# US 11,306,447 B2 · Methods and systems for determining an angle of attack and a cross slope of a paving machine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,306,447 B2 - Document ID: US11306447B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/832,951 - Filed: 2020-03-27 - Published: 2021-09-30 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2020-03-27 - Assignees: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc. - Applicants: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc. - Inventors: Reece A. Berns - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11306447B2 ## CPC - E01C 19/48: for laying-down the materials and consolidating them, or finishing the surface {, e.g. slip forms therefor, forming kerbs or gutters in a continuous operation in situ (E01C19/002, E01C23/065 take precedence; devices for guiding or controlling the machines along a predetermined path E01C19/004)} - E01C 19/42: Machines for imparting a smooth finish to freshly-laid paving courses other than by rolling, tamping or vibrating (for distributing only E01C19/12; {hand-actuated smoothing tools E01C19/44}) - E01C 19/004: {Devices for guiding or controlling the machines along a predetermined path (for graders or bulldozers E02F3/841; for other soil-shifting machines E02F9/2045)} - E01C 2301/10: Heated screeds - E01C: CONSTRUCTION OF, OR SURFACES FOR, ROADS, SPORTS GROUNDS, OR THE LIKE; MACHINES OR AUXILIARY TOOLS FOR CONSTRUCTION OR REPAIR (forming roads or like surfaces by compacting or grading snow or ice E01H) ## Abstract A method for determining a change in an angle of attack of a screed on a paving machine includes determining a first angle of attack of the screed, determining a second angle of attack of the screed based on data from at least one sensor located on the screed and at least one sensor located on a frame of the paving machine, and determining a change in the angle of attack based on the first angle of attack and the second angle of attack. The method also includes providing a notification of at least one of the first angle of attack, the second angle of attack, or the change in the angle of attack. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for determining a change in an angle of attack of a screed on a paving machine, the method comprising: determining a first angle of attack of the screed; determining a second angle of attack of the screed based on data from at least one sensor located on the screed and at least one sensor located on a frame of the paving machine, the at least one sensor located on the frame of the paving machine being spaced away from a screed assembly that includes a pair of tow arms; determining a change in the angle of attack based on the first angle of attack and the second angle of attack; and providing a notification of at least one of the first angle of attack, the second angle of attack, or the change in the angle of attack. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first angle of attack is a desired angle of attack, the second angle of attack is a determined, real-time angle of attack during a paving operation, and the change in the angle of attack is a difference between the first and second angle of attacks. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the providing of a notification includes providing a notification to an operator of the paving machine during a paving operation. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the providing of a notification includes providing a notification of the change in the angle of attack when the change in the angle of attack exceeds a threshold value. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the providing of a notification includes providing the first angle of attack, the second angle of attack, and the change in angle of attack on a display of the paving machine. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor located on the screed includes an inclinometer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically adjusting the angle of attack in response to the change in the angle of attack. ### Claim 8 A method for determining a change in an angle of attack of a screed on a paving machine, the method comprising: determining a first angle of attack of the screed; determining a second angle of attack of the screed based on data from at least one sensor located on the screed and at least one sensor located on a frame of the paving machine or an averaging ski; and determining a change in the angle of attack based on the first angle of attack and the second angle of attack; and automatically adjusting the angle of attack, including automatically adjusting at least one of a counter balance of the screed or a pre-strikeoff height of the screed, in response to the change in the angle of attack. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the first angle of attack is a desired angle of attack, the second angle of attack is a determined, real-time angle of attack during a paving operation, and the change in the angle of attack is a difference between the first and second angle of attacks. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the automatically adjusting the angle of attack includes automatically adjusting the angle of attack when the change in the angle of attack exceeds a threshold value. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein automatically adjusting the angle of attack further includes automatically adjusting at least a tamper bar speed and/or a head of paving material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one sensor located on the screed includes an inclinometer, and the at least one sensor located on the frame of the paving machine includes an inclinometer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising determining a cross slope of the screed based on the data from the at least one sensor located on the screed, wherein the at least one sensor located on the screed includes a first sensor and a second sensor. ### Claim 14 A system for a paving machine, comprising: a frame; a screed assembly including a screed and a pair of tow arms; a sensor system including: at least two sensors arranged on the screed; and at least one sensor located on the frame of the paying machine spaced away from the screed assembly; and a controller for determining a change in an angle of attack of the screed or a cross slope, the controller being configured to: determine a first angle of attack of the screed; determine a second angle of attack of the screed based on data from at least one of the at least two sensors of the sensor system located on the screed and the at least one sensor located on the frame of the paving machine; determine a change in the angle of attack based on the first angle of attack and the second angle of attack; determine a cross slope of the screed based on data from the at least two sensors of the sensor system located on the screed; and provide a notification of at least one of the change in the angle of attack or the cross slope. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the controller is further configured to: automatically adjust the angle of attack in response to the change in the angle of attack, the change in the angle of attack exceeding a threshold value; and/or address the change in the cross slope when the change in the cross slope exceeds a threshold value. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the first angle of attack is a desired angle of attack, the second angle of attack is a determined, real-time angle of attack during a paving operation, and the change in the angle of attack is a difference between the first and second angle of attacks. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the at least two sensors of the sensor system located on the screed include an inclinometer, and the at least one sensor located on the frame of the paving machine includes an inclinometer. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein automatically adjusting the angle of attack includes automatically adjusting at least a tamper bar speed, a counter balance of the screed, a pre-strikeoff height, or a head of paving material. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the controller is further configured to provide a notification of at least a real-time angle of attack and/or a real-time cross slope of the screed on a display of the paving machine. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the at least two sensors arranged on the screed include a first inclinometer located on one side of the screed and a second inclinometer located on another side opposite the one side of the screed.