ROADBUILDING MACHINE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A ROADBUILDING MACHINE

Abstract

A method for operating a roadbuilding machine and a roadbuilding machine, in which the health risks to the operator during operation are reduced without the paving quality of the roadbuilding material being reduced in the process. This is achieved by way of an undercarriage and/or at least one further component or, respectively, working component of the roadbuilding machine being remotely controlled by an operator, who is located outside the roadbuilding machine, via a transmitting module. In order to operate a roadbuilding machine, an operator is tied to the roadbuilding machine and therefore exposed to harmful fumes. In addition, the flexibility of the operator is reduced as a result.

Claims

1. A method for operating a self-propelled roadbuilding machine, in particular a road paver (10) or a feeder, for producing a road covering comprising an undercarriage (11), which has driven tires or tracks, and/or at least one further component, such as at least one material conveyor, one storage container (14) for roadbuilding material, one spreading auger (15) and/or one paving screed (16), and an operator control station (21) which is arranged above the undercarriage (11), where the undercarriage (11) and the at least one further component are controlled from the operator control station (21) by an operator (20), wherein the undercarriage (11) and/or at least one further component are remotely controlled by an operator (20), who is located outside the operator control station (21), via a transmitting module (23), where data for control purposes is exchanged between the transmitting module (23) and a receiving module (24) or between the transmitting module (23) and in each case one receiving module (24) of the undercarriage (11) or of the at least one further component.

2. The method for operating a self-propelled roadbuilding machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein a CAN bus system, in particular of a control unit (22) of the roadbuilding machine, preferably a CAN bus system of the undercarriage (11) or of the at least one further component, is directly actuated by the transmitting module (23) for exchanging data for controlling the undercarriage (11) and/or at least one further component.

3. The method for operating a self-propelled roadbuilding machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein, before the execution of a control command, the transmitting module (23) is identified, in particular verified, by the receiving module (24), in particular of a control unit (22), or by the receiving module (24) of the undercarriage (11) or of the at least one further component.

4. The method for operating a self-propelled roadbuilding machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein individual control commands are transmitted to the receiving module (24), in particular of a control unit (22), or to the receiving module (24) of the undercarriage (11) or of the at least one further component by the transmitting module (23), or wherein groups of several control commands are transmitted, where several commands are executed in an automated manner by the group of control commands.

5. The method for operating a self-propelled roadbuilding machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data is exchanged between the receiving module (24) and the transmitting module (23) in a wireless manner, in particular via radio, laser, WLAN or the like, or in a wired manner.

6. The method for operating a self-propelled roadbuilding machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmitting module (23) is placed into a receiving apparatus on the operator control station (21) for direct data transmission with the receiving module (24) and/or for charging an energy store of the transmitting module (23).

7. The method for operating a self-propelled roadbuilding machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein feedback signals are transmitted from the receiving module (24) to the transmitting module (23) when a command is not compatible with a preceding command, or the state of the roadbuilding machine, in particular of the undercarriage (11) and/or of the at least one further component, does not permit the execution of the command.

8. A method for operating a self-propelled roadbuilding machine, in particular a road paver (10) or a feeder, for producing a road covering comprising an undercarriage (11), which has driven tires or tracks, and/or at least one further component, such as at least one material conveyor, one storage container (14) for roadbuilding material, one spreading auger (15) and/or one paving screed (16), where the undercarriage (11) and the at least one further component are controlled by an operator (20), wherein the undercarriage (11) and/or at least one further component are remotely controlled by an operator (20), who is not located on the roadbuilding machine, via a transmitting module (23), where data for control purposes is exchanged between the transmitting module (23) and a receiving module (24) or between the transmitting module (23) and in each case one receiving module (24) of the undercarriage (11) or the at least one further component.

