Bobcat Australia has released an automated slope sensor solution for rough and finish grading which the company claims is ideal for when laser sensors are not suitable.
Bobcat says the slope/sonic automatic grade control can be used
for virtually any terrain and enables operators to create an
accurate cross-slope or precisely grade when laser receivers and
transmitters are limited by jobsite obstacles.
The company adds that laser grading is usually limited to a
flat-plane, single-slope or dual-slope surface, which allows the
sonic sensor kit to overcome that issue.
The sensor kit is suitable for use on Bobcat 96″ grader for
operation on large frame Bobcat Loaders.
How the kit works:
A sonic tracer is placed on either side of the moldboard, over
the top of the object the operator wishes to use as a reference and
the blade depth to be set as needed.
A cross-slope sensor is mounted to the back of the moldboard ,
which moves the side of the blade opposite of the sonic tracer. It
maintains the cross-slope that the operator determines.
The kit comes with a deluxe instrumentation panel which is used
to control the operation of the system. The system enables the
operator to set the parameters of the grading system and provides
real-time information back to the operator during operation- such
as distance-to-target for both elevation and slope.
The click of a button on the control handles switches the grader
to automatic operation.
Bobcat adds that the system can also be limited to only creating
the cross-slope in automatic mode by disabling the sonic tracer.
The operator can then manually control the side of the blade on
which the sonic tracer is mounted and the cross-slope sensor will
automatically maintain the correct cross-slope across the
blade.
Bobcat says this is especially useful when making first passes
to provide a smooth surface for the sonic tracer to follow on the
next pass.
The main features of the new sensor kit, according to Bobcat
are:
- Auxiliary rotation sensor and main fall sensors provide
correcting information to the slop sensor when travelling up or
down hills or when the blade is angled. - Grade – reverse: quickly change slope from positive to
negative, or negative to positive. - Units can be displayed in metric or inches
- Automatic mode indicator for cross slope control
- Increment/decrement offset height of sonic tracer
- Distance-to-target for sonic tracer
- Zero or “rebench” sonic tracer
- Sonic tracer can be active or inactive in auto mode.
- Sonic tracer offset can be moved up or down.
- Reverse grade from a positive slope to a negative slope with
the push of a button. - System calibration control
- Turn the sonic tracer on or off to run the slope sensor
independently which allows manual control of one side of the blade
while the other side maintains the required slope.
For more information on the sonic/slope sensor kit, visit Bobcat
Australia’s website or contact the company at bobaust@bobcat.com.au