Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
WO 2009/146009 PCT/US2009/038711
TOOL ATTACHMENTS ON AN AUTO-POWERED MOBILE MACHINE
Introduction
[01] Machines originally designed as front end loaders with tracks or
wheels, whether having skid-steering wheels or turnable wheels, such as
Bobcat brand machines, have been adapted to become general purpose tool
carriers that can receive a variety of controllable tool attachments to be
attached to the front or back of the machine and controlled by an operator
sitting in the operator's seat. This tool attachment carrying system can be
improved upon by (1) allowing linear acting tools to be attached on the side,
(2) placing the operator's seat and controls on a controllable swivel so that
the
operator can swivel to an optimum location for viewing the work, and (3)
providing the operator with a controllable articulating arm with a bucket,
claw,
rake or compactor or similar implement which the operator can operate to
accomplish a task in a coordinated fashion with the linear acting tool which
is
attached below the swivel. The engine may also be above the swivel, in
which case it drives a hydraulic pump that pumps fluid through the swivel to
drive the linear acting tool attached below the swivel. So that the swivel can
rotate without limitation, electrical control signals may pass through
conductor
rings in the swivel or via wireless radio signal to the linear acting tool, or
additional hydraulic circuits may be added passing through the swivel. The
linear acting tool may be hydraulically adjusted in response to operator
controls or location of a string datum line or a curb or gutter or GPS
coordinates. The adjustment may move the tool vertically without pivoting to
stay plumb or it may pivot the tool about a pivot point.
Summary of the invention
[02] In one aspect, the invention is a tool carrying and controlling
system wherein an operator can control a swiveling tool and either a first
linear acting controllable tool or a second linear acting controllable tool to
operate in coordination with the first tool. The system comprises (a) a set of
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wheels or tracks on which the machine rides supporting a support structure;
(b) coupled to and supported by the support structure, an operator's seat and
operator's controls; (c) coupled to and supported by the support structure, a
vertical swivel such that components coupled to an upper side of the swivel
can swivel about a vertical axis relative to the support structure; (d) an
articulating arm coupled to the upper side of the vertical swivel,
controllable by
the controls, with a first tool mounted on a distant end of the arm;.(e)
coupled
to and supported by the support structure and fixed to a lower side of the
swivel, a mounting support for mounting to one side of the path of the tracks
or wheels a linear acting tool; (f) a first linear acting tool mountable on
the
mounting base, the first tool or mounting base including moving parts such
that an operator can, using controls at the operator's seat, control the
swiveling tool and, also using controls at the operator's seat, control the
moving parts of the first tool or mounting base, which does not swivel with
the
swiveling tool, so that the two tools perform an operation in coordination
with
each other; and (g) a second linear acting tool mountable on the mounting
base, the second tool or mounting base including moving parts controllable by
the controls such that an operator can remove the first tool and replace it
with
the second tool and then, using controls at the operator's seat, control the
swiveling tool and, also using controls at the operator's seat, control the
moving parts of the second tool or mounting base, which does not swivel with
the first tool, so that the two tools perform an operation in coordination
with
each other.
[03] The above elements (a) through (d) may be provided by an
excavator, particularly a mini-excavator. So that the swivel can fully swivel
any number of rotations without limitation, the system may include an
electrical circuit coupling the controls with the moving parts of the mounting
support or first or second tool, the electrical circuit passing through the
swivel
via electrical conductor rings and brushes. Alternatively, the controls
signals
may be communicated with a wireless link that carries radio communications
from the controls to the mounting support or first of second tool. In this
case,
electrical power to operate a wireless communication component coupled to
the mounting support or first of second tool may be provided by a hydraulic
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generator which receives power from flow of hydraulic fluid passing through
the swivel from a hydraulic pump on the engine mounted above the swivel.
