Patent Application
20150284219
Pending U.S. Ser. No. 13/565,100, titled “Traveler Roller,” filed Aug. 2, 2012, is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety into this patent application.
The present invention generally relates to vehicle recovery devices with masts and booms (“vehicle wreckers”), including those that can be rotated (“rotating wreckers”), as well as those which cannot be rotated, and whose supporting travel base can be moved along the longitudinal axis of the wrecker, to increase the reach of the boom. Such large vehicle wreckers (“heavy wreckers”) allow a large load to he lifted and then moved a given distance forward or rearward along the wrecker longitudinal axis.
The hydraulic controls for vehicle wreckers are typically located on a control panel located on the sidewall of the unit. A controller module sends electrical signals through a wiring harness to actuate solenoids at the hydraulic control valve spools. Wireless remote control systems communicating by radio signal with the controller module have also been utilized. However, vehicle wrecker users insist on redundant mechanical, manual back-up controls directly linked to the hydraulic valve, in the case of electrical failure. Such manual systems depend upon either mechanical linkages or cables, both of which restrict where the control levers and valves can be located.
The controls on a rotator or other heavy wrecker are typically located inside of a toolbox mounted on a sidewall of the wrecker, and are not comfortable for the wrecker operator to access, particularly if the operator is less than average height (see prior art
Wreckers also typically have separate and independent controls for hydraulic boom, hydraulic outrigger and/or underlift and electrical (e.g., lighting) systems. (An underlift may be located in the rear of the wrecker.)
Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide wrecker controls that are more easily accessible, as well as more ergonomically and visually appealing. It would also be advantageous to provide wrecker controls that eliminate redundant control levers, and are not tethered to a particular location on the wrecker. Further, it would be advantageous to integrate electrical and hydraulic controls on the same panel or touchscreen.
The objects mentioned above, as well as other objects, are solved by the present invention, which overcomes disadvantages of prior wreckers, while providing new advantages not previously associated with them.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a wrecker-type recovery vehicle for recovering disabled vehicles is provided. The wrecker-type recovery vehicle includes a vehicle frame extending along a longitudinal axis, having a vehicle exterior with side surfaces, and carrying an extensible and retractible boom. Manually-manipulable wrecker controls may be moveable from a first position within the vehicle exterior or a compartment therefor, to a second position located a distance (e.g., 1-2 feet) from a side surface of the vehicle exterior, in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
In a preferred embodiment, the wrecker controls may be located on an outwardly-opening door associated with a compartment located within an interior of the vehicle. Alternatively, for example, the wrecker controls may be located on an outwardly-sliding shelf within a compartment located within an interior of the vehicle.
In a preferred embodiment, the wrecker controls may be in electrical communication with a CAN Bus and CAN controller of the vehicle. The wrecker controls may include: boom controls and/or lighting controls, and may include integrated electrical and hydraulic controls located on a single console, or in a pair of consoles, each of which are located on opposing sides of the wrecker. More preferably, the wrecker controls may include controls for: boom, winch, underlift, outrigger and lighting controls. It is also preferred that the wrecker controls include manual hydraulic controls which may be used in the event of an electrical failure.
In one type of wrecker useable with the present invention, the vehicle frame supports a travel base assembly carrying the boom, and the travel base assembly is capable of moving along the longitudinal axis of the frame. The boom may be of the traveling or non-traveling type, however, and the boom may also be of the rotating or non-rotating type.
In a preferred embodiment using a wrecker with a traveling boom, one or more traveler rollers are used to at least partially support the travel base assembly and to facilitate longitudinal movement of the travel base assembly relative to the vehicle frame. The individual rollers may be movable about a load-bearing member, and may be linked by a chain assembly.
