AU2009251644A1 - Heavy machine with wireless reporting from remove sensor to automatic central controller - Google Patents

Description

WO 2009/146009 PCT/US2009/038711 TOOL ATTACHMENTS ON AN AUTO-POWERED MOBILE MACHINE 5 Introduction [01] Machines originally designed as front end loaders with tracks or wheels, whether having skid-steering wheels or turnable wheels, such as Bobcat brand machines, have been adapted to become general purpose tool carriers that can receive a variety of controllable tool attachments to be 10 attached to the front or back of the machine and controlled by an operator sitting in the operator's seat. This tool attachment carrying system can be improved upon by (1) allowing linear acting tools to be attached on the side, (2) placing the operator's seat and controls on a controllable swivel so that the operator can swivel to an optimum location for viewing the work, and (3) 15 providing the operator with a controllable articulating arm with a bucket, claw, rake or compactor or similar implement which the operator can operate to accomplish a task in a coordinated fashion with the linear acting tool which is attached below the swivel. The engine may also be above the swivel, in which case it drives a hydraulic pump that pumps fluid through the swivel to 20 drive the linear acting tool attached below the swivel. So that the swivel can rotate without limitation, electrical control signals may pass through conductor rings in the swivel or via wireless radio signal to the linear acting tool, or additional hydraulic circuits may be added passing through the swivel. The linear acting tool may be hydraulically adjusted in response to operator 25 controls or location of a string datum line or a curb or gutter or GPS coordinates. The adjustment may move the tool vertically without pivoting to stay plumb or it may pivot the tool about a pivot point. Summary of the invention [02] In one aspect, the invention is a tool carrying and controlling 30 system wherein an operator can control a swiveling tool and either a first linear acting controllable tool or a second linear acting controllable tool to operate in coordination with the first tool. The system comprises (a) a set of 1 WO 2009/146009 PCT/US2009/038711 wheels or tracks on which the machine rides supporting a support structure; (b) coupled to and supported by the support structure, an operator's seat and operator's controls; (c) coupled to and supported by the support structure, a vertical swivel such that components coupled to an upper side of the swivel 5 can swivel about a vertical axis relative to the support structure; (d) an articulating arm coupled to the upper side of the vertical swivel, controllable by the controls, with a first tool mounted on a distant end of the arm;.(e) coupled to and supported by the support structure and fixed to a lower side of the swivel, a mounting support for mounting to one side of the path of the tracks 10 or wheels a linear acting tool; (f) a first linear acting tool mountable on the mounting base, the first tool or mounting base including moving parts such that an operator can, using controls at the operator's seat, control the swiveling tool and, also using controls at the operator's seat, control the moving parts of the first tool or mounting base, which does not swivel with the 15 swiveling tool, so that the two tools perform an operation in coordination with each other; and (g) a second linear acting tool mountable on the mounting base, the second tool or mounting base including moving parts controllable by the controls such that an operator can remove the first tool and replace it with the second tool and then, using controls at the operator's seat, control the 20 swiveling tool and, also using controls at the operator's seat, control the moving parts of the second tool or mounting base, which does not swivel with the first tool, so that the two tools perform an operation in coordination with each other. [03] The above elements (a) through (d) may be provided by an 25 excavator, particularly a mini-excavator. So that the swivel can fully swivel any number of rotations without limitation, the system may include an electrical circuit coupling the controls with the moving parts of the mounting support or first or second tool, the electrical circuit passing through the swivel via electrical conductor rings and brushes. Alternatively, the controls signals 30 may be communicated with a wireless link that carries radio communications from the controls to the mounting support or first of second tool. In this case, electrical power to operate a wireless communication component coupled to the mounting support or first of second tool may be provided by a hydraulic 2 WO 2009/146009 PCT/US2009/038711 generator which receives power from flow of hydraulic fluid passing through the swivel from a hydraulic pump on the engine mounted above the swivel. [04] The swiveling tool may be an earth moving bucket or a claw or a rake or vibratory compactor or any similar implement. The first and second 5 linear acting tools may be any of: a curb and gutter grading blade; a curb and gutter extruder; a sidewalk and shoulder grading blade; an asphalt paver; a concrete paver; a fence installer; a trencher; a concrete/asphalt saw; a side roller/compactor; a vibratory roller; a snow plow; and other similar tools. .[05] In another aspect, the invention is a side tool carrying and 10 controlling machine in the form of a modified excavator, comprising a common excavator, which is: (a) a set of wheels or tracks on which the machine rides supporting a support structure; (b) coupled to and supported by the support structure, a vertical swivel such that components coupled to an upper side of the swivel can swivel about a vertical axis relative to the support structure; (c) 15 coupled to and supported by the upper side of the swivel, an operator's seat, operator's controls, and an articulating arm having a tool on a distant end. The modification consists of: (d) coupled to and supported by the support structure and fixed to a lower side of the swivel, a side tool mounting support adapted for mounting a linear acting tool to one side of a path of the wheels or 20 tracks; (e) a set of source side hydraulic couplers disposed proximate to the mounting support and available for use with mating hydraulic couplers of a hydraulically controlled side tool, each source side coupler coupled to a hydraulic pump disposed above the swivel via hydraulic lines having control valves that control flow through the lines in response to actuation at the 25 operator's controls. [06] The side tool carrying and controlling machine may be designed to fully swivel any number of rotations without limitation by ensuring that any hydraulic or communication circuits pass through the swivel with slip fittings or use wireless radio. 30 [07] The side tool carrying and controlling machine may further include a hydraulic actuator coupled to the mounting support and configured for adjusting the support or an attached linear acting tool in response to a 3 WO 2009/146009 PCT/US2009/038711 control, which may be an operator control or an automated control that responds to location relative to a string datum line or that responds to a slope sensor or that responds to position with respect to global positioning system satellites. 5 [08] In yet another aspect, the invention is a curb and gutter extruding machine made by modifying a common excavator, which is a set of wheels or tracks on which the excavator rides supporting a support structure; coupled to and supported by the support structure, a vertical swivel such that components coupled to an upper side of the swivel can swivel about a vertical 10 axis relative to the support structure; coupled to and supported by the upper side of the swivel, an operator's seat, operator's controls, and an articulating arm having a tool on a distant end. The modification consists of: coupled to and supported by the support structure and fixed to a lower side of the swivel, a curb and gutter extruder attachment comprising a hopper and a slip form 15 mounted to extrude a curb or gutter to one side of a path of the wheels or tracks. [09] The curb and gutter extruder may further comprise a hydraulic actuator coupled to a hydraulic valve that is automatically controlled by a controller that adjusts height of the extruder relative to one of: location with 20 respect to a datum line string, tilt with respect to gravity, or location with respect to global positioning system satellites. [10] The curb and gutter extruder may be mounted to an attachment base on the excavator which may be a typical front blade of the excavator. It may be braced by a diagonal brace to a track roller chassis of the excavator. 25 [11] In yet another aspect, the invention is a sidewalk paving machine made by modifying a common excavator, the modification comprising: coupled to and supported by the support structure and fixed to a lower side of the swivel, a sidewalk paving attachment comprising lateral material retaining fins, a spreading auger and a smoothing plate with a 30 vibrator mounted to spread and smooth formable paving material to one side of a path of the wheels or tracks. 