Method and equipment for automatic guidance of earthmoving machines and especially machines for laying drainage elements
First Claim
1. Method for automatic guidance of an earthmoving machine in accordance with predetermined planimetric and altimetric data profiles, said method comprising the following steps:
- disposing on the ground fixed beaconing elements (9) and a rotary laser beam emitter for defining a predetermined reference plane;
disposing on the earthmoving machine (11) a first device (M2) of the planimetric guidance of the machine and a second device (M3) for the altimetric guidance of an earthmoving tool (13) carried by said machine, said first device (M2) controlling a steering system of the machine (11) and said second device (M3) controlling the vertical position of the tool (13); and
further disposing on the machine (11) a control module (M1) for transmitting previously stored planimetric and altimetric specifications for the work to be performed on the ground so as to control through said first device (M2) the direction of the travel of the machine (11) and to control through said second device (M3) the vertical position of the tool (13) with respect to said fixed locating beacons and to said plane defined by said rotating laser beam, respectively.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The method for automatic guidance of a machine of the crawler type for laying drainage piping or any similar earthmoving machine consists in preliminary recording, in digital form and on a moving magnetic recording medium, of all the planimetric and altimetric data relating to the operations to be performed with reference to datum points and to reference plane. There are then placed on the ground of the drainage site fixed beacons for marking the location of the selected datum points as well as a rotating laser beam emitter for defining the desired reference plane. The crawler machine to be guided is equipped with a microprocessor control-module for reading the indications recorded on the magnetic recording medium and controlling two guidance devices, one device being employed for planimetric guidance of the crawler machine and the other device being employed for altimetric guidance of the drain-laying or digging tool of the machine. These two control devices produce action respectively on the steering control of the machine and on the system for controlling the height-setting of the tool with reference to the fixed locating beacons and to the plane defined by the rotating laser beam.
-
Citations
12 Claims
-
1. Method for automatic guidance of an earthmoving machine in accordance with predetermined planimetric and altimetric data profiles, said method comprising the following steps:
- disposing on the ground fixed beaconing elements (9) and a rotary laser beam emitter for defining a predetermined reference plane;
disposing on the earthmoving machine (11) a first device (M2) of the planimetric guidance of the machine and a second device (M3) for the altimetric guidance of an earthmoving tool (13) carried by said machine, said first device (M2) controlling a steering system of the machine (11) and said second device (M3) controlling the vertical position of the tool (13); and
further disposing on the machine (11) a control module (M1) for transmitting previously stored planimetric and altimetric specifications for the work to be performed on the ground so as to control through said first device (M2) the direction of the travel of the machine (11) and to control through said second device (M3) the vertical position of the tool (13) with respect to said fixed locating beacons and to said plane defined by said rotating laser beam, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
- disposing on the ground fixed beaconing elements (9) and a rotary laser beam emitter for defining a predetermined reference plane;
-
6. Control equipment to be installed on an earthmoving machine for the automatic guidance thereof, said equipment comprising in combination:
- a microprocessor control module (M1) which receives and transmits data stored in a magnetic recording device (S), said data including planimetric and altimetric data concerning work to be performed by said earthmoving machine;
a planimetric guidance device (M2) responsive to said data transmitted by said control module (M1) and which controls the steering system of the earthmoving machine with respect to fixed reference points consisting of locating beacons (9) disposed at suitable locations on the ground; and
an altimetric guidance device (M3) responsive to data transmitted by said control module (M1) and which controls means adjusting the vertical position of a working tool (13) with respect to a reference plane defined by a rotating laser beam issuing from an emitter (10). - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
- a microprocessor control module (M1) which receives and transmits data stored in a magnetic recording device (S), said data including planimetric and altimetric data concerning work to be performed by said earthmoving machine;
Specification