US 12,031,278 B2
Automated nulling screed assembly
Chad M. Thiesse, Brooklyn Park, MN (US); Anthony Paul Steinhagen, Maple Grove, MN (US); Ronald D. Wilson, Maple Grove, MN (US); Bryan J. Downing, Champlin, MN (US); Ricky Leon Mings, Oak Grove, MN (US); and Mathew 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 Jun. 23, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/355,285.
Prior Publication US 2022/0412019 A1, Dec. 29, 2022
Int. Cl. E01C 19/42 (2006.01); E01C 19/48 (2006.01)
CPC E01C 19/42 (2013.01) [E01C 19/4873 (2013.01); E01C 2301/16 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A screed assembly, comprising:
a screed frame including one or more screeds including a main screed;
a drop arm attached to the main screed by a drop arm pivot pin, and the drop arm configured to attach the screed assembly to a work machine;
an actuator device configured to:
adjust the screed assembly from a neutral position to a nulled position by rotating the one or more screeds around an axis of the drop arm pivot pin, the neutral position being when the main screed is supporting the full weight of the screed assembly on a paving reference and the nulled position being when each trailing edges of the one or more screeds are supporting the full weight of the screed assembly on the paving reference, and there exists a loose state, where there is looseness in a pin joint of the screed assembly; and
adjust the screed assembly from the loose state to a rigid state by further rotating the one or more screeds around the axis of the drop arm pivot pin, the rigid position being when the looseness is removed from the pin joint; and
a controller configured to:
determine the screed assembly is in the neutral position based on a grade control measurement received from a grade control sensor, and the controller configured to automatically adjust the screed assembly to the nulled position if the controller determines the screed assembly is in the neutral position by sending a null adjustment signal to the actuator device, the actuator device rotating the screed assembly from the neutral position to the nulled position in response to the null adjustment signal; and
determine the screed assembly is in the loose state and configured to adjust the screed assembly to the rigid state if the controller determines the screed assembly is in the loose state by sending a signal to the actuator device, the actuator device rotating the screed assembly from the nulled position to the rigid state in response to the signal.