Sensor mount for an excavator

• US 5,649,600 A
• Filed: 01/11/1996
• Issued: 07/22/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pentax Corporation (Hoya Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Asahi Precision Company Limited
• Inventors: Marsh, Richard G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Melius, Terry Lee
• Assistant Examiner(s): PEZZUTO, ROBERT ERIC
• Application Number:
  US08/585,160
• Time in Patent Office: 558 Days
• Field of Search: 33/333, 33/370, 33/371, 37/348, 37/347, 37/901, 37/903, 172/3, 172/4, 172/4.5, 172/7, 172/9, 172/11, 414/698
• US Class Current: 172/4.5
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/437 providing automatic sequences of movements, e.g. linear excavation, keeping dipper angle constant
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/264 Sensors and their calibration for indicating the position of the work tool

Abstract

A laser receiving depth sensor is attached to the stick of an excavator or backhoe. A mounting bar is magnetically mounted to the stick and the sensor is adjustably slidable along said mounting bar when fixed at selected one of a plurality of positions along the mounting bar.

Claims

1. A depth sensor for attachment to a stick of an excavator, said depth sensor comprising:

a receiver for sensing a laser beam;

a mounting device for mounting said receiver to the stick of the excavator; and

said mounting device including at least one magnet for attachment to said stick, said mounting device includes a mounting bar attached to said at least one magnet, an assembly being slidably mounted along said mounting bar, said receiver being attached to said assembly;

wherein one side of said receiver is attached to said assembly, and further comprising a bar being mounted on a second side of said receiver, said second side being opposite from said one side of said receiver, said mounting bar including a plurality of holes, a first threaded element extending through said bar, said receiver, said assembly, and into a selected one of said plurality of holes of said mounting bar.

2. The depth sensor according to claim 1, said assembly including a groove which is complimentary in shape to the shape of said mounting bar, said mounting bar being received in said groove.

3. The depth sensor according to claim 2, wherein said groove is substantially trapezoidally shaped.

4. The depth sensor according to claim 1, further comprising at least one second threaded element, said at least one second threaded element extending through said assembly, said receiver, and into said bar.

5. The depth sensor according to claim 1, said first threaded element including a knob.

6. The depth sensor according to claim 1, said mounting device including a plurality of magnets.

7. The depth sensor according to claim 1, said mounting bar having first and second ends, a magnet attached adjacent to each of said first and second ends.

8. A depth sensor for attachment to an excavator, said excavator having at least one movable arm, said depth sensor comprising:

a receiver for sensing a laser beam;

a mounting device for mounting said receiver to a surface of the at least one movable arm; and

said mounting device including at least one magnet for attachment to said surface of the at least one movable arm, said mounting device includes a mounting bar attached to said at least one magnet, an assembly being slidably mounted along said mounting bar, said receiver being attached to said assembly;

wherein one side of said receiver is attached to said assembly, and further comprising a bar being mounted on a second side of said receiver, said second side being opposite from said one side of said receiver, said mounting bar including a plurality of holes, a first threaded element extending through said bar, said receiver, said assembly, and into a selected one of said plurality of holes of said mounting bar.

9. The depth sensor according to claim 8, said mounting device including at least two contacting surfaces for contacting said surface of the at least one movable arm, one of said at least two contacting surfaces being spaced from an other of said at least two contacting surfaces.

10. The depth sensor according to claim 9, further comprising a recess between said at least two contacting surfaces.

11. The depth sensor according to claim 10, said receiver including an observation window having indicia, said indicia being arranged parallel with and spaced from said surface of the at least one movable arm.

12. The depth sensor according to claim 9, wherein each of said contacting surfaces includes a magnet.

13. The depth sensor according to claim 8, said mounting device having first and second ends, a magnet attached to each of said first and second ends.

14. A depth sensor for attachment to a stick of an excavator, said depth sensor comprising:

a receiver for sensing a laser beam; and

a mounting device for mounting said receiver to the stick of the excavator, said mounting device including at least one magnet for attachment to said stick, said mounting device including a mounting bar attached to said at least one magnet, said mounting bar including a plurality of holes, an assembly being slidably mounted along said mounting bar, one side of said receiver being attached to said assembly, and further comprising a bar being mounted on a second side of said receiver, said second side being opposite from said one side of said receiver, a first threaded element extending through said bar, said receiver, said assembly, and into a selected one of said plurality of holes of said mounting bar.

15. The depth sensor according to claim 14, further comprising at least one second threaded element, said at least one second threaded element extending through said assembly, said receiver, and into said bar.

16. The depth sensor according to claim 14, said first threaded element including a knob.