US 11,885,080 B2
Material tracking for milling machines
Colton J. Hirman, Maple Grove, MN (US)
Assigned to Caterpillar Paving Products Inc., Brooklyn Park, MN (US)
Filed by Caterpillar Paving Products Inc., Brooklyn Park, MN (US)
Filed on Jul. 8, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/923,907.
Prior Publication US 2022/0010507 A1, Jan. 13, 2022
Int. Cl. E01C 23/088 (2006.01); E01C 23/12 (2006.01); B65G 41/00 (2006.01)
CPC E01C 23/088 (2013.01) [E01C 23/127 (2013.01); B65G 41/002 (2013.01); B65G 2203/0258 (2013.01); B65G 2203/042 (2013.01); E01C 2301/00 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for tracking an amount of milled material for a milling machine, the method comprising:
milling paving material using a cutting rotor of the milling machine to form the milled material;
providing the milled material to a foldable conveyor of the milling machine, the foldable conveyor comprising a first section and a second section foldable with respect to the first section at a fold structure that forms a pivoting joint between the first section and the second section;
sensing, via a sensor positioned at the fold structure, a value indicative of a force acting on the second section of the foldable conveyor; and
determining, via a controller, the amount of the milled material using the value indicative of the force acting on the second section.