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US 5,386,877 AGranted
High voltage ripping apparatus
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsGeorge G. Codina, Robert J. Price, Liliana Grajales, Thomas J. Richards
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus (102) assists an earthmoving vehicle (104) in the fracture of material (106). The apparatus (102) includes a ripping structure (108) having at least one ripper (112) and one electrode (130). The apparatus (102) generates electrical energy and discharges the electrical energy into the material through the ripping structure (108).
Claims52
An apparatus (102) to assist an earthmoving vehicle (104) in the fracture of material (106), comprising:
- a ripping structure (108) having a frame (110), at least one ripper (112), and an electrode (118), said at least one ripper (112) and said electrode (118) being movably connected to said frame (110);
- means (120) for moving said at least one ripper (112) into a penetrating relationship with said material (106) and for moving said electrode (130) into a contacting relationship with said material (106);
- and
- means (124) for generating electrical energy and discharging said electrical energy into said material (106) through said at least one ripper (112) and said electrode (130).
1 more element
An apparatus to assist an earthmoving vehicle in the fracture of material, comprising:
- a ripping structure having a frame, at least one ripper, and an electrode, said at least one ripper and said electrode being movably connected to said frame;
- means for moving said at least one ripper into a penetrating relationship with said material and for moving said electrode into a contacting relationship with said material;
- and,
- means for generating electrical energy and discharging said electrical energy into said material through said at least one ripper and said electrode, wherein said at least one ripper is an impact ripper.
1 more element
An apparatus to assist an earthmoving vehicle in the fracture of material, comprising:
- a ripping structure having a frame, at least one ripper, and an electrode, said at least one ripper and said electrode being movably connected to said frame;
- means for moving said at least one ripper into a penetrating relationship with said material and for moving said electrode into a contacting relationship with said material;
- means for generating electrical energy and discharging said electrical energy into said material through said at least one ripper and said electrode;
- and
- means for sensing the load on said ripping structure and responsively producing a load signal and wherein said discharging means includes controlling means for receiving said load signal and responsively varying the magnitude of electrical energy discharged into said material.
2 more elements
An apparatus to assist an earthmoving vehicle in the fracture of material, comprising:
- a ripping structure having a frame, at least one ripper, and an electrode, said at least one ripper and said electrode being movably connected to said frame;
- means for moving said at least one ripper into a penetrating relationship with said material and for moving said electrode into a contacting relationship with said material;
- and
- means for generating electrical energy and discharging said electrical energy into said material through said at least one ripper and said electrode, wherein said electrical energy is in the form of high voltage pulses and wherein said discharging means alternates the polarity of said high voltage pulses.
1 more element
An apparatus to assist an earthmoving vehicle in the fracture of material, comprising:
- a ripping structure having a frame, at least one ripper, and an electrode, said at least one ripper and said electrode being movably connected to said frame;
- means for moving said at least one ripper into a penetrating relationship with said material and for moving said electrode into a contacting relationship with said material;
- means for generating electrical energy and discharging said electrical energy into said material through said at least one ripper and said electrode, wherein said ripping structure includes a second ripper and wherein said discharging means alternately discharges electrical energy into said material through said first ripper and said electrode and through said second ripper and said electrode.
An apparatus to assist an earthmoving vehicle in the fracture of material, comprising:
- a ripping structure having a frame, at least one ripper, and an electrode, said at least one ripper and said electrode being movably connected to said frame;
- means for moving said at least one ripper into a penetrating relationship with said material and for moving said electrode into a contacting relationship with said material;
- and
- means for generating electrical energy and discharging said electrical energy into said material through said at least one ripper and said electrode, wherein said ripping structure includes at least two modules, each module including a ripper and an electrode and wherein said discharging means includes controlling means for alternately discharging said electrical energy into said material through each of said modules.
1 more element
An apparatus to assist an earthmoving vehicle in the fracture of material, comprising:
- a ripping structure having a frame, at least one ripper, and an electrode, said at least one ripper and said electrode being movably connected to said frame;
- means for moving said at least one ripper into a penetrating relationship with said material and for moving said electrode into a contacting relationship with said material;
- and
- means for generating electrical energy and discharging said electrical energy into said material through said at least one ripper and said electrode;
- and
- means for heating said material, wherein said heating means includes means for directing an insulating gas at said material.
3 more elements
An apparatus to assist an earthmoving vehicle in the fracture of material, comprising:
- a ripping structure having a frame, at least one ripper, and an electrode, said at least one ripper and said electrode being movably connected to said frame;
- means for moving said at least one ripper into a penetrating relationship with said material and for moving said electrode into a contacting relationship with said material;
- means for generating electrical energy and discharging said electrical energy into said material through said at least one ripper and said electrode;
- and
- means for heating said material, wherein said heating means includes means for directing the exhaust gases of said earthmoving vehicle's engine towards said material.
2 more elements
An apparatus to assist an earthmoving vehicle in the fracture of material, comprising:
- a ripping structure having a frame, at least one ripper, and an electrode, said at least one ripper and said electrode being movably connected to said frame;
- means for moving said at least one ripper into a penetrating relationship with said material and for moving said electrode into a contacting relationship with said material;
- and
- means for generating electrical energy and discharging said electrical energy into said material through said at least one ripper and said electrode, wherein said electrical energy discharging means includes a magnetic insulator adapted to guide the electrical discharge into said material.
1 more element
An apparatus to assist an earthmoving vehicle in the fracture of material, comprising:
- a ripping structure having a frame, at least one ripper, and an electrode, said at least one ripper and said electrode being movably connected to said frame;
- means for moving said at least one ripper into a penetrating relationship with said material and for moving said electrode into a contacting relationship with said material;
- means for generating electrical energy and discharging said electrical energy into said material through said at least one ripper and said electrode,
- means for converting the mechanical energy of said vehicle's engine into electrical energy;
- and
- means for storing said converted electrical energy.
3 more elements
An apparatus to assist an earthmoving vehicle in the fracture of material, said earthmoving vehicle having an engine, comprising:
- a ripping structure having a frame, at least one ripper, and an electrode, said ripping structure being movably connected to said earthmoving vehicle, said ripper and said electrode being pivotally connected to said frame;
- means for heating the surface of said material;
- means for moving said ripping structure into a penetrating relationship with said material;
- and
- means for generating electrical energy and discharging said electrical energy into said material through said ripping structure.
2 more elements
An apparatus to assist an earthmoving vehicle in the fracture of material, said earthmoving vehicle having an engine, comprising:
- a ripping structure having a frame, at least one ripper and an electrode, said ripping structure being movably connected to said earthmoving vehicle, said ripper and said electrode being pivotally connected to said frame;
- means for heating the surface of said material;
- means for moving said ripping structure into a penetrating relationship with said material;
- and
- means for generating electrical energy and discharging said electrical energy into said material through said ripping structure, wherein said electrical energy discharging means includes a magnetic insulator adapted to guide the electrical discharge into said material.
2 more elements
An apparatus to assist an earthmoving vehicle in the fracture of material, said earthmoving vehicle having an engine, comprising:
- a ripping structure having a frame, at least one ripper and an electrode, said ripping structure being movably connected to said earthmoving vehicle, said ripper and said electrode being pivotally connected to said frame;
- means for heating the surface of said material;
- means for moving said ripping structure into a penetrating relationship with said material;
- and
- means for generating electrical energy and discharging said electrical energy into said material through said ripping structure, wherein said electrical energy is in the form of high voltage pulse and wherein said discharging means includes means for alternating the polarity of said high voltage pulses.
2 more elements
An apparatus to assist an earthmoving vehicle in the fracture of material, said earthmoving vehicle having an engine, comprising:
- a ripping structure having a frame, at least one ripper and an electrode, said ripping structure being movably connected to said earthmoving vehicle, said ripper and said electrode being pivotally connected to said frame;
- means for heating the surface of said material;
- means for moving said ripping structure into a penetrating relationship with said material;
- means for generating electrical energy and discharging said electrical energy into said material through said ripping structure;
- and
- means for sensing the load on said ripping structure and responsively producing a load signal and wherein said discharging means includes controlling means for receiving said load signal and responsively varying the magnitude of electrical energy discharged into said material.
3 more elements
An earthmoving vehicle (104) adapted to fracture material (106), including:
- a body (134) having an engine (136) and means (138) coupled to said engine (136) for moving said vehicle (104);
- a ripping structure (108) having a frame (110), at least one ripper (112), and an electrode (118), said at least one ripper (112) and said electrode (118) being movably connected to said frame (110);
- means (120) for moving said at least one ripper (112) into a penetrating relationship with said material (106) and for moving said electrode (130) into a contacting relationship with said material (106);
- and
- means (124) for generating electrical energy and discharging said electrical energy into said material (106) through said at least one ripper (112) and said electrode (130).
2 more elements
An earthmoving vehicle adapted to fracture material, including:
- a body having an engine and means coupled to said engine for moving said vehicle;
- a ripping structure having a frame, at least one ripper, and an electrode, said at least one ripper and said electrode being movably connected to said frame;
- means for moving said at least one ripper into a penetrating relationship with said material and for moving said electrode into a contacting relationship with said material;
- and
- means for generating electrical energy and discharging said electrical energy into said material through said at least one ripper and said electrode, wherein said electrical energy discharging means includes a magnetic insulator adapted to guide the electrical discharge into said material.
2 more elements
An earthmoving vehicle adapted to fracture material, including:
- a body having an engine and means coupled to said engine for moving said vehicle;
- a ripping structure having a frame, at least one ripper, and an electrode, said at least one ripper and said electrode being movably connected to said frame;
- means for moving said at least one ripper into a penetrating relationship with said material and for moving said electrode into a contacting relationship with said material;
- and
- means for generating electrical energy and discharging said electrical energy into said material through said at least one ripper and said electrode, wherein said discharging means includes means for alternating the polarity of said high voltage pulses.
2 more elements
An earthmoving vehicle adapted to fracture material, including:
- a body having an engine and means coupled to said engine for moving said vehicle;
- a ripping structure having a frame, at least one ripper, and an electrode, said at least one ripper and said electrode being movably connected to said frame;
- means for moving said at least one ripper into a penetrating relationship with said material and for moving said electrode into a contacting relationship with said material;
- and
- means for generating electrical energy and discharging said electrical energy into said material through said at least one ripper and said electrode;
- and
- means for sensing the load on said ripper structure responsively producing a load signal and wherein said discharging means includes means for receiving said load signal and responsively varying the magnitude of electrical energy discharged into said material.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.