US 12,270,161 B2
Automated mechanical system to position screed at starting paving depth
Chad M. Thiesse, Brooklyn Park, MN (US); Bradley D Anderson, Rogers, MN (US); Ryan T. Thiesse, Otsego, MN (US); Ronald D. Wilson, Maple Grove, MI (US); Rick L. Mings, Oak Grove, MN (US); Bryan J. Downing, Champlin, MN (US); Anthony Paul Steinhagen, Maple Grove, MN (US); and Mathew J. Hedrington, Ham Lake, MN (US)
Assigned to Caterpillar Paving Products Inc., Brooklyn Park, MN (US)
Filed by Caterpillar Paving Products Inc., Brooklyn Park, MN (US)
Filed on Sep. 29, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/489,216.
Prior Publication US 2023/0097444 A1, Mar. 30, 2023
Int. Cl. E01C 19/48 (2006.01)
CPC E01C 19/4873 (2013.01) [E01C 2301/14 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A paving machine comprising:
a frame;
a screed coupled to the frame, the screed including one or more screed plates;
one or more movable extender mechanisms located at a back end of each screed plate and configured to physically extend and retract up and down beneath a bottom surface of the screed plate such that, when extended beneath the bottom surface of the screed plate, the movable extender mechanisms physically contact a base surface; and
a controller configured to extend the one or more extender mechanisms a pre-determined distance beneath the bottom surface of the screed plate before the screed begins a paving operation and to retract the one or more extender mechanisms upwards after the screed has begun the paving operation.