U.S. patent application number 14/720222 was filed with the patent office on 2016-11-24 for planer and method for producing rumble strips.
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 Eric S. Engelmann, Sean Laclef, Alexis Lee.
Application Number | 20160340843 14/720222 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57324342 |
Filed Date | 2016-11-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160340843 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Laclef; Sean ; et
al. |
November 24, 2016 |
Planer and Method for Producing Rumble Strips
Abstract
A road planer for road milling or road planning operations
implements a control system for forming a plurality of rumble
strips in a work surface. The control system may receive a
plurality of variables from an operator interface related to the
desired configuration for the rumble strips including a
depth-of-depression variable, a length-of-depression variable, and
a distance-between-depressions variable. The control system may
also determine one or more parameters regarding the operational
status of the road planer. The control system processes the
variables and/or parameters to adjust a height adjustment mechanism
of the road planer thereby engaging and disengaging a cutting rotor
with the work surface to from the rumble strips.
Inventors: |
Laclef; Sean; (Plymouth,
MN) ; Engelmann; Eric S.; (Delano, MN) ; Lee;
Alexis; (Brooklyn Park, MN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Caterpillar Paving Products Inc. |
Brooklyn Park |
MN |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
CATERPILLAR PAVING PRODUCTS
INC.
Brooklyn Park
MN
|
Family ID: |
57324342 |
Appl. No.: |
14/720222 |
Filed: |
May 22, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E01C 23/0993
20130101 |
International
Class: |
E01C 23/09 20060101
E01C023/09; E01C 23/01 20060101 E01C023/01 |
Claims
1. A road planer for planning a work surface specially configured
for forming a plurality of rumble strips, the road planer
comprising: a frame supported on a plurality of ground-engaging
components by a height adjustment mechanism for raising and
lowering the frame with respect to the plurality of ground-engaging
components; a cutting rotor rotatably mounted to the frame, the
cutting rotor including a plurality of cutting tools; a power
source operatively associated with the cutting rotor for rotating
the cutting rotor with respect to the frame and operatively
associated with at least one of the plurality of ground-engaging
components for propelling the road planer; and an electronic
control unit including an operator interface, the electronic
control unit programmed with a control system adapted to receive
via the operator interface a plurality of variables including a) a
depth-of-depression variable; b) a length-of-depression variable;
and c) a distance-between-depressions variable, the electronic
control unit further configured to operate the height adjustment
mechanism in accordance with the plurality of variables.
2. The road planer of claim 1, wherein the control system is
further configured to receive a number-of-depressions variable.
3. The road planer of claim 1, wherein the control system is
further configured to receive a profile-of-depression variable.
4. The road planer of claim 3, wherein the profile-of-depression
variable causes the height adjustment mechanism to raise and lower
the frame in accordance with one of a curved profile and a
trapezoidal profile.
5. The road planer of claim 1, wherein the control system is
further configured to determine one or more parameters regarding
operational status of the road planer.
6. The road planer of claim 5, wherein the one or more parameters
includes a travel speed of the road planer.
7. The road planer of claim 1, wherein the height adjustment
mechanism includes a plurality of adjustable struts each
operatively associated with one of the plurality of ground-engaging
components.
8. The road planer of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of
adjustable struts is adjustable independently of each other.
9. The road planer of claim 8, wherein the plurality of
ground-engaging components are selected from the group consisting
of track assemblies and wheels.
10. The road planer of claim 1, where in the electronic control
unit is further configured with a road planning module adapted to
receive a depth-of-cut variable, the electronic control unit
further configured to operate the height adjustment mechanism in
accordance with the depth-of-cut variable for planning the work
surface.
11. A method of forming rumble strips in a work surface with a road
planer, the method comprising: loading a rumble strip forming
module in an electronic control unit operatively associated with
the road planer upon receiving an activation signal activating the
rumble strip forming module; receiving via an operator interface
associated with the electronic control unit a plurality of
variables including a) a depth-of-depression variable; b) a
length-of-depression variable; and c) a
distance-between-depressions variable; rotating a cutting rotor
rotatably mounted to a frame of the road planer; and adjusting a
height adjustment mechanism to raise and lower a frame of the road
planer with respect to the work surface in accordance with the
plurality of variables.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving a
number-of-depressions variable.
13. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving a
profile-of-depression variable.
14. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining one or
more parameters about operational status of the road planer, the
one or more parameters including a travel speed of the road
planer.
15. The method of claim 11, further comprising selecting a milled
cut mode whereby the road planer continuously travels during the
step of adjusting the height adjustment mechanism.
16. The method of claim 11, further comprising selecting a
depression cut mode whereby the road planer temporally stops during
the step of adjusting the height adjustment mechanism.
17. The method of claim 11, further comprising steps of: activating
a road planning module in the electronic control unit; receiving a
depth-of-cut variable via the operator interface; and adjusting the
height adjustment mechanism in accordance with the depth-of-cut
variable.
18. A computer executable control system for forming rumble strips
with a road planer, the control system comprising: a data structure
adapted to receive a plurality of variables from an operator
interface relating to the rumble strips, the plurality of variables
including a) a depth-of-depression variable; b) a
length-of-depression variable; and c) a
distance-between-depressions variable; and computer executable
instructions for controlling a height adjustment mechanism on the
road planer in accordance with the plurality of variables received
in the data structure.
19. The computer executable control system of claim 18, further
comprising computer executable instructions for determining one or
more parameters regarding operational status of the road planer,
and a computer executable algorithm for processing the plurality of
variables with the one or more parameters.
20. The computer executable control system of claim 19, wherein the
computer executable algorithm determines a travel output of the
road planer corresponding to at least one of the
length-of-depression variable and the distance-between-depressions
variable.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This patent disclosure relates generally to a road planer
for removing pavement or material from a roadway or similar work
surface and, more particularly, to a control system and method for
forming rumble strips on a work surface.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Road planers, also known as pavement profilers, road milling
machines or cold planers, are machines designed for removing or
milling material such as pavement, asphalt, or concrete from a work
surface such as a roadway or similar surfaces. These machines
typically have a plurality of tracks or, in some cases, wheels that
support and horizontally transport the machine along the surface of
the road to be planed, and have a rotatable cutter that is
vertically adjustable with respect to the road surface. When the
rotatable cutter is brought into contact with the work surface,
picks or teeth-like cutting tools that are disposed about the
cylindrical exterior of the rotatable cutter can impact and break
apart the top layer of the surface for removal and allowing the
surface to be repaved. The road planers can be operated to remove
substantial distances of the roadway surface during the repaving
operations in accordance with a depth-of-cut setting.
[0003] During the creation of a new roadway or work surface, it may
be desirable to form rumble strips in certain locations that can
alert vehicle drivers of oncoming hazards or that they may be
drifting from their intended lane. Rumble strips are a series of
adjacent, parallel depressions and rises disposed into the top of
the road, often longitudinally arranged perpendicular to the
direction of intended travel of vehicles over the work surface.
When the wheels of a vehicle encounter the rumble strips, their
shape and spacing create a tactile vibration and an audible
rumbling to be transmitted through the vehicle thereby providing an
alert or feedback to the vehicle driver.
[0004] One example of a system and method for forming rumble strips
is described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,821,063, ("the '063 patent")
assigned to Surface Preparation Technology Inc. of Pennsylvania.
The '063 patent describes a cutting machine that can be attached to
the front of a custom built vehicle or truck for being pushed along
the roadway or work surface. The attachable cutting machine
includes a rotatable drum that can be raised and lowered by a
hydraulic arm with respect to the rest of the cutting machine to
engage the drum into contact with the work surface. To attach the
cutting machine to the truck, a tool mast that allows for further
height adjustment can be included on the front of the truck. The
present disclosure is directed to an improved system and method
over this approach to forming rumble strips.
