Intermediate Storage Vehicle For Milled Material And Work Train

Abstract

The present invention relates to an intermediate storage vehicle for storing milled material and also to a work train with such an intermediate storage vehicle, a surface milling machine and a transport vehicle.

Claims

1. An intermediate storage vehicle for storing or transferring milled material, comprising: a machine frame; a chassis; a milled material store; an internal conveying device; and a load transfer conveyor, wherein the internal conveying device is configured to transport milled material from the milled material store in the direction of the load transfer conveyor, and further wherein the load transfer conveyor is configured to unload the milled material from the intermediate storage vehicle.

2. The intermediate storage vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the load transfer conveyor is configured to at least partially protrude from the remaining vehicle.

3. The intermediate storage vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate storage vehicle comprises a propulsion engine and is configured as a self-propelled vehicle.

4. The intermediate storage vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle has at least one of the following features: the chassis is configured as a crawler track chassis, the chassis is configured as a chassis with an adjustable track width, and/or the chassis is configured to be height-adjustable, in particular in addition to a levelling function.

5. The intermediate storage vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate storage vehicle comprises an operating platform, which has one of the following features: the operating platform is arranged on a front side of the intermediate storage vehicle in the working direction, the operating platform is configured as a driver's cabin and comprises an adjustable roof, in particular between an operating position and a transport position, the operating platform comprises rollover protection and/or a protective structure against falling objects, and/or the operating platform is mounted adjustably with respect to the machine frame, in particular in the vertical and/or horizontal direction.

6. The intermediate storage vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the milled material store has at least one of the following features: the milled material store comprises a floor and is configured to be open towards the top, the milled material store has a variable receiving volume, in particular by means of sidewalls that can preferably be pivoted or slid inwards from an operating position to a transport position, whereby the total width of the intermediate storage vehicle decreases, at least one and in particular all sidewalls of the milled material store are at least partially height-adjustable, in particular comprising a fixed wall and an adjustable wall for each sidewall, the milled material store has a load capacity of at least 1.5 times the load capacity of a dump truck approved for use in traffic, and/or the milled material store has a load capacity of at least 7.5 tons.

7. The intermediate storage vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the internal conveying device has at least one of the following features: the internal conveying device is configured to deliver the milled material to the load transfer conveyor, the internal conveying device is arranged parallel to a longitudinal center axis of the milled material store, the internal conveying device is arranged on a floor of the milled material store, the internal conveying device is arranged below the floor of the milled material store, wherein a chute is also present, through which milled material reaches the internal conveyor from the milled material store, the internal conveying device is configured as a screw conveyor, and/or the internal conveying device is configured as a scraper floor or scraper belt.

8. The intermediate storage vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the load transfer conveyor has at least one of the following features: the load transfer conveyor is configured as a belt conveyor, the load transfer conveyor is configured in a segmented manner, comprising at least two conveyor segments, the load transfer conveyor is height-adjustable so that a height of a discharge point can be varied, the load transfer conveyor can be pivoted to the sides from a central position so that a lateral deflection of a discharge point can be varied, a conveying speed of the load transfer conveyor is modifiable so that a discharge range of the load transfer conveyor can be varied, the load transfer conveyor is configured as an overhang in structural union with a sidewall of the milled material store, in particular with a front side of the intermediate storage vehicle in the working direction, and/or the intermediate storage vehicle comprises an accompanying loading station for a transport vehicle and the load transfer conveyor is integrated in the loading station.

9. The intermediate storage vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate storage vehicle has at least one of the following features for operation: the intermediate storage vehicle is configured to be remote-controlled, in particular with respect to direction, speed, the operation of the internal conveying device and/or the load transfer conveyor, the intermediate storage vehicle comprises at least one external operating console for entering commands regarding direction and/or speed and/or tasks, and/or the intermediate storage vehicle comprises a distance control system for monitoring and/or controlling the distance to a surface milling machine and/or a transport vehicle.

10. The intermediate storage vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate storage vehicle has a pushing device in the forward direction with which the intermediate storage vehicle can push a transport vehicle forward during the load transfer process.

11. A work train for milling ground material at a milling depth, comprising: a surface milling machine with a milling device and a conveying device for transferring the material milled by the milling device, a transport vehicle comprising a transport container and with which the milled material is transported away, and an intermediate storage vehicle according to claim 1, which is loaded via the conveying device by the surface milling machine and in turn loads the transport vehicle.

