METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN ACTUAL POWER OUTPUT FROM A SCREED HEATING CONTROL DEVICE FOR HEATING A SCREED DEVICE OF A PAVER, CONTROL UNIT, COMPUTER PROGRAM, COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM, SCREED HEATING CONTROL DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING AN ACTUAL POW2ER OUTPUT FOR HEATING A SCREED DEVICE OF A PAVER AND PAVER

Abstract

A method for controlling a power output from a screed heating control device for heating a screed device of a paver, the control device comprising: a power input connector device connectable to a remote electrical power source, a power output connector device connectable to the screed device, and a power adjustment unit configured to control the power at the power output connector device for heating the screed device by connecting/disconnecting the power output and power input connector devices, the method comprising: determining a maximum power input available at the power input connector device provided by the remote electrical power source, determining a desired power required for heating the screed device, and controlling the power adjustment unit to control the power from the screed heating control device for heating the screed device from the remote electrical power source depending on the maximum power input and the desired power output.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an actual power output from a screed heating control device for heating a screed device of a paver, the screed heating control device comprising: a power input connector device that is configured to be connected to a remote electrical power source, a power output connector device that is configured to be connected to the paver, in particular the screed device of the paver, and a power adjustment unit that is configured for controlling the actual power output provided at the power output connector device for heating the screed device by connecting and disconnecting the power output connector device and the power input connector device, the method characterized by the steps: determining a maximum power input available at the power input connector device provided by the remote electrical power source, determining a desired power output required at the power output connector device for heating the screed device of the paver, and controlling the power adjustment unit to control the actual power output from the screed heating control device for heating the screed device of the paver from the remote electrical power source depending on the determined maximum power input and depending on the determined desired power output.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the actual power output provided at the power output connector device is equal or less to the maximum power input available at the power input connector device if the determined desired power output required at the power output connector device is equal or less to the determined maximum power input available at the power input connector device.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the actual power output provided at the power output connector device is equal to the determined desired power output if the determined desired power output required at the power output connector device is smaller than the determined maximum power input available at the power input connector device.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein controlling the actual power output from the screed heating control device for heating the screed device comprises: closing the power adjustment unit for connecting the power input connector device to the power output connector device, in particular for connecting the external electric power source to the screed device via the screed heating control device; and/or opening the power adjustment unit for disconnecting the power input connector device from the power output connector device, in particular for disconnecting the external electric power source from the screed device by means of the screed heating control device; and/or discrete or continuous adjustment of the power adjustment unit for discrete or continuous adjustment of the actual output power to be provided to the screed device.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the power input connector device of the screed heating control device comprises one or more power input connector units, wherein the one or more power input connector units are configured to be connected to one or more remote electrical power sources, and/or the power output connector device of the screed heating control device comprises one or more power output connector units, wherein the one or more power output connector units are configured to be connected to one or more screed units of the screed device of the paver, wherein the step of controlling the actual power output from the screed heating control device for heating the screed device comprises: closing the power adjustment unit for connecting the one or more power input connector units of the power input connector device to the one or more power output connector units of the power output connector device, in particular for connecting the external electric power source to the screed device via the screed heating control device; and/or opening the power adjustment unit for disconnecting the one or more power input connector units of the power input connector device from the one or more power output connector units of the power output connector device, in particular for disconnecting the external electric power source from the screed device by means of the screed heating control device; and/or discrete or continuous adjustment of the power adjustment unit for discrete or continuous adjustment of the actual output power to be provided to one or more screed units of the screed device.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the screed heating control device comprises a timer device and/or a temperature sensor and/or power consumption detector, wherein the screed heating control device is adapted to control the actual power output from the screed heating control device for heating the screed device of the paver from the remote electrical power source depending on a desired heating start time of the screed device, and/or a desired heating finish time of the screed device, and/or a desired heating duration of the screed device, and/or a desired heating temperature of the screed device, and/or a desired power consumption of the screed device, wherein the step of closing the power adjustment unit is initiated if the desired heating start time is reached, and/or wherein the step of opening the power adjustment unit is initiated if the desired heating finish time and/or desired heating duration and/or desired heating temperature and/or desired power consumption is reached.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the timer device comprises several timer units that are adapted to control the actual power output from the screed heating control device for heating the screed units of the screed device of the paver from the remote electrical power source depending on a desired heating start time of each screed unit of the screed device, and/or a desired heating finish time of each screed unit of the screed device, and/or a desired heating duration of each screed unit of the screed device, wherein the step of closing the power adjustment unit is initiated with respect to the screed units of the screed device of which the desired heating time is reached, and/or wherein the step of opening the power adjustment unit is initiated with respect to the screed units of the screed device of which the desired heating finish time and/or desired heating duration is reached.

