US3637026A

US3637026A - Cross slope control of mobile machinery

Info

Publication number: US3637026A
Application number: US864122A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ralph K Snow
Original assignee: CMI Corp
Current assignee: CMI Terex Corp
Priority date: 1969-10-06
Filing date: 1969-10-06
Publication date: 1972-01-25
Anticipated expiration: 1989-01-25

Abstract

Apparatus for controlling the cross slope of mobile machinery relative to an external reference such as a string line. The apparatus consisting of accelerometer assemblies affixed at selected transverse midpoints of the machinery to provide a continual electrical output proportional to the cross slope angle of the machinery, whereupon this continual output is compared to a reference voltage selected in accordance with the desired cross slope angle to provide a further control output for use in keeping or repositioning the tilt angle of the machinery so that it is continually maintained at a desired cross slope angle. Such cross slope control assembly works in conjunction with machinery elevation control mechanisms responsive to a string line or other external reference such that cross slope is maintained with respect to an established level.

Description

CROSS SLOPE CONTROL OF MOBILE MACHINERY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l Field of the Invention The invention relates generally to mobile machinery control systems and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, it relates to improved automatic control apparatus for continually regulating the cross slope of road construction machinery.

2. Description of the Prior Art i The prior art includes various types of transverse angle control mechanism for use in such as heavy mobile machinery. Such prior art systems and mechanisms have generally been characterized by an on-off system rather than a continuous type of control which would be capable of enabling smooth adjustment of very large equipment with minimal hunting and adverse effects. Many forms of prior art device merely provide a pendulum-type of switch transversely oriented to provide on-off actuation in response to deviation of the machinery from a preset transverse level. Still other forms utilize a continuous tracking output such as a slide wire assembly affixed to the machinery and providing a gravitationally varied output. Such systems are limited to a relatively coarse control capability due to inherent properties as to structure and operation. Still other forms of sensor device such as bubble switches, mercury flow switches etc., have been employed with some success in various attempts at effecting transverse slope control for diverse applications.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention contemplates cross slope control apparatus for use with mobile machinery to enable control such that the machinery is maintained at a predetermined elevational level and transverse angle relative to a work path. In a more limited aspect, the invention consists of an accelerometer providing a reference output indicative of cross slope for comparison with a selected reference voltage indicative of desired cross slope whereupon a comparison output voltage is then applied to cross slope correcting mechanisms of the machinery, e.g., hydraulic elevation adjusting means, whereby the proper cross slope is achieved. The machinery may also be simultaneously reactive to an external reference level such that the cross slope adjusting mechanism operates in superposition to an elevational level maintaining structure.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an extremely sensitive device for maintaining the transverse tilt of a construction machine relative to a work path.

lt is also an object of the present invention to provide cross slope control means which is capable of highly accurate, continuous control of machinery, either free-running or as controlled relative to an external elevation reference.

lt is still further an object of the present invention to provide a cross slope control apparatus which is highly reliable and extremely accurate through adverse conditions.

Finally, it is an object of the invention to provide apparatus capable of sensing fine variations in cross slope relative to a predetermined elevational level, which apparatus provides proportional indication and is independent of any form of sliding electrical contact.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. l is a block diagram of cross slope control apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating one form of mobile machinery having slope control apparatus affixed thereon;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of cross slope control cir cuitry as utilized in an application such as that of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of one form of accelerometer which may be utilized in the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The block diagram of FIG. l depicts one form of cross slope apparatus l0 consisting of both control circuitry and mechanical feed back connection. A cross slope sensor l2 may be rigidly affixed to the machinery to be controlled, and cross slope sensor l2 should be affixed, as by dash line I4, to machinery frame ll6 such that it is aligned transversely across the machine and work path. The cross slope sensor ll2 then provides an electrical signal output via lead 18 which is proportional in magnitude and direction to the cross slope of machinery frame I6.

The reference voltage on lead 18 is then applied to a conditioning amplifier 20 whose output 22 is then applied to one input of a differential amplifier 24. A cross slope selector 26, viz a suitable control selector disposed at the operating station, provides a voltage output on lead 28 which is representative of the desired cross slope angle. The voltage on the lead 28 is then applied through a conditioning amplifier 30 to generate an output on lead 32 for input to differential amplifier 24. Differential amplifier 24 then generates a control voltage indicative of the differential inputs: and such voltage is applied via lead 34 to a servo valve 36 which, in turn, adjusts the cross slope angle of machinery frame 16 by means of elevating mechanism 38 and a mechanical linkage 40.

The conditioning amplifiers 20 and 30 may be a standard type of low drift amplifier having high impedance and providing isolation and stabilization to the differential inputs of differential amplifier 24. The servo valve 36 is merely one form of well-known mechanism for controlling the application of hydraulic pressure to hydraulic elevational elements or mechanism 38 to adjust the level of machinery frame 16, as will be further described below. Such control mechanisms are fully taught in various of prior applications and patents, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 3,423,859 entitled Road Construction Method and Apparatusq issued Jan. 28, 1969 in the name of Swisher, et al. and assigned to the present assignees. It should be understood that the correcting system may also be utilized with other than hydraulic power mechanisms.

A machinery frame 42, as shown in FIG. 2, is similar to that employed in automatic grading machinery as disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,423,859. The machinery frame 42 consists of a center bridge portion 44 which supports an operating console 46, and a bridge portion 44 is supported by quadrature-arrayed

support legs

48, 50, 52 and 54 each supported on respective mobile track assemblies 56, 58, 60 and 62. Each of the respective mobile assemblies 56-62 are pivotally supported beneath

elevation assemblies

64, 66, 68 and 70 which are hydraulic piston assemblies, each individually adjustable to heighten or lower the respective support legs 48-54 relative to its respective mobile assembly 56, 58, 60 and 62.

A front sensor support beam 72 having a sensor assembly 74 firmly afiixed thereon is mounted transversely across machinery frame 42, a work path being indicated by arrow 76, with opposite ends of sensor support 72 being secured to

respective support legs

48 or 52. Similarly, a rear sensor support beam 78 is secured transversely between rear support legs 50 and 54 to carry a sensor assembly positioned generally along the centerline of the machinery frame 42.

Sensor 74 is then connected via a multiwire electric cable 82 to a circuit box 84, while rear sensing assembly 80 is coitnected dash lines. through an electric cable 86 to the circuit box 84. Operator control of cross slope selection (as will be further described) is effected by the operator at control box 84, and

cables

82 and 86 are also connected for operation of servo valves within respective support legs 52 and 54 to control elevating assemblies 68 and 70, respectively. Such hydraulic control of support leg elevating assemblies is fully disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,423,859.

The elevational level of machinery fz'rame 42 may be main tained with respect to an external reference sr string line 90 as a pair of control sensors, forward control sensor 92 and rearward control sensor 94, are supported outboard by respective

frame support arms

96 and 98, each rigidly affixed to respective frame support legs 45 and 50. The control sensor boxes 92 and 94 then extend sensor rods 100 and 102 outward for contact with stringline 90. Such sensor control practice is also fully disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,423,859. However, it should be understood that elevational level may be maintained by any of several external references, such as ground skis in contact with a pregraded surface or adjacent paving slab, laser equipment, etc.

The schematic diagram of FIG. 3 represents a forward sensing circuit 104 and a rear sensing circuit 106 as may be employed with road construction machinery as shown in FIG. 2. Thus, respective forward and rear accelerometers 108 and 110 provide inputs to the respective sensing circuits 104 and 106, the outputs of which are employed to control respective front servo valve 1 l2 and rear servo valve 1 14. Each of the accelerometers 108 and 110 may be a pendulous-type accelerometer such as that of FIG. 4, to be further described below. A suitable commercial form of accelerometer is such as the Model LSXVG 39-.5 which is available from Schavitz Engineering Company of Pennshawken, N.J. This type of accelerometer is highly sensitive and capable of producing a very linear output from zero through plus or minus several volts in proportion to angular movement from zero to plus or minus as much as 30. The

servo valves

112 and 114 may be any of many types depending upon size requirements, and one constructed form of the invention has utilized a Moog servo valve [five gallons, Type 76-102] to good advantage for control and regulation of the hydraulic elevating assemblies.

