System and method for screed extension identification

A screed system is provided. The screed system includes a base screed. The screed system includes an extension member, wherein the extension member is detachably coupled to the base screed. The screed system also includes an identification module associated with the extension member. The identification module is configured to provide an indication of the extension member. The screed system further includes a controller, wherein the controller is configured to determine a parameter associated with the extension member based on the indication. Further, the identification module and the controller are configured to communicate with each other.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a system and method for screed extension identification and more specifically for identifying a parameter related to a screed extension member.

BACKGROUND

A width of a screed system associated with a paving machine may need to be widened or shortened depending on the required paving width. This is accomplished by detachably coupling one or more extension members to a base screed of the paving machine. For example, a screed system that is 6 meters wide fully extendible could be configured for 12 meters with the installation of the extension members. In known systems, a status of coupling or decoupling of the extension member is manually fed to the paving machine by an operator through an operator interface device or service specific tools, in order to configure the machine size. Alternatively, in other systems the machine size may be configured by adding or removing jumpers in a machine harness In some machines, in order to avoid determining the overall machine length, the system is run in an open-loop configuration, that does not require specific knowledge of the machine size.

For example, J.P. Published Application Number 2005/090043 provides a paving width indicating device for a paving machine which includes a main screed and extendable auxiliary screeds. The paving width indicating device allows an operator to check a paving width. In the paving machine, automatic winding measuring tapes are fixed to outermost portions of the respective auxiliary screeds and tips of scales pulled out of the measuring tapes are fixed to outermost portions of the main screed, respectively.

The above solutions however require manual intervention and hence are time consuming and laborious. Moreover, they prove to be ineffective when a number of extension members are utilized. Hence, there is a need to provide an improved system for the detection and identification of the extension members coupled to the screed system of the paving machine.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In one aspect of the present disclosure, a screed system is provided. The screed system includes a base screed. The screed system includes an extension member, wherein the extension member is detachably coupled to the base screed. The screed system also includes an identification module associated with the extension member. The identification module is configured to provide an indication of the extension member. The screed system further includes a controller, wherein the controller is configured to determine a parameter associated with the extension member based on the indication. Further, the identification module and the controller are configured to communicate with each other.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, a paving machine is provided. The paving machine includes a main frame. The paving machine also includes a tractor. The paving machine further includes a screed system coupled to the tractor. The screed system includes a base screed. The screed system includes an extension member, wherein the extension member is detachably coupled to the base screed. The screed system also includes an identification module associated with the extension member. The identification module is configured to provide an indication of the extension member. The screed system further includes a controller, wherein the controller is configured to determine a parameter associated with the extension member based on the indication. Further, the identification module and the controller are configured to communicate with each other.

In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a screed system is provided. The screed system includes a base screed and an extension member. The extension member is detachably coupled to the base screed. The screed system also includes a means for providing an indication associated with the extension member. The screed system includes a means for determining a parameter associated with the extension member based on the indication. Further, the means for providing an indication associated with the extension member and the means for determining a parameter associated with the extension member based on the indication are configured to communicate with each other.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or the like parts.FIG. 1shows a paving machine100, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The paving machine100includes a main frame102and a tractor103. The paving machine100further includes a screed system104having a main screed106, a first extender108and a second extender110, hereinafter collectively termed as a base screed112. The main screed106is coupled to a tractor103tow arms (not shown) and follows behind the tractor103. In an alternative embodiment, the main screed106may be mounted in front of the tractor103. Further, the first and second extenders108,110are mounted rearwardly of the main screed106. Alternatively, the first and second extenders108,110may also be mounted in front of the main screed106.

The base screed112is configured to compact and level a paving material like an asphalt mixture on a surface during construction. The first and second extenders108,110are provided to enable coupling of the one or more extension members114to the base screed112. During operation, the base screed112, more specifically the main screed106and the first and second extenders108,110, move in various positions with respect to the paving machine110, as per system requirements. The movements include sliding and/or tilting along various axes with respect to the paving machine100. In various embodiments, a hydraulic system, an electric system, a mechanical system or a combination thereof may be used to actuate various parts of the screed system104. Further, the paving machine100may include a control panel in an operator station, in order to enable an operator to control the movement of the screed system104.

The first and second extenders108,110may be coupled to the main screed106by a plurality of connectors202(shown inFIG. 2). The connectors202are manually bolted to each other by techniques known in the art. Further, referring toFIG. 1, a plurality of extension members114are coupled in series to the first and second extenders108,110respectively, in order to widen an overall length of the base screed112on either side. The base screed112is required to be widened for achieving a desired paving width. The extension members114are coupled to each other or any one of the first and second extenders108,110by similar connectors202. Other fastening mechanisms known in the art may also be utilized.

A person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the number of extension members114and the configuration or arrangement of the extension members114coupled to either side of the base screed112may vary based on the application. More particularly, as illustrated in the accompanying figures, the plurality of extension members114are coupled to one another in series or a linear arrangement which may or may not be symmetrical. Dimensions, and number of the extension members114that may be coupled to the base screed112may vary as per system design and requirements.

The present disclosure relates to a screed extension identification system200. Referring toFIG. 2, a block diagram of the screed extension identification system200is shown. An identification module204is provided in association with each of the extension members114. The identification module204is physically embedded in a wiring harness of each of the extension members114. The identification module204is configured to provide an indication of the respective extension members114. More specifically, the identification module204includes active or passive elements in order to automatically identify when the given extension member114is coupled to the base screed112, based on the indication. The indication is any one or a combination of, but not limited to, a resistance value, a unique identification code, radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, and the like.

One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that each of the indications associated with the extension member114corresponds to a unique parameter of the given extension member114. In one embodiment, the parameter includes a length of the extension member114. For example, in one situation, one extension member114has a length of 0.25 meters, a second extension member114has a length of 0.75 meters, a third extension member114has a length of 1.25 meters, and so on. Accordingly, the indications provided for each of the above mentioned extension members114is distinct based on the length of that given extension member114. It should be understood that the indication provided by the identification module204is such that different indications are provided by the identification module204, in response to the coupling of the extension members114of varying length to the base screed112.

Further, as shown inFIG. 2, each of the identification modules204associated with the respective extension member114is communicably coupled to a controller206. The controller206is located on-board the paving machine100. The controller206is configured to receive signals from the plurality of identification modules204. The controller206is further configured to determine the parameter associated with the extension member114, based on the indication. The parameter associated with the extension member114may be any one or a combination of the length of the extension member114, a position of the extension member114relative to a fixed point on the base screed112, and the like.

As described earlier, the identification module204can include a variety of the active or passive elements for providing the indication associated with the extension member114. In one embodiment, the identification module204includes a resistor associated with the extension member114. Since the identification module204is present within each of the extension members114, physical coupling of the extension members114to each other or the first and second extenders108,110causes the resistors of the identification module204to be coupled to one another to create a resistive network via the connectors202. The resistors of the identification module204may thus be coupled in a series and/or parallel configuration. A person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the connectors202may include necessary components such as ports, in order to allow for the formation and interconnection between the resistors of the different identification modules204associated with the corresponding extension members114. Moreover, the resistor within each of the identification modules204provides a different resistance value unique to each of the extension members114depending on their respective length or dimensions. For example, an extension member114having a length of 0.75 meters has a relatively greater resistance and a higher voltage drop as compared to that of an extension member114having a length of 0.25 meters. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the resistor is the passive element and the corresponding voltage drop across the extension member114provides the indication of the parameter of the given extension member114. The parameter may include the length of the respective extension member114and the location of the extension member114in the resistive network.

Alternatively, the identification module204can be the active element. In another embodiment, the identification module204is a unique identification code module. In this situation, the identification module204provides a unique identification code corresponding to the parameter associated with the extension member114. The unique identification code is any one or a combination of numerical, alphabetical characters, symbolic characters, and the like. Further, multiple identification modules204associated with the plurality of the extension members114are connected in order to form a network having any known topology. The connection between the different identification modules204may be established when the respective extension member114is added to the screed system104. These connections may include wired connections running through the connectors202or wireless connections to the base screed104. Control signals indicative of the unique identification code associated with the extension member114are transmitted or broadcast to the controller206over the network depending on the type of connection formed between the identification modules204and the base screed104. Accordingly, the controller206identifies the extension member114and/or the position of the extension member114with respect to the network, based on the control signal.

In yet another embodiment, the identification module204may be embodied as an RFID module. In this scenario, the identification module204provides an RFID tag as an indication of the extension member114being coupled to the base screed112. Accordingly, the RFID tag includes generation of a radio frequency signal. The controller includes a RFID receiver for receiving the radio frequency signal. Based on signal strength of the radio frequency signal measured by the RFID receiver, the location and distance of the respective extension member114from a fixed reference point on the screed system104may be determined by known methods.

Accordingly, based on the indication received from the identification module204, the controller206can automatically identify the length and/or relative positioning of the extension member114coupled to the base screed112, with minimal human intervention. It should be noted that the controller206may be capable of handling multiple signals broadcast or transmitted to the controller206in case of the active elements present within the identification module204. Alternatively, in the situation where the identification module204includes the passive element, the controller206may determine the connection established between the extension member114, and consequently the identification module204associated with the extension member114with the base screed depending on the voltage drop experienced across the resistive network formed. Moreover, in one embodiment, the communication between the identification modules204and the controller206may be established regularly after predetermined periods of time to ensure that the given extension member114is securely coupled to the base screed104.

In one embodiment, the controller206is coupled to a display unit and notifies an operator of the determined parameter associated with the extension member114by way of a suitable display. Further, the controller206determines the overall length of the base screed112and the extension member114. This in turn can be utilized to provide improved heating to the screed system104of the paving machine100.

As shown inFIG. 2, a heating element208is provided in association with each of the extension members114. The heating element208is communicably coupled to a power source (not shown) on-board the paving machine100. The power source100is further coupled to the controller206. Based on the determined length of each of the extension members114coupled to the screed system104, the controller206is configured to control a quantity of heat provided by the power source to each of the respective heating elements208. Accordingly, the heating elements208are automatically configured to provide the required quantity of heat to a bottom surface of the extension member114for heating of the paving material leveled on the ground.

Further, in one embodiment incorporating a resistive network, the controller206can perform an anti-aliasing function. For example, in one case, the controller206may be unable to distinguish between two extension member configurations because an equivalent resistance of one extension member114may be confused with the equivalent resistance of another extension member114. In this case, a predefined dataset is stored in a database (not shown) communicably coupled to the controller206. The predefined dataset may include allowable and/or disallowable configurations of the extension members114, range of nominal resistance of heating elements208for each extension member114, and the like. The controller206is configured to correlate the determined configuration with the predefined dataset, in order to ascertain if the determined configuration is supportable by the system200. The system200may display an appropriate error message in case the configuration is unsupportable.

The controller206may embody a single microprocessor or multiple microprocessors that includes a means for receiving signals from the components of the screed extension identification system200. Numerous commercially available microprocessors may be configured to perform the functions of the controller206. It should be appreciated that the controller206may readily embody a general machine microprocessor capable of controlling numerous machine functions. A person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the controller206may additionally include other components and may also perform other functionality not described herein. It should be understood that the embodiments and the configurations and connections explained herein are merely on an exemplary basis and may not limit the scope and spirit of the disclosure.

A method of identification of the extension member114coupled to the base screed112is explained in connection withFIG. 3.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The operator of the paving machine needs to setup or extend the width of the screed system to match the desired road paving width. In an extendible screed system, the screed width is adjusted by detachably coupling extension members to the base screed. The extension members are installed in a variety of configurations to achieve the desired paving width. Each of these extension members may have a varying length. Known systems include manually configuring the overall length of the paving machine based on the extension members coupled to the base screed. This process is laborious and time consuming.

The present disclosure relates to a system and method for screed extension identification. The screed extension identification system200disclosed herein can automatically identify the length of the extension member114coupled to the base screed112, and hence the overall width of the screed system104is determined with minimal human intervention. Further, the system200may identify unsupported configurations that exceed electrical or mechanical limits of the paving machine100. The system200can also perform machine diagnostics, such as verifying whether the resistance of the installed heating element208is within expected range.

Knowledge of the length of the extension members114attached to the base screed116may allow the system200to determined the overall machine size. Moreover, the knowledge of the machine size and the length of each of the extension members114can be used to better manage the electric screed heating system. As discussed earlier, each of the extension members includes the heating element208. Based on the determined length and/or number of the extension members114identified by the system200, a proportional amount of heating power may be delivered to the heating element208. This may minimize system heat-up time and enable the screed system104to reach a target temperature relatively fast. Hence, the screed extension identification system200provides an overall improved system management.

FIG. 3illustrates the method of operation of the screed extension identification system200. At step302, the plurality of extension members114are detachably coupled to the base screed112. The coupling is done by manually bolting the extension members114to each other or the base screed112in a desired configuration. At step304, the indication of the extension member114is provided by the identification module204of the respective extension member114to the controller206. As explained above, the identification module204includes the active or the passive element to identify the length of the coupled extension member114, based on the indication provided. The indication may include the resistor value, the unique identification code or the RFID tag.

At step306, the controller206determines the parameter associated with the extension member114. The parameter may be the length of the extension member114or the position of the extension member114relative to a fixed point on the base screed112.

In one embodiment, based on the determined parameter or length associated with the extension member114, the controller206identifies whether the configuration of the extension member114is electrically and/or mechanically supportable. The controller206correlates the determined configuration with the predefined dataset of allowable configurations of the extension member114. In another embodiment, the controller206may send control signals to the power source to control the quantity of an energy provided to the heating element208of the respective extension member114based on the determined length of the extension member114. Further, the controller206notifies the operator of the determined length associated with the extension member114by the suitable display.