U.S. patent number RE38,665 [Application Number 08/953,922] was granted by the patent office on 2004-12-07 for wireless snow plow control system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Sno-Way International, Inc.. Invention is credited to Lynn W. Schultz, John M. Struck, Terry C. Wendorff.
United States Patent |
RE38,665 |
Struck , et al. |
December 7, 2004 |
Wireless snow plow control system
Abstract
A snow plowing system utilizing a wireless radio remote control
to control a snow plow mounted to the front of a vehicle. The
plowing system comprises a snow plow blade, mounting mechanism
connected to the vehicle for mounting the snow plow blade to the
vehicle, the snow plow blade being connected to the mounting
mechanism, a transmitter for transmitting a signal through a
receiver to actuate, a mechanism for controlling the snow plow
blade, and the receiver being connected to the mechanism for
controlling the snow plow blade.
Inventors: |
Struck; John M. (Iron Ridge,
WI), Schultz; Lynn W. (Campbellsport, WI), Wendorff;
Terry C. (Cedarburg, WI) |
Assignee: |
Sno-Way International, Inc.
(Hartford, WI)
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Family
ID: |
22754417 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/953,922 |
Filed: |
October 20, 1997 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
203545 |
Mar 1, 1994 |
05524368 |
Jun 11, 1996 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
37/235; 180/167;
37/414 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E01H
5/06 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E01H
5/04 (20060101); E01H 005/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;37/234,907,382,235,414,231,266,236 ;172/4,4.5 ;180/167 ;201/50
;446/456 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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2919505 |
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Nov 1979 |
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DE |
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59-76332 |
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May 1984 |
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JP |
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235735 |
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Sep 1989 |
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JP |
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216220 |
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Jan 1990 |
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JP |
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649865 |
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Feb 1994 |
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JP |
|
665949 |
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Mar 1994 |
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JP |
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000121245 |
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Jan 1959 |
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RU |
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Other References
John Deere Motor Graders 570B 670B 672B 770B 772B 770B-H 772B-H
brochure, pp. 12 & 13, Jan. 1995.* .
Hydra-Scoop Snow Plow, Farm Industry News vol. 23, No. 7, p. 25,
Jul. 1990..
|
Primary Examiner: Batson; Victor
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren
s.c.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A .[.wireless remote.]. snow plow .[.control.]. system .Iadd.for
use with a vehicle, said snow plow system .Iaddend.comprising: .[.a
single vehicle;.]. a snow plow blade; a .Iadd.plow
.Iaddend.mounting .[.structure connecting.]. .Iadd.carriage having
a front and a rear, said rear of said plow mounting carriage being
removably connectable to .Iaddend.the .Iadd.front of the
.Iaddend.vehicle .[.to the.]. .Iadd., said .Iaddend.snow plow blade
.Iadd.being pivotally attached to said front of said plow mounting
carriage.Iaddend.; a .Iadd.self-contained, battery-powered,
portable .Iaddend.transmitter .[.mechanism for transmitting a
wireless.]. .Iadd.which transmits an R.F. control .Iaddend.signal
.[.to a receiver mechanism within a transmitting range.]. .Iadd.,
said transmitter having controls for selectively raising, lowering,
and pivoting said snow plow blade.Iaddend.; .Iadd.a receiver which
receives said R.F. control signal transmitted by said transmitter
and provides, in response to said R.F. control signal received from
said transmitter, an output control signal; and.Iaddend. an
adjusting mechanism .[.for moving the.]. .Iadd.which raises,
lowers, and pivots said .Iaddend.snow plow blade.[.;.]. .Iadd.in
response to said output control signal from said receiver, said
adjusting mechanism being attached, at least in part, to said plow
mounting carriage .Iaddend. .[.the receiver mechanism being
connected to the adjusting mechanism and the transmitter mechanism
having at least one control for activating the adjusting mechanism
through the receiver mechanism for adjusting the snow plow blade.].
.
2. .[.An improved.]. .Iadd.A wireless remote .Iaddend.snow plow
.Iadd.control .Iaddend.system for use with a .[.single.]. vehicle
having a snow plow .Iadd.system removably .Iaddend.mounted to the
vehicle.Iadd., the snow plow system .Iaddend.including .[.a
means.]. .Iadd.a snow plow blade and an adjusting mechanism
.Iaddend.for .[.adjusting the snow plow mounted thereon, the
improvement being a wireless.]. .Iadd.raising, lowering, and
pivoting the snow plow blade, said wireless remote .Iaddend.snow
plow control system comprising: .Iadd.a .Iaddend.remote .[.radio.].
control .[.including a.]. .Iadd.comprising an R.F.
