Compactor Turning Speed Limiter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016244091-A1
Application number	US-201514626390-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 19, 2015
Priority date	Feb 19, 2015
Publication date	Aug 25, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system and method for limiting a turning speed of a compactor is disclosed. The compactor includes a steering member configured to receive operator steering input. The system may comprise a speed sensor, and a controller in communication with the speed sensor. The speed sensor may be mounted on the compactor and configured to measure a travel speed of the compactor over a surface. In some embodiments, a temperature sensor, configured to measure a temperature of the surface, may be mounted on the compactor and in communication with the controller. The controller is configured to receive the travel speed and/or temperature, and to limit a turning speed of the compactor when a condition is satisfied.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system on a compactor, the compactor including a steering member, the steering member configured to receive operator steering input, the system comprising:
a speed sensor mounted on the compactor, the speed sensor configured to measure a travel speed of the compactor over a surface; and a controller in communication with the speed sensor, the controller configured to:
receive the travel speed of the compactor from the speed sensor; and
limit a turning speed of the compactor when a condition is satisfied,
wherein the condition is satisfied when the travel speed is less than a speed threshold.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the turning speed is limited by activation, by the controller, of a fixed turning speed or a maximum turning speed cap.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the turning speed is limited by activation, by the controller, of a variable turning speed based on the travel speed.

4 . The system of claim 1 , further including a temperature sensor mounted on the compactor, the temperature sensor in communication with the controller and configured to measure a temperature of the surface, and in which the controller is further configured to
receive the temperature from the temperature sensor; and limit the turning speed of the compactor when the temperature is greater than a temperature threshold.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the turning speed is limited by activation, by the controller, of a fixed turning speed or a maximum turning speed cap.

6 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the turning speed is limited by activation, by the controller, of a variable turning speed based on the temperature of the surface.

7 . The system of claim 1 , further including a temperature sensor mounted on the compactor, the temperature sensor in communication with the controller and configured to measure a temperature of the surface, and in which the controller is further configured to:
receive the temperature from the temperature sensor, wherein the condition is satisfied when the travel speed is less than a speed threshold and the temperature is greater than a temperature threshold, wherein further the turning speed is limited by activation, by the controller, of a variable turning speed based on the travel speed and the temperature.

8 . A method of limiting a turning speed of a compactor including a steering member, a controller, a speed sensor, and a temperature sensor, the steering member configured to receive operator steering input, the speed sensor mounted on the compactor and in communication with the controller, the speed sensor configured to measure a travel speed of the compactor over a surface, the temperature sensor mounted on the compactor, the temperature sensor in communication with the controller and configured to measure a temperature of the surface, the method comprising:
receiving, by the controller, the travel speed; and limiting the turning speed of the compactor when a condition is satisfied, wherein the condition is satisfied when the travel speed is less than a speed threshold.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the limiting further includes activation by the controller of a fixed turning speed.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the limiting further includes activation by the controller of a turning speed based on the travel speed.

11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the limiting further includes activation by the controller of a maximum turning speed cap.

12 . The method of claim 8 , further including:
receiving the temperature of the surface from the temperature sensor; and limiting the turning speed of the compactor when the temperature is greater than a temperature threshold.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the limiting further includes activation by the controller of a fixed turning speed.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the limiting further includes activation by the controller of a turning speed based on the temperature.

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the limiting further includes setting a maximum turning speed cap.

16 . The method of claim 8 , further including:
receiving the temperature of the surface from the temperature sensor, wherein the condition is satisfied when the travel speed is less than a speed threshold and the temperature is greater than a temperature threshold.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the limiting further includes activation by the controller of a fixed turning speed.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the limiting further includes activation by the controller of a variable turning speed based on the travel speed and the temperature.

19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the limiting further includes activation by the controller of a maximum turning speed cap.

20 . A system on a compactor, the compactor including a steering member, the steering member configured to receive operator steering input, the system comprising:
a speed sensor mounted on the compactor, the speed sensor configured to measure a travel speed of the compactor over a surface; a temperature sensor mounted on the compactor, the temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the surface; a steering speed sensor mounted on the compactor, the steering speed sensor configured to measure a steering speed of the steering member; and a controller in communication with the speed sensor, the temperature sensor and the steering speed sensor, the controller configured to:
receive the travel speed from the speed sensor and the temperature from the temperature sensor;
alert an operator each time the travel speed is less than a speed threshold or the temperature is greater than a temperature threshold;
receive the steering speed from the steering speed sensor; and
log each incident where the steering speed is greater than a turning threshold for a time period after the alert.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Paving Products Inc

Inventors

• Oetken Nicholas Alan
• Marsolek John Lee

Classifications

• E01C19/26 Primary

  self-propelled or fitted to road vehicles ({E01C19/231, E01C19/235} , E01C19/27 - E01C19/29 take precedence) · CPC title

• B62D6/00 Primary

  Arrangements for automatically controlling steering depending on driving conditions sensed and responded to, e.g. control circuits (means for initiating a change in direction B62D1/00; steering valves B62D5/06; combined with means for inclining the vehicle body or wheels on bends B62D9/00) · CPC title

• E01C19/288

  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

• E01C2301/00

  Machine characteristics, parts or accessories not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• E01C19/23

  Rollers therefor; Such rollers usable also for compacting soil ({E01C19/41,} E01C19/43, {E01C19/52, E01C23/065} take precedence; specially adapted for agricultural purposes A01B29/00; garden rollers A01G20/35; making or maintaining surfaces of snow or ice E01H4/00; solely for soil compaction E02D3/026) · CPC title