Patent ID: 7726048
Filing Date: 2010-06-01
Classification: E02F

Abstract:
1. A method of excavating a trench with a backhoe loader machine, the backhoe loader machine including an engine, a backhoe mechanism at the rear of the machine, and a front loader assembly at the front of the machine, comprising: setting up the backhoe loader machine at a first position suitable for forming the trench by deploying a pair of stabilizers into ground contact, excavating a portion of the trench with the backhoe mechanism during a first excavating phase while the backhoe loader machine is set up at the first position; moving the backhoe mechanism to a stowed position; retracting the pair of stabilizers; determining a target distance and path for moving the backhoe loader machine to a second position suitable for excavating another portion of the trench during a second excavating phase; moving the backhoe loader machine forward for the target distance while steering the backhoe loader machine along the target path; stopping the backhoe loader machine at the second position under automated machine control; setting up the backhoe loader machine at a second position by deploying the pair of stabilizers into ground contact; and excavating a portion of the trench with the backhoe mechanism during a second excavating phase while the backhoe loader machine is set up at the second position.