Automatic Control Patents (Class 404/84.05)
  • Patent number: 11585050
    Abstract: A paver, in particular a slipform paver, has a machine frame supported by front and rear undercarriages and a paving device for the paving of material. The paver is provided with an apron monitoring device for generating elevation profile data or elevation profile signals describing the elevation profile of the material deposited in the apron of the paving device in a direction transverse to the working direction. A data or signal processing device receives the elevation profile data or signals. The apron monitoring device provides the data needed to allow the material to be spread more evenly across the working width of the paver during the feeding operation by means of a spreading device for spreading the material to be paved in a direction transverse to the working direction and/or to allow the spreading device to be controlled for improved spreading of the material after the paver has been fed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Inventors: Jens Brieskorn, Lothar Schwalbach, Stefan Wagner, Bernd Walterscheid, Gunnar Ramseger, Martin Dahm
  • Patent number: 11549224
    Abstract: A wear plate for the conveyor of a paving machine has a bend at one axial end, an oblique flat surface at another axial end, a tab with an aperture extending from a side surface, or a tab extending from a side surface with a tapered configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Chad M. Thiesse, Reece A. Berns, Dustin Wade Bryan
  • Patent number: 11492767
    Abstract: In a self-propelled construction machine for working ground pavements comprising at least one machine frame, at least one height-adjustable milling drum for working the ground pavement in a working operation, driven by at least one drive unit, at least one control device for monitoring and controlling the milling depth of the milling drum and the speed of the construction machine, it is provided for the following features to be achieved: that a monitoring device detects an interruption of the working operation, and when detecting the interruption of the working operation emits a signal to interrupt the drive of the milling drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Andreas Vogt, Cyrus Barimani
  • Patent number: 11338505
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides various aspects for mobile and automated processing utilizing additive manufacturing. The present disclosure includes methods for adding line features to a roadway surface. In some examples, the line features may include wires, conduits and electronic components. In some examples, the mobile additive manufacturing apparatus may create communication means into an advanced roadway in line features, which may be used for various communications including communications to and from autonomous vehicles. The communications may involve data related to the operation of systems of autonomous vehicles. In other examples, the line features may be dynamically colored with LED components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Inventors: Robert A. Flitsch, Frederick A. Flitsch
  • Patent number: 11307124
    Abstract: An apparatus for testing paving samples includes a base that includes a paving sample tray about the cabinet and configured for translation relative to the cabinet. A roller is configured for imparting compressive forces to a sample carried by the sample tray. An arm is configured for moving the roller from a stowed position to an in-use position where the roller contacts the sample. A cylinder assembly having a piston therein supplies pressure forces to the arm to move the arm from the stowed position to the in-use position, wherein a depth of travel of the arm is limited by the sample. As the sample is compressed, the depth of travel increases. A measurement device is in communication with the cylinder for determining an amount of travel of the arm to thus determine an amount of compression of the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: TROXLER ELECTRONIC LABORATORIES, INC.