12. The work train according to claim 11, wherein the work train comprises a control system, which controls, regulates, and monitors the relative positions of the surface milling machine and the intermediate storage vehicle, and has at least one of the following features: the control system is configured to automatically control or regulate a distance between a surface milling machine and an intermediate storage vehicle, in particular so that this distance remains constant, the control system is configured to adapt the speed of travel of the intermediate storage vehicle to the working speed of the surface milling machine, and/or the control system is configured to control the position of the discharge point of the load transfer conveyor of the intermediate storage vehicle in relation to the position of the transport container of the transport vehicle during a load transfer process in such a way that a previously defined target distribution of the milled material in the transport container of the transport vehicle or a previously defined target surface geometry of the milled material in the transport container of the transport vehicle is at least approximately achieved.

13. The work train according to claim 12, wherein the control system comprises a sensor arrangement, wherein the sensor arrangement has at least one of the following features: the sensor arrangement comprises a distance sensor, the sensor arrangement comprises a camera, the sensor arrangement is configured to determine a distance between the intermediate storage vehicle and the surface milling machine or the transport vehicle, the sensor arrangement is configured to determine the position of the intermediate storage vehicle in relation to the surface milling machine or in relation to the transport vehicle, the sensor arrangement is configured to determine the position of the transport container of the transport vehicle in relation to a discharge point of the load transfer conveyor of the intermediate storage vehicle, the sensor arrangement is configured to determine a fill level of the transport container of the transport vehicle, and/or the sensor arrangement is configured to determine a distribution of the milled material in the transport container of the transport vehicle or a surface geometry of the milled material in the transport container of the transport vehicle.

14. The work train according to claim 11, wherein a load capacity of the intermediate storage vehicle is at least 1.5 times a load capacity of the transport vehicle.

15. The intermediate storage vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the milled material store has a load capacity at least twice the load capacity of a dump truck approved for use in traffic.

16. The intermediate storage vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the milled material store has a load capacity at least 2.5 times the load capacity of a dump truck approved for use in traffic.

17. The intermediate storage vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the milled material store has a load capacity of at least 15 tons.

18. The intermediate storage vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the milled material store has a load capacity of at least 22.5 tons.

19. The work train according to claim 11, wherein a load capacity of the intermediate storage vehicle is at least twice a load capacity of the transport vehicle.

20. The work train according to claim 11, wherein a load capacity of the intermediate storage vehicle is at least 2.5 times a load capacity of the transport vehicle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0059] The present invention will be described in further detail below by means of the embodiments shown in the figures, which show schematically:

[0060] FIG. 1 is a side view of a work train in accordance with the present invention, with a transport vehicle, an intermediate storage vehicle and a surface milling machine;

[0061] FIG. 2 is a side view of an intermediate storage vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0062] FIG. 3 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of an intermediate storage vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention without an operating platform;

[0063] FIG. 4 is a side view of an additional alternative embodiment of an intermediate storage vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention with accompanying loading station;

[0064] FIG. 5a is a cross-section transverse to the longitudinal axis of an intermediate storage vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0065] FIG. 5b is the same perspective of the intermediate storage vehicle shown in FIG. 5a in an alternative configuration;

[0066] FIG. 6a is a cross-section transverse to the longitudinal axis of an alternative embodiment of an intermediate storage vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0067] FIG. 6b is the same perspective of the intermediate storage vehicle shown in FIG. 6a in an alternative configuration;

[0068] FIG. 7 is a top view of a work train with a surface milling machine, an intermediate storage vehicle and two transport vehicles.

[0069] Identical components are indicated in the figures with the same reference signs, although components recurring in the figures do not always necessarily have to be designated separately.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0070] FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a work train 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention conducting, e.g., road maintenance work. Among other things, the work train comprises a surface milling machine 2 of an essentially known design. It moves forward on crawler tracks in a working direction A of the work train 1 and mills with its primary working tool, the milling drum arranged in a known manner within a milling drum housing, the road surface it drives over, which forms the surface of the subgrade U. This milling process gives rise to milled material, which can be utilized e.g. for making new road surface material or discarded. The milled material, or at least a portion thereof, should thus be initially gathered from the subgrade surface and transported away from the construction site.

