SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ADJUSTING AUGER ASSEMBLIES OF PAVING MACHINES

Abstract

A system for operating an auger assembly includes a controller configured to receive data detected by one or more sensors. Further, the controller is configured to determine an operational parameter associated with a movement of a screed assembly based on data. Also, the controller is configured to control a position of the auger assembly based on the operational parameter such that the auger assembly aligns with respect to the screed assembly at a predetermined distance with respect to the screed assembly.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a paving machine having an auger assembly and a screed assembly. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a system and method for adjusting the auger assembly based on a position or a movement of the screed assembly.

BACKGROUND

Paving machines are used to deposit layers of a road forming material, such as asphalt, concrete, and bitumen, on a ground surface to form roadways, parking lots, etc. A paving machine generally includes a tractor and a screed assembly. The tractor includes a hopper and a conveying system that facilitates intake, delivery, and distribution of the road forming material onto a region of the ground surface in front of the screed assembly. The paving machine includes augers to distribute the road forming material generally transversely across the ground surface in front of the screed assembly. The screed assembly includes a screed plate that is pushed or pulled over the distributed road forming material to grade, level, and smoothen the road forming material, over the ground surface.

Over the course of a paving operation, the auger assembly is commonly raised or lowered to a suitable height relative to the ground surface or to the screed assembly to sufficiently spread and distribute the paving material. If the auger assembly is adjusted too high relative to the ground surface or to the screed assembly, the paving material may not be appropriately spread and be deposited on the ground surface, and neither would the screed assembly be able to appropriately smoothen out the deposited paving material over the ground surface. On the other hand, if the auger assembly is adjusted too low relative to the ground surface or to the screed assembly, it may disrupt the paving material such that there may not be enough material for the screed assembly to smoothen and provide pre-compaction for.

European Patent No. 0774542 ('542 reference) relates to a road paver-finisher having a screed unit. The road paver finisher includes an auger that operates in front of the screed unit to distribute the material to be laid over a road surface. The '542 reference discloses that a sensor is provided on the road paver finisher to measure the relative vertical position between the screed unit and a subframe of the road paver finisher, and, accordingly, transmit appropriate signals to lengthen or shorten the hydraulic pistons coupled with the auger to ensure that the auger always follow all the changes in height made by the screed during the laying work.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an aspect, the present disclosure relates to a system for operating an auger assembly for distributing road forming material for a paving operation. The system includes a controller configured to receive data detected by one or more sensors. Further, the controller is configured to determine an operational parameter associated with a movement of a screed assembly based on data. Also, the controller is configured to control a position of the auger assembly based on the operational parameter such that the auger assembly aligns with respect to the screed assembly at a predetermined distance with respect to the screed assembly.

In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method for adjusting an auger assembly for distributing road forming material for a paving operation. The method includes receiving, by a controller, data detected by one or more sensors; determining, by the controller, an operational parameter associated with a movement of a screed assembly based on data; and controlling, by the controller, a position of the auger assembly based on the operational parameter such that the auger assembly aligns with respect to the screed assembly at a predetermined distance with respect to the screed assembly.

In yet another aspect, the disclosure relates to a paving machine. The paving machine includes a tractor, a screed assembly operably coupled to the tractor, first fluid cylinders configured to power a movement of the screed assembly relative to a ground surface, sensors configured to detect data indicative of the movement of the screed assembly relative to the ground surface, an auger assembly disposed between the tractor and the screed assembly and adapted to spread and distribute paving material in front of the screed assembly, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive data detected by the sensors and determine an operational parameter associated with the movement of the screed assembly based on data. Further, the controller is configured to control a position of the auger assembly based on the operational parameter such that the auger assembly aligns with respect to the screed assembly at a predetermined distance with respect to the screed assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 are various operational states of an auger assembly with respect to a screed assembly of an exemplary paving machine, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the paving machine illustrating an inclination of the screed assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a system for operating the auger assembly for distributing road forming material for a paving operation, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 5 is a method for adjusting the auger assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, an exemplary paving machine 100 is discussed. The paving machine 100 may include an asphalt paver or any other machine used to distribute layers of road forming material, such as asphalt, concrete, and bitumen, on a ground surface 102. The paving machine 100 includes a tractor 104 having a frame 106 with a set of ground engaging members 108 coupled with the frame 106. Though the ground engaging members 108 are represented as tracks in FIG. 1, the ground engaging members 108 may include wheels, either alone or in combination with the tracks. The frame 106 of the tractor 104 defines a front portion 110 and a rear portion 112. The terms ‘front’ and ‘rear’, as used herein, may be understood by referring to a general operational motion executed by the paving machine 100 in which an underlying quantity of road forming material is paved over the ground surface 102, and, in which, the front portion 110 of the frame 106 leads the rear portion 112 of the frame 106 (see direction, L). Apart from the tractor 104, the paving machine 100 includes a screed unit 114 and an auger unit 116.

