Compacting machine and method of monitoring compacting member of compacting machine

• US 10,196,791 B1
• Filed: 11/27/2017
• Issued: 02/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Inventors: Oetken, Nicholas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Addie, Raymond W
• Application Number:
  US15/823,199
• Time in Patent Office: 435 Days
• Field of Search: 404 8405, 404117
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/08 Apparatus for transporting and heating or melting asphalt, bitumen, tar, or the like stationarily-arranged melting boilers for tar, asphalt, or the like, in general C10C3/12
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/288 adapted for monitoring characteristics of the material being compacted, e.g. indicating resonant frequency, measuring degree of compaction, by measuring values, detectable on the roller; using detected values to control operation of the roller, e.g. automatic adjustment of vibration responsive to such measurements
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/42 Machines for imparting a smooth finish to freshly-laid paving courses other than by rolling, tamping or vibrating for distributing only E01C19/12; hand-actuated smoothing tools E01C19/44
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 3/0265 Wheels specially adapted therefor; Cleats for said wheels
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 3/068 Vibrating apparatus operating with systems involving reciprocating masses E02D3/054, E02D3/061 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2037 Coordinating the movements of the implement and of the frame
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/262 with follow-up actions to control the work tool, e.g. controller
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/265 with follow-up actions (e.g. control signals sent to actuate the work tool)
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0088 characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours using knowledge based models G06N5/00

Abstract

A compacting machine includes a frame supporting a compacting member and a monitoring system. The monitoring system includes a sensor, a computer-readable medium bearing a compacting member monitoring program, a controller, and an interface device in communication with the controller. The sensor is arranged with the compacting member to sense a parameter of its ground-engaging surface and to generate a surface parameter signal indicative of the parameter. The controller is in communication with the sensor to receive the surface parameter signal therefrom and is configured to execute the compacting member monitoring program. The compacting member monitoring program is configured to determine whether a piece of the material being compacted becomes adhered to the ground-engaging surface based upon the surface parameter signal satisfying a condition and to produce, through the interface device, an indicator alerting the operator once the surface parameter signal satisfies the condition.

Claims

1. A compacting machine for compacting a material, the compacting machine comprising:

a frame;

a compacting member, the compacting member mounted to the frame, the compacting member having a ground-engaging surface;

a monitoring system, the monitoring system supported by the frame and including;

a sensor, the sensor arranged with the compacting member to sense a parameter of the ground-engaging surface, the sensor configured to generate a surface parameter signal indicative of the parameter of the ground-engaging surface sensed by the sensor,

a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the non-transitory computer-readable medium bearing a compacting member monitoring program,

a controller, the controller in communication with the sensor to receive the surface parameter signal from the sensor, the controller in operable arrangement with the non-transitory computer-readable medium such that the controller is configured to execute the compacting member monitoring program contained thereon, and

an interface device, the interface device in communication with the controller,

wherein the compacting member monitoring program includes a ground-engaging surface monitoring module and a messaging module, the ground-engaging surface monitoring module configured to monitor for a piece of the material being adhered to the ground-engaging surface based upon the surface parameter signal from the sensor satisfying a condition, and the messaging module configured to produce, through the interface device, an indicator that the piece of the material adhered to the ground-engaging surface once the surface parameter signal satisfies the condition.

2. The compacting machine according to claim 1, wherein the compacting member comprises a drum, the drum rotatably mounted to the frame.

3. The compacting machine according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a distance sensor configured to detect a topographic variation on the ground-engaging surface of the compacting member caused by the piece of the material being adhered to the ground-engaging surface.

4. The compacting machine according to claim 3, wherein the sensor comprises a laser distance sensor.

5. The compacting machine according to claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises an optical sensor configured to detect an optical variation on the ground-engaging surface of the compacting member caused by the piece of the material being adhered to the ground-engaging surface.

6. The compacting machine according to claim 5, wherein the optical sensor comprises a color sensor configured to detect a color variation on the ground-engaging surface of the compacting member caused by the piece of the material being adhered to the ground-engaging surface.

