Construction machine, in particular road milling machine, recycler or stabilizer, as well as drive train for construction machines of this type

Abstract

A construction machine, in particular road milling machine, recycler or stabilizer, with a machine frame (4) that is carried by a chassis (2) with a working drum (6) and a drive train (8) comprising at the least a drive engine (10), a traction mechanism (12) for the mechanical drive of the working drum (6) with a drive element, an output element and a traction element (30), a device (14) for switching the torque between the drive engine (10) and working drum (6), and device (16) for driving at least one hydraulic pump; it is provided that elements of the drive train (8) are divided into at least two groups, the first group (3) shows at least the drive engine (10), the second group (5) shows at least the drive element (11) of the traction mechanism, and where the first and the second groups (3, 5) are connected to one another via an articulated coupling device (20).

Claims

1. A method of operating a construction machine, the construction machine including a machine frame carried by a chassis, a working drum, and a drive train, the drive train including at least a drive engine component, .[.a traction drive component for driving the working drum,.]. a clutch component, .[.and.]. a hydraulic pump drive component, .Iadd.and a traction drive for driving the working drum including a drive pulley, a driven pulley attached to the working drum, and a drive belt connecting the pulleys, .Iaddend.the method comprising: (a) driving a subset of the components of the drive train from the drive engine component with an articulated coupling connected between the drive engine component and the subset of the components, the subset including at least .Iadd.the drive pulley of .Iaddend.the traction drive .[.component for driving the working drum.]..Iadd., the clutch component and the hydraulic pump drive component, with the clutch component being located between the hydraulic pump drive component and the drive pulley.Iaddend.; (b) supporting the drive engine component from the machine frame elastically with a first spring stiffness; and (c) supporting the subset of the components from the machine frame .Iadd.in a rigid manner or .Iaddend.with a second spring stiffness.[., the second spring stiffness.]. being relatively higher than the first spring stiffness.Iadd.; wherein the drive engine component has an output axis aligned with an input axis of the hydraulic pump drive component and with an input axis of the drive pulley prior to operation of the construction machine; and wherein in step (a) the articulated coupling accommodates a lack of alignment between the output axis of the drive engine component and the input axes of the hydraulic pump drive component and the drive pulley due to dynamic movement of the drive engine component relative to the subset of the components during operation of the construction machine.Iaddend..

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: in step (a), accommodating movement of the drive engine component relative to the subset of the components of the drive train by articulation of the articulated coupling.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein: step (c) further comprises rigidly supporting the subset of the components from the machine frame.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein: in step (a) the articulated coupling is torsionally rigid.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein: in step (a), the articulated coupling comprises a cardan shaft.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein: in step (a), the articulated coupling is torsionally flexible.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein: in step (a), the articulated coupling comprises an elastomeric coupling.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein: in step (a).[., the subset of the components further includes the clutch component, and the hydraulic pump drive component, and wherein.]. .Iadd.the drive pulley of .Iaddend.the traction drive .[.component.]., the clutch component and the hydraulic pump drive component are jointly supported as a combined subset entity; and step (c) further comprises supporting the combined subset entity from the frame .Iadd.in the rigid manner or .Iaddend.with the second spring stiffness.

.[.9. The method of claim 1, wherein: in step (a), the subset of the components of the drive train further includes the clutch component and the hydraulic pump drive component, with the clutch component being located between the hydraulic pump drive component and the traction drive component..].

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising: operating the clutch component and thereby switching on and off .[.the.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.torque from the drive engine component to the working drum.

.[.11. The method of claim 1, wherein: in step (a), the clutch component is connected to the drive engine component, and the articulated coupling is located between the clutch component and the subset of the components of the drive train..].

12. .[.The method of claim 1, wherein:.]. .Iadd.A method of operating a construction machine, the construction machine including a machine frame carried by a chassis, a working drum, and a drive train, the drive train including at least a drive engine component, a clutch component, a hydraulic pump drive component, and a traction drive for driving the working drum including a drive pulley, a driven pulley attached to the working drum, and a drive belt connecting the pulleys, the method comprising: (a) driving a subset of the components of the drive train from the drive engine component with an articulated coupling connected between the drive engine component and the subset of the components, the subset including at least the drive pulley of the traction drive and the clutch component; (b) supporting the drive engine component from the machine frame elastically with a first spring stiffness; and (c) supporting the subset of the components from the machine frame in a rigid manner or with a second spring stiffness being relatively higher than the first spring stiffness; wherein the drive engine component has an output axis aligned with an input axis of the clutch component and with an input axis of the drive pulley prior to operation of the construction machine; wherein .Iaddend.in step (a), .[.the subset of the components of the drive train further includes the clutch component, and.]. the articulated coupling is connected between the hydraulic pump drive component and the subset of the components.Iadd.; and wherein in step (a) the articulated coupling accommodates a lack of alignment between the output axis of the drive engine component and the input axes of the clutch component and the drive pulley due to dynamic movement of the drive engine component relative to the subset of the components during operation of the construction machine.Iaddend..

