Abstract: In the operation of a landfill compactor, it is a common problem for the wheels to pick up debris, especially wire and cable, and carry it around with the wheels as they rotate. When the debris falls from the wheels in the direction toward the frame and the axles, it becomes packed between the frame and the axle hampering machine operation and requiring hours of corrective maintenance. The apparatus of the subject invention for inhibiting the wrapping of debris about the axle assembly provides a hook member to ensnare debris. As the wheel rotates, the debris picked up by the hook member is dragged across a serrated blade portion mounted on the axle assembly to pull apart the debris and thus prevent the debris from wrapping around the axle assembly.

Abstract: In the operation of machines such as landfill compactors it is common to provide a shear assembly that is mounted between the axle assembly and a wheel that is rotatably mounted thereon to sever material that would otherwise become entrained about the axle assembly. Material of relatively large gauge may become lodged within the shear assembly and create large loading forces between the wheel and the axle components that have been known to damage various drive train components. The present invention provides a cutting apparatus that has a first (34) and second shear blade (40) mounted to the axle assembly (10) and wheel (12) respectively. The second shear blade (40) is bolted (66,68,70) to the wheel (12) in a manner wherein selected ones of the mounting bolts (66,68,70) are sized in a manner in which forces of a preselected magnitude will shear the bolts (68,70) thus limiting the amount of force transmitted to the drive train components.

Abstract: Electromagnetic actuators having a coil and an armature are used in a number of applications in which it is useful to have an indication of the position of the armature with respect to the coil without the use of external sensors. Accordingly, an actuator control system is provided for determining the position of the armature with respect to the coil in response to the current magnitude and frequency of current flowing in the coil.