PAVER WITH RELEASABLE CONTROL PANEL HAVING AN EMERGENCY STOP SWITCH

Abstract

A road building machine for laying asphalt with a control switch (40) which is interconnected in an emergency stop circuitry (100), wherein said control switch is arranged at the paver outside from a detachable second control panel (120), wherein said control switch (40) is connected in a functional parallel electrical arrangement with a second electric emergency stop switch (20) if the detachable second control panel (120) is electrically connected to an electronic control circuit, wherein said control switch (40) is actuated by a switch function activated by said electrical coupling of said detachable second control panel (120) to said electronic control circuit such that if said detachable second control panel (120) is electrically connected to said electronic control circuit, said control switch (40) is actuated to be open, such that the emergency stop circuitry (100) is closed or open via said first or said second electric emergency stop switch (10, 20).

Claims

1. A road building machine like a paver for laying asphalt, comprising an electronic control circuit for controlling at least one actuator for driving said paver and/or handling a building material within said paver, said electronic control circuit comprising an emergency stop circuitry adapted to provide an electrical emergency signal effective for controlling an emergency safe state like a shutoff of at least one of said actuators, preferably of all actuators, wherein said emergency stop circuitry is adapted to supply said emergency signal in a closed circuit condition for driving said actuator(s) and to interrupt said supply of said emergency signal to effect a safe state of at least one of said actuators of the paver in an open circuit condition, a first control panel mounted to the paver and comprising a plurality of electronic control switches electrically connected to said electronic control circuit, said first control panel further comprising a first electric emergency stop switch interconnected in the emergency stop circuitry, wherein in a first condition the first electric emergency stop switch closes the emergency stop circuitry and in a second condition the first electric emergency stop switch opens the emergency stop circuitry, a detachable second control panel detachably coupled for electric signal transmission to the electronic control circuit and preferably being detachably mounted to the paver, said detachable second control panel comprising a second electric emergency stop switch arranged at the detachable second control panel and interconnected in the emergency stop circuitry if the detachable second control panel is electrically connected to the electronic control circuit, wherein in a first condition the second electric emergency stop switch closes the emergency stop circuitry and in a second condition the second electric emergency stop switch opens the emergency stop circuitry, said detachable second control panel preferably further comprising a plurality of second electronic control switches electrically connected to said electronic control circuit, wherein said first electric emergency stop switch and said second electric emergency stop switch are functionally connected to said emergency stop circuitry to effect said opening of said emergency stop circuitry with a logical ‘OR’ function such that said emergency stop circuitry is open if any or both of the first electric emergency stop switch and the second electric emergency stop switch is in the second condition, the detachable second control panel is adapted to be either mounted to the paver and electrically connected to said electronic control circuit including said emergency stop circuitry or to be demounted from the paver with said detachable second control panel being electrically disconnected from said electronic control circuit and said emergency stop circuitry, characterized in that said emergency stop circuitry comprises a control switch which is interconnected in the emergency stop circuitry, wherein said control switch is arranged at the paver outside from said detachable second control panel, wherein said control switch is connected in a functional parallel electrical arrangement with the second electric emergency stop switch if the detachable second control panel is electrically connected to the electronic control circuit, wherein said control switch is adapted to be actuated by a switch function preferably activated by said electrical coupling of said detachable second control panel to said electronic control circuit such that if said detachable second control panel is electrically connected to said electronic control circuit, said control switch is actuated into a first condition wherein said control switch is open, such that the emergency stop circuitry is closed or opened via said first or said second electric emergency stop switch, and if said detachable second control panel is electrically disconnected from said electronic control circuit, said control switch is actuated into a second condition wherein said control switch is closed, such that the emergency stop circuitry is closed or opened via said first electric emergency stop switch.

2. The road building machine according to claim 1, wherein if the detachable second control panel is electrically connected to said electronic control circuit, the control switch and the second electric emergency stop switch are functionally connected to the emergency stop circuitry to effect said opening of said emergency stop circuitry with a logical ‘AND’ function, such that said emergency stop circuitry is open if both of said control switch and the second electric emergency stop switch are in the open condition.

3. The road building machine according to claim 1, wherein the emergency stop circuitry provides an emergency stop signal to an emergency stop control unit adapted to effect said emergency safe state depending on said emergency signal, wherein said emergency signal preferably is a binary ON/OFF-signal depending from the emergency stop circuitry being open or closed.

4. The road building machine according to claim 1, wherein the second control panel is mechanically detachably mounted to the paver and electrically detachably connected for electric signal transmission to the electronic control circuit, or a remote control panel detachably connected for electric signal transmission to the electronic control circuit including said emergency stop circuitry via wireless signal transmission.