7. The compacting machine according to claim 5, wherein the optical sensor comprises a reflectance sensor configured to detect a reflection variation on the ground-engaging surface of the compacting member caused by the piece of the material being adhered to the ground-engaging surface.

8. The compacting machine according to claim 1, further comprising:

an operator compartment, the operator compartment supported by the frame;

wherein the interface device is mounted within the operator compartment.

9. The compacting machine according to claim 8, wherein the compacting member monitoring program includes a graphical user interface, the interface device is configured to display the graphical user interface of the compacting member monitoring program, and the messaging module is configured to display the indicator through the graphical user interface on the interface device.

10. The compacting machine according to claim 8, wherein the interface device is configured to emit sound, and the indicator produced by the messaging module comprises an audible indicator emitted by the interface device.

11. The compacting machine according to claim 1, further comprising:

an autonomous control module, the autonomous control module configured to autonomously control operation of the compacting machine;

wherein the controller is in communication with the autonomous control module;

wherein the messaging module of the compacting member monitoring program is configured to transmit a sticking condition signal via the controller to the autonomous control module once the surface parameter signal satisfies the condition;

wherein the autonomous control module is configured to perform an asphalt-sticking control operation of the compacting machine in response to receiving the sticking condition signal.

12. The compacting machine according to claim 11, wherein the asphalt-sticking control operation of the compacting machine comprises terminating operation of the compacting machine.

13. The compacting machine according to claim 11, wherein the asphalt-sticking control operation of the compacting machine comprises maneuvering the compacting machine along an exit path off the material.

14. The compacting machine according to claim 1, further comprising:

a clearing device, the clearing device mounted to the frame proximate the compacting member, the clearing device configured to selectively perform a clearing operation to remove the material adhered to the ground-engaging surface;

wherein the controller is in communication with the clearing device;

wherein the messaging module of the compacting member monitoring program is configured to transmit a command signal via the controller to the clearing device to perform the clearing operation once the surface parameter signal satisfies the condition.

15. The compacting machine according to claim 14, wherein the clearing device comprises a supply of fluid and a sprayer in fluid communication with the supply of fluid, the sprayer configured to selectively direct a pressurized spray of fluid upon the ground-engaging surface of the compacting member once the command signal is received from the controller.

16. The compacting machine according to claim 14, wherein the clearing device comprises a wiper blade movable over a range of travel between a stowed position in which the wiper blade is in non-contacting relationship with the ground-engaging surface of the compacting member and a wiping position in which the wiper blade is in contacting relationship with the ground-engaging surface of the compacting member to remove the material adhered thereto, the wiper blade configured to move from the stowed position to the wiping position in response to receiving the command signal.

17. A method of monitoring a compacting member of a compacting machine for compacting a material, the compacting member including a ground-engaging surface, the method of monitoring comprising:

sensing a parameter of the ground-engaging surface with a sensor to generate a surface parameter signal indicative of the parameter of the ground-engaging surface sensed by the sensor;

transmitting the surface parameter signal to a controller;

using the controller to execute a compacting member monitoring program stored upon a non-transitory computer-readable medium to determine whether a piece of the material is adhered to the ground-engaging surface using the surface parameter signal;

in response to the compacting member monitoring program determining the piece of the material is adhered to the ground-engaging surface, using the controller to execute the compacting member monitoring program to provide, through an interface device, an indicator that the piece of the material adhered to the ground-engaging surface.

18. The method of monitoring according to claim 17, wherein the indicator comprises at least one of an audible indicator emitted by the interface device and a visual indicator displayed by the interface device via a graphical user interface.

19. The method of monitoring according to claim 17, further comprising:

in response to the compacting member monitoring program determining the piece of the material is adhered to the ground-engaging surface, performing an autonomous control operation to change an operating parameter of the compacting machine.

20. The method of monitoring according to claim 19, further comprising:

in response to the compacting member monitoring program determining the piece of the material is adhered to the ground-engaging surface, operating a clearing device to remove the material adhered to the ground-engaging surface.