[04] The swiveling tool may be an earth moving bucket or a claw or a
rake or vibratory compactor or any similar implement. The first and second
linear acting tools may be any of: a curb and gutter grading blade; a curb and
gutter extruder; a sidewalk and shoulder grading blade; an asphalt paver; a
concrete paver; a fence installer; a trencher; a concrete/asphalt saw; a side
roller/compactor; a vibratory roller; a snow plow; and other similar tools.
.[05] In another aspect, the invention is a side tool carrying and
controlling machine in the form of a modified excavator, comprising a common
excavator, which is: (a) a set of wheels or tracks on which the machine rides
supporting a support structure; (b) coupled to and supported by the support
structure, a vertical swivel such that components coupled to an upper side of
the swivel can swivel about a vertical axis relative to the support structure;
(c)
coupled to and supported by the upper side of the swivel, an operator's seat,
operator's controls, and an articulating arm having a tool on a distant end.
The modification consists of: (d) coupled to and supported by the support
structure and fixed to a lower side of the swivel, a side tool mounting
support
adapted for mounting a linear acting tool to one side of a path of the wheels
or
tracks; (e) a set of source side hydraulic couplers disposed proximate to the
mounting support and available for use with mating hydraulic couplers of a
hydraulically controlled side tool, each source side coupler coupled to a
hydraulic pump disposed above the swivel via hydraulic lines having control
valves that control flow through the lines in response to actuation at the
operator's controls.
[06] The side tool carrying and controlling machine may be designed
to fully swivel any number of rotations without limitation by ensuring that
any
hydraulic or communication circuits pass through the swivel with slip fittings
or
use wireless radio.
[07] The side tool carrying and controlling machine may further
include a hydraulic actuator coupled to the mounting support and configured
for adjusting the support or an attached linear acting tool in response to a
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control, which may be an operator control or an automated control that
responds to location relative to a string datum line or that responds to a
slope
sensor or that responds to position with respect to global positioning system
satellites.
[08] In yet another aspect, the invention is a curb and gutter
extruding machine made by modifying a common excavator, which is a set of
wheels or tracks on which the excavator rides supporting a support structure;
coupled to and supported by the support structure, a vertical swivel such that
components coupled to an upper side of the swivel can swivel about a vertical
axis relative to the support structure; coupled to and supported by the upper
side of the swivel, an operator's seat, operator's controls, and an
articulating
arm having a tool on a distant end. The modification consists of: coupled to
and supported by the support structure and fixed to a lower side of the
swivel,
a curb and gutter extruder attachment comprising a hopper and a slip form
mounted to extrude a curb or gutter to one side of a path of the wheels or
tracks.
[09] The curb and gutter extruder may further comprise a hydraulic
actuator coupled to a hydraulic valve that is automatically controlled by a
controller that adjusts height of the extruder relative to one of: location
with
respect to a datum line string, tilt with respect to gravity, or location with
respect to global positioning system satellites.
[10] The curb and gutter extruder may be mounted to an attachment
base on the excavator which may be a typical front blade of the excavator. It
may be braced by a diagonal brace to a track roller chassis of the excavator.
[11] In yet another aspect, the invention is a sidewalk paving
machine made by modifying a common excavator, the modification
comprising: coupled to and supported by the support structure and fixed to a
lower side of the swivel, a sidewalk paving attachment comprising lateral
material retaining fins, a spreading auger and a smoothing plate with a
vibrator mounted to spread and smooth formable paving material to one side
of a path of the wheels or tracks.
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[12] The sidewalk paving machine may include one or more heating
elements on the smoothing plate to heat asphalt paving material. It may
further include at least one curb follower attached to a side of a material
retaining fin to maintain proper height relative to a curb. The paving
attachment may be mounted to a blade of the excavator. It may include a
diagonal brace to a track roller chassis of the excavator.
