Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.

Caterpillar Inc.

Ryan James Nelson

John Lee Marsolek

Toby Andrew Frelich

Michael William Ries

Ryan Todd Thiesse

Mathew James Hedrington

Ryan Patrick Lenton

Bradley D Anderson

Valerio E D'Ascanio

Mike P Siers

A paving machine can include a frame; a screed coupled to the frame; a plurality of sensors to scan a surface of an asphalt mat behind the screed; and a controller coupled to the plurality of sensors, the controller configured to determine a smoothness of the asphalt mat and to make changes to one or more paving characteristics of the paving machine to improve the smoothness of the asphalt mat.

Automatic smoothness control for asphalt paver

A system for controlling an engagement of a material supply machine with a paving machine is provided. The system includes one or more sensor(s) mounted on material supply machine and/or the paving machine and are configured to detect a position and distance of paving machine with respect to material supply machine. The sensor(s) further detect a relative speed between the two machines. A controller autonomously controls speed of material supply machine based on detected relative speed when distance is less than threshold. The speed of material supply machine is controlled to match speed of the paving machine. The controller also autonomously controls steering of material supply machine based on detected position of leading end of paving machine to align material supply machine with leading end of paving machine until the material supply machine engages with leading end of paving machine.

System and method for autonomously engaging material supply machine with paving machine

A steering console system for a machine includes a longitudinally-extending rail configured to be fastened to a surface of the machine, the rail including a pair of convex-shaped edges, a steering console, and a console carriage slidably connected to the rail, the console carriage including a bracket, a plurality of rollers connected to the bracket, a support arm connected to the bracket to support the steering console, and a vertical pivot connected to the bracket and to the support arm. Each of the rollers has a concave groove configured to roll along the convex shaped edges, and each of the rollers is configured to rotate about an axis of rotation extending approximately normal with respect to the rail.

Machine console system

A material feed system for a paving machine includes a first optical sensor and a second optical sensor that are configured to generate data characteristic of paving material associated with corresponding ones of a left feed mechanism and a right feed mechanism of the paving machine. A controller is communicably coupled to the first optical sensor, the second optical sensor, a left conveyor, and a left auger of the left feed mechanism, and a right conveyor and a right auger of the right feed mechanism. The controller is configured to control the left material feed mechanism and the right material feed mechanism independently of each other such that the left conveyor and auger speeds are independently adjusted based on the data received from the first optical sensor and the right conveyor and auger speeds are independently adjusted based on the data received from the second optical sensor.

Material feed system for a paving machine

A method of monitoring a productivity of a paving machine. The method includes receiving a signal, through a load monitoring device, indicative of a change in a load on a frame of the paving machine. The method also includes determining a sum value of the change in the load on the frame based on the signal received each time when a material is delivered to the paving machine, and when the signal indicates an increase in the load on the frame. The method further includes determining a weight of the material provided to the paving machine based on at least the sum value of the change in the load.

System and method for monitoring productivity of a paving machine

A controller for use in a vibratory work machine may include a vibratory frequency selection system having a user interface with a discrete amplitude selection input device and a discrete frequency selection input device. The controller may receive a frequency selection signal from the frequency input device and generate a frequency control signal having a characteristic corresponding to the frequency setting of the input device. The controller may also receive an amplitude selection signal from the amplitude input device and output at least the frequency control signal to cause a vibrator mechanism of the machine to generate vibrations having a frequency and amplitude corresponding to the settings of the input devices.

Vibratory frequency selection system

A compactor with a hose routing includes a drum connected to a frame with a support. The frame defines an interior space of the compactor and includes a plate through which an opening extends to the interior space. A hose assembly extends from an end of the drum through the opening to the interior space without the use of bulkheads.

Compactor with smooth hose routing

The disclosure includes a force assist arrangement for a slidable coupling, a slidable coupling including the force assist arrangement, and a machine including respectively slidable portions, such as, the slidable coupling, and the force assist arrangement. The force assist arrangement includes at least first and second links pivotably coupled together at one end and to the respectively slidable portions at the other ends, and a force assist device pivotably coupled to the links along their respective lengths.

Force assist arrangement for a slidable coupling

An extension plate for use in a compactor includes an elongate body extending between a first surface configured to be coupled to the compactor frame and a second surface configured to be coupled to a support of the compactor. The first surface includes a first opening aligning with an opening into an interior of the compactor. A second opening in at least one of the elongate body or the second surface communicates with the first opening to allow passage of a hose through the extension plate and through the opening in the frame into the interior space.

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Maple Grove, MN, United States of America

Ryan James Nelson