4 WO 2009/146009 PCT/US2009/038711 [12] The sidewalk paving machine may include one or more heating elements on the smoothing plate to heat asphalt paving material. It may further include at least one curb follower attached to a side of a material retaining fin to maintain proper height relative to a curb. The paving 5 attachment may be mounted to a blade of the excavator. It may include a diagonal brace to a track roller chassis of the excavator. [13] In yet another aspect, the invention is a sidewalk grading machine with vertical blade adjustment made by modifying a common excavator, the modification comprising: coupled to and supported by the 10 support structure and fixed to a lower side of the swivel, a sidewalk grading blade attachment with a straight vertical adjusting component, the vertical adjusting component comprising: (1) an excavator side attachment fitting, coupled to (2) a set of vertical tracks, which are engaged by (3) a set of vertical sliders, which are attached to the grading blade, and (4) a hydraulic 15 actuator that adjusts vertical sliding of the sliders on the tracks, thereby vertically adjusting the height of the grading blade. [14] The sidewalk grading machine may further comprise a sonar position detector that detects position of a datum line relative to the detector which detected information is used to adjust the vertical adjusting component. 20 The datum line may be a string or a concrete curb or gutter or a laser line or plane, a road surface, or an established grade. [15] In yet another aspect, the invention is a sidewalk or shoulder rolling machine, comprising (a) a common excavator comprising a set of wheels or tracks on which the excavator rides supporting a support structure; 25 coupled to and supported by the support structure, a vertical swivel such that components coupled to an upper side of the swivel can swivel about a vertical axis relative to the support structure; coupled to and supported by the upper side of the swivel, an operator's seat, operator's controls, and an articulating arm having a tool on a distant end; and (b) coupled to and supported by the 30 support structure and fixed to a lower side of the swivel, a side roller attachment comprising a frame, which supports at least one axis which holds at least one weighted cylindrical roller located to roll an approximately horizontal surface to one side of a path of the wheels or tracks. The rolling 5 WO 2009/146009 PCT/US2009/038711 machine may include a vibrator on the frame located to vibrate the at least one roller. [16] In yet another aspect, the invention is a silt fence installing machine, comprising: (a) a common excavator comprising a set of wheels or 5 tracks on which the excavator rides supporting a support structure; coupled to and supported by the support structure, a vertical swivel such that components coupled to an upper side of the swivel can swivel about a vertical axis relative to the support structure; coupled to and supported by the upper side of the swivel, an operator's seat, operator's controls, and an articulating 10 arm having a tool on a distant end; and (b) coupled to and supported by the support structure and fixed to a lower side of the swivel, a silt fence installing attachment comprising a frame, which supports a fence roll support bar for holding a roll of fencing, a plowing edge, and following the plowing edge, a diagonal direction changing edge which redirects the fabric from vertical 15 movement to horizontal movement. The silt fence installing machine may include at least one height adjustable wheel or skid that contacts an earth surface and limits a depth of plowing of the plowing edge. [17] In yet another aspect, the invention is a machine for installing rolled-up fencing with attached posts, comprising: (a) an attachment mount 20 adapted to attach to an attachment base on a mobile machine; (b) coupled to the attachment mount, a fence dispenser adapted to hold vertically a roll of fence material with attached fence posts and allow the fence material with posts to feed off the roll; (c) coupled to the attachment mount, a plowing edge adapted to plow a trench as the mobile machine moves forward; (d) a fence 25 material guide adapted to guide fence material with posts coming off the roll into installation position as the mobile machine moves forward; and (e) a fence post pusher adapted to push each fence post from installation position into soil as the mobile machine moves forward. The tool may further comprise soil pushers adapted to push soil against a bottom edge of installed 30 fence as the mobile machine moves forward. [18] In yet another aspect, the invention is a tool for installing rolled up fencing without attached posts and digging holes for or pounding in fence posts, comprising: (a) at least one attachment mount adapted to attach to an 6 WO 2009/146009 PCT/US2009/038711 attachment base on a mobile machine; (b) coupled to at least one attachment mount, a vertical sliding guide with a slider disposed with no obstruction on a vertical line from the slider to soil when the tool is mounted on a mobile machine; and (c) coupled to at least one attachment mount, a fence dispenser 5 adapted to hold vertically a roll of fence material and allow the fence material to feed off the roll proximate the vertical line. The tool attachment system may further comprise a powered auger mountable on the slider adapted to drill a hole suitable for a fence post when sliding down the sliding guide. It may also comprise a pounding face mountable on the slider adapted to pound 10 a fence post when sliding down the sliding guide and/or a fence stretcher. Brief Description of the Figures [19] The figures comprise Figures 1 to 31. 15 Detailed Description The prior art [20] Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings which shows the prior art sidewalk grading machine, numeral 20 generally designates the sidewalk grading blade and support structure, called the sidewalk grader 20. The 20 sidewalk grader 20 is used to grade sidewalk base material 22, which sometimes includes crushed rock 24, to a predetermined specified grade and elevation to form the base 26 of a designed sidewalk (not illustrated). Typically, the sidewalk grader 20 accommodates grading activity for sidewalks that extend adjacent to and along an existing road structure 30 of the type that 25 incorporates a curb 32 as a border. [21] More specifically, the sidewalk grader 20 comprises a tracking assembly 34 adapted for fixable engagement with a vertically movable accessory 36 extending from below the swivel in a piece of construction excavation equipment 38. Commonly, a vertically adjustable backfill blade 30 extending from a common compact excavator 42 is effective 36 for this purpose. When a compact excavator 42 is used, the bucket 43 thereof, can 7 WO 2009/146009 PCT/US2009/038711 be very useful to either remove or add additional sidewalk base material 22 depending on the condition of the site reserved for the sidewalk. In addition, as the sidewalk grader 20 advances along the road structure 30, the bucket 43 can be used to break-up native hard-pan type soil, and to remove large 5 rocks and the like. [22] The construction equipment 38 is generally positioned to move forward over an existing road structure 30 to advance the sidewalk grader 20 in a direction along the existing road structure 30, substantially parallel thereto. This forward movement is indicated by arrow 46. Importantly, the 10 excavation equipment 38 so provided is disposed and operated over an existing road structure 30 thereby minimizing the impact it has on the base 26. Accordingly, the tracking assembly 34 is configured to extend from the vertically movable accessory 36 in a transverse direction to the course of advancement (indicated by an arrow 46), transversely across the road 15 structure 30 and the curb 32 thereof. [23] In addition, the tracking assembly 34 further comprises a vertically adjustable tracking means 48 disposed for engagement with the top surface of the curb 32 portion of the road structure 30. With this configuration, the top surface 50 of the curb 32 provides a point of reference for operation of 20 the sidewalk grader 20. [24] A grading assembly 54 is mounted and fixed to the tracking assembly 34 so that the grading assembly 54 extends outward, beyond the curb 32, positioned over the location of the area reserved for the designed sidewalk and base 26 thereof. More specifically, the grading assembly 54 25 comprises a frame 56, and a grading blade 58 rotatingly mounted to the frame 56 to permit adjustment of slope of the grading blade 58 according to the specified sidewalk design grade. In order to lock or fix the rotation of the grading blade 58 in relation to the frame 56, according to a predetermined grade, a fixing means 60 for fixing the blade rotation is provided. 