An output from the front accelerometer 108 is applied via lead 116 to a differential input of a differential amplifier 118, a part of a differential network 120 which compares sensor output on lead 116 with a reference voltage input. The reference voltage is obtained from a slope voltage source 122 via a lead 124 to differential input of a differential amplifier 126. The reference voltage is obtained from a slope control potentiometer 128 having respective ends connected to dropping

resistors

132 and 134 which, in turn are connected to the regulated plus and minus voltage supplies respectively.

It has been found that a 24 volt regulated DC supply may be utilized with center-grounded output to provide plus l2 volts and minus l2 volts availability. These same plus and minus l2 volt supply voltages are applied to respective front calibration potentiometer 136 and rear calibration potentiometer 138. It

should be understood, however that the matter of supply voltage is relative and that any of various conventional power supplies and voltage standards may be employed.

The

differential amplifiers

118 and 126 are conditioning amplifiers characterized by low drift, high impedance and very low output power such that they afford isolation and stabilization as between their respective accelerometer assemblies and input to the power amplifying stages to follow. The

amplifiers

118 and 126 may be such as module-type differential amplifiers No. PF 85AU available from Philbrick/Nexus Research of Dedham, Massachusetts.

A voltage is obtained from a calibration potentiometer 136 for conduction through a resistor 140 to a terminal point 142. The calibration voltage is applied to the output of amplifier 126, as developed across a resistor 144, and it serves to adjust and compensate for relative differences in output as between

amplifiers

118 and 126. A parallel-connected resistor 146 and capacitor 152 are connected across amplifier 126 to provide sensitivity adjustment and, similarly, a resistor 154 and capacitor 156 provide the similar function across the amplifier 118. A resistor 148 and potentiometer 150 enable gain control of

amplifiers

118 and 126 in concert.

The differential amplifier 160 is a power amplifier and it may be such as a module amplifier of the Philbrick-Nexus Type S() 210. A second dierential input to differential amplifier 160 is derived from temiinal point 142 and differential amplifier 126. Stabilizing regeneration as between the output of differential amplifier 160 and the accelerometer voltage input is provided by a parallel-connected resistor 162 and capacitor 164. The reference differential input to differential amplifier is regeneratively filtered in similar manner by means of a resistor 166 and capacitor 168 connected to ground. The output from differential amplifier 160 is then applied through a series-.connected resistor 170 and current adjusting potentiometer 172 to control the servo valve 112.

The rear sensing circuit 106 is similarly constituted with the reference input from slope control potentiometer 128 and position input from rear accelerometer 110 being applied to differential inputs of respective conditioning amplifiers and 182 of a differential network 183 for stabilization with a calibrated comparison voltage from calibration potentiometer 138. The output from amplifiers 180 and 812 are then amplified for further differential input to respective inputs of a differential power amplifier 184 with subsequent output of any control voltage through a resistor 186 and current adjusting potentiometer 188 to control the rear servo valve 114.

A comparison voltage for application to one input of each of

diferential amplifier

180 and 182 is derived with the aid of calibration potentiometer 138 which applies compensating voltage through the resistor 190 to a terminal point 192. This potential is applied to the output of amplifier 182 as developed across a resistor 194 to adjust the output voltage. Potential application through the resistor 198 and gain potentiometer 200 places an adjusted input on the comparison differential input of differential amplifier 180. The remainder of the circuitry is similar to that for the front differential network 120, i.e., a capacitor 202 and resistor 196 are connected in parallel with amplifier 182 for sensitivity control and a parallel-connected resistor 204 and capacitor 206 are similarly connected between the output and comparison differential input of differential amplifier 180. The output from amplifier 180 is applied through a resistor 208 to one differential input of power amplifier 184, with sensitivity adjustment of amplifier 184 made by means of a parallel-connected resistor 210 and capacitor 212. And the remaining differential input of power amplifier 184 receives signal from terminal point 192, the output of differential amplifier 182, with decoupling being effected by means of a resistor 214 and capacitor 216 to ground.