8. A control unit for controlling an actual power output from a screed heating control device to a screed device of a paver from a remote electrical power source, wherein the control unit is configured to perform the steps of the method according to claim 1.

9. A computer program comprising program code means for performing the steps of the method according to claim 1 when said program is run on the control unit according to previous claim 8.

10. A computer readable medium carrying a computer program comprising program code means for performing the steps of the method according to claim 1 when said program product is run on the control unit according to previous claim 8.

11. A screed heating control device for controlling an actual power output for heating a screed device of a paver, the screed heating control device comprising: a power input connector device that is configured to be connected to a remote electrical power source, a power output connector device that is configured to be connected to the paver, in particular the screed device of the paver, a power adjustment unit that is configured for controlling the actual power output for heating the screed device provided at the power output connector device by connecting and disconnecting the power output connector device and the power input connector device, a control unit according to claim 8 that is signal coupled with the power adjustment unit, and/or a timer device that is adapted to control the actual power output from the screed heating control device for heating the screed device of the paver from the remote electrical power source depending on a desired heating start time of the screed device, and/or a desired heating finish time of the screed device, and/or a desired heating duration of the screed device.

12. A screed heating control device according to claim 11, wherein the power adjustment unit comprises a thyristor unit, wherein preferably the thyristor unit comprises two thyristors connected in parallel, wherein further preferably the two thyristors are connected antiparallel and/or a TRIAC-unit.

13. A screed heating control device according to claim 11, wherein the power adjustment unit comprises an inductance unit, wherein preferably the inductance unit is connected in series with the thyristor unit, wherein further preferably the inductance unit is arranged between the power input connector device and the thyristor unit.

14. A screed heating control device according to claim 11, comprising a remote electrical power source, wherein the remote electrical power source is connected to the power input connector device.

15. A screed heating control device according to claim 11, wherein the control unit is signal coupled with the screed device and/or the remote electrical power source, wherein the control unit is configured to communicate, in bi-directional communicate, with the screed device and/or the remote electrical power source to control the actual power output for heating the screed device, wherein the control unit is configured to determine a maximum power input available at the power input connector device provided by the remote electrical power source, and to determine a desired power output required at the power output connector device for heating the screed device of the paver.

16. A screed heating control device according to claim 11, comprising at least one temperature sensor to detect a current temperature of the screed device, in particular of the screed units of the screed device, and/or power consumption detector to detect a current power consumption of the screed device, in particular of the screed units of the screed device.

17. A paver, comprising: a screed heating control device according to claim 11 that is configured for heating a screed device of a paver, and the screed device that is coupled to the screed heating control device.

18. A paver according to claim 17, comprising a remote electrical power source, and/or wherein the screed device comprises a screed element and a heating element to heat the screed element depending on the actual power output.

19. A paver according to claim 17 , wherein the power input connector device of the screed heating control device is connected to the remote electrical power source and/or the power output connector device of the screed heating control device is connected to the screed device.

20. A paver according to claim 17, wherein the screed heating control device and the remote electrical power source and/or the screed heating control device and the paver are electrically coupled via one or more cables for heating the screed device of the paver, wherein the coupling between the cables and the screed heating control device and/or the remote electrical power source and/or paver is locked while heating the screed device, in particular one or more of the screed units, of the paver, and/or while heating the screed device, in particular one or more of the screed units, the paver is adapted to inhibit driving of the paver and/or the paver is adapted to provide signals, in particular visual and/or acoustical signals, indicating that the screed device is being heated.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0089] With reference to the appended drawings, below follows a more detailed description of embodiments of the invention cited as examples.

[0090] In the drawings:

[0091] FIG. 1 is a schematic three-dimensional view of a paver;

[0092] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a screed heating control device in one preferred embodiment;

[0093] FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a screed heating control device in another preferred embodiment based on the embodiment shown in FIG. 2;

[0094] FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a screed heating control device in a further preferred embodiment based on the embodiment shown in FIG. 2;

[0095] FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a screed heating control device in yet a further preferred embodiment;

[0096] FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of a screed heating control device in another preferred embodiment; and

[0097] FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of the method in a preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0098] FIG. 1 is a schematic three-dimensional view of a paver 3. The paver 3 comprises a screed device 2 and a screed heating control device 1 that is coupled to the screed device 2 and configured for heating the screed device 2. As can be seen, the screed heating control device 1 is electrically connected to a remote electrical power source 4.

