The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 14, 2026
Filed:
Apr. 05, 2022
Caterpillar Sarl, Geneva, CH;
Matthew Beschorner, Plainfield, IL (US);
Nathan Bjerke, Peoria, IL (US);
Corey Lee Gorman, Peoria, IL (US);
Caterpillar SARL, Geneva, CH;
Abstract
A work machine comprising a trench measurement system for measuring a trench depth and trench angle during a trench digging operation is disclosed. The work machine comprises a range finder system mounted on the boom and includes a plurality of rangefinders, each rangefinder includes a beam device configured to determine a distance of a plurality of rays irradiated from the beam device to a trench floor. An on-board controller is configured to calculate the trench depth from data received by the range finder system on the boom, the sensor assembly, the boom position on the working mechanism, and attributes of the work machine. A method for measuring a trench depth and trench angle associated with a trench digging operation with range finders mounted on the boom of a work machine is also disclosed.