Earth working machine having a positive connection between the rotating working assembly and its rotary bearing

Abstract

An earth working machine includes support structure and a working assembly mounted on the support structure so as to be rotatable about a drive axis. An assembly-side bearing configuration is connected to the working assembly and a structure-side bearing configuration is connected to the support structure. The assembly-side bearing configuration includes a driver configuration having a driver surface facing in a first circumferential direction and the structure-side bearing configuration includes a driver counterpart configuration having a driver counterpart surface facing in a second circumferential direction opposite to the first, the movement spaces of the driver surface and of the driver counterpart surface about the drive axis overlapping one another.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. An earth working machine, comprising: a support structure including a first support structure area and a second support structure area; a working assembly mounted on the support structure so as to be rotatable about a drive axis relative to the support structure, the drive axis defining an axial direction running longitudinally with respect to the drive axis, a radial direction running orthogonally with respect to the drive axis, and a circumferential direction running about the drive axis, in a reference state of the working assembly ready for a rotation of the working assembly about the drive axis; a first rotary bearing rotatably mounting the working assembly in the first support structure area at a drive axial end of the working assembly; a rotary bearing arrangement rotatably mounting the working assembly in the second support structure area at a retention axial end of the working assembly, the retention axial end being situated oppositely from the drive axial end in the axial direction, the rotary bearing arrangement including a second rotary bearing, an assembly side bearing configuration connected to the working assembly and a structure-side bearing configuration connected to the support structure such that the structure-side bearing configuration remains connected to the support structure when the support structure is separated from the working assembly; wherein the assembly-side bearing configuration includes one of a bearing stem or a bearing sleeve connected to the retention axial end of the working assembly; wherein the structure-side bearing configuration includes the other of the bearing stem or the bearing sleeve connected to the second support structure area; wherein the bearing sleeve surrounds the bearing stem in the reference state, both the bearing sleeve and the bearing stem being rotatable about the drive axis relative to the second support structure area in the reference state, and the bearing stem and the bearing sleeve are configured to be axially removable from one another and thereby separable from one another; wherein the working assembly includes a driver configuration including a driver surface; wherein the structure-side bearing configuration includes a driver counterpart configuration including a driver counterpart surface; and wherein the driver surface and the driver counterpart surface overlap in the axial direction in the reference state.

17. The earth working machine of claim 16, wherein: the driver surface and the driver counterpart surface are in an abutting engagement configured to transmit force in a circumferential direction.

18. The earth working machine of claim 16, wherein: the driver counterpart configuration includes a depression and/or a projection.

19. The earth working machine of claim 16, wherein: the driver counterpart configuration includes a projection releasably fixed in a depression in the structure-side bearing configuration.

20. The earth working machine of claim 16, wherein: the working assembly includes a drive configuration supported at the drive axial end of the working assembly in the first support structure area by the first rotary bearing, the drive configuration being rotatable about the drive axis and protruding axially away from the first support structure area, the drive configuration supporting the driver configuration.

21. The earth working machine of claim 20, wherein: the drive configuration at a longitudinal end of the drive configuration remote from the first rotary bearing includes an end face facing in the axial direction, the end face supporting the driver configuration.

22. The earth working machine of claim 20, wherein: the drive configuration is configured to releasably mount a milling drum, the drive configuration including a plurality of projecting transmission components configured to transmit torque to the milling drum, at least one of the transmission components including the driver configuration.

23. The earth working machine of claim 20, wherein: the working assembly includes a milling drum coaxial with the drive configuration in the reference state, the milling drum including a milling drum tube and a plurality of milling bit holders located on an outside of the milling drum tube, the milling bit holders being configured to receive milling bits, the milling drum including at the retention axial end of the working assembly a connecting structure running transverse to the drive axis; and the driver configuration is supported by the drive configuration and extends axially past the connecting structure or through the connecting structure thereby protruding beyond the connecting structure to the structure-side bearing configuration.

24. The earth working machine of claim 16, wherein: the working assembly includes a milling drum, the milling drum including a milling drum tube and a plurality of milling bit holders located on an outside of the milling drum tube, the milling bit holders being configured to receive milling bits, the milling drum supporting the driver configuration.

