System and method for adjusting auger assemblies of paving machines

Abstract

A system for operating an auger assembly includes a controller configured to receive data detected by one or more sensors. Further, the controller is configured to determine an operational parameter associated with a movement of a screed assembly based on data. Also, the controller is configured to control a position of the auger assembly based on the operational parameter such that the auger assembly aligns with respect to the screed assembly at a predetermined distance with respect to the screed assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for operating an auger assembly for distributing road forming material for a paving operation, the system comprising:
 a controller configured to:
 receive data detected by one or more sensors; 
 determine an operational parameter associated with a movement of a screed assembly based on data; and 
 control a position of the auger assembly based on the operational parameter such that the auger assembly aligns with respect to the screed assembly at a predetermined distance with respect to the screed assembly. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors are correspondingly disposed within one or more first fluid cylinders configured to power the movement of the screed assembly relative to the ground surface. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein each first fluid cylinder of the one or more first fluid cylinders includes a cylinder portion and a rod portion displaceable with respect to the cylinder portion, wherein data detected by the one or more sensors includes a position of the rod portion with respect to the cylinder portion. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the operational parameter associated with the movement of the screed assembly includes the position of the rod portion with respect to the cylinder portion attained at an end of the movement of the screed assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the operational parameter associated with the movement of the screed assembly includes a change in the position of the rod portion with respect to the cylinder portion during the movement of the screed assembly relative to the ground surface. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the screed assembly is moved with respect to the ground surface to define an inclination with respect to the ground surface such that a first lateral side of the screed assembly is disposed higher than a second lateral side of the screed assembly, wherein the controller is configured to:
 control the position of the auger assembly such that the auger assembly aligns above the screed assembly and defines the predetermined distance with respect to the first lateral side of the screed assembly.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to:
 detect an actuation of an input device to move the auger assembly; and   override the control of the auger assembly based on the operational parameter with the actuation of the input device to allow the control of the position of the auger assembly to be based on the actuation of the input device.   
     
     
         8 . A method for adjusting an auger assembly for distributing road forming material for a paving operation, the method comprising:
 receiving, by a controller, data detected by one or more sensors;   determining, by the controller, an operational parameter associated with a movement of a screed assembly based on data; and   controlling, by the controller, a position of the auger assembly based on the operational parameter such that the auger assembly aligns with respect to the screed assembly at a predetermined distance with respect to the screed assembly.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more sensors are correspondingly disposed within one or more first fluid cylinders configured to power the movement of the screed assembly relative to the ground surface. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein each first fluid cylinder of the one or more first fluid cylinders includes a cylinder portion and a rod portion displaceable with respect to the cylinder portion, and data detected by the one or more sensors includes a position of the rod portion with respect to the cylinder portion. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the operational parameter associated with the movement of the screed assembly includes the position of the rod portion with respect to the cylinder portion attained at an end of the movement of the screed assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the operational parameter associated with the movement of the screed assembly includes a change in the position of the rod portion with respect to the cylinder portion during the movement of the screed assembly relative to the ground surface. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the screed assembly is moved with respect to the ground surface to define an inclination with respect to the ground surface such that a first lateral side of the screed assembly is disposed higher than a second lateral side of the screed assembly, the method further including:
 controlling, by the controller, the position of the auger assembly such that the auger assembly aligns above the screed assembly and defines the predetermined distance with respect to the first lateral side of the screed assembly.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8  further including:
 detecting, by the controller, an actuation of an input device to move the auger assembly; and 
 overriding, by the controller, the control of the auger assembly based on the operational parameter with the actuation of the input device to allow the control of the position of the auger assembly to be based on the actuation of the input device. 
 
     
     
         15 . A paving machine, comprising:
 a tractor;   a screed assembly operably coupled to the tractor;   one or more first fluid cylinders configured to power a movement of the screed assembly relative to a ground surface;   one or more sensors configured to detect data indicative of the movement of the screed assembly relative to the ground surface;   an auger assembly disposed between the tractor and the screed assembly and adapted to spread and distribute paving material in front of the screed assembly; and   a controller configured to:
 receive data detected by the one or more sensors; 
 determine an operational parameter associated with the movement of the screed assembly based on data; and 
 control a position of the auger assembly based on the operational parameter such that the auger assembly aligns with respect to the screed assembly at a predetermined distance with respect to the screed assembly. 
   
     
     
         16 . The paving machine of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more sensors are correspondingly disposed within the one or more first fluid cylinders, wherein each first fluid cylinder of the one or more first fluid cylinders includes a cylinder portion and a rod portion displaceable with respect to the cylinder portion, and data detected by the one or more sensors includes a position of the rod portion with respect to the cylinder portion. 
     
     
         17 . The paving machine of  claim 16 , wherein the operational parameter associated with the movement of the screed assembly includes the position of the rod portion with respect to the cylinder portion attained at an end of the movement of the screed assembly. 
     
     
         18 . The paving machine of  claim 16 , wherein the operational parameter associated with the movement of the screed assembly includes a change in the position of the rod portion with respect to the cylinder portion during the movement of the screed assembly relative to the ground surface. 
     
     
         19 . The paving machine of  claim 15 , wherein the screed assembly is moved with respect to the ground surface to define an inclination with respect to the ground surface such that a first lateral side of the screed assembly is disposed higher than a second lateral side of the screed assembly, wherein the controller is configured to:
 control the position of the auger assembly such that the auger assembly aligns above the screed assembly and defines the predetermined distance with respect to the first lateral side of the screed assembly.   
     
     
         20 . The paving machine of  claim 15  wherein the controller is configured to:
 detect an actuation of an input device to move the auger assembly; and 
 override the control of the auger assembly based on the operational parameter with the actuation of the input device to allow the control of the position of the auger assembly to be based on the actuation of the input device.