[13] In yet another aspect, the invention is a sidewalk grading
machine with vertical blade adjustment made by modifying a common
excavator, the modification comprising: coupled to and supported by the
support structure and fixed to a lower side of the swivel, a sidewalk grading
blade attachment with a straight vertical adjusting component, the vertical
adjusting component comprising: (1) an excavator side attachment fitting,
coupled to (2) a set of vertical tracks, which are engaged by (3) a set of
vertical sliders, which are attached to the grading blade, and (4) a hydraulic
actuator that adjusts vertical sliding of the sliders on the tracks, thereby
vertically adjusting the height of the grading blade.
[14] The sidewalk grading machine may further comprise a sonar
position detector that detects position of a datum line relative to the
detector
which detected information is used to adjust the vertical adjusting component.
The datum line may be a string or a concrete curb or gutter or a laser line or
plane, a road surface, or an established grade.
[15] In yet another aspect, the invention is a sidewalk or shoulder
rolling machine, comprising (a) a common excavator comprising a set of
wheels or tracks on which the excavator rides supporting a support structure;
coupled to and supported by the support structure, a vertical swivel such that
components coupled to an upper side of the swivel can swivel about a vertical
axis relative to the support structure; coupled to and supported by the upper
side of the swivel, an operator's seat, operator's controls, and an
articulating
arm having a tool on a distant end; and (b) coupled to and supported by the
support structure and fixed to a lower side of the swivel, a side roller
attachment comprising a frame, which supports at least one axis which holds
at least one weighted cylindrical roller located to roll an approximately
horizontal surface to one side of a path of the wheels or tracks. The rolling
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machine may include a vibrator on the frame located to vibrate the at least
one roller.
[16] In yet another aspect, the invention is a silt fence installing
machine, comprising: (a) a common excavator comprising a set of wheels or
tracks on which the excavator rides supporting a support structure; coupled to
and supported by the support structure, a vertical swivel such that
components coupled to an upper side of the swivel can swivel about a vertical
axis relative to the support structure; coupled to and supported by the upper
side of the swivel, an operator's seat, operator's controls, and an
articulating
arm having a tool on a distant end; and (b) coupled to and supported by the
support structure and fixed to a lower side of the swivel, a silt fence
installing
attachment comprising a frame, which supports a fence roll support bar for
holding a roll of fencing, a plowing edge, and following the plowing edge, a
diagonal direction changing edge which redirects the fabric from vertical
movement to horizontal movement. The silt fence installing machine may
include at least one height adjustable wheel or skid that contacts an earth
surface and limits a depth of plowing of the plowing edge.
[17] In yet another aspect, the invention is a machine for installing
rolled-up fencing with attached posts, comprising: (a) an attachment mount
adapted to attach to an attachment base on a mobile machine; (b) coupled to
the attachment mount, a fence dispenser adapted to hold vertically a roll of
fence material with attached fence posts and allow the fence material with
posts to feed off the roll; (c) coupled to the attachment mount, a plowing
edge
adapted to plow a trench as the mobile machine moves forward; (d) a fence
material guide adapted to guide fence material with posts coming off the roll
into installation position as the mobile machine moves forward; and (e) a
fence post pusher adapted to push each fence post from installation position
into soil as the mobile machine moves forward. The tool may further
comprise soil pushers adapted to push soil against a bottom edge of installed
fence as the mobile machine moves forward.
[18] In yet another aspect, the invention is a tool for installing rolled-
up fencing without attached posts and digging holes for or pounding in fence
posts, comprising: (a) at least one attachment mount adapted to attach to an
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attachment base on a mobile machine; (b) coupled to at least one attachment
mount, a vertical sliding guide with a slider disposed with no obstruction on
a
vertical line from the slider to soil when the tool is mounted on a mobile
machine; and (c) coupled to at least one attachment mount, a fence dispenser
adapted to hold vertically a roll of fence material and allow the fence
material
to feed off the roll proximate the vertical line. The tool attachment system
may further comprise a powered auger mountable on the slider adapted to
drill a hole suitable for a fence post when sliding down the sliding guide. It
may also comprise a pounding face mountable on the slider adapted to pound
a fence post when sliding down the sliding guide and/or a fence stretcher.