25. The earth working machine of claim 24, wherein: the milling drum at the retention axial end of the working assembly includes a connecting structure running transverse to the drive axis, the connecting structure connecting the milling drum tube with the assembly-side bearing configuration, the connecting structure supporting the driver configuration.

26. The earth working machine of claim 16, wherein: the driver configuration includes an alignment surface facing axially away from the drive axial end in the reference state; the driver counterpart configuration includes an alignment counterpart surface facing axially toward the drive axial end in the reference state; the alignment surface being inclined with respect to a reference surface that is orthogonal to the drive axis such that the alignment surface approaches the drive axial end with increasing circumferential distance from the driver surface; and the alignment counterpart surface being inclined with respect to the reference surface such that the alignment counterpart surface recedes from the drive axial end with increasing circumferential distance from the driver counterpart surface.

27. The earth working machine of claim 26, wherein: the alignment surface is inclined with respect to the reference surface at an angle (α) of at least 25° and the alignment counterpart surface is inclined with respect to the reference surface at an angle (β) of at least 25°.

28. The earth working machine of claim 27, wherein: the angles of inclination (α, β) of the alignment surface and of the alignment counterpart surface are equal in terms of absolute value.

29. The earth working machine of claim 16, wherein: the second support structure area is configured such that starting from the reference state the second support structure area together with the structure-side bearing configuration can be swiveled away from the first support structure area about a swivel axis transverse to the drive axis.

30. The earth working machine of claim 29, wherein: the swivel axis is orthogonal to the drive axis.

31. The earth working machine of claim 16, wherein: the support structure is connected to a machine frame of the earth working machine in the reference state.

32. The earth working machine of claim 16, wherein: the driver surface faces in a first circumferential direction; and the driver counterpart surface faces in a second circumferential direction opposite to the first circumferential direction.

33. The earth working machine of claim 16, wherein: the driver configuration includes an axial projection; and the driver counterpart configuration includes a depression.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0054] The present invention will be explained in greater detail below with reference to the enclosed figures. The figures show:

[0055] FIG. 1 a rough schematic side view of a specific embodiment according to the invention of an earth working machine in the form of a large milling machine,

[0056] FIG. 2 a schematic longitudinal sectional view through the support structure and the working assembly of the earth working machine from FIG. 1 in an operational state for earth working, the sectional plane including the drive axis of the working assembly,

[0057] FIG. 3 an enlarged partial longitudinal sectional representation of the right longitudinal end in FIG. 2 of the working assembly comprising a drive configuration and a milling drum,

[0058] FIG. 4 a perspective view of the drive configuration of FIGS. 2 and 3,

[0059] FIG. 5 a top view onto the drive configuration from FIG. 4 in the direction of view orthogonal to the drive axis,

[0060] FIG. 6 a perspective view of a transmission component including driver configuration, in engagement with a driver counterpart configuration on the bearing sleeve from FIGS. 2 and 3,

[0061] FIG. 7 a top view onto the bearing sleeve transmission component from FIG. 6 in the direction of view along the vertical machine direction, orthogonal to the drive axis, and

[0062] FIG. 8 a perspective view of a connecting structure and a bearing sleeve of a second specific embodiment of the invention of an earth working machine and a support structure of the present application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0063] In FIG. 1, a first specific embodiment according to the invention of an earth working machine in the form of an earth or road milling machine is generally indicated by reference numeral 10. It comprises a machine frame 12, which forms the basic framework for a machine body 13. Machine body 13 comprises machine frame 12 and the components of machine 10 which are connected to the machine frame and are, if indicated, movable relative thereto.

[0064] Machine body 13 comprises front lifting columns 14 and rear lifting columns 16, which are connected at one end to machine frame 12 and at the other end respectively to front drive units 18 and to rear drive units 20. The distance of machine frame 12 from drive units 18 and 20 is modifiable by way of lifting columns 14 and 16.

[0065] Drive units 18 and 20 are depicted by way of example as crawler track units. In a departure therefrom, individual, or all, drive units 18 and/or 20 may also be wheel drive units.

