Patcher System And Associated Methods

• US 20090112411A1
• Filed: 01/05/2009
• Published: 04/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert A. Gilchrist
• Original Assignee: Robert A. Gilchrist
• Inventors: Gilchrist, Robert A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,729,836 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 23/06 Devices or arrangements for working the finished surface working freshly laid paving E01C19/42 - E01C19/44, E01C23/02; mining picks E21C35/18; Devices for repairing or reconditioning the surface of damaged paving; Recycling in place or on the road

Abstract

A patcher system for patching a paved surface includes a remotely controllable arm attachable to a vehicle and a patching material dispensing subsystem disposed on the remotely controllable arm. The patcher system may be part of a mobile patcher system which additionally includes a vehicle, a patching material distribution subsystem disposed on the vehicle, and a control subsystem. A software product may include instructions that, when executed by a computer, perform steps for controlling the patcher system.

Claims

1. A software product comprising instructions, stored on computer-readable media, wherein the instructions, when executed by a computer, perform steps for controlling a patcher system for patching a paved surface, comprising:

instructions for determining a current position of a joystick;

instructions for determining if a trigger of a user control subsystem is activated;

instructions for determining if a remotely controllable arm has reached at least one maximum position;

instructions for determining if further movement of the remotely controllable arm would result in the remotely controllable arm exceeding at least one maximum position; and

instructions for routing signals corresponding to the current position of the joystick to actuators associated with the remotely controllable arm.

2. The software product of claim 1 further comprising instructions for controlling an aggregate distribution subsystem, an emulsion distribution subsystem, and at least one rotational energy source.

3. The software product of claim 1 further comprising instructions for controlling an informational display.