GPS-based trench excavation guidance device and related methods
AssigneeBrocato Construction Company Inc.
InventorChris Brocato
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device and method for maintaining the excavation of an excavation site along a predefined path are disclosed. The device includes positioning system receivers, control units, storage units, user interfaces, and direction guidance displays. The control unit determines if positioning coordinates deviate from a predefined path and generates a path correction signal for display. The method involves designating start and end points, acquiring their positioning coordinates, inputting these into an excavation guidance device, and determining the excavation path. Excavation begins at the start point, with the guidance device providing path correction instructions to ensure the excavation follows the predefined path.
Claims21
A stand-alone device for maintaining a predefined path for an excavation trench, the stand-alone device comprising:
- one or more GPS receivers;
- one or more control units;
- one or more storage units;
- one or more user interfaces;
- and
- one or more direction guidance displays;
- wherein the control unit determines whether positioning coordinates received from the GPS receiver deviate from a predefined path for an excavation trench and transmits a path correction signal to the direction guidance display to produce a sound and/or light-based signal indicating any correction needed to maintain the predetermined path for an excavation trench,
- wherein the path correction signal comprises directional indicators displayed on the direction guidance display that audibly and/or visually indicate a direction of correction,
- wherein the stand-alone device does not communicate with any excavation machine, and
- the predefined path comprises a start point and an end point that are too distant to be visible with a naked eye from a location where the GPS receiver receives positioning coordinates.
A method for excavating an excavation path, the method comprising:
- a. providing a stand-alone excavation guidance device which
- i. acquires positioning coordinates of a start point;
- ii. acquires positioning coordinates of an endpoint;
- iii. determines a path of excavation from the start point to the end point;
- iv. acquires its positioning coordinates when it is positioned in an excavation site;
- v. determines any correction needed to maintain the path of the excavation;
- and
- iv. outputs a sound and/or light-based signal that indicates any correction needed to maintain the path of the excavation, wherein the sound and/or light-based signal comprises directional indicators that audibly and/or visually indicate a direction of correction;
- b. excavating an excavation site at the start point;
- C. positioning the stand-alone excavation guidance device in the excavation site;
- d. excavating the path of the excavation according to the sound and/or light-based signal displayed on the stand-alone excavation guidance device;
- e. modifying, in response to the sound and/or light-based signal, the excavation to follow along the path of the excavation;
- f. continuing excavation along the path of the excavation, and
- h. repeating steps c. through f. until the end point is reached,
- wherein the excavation path comprises a trench having a start point and an end point that are too distant to be visible with a naked eye from the excavation site during the acquisition of the positioning coordinates by the stand-alone excavation guidance device.
A stand-alone device for maintaining a predefined path for an excavation trench, the stand-alone device comprising:
- one or more GPS receivers;
- one or more control units;
- one or more storage units;
- one or more user interfaces;
- and
- one or more direction guidance displays;
- wherein the stand-alone device is separate and apart from an excavation machine,
- wherein the stand-alone device does not communicate with the excavation machine or its control system,
- wherein the control unit determines whether positioning coordinates received from the GPS receiver deviate from a predefined path for the excavation trench and transmits a path correction signal to the direction guidance display to produce a sound and/or light-based signal indicating any correction needed to maintain the predetermined path for the excavation trench, and
- wherein the path correction signal comprises directional indicators displayed on the direction guidance display that audibly and/or visually indicate a direction of correction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.