Excavator bucket with integrated radar system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018127952-A1
Application number	US-201615344896-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 7, 2016
Priority date	Nov 7, 2016
Publication date	May 10, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A bucket associated with a machine is provided. The bucket includes an integrated RADAR system. The bucket also includes a first compartment provided at a first section of the bucket. The first compartment defining a cavity. A control module of the RADAR system is mounted within the cavity of the first compartment. The bucket further includes a second compartment provided at a second section of the bucket. The second section is opposite to the first section. A sensor module of the RADAR system is mounted within the second compartment. The sensor module is configured to scan and penetrate a ground surface proximate to the bucket. The bucket includes a channel extending between the first compartment and the second compartment. The channel is adapted to house wires that communicably couple the sensor module with the control module.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A bucket associated with a machine, the bucket having an integrated RADAR system, the bucket comprising:
a first compartment provided at a first section of the bucket, the first compartment defining a cavity, wherein a control module of the RADAR system is mounted within the cavity of the first compartment; a second compartment provided at a second section of the bucket, wherein the second section is opposite to the first section, wherein a sensor module of the RADAR system is mounted within the second compartment, the sensor module configured to scan and penetrate a ground surface proximate to the bucket; and a channel extending between the first compartment and the second compartment, the channel adapted to house wires that communicably couple the sensor module with the control module.

2 . The bucket of claim 1 , wherein the first compartment further includes:
a first cover plate adapted to enclose the cavity, the first cover plate defining an aperture to receive an electrical connector of the RADAR system therethrough.

3 . The bucket of claim 1 , wherein a second cover plate is adapted to form the second compartment.

4 . The bucket of claim 3 , wherein the second cover plate is coupled to a floor of the bucket.

5 . The bucket of claim 4 , wherein the second cover plate is mechanically coupled to the floor of the bucket by at least one of mechanical fasteners and welding.

6 . The bucket of claim 1 , wherein the bucket includes a pair of channels extending between the first compartment and the second compartment, each of the pair of channels provided on opposing sides of the bucket.

7 . The bucket of claim 1 , wherein the channel extends vertically between the first and second compartments.

8 . The bucket of claim 1 , wherein the channel has a curved shape corresponding to a contour of the bucket.

9 . A machine comprising:
a machine body; and a bucket pivotably coupled to the machine body, the bucket having an integrated RADAR system, the bucket comprising:
a first compartment provided at a first section of the bucket, the first compartment defining a cavity, wherein a control module of the RADAR system is mounted within the cavity of the first compartment;
a second compartment provided at a second section of the bucket, wherein the second section is opposite to the first section wherein a sensor module of the RADAR system is mounted within the second compartment, the sensor module configured to scan and penetrate a ground surface proximate to the bucket; and
a channel extending between the first compartment and the second compartment, the channel adapted to house wires that communicably couple the sensor module with the control module.

10 . The machine of claim 9 , wherein the first compartment further includes:
a first cover plate adapted to enclose the cavity, the first cover plate defining an aperture to receive an electrical connector of the RADAR system therethrough.

11 . The machine of claim 9 , wherein a second cover plate is adapted to form the second compartment.

12 . The machine of claim 11 , wherein the second cover plate is coupled to a floor of the bucket.

13 . The machine of claim 9 , wherein the bucket includes a pair of channels extending between the first compartment and the second compartment, each of the pair of channels provided on opposing sides of the bucket.

14 . The machine of claim 9 , wherein the channel extends vertically between the first and second compartments.

15 . The machine of claim 9 , wherein the channel has a curved shape corresponding to a contour of the bucket.

16 . A ground penetration system for a machine, the ground penetration system comprising:
a RADAR system including a control module and a sensor module; and a bucket adapted to perform a digging operation of the machine, the bucket including:
a first compartment provided at a first section of the bucket, the first compartment defining a cavity;
a second compartment provided at a second section of the bucket, wherein the second section is opposite to the first section; and
a channel extending between the first compartment and the second compartment,
wherein the control module and the sensor module of the RADAR system are positioned within the first and second compartments of the bucket, respectively, and are electrically connected to each other by electrical wires housed within the channel for scanning and penetrating a ground surface proximate to the bucket.

17 . The integrated RADAR system of claim 16 , wherein the first compartment further includes:
a first cover plate adapted to enclose the cavity, the first cover plate defining an aperture to receive an electrical connector of the RADAR system therethrough.

18 . The integrated RADAR system of claim 16 , wherein a second cover plate is adapted to form the second compartment.

19 . The integrated RADAR system of claim 18 , wherein the second cover plate is coupled to a floor of the bucket.

20 . The integrated RADAR system of claim 16 , wherein the bucket includes a pair of channels extending between the first compartment and the second compartment, each of the pair of channels provided on opposing sides of the bucket.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Magliulo Alessandro
• Gibson William Shea

Classifications

• G01S13/885

  for ground probing (prospecting or detecting using electromagnetic waves G01V3/12) · CPC title

• E02F9/261 Primary

  Surveying the work-site to be treated · CPC title

• E02F3/28

  with digging tools mounted on a dipper- or bucket-arm {, i.e. there is either one arm or a pair of arms}, e.g. dippers, buckets · CPC title

• E02F3/32

  working downwardly and towards the machine, e.g. with backhoes · CPC title

• E02F3/40

  Dippers; Buckets {; Grab devices, e.g. manufacturing processes for buckets, form, geometry or material of buckets (devices to connect tools to arms or booms E02F3/3604; teeth therefor E02F9/28)} · CPC title