Bukect level idea

[J0be269]

I know many have made different FEL bucket level indicators, many very simple and cheap. One flaw I regularly see is if it is large enough to be easily seen from the operator's station, it is subject to being torn off. With the help of my electrical junk drawer I've devised an idea. Please poke holes in it any way you can.

I have a small inductive prox switch (closes a contact when a metallic object is in front of its sensor, not touching it...just near it). I also have a large green 12v led with bezel and all that good stuff. So here is my idea.

Find a nice, out of the way mounting location, where I can effectivly guard the switch from damage with a steel guard. Mount switch and level bucket. Install a metal "flag" for the prox to "see" on a moving componet of the FEL bucket. Now with the LED mounted on the dash of the tractor, any time the bucket is in the level position and the machine running you get a nice green light.

I know this is a little over complicated for the task but it also doesn't require me to lean over to see the bucket lip. I work in a technical/electronic field and this would be an extremly easy project to do and repair when needed.

Another thing you could do with this setup would be more expensive, but also handy. Ever seen a toyota forklift that has the fork levler on it? hold a button in and lover forks, they stop on level. You could use this setup and replace the light with a relay and solenoid operated hydraulic valve to stop the motion when you reach level.

For now I'm just thinking on the indicator light setup though. So please, poke away at my thoughts and tell me any problems you see with it.

 

[tommu56]

The bucket level thing that is on most tractors is only in the same plane as tractor.
I was trying to come up with one to help flatten level off camber stuff
I was thing of some sort of pendulm thingy that as hanging down with a n/c prox switch to sense a point so would level the ground.

tommu

 

[Reg]

You could just take the mercury switch out of an old round style wall thermostat. Use two of them kinda back to back, no lights means level, top light means dump a little more, bottom light means curl a little more.
This would be "level" wrt to the earth (the earth's gravity).

 

[Wayne_Freeman]

I have an electronic background also and was looking at this device Crossbow Technology Single Axis Tilt Sensors CXTA01 NEW - eBay (item 300244382609 end time Jul-30-08 04:18:49 PDT)

Do you see a way to interface it as a level plane lite on indicator?

 

[actionaj]

Good idea, How about instead of one prox. sw. use three and three LEDs. Have the center prox. as the target (say green LED). Then a prox. on each side (yellow or red LED) this would let you know when you are getting close to level (target prox. sw./green LED). If you are going to run two wires up the boom and to the operators pannel might as well run 4.

 

[gemini5362]

I know many have made different FEL bucket level indicators, many very simple and cheap. One flaw I regularly see is if it is large enough to be easily seen from the operator's station, it is subject to being torn off. With the help of my electrical junk drawer I've devised an idea. Please poke holes in it any way you can.

I have a small inductive prox switch (closes a contact when a metallic object is in front of its sensor, not touching it...just near it). I also have a large green 12v led with bezel and all that good stuff. So here is my idea.

Find a nice, out of the way mounting location, where I can effectivly guard the switch from damage with a steel guard. Mount switch and level bucket. Install a metal "flag" for the prox to "see" on a moving componet of the FEL bucket. Now with the LED mounted on the dash of the tractor, any time the bucket is in the level position and the machine running you get a nice green light.

I know this is a little over complicated for the task but it also doesn't require me to lean over to see the bucket lip. I work in a technical/electronic field and this would be an extremly easy project to do and repair when needed.

Another thing you could do with this setup would be more expensive, but also handy. Ever seen a toyota forklift that has the fork levler on it? hold a button in and lover forks, they stop on level. You could use this setup and replace the light with a relay and solenoid operated hydraulic valve to stop the motion when you reach level.

For now I'm just thinking on the indicator light setup though. So please, poke away at my thoughts and tell me any problems you see with it.

nice Idea I might try a couple things instead of the prox switch for anyone that does not have one handy.
I would use a magnetic switch and then you just have to cement a magnet across from the switch when the bucket is at a level position.

an industrial type microswitch with something welded in place to activate the switch when the bucket is level.

You basic idea sounds great though.

 

[ctpres]

You need to bench test switch. It probably will not have the same make/break in both directions. This usually due to magnet not being centered in the housing. Also magnet may need to be closer to make switch and can move farther away before break. Mag can be removed from housing to solve one problem but you will need nonmetalic spacer between mounting surface and magnet. Big glob of silicon works.

 

[JoeL4330]

Considered a water level? Clear "U-shaped" tubing w. colored liquid and a mark on each upright end.

 

[Bedlam]

Sounds complicated to me but VERY interesting. I look forward to seeing where it goes.
The level indicators are one of those funny things that don't seem to be all that important. but not have one I sure miss it. Mine got ripped off and bent up, but I soon straightened it and fixed it.
Funny how some seemingly simple devices are missed.
Keep us updated,I always like new and creative things.
Al

 

[Blagadan]

I pulled a device off an old adjustable conveyor a few years back that might be of interest to you...

It was a single axis, multi position mercury tilt switch. It was smashed but I took it apart anyway just out of curiosity (as you do). Heres a simple sketch of how it worked...

The "common" was the 'power in' side of the device and each "output" had a seperate wire running back to a controller. There was a mercury ball that would make contact between the common side and output side of the device and depending on the angle and position of the mercury ball, it would give a different output..

