U.S. patent application number 09/853029 was filed with the patent office on 2002-04-25 for method for the integrated management of the parameters regarding the cutting of road surfaces and road scarifier implementing said method.
Invention is credited to Davis, Danny Ray.
Application Number | 20020047301 09/853029 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 11461265 |
Filed Date | 2002-04-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020047301 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Davis, Danny Ray |
April 25, 2002 |
Method for the integrated management of the parameters regarding
the cutting of road surfaces and road scarifier implementing said
method
Abstract
The invention is a road scarifier for cutting road surfaces,
comprising: a frame provided with a cutter, supported by tracks by
means of hydraulic actuators suitable for modifying the position of
said cutter with respect to the road surface; driving means to
obtain the setting in motion of the machine and the rotation of
said cutter; right and left sensors arranged at the sides of the
machine and suitable for measuring the distance from the road
surface; sensors to show the inclination of said machine with
respect to the horizontal plane. Each one of the right and left
sensors and said inclination sensor (.alpha.) sends signals to
first data processing systems, the first data processing systems
being suitable for comparing the values measured with those preset
and for sending out difference signals that are received by a data
processing unit capable of sending control signals to hydraulic
actuators connected to the frame of the machine, in such a way as
to reduce to zero the difference signal sent out by said first data
processing systems.
Inventors: |
Davis, Danny Ray; (Jesi,
IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DYKEMA GOSSETT PLLC
FRANKLIN SQUARE, THIRD FLOOR WEST
1300 I STREET, NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20005
US
|
Family ID: |
11461265 |
Appl. No.: |
09/853029 |
Filed: |
May 11, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
299/1.5 ;
299/39.6; 404/84.05 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E01C 19/006 20130101;
E01C 23/088 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
299/1.5 ;
299/39.6; 404/84.05 |
International
Class: |
E01C 023/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 11, 2000 |
IT |
VI2000A000092 |
Claims
1) Road scarifier for cutting road surfaces, comprising: a frame
provided with at least one cutter, supported by tracks by means of
hydraulic actuators suitable for modifying the relative position of
said frame and said tracks, in such a way as to modify the position
of said cutter with respect to the road surface; driving means to
obtain the setting in motion of the machine and the rotation of
said cutter; right and left sensors arranged at the sides of the
machine and suitable for showing the relative distance between said
sensors and the road surface; sensors to show the inclination of
said machine with respect to the horizontal plane, wherein each of
said right and left sensors and said inclination sensor sends
signals to first programming and controlling data processing
systems, said first data processing systems being suitable for
comparing the measured values with the preset values and for
emitting difference signals that are received by a signal
processing unit capable of sending control signals to hydraulic
actuators connected to the frame of the machine, in such a way as
to reduce to zero the difference signals sent out by said first
data processing systems.
2) Road scarifier according to claim 1, wherein the values preset
in said first data processing systems are two, the third value
being derived directly from the other two.
3) Road scarifier according to claim 1, wherein said data
processing unit is provided with a selector suitable for enabling
two of the three first data processing systems, indifferently, for
the presetting of data the third of said first data processing
system being set consequently.
4) Road scarifier according to claim 1, wherein the hydraulic
actuators are hydraulic cylinders, more precisely two front and two
rear cylinders, said front cylinders being hydraulically connected
to each other, so that they can be operated by means of a single
control.
5) Method for the operation of a road scarifier according to claim
1, suitable for removing asphalt from road surfaces by cutting with
preset scarification depth and inclination, comprising a first
cycle for the setting of the parameters to be obtained and a
working cycle, wherein it comprises the following steps: A) lifting
the hydraulic jacks supporting the frame of the machine and resting
on the tracks with maximum extension; B) lowering the hydraulic
jacks until the cutting drum of said scarifier rests on the road
surface; C) measuring the distance between the road surface and the
lateral sensors positioned on the right and left side of the
machine frame, by means of a first right data processing system and
of a first left data processing system, respectively; D) measuring
the transversal inclination of the machine by means of an
inclination sensor and a further first data processing system; E)
sending said signals to said first right and left data processing
systems and to said inclination data processing system on the
respective first right scarification depth, left scarification
depth and inclination display; F) setting to zero the values shown
by said first displays by means of a reset button acting on each
one of said first data processing systems; G) setting two values
chosen among the right scarification depth, left scarification
depth and inclination in two of said first data processing systems;
and in that the working cycle comprises the following steps: A1)
starting the rotation of the cutting drum and the machine; B1)
sending the values taken by said right and left sensors and by said
inclination sensor to said first right and left scarification depth
data processing systems and inclination data processing system; C1)
comparing the values taken with the values preset in said first
data processing systems; D1) sending out a difference signal from
each first data processing system, said difference signal being
proportional to the difference between the values taken and those
preset and being received by a data processing unit; E1) sending
out control signals from the data processing unit to hydraulic
actuators connected to the frame of the machine, said control
signals being such as to vary the values measured by the right and
left scarification depth sensors and by the inclination sensor, in
such a way as to restore the preset values.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention concerns a method for the integrated
management of the parameters regarding the cutting depth of road
surfaces and a road scarifier suitable for implementing said
method.
