Abstract:
A method and apparatus for enhancing safety in operating a brush chipper. A remote-enabled warning light flashes any time the brush chipper may be operated via a wireless remote control module. Workers on the ground are thereby notified the functions of the brush chipper may be changed in a manner not evident from their vantage point. Additionally, for remote operation to be enabled, two switches must both be in a remote-enable position and a feed control bar must be in neutral. Any change in these aspects will remove control from the remote module and make the machine controllable only at the controls on the brush chipper.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    None. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
       [0003]    Not applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0005]    The present invention relates to brush chippers. More particularly, the present invention relates to safety features for a remote controlled brush chipper. 
         [0006]    2. Background Art 
         [0007]    Brush chippers are commonly used by workers keeping trees and tree branches away from utility lines, railroad tracks, and roadways. Large and small branches may be chipped into useful mulch and carted away much more conveniently than the brush in its original form. 
         [0008]    In U.S. Pat. No. 5,088,532, Eggers et al., which is hereby incorporated by reference, disclosed an automatic material feed control system for a brush chipper. The disclosed chipper includes feed rollers and a chipper drum. This brush chipper was operated at the machine rather than remotely. 
         [0009]    Chippers are operated locally, that is, at the machine, by a feed control bar having a plurality of positions. A patent application to Bouwers, et al., Ser. No. 11/172,209, filed Jun. 30, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. ______, is also hereby incorporated by reference. The invention disclosed in Ser. No. 11/172,209 comprises a four-position feed control bar and a lower feed stop bar for operating the chipper at the feed table. A patent application to Stelter et al., U.S. Ser. No. 10/724,992, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,011,258, is also incorporated herein by reference which also discloses a lower feed stop bar. 
         [0010]    Large brush chippers available today are used for brush that is large enough that it is difficult to feed manually. It is thus frequently loaded into the brush chipper with mechanical assist such as a skid loader or similar machine. In this operating mode there often are no operators in the immediate vicinity of the brush chipper. In such a case, the brush chipper is preferably operated remotely, so the skid loader operator may operate the chipper from the seat of the skid loader. 
         [0011]    The skid loader operator may need to control various functions of the chipper in order to effectively chip large brush, which is often not only heavy, but often times bulky. The bulky brush can interfere with operation of the machine, for instance by inadvertently tripping the lower feed stop bar. After such an inadvertent trip, remote operation of the chipper, such a remote override of the lower feed stop bar, will enable the skid loader operator to control the machine as necessary to continue the operation without having to leave the skid loader, as would otherwise to be required. 
         [0012]    When more than one worker is present at the chipper, wherein there is an operator working from the ground in addition to the skid loader operator, the chipper may be operated remotely and locally. Workers who are in close proximity to the chipper when it is operated remotely may be subjected to hazards. 
         [0013]    There is, therefore, a need for a method and apparatus for improving the safety of workers close to a brush chipper that may be operated remotely. More specifically there is a need for a system that enables remote override of a lower feed stop bar, while providing for a way for a local worker, located at the machine, to operate the chipper in a safe manner. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a remotely activated bottom bar bypass system that enables an operator, at a remote location, to control the chipper including a remote enable selector at the machine, a remote hold to run switch on a remote control and a safety light to warn workers close to the brush chipper that the chipper is, or may be, operated remotely. 
         [0015]    In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the remote enable light is an amber strobe light. When the local controls on the chipper are configured to permit remote operation, and after the remote module has been configured to control the chipper, the remote enable light flashes repeatedly as long as the chipper may be operated remotely. If either the remote module or the chipper controls are reconfigured to disallow remote operation, the remote enable light ceases to flash. 
         [0016]    An additional object of the invention is a remote-enable switching system wherein workers on foot near the chipper may disallow remote operation of the chipper. 
         [0017]    To configure the local controls on the chipper for remote operation, the upper feed control bar must be in its neutral position. Two mushroom switches are located on opposite sides of the chipper. Both mushroom switches must be pulled out in order to permit remote operation. During remote operation, if either of the mushroom switches is pushed in, or if the upper feed control bar is pushed out of its neutral position, remote operation is immediately disabled. Hence, if a local worker detects an emergency, either of these actions will put the chipper into local operation-only mode, so the emergency may be addressed. The local worker is not in danger of the chipper being operated remotely and causing the local worker to be in danger, thereby. 
         [0018]    Still another object is to require a security code to be entered into the remote module before remote operation is enabled. A conscious action must be taken to enable the remote module to control the chipper. In this way, a remote operator may take notice of the location and actions of any workers local to the chipper before taking charge of the chipper&#39;s operation, and the remote operator must be familiar with the machine, as demonstrated by knowledge of the correct code. After the security code is entered, and if the mushroom switches are pulled out and the upper feed control bar is in its neutral position, the remote enable light begins to flash to warn the local workers of the remote operation of the chipper. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a brush chipper including the safety features of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a portion of the brush chipper, with portions broken away to show some of the internal parts of the chipper; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of a portion of the brush chipper, showing some of the safety features of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a remote module, used to operate the chipper remotely; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  shows an overlay for the remote module having a plurality of operations; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a wiring schematic for the remotely operated chipper of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0025]    A brush chipper  100  featuring wireless remote operation capabilities and associated safety aspects is shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . The brush chipper  100  is moved from place to place on a set of tracks  110 . Control of the actuation of the tracks  110  may be accomplished locally and remotely. 
         [0026]    Brush and wood  210  are loaded into the infeed area  120  and drawn in by feed rollers  220 . The chipping actually occurs at a chipping drum or disk  230 .  FIG. 2  shows a chipping disc, but machines with drums are also common. The feed rollers  220  and the chipping drum or disk  230  may both be controlled locally and remotely. Local controls of the feed rollers  220  include a lower feed control bar  180 , which may be actuated by an operator in an emergency situation to stop the feed rollers  220 , and an upper feed control bar  115 , which is routinely used to engage, disengage, and reverse the feed rollers  220 . 
