Patent Publication Number: US-2013247400-A1

Title: Levelling and grading device and system

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This Non-Provisional Utility Application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/614,505 filed on Mar. 22, 2012. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a levelling and grading device and system, and more specifically refers to maintaining a levelling or grading arm in reference to a surface, based on levelling data received. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In grading or levelling surfaces, it is known that there is a variance from a targeted reference level (usually ground level). As a result, floors slant when they shouldn&#39;t, and don&#39;t when they should. 
     Industrial grading and levelling solutions require large and heavy machinery, and significant expense. Industrial accuracy cannot be translated to direct smaller consumers, because the machinery size and expense is prohibitive. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiment, the present is a device comprising a level line detector. The detector is selectively oriented in reference to a surface. There is a moveable arm, and a processor in communication with the detector and arm to selectively move the arm. The processor is used to maintain the arm in surface reference. 
     In another embodiment the present is a system comprising the above, and a level line to communicate with the detector. 
     In another embodiment the present is a method comprising: a) selectively orienting a level line detector in reference to a surface; b) detecting a level line; c) communicating detection data to a moveable arm; d) moving the arm based on the data, to maintain surface reference. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a grading and levelling device. 
         FIG. 2  is an alternate embodiment plan view of a grading and levelling device. 
         FIG. 3  is an alternate embodiment plan view of a grading and levelling device. 
         FIG. 4  is an alternate embodiment perspective view of a grading and levelling device. 
         FIG. 5  is an alternate embodiment plan view of a grading and levelling device. 
         FIG. 6  is an alternate embodiment plan view of a grading and levelling device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DRAWING DESCRIPTION 
     A device is indicated generally by reference numerals ( 10 ,  20 ,  30 ,  40 ,  50 ,  60 , and collectively  10 ). The device ( 10 ) comprises a level line detector ( 70 ) selectively oriented in reference to a surface ( 80 ), and associated with a moveable arm (indicated generally by  90 ). A processor (for example a wireless human-operated joystick ( 100 ) in  FIG. 5 , and an onboard computer ( 110 ) in  FIG. 2 ) communicates with the detector ( 70 ) and arm ( 90 ) to selectively move the arm ( 90 ), to maintain the arm ( 90 ) in surface ( 80 ) reference. The device ( 10 ) may be used for levelling or grading any of cement, sand, soil, and concrete. 
     Surface ( 80 ) means any of a point, plane, multiple-plane intersection, multiple-line intersection, and, can include ground level. The surface ( 80 ) can be referenced to define a point, curve, arc, angle, flat, ground level, and projecting surface. 
     The processor ( 100 ,  110 ) receives and processes data from the detector ( 70 ). Based on that data, the arm ( 90 ) is maintained in pose reference (ie maintained in reference to the surface ( 80 ) in six degrees (x-axis direction, y-axis direction, z-axis direction, pitch, yaw, and roll)). A cruder embodiment would maintain three degrees (positional) reference. 
     One way to orientate the device ( 10 ) is to use a gyroscope to maintain it upright relative to ground level. 
     In a preferred embodiment it comprises a transport base ( 130 ) connected to any one of the arm ( 90 ) and detector ( 70 ), to move any one of the arm ( 90 ) and detector ( 70 ) over ground. The transport base can be motorized, wheeled (example  FIG. 4 ), or tracked (example  FIG. 1 ). 
     The device ( 10 ) can be deployed as a system by associating it with a level line ( 140 ) to communicate with the detector ( 70 ). In one form, the level line can be a light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation (LASER) beam. In one embodiment, such could project a level line up to 360 degrees in radius, to define a plane.