One-man field survey instrument
First Claim
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1. A one-man field survey instrument comprising:
- a terrain engaging structure having two spaced-apart legs and means coupled thereto for maintaining the two legs parallel at all times, said structure being sufficiently small in size and light in weight to be moved by one man across the terrain with one or the other of the two legs in contact with the terrain;
means carried by said structure for sensing the vertical orientation of said legs and for providing an enabling signal responsively thereto;
means carried by said structure for measuring the vertical angle between predetermined points on said legs responsively to said enabling signal;
means carried by said structure for measuring the azimuth of said legs responsively to said enabling signal;
indication means carried by said structure for indicating the provision of said enabling signal;
a recorder for storing signals related to measured vertical angles and azimuths; and
a source of electrical power carried by said structure and operatively coupled to said recorder and to said sensing means, said measuring means, and said indication meanswhereby said structure may be moved by one man across the terrain to be surveyed with one of the two legs on the terrain at all times, passing the legs through the vertical at each position when both legs are in contact with the terrain whereupon the vertical angle and azimuth of the structure is recorded and the operator signaled to move one of the legs to a new position in contact with the terrain.
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Abstract
A one-man field survey instrument for conducting small scale engineering surveys. The instrument automatically measures relative vertical and horizontal angles as it is moved over the terrain. The measurements are thereafter processed to prepare a topographical survey. Alternative configurations are disclosed as are methods for using the instrument.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A one-man field survey instrument comprising:
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a terrain engaging structure having two spaced-apart legs and means coupled thereto for maintaining the two legs parallel at all times, said structure being sufficiently small in size and light in weight to be moved by one man across the terrain with one or the other of the two legs in contact with the terrain; means carried by said structure for sensing the vertical orientation of said legs and for providing an enabling signal responsively thereto; means carried by said structure for measuring the vertical angle between predetermined points on said legs responsively to said enabling signal; means carried by said structure for measuring the azimuth of said legs responsively to said enabling signal; indication means carried by said structure for indicating the provision of said enabling signal; a recorder for storing signals related to measured vertical angles and azimuths; and a source of electrical power carried by said structure and operatively coupled to said recorder and to said sensing means, said measuring means, and said indication means whereby said structure may be moved by one man across the terrain to be surveyed with one of the two legs on the terrain at all times, passing the legs through the vertical at each position when both legs are in contact with the terrain whereupon the vertical angle and azimuth of the structure is recorded and the operator signaled to move one of the legs to a new position in contact with the terrain. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A field survey instrument for measuring elevational variations in terrain comprising:
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a first leg adapted to contact the terrain; a second leg adapted to contact the terrain, said second leg being parallel to said first leg; means for determining when said legs are vertical; means responsive to said vertical leg determining means for measuring the vertical angle relative to pre-selective points on said legs and the horizontal angle relative to said legs and a selected reference point spaced from the instruments; and means for storing the measured angles whereby said legs may be positioned vertically on the terrain to measure the vertical and horizontal angles therebetween and thereafter be swung repeatedly, one about the other, to selected new vertical positions without regard to variations in said terrain, measuring the vertical and horizontal angles at each new vertical position of the legs for use thereafter in interpreting the topographical features covered by the survey. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of conducting a small scale topographical survey comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a pair of spaced-apart, parallel, terrain contacting legs; (b) placing one leg on a starting point of the terrain to be surveyed; (c) placing the second leg on a second point of the terrain to be surveyed; (d) positioning said legs vertically to thereby enable the measurement of angles (e) measuring the vertical angle between the legs and the azimuth of the line between the legs relative to a predetermined reference while enabled by the vertical post coming of said legs; (f) recording the measured angles; (g) swinging one leg about the other to additional points of contact with the terrain with one leg in contact with the terrain at all times and repeating steps (d) and (e) above at each such point of contact; and (h) processing the measured angles to provide an approximation of topographical features covered by the survey. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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Specification