30 [25] As noted above, the tracking means 48 is vertically adjustable. This feature is provided to enable the tracking means 48 to engage with the top surface 50 of a curb 32 to provide a relative reference, or point of 8 WO 2009/146009 PCT/US2009/038711 reference, for precise vertical and horizontal adjustment of the sidewalk grader 20, to position the grading assembly 54, and for maintaining the grading assembly in the desired position in relation to the curb as the sidewalk grader 20 advances along the existing road structure 30 as indicated by arrow 5 46. [26] Because the top surface 50 of the curb 32 is usually rough concrete, the preferred tracking means 48 is constructed for rolling engagement along the top surface 50 of the curb 32, such as a wheel 94. [27] In a simplified embodiment of the sidewalk grader 20, the 10 tracking assembly 34 comprises a pivot joint 64, disposed adjacent the backfill blade to enable the sidewalk grader 20 to fold from a first unfolded position to a folded position. An additional pivot joint 65 is provided to form an additional folding point to fold the sidewalk grader 20 for storage and transportation. As will be discussed more fully below, a second pivot joint 65 can provide an 15 additional pivot axis for up and down movement of the grading assembly 54 to provide greater flexibility thereof. [28] A cylinder support 82 is fabricated from solid steel for strength and is welded directly to the support tube 76. At the top of the cylinder support 82 is an upper eye to provide a connection point for the upper portion of a 20 vertical hydraulic cylinder. Similarly, at the opposing end, its ram is connected to a vertically movable wheel carriage having a wheel 94. With this arrangement, the ram 88 can be operated to vertically adjust the wheel 94 to the proper elevation to rest on the top surface 50 of curb 32 to track the curb 32 as the sidewalk grader 20 advances along the road structure 30. Adjusting 25 the vertical hydraulic cylinder causes pivoting of the blade 58 rather than vertical movement of the blade. [29] As the sidewalk grader 20 advances along the road structure 30, the wheel 94 should be adjustable between a first lower limit and a second upper limit, thereby lowering the sidewalk grader 20 to enable the sidewalk 30 grader 20 to follow the curb 32 as it drops to an area reserved for a driveway (not illustrated), i.e., where the curb transitions downward and fades into the driveway. This movement causes pivoting of the blade 58 in an arc, such that 9 WO 2009/146009 PCT/US2009/038711 its distant end moves more than its nearer end, rather than vertical movement of the blade. [30] To compensate for the pivoting of the blade, as shown in Figure 5, a slope control system including a slope sensor 220, a pivot 180, and a 5 hydraulic cylinder 226 (all not shown in Figure 1) were added to the prior art system. This slope control system compensates for any deviation in slope of the grading blade 58 caused by bumps in the road structure 30, change in slope of the road structure, and excavator load changes and the like. Accordingly, the slope sensor senses any change in slope and communicates 10 the change to a control box which then signals an electronically controlled valve stack to activate the hydraulic slope control link to compensate for the change. In this way, the grading blade 58 is automatically controlled to provide a smoothly graded base 26 for the sidewalk. Converting the excavator to a multi-attachment side tool carrier 15 [31] As described below, as an improvement over the above described prior art, the present invention encompasses a tool carrying and controlling system wherein an operator can control a swiveling tool and either a first attachable linear acting controllable tool or a second attachable linear acting controllable tool to operate in coordination with the first tool. For use in 20 this system, the excavator is modified to include a side tool mounting base or support affixed below the swivel for attaching any linear acting tool, and a set of hydraulic line quick couplers 494 are mounted proximate to the side mounting base as shown in Figure 2. The couplers maybe ganged as shown in Figure 3. The quick coupler hydraulic connections may be color-coded to 25 correspond to the function control buttons on a Suregrip handle 465 in the cab with corresponding colors as shown in Figure 4a. Attachment hydraulic hoses may also have corresponding colors. [32] On the excavator, the two hydraulic hoses that operate the stock backfill blade are rerouted to an electronically controlled valve stack with 30 proportional and/or on/off sections for supplying hydraulic pressure to any number of attachment hydraulic circuits. Accordingly, the tool support mount on one end of the backfill blade is now connected to, and controlled by the 10 WO 2009/146009 PCT/US2009/038711 valve stack. In this way, the operator can electronically control the valve stack from within the cab of the excavator, above the swivel, to control all hydraulic circuits below the swivel that effect any attachment function. The valve stack is located between the lower side of the swivel and the quick couplers, and 5 any number of hoses are routed from the valve stack to the set of hydraulic couplers for the side attachment. [33] Electric control wires from the cab to the valve stack may couple the two together as in the prior art. However, this limits rotation of the swivel and risks damaging the wires. An improvement is to pass the control wires 10 through the swivel with slip rings, an electromechanical device that allows the transmission of power and electrical signals from a stationary to a rotating structure, also called a rotary electrical joint, collector or electric swivel. [34] Alternatively, A transmitter/receiver mounted in the cab can transmit all commands from an installed control handle mounted on the right 15 or left joystick as well as any other switches or any controls in the machine's cab. A receiver/transmitter capable of driving the hydraulic valve stack decodes the signal and controls the valve stack. A hydraulic generator that is installed in the return hydraulic line generates power to keep a large capacitor charged. This capacitor supplies power to operate the electric control valves 20 and supplies power to the wireless receiver/transmitter module. A battery may be used instead of a capacitor. The battery can be charged as mentioned above or removed each night and charged the conventional way. [35] As another alternative, instead of manifolding one hydraulic circuit into many with a control valve stack placed below the swivel and then 25 routing electric or wireless controls through or around the swivel, the excavator swivel can be modified to add more hydraulic circuits through the swivel, allowing the valve stack to be placed above the swivel. [36] As a further improvement to the prior art side tool system, a vertical slider, shown in Figure 5, may be inserted into the beam structure 30 between the excavator and the tool. This prevents relative vertical movement from inducing a pivoting movement. This slider may be inserted at joint 64 in Figure 1. It retains the hinge feature of prior joint 64 to allow folding of the 11 WO 2009/146009 PCT/US2009/038711 beam. The slider may be hydraulically actuated, as shown in Figure 5, or it may slide by itself vertically, perhaps using the wheels on the curb or other datum line to force vertical movement. The vertical slider constrains the tool to move straight up and down and not swing in an arc, as in the prior art. 5 [37] For use with this multi-tool carrier, several linear acting attachable side tools are described below. Curb or curb and gutter extruder [38] On a road and sidewalk construction job, the first linear acting tool that is useful when mounted on the side tool carrier described above is a 10 curb and gutter extruder as shown in Figure 6. [39] After a first curb is extruded and hardened, the extruder head may be changed to extrude a second curb on the far side of the sidewalk grade as shown in Figure 7. A trimmerhead 430 and auger 435 can be used in conjunction with or ahead of the curb and gutter extruder. 15 [40] As shown in Figure 6, a sonar sensor 525 may be set up on an arm 520 to actuate controllers that adjust height and lateral location relative to a string 522 set up as a datum line. Sidewalk grader improvements [41] The next tool to be used on the job is a sidewalk grader. As an 20 improvement to the prior art grader, the blade width may be made adjustable with a sliding blade extension 304 guided by guide bars 315 and 316 and actuated by a hydraulic cylinder 318 as shown in Figure 8. [42] As another improvement, a detachable fin 302 shown in Figure 8 may be added to the distant end of the blade. 25 [43] As another improvement, a detachable trencher 382 shown in Figure 9 may be added to the distant end of the blade to create a trench for placing sidewalk edging stones. For use in the same pass, a windrow forming attachment 380 may be added to pile displaced material in a windrow 384. [44] Then a second curb may be extruded as shown in Figure 7 or 30 sidewalk edging stones 385 may be placed in the trench as shown as shown 12 WO 2009/146009 PCT/US2009/038711 in Figure 10. Base rock 387 is then placed in the sidewalk grade, and the base rock is graded with the sidewalk grading blade, as shown in Figure 10. An edging backfill attachment 386 may be added to the end of the blade to pull the windrow 384 against the edging stones 385 or extruded curb. 5 [45] Also, a sonar sensing and guiding system may be added to sense the curb top or the gutter or a guide string. A laser sensor may be added to sense a laser beam for guidance. Paver [46] Now the grade is ready for paving with a paver as shown in 10 Figures 11, 12, and 13 (cross section). The paver components are attached to the grading blade to add an auger 342 and a smoothing plate 351 plus smoothing plate extension 352. A vibrator 308 helps smooth the material, whether cement or asphalt, and, when used for asphalt, heaters 335, 336 , and 337 keep the smoothing plate warm. If electric heaters are used, they 15 may be driven by a generator 301 which may be mounted on the excavator blade 40. Reel for auxiliary hydraulic hoses [47] Figures 14a, 14c, 15a, 15b and 16a show a hydraulic hose reel 651 adapted to carry two hydraulic hoses in the tool mounting base (which is 20 preferably also an earth moving blade) for connecting any tool that needs hydraulic power. Horizontally extendable side blade [48] Figures 14b, 14c, 15b, 15c, 15d, 16a, and 16b show a side blade which extends horizontally out of an end of the tool mounting base 25 (which is preferably also an earth moving blade). The side blade 861 is also shown in Figures 23, 24, 25 26a, 26b, and 27. Multi-coupling plate [49] Figure 3 shows a fixed hydraulic multi-coupling plate 871 and a mating mobile hydraulic multi-coupling plate 870. 