METHOD FOR OPERATING A GROUND MILLING MACHINE

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a ground milling machine, in particular a road milling machine, a stabilizer, a recycler, a surface miner or the like, having an interchangeable milling drum, wherein the milling drum is equipped with a plurality of milling tools, in particular round shank picks, wherein the milling drum has a current state, wherein a control unit is provided for controlling at least one function of the ground milling machine, and wherein the milling drum has a characteristic feature or a characteristic feature is assigned to the milling drum. According to the invention, provision is made that at least one data set containing information on the current state of the milling drum is stored in a storage unit, in that the characteristic feature identifying the milling drum is assigned to the data set in the storage unit, and this data set is transmitted to a processing device.

Claims

1-23. (canceled)

24. A method for operating a ground milling machine having an interchangeable milling drum, wherein the milling drum is equipped with a plurality of milling tools, wherein the milling drum has a current state, wherein a control unit is provided for controlling at least one function of the ground milling machine, and wherein the milling drum has a characteristic feature or a characteristic feature is assigned to the milling drum, the method comprising: storing at least one data set containing information on the current state of the milling drum in a storage unit; assigning the characteristic feature identifying the milling drum to the data set in the storage unit; and transmitting the data set to a processing device.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the milling drum has an active transmitting element that transmits the characteristic feature and/or the data set to a reader.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the milling drum has a passive reading element, and a reader is used to detect the characteristic feature and/or the data set.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the milling drum has a position transmitter configured to transmit a position signal, and the milling drum transmits the characteristic feature and/or the data set wirelessly in conjunction with the position signal.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the position transmitter is a GPS transmitter.

29. The method of claim 24, comprising recording milling data during the milling operation of the ground milling machine, wherein the milling data or a computed combination of the milling data are combined as an additional data set with the data set and a new data set is generated therefrom, and wherein the new data set contains the current state of the milling drum.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein at least one piece of information is acquired as milling data during the milling operation of the ground milling machine and is taken into account when generating the new data set, the at least one piece of information selected from a group consisting of: a milling duration; a milled material volume; a milled surface; a milling depth; an average milling depth; a load profile; an average load profile; a mechanical load on the milling drum during at least part of the milling duration; an average load on the milling drum during at least part of the milling duration; a load on the milling tools; an average load on the milling tools; a number of overload events; information on a type of milled material; information on whether milling was performed with or without loading of the milled material; a feed and/or drive power of a drive motor transmitted into the milling drum; an average feed and/or average drive power of a drive motor transferred into the milling drum.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the new data set is transmitted to the milling drum, the ground milling machine and/or the local computing unit.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the new data set is stored in the storage unit as a data set containing information on a current state of wear of the milling drum.

33. The method of claim 24, comprising determining, via a further processing device, whether the milling drum is suitable for an upcoming milling task, based at least in part on the data set.

34. The method of claim 33, comprising: detecting, via an input unit, at least one preset machine parameter and/or at least one material characteristic value of the material to be milled and/or job data; and determining, via the further processing device, whether the milling drum is suitable for an upcoming milling task from the at least one preset machine parameter and/or the at least one material characteristic value and/or the job data.

35. The method of claim 24, further comprising receiving an operator selection of a working mode via an input unit.

36. The method of claim 24, further comprising: storing data sets corresponding to different milling drums in the storage unit and/or a memory device; determining, via the processing device, which of the different milling drums are suitable for a scheduled milling assignment; and informing a user on request which of the milling drums are suitable for the scheduled milling assignment.

37. The method of claim 24, wherein: at least one definite feature of the milling drum and/or the milling tools is used and is stored in the storage unit, or is linked to the characteristic feature as part of the data set; and one or more of the definite features may be selected from a group of definite features consisting of: information on the type of milling drum; information on the state of wear of a pick holder in which the at least one milling tool is installed; information on the number of picks installed on the milling drum; and information on the line spacing of the milling picks on the milling drum.

38. The method of claim 24, wherein the data set contains at least one variable feature of the milling drum and/or the milling tools selected from a group consisting of: information on a state of wear of the at least one milling tool; information on a state of wear of a pick holder in which the at least one milling tool is installed; information on a state of wear of an ejector installed on the milling drum; information on a state of wear of a milling drum rotor of the milling drum; information on a residual wear capacity of the at least one milling tool; information on a residual wear capacity of the at least one pick holder in which the at least one milling tool is installed; information on a residual wear capacity of an ejector installed on the milling drum; information on a residual wear capacity of the milling drum rotor of the milling drum; information on a probability of failure of the milling drum; information on a quality of a milling texture, which can be generated using the milling drum; information on an efficiency of the milling drum; information on a usability of the milling drum.