[0066] The viewer of FIG. 1 is looking toward the earth working machine (or simply “machine”) 10 in transverse machine direction Q that is orthogonal to the drawing plane of FIG. 1. A longitudinal machine direction orthogonal to transverse machine direction Q is labeled L and extends parallel to the drawing plane of FIG. 1. A vertical machine direction H likewise extends parallel to the drawing plane of FIG. 1 and orthogonally to longitudinal and transverse machine directions L and Q. The arrowhead of longitudinal machine direction L in FIG. 1 points in the forward direction. Vertical machine direction H extends parallel to the yaw axis of machine 10, longitudinal machine direction L extends parallel to the roll axis, and transverse machine direction Q extends parallel to pitch axis Ni.

[0067] Earth working machine 10 may comprise an operator’s platform 24, from which a machine operator is able to control machine 10 via a control panel 26.

[0068] Arranged below machine frame 12 is a working assembly 28, here represented, for example, as a milling assembly 28 having a milling drum 32, accommodated in a milling drum housing 30, that is rotatable about a milling axis R extending in transverse machine direction Q so that substrate material may be removed therewith during an earth working operation, starting from contact surface AO of substrate U to a milling depth determined by the relative vertical position of machine frame 12. Milling drum 32 is therefore a working apparatus within the meaning of the present application. The milling drum housing 30 releasably connected to machine frame 12 forms a support structure within the meaning of the present invention.

[0069] The vertical adjustability of machine frame 12 by way of lifting columns 14 and 16 also serves to set the milling depth, or generally working depth, of machine 10 in the context of earth working. Earth working machine 10 depicted by way of example is a large milling machine, for which the placement of working assembly 28 between the front and rear drive units 18 and 20 in longitudinal machine direction L is typical. Large milling machines of this kind, or indeed earth-removing machines in general, usually comprise a transport belt so that removed earth material can be transported away from machine 10. In the interest of better clarity, a transport belt that is also present in principle in the case of machine 10 is not depicted in FIG. 1.

[0070] It is not apparent from the side view of FIG. 1 that machine 10 comprises, in both its front end region and its rear end region, two respective lifting columns 14 and 16 each having a drive unit 18, 20 connected to it. Front lifting columns 14 are respectively connected to drive units 18, in a manner also known per se, by a drive unit connecting structure 34, for example a connecting fork fitting around drive unit 18 in transverse machine direction Q. Rear lifting columns 16 are connected to their respective drive unit 20 via a drive unit connecting structure 36 constructed identically to drive unit connecting structure 34. Drive units 18 and 20 are of substantially identical construction, and constitute propelling unit 22 of the machine. Drive units 18 and 20 are motor-driven, normally by a hydraulic motor (not depicted).

[0071] The driving force source of machine 10 is an internal combustion engine 39 accommodated on machine frame 12. In the depicted exemplary embodiment, milling drum 32 is rotationally driven by internal combustion engine 39. The output of internal combustion engine 39 furthermore provides a hydraulic pressure reservoir on machine 10, which makes it possible to operate hydraulic motors and hydraulic actuators on the machine. Internal combustion engine 39 is thus also the source of the propulsive force of machine 10.

[0072] In the example depicted, drive unit 18, having a travel direction indicated by double arrow D, comprises a radially inner accommodation and guidance structure 38 on which a circulating drive track 40 is arranged and is guided for circulating movement.

[0073] Lifting column 14, and with it drive unit 18, is rotatable about a steering axis S by way of a steering apparatus (not further depicted). Preferably additionally, but also alternatively, lifting column 16, and with it drive unit 20, may be rotatable by way of a steering apparatus about a steering axis parallel to steering axis S.

[0074] FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal sectional view of working assembly 28 together with milling drum 32 from FIG. 1 in a sectional plane containing rotation axis R of the milling drum. FIG. 2 also shows portions of milling drum housing 30.

[0075] Milling drum 32 comprises a substantially cylindrical milling drum tube 42, on whose radially outer side bit holders or bit exchange holders 33a, having milling bits 33b exchangeably accommodated therein, are provided in a manner known per se. Of these, only one example is respectively depicted for illustration. A dot and dash line 44 indicates the effective diameter (circular cylinder section) of milling drum 32, defined by the milling bit tips of the milling bits 33b.