13 WO 2009/146009 PCT/US2009/038711 [50] Figures 16c, 17b, and 17c show a multi-coupling plate 871 mounted on the tool mounting base (which is preferably also an earth moving blade). This prevents hydraulic hoses from being incorrectly coupled. As shown in these figures, it also is engaged by the action of engaging a tool 5 mount 872 with a tool multi-coupling plate 870 onto the mounting base. Thus, one action both attaches the tool and couples hydraulic lines for actuating the tool. [51] Figures 16c and 17c show how retainers 873 of the tool mount may be powered with a hydraulic cylinder 874. The retainers 873 engage and 10 retain steel pins 875 with are part of the tool mount 872. A third pin 876 may be added beside the multi-coupler to ensure alignment. Tool attachment base that stays plumb [52] The tool attachment base is preferably a central earth-moving blade on an excavator. However, as shown in Figure 18a, the standard blade 15 rotates out of plumb as the blade is raised and lowered. For use of the blade as a tool attachment base, it is preferable to replace the blade with a blade designed to stay plumb as the blade is raised and lowered. [53] There are two ways to achieve this objective. First, the blade may be designed with upper and lower pivot points connected by arms to 20 upper and lower pivot points on the machine, with the blade pivot points located such that the four pivot points always form a parallelogram. A hydraulic cylinder is then coupled to apply forces to opposite corners of the parallelogram to raise and lower the blade. [54] Alternatively, the blade may be designed as shown in Figures 25 18b and 19. As shown, a first arm connecting the blade to the machine via couplings 918 and 919 includes an intermediate coupling 901 between a first portion of the arm 912 and a second portion of the arm 913. The first portion is affixed with a pivot 915 to a second arm 914 which couples the blade to the machine via couplings 920 and 921, and the first portion 912 includes a lever 30 arm 917 between the intermediate coupling 911 and the pivot 915 wherein the length and angle of the lever arm is determined so as to constrain the tool 14 WO 2009/146009 PCT/US2009/038711 attachment base to move up and down without significant rotation out of plumb. [55] In either case, the design may be described more generally as follows: at least two arms, each having a first end and a second end, with 5 rotatable couplings at the first ends for attaching to the machine; rotatable couplings on the second ends coupled to a tool attachment base; and the at least four couplings each having a location when the attachment base is mounted on a machine via the couplings wherein geometric relationships between the locations of the couplings constrains the tool attachment base to 10 move up and down without significant rotation out of plumb. Silt fence installer [56] Often when a silt fence must be installed it is important not to disturb ground on one side. The bucket of an excavator is useful for preparing the area while the machine moves forward installing the fence 602 15 as shown in Figure 20. The silt fence installer attachment includes a fence roll support bar 608, that supports a roll of fencing material 602. The fencing material is fed off the roll, down around a direction changing diagonal edge (not visible). Surrounding the fencing as it goes around the direction changing edge are two sides 604 of a direction changing chamber. The sides join at a 20 plowing edge 618 that cuts into the ground as the machine moves forward. A skid or wheels 606 may be adjusted up or down to change the depth of the cut made by the plowing edge 618. Silt fence with attached posts installer [57] Figure 21 a shows another form of silt fence installer. In this 25 case, the silt fence is supplied on a roll 801 with stiff posts 802 attached to the fence material every 2 - 4 feet. The posts extend below the fence material at the bottom by 3 - 12 inches. A plowing edge 803 digs a trench to a preferred depth for the silt fence material. [58] As the fencing with posts unrolls, it is inserted into the trench 30 with the post bottoms at the bottom of the trench and the fence material above the bottom by 3 - 12 inches. Then a post pusher 804 pushes on the tops of 15 WO 2009/146009 PCT/US2009/038711 the posts to push them into the soil at the bottom of the trench to a preferred depth, typically until the fence material touches the bottom of the trench. Hydraulic cylinders adjust a height of a leading edge of the post pusher and a height of a trailing edge of the post pusher to push the posts to the desired 5 depth. [59] In a preferred embodiment, a steel U channel with extending fins extends from a trailing edge of the plow 802 to keep the trench open until the fence is seated. A bottom of the U channel supports and guides the post bottoms as they descend to the bottom of the trench. Then the fins hold back 10 soil until the posts are pushed to a desired depth. [60] Finally, rotatable discs 807 push the soil to close the trench against the fence material. [61] The same fence installer side-tool attachment can be used to install fences that do not include buried material by setting tool height so that 15 no trench is dug and using fencing where the posts extend below the material by 8 - 24 inches, [62] Preferred structure for the fencing material 801 is woven with loose warp and weft parallel and perpendicular to the fence bottom and top so that it will easily skew to parallelogram orientation to allow material coming off 20 the roll to easily descend to installed height and then the material reorients to roughly square as it is seated. Fence and non-attached posts installer [63] Figure 22 shows another form of fence installer. In this case, the fence is supplied on a roll 831 without posts. The posts are robust and 25 require an auger 832 mounted on a vertical sliding base 834 mounted on a vertical slide 833 to drill holes, or require a hydraulic post pounding face (not shown) mounted on the sliding base 834 to pound them in. The attachment may include a fence stretcher 835. Horizontally extendable low profile side blade 30 [64] Figure 23 shows a horizontally extendable low profile side blade attachment 861 that can clear debris under guard rails. As shown in Figure 16 WO 2009/146009 PCT/US2009/038711 24, the low profile blade slides horizontally in or out using pipe guides 862. A similar horizontally extendable blade 864 is also shown in Figure 25. The pipes guides 865 are shown in a side view in Figure 26b, and in a top view in Figure 26a. 5 Side roller [65] It is sometimes advantageous to be able to roll a surface to one side of a road grade, such as in a sidewalk grade. A side roller attachment, as shown in Figure 31, mounted on the modified excavator does the job. The roller may include a vibrator 730. 10 Red zone auto controls [66] A system with a programmable controller in the cab with a custom graphic display can be used to create a "Red Zone" that the excavator components cannot enter, thereby protecting the tool and people near it or using it. Inclinometers, potentiometers, rotation sensors, and cylinder stroke 15 sensors are some of the means to indicate to the controller the position of the cab, arm, boom, and bucket, to enable the machine to stay out of the "Red Zone". When the machine enters the "Red Zone" the pilot valve cuts the oil supply between the excavator control handles and the excavator control valve. 20 [67] In particular, the controller can be programmed to give specific directions for each attachment using a look-up table for each attachment to specify: - location of "Red Zone", - restriction on flow rate and psi of hydraulic oil to each hydraulic 25 actuator, down to zero when appropriate, - allowed characteristics of each function of each hydraulic actuator of the excavator or the tool, - limitations on or specification of track speed and direction ( the Leica Sonar system can read a string line and direct the controller to drive the 17 WO 2009/146009 PCT/US2009/038711 machine's direction and speed automatically) as with side grader and Curb and gutter extruder; and - alignment of control handle buttons to correspond with attachment functions. 5 [68] IFM Electronics makes a suitable inclinometer, model EC 2045, and cylinder stroke sensors. They also offer a suitable programmable controller, model CR 1050. 18

