Laser control of excavating machine digging depth
US4888890A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 14, 1988 |
| Grant date | Dec 26, 1989 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 14, 2008 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S37/907
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for controlling the working depth of a bucket for an excavating machine having an outreach boom which is pivotally attached at one end to the machine, a downreach boom pivotally attached to the opposite end of the outreach boom, a digging bucket pivotally attached to the end of the downreach boom opposite to that to which the outreach boom is attached, and hydraulic power cylinders for moving the pivotally interconnected elements. A laser beam is projected at a reference height and a beam sensor mounted on the outreach boom of the machine detects the beam by means of a plurality of individual sensor locations. The angular orientation of the downreach boom relative to vertical is detected and a microprocessor controller connected to the beam sensor and the angle sensor repetitively defines, as a function of the angular orientation of the downreach boom, one of the plurality of individual sensor locations as an on-grade sensor location. The microprocessor controller compares the defined on-grade sensor location to the sensor location having detected the laser beam to generate an outreach boom adjustment signal representative of the movement of the …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.