In an alternative embodiment, a wrecker-type recovery vehicle for recovering other, disabled vehicles is provided, and includes a vehicle frame extending along a longitudinal axis, having a. vehicle exterior with side surfaces, and carrying an extensible and retractible boom. Manually-manipulable wrecker controls in electrical communication with a CAN Bus and CAN controller of the vehicle are provided. The wrecker controls include integrated electrical and hydraulic controls located on a single console, or in a pair of consoles located on opposed side surfaces or compartments of the wrecker. Preferably, the wrecker controls are moveable from a first position within the vehicle exterior or a compartment therefor, to a second position located a distance from a side surface of the vehicle exterior, in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
A method for controlling a wrecker-type recovery vehicle for recovering other, disabled vehicles is also provided. A wrecker vehicle frame extends along a longitudinal axis; the vehicle frame has a vehicle exterior with side surfaces, and carries an extensible and retractible boom. Manually-manipulable wrecker controls are provided, and moveable between a first position in which the wrecker controls are located within the vehicle exterior or a compartment therefor, to a second position in which the wrecker controls are located a distance from a side surface of the vehicle exterior, in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. By manipulating the wrecker controls, an operator in a standing position adjacent the side surface of the vehicle exterior can maintain his/her sightlines, including visual observation of forward-most and rearward-most boom locations. Again, the wrecker controls may include one or more of the following; boom, winch, underlift, outrigger and lighting controls. Also, traveling/non-traveling and/or rotating/non-rotating boom types may be used with the present invention, Traveler rollers may, but need not be, used.
Using the method of the present invention, the boom may be used, for example, to lift a load either: (a) from a position adjacent a rear of the recovery vehicle to a position both rearwardly and substantially distant from the rear of the wrecker; or (b) from a position adjacent a front of the recovery vehicle to a position adjacent a side of the recovery vehicle.
The terms used in the claims of the patent are intended to have their broadest meaning consistent with the requirements of law. Where alternative meanings are possible, the broadest meaning is intended. All words used in the claims are intended to be used in the normal, customary usage of grammar and the English language.
The novel features which are characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, together with further objects and attendant advantages thereof, can be better understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. In the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
Set forth below is a description of what are believed to be the preferred embodiments and/or best examples of the invention claimed. Future and present alternatives and modifications to this preferred embodiment are contemplated. Any alternatives or modifications which, make insubstantial changes in function, in purpose, in structure, or in result are intended to be covered by the claims of this patent.
Referring now to prior art
Referring now to a preferred embodiment of the present invention shown in
Alternatively, it will he appreciated that the same or similar ergonomie and enhanced sightline advantages may be obtained by locating wrecker controls on a forwardly-sliding shelf within a cabinet disposed within a side surface of the wrecker, for example.
Referring now to
Referring to
Referring now to
Conventional wrecker controls use mechanical linkage between the control levers (located in a toolbox on the sidewall of the wrecker) and the hydraulic valve spool. The new wrecker controls of the present invention, may be mounted, on a door of the toolbox (see
Instead of using mechanical linkage connected to the control levers, joysticks and paddles are provided, specific examples of which are described below, that are connected “fly-by-wire” via a CAN (“Controller Area Network”) Bus circuit to the electrical solenoid-operated hydraulic control valve. (In a “fly-by-wire” system, control movements are converted to electrical signals transmitted by wires, and a computer or controller module determines how to move the actuators at each control surface to provide the ordered response,) CAN Bus is a vehicle bus standard designed to allow microcontrollers and devices to communicate with each other within a vehicle without a host computer. CAN Bus is a message-based protocol, designed specifically for automotive applications but now also used in other areas such as aerospace, maritime, industrial automation and medical equipment. The devices that are connected by a CAN network are typically sensors, actuators, and other control devices. These devices are not connected directly to the bus, but through a host processor and a CAN controller.
To create an ergonomie and visually appealing control station, a mock-up of control station 30 was clay-molded, including display screen, joy sticks, paddles and push buttons, and this clay model was then scanned into a 3D model for use in manufacturing this part from composite material (see
In case of electrical failure, small over-ride handles may be located on top of the main hydraulic control valves. In an emergency, these handles can be accessed by opening a cover near the valve (not shown), to allow the hydraulic controls to be manually controlled.
In a preferred embodiment, using the CAN Bus, all of the hydraulic functions and switch functions may be controlled using 4 wires (2 for CAN, a power, and ground, bundled within harness 78, as shown on
Referring to
Referring to
The truck J1939 CAN bus 54 connects to CAN 60. Using this connection, the operator can control brake, turn, markers and back-up lights, and monitor truck information such as RPM, engine temperature and fuel level.
A remote control unit, such as a trusted wireless transmitter 47, may be provided in cab 9, and docked in a smart dock/charger 47a. Transmitter 47 may be an Omnex T110 remote available from Eaton Corporation (Omnex merged with Cooper-Bussmann, which was then acquired by Eaton), and may be connected to power and ground (for charging), and may also connect to front touchscreen display 48 as an input (there/absent).
