AUTOMATED POSITIONING/DRAWING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USE

摘要

AUTOMATED POSITIONING/DRAWING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USE A position sensing system and method of use in conjunction with a rail car mounted plow burying a cable adjacent the track. The plow is arranged for cutting a kerf in the ground and or inserting the cable therein as the car moves down the track. The plow is mounted on an articulated arm including plural sections which are movable with respect to one another to position the plow at any desired location adjacent the track to cut the kerf and place the cable therein. The position sensing system includes plural transducers including transmitter and receiver sections located with respect to the arm sections to provide signals indicative of the arm section positions with respect to one another and to the ground. The system also includes transducers for providing signals indicative of the position of the plow along the track and signals indicative of the amount of cable dispensed. Recording and translating devices are coupled to the transducers to record those signals and to determine the precise position of cable as buried at selected points along the path. Alarm and display units provide indication of the cable position as it is laid and if the position is not within desired ranges. From the signals indicating the position of the cable at selected points along the path in which it is disposed, one can accurately generate a map showing the cable as laid. That map can be created manually or through computer assisted drawing devices.