Ultrasonic grade and auger control

Claim 1

An asphalt paver comprising: an auger for moving asphalt laterally in a direction perpendicular to the direction of said paver; sonic means coupled to said paver for periodically transmitting a sonic signal downwardly towards a first location on said asphalt in said auger and for receiving a reflection of said sonic signal from said first location on said asphalt; means for measuring the time period between transmitting and receiving said sonic signal, said measured time period corresponding to the distance from said sonic means to said asphalt; and means responsive to said measuring means for driving said auger so as to provide a predetermined level of asphalt within said auger, said driving means comprising means for reducing angular acceleration of said auger so as to inhibit asphalt separation, said reducing means comprising means for determining a mean time period of a plurality of immediately preceeding measured time periods and for controlling the angular velocity of said auger in accordance with said mean time period.

Claim 11

An apparatus for controlling the rotational velocity of an auger of an asphalt paving machine relative to the height of the asphalt in the auger, said apparatus comprising: sonic means coupled to said paving machine for periodically transmitting a sonic signal downwardly toward said asphalt and for receiving a sonic signal reflected upwardly from said asphalt, wherein the time period between transmission and receipt of said sonic signal defines a distance time period that is proportional to the separation distance between said sonic means and said asphalt; means responsive to said distance time period for driving said auger so as to provide a predetermined level of asphalt within said auger, said driving means comprising auger rotational adjustment means for reducing angular acceleration of said auger so as to inhibit asphalt separation, said reducing means comprising: (a) means for determining a mean time period of a plurality of immediately preceeding distance time periods; (b) timing means for periodically defining a consecutive first and second time interval of finite duration, wherein said first time interval defines a halt region beginning at a time after said transmission of said sonic signal by said sonic means and said second time interval defines a positive region beginning after said first time interval; (c) comparison means for generating a distance signal if said mean time period ends during said second time interval wherein said distance signal has a predetermined relationship to the magnitude of said mean time period, and for generating a halt signal if said mean time period ends during said first time interval; and (d) auger rotational adjustment means coupled to said auger for rotating said auger at an angular velocity having a predetermined relationship to said distance signal and for decreasing said angular velocity of said auger in response to said halt signal.

Claim 12

An apparatus for controlling the rotational velocity of an auger of an asphalt paving machine relative to the height of the asphalt in the auger, said apparatus comprising: sonic means coupled to said paving machine for periodically transmitting a sonic signal downwardly toward said asphalt and for receiving a sonic signal reflected upwardly from said asphalt, wherein the time period between transmission and receipt of said sonic signal defines a distance time period that is proportional to the separation distance between said sonic means and said asphalt; means responsive to said distance time period for driving said auger so as to provide a predetermined level of asphalt within said auger, said driving means comprising auger rotational adjustment means for reducing angular acceleration of said auger so as to inhibit asphalt separation, said reducing means comprising: (a) means for determining a mean time period of a plurality of immediately preceeding distance time periods; (b) timing means for periodically defining a consecutive first and second time interval of finite duration, wherein said first time interval defines a halt region beginning at a time after said transmission of said sonic signal by said sonic means and said second time interval defines a positive region beginning after said first time interval; (c) comparison means for generating a distance signal if said mean time period ends during said second time interval wherein said distance signal has a predetermined relationship to the magnitude of said mean time period, and for generating a halt signal if said mean time period ends during said first time interval; and (d) auger rotational adjustment means coupled to said auger for rotating said auger at an angular velocity having a predetermined relationship to said distance signal and for decreasing said angular velocity of said auger in response to said halt signal.

Claim 19

An apparatus for controlling the rate of flow of asphalt of a paving machine relative to the height that the delivered asphalt's level extends above a preset level located above the ground, said apparatus comprising: sonic means coupled to said implement for periodically transmitting a first and second sonic signal downward toward a respective first and second location positioned on said asphalt, and for receiving a first and second sonic signal reflected upward from said asphalt, wherein the time period between transmission and receipt of said first sonic signal defines a first distance time period that is proportional to the separation distance between said sonic means and said first location, and wherein the time period between transmission and receipt of said second sonic signal defines a second distance time period that is proportional to the separation distance between said sonic means and said second location; means for defining a preset time period corresponding to the time period between transmission and receipt of a sonic signal when said asphalt level is equal to said preset level; means for generating no flow signals if the magnitude of the difference between said first and second distance time period is less than a preset time period, for generating a positive flow signal if the magnitude of the difference between said first and second distance time period is positive and has a magnitude greater than said preset time period, and for generating a negative flow signal if the magnitude of the difference between said first and second time period is negative and has a magnitude greater than said preset time period; and delivery rate adjustment means coupled to said asphalt paving machine for increasing the amount of asphalt flow in response to a positive flow signal and for decreasing the amount of asphalt flow in response to said negative flow signal.

Claim 20

An apparatus for controlling the rate of flow of asphalt of a paving machine relative to the height that the delivered asphalt's level extends above a preset level located above the ground, said apparatus comprising: sonic means coupled to said implement for periodically transmitting a first and second sonic signal downward toward a respective first and second location positioned on said asphalt, and for receiving a first and second sonic signal reflected upward from said asphalt, wherein the time period between transmission and receipt of said first sonic signal defines a first distance time period that is proportional to the separation distance between said sonic means and said first location, and wherein the time period between transmission and receipt of said second sonic signal defines a second distance time period that is proportional to the separation distance between said sonic means and said second location; means for defining a preset time period corresponding to the time period between transmission and receipt of a sonic signal when said asphalt level is equal to said preset level; means for generating no flow signals if the magnitude of the difference between said first and second distance time period is less than a preset time period, for generating a positive flow signal if the magnitude of the difference between said first and second distance time period is positive and has a magnitude greater than said preset time period, and for generating a negative flow signal if the magnitude of the difference between said first and second time period is negative and has a magnitude greater than said preset time period; and delivery rate adjustment means coupled to said asphalt paving machine for increasing the amount of asphalt flow in response to a positive flow signal and for decreasing the amount of asphalt flow in response to said negative flow signal.

Claim 23

An apparatus for controlling the position of a grading implement relative to a datum alongside a roadbed comprising: sonic means coupled to said grading implement for transmitting a sonic signal downward toward the datum and receiving said sonic signal reflected upward from said datum, wherein the duration of a time period between transmission and receipt of said sonic signal defines a distance time period that is proportional to the distance between said sonic means and said datum; means in electrical contact with said sonic means for generating a direction signal relative to said distance; means for moving said position of said grading implement in response to said direction signal; and reference point means disposed a predetermined distance downward from said sonic means for reflecting a portion of said sonic signal from said sonic transmitting means to said sonic receiving means, wherein the time duration between transmission and receipt of said sonic signal from said reference point defines a first time period, wherein the time duration between transmission and receipt of said sonic signal from said datum defines a second time period and wherein said reference point means protrudes into the region between said sonic transmit means and said datum such that any reflection of said signals from said reference point means is distinguishable from the reflection of said sonic signal from said datum.

Claim 24

An apparatus for controlling the position of a grading implement relative to a datum alongside a roadbed comprising: sonic means coupled to said grading implement for transmitting a sonic signal downward toward the datum and receiving said sonic signal reflected upward from said datum, wherein the duration of a time period between transmission and receipt of said sonic signal defines a distance time period that is proportional to the distance between said sonic means and said datum; means in electrical contact with said sonic means for generating a direction signal relative to said distance; means for moving said position of said grading implement in response to said direction signal; and reference point means disposed a predetermined distance downward from said sonic means for reflecting a portion of said sonic signal from said sonic transmitting means to said sonic receiving means, wherein the time duration between transmission and receipt of said sonic signal from said reference point defines a first time period, wherein the time duration between transmission and receipt of said sonic signal from said datum defines a second time period and wherein said reference point means protrudes into the region between said sonic transmit means and said datum such that any reflection of said signals from said reference point means is distinguishable from the reflection of said sonic signal from said datum.

Claim 25

An apparatus for controlling the position of a grading implement of a paving machine at a predetermined distance above a datum disposed alongside a roadbed, said apparatus comprising: sonic means coupled to said grading implement for periodically transmitting a sonic signal downward toward said datum and receiving a sonic signal reflected upward from said datum, wherein the duration of a time period between transmission and receipt of said sonic signal defines a second time period that is proportional to the distance between said sonic means and said datum; reference point means disposed a predetermined fixed distance downward from said sonic means for reflecting said sonic signal from said sonic transmitting means to said sonic receiving means; timing means for defining an first time period between transmission and receipt of said sonic signal from said reference point means; adjustment means for determining a measurement distance corresponding to the distance between said sonic means and said datum, calculated by a predetermined relationship between said first time period, said predetermined distance and said second time period; comparison means for generating a direction signal if the duration of said measurement distance falls within a predetermined distance interval; and position adjustment means coupled to said grading implement for moving said implement relative to the ground in response to said direction signal in such a manner as to slow the movement of said grading implement, thereby preventing ripples in said roadbed.

Claim 26

An apparatus for controlling the position of a grading implement of a paving machine at a predetermined distance above a datum disposed alongside a roadbed, said apparatus comprising: sonic means coupled to said grading implement for periodically transmitting a sonic signal downward toward said datum and receiving a sonic signal reflected upward from said datum, wherein the duration of a time period between transmission and receipt of said sonic signal defines a second time period that is proportional to the distance between said sonic means and said datum; reference point means disposed a predetermined fixed distance downward from said sonic means for reflecting said sonic signal from said sonic transmitting means to said sonic receiving means; timing means for defining an first time period between transmission and receipt of said sonic signal from said reference point means; adjustment means for determining a measurement distance corresponding to the distance between said sonic means and said datum, calculated by a predetermined relationship between said first time period, said predetermined distance and said second time period; comparison means for generating a direction signal if the duration of said measurement distance falls within a predetermined distance interval; and position adjustment means coupled to said grading implement for moving said implement relative to the ground in response to said direction signal in such a manner as to slow the movement of said grading implement, thereby preventing ripples in said roadbed.

Claim 31

An apparatus for controlling the position of a grading implement at a predetermined distance above a datum disposed adjacent a road bed, said apparatus comprising: sonic means coupled to said grading implement for transmitting a sonic signal downward toward the datum and receiving said sonic signal reflected upward from the datum; means in electrical contact with said sonic means and responsive to said reflected sonic signal for generating a direction signal relative to said distance; means for moving the position of said grading implement in response to said direction signal; and a casing having a cavity through which said sonic signal is transmitted before being reflected upward from said datum, said cavity being formed within said casing to focus said sonic signal at a target location on said datum to reduce reflections from non-target locations on said datum to provide a reflected signal that is used to accurately position said grading implement.

Claim 32

An apparatus for controlling the position of a grading implement at a predetermined distance above a datum disposed adjacent a road bed, said apparatus comprising: sonic means coupled to said grading implement for transmitting a sonic signal downward toward the datum and receiving said sonic signal reflected upward from the datum; means in electrical contact with said sonic means and responsive to said reflected sonic signal for generating a direction signal relative to said distance; means for moving the position of said grading implement in response to said direction signal; and a casing having a cavity through which said sonic signal is transmitted before being reflected upward from said datum, said cavity being formed within said casing to focus said sonic signal at a target location on said datum to reduce reflections from non-target locations on said datum to provide a reflected signal that is used to accurately position said grading implement.

Claim 45

An apparatus for controlling the position of a grading implement relative to a datum alongside a roadbed comprising: means for periodically determining the distance between said grading implement and said roadbed; means for providing a direction signal when the distance between said implement and said roadbed is less than a first predetermined distance; control panel means for indicating that said direction signal is to be provided when the distance between said grading implement is less than a second predetermined distance; means responsive to said control panel indicator for providing said direction signal when the distance between said asphalt and said grading implement is less than said second predetermined distance; and means for moving said grading implement relative to the ground in response to said direction signal.

Claim 46

An apparatus for controlling the position of a grading implement relative to a datum alongside a roadbed comprising: means for periodically determining the distance between said grading implement and said roadbed; means for providing a direction signal when the distance between said implement and said roadbed is less than a first predetermined distance; control panel means for indicating that said direction signal is to be provided when the distance between said grading implement is less than a second predetermined distance; means responsive to said control panel indicator for providing said direction signal when the distance between said asphalt and said grading implement is less than said second predetermined distance; and means for moving said grading implement relative to the ground in response to said direction signal.