Brief Description of the Figures
[19] The figures comprise Figures 1 to 31.
Detailed Description
The prior art
[20] Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings which shows the prior art
sidewalk grading machine, numeral 20 generally designates the sidewalk
grading blade and support structure, called the sidewalk grader 20. The
sidewalk grader 20 is used to grade sidewalk base material 22, which
sometimes includes crushed rock 24, to a predetermined specified grade and
elevation to form the base 26 of a designed sidewalk (not illustrated).
Typically, the sidewalk grader 20 accommodates grading activity for sidewalks
that extend adjacent to and along an existing road structure 30 of the type
that
incorporates a curb 32 as a border.
[21] More specifically, the sidewalk grader 20 comprises a tracking
assembly 34 adapted for fixable engagement with a vertically movable
accessory 36 extending from below the swivel in a piece of construction
excavation equipment 38. Commonly, a vertically adjustable backfill blade
extending from a common compact excavator 42 is effective 36 for this
purpose. When a compact excavator 42 is used, the bucket 43 thereof, can
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be very useful to either remove or add additional sidewalk base material 22
depending on the condition of the site reserved for the sidewalk. In addition,
as the sidewalk grader 20 advances along the road structure 30, the bucket
43 can be used to break-up native hard-pan type soil, and to remove large
rocks and the like.
[22] The construction equipment 38 is generally positioned to move
forward over an existing road structure 30 to advance the sidewalk grader 20
in a direction along the existing road structure 30, substantially parallel
thereto. This forward movement is indicated by arrow 46. Importantly, the
excavation equipment 38 so provided is disposed and operated over an
existing road structure 30 thereby minimizing the impact it has on the base
26.
Accordingly, the tracking assembly 34 is configured to extend from the
vertically movable accessory 36 in a transverse direction to the course of
advancement (indicated by an arrow 46), transversely across the road
structure 30 and the curb 32 thereof.
[23] In addition, the tracking assembly 34 further comprises a
vertically adjustable tracking means 48 disposed for engagement with the top
surface of the curb 32 portion of the road structure 30. With this
configuration,
the top surface 50 of the curb 32 provides a point of reference for operation
of
the sidewalk grader 20.
[24] A grading assembly 54 is mounted and fixed to the tracking
assembly 34 so that the grading assembly 54 extends outward, beyond the
curb 32, positioned over the location of the area reserved for the designed
sidewalk and base 26 thereof. More specifically, the grading assembly 54
comprises a frame 56, and a grading blade 58 rotatingly mounted to the frame
56 to permit adjustment of slope of the grading blade 58 according to the
specified sidewalk design grade. In order to lock or fix the rotation of the
grading blade 58 in relation to the frame 56, according to a predetermined
grade, a fixing means 60 for fixing the blade rotation is provided.
[25] As noted above, the tracking means 48 is vertically adjustable.
This feature is provided to enable the tracking means 48 to engage with the
top surface 50 of a curb 32 to provide a relative reference, or point of
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reference, for precise vertical and horizontal adjustment of the sidewalk
grader 20, to position the grading assembly 54, and for maintaining the
grading assembly in the desired position in relation to the curb as the
sidewalk
grader 20 advances along the existing road structure 30 as indicated by arrow
46.
[26] Because the top surface 50 of the curb 32 is usually rough
concrete, the preferred tracking means 48 is constructed for rolling
engagement along the top surface 50 of the curb 32, such as a wheel 94.
[27] In a simplified embodiment of the sidewalk grader 20, the
tracking assembly 34 comprises a pivot joint 64, disposed adjacent the
backfill
blade to enable the sidewalk grader 20 to fold from a first unfolded position
to
a folded position. An additional pivot joint 65 is provided to form an
additional
folding point to fold the sidewalk grader 20 for storage and transportation.
