Ian R A Hawkes

Title: Ian R. A. Hawkes and Earth-Moving Machine Brake Protection

Introduction

Ian R. A. Hawkes is an inventor associated with West Midlands, Great Britain. His patent work addresses a practical safety and performance challenge for earth-moving machinery: improving a machine’s ability to remain stationary on a slope.

Latest Patents

Hawkes is associated with 1 patent, titled “Front Park Brake Protection Controls.” The invention describes a system and method for enhancing the slope-holding capability of an earth-moving machine. The machine has ground-engaging elements and two parking brakes, each configured to brake a different subset of those elements. A brake controller detects when the first parking brake is engaged and activates the second brake only when specified machine-state criteria are also satisfied. These criteria may include zero machine speed, a neutral transmission state, and a slope exceeding a predetermined threshold. By coordinating brake engagement with operating conditions, the system is designed to provide additional holding capability when needed.

Career Highlights

Hawkes is associated with Caterpillar Inc., a company known for earth-moving and other heavy equipment. His patent reflects an engineering focus on machine control and parking-brake performance, particularly in situations where slope can affect a machine’s stability.

Collaborations

The provided information lists Neil Taylor and John Gates as Hawkes’s coworkers. Their inclusion indicates professional connections, though specific roles or contributions to the patent are not provided.

Conclusion

Ian R. A. Hawkes’s patent on front park brake protection controls presents a condition-based approach to coordinating parking brakes on earth-moving machinery, with the aim of improving slope holding and supporting safer machine operation.