Remotely controlled backhoe

• US 8,272,467 B1
• Filed: 03/04/2011
• Issued: 09/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael A. Staab
• Original Assignee: Michael A. Staab
• Inventors: Staab, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walters, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRIGGS, JAMES J
• Application Number:
  US13/040,483
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 180/167, 180/65.1, 180/89.1, 180/271, 701/1, 701/2, 701/50, 172/2, 373/48, 374/35, 374/43, 373/79, 212/169
• US Class Current: 180/167
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/964 of several tools mounted on one machine E02F3/962 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2004 Control mechanisms, e.g. control levers control levers per se G05G
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/205 Remotely operated machines, e.g. unmanned vehicles E02F3/8866 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/26 Indicating devices E02F5/145 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link

Abstract

A remotely controlled backhoe is provided to permit operation of a backhoe and visual monitoring of a volatile or dangerous excavation site from a safe distance. The backhoe has an articulated rear boom arm and a rear bucket. Cameras are coupled to the backhoe proximate a left rear corner and a right rear corner of the cabin roof. A rear boom arm control is positioned on a remote control unit. The rear boom arm control is operationally coupled to the rear boom arm for maneuvering the rear boom arm. A rear bucket control is also positioned on the remote control unit and operationally coupled to the rear bucket for maneuvering the rear bucket. A monitor is coupled to the remote control unit and operationally coupled to the left rear camera and the right rear camera for displaying images from the left rear camera and the right rear camera.

Claims

1. A remotely controlled backhoe assembly comprising:

a backhoe having an articulated rear boom arm, a rear bucket coupled to said rear boom arm, and a cabin having a roof, a front arm and a front bucket;

a left rear camera coupled to said backhoe proximate a left rear corner of said roof;

a right rear camera coupled to said backhoe proximate a right rear corner of said roof;

a remote control unit;

a rear boom arm control positioned on said remote control unit, said rear boom arm control being operationally coupled to said rear boom arm for maneuvering said rear boom arm;

a rear bucket control positioned on said remote control unit, said rear bucket control being operationally coupled to said rear bucket for maneuvering said rear bucket;

a front bucket control positioned on said remote control unit, said front bucket control being operationally coupled to said front bucket for maneuvering said front bucket to curl and dump; and

a monitor coupled to said remote control unit, said monitor being operationally coupled to said left rear camera and said right rear camera for displaying images from said left rear camera and said right rear camera.

2. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a left front camera coupled to said backhoe, said left front camera being operationally coupled to said monitor for displaying images from said left front camera; and

a right front camera coupled to said backhoe, said right front camera being operationally coupled to said monitor for displaying images from said right front camera.

3. The assembly of claim 2, further comprising:

a left front camera control positioned on said remote control unit, said left front camera control being operationally coupled to said left front camera for operating and adjusting said left front camera; and

a right front camera control positioned on said remote control unit, said right front camera control being operationally coupled to said right front camera for adjusting said right front camera.

4. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a left rear camera control positioned on said remote control unit, said left rear camera control being operationally coupled to said left rear camera for operating and adjusting said left rear camera; and

a right rear camera control positioned on said remote control unit, said right rear camera control being operationally coupled to said right rear camera for adjusting said right rear camera.

5. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a pair of neck slots in said remote control unit, said neck slots being positioned proximate a top of said remote control unit; and

a neck strap having opposite ends, each end of said neck strap being coupled to an associated one of said neck slots.

6. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a waist slot in said remote control unit, said waist slot being positioned proximate a bottom of said remote control unit; and

a waist strap coupled to said waist slot of said remote control unit.

7. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

said backhoe having a drive system; and

a drive control positioned on said remote control unit, said drive control being operationally coupled to said drive system of said backhoe for moving said backhoe.

8. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

said backhoe having a steering system; and

a steering control positioned on said remote control unit, said steering control being operationally coupled to said steering system of said backhoe for steering movement of said backhoe.

9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said monitor is pivotally coupled to said remote control unit.

10. The assembly of claim 1, further including a plurality of protective housings, each protective housing being coupled to one of said left front camera and said right front camera.

11. The assembly of claim 4, further including a plurality of protective housings, each protective housing being coupled to an associated one of said left front camera, said right front camera, said left rear camera, and said right rear camera.

12. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

said left front camera being pivotally adjustable relative to said backhoe to monitor an area adjacent to said backhoe between a front of said backhoe and a left side of said backhoe; and

said right front camera being pivotally adjustable relative to said backhoe to monitor an area adjacent to said backhoe between a front of said backhoe and a right side of said backhoe.

13. The assembly of claim 12, further including said left front camera and said right front camera each including a zoom lens adjustable to provide a close up view within said areas adjacent to said backhoe.

14. The assembly of claim 12, further comprising:

said left rear camera being pivotally adjustable relative to said backhoe to monitor an area adjacent to said backhoe between a rear of said backhoe and a left side of said backhoe; and

said right rear camera being pivotally adjustable relative to said backhoe to monitor an area adjacent to said backhoe between a rear of said backhoe and a right side of said backhoe.