9. The method for operating a self-propelled roadbuilding machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein a CAN bus system, in particular of a control unit (22) of the roadbuilding machine, preferably a CAN bus system of the undercarriage (11) or of the at least one further component, is directly actuated by the transmitting module (23) for exchanging data for controlling the undercarriage (11) and/or at least one further component.

10. The method for operating a self-propelled roadbuilding machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein, before the execution of a control command, the transmitting module (23) is identified, in particular verified, by the receiving module (24), in particular of a control unit (22), or by the receiving module (24) of the undercarriage (11) or of the at least one further component.

11. The method for operating a self-propelled roadbuilding machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein individual control commands are transmitted to the receiving module (24), in particular of a control unit (22), or to the receiving module (24) of the undercarriage (11) or of the at least one further component by the transmitting module (23), or wherein groups of several control commands are transmitted, where several commands are executed in an automated manner by the group of control commands.

12. The method for operating a self-propelled roadbuilding machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein the data is exchanged between the receiving module (24) and the transmitting module (23) in a wireless manner, in particular via radio, laser, WLAN or the like, or in a wired manner.

13. The method for operating a self-propelled roadbuilding machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein the transmitting module (23) is placed into a receiving apparatus on an operator control station (21) for direct data transmission with the receiving module (24) and/or for charging an energy store of the transmitting module (23).

14. The method for operating a self-propelled roadbuilding machine as claimed in claim 8, wherein feedback signals are transmitted from the receiving module (24) to the transmitting module (23) when a command is not compatible with a preceding command, or the state of the roadbuilding machine, in particular of the undercarriage (11) and/or of the at least one further component, does not permit the execution of the command.

15. A roadbuilding machine, in particular a road paver (10) or a feeder, for producing a road covering comprising an undercarriage (11), which has driven tires or tracks, and/or at least one further component, such as at least one material conveyor, one storage container (14) for roadbuilding material, one spreading auger (15) and/or one paving screed (16), and an operator control station (21) which is arranged above the undercarriage (11), where the undercarriage (11) and the at least one further component can be controlled from the operator control station (21) by an operator (20), characterized by a transmitting module (23) and a receiving module (24) or a receiving module (24) of the undercarriage (11) or of the at least one further component, where the undercarriage (11) or the at least one further component can be remotely controlled by an operator (20), who is located outside the operator control station (21), via the transmitting module (23).

16. The roadbuilding machine as claimed in claim 15, wherein the transmitting module (23) and the at least one receiving module (24) have means for wireless data transmission, in particular by radio, laser, WLAN or the like.

17. The roadbuilding machine as claimed in claim 15, wherein the transmitting module (23) can be assigned to a receptacle on the operator control station (21) of the roadbuilding machine for data transfer and/or for charging an energy store of the transmitting module (23).

18. The roadbuilding machine as claimed claim 15, wherein the transmitting module (23) has a monitoring means for displaying input commands and/or feedback signals of the receiving module (24) when a command which is transmitted from the transmitting module (23) to the receiving module (24) is not compatible with a preceding command, or the state of the roadbuilding machine, in particular of the undercarriage (11) and/or of the at least one further component, does not permit the execution of the command.

19. The roadbuilding machine as claimed in claim 18, wherein the monitoring means is a display (25) or a means for generating an acoustic, visual or vibratory and, respectively, haptic signal.

20. A roadbuilding machine, in particular a road paver (10) or a feeder, for producing a road covering comprising an undercarriage (11), which has driven tires or tracks, and/or at least one further component, such as at least one material conveyor, one storage container (14) for roadbuilding material, one spreading auger (15) and/or one paving screed (16), where the undercarriage (11) and the at least one further component can be controlled by an operator (20), characterized by a transmitting module (23) and a receiving module (24) or a receiving module (24) of the undercarriage (11) or of the at least one further component, where the undercarriage (11) or the at least one further component can be remotely controlled by an operator (20), who is located next to the roadbuilding machine, via the transmitting module (23).