The tractor 104 may include a power source (not shown) supported by the frame 106. The power source may include an engine, such as an internal combustion engine, configured to power operations of various systems on the paving machine 100. Optionally, the power source may also include an electrical power source, either alone or in combination with the engine. Further, the tractor 104 may include an operator station 118 supported over the frame 106, in proximity to the rear portion 112 of the frame 106. The operator station 118 may facilitate stationing of one or more operators therein, enabling operator control over one or more functions of the paving machine 100. For example, the operator station 118 may house one or more operator interfaces (see an input device 120, FIG. 1 and FIG. 2) that may be accessed by operators for controlling the many functions of the paving machine 100. The input device 120 may include, but not limited to, one or more of touch screens, joysticks, switches, etc., and the like.

The tractor 104 further includes a hopper 122. The hopper 122 may be supported in proximity to the front portion 110 of the frame 106, as shown, and may be configured to receive and store road forming material 124 therein. As an example, a dump truck having a dump body may move ahead (i.e., in front) of the hopper 122 and may unload the road forming material 124 into the hopper 122, during operations. The tractor 104 may also include a conveyor system (not shown) to move the road forming material 124 from the hopper 122 towards the rear portion 112 of the frame 106.

The screed unit 114 may be operably coupled to the frame 106 at the rear portion 112 of the frame 106. The screed unit 114 may include a screed assembly 126 that may be configured to receive the road forming material 124 delivered by the conveyor system in front of the screed assembly 126, during operation. Exemplarily, as the paving machine 100 may move along direction, L, the road forming material 124 may be forced under the screed assembly 126, and the screed assembly 126 may, in turn, grade, level, and shape the road forming material 124 into a layer having a desired thickness and width over the ground surface 102. As a result, a mat 128 may be formed over the ground surface 102, as shown.

The screed assembly 126 may be free-floating or self-levelling (e.g., according to the characteristics acquired by the mat 128) and may be movably coupled to the rear portion 112 of the frame 106 by a pair of tow arms 130, 130′—only one of which is visible in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. As shown, the one tow arm visible in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 corresponds to a tow arm 130 disposed at a first lateral side 132 (see FIG. 3) of the paving machine 100. The other tow arm 130′ of the pair of tow arms 130, 130′ may be disposed at a second lateral side 134 (see FIG. 3) of the paving machine 100.

In cases where the thickness of the mat 128 need to be controlled, a position and orientation of the screed assembly 126 relative to the frame 106 and the ground surface 102 may be adjusted by pivotally moving the tow arms 130, 130′. To pivotally move the tow arms 130, 130′, the paving machine 100 may include one or more actuators (see example first fluid cylinders 136, 136′). The first fluid cylinders 136, 136′ may be connected between the frame 106 and the tow arms 130, 130′. When the first fluid cylinders 136, 136′ (e.g., in tandem) are actuated, the tow arms 130, 130′ (and, in turn, the screed assembly 126) may be displaced (e.g., raised and lowered) relative to the frame 106 and to the ground surface 102. Effectively, the first fluid cylinders 136, 136′ power a movement of the screed assembly 126 relative to the ground surface 102.

The actuators (i.e., the first fluid cylinders 136, 136′) may include any suitable actuators, such as hydraulic based actuators and/or pneumatic based actuators. In some cases, the actuators (i.e., the first fluid cylinders 136, 136′) may be actuated synchronously to uniformly move all portions of the screed assembly 126, while, in other cases, the first fluid cylinders 136, 136′ may be actuated independently such that one portion (e.g., the second lateral side) of the screed assembly 126 may be raised or lowered with respect to the other portion (e.g., the first lateral side) of the screed assembly 126, and such that the screed assembly 126 may define an overall angle (or an overall inclination) with respect to the ground surface 102 and/or to the frame 106 of the paving machine 100—see orientation of the screed assembly 126 in FIG. 3. In this regard, the first fluid cylinder 136 may be located at the first lateral side 132 of the screed assembly 126, while the first fluid cylinder 136′ may be located at the second lateral side 134 of the screed assembly 126.

