Selective clamping of chassis

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9388539-B2
Application number	US-201414299911-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 9, 2014
Priority date	Jun 9, 2014
Publication date	Jul 12, 2016
Grant date	Jul 12, 2016

Abstract

Methods of and apparatus for controlling relative telescoping extension or retraction of multiple telescoping assemblies is provided. The telescoping assemblies connect the main frame of a slipform paver to a side member of the slipform paver. Each telescoping assembly has a telescopic lock associated with the telescoping assembly. A common telescoping force is applied across the telescoping assemblies to widen or narrow the frame width of the slipform paver. Extension of the telescoping assemblies is monitored, and activation of the telescopic locks is controlled so as to determine which of the telescoping assemblies is allowed to telescope under application of the common telescoping force.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of controlling relative telescoping extension of multiple telescoping assemblies connecting a main frame of a slipform paver to a side frame member of the slipform paver, the telescoping assemblies being extendible and retractable to adjust a frame width of the slipform paver, each telescoping assembly having a telescopic lock associated with the telescoping assembly, comprising:
(a) applying a common telescoping force across first and second telescoping assemblies to widen or narrow the frame width of the slipform paver;
(b) monitoring extension of the first telescoping assembly;
(c) monitoring extension of the second telescoping assembly; and
(d) locking at least one of the telescopic locks for the first and second telescoping assemblies so as to determine which of the telescoping assemblies is allowed to telescope under the application of the common telescoping force.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
step (b) includes monitoring extension of the first telescoping assembly with a first extension sensor generating a first extension signal;
step (c) includes monitoring extension of the second telescoping assembly with a second extension sensor generating a second extension signal; and
step (d) includes receiving the first and second extension signals in a controller and generating a control signal to control locking of at least one of the telescopic locks for the first and second telescoping assemblies so as to determine which of the telescoping assemblies is allowed to telescope under the application of the common telescoping force.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
step (b) includes manually measuring extension of the first telescoping assembly;
step (c) includes manually measuring extension of the second telescoping assembly; and
step (d) includes manually locking at least one of the telescopic locks for the first and second telescoping assemblies so as to determine which of the telescoping assemblies is allowed to telescope under the application of the common telescoping force.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
in step (a) the first and second telescoping assemblies are arranged in parallel such that the common telescoping force is applied in part to each of the telescoping assemblies.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein:
in step (a) the first and second telescoping assemblies are front and rear laterally telescoping assemblies connecting the main frame of a slipform paver to the side frame member of the slipform paver; and
step (d) further includes allowing substantially equal and simultaneous extension or retraction of both the front and rear laterally telescoping assemblies so that the side frame member is maintained substantially parallel to the main frame.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein:
the common telescoping force is applied by motive action of a plurality of ground engaging units supporting the slipform paver while the slipform paver moves in an operating direction.

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein:
in step (a) the first and second telescoping assemblies are front left and rear left laterally telescoping assemblies connecting the main frame of the slipform paver to a left side frame member of the slipform paver, and the slipform paver further includes front right and rear right laterally telescoping assemblies connecting the main frame to a right side frame member of the slipform paver, the common telescoping force being applied across all of the telescoping assemblies; and
step (d) further includes locking at least one of the telescopic locks so as to allow one of the left and right side frame members to move relative to the main frame while holding the other of the left and right side frame members fixed relative to the main frame.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
in step (a) the first and second telescoping assemblies are front and rear laterally telescoping assemblies connecting the main frame of the slipform paver to the side frame member of the slipform paver, and the common telescoping force is applied at least in part by motive action of a plurality of ground engaging units supporting the slipform paver while the slipform paver moves in an operating direction.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein:
in step (a) common telescoping force is applied at least in further part by one or more linear actuators connected between the main frame and the side frame member.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
in step (a) the first and second telescoping assemblies are arranged in series.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein:
the first and second telescoping assemblies are first and second assemblies of a double telescoping assembly.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the locks are clamping devices, and wherein:
in step (d) the locking of at least one of the locks includes clamping at least one of the telescoping assemblies in a fixed position so as to temporarily prevent telescoping of said at least one of the telescoping assemblies.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first and second telescoping assemblies are first and second assemblies of a double telescoping assembly.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the clamping devices are hydraulically actuated via hydraulic rams, and wherein:
in step (d) the locking of at least one of the locks includes maintaining a clamping pressure with the hydraulic ram associated with the clamping device of the at least one lock.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the locks comprise hydraulic ram linear actuators connected between the main frame and the side frame member and associated with each of the telescoping assemblies, and wherein:
in step (d) the locking of at least one of the locks includes hydraulically blocking at least one of the hydraulic rams in a fixed position so as to temporarily prevent telescoping of at least one of the telescoping assemblies.

16. A slipform paving machine, comprising:
a machine frame having an adjustable width;
first and second telescoping assemblies;
a first lock arranged to selectively lock and unlock the first telescoping assembly;
a second lock arranged to selectively lock and unlock the second telescoping assembly; and
a controller operatively connected to the locks, the controller being configured to control an operation of the locks to control relative extension of the first and second telescoping assemblies to adjust the width of the machine frame when a common telescoping force is applied to the first and second telescoping assemblies.

17. The machine of claim 16 , further comprising:
a first extension sensor associated with the first telescoping assembly;
a second extension sensor associated with the second telescoping assembly; and
wherein the controller is operatively connected to the extension sensors and the controller is further configured to monitor the extension of the telescoping assemblies.

18. The machine of claim 17 , further comprising:
the machine frame having a front, a back, a left side and a right side, the machine frame being laterally extendible to at least one of the left and right sides to adjust the width of the machine frame;
a front left side ground engaging unit and a rear left side ground engaging unit steerably connected to the left side of the machine frame;
a front right side ground engaging unit and a rear right side ground engaging unit steerably connected to the right side of the machine frame;
each of the ground engaging units including a drive motor configured such that each ground engaging unit is driven across a ground surface by

Assignees

• Wirtgen Gmbh

Inventors

• Dahm Martin
• Schug Ralf
• Barimani Cyrus
• Hähn Günter

Classifications

• E01C2301/18

  the whole machine being laterally slidable · CPC title

• E01C19/4886 Primary

  for forming in a continuous operation kerbs, gutters, berms, safety kerbs, median barriers or like structures in situ, e.g. by slip-forming, by extrusion (removable forms for kerbs, gutters or similar structures E01C19/506; making conduits in situ E02D29/10) · CPC title

• E01C19/405

  with spreading-out, levelling or smoothing means other than the tamping or vibrating means for compacting or smoothing, e.g. with screws for spreading-out the previously dumped material, with non-vibratory lengthwise reciprocated smoothing beam (E01C19/407 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E01C19/22 Primary

  for consolidating or finishing laid-down unset materials ({E01C19/002, E01C19/48, E01C21/00} E01C23/02 {E01C23/065} take precedence; apparatus for generating vibrations in general B06B) · CPC title

• E01C19/40 Primary

  adapted to impart a smooth finish to the paving, e.g. tamping or vibrating finishers · CPC title