Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.

Caterpillar Inc.

Mark Lee Norton

Michael William Ries

Jon Michael Scharf

Paul Anthony Dvorak

Christopher Mark Elliott

Christopher J Demick

Timothy Jay Lindholm

A drive system for a machine is disclosed. The drive system may have an engine, a pump driven by the engine to pressurize fluid, a motor connected to the pump via an inlet passage and an outlet passage, and a traction device driven by the motor. The drive system may also have an operator input device movable from a neutral position through a range to a maximum displaced position to affect a speed of the engine, and a controller in communication with the input device and at least one of the pump and motor. The controller may be configured to gradually adjust a displacement of the at least one of the pump and motor to slow the traction device over a period of time after the operator input device is returned to the neutral position.

Hystat drive system having coasting functionality

A weight sensing system for a pneumatic compactor is provided. The weight sensing system includes a pressure sensor in communication with a pneumatic cylinder. The pressure sensor is configured to generate a signal indicative of a pressure exerted on the pneumatic cylinder. Further, a controller is communicably coupled to the pressure sensor. The controller is configured to receive the signal indicative of the pressure exerted on the pneumatic cylinder. The controller is also configured to determine a compaction weight of the pneumatic compactor based on the received signal, a weight distribution on the pneumatic compactor, and a fixed volume of the pneumatic cylinder.

Pneumatic compactor weight sensing system

A ground contact pressure controller may be configured to automatically manage tire inflation pressure in a pneumatic compactor machine. The controller may determine a target tire inflation pressure for the machine according to the parameters of, inter alia, machine weight, number of tires on the machine, ground contact area of the tires, compaction surface type, and ambient temperature. The machine may include a compressor and vent unit coupled to the pneumatic tires, and the compressor and vent unit may be configured to adjust the tire pressure of the pneumatic tires according to a target tire pressure. A unified pressure subsystem coupled to the compressor and vent unit may be configured to measure pressure of the tires, and to adjust tire pressure to the target pressure.

Automatic ground contact pressure system for pneumatic compactor

A compactor includes a rotatable compacting element, and a dispensing mechanism for dispensing a liquid onto an outer surface of the compacting element to prevent sticking of paving material. The compactor further includes an electronic control mechanism configured to activate the dispensing mechanism, and further configured to deactivate the dispensing mechanism responsive to data indicating an extent of coverage of the outer surface with the liquid is sufficient. Related systems and methodology are also disclosed.

Compactor having electronically controlled liquid dispensing mechanism, system, and method

A compactor includes a frame and a compacting element coupled to the frame. An edge wheel assembly is also coupled to the frame and is adjustable between a raised configuration and a lowered configuration at which an edge wheel contacts a substrate outboard of the compacting element. The compactor further includes a spray system for the edge wheel, and a control device in control communication with the spray system and configured to command activation of the spray system responsive to detecting lowering of the edge wheel.

Compactor having controllable edge wheel spray system

A method for compacting a surface of granular materials is disclosed. The method is applicable to wheeled compaction equipment such as pneumatic-tire compactors, drum-type compactors and asphalt compactors. The propel system includes a controller programmed to send a first at least substantially constant propel command that propels the compaction equipment in a forward direction. The controller then changes the speed of the compaction equipment by providing a second varying propel command that may increase or decrease the speed resulting from the first command. As a result, the speed of the compaction equipment oscillates.

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Eden Prairie, MN, United States of America

Mark Lee Norton