[0002] It is known that road scarifiers are machines equipped with
a cutting drum that sinks into the road surface for a given depth,
in such a way as to remove the asphalt and prepare a bed suitable
for the laying of a new asphalt blanket. Depending on the different
needs, the road scarifier must remove the road surface until
reaching a given depth, for example 10-15 cm with respect to the
road level. Sometimes, besides removing the asphalt in horizontal
direction, or in any case parallel to the road surface, it is
necessary to remove the asphalt in a different manner from the
right to the left side of the road, for example when a road with
sloping sides for the drainage of rain must be obtained, that is, a
road whose sides are lower with respect to its centre to avoid the
stagnation of water.
[0003] In this case it may happen that, if the road surface in
question does not have this geometrical configuration, to obtain an
inclined profile the scarifier must cut the road deeper on one side
than on the other. Practically, the cutting drum must not be
parallel to the road surface, but inclined of an angle .alpha. with
respect to the same.
[0004] In order to obtain these specific effects in the preparation
of the road bed for the laying of a new asphalt blanket, the known
road scarifiers use copying devices, like for example tracer points
that cooperate with a wire tensioned through a series of pegs
arranged on the road side.
[0005] According to this method, the tracer point is constantly in
contact with the tight wire and when this contact is lost an
automatic correction of the machine position takes place by means
of hydraulic jacks that operate on the frame, in such a way as to
vary the working depth of the cutting drum and restore the contact
between tracer point and wire.
[0006] If it is not possible to use pegs and tight wire, the
machine is equipped with a long linear bar positioned at the side
of the machine itself and resting on the road surface, in such a
way as to define a median plane that is followed by the machine in
operation.
[0007] Besides these devices, which substantially control the
cutting depth, there are also devices that show the inclination of
the cutting drum with respect to the road surface, in such a way as
to remove different quantities of asphalt on the left and on the
right side of the drum, respectively, and to obtain a given road
profile, for example with sloping sides.
[0008] More generally, road scarifiers are provided either with
sensors positioned on the left and on the right side of the machine
and suitable for measuring the distance between the sensor and the
cutter contact surface, and with devices controlling the
inclination of the cutting drum.
[0009] At present these data are read and managed by the machine
operator in a non-coordinated way, which means that if the machine
must drive the cutter into the road surface for a given depth--for
example the same depth on the right and left side--the operator of
the machine must programme the right depth control instrument and
the left depth control instrument separately, presetting a certain
working depth for the right and left sides of the road.
[0010] According to the known technique, therefore, the right and
left scarification depth control devices cannot exchange
information in order to correct any deviation from the preset
parameters.
[0011] Practically, according to the technique used at present
there is no interdependence between the measured parameters
regarding right depth, left depth and inclination, which would
ensure the complete control of the cutting profile to be
obtained.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The aim of the present invention is to overcome the
limitations of the known technique.
[0013] Another aim of the invention, in fact, is the implementation
a road scarifier for the cutting of road surfaces that constantly
ensures that the work of the cutting drum on the road surface is
performed in such a way as to obtain the desired profile, and
therefore following preset parameters.
[0014] Said profile should also be automatically respected by the
machine, which means that during the operation of the machine
automatic correction in response to deviations from the preset
parameters should be possible.
[0015] Another object of the invention is to facilitate the work
for the operator of the machine, by grouping on a single panel the
controls regarding the parameters of the scarification profile to
be obtained, that is, the right depth, left depth and inclination
parameters of the road surface removed.
[0016] A further aim to be achieved is that the scarifier control
system should make it possible to operate the machine by setting
only two of the three parameters of the scarification profile to be
obtained, while the third parameter should be derived from the
other two.
[0017] Another aim of the invention is the implementation of a
machine equipped with a device that, whenever a deviation from the
preset parameters takes place, intervenes with an automatic
correction procedure acting directly on the components that vary
the position of the machine and of the cutting drum with respect to
the road surface on which the work is being performed.
