J. I. Case Company

Creative Technology Applications, Inc.

Arthur E Hirsch

Donnell L Dunn

C Gary Ciluffo

An automatic throwing machine (10) includes a throwing arm (18) rotated by a worm gear (78) driven by a worm (76) carried on a rod (42). The rod is driven by an electric motor (32). An extension spring (68) is extensible as the arm is moved to store energy in the spring and create a torque on the throwing arm. The arm is configured for objects such as clay pigeons (P), baseballs (B), and hockey pucks (H) and the like. When the spring reaches an over-center position, the throwing arm is rapidly rotated to launch the object along a desired trajectory. A control (112) controls operation of the motor. A passive infrared detector (110) identifies people (X) near the device and controls the direction of discharge of the object so the object is thrown toward, or away from, the person depending upon the object being thrown. The detector further provides an interlock to prevent object release if there is a person in the direction the object is thrown who should not be there. A capacitance sensor (C) insures that the object to be thrown is the correct object to be launched.

Automatic throwing apparatus

A hydraulic circuit and charging valve arrangement is disclosed for charging an accumulator where the accumulator is used to power an additional function such as a brake valve. The accumulator charging circuit is connected to a load sensing power steering circuit including a flow divider that controls the flow of a fixed displacement pump to selectively effect actuation of a power steering motor and an auxiliary device such as a bucket loader or backhoe control valve. The charging circuit includes a pilot operated charging valve which controls the flow divider of the load sensing steering circuit for the purpose of recharging the accumulator. The charging valve includes a valve member that is biased against a coil spring to a neutral position when the accumulator is charged. When the accumulator pressure drops below a preset level, the valve member is shifted thereby permitting fluid flow through the charging valve to the flow divider in the load sensing steering circuit. This results in the buildup of pressure in the hydraulic circuit which recharges the accumulator and shifts the charging valve member back to its neutral position. The charging valve is constructed to effectively raise the reset pressure required to shift the charging valve member back to its neutral position, thereby creating a controlled hysteresis in the operation of the charging valve.

Hydraulic accumulator charging circuit

An unloading valve for satisfying the requirements of a hydraulic system while minimizing transient pressure fluctuations. When the hydraulic system requires full fluid flow, fluid under pressure passes through the valve for discharge to the hydraulic system. If the system does not require full fluid flow, the excess fluid is automatically discharged from the unloading valve to a reservoir. Incoming fluid under pressure is communicated against one end of a locking spool for causing it to operate against an unloading pin. An orifice plate is mounted within the valve body adjacent to the unloading pin with the opening through the orifice plate being closed by a spring biased unloading poppet. A relief poppet is provided in the valve body and incoming fluid under pressure into the interior of the relief poppet is communicated to a fluid chamber between the seated end of the unloading poppet and a mounting plug holding the unloading pin. The hydraulic system pressure increases until the unloading poppet opens slightly permitting fluid under pressure to escape as pilot flow to the reservoir. A further increase in fluid pressure in the system causes the relief poppet to unseat thereby permitting drainage flow to the reservoir. A point is reached where the system pressure shifts the locking spool against the unloading pin and unloading poppet until the unloading poppet is fully opened and the relief poppet is moved away from its seat to the limit of its travel. If the hydraulic system pressure drops, the locking spool is shifted back thereby reloading the valve until the pressure in the system again rises to the unload pressure. Thus, the unloading pin provides for substantially reduced oscillations in the operation of the unloading valve as compared to conventional ball-seat arrangements.

Unloading valve for hi-lo-hydraulic system

A precision regulated plural voltage system having particular application for vechicular electrical systems requiring dual voltage applications. The output of a voltage doubler is precisely regulated as a function of the regulated output voltage from the alternator. This precise regulation of the doubler output is provided automatically without having to manually adjust the output as a function of load or temperature, is provided inexpensively by use of a relatively few number of solid state circuit components, and produces the desired regulated doubles voltage output having the precise value desired as a function of the loads connected to the circuit.

Vehicular plural voltage system

A hydraulic actuator and control for positioning the boom of a backhoe mounted on the rear of a tractor that smoothly decelerates the boom at the limits of its horizontal swinging movement. A directional control valve ports fluid to two double acting hydraulic actuators positioned in opposed relation on the tractor to drive the boom from side to side. The boom is cushioned at the limits of its travel, whether or not the operator releases the operating pedal for the directional control valve, by blocking discharge flow from a contracting actuator to the directional control valve and porting this discharge flow over a pressure relief system that is independent of the directional control valve. The pressure relief system provides substantially constant deceleration of the boom without high peak pressure in the actuator by using a lower pressure relief valve in the actuator cylinder heads arranged in series with a higher pressure relief valve that discharges directly to tank. The higher pressure relief valve also cushions the boom during mid-stroke stopping by an interconnection with the main fluid lines between the directional control valves and the actuators.

Hydraulic control circuit for decelerating a swinging backhoe

A protective fluid system having a fluid pump and a fluid control valve and a fluid protective valve and a fluid motor all connected together. The protective valve is responsive to a loss of pressure in a fluid line, such as when the line breaks, and the valve then closes to avoid the reaction of the fluid motor which may be a powered cylinder assembly under the influence of a load, and thus the load does not fall or otherwise move when the pressure is lost in the cylinder assembly.

Protective fluid system

A two-way fluid pressure relief valve having a valve body and two valve seats therein and two valve closure pieces operable on the seats. Springs force the closure pieces against the seats, and the fluid pressure will act in both directions for removing the closures from the seats and causing fluid pressure relief. A movable member engages the closure pieces to remove them from the seats and to also fluid-tightly seal with them up to the point of fluid pressure relief created by the springs.

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Terre Haute, IN, United States of America

Arthur E Hirsch