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Guidance system for use in docking a movable vehicle with a stationary target

  • US 5,513,870 A
  • Filed: 05/24/1995
  • Issued: 05/07/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/24/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A navigational aid for use in docking a towing vehicle with a stationary target, the navigational aid comprising:

  • a sensing unit, pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis, and in use being mounted in axial alignment with a coupling point on the towing vehicle;

    a flexible line, stored within the sensing unit, a free end of the flexible line being withdrawable, under tension, from the sensing unit for connection to a target point on the stationary target, the sensing unit being operative for detecting axial misalignment of the flexible line between the sensing unit and the target point on the stationary target to thereby indicate axial misalignment between the coupling point on the vehicle and the target point on the stationary object;

    a display unit, electrically coupled to the sensing unit, the display unit in use being mounted on the towing vehicle in view of a driver thereof, the display unit including turn indicator means for providing a visual indication to the driver of the direction of a turn that is required to correct axial misalignment between the coupling point on the towing vehicle and the target point on the stationary target;

    said sensing unit having a retractable line storage reel and line tensioning means cooperating therewith, the line storage reel being operative for allowing the flexible line to be unwound therefrom in preparation for a docking operation and to be retracted thereon during the docking operation, and also having line reference means in cooperation with the retractable line storage reel for providing a precise reference for detecting axial misalignment of the flexible line, and said sensing unit including an optical shutter having a pilot bearing through which the line passes, upper and lower guides for permitting only lateral movement of the flexible line and optical shutter, and a pair of optical switches positioned on opposite sides of the optical shutter for sensing lateral movement of the axial shutter and corresponding axial misalignment of the flexible line.

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