This switch must have been 10-15 years old.

Its totally the same principle as a cheapo sailboat tilt meter but adapted for electronics.

If I had a FEL, I think I would stick to the simple rod position indicator...

 

[ray66v]

Bucket levels are nice. But, I think for most people once they have enough time in the seat, you develop more skill, then really don't need one.

 

[J0be269]

After more in depth investigation into this, I have yet to find a place to put the switch where I would be comfortable. I may just wait a while and see how experience pays off.

The tilt type switchs you all have mentioned could be a good idea, IF the tractor never left level ground. The idea of a level bucket would be to level the bottom of the bucket with the plane that the tractor is traveling on. If you were on any type of incline a mercury type or water type device would not work in this way.

 

[Bedlam]

:::"""Bucket levels are nice. But, I think for most people once they have enough time in the seat, you develop more skill, then really don't need one."""


I have to disagree, the indicator is no different than viewing the bucket position.Its far easier to taker a glance at the indicater than to have to bend around to view the bucket angle.In my opinion of 30 plus years.
But to each their own.

 

[dfkrug]

The tilt type switchs you all have mentioned could be a good idea, IF the tractor never left level ground. The idea of a level bucket would be to level the bottom of the bucket with the plane that the tractor is traveling on. If you were on any type of incline a mercury type or water type device would not work in this way.

I like your idea for an electric level indicator. As you state, an "in-plane"
indicator would be better, and that is not easily done with gravity switches.
The in-plane indicators that come with many FELs are just linkages to a
rod that moves inside a tube. There is no reason that you could not use
such a linkage with a proximity switch and light on the dash as you
describe. But if you build that, you have a simple and effective in-plane
indicator already. If you do build something, report it here.

I built a little gravity-driven plumb indicator for my hydraulic PHD. Not
electric, but I considered that.

 

[ray66v]

:::"""Bucket levels are nice. But, I think for most people once they have enough time in the seat, you develop more skill, then really don't need one."""


I have to disagree, the indicator is no different than viewing the bucket position.Its far easier to taker a glance at the indicater than to have to bend around to view the bucket angle.In my opinion of 30 plus years.
But to each their own.

Who are you disagreeing with? I did not say a level is not easier, What I said is, you can reach the point you really don't need it.

A lot depends on what your setup is. On mine, there is an indicator on the top rt. side of the bucket, it is the same place I look when I operate my dad's, he has nothing. You still have to develop a feel for it, either way, the level I have, only gets you close.

I am not willing to bet that the new contractor machines do not have levels. But, I have never seen, or worked with, a contractor that had one in my last 30 years. They seemed to be able to do the work well.

 

[gemini5362]

Who are you disagreeing with? I did not say a level is not easier, What I said is, you can reach the point you really don't need it.

A lot depends on what your setup is. On mine, there is an indicator on the top rt. side of the bucket, it is the same place I look when I operate my dad's, he has nothing. You still have to develop a feel for it, either way, the level I have, only gets you close.

I am not willing to bet that the new contractor machines do not have levels. But, I have never seen, or worked with, a contractor that had one in my last 30 years. They seemed to be able to do the work well.

I am sure that contractors who do the work day in and day out probably develop skills that the average person who does that work occasionally does not have. I broke my level indicator and have not gotten around to fixing it but really miss it. I am sure that there is some way of telling when my bucket is exactly parralel to the ground but I dont have the knowledge of the shortcut that tells me when it is. I have to guesstimate and I have filled in several small holes where I was trying to scoop something up and guesstimated wrong.

 

[denmansoft]

I usually follow the KISS principle but this requires a high tech solution.

1) small package glued to the bucket with a 3 axis accelerometer to sense the orientation of the bucket in 3D.
2) small package glued to tractor frame with a 3 axis accelerometer to sense the orientation of the tractor in 3D.
3) small computer in a box on the dash board with graphical display showing bucket angle. Switch to select absolute(gravity) or relative(bucket to tractor).
4) optional bluetooth or zigbee wireless connection to bucket sensor.

I build this kind of stuff for other applications. For the $10K it would cost to develop and build this I will stay peering at the indicator bar on top of my bucket. I'd rather the seat time to gain experience, than this neat gadget.

 

[ray66v]

I have to guesstimate and I have filled in several small holes where I was trying to scoop something up and guesstimated wrong.

This NEVER happens if you have a level? Of course it does. Especially at the beginning, AS YOU LEARN TO USE IT.

There is no magic wand, you still have to acquire a certain amount of skill to be able to be a good equipment operator, even with the magical level. Yes, some never get there.

All I'm saying is; eventually when you learn to use it well enough, you can do it without a level.

If you want to think thats only because some do it all day for a living, ok. But, I am sure, I am not the only one who did not need a full time job practicing, to do it.

 

[Bedlam]

Ill try again

Ray posted ;
Bucket levels are nice. But, I think for most people once they have enough time in the seat, you develop more skill, then really don't need one.

I agree that bucket levels are nice.
I disagree (again my opinion) that once one gets skill that they really don't need it.
But ill go along with it and say I'm still learning and one day get the "skill".I thought I had it.
To me its just another indicator like the alternator light. I can tell when it hums and is charging, but still like that the light is watching it.

 

[stowester]

Even a skilled operator can be more efficient with indicators then without.....


Dean