Towed compaction determination system utilizing drawbar force

Abstract

A compaction determination system for monitoring the compaction in a material produced by a rotary device as the rotary device is towed over the material is disclosed. The compaction determination system may have a force sensor associated with a drawbar used to tow the rotary device, the force sensor being configured to sense a force transmitted to the rotary device via the drawbar. The compaction determination system may further have a controller in communication with the force sensor. The controller may be configured to determine a compaction of the material produced by the rotary device based on the sensed force.

1 . A compaction determination system for monitoring the compaction in a material produced by a rotary device as the rotary device is towed over the material, comprising:
 a force sensor associated with a drawbar used to tow the rotary device, the force sensor being configured to sense a force transmitted to the rotary device via the drawbar; and   a controller in communication with the force sensor, the controller being configured to determine a compaction of the material produced by the rotary device based on the sensed force.   
   
   
       2 . The compaction determination system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller determines a higher compaction of the material when the sensed force is lower, and determines a lower compaction of the material when the sensed force is higher. 
   
   
       3 . The compaction determination system of  claim 1 , further including an incline sensor configured to sense an incline in a surface of the material, wherein the controller is in communication with the incline sensor and configured to determine the compaction of the material produced by the rotary device based further on the sensed incline. 
   
   
       4 . The compaction determination system of  claim 3 , wherein the controller determines a higher compaction for a given sensed force when a decline is sensed, and determines a lower compaction for the given sensed force when an incline is sensed. 
   
   
       5 . The compaction determination system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to display within the mobile machine a representation of the determined material compaction. 
   
   
       6 . The compaction determination system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller determines compaction by comparing the sensed force to a target value. 
   
   
       7 . The compaction determination system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller determines compaction by comparing the force sensed during a current compaction pass to a force sensed during a previous compaction pass. 
   
   
       8 . A method of determining compaction, comprising:
 towing a rotary device over a material to compact the material;   sensing a force of the towing; and   determining an amount of compaction created by the rotary device based on the sensed force.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the amount of compaction is determined to be higher when the sensed force is lower, and the amount of compaction is determined to be lower when the sensed force is higher. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , further including sensing an incline in the surface of the material, wherein the amount of compaction is determined based further on the sensed incline. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the amount of compaction is determined to be higher for a given sensed force when a decline is sensed, and the amount of compaction is determined to be lower for the given sensed force when an incline is sensed. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 8 , further including visually displaying a representation of the determined material compaction. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein determining includes comparing the sensed force to a target value. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein determining includes comparing the force sensed during a current compaction pass to a force sensed during a previous compaction pass. 
   
   
       15 . A surface compaction system, comprising:
 a machine;   a rotary device pulled by the machine over a material to compact the material;   a drawbar connecting the rotary device to the machine;   a force sensor associated with the drawbar being configured to sense a force transmitted from the machine to the rotary device via the drawbar;   an inclinometer configured to sense an incline in a surface over which the rotary device is operating; and   a controller in communication with the force sensor and the inclinometer, the controller being configured to determine a compaction of the material produced by the rotary device based on the sensed force and the sensed incline.   
   
   
       16 . The surface compaction system of  claim 15 , wherein the controller determines a higher compaction of the material when the sensed force is lower, and determines a lower compaction of the material when the sensed force is higher. 
   
   
       17 . The surface compaction system of  claim 15 , wherein the controller determines a higher compaction for a given sensed force when a decline is sensed, and determines a lower compaction for the given sensed force when an incline is sensed. 
   
   
       18 . The surface compaction system of  claim 15 , wherein the controller is further configured to display within an operator station of the machine a representation of the determined material compaction. 
   
   
       19 . The surface compaction system of  claim 15 , wherein the controller is configured to determine compaction by comparing the sensed force to a target value. 
   
   
       20 . The surface compaction system of  claim 15 , wherein the controller is configured to determine compaction by comparing the force sensed during a current compaction pass to a force sensed during a previous compaction pass.