21. The roadbuilding machine as claimed in claim 20, wherein the transmitting module (23) and the at least one receiving module (24) have means for wireless data transmission, in particular by radio, laser, WLAN or the like.

22. The roadbuilding machine as claimed in claim 20, wherein the transmitting module (23) can be assigned to a receptacle on an operator control station (21) of the roadbuilding machine for data transfer and/or for charging an energy store of the transmitting module (23).

23. The roadbuilding machine as claimed in claim 20, wherein the transmitting module (23) has a monitoring means for displaying input commands and/or feedback signals of the receiving module (24) when a command which is transmitted from the transmitting module (23) to the receiving module (24) is not compatible with a preceding command, or the state of the roadbuilding machine, in particular of the undercarriage (11) and/or of the at least one further component, does not permit the execution of the command.

24. The roadbuilding machine as claimed in claim 23, wherein the monitoring means is a display (25) or a means for generating an acoustic, visual or vibratory and, respectively, haptic signal.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0021] A preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing.

[0022] The single figure of the drawing, FIG. 1, shows a side view of a road paver together with an operator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] In order to describe the method according to the invention for operating a roadbuilding machine, FIG. 1, illustrates, by way of example, a road paver 10. However, it should be expressly pointed out at this stage that the present invention is not restricted to the use for a road paver but rather can also be seen in connection with other roadbuilding machines, such as a feeder, a road miller or the like for example.

[0024] The road paver 10 illustrated by way of example in the figure has an undercarriage 11 which is designed as a tracked undercarriage in the exemplary embodiment shown. However, the undercarriage 11 of the road paver 10 can also be designed as a wheeled undercarriage. The road paver 10 is of self-propelled design. To this end, the undercarriage 11 is driven by a drive unit 12 in such a way that the road paver 10 can be moved forward in the paving direction 13. It goes without saying that the road paver 10 can also be driven in such a way that a movement counter to the paving direction 13 takes place.

[0025] A storage container 14 of tub-like or trough-like design is arranged in front of the drive unit 12 as seen in the paving direction 13. The storage container 14 serves to receive a store of the material which serves for producing the road covering, in particular an asphalt mixture. The material is transported from the storage container 14, counter to the paving direction 13, to the rear side of the road paver 10, specifically in front of a spreading auger 15, by a conveyor, not shown in the figure, in particular a scraper conveyor. The spreading auger 15 is arranged behind the drive unit 12. The spreading auger 15 extends transversely in relation to the paving direction 13 and serves to uniformly spread the material over the entire working width of the road paver 10.

[0026] A paving screed 16 is arranged behind the spreading auger 15 as viewed in the paving direction 13. The paving screed 16 is suspended from supporting arms 17 such that it can move up and down. The supporting arms 17 are mounted in a pivotable manner on the undercarriage 11. The paving screed 16 may be a one-piece paving screed 16 which cannot be varied in terms of width or a multiple-piece paving screed comprising a main screed and lateral shifting screeds, as a result of which the width of the paving screed and therefore the paving width can be varied.

[0027] The paving screed 16 has a screed main body 18 with a sliding plate 19 arranged beneath said screed main body. The paving screed 16 rests, by way of the bottom side of its sliding plate 19, on the material to be paved.

[0028] The drive unit 12 of the road paver 10 has an internal combustion engine. Said internal combustion engine is preferably a diesel engine. However, the drive unit 12 can also have other motors, possibly even several motors. Furthermore, the drive unit 12 has at least one hydraulic pump which is driven by the internal combustion engine. In this way, the required energy is supplied to hydraulic drives, in particular hydraulic motors. In addition or as an alternative, it is also conceivable for the internal combustion engine to drive at least one generator which generates current for electric drives, in particular electric motors.

