A method of operating a paving system includes establishing a plan for paving a work area which is based on a positional temperature model. The method further includes receiving temperature data for paving material and comparing the temperature data with data predicted by the positional temperature model. Operation of the paving system is adjusted where actual data differs from model predicted data. A paving system and control system are provided having an electronic control unit configured to compare electronic temperature data with a positional temperature model for paving material. The electronic control unit can control machines of the paving system based on comparing actual data with model predicted data, and can further update either or both of a plan for paving a work area and the positional temperature model itself based on differences between actual data and model predicted data. A complete temperature profile of a paving work area, including a comparison with the model may be recorded in computer readable memory for forensic and predictive analysis.

Paving system and method

A paving machine may include a power source, a traction system, a hopper configured to contain paving material, and one or more conveyors configured to transfer the paving material from the hopper. The paving machine may also include a screed configured to lay a mat of the paving material. The paving machine may further include at least one front sensor mounted on a front portion of the paving machine and configured to measure height from a surface to the front sensor and at least one rear sensor mounted on the paving machine and configured to measure height from a surface of the mat to the rear sensor. The paving machine may also include a controller configured to determine a thickness of the mat by determining a difference between one or more front height measurements taken by the at least one front sensor and one or more rear height measurements taken by the at least one rear sensor.

Paving machine output monitoring system

Disclosed are method and apparatus for controlling the blade elevation and blade slope angle of a dozer blade. Elevation and slope angle measurements are calculated from measurements received from a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) antenna and an inertial measurement unit mounted on the dozer blade. The inertial measurement unit includes three orthogonally placed accelerometers and three orthogonally placed rate gyros. The measurements are processed by algorithms to calculate estimates of the blade elevation, blade vertical velocity, blade slope angle, and blade slope angular velocity. These estimates are then provided as inputs to a control algorithm which provides control signals to control a dozer hydraulic system which controls the blade elevation and blade slope angle.

Automatic Blade Control System with Integrated Global Navigation Satellite System and Inertial Sensors

A lightweight screeding apparatus for screeding and smoothing an uncured concrete surface includes a concrete surface working member, such as vibrating beam or member, and a grade setting device adjustably mounted to said vibrating beam. The screeding apparatus may include a wheeled support which at least partially supports the vibrating beam and/or the grade setting device. The wheels of the wheeled support may be powered or driven to assist an operator in moving the screeding apparatus over and through the uncured concrete. The grade setting device is vertically adjustable to set or indicate the desired grade of the concrete surface as the screeding apparatus is moved over and through the uncured concrete. The grade setting device may be adjusted by means of a laser plane responsive control system.

Lightweight apparatus for screeding and vibrating uncured concrete surfaces

A system and device, paving machine (1), is disclosed for obtaining a topographical profile of a road bed, and then delivering an asphalt mat that varies in thickness according to that profile. The system enables variance in the mat thickness across the width of the mat as well as in the normal longitudinal direction. The process is begun by obtaining a three-dimensional profile of the surface to be paved. A scanning means (10) is moved over the road surface to obtain a profile of the entire length and width of the surface to be paved to obtain a detailed topographical profile. In a second phase of the operation, the scanning means (10) is utilized in combination with an asphalt delivery mechanism, and a mat of asphalt of varying thickness is delivered.

Asphalt delivery and compaction system

A contouring (20) device and method for contouring three-dimensionally curved surfaces includes an elongated contouring assembly (28) that is supported at opposite ends by a pair of fluid cylinders (52,54). The fluid cylinders are controlled to raise and lower the ends of the contouring assembly independently of each other, thereby allowing the contouring assembly to create a three-dimensionally curved surface as it passes over an area to be contoured. The control of one of the fluid cylinders (52) is based on a comparison of the measured position of a first end of the contouring assembly with a profile of the surface to be leveled that is stored in a computer memory. The measurement of the position of the first end of the contouring assembly is achieved by a tracking device (58) which tracks the position of a target (56) positioned on the first end of the contouring assembly and which determines the three dimensional position of the target. A proximity sensor (78) measures the position of the second end of the contouring assembly from a surface and outputs a control signal that adjusts the height of the second end of the contouring assembly to follow the surface. Alternatively, a second target positioned on the second contouring assembly end is tracked by a second tracking device to determine the three-dimensional position of the second end. The contouring assembly preferably has a plow (32), rotating auger (36), and a vibratory screed (34) positioned adjacent and parallel to one another in an orientation transverse to the direction of motion of the contouring assembly. The plow, rotating auger, and vibratory screed are all pivotable about an axis parallel to their longitudinal direction. A pivot or tilting controller controls the tilting of the plow, rotating auger, and vibratory screed to follow the slope of the profile stored in computer memory.

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Apparatus and method for three-dimensional contouring

A roller element bearing 40 track bushing system embodiment for track link assemblies 14 capable of being used on a vehicle 10 having an endless track 12. Each track link assembly 14 has a track shoe assembly 20 defining a front pin bore 22 and a rear pin bore 24. Each track link assembly 14 has a front pin 26 at least partially disposed within the front pin bore 22, and a rear pin 28 at least partially disposed within the rear pin bore 24. The embodiment discloses at least one roller element bearing 40 disposed within the front pin bore 22 around a portion of the front pin 26, at least one roller element bearing 40 disposed within the rear pin bore 22 around a portion of the rear pin 28. The roller element bearings 40 cooperate to prolong the useful life of the track link assembly 14.

Glen R. Simula

Papers

Apparatus and method for three-dimensional contouring

Roller bearing track bushing system