ROAD MAKING MACHINE WITH PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a road making machine in the form of a road finishing machine or a charger vehicle for conveying laying material to a road finishing machine. The road making machine is self-propelled and comprises a travel drive, a material bunker, a driver stand, and a photovoltaic system. The photovoltaic system includes at least one photovoltaic module for generating electric current, a power storage system, and a charge controller.

Claims

1. A road making machine formed as a road finishing machine or a charger vehicle for conveying laying material to a road finishing machine, wherein the road making machine is self-propelled and comprises a travel drive, a material bunker, a driver stand, and a photovoltaic system, wherein the photovoltaic system includes at least one photovoltaic module for generating electric current, a power storage system, and a charge controller.

2. The road making machine according to claim 1, further comprising a driver roof with a main roof body arranged at the driver stand, wherein the at least one photovoltaic module comprises a first photovoltaic module fastened to the main roof body.

3. The road making machine according to claim 2, wherein the first photovoltaic module is fastened to the main roof body in a releasable manner.

4. The road making machine according to claim 2, wherein the driver roof includes an extension module arranged at the main roof body to be shiftable and/or rotatable from a storage position to an extension position, wherein the at least one photovoltaic module comprises a second photovoltaic module, and the second photovoltaic module is fastened to the extension module or the extension module is at least partially embodied by the second photovoltaic module.

5. The road making machine according to claim 4, wherein the second photovoltaic module is fastened to the extension module in a releasable manner.

6. The road making machine according to claim 1, further comprising a driver roof with a main roof body arranged at the driver stand, wherein the at least one photovoltaic module comprises a first photovoltaic module, and the main roof body is at least partially embodied by the first photovoltaic module.

7. The road making machine according to claim 6, wherein the at least one photovoltaic module comprises a second photovoltaic module, the driver roof includes an extension module arranged at the main roof body to be shiftable and/or rotatable from a storage position to an extension position, and the second photovoltaic module is fastened to the extension module or the extension module is at least partially embodied by the second photovoltaic module.

8. The road making machine according to claim 1, wherein the at least one photovoltaic module comprises a photovoltaic module fastened to an external wall of the material bunker.

9. The road making machine according to claim 1, further comprising an engine cowling, wherein the at least one photovoltaic module comprises a photovoltaic module fastened to the engine cowling.

10. The road making machine according to claim 1, wherein the road making machine is embodied as the road finishing machine and includes a screed comprising a basic screed body, and wherein the at least one photovoltaic module comprises a first photovoltaic module fastened to the basic screed body of the screed.

11. The road making machine according to claim 10, wherein the first photovoltaic module is fastened to the basic screed body of the screed in a releasable manner.

12. The road making machine according to claim 10, wherein the screed comprises a pull-out part arranged at the basic screed body to be shiftable from a storage position to an extension position, and wherein the at least one photovoltaic module comprises a second photovoltaic module fastened to the pull-out part.

13. The road making machine according to claim 10, wherein the screed comprises at least one screed extension body arranged at the basic screed body, and wherein the at least one photovoltaic module comprises a second photovoltaic module fastened to the at least one screed extension body.

14. The road making machine according to claim 10, wherein the screed comprises a pull-out part arranged at the basic screed body, and a screed extension body arranged at the pull-out part, and wherein the at least one photovoltaic module comprises a second photovoltaic module fastened to the screed extension body.

15. The road making machine according to claim 1, wherein the road making machine is embodied as the charger vehicle, and the charger vehicle is configured to feed electric current obtained from the photovoltaic system to a power grid and/or at least one electric consumer of a road finishing machine.

16. The road making machine according to claim 1, wherein the road making machine is embodied as the road finishing machine, and the road finishing machine is configured to feed electric current obtained from the photovoltaic system to a power grid and/or at least one electric consumer of a charger vehicle.

17. The road making machine according to claim 1, wherein the at least one photovoltaic module comprises a photovoltaic module arranged to be rotatable and/or shiftable relative to a portion of the road making machine.