    Inventors: Matthew Marchese, William Sanders, Yan Zhang, Robert Ernest Troxler
  • Patent number: 11261571
    Abstract: A control system for positioning a marker over a pre-existing roadway surface mark. The control system has an electromagnetic radiation source attached to the marker for producing a mark pattern on the roadway surface. An imager permits the control system to image both the pre-existing roadway surface mark and the mark pattern produced by the electromagnetic radiation source. A computer is responsive to the imager for producing an error signal based upon the location difference between (a) the image of the pre-existing roadway surface mark and (b) the image of the mark pattern produced by the electromagnetic radiation source. An actuator is responsive to the error signal for positioning the marker over the pre-existing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: LIMNTECH LLC
    Inventors: Douglas D. Dolinar, William R. Haller
  • Patent number: 11208771
    Abstract: A milling machine can include a frame; a cutting rotor coupled to the frame, the cutting rotor configured to be lowered a selected distance into a surface; and a controller, the controller being configured to control a plunge rate of the cutting rotor into the surface based on a measured density of the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: James A. DeLong, Jacob R. Ellwein
  • Patent number: 11186958
    Abstract: A material placer having an augmented hopper, which can receive and convey concrete or other material at a greater rate than other material placers known in the industry. The augmented hopper has a relatively large volume, a bumper structure, a hinged flop gate, and a sliding gate plate that improves the process of receiving concrete or other discharged material from delivery trucks. The hinged flop gate and/or the sliding plate can optionally be vibrated to aid in moving concrete or other material into the trough of the augmented hopper. The material placer is further configured to have ease of access for cleaning and maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Guntert & Zimmerman Const. Div., Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald M. Guntert, Jr., Iovtcho Delev
  • Patent number: 10975536
    Abstract: In a road milling machine (1), comprising a machine frame (6), at least three travelling devices (2, 3), wherein at least two travelling devices (3) are drivable and at least one travelling device (2) is steerable, at least one milling drum (11) for working the ground pavement (4), at least one extraction device (12) for extracting air contaminated with dusts and vapours, it is provided for the following features to be achieved: the extraction device (12) comprises at least one first exhaust air pipe (13) with at least one first pipe section (24) with at least one first cross-section (26) and at least one second pipe section (20) with at least one second cross-section (22), wherein the second cross-section (22) is smaller than the first cross-section (26), wherein a suction channel (18) comprises an inlet opening (30) and an outlet opening, wherein the outlet opening (28) opens into the exhaust air pipe (13) in the area of the second pipe section (20), wherein the air contaminated with dusts and vapours can b
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Inventor: Sascha Schreil
  • Patent number: 10890535
    Abstract: Example apparatuses and methods are provided for detecting a fault in a painting system. A fluid supply line such as a paint line or isolation line may have an outer wall formed of a material which permits light to be transmitted through the outer wall. First and second optical conduits may be provided, which are configured to transmit an optical signal through the outer wall and receive a reflected optical signal, respectively. An optical sensor may be in communication with the second optical conduit such that the optical sensor is configured to receive the reflected optical signal. A fault in the fluid supply line, e.g., traces of a previous color paint, air bubbles, or other contaminant, may be detected based upon a comparison of the received optical signal with the optical signal transmitted through the first optical conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Daniel Morin
  • Patent number: 10662590
    Abstract: A control system for controlling operation of an edge forming tool associated with a compactor. The control system includes a position sensor for outputting a current position of the edge forming tool relative to a frame of the compactor. The control system further includes a controller disposed in communication with the position sensor. The controller is configured to receive the current position of the edge forming tool from the position sensor. Further, the controller is configured to move the edge forming tool from its current position to a desired position based, at least in part, on the received current position of the edge forming tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Maria Lynn Biberdorf, Bryan Joseph Downing
  • Patent number: 10550528
    Abstract: A system for controlling heating of a screed plate includes screed plate disposed along the paving material delivery path. A first temperature sensor is operative to monitor a screed plate temperature and a second temperature sensor along the paving material delivery path is operative to monitor an actual paving material temperature of a paving material being applied to a work surface. A controller is configured to determine an estimated paving material temperature adjacent the screed plate based upon the actual paving material temperature and operate a heater to maintain the screed plate temperature within a temperature variation range relative to the estimated paving material temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventor: Chad M. Thiesse
  • Patent number: 10496106
    Abstract: A self-propelled paving machine includes a plurality of swing legs, each swing leg being supported from a ground surface by an associated crawler track steerably connected to an outer end of its associated swing leg. The machine may be re-oriented from a paving mode to a transport mode by driving the ground engaging units to rotate the frame substantially in place on the ground through a re-orientation angle of the frame relative to the ground, and as the frame is rotating, pivoting one or more of the swing legs from a paving position relative to the frame, to a transport position relative to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Dahm, Christian Liss, Martin Lenz, Benjamin Pock
