MECHANISM FOR REMOTELY CONTROLLING EQUIPMENT

• US 20160129552A1
• Filed: 01/15/2016
• Published: 05/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Terydon, Inc. (Mh Sub I LLC)
• Original Assignee: Terydon, Inc. (Mh Sub I LLC)
• Inventors: Gromes, Terry D. Sr., Gromes, Terry D. Jr., Shockey, Jon M. Jr., Jackson, William C.
• Application Number:
  US14/997,035
• Publication Number:
  US 20160129552A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B24C 7/0015 with control of feed parameters, e.g. feed rate of abrasive material or carrier
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 5/00 Arrangements for operating and controlling machines or devices for cutting, cutting-out, stamping-out, punching, perforating, or severing by means other than cutting
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/22 Safety devices specially adapted for cutting machines safety devices in general F16P
• CPC Class Codes: B26F 3/004 by means of a fluid jet methods for use of abrasive blasting for cutting B24C1/045; guns for abrasive fluid jets B24C5/02; perforating by non-mechanical means, e.g. by fluid jet B26F1/26
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/406 characterised by monitoring or safety G05B19/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/39447 Dead man switch
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45036 Waterjet cutting
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 9/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0617 specially adapted for fluid materials
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0676 by action on flow sources G05D7/0688, G05D7/0694 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and method for wirelessly controlling a water jet machine by way of a wireless connection between the water jet machine and a computing device. The computing device provides an interface for controlling the operating device either directly to the water jet machine or via a control unit which is removably connected to the water jet machine. The water jet machine or control unit communicates wirelessly with the computing device, allowing a user to move about freely while still controlling the water jet machine. The control unit may include at least one valve for use in controlling the operating device.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a computing device, wherein the computing device includes a first wireless module;

a machine that is pneumatically or hydraulically operable;

a second wireless module, wherein the second wireless module is connected to the machine;

a wireless communications link between the computing device and the machine, wherein the wireless communication link is formed by the first wireless module and the second wireless module;

a signal, wherein the signal is generated by the computing device and communicated to the machine by way of the wireless communications link; and

wherein the machine is actuated the signal is received.

2. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the machine includes a pump and the pump is actuated when the machine receives the signal.

3. The system as defined in claim 2, wherein the machine is a fluid jet machine and the pump is operatively engaged with a nozzle;

and wherein actuation of the pump causes fluid to flow under pressure from the nozzle.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a control unit, wherein the second wireless module is disposed in the control unit; and

a connector, wherein the control unit is connected to the machine by the connector.

5. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a control unit, wherein the second wireless module is disposed in the control unit;

a connector, wherein the control unit is connected to the machine by the connector;

a valve disposed in the control unit and operable in an open position and a closed position;

wherein the control unit is in communication with the machine when the valve is in the open position; and

wherein the pump is actuated when the control unit is in communication with the machine.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the signal is communicated to the control unit by way of the wireless communication link, and wherein the valve moves to the open position when the control unit receives the signal.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communications link is formed using Bluetooth wireless communications protocol.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a touchscreen interface on the computing device.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a display on the computing device;

a set of system metrics, wherein the set of system metrics is communicated from the machine to the computing device by way of the wireless communications link; and

an output presented on the display, wherein the output graphically represents the set of system metrics.

10. A method comprising the steps of:

forming a wireless communication link between a portable computing device and a machine that is hydraulically or pneumatically operable;

sending a first signal from the computing device to the machine via the wireless communication link; and

actuating the machine upon receiving the first signal.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

connecting a first wireless module to a second wireless module to form the wireless communication link therebetween, wherein the first wireless module is disposed in the computing device, and wherein the second wireless module is connected to the machine.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

forming the wireless communication link with a Bluetooth communication protocol.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

sending a second signal from the machine to the computing device via the wireless communications link; and

updating a display on the computing device upon receiving the second signal.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

actuating an element on the computing device prior to the step of sending the first signal;

sending a termination signal from the computing device to the machine when the element is no longer actuated; and

halting operation of the machine when the machine receives the termination signal.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the machine is a fluid jet machine and includes a pump and nozzle;

and wherein the step of actuating the machine includes actuating the pump and causing a pressurized jet of fluid to flow from the nozzle.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the machine includes wheels and the step of actuating the machine includes actuating the wheels and physically moving the machine over a surface.

17. A method comprising the steps of:

forming a wireless communication link between a portable computing device and a control unit;

forming a wired communication link between the control unit and a machine;

sending a first signal from the computing device to the control unit via the wireless communication link;

translating the first signal into a second signal;

sending the second signal from the control unit to the machine via the wired communications link; and

actuating an operation of the machine upon receiving the second signal.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of actuating an operation of the machine includes actuating a hydraulic system or a pneumatic system of the machine.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

connecting a first wireless module to a second wireless module to form the wireless communication link therebetween, wherein the first wireless module is disposed in the computing device, and wherein the second wireless module is disposed in the control unit.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the steps of:

sending a third signal from the machine to the control unit via the wired communications link;

translating the third signal to a fourth signal;

sending the fourth signal from the control unit to the computing device via the wireless communications link; and

updating a display on the computing device upon receiving the fourth signal.