It should be mentioned that in the interest of maximum stability, the ground circuit as indicated in FIG. 3 should be isolated, i.e., separate from the electrical system or frame ground of the machinery. Thus, the common or ground connection for the positive and negative 12 volt regulated power supply outputs may be connected by separate lead to ground connection 130 of the slope control potentiometer 128, as well as to the respective return connections of resistors, 166 and 214. The slope control potentiometer 128 is preferably a precisiontype of potentiometer and it is located on the control box 84 (FIG. 2) at the operating position so that the operator can select or dial in his desired cross slope angle after which the front and rear cross slope assemblies 104 and 106 will carry out the tracking function. That is, when the system is properly calibrated, the accelerometers 108 and 110 will be transversely positioned to seek a null relative to that voltage value which has been dialed in at slope' control potentiometer 128.

FIG. 4 represents a pendulous-type accelerometer 220 such as may be employed for-accelerometers 108 and 110 (FIG. 3). The accelerometer 220 consists of a torque coil 222 which is suspended by means of thin wire filaments or

bands

224 and 226 connected to

respective spring members

228 and 230. The spring members are then affixed to a, suitable insulative support 232, and the whole assembly is preferably enclosed within a damping chamber 236 filled with a light silicone 234 oil, as outlined generally by dash lines.

The torque coil is maintained in a neutral position by means of a pair of oppositely polarized permanent magnets 238 and 240, each of which allows relatively large gap with respect to torque coil 222. A mass 242 is suspended on a horizontal bar 244 which is affixed to extend outward from the top center of torque coil 222. Similarly, a lower bar 246 extends outward from the lower center of torque coil 222, but lower brace 246 supports a lateral brace 246 carrying a reactance member 250 which will be further described below. Thus, referring to the three different planes of

arrows

252, 254 and 256, the lateral or transverse arrow 252 represents the sensitive axis of the accelerometer 220, while the vertical arrow represents the general disposition of

coil support bands

224 and 226, and horizontal arrow 256 indicates the third dimension wherein braces 244 and 246 extend.

Position variation of torque coil 222 is sensed by a pair of series-connected sensing coils 256 and 266 which are arranged in equal physical disposition to an R-F coil 262 with energy coupling being varied in accordance with the positioning of reactive mass 256, i.e., through rotation of torque coil 222 and lower brace 246. R-F input energy to coil 262 is derived from a suitable R-F oscillator 264 of well-known type, and output energy from

sensor coils

256 and 266 is applied in series opposition to respective inputs of an amplifier 266. The differential output of amplifier 266 is then applied via lead 266 back to band 224 which is in conductive connection to torque coil 222 and lower band 226 to the ground or common connection. The sensed deviation output is then available on an output lead 276, i.e., such as lead 1116 of FIG. 3.

The accelerometer 220 is installed for operation in such manner that the sensitive axis extends transversely across the machinery with which it is utilized. Preadjustment and positioning of

magnets

236 and 246 will then assure that torque coil 222 is transversely aligned so that sensing coils 256 and 266 receive equal coupling of R-F energy from R-F coil 262 through the reactive member 250. This then enables a null output from amplifier 266 such that no corrective current ow appears on lead 266 for feedback to torque coil 222, and no output signal voltage is apparent on output lead 270. Thus error movement of the machinery in the plane 252-254 causes rotation of the torque coil 222 and therefore the reactive member 250 in the plane 252-256 to generate a corrective voltage through varying energy coupling as between R-F coil 262 and the sensing coils 256 and 266.