Referring to FIG. 4, the first fluid cylinders 136 includes a cylinder portion 138 and a rod portion 140. The rod portion 140 may be displaceable with respect to the cylinder portion 138. The rod portion 140 may be fixedly coupled to a piston 142 (shown in FIG. 4) accommodated within the cylinder portion 138, with the piston 142 dividing the cylinder portion 138 into a head end chamber 144 (defining an end 146) and a rod end chamber 148. Both the head end chamber 144 and the rod end chamber 148 may be configured to receive fluid for displacing the rod portion 140 with respect to the cylinder portion 138. As an example, an entry of fluid into the head end chamber 144 may cause the rod portion 140 to extend away from the cylinder portion 138 and push fluid out of the rod end chamber 148, while an entry of fluid into the rod end chamber 148 may cause the rod portion 140 to retract into the cylinder portion 138 and push fluid out of the head end chamber 144. According to one embodiment, an extension of the rod portion 140 relative to the cylinder portion 138 may cause the screed assembly 126 to be lowered relative to the frame 106 towards the ground surface 102, while a retraction of the rod portion 140 into the cylinder portion 138 may cause the screed assembly 126 to be raised away from the ground surface 102. It may be noted that when the piston 142 and/or the rod portion 140 is farthest from the end 146, the screed assembly 126 may be closest to the ground surface 102, while when the piston 142 and/or the rod portion 140 is closest to the end 146, the screed assembly 126 is farthest from the ground surface 102. Similar discussions may be contemplated for the first fluid cylinder 136′.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the paving machine 100 includes one or more sensors correspondingly disposed within the one or more first fluid cylinders 136, 136′. For example, the one or more sensors corresponds to a sensor 150 disposed within the first fluid cylinder 136 and a sensor 150′ disposed within the first fluid cylinder 136′. The sensors 150, 150′ are configured to detect data associated with actuation of the one or more first fluid cylinders 136, 136′ and the movement of the screed assembly 126. For example, the sensors 150, 150′ detect data indicative of the movement of the screed assembly 126 relative to the ground surface 102. In some embodiments, the sensors 150, 150′ are proximity sensors or linear sensors correspondingly accommodated within the cylinder portions 138, 138′ and are configured to detect corresponding proximities (or distances) by which the pistons 142, 142′ or the rod portions 140, 140′ may be separated from ends 146, 146′ of the cylinder portions 138, 138′. Based on the proximity and/or the distance, the sensors 150, 150′ are adapted to generate signals or data which may be indicative of positions of the pistons 142, 142′ and/or rod portions 140, 140′ with respect to the associated cylinder portions 138, 138′ (i.e., the ends 146, 146′ of the cylinder portions 138, 138′).

While the sensors 150, 150′ is exemplary noted to include proximity sensors or linear sensors, various other types of sensors, such as mass flow sensors or pressure sensors, may be applied to detect the position of the pistons 142, 142′ and/or the rod portions 140, 140′ with respect to the corresponding cylinder portions 138, 138′, at any given point. Further, the sensor 150 may be accommodated within the cylinder portion 138, at the end 146 of the cylinder portion 138, although other sensor positions may be contemplated. For example, the sensor 150 may be mounted to the piston 142 to perform one or more of the aforementioned tasks. Similar discussions may be contemplated for the sensor 150′.

The auger unit 116 may be disposed between the tractor 104 and the screed assembly 126 and may be adapted to receive the road forming material 124 from the hopper 122. The auger unit 116 may spread and distribute the road forming material 124 in front of the screed assembly 126. In an embodiment, the auger unit 116 includes an auger assembly 152, such as a screw auger, and one or more actuators (see example second fluid cylinders 154, 154′, in FIG. 4) connected between the frame 106 and the auger assembly 152. In an embodiment, the second fluid cylinders 154 may be located at the first lateral side 132 of the paving machine 100, while the second fluid cylinder 154′ may be located at the second lateral side 134 of the paving machine 100.

The second fluid cylinders 154, 154′ may be configured to power a movement of the auger assembly 152 so as to raise and/or lower the auger assembly 152, relative to the mat 128. Similar to the structure of the first fluid cylinders 136, 136′, the second fluid cylinder 154 includes a cylinder portion 156, and a rod portion 158 displaceable with respect to the cylinder portion 156. The rod portion 158 may be fixedly coupled to a piston 160 (shown in FIG. 4) accommodated within the cylinder portion 156, with the piston 160 dividing the cylinder portion 156 into a head end chamber 162 and a rod end chamber 164.

Both the head end chamber 162 and the rod end chamber 164 may be configured to receive fluid for displacing the rod portion 158 with respect to the cylinder portion 156. As an example, an entry of fluid into the head end chamber 162 may cause the rod portion 158 to extend away from the cylinder portion 156 and push fluid out of the rod end chamber 164, while an entry of fluid into the rod end chamber 164 may cause the rod portion 158 to retract into the cylinder portion 156 and push fluid out of the head end chamber 162. According to one embodiment, an extension of the rod portion 158 relative to the cylinder portion 156 may cause the auger assembly 152 to be lowered relative to the frame 106 towards the mat 128, while a retraction of the rod portion 158 into the cylinder portion 156 may cause the auger assembly 152 to be raised away from the mat 128.

In some embodiments, the head end chamber 162 and the rod end chamber 164 of the second fluid cylinder 154 may be fluidly connected to a fluid supply unit that may facilitate supply of fluid to one or both of the head end chamber 162 and the rod end chamber 164. According to one example, the fluid supply unit may include a hydraulic pump 166 that may provide (selective/alternative) fluid supply to each of the head end chamber 162 and the rod end chamber 164. In this regard, the hydraulic pump 166 may be a bi-rotational pump configured to supply fluid into the head end chamber 162 and simultaneously draw fluid from the rod end chamber 164 in one instance, while supply fluid into the rod end chamber 164 and draw fluid from the head end chamber 162 in another instance. In that manner, the second fluid cylinder 154 may be actuated. Similar discussions may be contemplated for the second fluid cylinder 154′, as well.

