Screed Extension Control System Virtual Pivot Point
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional screed extensions are limited in accurately meeting road specifications due to mechanically located pivot points that move along the main screed, making slope adjustments time-consuming, labor-intensive, and hazardous.
Innovation Solution
A screed extension control system with a slope actuator and height actuator, controlled by sensors and a controller, maintains a virtual pivot point location along the main screed, allowing for precise slope adjustments without moving the pivot point, thus enabling broader range of road specifications to be met accurately, quickly, and safely.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional screed extensions use mechanically located pivot points on the main screed, then the structure is simple, but the pivot point moves along the main screed when slope angle is adjusted, causing inaccurate meeting of road specifications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional mechanical pivot point system with a controlled extension mechanism. The extension is no longer mechanically pivoted on the main screed but is instead positioned and angled through control mechanisms (such as hydraulic or mechanical positioners) that allow the extension to be independently adjusted relative to the main screed, maintaining a fixed virtual pivot point while enabling precise slope adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic control capabilities to the screed extension system. The extension can be dynamically positioned and angled through controlled adjustment mechanisms, allowing the slope angle to be changed while maintaining the virtual pivot point at a fixed location. This dynamic control enables the system to adapt to different road specifications accurately.
2Productivity
If conventional screed extensions adjust slope manually, then the structure remains simple, but the process is time-consuming and labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment with automated control systems. The extension's position and slope angle can be adjusted automatically through control mechanisms (such as hydraulic cylinders or mechanical positioners actuated by a controller), significantly reducing the time and labor required for slope adjustments while maintaining structural feasibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates self-service capabilities through automated control mechanisms that can adjust the extension's position and angle without requiring manual intervention. The control system can autonomously position the extension and adjust its slope based on input data, reducing operator involvement and increasing adjustment speed.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional screed extensions require manual slope adjustment, then the mechanism remains simple, but it exposes users to hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual adjustment operations with automated control mechanisms. The extension's position and slope can be adjusted automatically through controlled actuation (such as hydraulic or mechanical positioners), eliminating the need for users to manually handle the extension and thereby removing the associated hazards while introducing controlled complexity in the form of automated positioning systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A screed extension control system adapted for use on a screed assembly having a main screed, a main screed contact surface, a screed extension, and a screed extension contact surface. The screed extension control system comprises a slope actuator, a height actuator, at least one sensor, and a controller that is adapted to receive feedback from the at least one sensor. A virtual pivot point location is defined by a position where the main screed contact surface and the screed extension contact surface intersect. The controller causes at least one of the slope actuator and the height actuator to move between an extended position and a retracted position to control the position of the virtual pivot point location along the length of the main screed. A method for adjusting the screed extension position relative to the main screed.