Paving machine with smart steering control
AssigneeGOMACO Corporation
InventorsThomas C. Farr, Raymond J. Bumann, III, Chad M. Schaeding
Life of this patent
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Abstract
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.
Claims20
A computer apparatus comprising:
- at least one processor in data communication with a tangible memory storing non-transitory processor executable code for configuring the at least one processor to:
- determine a common rotation point associated with a first radius in a paving path, the first radius being a clockwise radius;
- determine a first angle associated with a first track of a tool carrier, the first angle defined by a distance of the first track from the common rotation point;
- steer the first track to the first angle;
- determine a second angle associated with a second track of the tool carrier, the second angle defined by a distance of the second track from the common rotation point;
- steer the second track to the second angle;
- determine a second common rotation point associated with a second radius, the second radius being a counter-clockwise radius;
- determine a third angle associated with the first track defined by a distance of the first track from the second common rotation point;
- and
- determine a fourth angle associated with the second track defined by a distance of the second track from the second common rotation point.
A method for paving comprising:
- determining a common rotation point associated with a first radius in a paving path, the first radius being a clockwise radius;
- determining a first angle associated with a first track of a tool carrier, the first angle defined by a distance of the first track from the common rotation point;
- determining a second angle associated with a second track of the tool carrier, the second angle defined by a distance of the second track from the common rotation point;
- steering the first track to the first angle;
- steering the second track to the second angle;
- determining a second common rotation point associated with a second radius, the second radius be a counter-clockwise radius;
- determining a third angle associated with the first track defined by a distance of the first track from the second common rotation point;
- and
- determining a fourth angle associated with the second track defined by a distance of the second track from the second common rotation point.
A tool carrier comprising:
- a chassis;
- at least two steerable tracks connected to the chassis;
- and
- at least one processor in data communication with a memory storing processor executable code for configuring the at least one processor to:
- determine a common rotation point associated with a radius in a paving path, the radius being a clockwise radius;
- determine a first angle associated with a first track, the first angle defined by a distance of the first track from the common rotation point;
- steer the first track to the first angle;
- determine a second angle associated with a second track, the second angle defined by a distance of the second track from the common rotation point;
- steer the second track to the second angle;
- determine a second common rotation point associated with a second radius, the second radius being a counter-clockwise radius;
- determine a third angle associated with the first track defined by a distance of the first track from the second common rotation point;
- and
- determine a fourth angle associated with the second track defined by a distance of the second track from the second common rotation point.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.