Remote Control Station for Concrete Bridge Paver
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bridge paving operators face challenges in maintaining optimal situational awareness and efficiently controlling pavers, especially when needing to inspect or adjust settings away from the control station, leading to potential safety issues and specification non-compliance due to limited visibility and mobility.
Innovation Solution
A mobile wireless remote operator control station allows operators to move around the paver while maintaining control, using a system with a control station configured for manual hydraulic controls and an electronic controller that enables remote operation of paver functions, including carriage direction and speed adjustments, via a mobile wireless control unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the operator remains at the control station, then control of the paver is maintained, but situational awareness and visibility of the work area are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a camera system that captures images of the work area and transmits them to a display device mounted on the paver. This creates a visual copy of the distant work area, allowing the operator to observe concrete placement and finish operations without physically moving to those locations. The camera system includes lenses positioned to view the work area through openings in the paver structure, and the displayed images provide real-time situational awareness while the operator remains at the control station.
2Loss of information
If the operator moves away from the control station to inspect the work area, then visibility and situational awareness improve, but control response time is reduced and safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system consisting of cameras, image transmission devices, and display screens that mediate between the operator and the distant work area. The camera captures visual information from the work area, transmits it through the paver structure, and displays it on a screen within the operator's reach. This intermediary system allows the operator to observe the work area up to 20 feet away in real-time without physically moving, maintaining both visibility and immediate control capability.
3Manufacturing precision
If the operator needs to quickly inspect and adjust paver configuration, then specification compliance improves, but operational efficiency decreases due to repeated movements
Solution Approach 1:
The camera system creates a visual copy of the work area that is displayed on a screen mounted on the paver frame within the operator's immediate viewing distance. This allows the operator to continuously monitor concrete placement quality, finish operations, and detect potential specification non-compliance issues without leaving the control station. The real-time visual feedback enables immediate detection and correction of problems while maintaining continuous paver operation.
4Device complexity
If the control station is positioned near the engine for compact design, then device complexity is reduced, but operator safety and communication quality deteriorate due to noise and vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the visual observation function from the physical work area and relocates it to the control station through the camera system. By taking out the need for the operator to physically presence at the distant work area, the system allows the control station to remain positioned near the engine for compact design while the operator experiences reduced noise and vibration exposure. The camera and display system compensate for the proximity to the engine by providing clear visual access to the work area.
Data Source
AI summary
An automated concrete bridge paver with an ability to provide effective control of a concrete paver by a remotely locatable concrete bridge paver operator, which includes a fixed operator control station and a mobile wireless remote operator control station which can be used when the remotely locatable concrete bridge paver operator leaves the operator control station. Mobile wireless remote operator control station includes a video screen which can display live video images from a plurality of remote wireless camera and sensor pods, which can be fixed on the paver or moved about the paver on an articulated arm, with or without a human basket.