System and method for monitoring wear of a screed plate

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9618437-B2
Application number	US-201514698898-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 29, 2015
Priority date	Apr 29, 2015
Publication date	Apr 11, 2017
Grant date	Apr 11, 2017

Abstract

A system for monitoring a wear of a screed plate of a paving machine is disclosed. The system includes a sensor located on the screed plate. The sensor generates signals indicative of the wear of the screed plate. The system further includes a controller coupled to the sensor. The controller receives signals from the sensor and determines the wear of the screed plate based on the received signals.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for monitoring a wear of a screed plate of a paving machine, the system comprising:
a sensor located on the screed plate, the sensor configured to generate signals indicative of the wear of the screed plate; and
a controller communicably coupled to the sensor, the controller configured to:
receive signals from the sensor; and
determine the wear of the screed plate based on the received signals.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of sensors disposed at a plurality of locations on the screed plate, wherein each of the plurality of sensors is configured to generate signals indicative of the wear of the screed plate at a corresponding location of each of the plurality of locations.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the controller is communicably coupled to the plurality of sensors, and wherein the controller is further configured to determine a wear profile based on the wear determined at the plurality of locations on the screed plate.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to communicate the wear of the screed plate to a display device.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a resistor network communicably coupled with the controller, and wherein an electrical resistance of the resistor network varies based on an extent of the wear of the screed plate.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the sensor further comprises a hollow body at least partly received in a through hole defined in the screed plate, and wherein the resistor network is disposed within the hollow body.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein a first end of the hollow body is located adjacent to a bottom surface of the screed plate, and wherein a second end of the hollow body projects from the through hole of the screed plate and is configured to engage with a nut to retain the hollow body within the through hole.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the resistor network comprises a plurality of electric resistors connected with each other, wherein the wear of the screed plate at the bottom surface thereof causes progressive removal of the plurality of electric resistors, and wherein the progressive removal of the plurality of electric resistors is based on a depth of the wear of the bottom surface.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to move the screed plate with reference to a work surface based on the determined wear of the screed plate.

10. A paving machine comprising:
a frame;
a screed plate movably coupled to the frame, the screed plate configured to contact with a work surface; and
a system for monitoring a wear of the screed plate, the system comprising:
a plurality of sensors disposed at a plurality of locations on the screed plate, each of the plurality of sensors configured to generate signals indicative of the wear of the screed plate at a corresponding location of the plurality of locations on the screed plate; and
a controller communicably coupled to each of the plurality of sensors, the controller configured to:
receive signals from each of the plurality of sensors; and
determine the wear of the screed plate based on the received signals.

11. The paving machine of claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine a wear profile based on the wear determined at the corresponding location of the plurality of locations on the screed plate.

12. The paving machine of claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured to communicate the wear of the screed plate to a display device.

13. The paving machine of claim 10 further comprising another plurality of sensors located on an extension plate associated with the screed plate, wherein each of the another plurality of sensors is configured to generate signals indicative of a wear of the extension plate, and wherein the extension plate is movably disposed proximate to the screed plate.

14. The paving machine of claim 10 , wherein each of the sensors comprises a resistor network communicably coupled with the controller, and wherein an electrical resistance of the resistor network varies based on an extent of the wear of the screed plate.

15. The paving machine of claim 14 , wherein the sensor further comprises a hollow body at least partly received in a through hole defined in the screed plate, and wherein the resistor network is disposed within the hollow body.

16. The paving machine of claim 15 , wherein a first end of the hollow body is located adjacent to a bottom surface of the screed plate, and wherein a second end of the hollow body projects from the through hole of the screed plate and is configured to engage with a nut to retain the hollow body within the through hole.

17. The paving machine of claim 16 , wherein the resistor network comprises a plurality of electric resistors connected with each other, wherein the wear of the screed plate at the bottom surface thereof causes progressive removal of the plurality of electric resistors, and wherein the progressive removal of the plurality of electric resistors is based on a depth of the wear of the bottom surface.

18. A method of monitoring a wear of a screed plate of a paving machine, the method comprising:
receiving signals from a sensor located on the screed plate;
determining the wear of the screed plate based on the received signals; and
moving the screed plate with reference to a work surface based on the determined wear.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein a plurality of sensors is disposed at a plurality of locations on the screed plate, and wherein the method further comprising determining a wear profile of the screed plate based on signals received from the plurality of sensors.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising communicating the wear of the screed plate to a display device.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Paving Products Inc

Inventors

• Marsolek John L
• Medeiros Mark C
• Miller Dana W

Classifications

• G01N3/066

  with electrical indicating or recording means · CPC title

• G01N3/56 Primary

  Investigating resistance to wear or abrasion · CPC title

• E01C19/22

  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

• E01C23/06

  Devices or arrangements for working the finished surface (working freshly laid paving E01C19/42 - E01C19/44, E01C23/02; mining picks E21C35/18); Devices for repairing {or reconditioning} the surface of damaged paving; {Recycling in place or on the road} · 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