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. 25, 2006
Filed:
Nov. 18, 2002
Daniel Brian Zakula, Sr., Mokena, IL (US);
Harvey E. Schmidt, Flossmoor, IL (US);
Daniel Brian Zakula, Sr., Mokena, IL (US);
Harvey E. Schmidt, Flossmoor, IL (US);
Mi-Jack Products, Inc., Hazel Crest, IL (US);
Abstract
An automatic guidance system and method are provided for a gantry crane to permit accurate tracking along a path, including a curved path. The position of the crane is determined from two spaced apart GPS receivers fixed to the crane. A guidance controller determines a plurality of error measurements from respective front, center and rear points of the crane relative to a current tracking line, which is a line tangent to the path at a current position of crane. In an embodiment, the system includes a base station that can be used to transmit data to the crane to specify a particular destination location of the drive path, or to transmit data representing the drive path itself.