18. A road making machine formed as a road finishing machine or a charger vehicle for conveying laying material to a road finishing machine, wherein the road making machine is self-propelled and comprises an electric consumer and a photovoltaic system configured to generate electric current for use by the electric consumer, wherein the photovoltaic system includes at least one photovoltaic module, a power storage system associated with the at least one photovoltaic module, and a charge controller connected to the power storage system.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Below, exemplary embodiments will be illustrated with reference to the figures.

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a road making machine in the form of a road finishing machine with a photovoltaic system;

[0026] FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of the road finishing machine;

[0027] FIG. 3 shows a schematic partial plan view of a screed of the road finishing machine;

[0028] FIG. 4 shows a schematic partial plan view of the screed of the road finishing machine;

[0029] FIG. 5 shows a schematic perspective view of a road making machine in the form of a charger vehicle with a photovoltaic system; and

[0030] FIG. 6 shows a schematic perspective view of the charger vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] FIG. 1 shows, in a perspective view from obliquely behind, a road making machine 1 which is a road finishing machine 2 for producing a paving layer ES. The road finishing machine 2 is self-propelled. The road finishing machine 2 has a travel drive 3 (e.g., an internal combustion engine, an electric motor, a hydrogen engine, or a hybrid motor), a chassis 4, a driver stand 5, a driver roof 6, working units, such as a material bunker 7 for receiving a laying material B, a screed 8 mounted at the chassis 4 to be height adjustable and being towed in the direction of travel R, a conveyor unit 9 to provide the laying material B from a material bunker 7 of the road finishing machine 2 to the screed 8. The road finishing machine 2 comprises further components as well as an engine compartment cowling 10. The driver roof 6 spans the driver stand 5 which is supported by a pillar structure 11. The pillar structure 11 can be foldable.

[0032] The road finishing machine 2 has a photovoltaic system 12 with several photovoltaic modules 13. In one embodiment, a first photovoltaic module 13a is fastened to a first external wall 14 of the material bunker 7. In one embodiment, the photovoltaic module 13a can be attached to a fastening component T to be rotatable from a first position P to a second position P′ to orient an angle of inclination α of the photovoltaic module 13a towards the sun. On a second external wall (not shown), too, a photovoltaic module (not shown) can be fastened.

[0033] A second and a third photovoltaic module 13b, 13c are fastened on two cover plates 15a, 15b of a basic screed body 16 of the screed 8. A fourth photovoltaic module 13d is attached to the engine compartment cowling 10. In a non-depicted embodiment, an angle of inclination α of the photovoltaic modules 13b, 13c, 13d can also be adjustable.

[0034] A fifth photovoltaic module 13e is fastened on a main roof body 17 of the driver roof 6. In this embodiment, the main roof body 17 is a plastic plate. It is also possible to completely replace the main roof body 17 by the fifth photovoltaic module 13e and to directly fix the fifth photovoltaic module 13e to the pillar structure 11.

[0035] The driver roof 6 has a first width B1 and/or a first length L1. The first width B1 and/or a first length L1 of the driver roof 6 can be extended to provide a larger protecting area against sun and rain for the operator and simultaneously extend a first cover surface A of the photovoltaic system 12 (the cover surface A corresponds to a total erected photovoltaic module surface of the photovoltaic system 12 visible from outside). To this end, the driver roof 6 has two extension modules E1, E2 arranged at the main roof body 17 to be laterally extendable, for example awnings. In FIG. 1, the extension modules E1, E2 are in their storage positions 18 where they are stored under the main roof body 17.

[0036] FIG. 2 shows the extension modules E1, E2 of the driver roof 6 in an extension position 19. Here, the driver roof 6 has a second width B2 which is larger than the first width B1. The extension module E1 has a sixth photovoltaic module 13f. The extension module E2 has a seventh photovoltaic module 13g. The photovoltaic system 12 has an extended cover surface A′ when the extension modules E1, E2 are in their extension positions 19. In the storage position 18, the photovoltaic modules 13f, 13g are protected from external conditions.

[0037] A first length L1 of the driver roof 6 can be extended along the direction of travel R, e.g., by an extension module E3 arranged to be extendable along the direction of travel R and comprising a photovoltaic module 13.

