Ted L Teach

40344908, Jul 12, 1977

Nov 3, 1975

5/628095

Ted L. Teach - Dayton OH

Laserplane Corporation - Dayton OH

E02F 506
E02F 920
E02F 926
G05G 1504

37 86

The cutting depth of an endless chain type trencher is normally determined by the angle of the frame carrying the endless chain relative to the horizontal. In accordance with this invention, the angular position of the digging frame is controlled by one or more hydraulic cylinders which, in turn, are controlled by signals derived from sensors carried by an upstanding vertical mast mounted to the frame which detects a reference plane defined by a rotating laser beam. A trigonometric correction factor to compensate for the mast mounting is included.

40288226, Jun 14, 1977

Apr 20, 1976

5/678694

Ted L. Teach - Dayton OH

Laserplane Corporation - Dayton OH

E02F 506
B27G 2300

37 86

The invention relates to a mechanism permitting the manual control of an trencher which is normally carried in trailing relationship to a vehicle and is pivotally mounted to the vehicle. The effective cutting depth of this type trencher is determined by the angle of the frame carrying the endless chain relative to the horizontal. An upstanding sighting bar is pivotally mounted to the frame of the trencher and means are provided for maintaining the sighting bar in a true vertical position irrespective of the angle of the frame relative to the horizontal. Additionally, the effective vertical height of the sighting bar is varied as a trigonometric function of the angle of the digging frame relative to the horizontal.

42252261, Sep 30, 1980

Dec 29, 1978

5/974369

Richard W. Davidson - Vandalia OH
Joseph F. Rando - Cupertino CA
Ted L. Teach - Dayton OH

Spectra-Physics, Inc. - Mountain View CA

G01C 300
G01C 2100

356 1

This invention provides a method for controlling the path of a crop spraying aircraft in making repeated traverses over a field to insure that each traverse is laterally spaced from the adjacent traverse by the proper distance to assure adequate coverage of the crop land with the material being sprayed and avoiding over-lapping or insufficient coverage of any portion of the crop land. In accordance with the method of the invention, the crop spraying aircraft carries a rotating laser beam transmitter and receiver, and the transmitted beam is reflected from a plurality of reflectors located on the ground at known positions relative to each other to provide successive reflections of the transmitted laser beam from which the angular positions of the aircraft relative to the reflectors may be continuously determined. After an initial pass over the field to establish the spray path, the position of the aircraft may be continuously computed by a microprocessor and an error signal generated during each subsequent pass to indicate to the aircraft operator whether the aircraft should be steered more to the right or left to stay on the desired spraying path.

46799370, Jul 14, 1987

Oct 18, 1985

6/788800

Gary L. Cain - Springfield OH
Lawrence J. Meyers - Dayton OH
Ted L. Teach - Dayton OH
Joseph F. Rando - Los Altos Hills CA
Theodore J. Markley - Vandalia OH

Spectra-Physics, Inc. - San Jose CA

G01B 1126

356138

A transmitter for an alignment system in which a field of electromagnetic radiation is propagated in a non-planar reference cone is disclosed. The transmitter includes a source for providing a collimated beam of electromagnetic radiation directed parallel to a beam axis. A cantilever strand supports a bob within the beam. The bob has a conical reflecting surface to reflect the collimated beam conically. Optimally, the cantilever strand and bob are chosen to provide a deflection between the bob and plumb which is substantially one-half of any angular error between the beam axis and plumb. In an especially preferred form, a housing surrounds the bob and has inner and outer surfaces which minimize temperature effects on the orientation of the reference plane. Also, detectors are provided to sense when the angular error between the beam axis and plumb is outside of an acceptable range.

40819191, Apr 4, 1978

Mar 30, 1977

5/782926

Ted L. Teach - Dayton OH

Laserplane Corporation - Dayton OH

E02F 502

37103

The invention relates to a digging bucket for a backhoe or similar excavating machine, wherein the effective forward digging edge of the bucket may selectively comprise a transverse row of digging teeth for use in the primary phases of an excavation or a blade-type edge used for smoothing the bottom of the excavation. The backhoe bucket structure permitting this instantaneous choice by the operator comprises a conventional bucket having digging teeth secured thereto to the forward edge of the bottom but the medial portion of the bottom of the bucket is movably mounted relative to the remainder of the bucket so that the forward edge of the movable bottom portion can be dropped to a position below the digging teeth to function as a smoothing blade.

39531457, Apr 27, 1976

Mar 12, 1975

5/557572

Ted L. Teach - Springfield OH

Laserplane Corporation - Dayton OH

E01c 1900
E02f 376

404 84

Apparatus for controlling the elevation of the working tool of an earthworking machine, or the pavement distributor head of a mobile road-paving machine, in predetermined relationship to a fixed horizontal plane, as set by a laser beam which is periodically swept across the working area, such apparatus comprising a tape-dispensing device carried by the machine and arranged to intermittently advance the tape past a tape reader; the tape carrying two sets of indicia, one set indicating whenever a change in the height of the tool is required at a particular point in the travel of the machine, and the second set of indicia indicating the distance between such points, there being a ground-engaging wheel measuring the travel of the machine and connected to the tape-dispensing device to advance the tape to the next set of indicia whenever the machine arrives at the next one of said predetermined points.

47861789, Nov 22, 1988

Dec 15, 1986

6/941848

Ted L. Teach - Dayton OH

Spectra-Physics, Inc. - San Jose CA

G01B 1100

356400

An apparatus for detecting the relative position and orientation of a reference beam of light includes first and second detectors for detecting the intersection of the reference beam with first and second spaced and substantially parallel reference planes. The measured horizontal and vertical deviations between the points of intersection on the two reference planes provide an indication of the orientation of the beam with respect to the apparatus.

39970710, Dec 14, 1976

Aug 14, 1975

5/604665

Ted L. Teach - Dayton OH

Laserplane Corporation - Dayton OH

G08B 522
E02F 926

214761

In a backhoe of the type having an outreach boom horizontally pivotally mounted relative to a vehicle, a downreach boom horizontally pivotally mounted to the free end of the outreach boom, and a digging bucket horizontally pivotally mounted to the free end of the downreach boom, apparatus is provided for respectively generating signals proportional to the angle between the outreach boom and the horizontal, the angle between the outreach boom and the downreach boom, and the angle between the downreach boom and a line drawn to the digging teeth of the bucket. Such signals are combined according to a trigonometric equation to provide a continuous signal and visual indication proportional to the depth of the digging teeth of the bucket relative to the horizontal pivotal mounting axis of the outreach boom on the vehicle. In accordance with a modification, the absolute elevation of the digging teeth of the backhoe bucket is determined and indicated by measuring the absolute elevation of the pivotal mounting axis of the outreach boom relative to a reference plane defined by a rotating laser beam.