.[.13. The method of claim 1, wherein: the traction drive component includes a drive pulley, a driven pulley attached to the work drum, and a drive belt connecting the pulleys..].

14. A construction machine, comprising: a machine frame carried by a chassis; a working drum; a drive train including at least the following elements: a drive engine; a traction drive assembly for mechanically driving the working drum, the traction drive assembly including a drive .[.element.]. .Iadd.pulley.Iaddend., .[.an output element.]. .Iadd.a driven pulley.Iaddend., and a .[.traction element.]. .Iadd.drive belt connecting the pulleys.Iaddend.; a clutch for switching .[.the.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.torque between the drive engine and the working drum; and a hydraulic pump drive; and wherein the elements of the drive train are divided into at least a first subset and a second subset; and wherein the drive train further includes an articulated coupling connecting the first subset to the second subset; and wherein the first subset includes at least the drive engine; and wherein the second subset includes .[.at least one element selected from the group consisting of.].: the hydraulic pump drive; the clutch; and the drive .[.element.]. .Iadd.pulley .Iaddend.of the traction drive assembly; and wherein the first subset is attached to the machine frame elastically with a lower spring stiffness so that transmission of vibrations to the machine frame is reduced, and the second subset is attached to the machine frame with a higher spring stiffness or in a rigid manner.Iadd.; wherein the clutch is connected between the hydraulic pump drive and the drive pulley; wherein the drive engine has an output axis aligned with an input axis of the hydraulic pump drive and with an input axis of the drive pulley prior to operation of the construction machine; and wherein the articulated coupling accommodates a lack of alignment between the output axis of the drive engine and the input axes of the hydraulic pump drive and the drive pulley due to dynamic movement of the first subset relative to the second subset during operation of the construction machine.Iaddend..

.[.15. The construction machine of claim 14, where: the second subset includes the hydraulic pump drive, the clutch, and the drive element of the traction drive assembly; and the clutch is connected between the hydraulic pump drive and the drive element of the traction drive assembly..].

16. The construction machine of claim 14, wherein the articulated coupling is torsionally rigid.

17. The construction machine of claim 14, wherein the articulated coupling includes a cardan shaft.

18. The construction machine of claim 14, wherein the articulated coupling is torsionally flexible.

19. The construction machine of claim 18, wherein the articulated coupling comprises an elastomeric coupling.

.[.20. The construction of claim 14, wherein: the first subset further includes the clutch..].

.[.21. The construction machine of claim 14, wherein: the hydraulic pump drive includes: a gearbox casing having an outer circumference and having an interior space; and a plurality of hydraulic pumps arranged radially outward from the interior space so that the interior space is free from hydraulic pumps, the pumps projecting from the gearbox casing and pointing either towards or away from the drive engine; and the articulated coupling extends into the interior space of the gearbox casing..].

.Iadd.22. The method of claim 1, wherein: in step (a) the drive pulley, the clutch component and the hydraulic pump drive component are jointly supported as a combined subset entity; and step (c) further comprises supporting the combined subset entity from the frame with the second spring stiffness. .Iaddend.

.Iadd.23. The method of claim 1, wherein: in step (a), the articulated coupling is torsionally flexible and includes an elastomeric coupling; in step (a) the drive pulley, the clutch component and the hydraulic pump drive component are jointly supported as a combined subset entity; and step (c) further comprises rigidly supporting the combined subset entity from the frame. .Iaddend.

.Iadd.24. The method of claim 23, wherein: the construction machine is a road milling machine. .Iaddend.

.Iadd.25. The construction machine of claim 14, wherein: the drive pulley, the clutch and the hydraulic pump drive are jointly supported as a combined subset entity; and the combined subset entity is attached to the machine frame with the higher spring stiffness or in a rigid manner. .Iaddend.

.Iadd.26. The construction machine of claim 25, wherein: the articulated coupling is torsionally flexible and comprises an elastomeric coupling. .Iaddend.

.Iadd.27. The construction machine of claim 25, wherein: the combined subset entity is rigidly attached to the machine frame. .Iaddend.