5. The road building machine according to claim 1, wherein if the detachable second control panel is electrically connected to said electronic control circuit, the control switch is adapted to automatically switch in the first, open condition, and if the detachable second control panel is electrically disconnected from said electronic control circuit, the control switch is adapted to automatically switch in the second, closed condition to close said emergency stop circuitry.

6. The road building machine according to claim 1, wherein if the detachable second control panel is electrically connected to said electronic control circuit, a relay supply circuit is closed to supply a magnetic coil of a relay with electric current, wherein said relay actuates the control switch to automatically switch in the first, open condition, and if the detachable second control panel is electrically disconnected from said electronic control circuit, the relay supply circuit is open so that said magnetic coil of said relay is not supplied with electric current and the control switch is adapted to automatically switch in the second, closed condition.

7. The road building machine according to claim 1, wherein mounting the detachable second control panel to the paver and/or electrically coupling said detachable second control panel to the electronic control circuit actuates both the control switch to switch in the first, open condition, and an energy supply switch to activate an electrical energy supply for the detachable second control panel.

8. The road building machine according to claim 1, wherein the electronic control circuit is provided with electrical energy in an open circuit condition of the emergency stop circuitry.

9. The road building machine according to claim 1, wherein the control switch and the energy supply switch are actuated synchronously.

10. The road building machine according to claim 6, wherein if the relay is supplied with electrical energy, the relay effects switching of both the control switch and the energy supply switch, wherein the control switch and the energy supply switch are preferably integrated in one device, such as a double-switch relay.

11. The road building machine according to claim 6, wherein the magnetic coil of the relay is activated by a connection to an activation bridge, said activation bridge preferably being integrated in the detachable second control panel.

12. The road building machine according to claim 6, wherein the relay is activated and/or deactivated manually or the relay is activated and/or deactivated by a programmable control unit.

13. The road building machine according to claim 6, wherein electrically disconnecting the detachable second control panel from the paver and/or electrically disconnecting the second emergency stop switch from the electronic control circuit deactivates the relay so that the control switch is switched in the closed condition and the energy supply is switch in the open condition.

14. The road building machine according to claim 1, wherein the detachable second control panel is located near a screed of the paver.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0048] With reference to the appended drawings, below follows a more detailed description of embodiments of the invention cited as examples.

[0049] In the drawings:

[0050] FIG. 1 is a rear view of a paver showing the first control panel in the main control stand and two detachable control panels at the rear sides of the paver,

[0051] FIG. 2a is a schematic front view of a detachable control panel showing the control switches for various actuators, the emergency stop switch,

[0052] FIG. 2b is a schematic back view of a detachable control panel showing the releasable coupling and the releasable electrical connection of the control unit,

[0053] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an emergency stop circuitry for a paver with connected detachable control panel, and

[0054] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an emergency stop circuitry for a paver with disconnected detachable control panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0055] FIG. 1 shows a rear view of a paver 1 with a first control panel 110 and a first electric emergency stop switch 10 located in the main control stand of the paver. The first control panel 110 is fixed to the paver 1. Two detachable control panels 120, 125 are attached to the screed 3 at the rear side of the paver and located at the left and the right side of the screed 3. The screed 3 is in contact with the paving material 9 and during paving the screed is in a floating condition. The detachable seco7nd control panel 120 comprises a second electric emergency stop switch 20. The detachable third control panel 125 comprises a third electric emergency stop switch 25. Either of the detachable control panels can be demounted and electrically disconnected from the paver.

[0056] FIG. 2a schematically shows a detachable control panel 120 comprising an electric emergency stop switch 20, a display 21 for showing parameters concerning the paving process, and several control switches 22a, 22b, 22c, . . . for controlling and changing different parameters of the paving process via controlling various actuators. FIG. 2b schematically shows the rear side of a detachable control panel 120 comprising elements for mechanical connection 24a, 24b, 24c, which are configured for attaching the detachable control panel to the paver. Further, an activation bridge 128 is arranged on the rear side of the detachable control panel 120. Said activation bridge serves to activate a relay which may close or open the emergency stop circuitry.

[0057] FIG. 3 schematically shows an emergency stop circuitry 100 of a paver and a first control panel 110 with a first electric emergency stop switch 10 connected to said emergency stop circuitry 100. The emergency stop circuitry 100 is part of an electronic control circuit. The electronic control circuit is adapted for controlling a plurality of actuators, namely a first actuator for driving the paver and a second actuator for conveying a building material, such as asphalt, concrete or another paving material. The emergency stop circuitry 100 is adapted to provide an electrical emergency stop signal to the electronic control circuit. The electronic control circuit is adapted to analyze said emergency stop signal and to control the supply of electrical energy to these actuators or to directly control said actuator such that a shutoff of said actuators is effected depending on the status of said emergency stop signal. This is a sort of indirect emergency stop signal transmission.

