Paver with material supply and mat grade and slope quality control apparatus and method
First Claim
1. Paving apparatus comprising:
- a tractor unit;
a paving screed having a width extending transversely across a width of a path to be paved, the screed coupled by left and right pull arms to the tractor unit to be pulled by the tractor unit, left and right pull arm positioning actuator devices coupled to the tractor unit and to the pull arms, the actuator devices operable to orient the screed at an angle of attack with respect to the direction of travel of the tractor unit at respective left and right sides thereof;
material transfer conveyor means having at least one conveyor track extending from the front to the rear of the tractor unit and left and right transverse material distribution conveyors disposed transversely to a direction of travel of the paving apparatus and in front of the screed to distribute material across the width of the screed;
grade control sensing means including means for sensing the height of the screed with respect to a grade reference and means for measuring travel of the tractor unit; and
a control device including a screed position control means for controlling the angle of attack of the screed based on a magnitude of a height deviation of the screed with respect to the grade reference within a unit of measured travel of the tractor unit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An asphalt paver includes a microprocessor controlled integrated control system to control both the operation of a tractor unit of the paver and the positioning of the screed during a paving operation. A paver operator may operate the paver and monitor the screed position with respect to a grade reference. The correction of grade or transverse slope errors is accomplished by monitoring the linear advance of the paver and then measuring a any deviation of the screed with respect to a grade reference. The amount of vertical deviation and the linear advance since a most recent correct reading allows a rate of deviation per unit advance of the paver to be determined. A correction is applied as a change in the angle of attack of the screed, the change being equal and opposite to the determined rate of deviation. A transverse slope change is also measured directly at the screed. A measured transverse angular deviation is translated into a vertical deviation which is then translated into a rate of deviation per unit advance of the paver with a corrective twist being applied to the screen to offset the deviation. Advantageously dual grade sensors and dual slope sensors are contemplated to provide an automated microprocessor controlled grade and slope control in accordance herewith.
167 Citations
20 Claims
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1. Paving apparatus comprising:
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a tractor unit; a paving screed having a width extending transversely across a width of a path to be paved, the screed coupled by left and right pull arms to the tractor unit to be pulled by the tractor unit, left and right pull arm positioning actuator devices coupled to the tractor unit and to the pull arms, the actuator devices operable to orient the screed at an angle of attack with respect to the direction of travel of the tractor unit at respective left and right sides thereof; material transfer conveyor means having at least one conveyor track extending from the front to the rear of the tractor unit and left and right transverse material distribution conveyors disposed transversely to a direction of travel of the paving apparatus and in front of the screed to distribute material across the width of the screed; grade control sensing means including means for sensing the height of the screed with respect to a grade reference and means for measuring travel of the tractor unit; and a control device including a screed position control means for controlling the angle of attack of the screed based on a magnitude of a height deviation of the screed with respect to the grade reference within a unit of measured travel of the tractor unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. Paving apparatus comprising:
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a paving screed having a width extending transversely across a width of a path to be paved; at least one grade sensor mounted fixedly with respect to the paving screed outboard of and at the paving screed to sense a height of the paving screed with respect to a grade reference, the grade reference being indicative of a grade of a pavement to be laid down along the path to be paved; means for advancing the paving screed in a direction of advance along the path to be paved; means for positioning the paving screed at an angle of attack in the direction of advance, the angle of attack being positionable over a range including an set angle of attack for the paving screed to lay pavement at a height specified by the grade reference; sensor means for determining the angle of attack of the paving screed with respect to the grade reference; means for determining consecutive intervals of advance of the paving screed along the path to be paved; means for computing an angular deviation of the paving screed within a determined interval of advance of the paving screed as a deviation of height of the paving screed with respect to the grade reference over the determined interval of advance; and means for controlling the paving screed positioning means to apply a correction to the angle of attack of the paving screed based on a computed angular deviation of the paving screed during a determined interval of advance of the paving screed. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification