Patent Description:
A slipform paving machine is designed to move in a paving direction across a ground surface and form concrete into a finished concrete structure. A typical slipform paver machine may be seen in <CIT> (<CIT> Machines like that of Aeschlimann et al. have a machine frame with an adjustable frame width.

It is also known to provide adjustable width molds for use with adjustable width paving machines. Examples of such adjustable width molds may be seen in Guntert <CIT> and Thieme <CIT>. These adjustable width molds have their end portions fixed to the machine frame of the paving machine such that the mold width is adjusted with the machine frame width.

<CIT> discloses a system which is provided for automatically varying the mold width and thus the paving width of slipform paving machine.

There is a continuing need for improvements in adjustable width paving machines and adjustable width molds.

In one embodiment an inset slipform paver includes a machine frame, at least one left ground-engaging unit and at least one right ground engaging unit configured to support the machine frame from a ground surface along left and right support paths such that a forward operating direction of the machine frame is defined and such that the machine frame has a frame width transverse to the forward operating direction, and an adjustable width mold suspended from the machine frame between the left and right support paths such that a mold width of the adjustable width mold is adjustable without adjusting the frame width of the machine frame.

The adjustable width mold includes a center portion, a left sideform assembly, and a right sideform assembly.

The adjustable width mold includes one or more left spacers configured to be received between the left sideform assembly and the center portion and one or more right spacers configured to be received between the right sideform assembly and the center portion.

The adjustable width mold includes a left side mold actuator connected between the left sideform assembly and the center portion to move the left sideform assembly relative to the center portion and a right side mold actuator connected between the right sideform assembly and the center portion to move the right sideform assembly relative to the center portion.

The slipform paver may further include a left suspension assembly suspending the left sideform assembly from the machine frame such that the left sideform assembly is movable relative to the machine frame and a right suspension assembly suspending the right sideform assembly from the machine frame such that the right sideform assembly is movable relative to the machine frame.

The left suspension assembly may include a left suspension frame fixedly attached to the machine frame and including a guide, a left carriage movably engaged with the guide so that the left carriage is movable relative to the left suspension frame along the guide, the left carriage being connected to the left sideform assembly, and a left suspension actuator configured to move the left carriage and the left sideform assembly relative to the machine frame. The right suspension assembly may include a similar suspension frame, carriage and suspension actuator.

The center portion may be configured to provide an adjustable crown angle, and the left carriage may be pivotably connected to the left suspension assembly to accommodate the crown angle. The right carriage may also be pivotably connected to the right suspension assembly to accommodate the crown angle.

Each of the suspension assemblies may include a clamping cylinder configured to lock the carriage in place relative to the suspension frame. Each suspension assembly may include more than one clamping cylinder.

The slipform paver may include a controller operably associated with the left and right suspension actuators, the controller being configured such that a human operator can select between;.

The left suspension assembly may further include at least one left clamping cylinder configured to have a locked position locking the left carriage in place relative to the left suspension frame and the right suspension assembly may further include at least one right clamping cylinder configured to have a locked position locking the right carriage in place relative to the right suspension frame. The controller may be configured such that: during the left side operational mode the left clamping cylinder is released to unlock the left carriage and the right clamping cylinder is in the locked position; during the right side operational mode the right clamping cylinder is released to unlock the right carriage and the left clamping cylinder is in the locked position; and during the mold shifting mode both the left and right clamping cylinders are released to unlock the left and right carriages.

The suspension actuators may be hydraulic smart cylinders.

The adjustable width mold may include a first mold actuator connected between the center portion and one of the left and right sideform assemblies to move the one of the left and right sideform assemblies relative to the center portion. The mold may further include a first suspension assembly including a first carriage movably mounted on the machine frame such that the first carriage is laterally movable relative to the machine frame, the first carriage being connected to the one of the left and right sideform assemblies and a first suspension actuator configured to move the first carriage and the one of the left and right sideform assemblies relative to the machine frame. The mold may further include a controller operably associated with the first mold actuator and with the first suspension actuator, the controller being configured to coordinate operation of the first mold actuator with the first suspension actuator so that the first mold actuator and the first suspension actuator operate together to move the first carriage and the one of the left left and right sideform assemblies relative to the machine frame.

In another embodiment a method of adjusting a width of a mold of a slipform paver, the slipform paver including an adjustable width machine frame supported on a plurality of ground engaging units includes a step of adjusting the width of the mold without adjusting the width of the machine frame.

The method may further include laterally shifting a position of the mold relative to the machine frame without adjusting the width of the machine frame.

The adjusting step may further include laterally moving a sideform assembly of the mold relative to a center portion of the mold without adjusting the width of the machine frame.

The adjusting step may be performed under control of a controller.

Numerous objects, features and advantages of the embodiments set forth herein will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading of the following disclosure when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to <FIG> and <FIG>, a slipform paver apparatus is shown and generally designated by the number <NUM>. The details of construction of a typical slipform paver apparatus may be seen in <CIT> (<CIT>,.

As is schematically illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG> the apparatus <NUM> is configured to move in a paving direction <NUM> across a ground surface <NUM> for spreading, leveling and finishing concrete into a finished concrete structure <NUM> having a generally upwardly exposed concrete surface <NUM> and terminating in lateral concrete sides such as <NUM>.

The slipform paver apparatus <NUM> includes a machine frame <NUM> and a slipform paver mold <NUM> supported from the machine frame <NUM>. The machine frame <NUM> may also be referred to as a main frame. The slipform paver mold <NUM> may be referred to as an adjustable width mold apparatus <NUM>.

The machine frame <NUM> is supported from the ground surface along left and right support paths <NUM> and <NUM> by a plurality of ground engaging units such as <NUM>, which in the illustrated embodiment are tracked ground engaging units <NUM>. Wheeled ground engaging units could also be used. The slipform paver <NUM> includes at least one left ground engaging unit <NUM> and at least one right ground engaging unit 30R. In the illustrated embodiment there are two left ground engaging units and two right ground engaging units. The slipform paver <NUM> is of the type generally referred to as an inset paver in which the slipform paver mold <NUM> is received below the machine frame <NUM> and generally between the left and right support paths <NUM> and <NUM> defined by the movement of the left and right ground engaging units. The terms left and right as used in this disclosure are with reference to the viewpoint of the human operator facing forward in the operating direction <NUM>.

Each of the ground engaging units <NUM> is connected to the machine frame <NUM> by a lifting column such as <NUM> which may be attached to a swing arm such as <NUM>. An operator's platform <NUM> is located on the machine frame <NUM>. A plow or spreader device <NUM> may be supported from the machine frame <NUM> ahead of the slipform paver mold <NUM>. Behind the slipform paver mold <NUM> a dowel bar inserter apparatus <NUM> may be provided. Behind the dowel bar inserter apparatus <NUM> an oscillating beam <NUM> and a super smoother apparatus <NUM> may be provided.

The machine frame <NUM> includes a plurality of laterally telescoping frame members such as <NUM> and <NUM> that allow a machine frame width <NUM> (see <FIG>) of the machine frame <NUM> to be adjusted. The machine frame width <NUM> is transverse to the operating direction <NUM>. The adjustment of the machine frame width may be accomplished using hydraulic ram frame actuators <NUM> and <NUM> embedded in the machine frame <NUM>, or the traction power of the ground engaging units <NUM> may be used to extend and retract the machine frame <NUM>. When the width of the machine frame <NUM> is adjusted it may also be necessary to adjust the width of the mold apparatus <NUM>.

As schematically shown in <FIG> the adjustable width mold <NUM> may include a left sideform assembly <NUM>, a center portion <NUM> and a right sideform assembly <NUM>. One or more left spacers <NUM> and <NUM> may be configured to be received between the left sideform assembly <NUM> and the center portion <NUM>. One or more right spacers <NUM> and <NUM> may be configured to be received between the center portion and the right sideform assembly <NUM>.

The construction of the adjustable width mold <NUM> including the details of the left sideform assembly <NUM>, the center portion <NUM>, the right sideform assembly <NUM>, and all of the spacers <NUM>-<NUM> may be generally in accordance with the teachings of <CIT>,. <FIG> is a rear perspective view of the left sideform assembly <NUM> and center portion <NUM> taken from the aforesaid <CIT>, and showing the left side spacers <NUM> and <NUM> having been removed. In <FIG> the left sideform assembly <NUM> has not yet been moved into engagement with the center portion <NUM>, and a left side mold actuator <NUM> connected between the left sideform assembly <NUM> and the center portion <NUM> is visible. Also visible are spacer hanger rods <NUM> which may have hydraulic nuts <NUM> on their ends for use in holding the left sideform assembly <NUM> against the center portion <NUM> or against any spacers therebetween. In the schematic control system drawing of <FIG> a similarly constructed right side mold actuator <NUM> is shown. As is further described below the left and right mold actuators <NUM> and <NUM> are configured to move their respective sideform assemblies <NUM> and <NUM> toward and away from the center portion <NUM>. The mold actuators <NUM> and <NUM> may be hydraulically powered rotary spindles mounted in their respective sideform assemblies and engaging threaded nuts <NUM>, <NUM> fixed to the center portion <NUM> as schematically shown in <FIG> and as described in detail the aforesaid <CIT>.

The difference between the adjustable width mold <NUM> of the present disclosure and the adjustable width mold of the aforesaid <CIT> lies in the manner in which the mold is supported from the machine frame <NUM>. In the aforesaid <CIT> the left and right sideform assemblies of the mold are fixedly attached to the machine frame and they move with the machine frame when a width of the machine frame is adjusted. In the present disclosure, however, the left and right sideform assemblies <NUM> and <NUM> are suspended from the machine frame <NUM> by left and right suspension assemblies <NUM> and <NUM>. The left suspension assembly <NUM> suspends the left sideform assembly <NUM> from the machine frame <NUM> such that the left sideform assembly <NUM> is movable relative to the machine frame <NUM>. The right suspension assembly <NUM> suspends the right sideform assembly <NUM> from the machine frame <NUM> such that the right sideform assembly <NUM> is movable relative to the machine frame <NUM>. The left and right suspension assemblies <NUM> and <NUM> may also be referred to as first and second suspension assemblies <NUM> and <NUM>.

The details of construction of the left suspension assembly <NUM> are seen in <FIG> and <FIG>. The right suspension assembly <NUM> is generally a mirror image of the left suspension assembly <NUM>. The left suspension assembly <NUM> includes a left suspension frame <NUM>, a left carriage <NUM>, a left suspension actuator <NUM> and a pair of left clamping cylinders <NUM>.

The left suspension frame <NUM> includes an upper mounting plate <NUM>. A plurality of mounting channels <NUM> extend upward from mounting plate <NUM> and are used to fixedly attach the upper mounting plate <NUM> to a left machine frame portion <NUM> (see <FIG>). A plurality of longitudinally (front to rear) extending gusset plates <NUM> extend downward from upper mounting plate <NUM>. A forward transverse gusset plate <NUM> and a rearward transverse gusset plate <NUM> extend downward from the upper mounting plate <NUM>. Front and rear guides or guide channels <NUM> and <NUM> are attached to the forward and rearward transverse gusset plates <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively. The guides <NUM> and <NUM> are also received in cutouts of the longitudinal gusset plates <NUM>. Each of the guides <NUM> and <NUM> are C-shaped with their open sides facing each other.

The left carriage <NUM> includes an upper carriage guide plate <NUM> having front and rear edges <NUM> and <NUM> slidingly received in the front and rear guides <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively. Longitudinal and transverse carriage gussets <NUM> and <NUM> extend down from guide plate <NUM> to a carriage mounting plate <NUM>. The carriage mounting plate <NUM> is bolted by bolts <NUM> to a carriage body <NUM>. The carriage body <NUM> includes front and rear carriage legs <NUM> and <NUM> which extend downward for connection to the left sideform assembly <NUM> of mold <NUM>. As seen in <FIG>, the carriage legs <NUM> and <NUM> are pivotally connected to left sideform assembly <NUM> by pivot pins <NUM>. In <FIG> pin holes <NUM> and <NUM> are schematically shown in front and rear carriage legs <NUM> and <NUM> for receipt of the pins <NUM>.

As seen in <FIG> and <FIG> a pair of actuator mounting flanges <NUM> extend down from a horizontal plate <NUM> which spans between two of the transverse gussets <NUM> of the left carriage <NUM>.

The left suspension actuator <NUM> may be embodied as a hydraulic smart cylinder <NUM> including a cylinder portion <NUM> and a piston portion <NUM> extending from the cylinder portion <NUM>. The cylinder portion <NUM> may be pivotally mounted on the left suspension frame <NUM> at pivot pin <NUM> and projects transversely to the right from left suspension frame <NUM> as seen in <FIG> and <FIG>. The cylinder portion <NUM> cannot move relative to left suspension frame <NUM> other than a slight pivotal motion about pivot pin <NUM>. The piston portion <NUM> as best seen in <FIG> extends to the left out of cylinder portion <NUM> and includes a yoke <NUM> which is attached to mounting flanges <NUM> by a pivot pin <NUM>.

Thus, retraction of the piston portion <NUM> into the cylinder portion <NUM> moves the left carriage <NUM> from left to right as seen in <FIG> relative to the left suspension frame <NUM> and the machine frame <NUM>. Extension of the piston portion <NUM> moves the left carriage <NUM> from right to left.

As seen in <FIG> the left suspension assembly <NUM> includes two of the clamping cylinders <NUM>, on opposite sides of the left suspension actuator. The clamping cylinders <NUM> have a base portion <NUM> mounted in the left carriage <NUM>, and a piston portion <NUM> extending upward. The clamping cylinders <NUM> are movable between a locked or clamped position as seen in <FIG>, and a released position as seen in <FIG>. In the locked position the piston portions <NUM> are pressed upward into clamping engagement with the left suspension frame <NUM> to prevent movement of the left carriage <NUM> relative to the left suspension frame <NUM>. In the released position of <FIG> the piston portions <NUM> are retracted and the left carriage <NUM> is free to slide along the guides <NUM> and <NUM> relative to the left suspension frame <NUM>.

An additional provision is made for a further locking of the left carriage <NUM> relative to the left suspension frame <NUM> when the machine is in transport mode for transport from one job location to another. This additional provision is in the form of a plurality of locking bolts <NUM> (see <FIG>) which are extendible through the guides <NUM> and/or <NUM> into locking engagement with the edges <NUM> and <NUM> of the upper carriage guide plate <NUM>.

Similarly, the right suspension assembly <NUM> includes a right suspension frame <NUM>, a right carriage <NUM>, and right suspension actuator <NUM>. The right carriage <NUM> is pivotally connected to the right sideform assembly <NUM> of mold <NUM> at pivotal connection <NUM>.

As noted, the left and right suspension actuators <NUM> and <NUM> may be hydraulic smart cylinders. A representative construction of such a "smart" hydraulic cylinder is shown in <FIG>, and the details of a "smart" hydraulic suspension actuator <NUM> will be described by way of example. <FIG> may also be representative of the internal construction of any of the other actuators herein described when those actuators are implemented as "smart" cylinders. In the illustrated embodiment, the actuator <NUM> includes an integrated sensor <NUM> configured to provide a signal corresponding to an extension of a piston member <NUM> relative to a cylinder member <NUM> of the actuator <NUM>.

The sensor <NUM> includes a position sensor electronics housing <NUM> and a position sensor coil element <NUM>.

The piston portion <NUM> of actuator <NUM> includes a piston <NUM> and a rod <NUM>. The piston <NUM> and rod <NUM> have a bore <NUM> defined therein, within which is received the position sensor coil element <NUM>.

The actuator <NUM> is constructed such that a signal is provided at connector <NUM> representative of the position of the piston <NUM> relative to the position sensor coil element <NUM>.

Such smart cylinders may operate on several different physical principles. Examples of such smart cylinders include but are not limited to magneto-strictive sensing, magneto-resistive sensing, resistive (potentiometric) sensing, Hall effect sensing, sensing using linear variable differential transformers, and sensing using linear variable inductance transducers.

The center portion <NUM> of mold <NUM> is configured to provide an adjustable crown angle to the paved surface. Center portion <NUM> includes a center pivot point <NUM>. The pivot point <NUM> allows the two halves of the mold <NUM> extending to the left and right of pivot point <NUM> to pivot relative to each other. This can be accomplished either by raising the center portion <NUM> or by creating an angle within the center portion <NUM> using an actuator internal to the center portion <NUM>. The pivotal motion of the two halves of the mold <NUM> is further permitted at their outer ends by the pivotal connections <NUM> and <NUM>.

As seen in <FIG> the center portion <NUM> may be supported from the machine frame <NUM> by a support cable <NUM>. Support cable <NUM> is attached at one end <NUM> to the center portion <NUM> and at another end <NUM> to a hydraulic cylinder actuator <NUM>. The cable <NUM> extends over a guide roller <NUM>. The actuator <NUM> can apply a tension load to the cable <NUM> to aid in supporting the center portion <NUM> during set-up.

As schematically illustrated in <FIG>, the slipform paver <NUM> includes a control system <NUM> including a controller <NUM>. The controller <NUM> may be part of the machine control system of the slipform paver <NUM>, or it may be a separate control module. The controller <NUM> may for example be mounted in a control panel located at the operator's station <NUM>. The controller <NUM> is configured to receive input signals from the various sensors. The signals transmitted from the various sensors to the controller <NUM> are schematically indicated in <FIG> by lines connecting the sensors to the controller with an arrowhead indicating the flow of the signal from the sensor to the controller <NUM>.

For example, extension signals from the extension sensors such as <NUM> and <NUM> associated with the "smart" suspension actuators <NUM> and <NUM> will be received so that the controller <NUM> can monitor and control the operation of the suspension actuators. There may be similar input signals from sensors <NUM> and <NUM> representative of the extension of the actuators <NUM> and <NUM> for the extension of machine frame <NUM>. There may be further sensors <NUM> and <NUM> associated with the rotary spindle actuators <NUM> and <NUM> of the mold <NUM>.

Similarly, the controller <NUM> will generate control signals for controlling the operation of the various actuators discussed above, which control signals are indicated schematically in <FIG> by lines connecting the controller <NUM> to graphic depictions of the various actuators with the arrow indicating the flow of the command signal from the controller <NUM> to the respective actuators. It will be understood that for control of a hydraulic cylinder type actuator the controller <NUM> will send an electrical signal to an electro/mechanical control valve (not shown) which controls flow of hydraulic fluid to and from the hydraulic cylinder.

Controller <NUM> includes or may be associated with a processor <NUM>, a computer readable medium <NUM>, a data base <NUM> and an input/output module or control panel <NUM> having a display <NUM>. An input/output device <NUM>, such as a keyboard, joystick or other user interface, is provided so that the human operator may input instructions to the controller. Further details of one embodiment of the control panel <NUM> are seen in <FIG>. It is understood that the controller <NUM> described herein may be a single controller having all of the described functionality, or it may include multiple controllers wherein the described functionality is distributed among the multiple controllers.

Various operations, steps or algorithms as described in connection with the controller <NUM> can be embodied directly in hardware, in a computer program product <NUM> such as a software module executed by the processor <NUM>, or in a combination of the two. The computer program product <NUM> can reside in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk, a removable disk, or any other form of computer-readable medium <NUM> known in the art. An exemplary computer-readable medium <NUM> can be coupled to the processor <NUM> such that the processor can read information from, and write information to, the memory/ storage medium. In the alternative, the medium can be integral to the processor. The processor and the medium can reside in an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The ASIC can reside in a user terminal. In the alternative, the processor and the medium can reside as discrete components in a user terminal.

The term "processor" as used herein may refer to at least general-purpose or specific-purpose processing devices and/or logic as may be understood by one of skill in the art, including but not limited to a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a state machine, and the like. A processor can also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration.

<FIG> shows further details of the control panel <NUM>. Input switch <NUM> controls the forward or rearward direction of the ground engaging units <NUM>.

Toggle switch <NUM> is a three position switch which selects whether the other chosen inputs apply to the left side, the right side or both sides. A center position of switch <NUM> causes the subsequently selected action to apply to both sides of the slipform paver <NUM>.

Switches <NUM> and <NUM> are up and down controls for the lifting columns <NUM> on the selected side of the machine <NUM>.

Switch <NUM> extends and retracts the selected telescoping actuators <NUM> and <NUM> (see <FIG>) of the machine frame <NUM>.

Switch <NUM> extends and retracts the selected left and/or right suspension actuators <NUM> and <NUM>.

Switch <NUM> extends and retracts the selected left or right rotary spindle mold actuators <NUM>.

The slipform paver <NUM> provides an adjustable width mold <NUM> that is suspended from the machine frame <NUM> by the left and right suspension assemblies <NUM> and <NUM> such that a mold width <NUM> of mold <NUM> is adjustable without adjusting the frame width <NUM> of the machine frame <NUM>. For example, during a paving operation it might be desirable to temporarily change the paving width <NUM> to create acceleration and deceleration lanes.

Such operations are illustrated in <FIG>. <FIG> shows an adjustable width mold <NUM> in its fully extended position. It is noted that there are two left side spacers <NUM> and <NUM> between the left sideform assembly <NUM> and center portion <NUM>, and there are two right side spacers <NUM> and <NUM> between the right sideform assembly <NUM> and the center portion <NUM>. In this example the mold width <NUM> may be <NUM>,<NUM> meter (twenty-four feet), the spacers <NUM> and <NUM> may each be <NUM>,<NUM> meter (two feet) wide, and the spacers <NUM> and <NUM> may each be <NUM>,<NUM> meter (one foot) wide.

<FIG> illustrates a modification of the mold <NUM> to adjust the paving width <NUM> from <NUM>,<NUM> meter (twenty-four feet) to <NUM>,<NUM> meter (twenty-one feet). This is accomplished in the following manner. The switch <NUM> is moved to the left position. The left mold actuator <NUM> and/or the associated hydraulic nuts <NUM> of the hanger rods <NUM> are released and the spacers <NUM> and <NUM> are removed. The switch <NUM> is moved to the right position to direct the left suspension actuator <NUM> to retract to move the left carriage <NUM> from left to right by a distance of <NUM>,<NUM> meter (three feet) to move the left sideform assembly <NUM> into engagement with the center portion <NUM> thus closing the <NUM>,<NUM> meter (three foot) gap created by the removal of spacers <NUM> and <NUM>. This motion may be coordinated with the operation of the left mold actuator <NUM> and or the associated hydraulic nuts <NUM> of the hanger rods <NUM> by the controller <NUM> so that the left suspension actuator <NUM> and the left mold actuator <NUM> operate together to move the left carriage <NUM> and the left sideform assembly <NUM> relative to the machine frame <NUM>. The operation of the left and right suspension actuators <NUM> and <NUM> may also be coordinated with the operation of the left and right actuators <NUM> and <NUM> of the telescoping machine frame <NUM>.

In an embodiment any selected ones of the left and right actuators <NUM> and <NUM> of the telescoping machine frame <NUM>, the left and right suspension actuators <NUM> and <NUM>, and the left and right mold actuators <NUM> and <NUM> may be hydraulically unlocked or opened so that they are free to move with their connected components. For example, if it is desired to adjust the machine frame width <NUM> using the left and right actuators <NUM> and <NUM> it is possible to hydraulically unlock the left and right suspension actuators <NUM> and <NUM> and the left and right mold actuators <NUM> and <NUM> so that the left and right suspension actuators <NUM> and <NUM> and the left and right mold actuators <NUM> and <NUM> move freely along with the movement of the machine frame <NUM>. As a further example if it is desired to adjust the mold width <NUM> with the left and/or right suspension actuators <NUM> and <NUM>, the left and right mold actuators <NUM> and <NUM> may be hydraulically unlocked so that the left and right mold actuators <NUM> and <NUM> move freely along with the movement of the left and/or right suspension actuators <NUM> and <NUM>. The controller <NUM> may coordinate such actions by controlling the hydraulic unlocking of the selected actuators. The controller <NUM> may also coordinate such actions by directing simultaneous powered operation of selected actuators.

The operation just described for moving the mold <NUM> from the configuration of <FIG> to that of <FIG> may be referred to as a left side operational mode in which the left suspension actuator <NUM> is operable to move the left carriage <NUM> and the left sideform assembly <NUM> relative to the machine frame <NUM> while the right carriage <NUM> and right sideform assembly <NUM> remain fixed relative to the machine frame <NUM>. During the left side operational mode the clamping cylinders <NUM> of the left side suspension assembly <NUM> are in the released position and the clamping cylinders <NUM> of the right side suspension assembly <NUM> are locked.

The controller <NUM> is configured such that when the left suspension actuator <NUM> is operable to move the left carriage <NUM> relative to the left suspension frame <NUM>, the clamping cylinders <NUM> of the left suspension assembly <NUM> are released to allow that sliding movement of the left carriage. When the left suspension actuator is not operating to move the left carriage <NUM> the clamping cylinders <NUM> are moved back into their locked positions to prevent any inadvertent sliding movement of the left carriage <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a further modification of the mold <NUM> to adjust the paving width <NUM> from <NUM>,<NUM> meter (twenty-one feet) to <NUM>,<NUM> meter (eighteen feet). This is accomplished in a manner similar to that described above, in this case using the right suspension assembly <NUM> to move the right sideform assembly <NUM> to the left by <NUM>,<NUM> meter (three feet) after removal of the spacers <NUM> and <NUM>.

The operation just described for moving the mold <NUM> from the configuration of <FIG> to that of <FIG> may be referred to as a right side operational mode in which the right suspension actuator <NUM> is operable to move the right carriage <NUM> and the right sideform assembly <NUM> relative to the machine frame <NUM> while the left carriage <NUM> and left sideform assembly <NUM> remain fixed relative to the machine frame <NUM>. Of course such a right side operation mode may be performed without having first adjusted the position of the left sideform assembly <NUM>. During the right side operational mode the clamping cylinders <NUM> of the right side suspension assembly <NUM> are in the released position and the clamping cylinders <NUM> of the left side suspension assembly <NUM> are locked.

The controller <NUM> may be described as being configured such that each of the first and second suspension actuators <NUM> and <NUM> are independently operable to move the associated one of the left and right sideform assemblies <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively, relative to the machine frame <NUM> to adjust the mold width <NUM>.

Also it is possible to move from the orientation of <FIG> to that of <FIG> by shifting the entire mold <NUM> of <FIG> <NUM> meter (three feet ) to the left to the position of <FIG>. This is accomplished as follows. First the switch <NUM> is moved to its middle position to select simultaneous operation of the left and right sides. Then switch <NUM> is moved to the left which causes simultaneous extension of the left suspension actuator <NUM> by <NUM>,<NUM> meter (three feet) and retraction of the right suspension actuator <NUM> by <NUM>,<NUM> meter (three feet). Also, to accommodate the lateral movement of the center portion <NUM> the cable <NUM> may be disconnected at <NUM> prior to the lateral movement, and then reconnected to a different point on the center portion <NUM> after the lateral movement. The operation just described of moving from the orientation of <FIG> to the orientation of <FIG> may be described as a mold shifting operational mode in which one of the left and right suspension actuators <NUM>, <NUM> extends while the other of the left and right suspension actuators retracts to transversely shift a position of the mold <NUM> relative to the machine frame <NUM> without adjusting the mold width <NUM>. During the mold shifting mode the clamping cylinders <NUM> of both the left and right suspension assemblies <NUM> and <NUM> are in the released position.

With regard to this mold shifting operational mode the controller <NUM> may be described as being configured such that both of the first and second suspension actuators <NUM> and <NUM> are simultaneously operable to laterally shift the mold <NUM> relative to the machine frame <NUM> without adjusting the mold width <NUM>.

The operations described above as the left side operational mode and the right side operational mode may be described as including a method of adjusting the mold width <NUM> of the mold <NUM> without adjusting the frame width <NUM> of the machine frame <NUM>. This is illustrated by comparing <FIG>, or by comparing <FIG>.

This adjusting step may further be described as including laterally moving one or both of the sideform assemblies <NUM> and <NUM> relative to the center portion <NUM> without adjusting the frame width <NUM> of the machine frame <NUM>.

The method may further include a step of laterally shifting a position of the mold <NUM> relative to the machine frame <NUM> without adjusting the frame width <NUM> of the machine frame <NUM>, such as in the mold shifting mode described above. This is illustrated by comparing <FIG>.

Claim 1:
An inset slipform paver, comprising:
a machine frame (<NUM>);
at least one left ground-engaging unit and at least one right ground engaging unit configured to support the machine frame (<NUM>) from a ground surface (<NUM>) along left and right support paths such that a forward operating direction of the machine frame (<NUM>) is defined and such that the machine frame (<NUM>) has a frame width (<NUM>) transverse to the forward operating direction; and
an adjustable width mold (<NUM>) suspended from the machine frame (<NUM>) between the left and right support paths such that a mold width (<NUM>) of the adjustable width mold (<NUM>) is adjustable without adjusting the frame width (<NUM>) of the machine frame (<NUM>),
wherein the adjustable width mold (<NUM>) further comprises:
a center portion (<NUM>);
a left sideform assembly (<NUM>); and
a right sideform assembly (<NUM>),
wherein the adjustable width mold (<NUM>) further comprises:
one or more left spacers configured to be received between the left sideform assembly (<NUM>) and the center portion (<NUM>); and
one or more right spacers configured to be received between the right sideform assembly (<NUM>) and the center portion (<NUM>),
wherein the adjustable width mold (<NUM>) further comprises:
a left side mold actuator (<NUM>) connected between the left sideform assembly (<NUM>) and the center portion (<NUM>) to move the left sideform assembly (<NUM>) relative to the center portion (<NUM>); and
a right side mold actuator (<NUM>) connected between the right sideform assembly (<NUM>) and the center portion (<NUM>) to move the right sideform assembly (<NUM>) relative to the center portion (<NUM>).