As
will be discussed more fully below, a second pivot joint 65 can provide an
additional pivot axis for up and down movement of the grading assembly 54 to
provide greater flexibility thereof.
[28] A cylinder support 82 is fabricated from solid steel for strength
and is welded directly to the support tube 76. At the top of the cylinder
support
82 is an upper eye to provide a connection point for the upper portion of a
vertical hydraulic cylinder. Similarly, at the opposing end, its ram is
connected
to a vertically movable wheel carriage having a wheel 94. With this
arrangement, the ram 88 can be operated to vertically adjust the wheel 94 to
the proper elevation to rest on the top surface 50 of curb 32 to track the
curb
32 as the sidewalk grader 20 advances along the road structure 30. Adjusting
the vertical hydraulic cylinder causes pivoting of the blade 58 rather than
vertical movement of the blade.
[29] As the sidewalk grader 20 advances along the road structure 30,
the wheel 94 should be adjustable between a first lower limit and a second
upper limit, thereby lowering the sidewalk grader 20 to enable the sidewalk
grader 20 to follow the curb 32 as it drops to an area reserved for a driveway
(not illustrated), i.e., where the curb transitions downward and fades into
the
driveway. This movement causes pivoting of the blade 58 in an arc, such that
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its distant end moves more than its nearer end, rather than vertical movement
of the blade.
[30] To compensate for the pivoting of the blade, as shown in Figure
5, a slope control system including a slope sensor 220, a pivot 180, and a
hydraulic cylinder 226 (all not shown in Figure 1) were added to the prior art
system. This slope control system compensates for any deviation in slope of
the grading blade 58 caused by bumps in the road structure 30, change in
slope of the road structure, and excavator load changes and the like.
Accordingly, the slope sensor senses any change in slope and communicates
the change to a control box which then signals an electronically controlled
valve stack to activate the hydraulic slope control link to compensate for the
change. In this way, the grading blade 58 is automatically controlled to
provide a smoothly graded base 26 for the sidewalk.
Converting the excavator to a multi-attachment side tool carrier
[31] As described below, as an improvement over the above
described prior art, the present invention encompasses a tool carrying and
controlling system wherein an operator can control a swiveling tool and either
a first attachable linear acting controllable tool or a second attachable
linear
acting controllable tool to operate in coordination with the first tool. For
use in
this system, the excavator is modified to include a side tool mounting base or
support affixed below the swivel for attaching any linear acting tool, and a
set
of hydraulic line quick couplers 494 are mounted proximate to the side
mounting base as shown in Figure 2. The couplers maybe ganged as shown
in Figure 3. The quick coupler hydraulic connections may be color-coded to
correspond to the function control buttons on a Suregrip handle 465 in the cab
with corresponding colors as shown in Figure 4a. Attachment hydraulic hoses
may also have corresponding colors.
[32] On the excavator, the two hydraulic hoses that operate the stock
backfill blade are rerouted to an electronically controlled valve stack with
proportional and/or on/off sections for supplying hydraulic pressure to any
number of attachment hydraulic circuits. Accordingly, the tool support mount
on one end of the backfill blade is now connected to, and controlled by the
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valve stack. In this way, the operator can electronically control the valve
stack
from within the cab of the excavator, above the swivel, to control all
hydraulic
circuits below the swivel that effect any attachment function. The valve stack
is located between the lower side of the swivel and the quick couplers, and
any number of hoses are routed from the valve stack to the set of hydraulic
couplers for the side attachment.
[33] Electric control wires from the cab to the valve stack may couple
the two together as in the prior art. However, this limits rotation of the
swivel
and risks damaging the wires. An improvement is to pass the control wires
through the swivel with slip rings, an electromechanical device that allows
the
transmission of power and electrical signals from a stationary to a rotating
structure, also called a rotary electrical joint, collector or electric
swivel.
