Patent US5375663A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5375663A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Earthmoving apparatus and method for grading land providing continuous resurveying
Assignee: Trimble Inc
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Filing: 1993-04-01
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Granted: 1994-12-27
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Expires: 2013-04-01
Abstract
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.
Inventors
- 👤 Ted L. Teach
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 17:50
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02F; E02F3/00; E02F3/04; E02F3/76; E02F3/80; E02F3/84; E02F3/844; E02F3/847; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S37/00; Y10S37/907
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
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.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
147 words
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.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
The earthmoving apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said blade movement sensor means comprises: a laser light transmitting means for generating a plane of light above said tract of land; and laser light detection means connected to said blade for detecting vertical movement of said blade relative to said plane of light.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The earthmoving apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said laser light detection means comprises a laser receiver mast including a linear array of photodetectors.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The earthmoving apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said elevation sensor means continuously detects elevation of a portion of said soil located behind said blade.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The earthmoving apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said elevation sensor means comprises an ultrasonic transmitter and receiver for transmitting ultrasonic waves toward said portion of said soil and for receiving reflections of said ultrasonic waves from said portion of said soil.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The earthmoving apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said computer means continuously displays said x and y position of said earthmoving apparatus on said contour map as said apparatus traverses said tract of land.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The earthmoving apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising blade movement means for automatically regulating the position of said blade in response to said x and y position of said apparatus and said desired finish contour.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
164 words
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.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
164 words
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.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
85 words
The earthmoving apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein said soil elevation means for detecting the elevation of said soil with respect to the elevation of said cutting edge of said blade comprises: blade movement sensor means for detecting elevation of said blade as said apparatus traverses said tract of land; and elevation sensor means for continuously detecting the elevation of a portion of said soil located behind said blade relative to said elevation of said blade as said apparatus traverses said tract of land.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
54 words
The earthmoving apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said blade movement sensor means comprises: a laser light transmitting means for generating a plane of light above said tract of land; and a laser receiver mast including a linear array of photodetectors for detecting elevation of said blade relative to said plane of light.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The earthmoving apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said elevation sensor means comprises an ultrasonic transmitter and receiver for transmitting ultrasonic waves toward said portion of said soil and for receiving reflections of said ultrasonic waves from said portion of said soil.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The earthmoving apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein said computer means continuously displays said x and y position of said earthmoving apparatus on said contour map as said apparatus traverses said tract of land.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
77 words
The earthmoving apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein said computer means generates blade movement signals based on said elevation of said blade, said elevation of said portion of said soil, said blade width, said x and y position of said apparatus and said desired finish contour; and said blade movement means automatically controls said blade in response to said blade movement signals as said apparatus traverses said tract of land to produce said desired finish contour.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
173 words
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.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
173 words
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.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method for grading a tract of land as recited in claim 14 wherein said step of modifying said contour map further comprises the step of indicating on said contour map said x and y position of said apparatus as said apparatus traverses said tract of land.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method for grading a tract of land as recited in claim 14 wherein said step of sensing elevational changes of said soil comprises the step of sensing elevational changes of said soil located behind said blade.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
75 words
The method for grading a tract of land as recited in claim 14 wherein said step of sensing elevational changes of said soil further comprises the steps of: transmitting ultrasonic waves toward said soil located behind said blade; detecting reflections of said ultrasonic waves from said soil located behind said blade; calculating travel time of said waves; and determining elevation of said soil located behind said blade based on said travel time of said waves.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
107 words
The method for grading a tract of land as recited in claim 14 wherein said step of sensing elevational changes of said soil further comprises the steps of: transmitting a plane of laser light above said tract of land; detecting vertical movement of said blade relative to said plane of laser light; transmitting ultrasonic waves toward said soil located behind said blade; detecting reflections of said ultrasonic waves from said soil located behind said blade; calculating travel time of said waves; and determining said elevation of said soil located behind said blade based on said vertical movement of said blade and said travel time of said waves.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-12-26 | 1998-06-27 | 1998-12-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-12-26 | 2002-06-27 | 2002-12-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-12-26 | 2006-06-27 | 2006-12-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |