Earth working – Automatic power control – Land leveller type
Patent
1997-12-29
1999-12-07
Novosad, Christopher J.
Earth working
Automatic power control
Land leveller type
701 50, G05D 300, G05B 1702
Patent
active
059967021
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is particularly applicable to earth moving activities such as those relating to open cut mining.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Typically before any earth moving operation can commence the terrain to be excavated must be surveyed. Drawings can then be produced showing the existing topographical profile of the terrain and a desired profile of the terrain after excavation has been completed.
If the excavation requires bulldozers the bulldozer driver must continually consult drawings to determine how the earth moving activity is progressing and how close the current terrain profile is to the desired terrain profile. To assist in this regard physical markers can also be located on site and can be re-located as earth moving progresses.
The disadvantage with the above system is that the terrain must be continually surveyed to determine the difference between the current terrain profile and the desired terrain profile.
Because of the inefficiencies associated with the above conventional earth moving systems it would be desirable to produce a system which monitored the operation of earth moving vehicles to provide each driver with up-to-date information on the current status of the terrain profile being excavated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention in one aspect provides a method for monitoring a vehicle tool comprising inputting tool data indicative of the location of the vehicle tool to a data processor, inputting model data to the data processor on a model zone in which the vehicle tool is to operate, operating the data processor to compare the vehicle tool location with the model zone, outputting from the data processor to a display means, data indicative of the difference in location between at least a portion of the vehicle tool and an adjacent surface of the model zone, displaying on the display means an image of the model zone, a representation of the location of the vehicle tool and a representation of the distance of a part of the vehicle tool to the adjacent surface of the model zone.
Preferably the at least a portion of the vehicle tool in one embodiment is the whole of the vehicle tool.
Alternatively the part of the vehicle tool is the bottom edge of the working tool or/and the side edge of the vehicle tool.
Preferably the model zone represents the desired end result after re-shaping by the vehicle tool.
Preferably, the representation of the distance between the part of the vehicle tool and the adjacent surface comprises an image representing a shadow of the part of the vehicle tool on the adjacent surface.
Preferably, the part of the vehicle tool comprises the bottom of the vehicle tool.
It is preferred that the model data comprises a plurality of co-ordinate points referenced to a three dimensional co-ordinate system.
The tool data preferably comprises co-ordinates of at least a part of the vehicle tool in the three dimensional co-ordinate system.
The tool data may comprise data on the location of a point on the body of the vehicle separate from the. vehicle tool.
The tool data may include data indicative of points on the vehicle tool.
The model data may comprise a plurality of points of a zone.
Co-ordinate points of the model zone may be stored in a memory of the data processor.
Preferably, the model zone is stored in memory as a grid of points.
Preferably the tool data includes vehicle data on the location of a vehicle to which the vehicle tool is attached.
The vehicle data may include data on the location of the vehicle relative to a reference point.
Preferably, the tool data is referenced to the vehicle location.
The vehicle tool shadow may be produced from a projection of the location of the vehicle tool vertically to the adjacent surface.
Preferably, the method includes the steps of tracking the location of the vehicle tool using a tracking means and relaying tool data to the data processor.
Preferably, the method includes locating the data processor and display means in the vehicle.
According to another embodiment of the present inv
REFERENCES:
patent: 4630773 (1986-12-01), Ortlip
patent: 4826391 (1989-05-01), Lawrence et al.
patent: 5100229 (1992-03-01), Lundberg et al.
patent: 5174385 (1992-12-01), Shinbo et al.
patent: 5220876 (1993-06-01), Monson et al.
patent: 5375663 (1994-12-01), Teach
patent: 5493494 (1996-02-01), Henderson
patent: 5553407 (1996-09-01), Stump
patent: 5631658 (1997-05-01), Gudat et al.
patent: 5696675 (1997-12-01), Nakamura et al.
patent: 5699281 (1997-12-01), Crucius et al.
patent: 5721685 (1998-02-01), Holland et al.
patent: 5751576 (1998-05-01), Monson
patent: 5806016 (1998-09-01), Henderson et al.
patent: 5854988 (1998-12-01), Davidson et al.
Hall David
Novosad Christopher J.
LandOfFree
System for monitoring movement of a vehicle tool does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with System for monitoring movement of a vehicle tool, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and System for monitoring movement of a vehicle tool will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-813632