[0076] Working assembly 28 comprises a drive configuration 46 having an internal tube 48, a support cone 50, and part 52a, rotatable relative to machine frame 12, of a transmission housing 52. Support cone 50 and internal tube 48 are connected to one another, and are connected as an assembly to transmission housing part 52a for joint rotation about drive axis A of drive configuration 46. In the reference state of working assembly 28, drive axis A of drive configuration 46 and rotation axis R of milling drum 32 are coaxial.

[0077] In FIG. 2, working assembly 28 is in a reference state ready for rotation about drive axis A. For this purpose, milling drum 32 is connected to drive configuration 46 of working assembly 28 in torque-transmitting fashion. Milling drum 32 surrounds drive configuration 46 radially on the outside.

[0078] A planetary gear set that steps speed down and steps torque up is accommodated in a transmission housing 52. The right (in FIG. 2) part 52a of transmission housing 52, which is jointly rotatable with internal tube 48, is coupled to a ring gear of a planetary gear set for joint rotation. A left (in FIG. 2) part 52b of transmission housing 52 is a support structure-mounted and hence machine frame-mounted part of machine body 13.

[0079] Milling drum tube 42 is braced against support cone 50 of drive configuration 46 by a negatively conical counterpart support cone 51.

[0080] Drive configuration 46 is furthermore connected to a drive torque-transmitting arrangement 54 which, in the example depicted, encompasses inter alia a belt pulley 55. Belt pulley 55 is connected to an input shaft (not depicted in FIG. 2) of the planetary gear set in transmission housing 52. The input shaft, connected to belt pulley 55 for joint rotation, extends through a shaft tunnel 56 that is support structure-mounted in the exemplary embodiment depicted and is rigidly connected to transmission housing part 52b.

[0081] Together with the support structure-mounted assembly made up of transmission housing part 52b and shaft tunnel 56, drive configuration 46 forms a drive assembly 47 that protrudes axially into milling drum 32 from a drive axial end 28a of working assembly 28. Milling drum 32 preferably protrudes axially on both sides beyond drive configuration 46 as that part of drive assembly 47 which is rotatable relative to milling drum housing 30 as the support structure and hence to machine frame 12.

[0082] Drive assembly 47, and with it drive configuration 46, is supported on a first support structure area 30c of milling drum housing 30 in the area of shaft tunnel 56. More precisely, drive configuration 46 together with rotatable transmission housing part 52a is supported on machine frame-mounted transmission housing part 52b and hence on first support structure area 30c by a first rotary bearing 57 situated between rotatable transmission housing part 52a and machine frame-mounted transmission housing part 52b. First rotary bearing 57 is depicted in FIG. 2 merely by dot and dash line and symbolically. First rotary bearing 57 forms a locating bearing of drive configuration 46. The axial longitudinal end 46a, located closer to belt pulley 55, of drive configuration 46 is therefore also referred to as the locating bearing-side longitudinal end 46a.

[0083] Milling drum 32 extends axially along its rotation axis (milling axis) R, which coincides with drive axis A in the operational state, between drive axial end 28a located closer to drive torque-transmitting arrangement 54 in FIG. 2 and a retention axial end 28b of drive assembly 28, located oppositely from the drive axial end 28a. At retention axial end 28b, milling drum 32 in the reference state is retained in its position on drive configuration 46 by a central retaining bolt 78. Retaining bolt 78 is part of working assembly 28.

[0084] At the non-locating bearing-side longitudinal end 46b located axially oppositely from locating bearing-side longitudinal end 46a, drive configuration 46 comprises a support ring 58 and an end-side cover 60 connected to support ring 58 as an end face component of the present application. In the exemplary embodiment depicted, support ring 58 is connected to internal tube 48 by welding. Cover 60 may likewise be welded, or alternatively bolted, onto support ring 58. It is connected to support ring 58 and to internal tube 48 for joint rotation about drive axis A.

[0085] Support ring 58 and the radially external areas of cover 60 may be embodied in a variety of ways. Their shape is not of essential importance. It is also conceivable to omit support ring 58 and to connect cover 60 directly to internal tube 49, in particular by welding.

[0086] In the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, a hydraulic cylinder 62, which is arranged with its hydraulic cylinder axis coaxial with drive axis A of drive configuration 46, is accommodated in interior 49 of drive configuration 46. Hydraulic cylinder 62 may be supplied with hydraulic fluid by way of a hydraulic connector line 64 through an energy passthrough opening 66 in cover 60.

