Tool apparatus with control to move tool when object approached
First Claim
1. Retracted working tool apparatus mounted on a main frame adapted for mounting on a movaable vehicle and for working the area around and between objects in a row as the vehicle moves parallel to the row comprising:
- a rigid outrigger arm positioned in spaced-apart relation to said main frame;
a pivotal control arm,, one end of which is pivotally connected to said main frame such that said control arm pivots about a first pivot axis in relation to said main frame, and the other end of which is pivotally connected to said outrigger arm such that said control arm and said outrigger arm are pivotal in relation to each other about a second pivot axis in parallel spaced-apart relation to said first pivot axis;
leveler means connected to said outrigger arm for controlling and maintaining the attitude of said outrigger arm in relation to the ground, said leverler means being comprised of an elongated leveler arm pivotally attached at one end to the main frame and extending outwardly a spaced distance above said outrigger arm, and a suspension link extending generally downwardly from the distal end of said leveler arm and attached to said outrigger arm a spaced distance outwardly from said second pivot axis;
work tool means mounted on said outrigger arm and adapted for working the area adjacent the distal end of said outrigger arm;
first drive means connected to said control arm for pivoting said control arm about said first pivot axis in relation to said main frame;
second drive means connected to said leveler arm for pivoting said outrigger arm about said second pivot axis in relation to said control arm;
retraction control means associated with said outrigger arm and with said first drive means for activating said first drive means when said work tool means approaches an object, thereby to retract said outrigger arm in relation to said main frame a sufficient distance for said work tool means to clear said object.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The disclosure in this patent application includes a retractable in-row tiller device that has a parallelogram carriage structure for supporting the outrigger arm and tiller and for retracting and extending the outrigger arm and tiller in relation to the tractor on which it is mounted. It also includes an electro-hydraulic control system with a single wand plant feeler device that provides very accurate and responsive automatic control to guide the tiller around plants and which can be overridden and operated manually with ease and accurateness. It also includes an automatic positive depth control feature operated electro-hydraulically by a gauge wheel.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. Retracted working tool apparatus mounted on a main frame adapted for mounting on a movaable vehicle and for working the area around and between objects in a row as the vehicle moves parallel to the row comprising:
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a rigid outrigger arm positioned in spaced-apart relation to said main frame; a pivotal control arm,, one end of which is pivotally connected to said main frame such that said control arm pivots about a first pivot axis in relation to said main frame, and the other end of which is pivotally connected to said outrigger arm such that said control arm and said outrigger arm are pivotal in relation to each other about a second pivot axis in parallel spaced-apart relation to said first pivot axis; leveler means connected to said outrigger arm for controlling and maintaining the attitude of said outrigger arm in relation to the ground, said leverler means being comprised of an elongated leveler arm pivotally attached at one end to the main frame and extending outwardly a spaced distance above said outrigger arm, and a suspension link extending generally downwardly from the distal end of said leveler arm and attached to said outrigger arm a spaced distance outwardly from said second pivot axis; work tool means mounted on said outrigger arm and adapted for working the area adjacent the distal end of said outrigger arm; first drive means connected to said control arm for pivoting said control arm about said first pivot axis in relation to said main frame; second drive means connected to said leveler arm for pivoting said outrigger arm about said second pivot axis in relation to said control arm; retraction control means associated with said outrigger arm and with said first drive means for activating said first drive means when said work tool means approaches an object, thereby to retract said outrigger arm in relation to said main frame a sufficient distance for said work tool means to clear said object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. In tool apparatus having a tool, a main frame and reversible hydraulic powered motion producing means for moving the tool in one direction with respect of said main frame and in the opposite direction in response to the proximity of an object to the tool, wherein the improvement comprises:
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solenoid valve means having a first position adapted to direct a flow of hydraulic fluid to drive said motion producing means in one direction, a second position adapted to direct a flow of hydraulic fluid to drive said motion producing means in the opposite direction, and a third position for not directing hydraulic fluid to drive said motion producing means in any direction; sensing means for sensing the proximity of the object to the tool; automatic switch means connected to said sensing means for directing an electric current to said solenoid valve means to move said tool in said one direction to a given distance away from said main frame whenever said tool is not within a pre-selected spacial proximity to an object, to move said tool in said opposite direction to a position less than said given distance from said main frame whenever said tool is within said pre-selected proximity to the object and approaching closer to said object, and to prevent movement in either direction whenever said tool is within said pre-selected proximity to the object and not approaching closer to the object even when said tool is less then said given distance from said main frame. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification