Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW-MPT Document 118-12 Filed 11/17/22 Page 1 of 12 PageID #:
`12226
`
`EXHIBIT L
`
`

`

`USOO846.5105B2
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Parker et al.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8.465,105 B2
`Jun. 18, 2013
`
`(54) CONTROL SYSTEM FOR CUTTER DRUM
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`(75) Inventors: Carl D. Parker, Yukon, OK (US); E.
`Leroy Henderson, Mustang, OK (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Mr. Corporation, Oklahoma
`1ty,
`(US)
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 1453 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 11/624,359
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Jan. 18, 2007
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`US 2008/O173740 A1
`Jul. 24, 2008
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`
`(51) Int. Cl.
`EOIC 23/088
`EOIC 23/2
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`USPC ......................................................... 299/.39.4.
`(58) Field of Classification Search
`USPC
`299/36.1, 39.1, 39.2, 39.4:404f75
`4000.o.o.o
`
`- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
`
`DE
`FR
`JP
`k .
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`3,694,033 A * 9/1972 Rowley et al. ............... 299/.394
`3,888,542 A * 6/1975 Gowler ..........
`... 299/15
`4,343,513 A * 8/1982 Godbersen .
`... 299/15
`6,371,566 B1 * 4/2002 Haehn ...
`... 299/15
`6,517,281 B1* 2/2003 Rissi ..............
`... 404,110
`2006/0129280 A1* 6/2006 Thomas et al.
`7OO/275
`2010.00 14917 A1
`1/2010 Willis et al. ..................... 404/93
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`21566.15
`* 5, 1973
`2345556 A * 11, 1977
`O5252817 A * 10, 1993
`
`cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner — Sunil Singh
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — Mayer Brown LLP
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`A work vehicle including an engine and a transmission opera
`tively engaging the engine. The transmission has at least one
`input shaft and at least one output shaft, wherein a ratio of a
`rotational speed of the output shaft with respect to a rotational
`speed of the input shaft may be changed by said transmission.
`The work vehicle further includes a cutter drum operatively
`engaging said transmission and a controller, wherein the con
`troller selects the transmission ratio based on an input of a
`user of the Work vehicle.
`
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`31 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
`
`46
`
`44
`
`SELECTOR
`SWITCH
`
`CUTTER DRUM
`ONOFF SWITCH
`
`ELECTRONIC
`CONTROLLER
`
`ENGINE
`
`PTO
`
`HYDRAULIC
`PUMP
`
`TRANSMISSION
`
`CUTTER DRUM
`
`
`
`
`
`16
`
`
`
`30
`
`38
`
`20
`
`22
`
`24
`
`26
`
`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW-MPT Document 118-12 Filed 11/17/22 Page 2 of 12 PageID #:
`12227
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 18, 2013
`
`Sheet 1 of 4
`
`US 8,465,105 B2
`
`
`
`ENGINE
`
`PTO
`
`HYDRAULC
`PUMP
`
`TRANSMISSION
`
`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW-MPT Document 118-12 Filed 11/17/22 Page 3 of 12 PageID #:
`12228
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`CUTTER DRUM
`
`22
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`24
`
`26
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 18, 2013
`
`Sheet 2 of 4
`
`US 8,465,105 B2
`
`FIG. 3
`
`30
`
`
`
`SELECTOR
`SWITCH
`
`ELECTRONIC
`CONTROLLER
`
`HYDRAULC
`PUMP
`
`TRANSMISSION
`
`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW-MPT Document 118-12 Filed 11/17/22 Page 4 of 12 PageID #:
`12229
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`CUTTER DRUM
`
`PLANETARY
`
`FIG. 4
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 18, 2013
`
`Sheet 3 of 4
`
`US 8,465,105 B2
`
`102
`
`
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`108
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`100
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`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW-MPT Document 118-12 Filed 11/17/22 Page 5 of 12 PageID #:
`12230
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`104
`
`FIG. 5
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 18, 2013
`
`Sheet 4 of 4
`
`US 8,465,105 B2
`
`YES
`
`202
`
`NO1CHANGE
`
`NO
`
`YES
`
`VEHICLE
`START UP 2
`
`
`
`INTIALIZE
`OPERATING
`PARAMETERS
`
`200
`204
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`206
`
`1-C 207
`ACCEPTN YES
`PRIOR DE - TO 220
`PARSERS
`NO
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`208
`
`CUTTER
`DIAMETER
`ENTERED
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`
`
`
`
`212
`
`NO
`
`ENTER
`DIAMETER
`
`NO
`
`NO
`DIAMETER
`
`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW-MPT Document 118-12 Filed 11/17/22 Page 6 of 12 PageID #:
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`

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`US 8,465,105 B2
`
`1.
`CONTROL SYSTEM FOR CUTTER DRUM
`
`FIELD OF INVENTION
`
`The present invention, differing embodiments of which are
`described, relates generally to the field of construction equip
`ment, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to
`cold planers and reclaimer/stabilizer machines.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`Roadways made of concrete, asphalt or other materials are
`subject to extreme conditions caused by weather and traffic
`which eventually lead to defects in the roadway surface, such
`as cracks and potholes. While some of these defects can be
`repaired by using localized patching, there comes a time
`when a roadway Surface has become so degradated that it
`must be removed and replaced, or otherwise repaired or resur
`faced over a large extent.
`Many types of construction equipment utilize a mobile
`chassis with a drum mounted on an underside thereof to
`perform an operation on worn roadway Surfaces and/or road
`beds. Two of Such types of machines are cold planers and
`reclaimer/stabilizer machines. In Such machines, cutting
`teeth are arranged on the drum in a desired configuration,
`Such as a spiral configuration, to cut the Surface and to assist,
`in the case of a cold planer, in picking up and transferring the
`removed roadway cuttings to a conveyor which, in turn, con
`veys the cuttings into a dump truck or other Suitable vehicle
`for transferring the cuttings to a proper disposal or recycling
`location, which recycling may be at or near the work site.
`As is known in the art, cold planers are used to remove
`layers of concrete/asphalt from existing roadways in prepa
`ration for paving operations. On the other hand, reclaimer/
`stabilizer machines prepare new Surface material from an
`existing road bed by the pulverization of the roadbed mate
`rial. Such a machine includes a rotating cutter assembly con
`fined within a cutterhousing. The cutterhousing may include
`a series of nozzle ports extending across the width of the
`housing which cooperate with spray noZZles to permit spray
`ing of liquid additives into the cutterhousing to be mixed with
`the salvaged material being pulverized, in order to provide the
`desired stabilized roadbed. Alternatively, new road surfacing
`materials and/or liquid additives may be placed in front of the
`leading edge of the reclaimer/stabilizer during operation to be
`then mixed with the reclaimed surface material.
`It is advantageous that the surface left behind by cold
`planer machines be of a reasonably uniform texture in nature,
`especially if traffic will be driven over the surface before it can
`be repaved. However, for many road surface repair/replace
`ment operations, it is necessary to remove a portion of the
`road Surface. Such as the damaged portion and sections of the
`Surface Surrounding that damaged portion, to score the
`exposed surface so that the concrete or asphalt to be laid will
`more readily adhere to the exposed surface. For example, in a
`typical asphalt highway, the asphalt itselfmay have a depth of
`3 to 10 inches. During renovation, it is not uncommon for up
`to, for example, 1 to 4 inches of the overall highway depth
`may be removed by the cold planer machines, with the
`remaining Surface being scored to a depth of about /16 inches
`to about 3/16 inches. While it is desirable for such scored
`Surfaces to be uniform in depth and pattern, non-uniform
`Surfaces, such as wavy or grooved patterns on Such surface,
`may arise if the ground speed of the portable machine chassis
`increases or decreases without making a proper adjustment in
`the rotational speed of the cutting drum. Thus, if ground speed
`is increased without increasing the speed of the cutter drum,
`
`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW-MPT Document 118-12 Filed 11/17/22 Page 7 of 12 PageID #:
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`2
`the drum will make fewer rotations over a given linear dis
`tance, resulting in a non-uniform, wavy, grooved pattern, or
`even rougher road Surface. Similarly, if the ground speed is
`decreased, without decreasing the rotational speed of the
`cutter drum, the drum will make greater rotations over a given
`linear distance, resulting in non-uniform, wavy or even
`rougher road Surfaces. Moreover, certain states require that a
`consistent pattern be left by a cold planer and have require
`ments for gradation and blending of materials for reclaimer/
`stabilizer machines. Thus, changes in ground speed without
`the appropriate change in rotational speed of the cutter drum
`could alter the overall scored pattern and could alter the
`gradation and affect the blending characteristics of the
`reclaimed/stabilized material.
`The need to provide a control of the cutter drum speed in
`relation to the travel of the machine can be seen when one
`considers the following. Assume a cylindrical cutter drum has
`a diameter of, for example, 46 inches and a length of 84
`inches. Typically, rows ofteeth are spread at a regular pattern
`on the cutter Surface. Such as, for example, 3 rows of teeth
`spaced about 48 inches circumferentially apart (which is
`equivalent to a spacing angle of about 120 degrees) for the
`drum described. The rows may have, for example, 135 indi
`vidual teeth spaced a uniform linear distance apart, Such as,
`for example 5/8 inches and at an equal projecting angle. If such
`a cutter operates at about 100 rpms, each individual row of
`teeth will be in a position to contact the asphalt road surface
`about every 0.5 to 0.6 seconds. With three separate rows of
`teeth on the cutter drum, this means that a new row will make
`contact with the road surface about every 0.2 seconds. If the
`machine is moving at 60 feet per minute (or 1 foot per sec
`ond), then each individual row of teeth will contact the road
`surface about every 0.6 feet. With three separate rows ofteeth
`on the cutter drum, this means that a new row will contact the
`road surface about every 0.2 feet. However, if the ground
`speed were to change to about 90 feet per minute (about 1.5
`feet per second), then each individual row ofteeth will contact
`the pavement about every 0.9 feet. And with three separate
`rows of teeth on the cutter drum, this means a new row will
`now contact the pavement every 0.3 feet. This type of change
`in speed leads to an irregular, non-uniform tooth pattern,
`which causes a road to be rougher for automobiles that travel
`over the surface before it is resurfaced. Indeed, this type of
`speed change may lead to an undesirable wavy texture/tooth
`pattern in the Surface that could cause vehicles that are trav
`eling over the surface to veer toward one side of the road or the
`other; motorcycles are particularly prone to veer or deflect
`from the desired path of travel when encountering Such a
`wavy texture.
`Prior cold planer and reclaimer/stabilizer machines have
`previously enabled operators to provide a method of changing
`the cutter drum speed through the use of a multi-speed select
`transmission or through the process of removal and installa
`tion of sheaves of different diameters that are connected to the
`engine output and/or the cutter drum gearbox. However, these
`methods of changing drum speed are unsatisfactory. In the
`latter case (using sheave replacement), the work vehicle must
`be stopped in order to change the sheave, which is a time and
`labor intensive project. Even in vehicles where a multi-speed
`select transmission is used, the work vehicle still must remain
`in a very narrow speed range, or stopped altogether because
`the cutter drum speed cannot be changed “on the fly” with
`respect to the ground speed of the vehicle. Moreover, such
`multi-speed select transmissions typically do not contain Suf
`ficient gearing ratios to accommodate all conditions. Because
`changing cutter drum speed is so difficult in present cold
`planer and reclaimer/stabilizer machines, these machines
`
`10
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`

`US 8,465,105 B2
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`3
`oftentimes run at less than optimal conditions, i.e., do not
`operate at the proper ratio of ground speed to cutter drum
`speed, particularly in conditions where the work area is not
`flat, where the ground speed can easily vary from the speed at
`which the ratio is optimal. Non-optimum running conditions
`may also occur if the machine operator changes vehicle speed
`himself or where the road surface itself is such as to result in
`a cutting depth change.
`Accordingly, there is a need for a system that will enable a
`machine, such as a cold planer or reclaimer/stabilizer
`machine, to better maintain the proper ratio of ground speed
`to cutter drum rotation during operation. Other needs will
`become apparent upon a reading of the following description,
`taken in conjunction with the drawings.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`4
`description of the various embodiments when read in con
`junction with the drawings, wherein like items have been
`designated with like numbers, and with the appended claims.
`It will be appreciated that the Abstract, the Background,
`and the Summary set forth above, as well as the Brief Descrip
`tion of Drawings below, are provided to describe, in general
`terms, certain preferred aspects of the preferred embodiments
`of the subject matter disclosed in the Detailed Description of
`Preferred Embodiments, and are not intended to be, and
`should not be viewed as, definitional portions used to con
`strue the limitations, or otherwise vary the scope, of the
`claims.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a side view of a cold planer machine in accordance
`with one embodiment disclosed herein.
`FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a power train of one
`embodiment of the cold planer of FIG. 1.
`FIG. 3 is a side view of a reclaimer/stabilizer machine in
`accordance with one embodiment disclosed herein.
`FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a power train of one
`embodiment of the reclaimer/stabilizer machine of FIG. 3.
`FIG. 5 is a diagram of an example of a data entry key pad
`for use with one embodiment disclosed herein.
`FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a setup and operational procedure
`for use with one embodiment disclosed herein.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`While the present invention is capable of embodiment in
`various forms, there is shown in the drawings, and will be
`hereinafter described, one or more presently preferred
`embodiments with the understanding that the present disclo
`Sure is to be considered as an exemplification of the invention,
`and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific
`embodiments illustrated.
`A work vehicle in the form of a cold planer machine 10,
`according to one embodiment of the present invention, is
`shown in FIG.1. The cold planer 10 has a pair offront crawler
`tracks 12 and a pair of rear crawler tracks 14 that enable the
`machine 10 to be mobile. It will be appreciated that although
`dual crawler tracks are disclosed as being used in the front and
`rear of the cold planer machine 10, any number of crawler
`tracks can be used in the practice of the present invention.
`Also, any other structure that allows the cold planer machine
`10 to move overa Surface, such as pneumatic or Solid wheels,
`can be used in the practice of the present invention.
`The cold planer machine 10 includes, as represented in
`FIG. 2, an engine 16, to which a power take off (PTO) shaft 18
`is connected. The power take off shaft 18 drives an infinitely
`variable transmission 20. The output of the infinitely variable
`transmission 20 is connected to a sheave or a sprocket 22,
`which drives a V-belt or chain drive 24. The V-belt or chain
`drive 24 is, in turn, connected to a sheave or sprocket 26 on a
`planetary gear assembly 28, which is associated with a cutter
`drum 30 mounted on an underside of the machine 10. It
`should be noted that although planetary gears are used in one
`embodiment of the present invention, the invention is not
`limited to planetary gears. Indeed, any other type of gear
`assembly that provides sufficient torque and durability to
`cause the cutter 30 to rotate may be used in the practice of
`embodiments disclosed herein.
`As can be appreciated, the rotational speed of the cutter
`drum 30 is dictated by the output of the infinitely variable
`transmission 20. It will be noted, however, that it is within the
`
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`The several embodiments described herein are designed to
`improve both the time and energy efficiency of a machine
`Such as a cold planer or reclaimer/stabilizer machine. In par
`ticular, one disclosed embodiment allows the ratio of the
`rotational speed of the cutter drum to the ground speed of the
`vehicle to be held substantially constant. When used on a
`vehicle for roadway resurfacing, one disclosed embodiment
`strives to allay the concerns of states regarding the undesir
`able texture/tooth pattern left in the road surfaces when
`asphalt is removed for road resurfacing, because the Substan
`tially constant ratio reduces the presence of undesirable tex
`ture/tooth patterns in the surface of the road that has been
`exposed.
`One disclosed embodiment improves upon the prior art by
`providing a control system for monitoring and regulating the
`ground speed and cutter drum speed of a cold planer or
`reclaimer/stabilizer machine. Preferably, the control system
`has at least two modes, a “manual mode and an 'automatic'
`mode. In manual mode, the cutter drum speed may be set to a
`specific speed, after which an operator would operate the
`vehicle in a manner similar to current work vehicles, keeping
`the vehicle within a small range of ground speeds. This is an
`improvement over the prior art because there would be more
`cutter drum speeds available to the operator, and because it
`would take far less time to change the cutter drum speed and
`ratio to ground speed. In automatic mode, the cutter drum
`speed would be determined by a pre-set ratio of ground speed
`to cutter drum speed. By varying the ground speed of the
`vehicle, the cutter drum speed would automatically adjust to
`maintain the pre-set ratio. This would allow the work vehicle
`to operate at optimal conditions, and would also allow an
`operator to ensure that certain state requirements are Substan
`tially met. Such as, but not limited to, a consistent tooth
`pattern created by a cold planer machine, or requirements for
`gradation and blending of materials from a reclaimer/stabi
`lizer machine.
`As a result, this disclosed embodiment would provide a
`more efficient, time-saving work vehicle, saving time in the
`manual mode over the presently available work vehicles in
`the ability to change cutter drum speeds, and saving time and
`energy in the automatic mode by allowing the work vehicle to
`operate at optimal conditions at all times in any situation.
`The disclosed embodiments provide additional benefits.
`For example, the disclosed cold planer advantageously can
`present a consistent texture/tooth pattern at different travel
`speeds. Similarly, the reclaimer/stabilizer can provide a more
`uniform material size to the road Surface regardless of the
`travel speed of the vehicle.
`Other objects, advantages, and features of the present dis
`closure will become clear from the following detailed
`
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`US 8,465,105 B2
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`Scope of the present invention to use any other type of trans
`mission that provides a large range of gearing ratios Such as
`continuously variable transmissions (CVTs), or multi-speed
`automatic or power shift transmissions. Indeed, any transmis
`sion with a sufficiently large number of input/output ratios
`can be used in the practice of the present invention, and Such
`transmissions need not be infinitely variable. However, an
`infinitely variable transmission is preferred in one embodi
`ment of the present invention.
`The drum 30 includes at least one row of cutting teeth 31
`along its outer periphery. Each row of cutting teeth preferably
`contains a plurality of individual teeth, spaced apart in a
`uniform fashion, Such as having gaps between the edges of
`each tooth of about 3/8 to 7/8 inches, and preferably about 5/8
`inches. The teeth are arranged such that the leading cutting
`edges thereof make contact with the road surface 34 as the
`machine 10 is in travel.
`Shields 32 (see FIG. 1) are advantageously located near the
`leading and trailing portions of the cutter drum 30 to prevent
`pieces of pavement removed by the cutter drum30 from being
`projected due to the momentum of the cutter drum 30 as it
`rotates. As the cutter drum30 removes material from a surface
`34, the removed materials are transferred to conveyors 36,
`which transport the removed material to a dump truck or other
`suitable vehicle for taking the removed material to a disposal/
`recycling facility, which may be at or near the work site.
`The power take off shaft 18 of the machine 10 also powers
`a hydraulic pump 38 which forms part of a hydrostatic trans
`mission to drive crawler tracks 12 and/or 14. Although a
`hydrostatic transmission is preferred to drive crawler tracks
`12 and/or 14, it will be appreciated that any type of transmis
`sion can be used in the practice of the present invention for
`carrying out this purpose.
`The depth of cut for the cutter drum 30 is controlled by
`hydraulic cylinders 40, which can move the machine up or
`down, as desired by an operator. Alternatively, each outboard
`end 41 of the cutter drum may be supported by hydraulic
`cylinders (not shown) attached to the frame of the machine 10
`that enable the cutter drum 30 to be raised or lowered to a
`desired operating position.
`In one embodiment of the invention, an electronic control
`ler 42 coordinates control of the hydraulic pump 38 of the
`hydrostatic transmission, the infinitely variable transmission
`20, and the engine 16. The electronic controller 42 is capable
`of receiving numerous user and machine inputs, including the
`user inputs of a cutter drum on/off switch 44 and a selector
`switch 46. The on/off switch 44 is preferably at the operator's
`station, and allows the operator to turn the cutter drum 30 on
`or off. In the “OFF' position, the infinitely variable transmis
`sion 20 is idled at Zero rpm output and the cutter drum 30 is
`stationary, thus enabling an operator to transport the machine
`10 with no rotation of the cutter drum 30. Upon selecting of
`the “ON” position, the infinitely variable transmission 20 is
`engaged to bring the cutter drum30 speed up to a preset speed
`(in, for example, rotations per minute) at a predetermined
`controlled rate, regardless of the engine speed. If the user
`wishes to turn off the cutter drum 30 once it is rotating, the
`user may select the “OFF' position of the on/off switch 44.
`which causes the electronic controller 42 to reduce the speed
`of the cutter drum 30 through the infinitely variable transmis
`sion 20, at a predetermined controlled rate to avoid damage to
`the cutter drum drive components, until a Zero rotation per
`minute speed is achieved. The predetermined controlled rate
`of speeding up or slowing down the cutter drum 30 can be
`advantageously programmed into the electronic controller 42
`based on cutter drum size and weight, engine horsepower, and
`other related equipment factors. If desired, a clutching
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`mechanism may be added to the cutter drum 30 to facilitate a
`stoppage of the same and to permit rotation of the cutter drum
`by a manual hand crank or other means during the replace
`ment of cutter teeth. Additionally, a GPS tracking system, if
`desired, may be added to the machine so that a user can track
`the movement of the machine on a display (see FIG. 5).
`Alternatively, a user may plot a course into the machine's
`controller 42, which will in turn compare signals from the
`GPS navigation system to the plotted course. Based on the
`results of Such a comparison, the controller then provides
`steering commands to the machine 10 in order to maintain the
`plotted course of the machine by automatically steering the
`machine, increasing or decreasing the speed of one or more of
`the machines wheels or crawler tracks, orangling a machines
`wheels or crawler tracks in a desired direction through use of
`electronic or hydraulic actuators made part of the machines
`steering mechanism.
`The electronic controller 42 also receives real-time feed
`back from the machine in the form of operating information,
`Such as engine speed, travel speed, cutter drum speed, and
`infinitely variable transmission output speed, through the use
`of sensors placed throughout the machine 10.
`Preferably, the electronic controller 42 is, or is connected
`to, a microprocessor with a user interface that can be used by
`the operator to input the relevant operating parameters upon
`equipment start-up. For example, one embodiment of the
`electronic controller 42 is depicted in FIG. 5. In this embodi
`ment, the controller has a numeric, or alpha-numeric, keypad
`100, a display 102, and other control options 104, such as
`enter, back, and delete keys. Upon start-up of the machine, the
`operator will set the machine configuration, preferably in
`response to a series of messages provided via the display 102.
`A list 106 of the parameters that could be changed by the
`operator is displayed for operator reference.
`FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a setup and operational procedure
`that can be used with one embodiment of the present inven
`tion. Upon power up of the microprocessor, sensors will
`determine if the vehicle engine is started, as at 200. If the
`vehicle has not been started, the operator will start the vehicle,
`at 204, and the operating parameters will be initialized, at
`206. The operator will then be prompted on the display 102 to
`change parameters, for example, beginning with the cutter
`drum diameter 208. If there already is a cutter drum diameter
`entered and the operator chooses to keep it, the operator will
`be prompted on the display 102 to enter the tooth spacing 210.
`If there is no diameter entered or the operator chooses to reject
`the previous entry, the operator will be prompted on the
`display 102 to enter the diameter 212. If the operator does not
`enter a diameter, a broadcast setup incomplete message will
`be displayed 214 on display 102. If the operator enters a
`diameter, the operator will then be prompted to enter the tooth
`spacing 210. Similarly, an operator can choose to either keep
`the tooth spacing already entered, moving on to the engine
`speed/cutter drum speed or cutter drum speed/ground speed
`ratios 216, or change the spacing at 218. If there is no tooth
`spacing entered and the operator does not enter one, the
`broadcast setup incomplete message 214 will be displayed on
`display 102. If the operator enters a tooth spacing, he will then
`be prompted to enter the engine speed/cutter drum speed or
`cutter drum speed/ground speed ratio 216. Advantageously,
`the ratio 216 permits the operator to control the pattern that is
`cut into the road surface. This is accomplished by the fact that
`when, in automatic mode for example, the operator increases
`or decreases the ground speed, the controller automatically
`adjusts the cutter drum speed to maintain the cutter drum
`speed/ground speed ratio that the operator entered into the
`controller during initial setup. Alternatively, the operator
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`US 8,465,105 B2
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`could instead increase or decrease the cutter drum speed,
`resulting in the controller making an automatic adjustment of
`the ground speed to maintain the previously entered ratio. As
`Such, when in automatic mode, each row of cutter drum teeth
`will still make contact with the work surface in the same linear
`distance of travel, regardless of the ground speed or cutter
`drum speed, resulting in a uniform pattern being cut into the
`road Surface.
`If the operator chooses to keep the engine speed/cutter
`drum speed ratio or the cutter drum speed/ground speed ratio,
`the program will exit at 220 and “Complete setup' will be
`displayed at 224. Alternatively, the operator can enter a new
`engine speed/cutter drum speed ratio or cutter drum speed/
`ground speed ratio at step 222, after which the program will
`exit at 220 and setup will be complete. Finally, after operating
`parameter initialization, at 206, the process flow may provide
`for the operator to accept all previously entered parameters, at
`207, and if the operatorso accepts, the process will advance to
`exit 220.
`If upon microprocessor startup, the sensors determine that
`the vehicle is already started, at 200, the operator will be
`prompted to choose to change parameters 202. If the operator
`chooses no, the operator will exit the program 220 and a
`“Complete Setup' message will be displayed 224. If the
`operator chooses to change parameters, a similar procedure
`beginning with cutter diameter entry 208, as above, will be
`followed.
`The current settings as input to the controller 42 are dis
`played on a status window 108 (FIG. 5), so that an operator
`can determine if the parameters need to be changed. With this
`information entered into the controller 42, the microproces
`sor component of the controller can then control the engine
`speed and the infinitely variable transmission 20 to maintain
`the operation of the machine within the desired parameters.
`In the event the machine 10 is provided with a GPS navi
`gation system that communicates positional data to the con
`troller 42, after setup of operating parameters is complete, the
`operator may input travel directional data, at step 226. This
`input may be, for example, longitude/latitude “from and “to
`data. When so inputted, the controller receives real time posi
`tional data from the GPS receiver, which is then compared to
`the inputted travel directional data to provide directional
`feedback data in order to control engine and crawler track
`speeds as well as crawler track or wheel steering paths. This
`enables the machine 10 to be steered in an automatic, or
`Substantially automatic, mode to maintain a desired course.
`If it is desired to change the parameters, the operator may
`stop the vehicle, disengage the cutter so that it is no longer
`rotating and then proceed to enter new operating parameters
`using the keypad 100. Advantageously, the microprocessor
`can also store the parameters of numerous cutters and cutter
`teeth configurations that can be recalled when the operator
`configures the operating parameters of the machine, thus
`allowing rapid configuration of Such parameters.
`A selector switch 46, which is also preferably located at the
`operator's station, allows the operator to select between a
`manual mode and an automatic mode. In the manual mode, an
`operator may use keypad 100 to set a desired ratio of engine
`speed to cutter drum speed (in rpm units), within a range of
`available ratios. In a preferred embodiment, the range of
`ratios would be from about a 17:1 engine speed to cutter drum
`speed, to about a 25:1 engine speed to cutter drum speed. This
`operator setting causes the electronic controller 42 to main
`tain the desired ratio by controlling the infinitely variable
`transmission 20. Thus, for example, if the desired ratio
`between the engine speed and cutter drum speed is 20:1, then
`the electronic controller 42 will maintain this ratio as the
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`engine speed may increase or decrease during operation.
`Accordingly, an increase in engine speed of 100 rpm will
`create an increase in cutter drum speed by 5 rpm. The manual
`operating position can be used with or without a travel load
`controller, which, as is known in the art, varies the travel
`speed of the machine, within defined or pre-determined lim
`its, to permit operation of the machine at an engine horse
`power approaching its maximum.
`When the selector Switch 46 is in automatic mode, the
`electronic controller 42 automatically changes the engine
`speed/cutter drum speed ratio in the infinitely variable trans
`mission 20 in response to any changes in ground travel speed,
`thereby automatically adjusting the cutter drum speed in
`order to maintain the desired tooth pattern on the roadway
`surface. For instance, if the electronic controller 42 receives
`input from a sensor that the ground speed of the vehicle has
`increased by 5 feet per second, the controller 42 will auto
`matically calculate and implement the necessary engine/
`transmission ratio in order to increase the cutter drum speed at
`an appropriate rate to maintain the preset cutter drum speed/
`ground speed ratio and the desired tooth pattern that is cut into
`the roadway Surface. As can be appreciated, the infinitely
`variable transmission 20 allows the cold planer ma