.Iadd.28. The construction machine of claim 14, wherein: the second subset is rigidly attached to the machine frame. .Iaddend.

.Iadd.29. The construction machine of claim 14, wherein: the articulated coupling permanently couples an output shaft of the drive engine with an input shaft of the hydraulic pump drive. .Iaddend.

.Iadd.30. The construction machine of claim 14, wherein: the hydraulic pump drive includes: a gearbox casing; a plurality of hydraulic pumps projecting from the gearbox casing; and the hydraulic pump drive having an interior space free of hydraulic pumps; and the articulated coupling extends into the interior space of the hydraulic pump drive. .Iaddend.

.Iadd.31. The construction machine of claim 30, wherein: each of the pumps projects from the gearbox casing and points towards the drive engine. .Iaddend.

.Iadd.32. The construction machine of claim 14, wherein: the articulated coupling is torsionally flexible and includes an elastomeric coupling; and the hydraulic pump drive, the clutch, and the drive pulley are jointly supported as a combined subset entity, and the combined subset entity is rigidly attached to the machine frame. .Iaddend.

.Iadd.33. The construction machine of claim 32, wherein: the construction machine is a road milling machine. .Iaddend.

.Iadd.34. A construction machine, comprising: a machine frame carried by a chassis; a working drum; a drive train including at least the following elements: a drive engine; a traction drive assembly for mechanically driving the working drum, the traction drive assembly including a drive element, an output element, and a traction element; a clutch for switching a torque between the drive engine and the working drum; and a hydraulic pump drive; and wherein the elements of the drive train are divided into at least a first subset and a second subset; and wherein the drive train further includes an articulated coupling connecting the first subset to the second subset; and wherein the first subset includes at least the drive engine; and wherein the second subset includes the drive element of the traction drive assembly and at least one element selected from the group consisting of: the hydraulic pump drive; and the clutch; and wherein the first subset is attached to the machine frame elastically with a lower spring stiffness so that transmission of vibrations to the machine frame is reduced, and the second subset is attached to the machine frame with a higher spring stiffness or in a rigid manner; and wherein the hydraulic pump drive includes: a gearbox casing; a plurality of hydraulic pumps projecting from the gearbox casing; and the hydraulic pump drive having an interior space free of hydraulic pumps; and wherein the articulated coupling extends into the interior space of the hydraulic pump drive; wherein the drive engine has an output axis aligned with an input axis of the drive element and with an input axis of one of the hydraulic pump drive and the clutch prior to operation of the construction machine; and wherein the articulated coupling accommodates a lack of alignment between the output axis of the drive engine and the input axes of the drive element and one of the hydraulic pump drive and the clutch due to dynamic movement of the first subset relative to the second subset during operation of the construction machine. .Iaddend.

.Iadd.35. The construction machine of claim 34, wherein: each of the pumps projects from the gearbox casing and points either towards or away from the drive engine. .Iaddend.

.Iadd.36. The construction machine of claim 34, wherein the articulated coupling is torsionally rigid. .Iaddend.

.Iadd.37. The construction machine of claim 36, wherein the articulated coupling includes a cardan shaft. .Iaddend.

.Iadd.38. The construction machine of claim 34, wherein the articulated coupling is torsionally flexible. .Iaddend.

.Iadd.39. The construction machine of claim 38, wherein the articulated coupling comprises an elastomeric coupling. .Iaddend.

.Iadd.40. The construction machine of claim 34, wherein: the drive element of the traction drive assembly, the clutch and the hydraulic pump drive are jointly supported as a combined subset entity; and the combined subset entity is attached to the machine frame with the higher spring stiffness or in a rigid manner. .Iaddend.

.Iadd.41. The construction machine of claim 40, wherein: the combined subset entity is rigidly attached to the machine frame. .Iaddend.

.Iadd.42. The construction machine of claim 34, wherein: the second subset is rigidly attached to the machine frame. .Iaddend.

.Iadd.43. The construction machine of claim 34, wherein: the articulated coupling permanently couples an output shaft of the drive engine with an input shaft of the hydraulic pump drive. .Iaddend.

.Iadd.44. The construction machine of claim 34, wherein: the articulated coupling is torsionally flexible and includes an elastomeric coupling; the second subset includes the hydraulic pump drive, the clutch, and the drive element of the traction drive assembly; the clutch is connected between the hydraulic pump drive and the drive element of the traction drive assembly; and the hydraulic pump drive, the clutch, and the drive element of the traction drive assembly are jointly supported as a combined subset entity, and the combined subset entity is rigidly attached to the machine frame. .Iaddend.

