Selective clamping of chassis

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9663906-B2
Application number	US-201615203894-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 7, 2016
Priority date	Jun 9, 2014
Publication date	May 30, 2017
Grant date	May 30, 2017

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 slipform paving machine, comprising:
a machine frame including front and rear laterally telescoping assemblies to provide an adjustable width of the machine frame;
front and rear linear actuators arranged to provide powered lateral extension and retraction of the front and laterally telescoping assemblies, respectively;
front and rear extension sensors associated with the front and rear linear actuators, respectively, for generating extension signals representative of the extension of the linear actuators; and
a controller configured to receive the extension signals and to control an operation of the linear actuators to control extension of the front and rear telescoping assemblies to adjust the width of the machine frame.

2. The slipform paving machine of claim 1 , wherein:
the paving machine is laterally extendible on both a left and a right side, and includes front and rear telescoping assemblies, front and rear linear actuators and front and rear extension sensors on each of its left and right sides.

3. The slipform machine of claim 1 , wherein:
the machine frame includes a main frame and at least one side frame member;
the front and rear telescoping assemblies connect the main frame of the slipform paving machine to the at least one side frame member of the slipform paving machine; and
the controller is configured to allow 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.

4. The slipform paving machine of claim 1 , wherein:
the extensions sensors are located internal of their respective linear actuators.

5. The slipform paving machine of claim 1 , wherein:
the extensions sensors are located external of their respective linear actuators.

6. The slipform paving machine of claim 1 , wherein:
the front and rear linear actuators are front and rear hydraulic ram linear actuators; and
the paving machine further comprises front and rear valving arrangements configured to hydraulically block the front and rear hydraulic ram linear actuators, respectively, in fixed positions so as to temporarily prevent telescoping of the front and rear telescoping assemblies, respectively.

7. The slipform paving machine of claim 1 , wherein:
each linear actuator comprises a hydraulic ram including a cylinder and a piston, the piston dividing the cylinder into first and second ends.

8. The slipform paving machine of claim 7 , further comprising:
a valve associated with each hydraulic ram, each valve having an extension position, a retraction position, and a blocked position;
first and second hydraulic lines connecting each valve to the first and second ends of the cylinder of its respective hydraulic ram;
wherein when each valve is in its blocked position the respective hydraulic ram is hydraulically blocked from movement.

9. The construction machine of claim 8 , wherein:
the controller is operably associated with each valve and the controller is configured to effect movement of each valve between its positions and to control the flow of hydraulic fluid provided to the respective hydraulic ram via each valve.

10. The construction machine of claim 9 , wherein:
the controller is configured to control an absolute magnitude of lateral extension of the frame.

11. The construction machine of claim 9 , further comprising:
a hydraulic fluid supply line to the valve and a pressure control valve in the supply line; and
the controller is configured to control the pressure of hydraulic fluid provided to the hydraulic ram via the pressure control valve.

12. A method of controlling telescoping extension of front and rear 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 linear actuator and an extension sensor associated with the telescoping assembly, comprising:
(a) simultaneously extending or retracting the linear actuators of each of the front and rear telescoping assemblies and thereby adjusting the frame width; and
(b) automatically monitoring extension of the linear actuators with the extension sensors.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein:
the front and rear telescoping assemblies are extended or retracted substantially equally so that the side frame member is maintained substantially parallel to the main frame.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein, the linear actuators being hydraulic ram linear actuators, further comprising:
after step (a), hydraulically blocking further movement of the hydraulic ram linear actuators.

15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
controlling the adjustment of the frame width with an automatic controller.

Assignees

• Wirtgen Gmbh

Inventors

• Dahm Martin
• Schug Ralf
• Barimani Cyrus

Classifications

• E01C2301/18

  the whole machine being laterally slidable · 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

• E01C19/4886

  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

• E01C19/40 Primary

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