Screed Vibration System

Abstract

A vibration system for a paving machine having a power source and an integrated generator is provided. The vibration system may include a power converter in electrical communication with the integrated generator, a motor drive in electrical communication with the power converter, an electric motor in electrical communication with the motor drive, and a vibratory mechanism operatively coupled to the electric motor and configured to engage at least one of a screed assembly and a tamper assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vibration system for a paving machine having a power source and an integrated generator, the vibration system comprising:
 a power converter in electrical communication with the integrated generator;   a motor drive in electrical communication with the power converter;   an electric motor in electrical communication with the motor drive; and   a vibratory mechanism operatively coupled to the electric motor and configured to engage at least one of a screed assembly and a tamper assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The vibration system of  claim 1 , wherein the power converter is configured to electrically communicate with a switched reluctance generator that is integrated with an engine of the paving machine. 
     
     
         3 . The vibration system of  claim 1 , wherein the motor drive is an AC motor drive configured to receive DC signals from the power converter and output AC signals to operate the electric motor. 
     
     
         4 . The vibration system of  claim 1 , wherein the electric motor is an AC induction motor configured to receive AC signals from the motor drive and provide rotational output for operating the vibratory mechanism. 
     
     
         5 . The vibration system of  claim 1 , wherein the electric motor is a single-phase AC induction motor, and the vibratory mechanism is engagably coupled to the screed assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The vibration system of  claim 1 , wherein the electric motor is a three-phase AC induction motor, and the vibratory mechanism is engagably coupled to the tamper assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The vibration system of  claim 1 , wherein the vibratory mechanism includes at least a first vibratory mechanism for engaging the screed assembly and a second vibratory mechanism for engaging the tamper assembly, the first and second vibratory mechanisms being operated independently by respective first and second electric motors and first and second motor drives. 
     
     
         8 . A screed for a tractor having a power source, an integrated generator, and a power converter, the screed comprising:
 a screed assembly;   a tamper assembly;   a vibratory mechanism operatively coupled to at least one of the screed assembly and the tamper assembly; and   an electric motor operatively coupled to the vibratory mechanism, the electric motor being configured to receive an electrical signal from the power converter and mechanically drive the vibratory mechanism in response to the electrical signal.   
     
     
         9 . The screed of  claim 8 , wherein the vibratory mechanism is configured to engage each of the screed assembly and the tamper assembly independently. 
     
     
         10 . The screed of  claim 8 , wherein the electric motor is an AC induction motor that is driven by a motor drive, the motor drive being electrically coupled to the power converter. 
     
     
         11 . The screed of  claim 10 , wherein the motor drive is configured to receive DC signals from the power converter and supply AC signals to the AC induction motor. 
     
     
         12 . The screed of  claim 8 , wherein the vibratory mechanism includes at least a first vibratory mechanism for engaging the screed assembly and a second vibratory mechanism for engaging the tamper assembly, the first and second vibratory mechanisms being operated independently by respective first and second electric motors. 
     
     
         13 . The screed of  claim 12 , wherein the first electric motor is a single-phase AC induction motor and the second electric motor is a three-phase AC induction motor. 
     
     
         14 . The screed of  claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of actuators configured to adjust one or more of a screed crown angle, a screed slope, and a screed height, the actuators being powered by the power converter. 
     
     
         15 . A paving machine, comprising:
 a screed assembly;   a tamper assembly;   an engine;   an integrated generator;   one or more power converters;   one or more motor drives;   one or more electric motors; and   one or more vibratory mechanisms configured to engage at least one of the screed assembly and the tamper assembly.   
     
     
         16 . The paving machine of  claim 15 , further comprising a plurality of actuators configured to adjust one or more of a screed crown angle, a screed slope, and a screed height, the power converters being configured to supply power to the actuators. 
     
     
         17 . The paving machine of  claim 15 , wherein the integrated generator is a switched reluctance generator that is mechanically integrated with an output shaft of the engine, each of the power converters is configured to receive an electrical signal from the integrated switched reluctance generator. 
     
     
         18 . The paving machine of  claim 15 , wherein each of the power converters is configured to receive an AC signal from the integrated generator and output a DC signal to one of the motor drives, each of the motor drives being configured to operate one of the electric motors via an AC signal. 
     
     
         19 . The paving machine of  claim 15 , wherein each of the electric motors is an AC induction motor configured to receive an AC signal from one of the motor drives and engage one of the vibratory mechanisms based on the AC signal. 
     
     
         20 . The paving machine of  claim 15 , wherein the electric motor engaging the screed assembly is a single-phase AC induction motor and the electric motor engaging the tamper assembly is a three-phase AC induction motor.