[34] Alternatively, A transmitter/receiver mounted in the cab can
transmit all commands from an installed control handle mounted on the right
or left joystick as well as any other switches or any controls in the
machine's
cab. A receiver/transmitter capable of driving the hydraulic valve stack
decodes the signal and controls the valve stack. A hydraulic generator that is
installed in the return hydraulic line generates power to keep a large
capacitor
charged. This capacitor supplies power to operate the electric control valves
and supplies power to the wireless receiver/transmitter module. A battery
may be used instead of a capacitor. The battery can be charged as
mentioned above or removed each night and charged the conventional way.
[35] As another alternative, instead of manifolding one hydraulic
circuit into many with a control valve stack placed below the swivel and then
routing electric or wireless controls through or around the swivel, the
excavator swivel can be modified to add more hydraulic circuits through the
swivel, allowing the valve stack to be placed above the swivel.
[36] As a further improvement to the prior art side tool system, a
vertical slider, shown in Figure 5, may be inserted into the beam structure
between the excavator and the tool. This prevents relative vertical movement
from inducing a pivoting movement. This slider may be inserted at joint 64 in
Figure 1. It retains the hinge feature of prior joint 64 to allow folding of
the
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beam. The slider may be hydraulically actuated, as shown in Figure 5, or it
may slide by itself vertically, perhaps using the wheels on the curb or other
datum line to force vertical movement. The vertical slider constrains the tool
to move straight up and down and not swing in an arc, as in the prior art.
[37] For use with this multi-tool carrier, several linear acting
attachable side tools are described below.
Curb or curb and gutter extruder
[38] On a road and sidewalk construction job, the first linear acting
tool that is useful when mounted on the side tool carrier described above is a
curb and gutter extruder as shown in Figure 6.
[39] After a first curb is extruded and hardened, the extruder head
may be changed to extrude a second curb on the far side of the sidewalk
grade as shown in Figure 7. A trimmerhead 430 and auger 435 can be used
in conjunction with or ahead of the curb and gutter extruder.
[40] As shown in Figure 6, a sonar sensor 525 may be set up on an
arm 520 to actuate controllers that adjust height and lateral location
relative to
a string 522 set up as a datum line.
Sidewalk grader improvements
[41] The next tool to be used on the job is a sidewalk grader. As an
improvement to the prior art grader, the blade width may be made adjustable
with a sliding blade extension 304 guided by guide bars 315 and 316 and
actuated by a hydraulic cylinder 318 as shown in Figure 8.
[42] As another improvement, a detachable fin 302 shown in Figure
8 may be added to the distant end of the blade.
[43] As another improvement, a detachable trencher 382 shown in
Figure 9 may be added to the distant end of the blade to create a trench for
placing sidewalk edging stones. For use in the same pass, a windrow forming
attachment 380 may be added to pile displaced material in a windrow 384.
[44] Then a second curb may be extruded as shown in Figure 7 or
sidewalk edging stones 385 may be placed in the trench as shown as shown
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in Figure 10. Base rock 387 is then placed in the sidewalk grade, and the
base rock is graded with the sidewalk grading blade, as shown in Figure 10.
An edging backfill attachment 386 may be added to the end of the blade to
pull the windrow 384 against the edging stones 385 or extruded curb.
[45] Also, a sonar sensing and guiding system may be added to
sense the curb top or the gutter or a guide string. A laser sensor may be
added to sense a laser beam for guidance.
Paver
[46] Now the grade is ready for paving with a paver as shown in
Figures 11, 12, and 13 (cross section). The paver components are attached
to the grading blade to add an auger 342 and a smoothing plate 351 plus
smoothing plate extension 352. A vibrator 308 helps smooth the material,
whether cement or asphalt, and, when used for asphalt, heaters 335, 336 ,
and 337 keep the smoothing plate warm. If electric heaters are used, they
may be driven by a generator 301 which may be mounted on the excavator
blade 40.