  • Patent number: 10435066
    Abstract: A method for operating a road paver comprises paving a road surface with the road paver along a road bed, wherein a paving screed of the road paver is drawn over the road bed along a paving direction of travel. The following steps are performed using a curve correction unit: determining a value defining a steering angle of the road paver; calculating based on the determined value an expected offset of the paving screed, which results from a yawing movement of the road paver during steering with the steering angle defined by the determined value; and automatically correcting a lateral extension position of at least one lateral extension part of the paving screed based on the expected offset, so that the offset is compensated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: JOSEPH VOEGELE AG
    Inventor: Martin Buschmann
  • Patent number: 10066347
    Abstract: A device for working ground surfaces or roadways comprising a machine frame and a working drum in a drum housing arranged at said machine frame, where no less than one spraying device extending parallel to the working drum and featuring several outlet nozzles for spraying agents arranged next to one another and directed towards the working drum is arranged at the drum housing, where the outlet nozzles comprise one each drivable closing mechanism with a closing element which, in an open position, fully uncovers the nozzle channel of the outlet nozzle and, in a closed position, closes the nozzle channel. A controller drives the closing mechanisms, with the outlet nozzles and the related closing elements being adapted to one another in such a fashion that the flow cross-section in the outlet nozzle is variable in accordance with the position of the closing element on a specified path between the open position and closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Menzenbach, Bernd Walterscheid, Cyrus Barimani
  • Patent number: 10053824
    Abstract: A road building machine wherein the danger of material falling out as the supply container is loaded is avoided. For this it is proposed that the container halves each have at least one shield which can be moved away as the container halves are folded up. Road building machines, more particularly road pavers and feeders are supplied with road building material from trucks, and, in order to receive the road building material the road building machines have supply containers with two movable container halves, and, when the supply container is filled, the invention helps prevents road building material from falling out from the supply container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Dynapac GmbH
    Inventors: Anup Jacob, Jens Lübben
  • Patent number: 9915041
    Abstract: The invention relates to a self-propelled construction machine, in particular a road milling machine, which possesses an undercarriage which has front and rear—in the working direction—wheels or travelling gears, a machine frame which is borne by the undercarriage, and a working means. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for controlling a self-propelled construction machine, in particular a road milling machine. The invention is based on the detection of objects O situated in the ground at a time at which the objects O can be readily detected. The construction machine according to the invention possesses a means for generating predictive object signals which are characteristic of the position of objects which lie in a portion of the ground which lies in the working direction A in front of the working region of the working means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Martin Lenz, Cyrus Barimani
  • Patent number: 9663906
    Abstract: Methods of and apparatus for controlling relative telescoping extension or retraction of multiple telescoping assemblies is provided. The telescoping assemblies connect the main frame of a slipform paver to a side member of the slipform paver. Each telescoping assembly has a telescopic lock associated with the telescoping assembly. A common telescoping force is applied across the telescoping assemblies to widen or narrow the frame width of the slipform paver. Extension of the telescoping assemblies is monitored, and activation of the telescopic locks is controlled so as to determine which of the telescoping assemblies is allowed to telescope under application of the common telescoping force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Dahm, Ralf Schug, Cyrus Barimani
  • Patent number: 9663905
    Abstract: A self-propelled construction machine includes a plurality of swing legs, each swing leg being supported from a ground surface by an associated crawler track steerably connected to an outer end of its associated swing leg. Pivotal movement of a swing leg may be accomplished by steering the associated crawler track through a non-zero steering angle until the lateral movement of the crawler track achieves the desired pivoting movement of the associated swing leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Dahm, Ralf Schug, Cyrus Barimani, Günter Hähn
  • Patent number: 9540778
    Abstract: A road finishing machine with a thermographic device releasably fixed to a portion of the machine for recording a georeferenced thermographic data record of at least one region of a pavement layer. The thermographic device includes a housing in which a detection unit for detecting a thermographic data record and a further detection unit for detecting a space-related data record for the thermographic data record are disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: JOSEPH VOEGELE AG
    Inventors: Arnold Rutz, Henning Delius, Martin Buschmann, Tobias Gotterbarm, Christian Pawlik
  • Patent number: 9416499
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for sensing and managing pothole locations and pothole characteristics. An additional aspect of the present invention is to provide a system that may acquire, fuse, and analyze pothole sensing data from several sources to identify potholes in need of maintenance or repair. Further, the system may be configured to create and distribute recurring reports of pothole repair data for use by roadway officials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Heatwurx, Inc.
    Inventors: John Edward Cronin, Benjamin Shields Taylor, William Petrow, Edward Joseph Limoge, Stephen Douglas Garland
  • Patent number: 9260827
    Abstract: The invention relates to a road finishing machine with a controllable longitudinal conveyor device and a transverse conveyor device for mixed laying material disposed in the rear in the direction of motion. The road finishing machine furthermore comprises a control unit for adjusting a delivery rate of the longitudinal conveyor device and/or the transverse conveyor device. The control unit is connected with a sensory mechanism for determining a mixed laying material quantity or rate and adjusts the delivery rate in response to a signal from the sensory mechanism representing the mixed laying material quantity or rate. The control unit can be pilot controlled in response to laying parameters by a pilot control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: JOSEPH VOGELE AG
    Inventors: Klaus Bertz, Tobias Noll, Ralf Weiser, Alessandro De Santis
  • Patent number: 9212458
    Abstract: The invention relates to a road paver comprising a chassis that carries a driver's cab, an undercarriage, at least one drive assembly, a hydraulic system, a cover mounted in an articulated manner, an asphalt feed arrangement comprising a storage hopper, a longitudinal conveyor device which conveys material from the storage hopper to a cross-distributor, and a steam suction system which is operated by means of a vacuum generator and comprises at least one suction flow path whose withdrawal line comprises a suction inlet above the cross-distributor and an outlet at a height above the driver's cab. At the suction inlet-side end of said withdrawal line, at least one confuser-like inlet nozzle is provided which is arranged to be secured to, and movable with, said cover, and which aspirates behind the cross-distributor in the travel direction such that accessibility in the region above the cross-distributor is not affected and the view out to the cross-distributor from the driver's cab is not obscured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: ABG Allgemeine Baumaschinen-Gesellschaft mbH
    Inventor: Marc Kappel
  • Patent number: 9212460
    Abstract: A road finishing machine includes a chassis supporting a driver's cab, an undercarriage, at least one drive unit, a hydraulic system, a screed, an asphalt supply arrangement comprising a storage hopper and a longitudinal conveyor conveying from the storage hopper to a transverse distributor and comprising a fumes suction system operated by a fan, comprising at least one airflow path, the exhaust line thereof comprising a suction opening above the transverse distributor and an outlet opening at a height above the driver's cab, wherein the fan is arranged in the region of the suction opening of the exhaust line of the at least one airflow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: ABG Allgemeine Baumaschinen-Gesellschaft mBH
    Inventors: Hans-Joachim Komm, Marc Niggemann
  • Patent number: 9208458
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems including a computer comprising at least one hardware processor, at least one tangible storage medium (memory), and at least one input/output (I/O) interface for evaluating a quality of a locate and/or marking operation. First information relating to the locate and/or marking operation is compared to second information obtained from at least one facilities map. One or more indications of a quality assessment of the locate and/or marking operation is automatically generated based on such a comparison, and the one or more indications of the quality assessment are electronically stored on the at least one tangible storage medium, and/or electronically transmitted via the at least one I/O interface, so as to provide an electronic record of the quality assessment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: CertusView Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven E. Nielsen, Curtis Chambers, Jeffrey Farr
  • Patent number: 9096977
    Abstract: A construction machine apparatus includes a plurality of ground engaging supports, a machine frame supported from the ground engaging supports and a milling drum supported from the machine frame. A milling drum location detection system is configured to determine a drum location in an external reference system. A location indicator system includes a memory configured to store information identifying a location of one or more areas to be avoided in the external reference system, and a controller configured to compare the drum location to the location of the one or more areas to be avoided, and to provide an output corresponding to a proximity of the milling drum to the location of the one or more areas to be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Fritz, Christian Berning, Cyrus Barimani, Günter Hähn
  • Patent number: 9096976
