Localization system for an earth moving machine

• US 8,183,867 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2007
• Issued: 05/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leica Geosystems AG (Hexagon AB)
• Original Assignee: Leica Geosystems AG (Hexagon AB)
• Inventors: Fling, Richard, Branson, Simon
• Primary Examiner(s): Ledynh, Bot
• Application Number:
  US12/515,571
• Publication Number:
  US 20100207633A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,638 Days
• Field of Search: 324/67, 324/326, 324/345
• US Class Current: 324/326
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/245 for preventing damage to underground objects during excavation, e.g. indicating buried pipes or the like detection of pipes in the ground F16L1/11
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/26 Indicating devices E02F5/145 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/15 specially adapted for use during transport, e.g. by a person, vehicle or boat

Abstract

The invention relates to a localization system for localizing an underground object for an earthmoving machine comprising a working part. The localization system comprises a fastening component and a detector component. The fastening component can be arranged on the working part for example by means of magnets. The detector component is adapted to detect the object using an electromagnetic field that can be associated with the object and is arranged on the fastening component so as to swing like a pendulum, thereby effecting an alignment of the detector component under the effect of gravity. Optionally, the localization system comprises an arithmetic component for deriving a distance information of the object from the detected value. The localization system also comprises a display component for displaying and/or forwarding the detected value and/or the distance information.

Claims

1. A localization system for localizing an underground object for an earth-moving machine which has a working part, comprising:

a fastening component;

a detector component arranged indirectly or directly on the fastening component that is configured to detect the object on the basis of an electromagnetic field; and

a display component for displaying and forwarding, respectively, the detector signal and/or evaluations of the detector signals, wherein the detector component is arranged in a pendulum-like manner on the fastening component so that the detector component is aligned under the action of gravity.

2. A localization system according to claim 1, wherein the underground object includes a supply line and the working part includes an excavator arm.

3. A localization system according to claim 1, wherein:

the fastening component is arranged on the working part; and

the electromagnetic field is assigned to the object.

4. A localization system according to claim 1, further comprising an arithmetic component for evaluating the detector signal.

5. A localization system according to claim 4, wherein the arithmetic component is configured to derive and store distance information with respect to the object.

6. A localization system according to claim 1, wherein the detector signal includes distance information.

7. A localization system according to claim 1, wherein the detector component has a first antenna and a second antenna for detecting the electromagnetic field, which antennae are arranged at a fixed distance relative to one another so that the distance from the detector component to the object can be derived from the ratio of the strengths of the field detected by means of the first antenna and second antenna.

8. A localization system according to claim 1, wherein the detector component is arranged via a flexible connecting element on the fastening component.

9. A localization system according to claim 1, wherein the detector component is arranged via a flexible connecting element comprising a plastic or rubber material on the fastening component.

10. A localization system according to claim 1, wherein the fastening component includes a frame and the detector component is arranged in the frame so as to be pivotable about an axis.

11. A localization system according to claim 1, wherein the fastening component includes a receptacle and the detector component is mounted by means of a joint in the receptacle.

12. A localization system according to claim 1, wherein the fastening component includes a receptacle and the detector component is mounted by means of a ball joint in the receptacle.

13. A localization system according to claim 1, wherein the fastening component is magnetically fastenable.

14. A localization system according to claim 1, wherein the display component:

displays the detection and/or the distance information to a user; and

/or

forwards the detection and/or the distance information to a control device of the earth-moving machine.

15. A localization system according to claim 1, wherein the display component forwards the detection and/or the distance information to an actuating device of the working part.

16. A localization system according to claim 1, wherein the display component includes a graphic display.

17. A localization system according to claim 1, wherein the display component has:

visual display means, such as LEDs; and

/or

acoustic display means.

18. A localization system according to claim 1, wherein the fastening component is in the form of a housing for:

the arithmetic component; and

/or

the display component.

19. A localization system according to claim 1, wherein a rangefinder which is coordinated with the localization system is provided.

20. A localization system according to claim 1, wherein a rangefinder which is coordinated with the localization system and is arranged on the detector component is provided.