Patent ID: 7648001

Claim:
A speed shift device for operating a propelling speed change device for a work vehicle, the speed shift device comprising: a single speed change lever located in a position laterally of a steering wheel support shaft to be rockable in a fore and aft direction and a vertical direction of the work vehicle, the steering wheel support shaft extending through a front panel of the work vehicle, a steering wheel being provided at one end of the steering wheel support shaft; and a lever guide for allowing movement of the speed change lever within operating paths extending on a laterally oriented side, the laterally oriented side being outwardly spaced apart from the steering wheel support shaft in a transverse direction of the work vehicle, as seen in a direction of an axis of the steering wheel support shaft; wherein the operating paths include a plurality of fore and aft channels extending substantially in a fore and aft direction and a straight communication channel connecting the fore and aft channels, the fore and aft channels extending at different levels with respect to the vertical direction, the fore and aft channels including a top fore and aft channel extending at a highest location with respect to the vertical direction at a closest location to the steering wheel, and at least one other fore and aft channel extending at a lower location than the top fore and aft channel; wherein, when the speed change lever is rocked in the fore and aft direction along the top fore and aft channel, the propelling speed change device is switched over only to a rearward traveling state and a forward traveling state having substantially a same speed reduction ratio as the rearward traveling state; and wherein, when the speed change lever is rocked from the other fore and aft channel to the top fore and aft channel along the communication channel, a handgrip of the speed change lever approaches the steering wheel below the steering wheel, whereby the speed change lever is operable fore and aft along the top fore and aft channel with an operator's hand gripping the steering wheel.