    Abstract: A self-propelled building machine, especially a road cutting machine or a surface miner, has a machine frame and a chassis, comprising running gears resting on the ground. In addition, the present invention relates to a method for operating such a building machine. In an operating mode for adjusting the working depth of the working device the imposed weight applied by the building machine on the running gear is measured, whereby depending on the imposed weight either a controlled or an uncontrolled lowering of the building machine is indicated. A measuring device comprises a sensor for measuring the weight imposed by the building machine on at least one of the running gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Dirk Franzmann, Armin Montermann, Cyrus Barimani, Günter Hähn
  • Patent number: 9039320
    Abstract: In a method of milling asphalt, a relative elevation of an unmilled asphalt pavement surface adjacent to an area to be milled is sensed with respect to a milling machine body and rotatable milling drum of the milling machine. An elevation of a bottom surface of the rotatable milling drum is determined using a computer processor. Based on a map, stored in a computer memory, of a design surface specifying a design elevation of a milled surface over the area to be milled, the elevation of the milling machine body and the rotatable milling drum are automatically adjusted such that the rotatable milling drum mills the asphalt surface to the design elevation over the area to be milled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Jeroen Snoeck, Richard Paul Piekutowski
  • Publication number: 20150132059
    Abstract: A system and apparatus for cutting grooves in a surface includes a housing having a rotatable cutting head mounted therein. An actuator drives the cutting head out of and into contact with the surface. Sensors disposed on the housing sense a depth of the groove cut by the cutting head. A controller is arranged to receive a signal from the sensors and compare the depth of the groove with a predetermined reference depth. The controller sends a signal to the actuator and adjusts the position of the cutting head via the actuator to maintain the depth of the groove at about the reference depth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventor: H. Matthew Johnson
  • Publication number: 20150132058
    Abstract: A paving machine including a right hopper, a left hopper, an apron and an automated hopper and apron control system is provided. The right hopper, the left hopper and the apron are configured to move in a vertically upward and downward direction. The automated hopper and apron control system is configured to control the movement of one or more of the right hopper, the left hopper, and the apron. The automated hopper and apron control system may include a controller. The controller is configured to operate the automated hopper and apron control system in a manual mode and an auto mode as desired by an operator. In the auto mode, the controller actuates one or more of the right hopper, the left hopper, and the apron from a first position to one of a fully raised position and a fully lowered position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley D. Anderson, Chad M. Thiesse, Toby Frelich
  • Patent number: 9022686
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for controlling an asphalt repair apparatus. An additional aspect of the present invention is to provide a system that may position a heater repair element adjacent a targeted asphalt surface, acquire and analyze surface and heater sensing data, and control heater output to prepare the targeted asphalt surface for repair. Further, the system may be configured to control an asphalt repair apparatus to satisfy user-defined asphalt repair requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Heatwurx, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Douglas Garland, Edmond Joseph Limoge, William Petrow, John Edward Cronin
  • Publication number: 20150117951
    Abstract: A milling machine includes a frame, a rotor coupled to the frame and vertically adjustable, a chamber coupled to the frame and at least partially surrounding the rotor, a speed sensor configured to measure a speed of the machine, a height sensor configured to measure a height of the rotor, a ground characteristic sensor configured to measure a ground characteristic, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive the speed of the machine from the speed sensor, receive the height of the rotor from the height sensor, receive the ground characteristic from the ground characteristic sensor, determine a target speed for the machine, determine a target height for the rotor, adjust the speed of the machine to the target speed, and adjust the height of the rotor to the target height.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Schlenker, Jason W. Muir
  • Patent number: 9011038
