Patent ID: 7314053

Claim:
A programmable microcomputer controlled load sensing system for a log washer apparatus for washing off aggregate material, comprising: a log washer tank having a pivotally mounted lower end and having an upper end; a pair of hydraulic cylinders, each hydraulic cylinder having a cylinder base depending from the upper end of the log washer tank and a piston rod attached to a fixed ground support, said hydraulic cylinders disposed on opposite width sides of the log washer tank; a combiner/divider valve connected to said pair of hydraulic cylinders; a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic fluid reservoir connected to the combiner/divider valve for pumping hydraulic fluid to and receiving said fluid from said combiner/divider valve for extending and retracting the piston rods; a sensor which detects changes in the weight of the aggregate material in said log washer tank; said sensor having a first state when the weight of the aggregate in said log washer tank reaches a high weight limit, a second state when the weight of the aggregate material in said log washer tank reaches a low weight limit, and a third state when the weight of the aggregate in said log washer tank is between the high and low weight limits as determined by a programmable microcomputer; raising means for extending the piston rods of the pair of hydraulic cylinders when the weight of the aggregate material in said log washer tank falls below the low weight limit as detected and controlled by the programmable microcomputer; and lowering means for retracting the piston rods of the pair of hydraulic cylinders when the weight of the aggregate material in said log washer tank is above the high weight limit as detected and controlled by the programmable microcomputer; whereby said log washer tank is raised and lowered to an angle of incline with only the aggregate material load by the programmable microcomputer to promote efficient washing in response to changes in weight of each load.