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:
Feb. 24, 2009
Filed:
Nov. 06, 2006
John R. Etherton, Morgantown, WV (US);
John R. Powers, Jr., Morgantown, WV (US);
Eugene Anthony Mckenzie, Jr., Morgantown, WV (US);
Kenneth Means, Morgantown, WV (US);
Brad Newbraugh, Fairmont, WV (US);
John R. Etherton, Morgantown, WV (US);
John R. Powers, Jr., Morgantown, WV (US);
Eugene Anthony McKenzie, Jr., Morgantown, WV (US);
Kenneth Means, Morgantown, WV (US);
Brad Newbraugh, Fairmont, WV (US);
The Government of the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC (US);
West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV (US);
Abstract
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.