    Abstract: A method and a system for applying a road surface using a mixing plant for producing laying material, a road finishing machine processing the laying material to a road surface, and a supply chain transporting the laying material from the mixing plant to the road finishing machine. Request commands are transmitted from the road finishing machine to the mixing plant and/or to the supply chain, and, depending on these request commands, the production rate of the laying material in the mixing plant, the temperature of the laying material produced in the mixing plant, and/or the mass flow of laying material supplied to the road finishing machine per time unit by means of the supply chain are adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Joseph Vogele AG
    Inventors: Martin Buschmann, Ralf Weiser, Arnold Rutz, Achim Eul
  • Publication number: 20150098760
    Abstract: In a device for working ground surfaces or roadways comprising a machine frame and a working drum in a drum housing arranged at said machine frame, where no less than one spraying device extending parallel to the working drum and featuring several outlet nozzles for spraying agents arranged next to one another and directed towards the working drum is arranged at the drum housing, where the outlet nozzles comprise one each drivable closing mechanism with a closing element which, in an open position, fully uncovers the nozzle channel of the outlet nozzle and, in a closed position, closes the nozzle channel, it is provided for the following features to be achieved: that a controller drives the closing mechanisms, with the outlet nozzles and the related dosing elements being adapted to one another in such a fashion that the flow cross-section in the outlet nozzle is variable in accordance with the position of the closing element on a specified path between the open position and closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Christoph Menzenbach, Bernd Walterscheid, Cyrus Barimani, Günter Hähn
  • Patent number: 8998530
    Abstract: A method for laying down a pavement in which a compaction unit such as a tamper pre-compacts the paving material with a selectable stroke and at a selectable frequency while the pavement having a selectable pavement thickness is in the process of being laid down at a selectable paving speed, the stroke of the compaction unit is automatically adjustable in response to paving parameters, such as the paving speed and/or the pavement thickness, along a characteristic curve or in a characteristic map. The compaction unit includes an adjusting mechanism which is operable during the paving operation for adjusting the stroke of the compaction unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Joseph Vogele AG
    Inventors: Martin Buschmann, Günter Zegowitz, Achim Eul, Ralf Weiser, Roman Munz, Nicole Angermann, Klaus Bertz, Christian Pawlik
  • Publication number: 20150093193
    Abstract: A slipform paver includes a chassis 2 able to be adjusted in the heightwise direction and having a mounting unit 10 arranged on the chassis for fastening on an arrangement 8 for molding flowable material. The slipform paver is characterised in that the mounting unit 10 for fastening on the concrete mold 8 is mounted on the chassis 2 of the paver to be pivotable on an axis 14 extending in the direction of operation of the slipform paver. To produce parts of a structure whose orientation varies along their length, the concrete mold fastened 8 to the mounting unit is pivoted on the axis of pivot 14 by means of a pivoter unit 15 whereas the chassis of the paver maintains its orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Markus Zimmermann, Ralf Schug, Cyrus Barimani, Günter Hähn
  • Publication number: 20150086268
    Abstract: A system for controlling a cutting machine for cutting continuous sinusoidal strips in a road surface includes a rotatable cutting head, a cylinder for driving the cutting head out of and into contact with the road surface, and a controller. The controller is programmed to execute an input/output function to control the cylinder to cut a subsurface sinusoidal strip wherein the cutting drum remains in the road surface once the cutting operation begins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: H. Matthew JOHNSON, Jeffrey M. DOWS
  • Patent number: 8979423
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for controlling material feed for asphalt pavers. The material feed system includes a screed, feeder conveyor and a spreader auger. A sensor measures a material volume and transmits this information to an electronic control module (ECM). This information may be used as the target material volume, which the ECM may use to calculate a corresponding conveyor speed and auger speed. The sensor monitors the material volume as paving commences, and the ECM maintains the initial calibrated target size by adjusting the auger and conveyor rotational speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventor: Jameson Michael Smieja
  • Publication number: 20150063907
