Belted asphalt compactor

Abstract

A belted asphalt compactor and method are provided. The compactor includes a first unit with a roller frame. A second unit is coupled to the first unit, and is generally identical thereto. At least one mid roller and two end rollers are mounted in the roller frames, and a compactor belt extends about the rollers. Load adjusters are associated with each of the units and operable distribute a load among the rollers. A steering system is operable to rotate one of the first unit and the second unit about a vertical axis relative to the other unit.

1 . An asphalt compactor comprising: 
 a first unit having a plurality of rollers mounted thereto and a compactor belt extending about the same, at least one of said rollers being a drive roller;    a second unit coupled to said first unit;    a steering system operable to rotate one of said first unit and said second unit about a vertical axis relative to the other of said first unit and said second unit; and    a load adjuster operable to distribute a weight of the first unit among said rollers in a plurality of distributions.    
   
   
       2 . The compactor of  claim 1  wherein: 
 said compactor belt is a first belt with a width extending between opposite sides of said first unit; and    said second unit comprises a plurality of rollers including a drive roller, and a second compactor belt extending about the rollers of the second unit.    
   
   
       3 . The compactor of  claim 2  wherein said steering system is operable to rotate said second unit about a vertical axis relative to said first unit; and 
 said load adjuster is a first load adjuster and said second unit includes a second load adjuster operable to distribute a weight of the second unit among said rollers of the second unit in a plurality of distributions.    
   
   
       4 . The compactor of  claim 3  comprising: a lateral position belt guide operably associated with said first unit; a lateral position belt guide operably associated with said second unit; 
 wherein each said belt guide includes a guide drum in contact with one of said belts and being reorientable about first and second axes with respect to said plurality of rollers of said first and second units respectively.    
   
   
       5 . The compactor of  claim 4  wherein said first belt and said second belt each include a first edge and a second edge, an outer surface and an inner surface; 
 each said guide drum being biased against one of the outer surface and the inner surface of one of said first belt and said second belt.    
   
   
       6 . An asphalt compactor comprising: 
 a first unit having a plurality of rollers mounted thereto and a compactor belt extending about the plurality of rollers at least one of said rollers being a drive roller:    a second unit coupled to said first unit,    a steering system operable to rotate one of said first unit and said second unit about a vertical axis relative to the other of said first unit and said second unit;    a load adjuster operable to distribute a load among said rollers in a plurality of distributions;    said compactor belt is a first belt;    said second unit comprises a plurality of rollers including a drive roller and a second compactor belt extending about the plurality of rollers of the second unit;    said steering system being operable to rotate said second unit about a vertical axis relative to said first unit:    a second load adjuster operable to distribute a load among said rollers of the second unit in a plurality of distributions;    said first belt and said second belt each include a first edge and a second edge an outer surface and an inner surface;    each of said first and second units includes a belt guide with a guide drum and each said guide drum being biased against one of the outer surface and the inner surface of one of said first belt and said second belt and re-orientable with respect to the same; and    each said belt guide comprises a plurality of adjacent guide drums in contact with an inner surface of one of said belts, said guide drums being re-orientable about a common vertical axis.    
   
   
       7 . The compactor of  claim 5  wherein: 
 said first unit and said second unit each include a mid roller and two end rollers having diameters different from respective diameters of said mid rollers;    said first load adjuster including at least one actuator and being operable to distribute said weight of said first unit among said mid roller and said end rollers of said first unit; and    said second load adjuster including at least one actuator and being operable to distribute said weight of said second unit among said mid roller and said end rollers of said second unit.    
   
   
       8 .  0 The compactor of  claim 7  wherein: 
 of said mid roller and said two end rollers, a being said drive roller of said first unit; and    one of said mid roller and said two end rollers, being said drive roller of said second unit.    
   
   
       9 .- 20 . (canceled)  
   
   
       21 . The compactor of  claim 1  wherein said load adjuster is operable to distribute said weight among at least three rollers of said plurality of rollers.  
   
   
       22 . The compactor of  claim 21  wherein said load adjuster includes at least one actuator.  
   
   
       23 . The compactor of  claim 22  wherein said at least one actuator is operable to increase a proportion of said weight onto a mid roller of the at least three rollers.  
   
   
       24 . The compactor of  claim 1  including a lateral belt guide with a pivot actuator mounted to pivot a guide drum with respect to said plurality of rollers.  
   
   
       25 . The compactor of  claim 1  wherein said first unit is coupled to the second unit via a coupler and an overlap adjustment operable to adjust a degree of overlap over said first and second units.  
   
   
       26 . The compactor of  claim 1  wherein said belt has a width extending between opposite sides of said first unit.  
   
   
       27 . An asphalt compactor comprising: 
 a first unit having a plurality of rollers, which includes a drive roller, mounted thereto and having a weight;    a second unit coupled to said first unit;    a steering system operable to rotate one of said first unit and said second unit about a vertical axis relative to the other of said first unit and said second unit;    a compactor belt with a width extending between opposite side of said first unit;    a load adjuster, which includes at least one actuator, operable to increase a proportion of said weight carried by one of said plurality of rollers.    
   
   
       28 . The compactor of  claim 27  wherein said load adjuster is operable to distribute said weight among at least three rollers of said plurality of rollers.  
   
   
       29 . The compactor of  claim 27  including a pivot actuator attached to said first unit and being operable to pivot a guide drum relative to said plurality of rollers.  
   
   
       30 . The compactor of  claim 27  including a second compactor belt extending about at least three rollers of said second unit, and having a width extending between opposite sides of said second unit.  
   
   
       31 . The compactor of  claim 30  wherein said second unit includes a load adjuster and a pivot actuator.