Vibratory Compactor Controller

Abstract

An apparatus for actuating a vibratory mechanism in a vehicle comprising a sensor configured to produce an operational value signal indicative of an operational characteristic of the vehicle; a computing device operable to receive the operational value signal and determine actuation values based at least in part on the operational value signal and to produce a corresponding control signal for selectively actuating the vibratory mechanism; and an input device configured to modify the actuation values during operation of the vehicle. A method for controlling a vibratory mechanism in a vehicle comprising the steps of producing an operational value signal indicative of an operational characteristic of the vehicle; determining actuation values from the operational value signal; modifying actuation values during operation of the vehicle; and signaling the vibratory mechanism to actuate in response to actuation values.

1 . An apparatus for actuating a vibratory mechanism in a vehicle comprising:
 a sensor configured to produce an operational value signal indicative of an operational characteristic of the vehicle;   a computing device operable to receive the operational value signal and determine an actuation value based at least in part on the operational value signal and to produce a corresponding control signal for selectively actuating the vibratory mechanism; and   an input device configured to modify the actuation value during operation of the vehicle.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the computing device is operable to track a plurality of peak operational characteristics. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the computing device is operable to produce a deactivation value based at least in part on the plurality of peak operational characteristics. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the computing device is operable to track the plurality of peak operational characteristics over a time period or distance traveled and to determine a maximum operational characteristic from the plurality of peak operational characteristics. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the computing device is operable to produce a deactivation value based at least in part on the selected maximum operational characteristic. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the operational characteristic is derived from the speed of the vehicle. 
   
   
       7 . A method for controlling a vibratory mechanism in a vehicle comprising the steps of:
 producing an operational value signal indicative of an operational characteristic of the vehicle;   determining an actuation value from the operational value signal;   modifying the actuation value during operation of the vehicle; and   signaling the vibratory mechanism to actuate in response to the actuation value.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the step of producing the operational value signal comprises tracking peak operational characteristics from activation of the vibratory mechanism. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of determining an actuation value comprises producing a deactivation value based at least in part on the peak operational characteristics. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the tracking of the peak operational characteristic is over a time period or distance traveled and a maximum operational characteristic is selected from the peak operational characteristics. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of determining actuation values comprises producing a deactivation value based at least in part on the maximum selected operational characteristic. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the operational characteristic is derived from the speed of the vehicle. 
   
   
       13 . A vibratory compactor comprising:
 a vibratory mechanism;   a sensor configured to produce an operational value signal indicative of an operational characteristic of the vibratory compactor;   a computing device operable to receive the operational value signal and determine an actuation value based at least in part on the operational value signal and to produce a corresponding control signal for selectively actuating the vibratory mechanism; and   an input device configured to modify the actuation value during operation of the vibratory compactor.   
   
   
       14 . The vibratory compactor of  claim 13 , wherein the computing device is operable to track a plurality of peak operational characteristics. 
   
   
       15 . The vibratory compactor of  claim 14 , wherein the computing device is operable to produce a deactivation value based at least in part on the plurality of peak operational characteristics. 
   
   
       16 . The vibratory compactor of  claim 14 , wherein the computing device is operable to track the plurality of peak operational characteristics over a time period or distance traveled and to determine a maximum operational characteristic from the plurality of peak operational characteristics. 
   
   
       17 . The vibratory compactor of  claim 16 , wherein the computing device is operable to produce a deactivation value based at least in part on the selected maximum operational characteristic. 
   
   
       18 . The vibratory compactor of  claim 13 , wherein the operational characteristic is derived from the speed of the vibratory compactor.