[0038] FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the screed 8, wherein two pull-out parts 21a, 21b arranged to be movable laterally at the basic screed body 16 are in their storage positions 22. The second and third photovoltaic modules 13b, 13c are fastened on two cover plates 15a, 15b of a basic screed body 16 of the screed 8. A laying width EB of the screed 8 can be varied in a direction transverse to the direction of travel R of the road finishing machine 2 to be able to achieve different laying widths. To this end, the pull-out parts 21a, 21b can be extended from their storage positions 22 to an extension position 23.

[0039] FIG. 4 shows the pull-out parts 21a, 21b extended in their extension positions 23 transverse to the direction of travel R. The pull-out parts 21a, 21b have photovoltaic modules 13h, 13i which are exposed to the sun in the extension position 23 of the pull-out parts 21a, 21b to generate electric current S. In the storage position 22, the photovoltaic modules 13h, 13i are protected from external conditions.

[0040] In order to further enlarge the laying width EB′ of the screed 8, screed extension bodies 24a, 24b can be fastened to the pull-out parts 21a, 21b. The screed extension bodies 24a, 24b can also have photovoltaic modules 13j, 13k.

[0041] The photovoltaic system 12 includes a power storage system 25 (cf. FIG. 1). The photovoltaic system 12 furthermore includes a charge controller 26 to protect the power storage system 25 from overcharging. The photovoltaic modules 13a-k can be connected to the charge controller 26 via cabling (not shown), the charge controller being connected to the power storage system 25.

[0042] The road finishing machine 2 can have a plurality of electric consumers 27 which are supplied with electric current S generated by the photovoltaic system 12. An electric consumer 27 can be a telematic module 27a. An electric consumer 27 can be a global positioning system (GPS) unit 27b. An electric consumer EV can be a cooling system 27c for cooling a vehicle battery 27d. An electric consumer 27 can be a light 27e, in particular for illuminating the access area 28 of the road finishing machine 2 on the night construction sites. An electric consumer 27 can be a heating unit 27f. The heating unit 27f can be used for heating the screed 8. The electric current S obtained from the photovoltaic system 12 can be fed into a power grid 29 of the road finishing machine 2.

[0043] FIG. 5 shows, in a perspective view from obliquely behind, a road making machine 1 which is a charger vehicle for a road finishing machine 2. The charger vehicle 30 is self-propelled and comprises a travel drive 3′ (e.g., an internal combustion engine, an electric motor, a hydrogen engine, or a hybrid motor), a chassis 4′, a driver stand 5′, a driver roof 6′, working units, such as a material bunker 7′ for receiving a laying material B′, and a conveyor unit 9′ for transporting the laying material B′ from the material bunker 7′ of the charger vehicle 30 into the material bunker 7 of the road finishing machine 2. The charger vehicle 30 comprises an engine compartment cowling 10′. The driver roof 6′ spans the driver stand 5′ which is supported by a pillar structure 11′. The pillar structure 11′ can be foldable.

[0044] The charger vehicle 30 has a photovoltaic system 12′ with several photovoltaic modules 13′. In one embodiment, a first photovoltaic module 13a′ is fastened to a first external wall 14′ of the material bunker 7′. In one embodiment, the photovoltaic module 13a′ can be attached to a fastening component T′ to be rotatable from a first position P′ to a second position P′ to orient an angle of inclination α′ of the photovoltaic module 13a′ towards the sun. On a second external wall (not shown), too, a photovoltaic module (not shown) can be fastened. A second photovoltaic module 13b′ is attached to the engine compartment cowling 10′. In a non-depicted embodiment, an angle of inclination α of the photovoltaic module 13b′ can also be adjustable.

[0045] A third photovoltaic module 13c′ is fastened on a main roof body 17 of the driver roof 6′. In this embodiment, the main roof body 17′ is a plastic plate. It is also possible to completely replace the main roof body 17′ by the third photovoltaic module 13c′ and to directly fix the third photovoltaic module 13c′ to the pillar structure 11′.