[0071] In order to enable as well as to simplify the removal of the milled material, the work train 1 also comprises, in addition to the surface milling machine 2, an intermediate storage vehicle 6 and at least one transport vehicle 4. When viewed in the working direction A, the intermediate storage vehicle 6 drives in front of the surface milling machine 2 and the transport vehicle 4 drives in front of the intermediate storage vehicle 6. It is essential here that several transport vehicles 4 can naturally also be alternately positioned in front of the intermediate storage vehicle 6. Thus, the transport vehicle 4 may in fact be several alternating transport vehicles 4, which successively take on the same position and function in the work train 1. It is also essential that in the work train 1 the surface milling machine 2 and the intermediate storage vehicle 6 move in the working direction A more or less evenly during the work process, while the transport vehicle/transport vehicles 4 position themselves alternately in front of the intermediate storage vehicle 6 and drive off once loading is completed.

[0072] Elements of the intermediate storage vehicle 6 are the chassis 7 (crawler tracks or wheels), a milled material store 8 largely configured as a trough, an internal conveying device 9 as well as a load transfer conveyor 10. In this specific embodiment, the intermediate storage vehicle 6 is also configured with its own propulsion engine 13 arranged in the rear and can thus move in the working direction A by means of its own power and drive. A machine frame 16 forms the essential supporting structure of the intermediate storage vehicle 6. FIG. 1 illustrates that the internal conveying device 9 is essentially arranged within the milled material store 8. Thus, it is, in particular, possible to convey milled material within the milled material store 8 from the rear area to the front area or in the working direction A with the internal conveyor 9.

[0073] In contrast, the load transfer conveyor 10 extends from the front area of the milled material store 8 forward in the working direction A and rises in the vertical direction beyond the milled material store 8 in an overhanging manner and thus protrudes in the horizontal as well as in the vertical direction. It is thus possible with the load transfer conveyor 10 to convey milled material delivered, e.g., by means of an internal conveying device 9 forward and upward in the working direction A out of the milled material store 8. Due to the fact that the load transfer conveyor 10 extends from the intermediate storage vehicle 6 in an overhanging manner, it is possible to maneuver the transport vehicle so that its back end is below the load transfer conveyor 10 in the manner shown in FIG. 1. The milled material is thus transported by the load transfer conveyor 10 in the direction of the arrow iii and discharged into a transport container/load receptacle 5 of the transport vehicle/dump truck 4 at an end located in the front in the direction of conveyance.

[0074] One aspect of the present invention is the handling of the milled material arising during the work process within the work train 1. The milled material is first generated and collected by the surface milling machine 2 and transferred via the conveying device 3 of the surface milling machine 2, a belt conveyor in this specific embodiment, to the intermediate storage vehicle 6 (arrow i in FIG. 1). The milled material here is discharged from the end of the conveying device 3 on the surface milling machine 2 and received by the milled material store 8 on the intermediate storage vehicle 6. The internal conveying device 9 arranged on the floor of the milled material store 8 then conveys (arrow ii) the milled material forward in the working direction A within the milled material store 8 until it reaches the receiving end of the load transfer conveyor 10. It is received there by the load transfer conveyor 10 and conveyed over the edge of the milled material store 8 to the discharging end of the load transfer conveyor 10. The milled material is discharged from the discharging end (arrow iii) and received by the transport container 5, here a loading bed, of the transport vehicle 4.

[0075] If the receiving capacity of the transport container 5 has been exhausted, the load transfer conveyor 10 is stopped. The transport vehicle 4 drives off, forward in the working direction A, and is replaced shortly thereafter by a new transport vehicle 4 ready for receiving. Regardless of all this, the surface milling machine 2 meanwhile continues its work and thus produces more milled material more or less continuously. The latter now accumulates in the milled material store 8 of the intermediate storage vehicle 6. If a transport vehicle 5 that is ready for receiving has arrived, the internal conveyor 9 and/or the load transfer conveyor 10 also resume their work. The milled material that has accumulated in the milled material store 8 is now transferred together with the newly milled material onto the transport vehicle 3. During this entire process, the surface milling machine 2 and the intermediate storage vehicle 6 essentially move evenly in the working direction A.

[0076] It is particularly beneficial if the load transfer conveyor 10 is capable of conveying a larger volume flow of milled material per unit of time than the conveying device 3 of the surface milling machine 2, as this way, even during the continuous operation of surface milling machine 2, the milled material store 8 can ideally be emptied to the greatest extent possible after each change of the transport vehicle 3. Otherwise, the milled material store 8 will be filled slightly more at each changing of the transport vehicle 3 so that at some point the receiving capacity of the milled material store 8 will also be exhausted.