[0029] Operation of the road paver 10 and also the control and the monitoring of the listed components, such as the undercarriage 11, the drive unit 12, the storage container 14, the spreading auger 15, the paving screed 16, the supporting arms 17 and the like for example, can be controlled and, respectively, monitored from an operator control station 21 by an operator 20. To this end, a control unit 22 for example is arranged in the operator control station 21. Operation of the entire road paver 10 can be supervised and, respectively, monitored by said control unit 22. In this case, the control unit 22 can be connected to any individual one of said components via a CAN bus system. However, it is also conceivable for the road paver 10 or the roadbuilding machine to not have an operator control station 21, but rather to be designed such that it can be at least virtually completely remotely controlled.

[0030] However, as an alternative, the control and, respectively, monitoring of the road paver 10 and also of any individual ones of said components can also be performed via a transmitting module 23. Via this transmitting module 23, data or commands for operating the road paver 10 can be performed via a receiving module 24 which is associated with the road paver 10. In this case, provision can be made for said receiving module 24 to be directly connected to the control unit 22 and to communicate with the individual components by means of the CAN bus system via said control unit 22. However, equally, provision can also be made for each individual one of said components of the road paver 10 to have a corresponding dedicated receiving module 24 for communicating with the transmitting module 23. The communication between the receiving module 24 and the transmitting module 23 can take place in a wireless manner. This provides the advantage that the operator 20 is not tied to the operator control station 21, but rather can remotely control operation of the road paver 10 virtually irrespective of his location. The operator 20 can either actuate the individual components or directly access the individual components by means of the control unit 22 via the transmitting module 23.

[0031] For the purpose of easier input and, respectively, for more convenient control of the road paver 10 via the transmitting module 23, said transmitting module can have a display 25 by way of which information can be displayed to the operator 20.

[0032] A receptacle for receiving the transmitting module 23 can be associated with the road paver 10 or the operator control station 21, in particular the control unit 22. Said receptacle is designed in such a way that the transmitting module 23 can be mated with the receptacle in such a way that, in the coupled state, it can serve as an input panel for the control unit 22 on the operator control station 21. With the transmitting module 23 mated with the receptacle in this way, the road paver 10 can be operated in the known manner. Equally, a rechargeable energy store, in particular a rechargeable battery, of the transmitting module 23 is charged in said state. The data is exchanged directly, that is to say in a wired manner, between the transmitting module 23 and the control unit 22 in this coupled state.

[0033] If necessary or expedient or possible, the operator 20 can remove the transmitting module 23 from the receptacle and move away from the road paver 10 or the operator control station 21. In this case, the range for the wireless communication between the transmitting module 23 and the receiving module 24 can be adjusted. Encrypted transmission of the data between the transmitting module 23 and the receiving module 24 can prevent the data transfer being disrupted or mixed up with other building machines.

[0034] Before commissioning of the road paver 10, it is necessary to verify using the control unit 22 that the transmitting module 23 used is authorized to communicate with the receiving module 24. This can be done, for example, by exchanging an identifier.

[0035] Before commissioning of the road paver 10, various command routines or command sequences or groups of commands can be stored in the transmitting module 23 and also in the receiving module 24. For example, protocols or operating sequences which can be initiated by a simple key combination, specifically preferably in a remotely controlled manner, can be prepared for the respective work to be carried out. As a result, firstly the course of operation can be simplified and secondly operator control convenience for the operator 20 can be improved in this way since the person 20 does not have to continuously stay with the road paver 10 or in the operator control station 21. As a result, the time for which the operator 20 has to stay directly with the road paver 10 can also be reduced at the same time.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0036] 10 Road paver [0037] 11 Undercarriage [0038] 12 Drive unit [0039] 13 Paving direction [0040] 14 Storage container [0041] 15 Spreading auger [0042] 16 Paving screed [0043] 17 Supporting arm [0044] 18 Screed main body [0045] 19 Sliding plate [0046] 20 Operator [0047] 21 Operator control station [0048] 22 Control unit [0049] 23 Transmitting module [0050] 24 Receiving module [0051] 25 Display