15. The assembly of claim 14, further including said left rear camera and said right rear camera each including a zoom lens adjustable to provide a close up view within said areas adjacent to said backhoe.

16. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

said backhoe having a left stabilizer arm and a right stabilizer arm;

a right stabilizer control positioned on said remote control unit, said right stabilizer control being operationally coupled to said right stabilizer arm for adjusting said right stabilizer arm; and

a left stabilizer control positioned on said remote control unit, said left stabilizer control being operationally coupled to said left stabilizer arm for adjusting said left stabilizer arm.

17. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

said backhoe having an engine; and

an engine control positioned on said remote control unit, said engine control being operationally coupled to said engine for adjusting rpms of said engine during use of said backhoe.

18. The assembly of claim 7, further comprising:

said drive system including a plurality of gears; and

a gearshift control positioned on said remote control unit, said gearshift control being operationally coupled to said gears of said drive system.

19. A remotely controlled backhoe assembly comprising:

a backhoe having an front arm, a front bucket coupled to said front arm, an engine, a steering system, a drive system, left stabilizer arm, a right stabilizer arm, a rear articulated boom arm, a rear bucket coupled to said rear boom arm, and a cabin having a roof, said drive system including a plurality of gears;

a left front camera coupled to said backhoe proximate a left front corner of said roof, said left front camera being pivotally adjustable relative to said backhoe to monitor an area adjacent to said backhoe between a front of said backhoe and a left side of said backhoe;

a right front camera coupled to said backhoe proximate a right front corner of said roof, said right front camera being pivotally adjustable relative to said backhoe to monitor an area adjacent to said backhoe between a front of said backhoe and a right side of said backhoe, said left front camera and said right front camera each including a zoom lens adjustable to provide a close up view within said areas adjacent to said backhoe;

a left rear camera coupled to said backhoe proximate a left rear corner of said roof, said left rear camera being operationally coupled to said monitor for displaying images from said left rear camera, said left rear camera being pivotally adjustable relative to said backhoe to monitor an area adjacent to said backhoe between a rear of said backhoe and a left side of said backhoe;

a right rear camera coupled to said backhoe proximate a right rear corner of said roof, said right rear camera being operationally coupled to said monitor for displaying images from said right rear camera, said right rear camera being pivotally adjustable relative to said backhoe to monitor an area adjacent to said backhoe between a rear of said backhoe and a right side of said backhoe, said left rear camera and said right rear camera each including a zoom lens adjustable to provide a close up view within said areas adjacent to said backhoe;

a remote control unit;

a front arm control positioned on said remote control unit, said front arm control being operationally coupled to said front arm for maneuvering said front arm;

a front bucket control positioned on said remote control unit, said front bucket control being operationally coupled to said front bucket for maneuvering said front bucket;

a rear boom arm control positioned on said remote control unit, said rear boom arm control being operationally coupled to said rear boom arm for maneuvering said rear boom arm;

a rear bucket control positioned on said remote control unit, said rear bucket control being operationally coupled to said rear bucket for maneuvering said rear bucket;

a monitor pivotally coupled to said remote control unit, said monitor being operationally coupled to said left front camera and said right front camera for displaying images from said left front camera and said right front camera;

a left front camera control positioned on said remote control unit, said left front camera control being operationally coupled to said left front camera for operating and adjusting said left front camera;

a right front camera control positioned on said remote control unit, said right front camera control being operationally coupled to said right front camera for adjusting said right front camera;

a left rear camera control positioned on said remote control unit, said left rear camera control being operationally coupled to said left rear camera for operating and adjusting said left rear camera;

a right rear camera control positioned on said remote control unit, said right rear camera control being operationally coupled to said right rear camera for adjusting said right rear camera;

a pair of neck slots in said remote control unit, said neck slots being positioned proximate a top of said remote control unit;

a neck strap having opposite ends, each end of said neck strap being coupled to an associated one of said neck slots;

a waist slot in said remote control unit, said waist slot being positioned proximate a bottom of said remote control unit;

a waist strap coupled to said waist slot of said remote control unit;

a drive control positioned on said remote control unit, said drive control being operationally coupled to said drive system of said backhoe for moving said backhoe;

a steering control positioned on said remote control unit, said steering control being operationally coupled to said steering system of said backhoe for steering movement of said backhoe;

a plurality of protective housings, each protective housing being coupled to an associated one of said left front camera, said right front camera, said left rear camera, and said right rear camera;

a right stabilizer control positioned on said remote control unit, said right stabilizer control being operationally coupled to said right stabilizer arm for adjusting said right stabilizer arm;

a left stabilizer control positioned on said remote control unit, said left stabilizer control being operationally coupled to said left stabilizer arm for adjusting said left stabilizer arm;

an engine control positioned on said remote control unit, said engine control being operationally coupled to said engine for adjusting rpms of said engine during use of said backhoe; and

a gearshift control positioned on said remote control unit, said gearshift control being operationally coupled to said gears of said drive system.