.Iaddend.transmitter .[.for transmitting a radio.]. .Iadd.which
transmits an R.F. control .Iaddend.signal .[.to a receiver within a
transmitting range;.]. .Iadd., said remote control additionally
comprising controls for selectively raising, lowering, and pivoting
the snow plow blade; .Iaddend. .[.the receiver being mounted to the
snow plow system;.]. .[.the.]. .Iadd.an R.F. receiver which
receives said R.F. control signal transmitted by said R.F.
transmitter, said R.F. .Iaddend.receiver .[.having.].
.Iadd.producing .Iaddend.an output .[.connected.]. .Iadd.which is
provided .Iaddend.to the .[.means.]. .Iadd.adjusting mechanism
.Iaddend.for .Iadd.controlling the .Iaddend.adjusting
.Iadd.mechanism to raise, lower, and pivot .Iaddend.the snow
plow.[.;.]. .Iadd.blade in response to said R.F. control signal
received from said R.F. transmitter.Iaddend.. .[.the transmitter
transmitting radio signals to the receiver;.]. .[.the receiver
receiving the radio signals transmitted by the transmitter for
adjusting the snow plow..].
3. .[.An improved apparatus.]. .Iadd.Apparatus .Iaddend.for
controlling the movement of a snow plow connected to a single
vehicle .[.without the use of electrical wires, the improvements
being a wireless snow plow control system.]. .Iadd., the snow plow
including a snow plow blade which is pivotally mounted at the front
of a plow mounting carriage mounted in turn to the front of the
vehicle, said apparatus .Iaddend.comprising: .[.a radio.]. .Iadd.an
R.F. .Iaddend.remote control .[.transmitting means.].
.Iadd.transmitter .Iaddend.for transmitting .[.a radio.]. .Iadd.an
R.F. control .Iaddend.signal.Iadd., said R.F. remote control
transmitter also including a first control for raising and lowering
the snow plow blade and a second control for pivoting the snow plow
blade.Iaddend.; .[.a radio.]. .Iadd.an R.F. .Iaddend.remote control
.[.receiving means.]. .Iadd.receiver .Iaddend.for receiving .[.the
radio.]. .Iadd.said R.F. control .Iaddend.signal .Iadd.from said
R.F. remote control transmitter and providing an output control
signal.Iaddend.; .[.the radio.]. .Iadd.an adjusting mechanism for
raising, lowering, and pivoting the snow plow blade, said adjusting
mechanism being attached, at least in part, to the plow mounting
carriage, said R.F. .Iaddend.remote control .[.receiving means.].
.Iadd.receiver .Iaddend.being operatively connected to .[.an.].
.Iadd.said .Iaddend.adjusting mechanism for adjusting .[.the.].
.Iadd.said .Iaddend.snow plow .Iadd.blade of the snow plow,
including at least raising, lowering and pivoting the snow plow
blade in response to said output control signal from said
receiver.Iaddend.; the radio remote control .[.transmitting
means.]. .Iadd.transmitter .Iaddend.being located .[.within a
transmitting range of.]. .Iadd.such that .Iaddend.the radio remote
control .[.receiving means.]. .Iadd.receiver can receive the radio
signal.Iaddend..
4. A method for .[.using a wireless.]. .Iadd.controlling the
position of a .Iaddend.snow plow .[.control system including.].
.Iadd.blade pivotally mounted on a plow mounting carriage removably
connected to the front of .Iaddend.a .[.single.]. vehicle, .[.a
snow plow blade, a mounting connecting the vehicle to.]. the snow
plow blade.[., a transmitter mechanism transmitting radio signals
to a receiver,.]. .Iadd.being raised, lowered and pivoted by
.Iaddend.an adjusting mechanism .[.for moving the snow plow blade,
the receiver being connected to the adjusting mechanism and the
transmitter mechanism having at least one control for activating
the adjusting mechanism through the receiver, the.].
.Iadd.attached, at least in part, to the plow mounting carriage,
said .Iaddend.method comprising: .[.activating the transmitter
mechanism to send a signal to the receiver; the receiver activating
the adjusting mechanism for moving the snow plow blade.].
