Brush cutter emergency stop system

• US 20030074873A1
• Filed: 09/19/2002
• Published: 04/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cross Keys Manufacturing Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cross Keys Manufacturing Incorporated
• Inventors: Freiberg, Scott E., Roy, Roger E.
• Granted Patent: US 6,832,466 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 56/10.4
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 75/18 Safety devices for parts of the machines

Abstract

A safety apparatus for a tool driven by a motor at high speeds is provided, more particularly, an apparatus including a housing moveable over the ground surface for mounting the tool, and a ground engaging member disposed to follow the ground surface as the housing moves over same, the ground engaging member being moveable relative to the housing. The apparatus further includes a sensor for measuring the relative distance between the housing and ground engaging member, and means for selectively stopping the motor upon the distance between the ground engaging member and the housing exceeding a predetermined distance.

Claims

1. Safety apparatus for a tool driven by a motor at a high speed, comprising:

a housing for mounting the tool, said housing being movable over a ground surface; and

a ground engaging member disposed to follow the ground surface as said housing moves over the ground surface, said ground engaging member being moveable relative to said housing; and

a sensor for measuring a distance said ground engaging member moves relative to said housing; and

means for stopping the motor when said ground engaging member moves a predetermined distance relative to said housing.

2. Safety apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said ground engaging member has a front portion pivotally connected to said housing.

3. Safety apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said ground engaging member has a rear portion having a slot for moving said ground engaging member relative to said housing.

4. Safety apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said means for stopping the motor is a shut-off valve.

5. Safety apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said sensor has a shaft extending from said shut-off valve rotatable to activate said shut-off valve when said ground engaging member moves a predetermined distance relative to said housing.

6. Safety apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said sensor has a yoke connected to an end of said shaft, said yoke being biased in an operating orientation and being rotatable to initiate said means for stopping the motor.

7. Safety apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said sensor is able to receive a pin within said yoke when said ground engaging member moves a predetermined distance relative to said housing for rotating said yoke.

8. Safety apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said pin is mounted to said ground engaging member.

9. Safety apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said ground engaging member has a bottom side having a length greater than a length of said housing.

10. Safety apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a portion of said bottom side is linear for engaging the ground.

11. A brush cutter apparatus comprising:

a moveable side panel for preventing debris from being projected from a side of a brush cutter housing,

a biasing assembly having a first end connected to said housing and a second end pivotally connected to said moveable side panel for biasing said moveable side panel toward a surface over which said brush cutter apparatus travels,

said moveable side panel being able to communicate with said housing for shutting off said brush cutter when said housing is lifted a predetermined distance from the surface over which said brush cutter apparatus travels.

12. The safety apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said first end of said biasing assembly has a piston pivotally attached to a connection arm.

13. The safety apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said housing has a shut-off valve actuatable by said side panel.

14. The safety apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said side panel has a pin for actuating said shut-off valve.

15. The safety apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said shut-off valve is connected to a motor, for shutting off said motor.

16. The safety apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said shut-off valve has a rotatable shaft rotatable to activate said shut-off valve to shut off said motor.

17. The safety apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said shaft has a yoke for receiving said pin.

18. The safety apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said shut-off valve has a limiting switch that rotates with said shaft.

19. The safety apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said shut-off valve has a timer for allowing said side panel to return to a non-activating orientation.

20. The safety apparatus according to claim 19 wherein said connecting arm of said biasing mechanism has an elbow pivotally secured to said housing.

21. The safety apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said pin is adjustable on said side panel.

22. The safety apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said side panel has a front portion pivotally secured to said housing.

23. The safety apparatus according to claim 22 wherein said side panel has a rear portion having a slot for allowing said side panel to pivot about a guide with respect to said housing.

24. The safety apparatus according to claim 23 wherein said motor uses hydraulics.

25. A brush cutter attachment comprising:

a housing for housing a rotatable cutting blade, said housing having a shut-off valve attached thereon; and

a side panel, moveably connected to said housing wherein said side panel has a limiting pin for engaging said shut-off valve when said side panel moves a predetermined distance with respect to said housing; and

a biasing assembly secured to said housing for biasing said side panel with respect to said housing, said biasing assembly being pivotally connected to a first end of a connecting arm, said connecting arm having a second end pivotally connected to said side panel.