[0018] All the aims mentioned above and others that will be
described in greater detail below have been achieved through the
implementation of a road scarifier for cutting road surfaces,
comprising:
[0019] a frame provided with at least one cutting drum, preferably
supported by tracks by means of hydraulic actuators suitable for
modifying the relative position of said frame and said tracks, in
such a way as to modify the axis of said cutter with respect to the
road surface;
[0020] driving means to obtain the setting in motion of the machine
and the rotation of said cutter;
[0021] right and left sensors arranged at the sides of the machine
and suitable for showing the relative distance between said sensors
and the road surface; sensors to show the inclination of said
machine with respect to the horizontal plane, said road scarifier
being characterized in that each of said right and left sensors and
said inclination sensor sends signals to first programming and
controlling data processing systems, said first data processing
systems being suitable for comparing the signals received with
preset signals and for emitting difference signals that are
received by a second data processing system capable of sending
control signals to hydraulic actuators connected to the frame of
the machine, in such a way as to reduce to zero the difference
signals sent out by said first data processing systems.
[0022] The object of the invention includes also the road scarifier
operation method for the removal of asphalt from road surfaces
through the cutting of the asphalt with preset depth and
inclination, comprising a presetting cycle for the definition of
the parameters to be obtained and a working cycle according to the
contents of the independent claim regarding said method.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] Further characteristics and details of the invention will be
better highlighted in the description of one favourite application
among many of the invention in question, illustrated in the
enclosed drawings, wherein:
[0024] FIG. 1 is a front view of the machine object of the
invention;
[0025] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the machine object of the
invention, showing in particular the position of the hydraulic
jacks with which the machine is equipped;
[0026] FIG. 3 is a schematic section of the machine object of the
invention along line III-III, showing in particular the hydraulic
diagram of the front hydraulic jacks;
[0027] FIG. 4 is a schematic section of the machine object of the
invention along line IV-IV, showing in particular the hydraulic
diagram of the rear hydraulic jacks and the machine inclination
sensor;
[0028] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the control devices with which
the machine object of the invention is equipped;
[0029] FIG. 6 shows a section of the road surface removed by the
machine object of the invention; and
[0030] FIG. 7 shows by means of a table the possible operation
modes of the rear actuators and of the inclination sensor of the
machine object of the invention.
[0031] With reference to the figures mentioned above, it can be
observed that the road scarifier, indicated as a whole by 1 in FIG.
1, is provided with a frame 2 supported by tracks 3, 4, 5 and 6, on
which the same number of jacks indicated by 7, 8, 9 and 10 rest, as
shown in FIG. 2.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0032] The road scarifier is equipped with a cutting drum 11
suitable for working on the road surface 12 according to the
position of the hydraulic jacks that lift or lower the frame 2 as
required by the work programme.
[0033] It must be observed that road scarifiers are generally
provided with front jacks 8 and 9 operated by a single hydraulic
control, so that they act together as if they were a single central
jack positioned at the front of the machine, as shown in the
hydraulic diagram of FIG. 3. On the other hand, as far as the rear
jacks 7 and 10 are concerned, these are controlled independently of
each other and can have different configurations, so that the
cutting drum 11 can be parallel to the road surface, or inclined as
much as necessary to obtain the scarification according to a given
profile, for example with sloping sides, in such a way as to obtain
an asphalt covering having certain specific characteristics.
[0034] According to the invention, the road scarifier 1 is provided
on both sides with sensors, indicated by 13 and 14, respectively,
that can be seen in FIG. 2 and 1. These sensors can be ultrasound
sensors or reflection sensors and serve to measure the distance
between said sensors and the road bed.
[0035] As it can be observed in the block diagram of FIG. 5, the
sensors 13 and 14 send their signals to first programming and
controlling data processing systems indicated by 16 and 17,
respectively. More particularly, the sensors 13 send their signals
to the data processing system 16 and the mean of said signals is
made and shown on a display 161.
[0036] Analogously, the sensors 14 send their measure signals to
the data processing system 17, which shows the mean of the readings
on the display 171.
[0037] As already explained, the road scarifier is also provided
with a frame inclination sensor indicated by 18, which in fact
shows the inclination angle .alpha. of the frame with respect to
the horizontal line of the machine. Since the cutting drum 11 is
integral with the frame 2, the inclination of the frame obviously
corresponds to the inclination of the cutting drum, which is the
inclination that is actually relevant to the work performed by the
machine. Even in this case the inclination sensor 18 is connected
to a further first data processing system 19 that shows the
measured inclination, expressed in degrees, on the display 191.
[0038] According to the invention, it is possible to set two of the
three parameters necessary for the setting of the scarification in
the first data processing systems 16, 17 or 19, since the third
parameter can be derived from the other two. More particularly, it
is possible to set the left and right scarification depth
parameters in the data processing systems 16 and 17 through the
displays 162 and 172, respectively.
