IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,410,585
Granted Patent B2
US 12,410,585 · App. 18/850,677 · Granted Sep 9, 2025

Work machine

Inventor: Hiroyuki Yoshida (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
E02F9/2004B62D12/00E02F9/225
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,410,585
App. No.
18/850,677
Granted
Sep 9, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

There is provided a work machine allowing a steering operation device to be enhanced in reliability. The steering operation device includes a joystick, a first electric lever, and an input unit. The joystick receives an operator's operation. The first electric lever includes a first main body unit and a first lever unit tiltable with respect to the first main body unit, and outputs a tilt angle of the first lever unit with respect to the first main body unit. The input unit inputs an input to the first lever unit of the first electric lever to tilt the first lever unit with respect to the first main body unit of the first electric lever. The input unit has an elongated hole extending in the frontward/rearward direction. The first lever unit is disposed in the elongated hole.

Claims (20)

1. A work machine comprising:

a vehicular body frame having a rear frame and a front frame rotatably coupled to the rear frame;

a steering actuator that changes an angle of the front frame with respect to the rear frame; and

a steering operation device operated by an operator to operate the steering actuator, the steering operation device including:

a joystick that receives an operation performed by the operator;

at least one electric lever that has a main body unit and a lever unit tiltable with respect to the main body unit and outputs a tilt angle of the lever unit with respect to the main body unit; and

an input unit that inputs an input to the lever unit to tilt the lever unit with respect to the main body unit,

the input unit having at least one elongated hole extending in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to a direction in which the operator tilts the joystick,

the lever unit being disposed in the elongated hole.

2. The work machine according to claim 1 , wherein the lever unit includes a core unit projecting from the main body unit and a spacer surrounding a periphery of the core unit.

3. The work machine according to claim 1 , wherein the joystick and the lever unit are spaced from each other in the orthogonal direction.

4. The work machine according to claim 1 , further comprising a link that mechanically transmits to the steering operation device a current angle of the front frame with respect to the rear frame, wherein

the input unit is coupled to one of the link and the joystick.

5. The work machine according to claim 4 , wherein the steering operation device further includes a bearing that supports the joystick rotatably relative to the link.

6. The work machine according to claim 4 , wherein the link pivots with the orthogonal direction as an axial direction.

7. The work machine according to claim 1 , wherein

the at least one electric lever has a plurality of electric levers,

the input unit has the elongated hole so as to be equal in number to the electric levers, and

the electric levers each have the lever unit disposed in a different elongated hole.

8. The work machine according to claim 7 , wherein the plurality of electric levers are aligned in the orthogonal direction.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 25, 2024
From: YOSHIDA, HIROYUKI
To: KOMATSU LTD.
Reel/Frame 068691/0593 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2022-064634 · Apr 8, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250215662A1 · Jul 3, 2025
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Cited By (2)
US 12,546,090 US 12,741,689