Compactor turning speed limiter

• US 9,550,522 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2015
• Issued: 01/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Inventors: Oetken, Nicholas Alan, Marsolek, John Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOLDMAN, RICHARD A
• Application Number:
  US14/626,390
• Publication Number:
  US 20160244091A1
• Time in Patent Office: 705 Days
• Field of Search: 404/117, 701/41, 701/42, 701/43, 701/69
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 6/00 Arrangements for automatically controlling steering depending on driving conditions sensed and responded to, e.g. control circuits means for initiating a change in direction B62D1/00; steering valves B62D5/06; combined with means for inclining the vehicle body or wheels on bends B62D9/00
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/23 Rollers therefor; Such rollers usable also for compacting soil E01C19/41, E01C19/43, E01C19/52, E01C23/065 take precedence; specially adapted for agricultural purposes A01B29/00; garden rollers A01G20/35; making or maintaining surfaces of snow or ice E01H4/00; solely for soil compaction E02D3/026
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/26 self-propelled or fitted to road vehicles E01C19/231, E01C19/235 , E01C19/27 - E01C19/29 take precedence
• 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: E01C 2301/00 Machine characteristics, parts or accessories not otherwise provided for

Abstract

A system and method for limiting a turning speed of a compactor is disclosed. The compactor includes a steering member configured to receive operator steering input. The system may comprise a speed sensor, and a controller in communication with the speed sensor. The speed sensor may be mounted on the compactor and configured to measure a travel speed of the compactor over a surface. In some embodiments, a temperature sensor, configured to measure a temperature of the surface, may be mounted on the compactor and in communication with the controller. The controller is configured to receive the travel speed and/or temperature, and to limit a turning speed of the compactor when a condition is satisfied.

Claims

1. A system on a compactor, the compactor including a steering member, the steering member configured to receive operator steering input, the system comprising:

a speed sensor mounted on the compactor, the speed sensor configured to measure a travel speed of the compactor over a surface; and

a controller in communication with the speed sensor, the controller configured to;

receive the travel speed of the compactor from the speed sensor; and

limit a turning speed of the compactor when a condition is satisfied,

wherein the condition is satisfied when the travel speed is less than a speed threshold.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the turning speed is limited by the controller implementing a fixed turning speed or a maximum turning speed cap.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the turning speed is limited by the controller implementing a variable turning speed based on the travel speed.

4. The system of claim 1, further including a temperature sensor mounted on the compactor, the temperature sensor in communication with the controller and configured to measure a temperature of the surface, and in which the controller is further configured to

receive the temperature from the temperature sensor;

and

limit the turning speed of the compactor when the temperature is greater than a temperature threshold.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the turning speed is limited by the controller implementing a fixed turning speed or a maximum turning speed cap.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the turning speed is limited by the controller implementing a variable turning speed based on the temperature of the surface.

7. The system of claim 1, further including a temperature sensor mounted on the compactor, the temperature sensor in communication with the controller and configured to measure a temperature of the surface, and in which the controller is further configured to:

receive the temperature from the temperature sensor,

wherein the condition is satisfied when the travel speed is less than a speed threshold and the temperature is greater than a temperature threshold,

wherein further the turning speed is limited by the controller implementing a variable turning speed based on the travel speed and the temperature.

8. A method of limiting a turning speed of a compactor including a steering member, a controller, a speed sensor, and a temperature sensor, the steering member configured to receive operator steering input, the speed sensor mounted on the compactor and in communication with the controller, the speed sensor configured to measure a travel speed of the compactor over a surface, the temperature sensor mounted on the compactor, the temperature sensor in communication with the controller and configured to measure a temperature of the surface, the method comprising:

receiving, by the controller, the travel speed; and

limiting the turning speed of the compactor when a condition is satisfied,

wherein the condition is satisfied when the travel speed is less than a speed threshold.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the limiting further includes the controller implementing a fixed turning speed.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the limiting further includes the controller implementing a turning speed based on the travel speed.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the limiting further includes the controller implementing a maximum turning speed cap.

12. The method of claim 8, further including:

receiving the temperature of the surface from the temperature sensor; and

limiting the turning speed of the compactor when the temperature is greater than a temperature threshold.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the limiting further includes the controller implementing a fixed turning speed.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the limiting further includes the controller implementing a turning speed based on the temperature.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the limiting further includes setting a maximum turning speed cap.

16. The method of claim 8, further including:

receiving the temperature of the surface from the temperature sensor,

wherein the condition is satisfied when the travel speed is less than a speed threshold and the temperature is greater than a temperature threshold.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the limiting further includes the controller implementing a fixed turning speed.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the limiting further includes the controller implementing a variable turning speed based on the travel speed and the temperature.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the limiting further includes the controller implementing a maximum turning speed cap.