Heated drum compactor machine and method

Abstract

A compactor machine includes a frame and at least one compactor drum mounted to the frame. The at least one compactor drum has an outer surface configured for compacting asphalt. A heating system is configured to heat the outer surface and includes a control device configured to control an output of the at least one heating element to the outer surface. A related method for providing a heated drum for a compactor includes mounting at least one heating element and a control device for the at least one heating element to a compactor machine, and coupling the control device with the at least one heating element to enable controlling an output thereof to an outer surface of the compactor drum.

1 . A compactor machine comprising:
 a frame;   a front compacting element and a back compacting element mounted to said frame, at least one of said compacting elements comprising a compactor drum having an outer surface configured for compacting asphalt;   a machine propulsion device configured to power at least one of the front compacting element and the back compacting element: and   a heating and preheating system which is separate from the machine propulsion device and configured to heat said outer surface when said compactor drum is rotating and further configured to preheat said outer surface when said compactor drum is not rotating;   said heating and preheating system having at least one heating element and a control device configured to control an output of said at least one heating element to said outer surface.   
   
   
       2 . The compactor machine of  claim 1  wherein said control device comprises a thermostatic control device. 
   
   
       3 . The compactor machine of  claim 2  wherein said control device further comprises a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of said outer surface and a thermostat coupled with said temperature sensor which is configured to adjust a heat output of said at least one heating element responsive to an output of said temperature sensor. 
   
   
       4 . The compactor machine of  claim 3  wherein said temperature sensor comprises a non-contact temperature sensor. 
   
   
       5 . The compactor machine of  claim 4  wherein said compactor drum comprises an axis of rotation, a width aligned with said axis of rotation and a diameter perpendicular said axis of rotation which is less than said width, and wherein said at least one heating element comprises a plurality of heating elements positioned at a first average distance from said axis of rotation and at a second average distance from said outer surface which is less than said first average distance. 
   
   
       6 . The compactor machine of  claim 1  further comprising an electrical power source, wherein said at least one heating element comprises at least one electrically powered heating element coupled with said electrical power source. 
   
   
       7 . The compactor machine of  claim 6  wherein said control device further comprises a temperature sensor, a thermostat coupled with said temperature sensor and a relay having at least two different states, wherein said relay is configured to connect said electrical power source with said at least one electrically powered heating element, and wherein said thermostat is configured to switch said relay between said at least two different states responsive to an output of said temperature sensor. 
   
   
       8 . The compactor machine of  claim 1  wherein said at least one heating element comprises at least one radiant heater. 
   
   
       9 . The compactor machine of  claim 8  wherein said compacting elements comprise a front compactor drum and a back compactor drum, said compactor machine further comprising:
 a first enclosure and a second enclosure mounted to said frame and extending about said front and back compactor drums, respectively, said at least one radiant heater including a plurality of radiant heaters mounted within each of said enclosures; and   at least one reflective element mounted within each of said enclosures and configured to reflect radiation from the radiant heaters toward the outer surface of the corresponding compactor drum.   
   
   
       10 . The compactor machine of  claim 1  wherein said at least one heating element comprises at least one electrically powered heating element disposed within said compactor drum, said heating system further comprising an electrical power source and a rotatable electrical connector coupled with said compactor drum which is configured to supply electrical power from said electrical power source to said at least one electrically powered heating element. 
   
   
       11 . The compactor machine of  claim 1  wherein said compacting elements comprise a front compactor drum and a back compactor drum, said compactor machine further comprising:
 a first enclosure and a second enclosure extending about said front and back compactor drums, respectively;   wherein said at least one heating element includes at least one induction coil associated with each one of said compactor drums and configured to heat the outer surface of the corresponding drum.   
   
   
       12 . A method of providing for heating and preheating of a compactor drum for a compactor machine comprising the steps of:
 mounting a heating and preheating system including at least one heating element having a plurality of heat output states to a compactor machine having a machine propulsion device separate from the at least one heating element, the compactor machine further including a front compacting element and a back compacting element, at least one of the compacting elements comprising a compactor drum;   coupling a control device with the at least one heating element to enable controlling an output of the at least one heating element to an outer surface of the compactor drum;   coupling a temperature sensor with the control device, the temperature sensor being configured to generate outputs corresponding to a temperature of the outer surface of the compactor drum; and   switching the control device between a first control device state corresponding with a first heat output state of the at least one heating element and a second control device state corresponding to a second, different heat output state of the at least one heating element, responsive to inputs from the temperature sensor.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the step of mounting at least one heating element to the compactor machine further comprises mounting a plurality of electrically powered heating elements radially about the compactor drum, the method further comprising a step of coupling the electrically powered heating elements with an electrical power source of the compactor machine. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the step of mounting at least one heating element to the compactor machine comprises mounting a plurality of radiant heating elements at locations spaced from the outer surface of the compactor drum. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising the steps of mounting the temperature sensor to the compactor machine at a location spaced from the outer surface of the compactor drum, and connecting a thermostat of the control device with the temperature sensor. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the step of connecting a thermostat of the control device with the temperature sensor further comprises enabling receipt of inputs from the temperature sensor to control a heat output of the at least one heating element to the outer surface of the compactor drum during rotating the compactor drum past the temperature sensor. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the step of mounting at least one heating element to the compactor machine further comprises mounting a plurality of electrically powered radiant heating elements within an enclosure extending about the compactor drum, the method further comprising a step of mounting at least one reflective element within the enclosure to reflect radiant heat energy toward the outer surface of the compactor drum. 
   
   
       18 . A compactor machine comprising:
 a frame;   at least one compactor drum mounted to said frame, said at least one compactor drum having an outer surface configured for compacting asphalt;   a machine propulsion device configured to power said at least one compactor drum;   a heating and preheating system which is separate from the machine propulsion device and configured to heat said outer surface when said compactor drum is rotating and further configured to preheat said outer surface when said compactor drum is not rotating;   said heating and preheating system having at least one heating element and a control device configured to control an output of said at least one heating element to said outer surface; and   an electrical power source mounted on said compactor machine, said at least one heating element comprising at least one electrically powered heating element coupled with said electrical power source.   
   
   
       19 . The compactor machine of  claim 18  wherein said at least one compactor drum comprises a front compactor drum and a back compactor drum, said compactor machine further comprising:
 a first enclosure and a second enclosure mounted to said frame and extending about said front and back compactor drums, respectively, said at least one heating element including a plurality of radiant heaters mounted within each of said enclosures; and   at least one reflective element mounted within each of said enclosures and configured to reflect radiation from the radiant heaters toward the outer surface of the corresponding compactor drum.   
   
   
       20 . A method of preparing a compactor machine for compacting asphalt comprising the steps of:
 mounting a heating and preheating system including at least one heating element having a plurality of heat output states to a compactor machine having a machine propulsion device which is separate from the at least one heating element, the compactor machine further including a front compacting element and a back compacting element, at least one of the compacting elements comprising a compactor drum;   coupling a control device with the at least one heating element, the control device including a plurality of control device states corresponding to the plurality of heat output states; and   preheating the outer surface of the compactor drum via the at least one heating element when the compactor drum is not rotating, including controlling a heat output of the at least one heating element via the control device.