Self-recovering grade control feeler

• US 5,876,150 A
• Filed: 04/02/1997
• Issued: 03/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joyce L. Morrison
• Original Assignee: Joyce L. Morrison
• Inventors: Koleszar, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Graysay, Tamara L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Singh, Sunil
• Application Number:
  US08/832,041
• Time in Patent Office: 699 Days
• Field of Search: 404/84.05, 404/84.1, 404/84.2, 404/84.8, 404/98
• US Class Current: 404/84.2
• 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

Abstract

A grade control feeler assembly provides a pair of spaced apart control line feelers mounted on a rotational hub such that when an obstacle such as a line stake is encountered a first feeler running in contact with the line is rotated by the obstacle. This results in the rotation, as well, of the second of the feelers into contact with the line. When the obstacle has been negotiated, a spring causes the feelers to rotate to their original positions without even a momentary loss of contact between the feeler assembly and the line.

Claims

1. A grade follower device for use with a moving equipment, a grade sensor, a grading line and a feeler obstruction, the device comprising:

a bracket providing a bracket mounting means at a proximal end thereof for attachment of the device to the grade sensor, and a hub mounting means at a distal end thereof,

a feeler assembly providing;

a feeler hub rotationally engaged on the hub mounting means and

a pair of line feelers secured in radial positions on the feeler hub at an acute angle therebetween;

a bias means engaged with the feeler hub and with the bracket for urging the feeler hub toward a preferred rotational position so that with the device extending from the moving equipment, with one of the pair of line feelers running in contact with the grading line, the feeler obstruction forcing hub the feeler to rotate the one line feeler out of contact with the grading line while rotating other line feeler into contact therewith, the bias means forcing the feeler hub to rotate the one line feeler, again, into contact with the grading line when the obstruction has been passed, whereby the grade sensor is able to follow the grading line without a discontinuity while the feeler assembly passes the feeler obstruction;

feelers, the line feelers being manually removable and rotatable therein for replacement and for rotational orientation therein.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the bracket provides a means for rotation of the bracket about the bracket mounting means when acted upon by a force greater than a force of a selected magnitude.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the bias means is a coil spring, one end of the spring being fastened to the bracket, the other end being fastened to the feeler hub, the coil spring and the one line feeler being colinearly aligned.

4. A grade follower device for use with a moving equipment, a grading line and a feeler obstruction, the device comprising:

a grade sensor having a sensor arm;

a bracket providing a bracket mounting means at a proximal end thereof for attachment of the device to the sensor arm, and a hub mounting means at a distal end thereof;

a feeler assembly providing;

a feeler hub rotationally engaged on the hub mounting means and

a pair of line feelers secured in radial positions on the feeler hub at an acute angle therebetween;

a bias means engaged with the feeler hub and with the bracket for urging the feeler hub toward a preferred rotational position so that with the device extending from the moving equipment, with one of the pair of line feelers running in contact with the grading line, the feeler obstruction forcing the hub to rotate the one line feeler out of contact with the grading line while rotating other line feeler into contact therewith, the bias means forcing the feeler hub to rotate the one line feeler, again, into contact with the grading line when the feeler obstruction has been passed,

whereby the grade sensor is able to follow the grading line without a discontinuity while the feeler assembly passes the feeler obstruction;

the bracket providing a means for rotation of the bracket about the bracket mounting means when acted upon by a force greater than a force of a selected magnitude.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein the feeler hub provides hollow tubular stub means for frictionally mounting the line feelers, the line feelers being manually removable and rotatable therein for replacement and for rotational orientation therein.

6. The device of claim 4 wherein the bias means is a coil spring, one end of spring being fastened to the bracket, the other end being fastened to the feeler hub, the coil spring and the one line feeler being colinearly aligned.