.Iadd.controlling the position of the snow plow blade with a
self-contained, battery-powered, portable R.F. transmitter which
transmits an R.F. control signal, said transmitter having controls
for raising, lowering, and pivoting the snow plow blade; receiving
said R.F. control signal transmitted by said transmitter and
providing, in response thereto, an output control signal to the
adjusting mechanism to cause the adjusting mechanism to raise,
lower, and pivot the snow plow blade in response to manipulation of
said controls on said transmitter.Iaddend.. .Iadd.
5. A snow plow control system for use with a vehicle having a snow
plow removably mounted to the vehicle, the snow plow comprising a
plow mounting carriage removably mounted to the front of the
vehicle, a snow plow blade pivotally mounted at the front of the
plow mounting carriage, and an adjusting mechanism for raising,
lowering, and pivoting the snow plow blade with respect to the
vehicle, said snow plow control system comprising: a remote
transmitter which transmits radio frequency snow plow control
signals for controlling the adjusting mechanism to selectively
control the position of the snow plow blade by raising, lowering,
and pivoting the snow plow blade; and a receiver having an output
electrically connected to the adjusting mechanism, said receiver
being responsive to said radio frequency snow plow control signals
transmitted by said transmitter to cause the adjusting mechanism to
adjust the snow plow blade in response to the radio frequency snow
plow control signals, wherein said transmitter when located in a
passenger compartment in the vehicle is capable of transmitting
said radio frequency snow plow control signals such that said
receiver can receive the snow plow control signals.
.Iaddend..Iadd.
6. A snow plow control system as defined in claim 5, wherein said
receiver is responsive to said radio frequency snow plow control
signals to provide an electrical signal for controlling the
adjusting mechanism. .Iaddend..Iadd.
7. A snow plow control system as defined in claim 5, wherein said
receiver is responsive to said radio frequency snow plow control
signals to provide an electrical signal for activating a control
mechanism of the adjusting mechanism to control the adjustment of
the snow plow blade. .Iaddend..Iadd.
8. A snow plow control system as defined in claim 5, wherein said
transmitter comprises a self-contained, battery-powered, portable
device locatable within a passenger compartment of the vehicle or
at a location outside of the passenger compartment of the vehicle.
.Iaddend..Iadd.
9. A snow plow control system as defined in claim 5, wherein said
transmitter includes a plurality of control switches operable to
select a snow plow function to be provided by the adjusting
mechanism. .Iaddend..Iadd.
10. A snow plow control system as defined in claim 9, wherein the
snow plow control signals include data concerning a control switch
operated, and the receiver processes the data to activate a snow
plow function. .Iaddend..Iadd.
11. A snow plow control system as defined in claim 5, wherein the
transmitter transmits address information to the receiver and the
receiver checks the validity of the address information prior to
enabling the adjusting mechanism to provide a snow plow function.
.Iaddend..Iadd.
12. A snow plow system for use with a vehicle, the vehicle having a
front end, a passenger compartment, and a battery, said snow plow
system comprising: a snow plow mounting carriage having a front and
a rear, said rear of said snow plow mounting carriage being
removably mountable to the vehicle at the front end thereof; a snow
plow blade pivotally mounted onto said front of said snow plow
mounting carriage, said snow plow blade thereby being pivotable
with respect to said front of said snow plow mounting carriage to
thereby angle said snow plow blade between a range of positions
from a fully rightward position to a fully leftward position; a
first snow plow blade adjusting mechanism mounted on said snow plow
mounting carriage and mechanically coupled to said snow plow blade,
said first snow plow blade adjusting mechanism being operable to
drive said snow plow blade to pivot with respect to said front of
said snow plow mounting carriage between said range of positions
from a fully rightward position to a fully leftward position; a
second snow plow blade adjusting mechanism mechanically coupled to
said snow plow mounting carriage, said second snow plow blade
adjusting mechanism being operable to raise and lower said snow
plow blade; and a remote control system for operating said first
and second snow plow blade adjusting mechanisms, said remote
control system comprising: a transmitter which transmits radio
frequency snow plow control signals; controls located on said
transmitter for providing operator inputs to raise, lower, and
pivot said snow plow blade, said controls when actuated causing
said transmitter to transmit radio frequency snow plow control
signals containing information as to the desired adjustment of said
snow plow blade; and a receiver which is electrically connected to
said first and second snow plow blade adjusting mechanisms, said
receiver receiving said radio frequency snow plow control signals
transmitted by said transmitter and providing, in response to said
radio frequency snow plow control signals, electrical output
signals to said first and second snow plow blade adjusting
mechanisms to cause said first and second snow plow adjusting
mechanisms to adjust said snow plow blade in a manner conforming
with the operator inputs to said controls on said transmitter.
