Systems and Methods for Replacing Wear Parts
AssigneeCaterpillar Paving Products Inc.
InventorsTimothy M. O'Donnell, Eric Steven Engelmann
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system includes a carrier assembly, a replacement tool movably supported by the carrier assembly, and a sensor configured to capture sensor data associated with a wear part removably connected to a rotatable drum. The system also includes a controller configured to receive the sensor data from the sensor, and identify the wear part using the sensor data. In such a system, the carrier assembly is configured to move the replacement tool such that an axis of the replacement tool is substantially collinear with an axis of the wear part. Additionally, the replacement tool is configured to remove the wear part from the drum while the axis of the replacement tool is substantially collinear with the axis of the wear part.
Claims20
A system, comprising:
- a carrier assembly;
- a replacement tool movably supported by the carrier assembly;
- a sensor configured to capture sensor data, the sensor data being associated with a plurality of wear parts removably connected to a rotatable drum;
- and
- a controller configured to receive the sensor data from the sensor, and identify, using the sensor data, a wear part of the plurality of wear parts in need of replacing, wherein, based at least in part on identification of the wear part by the controller:
- the carrier assembly is configured to move the replacement tool relative to the wear part such that the replacement tool mates with the wear part, and
- the replacement tool is configured to remove the wear part from the drum while the replacement tool is mated with the axis of the wear part.
A method, comprising:
- receiving, with a controller, sensor data from a sensor, the sensor data being associated with a plurality of wear parts removably connected to a rotatable drum;
- identifying, with the controller and based on the sensor data, a wear part of the plurality of wear parts in need of replacing;
- causing, with the controller, the drum to move to a replacement orientation in which the wear part is accessible by a replacement system operably connected to the controller;
- and
- controlling, with the controller, a replacement tool of the replacement system to mate with the wear part and remove the wear part from the drum.
A milling machine, comprising:
- a frame;
- a drum rotatable relative to the frame;
- a plurality of wear parts removably connected to the drum;
- a sensor fixedly connected to the frame such that the plurality of wear parts is within a field of view of the sensor;
- and
- a controller configured to receive sensor data from the sensor, the sensor data including an image of the plurality of wear parts, the controller being configured to:
- identify, based on the sensor data, a wear part of the plurality of wear parts in need of replacing;
- cause the drum to move to a replacement orientation in which the wear part is accessible by a replacement system operably connected to the controller, the replacement assembly comprising a carrier assembly moveable relative to the frame, and a replacement tool movably supported by the carrier assembly;
- and
- control the replacement tool to mate with the wear part and remove the wear part from the drum.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.