IP Library › Granted Patent US 12686977
Granted Patent B2
US 12686977 · App. 18/164,217 · Granted Jul 21, 2026

Asphalt compactor creep mode

Inventors: John L. Marsolek (Watertown, MN); Nathaniel S. Doy (Maple Grove, MN)
Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
E01C19/288B60K31/0008B60K2031/0016B60K2031/0091
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12686977
App. No.
18/164,217
Granted
Jul 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for operating a compactor on a compressible surface includes: moving the compactor on the compressible surface; receiving an operating speed of the compactor; determining whether an obstacle is present in a path of the compactor; and changing the operating speed to a creep speed if the obstacle is in the path of the compactor. The creep speed is sufficient to prevent the compactor from forming dips in the compressible surface. ELEMENT NUMBER DESCRIPTION 100 compactor 102 cab 103 drive system 104 drums 105 surface 106 temperature sensor 107 path 108 speed sensor 110 controller 112 GPS device 114 perception system 115 control lever 120 processor 122 memory 124 data bus 126 user interface 128 communications interface 129 autonomous path planning system 130 remote system 132 work area 134 operating system (OS) 136 utilities 138 creep routine 140 sensor interfaces 144 control logic module 146 settings module

Claims (21)

1 . A method for operating a compactor on a compressible surface, the method comprising:

receiving a first compaction plan, the first compaction plan including a path of the compactor on the compressible surface;

moving the compactor on the compressible surface according to the first compaction plan;

receiving an operating speed of the compactor;

determining whether the first compaction plan is complete;

determining whether a second compaction plan has been received; and

changing the operating speed to a creep speed if the first compaction plan is complete and the second compaction plan has not been received,

wherein the creep speed is sufficient to prevent the compactor from forming dips in the compressible surface.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a location of the compactor with respect to a work area on the compressible surface; and

changing the operating speed to the creep speed only if the first compaction plan is complete, the second compaction plan has not been received, and the location is within the work area.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

sensing a surface temperature of the compressible surface on which the compactor is disposed; and

changing the operating speed to the creep speed only if the first compaction plan is complete, the second compaction plan has not been received, and the surface temperature exceeds a threshold temperature.

4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

receiving a location of the compactor with respect to a work area on the compressible surface; and

changing the operating speed to the creep speed only if the first compaction plan is complete, the second compaction plan has not been received, the surface temperature exceeds a threshold temperature, and the location is within the work area.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first compaction plan is received from an autonomous path planning system.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving setting information from a settings module; and

changing the creep speed based on the setting information.