[0077] The intermediate storage vehicle 6 of FIG. 1 further comprises a pushing device 17 in the front area of the machine frame 16, specifically in the form of a pair of push rollers. Thus, if the transport vehicle 4 approaches the intermediate storage vehicle 6, a controlled collision between both vehicles will be brought about in accordance with this embodiment. The propulsion engine 13 of the intermediate storage vehicle 6 is accordingly dimensioned so that it has sufficient capacities in terms of power in order to push the transport vehicle 4 in the working direction A during the load transfer process. For the driver of the transport vehicle 4, this embodiment has the advantage that he does not have to control the relatively slow speed of the remaining work train 1 during the load transfer process or keep his vehicle within a certain range of the intermediate storage vehicle 6 in a stop-and-go operation. In order to cushion the collision efficiently, it is expedient to design the pushing device 17 in a cushioned configuration, e.g., by means of suitable cushioning elements or other obvious alternatives.

[0078] For entering driving and/or load transfer commands, the intermediate storage vehicle 6 also comprises a lateral operating console 18 arranged in the rear area of the intermediate storage vehicle 6. Specifically, the lateral operating console 18 is thus an input device using, e.g., switches and/or levers, by means of which an operation of the intermediate storage vehicle 6 is possible. In this specific embodiment, the lateral operating console 18 can also be configured as a mobile unit so that an operator can walk next to the intermediate storage vehicle while entering corresponding control commands via the mobile control unit. The mobile unit can be connected to the lateral operating console 18 wirelessly or via a connecting cable.

[0079] The other figures show preferred variations and/or further embodiments of the intermediate storage vehicle 6 described in FIG. 1.

[0080] The intermediate storage vehicle 6 depicted in FIG. 2 is also configured as a self-propelled vehicle and is operated by a machine operator from an operating platform 11. Specifically, the operating platform 11 is a covered driver's cabin with a FOPS and ROPS structure. Here the load transfer conveyor 10 rises above the sidewall of the milled material store 8, extends over the operating platform 11 and ends finally with the discharge end at some distance in front of the operating platform 11. This way a transport vehicle 4 can be positioned with its transport container 5 below the discharge end, while a certain safety distance is nevertheless maintained between the operating platform 11 and the rear end of the transport vehicle 4. The risk of a collision of both vehicles 6, 4 is thus substantially reduced. In the event that the intermediate storage vehicle 6 and the transport vehicle 4 still come into contact with one another, one or more bumper rollers 19 are arranged at the front end of the intermediate storage vehicle 6. These engage with the tires of the transport vehicle 4 in the case of a collision so that the intermediate storage vehicle 6 can then, if necessary, push the transport vehicle 4 forward as well.

[0081] A variation of the intermediate storage vehicle 6 according to one embodiment of the present invention, which manages without an operating platform, is depicted in FIG. 3. Arranged on the intermediate storage vehicle 6 for this purpose is a control system 12, which can both receive control signals for the intermediate storage vehicle 6 via a receiver of a communication device 14 and implement them in the sense of a remote steering device, as well as automatically generate control signals for the intermediate storage vehicle 6. The control signals are entered, e.g., via the mobile unit 20. The engine 13 in the front area of the intermediate storage vehicle 6 provides for the power of the intermediate storage vehicle 6 and is preferably configured as a combustion engine.

[0082] An essential difference of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 lies in the fact that the intermediate storage vehicle 6 comprises a load transfer station 20. Compared with the previous load transfer conveyors 10, the load transfer station 20 projects much further beyond the front end of the milled material store 8 so that nearly the entire transport container 5 of the transport vehicle 4 can be positioned in its entire length under the load transfer station 20. An extremely fast and even loading of the transport vehicle 4 with milled material from above (arrows in FIG. 4) is possible with the help of the load transfer station 20.

[0083] The load transfer station 10 further has its own chassis 17 and can be mounted on or removed from the intermediate storage vehicle 6 of FIG. 4, as needed, in particular also as an autonomous module.

