Asphalt Paver Lighting Control for Worker-Tracking Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing asphalt finishers' lighting apparatus is fixed and moves away from workers as the machine operates, leading to inadequate illumination of areas around workers.
Innovation Solution
An asphalt finisher equipped with a controller that adjusts the illumination range of a lighting apparatus based on detection by an object detecting apparatus, ensuring proper illumination of areas around workers, including the use of a conveyor, screw, and screed for pavement material distribution and flattening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the lighting apparatus is fixed on the asphalt finisher, then the lighting apparatus can be securely mounted and powered, but the illumination area moves away from workers as the machine operates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the lighting apparatus movable rather than fixed. The lighting device can change its position and orientation dynamically to track workers as they move behind the asphalt finisher, ensuring continuous illumination of the work area while maintaining secure mounting through adjustable fixtures or robotic mounting mechanisms.
2Illumination intensity
If the lighting apparatus is positioned to illuminate the area behind the asphalt finisher, then nighttime operations can proceed, but the illumination does not follow workers as they move
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by using detection devices (such as cameras or sensors) to monitor worker positions in real-time, then feeding this information back to the lighting control system. The controller adjusts the lighting apparatus position and orientation based on this feedback, creating a closed-loop system that maintains optimal illumination coverage as workers move throughout the work area.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting apparatus is designed with dynamic positioning capabilities, allowing it to change its spatial configuration in response to worker movement. This may include adjustable mounting mechanisms, robotic positioning systems, or articulated arms that enable the lighting device to dynamically reposition itself to maintain optimal illumination on moving workers.
3Ease of manufacture
If a fixed mounting angle is used for the lighting apparatus, then the installation is simple and stable, but the illumination range cannot be adjusted to follow workers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces fixed mounting with dynamic positioning mechanisms that allow the lighting apparatus to adjust its angle and position. These mechanisms may include electric motors, hydraulic actuators, or spring-loaded adjustment systems that provide both ease of installation (through standardized interfaces) and continuous adaptability (through programmable or manual adjustment capabilities).
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting apparatus is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a securely mounted fixed installation and as an adjustable tracking system. The universal mounting interface and control system allow the same device to operate in different modes - fixed for stable illumination and adjustable for tracking workers - making the system versatile enough to handle various work scenarios.
Data Source
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AI summary
An asphalt finisher (100) includes a tractor (1), a hopper (2) disposed in front of the tractor (1) and configured to accept a pavement material (PV), a conveyor (CV) configured to supply the pavement material (PV) in the hopper (2) to a rear side of the tractor (1), a screw (SC) configured to lay and spread the pavement material (PV) supplied by the conveyor (CV) at the rear side of the tractor (1), a screed (3) configured to flatten the pavement material (PV) laid and spread by the screw (SC) at a rear side of the screw (SC); and a controller (50) configured to adjust an illumination range of a lighting apparatus (52).