[0099] The screed device 2 of the paver 3 comprises several screed units 2a. Each of the screed units 2a of the screed device 2 comprises a screed element 20 and a heating element 21 for heating the screed element 20 of the screed unit 2a depending on the actual power output provided by means of the screed heating control device 1.

[0100] The screed heating control device 1 is connected to the remote electrical power source 4. This allows for providing the necessary power output required for heating the screed device 2. Accordingly, the screed heating control device 1 is connected to the screed device 2 of the paver 3 to provide the necessary power provided for heating. The screed heating control device 1 is electrically coupled via one cable to the remote electrical power source 4 and electrically coupled via another cable or several cables to the screed device 2, respectively via several other cables to the screed units 2a of the screed device 2. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the coupling between the cable and the screed heating control device 1 and the remote electrical power source 4 is locked while heating the screed device 2. However, it is to be understood that the coupling between the cable and the screed heating control device 1 and the remote electrical power source 4 may also not be locked while heating the screed device 2 or the screed units 2a of the screed device 2 in some particular preferred embodiments.

[0101] On the contrary, while the screed device is not heated, the coupling between the cables and the screed heating control device 1 as well as the screed device 2 and of the coupling between the cable and the screed heating control device 1 and the remote electrical power source 4 is not locked. Thus, the cables may be disconnected from the screed heating control device 1 and the screed device 2 and the remote electrical power source 4 if the screed device is not heated.

[0102] Furthermore, while the screed device 2 is being heated, the paver 3 is adapted to inhibit driving of the paver 3. Furthermore, it may be preferred, while the screed device 2 is being heated, that the paver 3 is adapted to provide signals, in particular visual and acoustical signals, indicating that the screed device 2 is being heated.

[0103] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a screed heating control device 1 in one preferred embodiment. The screed heating control device 1 is adapted for controlling an actual power output for heating a screed device 2 of a paver 3, such as described before. The screed heating control device 1 comprises a power input connector device 10 and a power output connector device 11. The power input connector device 10 is configured to be connected to a remote electrical power source 4 such as described before. The power output connector device 11 is configured to be connected to the paver 2, in particular to the screed device 2 of the paver 3. Furthermore, the screed heating control device 1 comprises a power adjustment unit 12. The power adjustment unit 12 is configured for controlling the actual power output for heating the screed device 2 provided at the power output connector device 11 by connecting and disconnecting the power output connector device 11 and the power input connector device 10. In this preferred embodiment, the screed heating control device 1 I comprises a timer device 13. The timer device 13 is adapted to control the actual power output provided at the power output connector device 11 of the screed heating control device 1 for heating the screed device 2 of the paver 3. The timer device 13 is adapted to control the actual power output depending on a desired heating start time of the screed device 2, and/or a desired heating finish time of the screed device 2, and/or a desired heating duration of the screed device 2.

[0104] FIG. 3 is a more detailed block diagram of a screed heating control device 1 in another preferred embodiment based on the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 described before. It can be seen that the screed heating control device 1 comprises a power input connector device 10 having one power input connector unit 10a and a power output connector device 11 having five power output connector units 11a. The one power input connector unit 10a is connected to the five power output connector units 11a via thyristors of a thyristor unit 16. By means of the thyristors of the thyristor unit 16 the actual power output provided for heating the screed device 2 can be controlled, for example depending on a measured current or resistance. It can be seen that in this preferred embodiment of the screed heating control device 1 it is preferred to control the power output provided at each five power output connector units 11a centralized by one timer device 13. Thus, for example, at each of the five power output connector units l la a desired power output is provided for heating the screed units 2a starting at the same heating time and/or finishing at the same heating time.

[0105] FIG. 4 is a further detailed block diagram of a screed heating control device 1 in another preferred embodiment based on the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 described before. Contrary to the embodiment of the screed heating control device 1 shown in FIG. 3, the screed heating control device 1 shown in FIG. 4 comprises a timer device 13 having five timer units 13a. Each timer unit 13 is arranged in line between the power input connector unit 10a and the respective five power output connector units 11a. Thus, one timer unit 13a is assigned to each of the five power output connector units 11a to control the power output provided for heating the screed device accordingly. Thus, the five power output connector units 11a may be controlled independently from one another.