Reel for auxiliary hydraulic hoses
[47] Figures 14a, 14c, 15a, 15b and 16a show a hydraulic hose reel
651 adapted to carry two hydraulic hoses in the tool mounting base (which is
preferably also an earth moving blade) for connecting any tool that needs
hydraulic power.
Horizontally extendable side blade
[48] Figures 14b, 14c, 15b, 15c, 15d, 16a, and 16b show a side
blade which extends horizontally out of an end of the tool mounting base
(which is preferably also an earth moving blade). The side blade 861 is also
shown in Figures 23, 24, 25 26a, 26b, and 27.
Multi-coupling plate
[49] Figure 3 shows a fixed hydraulic multi-coupling plate 871 and a
mating mobile hydraulic multi-coupling plate 870.
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[50] Figures 16c, 17b, and 17c show a multi-coupling plate 871
mounted on the tool mounting base (which is preferably also an earth moving
blade). This prevents hydraulic hoses from being incorrectly coupled. As
shown in these figures, it also is engaged by the action of engaging a tool
mount 872 with a tool multi-coupling plate 870 onto the mounting base. Thus,
one action both attaches the tool and couples hydraulic lines for actuating
the
tool.
[51] Figures 16c and 17c show how retainers 873 of the tool mount
may be powered with a hydraulic cylinder 874. The retainers 873 engage and
retain steel pins 875 with are part of the tool mount 872. A third pin 876 may
be added beside the multi-coupler to ensure alignment.
Tool attachment base that stays plumb
[52] The tool attachment base is preferably a central earth-moving
blade on an excavator. However, as shown in Figure 18a, the standard blade
rotates out of plumb as the blade is raised and lowered. For use of the blade
as a tool attachment base, it is preferable to replace the blade with a blade
designed to stay plumb as the blade is raised and lowered.
[53] There are two ways to achieve this objective. First, the blade
may be designed with upper and lower pivot points connected by arms to
upper and lower pivot points on the machine, with the blade pivot points
located such that the four pivot points always form a parallelogram. A
hydraulic cylinder is then coupled to apply forces to opposite corners of the
parallelogram to raise and lower the blade.
[54] Alternatively, the blade may be designed as shown in Figures
18b and 19. As shown, a first arm connecting the blade to the machine via
couplings 918 and 919 includes an intermediate coupling 901 between a first
portion of the arm 912 and a second portion of the arm 913. The first portion
is affixed with a pivot 915 to a second arm 914 which couples the blade to the
machine via couplings 920 and 921, and the first portion 912 includes a lever
arm 917 between the intermediate coupling 911 and the pivot 915 wherein the
length and angle of the lever arm is determined so as to constrain the tool
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attachment base to move up and down without significant rotation out of
plumb.
[55] In either case, the design may be described more generally as
follows: at least two arms, each having a first end and a second end, with
rotatable couplings at the first ends for attaching to the machine; rotatable
couplings on the second ends coupled to a tool attachment base; and the at
least four couplings each having a location when the attachment base is
mounted on a machine via the couplings wherein geometric relationships
between the locations of the couplings constrains the tool attachment base to
move up and down without significant rotation out of plumb.
Silt fence installer
[56] Often when a silt fence must be installed it is important not to
disturb ground on one side. The bucket of an excavator is useful for
preparing the area while the machine moves forward installing the fence 602
as shown in Figure 20. The silt fence installer attachment includes a fence
roll support bar 608, that supports a roll of fencing material 602. The
fencing
material is fed off the roll, down around a direction changing diagonal edge
(not visible). Surrounding the fencing as it goes around the direction
changing
edge are two sides 604 of a direction changing chamber. The sides join at a
plowing edge 618 that cuts into the ground as the machine moves forward. A
skid or wheels 606 may be adjusted up or down to change the depth of the
cut made by the plowing edge 618.