[0087] Hydraulic connector line 64 ends, at its longitudinal end located remotely from hydraulic cylinder 62, in a coupling configuration 68 that is connectable, in order to supply hydraulic cylinder 62, to a counterpart coupling configuration of a supply line (not depicted) so that piston rod 63 may be extended from hydraulic cylinder 62 and retracted back into it. Two hydraulic connector lines 64 may be provided in order to operate a preferred double-acting hydraulic cylinder, one for each movement direction of piston rod 63.

[0088] After the central retaining bolt 78 provided for axial positional retention of milling drum 32 on drive configuration 46 has been released, using piston rod 63 milling drum 32 may be axially pushed away from drive configuration 46 for deinstallation or pulled onto drive configuration 46 for installation.

[0089] A connecting ring 70 is arranged radially internally on milling drum tube 42 in a region located closer to retention axial end 28b, and is connected, by way of a welded joint in the example depicted, to milling drum tube 42 for joint rotation.

[0090] In the exemplary embodiment, milling drum tube 42 is rigidly connected to a connecting flange 74 via connecting ring 70 by threaded bolts 72. Connecting ring 70 and connecting flange 74 together form a connecting structure 73 of milling drum 32 mentioned in the introductory part of the specification.

[0091] Provided on connecting flange 74, bolted or welded thereto or preferably formed in one piece with connecting flange 74, is a bearing stem 74a which, starting from a connecting region of connecting flange 74 with connecting tube 70, protrudes axially toward retention axial end 28b, or away from drive axial end 28a.

[0092] Deviating from the depicted exemplary embodiment, if dimensioned accordingly, the connecting flange may be connected, in particular welded, directly to the milling drum tube without a connecting ring.

[0093] Additionally or alternatively, deviating from the depicted exemplary embodiment, the bearing stem may be formed separately from the connecting flange and be attached to the latter, in particular releasably bolted to it.

[0094] In the operational state of milling drum 32, a second rotary bearing 76 supporting drive configuration 46 for rotation about drive axis A is situated on bearing stem 74a for the formation of a non-locating bearing of the rotary bearing. In the depicted exemplary embodiment, both rotary bearings 57 and 76 are designed as roller bearings.

[0095] Together with bearing stem 74a and a bearing sleeve 86 situated on the inner ring of second rotary bearing 76, second rotary bearing 76 is part of a rotary bearing arrangement 77. Bearing stem 74a is an assembly-side bearing configuration and bearing sleeve 86 is a structure-side bearing configuration of rotary bearing arrangement 77. Together with bearing sleeve 86, second rotary bearing 76 forms a rotary bearing assembly 85 that is only movable jointly in normal operation.

[0096] Second rotary bearing 76 may be accommodated for example in a side panel or side door 30a (see FIG. 3) as a second support structure area. Side door 30a is part of milling drum housing 30 and is end-located axially oppositely from milling drum 32 at retention axial end 28b. FIG. 2 shows only one component 30b, rigidly connected to such a side door 30a as the second support structure area, as a bearing surface for the outer bearing ring of second rotary bearing 76.

[0097] Side door 30a is preferably provided pivotably on machine frame 12 so that drive configuration 46 and/or milling drum 32 in the interior of milling drum housing 30 may be made accessible by simply pivoting open and closed. Side door 30a is preferably pivotable about a pivot axis parallel to vertical machine direction H, since the pivoting of side door 30a then does not need to occur against gravity in any pivoting direction. Rotary bearing assembly 85 is preferably supported on side door 30a in such a way that rotary bearing assembly 85 is pivotable together with side door 30a. Opening side door 30a causes rotary bearing assembly 85, that is, second rotary bearing 76 together with bearing sleeve 86, to be pulled axially off bearing stem 74a.

[0098] Preferably, the distance of the side door pivot axis from side door 30a is greater than the radius of the circular cylinder section of milling drum 32 shown in FIG. 2, so that the circular path of rotary bearing assembly 85 when pivoting together with side door 30a has the largest possible radius and thus the least possible curvature. This makes it easier to pull rotary bearing assembly 85 off bearing stem 74a and to slide rotary bearing assembly 85 onto bearing stem 74a.

