Safety systems for wireless control for snow plows

• US 8,978,276 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2013
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toro Company (Toro)
• Original Assignee: Toro Company (Toro)
• Inventors: Moon, James E. Jr., Christy, Jody, Blank, Gary Laird
• Primary Examiner(s): BLOUNT, ERIC
• Application Number:
  US13/778,365
• Publication Number:
  US 20140049381A1
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 340/12.5, 340/425.5, 340/538.17, 340/539.1, 340/539.23, 340/568.2, 701/36, 37234-238
• US Class Current: 37/234
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared

Abstract

A safety system for a wireless snowplow controller makes the wireless controller safer and more effective. The system includes a vehicle, a snowplow, a wireless controller and a tether. The controller wirelessly sends one or more control signs to one or more control modules coupled to the vehicle and/or the snowplow. The control signals may be used to control operation of the snowplow. The controller may be configured such that it is only able to send control signals when it is connected, via the tether, to a power supply coupled to the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for enabling operation of a snowplow by wireless operation comprising:

connecting a tether to a wireless controller and an external power supply;

confirming, using a control module coupled to the wireless controller, that the tether is connected to the wireless controller and the external power supply; and

transmitting snowplow commands, using command circuitry coupled to the wireless controller, after confirming that the tether is connected to the wireless controller and the external power supply.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein connecting a tether to a wireless controller and an external power supply comprises connecting the tether to connector circuitry coupled to the wireless controller.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising charging, via the tether, an internal power supply coupled to the wireless controller while the tether is electrically connected to the external power supply and to the connector.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein connecting the tether to the wireless controller and the external power supply completes an electrical circuit.