Compactor turning speed limiter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9550522-B2
Application number	US-201514626390-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 19, 2015
Priority date	Feb 19, 2015
Publication date	Jan 24, 2017
Grant date	Jan 24, 2017

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 the controller implementing a fixed turning speed or a maximum turning speed cap.

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

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein the turning speed is limited by the controller implementing 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 the controller implementing 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 the controller implementing a fixed turning speed.

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

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the limiting further includes the controller implementing 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 the controller implementing a fixed turning speed.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the limiting further includes the controller implementing 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 the controller implementing a fixed turning speed.

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

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

Assignees

• Caterpillar Paving Products Inc

Inventors

• Oetken Nicholas Alan
• Marsolek John Lee

Classifications

• 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

• E01C19/26 Primary

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

• E01C19/42

  Machines for imparting a smooth finish to freshly-laid paving courses other than by rolling, tamping or vibrating (for distributing only E01C19/12; {hand-actuated smoothing tools E01C19/44}) · 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