    Abstract: A method of operating a machine having at least one tool is provided. The method may store one or more job profiles or machine configurations and an auto-zero or default profile in a memory associated with the machine, where each of the job profiles and the auto-zero profile may include one or more control settings for operating one or more of the machine and the tool; recall a selected one of the job profiles and the auto-zero profile in response to user input received at a user interface associated with the machine; engage or machine reset operation of one or more of the machine and the tool according to the control settings associated with the selected one of the job profiles and the auto-zero profile; and disengage at least part of the operation based on positioning information provided by one or more feedback devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Luke E. Graham, Toby A. Frelich, Jameson M. Smieja, Rick L. Mings
  • Patent number: 8967908
    Abstract: In a slipform paver with a tractor including a machine frame with longitudinal members and telescopable cross members, the machine frame comprises a central frame module in which the cross members are supported in a telescopable fashion. A mold adjustable to the working width comprises at least one permanent central mold element fixed relative to the central frame module and at least one permanent outer mold element movable relative to the central frame module. The permanent outer mold element is permanently attached to one of the cross members and/or one of the longitudinal members and the outer mold element is movable together with the cross member and/or the longitudinal member during the adjustment of the working width of the machine frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Thieme, Cyrus Barimani, Günter Hähn
  • Patent number: 8961064
    Abstract: A screed system is provided. The screed system includes a base screed. The screed system includes an extension member, wherein the extension member is detachably coupled to the base screed. The screed system also includes an identification module associated with the extension member. The identification module is configured to provide an indication of the extension member. The screed system further includes a controller, wherein the controller is configured to determine a parameter associated with the extension member based on the indication. Further, the identification module and the controller are configured to communicate with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Igor S. Ramos, Robert W. Lindsey, LaTanya G. Turner, Daniel Podany
  • Patent number: 8961065
    Abstract: A method of milling asphalt is disclosed. The result of a survey of the unmilled asphalt pavement surface adjacent to the area to be milled is received. The result of the survey is stored in a computer memory. A map of the design surface specifying the design elevation of the milled surface over the area to be milled is stored in the computer memory. The relative elevation of the unmilled asphalt pavement surface adjacent to the area to be milled with respect to the machine body and rotatable milling drum of an asphalt milling machine is sensed. The elevation of the bottom surface of the rotatable milling drum is determined using a computer processor. The elevation of the milling machine body and the rotatable milling drum is automatically adjusted such that the milling drum mills the asphalt surface to the design elevation over the area to be milled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Jeroen Snoeck, Richard Paul Piekutowski
  • Publication number: 20150016886
    Abstract: A machine engine idle speed control system may include an automated autoadaptive mode to supplement typical economy and normal power modes. The autoadaptive mode may afford an operator with an automated option to optimize fuel economy and lower engine/machine noise. The autoadaptive mode may initially default to a typical lower engine idle speed of the economy mode. However, as the machine workload rises, demands on the engine may become greater, and at a predetermined threshold of engine workload the engine idle speed may be automatically increased to a higher set point. The engine control may then remain at the higher idle speed until engine load is reduced to some predetermined target, and/or after a certain time period has elapsed. The time period may be controlled by a configurable delay timer to avoid unnecessary/undesirable cycling between modes. In addition, an operator may always intervene to increase or decrease engine idle speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventor: Toby A. Frelich
  • Patent number: 8931974
    Abstract: A self propelled building machine includes a drive, a cover covering the drive, a control platform and a material hopper which includes a filling hole and that can be filled with material by an external supply unit. The building machine is further provided with a signaling device for signaling material filling parameters to the external supply unit. In addition, the building machine comprises at least one external mirror, wherein the at least one external mirror and the signaling device are attached to the building machine by means of a common holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Joseph Voegele AG
    Inventor: Ingo Herzberg
  • Publication number: 20150003911
