System and Method for Training an Excavator Operator

• US 20080254415A1
• Filed: 09/16/2005
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Barry J. Keith
• Original Assignee: Barry J. Keith
• Inventors: Barry, J. Keith
• Application Number:
  US12/066,923
• Publication Number:
  US 20080254415A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/29
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2008 Control mechanisms in the form of the machine in the reduced scale model
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 25/025 hydraulic; pneumatic

Abstract

A training system and method of use thereof permit training of an operator to use ground excavating implements. A building structure is provided locating a plurality of operator seats therein at respective operator stations. A boom structure is mounted to the foundation externally of the building in association with each of the operator stations to permit an operator in training in one of the operator seats to control actual movement of a boom structure in visual proximity therewith using joystick controlled excavator hydraulics at the operator seat. A backhoe arm is used as a scaled down approximation of a track hoe with decreased operating pressure to represent a realistic responsiveness of the hydraulic controls.

Claims

1. A training system for training an operator to use a ground excavating implement, the system comprising:

a boom structure including a base mount, a boom element pivotally supported on the base mount, a stick element pivotally supported on the boom element and a bucket element pivotally supported on the stick element;

a foundation for supporting the base mount of the boom structure in fixed relation to the ground;

an operator seat for being supported in visual proximity to the boom structure; and

hydraulic controls supported at the operator seat for controlling pivotal movement of the elements of the boom structure.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the operator seat is fixed in relation to the foundation.

3. The system according to claim 1 wherein the operator seat is centered in relation to the base mount of a boom structure.

4. The system according to claim 1 wherein the boom element is pivotally supported in relation to the operator seat for movement approximately 180°

about a vertical axis.

5. The system according to claim 1 wherein the boom structure is supported outdoors for engagement of the ground with the bucket.

6. The system according to claim 1 wherein the operator seat is supported within an interior of a building structure.

7. The system according to claim 6 wherein the boom structure is supported outdoors and the boom structure and operator seat are separated by a window permitting an operator to visually locate the boom structure therethrough.

8. The system according to claim 1 wherein there is provided pilings in the ground spaced outwardly from the foundation in the direction which the boom structure extends.

9. The system according to claim 1 wherein the foundation includes a wall mount for selective attachment of a commercially available boom structure thereon.

10. The system according to claim 1 wherein the hydraulic controls comprise conventional excavator joystick controls supported on respective arms of the operator seat.

11. The system according to claim 10 wherein the boom structure comprises a backhoe arm in which the hydraulic controls are operated at an operating pressure between 2500 and 5000 psi.

12. The system according to claim 1 wherein the boom structure comprises one of a plurality of boom structures of similar configuration, each having an operator seat associated therewith housed in a common building.

13. The system according to claim 12 wherein the boom structures are supported in pairs at opposing ends of a respective structural beam of the building.

14. The system according to claim 12 wherein an individual hydraulic pump is provided for each of the boom structures.

15. The system according to claim 12 wherein each boom structure include an individual shutoff control in the form of a valve which freezes the hydraulic controls.

16. The system according to claim 12 wherein there is provided a master shutoff control for simultaneously shutting off hydraulic controls of all of the boom structures of the building by freezing the hydraulic controls thereof.

17. The system according to claim 12 wherein a room divider is supported between each adjacent pair of operator seats.

18. A method for training an operator to use a ground excavating implement, the method comprising:

providing a boom structure including a base mount, a boom element pivotally supported on the base mount, a stick element pivotally supported on the boom element and a bucket element pivotally supported on the stick element;

supporting the base mount of the boom structure in fixed relation to the ground;

supporting an operator seat in visual proximity to the boom structure;

locating hydraulic controls at the operator seat which control pivotal movement of the elements of the boom structure; and

seating the operator at the operator seat for using the hydraulic controls to control the pivotal movement of the elements of the boom structure.

19. The method according to claim 18 including fixing the operator seat in relation to the foundation.

20. The method according to claim 18 including supporting the operator seat centered in relation to the base mount of a boom structure.

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