Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.

Bryan Joseph Downing

Mathew James Hedrington

Nicholas Alan Oetken

Michael William Ries

Chad M Thiesse

Anthony P Steinhagen

Ronald D Wilson

John Lee Marsolek

Maria Lynn Biberdorf

Ricky Leon Mings

James Alvin Aardema

Ryan Todd Thiesse

Kyle David Hendricks

Rick L Mings

Bradley D Anderson

Jeremy Lee

Jon Michael Scharf

Keith Daniel Koshiol

Paul S Petersen

Rolf Af Klinteberg

Yasin Haji Mohamed

Kristopher A Hanson

Keng Y Low

A paving machine can include a frame; a screed coupled to the frame, the screed including one or more screed plates; one or more movable extender mechanisms located at a back end of each screed plate and configured to extend and retract up and down beneath the screed plate; and a controller configured to extend the one or more extender mechanisms a pre-determined distance before the screed begins a paving operation and to retract the one or more extender mechanisms after the screed has begun the paving operation.

Automated mechanical system to position screed at starting paving depth

A paving machine includes a tractor portion, a screed assembly, a lifting assembly configured to move the screed assembly from a raised position to a lowered position, an operator interface configured to receive input from an operator, and a control module. The tractor portion includes a plurality of tractor sensors configured to detect the presence of an object in a detection zone. The screed assembly is configured to be towed behind the tractor portion, and includes a plurality of screed sensors configured to detect the presence of an object in a detection zone. The control module is configured to receive a 'lower screed' input from the operator interface, receive a plurality of signals from the plurality of tractor sensors and the plurality of screed sensors, determine if an object is present in the detection zone based on the plurality of signals, automatically prevent or halt lowering of the screed assembly and direct the operator interface to display a warning if an object is detected, and direct the lift assembly to lower the screed assembly to the lowered position if no object is detected.

System and method for automatic lowering of a paving machine screed assembly

A screed assembly is disclosed. The screed assembly has a screed frame that includes a main screed. Attached to the main screed is a drop arm that is used to attach the screed assembly to a work machine. An actuator device of the screed assembly adjust the main screed from a neutral position to a nulled position by rotating the main screed around an axis of the pivot pin. The screed assembly may further include a controller that determines whether the main screed is in the neutral position and adjust the main screed to the nulled position by sending a null adjustment signal to the actuator device, and the actuator device moving the main screed from the neutral position to the nulled position in response to the null adjustment signal.

Automated nulling screed assembly

A compactor vibration system, apparatus, and method that selectively provide access to vibration control settings. The control can include receiving a setting for a first set of selectable amplitudes of vibration force at which to operate a vibratory system for a first predetermined amount of time, operating the vibratory system during the first predetermined amount of time by inducing the vibration force at amplitudes by the vibratory system, wherein the amplitudes of the vibration force are selected from among the first set of selectable amplitudes, and after the first predetermined amount of time, changing the setting to a second set of selectable amplitudes of the vibration force that is different from the first set of selectable amplitudes.

Vibration control system, apparatus, and method for compactor

A steering wheel control system associated with a vehicle includes a steering wheel movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, wherein, in the deployed position, the steering wheel is centrally located relative to an operator of the machine. The steering wheel control system also includes a sensor assembly configured to generate a control signal pertaining to a position of the steering wheel. The steering wheel control system further includes a control module communicably coupled with the sensor assembly. The control module is configured to receive the control signal corresponding to the position of the steering wheel. The control module is also configured to control at least one operation of the vehicle based on receipt of the control signal from the sensor assembly.

Steering wheel control system

A work machine includes a power generator configured to generate power to propel the machine, a brake system, an operator seat, one or more sensors, and a controller. The operator seat is rotatably mounted to the machine. The one or more sensors are configured to generate one or more signals indicative of an orientation of the operator seat relative to a direction of travel of the machine. The controller is coupled to the machine and communicatively coupled to the one or more sensors. The controller is configured to determine that the operator seat is out of alignment with the direction of travel based on the one or more signals and automatically actuate the brake system if the operator seat is out of alignment with the direction of travel for more than a first threshold time.

Controlling machine operation based on seat orientation

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.

Control system and method for controlling operation of an edge forming tool of a compactor

An oscillation assembly for a paving machine includes an arcuate member for contacting a recently formed asphalt mat laid by a screed assembly of the paving machine. The arcuate member is adapted to oscillate about an axis extending generally horizontally and substantially perpendicular to a direction of travel of the paving machine. The oscillation assembly further includes a drive assembly for powering an oscillation of the arcuate member. The drive assembly includes a drive motor and a linkage coupling the drive motor to the arcuate member.

Oscillation assembly for a paving machine

A compactor system for compacting a work material includes a roller drum, a vibratory mechanism, and a controller. The roller drum is configured to compact a work material. The vibratory mechanism is coupled to the roller drum and operatively coupled to the controller. The controller is configured to determine a vibration effort based on a vibration parameter, and further configured to generate an output signal to control the vibratory mechanism to apply the vibration effort to the roller drum. The controller includes at least one sensor and a processor. The at least one sensor is configured to sense a first data parameter of the work material and a second data parameter of the roller drum. The processor is configured to calculate the vibration parameter based on the first data parameter and the second data parameter.

Temperature dependent auto adaptive compaction

A compactor includes a frame, an engine coupled to the frame, an exhaust system coupled to the engine and configured to remove heated exhaust air from the engine, a compacting member rotatably coupled to the frame and configured to rotate in contact with a substrate of paving material, and an air system. The air system couples the exhaust system to the compacting member.

System for adjusting the pressure and temperature of a compacting member

A system for compaction measurement, including at least two compaction measurement systems for determining the compaction state of various portions of a material region at a worksite and a display system for displaying aggregated data from the compaction measurement systems.

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Champlin, MN, United States of America

Bryan Joseph Downing