Uniform compaction of asphalt concrete
OwnerEdmund D. Hollon, Blake D. Holloninventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods are disclosed for controlling the steering of a carrier vehicle having a horizontal compacting roller and a side edge confinement roller or shoe for compacting an asphalt concrete lane. In one embodiment, a sensor is on the carrier vehicle for sensing the position of a defined edge of the lane, and a control is provided for steering the carrier vehicle so that the horizontal roller and the edge confinement force roller or shoe follow the defined edge of the lane to provide uniform density. A method is also provided for controlling the compacting force of a horizontal compacting roller carried by a carrier vehicle.
Claims25
A method for controlling the steering of a carrier vehicle of the type having a horizontal cylindrical compacting roller and a substantially-vertical side edge confinement force means for compacting an asphalt concrete lane laid down by a paving machine, wherein the paving machine follows a predetermined path and the asphalt concrete lane includes a defined edge which varies from said predetermined path, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing position information of the exact location of said defined edge;
- (b) providing control means, responsive to said position information, for steering said carrier vehicle so that said compacting roller and said side edge confinement force means follow the position of said defined edge and compact said asphalt concrete lane to provide uniform density.
A method for controlling side edge confinement force applied to a defined edge of an asphalt concrete lane by a compacting vehicle of the type including (a) a horizontal cylindrical compacting roller having a first end, and (b) substantially vertical side edge confinement force means carried by said compacting roller and extending downwardly below and adjacent to said first end of said compacting roller, wherein said asphalt concrete lane has been laid down by a paving machine following a predetermined path, wherein the position of said defined edge of the asphalt concrete lane varies from said predetermined path, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing position information of the exact location of said defined edge;
- (b) providing linear actuator means, responsive to said position information, for moving said horizontal compacting roller axially so that said compacting roller and said side edge confinement force means follow the position of said defined edge.
Apparatus for controlling the steering for a carrier vehicle of the type having horizontal cylindrical compacting roller and a substantially-vertical side edge confinement force means for compacting an asphalt concrete lane laid down by a paving machine, wherein the paving machine follows a predetermined path and the asphalt concrete lane includes a defined edge which varies from said predetermined path, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) sensor means on said carrier vehicle for sensing the position of said defined edge;
- and
- (b) control means for steering said carrier vehicle so that said compacting roller and said edge confinement force means follow the position of said defined edge and compact said asphalt concrete lane to provide uniform density.
Apparatus for controlling the steering of a carrier vehicle of the type having a horizontal cylindrical compacting roller and a substantially-vertical side edge confinement force means for compacting an asphalt concrete lane laid down by a paving machine, wherein the paving machine follows a predemtermined path and the asphalt concrete lane includes a defined edge which varies from said predetermined path, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) means for receiving position information of the location of said defined edge;
- (b) control means, responsive to said position information, for steering said carrier vehicle so that said compacting roller and said side edge confinement force means follow the position of said defined edge and compact said asphalt concrete lane to provide uniform density.
A method for compacting a given amount of asphalt concrete in an area defined by a lane to obtain uniform density in said lane, wherein said lane has been laid down by a paving machine following a predetermined path, and wherein said sane includes a defined edge which varies from said predetermined path, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a compacting vehicle including a substantially vertical side edge confinement force means;
- (b) providing sensor means on said compacting vehicle for sensing the position of said defined edge;
- and
- (c) controlling the steering of said compacting vehicle so that said edge confinement force means follows the exact path of said defined edge.
A method for obtaining uniform density of an asphalt concrete lane laid down by a paving machine, wherein the paving machine follows a predetermined path and the asphalt concrete lane includes a defined edge which varies from said predetermined path, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) sensing the position of said defined edge of said lane;
- (b) compacting said asphalt concrete lane with a carrier vehicle comprising a horizontal cylindrical compacting roller and a substantially vertical side edge confinement force means;
- and, simultaneously, (c) controlling the steering of said carrier vehicle so that said compacting roller and said side edge confinement force means follow the position of said defined edge, regardless of the position of said predetermined path, and compact said asphalt concrete lane to provide uniform density.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.