         [0027]    Chipped matter is expelled from the brush chipper  100  via a spout  130 , preferably having a deflector  135 . The spout  130  may be aimed with local controls and remote controls. 
         [0028]    A remote enable strobe light  140  is mounted on the brush chipper  100  to be visible from almost any angle. The remote enable light  140  flashes whenever the remote module  410  (see  FIG. 4 ) is enabled to operate the brush chipper  100 . In the preferred embodiment, the remote enable light  140  is amber in color and is a strobe light. However, the present invention is not limited to the color or lighting sequence of the remote enable light  140 . 
         [0029]    Two mushroom switches  150  are located on opposite sides of the brush chipper  100 . Both mushroom switches  150  must be pulled out, and the upper feed control bar  115  must be in its neutral position in order to permit remote operation. During remote operation, if either of the mushroom switches  150  is pushed in, remote operation is immediately disabled. Additionally, if the upper feed control bar  115  is removed from its neutral position, remote operation is immediately disabled. 
         [0030]    Other controls provided locally on the chipper  100  include a hold-to-run switch  160 , providing an operator an opportunity to override a stop condition caused by a tree branch contacting the lower feed control bar  180 , for instance. The hold-to-run switch  160  must be depressed and held by the operator all the time the stop condition is overridden. 
         [0031]    Another control located on the chipper  100  is a lower feed control bar sensitivity switch  170 . The lower feed control bar  180  causes a stop condition when it is engaged by a branch or an operator. The sensitivity of this lower feed control bar  180  is adjustable via the lower feed control bar sensitivity switch  170 . In its high sensitivity position, the lower feed control bar  180  will more readily stop the feed rollers  220  than in the lower sensitivity setting. 
         [0032]    A wireless remote control system is included as part of the brush chipper  100 . A wireless remote module  400  is shown in  FIG. 4 , and is used by an operator at a location remote from the brush chipper  100 . Often, the use of the remote module  400  is by an operator that is transporting the chipper. Joy sticks  410  are provided to maneuver the brush chipper  100  via the tracks  110 . As with most tracked vehicles, the tracks  110  are powered independently, so while one track  110  is turning forward, the other track  110  may be turning forward, backward, or stopped. Having the joysticks, used to control the tracks, on the remote control module allows the operator to stay away from the machine, to avoid potential hazards inherent with the movement of the chipper. 
         [0033]    Other machine functions can also be controlled with the remote module, for which a control panel  420  is also provided, an example of which is shown in  FIG. 5 . The control panel  420  is constructed to be installed on the remote module in the space between the joysticks as shown in  FIG. 4 . The functions provided by the controls included on the control panel  420  shown in  FIG. 5  include start control  510  to start the engine; rotation control  520  to rotate the discharge spout; stop control  530  which stops the engine, and ultimately also stops the feed wheels  220 , and chipping disk  230 ; deflector control  540  which controls the orientation of the deflector; clutch engage/disengage  550  which controls a clutch that stops or starts the cutter drum or disc; speed control  560  which allows selection of a gear ratio providing either fast or slow track speed; number keypad  570  with which to enter the security code to enable remote operation and for selection and storing of configuration variables, and speed control  580  which allows selection of either high engine rpm or low engine rpm. These controls are typically used in preparation for, and in advance of performing chipping. 
         [0034]    Another control on the remote module  400  is the hold-to-run control  430  as shown in  FIG. 4 , which is typically used during the chipping operation, particularly when the remote operator may also be operating a separate loader machine. Two hold-to-run buttons  430  are included for convenience. The function of these hold-to-run buttons  430  is the same as the hold-to-run switch  160  on the brush chipper  100 , while the machine configuration must be different in order for the remote hold to run controls to work. In order for the remote hold to run controls to work, the machine must be placed in a configuration for remote operation. 
         [0035]    To configure the local controls on the brush chipper  100  for remote operation, the upper feed control bar  115  must be in a neutral position. The two mushroom switches  150  must be pulled out, that is, away from the body of the brush chipper  100  in order to permit remote operation. During remote operation, if either of the mushroom switches  150  is pushed in, or if the upper feed control bar  115  is pushed out of its neutral position, remote operation is immediately disabled. 
         [0036]    A wiring schematic is shown in  FIG. 6 , focusing on the microprocessors,  600 ,  602 , wherein the microprocessor  602  is associated with the wireless remote operation of the brush chipper  100 . The following describes the pinouts for the two microprocessors,  600 ,  602  as illustrated in  FIG. 6 :
         604  Ignition switch on     606  Forward feed switch     608  Reverse feed switch     610  Emergency stop switch     612  Normal sensitivity switch     614  Reduced sensitivity switch     616  Hydraulic over-pressure switch     618  Sensitivity select switch     620  Engine droop setting switch     622  Chute rotate switch     624  Deflector up/down switch     626  Reset/hold-to-run switches     630  Power relay  2       632  Power relay     634  Forward left track solenoid     636  Reverse left track solenoid     638  Forward right track solenoid     640  Reverse right track solenoid     642  Engine speed sensor     644  Reverse feed solenoid     646  Reverse feed solenoid     648  Winch enable solenoid     650  Clutch engage solenoid     652  Normal sensitivity light     654  High track speed solenoid     656  Info light     658  Chute rotate counter clockwise solenoid     660  Chute rotate clockwise solenoid     662  Deflector up solenoid     664  Deflector down solenoid     668  Remote beacon light       
 
         [0068]    The above embodiments are the preferred embodiments, but this invention is not limited thereto. It is, therefore, apparent that many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.