom lift control system, which includes left and right joysticks for movement of a boom lift and other functions. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a boom lift control system, which includes all boom lift control buttons located on left and right joystick. 
     Finally, it is another object of the present invention to provide a boom lift control system, which includes an operator having better control of the machine, because the operator does not have to take their hands off the left and right joysticks or look at a control panel to activate some function of the boom lift. 
     These and additional objects, advantages, features and benefits of the present invention will become apparent from the following specification. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a top view of a boom lift control system in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG.  2    is a top view of a left joystick illustrating a plurality of left switches of a boom lift control system in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG.  3    is a front perspective view of a left joystick illustrating a plurality of left switches of a boom lift control system in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG.  4    is a rear perspective view of a left joystick illustrating a plurality of left switches of a boom lift control system in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG.  5    is a top view of a right joystick illustrating a plurality of left switches of a boom lift control system in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG.  6    is a front perspective view of a right joystick illustrating a plurality of left switches of a boom lift control system in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG.  7    is a side perspective view of a left joystick illustrating a plurality of left switches of a boom lift control system in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG.  8    is an electrical schematic of an On-Off-On switch connected to a solenoid of a flow valve of a boom lift control system in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG.  9    is a top view of display screen of a control panel of a boom lift control system in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference now to the drawings, and particularly to  FIG.  1   , there is shown a top view of a boom lift control system  1 . With reference to  FIGS.  2 - 7   , the boom lift control system  1  preferably includes a control panel  10 , a left joystick  12  and a right joystick  14 . With reference to  FIGS.  2 - 4   , the left joystick  12  includes a left palm grip shaped handle  16 ; a left platform ON-OFF-ON rocker switch  18  for controlling a platform rotation; a left height ON-OFF-ON rocker switch  20  for controlling lowering and raising of a jib; a left articulating ON-OFF-ON rocker switch  22  for controlling folding and unfolding of an articulating upper boom; a left extension ON-OFF-ON rocker switch  24  for controlling the extension and retraction of the articulating upper boom; a left leveling ON-OFF-ON rocker switch  26  for controlling platform leveling; and a left disabling ON-OFF push button  28  for enabling and disabling a function of all the switches assembled on the left joystick  12 . With reference to  FIG.  8   , a schematic diagram of the ON-OFF-ON rocker switch  24  for controlling actuation of a cylinder  25  for extension and retraction of the articulating upper boom. The control panel  10  includes a control board  27  for receiving input from the left and right joysticks  12 ,  14 . The control board  27  which sends an electrical output to a solenoid valve  29 . Hydraulic outputs of the solenoid valve  29  send hydraulic fluid to a cylinder  31 . A position of the ON-OFF-ON switch  24  determines whether the articulating upper boom is raised or lower. The left disabling ON-OFF push button  28  acts as an additional safety mechanism to prevent the inadvertent actuation of both the left joystick  12  and the switches  18 ,  20 ,  22 ,  24  and  26  mounted to the left joystick. 
     With reference to  FIGS.  5 - 7   , the right joystick  14  includes a right palm grip shaped handle  30 ; a right slewing ON-OFF rocker switch  32  for controlling the slewing of a turret; a right stability ON-OFF-ON rocker switch  34  for controlling the extension and retraction of the axles; a right jib ON-OFF-ON rocker switch  36  for controlling the extension and retraction of the jib; a right crabbing ON-OFF push button  38  for controlling crab steering of the wheels; a right coordination ON-OFF push button switch  39  for controlling coordinated steering of the wheels; and a right disabling ON-OFF push button  40  for enabling and disabling a function of all the switches on the right joystick. 
     The left and right joysticks  12 ,  14  can be configured to work on a telescopic boom lift machine as well as on an articulating boom lift machine. When using the platform control system  1  for boom lifts for a telescopic boom lift platform, the rocker switch  22  controlling the folding and unfolding of the articulating upper boom, and the rocker switch  24  controlling the extension and retraction of the articulating upper boom are not installed. The mounting hole of these switches may be plugged with a cap. 
     With reference to  FIG.  1   , the control panel  10  preferably includes a display screen  42 , a plurality of switches  44 , a rotary knob  46 , a display light  48  and a screen shroud  50 . The display screen  42  is mounted in a middle of the control panel  10 . With reference to  FIG.  9   , the display screen  42  includes a boom cable failure indicator light  52 , an e-stop indicator light  54 , a 500 lbs. unrestricted capacity indicator light  56 , a platform overload indicator light  58 , a glow plug indicator light  60 , a drive and steer disable indicator light  62 , a creep mode indicator light  64 , an emissions temperature indicator light  66 , an engine error light indicator  68 , a 1000 lbs. restricted capacity indicator light  70 , a battery malfunction light  72 , an enable light indicator  74 , a low fuel indicator light  76  and a machine malfunction indicator light  78 . 
     The above proceed lights, warning lights and error lights pertain to the functions of the left and right joysticks  12 ,  14 . The screen shroud  50  partially covers the display screen  42  to eliminate sun glare. The plurality of switches  44 , the rotary knob  46  and the display light  48  are located to the left and right of the display screen  42  in open areas of the control panel  10 . A horn button  80  and an emergency stop button  82  are located in front of the display screen  42 . 
     While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects, and therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.