No Driver Needed On Remote Controlled Loader

1997 - Volume #21, Issue #4, Page #44

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A few years ago in the middle of a big snow-storm, a Payloader passed Ken Nolman's house. Nolman, who wasn't crazy about the prospect of shoveling his driveway again, got the idea that a tractor like it might come in pretty handy.
Two years later, the Winnipeg, Manitoba, inventor is stopping traffic with his mini remote-controlled 4-WD loader that he uses to clean his driveway. It earned him first place and $2,000 prize money at the first-ever Princess Auto's Inventors Fair last June in Winnipeg.
"I can clean my 3-car driveway and side-walk in half an hour and never leave the house," Nolman says. "That's about how long it took with my snowblower."
The "KBN" Payloader is powered by a pair of 12-volt rechargeable batteries that pro-vide 1 1/2 hours of operation. Batteries are wired to four magnet-type drive motors joined with two differentials mounted in the middle of 1-in. dia. solid steel axles. Axles are fitted with 13-in. rototiller tires to pro-vide full 4-WD. Steering is controlled by 1 1/4-in. hydraulic cylinders on either side of an articulation joint at center.
Tilt and lift of the 26-in. wide bucket are handled by one 1 1/2 in. hydraulic cylinder with 4-in. stroke and two 1 1/2-in. cylinders with 5-in. stroke, respectively. The steering and loader cylinders are powered by tilt and lift systems run off a 2.4 gpm (at 210 psi's) hydraulic pump. "The fluid reservoir contains a special mix of oil that stays thinner in cold weather than normal oils. Oil is heated for leaves the house.
cold weather operation by heat produced by the electronic speed control," Nolman notes.
The unit uses an English-made electronic speed control system for radio controlled boats that Nolman modified. It's operated with a commercial model airplane radio control unit. Nolman installed bigger servos be-cause hydraulic control arms had a tendency to stick when not in steady use. It has for-ward drive power of 118 lbs. and lift capacity of 80 lbs. to a height of 42 in. Top speed is about 4 mph.
Overall length is 65 1/2 in., height is 36 in., wheelbase is 25 in., and weight is 232 lbs. Quartz halogen headlights, side mirrors, tail lights, flashing beacon light and back-up beeper complete the project.
Out-of-pocket expense was about $3,000 (Canadian) and the machine has been appraised at $5,000 to $15,000. Nolman's currently working on a gas-powered version.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Ken Nolman, 559 Chalmers Ave., Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R2L 0G7 (ph 204 663-5450; fax 668-8816).

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No Driver Needed On Remote Controlled Loader TRACTORS Loaders 21-4-44 A few years ago in the middle of a big snow-storm, a Payloader passed Ken Nolman's house. Nolman, who wasn't crazy about the prospect of shoveling his driveway again, got the idea that a tractor like it might come in pretty handy. Two years later, the Winnipeg, Manitoba, inventor is stopping traffic with his mini remote-controlled 4-WD loader that he uses to clean his driveway. It earned him first place and $2,000 prize money at the first-ever Princess Auto's Inventors Fair last June in Winnipeg. "I can clean my 3-car driveway and side-walk in half an hour and never leave the house," Nolman says. "That's about how long it took with my snowblower." The "KBN" Payloader is powered by a pair of 12-volt rechargeable batteries that pro-vide 1 1/2 hours of operation. Batteries are wired to four magnet-type drive motors joined with two differentials mounted in the middle of 1-in. dia. solid steel axles. Axles are fitted with 13-in. rototiller tires to pro-vide full 4-WD. Steering is controlled by 1 1/4-in. hydraulic cylinders on either side of an articulation joint at center. Tilt and lift of the 26-in. wide bucket are handled by one 1 1/2 in. hydraulic cylinder with 4-in. stroke and two 1 1/2-in. cylinders with 5-in. stroke, respectively. The steering and loader cylinders are powered by tilt and lift systems run off a 2.4 gpm (at 210 psi's) hydraulic pump. "The fluid reservoir contains a special mix of oil that stays thinner in cold weather than normal oils. Oil is heated for leaves the house. cold weather operation by heat produced by the electronic speed control," Nolman notes. The unit uses an English-made electronic speed control system for radio controlled boats that Nolman modified. It's operated with a commercial model airplane radio control unit. Nolman installed bigger servos be-cause hydraulic control arms had a tendency to stick when not in steady use. It has for-ward drive power of 118 lbs. and lift capacity of 80 lbs. to a height of 42 in. Top speed is about 4 mph. Overall length is 65 1/2 in., height is 36 in., wheelbase is 25 in., and weight is 232 lbs. Quartz halogen headlights, side mirrors, tail lights, flashing beacon light and back-up beeper complete the project. Out-of-pocket expense was about $3,000 (Canadian) and the machine has been appraised at $5,000 to $15,000. Nolman's currently working on a gas-powered version. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Ken Nolman, 559 Chalmers Ave., Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R2L OG7 (ph 204 663-5450; fax 668-8816).

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