U.S. patent application number 14/972109 was filed with the patent office on 2016-04-14 for operator platform adjusting mechanism for machines.
This patent application is currently assigned to Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.. Invention is credited to John E. Jorgensen, Gianluca Lombardi.
Application Number | 20160102439 14/972109 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55655065 |
Filed Date | 2016-04-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160102439 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jorgensen; John E. ; et
al. |
April 14, 2016 |
OPERATOR PLATFORM ADJUSTING MECHANISM FOR MACHINES
Abstract
A paving machine is disclosed that includes a tractor, a screed,
and an operator platform. The screed is coupled to the tractor and
is located behind the tractor. The operator platform is movably
coupled to the tractor and has a first position and a second
position. In the first position, the operator platform is located
at least partially above the screed, and in the second position,
the operator platform is located behind the screed.
Inventors: |
Jorgensen; John E.;
(Andover, MN) ; Lombardi; Gianluca; (Bologna,
IT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Caterpillar Paving Products Inc. |
Brooklyn Park |
MN |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Caterpillar Paving Products
Inc.
Brooklyn Park
MN
|
Family ID: |
55655065 |
Appl. No.: |
14/972109 |
Filed: |
December 17, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
404/118 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E01C 2301/40 20130101;
E01C 19/48 20130101; E01C 19/22 20130101; E01C 19/4873 20130101;
E01C 2301/30 20130101 |
International
Class: |
E01C 19/48 20060101
E01C019/48; E01C 19/22 20060101 E01C019/22 |
Claims
1. A paving machine comprising: a tractor, a screed coupled to the
tractor and located behind the tractor; and an operator platform
movably coupled to the tractor and having a first position and a
second position; wherein in the first position, the operator
platform is located at least partially above the screed, and in the
second position, the operator platform is located behind the
screed.
2. The paving machine of claim 1, further comprising a four-bar
linkage that movably couples the operator platform to the
tractor.
3. The paving machine of claim 2, further comprising an actuator to
move the operator platform between the first position and the
second position.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to operator
platforms in paving machines. More specifically, the present
disclosure relates to operator platforms that are switchable
between a first position and a second position relative to paving
machines.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Paving machines are commonly used to lay road forming
materials such as asphalt, bitumen, or concrete, on roads, bridges,
parking lots, and other similar construction sites. Commonly,
paving machines include apparatuses such as screeds that are
applied to smoothen and provide minor compaction to a laid quantity
of road forming material, to form a mat. During operations, screeds
may be extended, retracted, panned, and manipulated, in a generally
two dimensional plane, so as to form a desired mat width. Asphalt
paving machines also include operator platforms to allow operators
to be stationed relative to the screeds and monitor a quality and
pace of the paving operation. In typically small commercial pavers
of capacity less than 7 tons, such platforms are generally
positioned behind the screed, rearwardly to the direction of
movement of the paving machine. As a result, in instances when the
paving machine needs to pave-up to an obstacle, such as a wall, a
railing, or a pavement, the operator platform is retracted to a
home position and is temporarily stacked away until the screed is
able to effectively pave a non-paved surface adjacent to the
obstacle.
[0003] In conventional operational practice, a retraction of the
operator platform operator is performed with the platform being
manipulated from a generally horizontal plane to a generally
vertical plane. As a result, operators stationed on the platform
are inevitably required to vacate the platform, prior to the
retraction process, and be posted outside the paving machine to
monitor the paving operation. Such a practice may limit the
operators to control one or more functions of the operator platform
or of the screed owing to their posting outside. Such limitations
arise since the control panels positioned locally on the paving
machine become inaccessible to operators from the ground.
Furthermore, such a practice is generally time consuming and
involves unwarranted effort. Further, a frequent encounter with
obstacles requires the operators to vacate the platform on an
equivalent number of occasions, leading to increased lead time and
a generally counter-productive work schedule.
