SELF-PROPELLED DIRECTION MARKER

• US 3,860,906 A
• Filed: 09/12/1973
• Issued: 01/14/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Malcolm Henry Browning
• Original Assignee: Malcolm Henry Browning
• Inventors: Browning, Malcolm Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Application Number:
  US05/396,430
• Time in Patent Office: 489 Days
• Field of Search: 340/114,135 33/264 46/244B,244D 180/65R,65A,65F 343/225 318/16
• US Class Current: 318/581
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 69/001 Steering by means of optical assistance, e.g. television cameras steering devices for road marking vehicles E01C23/163
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/841 Devices for controlling and guiding the whole machine, e.g. by feeler elements and reference lines placed exteriorly of the machine construction of roads E01C19/008

Abstract

The invention relates to a self-propelled movable direction marker device for guiding the path of a machine movable relative thereto, the device comprising a body provided with means enabling it to be moved over the ground, a marker or indicator carried on said body on which a sighting or bearing can be taken from the machine, a motor driven transmission for driving said means, a device for sensing the distance the marker device is moved by the motor driven transmission, means for cutting out the drive to said means when the marker device has been moved a predetermined distance and means which can be actuated by or from the machine for re-starting the drive.

Claims

1. A self-propelled movable direction marker device for guiding the path of a machine movable relative thereto, comprising a body provided with means enabling it to be moved over the ground, an indicator means carried on said body on which a sighting can be taken from said machine movable relative thereto, a motor driven transmission means for driving said first means, sensor means for sensing the distance the marker device is moved by said motor driven transmission means, means for cutting out the drive to said first mentioned means when the marker device has been moved a predetermined distance, and means for re-starting the drive when the machine has moved along the guided path, wherein said sensor means comprises a counter device for counting revolutions of a shaft of the transmission means, said counter being resettable by means operated by a radio signal emitted from the machine movable relative to the marker device.

2. A self-propelled movable direction marker device for guiding the path of a machine movable relative thereto, comprising a body provided with means enabling it to be moved over the ground, an indicator means carried on said body on which a sighTing can be taken from said machine movable relative thereto, a motor driven transmission means for driving said first means, sensor means for sensing the distance the marker device is moved by said motor driven transmission means, means for cutting out the drive to said first mentioned means when the marker device has been moved a predetermined distance, and means for re-starting the drive when the machine has moved along the guided path, wherein the first mentioned means comprise wheels on said body, and said sensor means for sensing the distance the marker device is moved comprises a counter device for counting the revolutions or part revolutions of the wheels.

3. A marker device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said sensor means comprises a counter device of a type in which a predetermined number of units to be counted can be set and the counter when operated counts back to zero to actuate said means for cutting out the drive, means being provided to re-set the counter back to the predetermined number of units.

4. A marker device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said sensor means comprises a counter device of a type in which a predetermined number of units to be counted can be set and the counter when operated counts from zero up to said predetermined number to actuate said means for cutting out the drive, means being provided to re-set the counter back to zero.

5. A marker device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said sensor means comprises a mechanically operated counter device.

6. A marker device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said sensor means comprises an electrically operated counter device.

7. A marker device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said sensor means comprises a mechanically operated counter device for counting impulses produced by a cam means rotatable with a drive shaft forming part of said transmission means.

8. A marker device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said sensor means comprises an electrically operated counter device for counting light impulses produced by light passing through apertures provided in a disc rotatable by said transmission means.

9. A marker device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said motor driven transmission means includes an electric motor controlled by means operated by the sensor means.

10. A marker device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said motor driven transmission means comprises an electric motor having an output shaft, a pulley mounted on said shaft, a shaft connected to drive wheels mounted on said body, a pulley mounted on said shaft and a belt engaging said pulleys.

11. A marker device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said motor driven transmission means comprises an electric motor having an output shaft, a sprocket mounted on said shaft, a shaft connected to drive wheels mounted on said body, a sprocket mounted on said shaft and a chain engaging said pulleys.

12. A marker device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said motor driven transmission means comprises an electric motor having an output shaft, a gear wheel mounted on said shaft, a shaft connected to drive wheels mounted on said body and a gear mounted on said shaft and in driving connection with the gear provided on the output shaft of said motor.

13. A marker device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said wheels comprise at least one pair being adjustable in direction.

14. A marker device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said body supports a mast, said mast carrying said indicator means.

15. A marker device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said wheels drive endless track devices.

16. A marker device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said motor driven transmission includes a clutch means constituting said means for cutting out the drive, means for operating said clutch means and in which said motor is caused to run continuously whilst the marker device is in use.

17. A marker device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said body consists of a tubular structure.

18. A marker device as set forth in claim 2, wherein saId body consists of a box-like structure having a top opening and an end opening, a lid for closing said top opening and a removable cover plate for closing said end opening, said cover plate carrying said motor, said sensing means and said cut out means.

19. A self-propelled movable direction marker device for guiding the path of a machine movable relative thereto, comprising a body provided with means enabling it to be moved over the ground, an indicator means carried on said body on which a sighting can be taken from said machine movable relative thereto, a motor driven transmission means for driving said first means, sensor means for sensing the distance the marker device is moved by said motor driven transmission means, means for cutting out the drive to said first mentioned means when the marker device has been moved a predetermined distance, and means for re-starting the drive when the machine has moved along the guided path, wherein said sensor means comprises a counter device for counting revolutions of a shaft of the transmission means, said counter being resettable by a microswitch which can be operated by a movable arm mounted on said body, said arm being arranged to be moved by being struck by a part of the machine movable relative to the marker device.