Patent ID: 9188436
Filing Date: 2015-11-17
Classification: G01C

Abstract:
1. An apparatus comprising: a construction vehicle including a blade for moving earth to establish an angled ground gradient in forward, rearward and lateral directions; and a gradient measuring apparatus comprising a gimbal assembly operably supported in a visible position in the construction vehicle, the gimbal assembly including a support housing and a multi-axis gravity-biased-to-center inner orb, one of the support housing and the inner orb including gradient indicators for simultaneously indicating an angled ground gradient in forward, rearward and lateral directions, and the other of the support housing and the inner orb including a center indicator, with both the center and gradient indicators being simultaneously visible, wherein the center indicator accurately reflects on the gradient indicators a grade at which a surface is being cut in an excavating process when viewed in combination with the gradient indicators due to multi-axis gravitation movement of the inner orb.