Patent ID: 6351696
Filing Date: 2002-02-26
Classification: B66C,E04G

Abstract:
An automatic leveling system for a vehicle used to support an articulable boom and pipeline, the automatic leveling system comprising:four outriggers connected to and extending outward from the vehicle, each outrigger having a foot that is vertically adjustable with respect to the vehicle; means for individually adjusting a vertical position of the foot of the outrigger; means for sensing the position of the vehicle with respect to gravitational level along two coplanar intersecting axes and generating corresponding output signals; and a microprocessor for receiving the output signals, for determining based on the output signals a first inclination variable and a second inclination variable, and for generating a drive signal to the means for individually adjusting a vertical position of the foot based on the first and the second inclination variables to level the vehicle, wherein the first and the second inclination variables are determined by slopes of the vehicle with respect to gravitational level in a first dimension and a second dimension respectively, the first dimension being defined by an xâ€²-axis extending between the foot of a right front outrigger and the foot of a left rear outrigger, and the second dimension being defined by a yâ€²-axis extending between the foot of a left front outrigger and the foot of a right rear outrigger.