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US 5,174,038 AGranted
Method and apparatus for profiling terrain
AssigneeFMC Corporation
InventorsRonald J. Neyens, Porfirio L. Nogueriro
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A terrain profiling apparatus for quick and inexpensive profiling of relatively large areas of ground. A prime mover pulls a sled across a terrain to be profiled. A gyroscope on the sled indicates slope and a measuring device records distances moved. Slope and distance signals are used by a computer to indicate terrain profile.
Claims3
An apparatus for profiling terrain, comprising:
- a sled for slidably moving over a surface of a terrain;
- a level indicating means for mounting on said sled for providing signals which indicate a slope of said sled, wherein said level indicating means includes a gyroscope mounted on said sled;
- means for moving said sled along said surface of said terrain;
- means for recording said slope signals from said level indicating means;
- means for measuring a distance traveled by said sled, wherein the means for measuring a distance traveled by said sled measures a straight distance from the sled to an absolute point and wherein the means for measuring a distance traveled by said sled comprises a reel, a rope with a first end of the rope wrapped around the reel and a second end of the rope connected to the absolute point;
- and
- means for using said slope and said distance traveled to provide a profile of the terrain traversed by said sled.
4 more elements
An apparatus for profiling terrain comprising:
- a sled for slidably moving over a surface of a terrain;
- a level indicating means for mounting on said sled for providing signals which indicate a slope of said sled, wherein said level indicating means includes a gyroscope mounted on said sled;
- means for moving said sled along said surface of said terrain;
- means for recording said slope signals from said level indicating means;
- means for measuring a distance traveled by said sled, wherein the means for measuring a distance traveled by said sled measures a straight distance from the sled to an absolute point and wherein the means for measuring a distance traveled by said sled includes a Doppler laser generator mounted on said means for moving said sled;
- and
- means for using said slope and said distance traveled to provide a profile of the terrain traversed by said sled.
4 more elements
An apparatus for profiling terrain comprising:
- a sled for slidably moving over a surface of a terrain;
- a level indicating means for mounting on said sled for providing signals which indicate a slope of said sled, wherein said level indicating means includes a gyroscope mounted on said sled;
- means for moving said sled along said surface of said terrain;
- means for recording said slope signals from said level indicating means;
- means for measuring a distance traveled by said sled, wherein the means for measuring a distance traveled by said sled measures a straight distance from the sled to an absolute point and wherein the means for measuring a distance traveled by said sled comprises a reel, a wire rope with a first end of the wire rope wrapped around the reel, and a stake at the absolute point connected to a second end of the wire rope;
- and
- means for using said slope and said distance traveled to provide a profile of the terrain traversed by said sled.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.