Apparatus for training equipment operators

• US 4,425,097 A
• Filed: 09/08/1981
• Issued: 01/10/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Woodward Associates Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Woodward Associates Incorporated
• Inventors: Owens, Lawrence L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grieb, William H.
• Application Number:
  US06/300,360
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• Field of Search: 434/219, 434/366, 434/29, 434/62, 434/66
• US Class Current: 434/219
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 25/02 of industrial processes; of machinery
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 25/025 hydraulic; pneumatic
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/04 for teaching control of land vehicles

Abstract

The training aid described herein is used to train operators of equipment, generally heavy mobile equipment, and comprises a briefcase-sized unit having a connector cable within releasably connects to the control systems and indicators on the vehicle, which have been modified in several ways. The control unit in the briefcase is capable of either simulating one or more abnormal conditions in the equipment by overriding normal readings such as on indicators, meters or alarms, or additionally actual abnormal conditions can be created in the equipment by degrading brakes, the retarder system, hydraulic steering mechanism, or actually killing the engine or the propulsive power of the unit. An instructor operates the control unit while sitting alongside a trainee, to put the trainee through a whole range of abnormal conditions, some simulated and some induced, so that in a few hours of training the trainee can experience years of problems and abnormalities in order to enable him to meet these problems better when they do occur in real life.

Claims

1. An equipment operator training aid for use with a piece of equipment having operation systems and function indicators, said training aid comprising:

(a) a control unit which is portable and releasible and can be carried away from a particular piece of equipment on which it is being used after use;

(b) adapter means adapting at least one ofr said indicators to be overridden and controlled by an external input;

(c) a converter cable having a separable junction between said control unit and said adapter means, whereby an instructor operating said control unit can cause an indicator so adapted to indicate an abnormal condition to check trainee cue recognition and response; and

,

(d) including a terminal plug for use with the portion of said junction connected to said adaptor means whereby circuits can be opened in the electrical circuit of said equipment to divert circuit control to said control box, and appropriate connections can be made by said plug when said control box is not in use to permit normal operation of said equipment when not being used in training.

2. An equipment operator training aid for use with a piece of equipment having operating systems and function indicators, said training aid comprising:

(a) a control aid;

(b) adapter means adapting a plurality of said indicators to be overridden and controlled by an external input;

(c) means for operatively connecting said control unit and said adapter means, whereby an instructor operating said control unit can cause an indicator so adapted to indicate an abnormal condition to check trainee cue recognition and response;

(d) said plurality of indicators are provided with plural respective adapter and connecting means and including respective plural individual controls in said control unit whereby said instructor can selectably alter one or more of said indicators concurrently or sequentially to check a variety of trainee recognition skills and responses; and

(e) said indicators including equipment gauges and further including matching gauges in said control unti wired through said connector means to said equipment gauges such that readings on a respective equipment gauge and matching gauge are the same, permitting an instructor to determine the equipment gauge reading without reference to the equipment instrument panel.

3. An equipment operator training aid for use with a piece of equipment having operating systems and function indicators, said training aid comprising:

(a) a control unit including means to temporarily degrade at least one of said operating systems;

(b) adapter means adapting at least one of said indicators to be overridden and controlled by an external input;

(c) means for operatively connecting said control unit and said adapter means, whereby an instructor operating said control unit can cause an indicator so adapted to indicate an abnormal condition to check trainee cue recognition and response; and

(d) said operating systems include at least one fluid system depending on fluid flow to function properly, said at least one fluid system is adapted with a fluid valve capable of selectably interfering with said fluid flow, and said means to temporarily degrade actuates said valve.

4. An equipment operator training aid for use with a piece of equipment having operating systems wherein an instructor can interface in the operation of said systems to check trainee cue recognition and response, said training aid comprising:

(a) a control unit;

(b) adapter means adapting at least one of said systems to be temporarily modified by an external input;

(c) connector means operatively connecting said control unit to said adapter means, whereby an instructor operating said control unit can temporarily modify said at least one system to check trainee recognition of and response to said modified condition; and

,

(d) said at least one system comprising a hydraulically operated steering system dependent on a flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid through a supply line to operate, and said adapter means comprises a restricted shunt line paralleling a portion of said supply line and a solenoid operated hydraulic valve operated by a control switch in said control unit to divert hydraulic fluid through said shunt line to degrade steering.

