US 5,375,663 A · Earthmoving apparatus and method for grading land providing continuous resurveying

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.

Claims18

Dependent claims

An earthmoving apparatus for grading a tract of land to a desired finish contour, said earthmoving apparatus comprising:

a blade for cutting and filling soil of said tract of land, said blade having a known width;
blade movement sensor means for detecting vertical movement of said blade;
elevation sensor means for detecting elevation of said soil as said earthmoving apparatus traverses said tract of land;
position sensor means for detecting x and y position of said apparatus as said apparatus traverses said tract of land;
and
computer means for displaying a contour map of said tract of land, said contour map having cut and fill lines thereon, and for continuously modifying said contour map as said earthmoving apparatus traverses said tract of land based on said detected elevation of said soil, said blade width, said x and y position of said apparatus and said desired finish contour.

3 more elements

An earthmoving apparatus for grading a tract of land to a desired finish contour, said earthmoving apparatus comprising:

a blade for cutting and filling soil of said tract of land, said blade having a known width and a cutting edge;
blade movement means for controlling vertical movement of said blade;
soil elevation means for detecting the elevation of said soil with respect to the elevation of said cutting edge of said blade;
position sensor means for detecting x and y position of said apparatus as said apparatus traverses said tract of land;
and
computer means for displaying a contour map of said tract of land, said contour map having cut and fill lines thereon, for continuously updating said contour map as said earthmoving apparatus traverses said tract of land based on the elevation of said soil with respect to the elevation of said cutting edge of said blade, said blade width, said x and y position of said apparatus and said desired finish contour.

3 more elements

A method for grading a tract of land to a desired finish contour using an earthmoving apparatus having a blade of a known width and computer means for displaying a contour map of said tract of land, said method comprising the steps of:

surveying said tract of land;
generating and displaying said contour map having cut and fill lines thereon based on said survey and said desired finish contour;
traversing said tract of land using said blade of said earthmoving apparatus to cut and fill soil of said tract of land;
sensing elevational changes of said soil as said earthmoving apparatus traverses said tract of land;
continuously determining said x and y position of said earthmoving apparatus as said earthmoving apparatus traverses said tract of land;
and
modifying and displaying said contour map to reflect changes in said tract of land continuously as said apparatus traverses said tract of land based on said elevational changes of said soil, said width of said blade and said x and y position of said earthmoving apparatus.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Earthmoving apparatus and method for grading land providing continuous resurveying

Life of this patent

Earthmoving apparatus and method for grading land providing continuous resurveying

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18