[0046] The driver roof 6′ has a first width B1′ and/or a first length L1′. The first width B1′ and/or a first length L1′ of the driver roof 6′ can be extended to provide a larger protecting area against sun and rain for the operator and simultaneously extend a first cover surface A″ of the photovoltaic system 12 (the cover surface A″ corresponds to a total erected photovoltaic module area of the photovoltaic system 12′ visible from outside). To this end, the driver roof 6′ has two extension modules E1′, E2′ arranged at the main roof body 17′ to be laterally extendable, for example awnings. In FIG. 5, the extension modules E1′, E2′ are in their storage positions 18′ where they are stored under the main roof body 17′.

[0047] FIG. 6 shows the extension modules E1′, E2′ of the driver roof 6′ in an extension position 19′. The extension module E1′ has a fourth photovoltaic module 13d′. The extension module E2′ has a fifth photovoltaic module 13e′.

[0048] Here, the driver roof 6′ has a second width B2′ which is larger than the first width B1′. The photovoltaic system 12′ has an extended cover surface A‴ when the extension modules E1, E2 are in their extension positions 19′. In the storage position 18, the photovoltaic modules 13d′, 13e′ are protected from external conditions.

[0049] A first length L1′ of the driver roof 6′ can be extended along a direction of travel R′, e.g., by an extension module E3′ arranged to be extendable along the direction of travel R′ and comprising a photovoltaic module.

[0050] The photovoltaic system 12′ has a power storage system 25′. The photovoltaic system 12′ furthermore includes a charge controller 26′ to protect the power storage system 25′ from overcharging. The photovoltaic modules 13a-e′ can be connected to the charge controller 26′ via cabling (not shown), the charge controller being connected to the power storage system 25′.

[0051] The charger vehicle 30 can have a plurality of electric consumers 27′ which are supplied with electric current S′ generated by the photovoltaic system 12′. An electric consumer 27′ can be a telematic module 27a′. An electric consumer 27′ can be a global positioning system (GPS) unit 27b′. An electric consumer 27′ can be a cooling system 27c′ for cooling a vehicle battery 27d′. An electric consumer 27′ can be a light 27e′, in particular for illuminating the access area 28 of the road finishing machine 30 on the night construction sites. An electric consumer 27′ can be a heating unit 27f. The heating unit 27f can be used for heating the material bunker 7′ or conveyor unit 9′. The electric current S′ obtained from the photovoltaic system 12′ can be fed into a power grid 29′ of the charger vehicle 30.

[0052] It is also possible that during a road construction operation, the charger vehicle 30 is positioned in front of the road finishing machine 2 in the direction of travel R′ to transport laying material B′ from the material bunker 7′ of the charger vehicle 30 into the material bunker 7 of the road finishing machine 2. In the process, the electric current S′ obtained from the photovoltaic system 12′ of the charger vehicle 30 can be fed into a power grid 29 of the road finishing 2, or the electric current S obtained from the photovoltaic system 12 of the road finishing machine 2 can be fed into a power grid 29′ of the charger vehicle 30.

[0053] As those skilled in the art will understand, the power storage system 25, the power storage system 25′, the charge controller 26, the charge controller 26′, as well as any other controller, module, unit, component, system, subsystem, or the like described herein may individually, collectively, or in any combination comprise appropriate circuitry, such as one or more appropriately programmed processors (e.g., one or more microprocessors including central processing units (CPU)) and associated memory, which may include stored operating system software, firmware, and/or application software executable by the processor(s) for controlling operation thereof and for performing the particular algorithm or algorithms represented by the various methods, functions and/or operations described herein, including interaction between and/or cooperation with each other. One or more of such processors, as well as other circuitry and/or hardware, may be included in a single Application-Specific Integrated Circuitry (ASIC) or Electronic Control Unit (ECU), or several processors and various circuitry and/or hardware may be distributed among several separate components, whether individually packaged or assembled into a System-on-a-Chip (SoC). The power storage system 25 and the power storage system 25′ may each also include one or more batteries and/or any other type of electrical power storage device (e.g., capacitor).