.Iaddend..Iadd.
13. A snow plow system as defined in claim 12, wherein said first
and second snow plow blade adjusting mechanisms are carried by the
snow plow mounting carriage and are removable from the vehicle
together with said snow plow mounting carriage. .Iaddend..Iadd.
14. A snow plow system as defined in claim 12, wherein said
receiver is mounted on said snow plow mounting carriage and is
removable from the vehicle together with said snow plow mounting
carriage. .Iaddend..Iadd.
15. A snow plow system as defined in claim 12, additionally
comprising: electrical power supply wires for supplying electrical
power from the battery of the vehicle to said receiver, said
electrical power supply wires being the only electrical connection
between the vehicle and said remote control system.
.Iaddend..Iadd.
16. A snow plow system as defined in claim 12, wherein said
transmitter comprises: a self-contained, battery-powered, portable
device locatable within the passenger compartment of the vehicle or
at a location outside of the passenger compartment of the vehicle.
.Iaddend..Iadd.
17. A snow plow control system for use with a vehicle having a snow
plow including a snow plow blade removably mounted to the vehicle
using a plow mounting carriage, the snow plow further including an
adjusting mechanism for adjusting the position of the snow plow
blade by raising, lowering and pivoting the snow plow blade, the
snow plow control system comprising: a self-contained,
battery-powered, portable remote control comprising a transmitter
for transmitting an R.F. control signal; and a receiver for
receiving said R.F. control signal transmitted by said transmitter
and for providing, in response to said R.F. control signal, an
output control signal to the adjusting mechanism to cause the
adjusting mechanism to raise, lower, and pivot the snow plow blade
in a desired fashion. .Iaddend..Iadd.
18. A snow plow control system for controlling the movement of a
snow plow removably mounted to a vehicle, the snow plow control
system comprising: a remote control transmitter for transmitting an
R.F. signal; and a remote control receiver for receiving said R.F.
signal;
wherein said remote control receiver is operatively connected to an
adjusting mechanism for adjusting a snow plow blade of the snow
plow in response to said R.F. signal, including at least raising,
lowering and pivoting the snow plow blade; and
wherein said remote control transmitter is located such that said
remote control receiver can receive the signal. .Iaddend.
Description
Please place Disclosure Document No. 343,154 dated 19 Nov. 1993 in
the file of this case.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to snow plow controls for a
snow plow of the kind designed to be connected to a vehicle like a
car or a truck.
When a snow plow is installed, mounted, or connected to a vehicle,
the installation typically requires that a control means, typically
a series of switches, lights, and indicators, be mounted within the
vehicle. Currently, the various movements and functions of snow
plows are controlled by running wires from the lifting and pivoting
means of the snow plow to a set of switches mounted within the
vehicle cab. The switches at a minimum include a plow lifting and
lowering switch and a plow left and right angling switch.
Additional switches to control auxiliary plow functions are not
uncommon. Electrical wiring must be run from the actuating means
mounted on the plow or mounted on the vehicle which perform the
various plow movements and functions to the control means mounted
within the vehicle cab. The electrical wires must pass through the
vehicle's front grill, engine compartments, fire wall, and
dashboard in order to be connected to the switches mounted in the
vehicle cab. Between the plow and the vehicle, the electrical wires
must have a plug and receptacle so that the electrical wires can be
disconnected when the plow is removed. Typically, the electrical
wires passing through the vehicle and switches within the vehicle
cab remain permanently mounted within the vehicle. The present
invention eliminates the electrical wires, plug and receptacle, and
permanent mounting of the switches by incorporating a wireless
remote control.
Because of the amount of labor required to install the wiring and
switches in a vehicle to which a snow plow is removably attached,
they are typically left in place even when the plow is removed from
the vehicle. There are many disadvantages to having permanently
mounted plow controls.
