Method and apparatus for excavating earth to a desired depth

• US 7,066,276 B1
• Filed: 10/14/2003
• Issued: 06/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alan R. Wilcox
• Original Assignee: Alan R. Wilcox
• Inventors: Wilcox, Alan R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Will, Thomas B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PECHHOLD, ALEXANDRA K
• Application Number:
  US10/685,040
• Time in Patent Office: 987 Days
• Field of Search: 356/3, 356/3.01, 356/3.12, 172/1, 172/4.5, 701/23, 701/206, 701/207, 702/5, 371/95, 379/07, 373/48, 33293-296, 332/64, 332/76, 332/85, 33/1.H, 335/21, 336/24, 336/25
• US Class Current: 172/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 5/00 Measuring height; Measuring distances transverse to line of sight; Levelling between separated points; Surveyors' levels G01C3/20, G01C3/30 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 37/907 Automatic leveling excavators

Abstract

A system and method of facilitating excavating a below grade opening at a construction site in a parcel of land includes a first vehicle having a motor operably connected to at least a pair of traction members and a second excavating vehicle. The motor is operably connected to a first receiver for receiving a signal from a remotely controlled transmitter to actuate the motor. Upon actuation of the motor, the motor rotates the traction members for maneuvering the first vehicle within the opening. The first vehicle has a graduated measurement device mounted generally vertically thereon for remotely controlled vertical telescopic movement. A second beam receiver is mounted to the graduated measurement device for receiving a laser beam from a laser transmitter to facilitate precise determination of the depth of the floor of the opening.

Claims

1. A method of excavating a below grade opening having a lower floor surface at a construction site, comprising the steps of:

providing a laser transmitter for emitting a laser beam signal at a predetermined elevation;

providing a first vehicle;

providing a remotely controlled receiver for receiving the laser beam signal emitted from said laser transmitter;

connecting said first vehicle for remote control operation;

mounting said receiver to said first vehicle for vertical movement thereon to provide a depth of opening measurement;

providing a second vehicle separate from said first vehicle and having an excavator for excavating said opening;

maneuvering said second vehicle to at least partially excavate said opening;

maneuvering said first vehicle by remote control within said opening being excavated to position the receiver for receipt of the laser beam signal being sent by the laser transmitter;

remotely vertically moving said receiver and remotely obtaining an elevation measurement from the first vehicle for an area of the floor surface occupied by said first vehicle;

maneuvering said first vehicle by remote control to a new location on said floor surface, and

maneuvering said second vehicle to further excavate said area to obtain the desired depth over said floor surface.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a graduated measurement device operable between a vertically retracted position and a vertically extended position and mounting said device to said first vehicle for operable communication with said receiver.

3. The method of claim 2 including arranging the graduated measurement device for remote control operation between said retracted and extended positions.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a debris member on said first vehicle for moving debris from said area of the floor surface to facilitate obtaining an accurate elevation measurement.

5. The method of claim 4 including arranging said debris member for movement between a raised position and a lowered position.

6. The method of claim 5 including arranging said debris member for remote control operation between said raised and lowered positions.

7. A method of constructing an excavating system for use in excavating an opening having a below surface grade opening floor in the earth'"'"'s surface of predetermined depth comprising:

providing an excavation vehicle;

providing an elevation measurement vehicle supported on independently driven traction members for maneuvering upon said floor and having a vertically telescopic measurement device movable between retracted and extended positions with a laser beam target at its upper end;

providing a laser transit to be located adjacent said opening and having a laser beam transmitter thereon; and

providing remote control communications between said excavation vehicle and said elevation measurement vehicle for remotely controlling maneuvering movement of said independently driven traction members and vertical movement of said measurement device between its retracted and extended positions from said excavation vehicle.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising providing said traction members as a pair of laterally spaced treads.

9. A method of constructing an excavating system for use in excavating an opening having a below surface grade opening floor in the earth'"'"'s surface of predetermined depth comprising:

providing an excavation vehicle;

providing an elevation measurement vehicle supported on driven traction members for maneuvering upon said floor and having a vertically telescopic measurement device with a laser beam target at its upper end;

providing a laser transit to be located adjacent said opening and having a laser beam transmitter thereon;

providing remote control communications between said excavation vehicle and said elevation measurement vehicle for remotely controlling maneuvering movement of said elevation measurement vehicle and vertical movement of said measurement device from said excavation vehicle; and

providing a debris member on said elevation measurement vehicle for movement between a lowered position for moving debris from said earth'"'"'s surface to facilitate obtaining an accurate elevation measurement and a raised position.

10. An excavating system for excavating a below grade floor surface in the earth comprising in combination:

an excavation vehicle;

an elevation measurement vehicle supported on motor driven traction members for maneuvering movement to various locations on said floor surface;

a vertically moveable motor driven vertical measurement device having a beam target on said elevation measurement vehicle;

a beam emitter to be positioned above said floor for transmitting a beam to said beam target at a precise elevation; and

remote control connections between said excavation vehicle and said traction members and said measurement device for remotely controlling their movement from said excavator vehicle.

11. The excavation system of claim 10 wherein said traction members are moveable relative to one another.

12. The excavation system of claim 10 further comprising a debris member on said elevation measurement vehicle for movement between a lowered position for moving debris from said floor'"'"'s surface to facilitate obtaining an accurate elevation measurement and a raised position.

13. The excavation system of claim 12 wherein said debris member is moveable between its raised and lowered positions through remote control connections between said excavation vehicle and said elevation measurement vehicle.