Bucket Level Indicator--A New Approach

   / Bucket Level Indicator--A New Approach #41  
I bet if I thought about it a bit, I could take an old round Honeywell household thermostat, the kind with the mercury switch in it, and come up with something that would work.
The problem would be dampening it so it doesn't flutter as the fluid sloshes around.

Aaron Z
 
   / Bucket Level Indicator--A New Approach
  • Thread Starter
#44  
True that.
 
   / Bucket Level Indicator--A New Approach #46  
While I'm very impressed with the construction of the indicator, after a little thought I've come to the conclusion that the math behind it isn't that complicated.

BucketTilt.png

The drawing shows three lines: one that is parallel to the ground going through the lift pivot, one going between the lift pivot and the dump pivot, and one going through the dump pivot parallel with the bottom of the bucket. When Angle A equals Angle B, the bottom of the bucket is parallel with the ground. So what you need is a way of comparing Angle A with Angle B.

Measuring the angle of a pivot is straightforward: put an indicator pointer on the part that moves, and put a dial on the part that doesn't, and read the angle of the indicator on the dial. However, we want to compare Angle A with Angle B, and they're about six feet apart. How do we get the measurement from Angle B next to Angle A where we can read it? We could do that if we had someway of transmitting the movement back to Angle A. If you put an indicator needle on Angle B, and then connect it to a needle of exactly the same length through a rigid rod at Angle A, the indicator at A will move exactly the same amount as the indicator at B.

Then all you have to do is level the bucket and zero the two indicators.

The hard part isn't the geometry, it's the construction!
 
   / Bucket Level Indicator--A New Approach #47  
While I'm very impressed with the construction of the indicator, after a little thought I've come to the conclusion that the math behind it isn't that complicated.

View attachment 495811

The drawing shows three lines: one that is parallel to the ground going through the lift pivot, one going between the lift pivot and the dump pivot, and one going through the dump pivot parallel with the bottom of the bucket. When Angle A equals Angle B, the bottom of the bucket is parallel with the ground. So what you need is a way of comparing Angle A with Angle B.

Measuring the angle of a pivot is straightforward: put an indicator pointer on the part that moves, and put a dial on the part that doesn't, and read the angle of the indicator on the dial. However, we want to compare Angle A with Angle B, and they're about six feet apart. How do we get the measurement from Angle B next to Angle A where we can read it? We could do that if we had someway of transmitting the movement back to Angle A. If you put an indicator needle on Angle B, and then connect it to a needle of exactly the same length through a rigid rod at Angle A, the indicator at A will move exactly the same amount as the indicator at B.

Then all you have to do is level the bucket and zero the two indicators.

The hard part isn't the geometry, it's the construction!

Yes, that is correct.
 
   / Bucket Level Indicator--A New Approach #48  
Interesting design. Where did you steal it from? And interesting that the quadrant is allowed to rotate.

Looks VERY similar to the bucket level indicators on old ford industrial backhoes. 1960's -1970's vintage. My 5500 looks almost identical, with the exception that the pointer moves and the quadrant is fixed.

On my kubota, I just made a bent-rod style like we see many of here.

On the other topic of self leveling and momentary button.......some forklifts have that feature allthough I dont know just how it works.

It was on a CAT 15k forklift, so a big one. On the tilt, there was a push button. Ignore the button and everything works just like any other forklift, full range of tilt motion., But push the button, and pull the level, it will stop at level everytime. So if you are tilted forward, push button and tilt back and it will stop at level automatically. Let off the button and you are able to tilt back beyond level. Works the same the opposite way too, if you are tilted back already, push button and tilt forward and it stops at level automatically.
 
   / Bucket Level Indicator--A New Approach
  • Thread Starter
#49  
And interesting that the quadrant is allowed to rotate.

The quadrant HAS to rotate in order to compare the two angles of rotation. How else would you do that? Just asking
 
   / Bucket Level Indicator--A New Approach #50  
And interesting that the quadrant is allowed to rotate.

The quadrant HAS to rotate in order to compare the two angles of rotation. How else would you do that? Just asking

No Idea. Never seen one like that.
 

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