First, it is necessary that the plow controls be mounted in a
location easily accessible to the operator of the vehicle so that
.Iadd.the .Iaddend.operator can operate the plow without having to
reach far distances, move forward in the seat, take his or her eyes
off of the road, etc. The result of this necessity is that the
controls are often mounted where they can be in the way of the
operator or interfere with access to other vehicle controls not
used when plowing. This can cause inconvenience when not plowing
and when there is no need for the controls to be mounted within the
vehicle cab. Thus it is disadvantageous to have the plow controls
remain mounted within the vehicle when the plow is not in use and
it would be advantageous to be able to move the location of the
controls when the vehicle is in use.
Second, the operator of the plow can only operate the plow when he
or she is located within the vehicle cab. Often the operator finds
it desirable to operate or move the snow plow when not in the
vehicle. For example, when the operator makes height adjustments to
the plow skids, which control the distance between the bottom edge
of the plow (the mold board) and the pavement, it is more
convenient for the operator to lower the plow from a remote
location in front of the plow instead of constantly exiting and
entering the vehicle cab to make the necessary adjustments.
Third, often times the same plow is used on a plurality of
vehicles. In this situation, it is necessary to purchase and
permanently mount many sets of snow plow controls for separately
mounting in the cab of each vehicle. This practice can be expensive
and labor consuming.
The inventor knows of no prior art that either teaches or discloses
the unique features of the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention comprises a wireless remote snow plow control
to control a snow plow mounted to the front of a vehicle. The
control consists of two principal components. A receiver, which is
permanently mounted to the snow plow is connected to the lifting
and pivoting means of the plow. A separate transmitter containing
the requisite switches for controlling the plow functions can be
located wherever the operator of the plow desires. This is
typically somewhere within the vehicle cab, but permanent mounting
is not required. Furthermore, when the plow is removed the
transmitter can be kept with the stored plow because it is not
necessary to permanently attach the transmitter to the vehicle. It
is undesirable to permanently attach the transmitter to the
vehicle. If the same plow is to be used on a separate vehicle, the
operator of the separate vehicle need only obtain the transmitter
that corresponds with the receiver permanently mounted to the
particular snow plow. There is no need to permanently mount a
second set of snow plow controls to the second vehicle.
When the operator actuates one of the switches on the transmitter,
the transmitter sends a radio signal which is received by the
receiver. An electrical signal is then sent from the receiver to
the switching or actuating means of the snow plow. Because the
transmitter is completely portable, the operator can operate the
snow plow from any location provided he is within the transmitting
range of the transmitter. Please note that the method of actuation
of the controls on the transmitter need not be limited to physical
activation but that any type of mechanism capable of activating the
transmitter controls could potentially be used; e.g. a voice
activated computer control. Therefore, the interpretation given the
claims should be broad enough to include this possible alternative
structure.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side view of a vehicle having a snow plow mounted
thereon utilizing the wireless snow plow controls of this
invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the snow plow control transmitter
including an external battery pack.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable
those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical
embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which
may be embodied in other specific structure. While the preferred
embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without
departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.
The present invention comprises wireless snow plow controls 10 for
controlling the movement and functions of a snow plow 90 mounted to
a vehicle 70, e.g. a car or truck. The wireless snow plow controls
10 include a transmitter 50 for transmitting radio signals and a
receiver 30 for receiving radio signals. The transmitter 50 is
portable and can be operated from any location provided it is still
within a predetermined transmitting range with respect to the
receiver 30. The receiver 30 is typically permanently mounted to
the snow plow 90. The receiver 30 receives the radio signals
transmitted by the transmitter 50 and then activates the various
functions, such as lifting, lowering, angling right, angling left,
etc., of the snow plow 90.
Referring to FIG. 1, a snow plow 90 may be seen to be connected to
a vehicle 70. The plow 90 includes a plow blade 94 pivotally
attached to the front of the plow mounting carriage 92. The
mounting carriage 92 includes various known mechanisms 96 for
lifting and pivoting the plow blade 94. Depending upon the design
of the snow plow 90, some mechanisms 96 may be mounted on the front
of the vehicle 74. These mechanisms 96 include hydraulic pumps,
electric motors, hydraulic cylinders, levers, gears, pneumatic
pumps, pneumatic cylinders, and other means for lifting, angling,
and applying pressure to snow plow blades 94.
