Vibration control system, apparatus, and method for compactor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11453983-B2
Application number	US-202016938567-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 24, 2020
Priority date	Jul 24, 2020
Publication date	Sep 27, 2022
Grant date	Sep 27, 2022

Abstract

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.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A vibratory compactor, comprising:
a frame;
a cylindrical drum coupled to the frame;
a shaft extending concentrically at least through a center of the drum, the shaft having a first end and a second end opposite the first end;
a vibratory system rotatably positioned within the drum to induce a vibration force on the drum; and
a control system configured to:
receive a first setting of an authorization to use a first set of selectable amplitudes of the vibration force for a first predetermined duration,
operate the vibratory compactor during the first predetermined duration by inducing the vibration force at amplitudes by the vibratory system, wherein the amplitudes of the vibration force are selected from among only the first set of selectable amplitudes, and
after the first predetermined duration, change the first setting of the authorization to use to a second setting of an authorization to use a second set of selectable amplitudes of the vibration force that is different from the first set of selectable amplitudes.

2. The vibratory compactor of claim 1 , wherein the control system is configured to operate the vibratory compactor for a duration of predetermined operating hours as the first predetermined duration.

3. The vibratory compactor of claim 1 ,
wherein the control system is configured to receive the first setting via a secure access, and
wherein the control system is configured to receive, during the first predetermined duration, via the secure access, the second setting of the authorization to use the second set of selectable amplitudes of the vibration for a second predetermined duration.

4. The vibratory compactor of claim 1 , wherein the second set of selectable amplitudes of the vibration force is a basic minimum number of selectable amplitudes for any operator of the vibratory compactor.

5. The vibratory compactor of claim 1 , further comprising a secure access, wherein the control system is configured to receive, during the first predetermined duration, via the secure access, the second setting of the authorization to use the second set of selectable amplitudes of the vibration force and a number of selectable frequencies for a second predetermined duration.

6. The vibratory compactor of claim 1 , wherein the control system is configured to automatically switch, upon expiration of the first predetermined duration, to a different amplitude for the vibration force for a second predetermined duration.

7. The vibratory compactor of claim 6 , wherein the control system is configured to receive a compaction measurement and switch to the different amplitude for the vibration force responsive to receipt of the compaction measurement.

8. The vibratory compactor of claim 1 , further comprising pneumatic rear tires,
wherein the control system is configured to receive, during the first predetermined duration, a setting for inflation pressure of the pneumatic rear tires, and
wherein pneumatic compaction is performed based on the inflation pressure.

9. A system for enabling project specific features on an asphalt compactor, comprising:
a remote setting device configured to remotely set a vibration force of the asphalt compactor by enabling a first group of selectable amplitudes of the vibration force for a first predetermined amount of time; and
a control system configured to:
receive, via a secure connection with the remote setting device, the setting to enable the first group of selectable amplitudes of the vibration force for the first predetermined amount of time,
operate the asphalt compactor during the first predetermined amount of time by selecting one or more vibration amplitudes from among only the selectable vibration amplitudes of the first group and apply the vibration force to asphalt at the selected one or more vibration amplitudes, and
at expiration of the first predetermined amount of time, change the setting of the vibration force by enabling a second group of selectable amplitudes of the vibration force that is different from the first group of selectable amplitudes,
wherein a first total number of the selectable amplitudes of the first group of selectable amplitudes is greater than a second total number of selectable amplitudes of the second group of selectable amplitudes.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the control system is configured to receive, at the expiration of the first predetermined amount of time, via the secure connection, a setting to enable the second group of selectable amplitudes of the vibration force for a second predetermined amount of time.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the control system is configured to automatically switch, at the expiration of the first predetermined amount of time, to a different amplitude of the vibration force for a second predetermined amount of time.

12. The system of claim 11 , further comprising a compaction measurement device, wherein the control system is configured to receive a compaction measurement from the compaction measurement device and switch to the different amplitude of the vibration force based on the compaction measurement.

13. A method of managing asphalt compactor features, comprising:
receiving, via secure access, a first setting to allow access to a first number of selectable amplitudes of a vibration force and a first number of selectable frequencies of vibration to be applied by the asphalt compactor to an asphalt surface for a first predetermined duration;
operating the asphalt compactor during the first predetermined duration by applying amplitudes and frequencies of vibration force, selected from among only the first number of selectable amplitudes and the first number of selectable frequencies of the vibration force, to the asphalt surface; and
at expiration of the first predetermined duration, changing the first setting to a second setting to allow access to a second number of selectable amplitudes of the vibration force and a second number of selectable frequencies of the vibration force that are different from the first number of selectable amplitudes of the vibration force and the first number of frequencies of the vibration force, respectively.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising operating the asphalt compactor for a duration of predetermined operating hours as the first predetermined duration.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising receiving, after the expiration the first predetermined duration, via the secure access, the second setting to allow the access to the second number of selectable amplitudes of the vibration force for a second predetermined duration.

16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising receiving, at the expiration of the first predetermined duration, via the secure access, the second setting to allow the access to the second number of selectable amplitudes of the vibration force and the second number of selectable frequencies for a second predetermined duration different from the first predetermined duration.

17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising automatically switching, at the expiration of the first predetermined duration, to a different amplitude and a different frequency of the vibration force, selected from the second number of selectable amplitudes and the second number of selectable frequencies of the vibration force, respectively, for a second predetermined duration different from the first duration.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising receiving a compaction measurement and switching to the different amplitude of the vibration for

Assignees

• Caterpillar Paving Products Inc

Inventors

• Oetken Nicholas A
• Marsolek John Lee
• Ries Michael William
• Downing Bryan J

Classifications

• E01C19/282 Primary

  self-propelled, e.g. with an own traction-unit (E01C19/285 - E01C19/288 take precedence) · CPC title

• E01C19/288 Primary

  adapted for monitoring characteristics of the material being compacted, e.g. indicating resonant frequency, measuring degree of compaction, by measuring values, detectable on the roller; using detected values to control operation of the roller, e.g. automatic adjustment of vibration responsive to such measurements · CPC title

• E01C19/286

  Vibration or impact-imparting means; Arrangement, mounting or adjustment thereof; Construction or mounting of the rolling elements, transmission or drive thereto, e.g. to vibrator mounted inside the roll (E01C19/287 and E01C19/288 take precedence) · CPC title