Preferably one or more mobile vehicle electronic control modules (MVECs) 49 may be located in the front-side tool box 23 for outputting signals for lighting. For example, three Bussman MVECs 49 available from Eaton, may be used for this purpose, and connected to battery (not shown) and to wireless receivers/controllers 44a. MVECs 49 may be output to electrical junction box 75, and to both front and rear outrigger hydraulic valves 40,51 and to rear hydraulic control valve 41, (Front outrigger control valve 40 may be centered above front outriggers (not shown), and rear outrigger control valve 44-51 may be located above right rear outrigger (not shown)).
Three lower R260 wireless receivers/controllers 44a may be used to interpret the CAN signals from monitors or displays 31, 48, and truck the CAN bus to turn the MVEC outputs on/off, including body, marker, brake and turn lights, generically referenced by box 84. Lower R260s 44a may also be employed to send and receive radio remote inputs, and create signals for rear hydraulic control valve 51, which may control travel, underlift and drag winch features, and control winch switching features. Controllers 44a may also be used to send a CAN signal to the upper control loop via an electrical swivel (not shown). (As is well known in the art, an electrical swivel, consisting of a series of electrical contacts on a drum which rotates with, turret 7, allows the boom to rotate without interfering with electrical functions.)
Wireless receivers/controllers, such as four upper Omnex R260s 44b available from Eaton, which may be located in turret 7, may be employed to receive CAN signals, power and ground and activate various functions on upper hydraulic control valve 42 also located in turret 7, which may be used to control winches, boom and swing.
Depending on output requirements, it will be understood by persons of ordinary skill that a lesser or greater number of MVECs and receivers/controllers may be used.
As shown in
A remote control unit (ECU, not shown), such as an Omnex Raptor remote available from Eaton, may be located in a passenger-side rear compartment, and may be carried by the operator. The ECU may be used to transmit and receive radio signals from main R260, and allows remote control over all boom and winch functions, and allows the operator to lock-in the winches. The ECU also allows the operator to see the load on the boom.
Persons of ordinary skill in this art will now appreciate that the preferred system disclosed here includes the following features:
CAN-based control of lighting from multiple locations on the wrecker (e.g., the cab, and control consoles 30);
CAN-based control of boom hydraulics from, either side of the vehicle (control consoles 30 on door 25 of each side toolbox 24) and from a remote/RCU (the Eaton Raptor remote, for example);
CAN-based control of underlift hydraulics using on/off style remote/RCU;
CAN-based engine info and diagnostics;
CAN-based turn, marker, backup, and body lighting (using touchscreen 32 at consoles 30 and touchscreen 47 in the cab);
Integrates two systems into one with lighting and. underlift control merging with proportional boom control, using consoles 30;
Load-sensing capability, displayed on touchscreens 32/47 and the ECU:
The signals for brake, turn, markers, arid backup can he sent over the CAN network to the MVECs that turn these lights on and off. (The MVECs may include a smartbreaker and relay modules in the tool box for this purpose.) A SenderCAN module from Murphy may be used to introduce these signals on a non-PACCAR or pre-2007 PACCAR chassis. (PACCAR is the parent company of Peterbilt and Kenworth.)
The improved system preferably eliminates all of the freespool and 2-speed switches (˜12 per side) that are typically used along with control levers on rotating wreckers.
In addition to providing the improvements and advantages over prior technology described above, the present invention also preserves advantages of prior systems. For example, as described in pending U.S. Ser. No. 13/565,100, using the invention, a load may be lifted by the boom and moved between positions located at the rear and to the side of the recovery vehicle, without the need to first reposition the boom using boom lift or telescoping cylinders. Such further advantages include but are not limited to: providing engine information and diagnostics; monitoring of hydraulic temperature; a video screen for backup camera use or winch-watching; timer-based features like a job timer and maintenance reminders: using a portion of the VCAN-PAC-CAR J1939 CAN bus network to transmit data through the chassis (VCAN); and a GS monitoring system for Miller's Rotator product. (“GS” is GS North America, New Berlin, Wis.)
The above description is not intended to limit the meaning of the words used in the following claims that define the invention. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will understand that a variety of other designs still falling within the scope of the following claims may be envisioned and used. For example, while preferred embodiments involving a rotating wrecker, have been disclosed, in other embodiments the wrecker mast and boom need not be capable of rotating or traveling. It is contemplated that these additional examples, as well as future modifications in structure, function, or result to that disclosed here, will exist that are not substantial changes to what is claimed here, and that all such insubstantial changes in what is claimed are intended to be covered by the claims.
