Machine height sensor system and method
AssigneeCaterpillar Paving Products Inc.
InventorsJason W. MUIR, Nathaniel S. DOY
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A milling machine having a height-adjustable machine body includes a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis, a plurality of traction elements, a milling rotor assembly; and a machine height sensor system. The machine height sensor system includes a plurality of laterally adjustable machine height sensors and a plurality of position sensors, each associated with a respective height sensor and measuring a lateral extent of the height sensors.
Claims21
A milling machine, comprising:
- a height-adjustable machine body having a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis;
- a plurality of traction elements;
- a milling rotor assembly coupled to the height-adjustable machine body so as to change height with a height-adjustment of the height-adjustable machine body;
- and
- a machine height sensor system coupled to the height-adjustable machine body so as to change height with a height-adjustment of the height-adjustable machine body, the machine height sensor system including:
- a plurality of laterally adjustable machine height sensors configured to determine at least one of a depth of the milling rotor assembly or a height of the height-adjustable machine body;
- and
- a plurality of position sensors, each associated with a respective height sensor and measuring a lateral extent of the height sensors.
A method for controlling a milling machine having a height-adjustable machine body having a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis, a plurality of traction elements, a milling rotor assembly coupled to the height-adjustable machine body, and a machine height sensor system including a plurality of laterally adjustable machine height sensors coupled to the height-adjustable machine body, and a plurality of position sensors, each associated with a respective height sensor and measuring a lateral extent of the height sensors, the method including:
- sensing a vertical distance using each machine height sensor;
- sensing a lateral position along the lateral axis of each machine height sensor using the plurality of position sensors;
- and
- adjusting a height of a milling rotor of the milling rotor assembly based on vertical distances and lateral positions received from the plurality of machine height sensors and associated position sensors, wherein adjusting the height of the milling rotor results in adjusting the height of the plurality of machine height sensors and the plurality of position sensors.
A milling machine, comprising:
- a height-adjustable machine body having a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis;
- a plurality of traction elements;
- a milling rotor assembly coupled to the height-adjustable machine body such that a height of the milling rotor assembly is adjusted when a height of the height-adjustable machine body is adjusted;
- a machine height sensor system coupled to the height adjustable machine body such that a height of the machine height sensor system is adjusted when the height of the height-adjustable machine body is adjusted, the machine height sensor system including:
- a plurality of laterally adjustable machine height sensors;
- a plurality of position sensors, each associated with a respective height sensor and measuring a lateral extent of the height sensors;
- and
- an operator-controllable drive system coupled to each of the laterally adjustable machine height sensors;
- and
- a controller coupled to the plurality of machine height sensors and associated position sensors, the controller configured to adjust a height of a milling rotor of the milling rotor assembly based on a vertical distance and associated lateral position received from the plurality of machine height sensors and associated position sensors.
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.