The United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services

Vermeer Manufacturing Company, Inc.

West Virginia University

John R Powers

Ivan Ray Brand

Brent Allen Bartels

Shengke Zeng

Eugene Anthony McKenzie, Jr

Kenneth Means

Brad Newbraugh

Hongwei Hsiao

Larry L Jackson

David L Conover

Douglas E Ammons

Peter Simeonov

John R Etherton

Ivan R Brand

A stump cutter controller and operator presence system includes one or more capacitive sensors in each of the three control levers that control movement of the cutter wheel. A sensor circuit measures changes in the capacitance of the sensors. The controller automatically disengages a drive clutch and applies a brake to the cutter wheel when the controller senses that an operator has left the operating station&#x2014;which is assumed when the operator has not touched any one of the three control levers of the operator station for a predetermined time. The controller logic is set to allow the clutch to remain engaged during a delay period, of predetermined duration, to permit the operator to move a hand off of one control lever to another control lever. Also, a grace period, of varying duration based on the speed of the cutter wheel, may be provided during which the clutch is reengaged if an operator returns to the controls.

Method and apparatus for controlling the operation of a stump cutter

A safety device for measuring and indicating the level of a ladder having rungs extending between a pair of elongated ladder rails, the safety device comprising a housing dimensioned to be inserted into one of the rungs of the ladder, an electronic sensor disposed in the housing, a controller disposed in the housing, which is in electronical communication with the sensor, at least one indicator, and a power supply for supplying power to the device. The electronic sensor measures the inclination of the ladder to produce a measured inclination which the controller compares to a stored predetermined level value to produce a comparison signal. The at least one indicator receives the comparison signal and indicates to the user the comparison signal.

Multimodal indicator safety device for ladder positioning

The present disclosure concerns a jam detection and safety system for machines prone to jamming, such as a baler. In particular embodiments, the system is implemented in a horizontal baler having a shear bar and a hydraulic ram that advances material being baled past the shear bar into a compression chamber. The system includes a strain gage mounted on the shear bar and a controller that is electrically connected to the strain gage. The controller receives strain signals from the stage gage and compares the strain of the shear bar to a predetermined strain threshold corresponding to a jamming condition. If the strain exceeds the predetermined threshold, the controller automatically deactivates the ram, such as by disconnecting line power from the baler and/or by turning off the control power of the baler.

Jam detection and safety device for jamming machinery

A personal electrical injury protection system is provided which can be worn by electricians, construction workers, or other individuals working around or with low-voltage lines (i.e. generally less than about 600 volts). The personal electrical injury protection system has both a proximity warning component which provides a warning of potential electrical hazards upon close approach to the low-voltage power line and an electrical contact protection component which turns off the power upon actual electrical contact with the power line. The present personal electrical protection system relies on a radio frequency transmitter attached to the worker or person to be protected and a radio receiver/controller connected to the power line. The radio frequency transmitter has a low frequency generator which is used for electrical-contact protection and a high frequency generator which is used for proximity warning.

Electrical injury protection system using radio frequency transmission

Growing community of inventors

Morgantown, WV, United States of America

John R Powers