Grade averaging system with floating boom and method of using the same
First Claim
1. A traveling construction apparatus, comprising:
- a frame;
first and second ground engaging traveling gears connected to the frame and engaging the ground at first and second locations which define an imaginary line of ground contact in a direction of travel of the construction apparatus;
traveling gear height adjustment means, connected between the frame and the first traveling gear, for adjusting a distance between the frame and the first traveling gear;
an elongated boom pivotally connected to the flame at a pivot point and extending in the direction of travel;
boom orientation control means for maintaining a selected angular orientation of the boom relative to the line of ground contact;
a sensor means, mounted on the boom, for generating an input signal representative of a distance from the sensor means to the ground without contacting the ground; and
height control means for actuating the traveling gear height adjustment means in response to the input signal from the sensor.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A traveling construction apparatus includes a flame having first and second ground engaging traveling gears connected to the frame and spaced apart in a direction of travel. A traveling gear height adjuster is connected between the frame and the first traveling gear. A plurality of height sensors are provided for measuring a height above the ground without engaging the ground. A height controller system is provided for actuating the traveling gear height adjuster in response to input signals from the sensors. A floating boom is connected to the frame and has the sensors mounted on the boom. The boom displaces each of the sensors a substantially equal distance relative to the ground in response to an extension or contraction of the traveling gear height adjuster.
-
Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A traveling construction apparatus, comprising:
-
a frame; first and second ground engaging traveling gears connected to the frame and engaging the ground at first and second locations which define an imaginary line of ground contact in a direction of travel of the construction apparatus; traveling gear height adjustment means, connected between the frame and the first traveling gear, for adjusting a distance between the frame and the first traveling gear; an elongated boom pivotally connected to the flame at a pivot point and extending in the direction of travel; boom orientation control means for maintaining a selected angular orientation of the boom relative to the line of ground contact; a sensor means, mounted on the boom, for generating an input signal representative of a distance from the sensor means to the ground without contacting the ground; and height control means for actuating the traveling gear height adjustment means in response to the input signal from the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A traveling construction apparatus, comprising:
-
a frame; first and second ground engaging traveling gears connected to the frame and spaced apart in a direction of travel; a traveling gear height adjuster connected between the frame and the first traveling gear; a plurality of height sensors for measuring a height above the ground without engaging the ground; height control means for actuating the traveling gear height adjuster in response to input signals from the sensors; and floating boom means, connected to the frame and having the sensors mounted on the floating boom means, for displacing each of the sensors an equal distance relative to the ground in response to an extension or contraction of the traveling gear height adjuster. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A method of controlling a height of a working tool of a traveling construction machine relative to an irregular ground surface, the construction machine having first and second traveling gears supported from a frame and spaced apart in a direction of travel of the machine, the method comprising:
-
(a) traversing the ground surface with the construction machine in the direction of travel; (b) sensing a height above the ground surface with each of a plurality of height sensors spaced apart in the direction of travel, each height sensor generating an input signal; (c) averaging the input signals from all of the height sensors; (d) adjusting a height of the frame and thereby of the working tool relative to the first traveling gear in response to the average of the input signals, thereby changing a pitch of the frame relative to an imaginary reference line between areas of ground contact of the first and second traveling gears; and (e) adjusting a height of each of the height sensors relative to the reference line by a distance equal to the adjustment in height of the frame relative to the first traveling gear. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
-
Specification