New Invention Needs Smart Calculations

Well......................................................................................................

With a 15 ton tracked crawler pulling it, it should be able to go anywhere.

How about some real information, drawings, documents, actual pictures?

Hey thanks for the fast answer Lyn , err not sure how to load attachments/photo's here yet -- but that's why I suggested for photo's of climbing wheels in action to just go to fastest digger.com to see . The website is not flash at all, a friend set it up for me but it will get you a better understanding of CW .

You are right regarding it being able to be pulled all over the show. I recently displayed it at New Zealands national feildays [ largest Agricultural event in southern hemisphere ] where it was well received, especially by farmers who said ; " it takes half a day to walk the digger right down the back of the farm and back !! that'd be way faster and no darn track wear ! " .

I don't have any drawings yet --- yep I realise I'll need "proper" drawings to manufacture etc.

I hope the " actual pictures" on the web site help .

Good luck!

There are a few pics on the website mentioned above

http://www.fastestdigger.com/

Looks promising at first glance, but I am not sure about traveling down such a steep gradient. Wouldn't the back of the digger hit the bank with these mini excavator tracks almost the same length as the vehicle body?

Hi Jack -- coming down that bank --- wish I could show you guys a video --- the digger uses it's "arm" to lower the CW till they touch the lower level , then the digger drives outward till the ends of the tracks are just on the bank whereby the digger slews around and pushes the bucket [ on the end of it's arm ] onto the ground [ on the top level] and pushes downward [ lifting the tracks off the ground - digger now fully supported by CW on lower level and arm/bucket on top level -- ] and the dipper arm is now pushed outward whereby the digger rolls out away from the bank - at the same level -- and when it is clear of the bank I simultaneously lower the boom and the blade is raised . This gives me an elevator like ride --- digger remains flat - or at small angle-- throughout the entire "ride" as it floats down .

The general comments -- after laughing -- are why the#%^()_^ didn't someone think of that before , or bugger me !! bloody brilliant there's no way we could have come down that before we would have had to track right around that bank - drain - cable - water pipe ----

Coming down the bank, looks somewhat dangerous if that bank is somewhat unstable..... Don't know what type of time savings but good luck.

Hi Tcmtec nah !! we're as good as any mate, the government department known as OSH here --- err that's OSHA in your neck of the woods right!? -- has outlawed the loading of diggers onto/off trucks without the use of ramps because some lesser skilled person/s have slipped off the truck decks doing precisely what " your" video shows .

There are other ways without ramps but OSH have very big sticks and most company's are running scared of them . It's got bloody ridiculous here, you can't go up a ladder to clear the leaves from your gutter because you can't work off a ladder -- then if you climb onto that same roof to do job from the roof -- all 3m off the ground -- they say you need a scaffold to protect you from falling off the edge but local kids playground has 5.5m spire kids can climb ! go figure .

No worries mate. The barristers will make sure they take down that spire at the playground too.

" err that's OSHA in your neck of the woods right!? -- has outlawed the loading of diggers onto/off trucks without the use of ramps"

But isn't that what your invention is trying to do, load a digger on/off a truck without using a ramp? Sounds like you've got a real uphill battle there trying to get it approved.

Perhaps a different approach might work, like having a small trailer with a hydraulicly lifted ramp built into it. When not used as a ramp, it can function as a normal flatbed trailer for carrying supplies, and when you need to load/unload a digger, you just clear the trailer off and run the hydraulics to turn it into a ramp. it could even be designed with a 'bridge flap' to cover the distance between ramp and truck when the trailer is hitched. That way you use the hitch between truck and trailer to stabilize the ramp.

Hi Global,

I had a look at your website and in my opinion you are on a winner there. I think you are just going to have to fork out for a real engineer to do the stability and safety calculations for you, not a free website like this. Otherwise, you won't be covered if anything goes wrong.

Get them to sign a confidentiality agreement before they start. They may even be able to suggest some modifications to improve the unit.

Did you want to patent it?

Giday mate , I realise I'll have to pay for a guy with the credentials to take to Mr OSH --- I haven't been to see them yet - it erks me we have to "consult" them anyway as they are generally have no qualifications to say if it is safe or otherwise -- yes yes, I need to get over that ! --- but I want to have as much information for them as possible.

I have posted very little over the years I've been a member here, I've just enjoyed reading the posts --- more especially the humour one gets from such sites [ intelligent people often do not suffer fools, and the sarcasm often vented , especially if it is dry and not cutting, is well worth the read ] However recently reading some random posts here made me think --- these guys like to show how smart they are [ not all ] I'll ask if any are willing to do some calks and if that shows I'm on track, I'll invest still more money and go forward . Perhaps should the numbers be good for my project -- I imagine they will be -- I could contract a member to formalise these numbers .

I have a patent pending . You cannot publicly disclose any invention first and then expect to get a patent . Hey will be looking for an Agent in the land of Auz !

I like what I see but I'm a layman when it comes to any kind of earth moving equipment. I do find it odd that somebody is worried about stability with an earth mover. One can remove all the ground support beneath your tracks to make it fall over, whether your attachment is there or not.

You are right Redfred , diggers, like any machine, or car for that matter, can be unstable & or deadly when used outside of their safe working means , or in other words, by an idiot .-- be more PC --- or an unskilled person . So you like my wheels eh ! A local engineer -- with lots of letters after his name -- when looking at the wheels , said , did you make those wheels pete ? uh huh ! , did you weld them? thanks Shane ! -- he smiled. [ rare ]

I painted them bright yellow so they would stand out , people actually asked if they were plastic ? !

I would put a set of the climbing wheels on the back as well, and add a valve that would control a hydraulic motor on both sides to drive the wheels so that the entire thing would run like a rock climber....

