Claims
- 1. A control apparatus for controlling a broom and a blower, comprising:
a command input module; a latch module in logical communication with the command input module; a timer module in logical communication with the command input module; a comparator module in logical communication with the command input module, the latch module, and the timer module; a broom state command module in logical communication with the command input module; a broom height command module in logical communication with the command input module; a broom direction command module in logical communication with the command input module; a blower state command module in logical communication with the command input module; and a blower direction command module in logical communication with the command input module.
- 2. The control apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a blower actuator module in logical communication with the blower state command module.
- 3. The control apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a blower actuator module in logical communication with the blower direction command module.
- 4. The control apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a broom actuator module in logical communication with the broom state command module.
- 5. The control apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a broom actuator module in logical communication with the broom direction command module.
- 6. The control apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a deflector flap actuator module in logical communication with the blower direction command module.
- 7. The control apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
an air channel height actuator module in logical communication with the blower state command module.
- 8. The control apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a generic actuator module in logical communication with the command input module.
- 9. A method for operating a broom and a blower, comprising the steps of:
receiving a command input; measuring a duration of the command input; determining whether the command input is a broom state command; determining whether the command input is a broom height command; determining whether the command input is a broom direction command; determining whether command input is a blower state command; and determining whether the command input is a blower direction command.
- 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:
latching the command input for a predetermined latch time if the duration of the command input is less than a predetermined command input time.
- 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the predetermined latch time is about ten seconds.
- 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the predetermined command input time is about one second.
- 13. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:
following the command input for about the same amount of time as the duration of the command input if the duration of the command input is greater than a predetermined command input time.
- 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the predetermined command input time is about one second.
- 15. The method of claim 9, wherein the broom state command has a value, further comprising the steps of:
turning on the broom if the value of the broom state command is ON; and turning off the broom if the value of the broom state command is OFF.
- 16. The method of claim 9, wherein the broom height command has a value, further comprising the steps of
raising the broom if the value of the broom height command is UP; and lowering the broom if the value of the broom height command is DOWN.
- 17. The method of claim 9, wherein the broom direction command has a value, further comprising the steps of:
angling the broom to the right if the value of the broom direction command is RIGHT; and angling the broom to the left if the value of the broom direction command is LEFT.
- 18. The method of claim 9, wherein the blower state command has a value, further comprising the steps of:
turning on the blower if the value of the blower state command is ON; and turning off the blower if the value of the blower state command is OFF.
- 19. The method of claim 9, wherein the blower direction command has a value, further comprising the steps of:
blowing to the right if the value of the blower direction command is RIGHT; and blowing to the left if the value of the blower direction state command is LEFT.
- 20. The method of claim 9, wherein the blower includes a left nozzle, a right nozzle, a deflector, and an air channel, and wherein the blower direction command has a value of RIGHT, further comprising the steps of:
extending the left nozzle; stowing the right nozzle; actuating the deflector; adjusting the air channel; and blowing to the right.
- 21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the steps of:
turning the blower OFF; and turning the blower ON.
- 22. The method of claim 9, wherein the blower includes a right nozzle, a left nozzle, a deflector, and an air channel, and wherein the blower direction command has a value of LEFT, further comprising the steps of:
extending the right nozzle; stowing the left nozzle; actuating the deflector; adjusting the air channel; and blowing to the left.
- 23. The method of claim 22, further comprising the steps of:
turning the blower OFF; and turning the blower ON.
- 24. A vehicle for removing debris from a road surface, comprising:
a broom; a blower system; and a control apparatus for controlling the broom and the blower, comprising: a command input module; a latch module in logical communication with the command input module; a timer module in logical communication with the command input module; a comparable module in logical communication with the command input module, the latch module, and the timer module; a broom state command module in logical communication with the command input module; a broom height command module in logical communication with the command input module; a broom direction command module in logical communication with the command input module; a blower state command module in logical communication with the command input module; and a blower direction command module in logical communication with the command input module.
- 25. The vehicle of claim 24, further comprising:
a blower actuator module in logical communication with the blower state command module.
- 26. The vehicle of claim 24, further comprising:
a blower actuator module in logical communication with the blower direction command module.
- 27. The vehicle of claim 24, further comprising:
a broom actuator module in logical communication with the broom state command module.
- 28. The vehicle of claim 24, further comprising:
a broom actuator module in logical communication with the broom direction command module.
- 29. The vehicle of claim 24, further comprising:
a deflector flap actuator module in logical communication with the blower direction command module.
- 30. The vehicle of claim 24, further comprising:
an air channel height actuator module in logical communication with the blower state command module.
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application for Patent No. 60/199,053 titled “Improved Truck-Mounted Snow Blowing And Air Blast System For Use In Clearing Snow And Debris From Airport Runways” filed on Apr. 22, 2000, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60199053 |
Apr 2000 |
US |