[0084] Furthermore, a sensor arrangement 15, configured as a camera in the example, is arranged here on the intermediate storage vehicle 6, specifically at an end of the load transfer conveyor 10 located near the discharge point. This sensor arrangement 15 is connected to the control unit 12 and arranged so that the contents or fill level of the transport container 5 of the transport vehicle 4 can be determined with the sensor arrangement 15. Camera images obtained in this manner can be evaluated with the help of the control unit 12 so that the combination of the control unit 12 and the sensor arrangement 15 is suitable, e.g., for measuring the fill level of the transport container 5 or for determining a geometry of the surface of the milled material in the transport container 5. The measurement results obtained in this manner can also be transmitted to the other vehicles 4, 2 in the work train 1 by means of the communication device 14, e.g., in order to provide the operator of the surface milling machine 2 or the driver of the transport vehicle 4 with a better overview of the entire state of the work process. The measurement results can also be used, e.g., to calculate the remaining time for the loading process and to inform a further transport vehicle 4 so that the coordination of the alternating transport vehicles 4 can be improved.

[0085] Furthermore, a distance sensor 21 is arranged on the backside of the intermediate storage vehicle 6, e.g., in the form of an ultrasound sensor, camera, etc. A continuous monitoring of the horizontal distance or distance in the working direction A between the intermediate storage vehicle 6 and the surface milling machine 2 driving behind it (only illustrated schematically in FIG. 4) is thus possible. The distance sensors can be part of the control device 12 and, in particular, also be used for the automated distance control of the intermediate storage vehicle 6 to the surface milling machine 2.

[0086] Naturally, the previous embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 3 can also comprise these types of sensor systems.

[0087] Respectively, FIGS. 5a, 5b, and 6a, 6b schematically represent a cross-section of an embodiment of the intermediate storage vehicle 6, the cross-section being perpendicular to its longitudinal axis, specifically along the section line I-I shown in FIG. 3. In particular, these figures illustrate different possibilities regarding how the track width and the overall width of the intermediate storage vehicle 6 can be, e.g., reduced for transport purposes or increased for work purposes. In this regard, these embodiments differ insofar as the embodiment presented in FIGS. 5a and 5b has a milled material store 8 with slidable (arrow a) sidewalls 22, while the embodiment presented in FIGS. 6a and 6b provides a milled material store 8 with sidewalls that can be tilted or pivoted (arrow b). FIGS. 5a and 6a both show a basic or working position, wherein the running units 7 of the chassis, which can be adjusted with respect to track width, are set to a working track width and the milled material store 8 is in a working configuration. In contrast, FIGS. 5b and 6b both show a transport position in which the total width G of the intermediate storage vehicle 6 is decreased either by moving the sidewalls 22 in a parallel manner inwards (as shown in FIG. 5b) or by pivoting them inwards (as shown in FIG. 6b).

[0088] Additionally, or alternatively, the lane width S of the intermediate storage vehicle 6 can also be decreased by moving the running units 7 inwards (arrow c). This way it is possible to ensure that, on the one hand, the intermediate storage vehicle 6 can drive onto a low-bed truck designed for a standard track width and that, on the other hand, it also meets the stipulated road regulation requirements with regard to the maximum total width of a truck approved for use in traffic when loaded with the intermediate storage vehicle 6.

[0089] Finally, FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a work train. To begin with, this embodiment is special in that the intermediate storage vehicle simultaneously comprises a total of two load transfer conveyors 10. In this specific embodiment, these are both rotatable about a vertical axis. Both load transfer conveyors can thus be brought into a position relative to one another so that one load transfer conveyor 10 discharges forwards in relation to the direction of travel of the intermediate storage vehicle (arrows in FIG. 7) and the other load transfer conveyor 10 discharges rearwards in relation to the direction of travel of the intermediate storage vehicle. Furthermore, when viewed in the horizontal plane, both load transfer conveyors 10 are swung out to the same side of the intermediate storage vehicle 6, in this specific case to the left side. This arrangement of the work train has several advantages. First, several transport vehicles 4 can be simultaneously loaded by the intermediate storage vehicle 6. Second, several transport vehicles can be positioned on opposite sides or on the same side of the intermediate storage vehicle 6 during the loading process. As a result, in particular an offset positioning of both transport vehicles in relation to the intermediate storage vehicle can be achieved. It is also possible that the transport vehicles are successively loaded first from the first load transfer conveyor of the intermediate storage vehicle and then from the second load transfer conveyor. A particularly efficient loading can occur this way. For example, the transport vehicles can successively slowly drive by the intermediate storage vehicle in a row or be slowly passed by the intermediate storage vehicle and thus each be loaded first by the first load transfer conveyor and then by the second load transfer conveyor. This way, a particularly efficient loading can be achieved.

[0090] While the present invention has been illustrated by description of various embodiments and while those embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of Applicants to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such details. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The present invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of Applicants' invention.