The accelerometer type of sensor is desirable in comparison to slide wire, mercury switch, gyroscope and other types due to certain inherent characteristics. That is, the accelerometer will be capable of operation with no resistance to machine lon gitudinal motion and, in addition, such devices offer improved linearity with no noise and no wearing parts disadvantages. It should be understood too that other types of accelerometer, such as the spring-mass, piezoelectric, and strain gauge types, may also be employed in various applications.

While the invention has been specifically described with respect to front and rear sensing assemblies working on such as an automatic grading machine, as shown in FIG. 2, the cross slope teachings may be employed on many different types of mobile machine utilizing either single or plural sensing units. Thus, it is also contemplated that a single sensing circuit as outlined generally in FIG. 1 may be employed with such as motor-grader machinery carrying a centermounted workpiece. Such cross slope control may be effected through servo adjustment or either a central tool-carrying frame or by direct position control of the workpiece. llt is also contemplated that the cross slope control may be utilized with paving and asphalting apparatus of various types.

OPERATION The

sensing circuits

164 and 106 must first be balanced and calibrated to provide proper tracking as between the slope control assembly 122 and the respective front and rear accelerometers 166 and 1116. Thus, with the machinery frame cross slope held level, the slope control potentiometer 126 can be set at its zero position, i.e., at ground or common potential, and any mechanical adjustment to zero the accelerometers of sensors 1166 and 116 can also be carried out. Then, each of the front and rear differential circuits 120 and 1162 is balanced to provide proper differential output in relation to its respective servo valve 11112 or 1114.

With regard to the front sensing circuit 1104, calibration potentiometer 136 is adjusted to its zero or midpoint where the potential at terminal point 142 is the same as that applied to the opposite differential input of differential amplifier 1166, and a null point is achieved with no output to servo valve 1112. The balance potentiometer 156 is also adjusted to provide the proper balance so that no output is apparent from either of differential amplifiers 11116 and 126 at the zero position. The similar calibration and balancing adjustments are made to the rear sensing circuit 166 in the same manner, and the equipment is then ready for service operation..

The operator then dials in a desired cross slope through slope control potentiometer 126 in the form of a plus or minus potential which is applied to respective differential inputs of forward and rear differential amplifiers 126 and 1166. This then developes respective forward and rear error signals at the outputs of differential amplifiers 1126 and 1160, which error signals are further applied to respective inputs of differential power amplifiers 1166 and 164. The amplified error signals from differential amplifiers 160 and 164 are then applied to drive their respective servo valves 1112 and 1114 until the respective forward and rear accelerometers 1106 and 116 come to the desired angular position wherein a proper nulling input voltage is developed. That is, in the case of front sensing circuitry 1164, accelerometer 1166 develop an output voltage on lead 116 which is in proportion to :its cross slope angular deviation, which output is applied with. a comparison voltage to differential amplifier 1 16 to develop a first error voltage for input to power amplifier 166. Power amplifier 1160 will develop an error output to actuate the: servo valve 112 until the difference output from differential amplifier 1116 is equal to that differential output from differential amplifier 126, the control input.

The rear control circuitry 166 follows in the same manner such that differential amplifier 1162 will produce an error output for input to power amplifier 164, and the differential power amplifier 164 will continue to maintain certain actuation of servo valve 1114 until the differential inputs become equal. Operation of both the front and rear control circuits 164 and 166 from a single-slope control potentiometer 126 in sures that the forward and rear parts of the machinery frame 42 will be controlled in concerted manner.

Referring also to FIG. 2, one side of the machinery frame 42 may be held to a predetermined elevational level by reference to an external position or mark, e.g., by utilization of the control boxes 92 and 94 extending respective control sensor rods 1106 and 102 into contact with a strngline 90. This then provides elevation level control at support legs 46 and 5l) of machinery frame 42, while additional control by the operator at control box 64 maintains the remainder of machinery frame 42 at whatever the proper attitude relative to strngline 96. Thus, the operator may dial in angles which are either positive or negative from 0 relative to the elevation level as established by the strngline 96.

