Rock guard for GNSS signal avoidance
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsDaniel R. Hettinger, Earl Richard Thompson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A haul truck can include a frame, a traction system for moving the frame, an access platform coupled to the frame, a truck bed having a canopy extending over the access platform, an antenna support structure arranged on the access platform, the antenna support structure extending upward to support a GNSS receiver positioned proximate a front of the canopy, and a non-metallic protective barrier coupled to the canopy and positioned towards the front of the canopy and positioned to deflect objects from striking the GNSS receiver.
Claims20
A haul truck, comprising:
- a frame;
- a traction system for moving the frame;
- an access platform coupled to the frame;
- a truck bed having a canopy extending over the access platform;
- an antenna support structure arranged on the access platform, the antenna support structure extending upward to support a GNSS receiver positioned proximate a front of the canopy and positioned outside of a protective overhead coverage of the canopy when the canopy is in a lowered position;
- and
- a non-metallic protective barrier separate from the canopy and coupled to the canopy at a front edge of the canopy so as to form a canopy extension and positioned to deflect objects from striking the GNSS receiver.
A canopy extension for a haul truck, the canopy extension comprising:
- a non-metallic protective barrier coupled to a canopy of the haul truck, wherein the protective barrier is separate from the canopy and positioned towards a front of the canopy as a canopy extension and positioned to deflect objects from striking a GNSS receiver, which is positioned outside of a coverage of the canopy.
A method of protecting a GNSS receiver mounted on a haul truck, the method comprising:
- providing a non-metallic protective barrier;
- and
- mounting the non-metallic protective barrier towards a front of a canopy of the haul truck, wherein the non-metallic protective barrier is separate from the canopy and is configured to provide a canopy extension positioned to deflect objects from striking a GNSS receiver which is positioned proximate the front of the canopy.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.