In some cases, head end chambers 162, 162′ of each of the second fluid cylinders 154, 154′ may be fluidly coupled to each other, and, similarly, the rod end chambers 164, 164′ of each of the second fluid cylinders 154, 154′ may be fluidly coupled to each other. In so doing, when fluid is supplied to the head end chamber 162 of one second fluid cylinder 154, fluid may also enter the head end chamber 162′ of the other second fluid cylinder 154′, causing the second fluid cylinders 154, 154′ to be actuated in tandem—e.g., the rod portions 158, 158′ are extended at the same time and to the same extent. Similarly, when fluid is supplied to the rod end chamber 164 of one second fluid cylinder 154, fluid may also enter the rod end chamber 164′ of the other second fluid cylinder 154′, causing the second fluid cylinders 154, 154′ to be actuated in tandem—e.g., the rod portions 158,158′ are retracted at the same time and to the same extent. Such a functionality allows the second fluid cylinders 154, 154′ to cause synchronous and uniform movement of the auger assembly 152 relative to the mat 128.

In some embodiments, other actuators types may be applied to actuate the auger assembly 152. For example, fluid actuators may be omitted and, rather, electrical actuators may be incorporated, either alone or in combination with the fluid cylinders, to raise and lower the auger assembly 152. Therefore, the application of the second fluid cylinders 154, 154′, as noted above, applied for the actuation of the auger assembly 152, need to be seen as exemplary.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the paving machine 100 includes a system 168 for operating the auger assembly 152 for distributing the road forming material 124 for a paving operation. In one example, the system 168 is applied to control a position of the auger assembly 152 based on a position of the screed assembly 126. In that manner, the system 168 facilitates the auger assembly 152 to be brought in alignment with the screed assembly 126 at a predetermined distance with respect to the screed assembly 126, thereby facilitating an effective spread and distribution of the road forming material 124 in front of the screed assembly 126. In this regard, the system 168 includes a controller 170—details of which will be discussed further below. In one or more embodiments, the sensors 150, 150′, as discussed above, may form part of the system 168, as well.

The controller 170 may be communicably coupled (e.g., wirelessly) to the sensors 150, 150′ so as to receive data detected or signals generated by the sensors 150, 150′. As an example, based on data received (e.g., proximity and/or the distance) detected by the sensors 150, 150′ and/or the generated signals, the controller 170 may be configured to process the signals. In this regard, the controller 170 may be configured to retrieve a set of instructions from a memory 172 and run the set of instructions to process the signals received from the sensors 150, 150′. Based on the processed signals, the controller 170 may determine an operational parameter associated with the movement of the screed assembly 126 and may enable operations of the auger assembly 152—i.e., to align the auger assembly 152 with the screed assembly 126 at a predetermined distance with respect to the screed assembly 126.

In an embodiment, the operational parameter associated with the movement of the screed assembly 126 may correspond to the ‘position’ of the rod portions 140, 140′ with respect to the cylinder portions 138, 138′ attained at an end of the movement of the screed assembly 126. In another embodiment, the operational parameter associated with the movement of the screed assembly 126 may correspond to a ‘change in the position’ of the rod portions 140, 140′ with respect to the cylinder portions 138, 138′ during the movement of the screed assembly 126 relative to the ground surface 102.

To determine the operational parameter associated with the movement of the screed assembly 126, the controller 170 may be configured to retrieve a map table stored within a memory 172. The map table may include one or more tabulations or charts where multiple values associated with the processed signals are tabulated and corresponded against multiple positions of the rod portions 140, 140′ with respect to the cylinder portions 138, 138′ of the first fluid cylinders 136, 136′.

In some embodiments, the multiple positions of the rod portions 140, 140′ with respect to the cylinder portions 138, 138′ of the first fluid cylinders 136, 136′ (that correspond to the values associated with the processed signals in the map table) may be expressed in the map table by way of percentages—for example, a maximum extension of the piston 142 or the rod portion 140 out of the cylinder portion 138 may correspond to 95% actuation of the first fluid cylinder 136, while a maximum retraction of the piston 142 or the rod portion 140 into the cylinder portion 138 may correspond to 5% actuation of the first fluid cylinder 136. Similar discussions may be contemplated for the rod portion 140′ and the cylinder portion 138′, as well. In some embodiments, at the 95% actuation of the first fluid cylinder 136, the screed assembly 126 may be closest with respect to the ground surface 102, while at the 5% actuation of the first fluid cylinder 136, the screed assembly 126 may be farthest with respect to the ground surface 102.

Further, in the map table, the multiple positions of the rod portions 140, 140′ with respect to the cylinder portions 138, 138′ of the first fluid cylinders 136, 136′ is corresponded against multiple locations of the rod portions 158, 158′ with respect to the cylinder portions 156, 156′ of the second fluid cylinders 154, 154′. In other words, the map table may include tabulated data in which multiple positions of the screed assembly 126 is corresponded against multiple locations of the auger assembly 152. Said correspondence of the locations of the auger assembly 152 with respect to the positions of screed assembly 126 enables the auger assembly 152 to be aptly placed with respect to various positions of the screed assembly 126, disallowing disruptions in the paving operation and facilitating the appropriate spread of the road forming material 124 in front of the screed assembly 126.

