A slew drive includes a bushing interfacing with a drive gear. The bushing resists a load from the drive gear. The bushing includes an aluminum bronze alloy with a high strength. A paving machine includes multiple of the slew drives. The slew drives control an angle of a pivot arm and steering of a track. A method of reducing component failure in the paving machine includes determining an angular position error of the slew drive of the track. If the angular position exceeds a tolerance, a rate-of-change of the angular position is found to determine whether the slew drive is rotating. Where the slew drive is not rotating, the slew drive is driven in a reverse direction to unseize the slew drive. A track drive and the slew drive of the pivot are controlled by a control loop. The slew drive may be dithered to steer a trailing pivot.

A method of slip forming a concrete structure can include using a first slip form mold that travels along a path to form a portion of a concrete structure by delivering a first flow of concrete into the first mold through a first hopper. The first hopper can be configured to receive the first flow of concrete. The portion of the concrete structure can be modified using a second slip form mold different from the first mold by advancing the second mold along the concrete structure and, while advancing the second mold, delivering a second flow of concrete into the second mold through a second hopper that is configured to receive the second flow of concrete.

A slew drive includes a bushing interfacing with a drive gear. The bushing resists a load from the drive gear. The bushing includes an aluminum bronze alloy with a high strength. A paving machine includes multiple of the slew drives. The slew drives control an angle of a pivot arm and steering of a track. A method of reducing component failure in the paving machine includes determining an angular position error of the slew drive of the track. If the angular position exceeds a tolerance, a rate-of-change of the angular position is found to determine whether the slew drive is rotating. Where the slew drive is not rotating, the slew drive is driven in a reverse direction to unseize the slew drive. A track drive and the slew drive of the pivot are controlled by a control loop. The slew drive may be dithered to steer a trailing pivot.

A strike off assembly for a placer spreader apparatus includes a strike off support beam and left and right side plate assemblies attached to ends of the support beam. A strike off plate assembly includes a left strike off plate portion and a right strike off plate portion pivotably connected together. A plurality of strike off actuators are connected to the strike off plate assembly and configured to raise and lower the strike off plate assembly relative to the support beam to vary a height of a material placement space.

A slipform paving machine includes an offset mold, and a mold frame actuator which allows the height of the offset mold relative to the paving machine to be controlled. Internal actuators within the mold allow corresponding control of side form assemblies to control both height and profile of a resulting slipformed concrete structure.

An adjustable width mold apparatus for a slipform paver includes a center portion and left and right sideform assemblies. The center portion has left and right lateral ends. Left and right adjustable width support assemblies are connected between the sideform assemblies and the center portion. One or more spacers may be received between each sideform assembly and the center portion to adjust the width of the mold apparatus. The spacers may be hung on a plurality of hanger rods. Each of the hanger rods may have a hydraulic nut on one end thereof for clamping the spacers between the sideform assembly and the center portion.

A construction machine system comprises a self-propelled construction machine and a total station. The construction machine possesses a machine frame, a drive means and a working means for altering the terrain. A position-determination means determines the position of a reference point on the machine in a first coordinate system independent of the machine. The position-determination means receives satellite signals from a global navigation satellite system (GNSS), wherein in normal operation the machine is controlled using the GNSS such that a reference point on the machine moves along a set target travel path. In a total station control mode, the machine is controlled without the GNSS and only using the total station based on a position of the standpoint and orientation of the total station ascertained in the GNSS control mode, and the position-determination of the construction machine occurs in a second coordinate system based on the total station.

A paving machine is disclosed. The paving machine may have a screed assembly having a left screed section and a right screed section. The paving machine may also have a crown actuator configured to pivot the left and right screed sections about the centerline. The paving machine may have a crown profile sensor configured to detect the crown profile (DP), and a cross slope sensor configured to detect a cross slope (QNL*, QNR*) of the screed assembly. Further, the paving machine may have a controller configured to determine the crown profile (DP) and a cross slope (QNL*, QNR*) of the screed assembly. The controller may calculate a left cross slope (QNL) of the left screed section and a right cross slope (QNR) of the right screed section based on the determined crown profile (DP) and the determined cross slope (QNL*, QNR*), and display the crown profile on the display device.

A smart steering control system a paving or texturing machine receives path elements corresponding to current and future positions of the machine. By comparing the current and future elements, an expected completion time is derived for exiting the current position and entering the future position; the smart steering control system synchronizes adjustments of the machine's steerable tracks from the current path to the future path. The smart steering control system functions as a virtual tie rod, preventing damage, enhancing the traction control and pulling power of the machine, and preserving the operating life of its components.

A method of slip forming a concrete structure can include using a first slip form mold that travels along a path to form a portion of a concrete structure by delivering a first flow of concrete into the first mold through a first hopper. The first hopper can be configured to receive the first flow of concrete. The portion of the concrete structure can be modified using a second slip form mold different from the first mold by advancing the second mold along the concrete structure and, while advancing the second mold, delivering a second flow of concrete into the second mold through a second hopper that is configured to receive the second flow of concrete.