Claims (44)

1. A tool carrying and controlling system wherein an operator can control a first swiveling tool and either a second controllable tool or a third controllable tool to operate in coordination with the first tool, comprising: 10 (a) a set of wheels or tracks on which the machine rides supporting a support structure; (b) coupled to and supported by the support structure, an operator's seat and operator's controls; (c) coupled to and supported by the support structure, a vertical swivel 15 such that components coupled to an upper side of the swivel can swivel about a vertical axis relative to the support structure; (d) an articulating arm coupled to the upper side of the vertical swivel, controllable by the controls, with a first tool mounted on a distant end of the arm;. 20 (e) coupled to and supported by the support structure and fixed to a lower side of the swivel, a mounting base for mounting an additional tool; (f) a second tool mountable on the mounting base, the second tool or mounting base including moving parts such that an operator can, using controls at the operator's seat, control the first tool, which can swivel, and, 25 also using controls at the operator's seat, control the moving parts of the second tool or mounting base, which does not swivel with the first tool, so that the two tools perform an operation in coordination with each other; and (g) a third tool mountable on the mounting base, the third tool or mounting base including moving parts controllable by the controls such that 30 an operator can remove the second tool and replace it with the third tool and 19 WO 2009/146009 PCT/US2009/038711 then, using controls at the operator's seat, control the first tool, which can swivel, and, also using controls at the operator's seat, control the moving parts of the third tool or mounting base, which does not swivel with the first tool, so that the two tools perform an operation in coordination with each 5 other.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the swivel can fully swivel any number of rotations without limitation.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein elements (a) through (e) are provided by an excavator with the operator's seat and operator's controls coupled to the 10 upper side of the swivel.

4. The system of claim 3 further comprising an electrical circuit coupling the controls with the moving parts of the mounting base or second or third tool, the electrical circuit passing through the swivel with conductors that allow any number of rotations without limitation. 15

5. The system of claim 3 further comprising a wireless communication link that carries communications from the controls to the mounting base or second or third tool.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein electrical power to operate a wireless communication component coupled to the mounting base or second or third 20 tool is provided by a hydraulic generator which receives power from flow of hydraulic fluid through the swivel from a hydraulic pump on an engine mounted above the swivel.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the first tool is an earth moving bucket.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the first tool is a claw. 25

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the first tool is a vibratory compactor.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the second and third tools are selected from the group comprising: - an in-front grading blade; - an on-the-side grading blade; 30 - a curb and gutter extruder; 20 WO 2009/146009 PCT/US2009/038711 - an asphalt paver; - a silt fence installer; - a trencher; - a concrete/asphalt saw; 5 - a manhole cutter; - a log splitter; - a side roller/compactor; - a concrete pulverizer; - a stump grinder; 10 - a three point hitch adapter; - a forestry mulcher; - a demolition shear; - a rocksaw; - a brush hog; 15 - a snowblower; - a rockhound; - a tree shear; - a dirt and rock sifter; - a vibratory roller; 20 - a brush and tree cutter; - a sideauger; and - a post pounder. B. Interchangeable lower tools work with an operator's seat above a 25 swivel

11. An interchangeable tool carrying and controlling system wherein an operator can swivel an operator's seat for better viewing the tool, comprising: 21 WO 2009/146009 PCT/US2009/038711 (a) a set of wheels or tracks on which the machine rides supporting a support structure; (b) coupled to and supported by the support structure, a vertical swivel such that components coupled to an upper side of the swivel can swivel about 5 a vertical axis relative to the support structure; (c) coupled to and supported by the upper side of the swivel, an operator's seat and operator's controls; (d) coupled to and supported by the support structure and fixed to a lower side of the swivel, a mounting base for mounting a tool; 10 (e) a first tool mountable on the mounting base, the first tool or mounting base including moving parts controllable by the controls such that an operator can mount the first tool, control the moving parts with controls at the operator's seat, and control swiveling of the operator's seat with controls at the operator's seat to adjust the operator's view; and 15 (f) a second tool mountable on the mounting base, the second tool or mounting base including moving parts controllable by the controls such that an operator can remove the first tool and replace it with the second tool and then control the moving parts with controls at the operator's seat, and control swiveling of the operator's seat with controls at the operator's seat to adjust 20 the operator's view.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the swivel can fully swivel any number of rotations without limitation.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein elements (a) through (d) are provided by an excavator. 25

14. The system of claim 13 further comprising an electrical circuit coupling the controls with the moving parts, the electrical circuit passing through the swivel with conductors that allow any number of rotations without limitation.

15. The system of claim 13 further comprising a wireless communication link that carries communications from the controls to the moving parts. 30

16. The system of claim 15 wherein electrical power to operate a wireless communication component coupled to the moving parts is provided by a 22 WO 2009/146009 PCT/US2009/038711 hydraulic generator which receives power from flow of hydraulic fluid through the swivel.

17. The system of claim 11 wherein the first and second tools are selected from the group comprising: 5 - an in-front grading blade; - an on-the-side grading blade; - a curb and gutter extruder; - an asphalt paver; - a silt fence installer; 10 - a post and fence installer; - a trencher; - a concrete/asphalt saw; - a concrete/asphalt planer; - a manhole cutter; 15 - a log splitter; - a side roller/compactor; - a concrete pulverizer; - a stump grinder; - a three point hitch adapter; 20 - a forestry mulcher; - a demolition shear; - a rocksaw; - a rock and concrete breaker - a brush hog; 25 - a snowblower; - a rockhound; - a tree shear; 23 WO 2009/146009 PCT/US2009/038711 - a dirt and rock sifter; - a vibratory roller; - a rotating broom; - a boring unit that drills vertically for installation of utilities; 5 - a rotary saw like a saw blade; - a wheel saw with large teeth carried by a wheel like structure; and - a bedding hopper that would place utility trench bedding (sand) by tipping or conveyor C. Full swiveling for an operator's seat above a swivel with an 10 electrically controllable tool below the swivel

18. A mobile machine with a swivel and, above the swivel, an operator's seat and an engine that drives a hydraulic pump, where the engine and seat can fully swivel any number of rotations without limitation and the operator can electrically control a hydraulically driven tool below the swivel, comprising: 15 (a) a set of wheels or tracks on which the machine rides supporting a support structure; (b) coupled to and supported by the support structure, a vertical swivel such that components coupled to an upper side of the swivel can swivel about a vertical axis relative to the support structure any number of rotations without 20 limitation; (c) coupled to and supported by the upper side of the swivel, an operator's seat and operator's controls; (d) coupled to and supported by the support structure and fixed to a lower side of the swivel, a hydraulically controllable tool; 25 (e) an electrical communication link that carries electrical control communications from the controls to at least one electronically actuated hydraulic valve below the swivel which hydraulic valve effects control of the tool. 24 WO 2009/146009 PCT/US2009/038711

19. The machine of claim 18 wherein elements (a) through (d) are provided by an excavator.

20. The machine of claim 18 wherein the electrical communication link comprises an electrical circuit coupling the controls with the electronically 5 actuated hydraulic valve and the electrical circuit passes through the swivel with conductors that allow any number of rotations without limitation.

21. The machine of claim 18 wherein the electrical communication link comprises a wireless communication link that carries communications via radio signals from the controls to the electronically actuated hydraulic valve. 10

22. The machine of claim 21 wherein electrical power to operate a wireless communication component coupled to the electronically actuated hydraulic valve is provided by a hydraulic generator which receives power from flow of hydraulic fluid from the pump on the engine through the swivel.

23. The machine of claim 18 wherein the tool is selected from the group 15 comprising: - an in-front grading blade; - an on-the-side grading blade; - a curb and gutter extruder; - an asphalt paver; 20 - a silt fence installer; - a post and fence installer; - a trencher; - a concrete/asphalt saw; - a concrete/asphalt planer; 25 - a manhole cutter; - a log splitter; - a side roller/compactor; - a concrete pulverizer; 25 WO 2009/146009 PCT/US2009/038711 - a stump grinder; - a three point hitch adapter; - a forestry mulcher; - a demolition shear; 5 - a rocksaw; - a rock and concrete breaker - a brush hog; - a snowblower; - a rockhound; 10 - a tree shear; - a dirt and rock sifter; - a vibratory roller; - a rotating broom; - a boring unit that drills vertically for installation of utilities; 15 - a rotary saw like a saw blade; - a wheel saw with large teeth carried by a wheel like structure; and - a bedding hopper that would place utility trench bedding (sand) by tipping or conveyor D. Novel side tools on a two-tool machine 20

24. A self-mobile machine with an operator seat wherein an operator can control a first swiveling tool and a second particular controllable tool to operate in coordination with the first tool, comprising: (a) a powered set of wheels or tracks on which the machine rides, which wheels or tracks define a line of movement; 25 (b) a support structure coupled to the wheels or tracks which support structure has two sides relative to the line of movement; 26 WO 2009/146009 PCT/US2009/038711 (c) coupled to and supported by the support structure, an operator's seat and operator's controls; (d) coupled to and supported by the support structure, a vertical swivel such that components coupled to an upper side of the swivel can swivel about 5 a vertical axis relative to the support structure; (e) an articulating arm coupled to the upper side of the vertical swivel, controllable by the controls, with a first tool mounted on a distant end of the arm;. (f) mounted on a side of the support structure outboard of the wheels or 10 tracks relative to the line of movement and fixed to a lower side of the swivel, a second tool including moving parts such that an operator can, using controls at the operator's seat, control the first tool, which can swivel, and, also using controls at the operator's seat, control moving parts of the second tool, which does not swivel with the first tool, so that the two tools perform an operation in 15 coordination with each other; and (g) the second tool is selected from the group of tools comprising: - an in-front grading blade; - an on-the-side grading blade; - an asphalt paver; 20 - a silt fence installer; - a post and fence installer; - a trencher; - a concrete/asphalt saw; - a concrete/asphalt planer; 25 - a manhole cutter; - a log splitter; - a side roller/compactor; - a concrete pulverizer; - a stump grinder; 27 WO 2009/146009 PCT/US2009/038711 - a three point hitch adapter; - a forestry mulcher; - a demolition shear; - a rocksaw; 5 - a rock and concrete breaker - a brush hog; - a snowblower; - a rockhound; - a tree shear; 10 - a dirt and rock sifter; - a vibratory roller; - a rotating broom; - a boring unit that drills vertically for installation of utilities; - a rotary saw like a saw blade; 15 - a wheel saw with large teeth carried by a wheel like structure; and - a bedding hopper that would place utility trench bedding (sand) by tipping or conveyor

