US 5,915,492 AGranted

Soil compactor and traction control system thereon

AssigneeIngersoll-Rand Company

InventorsSteve K. Yates, Edward D. Magalski, Keith Williams

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

An earth compactor is propelled by a hydraulic circuit that includes a first hydraulic motor to drive a drum member and a second hydraulic motor to drive a tractor member mounted on tires, with a traction control system that includes a motor speed sensing device on each hydraulic motor. The speed sensing devices transmit electrical signals to a microcontroller, which compares the speeds and varies the speed of the tires or drum to maintain a preselected ratio between the two, thereby maintaining traction of both members. The compactor includes a ground slope sensing device which generates electrical signals and transmits the signals to the microcontroller such that, whenever the tires become elevated above the drum, the microcontroller lowers the speed of the tires and the drum to prevent tire hop.

Claims4

Dependent claims

A soil compactor comprising:

a. tractor means for supporting a rear portion of said compactor, said tractor means mounted on a pair of tires rotatably connected to a first transverse axle;
b. drum means for compacting material having a rotatable drum mounted on a second transverse axle parallel to said first axle, said drum means connected to said tractor means;
c. a closed loop, parallel hydraulic circuit means for propelling said compactor, said hydraulic circuit means comprising:
(i) first hydraulic motor means for rotating said tires, said first motor means including an electronic torque control means for varying hydraulic displacement of said first motor means to vary the torque applied by said first motor means;
and
(ii) second hydraulic motor means for rotating said drum, said second motor means including an electronic torque control means for varying hydraulic displacement of said second motor means to vary the torque applied by said second hydraulic motor means;
d. traction control means for controlling said hydraulic circuit means to selectively and independently vary the torque applied by the first and second hydraulic motors, whereby the tire rotation speed and the drum rotation speed are controlled to within a predetermined ratio of each other, said traction control means comprising:
(i) a first speed sensing means for sensing the rotational speed of said first hydraulic motor and generating a first electrical signal proportional thereto;
(ii) a second speed sensing means for sensing the rotational speed of said second hydraulic motor and generating a second electrical signal proportional thereto;
(iii) microcontroller means electrically connected to said first and second speed sensing means and to said electronic torque control means of each of said first and second motor means, said microcontroller means being responsive to said first and second electrical signals to drive said electronic torque control means of at least one of said first and second motor means so as to vary the torque applied by said one of said first and second motor means such that the tire rotation speed and the drum rotation speed are controlled to within said predetermined ratio;
e. slope sensing means for sensing when said compactor is positioned on a slope such that said tires are elevated above said drum, said slope sensing means being electrically connected to said microcontroller means;
and
f. means for generating a third electrical signal to indicate when said tires are elevated above said drum, said microcontroller means being responsive to said third electrical signal to reduce the torque applied by said first motor means by a predetermined amount to lower the tire rotation speed to permit said tires to maintain contact with a sloped surface, wherein said traction control means adjust the torque applied by said second motor means to maintain said drum speed and tire speed within said predetermined ratio.

10 more elements

A soil compactor comprising:

a. tractor means for supporting a rear portion of said compactor, said tractor means mounted on a pair of tires rotatably connected to a first transverse axle;
b. drum means for compacting material having a rotatable drum mounted on a second transverse axle parallel to said first axle, said drum means connected to said tractor means;
c. a closed loop, parallel hydraulic circuit means for propelling said vehicle, said hydraulic circuit comprising:
(i) first hydraulic motor means for rotating said rear driving member;
(ii) first means for varying the torque applied by said first hydraulic motor means;
(iii) second hydraulic motor means for rotating said front driving member;
(iv) second means for varying the torque applied by said second hydraulic motor means;
d. traction control means for controlling said hydraulic circuit means to selectively and independently vary the torque applied by said first and second hydraulic motors comprising:
(i)a first speed sensing means for sensing the rotational speed of said first hydraulic motor and for generating a first electrical signal proportional thereto;
(ii)a second speed sensing means for sensing the rotational speed of said second hydraulic motor and for generating a second electrical signal proportional thereto;
(iii) micro controller means electronically responsive to said first electronic signal from said first hydraulic motor means and electronically responsive to said second electronic signal from said second hydraulic motor means;
(iv) said micro controller means further calculating a motor speed ratio between said first and second hydraulic motor means;
(v) said micro controller means further comparing said calculated motor speed ratio to a preselected motor speed ratio range;
and
(vi) said micro controller means further adjusting torque applied by said first and second hydraulic motor means to maintain said motor speed ratio within said preselected motor speed ratio range;
e. slope sensing means for sensing when said compactor is positioned on a slope wherein said tires are elevated above said drum;
said slope sensing means including means for generating a third electrical signal to indicate when said tires are elevated above said drum;
and
f. said microcontroller means being electrically connected to said slope sensing means, responsive to said third electrical signal, for selectively varying the torque applied by said first and second hydraulic motor, whereby the torque applied by said first motor means is reduced to control tire rotational speed, to permit said tires to maintain contact with a sloped surface, and the torque applied by said second motor means is adjusted to maintain said drum speed and tire speed within said preselected motor speed ratio.

16 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/085,315Filed 26 May 1998 · continuation
Priority: 29 Sep 1995
Granted: 29 Jun 1999
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

E02D 3/026
Improving by compacting: by rolling with rollers usable only for or specially adapted for soil compaction, e.g. sheepsfoot rollers
B60K 17/356
For driving both front and rear wheels, e.g. four wheel drive vehicles: having fluid or electric motor, for driving one or more wheels
B60K 23/0808
For changing number of driven wheels , for switching from driving one axle to driving two or more axles: for varying torque distribution between…
E02D
Foundations