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:
Dec. 27, 1994
Filed:
Apr. 01, 1993
Ted L Teach, Dayton, OH (US);
Spectra-Physics Laserplane, Inc., Dayton, OH (US);
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.