    Abstract: A vibratory compactor having a first compacting element having a variable vibratory mechanism that sets a modifiable compaction effort, a second compacting element, a first sensor configured to measure a first surface compactability associated with the first compacting element, a second sensor configured to measure a second surface compactability associated with the second compacting element and a control system. The control system is configured to receive the first surface compactability, receive the second surface compactability, determine a target compaction effort for the first compacting element based on the first surface compactability and the second surface compactability, and modify the variable vibratory mechanism to set the compaction effort at the target compaction effort.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventor: Nicholas A. Oetken
  • Patent number: 8920070
    Abstract: A slipform paver includes a chassis 2 able to be adjusted in the heightwise direction and having a mounting unit 10 arranged on the chassis for fastening on an arrangement 8 for molding flowable material. The slipform paver is characterised in that the mounting unit 10 for fastening on the concrete mold 8 is mounted on the chassis 2 of the paver to be pivotable on an axis 14 extending in the direction of operation of the slipform paver. To produce parts of a structure whose orientation varies along their length, the concrete mold fastened 8 to the mounting unit is pivoted on the axis of pivot 14 by means of a pivoter unit 15 whereas the chassis of the paver maintains its orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Zimmermann, Ralf Schug, Cyrus Barimani, Guenter Haehn
  • Publication number: 20140348585
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a self-propelled ground milling machine for treatment of ground surfaces by means of a milling device, a transportation means and a drive device for driving the transportation means and the milling device. The milling device is mounted on a ground milling machine frame and can be switched between a working position, in which the milling device is in operative contact with the ground surface and a maneuvering position, in which the milling device is not in operative contact with the ground surface. The drive device comprises a drive control unit, which controls the driving power of the drive device. The ground milling machine further comprises a ground milling machine control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: BOMAG GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Nacke, Andre Hoffmann, Timo Loew, Marco Reuter
  • Publication number: 20140348587
    Abstract: A system for determining a state of compaction of a work material includes a compactor and a compaction sensor system. A controller is configured to determine an empirical state of compaction of the work material based upon signals from the compaction sensor system and the characteristics of a machine associated with the compaction sensor system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Paul T. Corcoran, Allen J. DeClerk
  • Patent number: 8894323
    Abstract: Method for laying down a pavement with a road paver, in which machine parameters are coordinated at least with paving requirements of the pavement by means of a controller and in which at least one machine parameter set is created and stored in advance for a paving requirement determined before the paving, the parameter set allowing a high level of machine efficiency and pavement quality to be expected and/or has already produced the same for an at least similar earlier paving requirement of an already laid down pavement, and the pavement on the basis of the parameter set created in advance. The road paver has a controller with an on-board computer connected to a sensor system and an actuating system, and includes memories and a retrieval and/or comparison section for triggering the actuating system for implementing the machine parameters of the parameter set created in advance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Joseph Vogele AG
    Inventors: Arnold Rutz, Martin Buschmann, Achim Eul, Ralf Weiser
  • Patent number: 8888402
    Abstract: The invention relates to a self-propelled civil engineering machine, and in particular to a slipform paver, road paver or road milling machine, and to a method of controlling a self-propelled civil engineering machine. The civil engineering machine according to the invention has a control unit which is configured to determine data which defines the position and/or orientation of a reference point on the civil engineering machine in relation to a reference system (X, Y, Z) independent of the position and orientation of the civil engineering machine. The reference system (X, Y, Z) independent of the machine-related reference system (x, y, z) may be selected as desired, and there is thus no need for the positions of various reference points to be plotted on the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Fritz, Cyrus Barimani, Günter Hähn