AUTOMATED STRINGLINE INSTALLATION SYSTEM

• US 20080253835A1
• Filed: 04/05/2008
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: POWER CURBERS, INC.
• Original Assignee: POWER CURBERS, INC.
• Inventors: COLVARD, John Charles, MESSINGER, Dwight Ferrand, HUMPHRIES, Fred Russell
• Granted Patent: US 8,073,566 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 404/84.8
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/006 by laser or ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 23/163 for marking-out the location of the markings; Guiding or steering devices for marking apparatus, e.g. sights
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2045 Guiding machines along a predetermined path for graders E02F3/841; machines for construction of roads E01C19/004

Abstract

An automated stringline installation system includes a vehicle, a 3D control system, at least partly carried by the vehicle, for determining location information, and an adjustable arm assembly, mounted on the vehicle, that identifies the location of a relative point in a stringline installation using the location information determined by the 3D control system. The adjustable arm assembly includes an operational arm having a proximal end and a distal end, a string, dispensed from the operational arm, for use in a stringline installation, and a sensor used to determine information pertaining to the location of the distal end of the operational arm assembly relative to the proximal end of the operational arm.

Claims

1. :

An automated stringline installation system, comprising;

a vehicle;

a 3D control system, at least partly carried by the vehicle, for determining location information; and

an adjustable arm assembly, mounted on the vehicle, that identifies the location of a relative point in a stringline installation using the location information determined by the 3D control system.

2. :

The automated stringline installation system of claim 1, wherein the relative point is a particular point, on the ground, where a stake is to be installed in a stringline installation.

3. :

The automated stringline installation system of claim 2, wherein the adjustable arm assembly is adapted to install the stake at the particular point.

4. :

The automated stringline installation system of claim 1, wherein the relative point is a particular point, elevated over the ground, through which a string is to be installed in a stringline installation.

5. :

The automated stringline installation system of claim 4, wherein the adjustable arm assembly is adapted to position the string such that it is routed through the particular point.

6. :

The automated stringline installation system of claim 5, wherein the adjustable arm assembly is adapted to install the string such that is routed through the particular point.

7. :

The automated stringline installation system of claim 5, further comprising a reel assembly for carrying a spool of string such that the string may be routed from the reel assembly to the particular point.

8. :

The automated stringline installation system of claim 1, wherein the relative point is a particular point, in an existing stringline installation, whose actual location is to be determined.

9. :

The automated stringline installation system of claim 8, further comprising a database in which the actual location of the particular point is recorded as installed data.

10. :

The automated stringline installation system of claim 1, wherein the adjustable arm assembly includes an operational arm and a translational platform.

11. :

The automated stringline installation system of claim 10, wherein the translational platform includes a mechanical assembly that permits the operational arm to be displaced, relative to the vehicle, in one or more degree of freedom.

12. :

The automated stringline installation system of claim 11, wherein the operational arm shifts, along at least one axis, relative to the vehicle.

13. :

The automated stringline installation system of claim 11, wherein the operational arm rotates, around at least one axis, relative to the vehicle.

14. :

The automated stringline installation system of claim 11, wherein the mechanical assembly includes a plurality of adjustment mechanisms, each permitting the operational arm to be displaced in exactly one degree of freedom.

15. :

The automated stringline installation system of claim 1, wherein the adjustable arm assembly includes an articulated arm.

16. :

The automated stringline installation system of claim 1, further comprising an arm-mounted locator assembly disposed at a distal end of the adjustable arm assembly and arranged to point to the relative point.

17. :

The automated stringline installation system of claim 1, further comprising a sensor used to determine information pertaining to the location of a distal end of the adjustable arm assembly relative to the 3D control system.

18. :

The automated stringline installation system of claim 17, wherein the sensor determines a state or position of an adjustment mechanism in the adjustable arm assembly.

19. :

The automated stringline installation system of claim 17, wherein the sensor determines a distance or angle of a first portion of the adjustable arm assembly relative to a second portion of the adjustable arm assembly.

20. :

The automated stringline installation system of claim 17, wherein the sensor determines a distance or angle between the distal end of the adjustable arm assembly and the 3D control system directly.

21. :

The automated stringline installation system of claim 1, wherein the 3D control system includes a fixed base station locatable in the general vicinity of the vehicle on a construction site, and a mobile unit carried by the vehicle.

22. :

The automated stringline installation system of claim 21, wherein the fixed base station is equipped with GPS and the mobile unit includes a GPS unit.

23. :

The automated stringline installation system of claim 21, wherein the base station is a robotic laser-based tracking station and the mobile unit includes a prism.

24-52. -52. (canceled)