Jerry Keith Thacker

US Patent:

8587147, Nov 19, 2013

Filed:

Nov 15, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/677753

Inventors:

Jerry O. Thacker - Shelby Gap KY, US

Assignee:

Johnson Industries, Inc. - Pikeville KY

International Classification:

B60L 1/00

US Classification:

307 101, 307326

Abstract:

A safety system comprises an activation mechanism, a safety circuit, and a drive system in communication with each other. In one embodiment, the activation mechanism produces an activation signal in response to an actuation of the activation mechanism. The safety circuit operates in either a locked state or a normal operation state. In this embodiment, the safety circuit is programmed to prevent the activation signal from being communicated to the drive system when the safety circuit is operating in the locked state and to allow the activation signal to be communicated to the drive system when the safety circuit is operating in the normal operation state. The safety circuit is programmed to transition from the locked state to the normal operation state in response to receiving both an unlocking code and a follow-up signal that is received by the safety circuit within a predetermined amount of time. The safety circuit may be further programmed to transition from the normal operation state to the locked state in response to the safety circuit failing to receive an activation signal within a second predetermined amount of time.

US Patent:

20140042831, Feb 13, 2014

Filed:

Oct 16, 2013

Appl. No.:

14/055341

Inventors:

Jerry O. Thacker - Shelby Gap KY, US

Assignee:

Johnson Industries, Inc. - Pikeville KY

International Classification:

F16P 3/00

US Classification:

307328

Abstract:

A method of controlling a motorized device comprises the steps of providing a motorized device, receiving a code, checking that code, and changing the operational state of a portion of the motorized device in response to the code in certain circumstances. In one embodiment, the motorized device comprises a drive system, an activation mechanism, and a safety circuit that is in communication with the activation mechanism and at least a portion of the drive system. After receiving an unlocking code from the activation mechanism, the next step is to determine if the received unlocking code corresponds to a predetermined unlocking code. Subsequently, if the received unlocking code corresponds to the predetermined unlocking code, then the safety circuit is transitioned from a locked state to a normal operation state. Additional codes and corresponding operational states may also be incorporated into other embodiments of the method.