Grade control alignment device and method

• US 4,403,889 A
• Filed: 06/08/1981
• Issued: 09/13/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John A. Gillotti
• Original Assignee: John A. Gillotti
• Inventors: Gillotti, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Byers, Jr., Nile C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hjorth, Beverly E.
• Application Number:
  US06/271,520
• Time in Patent Office: 827 Days
• Field of Search: 404/72, 404/84, 404/98, 404/101, 404/104, 37/DIG. 14, 37/DIG. 19, 172/430
• US Class Current: 404/72
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/008 by reference lines placed along the road, e.g. wires co-operating with feeler elements E01C19/006 takes precedence
• 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

A grade control alignment device and method used in combination with a machine having an automatic grade control system to control the grade or elevation of a working implement. The alignment device is mounted on the machine and a sighting reference is visually aligned with a grade reference line which is set at a predetermined desired elevation. By periodically viewing the alignment device the operator determines if the automatic control is maintaining the working implement at the proper grade. If the proper grade is not being maintained, the operator overrides the automatic control to adjust the grade of the working implement.

Claims

1. In combination with a machine including means for automatically controlling the grade of a working implement of the machine as the machine travels over a surface and means for overriding said automatic grade control means, wherein the automatic grade control senses and is responsive to the relative position of the working implement with respect to a first grade reference line disposed on a first transverse side of the machine, said first grade reference line being disposed substantially parallel to the direction of travel of the machine, the improvement comprising:

a visual alignment device mounted on said machine, said alignment device including a sighting reference and means for adjusting said alignment device to visually align a grade reference line and said sighting reference, whereby a machine operator can refer to the alignment device and override the automatic grade control means as required to maintain the desired elevation of the working implement;

said sighting reference including a support structure attached to said machine, a first sight pin attached to said support, and a second sight pin attached to said support and spaced from said first sight pin, such that said first and second sight pins are angularly sighted and visually aligned with a grade reference line; and

said support including a first section and a second section angularly disposed with respect to said first section, and wherein said first sight pin is attached to said first section and said second sight pin is attached to said second section.

2. The machine of claim 1, further including a reflection plate attached to said support and disposed between said first and second sight pins, such that a reflective surface of said reflection plate is directed toward both said first and second sight pins.

3. The machine of claim 2, wherein said support is pivotally attached to said machine.

4. The machine of claim 2, wherein said first sight pin is pivotally attached to said support.

5. The machine of claim 2, wherein said first and second sight pins are pivotally attached to said support.

6. A method for controlling the grade of a working implement of a machine, wherein said machine includes means for automatically controlling the grade of a working implement of the machine as the machine travels over a surface and means for overriding said automatic grade control means, wherein the automatic grade control senses and is responsive to the relative position of the working implement with respect to a first grade reference line disposed on a first transverse side of the machine, and said first grade reference line being disposed substantially parallel to the direction of travel of the machine, the method comprising the steps of:

mounting a visual alignment device on said machine, said alignment device including a sighting reference and means for adjusting said alignment device to visually align a grade reference line and said sighting reference;

said sighting reference including a support structure attached to said machine, a first sight pin attached to said support, and a second sight pin attached to said support and spaced from said first sight pin, such that said first and second sight pins are angularly sighted and visually aligned with a grade reference line; and

said support including a first section and a second section angularly disposed with respect to said first section, and wherein said first sight pin is attached to said first section and said second sight pin is attached to said second section;

actuating the automatic grade control;

adjusting said alignment device to visually align said grade reference line and said sighting reference;

periodically viewing the alignment device to determine if the visual alignment of the grade reference line and the sighting reference is maintained as the machine travels over a surface; and

actuating said automatic grade control overriding means to adjust the grade of the working implement when said visual alignment is not maintained, to restore said visual alignment.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said grade reference line is said first grade reference line.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said grade reference line is a second grade reference line disposed on a second transverse side of said machine, said second grade reference line being disposed substantially parallel to the direction of travel of said machine.