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US 6,170,606 B2Granted
Analog control
AssigneeSafety Dynamicon, Inc.
InventorErnest J. Merz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mobile machine which carries the operator of the machine is equipped with a control which has a shape, geometry and motion analogous to that of the machine and which causes machine motion analogous to the motion imparted to the control by the operator. The analog control may be applied on mobile equipment including aerial work platforms, forklifts, front end loaders, backhoes, earth movers, bulldozers, diggers, trenchers, agricultural equipment, mining machinery, and other operator controlled vehicular equipment by tailoring the shape, geometry and motions of the control to be analogous to those of the machine being controlled.
Claims22
A device comprising:
- an aerial work platform;
- and
- an analog control, mounted on the aerial work platform, for effecting motion of said aerial work platform, said analog control having:
- a shape similar to the aerial work platform;
- mechanisms having motions corresponding to motions of the aerial work platform to cause an equivalent motion of the aerial work platform when operated;
- a rotating structural element;
- and a simulated boom having an inner boom section and an outer boom section, said inner boom section capable of telescoping within said outer section;
- and
- a mechanism for causing lifting or lowering of the aerial work platform operatively coupled to said rotating structural element, and wherein the mechanism for causing lifting is actuated by raising or lowering said simulated boom.
6 more elements
A device comprising:
- an aerial work platform;
- and
- an analog control, mounted on a platform of the aerial work platform, for effecting motion of said aerial work platform, said analog control having:
- a structure structurally mounted to the platform of the aerial work platform at an operator station;
- movable members, coupled to the structure, that simulate and correspond to mechanisms of the aerial work platform, the movable members capable of movements by the operator that impart corresponding motions to the mechanisms of the aerial work platform, the movable members comprising a telescoping boom member that simulates and corresponds to a telescoping boom of the aerial work platform, the telescoping boom member capable of limited telescoping movements by the operator that impart corresponding telescoping motions to the telescoping boom of the aerial work platform;
- and
- at least three motion controls, operatively coupled to the movable members, incorporated within the analog control in a single unit;
- such that the aerial work platform undergoes motions that correspond to movements imparted to the analog control by the operator.
5 more elements
A device comprising:
- an aerial work platform;
- and
- an analog control, mounted on a platform of the aerial work platform, for effecting motion of said aerial work platform, said analog control having:
- a structure structurally mounted to the platform of the aerial work platform at an operator station;
- movable members, coupled to the structure, that simulate and correspond to mechanisms of the aerial work platform, the movable members capable of movements by the operator that impart corresponding motions to the mechanisms of the aerial work platform, the movable members comprising an articulating boom member that simulates and corresponds to an articulating boom of the aerial work platform, the articulating boom member capable of limited articulating movements by the operator that impart corresponding articulating motions of the articulating boom of the aerial work platform;
- and
- at least three motion controls, operatively coupled to the movable members incorporated within the analog control in a single unit;
- such that the aerial work platform undergoes motions that correspond to movements imparted to the analog control by the operator.
5 more elements
A device comprising:
- an aerial work platform;
- and
- an analog control mounted, on a platform of the aerial work platform, for effecting motion of said aerial work platform, said analog control having:
- a structure structurally mounted to the platform of the aerial work platform at an operator station;
- movable members, coupled to the structure, that simulate and correspond to mechanisms of the aerial work platform, the movable members capable of movements by the operator that impart corresponding motions to the mechanisms of the aerial work platform, the movable members comprise a scissor lift member that simulates and corresponds to a scissor lift mechanism of the aerial work platform, the scissor lift member capable of limited up-and-down movement by the operator that imparts corresponding up-and-down motion of the scissor lift mechanism of the aerial work platform;
- and
- at least three motion controls, operatively coupled to the movable members, incorporated within the analog control in a single unit;
- such that the aerial work platform undergoes motions that correspond to movements imparted to the analog control by the operator.
5 more elements
A device comprising:
- an aerial work platform having a supporting base, an operator platform, and an elevating mechanism that raises the operator platform vertically but does not position the operator platform horizontally completely outside the base, and
- an analog control, mounted on the operator platform, for effecting motion of said aerial work platform, said analog control having:
- a shape similar in appearance to the aerial work platform;
- and
- mechanisms having motions corresponding to motions of the aerial work platform to cause an equivalent motion of the aerial work platform when operated, said mechanisms including a sliding structure, a rotating structure, first rollers coupled to the rotating structure with matching tracks on the analog control to simulate horizontal travel, and second rollers coupled to the sliding structure in a vertical orientation with matching tracks on the analog control to simulate raising and lowering of the platform.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.