E01C19/008

Machine with sensor units retained by breakaway couplers

A paving machine includes an implement, an elongated structure, a sensor arrangement, and one or more breakaway couplers. The implement modifies a surface during a movement of the paving machine. The elongated structure is coupled to a side portion of the paving machine and extends along a direction of the movement. The sensor arrangement includes sensor units arranged sequentially along the elongated structure. The breakaway couplers correspondingly normally retain the sensor units to the elongated structure. Each breakaway coupler includes a mounting structure and a retainer unit. The mounting structure is secured to one of the elongated structure or a corresponding sensor unit, while the retainer unit retains the other of the elongated structure or the corresponding sensor unit to the mounting structure by a retention force, which is adjustable.

Systems and Methods of Visual Guidance

A method includes performing, with a compacting machine, a first pass to compact a first portion of a work area to compact a first lane. A guidance system acquires position information representing the first compacted lane. A second pass is performed to compact a second portion of the work area adjacent the first portion. The guidance system acquires current position information of the machine representing current positioning of the machine during the second pass. Comparing the position information of the machine representing the first compacted lane with the current position information, determines whether the current positioning overlaps the first compacted lane a specified amount. When the second pass is determined to overlap the first compacted lane, in-compliance visual indicia is generated. When the second pass is determined to not overlap the first compacted lane with the specified amount, out of compliance visual indicia is generated.

POWER ACTIVATED STEERING GUIDE
20220162811 · 2022-05-26 · ·

A work machine may include a frame supported by a traction device and a power activated steering guide secured to the frame. The power activated steering guide may include a trunk portion arranged and configured to articulate laterally relative to a travel direction of the work machine. The trunk portion may include an actuation mechanism configured to perform articulation and a controller configured for controlling the actuation mechanism to articular the trunk portion to an offset dimension.

Compaction compensation system
11220793 · 2022-01-11 ·

A compaction compensation system comprising a mechanism for automatically height adjusting the height adjustable mounting (30) so as to height adjust the sensor relative to the screed by a compaction compensating factor. It is used in a paving machine (1) for laying compactable paving material, the paving machine comprising: (a) a height adjustable screed (5) for laying a layer of compactable paving material onto a surface; (b) a sensor (15,17) for sensing the height of the screed relative to a reference level, the sensor being attached to the screed by a height adjustable mounting; (c) a screed height control system for automatically adjusting the height of the screed in response to different heights sensed by the sensor due to contours of the surface, so as to adjust the screed to lay a layer of varying thickness.

Concrete texturing machine
11162230 · 2021-11-02 · ·

A texturing machine is provided for the subsequent treatment of a freshly produced concrete layer having a width between left and right edges and extending longitudinally in a working direction. Left and right height sensors are arranged to detect a height above the freshly produced concrete adjacent the left and right edges of the layer. At least one crown height sensor is arranged to detect a height above a crown of the freshly produced concrete layer. A controller is configured to receive input signals from the height sensors and to communicate height control sensors to the height adjustable columns and to communicate a crown control system to the crown actuator. A direction sensor may also detect at least one of the edges of the freshly produced concrete layer. The controller may receive a direction input signal from the direction sensor, and the controller may communicate a direction control signal to a steering actuator of one of the ground engaging units of the machine.

Systems and methods of visual guidance

A method includes performing, with a compacting machine, a first pass to compact a first portion of a work area to compact a first lane. A guidance system acquires position information representing the first compacted lane. A second pass is performed to compact a second portion of the work area adjacent the first portion. The guidance system acquires current position information of the machine representing current positioning of the machine during the second pass. Comparing the position information of the machine representing the first compacted lane with the current position information, determines whether the current positioning overlaps the first compacted lane a specified amount. When the second pass is determined to overlap the first compacted lane, in-compliance visual indicia is generated. When the second pass is determined to not overlap the first compacted lane with the specified amount, out of compliance visual indicia is generated.

Scarifier system, and method of resurfacing or remodeling a ground surface using the scarifier system
11384489 · 2022-07-12 ·

A scarifier system for cutting channels into a ground surface according to a chosen design pattern, comprising a scarifier machine, and a guide system for guiding the scarifier machine on a tracked trail. The guide system for guiding the scarifier machine on a tracked trail can be, for instance, a sliding bracket clasping a guide rail or a rolling carriage having one or more pairs of wheels gripping a guide rail. A method of remodeling a ground surface using the scarifier system comprises the steps of planning a design pattern to remodel the ground surface and to mark the ground surface according to the chosen design pattern. The guide rail is installed on the ground surface according to the chosen design pattern and the scarifier machine is placed on the guide rail in a manner that the scarifier machine can slide along the guide rail to cut a channel into the ground surface.

ROAD FINISHING MACHINE AND METHOD FOR LEVELLING A SCREED
20220112669 · 2022-04-14 · ·

A road finishing machine comprises a screed for producing a paving layer on a subsoil on which the road finishing machine is movable in a laying direction, wherein the screed has a pulling arm fixed to the road finishing machine at a front pulling point by a levelling cylinder; at least one measuring means for performing a distance measurement, a storage means, and a controlling system. The controlling system is embodied to calculate a correction value in response to at least one distance measurement performed with respect to the subsoil and/or to a reference, which is performable at a measuring point in front of a front edge of the screed, to at least temporarily store the correction value in the storage means and calculate a desired levelling value for the measuring point taking into consideration the stored correction value, based on which the levelling cylinder of the screed is controllable.

Variable height offset mold
11047095 · 2021-06-29 · ·

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.

MACHINE WITH SENSOR UNITS RETAINED BY BREAKAWAY COUPLERS

A paving machine includes an implement, an elongated structure, a sensor arrangement, and one or more breakaway couplers. The implement modifies a surface during a movement of the paving machine. The elongated structure is coupled to a side portion of the paving machine and extends along a direction of the movement. The sensor arrangement includes sensor units arranged sequentially along the elongated structure. The breakaway couplers correspondingly normally retain the sensor units to the elongated structure. Each breakaway coupler includes a mounting structure and a retainer unit. The mounting structure is secured to one of the elongated structure or a corresponding sensor unit, while the retainer unit retains the other of the elongated structure or the corresponding sensor unit to the mounting structure by a retention force, which is adjustable.