SUMMARY
[0005] The disclosure describes, in one aspect, a road planer for
planning a work surface that has been specifically adapted to form
a plurality of rumble strips into the work surface. The road planer
includes a frame supported on a plurality of ground-engaging
components by a height adjustment mechanism. The height adjustment
mechanism is adapted to raise and lower the frame with respect to
the ground-engaging components. A cutting rotor is rotatably
mounted to the frame and includes a plurality of cutting tools. To
provide power to road planer, a power source is included and is
operatively associated with the cutting rotor for rotating the
cutting rotor with respect to the frame and with at least one of
the plurality of ground-engaging components for propelling the road
planer. To control operation of the road planer, an electronic
control unit including an operator interface is also included. The
electronic control unit can be programmed with a control system
adapted to receive, via the operator interface, a plurality of
variables including a depth-of-depression variable, a
length-of-depression variable, and a distance-between-depressions
variable. The electronic control unit is further configured to
operate the height adjustment mechanism in accordance with the
plurality of variables.
[0006] In another aspect, the disclosure describes a method of
forming rumble strips in a work surface with a road planer.
According to the method, an operator can activate a rumble strip
forming module in an electronic control unit associated with the
road planer. A plurality of variables are received through an
operator interface associated with the electronic control unit
including a depth-of-depression variable; a length-of-depression
variable; and a distance-between-depressions variable. Further
according to the method, the electronic control unit rotates a
cutting rotor rotatably mounted to a frame of the road planer and
adjusts a height adjustment mechanism to raise and lower a frame of
the road planer with respect to the work surface in accordance with
the plurality of variables.
[0007] In yet another aspect of the disclosure, there is described
a computer executable control system for forming rumble strips with
a road planer. The control system includes a data structure adapted
to receive a plurality of variables from an operator interface
relating to the rumble strips. The plurality of variables may
includes a depth-of-depression variable, a length-of-depression
variable, and a distance-between-depressions variable. The control
system further includes computer executable instructions for
controlling a height adjustment mechanism on the road planer in
accordance with the plurality of variables received in the data
structure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a machine, in
particular, a road planer configured with a control system for
forming a plurality of rumble strips in a work surface such as a
roadway in accordance with the disclosure.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an operator's station of the
road planer including various operator interfaces for controlling
and operating the road planer of FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of an electronic
control unit operatively associated with the operator interface of
FIG. 2 and with various components, controllers, and sensors on the
road planer.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a cutting rotor of
the road planer forming an embodiment of multiple rumble strips
each having a curved shape.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a cutting rotor of
the road planer forming an embodiment of multiple rumble strips
each having a generally trapezoidal shape.
[0013] FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a possible electronic
implementation of a control system for forming rumble strips in a
work surface with a road planer according to the present
disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] Now referring to the drawings, wherein like reference
numbers refer to like features, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 a
machine in the particular embodiment of a road planer 100, which
may also be referred to in the alternative as a cold planer, road
miller, or the like. As will be familiar to those of ordinary skill
in the art, road planers are utilized in road repair and repaving
operations to remove pavement or other materials from the top
surface of a road, highway or similar work surface. The road planer
100 can include a frame 102 that is generally supported on a
plurality of ground-engaging components 104 that are designed to
contact and propel the road planer over the work surface 106. In
the particular embodiment illustrated, the ground-engaging
components are track assemblies that include horizontally arranged
continuous tracks 108 or a closed belt disposed about spaced-apart
rollers 109 or sprockets. When the rollers 109 are rotated, they
move the continuous track 108 about in a loop so that the frame 102
of the cold planer is carried over the work surface 106. In other
embodiments, though, the ground-engaging components can be wheels
or another suitable ground propulsion device known in the art.
[0015] To provide power to the ground-engaging components 104, the
road planer 100 can include a power source 110 disposed on the
frame 102. In the illustrated embodiment, the power source 110 and
other components that may ordinarily be hidden from view by panels
or surfaces of the road planer 100 are indicated in dashed lines.
The power source 110 may be an internal combustion engine such as a
diesel burning, compression ignition engine but in other
embodiments other types of power sources can be utilized such as
hybrid engines, gas burning engines, turbines, and the like. The
power source 110 can generate rotary power harnessed and
transmitted by a rotating drive shaft 112 extending from the power
source. The rotating drive shaft 112 can be operatively associated
with one or more of the ground-engaging components 104 through
various additional shafts, gears, transmissions, differentials, and
the like causing the ground-engaging component to move with respect
to the work surface. As will be explained in further detail herein,
the power source 110 can also be used to generate and supply power
for the other components and systems associated with the road
planer 100.
[0016] To remove a layer of pavement, asphalt, or other material
from a road or similar work surface 106, the road planer 100 can
include a power driven, cutting rotor 114 rotatably supported with
respect to the frame 102. As indicated above, the cutting rotor 114
can be a drum-shaped, cylindrical structure having a plurality of
picks or teeth-like cutting tools 116 disposed about its
cylindrical surface. The cutting rotor 114 can further be
accommodated in a housing 118 that depends from the frame 102
toward the work surface 106 and can be arranged so that its
cylindrical shape and its axis of rotation 120 are traverse or
perpendicular to the forward direction of travel 122 (indicated by
arrow) of the road planer 100. The cutting tools 116 are adapted to
penetrate into the work surface 106 and remove a portion of the
material as the road planer 100 advances along the forward
direction of travel 122 through a process sometimes referred to as
milling or planning. In some embodiments, the cutting tools may be
removable from the cutting rotor for replacement as they become
worn or damaged. To rotate the cutting rotor 114 about its axis of
rotation 120, the cutting rotor can be operatively coupled to the
power source 110 through a mechanical arrangement including
cooperating belts 124, pulleys 126 and a belt tensioner 128.
[0017] To bring the cutting rotor 114 into and out of contact with
the work surface 106, the road planer 100 can include a height
adjustment mechanism 130 adapted to vertically raise and lower the
frame 102, including the cutting rotor rotatably supported thereon,
with respect to the work surface. In particular, the
ground-engaging components 104 can be connected to the frame 102 by
vertically oriented, adjustable struts 132. The adjustable struts
132 can be actuated by hydraulically powered cylinders 134 or the
like to extend and retract in a telescoping manner, thereby either
bringing the frame 102 and ground-engaging components 104 closer
together or moving the frame and the ground-engaging components
apart. The adjustable struts 132 can thereby control the
depth-of-cut into the work surface. Moreover, the adjustable struts
132 can be fully extended to completely disengage the cutting rotor
114 from the work surface 106 when the road planer 100 is traveling
without being engaged in a milling operation. One possible
advantage of using adjustable struts 132 to raise and lower the
frame 102 with respect to the ground-engaging components 104 is
that the weight of the road planer 100 can bear on the cutting
rotor 114 to assist in the milling operation. Moreover, the housing
118 rotatably supporting the cutting rotor 114 can be rigidly fixed
to the frame 102 of the road planer 100 so that the cutting rotor
is buttressed against the work surface 106. Because the vertical
height of the cutting rotor 114 does not change with respect to the
frame 102, the planning or milling operations can be more precisely
controlled through using only the adjustable struts 132.
[0018] In various embodiments, the adjustable struts 132 of the
height adjustment mechanism 130 can be configured to operate in
conjunction with each other for precision control of the vertical
distance between the frame 102 and each of the ground-engaging
components 104, and thus the work surface, or may work
independently of each other. For example, by varying the extension
and/or retraction of the adjustable struts disposed toward the rear
of the road planer with respect to the struts at the front, or
those with respect to one side, versus the other side based on
sensor input, positioning measurements, and the like, the road
planer can achieve grade control and cross-slope sensitivity.
[0019] To remove material as the cutting rotor 114 chips or mills
it apart from the work surface 106 during milling operations, the
road planer 100 can include a conveyor assembly including a pickup
conveyor 136 and a discharge conveyor 138. One end of the pickup
conveyor 136 can be disposed proximate to the interface between the
work surface 106 and the cutting rotor 114 to receive the material
and can extend forwardly through the road planer 100. The housing
118 accommodating the cutting rotor 114 can assist in guiding
material to the pickup conveyor 136, which delivers it to the
discharge conveyor 138 extending from the forward end of the road
planer 100. The discharge conveyor 138 can thereby feed the
material to a dump truck or the like traveling ahead of the road
planer 100.
[0020] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, to accommodate the various
controls and instruments that enable an operator to drive and
operate the road planer 100, and operator's station 140 can be
disposed on the frame 102 in a location providing visibility for
carrying out the milling operation. In particular, the operator's
station 140 can include a steering wheel 142 for directing the road
planer 100 laterally to one side or the other side and can include
a forward-neutral-reverse lever 144 that directs travel in the
corresponding directions or places the road planer in neutral. In
addition, the operator's station 140 can include an operator
interface 150 having various controls and/or input/output devices
that allow the operator to interact with the electronic control
unit and the control system of the road planer 100 including, for
example, a display device 152, a keypad 154 or number pad, and
various types of switches and/or buttons 156. The display device
152 can be a visual display for displaying information and images
to the operator through, for example, an LCD screen or the like and
may be configured with touch screen technology to receive input
from the operator.
[0021] Referring to FIG. 3, the operator interface 150 can be
operatively associated with a computerized or electronic
controller, control module, or electronic control unit 160 included
with the road planer that is adapted to monitor various operating
parameters and to responsively regulate various functions and
systems affecting the road planer. To perform the associated
functions, the electronic control unit 160 may include a
microprocessor 162, an application specific integrated circuit
(ASIC), or other appropriate circuitry, and can include data and
programming memory 164, which may be in the form of random access
memory and/or more permanent forms of data storage. The
microprocessor 162 may be capable of processing or performing any
suitable computer-based functions, such as executing instructions,
data processing, mathematical operations, and the like. In
addition, the electronic control unit 160 can include software 166,
including any suitable instruction sets, programs, applications,
routines, libraries, databases and the like, for carrying out its
functions. Although in FIG. 3, the electronic control unit 160 is
illustrated as a single, discrete unit, in other embodiments, the
unit and its functions may be distributed among a plurality of
distinct and separate components. The electronic control unit 160
can electronically communicate with the operator interface 150
including the display device 152 and the keypad 154 by wires,
cables, fiber optic connectors, electronic data buses, or by
wireless transmission technologies such as RFID.
[0022] In addition, the electronic control unit 160 can send and
receive information to and from various sensors and controls
associated with the other components of the road planer. For
example, the electronic control unit 160 can be in communication
with the power source 110, that may be in the form of an internal
combustion engine, for controlling operation including speed and
torque output of the power source. The electronic control unit 160
can also be in communication with the cutting rotor 114 and its
associated drive equipment to control activation, deactivation, and
rotary speed of the cutter. The electronic control unit 160 can be
in communication with the height adjustment mechanism 130 and can
activate the adjustable struts to extend and retract thereby
raising and lowering the road planer with respect to the work
surface. Further, the electronic control unit 160 can communicate
with one or more of the ground engaging components 104 for speed
and/or direction control. In addition to transmitting control
instructions to the foregoing components, it should be appreciated
that the electronic control unit 160 can also receive information
and data from these components via sensors and the like so that the
electronic control unit is appraised about the operational status
of the road planer.
[0023] As may be familiar to those of skill in the art, road
planers of the foregoing type are typically configured to plane or
mill the top surface of roadways and the electronic control unit
160 may be configured with software 166 in the form of a road
planning module 168 adapted to receive a depth-of-cut variable from
the operator. The electronic control unit thereafter operates the
height adjustment mechanism 130 in accordance with the depth-of-cut
variable to remove substantial distances of road surface, generally
at a consistent depth-of-cut. In an embodiment, in addition to the
aforementioned standard operation, the road planer can be
specifically utilized to form a plurality of rumble strips into a
work surface such as a road or highway that, when traveled over by
a vehicle, provide an audible and tactile warning to the driver of
an approaching hazard. Referring to FIG. 4, there is illustrated an
embodiment of a plurality of horizontally spaced, parallel rumble
strips 170 separated by intervening depressions 172 formed into a
work surface 106 by the road planer. In particular, by repeatedly
and sequentially raising and lowering the road planer with respect
to the work surface 106, the cutting rotor 114 forms the cuts or
depressions 172 so as to space apart the rumble strips 170 and can
thereby provide customized shapes, dimensions, and patterns with a
general purpose road planer.
[0024] For example, the illustrated embodiment of the rumble strips
170 and the associated depressions 172 can be characterized by
various dimensions including, for example, a depth-of-depression
dimension 174. The depth-of-depression dimension 174 reflects the
depth the cutting rotor 114 penetrated into the work surface 106
when forming the depression 172 and is analogous to the vertical
height of the rumble strip 170. In addition, the rumble strips 170
and the depressions 172 can be characterized by a
length-of-depression dimension 176 that reflects the length of the
cut or depression or, in another sense, how far the road planer
traveled while the cutting rotor 114 engaged the work surface 106.
The rumble strips 170 and intervening depressions 172 can also be
characterized by a distance-between-depressions dimension 178 that
reflects the spacing between strips and depressions. The
distance-between-depression dimension 178 can be measured using any
suitable location such as between the points of maximum depth of
adjacent depressions. While the foregoing description of the
pertinent dimensions has been made with respect to the depressions
milled between the rumble strips, it will be appreciated that the
dimensions can be readily made specific to the rumble strips
themselves.
[0025] In addition to determining various dimensions of the rumble
strips and the associated depressions, the road planer and the
cutting rotor 114 can be controlled in a manner that determines the
shape or profile of the strips and depressions. In particular,
referring to FIG. 4, the depressions 172 can be formed to have a
generally curve or rounded shape in accordance with a
radius-of-depression dimension 180 and with the rumble strips 170
demonstrating a generally flattened top 182 corresponding to the
top of the work surface 106. The curved shape of the depressions
172 can be obtained by maintaining the travel speed of the road
planer in the forward direction while the adjustable struts are
raised and lowered in a continuous manner so that the cutting rotor
114 gradually depends into and out of the work surface 106.
However, in other embodiments, the road planer can be controlled to
provide rumble strips and depressions having different shapes or
profiles. For example, referring to FIG. 5, the rumble strips 190
and depressions 192 having a generally trapezoidal profile can be
formed by initially lowering then maintaining the road planer in a
manner to produce a fixed depth-of-depression dimension 174 as the
road planer travels in the forward direction. The trapezoidal
depressions 192 can also be characterized by a length-of-depression
dimension 196 and a distance-between-depressions dimension 198.
[0026] To enable the road planer to form the described rumbled
strips and depressions, the electronic control unit on the road
planer can be programmed with a computer executable control
strategy or plan, implemented as control system in the form of a
programming module, procedure, or routine for automatically
directing the road planer in the manner described herein. An
embodiment of the control system 200 is illustrated as a flow chart
in FIG. 6. The control system 200 can be initiated when the
operator of the road planer implements an activation step 202
activating the programming module or the like for carrying out the
rumble strip forming operation. The activation step 202 can be
performed through the operator interface. The rumble strip forming
operation may be distinct from the typical road planning operation
of the road planer according to the road planning module 168,
wherein the electronic control unit receives a depth-of-cut
variable, adjusts the height adjustment mechanism accordingly, and
maintains the height adjustment mechanism so the cutting rotor
continuously engages the work surface to remove the top layer
thereof.
[0027] To enable customizing the pattern, shape, and/or size of the
rumble strips and depressions, the control system 200 can include a
variable reception step 204 in which different variables, including
dimensions, and other information related to the rumble strips are
received into the program and may be stored in a data structure or
as a data set for processing in accordance with the control system.
Example of suitable variables that reflect the desired shapes and
configurations of the rumble strips can include the
depth-of-depression variable 210, the length-of-depression variable
212, and the distance-between-depressions variable 214 similar to
the dimensions described with respect to FIGS. 4 and 5. The
variables can be represented as numerical dimensions and values.
Further, the control system 200 can, during the variable reception
step 204, receive other information regarding the rumble strips,
such as the number-of-strips or number-of-depressions variable 216
and a shape-of-depression or a profile-of-depression variable 218,
for example, whether the depressions may have a curved profile or a
trapezoidal profile.
[0028] In addition to receiving variables about the desired
configuration and appearance of the rumble strip pattern, the
control system 200 can determine other parameters about the current
operational state of the road planer that may affect how the road
planer carries out the rumble strip forming operation. For example,
in a parameter determination step 220, the control system 200 can
determine parameters such as such as travel speed 222 and cutting
rotor diameter 224. The control system 200 can sense these
parameters directly from the other systems and components
associated with the road planer or, in some embodiments, limits
governing the travel speed 222 during the rumble strip forming
operation or the dimension of the cutting rotor diameter 224 may be
preprogrammed into and retrieved from the memory associated with
the electronic control unit. The parameters can be temporarily
stored in a data structure or data set for later use.
[0029] Based on the variables received in the variable reception
step 204 and the parameters received in the parameter determination
step 220, the control system 200 can make a number of decisions and
determinations for conducting the rumble strip forming operation to
produce the rumble strips and depressions. For example, the
depressions may be formed by a mill cut in which the road planer
continuously advances with respect to the work surface as the
cutting rotor engages it. However, in embodiments where the
length-of-depression variable is sufficiently small and the desired
contour or profile of the depression corresponds to a segment of
the cutting rotor, the depression can be formed by stalling the
forward advance of the planer and adjusting its height to depress
the rotary cutter perpendicularly into the work surface. Such an
operation may be referred to as a depression cut. In a cut decision
step 230, the control system 200 can decide, based on the variables
received in the reception step 204 and the parameters received in
the parameter determination step 220, whether to form a mill cut or
a depression cut. In other embodiments, the control system may be
configured so that the operator of the road planer can decide
between the mill cut mode and the depression cut mode through an
appropriate input selection.
[0030] The variables and known parameters can be processed by
various algorithms or subroutines to determine or calculate several
other outputs in accordance with the control system. For example,
if the control system 200 determines a mill cut is appropriate
during the cut decision step 230, then a travel determination step
232 can calculate the length-of-depression variable 212 and the
known travel speed 222 to determine how far the road planer should
travel in the lowered position with the cutter engaging the work
surface. Likewise, the travel determination step 232 can use the
distance-between-depressions variable 214 to determine the forward
travel distance of the road planer in the raised position and the
cutter is disengaged with the work surface. Where the control
system 200 receives information about a desired profile for the
depression, or where such information is preprogrammed, the control
system 200 can perform an adjustment rate determination step 234
using the depth-of-depression variable 210 and known parameters
such a travel speed 222 and cutting rotor diameter 224 to calculate
the rate at which the frame is lowered and raised. It can be
appreciated the rate the frame is lowered and raised along with the
travel speed affects the profile or radius of the depressions and
thereby determines the shape of the rumble strips being formed.
[0031] Once the control system 200 makes the necessary decisions
and determinations, in an operational step 236, the control system
can lower and raise the frame of the road planer with respect to
the work surface to engage and disengage the cutting rotor. The
depressions are thereby milled into the work surface resulting in
the spaced-apart rumble strips. To form a plurality of rumble
strips, it will be appreciated that the operational step 236 can be
performed multiple time to repeatedly lower and raise the frame
with respect to the work surface. If the control system 200
received a number-of-depressions variable 216, a
depressions-completed decision 238 can be made to assess whether to
continue the rumble strip forming operation or, if the required
number of strips and depression are complete, to proceed to a
termination step 240.
[0032] In a further embodiment, if the control system 200 in FIG. 6
during the cut decision step 230 decides a depression cut is
appropriate, the control system can perform the necessary
determination and calculations for conducting this sub-operation.
