Asphalt Finisher Screed for Variable Thickness Paving

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing asphalt finishers can only level paving materials uniformly across the vehicle width direction, failing to accommodate variations in thickness along the width.

Innovation Solution

A road machine equipped with a tractor, hopper, conveyor, screw, screed, and a calculation device that derives and adjusts the height of the screed at different points in the vehicle width direction to achieve non-uniform thickness leveling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the screed is controlled to maintain uniform thickness across the vehicle width direction, then the paving material thickness consistency is improved, but the ability to accommodate varying thickness requirements in different width positions is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepaving material thickness consistencyVSAvoidability to accommodate varying thickness requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The screed is divided into multiple independently controllable sections (first screed section and second screed section) that can be adjusted separately. This segmentation allows different thicknesses to be achieved at different positions across the vehicle width, resolving the contradiction between uniform thickness consistency and adaptability to varying requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The screed height is made dynamically adjustable through independent height adjustment mechanisms for each section. The first and second screed sections can be positioned at different heights relative to the roadbed, enabling the system to adapt to varying thickness requirements while maintaining precision control over the paving material thickness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the screed height is adjusted independently at different positions, then the adaptability to varying thickness is improved, but the complexity of the height adjustment mechanism increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescreed height adjustment capabilityVSAvoidheight adjustment mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The height adjustment mechanism is segmented into independent first and second height adjustment mechanisms corresponding to each screed section. This segmentation allows independent control of each section's height, achieving adaptability while keeping each individual adjustment mechanism relatively simple and modular.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The calculation device performs multiple functions: it calculates the first height based on the first target thickness and the second height based on the second target thickness. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate complex adjustment mechanisms for each height, as the calculation device integrates the control logic for both screed sections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4283045A1Road paving machine
Publication Date: 2023.11.29 SUMITOMO CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY
  • EP4283045A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4283045A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4283045A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a road machine (100) that can level a paving material (PV) such that a thickness of the paving material (PV) differs in a vehicle width direction. An asphalt finisher (100) that is an example of the road machine (100) includes a tractor (1) that travels on a roadbed (BC), a hopper (2) that receives the paving material (PV), a conveyor (CV) that feeds the paving material (PV) in the hopper (2) to a rear of the tractor (1), a screw (SC) that spreads the paving material (PV) fed by the conveyor (CV) at the rear of the tractor (1), a screed (3) that levels the paving material (PV) spread by the screw (SC) at a rear of the screw (SC), and a controller (50) that derives a first height (HL) and a second height (HR) of the screed (3) with respect to the roadbed (BC). The first height (HL) is a height of a first point (SPL) in the screed (3), the second height (HR) is a height of a second point (SPR) in the screed (3), and the first point (SPL) is at a position different from a position of the second point (SPR) in a vehicle width direction.