US3911602A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hydraulic and mechanical no-cut earth working machine
Assignee: A&A Manufacturing Co Inc
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Filing: 1974-08-07
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Granted: 1975-10-14
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Expires: 1994-08-07
Abstract
Abstract An earth working machine having both mechanical and hydraulic controlled equipment is provided with an electronic circuit to prevent the earth working implements on the machine from cutting buried metal objects such as communication cables, water pipes, and the like. When the electronic equipment detects when the earth working implements are near or contacting the underground object, both the hydraulic system is immobilized and the mechanical drive clutch disengaged. Provision is made to prevent the probe from acting as a radio antenna and, also, a seat switch is provided to disable the equipment should the operator be thrown from his operating position.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard B Trevathan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 23:46
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02F; E02F9/00; E02F9/24; E02F9/245; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S37/00; Y10S37/906
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
303 words
In an earth working machine having a. a motor attached to a frame, b. a hydraulic earth working implement attached to the frame, c. a hydraulic pump driven by the motor, d. at least one hydraulic control valve attached to the frame, e. said control valve forming means for i. providing hydraulic pressure from the pump to the earth working implement in one position and ii. releasing the pressure of the pump in another position, f. said hydraulic control valve interconnecting said pump and said earth working implement, g. mechanical transmission elements mounted on the frame for selective activation of a second earth working implement attached to the frame and h. a pedal operated clutch interconnecting the motor and said mechanical transmission elements, i. the improved structure for preventing any earth working implement attached to the frame of the vehicle from damaging buried metal objects comprising: j. means for detecting if any earth working implement attached to the frame is proximate the metal object, k. a check valve attached to the outlet of said pump, l. said check valve being means for permitting fluid flow only from the outlet of said pump to a fluid reservoir at the inlet of said pump, m. a solenoid controlled valve connected to the outlet of said check valve, n. said solenoid valve controlled by said means for detecting, so that said solenoid valve is open responsive to the earth working implement being proximate said metal object, and o. a hydraulic clutch cylinder, p. said hydraulic clutch cylinder fluidly connected between said check valve and said solenoid valve, q. said hydraulic clutch cylinder being structurally connected to said clutch, whereby r. opening of said solenoid valve releases the pressure upon said hydraulic clutch cylinder, thereby s. disengaging said clutch to cease movement of said earth working implements.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
303 words
In an earth working machine having a. a motor attached to a frame, b. a hydraulic earth working implement attached to the frame, c. a hydraulic pump driven by the motor, d. at least one hydraulic control valve attached to the frame, e. said control valve forming means for i. providing hydraulic pressure from the pump to the earth working implement in one position and ii. releasing the pressure of the pump in another position, f. said hydraulic control valve interconnecting said pump and said earth working implement, g. mechanical transmission elements mounted on the frame for selective activation of a second earth working implement attached to the frame and h. a pedal operated clutch interconnecting the motor and said mechanical transmission elements, i. the improved structure for preventing any earth working implement attached to the frame of the vehicle from damaging buried metal objects comprising: j. means for detecting if any earth working implement attached to the frame is proximate the metal object, k. a check valve attached to the outlet of said pump, l. said check valve being means for permitting fluid flow only from the outlet of said pump to a fluid reservoir at the inlet of said pump, m. a solenoid controlled valve connected to the outlet of said check valve, n. said solenoid valve controlled by said means for detecting, so that said solenoid valve is open responsive to the earth working implement being proximate said metal object, and o. a hydraulic clutch cylinder, p. said hydraulic clutch cylinder fluidly connected between said check valve and said solenoid valve, q. said hydraulic clutch cylinder being structurally connected to said clutch, whereby r. opening of said solenoid valve releases the pressure upon said hydraulic clutch cylinder, thereby s. disengaging said clutch to cease movement of said earth working implements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 with additional limitations of a. an operator seat on the frame, b. a switch in said operator''s seat, c. said switch also being means for opening said solenoid valve responsive to lack of an operator upon the seat.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
79 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 with additional limitations of a. a strap with an elongated slot therein attached to said clutch cylinder, b. a spring attached to said strap to urge the clutch in a disengaged position, and c. a pin on the clutch through the slot whereby the clutch can be disengaged by the pedal at anytime, and d. loss of hydraulic pressure to the clutch cylinder causes the clutch to be disengaged by said spring.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The invention as defined in claim 3 With additional limitations of a. an operator seat on the frame, b. a switch in said operator''s seat, c. said switch also being means for opening said solenoid valve responsive to lack of an operator upon the seat.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
170 words
In an earth working machine having a. a motor attached to a frame, b. a hydraulic earth working implement attached to the frame, c. a hydraulic pump driven by the motor, d. at least one hydraulic control valve attached to the frame, e. said control valve forming means for i. providing hydraulic pressure from the pump to the earth working implement in one position and ii. releasing the pressure of the pump in another position, f. said hydraulic control valve interconnecting said pump and said earth working implement, g. mechanical transmission elements mounted on the frame for selective activation of a second earth working implement attached to the frame, and h. a pedal operated clutch interconnecting the motor and said mechanical transmission elements, i. the method of protecting underground buried objects comprising: j. detecting if any earth working implement is proximate the metal object, k. releasing all hydraulic pressure responsive to said detection, and l. disengaging the clutch responsive to said detection, thereby ceasing operation of any earth working implement.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
170 words
In an earth working machine having a. a motor attached to a frame, b. a hydraulic earth working implement attached to the frame, c. a hydraulic pump driven by the motor, d. at least one hydraulic control valve attached to the frame, e. said control valve forming means for i. providing hydraulic pressure from the pump to the earth working implement in one position and ii. releasing the pressure of the pump in another position, f. said hydraulic control valve interconnecting said pump and said earth working implement, g. mechanical transmission elements mounted on the frame for selective activation of a second earth working implement attached to the frame, and h. a pedal operated clutch interconnecting the motor and said mechanical transmission elements, i. the method of protecting underground buried objects comprising: j. detecting if any earth working implement is proximate the metal object, k. releasing all hydraulic pressure responsive to said detection, and l. disengaging the clutch responsive to said detection, thereby ceasing operation of any earth working implement.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-10-13 | 1979-04-14 | 1979-10-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-13 | 1983-04-14 | 1983-10-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-13 | 1987-04-14 | 1987-10-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |