Device and Process for Controlling Compaction Based on Previously Mapped Data

Abstract

This disclosure provides a system and method for compacting materials, and more specifically, a system and method for proactively varying compaction effort over a mat of materials located at a worksite area responsive to previously mapped data relating to the compaction makeup of that specific worksite area.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A system for compacting a mat of material comprising;
 collecting compaction data from at least two different areas of a mat of materials, the compaction data comprising the current level of compaction for that area of the mat;   comparing the compaction data collected for each area of the mat with a desired final compaction for that area of the mat;   calculating an additional compaction required for any areas of the mat requiring additional compaction;   dividing the mat into subsegments requiring additional compaction based upon the collected compaction data thereby creating a compaction map;   calculating an additional amount of compaction required for any subsegments requiring additional compaction;   controlling a compactor based upon the calculation of additional compaction required for any subsegments requiring additional compaction by varying compaction effort of the compactor over such subsegments as the compactor travels over the subsegments to provide a final desired total compaction for each such subsegment.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the varying of compaction effort comprises varying of vibratory frequency or vibratory amplitude of a vibratory apparatus operatively connected to a mat-engaging implement of the compactor. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the mat-engaging implement is a roller. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the controlling of the compactor is accomplished automatically by an electronic control unit. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the controlling of the compactor is accomplished manually by an operator. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the compaction data is collected from specifically designed and implemented worksite surveys, testing, or probing. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the varying of compaction effort of the compactor over such subsegments is continuous. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising controlling the compactor to avoid subsegments that have been calculated to be compacted as desired. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the compactor is a smooth double drum compactor. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the compactor is a tow-behind compactor. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the varying of compaction effort comprises turning on or turning off a vibratory apparatus operatively connected to a mat-engaging implement of the compactor. 
     
     
         12 . A system for managing worksite machine traffic over a worksite comprising;
 collecting compaction data from at least two different areas of a mat of materials, the compaction data comprising the current level of compaction for that area of the mat;   comparing the compaction data collected for each area of the mat with a desired final compaction for that area of the mat;   dividing the mat into subsegments requiring no additional compaction based upon the collected compaction data thereby creating a compaction map;   controlling a worksite machine based upon the compaction map to avoid subsegments requiring no additional compaction.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the controlling of the worksite machine is accomplished automatically by an electronic control unit. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the controlling of the worksite machine is accomplished manually by an operator. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the worksite machine is a hauling unit, on-road truck, off-road truck, paving machine, cold planer or reclaimer. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the controlling of the worksite machine includes controlling the worksite machine in real-time as the worksite machine arrives at a designated subsegment of the worksite. 
     
     
         17 . A system for compacting a mat of material comprising;
 collecting compaction data from at least two different areas of a mat of materials, the compaction data comprising the current level of compaction for that area of the mat;   comparing the compaction data collected for each area of the mat with a desired final compaction for that area of the mat;   calculating an additional compaction required for any areas of the mat requiring additional compaction;   dividing the mat into subsegments requiring additional compaction based upon the collected compaction data thereby creating a compaction map;   calculating an additional amount of compaction required for any subsegments requiring additional compaction;   controlling at least two compactors based upon the calculation of additional compaction required for any subsegments requiring additional compaction by varying compaction effort of the compactors over such subsegments as the compactors travel over the subsegments to provide a final desired total compaction for each such subsegment.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the controlling of the compactors is accomplished automatically by an electronic control unit. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the controlling of the compactors is accomplished manually by an operator. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the controlling of the compactors includes controlling the compactors such that the compactor closest in proximity to a subsegment requiring compaction is controlled to provide the desired final compaction to that subsegment.