[0099] In FIG. 3, support ring 58, cover 60, and connecting flange 74 have shapes that deviate slightly from the depiction in FIG. 2. The shapes of the aforementioned components do not, however, differ sufficiently from the depiction in FIG. 2 for those differences to have an influence on the implementation of the present invention.

[0100] Hydraulic cylinder 62, with its piston rod 63, is omitted from FIG. 3 for the sake of clarity. Threaded bolts 72 for connecting connecting flange 74 to connecting ring 70 are also not depicted for the sake of clarity.

[0101] Embodied on cover 60, preferably in one piece therewith, is a centering configuration 60a in the form of a centering stem which protrudes from cover 60, in a direction away from the locating bearing-side longitudinal end 46a of drive configuration 46, or from drive axial end 28a of working assembly 28, toward second support structure area 30a. Centering stem 60a protrudes into a counterpart centering configuration 74b, embodied as a centering recess, on connecting flange 74, and thereby centers milling drum tube 42, connected rigidly to connecting flange 74, with respect to drive axis A. Cover 60 comprises a central recess 60b, passing axially through it, through which piston rod 63 in FIG. 2 is able to pass axially.

[0102] Milling drum 32 is thus braced against counterpart support cone 51 and on connecting flange 74 coaxially to drive axis A against drive configuration 46.

[0103] At the end region of centering stem 60a facing toward retention axial end 28b, recess 60b in centering stem 60a is provided with an internal thread into which the central retaining bolt 78 is threaded.

[0104] In an alternative embodiment, centering stem 60a is able to pass through connecting flange 74 and protrude axially from cover 60 of drive configuration 46. Centering stem 60a would then be the assembly-side bearing configuration.

[0105] A bolt head 78b clamps bearing stem 74a, and with it connecting flange 74 and with that in turn connecting ring 70 and milling drum tube 42, axially against support cone 50 of drive configuration 46.

[0106] When milling drum 32 is arranged axially at a distance from its operating position but still with a certain prepositioning, for example such that the longitudinal end of centering stem 60a, which is located remotely from support ring 58, is already projecting into centering recess 74b of connecting flange 74, it is thus possible to move milling drum 32 with central retaining bolt 78 axially into its operating position. Care must simply be taken that transmission components 80 in the exemplary shape of pins provided on cover 60 at a radial distance from drive axis A are able to travel into recesses 74c, provided for this purpose, of connecting flange 74, so as thereby to couple cover 60 to connecting flange 74 in order to transmit torque between drive configuration 46 and milling drum 32.

[0107] As an alternative to pulling or clamping milling drum 32 onto drive configuration 46 using retaining bolt 78, milling drum 32 can also be slid through the pivotable side door 30a onto drive configuration 46. During this sliding-on operation, not only is counterpart centering configuration 74b slid onto centering stem 60a, but rotary bearing assembly 85 is preferably also slid onto bearing stem 74a.

[0108] In order to facilitate the conveying, described in the preceding paragraph, of milling drum 32 into an operational position simply by pivoting side door 30a into its closed position shown in FIG. 3, in which it closes off milling drum housing 30, earth working machine 10 preferably comprises an actuator that assists the pivoting of side door 30a at least in one movement direction, and at least in a movement range including the closed position. Particularly preferably, this is a final movement range when moving side door 30a into the closed position. The force needed in order to slide milling drum 32 onto drive configuration 46, and also the force needed to slide rotary bearing assembly 85 onto bearing stem 74a, may thus be applied entirely or at least partly by the actuator. Such an actuator may comprise, for example, one or several piston-cylinder arrangements. The cylinder is preferably pivot-mounted on machine frame 12. When side door 30a has been brought sufficiently close to an engagement configuration of the piston rod with the piston rod extended, side door 30a may be brought into engagement with the engagement configuration of the piston rod, preferably into a positive engagement transferring a particularly large amount of force, so that the one or several piston-cylinder arrangements may then at least assist, preferably independently execute, the remainder of the closing movement of side door 30a.