.Iadd.45. The construction machine of claim 44, wherein: the construction machine is a road milling machine; and the drive element includes a drive pulley, the output element includes a driven pulley and the traction element includes a drive belt connecting the pulleys. .Iaddend.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the following, embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. The following is shown:

(2) FIG. 1 a first embodiment of the invention in the example of a road milling machine,

(3) FIG. 2 a second embodiment,

(4) FIG. 3 a third embodiment,

(5) FIG. 4 a fourth embodiment, and

(6) FIG. 5 a side view of the embodiment in FIG. 4.

(7) FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross-section of a construction machine, and namely in particular a road milling machine, a recycler or a stabilizer with a working drum 6 that is supported in a machine frame 4. Alternatively, the working drum 6 may be supported in a drum housing that is in turn firmly attached to the machine frame or may also be supported to pivot at a machine frame 4. The machine frame 4 is carried by a chassis that is not depicted in the drawings. The working drum 6 may consist of, for instance, a milling drum. The working drum 6 of the construction machine is driven by a drive train 8 that shows at least the following elements:

(8) The drive train 8 includes a drive engine 10 that preferably consists of a combustion engine.

(9) A traction mechanism 12 for the mechanical drive of the working drum 6 shows a drive element 11 that is coupled in a non-rotatable manner with an output shaft 17, and an output element 13 that is coupled in a non-rotatable manner with the drive shaft 15 of the working drum 6. A planetary gear may additionally be arranged between the drive shaft 15 and the working drum 6.

(10) The traction mechanism 12 preferably is a belt drive where the drive and output elements 11, 13 consist of belt pulleys, with several drive belts 30 revolving around the said belt pulleys. Alternatively, the traction mechanism 12 may also consist of a chain drive, where the drive and output elements 11, 13 then consist of the corresponding sprockets.

(11) The drive train 8 further shows a device for switching the torque 14, which is arranged in the drive train 8 between the drive engine 10 and the working drum 6 and preferably consists of a clutch.

(12) The drive train 8 further includes a device 16 for driving hydraulic units, for instance, hydraulic pumps 18, where the said device 16 for driving hydraulic units is coupled with the drive engine 10.

(13) The entire drive train 8 is divided into at least two groups, with the first group showing at least the drive engine 10 and the second group showing at least the drive element 11 of the traction mechanism 12. The first and the second groups 3, 5 are connected to one another mechanically via an articulated coupling device 20. The articulated coupling device 20 transmits the power supplied by a not depicted output shaft of the drive engine 10 to the second group 5 of the drive train 8.

(14) In FIG. 1, the first group comprises the combustion engine 10 only, which is coupled with the second group 5 via the coupling device 20. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the second group 5 comprises the device 16 for driving at least one hydraulic pump 18, namely a pump transfer case, the clutch 14 and the belt pulley 11 of the belt drive 12.

(15) The combustion engine 10 is attached to the machine frame 4 by means of elastic spring/damping elements 22 showing low spring stiffness, in such a manner that the vibrations occurring in particular in a combustion engine 10, as well as structure-borne sound, are transmitted to the machine frame 4 to the smallest possible extent.

(16) The second group 5, on the other hand, is attached to the machine frame 4 by means of spring/damping elements 24 showing high spring stiffness, so that the second group 5 is attached to the machine frame 4 in a nearly rigid manner. The different manner of support or attachment of the first and the second groups 3, 5 of the drive train 8 has the effect that, when in operation, the not depicted output shaft of the combustion engine 10 is not permanently in precise alignment with the also not depicted input shaft of the pump transfer case 16, with the articulated coupling device 20 balancing the dynamic misalignment occurring during operation without the flow of power in the drive train 8 being disturbed.

(17) .Iadd.As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 the working drum 6 has a drum rotational axis which is the rotational axis of shaft 15. As also shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 the driven pulley 13 is also mounted on the shaft 15 and thus has a driven pulley rotational axis which is parallel and co-axial with the rotational axes of the working drum 6 and the shaft 15. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 the drive pulley 11 has a drive pulley rotational axis which is the rotational axis of the shaft 17 on which the drive pulley is mounted. As further shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 the drive pulley 11 and the driven pulley 13 are aligned with each other in the direction that the drive belts 30 extend, and the rotational axes of the drive pulley 11 and the driven pulley 13 are parallel to each other. And as is shown in FIG. 1 an output axis of the drive engine 10 is aligned with an input axis of the hydraulic pump drive device 16 and with an input axis of the drive pulley 11 prior to operation of the construction machine. The articulated coupling device 20 accommodates a lack of precise alignment between the output axis of the drive engine 10 and the input axes of the hydraulic pump drive device 16 and the drive pulley 11 due to dynamic movement of the drive engine 10 relative to the second group 5 during operation of the construction machine. .Iaddend.