An exemplary determination of the aforesaid operational parameters—‘position’ and ‘change in position’ will now be discussed. For such discussion, it will be assumed that the first fluid cylinders 136, 136′ and the second fluid cylinders 154, 154′ each move in tandem. Notably, because the first fluid cylinders 136, 136′ may move in tandem, data detected by the sensors 150, 150′ may be equal to each other.

With regard to the operational parameter—‘position’, during a movement of the screed assembly 126, if the rod portions 140, 140′ of the actuators (i.e., the first fluid cylinders 136, 136′) were to correspondingly move the same/equal distance with respect to the cylinder portions 138, 138′, the sensors 150, 150′ may correspondingly generate the same signals (e.g., signals with equivalent unit measure) at the end of the movement. The controller 170 may receive such signals, process them, and tally them against corresponding positions of the rod portions 140, 140′ with respect to the cylinder portions 138, 138′ as provided on the map table, and, may accordingly determine said corresponding positions (which may be the same/equal for each first fluid cylinder 136, 136′) to be the operational parameter—‘position’ associated with the movement of the screed assembly 126. It may be noted that such an operational parameter may be indicative of a position of the screed assembly 126 relative to the ground surface 102 and/or relative to the frame 106.

With regard to the operational parameter—‘change in position’, during a movement of the screed assembly 126, if the rod portions 140, 140′ of the actuators (i.e., the first fluid cylinders 136, 136′) were to correspondingly move the same/equal distance with respect to the cylinder portions 138, 138′, the sensors 150, 150′ may correspondingly generate the same signals (e.g., signals with equivalent unit measure) during the movement. The controller 170 may receive such signals and tally them against corresponding positions of the rod portions 140, 140′ with respect to the cylinder portions 138, 138′ as provided on the map table. Thereafter, the controller 170 may determine a change in respective positions of the rod portions 140, 140′ with respect to the cylinder portions 138, 138′ (which may be the same/equal for each first fluid cylinder 136, 136′) during the movement, and, may accordingly determine said change in respective positions to be the operational parameter—‘change in position’ associated with the movement of the screed assembly 126. It may be noted that such an operational parameter may be indicative of a change in a position of the screed assembly 126 relative to the ground surface 102 and/or relative to the frame 106 of the paving machine 100.

Once the controller 170 determines the operational parameter, the controller 170 may control a position of the auger assembly 152 relative to the mat 128 based on the operational parameter such that the auger assembly 152 aligns with respect to the screed assembly 126 at a predetermined distance with respect to the screed assembly 126. To this end, the controller 170 tallies the positions of the rod portions 140, 140′ with respect to the cylinder portions 138, 138′ of the first fluid cylinders 136, 136′ to corresponding locations of the rod portions 158, 158′ with respect to the cylinder portions 156, 156′ of the second fluid cylinders 154, 154′ as may be found in the map table. It may be noted that the predetermined distance may depend upon the type of the road forming material, design and size specification of the screed assembly 126 and the auger assembly 152, etc., and, in one or more cases, may be set manually by an operator of the paving machine 100.

In the case of the operational parameter—‘position’, once the (corresponding) locations of the rod portions 158, 158′ with respect to the cylinder portions 156, 156′ of the second fluid cylinders 154, 154′ is identified, the controller 170 is configured to move the rod portions 158, 158′ with respect to the cylinder portions 156, 156′ such that the rod portions 158, 158′ may attain the (corresponding) identified locations with respect to the cylinder portions 156, 156′, effectively controlling a position of the auger assembly 152 relative to the mat 128 such that the auger assembly 152 aligns with respect to the screed assembly 126 at a predetermined distance with respect to the screed assembly 126.

Considering an example—to lay a mat (e.g., mat 128) having a thickness, T, inches over the ground surface 102, the screed assembly 126 may be moved (e.g., lowered) from a position ‘A’ to a position B′. Once the movement of the screed assembly 126 stops at the position the controller 170 may identify the position as the final position and may accordingly consider the corresponding position attained by the rod portions 140, 140′ with respect to the ends 146, 146′ (or the cylinder portions 138, 138′) as the operational parameter. Thereafter, the controller 170 may actuate the second fluid cylinders 154, 154′ such that the second fluid cylinders 154, 154′ may move, causing the auger assembly 152 to align with respect to the screed assembly 126 at a predetermined distance with respect to the screed assembly 126.