[0109] Preferably the actuator is also able to assist or in fact execute the pivoting movement of side door 30a together with rotary bearing assembly 85 in an initial movement range of the pivoting movement of side door 30a out of the closed position toward the access position, the range over which rotary bearing assembly 85 is pulled off bearing stem 74a. Alternatively or additionally, the actuator may also be an electromechanical actuator.

[0110] FIG. 4 shows the non-locating bearing-side longitudinal end 46b and an adjacent section of internal tube 48 of drive configuration 46 in a perspective view. The hydraulic coupling configuration 68 shown in FIG. 2 is not depicted in FIG. 4 on end face 60c for the sake of better clarity.

[0111] The viewer of FIG. 4 looks onto end face 60c of cover 60, from the center of which centering stem 60a protrudes and which is surrounded at a radial distance in exemplary fashion by three transmission components 80 equidistant from one another in the circumferential direction. The upper (in FIG. 3) transmission component is designed having a driver configuration 88 on its freely protruding longitudinal end located remotely from end face 60c. In the depicted example, only this upper transmission component 80′ is designed having a driver configuration 88, which is why for differentiation from the remaining two transmission components 80 it is designated by an apostrophe as transmission component 80′.

[0112] All transmission components 80 and 80′ are fastened on cover 60 by a bolt 80a passing through them centrally. While a collar 80b surrounding the head of bolt 80a of unmodified transmission components 80 ends with an end face orthogonal to drive axis A, the transmission component 80′ comprising driver configuration 88 protrudes axially further from end face 60c, a circumferential section of collar 80b′ surrounding fastening bolt 80a being developed as driver configuration 88 (see also FIG. 5).

[0113] For earth-removing work, the rotary drive described above is able to drive drive configuration 46 to rotate in only one direction of rotation, which is the first circumferential direction indicated in FIG. 4 by U1. Driver configuration 88 has a driver surface 88a, in the depicted example a flat driver surface 88a, which faces into the first circumferential direction U1. The flat driver surface 88a preferably lies in a plane containing drive axis A.

[0114] In an opposite second circumferential direction U2, starting from driver surface 88a, an alignment surface 88b extends facing mainly in the axial direction, which, as shown in FIG. 7, is inclined with respect to a reference plane BE orthogonal to drive axis A in such a way that with increasing distance from driver surface 88a it axially approaches in second circumferential direction U2 the drive axial end 28a of working assembly 28 or likewise the locating bearing-side longitudinal end 46a of drive configuration 46.

[0115] FIGS. 6 and 7 show a torque-transmitting engagement of driver configuration 88 with a driver counterpart configuration 90 on bearing sleeve 86. In order to be able to show the engagement of driver configuration 88 and driver counterpart configuration 90 as clearly as possible, FIGS. 6 and 7 show only the transmission component 80′ comprising driver configuration 88, its fastening bolt 80a, driver counterpart configuration 90 and bearing sleeve 86 supporting the latter. In the context of the previously explained FIGS. 2 through 5 it is clear, however, how the components depicted in FIGS. 6 and 7 are arranged on milling drum housing 30 or on road milling machine 10.

[0116] Driver counterpart configuration 90 has a, preferably again flat, driver counterpart surface 90a facing in the second circumferential direction U2, which is in torque-transmitting abutting engagement with driver surface 88a. Starting from driver counterpart surface 90a, an alignment counterpart surface 90b, likewise facing mainly in the axial direction, extends in the first circumferential direction U1, which, as is likewise seen in FIG. 7, is inclined with respect to reference plane BE in such a way that with increasing distance from driver counterpart surface 90a it axially recedes in second circumferential direction U2 from axial drive end 28a of working assembly 28 as well as from locating bearing-side longitudinal end 46a of drive assembly 46.

[0117] As driver surface 88a and driver counterpart surface 90a both point in the circumferential direction, but both in opposite circumferential directions U1 and U2, respectively, alignment surface 88b and alignment counterpart surface 90b both point in axial directions, but in opposite axial directions A1 and A2, respectively (see FIG. 7).

[0118] The functional surfaces of driver counterpart configuration 90, the driver counterpart surface 90a and the alignment counterpart surface 90b, are formed on a projection component 90c, which is inserted as a separate component into a depression 90d in bearing sleeve 86 and is there releasably fastened, for example by three bolts. Depression 90d is a functional component of driver counterpart configuration 90.