39. The method of claim 24, wherein the current state of the milling drum comprises one or more wear components selected from a group consisting of: wear of one or more picks; wear of one or more pick holders; wear of one or more base parts, each of which holds a pick holder and is connected to the milling drum surface; wear at a milling drum rotor; wear at ejectors.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the current state of the milling drum includes a tuple comprising at least two wear components considered in the data set.

41. The method of claim 24, wherein: the current state of the milling drum includes at least one characteristic number, which is accounted for in the data set; and the characteristic number contains information on a remaining useful life of the milling drum, is derived from the remaining useful life of the milling drum, and/or indicates a residual wear capacity of the milling drum.

42. The method of claim 24, wherein the current state of the milling drum includes at least one qualitative assessment of the milling drum, which is accounted for in the data set.

43. The method of claim 24, wherein: during or after completion of the milling task, the new current state of the milling drum resulting from the milling task is assessed or determined; and a new data set is generated taking this new current state of the milling drum into account, and further transmitted to the storage unit and/or memory device.

44. A milling arrangement comprising: a ground milling machine having an interchangeable milling drum, wherein the milling drum is equipped with a plurality of milling tools, wherein the milling drum has a current state and a characteristic feature; a control unit configured to control at least one function of the ground milling machine; a storage unit configured to store at least one data set containing information on the current state of wear of the milling drum, wherein the characteristic feature identifying the milling drum is assigned to the data set in the storage unit; and a processing device configured to receive the data set or a computed combination containing the data set upon transmittal thereto.

45. The milling arrangement of claim 44, wherein the storage unit in which the data set is stored is part of the milling drum.

46. The milling arrangement of claim 44, wherein the storage unit in which the data set is stored is part of a separate computing unit.

Description

[0117] In the drawings:

[0118] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram and a side view of a road milling machine,

[0119] FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram and a side view of a stabilizer,

[0120] FIGS. 3 to 9 show different operating states of a road milling machine,

[0121] FIGS. 10 to 17 show various operating conditions of a further embodiment of a road milling machine, and

[0122] FIG. 18 shows a flow chart for determining a suitable milling drum for a milling task.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0123] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram and a side view of a ground milling machine 10 in the form of a road milling machine. A machine frame 12 is supported by trolleys 11, for instance crawler tracks, via four lifting columns 13 in a height-adjustable manner. The ground milling machine 10 can be operated, based on a control station 14, via a control 20 arranged in the control station 14. A milling drum 16 is rotatably mounted in a roller housing 18, which is obscured from view and shown dashed in the illustration. A conveyor 17 is used to remove the milled material.

[0124] In use, the machine frame 12 is moved on the ground to be worked on at a feed rate entered via the control 20. Milling tools, in particular picks, in particular round shank picks, arranged on the rotating milling drum 16 remove the substrate.

[0125] The control 20 can be used to adjust the vertical position and the speed of the milling drum 16. The milling depth is set via the vertical position of the milling drum 16. Depending on the machine type, the height-adjustable lifting columns 13 or other suitable means can be used to adjust the vertical position of the milling drum 16. Alternatively, the height of the milling drum 16 can be adjustable relative to the machine frame 12, such as in the ground milling machine 10 shown in FIG. 2, which is designed as a stabilizer.

[0126] FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram and side view of a second ground milling machine 10 in the form of a stabilizer. The second ground milling machine 10 is moved by means of undercarriages 11 designed as front and rear wheels. The front and rear wheels are attached to the machine frame 12 by front and rear lifting columns 13, to be able to adjust the working height of the machine frame 12 and thus of the roller housing 18. A control station 14 is installed at the machine frame 12. The motor 12.1 arranged inside the machine frame 12 drives the milling drum 16 via a drive unit 12.2. The milling drum 16 itself is mounted in the roller housing 18, which has a front and a rear roller flap 18.1, 18.2 assigned thereto. The roller flaps 18.1, 18.2 are each designed to be adjustable via an attached hydraulic system. A hydraulic height adjuster 19 can be used to adjust the height of the milling drum 16 along an adjustment path 19.1 indicated by a double arrow. For this purpose, a rotatably mounted deflection lever 19.3 and an adjusting rod 19.4 arranged thereon transmit the motion of a hydraulic cylinder 19.2 to the milling drum 16. The height adjuster can be used to adjust the milling depth.

[0127] FIG. 3 shows a further simplified representation of a ground milling machine 10, for instance a ground milling machine 10 of the type shown in FIG. 1 or 2.