(18) Dividing the drive train and supporting the components of the drive train 8 in a different manner achieves that considerably less vibrations are transmitted from the combustion engine 10 to the machine frame 4. In this way, it is further prevented that larger flat machine components are stimulated to sound vibrations that are disturbing during the operation of the machine.

(19) The articulated coupling device 20 may be torsionally rigid, and may consist of a cardan shaft.

(20) Alternatively, the articulated coupling device 20 may also be torsionally flexible, where the coupling device then consists of an elastomeric coupling.

(21) FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment, in which the first group 3 comprises the combustion engine 10 and the pump transfer case 16. As in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the pump transfer case 16 shows several hydraulic pumps 18 that axially project from the gearbox casing 26 of the pump transfer case 16, preferably in a circumferentially uniformly distributed manner.

(22) A spur gear is arranged inside the pump transfer case, which jointly drives the individual hydraulic pumps. The arrangement of the hydraulic pumps 18 results in a central free interior space 28 between the hydraulic pumps 18, in which the coupling device 20 may extend which serves to connect the first and the second groups 3, 5 of the drive train 8. This design of the pump transfer case 16 with a free interior space 28 enables the available space for arranging the drive train 8 across the width of the machine to be used in a better way, so that a more powerful combustion engine 10 can be used due to the space-saving arrangement of the components of the drive train 8.

(23) In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the pump transfer case 16 is also included in the first group, so that vibrations that might be coming from the pump transfer case can also be absorbed by the spring/damping .[.element.]. .Iadd.elements .Iaddend.22.

(24) The second group 5 is formed by the clutch 14 and the belt pulley 11 of the belt drive 12. By means of the coupling device 20, the power of the combustion engine is first transmitted to the clutch 14 and then to the belt pulley 11.

(25) .Iadd.As shown in FIG. 2 an output axis of the drive engine 10 is aligned with an input axis of the clutch 14 and with an input axis of the drive pulley 11 prior to operation of the construction machine. The articulated coupling device 20 accommodates a lack of precise alignment between the output axis of the drive engine 10 and the input axes of the clutch 14 and the drive pulley 11 due to dynamic movement of the drive engine 10 relative to the second group 5 during operation of the construction machine. .Iaddend.

(26) Insofar as the drive belts 30 and the second belt pulley 13, which serves as output element, are also part of the drive train 8, it is to be stated that these are also supported rigidly vis--vis the machine frame 4, namely in that the second belt pulley 13 is arranged on the drive shaft 15 of the working drum 6.

(27) In a further, not depicted variant of the embodiment of FIG. 2, the pump transfer case 16 may be arranged on that side of the combustion engine 10 that lies opposite the coupling device 20, so that in this case the combustion engine 10 and the pump transfer case 16 also form the first group 3 of the drive train. This embodiment is advantageous when a good accessibility of the components of the drive train 8 is desired.

(28) In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the first group 3 of the drive train comprises the combustion engine 10 and the clutch 14. This embodiment also offers the advantage of a good usability of the available width of the machine frame 4.

(29) FIGS. 4 and 5 show an embodiment in which the first group 3 of the drive train 8 is formed by the combustion engine 10 that is coupled with the pump transfer case 16 via the coupling device 20. With the belt pulley 11 of the belt drive 12, the pump transfer case .Iadd.16 .Iaddend.forms the second group 5 of the drive train 8, which is supported on the machine frame 4 in a rigid or nearly rigid manner.

(30) As can be seen from FIG. 5, the pump transfer case .Iadd.16 .Iaddend.shows, for instance, six hydraulic pumps 18 that are arranged in a circular manner and with, for instance, the same mutual distance to one another around the output shaft 17 of the second group 5 of the drive train 8.

(31) The clutch 14 is formed by the tensioning idler 32 of the belt drive 12, which can be actuated in the idling condition of the combustion engine 10. When the tensioning idler 32 is in that position in which the drive belts 30 are tensioned, then the power of the combustion engine 10 can be transmitted to the working drum 6. When the tensioning idler 32 is swivelled against the direction of the arrow that can be seen in FIG. 5, then no power can be transmitted any longer, so that the tensioning device with the tensioning idler 32 can be used as a clutch.

(32) Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been specifically illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that minor variations may be made in the apparatus without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.