Patent US5109164A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3797124A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ground profile reader
Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
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Filing: 1972-04-21
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Granted: 1974-03-19
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Expires: 1992-04-21
Abstract
Abstract An elongated beam having spaced apart ground engaging members supporting it on a monitored surface includes transport system for moving it normal to its longitudinal axis whereby a level transducer centrally attached to the beam and connected by powered electrical circuits to an indicator will continuously reflect the displacement (slope) of its ground engaging members on the monitored surface normal to the path transversed by the beam. The transport system may include a device for measuring the distance traversed and the indicator may include a strip chart recorder whereby a chart profile of the monitored surface can be obtained. Special marking devices can be operated by the circuits to physically mark or paint areas where the monitored surface is cut outside the prescribed tolerances with respect to slope.
Inventors
- 👤 G Easterling
- 👤 R Page
- 👤 R Scholl
- 👤 W Tillman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 00:15
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C7/00; G01C7/02; G01C7/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
A ground profile reader that provides a continuous slope reading normal to its transversed path along a monitored surface comprising: an elongated beam oriented normal to such traversed path; spaced apart ground Engaging ski-type shoes attached to said longitudinal beam adjacent to its ends operable to support said longitudinal beam above such a monitored surface thereon, said ski-type shoes being adjustably attached to said beam so they can be adjusted longitudinally on said beam to avoid tracking directly in wheel tracks; transport means connected to said longitudinal beam for moving it along a path normal to the orientation of said beam without interfering with its position established by said ground engaging ski-type shoes; a level transducer unit adjustably attached to said beam operable to produce a continuous electrical output signal proportional to the deviation of its respective ground engaging ski-type shoes with respect to a vertical reference; powered circuit means connected to said transducer unit; and an indicator connected to said powered circuit mean operable to convert said continuous electrical output signal to a slope reading in degrees.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
178 words
A ground profile reader that provides a continuous slope reading normal to its transversed path along a monitored surface comprising: an elongated beam oriented normal to such traversed path; spaced apart ground Engaging ski-type shoes attached to said longitudinal beam adjacent to its ends operable to support said longitudinal beam above such a monitored surface thereon, said ski-type shoes being adjustably attached to said beam so they can be adjusted longitudinally on said beam to avoid tracking directly in wheel tracks; transport means connected to said longitudinal beam for moving it along a path normal to the orientation of said beam without interfering with its position established by said ground engaging ski-type shoes; a level transducer unit adjustably attached to said beam operable to produce a continuous electrical output signal proportional to the deviation of its respective ground engaging ski-type shoes with respect to a vertical reference; powered circuit means connected to said transducer unit; and an indicator connected to said powered circuit mean operable to convert said continuous electrical output signal to a slope reading in degrees.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The reader defined in claim 2 wherein the transport system includes a triangular frame with a forward dirigible wheel for steering it.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The reader defined in claim 1 wherein the transport system has a recorder for recording a continuous slope variation read by the indicator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The reader defined in claim 1 wherein the powered circuit means includes a warning means operable to sound an audible alarm when slope tolerances are exceeded.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The reader defined in claim 1 wherein the powered circuits include a marking means whereby areas of the monitored surface are physically marked when slope tolerances are exceeded by depositing colored material thereon.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The reader defined in claim 3 wherein the transport system includes distance measuring means operable to generation information concerning the distance traversed thereby with said distance measuring means connected to the recorder whereby correlated slope and distance information will be simultaneously read by said recorder.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-03-18 | 1977-09-17 | 1978-03-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-03-18 | 1981-09-17 | 1982-03-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-03-18 | 1985-09-17 | 1986-03-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |