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:
Sep. 26, 1995
Filed:
Jan. 21, 1994
George W Swisher, Jr, Oklahoma City, OK (US);
Other;
Abstract
A paving machine having a gate control system for maintaining a target depth of paving material on the surface to be paved. The paving machine includes a wheeled frame having a lengthwise tunnel and a conveyor for moving paving material through the tunnel. A pair of gates are provided to control the volume of paving material being conveyed from the rear of the tunnel. The position of each gate is automatically adjusted by a hydraulic cylinder, a control valve, an electro-hydraulic control system, an ultrasonic sensor assembly and a cable assembly. Each sensor assembly includes a sensor which is positioned to define a target distance between the sensor and the paving material. The target distance corresponds to the target depth for the paving material. The sensor detects the actual distance between the sensor and the paving material and produces an electrical output proportional to this actual distance. The electro-hydraulic control system utilizes the electrical output of the sensors to open or close the rear gates to adjust the volume of paving material being discharged to the surface. A cable assembly links the movement of each rear gate with the corresponding sensor assembly to lower and elevate the sensor in response to the closing and opening of the rear gate.