In the case of the operational parameter—‘change in position’, as soon as the controller 170 determines a changing position of the screed assembly 126, the controller 170 may start monitoring the corresponding locations of the rod portions 158, 158′ with respect to the cylinder portions 156, 156′ of the second fluid cylinders 154, 154′ (through the map table), and as soon as a new location for the rod portions 158, 158′ with respect to the cylinder portions 156, 156′ is determined (through the map table), the controller 170 may compare the new location to an initial location of the rod portions 158, 158′ with respect to the cylinder portions 156, 156′ of the second fluid cylinders 154, 154′. If the change between the new location and the initial location exceeds a change threshold, the controller 170 may initiate movement of the rod portions 158, 158′ relative to the cylinder portions 156, 156′ of the second fluid cylinders 154, 154′ and control a position of the auger assembly 152 such that the auger assembly 152 aligns with respect to the screed assembly 126 at a predetermined distance with respect to the screed assembly 126, along a movement of the screed assembly 126. Such controller functionality may be applicable when a paving operation is in process.

Considering the aforesaid example—the controller 170 may consider a change in the position of the rod portions 140, 140′ with respect to the cylinder portions 138, 138′ during the movement of the screed assembly 126 from position ‘A’ to position as the operational parameters, and as soon as corresponding change in the locations of the rod portions 158, 158′ relative to the cylinder portions 156, 156′ of the second fluid cylinders 154, 154′ exceeds a change threshold, the controller 170 may actuate the second fluid cylinders 154, 154′ such that the second fluid cylinders 154, 154′ may cause the auger assembly 152 to move along with the movement of the screed assembly 126 and cause the auger assembly 152 to align with respect to the screed assembly 126 at a predetermined distance with respect to the screed assembly 126.

Further, the controller 170 may be communicably coupled to the input device 120, as well. In one or more instances, the input device 120 (or any similar such device) may be applied to actuate (e.g., manually actuate) the auger assembly 152 relative to the mat 128. The controller 170 may be able to detect such an actuation of the input device 120. Based on such actuation, in some embodiments, the controller 170 may be configured to override the control of the auger assembly 152 (that may be based on the operational parameter) with the actuation of the input device 120 so as to allow manual control of the auger assembly 152, when required.

The controller 170 may include a processor 174 to process the generated signals or data detected by the sensors 150, 150′. Examples of the processor 174 may include, but are not limited to, an X86 processor, a Reduced Instruction Set Computing (RISC) processor, an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) processor, a Complex Instruction Set Computing (CISC) processor, an Advanced RISC Machine (ARM) processor, or any other processor.

Further, the controller 170 may include a transceiver 176. According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the transceiver 176 may enable the controller 170 to communicate (e.g., wirelessly) with the one or more sensors 150 and/or other components of the paving machine 100 over one or more of wireless radio links, infrared communication links, short wavelength Ultra-high frequency radio waves, short-range high frequency waves, or the like. Example transceivers may include, but not limited to, wireless personal area network (WPAN) radios compliant with various IEEE 802.15 (Bluetooth™) standards, wireless local area network (WLAN) radios compliant with any of the various IEEE 802.11 (WiFi™) standards, wireless wide area network (WWAN) radios for cellular phone communication, wireless metropolitan area network (WMAN) radios compliant with various IEEE 802.15 (WiMAX™) standards, and wired local area network (LAN) Ethernet transceivers for network data communication.

Examples of the memory 172 may include a hard disk drive (HDD), and a secure digital (SD) card. Further, the memory 172 may include non-volatile/volatile memory units such as a random-access memory (RAM)/a read only memory (ROM), which include associated input and output buses.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

Referring to FIG. 5, an exemplary method for adjusting the auger assembly 152 for distributing the road forming material 124 for the paving operation is discussed. The method is discussed by way of a flowchart 500, as provided in FIG. 5, that illustrates exemplary stages (i.e., from 502 to 506) associated with the method. The method is also discussed in conjunction with FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. By viewing FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 together, two different operational states of the paving machine 100 may be contemplated and visualized—one operational state in which the auger assembly 152 defines a first height relative to the screed assembly 126 (FIG. 1), and the other operational state in which the auger assembly 152 defines a second height relative to the screed assembly 126 so as to align with the screed assembly 126 (FIG. 2)—the second height being different from the first height ‘H1’.

During operation, either at the start of a work cycle or during a work cycle, an operator of the paving machine 100 may desire to move (i.e., higher or lower) the screed assembly 126—a movement of the screed assembly 126 be attained by the use of an actuation device (not shown). As an example, a movement of the screed assembly 126 may correspond to a lowering of the screed assembly 126 or a displacement of the screed assembly 126 towards the ground surface 102. As the screed assembly 126 may need to be lowered, the rod portions 140, 140′ may be forced out of the cylinder portions 138, 138′. At this point, the sensors 150, 150′ may detect data—e.g., data may be related to the proximity/distance attained by the rod portions 140, 140′ with respect to the cylinder portions 138, 138′ and may then generate corresponding signals. The controller 170 may receive said data/signals (stage 502 of flowchart 500).

