Machine with sensor units retained by breakaway couplers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021284075-A1
Application number	US-202016815192-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 11, 2020
Priority date	Mar 11, 2020
Publication date	Sep 16, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A paving machine includes an implement, an elongated structure, a sensor arrangement, and one or more breakaway couplers. The implement modifies a surface during a movement of the paving machine. The elongated structure is coupled to a side portion of the paving machine and extends along a direction of the movement. The sensor arrangement includes sensor units arranged sequentially along the elongated structure. The breakaway couplers correspondingly normally retain the sensor units to the elongated structure. Each breakaway coupler includes a mounting structure and a retainer unit. The mounting structure is secured to one of the elongated structure or a corresponding sensor unit, while the retainer unit retains the other of the elongated structure or the corresponding sensor unit to the mounting structure by a retention force, which is adjustable.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A paving machine, comprising:
an implement to modify a surface during a movement of the paving machine; an elongated structure coupled outwardly to a side portion of the paving machine and extending along a direction of the movement; a sensor arrangement including one or more sensor units arranged sequentially along the elongated structure; and one or more breakaway couplers to correspondingly normally retain the one or more sensor units to the elongated structure, each breakaway coupler of the one or more breakaway couplers including:
a mounting structure secured to one of the elongated structure or a corresponding sensor unit of the one or more sensor units; and
a retainer unit retaining the other of the elongated structure or the corresponding sensor unit to the mounting structure by a retention force, wherein
the retention force is adjustable to cause the mounting structure to be disengaged with respect to one of the elongated structure or the corresponding sensor unit and allow the corresponding sensor unit to be dislodged from the elongated structure to inhibit damage to the corresponding sensor unit, in an event the corresponding sensor unit collides against an obstacle.

2 . The paving machine of claim 1 , wherein
the mounting structure includes a bracket defining a cavity; and the retainer unit includes:
one or more shims serially arranged and secured within the cavity to define an innermost shim and an outermost shim with respect to the cavity; and
a magnetic adaptor coupled to the outermost shim and attracting and retaining one of the elongated structure or the corresponding sensor unit by magnetic force.

3 . The paving machine of claim 2 , wherein the magnetic adaptor is positioned wholly or at least partially within the cavity.

4 . The paving machine of claim 2 , wherein the retention force includes the magnetic force and said retention force is adjustable by at least one of:
varying a number of shims of the one or more shims; or replacing the magnetic adaptor with a different magnetic adaptor possessing a different magnetic force.

5 . The paving machine of claim 1 , wherein
the mounting structure includes a pair of arms defining a first arm and a second arm; and the retainer unit includes:
a fixture coupled to one of the elongated structure or the corresponding sensor unit and be received between the first arm and the second arm;
a fastener including a head portion and a shank portion, the shank portion being in slidable passage through the first arm and being retentively retained to the second arm; and
a biasing member positioned in between the head portion and the first arm and exerting a biasing force therebetween to bias the first arm away from the head portion towards the second arm to cause the fixture to be clinched between the first arm and the second arm.

6 . The paving machine of claim 5 , wherein the retention force includes the biasing force, and the retention force is adjustable by at least one of:
replacing the biasing member with a different biasing member adapted to exert a different biasing force between the head portion and the first arm; or tightening or loosening the fastener relative to the second arm to cause the biasing member to proportionally exert an increased biasing force or a decreased biasing force on the first arm.

7 . The paving machine of claim 1 , wherein
the mounting structure includes a first member defining a receptacle; and the retainer unit includes a second member defining a plug received and retained within the receptacle, wherein
at least one of the first member or the second member is made from an elastomeric material.

8 . The paving machine of claim 7 , wherein the receptacle is open to an outer surface of the first member at a first opening, the receptacle defining an ingress portion that extends inwards into the receptacle from the first opening and terminates at an end defining a second opening, wherein
the ingress portion converges inwards into the receptacle from the first opening to the second opening such that a cross-sectional area defined at the first opening is larger than a cross-sectional area defined at the second opening.

9 . The paving machine of claim 8 , wherein the plug defines a stump portion and an enlarged head portion connected to the stump portion, and wherein the stump portion is received within an inner pit of the receptacle defined beyond the end of the ingress portion and is retained therein by being seated against the end of the ingress portion.

10 . The paving machine of claim 9 , wherein the retention force is adjustable by at least one of:
replacing the first member with a different first member possessing a different elastomeric property when compared to an elastomeric property of the first member; or replacing the second member with a different second member possessing a different elastomeric property when compared to an elastomeric property of the second member.

11 . A method for retaining one or more sensor units to a paving machine, the method comprising:
coupling an elongated structure outwardly to a side portion of the paving machine such that the elongated structure extends along a direction of movement of the paving machine; and providing one or more breakaway couplers to correspondingly normally retain the one or more sensor units to the elongated structure such that the one or more sensor units are arranged sequentially along the elongated structure, wherein providing each break-away coupler of the one or more breakaway couplers include:
securing a mounting structure to one of the elongated structure or a corresponding sensor unit of the one or more sensor units;
providing a retainer unit to retain the other of the elongated structure or the corresponding sensor unit to the mounting structure by a retention force; and
adjusting the retention force to cause a disengagement of the mounting structure with respect to one of the elongated structure or the corresponding sensor unit and allow the corresponding sensor unit to be dislodged from the elongated structure to inhibit damage to the corresponding sensor unit, in an event the corresponding sensor unit collides against an obstacle.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein:
securing the mounting structure includes securing a bracket to one of the elongated structure or the corresponding sensor unit, the bracket defining a cavity, and providing the retainer unit includes:
arranging and securing one or more shims serially within the cavity to define an innermost shim and an outermost shim with respect to the cavity; and
coupling a magnetic adaptor to the outermost shim to attract and retain one of the elongated structure or the corresponding sensor unit by magnetic force.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein coupling the magnetic adaptor includes positioning the magnetic adaptor wholly or at least partially within the cavity.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the retention force includes the magnetic force, and adjusting the retention force includes at least one of:
varying a number of shims of the one or more shims; or replacing the magnetic adaptor with a different magnetic adaptor possessing a different magnetic force.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein
securing the mounting structure includes securing a pair of arms to one of the elongated structure or the corresponding sensor unit, the pair of arms defining a first arm and a second arm; and providing the retainer unit includes:
coupling a fixture to one of the elongated structure or the correspond

Assignees

• Caterpillar Paving Products Inc

Inventors

• Steinhagen Anthony Paul

Classifications

• F16B21/06

  Releasable fastening devices with snap-action {(quickly-detachable or mountable nuts to threaded bolts F16B37/0842)} · CPC title

• F16B2/065

  using screw-thread elements (F16B2/08 - F16B2/12 take precedence) · CPC title

• E01C23/07

  Apparatus combining measurement of the surface configuration of paving with application of material in proportion to the measured irregularities (measuring means only E01C23/01 {G01B}) · CPC title

• E01C19/48

  for laying-down the materials and consolidating them, or finishing the surface {, e.g. slip forms therefor, forming kerbs or gutters in a continuous operation in situ (E01C19/002, E01C23/065 take precedence; devices for guiding or controlling the machines along a predetermined path E01C19/004)} · CPC title

• E01C19/008

  by reference lines placed along the road, e.g. wires co-operating with feeler elements (E01C19/006 takes precedence) · CPC title