Compaction machine
AssigneeCaterpillar Paving Products Inc.
InventorNicholas Alan Oetken
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A compaction machine includes a frame and at least one compaction member rotatably mounted to the frame. The compaction machine also includes at least one pneumatic tire movably coupled to the frame. The at least one pneumatic tire is disposed on at least one of a first side and a second side of the at least one compaction member and adjacent to an edge of the at least one compaction member. The at least one pneumatic tire is adapted to selectively move between a deployed position and a retracted position. In the retracted position, the at least one pneumatic tire is raised relative to a work surface. In the deployed position, the at least one pneumatic tire is adapted to provide selective compaction of a portion of the work surface.
Claims20
A compaction machine comprising:
- a frame defining a longitudinal axis;
- at least one compaction member rotatably mounted to the frame, the at least one compaction member defining a first side and a second side disposed opposite to the first side;
- and
- at least one pneumatic tire movably coupled to the frame, the at least one pneumatic tire disposed on at least one of the first side and the second side of the at least one compaction member and adjacent to a circumferential edge of the at least one compaction member, the at least one pneumatic tire adapted to selectively move between a deployed position and a retracted position,
- wherein, in the retracted position, the at least one pneumatic tire is raised relative to a work surface and is disposed radially inward of the circumferential edge, and
- wherein, in the deployed position, the at least one pneumatic tire is adapted to provide selective compaction of a portion of the work surface.
A pressure control system for at least one pneumatic tire associated with a compaction member of a compaction machine, the compaction machine including a frame defining a longitudinal axis, the compaction member defining a first side and a second side disposed opposite to the first side, the compaction member including a cylindrical body that extends between the first side and the second side and includes a circumferential edge, the at least one pneumatic tire disposed on the first side and movably coupled to the frame, the at least one pneumatic tire adapted to selectively move between a deployed position and a retracted position, wherein in the retracted position the at least one pneumatic tire is raised relative to a work surface and is disposed radially inward of the circumferential edge, and wherein in the deployed position the at least one pneumatic tire is adapted to provide selective compaction of a portion of the work surface that includes an edge of the work surface or a longitudinal joint that joins first and second adjacent layers of the work surface, the pressure control system including:
- a pressure sensor disposed in association with the at least one pneumatic tire, the pressure sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of an air pressure within the at least one pneumatic tire;
- a compressor unit fluidly coupled to the at least one pneumatic tire, the compressor unit adapted to provide a flow of pressurized air to the at least one pneumatic tire;
- a release valve fluidly coupled to the at least one pneumatic tire, the release valve adapted to release the pressurized air from the at least one pneumatic tire;
- and
- a controller communicably coupled to each of the pressure sensor, the compressor unit, and the release valve, the controller configured to:
- receive the signal from the pressure sensor;
- actuate one of the compressor unit and the release valve based on a predefined pressure for the at least one pneumatic tire in the deployed position compacting the edge of the work surface adjacent to the first side or the longitudinal joint adjacent to the first side;
- and
- control the air pressure within the at least one pneumatic tire at the predefined pressure.
A method for controlling an air pressure within at least one pneumatic tire associated with at least one compaction member of a compaction machine, the compaction machine including a frame defining a longitudinal axis, the compaction member defining a first side and a second side disposed opposite to the first side, the compaction member including a cylindrical body that extends between the first side and the second side and includes a circumferential edge, the at least one pneumatic tire disposed on the first side and movably coupled to the frame, the at least one pneumatic tire adapted to selectively move between a deployed position and a retracted position, wherein in the retracted position the at least one pneumatic tire is raised relative to a work surface and is disposed radially inward of the circumferential edge, and wherein in the deployed position the at least one pneumatic tire is adapted to provide selective compaction of a portion of the work surface that includes an edge of the work surface or a longitudinal joint that joins first and second adjacent layers of the work surface, the method comprising:
- receiving a signal indicative of the air pressure within the at least one pneumatic tire from a pressure sensor;
- actuating one of a compressor unit and a release valve based on a predefined pressure for the at least one pneumatic tire in the deployed position compacting the edge of the work surface adjacent to the first side or the longitudinal joint adjacent to the first side;
- and
- controlling the air pressure within the at least one pneumatic tire at the predefined pressure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.