These are pretty cool machines....

Hi SolarEagle , the beauty of these wheels are that there needs to be no modification to a digger whatsoever , you simply roll the axel up to a digger and dog it on and go.

unfortunately as all hydraulics needs go through a rotary valve to get to the undercarriage -- blade up/down, left & right tracks forwd/rev -- so there is no way you can get a spare circuit to power/operate any extra devices .

I've seen those amazing diggers on you tube before !!! better him than me , me thinks. --- well on the cliff face anyway.

You might be able to add a PTO unit....

Sort of a smaller version of this...this would add steering as well....but it could be simplified...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmXnfIgaQB0

http://www.oemoffhighway.com/product/10057446/terra-drive-systems-formerly-tuthill-drive-systems-ez-trac-steerable-hydraulic-drive-axle

What you are asking for is an opinion, really. Most anything other than "might work, might not" could result in liability down the line. Its one of the reasons why the oath says "fair wages for fair work" and you put your name on that bottom line. I am wondering how much liability I would face if I said..."do this and it will be safe". Or "do this and it will be stable." (um...answer...all of it!)

So, the best you can get out of this forum is a re-jig of the questions you need to ask, and a lot of enthusiastic (if qualified) support and pats on the back, and the suggestion that you hire a professional engineer to answer the suggested questions.

Liablility is something you should examine closely as well. For instance, if the ramps are too heavy, is there a way to counterweight them, or retract them with engine vacuum, or (pick one of a dozen ways to save your back and the backs of your employees.) The saving of only ONE lawsuit would pay for dozens of mechanical aids, or even an extra dogsbody to get the ramps up there.

If you (or anyone else) wish to mark this as "off topic", I would not be upset. I am waffling about that myself. I think its relevant, but it is NOT the answer you would be looking for.

Hi Global,

You could be on a winner here, it's going to be costly to get designs, approvals, start manufacturing, sales and marketing etc.

There maybe Angel Investors out there who have expertise in engineering and would be willing to invest. (A little bit of something is better than all of nothing)

The NZ website is http://www.newzealandinvestmentnetwork.co.nz/entrepreneurs-home

Good luck.

Thanks Nugget , I agree with all you said . Made great contact at feildays [ just gone] so manufacture is sorted & he already is exporting world wide .

I'm up to the designs [ to suit various models ] and approvals stage .

I have some angels sniffing around, but as they are not engineers they are understandably sceptical as to it's approval being granted by the powers that be !

I have been wondering if , like our Canadian member suggested, I sell CW with a -- you can do this , and you can do that, but don't do the other thing type of instructions. [ He did what with it !? no we didn't condone that ! ]

Sorry, just read your qualifying statement - " who have expertise in engineering" do you know of any ?

If you go to the website I gave you, you can look at all the potential Investors and the amounts they have available with a brief background and what expertise they can offer. You may have to register first to get to that area of the site.

All that is needed to submit a proposal is a brief splurge on what your idea is pay the $199 fee and out it goes. You can also buy 'Nudges' to target specific Investors, you may wish to have on board and share the Investment with several, with different areas of expertise e.g. engineer, business management, legal or marketing etc.

They may find it attractive to contribute 'labour' in lieu of money for a shareholding.

The link to take you there is - http://www.newzealandinvestmentnetwork.co.nz/find-investors

You will have to copy and paste, a smart member did at one stage tell us how to do a link but I have forgotten and can't find the thread.

Just an after thought, if you were interested in services for shares you could put out an invitation to the member here, there are some pretty smart cookies out there whom may be interested.

Also some good ideas have been mentioned by other members but I see the success with yours is the simplicity and the low cost to the consumer. Not all contractors are 'rolling in it' and a simple cost effective idea like this would appeal.

There are a huge number of diggers out there and even is you could sell one to every 100 diggers YOU will be 'rolling in it'.

Thanks Nugget , all good suggestions , cheers!

Try crowd funding, that way prospective customers put money in up front for the new product once it is ready to ship.

If someone is already making them, then its not a new invention. And as was posted by numerous posters...there are already people doing it. Be careful to not infringe upon any patents they might hold already.

Hi Smoothy , hey when we filed for our patent the NZ patent office didn't find anyone "making them already" can you or anyone else here show me where that's happening? perhaps I can have a go at them !? mind you, I haven't looked since I displayed the climbing wheels at the feildays last month , perhaps someone has raced off and is now manufacturing them .

I'ts all very well for some to say others are making them, perhaps they could show me where as I'm not aware of it .

I question if any skilled driver would ask for this? (buy it)
Have you done a survey of how do many drivers load now?

Locally we use the nearest embankment to load diggers, tractors, etc.
Even low loader transporters will use a "bank" if they need to.

A raised hedge row, just back the lorry or trailer into the bank,
which acts as a "high as you like, ramp" for the digger or tractor.
e.g. My entrance goes from 0 - about 5 ft high and they back up
to it at the right height to level with their transport base level.

I am not saying it isn't a good idea, and some may buy... however I
would be very sure of your sales before splashing the cash on this?

Best of luck.

jt.

Went into the kitchen this morning and found my wife face down and not breathing.
I panicked. I didn't know what to do! ..... Then I remembered..
McDonald's do breakfast til 10.30.

That's very much in my line of thoughts as well. Any decnet equipment operator has countless ways to load or unload any machine to or from a truck or trailer without needing any thing but his brain, skills and the machine itself.

As far as the OSHA reasoning that sounds more like a bit of an excuse. I have yet to ever see a OSHA inspector on a site for more than a few hours once or twice a year and even then equipment loading and unloading procedures are pretty low on their list of things to nit pick.