Earthmoving apparatus and method for grading land providing continuous resurveying
US5375663A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 1, 1993 |
| Grant date | Dec 27, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 1, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S37/907
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
An earthmoving apparatus and method for grading a tract of land to a desired finish contour wherein a continuously updated contour map is displayed to the operator of the earthmoving apparatus during the grading process is provided. The earthmoving apparatus has a blade of known width for cutting and filling soil of the tract of land. Vertical blade movement and the x and y position of the earthmoving apparatus is continually detected by respective sensors as the earthmoving apparatus traverses the tract of land. An ultrasonic transmitter and receiver detects elevation of the soil, preferably located behind the blade, to provide updated soil elevation information. A computer then uses the aforesaid information to generate a visual representation of a contour map of the tract of land with cut and fill lines thereon. The computer continuously modifies the contour map to reflected changes in the topography of the tract of land as the earthmoving apparatus proceeds with the grading process based on the detected elevation of the soil, the blade width, the x and y position of the apparatus and the desired finish contour.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.