System and method for performing a compaction operation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9903077-B2
Application number	US-201615089890-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 4, 2016
Priority date	Apr 4, 2016
Publication date	Feb 27, 2018
Grant date	Feb 27, 2018

Abstract

A system for compacting a work area is described. The system includes a compactor having a variable vibratory mechanism for providing a compaction effort to the work area. The system further includes a location sensor to generate a location data for the compactor. The system further includes a controller in communication with the location sensor and the variable vibratory mechanism. The controller is configured to determine a pass count for the work area based on the location data. The controller is further configured to determine a target compaction effort for the work area based on the pass count. The controller is further configured to modify the compaction effort to the target compaction effort.

First claim

I claim:

1. A system for compacting a work area, comprising:
a compactor having a variable vibratory mechanism for providing a compaction effort to the work area;
a location sensor generating a location data for the compactor; and
a controller in communication with the location sensor and the variable vibratory mechanism, and configured to:
determine a pass count for the work area based on the location data;
determine a target compaction effort provided by the variable vibratory mechanism of the compactor for the work area based on the pass count; and
modify the compaction effort provided by the variable vibratory mechanism of the compactor to the target compaction effort.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the target compaction effort corresponds to at least one of an amplitude value and a frequency value for the variable vibratory mechanism, and wherein the controller is configured to modify at least one of an amplitude and a frequency of the variable vibratory mechanism to match the amplitude value and the frequency value, respectively.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising:
a second compactor having a second variable vibratory mechanism for providing a second compaction effort to the work area; and
a second location sensor generating a second location data for the second compactor;
wherein the controller is further in communication with the second location sensor and the second variable vibratory mechanism, and configured to determine the pass count for the work area based on the location data and the second location data.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the controller is further configured to modify the second compaction effort to the target compaction effort.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising, a compaction sensor configured to generate a compaction data of the work area.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the controller is in communication with the compaction sensor to receive the compaction data, and configured to modify the compaction effort based on the compaction data.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising, a temperature sensor configured to generate a temperature data of the work area.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the controller is in communication with the temperature sensor to receive the temperature data, and configured to modify the compaction effort based on the temperature data.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising, a moisture sensor configured to generate a moisture data of the work area.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the controller is in communication with the moisture sensor to receive the moisture data, and configured to modify the compaction effort based on the moisture data.

11. The system of claim 1 further comprising, a map of a worksite showing the pass count for the work area.

12. A method of operating a compactor having a variable vibratory mechanism for providing a compaction effort over a work area, comprising:
generating a location data for the compactor;
determining a pass count for the work area based on the location data;
determining a target compaction effort provided by the variable vibratory mechanism of the compactor for the work area based on the pass count; and
modifying the compaction effort provided by the variable vibratory mechanism of the compactor to the target compaction effort.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein modifying the compaction effort to the target compaction effort comprises, modifying at least one of amplitude and frequency of the variable vibratory mechanism of the compactor to match an amplitude value and a frequency value, respectively, corresponding to the target compaction effort.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising:
generating a second location data for a second compactor providing a second compaction effort;
determining the pass count for the work area based on the location data and the second location data; and
modifying the second compaction effort to the target compaction effort.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising, modifying the second compaction effort to the target compaction effort.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising, modifying the compaction effort based on one or more of temperature and moisture of the work area.

17. A compactor, comprising:
a frame;
a compacting drum operably connected to the frame; and
a variable vibratory mechanism coupled to the compacting drum and configured to provide a compaction effort to a work area;
a control system comprising:

a location sensor configured to generate a location data for the compactor; and
a controller in communication with the location sensor and the variable vibratory mechanism, and configured to:
receive the location data;
determine a pass count for the work area based on the location data;
determine a target compaction effort provided by the variable vibratory mechanism of the compactor for the work area based on the pass count; and
modify the compaction effort provided by the variable vibratory mechanism of the compactor to the target compaction effort.

18. The compactor of claim 17 , wherein the target compaction effort corresponds to at least one of an amplitude value and a frequency value for the variable vibratory mechanism, and wherein the controller is configured to modify at least one of an amplitude and a frequency of the variable vibratory mechanism to match the amplitude value and the frequency value, respectively.

19. The compactor of claim 17 , wherein the control system further comprises:
a display device configured to notify an operator of the compactor of the target compaction effort; and
an input device configured to allow the operator to modify the compaction effort to the target compaction effort.

20. The compactor of claim 17 , wherein the control system further comprises:
a compaction sensor configured to generate a compaction data of the work area;
a temperature sensor configured to generate a temperature data of the work area; and
a moisture sensor configured to generate a moisture data of the work area;
wherein the controller is configured to modify the compaction effort based on one or more of the compaction data, temperature data and moisture data.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Paving Products Inc

Inventors

• Rio Federico

Classifications

• E01C19/282

  self-propelled, e.g. with an own traction-unit (E01C19/285 - E01C19/288 take precedence) · CPC title

• E01C19/288 Primary

  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