Asphalt Finisher Hopper Control via Weight Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing asphalt finishers face inefficiencies in detecting the remaining amount of paving material, which affects the level of material being spread and the overall work efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The system acquires the amount of paving material input into the hopper and conveyed to the screed, using sensors and external communication to control the opening and closing of the hopper based on these measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If image recognition method is used to detect remaining amount of paving material, then detection capability is provided, but device complexity increases due to requirement of camera and image processing device
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the optical detection system (camera and image processing device) with a mechanical/physical detection system (weight sensor). The weight sensor directly measures the weight of paving material in the hopper, eliminating the need for complex image recognition hardware while providing accurate material quantity detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the detection function from the complex image processing system and implements it through a simple weight sensor that directly measures material weight. This extraction simplifies the overall system by removing unnecessary camera and image processing components while retaining the essential detection capability.
2Productivity
If hopper opening and closing is not appropriately controlled, then work efficiency decreases due to material waste and uneven spreading
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control system where the weight sensor continuously monitors the remaining amount of paving material in the hopper, and the control device adjusts the hopper opening and closing actions based on this real-time weight information. This feedback mechanism ensures optimal material utilization and prevents waste while maintaining work efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the hopper opening and closing operation dynamic by adjusting them in real-time based on the detected material quantity. Instead of fixed operations, the system adapts the hopper state (open/closed) dynamically according to the current material level, optimizing both productivity and material efficiency.
Data Source
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AI summary
An asphalt finisher (100) comprising a tractor (1); a hopper (2) that is installed on a front side of the tractor (1) and that is capable of receiving a paving material and capable of being opened and closed in a vehicle width direction; a conveyor (CV) that conveys the paving material in the hopper (2) to a rear side of the tractor (1); a screw (SC) that spreads the paving material conveyed by the conveyor (CV) on the rear side of the tractor (1); a screed (3) that is connected to a rear portion of the tractor (1) to be movable up and down and that levels the paving material spread by the screw (SC) on a rear side of the screw (SC); and a control device (50) configured to acquire a first amount of the paving material input into the hopper (2), calculate a second amount of the paving material conveyed from the hopper (2), based on a detection result of a detection device, and perform opening and closing control of the hopper (2), based on the first amount of the input paving material and the second amount of the conveyed paving material.