Once data detected by the sensors 150, 150′/signals generated by the sensors 150, 150′ are received by the controller 170, the controller 170 may process said signals, and may accordingly determine the operational parameter associated with the movement of the screed assembly 126 (stage 504). As noted above, the controller 170 may fetch the map table to determine the position of the rod portions 140, 140′ with respect to the cylinder portions 138, 138′, so as to in turn determine the operational parameter (position′ or the ‘change in position’) of the screed assembly 126. Once the operational parameter is determined, the controller 170 may tally the position attained by the rod portions 140, 140′ with respect to the cylinder portions 138, 138′ of the first fluid cylinders 136, 136′ to the locations of the rod portions 158, 158′ with respect to the cylinder portions 156, 156′ of the second fluid cylinders 154, 154′, as provided in the map table.

In case the operational parameter is—‘position’, the controller 170 may identify the locations of the rod portions 158, 158′ with respect to the cylinder portions 156, 156′ of the second fluid cylinders 154, 154′ corresponding to the position of the rod portions 140, 140′ with respect to the cylinder portions 138, 138′, as attained at the end of the movement of the screed assembly 126, and may move and control the position of the auger assembly 152 (by actuation of the second fluid cylinders 154, 154′) relative to the mat 128 based on said operational parameter such that the auger assembly 152 aligns with respect to the screed assembly 126 at a predetermined distance with respect to the screed assembly 126.

In case the operational parameter is—‘change in position’, the controller 170 may monitor the change in locations of the rod portions 158, 158′ with respect to the cylinder portions 156, 156′ of the second fluid cylinders 154, 154′ (of the auger assembly 152) in correspondence to the change in positions of the rod portions 140, 140′ with respect to the cylinder portions 138, 138′ of the first fluid cylinders 136, 136′ (of the screed assembly 126) (through the map table), and, as soon as the change in the locations of the rod portions 158, 158′ with respect to the cylinder portions 156, 156′ of the second fluid cylinders 154, 154′ exceeds a change threshold, the controller 170 may actuate the second fluid cylinders 154, 154′ such that the second fluid cylinders 154, 154′ may cause the auger assembly 152 to move along with the movement of the screed assembly 126, and may cause the auger assembly 152 to align with respect to the screed assembly 126 at a predetermined distance with respect to the screed assembly 126 (stage 506).

According to an embodiment, an actuation of the second fluid cylinders 154, 154′ to adjust the auger assembly 152 such that auger assembly 152 aligns with respect to the screed assembly 126 at the predetermined distance with respect to the screed assembly 126 may be facilitated by the controller 170. For example, the controller 170 may control the hydraulic pump 166 (or any related fluid supply unit) to selectively pass the fluid to the second fluid cylinders 154, 154′ to actuate the second fluid cylinders 154, 154′ thereby enabling the auger assembly 152 to attain a desired position (i.e., a position which is at a predetermined distance with respect to the screed assembly 126). In some examples, position detecting sensors, such as sensors 180, 180′, similar to the sensors 150, 150′, may be disposed within the second fluid cylinders 154, 154′ and may communicate with the controller 170 such that the controller 170 may track the actuation of the second fluid cylinders 154, 154′ as the auger assembly 152 attains the desired position.

In another exemplary scenario, the screed assembly 126 may be inclined to obtain a desired slope ‘S’ (transverse to the direction of the paving machine 100, as shown in FIG. 3) of the mat 128. In such a case, the first fluid cylinders 136, 136′ may not move in tandem, and, rather, may move different distances with respect to each other, allowing the screed assembly 126 to be moved with respect to the ground surface 102 to define an inclination with respect to the ground surface 102 such that the first lateral side 132 of the screed assembly 126 is disposed higher than the second lateral side 134 of the screed assembly 126. In such a case, the controller 170 may receive different/unequal signals indicative of the positions of the rod portions 140, 140′ of the first fluid cylinders 136, 136′, and, may accordingly control the position of the rod portions 158, 158′ with respect to the cylinder portions 156, 156′ of the second fluid cylinders 154, 154′ such that the auger assembly 152 aligns above the screed assembly 126 and defines the predetermined distance with respect to the first lateral side 132 of the screed assembly 126.

With the application of the system 168, paving operations undertaken by the paving machine 100 are more efficient. Also, there is no disruption in the associated paving operation that may otherwise cause a shortage/reduced supply of the road forming material 124 (or paving material) to be forced under the screed assembly 126. Moreover, with the controller 170 using the sensors 150, 150′ (that detect the position of the pistons 142, 142′ and/or the rod portions 140, 140′ with respect to the corresponding cylinder portions 138, 138′), a more precise data related to the position of the screed assembly 126 is obtained, and based on which a correspondingly more precise positioning of the auger assembly 152 is attained, enabling the auger assembly 152 to perform the aforementioned tasks of sufficiently spreading and distributing the road forming material in front of the screed assembly 126. The system 168 thus mitigates operational disruptions, increases work efficiency, and reduces the overall machine and/or operational downtime.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the method/process of the present disclosure without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the method/process disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope of the disclosure being indicated by the following claims and their equivalent.

