Method and apparatus for determining the attitude of an implement
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for determining the fore to aft pitch of an implement on an earthmoving machine, the implement having a front surface and a back surface, and two end portions, comprising:
- a vertical mast having a first end portion and a second end portion, said first end portion being attached to an end portion of said implement;
a first laser receiver having a first set of laser detectors, said first set of laser detectors being arranged in a column and being attached to said second end portion of said vertical mast;
a second laser receiver having a second set of laser detectors, said second set of laser detectors being arranged in a column and being attached to said second end portion of said vertical mast; and
a computer being adapted to receive signals from said first set of laser detectors and said second set of laser detectors, and to compare a first signal from said first set of laser detectors to a second signal from said second set of laser detectors and responsively determine an angle of pitch of said implement.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for determining at least one of the pitch and slope of an implement on an earthmoving machine. The apparatus includes a mast connected to an upper corner of the implement, a first set of laser detectors connected to the mast, a second set of laser detectors connected to the mast, a third set of laser detectors connected to the mast, and a computer adapted to receive signals from the first, second, and third sets of laser detectors and responsively determine the angle of pitch and the angle of slope of the implement.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. An apparatus for determining the fore to aft pitch of an implement on an earthmoving machine, the implement having a front surface and a back surface, and two end portions, comprising:
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a vertical mast having a first end portion and a second end portion, said first end portion being attached to an end portion of said implement; a first laser receiver having a first set of laser detectors, said first set of laser detectors being arranged in a column and being attached to said second end portion of said vertical mast; a second laser receiver having a second set of laser detectors, said second set of laser detectors being arranged in a column and being attached to said second end portion of said vertical mast; and a computer being adapted to receive signals from said first set of laser detectors and said second set of laser detectors, and to compare a first signal from said first set of laser detectors to a second signal from said second set of laser detectors and responsively determine an angle of pitch of said implement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for determining the fore to aft pitch of an implement on an earthmoving machine, the implement having a front surface and a back surface, including the steps of:
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receiving a first signal from a first set of laser detectors; receiving a second signal from a second set of laser detectors; comparing said first signal and said second signal; and determining an angle of pitch responsive to said first signal and said second signal. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. An earthmoving machine, comprising:
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an earthmoving implement; a mast attached to said earthmoving implement; a first set of at least one laser detectors attached to said mast; a second set of at least one laser detectors attached to said mast; and a computer operably coupled to said first and second sets of at least one laser detectors, said computer configured to determine an angle of pitch of said earthmoving implement based on signals received from said first and second sets of at least one laser detectors. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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Specification