The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 01, 2024
Filed:
Jun. 21, 2021
Caterpillar Paving Products Inc., Brooklyn Park, MN (US);
Chad M. Thiesse, Brooklyn Park, MN (US);
Anthony Paul Steinhagen, Maple Grove, MN (US);
Ricky Leon Mings, Oak Grove, MN (US);
Ronald D. Wilson, Maple Grove, MN (US);
Bryan J. Downing, Champlin, MN (US);
Mathew Hedrington, Ham Lake, MN (US);
Caterpillar Paving Products Inc., Brooklyn Park, MN (US);
Abstract
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.