In the operator's station of a vehicle, it has been common practice to mount the steering wheel (22) and the control levers (24) needed to manipulate the vehicle on an adjustable control console (10). The control console (10) may then be moved fore and aft to accommodate the individual operators that may operate the vehicle to enhance their confort. Mechanical latching mechanisms have been used that provide only a selected number of positions to which the control console may be placed, and are often rather cumbersome. Hydraulic cylinders have also been incorporated into an adjustable control console design to provide an unlimited number of positions that the control console may assume. These designs, however, are quite complex, involving a plurality of hydraulic cylinders and extensive valving componentry. The present invention overcomes these problems by providing an actuating means (64) that is positioned about one of the pivot shafts (44) that is utilized in the pivotal mounting of the control console (10) to the vehicle frame (12). The actuating means (64) serves as a mounting member (88) for a position locking device and allows the control console (10) to be locked in a position anywhere between its maximum travel limits. A centering mechanism (134) is also mounted about the same pivot shaft (44) to maintain the actuating means (64) in a preselected position. With the actuating means (64) and the centering mechanism (134) mounted about the pivot shaft (44) the entire mechanism remains very effective and compact in structure.
展开▼