[0039] Obviously, if the right and left scarification depth values
are the same, the angle .alpha. on the display 192 of the data
processing system 19 will be equal to 0. The situation will be
different if the left scarification depth value differs from the
right scarification depth value and in this case the value of the
angle .alpha. will be derived directly from the difference between
the two values set.
[0040] It is clear, therefore, that to preset the operation
parameters of the road scarifier it will be necessary to preset two
of the first three data processing systems 16, 17 and 19, that is,
the respective values required, the third value resulting directly
from the other two.
[0041] More particularly, if the two scarification depth values are
set, the inclination angle value will be set as a consequence of
the other two. It is also possible to set the value of the left or
right scarification depth together with the desired inclination
angle, and the other right or left scarification depth value will
be consequently defined and preset and then automatically displayed
by the first data processing systems.
[0042] When the machine is in operation, each data processing
system 16, 17 or 19 carries out a comparison between the
scarification depth or angle set and the corresponding readings, by
means of an electronic processor. Consequently, a difference signal
.delta.S, .delta.D and .delta..alpha. is sent out by the first data
processing system 16, or 17, or 19, respectively. These difference
signals are received by a second data processing system PLC,
indicated as a whole by 20, which processes the signals received
and sends control signals to hydraulic left and right actuators,
indicated by 21 and 22, respectively, which control the hydraulic
cylinder 10 and the hydraulic cylinder 7, respectively, so that the
lifting or lowering of each one of the hydraulic cylinders tends to
reduce to zero the difference signals .delta. received by the first
data processing systems 16, 17 and 19.
[0043] It is clear that in this way the road scarifier object of
the invention, with its control device, controls all the parameters
regarding the scarification carried out by the cutting drum and
adapts the position of the machine through the operation of the
hydraulic jacks, in such a way as to follow the desired
scarification profile.
[0044] From an operational point of view, the first step necessary
to carry out the scarification according to preset parameters as
described herein is represented by the setting of the parameters,
which is followed by the actual scarification process.
[0045] For the parameter setting cycle, first of all it is
necessary to operate the hydraulic jacks of the machine, in such a
way as to lift the frame with the maximum extension, that is, at
the maximum distance of the same from the ground, after which the
jacks must be lowered until the cylinder rests on the ground. With
the cylinder resting on the ground and parallel to the road surface
to be scarified, the measured values shown by the displays 162, 172
and 192 are read and then set to zero by means of the reset buttons
positioned on each first data processing system, indicated by 163,
173 and 193. Once the values are set to zero, the desired values
are set in two of the three displays 162, 172, 192 belonging to the
data processing systems 16, 17 and 19, according to one of the
combinations shown by the table in FIG. 7. For example, as it can
be observed for the setting 1 of the selector 30, the value LS can
be set in the display 162, the value LD in the display 172, and the
angle .alpha. will be set in the display 192 as a consequence of
the other two settings.
[0046] Another option is available, according to position 2 of the
selector 30 of FIG. 7, if the operator decides to set the right
scarification depth value LB and the inclination angle .alpha.. In
this case the left scarification value LS will automatically derive
from the other two settings.
[0047] It may also happen, as shown in line 4 and 5 of the table of
FIG. 7, that the left or right cylinder respectively are kept
inoperative and therefore fixed in their initial position. The
position 6 indicates that the machine is at rest.
[0048] Therefore, once two of the three reference values have been
set, as explained above, in each one of the first data processing
systems 16, 17, or 19, it is possible to start the work.
[0049] As soon as the scarification work is started, the sensors
13, 14 and 18 transmit the scarification depth and inclination
angle values measured to the respective data processing systems.
These values are compared with the set depth and inclination angle
values and, if there is a difference between the values read and
those set, the first data processing systems send out a difference
signal .delta.S, .delta.D or .delta..alpha.. These signals are
received by a data processing unit, for example a PLC indicated by
20, which sends out one or two signals, 21 and 22, that operate the
hydraulic actuators 7 and 10. Said cylinders are operated in order
to obtain a variation in the position of the frame 2, in such a way
as to reduce to zero the difference .delta.S, .delta.D or
.delta..alpha. signalled by the first data processing systems 16,
17 and 19.
[0050] If the machine keeps working with constant value readings
and if the readings substantially correspond to the preset values,
no difference signal will be sent out by the first data processing
systems and consequently the PLC 20 will not emit any signal to
operate the hydraulic actuators 7 and 10.
[0051] It is clear that, according to the invention, it is possible
to obtain the full automatic control of the geometrical
configuration of the scarification profile, after presetting the
starting data.
[0052] It is also obvious that thanks to this possibility of
presetting the parameters the road scarifier can obtain any
scarification profile, an example of which is shown in FIG. 6.
* * * * *