The foregoing discloses novel cross slope control mechanism for use with road construction machinery wherein highly accurate and reliable cross slope angle is maintained as the machinery progresses along the work path. The mechanism has a further advantage of being easily accessible for control by the operator with instantaneous response to changes in control input as the desired cross slope angle can be directly dialed for control input. The apparatus of the present invention is characterized by relatively low cost and high reliability due to isolation from vibration and environmental hazards. the use of precision accelerometers as sensing elements enables an extremely great precision of cross slope setting and control.

Changes may be made in the combination and arrangements as heretofore set forth in the specification and shown in the drawings; it being understood that changes may be made in the embodiments disclosed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for controlling cross slope of mobile machinery along a work path relative to an external reference, comprising:

elevation control means affixed to one side of said mobile machinery to maintain said mobile machinery at a predetermined level to said external reference;

servo accelerometer means affixed at a transverse midpoint of said machinery, and including pendular means including a torque coil and a reactive member which is normally disposed in a quiescent position adjacent said torque coil and moveable in response to movement of the machinery transverse to the work path to move said reactive member proportionately, and circuit means including a source of oscillatory electrical energy disposed adjacent said reactive member and having its magnitude controlled in proportion to the positioning of said reactive member thereby to generate a continuous electrical sense output indicative of the amount of displacement of said pendular means from its quiescent position;

selector means providing an electrical control output in proportion to a desired cross slope angle of said machinery; control circuitry for comparing said sense output and said control output to generate an electrical error output; and elevation adjusting means disposed on said mobile machinery and energized by said error output to actuate said elevation control means to reposition said machinery to the selected cross slope angle.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said selector means comprises:

reference voltage means;

potentiometer means connected across said reference voltage means to provide a positive or negative proportional voltage output in response to selection of a desired cross slope angle of the machinery.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said control circuitry comprises:

differential amplifier means having first and second differential inputs and receiving said sense output at a first differential input and said control output at a second differential input to generate an electrical error output in the form of a difference signal.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 which is further characterized to include:

second accelerometer means affixed to the transverse midpoint of said machinery and disposed at an appreciable longitudinal distance from said first accelerometer means to provide a continuous electrical second sense output in proportion to the cross slope angle of said machinery to said work path; and

second control circuitry for comparing said second sense output and said control output to generate a second electrical error output; and second elevation adjusting means disposed on said mobile S machinery and energized by said second error output to actuate said elevation control means to reposition said machinery at the selected cross slope angle. 5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said second accelerometer means comprises:

pendular means including a reactive member which is normally disposed in quiescent position and movable in response to movement of the machinery transverse to the work path to move said reactive member proportionately; circuit means including a source of oscillatory electrical energy disposed adjacent said reactive member and having its magnitude controlled in proportion to positioning of said reactive member to generate ari output indicative of the amount of displacement of said pendular means from its quiescent position. v 6. Apparatus for controlling cross slope of mobile machin ery along a work path relative to an external reference, comprising:

first and second elevation control means afxed to one side of said mobile machinery at generally forward and rearward positions, respectively, to maintain said mobile machinery at a predetermined level and attitude relative to said external reference;

first and second accelerometer means affixed at a transverse midpoint of said machinery at said generally forward and rearward positions, respectively, to provide first and second continuous electrical outputs which are proportional to the cross slope angle of said machinery to said work path at each of the generally forward and rearward positions;

selector means providing first and second electrical control outputs in proportion to the desired cross slope angle of said machinery at respective forward and rearward positions;

rst and second control circuits for comparing said respective first and second sense outputs and said first and second control outputs and thereby to generate the first and second electrical error outputs; and

first and second elevation adjusting means disposed on said mobile machinery at generally forward and rearward positions and energized by respective first and second error outputs to actuate said first and second elevation control means thereby to reposition said respective forward and rearward parts of the machinery to the selected cross slope angles.