For example, based on the distance-between-depressions variable
214, the control system 200 can determine how far the road planer
should travel between temporary stops to lower and raise the frame
in a travel determination step 242. Further, because the
length-of-depression variable 212 is determined by the cutting
rotor diameter 224, the control system 200 can calculate or verify,
during a height adjustment determination step 244, that the
received depth-of-depression variable 210 will produced the desired
rumble strip pattern. If not, in a further embodiment, the height
adjustment determination step 244 can make further adjustments to
those variables and parameters. After the control system 200 makes
the necessary determinations, the control system performs an
operation step 246 to lower and raise the frame of road planer
while stationary with respect to the work surface and thereby mill
the depressions. Additionally, if the control system 200 received a
number-of-depressions variable 216, a depressions-complete decision
248 determines if the road planer has completed the required number
of depressions. It can be appreciated that the depressions-complete
decision 248 either proceeds to the termination step 240 or
continues the rumble strip forming process.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0033] The present disclosure is applicable to custom-forming
rumble strips in a work surface with a standard road planer
normally utilized for road planning and road milling operations
where a depth-of-cut dimension sets and maintains the height
adjustment mechanism. Referring to FIG. 3 and according to the
disclosure, the electronic control unit 160 of the road planer can
receive information and variables and make determinations on how to
perform the rumble strip forming operation. For example, the
electronic control unit 160 can receive variables related to the
desired configuration or pattern of the rumble strips from an
operator or other individual through the operator interface 150
operatively associated with the electronic control unit 160 by the
touch screen enabled display device 152 and/or the keypad 154.
Examples of the input variables can include depth-of-depression
variable, a length-of-depression variable, and a
distance-between-depressions variable. In addition, the electronic
control unit 160 can acquire or determine different parameters
about the operational state of the road planer that may affect the
rumble strip forming operation, like travel speed, from sensors and
like associated with various systems or subsystems of the road
planer. Other parameters may be preprogrammed into the electronic
control unit. The variables and operating parameters may be stored
in a data structure for further processing.
[0034] Referring in part to FIG. 6, the electronic control unit can
process the variables, parameters, and other information through
various computer executable algorithms or routines to devise and
implement a control strategy or control system 200 directing
operation of the road planer during the rumble strip forming
process. For example, during a travel determination step 232, the
control system 200 can involve making determinations regarding the
travel output of the road planer while the cutting rotor is engaged
with or disengaged from the work surface. Additional determinations
can be made, such as an adjustment rate determination step 234
wherein the rate at which the frame of the road planer is lowered
and raise with respect to the work surface is calculated. The
control system can conduct one or more operational steps 236 in
which the electronic control unit executes the functions of the
road planer in the appropriate manner including operation of the
height adjustment mechanism to lower and raise the frame with
respect to the work surface.
[0035] Accordingly, one possible advantage of the disclosure is
that a plurality of rumble strips may be formed using a standard
road planer, typically configured for road planning operation using
a depth-of-cut variable, without the need for extraneous cutting
attachments or specialized equipment. Another possible advantage is
that a standard road planer can be used to form rumble strips and
patterns in various desired or customized shapes, configurations,
and dimensions. In a further embodiment, the input variables and
parameters may be saved in memory associated with the electronic
control unit for re-selection and reuse in the future.
[0036] It will be appreciated that the foregoing description
provides examples of the disclosed system and technique. However,
it is contemplated that other implementations of the disclosure may
differ in detail from the foregoing examples. All references to the
disclosure or examples thereof are intended to reference the
particular example being discussed at that point and are not
intended to imply any limitation as to the scope of the disclosure
more generally. All language of distinction and disparagement with
respect to certain features is intended to indicate a lack of
preference for those features, but not to exclude such from the
scope of the disclosure entirely unless otherwise indicated.
[0037] Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to
serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each
separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated
herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the
specification as if it were individually recited herein. All
methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order
unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted
by context.
[0038] The use of the terms "a" and "an" and "the" and "at least
one" and similar referents in the context of describing the
invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are
to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless
otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The
use of the term "at least one" followed by a list of one or more
items (for example, "at least one of A and B") is to be construed
to mean one item selected from the listed items (A or B) or any
combination of two or more of the listed items (A and B), unless
otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context.
[0039] Accordingly, this disclosure includes all modifications and
equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended
hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of
the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is
encompassed by the disclosure unless otherwise indicated herein or
otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
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