Claims

1. A system for operating an auger assembly for distributing road forming material for a paving operation, the system comprising:

a controller configured to: receive data detected by one or more sensors; determine an operational parameter associated with a movement of a screed assembly based on data; and control a position of the auger assembly based on the operational parameter such that the auger assembly aligns with respect to the screed assembly at a predetermined distance with respect to the screed assembly.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors are correspondingly disposed within one or more first fluid cylinders configured to power the movement of the screed assembly relative to the ground surface.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein each first fluid cylinder of the one or more first fluid cylinders includes a cylinder portion and a rod portion displaceable with respect to the cylinder portion, wherein data detected by the one or more sensors includes a position of the rod portion with respect to the cylinder portion.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the operational parameter associated with the movement of the screed assembly includes the position of the rod portion with respect to the cylinder portion attained at an end of the movement of the screed assembly.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the operational parameter associated with the movement of the screed assembly includes a change in the position of the rod portion with respect to the cylinder portion during the movement of the screed assembly relative to the ground surface.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the screed assembly is moved with respect to the ground surface to define an inclination with respect to the ground surface such that a first lateral side of the screed assembly is disposed higher than a second lateral side of the screed assembly, wherein the controller is configured to:

control the position of the auger assembly such that the auger assembly aligns above the screed assembly and defines the predetermined distance with respect to the first lateral side of the screed assembly.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to:

detect an actuation of an input device to move the auger assembly; and

override the control of the auger assembly based on the operational parameter with the actuation of the input device to allow the control of the position of the auger assembly to be based on the actuation of the input device.

8. A method for adjusting an auger assembly for distributing road forming material for a paving operation, the method comprising:

receiving, by a controller, data detected by one or more sensors;

determining, by the controller, an operational parameter associated with a movement of a screed assembly based on data; and

controlling, by the controller, a position of the auger assembly based on the operational parameter such that the auger assembly aligns with respect to the screed assembly at a predetermined distance with respect to the screed assembly.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more sensors are correspondingly disposed within one or more first fluid cylinders configured to power the movement of the screed assembly relative to the ground surface.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein each first fluid cylinder of the one or more first fluid cylinders includes a cylinder portion and a rod portion displaceable with respect to the cylinder portion, and data detected by the one or more sensors includes a position of the rod portion with respect to the cylinder portion.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the operational parameter associated with the movement of the screed assembly includes the position of the rod portion with respect to the cylinder portion attained at an end of the movement of the screed assembly.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the operational parameter associated with the movement of the screed assembly includes a change in the position of the rod portion with respect to the cylinder portion during the movement of the screed assembly relative to the ground surface.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the screed assembly is moved with respect to the ground surface to define an inclination with respect to the ground surface such that a first lateral side of the screed assembly is disposed higher than a second lateral side of the screed assembly, the method further including:

controlling, by the controller, the position of the auger assembly such that the auger assembly aligns above the screed assembly and defines the predetermined distance with respect to the first lateral side of the screed assembly.

14. The method of claim 8 further including:

detecting, by the controller, an actuation of an input device to move the auger assembly; and

overriding, by the controller, the control of the auger assembly based on the operational parameter with the actuation of the input device to allow the control of the position of the auger assembly to be based on the actuation of the input device.

15. A paving machine, comprising:

a tractor;

a screed assembly operably coupled to the tractor;

one or more first fluid cylinders configured to power a movement of the screed assembly relative to a ground surface;

one or more sensors configured to detect data indicative of the movement of the screed assembly relative to the ground surface;

an auger assembly disposed between the tractor and the screed assembly and adapted to spread and distribute paving material in front of the screed assembly; and

a controller configured to: receive data detected by the one or more sensors; determine an operational parameter associated with the movement of the screed assembly based on data; and control a position of the auger assembly based on the operational parameter such that the auger assembly aligns with respect to the screed assembly at a predetermined distance with respect to the screed assembly.

16. The paving machine of claim 15, wherein the one or more sensors are correspondingly disposed within the one or more first fluid cylinders, wherein each first fluid cylinder of the one or more first fluid cylinders includes a cylinder portion and a rod portion displaceable with respect to the cylinder portion, and data detected by the one or more sensors includes a position of the rod portion with respect to the cylinder portion.

17. The paving machine of claim 16, wherein the operational parameter associated with the movement of the screed assembly includes the position of the rod portion with respect to the cylinder portion attained at an end of the movement of the screed assembly.

18. The paving machine of claim 16, wherein the operational parameter associated with the movement of the screed assembly includes a change in the position of the rod portion with respect to the cylinder portion during the movement of the screed assembly relative to the ground surface.

19. The paving machine of claim 15, wherein the screed assembly is moved with respect to the ground surface to define an inclination with respect to the ground surface such that a first lateral side of the screed assembly is disposed higher than a second lateral side of the screed assembly, wherein the controller is configured to:

control the position of the auger assembly such that the auger assembly aligns above the screed assembly and defines the predetermined distance with respect to the first lateral side of the screed assembly.

20. The paving machine of claim 15 wherein the controller is configured to:

detect an actuation of an input device to move the auger assembly; and

override the control of the auger assembly based on the operational parameter with the actuation of the input device to allow the control of the position of the auger assembly to be based on the actuation of the input device.