[0058] Furthermore or alternatively the emergency stop circuitry 100 may be configured for directly interrupting specific or all functions of the paver when the emergency stop circuitry 100 is interrupted.

[0059] The first electric emergency stop switch 10 can be either closed (i.e. in a first condition) or open (i.e. in a second condition), wherein in the second condition the emergency stop circuitry 100 is interrupted. This is achieved by a user of the first control panel 110 pushing the first emergency stop switch 10. This first control panel 110 comprises a plurality of electronic control switches that are connected to the electronic control circuit.

[0060] Furthermore, in FIG. 3 a detachable second control panel 120 is connected to the emergency stop circuitry 100 via a second electric emergency stop switch 20. The second electric emergency stop switch 20 can be either closed (in a first condition) or open (in a second condition), wherein in the second condition the emergency stop circuitry 100 is interrupted. This is achieved by a user of the detachable second control panel 120 pushing the second electric emergency stop switch 20.

[0061] The first electric emergency stop switch 10 and the second electric emergency stop switch 20 are connected in series. This means that they are functionally connected to the emergency stop circuitry 100 to effect an opening of the emergency stop circuitry with a logical ‘OR’ function. Hence, the emergency stop circuitry is interrupted if one of these switches is in the second condition or if both of these switches are in the second condition.

[0062] The control switch 40 is connected in parallel to the second electric emergency stop switch 20. This means that they are functionally connected to the emergency stop circuitry 100 to effect an opening of the emergency stop circuitry 100 with a logical ‘AND’ function and to effect a closing of the emergency stop circuitry 100 with a logical ‘OR’ function. Hence, the emergency stop circuitry is interrupted if both of these switches are in the open condition and is closed if any of these switches is in the closed condition. Within the condition shown in FIG. 3, the control switch 40 is in an open position because the second electric emergency stop switch 20 is connected to the emergency stop circuitry.

[0063] The detachable second control panel 120 further comprises an activation bridge 128 which connects a magnetic coil 50 of a relay to the electronic control circuit via a relay supply circuit 51. The relay has two switches, namely a first load switch 40, which is the control switch connected to the emergency stop circuitry and a second load switch 30, which is an energy supply switch for activating energy supply to the detachable control panel. The first load switch is an NCC and the second load switch is an NOC as shown in FIG. 4 showing the relay condition with no energy supplied to the magnetic coil.

[0064] In this setup, the relay 30, 40, 50 is supplied with current to its control terminals (i.e. terminals 85, 86 according to DIN 72552) and both the control switch 40 to be in an open position and the energy supply switch 30 to be in a closed position are activated synchronously as the two switches of the relay in the first condition if the magnetic coil is supplied with energy. The dotted lines in FIG. 3 schematically show the magnetic relation from the coil 50 to the two switches 30, 40 of the relay.

[0065] The energy supply switch 30 is electrically connected to the detachable second control panel 120 via a specific connection point 127. The closed position of the energy supply switch 30 allows for the detachable second control panel 120 to be supplied with energy. The open position of the control switch 40 allows for the second electric emergency stop switch 20 to interrupt the emergency stop circuitry 100 if it is pushed by a user.

[0066] FIG. 4 shows the emergency stop circuitry 100 of a paver with the detachable second control panel being electrically disconnected such that the second electric emergency stop switch is electrically disconnected from the emergency stop circuitry 100 like this will occur with the detachable control panel being electrically disconnected.

[0067] Now, the magnetic coil 50 of the relay is not supplied with energy because the activation bridge has been removed by removing the detachable control panel. Therefore, the relay is in its non-actuated normal position with the energy supply switch 30 being in an open-condition and the control switch 40 being in a closed position to close the emergency stop circuitry 100. The control switch and the energy supply switch take these positions automatically when the detachable second control panel is electrically disconnected for being removed. In this case, in the section of the emergency stop circuitry 100 shown here, the first control panel 110 with the first electric emergency stop switch 10 is still connected to the emergency stop circuitry 100 and thus only the first electric emergency stop switch 10 may be pushed by a user to interrupt the emergency stop circuitry 100 and to effect a shutoff.

[0068] If the detachable second control panel would be electrically connected to the paver again, the condition of FIG. 3 would automatically be set because the relay 50 would be supplied with energy again and an actuation of the control switch into an open position and an actuation of the energy supply switch into a closed position would occur.

[0069] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings; rather, the skilled person will recognize that many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims.