Patent Document

TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates generally to a compaction machine, and relates more particularly to a system for adjusting the pressure and temperature of a compacting member. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Compaction machines, also variously called compactors and compactor machines, are frequently employed for compacting dirt, gravel, asphalt, and other compactable surfaces associated with roadbeds and other land areas. One such type of compaction machine is a drum-type compactor having one or more drums adapted to compact the particular surface over which the compactor is being driven. In order to compact the surface, the drum-type compactor may include a drum assembly having a vibratory mechanism that includes inner and outer eccentric weights arranged on rotatable shafts situated within the drum. Both amplitude and frequency of vibration may be controlled to establish degree of compaction. 
         [0003]    Another type of compactor machine is a pneumatic wheel roller-style of compactor, which is dependent upon tire pressure for achieving effective compaction. For successful operation of the pneumatic compactor, the ground contact pressures should be managed in accordance with compaction surface type. Typically, an operator estimates a contact pressure based upon weight of the machine, air pressure of the tires, and compaction conditions in accordance with a chart provided by the machine manufacturer. Overall weight of the machine may be controlled by adding ballast such as sand and/or water, according to a specific ground compaction task. Pneumatic compactors may have an air system that monitors and maintains the pressure of the tires at a predetermined pressure. 
         [0004]    Paving material is typically comprised of viscous hydrocarbons, and gravel or the like. The paving material is deposited at a relatively high temperature, and cools to harden into a finished product. It is well known that the hot, viscous hydrocarbon constituents of paving material can stick to machinery. Where paving material sticks to ground contacting parts of the machinery, such as the rotating drums or tires of compactors, the quality of the paving material mat can suffer, and continued operation of the machinery can itself be compromised. This problem is especially noted when the drums or tires of compactors are not at temperature. For example, if a pneumatic compactor is not warmed-up (i.e., operated) off-site, the tires are too cool and asphalt will stick to the tires. Having to warm up the compactor off-site is inefficient and costly. 
         [0005]    Systems are available for pneumatic compactors to minimize the need for off-site operation. One method is to spray water or an emulsion onto the tires. Various on-board spray systems configured to spray water, release agents, and the like, onto rotating compacting members are used to prevent the paving material from adhering. For pneumatic compactors, it is typically unnecessary to continuously spray the tires to prevent sticking of the paving material, and thus the operator is often given control over the spray system to apply the liquid at his or her discretion. It is also known to install heaters on the pneumatic compactor above the tires to pre-heat them. Both of heating and spray systems involve adding external components to the compactor and added cost. It is also known to install heating elements within the tires as shown in JP2012096644, although this method is inefficient and costly to use in the paving field when the compactor is operating with temperatures much higher than anticipated for an automobile. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    In one aspect, a compactor includes a frame, an engine coupled to the frame, an exhaust system coupled to the engine and configured to remove heated exhaust air from the engine, a compacting member rotatably coupled to the frame and configured to rotate in contact with a substrate of paving material, and an air system. The air system couples the exhaust system to the compacting member. 
         [0007]    In another aspect, a compactor includes a frame, an engine coupled to the frame, an exhaust system coupled to the engine and configured to remove heated exhaust air from the engine, a tire rotatably coupled to the frame and configured to rotate in contact with a substrate of paving material, an air system comprising a valve and an air compressor, a pressure sensor coupled to the tire and configured to measure the pressure of the tire, a temperature sensor coupled to the tire and configured to measure the temperature of the tire, and a controller. The air system couples the exhaust system to the compacting member. The controller is configured to receive the pressure of the tire from the pressure sensor, receive the temperature of the tire from the temperature sensor, actuate the valve and the air compressor to adjust the pressure of the tire to a first pressure, and actuate the valve and the air compressor to adjust the temperature of the tire to a first temperature. 
         [0008]    In another aspect, a heating system for heating a compacting member of a compactor includes an air system for delivering heated exhaust air to a compacting member, a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the compacting member, a pressure sensor for measuring a pressure of the compacting member, and a controller in communication with the temperature sensor, pressure sensor, and air system. The controller is configured to control the pressure of the compacting member and control the temperature of the compacting member. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic view of a compactor according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic view of a system according to the present disclosure for adjusting the temperature and pressure of a compacting member. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , machine  100 , shown as a pneumatic compactor, includes a frame  102  having a front frame end  104  and a back frame end  106 . An operator control station  108  is coupled to frame  102  between front frame end  104  and back frame end  106  in a conventional manner. Machine  100  further includes a front compaction module  110  and a rear compaction module  112 . Both front compaction module  110  and rear compaction module  112  are rotatably coupled to frame  102 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , both front compaction module  110  and rear compaction module  112  are each made up of four compacting members  220 . In the exemplary embodiment, compacting member  220  is a pneumatic tire. 
         [0012]    One of skill in the art will appreciate that machine  100  could be any type of compactor employing compacting member  220 . And while front compaction module  110  and rear compaction module  112  are described as having four compacting members  220 , front compaction module  110  and rear compaction module  112  could have any number of compacting members  220 , and front compaction module  110  may have a different number of compacting members  220  than are present in rear compaction module  112 . 
         [0013]    Machine  100  further includes a system  200  for adjusting pressure and temperature of compacting member  220  as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Machine  100  has an engine  201  with an exhaust system  202 . Exhaust system  202  carries away heated engine exhaust air. The heated exhaust air being removed from engine  201  is significantly higher than the temperature of the ambient air, and can be anywhere from 350-450° C. (662-842° F.). Exhaust system  202  is coupled to air system  204 . Air system  204  is coupled to compacting member  220 . 
         [0014]    Air system  204  includes an air compressor  206 , a valve  208 , and an intake  210 . Intake  210  allows ambient air to enter the air system. Valve  208  allows either heated exhaust air from engine  201  or ambient air from intake  210  to travel to air compressor  206  and ultimately to compacting member  220 . Air compressor  206  has a compressor intake  240  and a compressor outlet  250 . In an exemplary embodiment, valve  208  would be an electronic mixing valve to allow ambient air, exhaust air, or a mixture of the two to enter the intake of air compressor  206  to create the required temperature in compacting member  220 . The pressure reached within compacting member  220  using air system  204  would range from 2-10 bar (29-145 psi). 
         [0015]    Compacting member  220  is equipped with a pressure sensor  222  and a temperature sensor  224 . Pressure sensor  222  monitors and measures the pressure of compacting member  220 . Temperature sensor  224  monitors and measures the temperature of compacting member  220 . Pressure sensor  222  and temperature sensor  224  are known in the art. Pressure sensor  222  and temperature sensor  224  are coupled to compacting member  220  in a way to ensure that each is taking accurate measurements of pressure and temperature representative of compacting member  220 . 
         [0016]    The system for adjusting pressure and temperature of compacting member  220  also includes a controller  230 . Controller  230  is in communication with compressor  206 , valve  208 , pressure sensor  222 , and temperature sensor  224  through either wired or wireless technologies known in the art. Controller  230  is a standard electronic control module known in the art. 
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
       [0017]    In general, the present disclosure may prove particularly useful for pneumatic compactor machines. It may also be useful for other industrial machines, including but not limited to certain loaders and various work machines used in construction, agriculture, and industrial environments. 
         [0018]    System  200  is for controlling the pressure and the temperature of compacting member  220 . While the present disclosure has described system  200  with respect to a single compacting member  220 , the present disclosure anticipates that system  200  may be used with multiple compacting members  220 . For example, in a standard pneumatic compactor having four front tires and four rear tires, system  220  would have eight compacting members  220 . Air compressor  206  is capable of directing either heated exhaust air, ambient air, or both heated exhaust air and ambient air to individual compacting members  220 . 
         [0019]    The pressure and temperature of compacting member  220  are altered by changes in either pressure, temperature, or both. So the addition of heated exhaust air or ambient air can affect both the pressure and temperature of compacting member  220 . It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that actual performance of machine  100  will vary as a function of the inflation pressure of compacting member  220  and the softness or hardness of the surface being compacted. Thus, low inflation pressure of compacting member  220  will generally improve traction and durability of a compactor machine on softer ground, for example, while higher inflation pressure of compacting member  220  will provide more efficient results on firmer surfaces. To the extent that the compaction surface may be softer and of lower density in early stages of the compaction process, the surface will generally become increasingly denser and hence more firm after several passes of machine  100  over the surface. As such, it may be advantageous to vary the compacting member  220  inflation pressure as a function of real-time density of the compaction surface. 
         [0020]    Changes in temperature will cause corresponding changes to pressure of compacting member  220 . Accordingly, with the present disclosure, operators of machine  100  would be able to automatically control the temperature of compacting member  220  as well as the pressure of compacting member  220  to prevent paving material from sticking to compacting member  220  and maintaining compacting member  220  at the proper pressure to accomplish machine  100 &#39;s task. 
         [0021]    The present description is for illustrative purposes only, and should not be construed to narrow the breadth of the present disclosure in any way. Thus, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications might be made to the presently disclosed embodiments without departing from the full and fair scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Other aspects, features and advantages will be apparent upon an examination of the attached drawings and appended claims.

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