Slope control for paving machines

Claim 2

Apparatus for sensing twisting of an elongate element, such as a screed of a paving machine or the like, which is subject to twist, said apparatus comprising a pair of arms supported from said element extending toward one another with their outer ends rigidly connected to said element and with their inner ends free, a gravity-type slope sensor, and means mounting said sensor on the inner ends of said support arms for tilting of the sensor relative to the arms on tilting of either arm occasioned by twisting of said element.

Claim 3

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said support arms are generally in line with one another.

Claim 4

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the outer ends of said support arms are rigidly connected to said element so as to be in substantial alignment with the leading edge thereof, said support arms being spaced above the element a distance sufficient to permit twisting of the element without the support arms contacting the element.

Claim 5

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said support arms are located rearwardly of the leading edge of said element, said support arms being spaced above the element a distance sufficient to permit twisting of the element without the support arms contacting the element.

Claim 6

Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said support arms are located intermediate the leading and trailing edges of said element.

Claim 7

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said support arms are located forwardly of the leading edge of said element.

Claim 8

Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said machine comprises a pair of pull arms for towing the element forwardly, the rearward end portion of each pull arm being connected to a respective outer end of said element, and wherein the outer end of each of said support arms is rigidly secured to a respective pull arm intermediate the forward end of the pull arm and the leading edge of said element thereby to support each of said support arms from the element.

Claim 9

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said outer ends of said support arms are rigidly connected to said element adjacent its outer ends.

Claim 10

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said outer ends of the support arms are rigidly connected to said element intermediate its outer ends.

Claim 11

Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said mounting means is pivotally connected to the inner ends of both of said support arms and is shiftable relative to one of said support arms thereby to permit tilting of the sensor relative to the support arms.

Claim 12

Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said mounting means comprises a cradle carried by the inner ends of said support arms, said cradle having means for releasably secuRing the sensor thereto and means for adjusting the inclination of the sensor relative to the cradle.

Claim 13

Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said cradle comprises a base member pivotally secured to the inner end of one of said support arms and secured by a sliding connection to the inner end of the other of said support arms thereby to permit pivoting of the base member relative to both of said support arms and to permit shifting of the base member relative to said other support arm when said element is twisted, and a mounting member pivotally carried by the base member for rotation about an axis extending generally parallel to the axis of said pivot connection, said means for adjusting the inclination of said sensor relative to the cradle comprising screw adjustment means for pivoting said mounting member relative to said base member.

Claim 14

Apparatus for sensing twisting of an elongate screed of a paving machine which is subject to twist, said screed extending transversely of the direction of travel of the paving machine and having its outer ends connected thereto, said apparatus comprising a pair of support arms extending inwardly of the screed toward one another substantially in line with the leading edge of the screed and with the outer ends of the support arms rigidly connected to the outer ends of the screed and with the inner end of the support arms free, said support arms being spaced above said screed a distance sufficient to permit twisting of the screed without said support arms contacting the screed, a gravity-type slope sensor, and a cradle mounting the slope sensor, said cradle being pivotally secured to the inner end of one of the support arms and secured by a pin-and-slot connection to the inner end of the other of said support arms thereby to permit tilting of the cradle and the sensor relative to the support arms on tilting of either arm occasioned by twisting of the screed.

Claim 15

Apparatus for sensing twisting of an elongate screed of a paving machine which is subject to twist, said screed extending transversely of the direction of travel of the paving machine and having its outer ends connected thereto, said apparatus comprising a pair of support arms extending inwardly of the screed toward one another substantially in line with the leading edge of the screed and with the outer ends of the support arms rigidly connected to the outer ends of the screed and with the inner end of the support arms free, said support arms being spaced above said screed a distance sufficient to permit twisting of the screed without said support arms contacting the screed, a gravity-type slope sensor, and a cradle mounting the slope sensor, said cradle being pivotally secured to the inner end of one of the support arms and secured by a pin-and-slot connection to the inner end of the other of said support arms thereby to permit tilting of the cradle and the sensor relative to the support arms on tilting of either arm occasioned by twisting of the screed.