[0106] FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a screed heating control device 1 in yet a further preferred embodiment. The screed heating control device 1 shown in FIG. 5 is similar to the screed heating control device 1 shown in FIG. 2. It only differs in that the screed heating control device 1 shown in FIG. 5 comprises a control unit 15 instead of the timer device 13. It can be seen that the control unit 15 is signal coupled with the power adjustment unit 12. Furthermore, in this preferred embodiment, the control unit 15 is signal coupled with the screed device 2 and the remote electrical power source 4. Thereby, the control unit 15 is configured to communicate with the screed device 2 and the remote electrical power source 4 and the power adjustment unit 12. In particular, the control unit 15 is configured to determine a maximum power input available at the power input connector device 10 provided by the remote electrical power source 4. Further, the control unit 15 is configured to determine a desired power output required at the power output connector device 11 for heating the screed device 2 of the paver 3.

[0107] FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of a screed heating control device 1 in yet another preferred embodiment. The screed heating control device 1 is connected to a remote electrical power source 4 via a power input connector device 10 and a screed device 2 of a paver 3 via power output connector device 11, wherein the screed device 2 comprises a screed element 20 that is being heated by a heating element 21. In this preferred embodiment, the power adjustment unit 12 of the screed heating control device 1 comprises a thyristor unit 16 having two thyristors 16a, 16b that are connected antiparallel. Further, between the power input connector device and the thyristor unit 16 a inductance unit 17 is arranged. The embodiment shown in FIG. 6 is based upon the embodiment of the screed heating control device 1 shown in FIG. 5. Thus, accordingly, the control unit 15 is signal coupled with the screed device 2, the remote electrical power source 4 and the power adjustment unit 12. The control unit 15 is signal coupled with the screed device 2 for determining a desired power output required at the power output connector device 11 for heating the screed device 2 of the paver 3. Further, the control unit 15 is signal coupled with the remote electrical power source 4 for determining a maximum power input available at the power input connector device 10 provided by the remote electrical power source 4. In particular, in this preferred embodiment, the control unit 15 is signal coupled with the thyristors 16a, 16b of the thyristor unit 16 to control the actual power output provided from the screed heating control device 1 for heating the screed device 2 of the paver 3 from the remote electrical power source 4 depending on the determined maximum power input and depending on the determined desired power output.

[0108] FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of the method in a preferred embodiment. The method comprises three steps. One step of the method is determining 1010 a maximum power input available at the power input connector device 10 provided by the remote electrical power source 4. Another step of the method is determining 1020 a desired power output required at the power output connector device 11 for heating the screed device 2 of the paver 3. Yet another step of the io method is controlling 1030 the power adjustment unit 12 to control the actual power output from the screed heating control device 1 for heating the screed device 2 of the paver 3 from the remote electrical power source 4 depending on the determined maximum power input and depending on the determined desired power output.

[0109] In the present embodiment disclosed, the step of controlling 1030 the actual power output from the screed heating control device 1 for heating the screed device 2 comprises a continuous adjustment of the power adjustment unit 12, i.e. for example of thyristors 16a, 16b of the thyristor unit 16 that are connected antiparallel for continuous adjustment of the actual output power to be provided to the screed device 2. It may be preferred that the screed heating control device 1 comprises at least one temperature sensor 22—such as indicated in FIG. 1—to allow detecting the temperature of the screed device 2. This enables the screed heating control device 1 to control the actual power output provided from the screed heating control device 1 for heating the screed device 2 of the paver depending on a set desired heating temperature of the screed device 2. Additionally, it may be preferred in this embodiment, to control the actual power output provided for heating the screed device 2 depending on a desired heating start time and/or a desired heating finish time of the screed device 2. It is to be understood that it may also be preferred to control the power output provided depending on a desired power consumption of the screed device 2.

REFERENCE LIST

[0110] 1 screed heating control device [0111] 2 screed device [0112] 2a screed unit [0113] 3 paver [0114] 4 remote electrical power source [0115] 10 power input connector device [0116] 10a power input connector unit [0117] 11 power output connector device [0118] 11a power output connector unit [0119] 12 power adjustment unit [0120] 13 timer device [0121] 13a timer unit [0122] 15 control unit [0123] 16 thyristor unit [0124] 16a,b thyristors [0125] 17 inductance unit [0126] 20 screed element [0127] 21 heating element [0128] 22 temperature sensor [0129] 23 power consumption detector