Hydraulic tool with tactile feedback
View Patent ↗A hydraulic tool including a frame having a hydraulic fluid conduit system; a hydraulic pump coupled to the conduit system; and a tactile feedback system. The tactile feedback system is coupled to the conduit system and is adapted to signal a user of an occurrence of a predetermined event.
1. A hydraulic tool comprising:
a frame having a hydraulic fluid conduit system;
a user control connected to the frame;
a hydraulic pump coupled to the conduit system; and
a tactile feedback system coupled to the conduit system and adapted to signal a user at the user control of an occurrence of a predetermined event.
2. A hydraulic tool as in claim 1 wherein the predetermined event comprises hydraulic pressure in the conduit system reaching a predetermined value.
3. A hydraulic tool as in claim 1 wherein the tactile feedback system comprises at least a portion of a hydraulic fluid release system, wherein the tactile feedback system comprises a drain pin of the release system being located in the conduit system and being adapted to move a user movable retract member of the release system which is connected to the frame or a housing of the tool.
4. A hydraulic tool as in claim 1 wherein the predetermined event comprises hydraulic pressure in the conduit system reaching a predetermined value, and wherein the tactile feedback system comprises a user actuatable trigger adapted to be contacted by a hand of a user.
5. A hydraulic tool as in claim 4 wherein the tactile feedback system comprises at least a portion of a hydraulic fluid release system, wherein the tactile feedback system comprises a drain pin of the release system being located in the conduit system and being adapted to move a user movable retract member of the release system which is connected to the frame or a housing of the tool.
6. A hydraulic tool as in claim 5 wherein the retract member comprises a lever pivotably connected to the frame or the housing and biased by a spring onto or away from the drain pin.
7. A hydraulic tool as in claim 1 wherein the tactile feedback system is adapted to generate a mechanical vibration signal or a mechanical single jolt signal.
8. A hydraulic tool as in claim 1 further comprising a second signal generation system adapted to generate an auditory signal upon the occurrence of the predetermined event.
9. A hydraulic tool comprising:
a frame having a hydraulic fluid conduit system;
a hydraulic pump coupled to the conduit system; and
a tactile feedback system coupled to the conduit system and adapted to signal a user of an occurrence of a predetermined event, wherein the tactile feedback system comprises a user actuatable trigger adapted to be contacted by a hand of a user.
10. A hydraulic tool comprising:
a frame having a hydraulic fluid conduit system;
a hydraulic pump coupled to the conduit system; and
a signaling system coupled to the conduit system for signaling a user of an occurrence of a predetermined event, wherein the signaling system comprises a movable member having a first end in fluid communication with the conduit system and a second end extending out of the frame, and wherein the signaling system is adapted to generate at least two different signals to the user.
11. A hydraulic tool as in claim 10 wherein a first one of the different signals is a tactile signal to a hand of a user holding the hydraulic tool.
12. A hydraulic tool as in claim 11 wherein a second one of the different signals is an auditory signal.
13. A hydraulic tool as in claim 10 wherein the predetermined event comprises hydraulic pressure in the conduit system reaching a predetermined value.
14. A hydraulic tool as in claim 10 wherein the tactile feedback system comprises a user actuatable trigger adapted to be contacted by a hand of a user.
15. A hydraulic tool as in claim 10 wherein the tactile feedback system is adapted to generate a mechanical repetitive vibration signal or a mechanical single non-repetitive signal.
16. A hydraulic tool comprising:
a frame having a hydraulic fluid conduit system;
a hydraulic pump coupled to the conduit system; and
a signaling system coupled to the conduit system for signaling a user of an occurrence of a predetermined event, wherein the signaling system is adapted to generate at least two different signals to the user, and wherein the signaling system comprises a drain pin of a hydraulic fluid release system of the tool being located in the conduit system and being adapted to move a user movable retract member which is connected to the frame.
17. A hydraulic tool as in claim 16 wherein the retract member comprises a lever pivotably connected to the frame or a housing of the tool and biased by a spring onto the drain pin or away from the drain pin.
18. A method for signaling a user of a hydraulic tool of an occurrence of a predetermined event comprising:
allowing hydraulic fluid to pass through a valve of the tool upon the occurrence of the predetermined event; and
generating a tactile sensation to a hand of the user holding the tool based upon the hydraulic fluid passing through the valve, wherein generating the tactile sensation to a hand of the user comprises creating a vibration or pulse in the hydraulic tool.
19. A method as in claim 18 wherein the valve comprises an automatic pressure release valve, wherein a portion of the hydraulic fluid passing through the pressure release valve moves a member on the frame.
20. A method as in claim 18 wherein a portion of the hydraulic fluid passing through the valve moves a drain pin of a hydraulic fluid release system to move a user actuatable hydraulic fluid release trigger.
21. A method as in claim 18 further comprising generating an auditory signal by the hydraulic tool upon the occurrence of the predetermined event.