Method and apparatus for controlling an earthworking implement to preserve a crown on a road surface
First Claim
1. A method for controlling an earthworking implement to preserve a crown on a road surface, the road surface having a sloped grade on each side of the crown, the earthworking implement having a cutting edge and being controllably mounted on an earthworking machine, including the steps of:
- determining the position of at least one point of discontinuity of said sloped grade on said road surface, said at least one point of discontinuity being a location of said crown, the location of said crown having a known first x, y, and z coordinate (x1, y1, z1);
choosing a sloped grade road surface located on one of two sides of said crown;
positioning said cutting edge on said sloped grade road surface at a position for a desired cut, said cutting edge having a first end located on said sloped grade road surface, said first end having a known second x, y, and z coordinate (x2, y2, z2) ; and
determining a desired position of a second end of said cutting edge, said second end having a known third x and y coordinate (x3, y3), and a known third z coordinate (z3) corresponding to a position on said road surface at said known third x and y coordinate, including the step of determining a desired z coordinate (z'"'"') as a function of said known first and second x, y, and z coordinates, said desired z coordinate being determined to replace said known third z coordinate.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for controlling an earthworking implement on an earthworking machine to preserve a crown on the surface of a road, including determining the position of the crown on the road surface, choosing a sloped grade on one side of the crown, positioning the earthworking implement on the sloped grade so that a first end of the earthworking implement is on the road surface. The processor determines a desired position of a second end of the earthworking implement so that the second end overlaps the crown and the earthworking implement does not cut the crown.
15 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for controlling an earthworking implement to preserve a crown on a road surface, the road surface having a sloped grade on each side of the crown, the earthworking implement having a cutting edge and being controllably mounted on an earthworking machine, including the steps of:
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determining the position of at least one point of discontinuity of said sloped grade on said road surface, said at least one point of discontinuity being a location of said crown, the location of said crown having a known first x, y, and z coordinate (x1, y1, z1); choosing a sloped grade road surface located on one of two sides of said crown; positioning said cutting edge on said sloped grade road surface at a position for a desired cut, said cutting edge having a first end located on said sloped grade road surface, said first end having a known second x, y, and z coordinate (x2, y2, z2) ; and determining a desired position of a second end of said cutting edge, said second end having a known third x and y coordinate (x3, y3), and a known third z coordinate (z3) corresponding to a position on said road surface at said known third x and y coordinate, including the step of determining a desired z coordinate (z'"'"') as a function of said known first and second x, y, and z coordinates, said desired z coordinate being determined to replace said known third z coordinate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for controlling an earthworking implement to preserve a crown on a road surface, the road surface having a sloped grade on each side of the crown, the earthworking implement having a cutting edge and being controllably mounted on an earthworking machine, including the steps of:
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determining the position of at least one point of discontinuity of said sloped grade on said road surface, said at least one point of discontinuity being a location of said crown; choosing a sloped grade road surface located on one of two sides of said crown; positioning said cutting edge on said sloped grade road surface at a position for a desired cut, said cutting edge having a first end located on said sloped grade road surface; and determining a desired position of a second end of said cutting edge, said second end having a desired elevation. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus for controlling an earthworking implement to preserve a crown on a road surface, the road surface having a sloped grade on each side of the crown, the earthworking implement having a cutting edge with a first end and a second end, the earthworking implement being controllably mounted on an earthworking machine, comprising:
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a position determining system mounted on said earthworking machine; a control system located on said earthworking machine and adapted to receive a position signal from said position determining system and responsively determine a position of said earthworking machine; a database associated with said control system, said database including data related to a desired and an actual geographic terrain of a work site; and processing means for accessing said database and determining a position of the first end of said cutting edge, determining a position of said crown, and responsively calculating a desired position of the second end of said cutting edge. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification