Control and method for positioning a tool of a construction apparatus - Patent Review 6152238

WikiPatents - Community Patent Review

Create Free Account | License or Sell Your Patent | WikiPatents Marketplace | WikiPatents Blog

counter customizable free hit

Control and method for positioning a tool of a construction apparatus

United States Patent

6152238

Link to this page

http://www.wikipatents.com/6152238.html

Inventor(s)

Ferrell; Dirrick J. (Kentwood, MI), Stoepker; Ross C. (Kentwood, MI), Steenwyk; Timothy E. (Grand Rapids, MI), Walstra; Eric Jon (Grand Rapids, MI)

Abstract

A control system for establishing grade and elevation control for a tool of a construction apparatus for maintaining the vertical position of the tool relative to a reference includes a first ultrasonic transducer configured to be carried by the construction apparatus, with the first transducer transmitting and receiving acoustic waves, at least one reflector, a second ultrasonic transducer configured to be carried by the construction apparatus, with the second transducer receiving acoustic waves, and a controller coupled to the first and second ultrasonic transducers which drive the transducers to produce an acoustic wave and monitors the time reflections of the acoustic wave are respectively received by the first and second transducers. The controller determines the local speed of sound based on a first in time reflection received by the second ultrasonic transducer and determines the distance from the construction tool to a reference based on the local speed of sound and a second in time reflection received by both the first and second ultrasonic transducers. The controller produces at least one electrical signal as a function of the distance of the ultrasonic transducers from the reference. In preferred form, the controller communicates the signal to a positioning device, which signal actuates the positioning device to adjust the position of the construction tool with respect to the reference.

References Submit all comments and votes

Submit all comments and votes

*references marked with an asterisk below are user-added references

U.S. References

Add a new US reference:
[Vote on relevancy & make comments] [Display results only]
Reference	Relevancy	Comments	Reference	Relevancy	Comments
5854988 Davidson et al. Dec,1998	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]		5799419 Seo et al. Sep,1998	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]
5713144 Haraoka Feb,1998	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]		5711022 Steenwyk Jan,1998	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]
5699247 Moriya et al. Dec,1997	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]		5682311 Clark Oct,1997	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]
5671554 Geelhoed Sep,1997	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]		5572809 Steenwyk et al. Nov,1996	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]
5446980 Rocke Sep,1995	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]		5442868 Ahn Aug,1995	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]
5438771 Sahm et al. Aug,1995	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]		5430651 Nielsen et al. Jul,1995	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]
5356259 Hanamoto et al. Oct,1994	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]		5327345 Nielsen et al. Jul,1994	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]
5257177 Bach et al. Oct,1993	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]		5088020 Nishida et al. Feb,1992	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]
5065326 Sahm Nov,1991	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]		4947336 Froyd Aug,1990	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]
4945221 Nielsen et al. Jul,1990	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]		4924374 Middleton et al. May,1990	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]
4910673 Narisawa et al. Mar,1990	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]		4888890 Studebaker et al. Dec,1989	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]
4884939 Nielsen Dec,1989	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]		4866641 Nielsen et al. Sep,1989	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]
4829418 Nielsen et al. May,1989	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]		4805086 Nielsen et al. Feb,1989	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]
4771389 Takahashi et al. Sep,1988	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]		4758970 Keary et al. Jul,1988	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]
4733355 Davidson et al. Mar,1988	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]		4726682 Harms et al. Feb,1988	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]
4722044 Heiser et al. Jan,1988	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]		4698570 Satoh Oct,1987	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]
4693598 Sehr Sep,1987	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]		4633383 Omachi et al. Dec,1986	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]
4600997 Cain et al. Jul,1986	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]		4535699 Buhler Aug,1985	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]
4514796 Saulters et al. Apr,1985	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]		4491927 Bachmann et al. Jan,1985	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]
4452078 Formanek et al. Jun,1984	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]		4413684 Duncklee Nov,1983	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]
4377043 Inui et al. Mar,1983	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]		4286386 Long Sep,1981	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]
4288196 Sutton, II Sep,1981	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]		4273196 Etsusaki et al. Jun,1981	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]
4231700 Studebaker Nov,1980	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]		4162708 Johnson Jul,1979	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]
4129224 Teach Dec,1978	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]		4050171 Teach Sep,1977	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]
4034490 Teach Jul,1977	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]		3997071 Teach Dec,1976	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]
3887012 Scholl et al. Jun,1975	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]		3813171 Teach et al. May,1974	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]
3727332 Zimmer Apr,1973	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]		3708232 Walsh Jan,1973	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]
3636325 Chytil Jan,1972	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]		3283230 Davies et al. Nov,1966	Your vote accepted [0 after 0 votes]
[Vote on relevancy & make comments] [Display results only]

Foreign References

Other References