Silt fence with attached posts installer
[57] Figure 21 a shows another form of silt fence installer. In this
case, the silt fence is supplied on a roll 801 with stiff posts 802 attached
to the
fence material every 2 - 4 feet. The posts extend below the fence material at
the bottom by 3 - 12 inches. A plowing edge 803 digs a trench to a preferred
depth for the silt fence material.
[58] As the fencing with posts unrolls, it is inserted into the trench
with the post bottoms at the bottom of the trench and the fence material above
the bottom by 3 - 12 inches. Then a post pusher 804 pushes on the tops of
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the posts to push them into the soil at the bottom of the trench to a
preferred
depth, typically until the fence material touches the bottom of the trench.
Hydraulic cylinders adjust a height of a leading edge of the post pusher and a
height of a trailing edge of the post pusher to push the posts to the desired
depth.
[59] In a preferred embodiment, a steel U channel with extending fins
extends from a trailing edge of the plow 802 to keep the trench open until the
fence is seated. A bottom of the U channel supports and guides the post
bottoms as they descend to the bottom of the trench. Then the fins hold back
soil until the posts are pushed to a desired depth.
[60] Finally, rotatable discs 807 push the soil to close the trench
against the fence material.
[61] The same fence installer side-tool attachment can be used to
install fences that do not include buried material by setting tool height so
that
no trench is dug and using fencing where the posts extend below the material
by 8 - 24 inches,
[62] Preferred structure for the fencing material 801 is woven with
loose warp and weft parallel and perpendicular to the fence bottom and top so
that it will easily skew to parallelogram orientation to allow material coming
off
the roll to easily descend to installed height and then the material reorients
to
roughly square as it is seated.
Fence and non-attached posts installer
[63] Figure 22 shows another form of fence installer. In this case,
the fence is supplied on a roll 831 without posts. The posts are robust and
require an auger 832 mounted on a vertical sliding base 834 mounted on a
vertical slide 833 to drill holes, or require a hydraulic post pounding face
(not
shown) mounted on the sliding base 834 to pound them in. The attachment
may include a fence stretcher 835.
Horizontally extendable low profile side blade
[64] Figure 23 shows a horizontally extendable low profile side blade
attachment 861 that can clear debris under guard rails. As shown in Figure
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24, the low profile blade slides horizontally in or out using pipe guides 862.
A
similar horizontally extendable blade 864 is also shown in Figure 25. The
pipes guides 865 are shown in a side view in Figure 26b, and in a top view in
Figure 26a.
Side roller
[65] It is sometimes advantageous to be able to roll a surface to one
side of a road grade, such as in a sidewalk grade. A side roller attachment,
as shown in Figure 31, mounted on the modified excavator does the job. The
roller may include a vibrator 730.
Red zone auto controls
[66] A system with a programmable controller in the cab with a
custom graphic display can be used to create a "Red Zone" that the excavator
components cannot enter, thereby protecting the tool and people near it or
using it. Inclinometers, potentiometers, rotation sensors, and cylinder stroke
sensors are some of the means to indicate to the controller the position of
the
cab, arm, boom, and bucket, to enable the machine to stay out of the "Red
Zone". When the machine enters the "Red Zone" the pilot valve cuts the oil
supply between the excavator control handles and the excavator control
valve.
[67] In particular, the controller can be programmed to give specific
directions for each attachment using a look-up table for each attachment to
specify:
- location of "Red Zone",
- restriction on flow rate and psi of hydraulic oil to each hydraulic
actuator, down to zero when appropriate,
- allowed characteristics of each function of each hydraulic actuator of
the excavator or the tool,
- limitations on or specification of track speed and direction ( the Leica
Sonar system can read a string line and direct the controller to drive the
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machine's direction and speed automatically) as with side grader and Curb
and gutter extruder; and
- alignment of control handle buttons to correspond with attachment
functions.
[68] IFM Electronics makes a suitable inclinometer, model EC 2045,
and cylinder stroke sensors. They also offer a suitable programmable
controller, model CR 1050.
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