Flo-1050 UNTE STATES PATENT @FHCE (5/69) .j i v m @RMFCE @F @@REQllN Patent No.a 3 ,637,026 Dated January 25, 1972 nvemor) Ralph K, Snow It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Paten are hereby correcmd as shown below;

r- Column 2, line 64 the words "dash lines" should be om:.tt ;lcl., Column 3, line l the word "frame" should be omitted.

Column 3, line 35 the word "slope" should be reference Column 4, line l3 'the number "812" should be -l82- 4Column 4, line 22 .the Word "the" should be omitted,I

Column 4, 'line 25 'the word "the" should be omitted.,

Signed and sealed this 22nd day of August 1972..

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD MJLETCHERJR, ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attestng Oxlser Commissioner of Patents

Claims

1. Apparatus for controlling cross slope of mobile machinery along a work path relative to an external reference, comprising: elevation control means affixed to one side of said mobile machinery to maintain said mobile machinery at a predetermined level to said external reference; servo accelerometer means affixed at a transverse midpoint of said machinery, and including pendular means including a torque coil and a reactive member which is normally disposed in a quiescent position adjacent said torque coil and moveable in response to movement of the machinery transverse to the work path to move said reactive member proportionately, and circuit means including a source of oscillatory electrical energy disposed adjacent said reactive member and having its magnitude controlled in proportion to the positioning of said reactive member thereby to generate a continuous electrical sense output indicative of the amount of displacement of said pendular means from its quiescent position; selector means providing an electrical control output in proportion to a desired cross slope angle of said machinery; control circuitry for comparing said sense output and said control output to generate an electrical error output; and elevation adjusting means disposed on said mobile machinery and energized by said error output to actuate said elevation control means to reposition said machinery to the selected cross slope angle.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said selector means comprises: reference voltage means; potentiometer means connected across said reference voltage means to provide a positive or negative proportional voltage output in response to selection of a desired cross slope angle of the machinery.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said control circuitry comprises: differential amplifier means having first and second differential inputs and receiving said sense output at a first differential input and said control output at a second differential input to generate an electrical error output in the form of a difference signal.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 which is further characterized to include: second accelerometer means affixed to the transverse midpoint of said machinery and disposed at an appreciable longitudinal distance from said first accelerometer means to provide a continuous electrical second sense output in proportion to the cross slope angle of said machinery to said work path; and second control circuitry for comparing said second sense output and said control output to generate a second electrical error output; and second elevation adjusting means disposed on said mobile machinery and energized by said second error output to actuate said elevation control means to reposition said machinery at the selected cross slope angle.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said second accelerometer means comprises: pendular means including a reactive member which is normally disposed in quiescent position and movable in response to movement of the machinery transverse to the work path to move said reactive member proportionately; circuit means including a source of oscillatory electrical energy disposed adjacent said reactive member and having its magnitude controlled in proportion to positioning of said reactive member to generate an output indicative of the amount of displacement of said pendular means from its quiescent position.

6. Apparatus for controlling cross slope of mobile machinery along a work path relative to an external reference, comprising: first and second elevation control means affixed to one side of said mobile machinery at generally forward and rearward positions, respectively, to maintain said mobile machinery at a predetermined level and attitude relative to said external reference; first and second accelerometer means affixed at a transverse midpoint of said machinery at said generally forward and rearward positions, respectively, to provide first and second continuous electrical outputs which are proportional to the cross slope angle of said machinery to said work path at each of the generally forward and rearward positions; selector means providing first and second electrical control outputs in proportion to the desired cross slope angle of said machinery at respective forward and rearward positions; first and second control circuits for comparing said respective first and second sense outputs and said first and second control outputs and thereby to generate the first and second electrical error outputs; and first and second elevation adjusting means disposed on said mobile machinery at generally forward and rearward positions and energized by respective first and second error outputs to actuate said first and second elevation control means thereby to reposition said respective forward and rearward parts of the machinery to the selected cross slope angles.