[0119] The torque transmitted from driver configuration 88 to driver counterpart configuration 90 may be transmitted both via the fastening bolts of projection component 90c as well as via the flanks of depression 90d from projection component 90c to bearing sleeve 86 and thereby to rotary bearing assembly 85. Furthermore, depression 90d is able to provide a plane fastening surface for situating projection component 90c.

[0120] In principle, projection component 90c may also be welded to bearing sleeve 86. A releasable attachment, however, is preferable for exchanging worn projection components. Likewise, in the event of excessive wear, transmission component 80′ may be replaced quickly, simply and safely with an unworn transmission component 80′ by releasing its sole fastening bolt 80a.

[0121] The flat driver counterpart surface 90a is also preferably situated in a plane containing drive axis A.

[0122] Furthermore, as seen in FIG. 7, alignment surface 88b and alignment counterpart surface 90b are inclined in terms of absolute value by approximately the same angle α and β, respectively, with respect to reference plane BE so that these surfaces, when making contact with one another, abut in planar fashion against one another and are parallel or coplanar.

[0123] Angles α and β are respectively at least 25°, preferably at least 30°, in order to avoid self-locking in the event that alignment surface 88b and alignment counterpart surface 90b abut against one another and to ensure that if driver configuration 88 and driver counterpart configuration 90, in an attempt to establish the reference state described above and shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, not only overlap one another in the circumferential direction, but have force applied in the axial direction upon one another, are driven by this axial force on the abutting engagement of alignment surface 88b and alignment counterpart surface 90b to perform a relative rotation and are able to slide past one another during an axial approach movement. This prevents damage to driver configuration 88 and to driver counterpart configuration 90 in the event of a collision.

[0124] FIG. 7 shows with reference character 92 the movement space of driver surface 88a and with reference character 94 the movement space of driver counterpart surface 90a. These are the spaces 92 and 94 through which the associated surfaces 88a and 90a move during a rotation about drive axis A. The overlapping region jointly occupied by the two movement spaces 92 and 94, in which movement spaces 92 and 94 overlap, is shown in FIG. 7 sectionally in hatched fashion and is indicated by reference character 96. Due to this overlapping region 96, driver surface 88a comes into abutting engagement with driver counterpart surface 90a even when the two surfaces immediately following the establishment of the reference state are situated in the circumferential direction about drive axis A at a distance from one another and a relative rotation occurs between bearing stem 74a and the bearing sleeve 86 about drive axis A during a working operation. On account of alignment surface 88b and alignment counterpart surface 90b, however, such a relative rotation between bearing stem 74a and bearing sleeve 86 cannot even amount to one revolution.

[0125] Deviating from the merely exemplary depiction in FIGS. 4 through 7, driver configuration 88 may be situated on the milling drum, preferably on connecting structure 73. For example, the driver configuration may be situated on the connecting flange, for example in a depression, preferably in releasable fashion. Such a second specific embodiment is shown in FIG. 8. Components and component portions identical and functionally identical to those in the first specific embodiment are labeled in the second specific embodiment with the same reference characters but incremented by 100. The second specific embodiment is explained below only insofar as it differs from the first specific embodiment.

[0126] In the second specific embodiment shown in FIG. 8, driver configuration 188 is situated on connecting structure 173. In connecting structure 173, bearing stem is designed as an extra component separate from connecting flange 174. The extra bearing stem component and the bearing stem itself are concealed by bearing sleeve 186 in FIG. 8.

[0127] Driver configuration 188 comprises a projection component 188c, on which driver surface 188a and alignment surface 188b are developed and oriented in the manner described above, and which is inserted into a depression 188d of driver configuration 188 and is there fixated by bolts in a manner designed to be releasable. Depression 188d is formed in an end face of connecting flange 174.

[0128] Driver counterpart configuration 190 corresponds to driver counterpart configuration 90 of the first specific embodiment. Optionally, projection components 90c and 188c may be identical so that it is only necessary to produce a single type of projection component for forming an engagement assembly comprising a driver configuration and a driver counterpart configuration.

[0129] The remainder of the earth working machine of the second specific embodiment is unchanged compared to the one shown in FIG. 1.