25. The machine of claim 24 wherein elements (a) through (e) are provided by an excavator. 20

26. The machine of claim 24 wherein the first tool is an earth moving bucket.

27. The machine of claim 24 wherein the first tool is a claw.

28. The machine of claim 24 wherein the first tool is a vibratory compactor. 25 E. Tool attachment base remains plumb

29. A tool attachment base that stays plumb for use on an auto-mobile machine with an operator seat, comprising: 28 WO 2009/146009 PCT/US2009/038711 (a) at least two arms, each having a first end and a second end, with rotatable couplings at the first ends for attaching to the machine; (b) rotatable couplings on the second ends coupled to a tool attachment base; 5 (c) the at least four couplings each having a location when the attachment base is mounted on a machine via the couplings wherein geometric relationships between the locations of the couplings constrains the tool attachment base to move up and down without significant rotation out of plumb. 10

30. The tool attachment base of claim 29 wherein at least one of the arms includes an intermediate coupling between a first portion of the arm and a second portion of the arm, the first portion is affixed to a second of the arms with a pivot, and the first portion includes a lever arm between the intermediate coupling and the pivot wherein the length and angle of the lever 15 arm is determined so as to constrain the tool attachment base to move up and down without significant rotation out of plumb. F. Silt fence installer with post pusher

31. A tool attachment for use on mobile machines with an operator seat for installing fencing with attached posts, comprising: 20 (a) an attachment mount adapted to attach to an attachment base on a mobile machine; (b) coupled to the attachment mount, a fence dispenser adapted to hold vertically a roll of fence material with attached fence posts and allow the fence material with posts to feed off the roll; 25 (c) coupled to the attachment mount, a plowing edge adapted to plow a trench as the mobile machine moves forward; (d) a fence material guide adapted to guide fence material with posts coming off the roll into installation position as the mobile machine moves forward; and 29 WO 2009/146009 PCT/US2009/038711 (e) a fence post pusher adapted to push each fence post from installation position into soil as the mobile machine moves forward.

32. The tool of claim 31 further comprising soil pushers adapted to push soil against a bottom edge of installed fence as the mobile machine moves 5 forward. G. Fence installer with post installer

33. A tool attachment system for use on mobile machines with an operator seat for installing fencing without attached posts, comprising: (a) at least one attachment mount adapted to attach to an attachment 10 base on a mobile machine; (b) coupled to at least one attachment mount, a vertical sliding guide with a slider disposed with no obstruction on a vertical line from the slider to soil when the tool is mounted on a mobile machine; and (c) coupled to at least one attachment mount, a fence dispenser 15 adapted to hold vertically a roll of fence material and allow the fence material to feed off the roll proximate the vertical line.

34. The tool attachment system of claim 33 further comprising: (d) a powered auger mountable on the slider adapted to drill a hole suitable for a fence post when sliding down the sliding guide. 20

35. The tool attachment system of claim 33 further comprising: (d) a pounding face mountable on the slider adapted to pound a fence post when sliding down the sliding guide.

36. The tool attachment system of claim 33 further comprising: (d) a fence stretcher. 25 H. Power attachment retainer

37. A powered tool retainer system for use on mobile machines for coupling a tool to the machine, comprising: (a) a mobile machine with an engine; 30 WO 2009/146009 PCT/US2009/038711 (b) an attachment base on the mobile machine, the base having engagement features adapted to engage an attachment mount and thereby prevent movement between the base and the mount in directions perpendicular to in or out movement for attaching or disattaching an 5 attachable tool; (b) coupled to the attachment base, a power actuated retainer adapted to draw an attachment mount to the attachment base upon actuation by an operator and retain it against forces tending to pull the mount away from the base and to release the mount upon actuation by an operator. 10

38. The powered tool retainer system of claim 37 wherein the retainer is powered by the engine.

39. The powered tool retainer system of claim 38 wherein the retainer is actuated by hydraulic power from a hydraulic pump powered by the engine.

40. The powered tool retainer system of claim 38 wherein the retainer is 15 actuated by electric power from an electric system of the engine.

41. The powered tool retainer system of claim 37 wherein the retainer also engages hydraulic circuits between the base and the mount that carry power to a tool coupled to the mount. I. Combination tool and hydraulic attachment 20

42. A tool retainer system for use on mobile machines with hydraulic power for coupling a hydraulically actuated tool to the machine and simultaneously coupling hydraulic lines, comprising: (a) a mobile machine with an engine that drives a hydraulic pump; (b) an attachment base on the mobile machine, the base having 25 engagement features adapted to engage an attachment mount and thereby prevent movement between the base and the mount in directions perpendicular to in or out movement for attaching or disattaching an attachable tool and first hydraulic connectors coupled via hydraulic lines to the hydraulic pump; 31 WO 2009/146009 PCT/US2009/038711 (b) coupled to the attachment base, a retainer adapted to draw an attachment mount to the attachment base upon actuation by an operator and retain it against forces tending to pull the mount away from the base and to release the mount upon actuation by an operator, the mount having second 5 hydraulic connectors that connect to the first hydraulic connectors when the retainer draws the mount to the base.

43. The powered tool retainer system of claim 42 wherein the retainer is power actuated.

44. The powered tool retainer system of claim 42 wherein the retainer is 10 actuated by hand. 32