5. An equipment operator training aid for use with a piece of equipment having operating systems wherein an instructor can interface in the operation of said systems to check trainee cue recognition and response, said training aid comprising:

(a) a control unit;

(b) adapter means adapting at least one of said systems to be temporarily modified by an external input;

(c) connector means operatively connecting said control unit to said adapter means, whereby an instructor operating said control unit can temporarily modify said at least one system to check trainee recognition of and response to said modified condition; and

,

(d) said at least one system comprising a pneumatic brake system, and said adapter comprising a restriction valve operative to reduce pneumatic pressure in the brake actuator lines to degrade braking.

6. An equipment operator training aid for use with a piece of equipment having operating systems wherein an instructor can interface in the operation of said systems to check trainee cue recognition and response, said training aid comprising

(a) a control unit;

(b) adapter means adapting at least one of said systems to being temporarily modified by an external input;

(c) connector means operatively connecting said control unit to said adapter means, whereby an instructor operating said control unit can temporarily modify said at least one system to check trainee recognition of and response to said modified condition; and

(d) said at least one system comprising a dynamic retarder system utilizing an electric grid resistive heat dissipative system having a solenoid-actuated relay actuating a retarder control circuit and said adapter comprises a resister selectably insertable in said retarder control circuit to reduce the current through the said grid and therefore the energy dissipation thereof to degrade retarder efficiency.

7. An equipment operator training aid for use with a piece of equipment having operating systems wherein an instructor can interface in the operation of said systems to check trainee cue recognition and response, said training aid comprising:

(a) a control unit;

(b) adapter means adapting at least one of said systems to be temporarily modified by an external input;

(c) connector means operatively connecting said control unit to said adapter means, whereby an instructor operating said control unit can temporarily modify said at least one system to check trainee recognition of and response to said modified condition; and

,

(d) said at least one system comprising a pneumatically actuated hydraulic retarder system and said adapter comprising a valve selectably positionable to interfere with the operation of said pneumatic system to degrade said retarder system.

8. An equipment operator training aid for use with a piece of equipment having operating systems wherein an instructor can interface in the operation of said systems to check trainee cue recognition and response, said training aid comprising:

(a) a control unit;

(b) adapter means adapting at least one of said systems to being temporarily modified by an external input;

(c) connector means operatively connecting said control unit to said adapter means, whereby an instructor operating said control unit can temporarily modify said at least one system to check trainee recognition of and response to said modified condition; and

(d) said piece of equipment utilizing a diesel engine, a generator driven by said diesel engine, and a plurality of electric motors providing propulsion for said piece of equipment driven by said generator, and said at least one system comprises the electric control circuitry between said generator and motors, and said adapter comprises relays activatable to preclude operation of said electric motors and therefore kill propulsion of said unit.

9. A method of training an equipment operator trainee while operating equipment having a hydraulic steering system by utilyzing a control unit operatively connected to and capable of interfering with said hydraulic steering system, including the following steps:

(a) with the trainee in the operating position in the equipment, putting an instructor with the control unit in the equipment;

(b) initiating and following through with equipment operation over an interval by the trainee; and

,

(c) during said interval, degrading the hydraulic steering system by switching a valve in the hydraulic lines of said hydraulic steering system to divert system hydraulic fluid through a restricted passageway to reduce flow of hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic steering system, said valve being operated from said control unit by the instructor, whereby trainee responses can be judged and the action taken by the trainee responsive to said interference can be observed and corrected with appropriate instruction by the instructor if necessary.

10. A method of training an equipment operator trainee while operating equipment having a pneumatic brake system by utilizing a control unit operatively connected to and capable of interfering with said pneumatic brake system, including the following steps:

(a) with the trainee in the operating position in the equipment, putting an instructor with the control unit in the equipment;

(b) initiating and following through with equipment operation over an interval by the trainee; and

,

(c) during said interval, degrading the pneumatic brake system by bleeding pneumatic pressure from the pneumatic lines from a control the control unit operated by the instructor whereby trainee responses can be judged and the action taken by the trainee responsive to said interference can be observed and corrected with appropriate instruction by the instructor if necessary.