The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 07, 2018
Filed:
Jul. 29, 2008
Ivan R. Brand, Holland, MI (US);
Brent Allen Bartels, Pella, IA (US);
John R. Powers, Morgantown, WV (US);
Douglas E. Ammons, Morgantown, WV (US);
Ivan R. Brand, Holland, MI (US);
Brent Allen Bartels, Pella, IA (US);
John R. Powers, Morgantown, WV (US);
Douglas E. Ammons, Morgantown, WV (US);
VERMEER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, Pella, IA (US);
Abstract
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—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.