The other end of the plow mounting carriage 92 is connected to the
front of the vehicle 74. The plow mounting carriage 92 is typically
attached to the vehicle 70 in such a way that it is easily mounted.
Thus the entire plow 90, including control mechanisms 96, can be
removed from the vehicle 70 when it is necessary to use vehicle 70
for purposes of plowing snow.
Receiver 30 is typically mounted to plow mounting carriage 92 but
could also be mounted anywhere on or within the vehicle 74.
Receiver 30 includes an antenna 32 to aid in receiving the plow
control radio signals sent by transmitter 50. Receiver 30 has an
input wiring harness 34 which includes electrical wires for
obtaining power from the vehicle 70 and an output wiring harness
.[.36.]. .Iadd.36a .Iaddend.for actuating solenoids and switches
for the mechanisms 96 which function to raise, lower and pivot plow
blade 94.
Transmitter 50 is a portable unit that can be located by the
operator of the plow in any desirable location. This includes
within the cab 72 of the vehicle 70 as shown in FIG. 1 or at a
location outside of the vehicle cab 72. The only limitation
regarding the location of transmitter 50 is that it must be located
within a predetermined range of receiver 30 so that the signals
transmitted can reach the receiver.
As shown in FIG. 2, transmitter 50 requires a power supply 52.
Power supply 52 can be a separate battery pack 60 as shown in FIG.
2, can be a battery pack located within housing 62 of transmitter
50, or transmitter 50 can obtain its power directly from the
vehicle 70's power source. For example, power supply wires 64 could
be adapted to be plugged into the cigarette lighter of vehicle
70.
Transmitter 50 includes an antenna 54, for purposes of aiding in
the transmitting of plow control radio signals to receiver 30 and
has a plurality of joystick switches 56 and toggle switches 58 for
controlling the movements and positioning of plow 90. For safety
reasons, it is important that transmitter 50 be easily accessible
to the operator of the vehicle 70 and positioned in a convenient
location so that the operator does not have to reach an excessive
distance for the controls or take his or her eyes off the road when
trying to locate the transmitter 50. Because transmitter 50 is
completely portable, the operator can position the transmitter 50
in any desired location, including a location exterior to the
vehicle cab 72. This is very convenient, especially when the
operator needs to make adjustments to the plow 90 that require the
plow 90 to be lifted or angled upon completion to ensure that the
adjustments made are correct and do not cause any unforseen
problems with the proper operation of the plow 90.
The transmitter 50 is of the type manufactured by Microtronics,
Inc. of Humboldt, Kans. known as the MAX-1600 or MAX-3200 and
generates an R.F. signal which is FM modulated. The modulation is a
120 bit data stream with start and step bits, information
concerning the selected switch being activated and a specialized
algorithm developed to ensure the validity of the transmission.
Also transmitted .[.are.]. .Iadd.is .Iaddend.address information to
enable the transmitter "talk" to its associated receiver. This
address information is set so that no two devices will be the same.
There may be no limit to the number of wireless snow plow controls
10 used in the same vicinity without any cross-activation.
The receiver 30, also of the type manufactured by Microtronics,
Inc. of Humboldt, Kans., receives the radio signal transmitted by
the transmitter .[.60.]. .Iadd.50 .Iaddend.decodes the data stream
and checks for validity of the address and the start and stop bits
of the received data. If this is correct, a software algorithm is
performed to accept or reject the information to be passed on to
the receivers outputs 36. If for any reason this test fails, no
output 36 will be sent from receiver 30. Once this test has passed,
the appropriate output 36 will be sent. The output 36 activates one
of the control mechanisms 96 mounted to the plow mounting carriage
92 for purposes of controlling the plow blade 94's position.
The transmitter 50 and receiver 30 operate on the 5 R.F. channels
in accordance with FCC subpart D--Lower Power Communications
Devices, Part 15.117. Use of these devices is subject to the
provisions of FCC Part 15.103. A license is not required to operate
these devices. Finally, and alternatively, the transmitter .[.60.].
.Iadd.50 .Iaddend.and receiver 30 may be designed to produce and
receive any signal of the electromagnetic spectrum that would allow
them to function in the manner described herein.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles
of the invention. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and
changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not
desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and
operation shown and described. While the preferred embodiment has
been described, the details may be changed without departing from
the invention, which is defined by the claims.
* * * * *