[0004] Japanese Patent Publication JP H07156657 relates to a cab
device for a cab seat of a construction machine such as an asphalt
paver. The cab device allows the cab seat to be manipulated so as
to keep the visibility of an operator of the construction machine
relatively unaffected. However, the '657 reference does not provide
a solution for operators stationed on operator platforms of asphalt
pavers from mitigating repeated climbing and alighting (or
vacating) procedures whenever, for example, there is a need for the
paving machine to pave-up to an obstacle.
[0005] Accordingly, the system and method of the present disclosure
solves one or more problems set forth above and other problems in
the art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Various aspects of the present disclosure illustrate a
paving machine that has a tractor, a screed, and an operator
platform. The screed is coupled to the tractor and located behind
the tractor. The operator platform is movably coupled to the
tractor. The operator platform includes a first position and a
second position. In the first position, the operator platform is
located at least partially above the screed. In the second
position, the operator platform is located behind the screed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a side view of an exemplary paving machine
incorporated with an operator platform that is positioned in an
extended state relative to the paving machine, in accordance with
the concepts of the present disclosure;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the paving machine of FIG.
1, with the operator platform being positioned in the extended
position, in accordance with the concepts of the present
disclosure; and
[0009] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the paving machine of FIG.
1, with the operator platform being positioned in a retracted
position relative to the paving machine, in accordance with the
concepts of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an exemplary paving
machine 10, which operates over a non-paved surface 12 and paves
the non-paved surface 12. The paving machine 10 may be an asphalt
paver. To perform the paving operation, the paving machine 10
includes a variety of components, such as an auger 14, an end gate
16, a screed 18, an operator platform 20, and a hopper assembly 22.
Each of these components is suitably connected to a tractor frame
24 of the paving machine 10. The tractor frame 24 may be
interchangeably referred to as a tractor 24. The paving machine 10
also provides relative compaction to a road forming material that
is delivered to the non-paved surface 12. The road forming material
may be one of asphalt, bitumen, or concrete, or a mixture of these,
although other known materials may also be contemplated. A fully
formed paved surface may be referred to as a mat 26. Further, a
machine movement may be executed along a direction, A, as shown.
Additionally, the paving machine 10 may include an operator cab
portion 28, which in certain implementations forms the same region
as has been defined by the operator platform 20, from where the
paving machine 10 is controlled and operated. Wherever possible,
same reference numbers may be used throughout the drawings to refer
to the same or like parts.
[0011] The auger 14 is adapted to receive and lay the road forming
material on the non-paved surface 12. The auger 14 may embody a
screw conveyor, which may include a mechanism that uses a helically
shaped screw blade known as flighting. A rotation of such a screw
conveyor may dump the road forming material as a stockpile over the
non-paved surface 12.
[0012] The screed 18 is connected with the tractor 24 and is
controllable to evenly spread the dumped stockpile over the
non-paved surface 12, depending on a desired width of the mat 20.
The screed 18 may provide at least a minimal compaction to the
underlying stockpile to form the mat 26. In that way, the screed 18
addresses a preliminary compaction requirement of the mat 26. A
disposal of the stockpile may be such that a flattened, planer
layer of the stockpile is substantially uniformly laid-out on the
non-paved surface 12, as the paving machine 10 proceeds in the
direction, A.
[0013] The end gate 16 may be fixedly engaged along the ends of the
screed 18. As the screed 18 assists in the formation of the mat 26,
the end gate 16 may restrict the unrequited spread of the stockpile
beyond the specified limits, and may comply to form a desired mat
width. The end gate 16 is generally attached to the screed 18 and
moves with the screed 18 to prevent undesirable spillage of the
road forming material over an adjacent, unpaved surface. Such
movement of the end gate 16 with the screed 18 generally results in
the formation of an edged margin between the mat 26 and an adjacent
unpaved surface, along an expanse of the associated roadway.
