Concrete whitetopping system

• US 9,644,328 B1
• Filed: 08/22/2014
• Issued: 05/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GOMACO Corporation (Godbersen-Smith Construction Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: GOMACO Corporation (Godbersen-Smith Construction Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Godbersen, Gary L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Addie, Raymond W
• Application Number:
  US14/466,038
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• Field of Search: 404 75, 404 82, 404101, 404105, 404110, 404 8405- 842, 404103, 404118
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/00 Machines, tools or auxiliary devices for preparing or distributing paving materials, for working the placed materials, or for forming, consolidating, or finishing the paving surface stabilisation E01C21/00; apparatus specially adapted for reconditioning or repairing paving E01C23/00
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/004 Devices for guiding or controlling the machines along a predetermined path for graders or bulldozers E02F3/841; for other soil-shifting machines E02F9/2045
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/486 with non-vibratory or non-percussive pressing or smoothing means; with supplemental elements penetrating the paving to work the material thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 2301/40 Working platform or walkway
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 7/00 Coherent pavings made in situ specially adapted for playgrounds or sports grounds E01C13/06; for footpaths, sidewalks or cycle tracks E01C15/00

Abstract

A system includes a mold configured for forming a paving material into a slab upon a surface, the mold including a width that is substantially perpendicular to a direction of travel of the mold; a mold positioning system coupled to the mold to control a position of the mold above the surface, the mold positioning system including at least one positioning element coupled to the mold to move at least a portion of the mold; and a transport unit including at least one portion configured to contact the surface, the transport unit including a rigid mount coupled to the mold positioning system to maintain a fixed spatial relationship between the transport unit and the mold positioning system, wherein the width of the mold is substantially greater than or equal to a maximum width of the at least one portion of the transport unit configured to contact the surface.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a mold configured for forming a paving material into a slab upon a surface, the mold including a width that is substantially perpendicular to a direction of travel of the mold;

a computerized mold positioning system coupled to the mold, the computerized mold positioning system configured for controlling a position and orientation of the mold above the surface, the computerized mold positioning system including a plurality of actuators coupled to the mold, at least one of the plurality of actuators configured to adjust a height of the mold above the surface, and at least one of the plurality of actuators configured to adjust the orientation of the mold in a plane substantially parallel to the surface; and

a transport unit configured for providing transport on the surface, the transport unit connecting the transport unit to the computerized mold positioning system at a rear portion of the transport unit,

wherein;

the width of the mold is substantially greater than or equal to a maximum width of the transport unit such that the mold encompasses an area previously traversed by all wheels or treads of the transport unit; and

the computerized mold positioning system is configured to;

receive a design profile of a paving surface; and

actuate the at least one actuator configured to adjust the orientation of the mold in the plane substantially parallel to the surface to pivot independently of the transport unit and follow a variable radius path according to the design profile.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the paving material comprises concrete.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the mold includes an auger configured to receive the paving material from a conveyor portion and distribute the paving material across the width of the mold.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

a flow control member adjacent the auger, the flow control member configured to contact the surface to form a barrier to flow of the paving material in the direction of the transport unit.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the computerized mold positioning system is configured to control at least one of a long slope or a cross slope of the mold relative to the surface via at least one of the plurality of actuators.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein a thickness of the slab is controlled by a height of the mold above the surface, and wherein the height of the mold is directly controlled by the plurality of positioning elements actuators of the computerized mold positioning system.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the computerized mold positioning system is configured to pivot the mold within the plane substantially parallel to the surface to maintain the computerized mold positioning system along a path defined by the transport unit.

8. A concrete paving apparatus comprising:

a mold configured for forming a paving material into a slab upon a surface, the mold including a width that is substantially perpendicular to a direction of travel of the mold;

a computerized mold positioning system coupled to the mold, the computerized mold positioning system configured for controlling a position and orientation of the mold above the surface, the computerized mold positioning system including a plurality of actuators coupled to the mold, at least one of the plurality of actuators configured to adjust a height of the mold above the surface, and at least one of the plurality of actuators configured to adjust the orientation of the mold in a plane substantially parallel to the surface; and

a transport unit configured for providing transport on the surface, the transport unit connecting the transport unit to the computerized mold positioning system at a rear portion of the transport unit,

wherein;

the width of the mold is substantially greater than or equal to a maximum width of the transport unit such that the mold encompasses an area previously traversed by all wheels or treads of the transport unit; and

the computerized mold positioning system is configured to;

receive a design profile of a paving surface; and

actuate the at least one actuator configured to adjust the orientation of the mold in the plane substantially parallel to the surface to pivot independently of the transport unit and follow a variable radius path according to the design profile.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a flow control member disposed substantially between the transport unit and the mold, said flow control member configured to form a forward portion of the mold and prevent paving material flow toward the transport unit.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a flow control actuator configured to adjust the height of the flow control member relative to the surface.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the computerized mold positioning system is configured to control at least one of a long slope or a cross slope of the mold relative to the surface via at least one of the plurality of actuators.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising one or more instrument mounting surfaces, said one or more instrument mounting surfaces configured to provide a known location for one or more sensors in data communication with the computerized mold positioning system.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the computerized mold positioning system further comprises a plurality of spatial locating elements disposed on known locations of the computerized mold positioning system, mold, and transport unit.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the computerized mold positioning system is configured to pivot the mold within the plane substantially parallel to the surface to maintain the computerized mold positioning system along a path defined by a paving profile, said path being independent of a path defined by the transport unit.

15. A concrete paving apparatus comprising:

a mold configured for forming a paving material into a slab upon a surface, the mold including a width that is substantially perpendicular to a direction of travel of the mold;

a computerized mold positioning system coupled to the mold, the computerized mold positioning system configured for controlling a position and orientation of the mold above the surface, the computerized mold positioning system including a plurality of actuators coupled to the mold, at least one of the plurality of actuators configured to adjust a height of the mold above the surface, and at least one of the plurality of actuators configured to adjust the orientation of the mold in a plane substantially parallel to the surface; and

a transport unit configured for providing transport on the surface, the transport unit connecting the transport unit to the computerized mold positioning system at a rear portion of the transport unit,

wherein;

the width of the mold is substantially greater than or equal to a maximum width of the transport unit such that the mold encompasses an area previously traversed by all wheels or treads of the transport unit; and

the computerized mold positioning system is configured to;

receive a design profile of a paving surface; and

actuate the at least one actuator configured to adjust the orientation of the mold in the plane substantially parallel to the surface to pivot independently of the transport unit and follow a variable radius path according to the design profile.