[0014] Referring to FIG. 2, the paving machine 10 with the extended
operator platform 20 is viewable from a perspective standpoint. The
operator platform 20 is installed behind the tractor 24, adjacent
to the screed 18, and rearward to the direction of motion A (FIG.
1) of the paving machine 10. The operator platform 20 functions as
a walkway that enables an operator 30 (FIG. 3) to be stationed and
observe a progress of the paving process. While being positioned on
the operator platform 20, the operator 30 (FIG. 3) may also monitor
various aspects of the mat 26, such as a leveling, surface finish
and width of the mat 26. The operator platform 20 includes a
proximal rail portion 32, a distal rail portion 34, a walkway
portion 36, a four-bar linkage assembly 38, and an actuator 40.
[0015] The walkway portion 36 is a generally steel base structure,
which is a flattened member that is substantially horizontally laid
out to effectuate operator stationing. The walkway portion 36 may
be manufactured from a sheet metal characterized with a sufficient
quantity of bends, corners, and stiffeners, to attain a relatively
robust structure that is able to withstand the weight of the
operator 30 (FIG. 3). While being robust, the operator platform 20
is also considerably lightweight so as to be relatively easily and
effortlessly manipulated to either of an extended or a retracted
position (discussed later) relative to the paving machine 10. The
walkway portion 36 may be integrally formed with the proximal rail
portion 32 and the distal rail portion 34. However, it is also
contemplated that the walkway portion 36 is formed separately
relative to the proximal rail portion 32 and the distal rail
portion 34, and assembled through conventional methods of fastening
and welding.
[0016] The proximal rail portion 32 and the distal rail portion 34
portion are two fence (or rail) portions structured and arranged on
the operator platform 20. It should be noted that the terms
"proximal" and "distal," as used herein, are intended to
respectively refer to positions of a device, component, or a
feature, for example, relative to the paving machine 10. The
proximal rail portion 32 corresponds to the rail portion among the
two fence (or rail) portions of the operator platform 20 that is
closer to the paving machine 10. Conversely, the fence (or rail)
portion being relatively farther away from the paving machine 10 is
referred to as the distal rail portion 34. Collectively, the
proximal rail portion 32 and the distal rail portion 34 may be
referred to as rail portions 32 and 34.
[0017] Generally, a disposal of the rail portions 32 and 34 are in
manner such that the proximal rail portion 32 is substantially
closer to the paving machine 10, as noted supra. Further, the
proximal rail portion 32 is substantially laterally disposed
relative to a length, L, of the paving machine 10 (FIG. 1).
Similarly, the distal rail portion 34 is disposed substantially
laterally relative to the length, L, of the paving machine 10, but
further away from the paving machine 10, than the proximal rail
portion 32. The disposal of the distal rail portion 34 is nearly
parallel to the proximal rail portion 32, with the walkway portion
36 being defined between the proximal rail portion 32 and the
distal rail portion 34. When viewed from the side, as shown in FIG.
1, the operator platform 20 conforms to an almost U-shaped profile,
which allows operators and personnel to be positioned within the
space formed by the rail portions 32 and 34 and the walkway portion
36. As shown, similar rail portions are absent on either sides (or
the laterally opposite sides) of the operator platform, relative to
a length, L, of the paving machine 10. Therefore, a generally easy
ingress and egress for the operator 30 (FIG. 3) is assumed.
[0018] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the four-bar linkage assembly 38
forms a connection interface between the paving machine 10 and the
operator platform 20. The four-bar linkage assembly 38 includes a
first four-bar linkage 42 and a second four-bar linkage 44, with
each of the first four-bar linkage 42 and the second four-bar
linkage 44 respectively forming individual connection interface
portions between the operator platform 20 and the either sides
(laterally opposed sides) of the paving machine 10, as shown. A
forthcoming description will be focused towards the first four-bar
linkage 42 alone. However, it is understood that a description for
the first four-bar linkage 42 is equivalently applicable for the
second four-bar linkage 44, as well.
[0019] The first four-bar linkage 42 includes a first shaft member
46 and a second shaft member 48. The first shaft member 46 is a
generally elongated structural member, which is substantially rigid
in construction. The first shaft member 46 is pivotally connected
with a portion of the tractor 24 of the paving machine 10 at a
first end 50 of the first shaft member 46. At an opposed second end
52 of the first shaft member 46, the first shaft member 46 is
pivotally connected with the proximal rail portion 32.
[0020] The second shaft member 48 assumes a position below the
first shaft member 46, in a substantially parallel fashion relative
to the first shaft member 46, as shown. As with the first end 50
and the second end 52 of the first shaft member 46, the second
shaft member 48 includes a machine end 54 and a platform end 56.
The machine end 54 corresponds alongside the first end 50 of the
first shaft member 46, while the platform end 56 corresponds
alongside the second end 52 of the first shaft member 46. The
second shaft member 48 is also pivotally connected to the tractor
24 at the machine end 54, while at the platform end 56 the second
shaft member 48 is pivotally connected to the proximal rail portion
32, as well.
[0021] Effectively, each of the first shaft member 46 and the
second shaft member 48 are pivotally connected to the tractor 24,
while also being pivotally connected to the proximal rail portion
32. As a result, a parallelogram-linkage is formed between the
operator platform 20 and the tractor 24. Which enables the first
four-bar linkage 42 to movably engage the operator platform 20 with
the tractor 24. Therefore, a restricted rotatable manipulation is
possible between the tractor 24 of the paving machine 10 and the
operator platform 20. This rotatable manipulation allows the
operator platform 20 to be positioned relative to the paving
machine 10 in at least one of a first position and a second
position. The first position of the operator platform 20
corresponds to the deployment of the operator platform 20
relatively and at least partially above the screed 18 (FIG. 3),
along an elevation (or height) of the paving machine 10. In the
second position, the operator platform 20 is located behind the
screed 18 or the tractor 24 (FIG. 2), when viewed along the length,
L, of the paving machine 10. In effect, the first position
corresponds to a retracted position of the operator platform 20,
while the second position corresponds to an extended position of
the operator platform 20 relative to the paving machine 10.
[0022] As may be seen by way of the above description, the first
four-bar linkage 42 includes a fixed ground link, which is the
tractor 24. Since the first shaft member 46 and the second shaft
member 48 are pivotally connected to the tractor 24, the first
shaft member 46 and the second shaft member 48 are grounded links.
Lastly, the proximal rail portion 32 is a floating link, which is
abled for manipulation in relation to the tractor 24. An exemplary
manipulation of the first four-bar linkage 42, with pivotal
connections at each of the first end 50, the second end 52, the
machine end 54, and the platform end 56, is envisioned to be
executed substantially planarly.
[0023] The actuator 40 is adapted to power the movement of the
operator platform 20 from the first position to the second
position. The actuator 40 is a linear actuator, which is
incorporated into the first four-bar linkage 42. The actuator 40
has a first actuator end 58 and a second actuator end 60. The first
actuator end 58 is connected to the machine end 54 of the second
shaft member 48, while the second actuator end 60 is connected
substantially midway to the first shaft member 46. Although the
point of connection described above, it is envisioned that the
first actuator end 58 may be connectable to other portions of the
tractor 24 or frame of the paving machine 10. In addition, it is
possible that the connection of the second actuator end 60 is away
from the midway point of the first shaft member 46. For example,
the second actuator end 60 may he connected to either of the second
end 52 or the platform end 56 respectively of the first shaft
member 46 and the second shaft member 48. As the actuator 40 is
linearly manipulable, a retraction and an extension of the actuator
40 is possible. In turn, such a provision facilitates the
possibility to tiltably or rotatably lift the first shaft member 46
generally arcuately (see arrow, B, in FIG. 3) along a height of the
paving machine 10, with the first actuator end 58 forming a rigid
reference point from where an associated upward component of force
is applicable.
[0024] In an embodiment, the actuator 40 is a screw actuator
operable by electrical activation. However, other actuator types
may be contemplated, such as those that are hydraulically or
pneumatically activated. Controls for the activation and
deactivation of the actuator 40 may be provided within or adjacent
to the operator cab portion 28 (or the operator platform 20), which
remains accessible to an operator stationed on the paving machine
10.
[0025] Further, the second four-bar linkage 44 assumes a similar
role, form, and function, as has been described for the first
four-bar linkage 42. Accordingly, it may he assumed that the second
four-bar linkage 44 is abled to move planarly as well. This
movement is also envisioned along a height of the paving machine
10. As a result, the first four-bar linkage 42 and the second
four-bar linkage 44 is manipulable along parallel planes. However,
configuration where a manipulation is affected along non-parallel
planes may be contemplated as well. Additionally, as with the
connection, form, and function, of the actuator 40 with the first
four-bar linkage 42, an auxiliary actuator (not shown) is assembled
and incorporated with the second four-bar linkage 44, as well.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0026] During road laying operations, it is typically desired to
accomplish the mat 26 that is characterized by an end-to-end
smoothened, planar surface. However, this is a challenge as a
starting point, an end point, or any intermediate point, along an
expanse of the associated non-paved roadway is typically beset with
the presence of one or more obstacles.
[0027] During operations, the operator 30 within the operator cab
portion 28 (if present) or from the operator platform 20 may
initiate a paving operation from or adjacent an obstacle. As it
requires to appropriately lay and provide initial compaction and
smoothening to the delivered stockpile, the operator 30 activates
the actuator 40 and effectuates a retraction of the operator
platform 20 from a supposed default extended position, as shown in
FIG. 2, to a retracted position. To this end, the actuator 40 is
linearly manipulated and extended upwards along the direction
indicated by the arrow, B (FIG. 3). Simultaneously, the four-bar
linkages 42 and 44 are manipulated along parallel planes. The
operator 30 may continue with the upward extension of the actuator
40 until the operator platform 20 has reached a position where an
outermost rearward point on the operator platform 20 is at least in
line with an outermost point on the screed 18. In that way,
protruded portions beyond the screed 18 are drawn back and the
screed 18 is rendered free to pave-up to an obstacle.
[0028] With the four-bar linkages 42 and 44 in place, it is
possible for the walkway portion 36 to remain horizontally aligned
even when the operator platform 20 is moved to the retracted
position (first position) from the extended position (second
position). As a result, the operator 30 (FIG. 3) positioned on the
operator platform 20 may avoid frequent alighting from the paving
machine 10. Moreover, it is possible that a switch between the
extended position and the retracted position is executed even
during a movement of the paving machine 10, such as when there is
an early detection of an obstacle ahead, during an on-going paving
process. Such a provision mitigates the consumption of time, which
is conventionally wasted on frequent operator movement relative to
the paving machine 10. Depending upon need, the operator platform
20 may be positioned infinitely or in multiple positions in-between
a fully retracted position (first position) and a fully extended
position (second position), as well.
[0029] Advantageously, the retracted position of the operator
platform 20 is suited to comply with other situations as well. For
example, during shipping or local transportation, it may be
desirable to have the operator platform 20 in the retracted
position and conformed to enclosure requirements of an associated
mode of transportation. Further, as the retracted position of the
operator platform 20 also corresponds to an elevated walkway
portion 36, it is contemplated that the operator 30 (FIG. 3)
stationed on the operator platform 20 may tap into a line of sight
acquirable in this position, thus freeing the way to view the
contents (road forming materials) of the hopper assembly 22, even
while the paving machine 10 is in motion and in operation.
[0030] It should be understood that the above description is
intended for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to
limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. Thus, one
skilled in the art will appreciate that other aspects of the
disclosure may be obtained from a study of the drawings, the
disclosure, and the appended claim.
* * * * *