[0128] The ground milling machine 10 has a machine frame 12 to which four travel units 11, for instance crawler tracks, are coupled via four lifting columns 13. In the area between the front and rear trolleys 11, a milling drum 16 can be mounted in an interchangeable manner, for instance in a roller housing 18.

[0129] The ground milling machine 10 has a control unit 15. Part of this control unit 15 may be a processing device 30, or may comprise a processing device 30. The processing device 30 may also be provided as a separate unit preferably at the ground milling machine 10.

[0130] In the context of the invention, the processing device 30 may also comprise or form a further processing device.

[0131] Alternatively, the processing device 30 and/or the further processing device may be arranged separately from the ground milling machine 10.

[0132] As FIG. 3 shows, the milling drum 16 is stored separately from the ground milling machine 10. The milling drum 16 has a milling drum rotor. Milling tools can be mounted to the surface of the milling drum rotor in a directly or indirectly interchangeable manner. For instance, it is conceivable that a pick holder is used to indirectly or directly interchangeably connect a milling tool to the surface of the milling drum rotor. It is further conceivable that a milling tool can be mounted in an interchangeable manner in a pick holder, and the pick holder can be connected to a base part in an interchangeable manner. The base part is connected, for instance welded, to the surface of the milling drum rotor.

[0133] The milling drum 16 may have a position transmitter 16.3, for instance. This position transmitter 16.3 can be a GPS module, for instance, which transmits a position signal, for instance at regular intervals or permanently.

[0134] This milling drum 16 is equipped with a characteristic feature 16.4. It can be contained in a storage unit 16.1, for instance. Accordingly, the characteristic feature 16.4 may be a readable code stored in the storage unit 16.1. It is also conceivable that the characteristic feature 16.4 is formed by a sequence of letters and/or digits, a bar code, or a QR code or any other readable coding.

[0135] The characteristic feature 16.4 may include, or be linked to, information regarding a unique identifier of the milling drum 16 and/or information regarding the type of milling drum and/or information regarding the type of pick holder and/or information regarding the number of milling tools installed on the milling drum 16 and/or information regarding the line spacing of picks arranged linearly on the milling drum 16. In this respect, the characteristic feature 16.4 is a definite feature of the milling drum 16.

[0136] As mentioned above, the milling drum 16 can be installed with the ground milling machine 10. A reader can be used to read out the characteristic feature 16.4. In this exemplary embodiment, the storage unit 16.1 is an RFID transponder, in which the characteristic feature 16.4 is stored. An RFID reader can be used to read the characteristic feature from the RFID transponder. The reader may be part of the ground milling machine 10 or the reader may be a separate device, for instance a hand-held device, by means of which the characteristic feature 16.4 is read at the milling drum 16.

[0137] FIG. 4 illustrates that a data set 16.2 is stored in the storage unit 16.1. This data set 16.2 contains information on the current state of the milling drum 16. Accordingly, the data set 16.2 may contain the information that at least one milling tool and/or the milling drum 16 is/are in an unworn state or that at least one milling tool or the milling drum 16 is partially worn. In this way, this information can include a statement on the actual quantitative wear and/or information on the actual quantitative residual wear capacity of at least one milling tool and/or the milling drum 16.

[0138] Additionally or alternatively, information providing an indication of the state of wear and/or residual wear capacity of at least one pick holder, at least one base part, at least one ejector installed on the milling drum, and/or the milling drum rotor can be encoded in the data set 16.2. These are therefore variable features of the milling drum 16.

[0139] Additionally or alternatively, information on the milling texture quality to be expected may be encoded in the data set, wherein this encoding provides an indication of whether a certain milling texture quality or which milling texture quality can be milled with the present milling drum 16. It is conceivable that the expected milling texture quality is coded based on variable characteristics of the milling drum 16. Alternatively, a statement on the milling texture quality to be expected can also be generated in a separate computing unit, where these variable features are fed and which evaluates these variable features.

[0140] Additionally or alternatively, the data set 16.2 may also include information on the efficiency and/or usability of the milling drum 16. Conceivably, the expected efficiency or usability is coded based on variable characteristics of the milling drum 16. Alternatively, a statement on the efficiency or usability to be expected can also be generated in a separate computing unit 40, where these variable features are routed and which evaluates these variable features.

[0141] In addition, the data set 16.2 may also include information on a definite feature of the milling drum, such as the type of milling drum, the number of picks installed on the milling drum, the type of pick holder in which the milling picks are installed, and/or the line spacing of the milling picks on the milling drum.

[0142] FIG. 4 shows one or more memories being provided in the processing device 30. There may be a memory 31 for definite features, a memory 32 for variable features, and a memory 33 for computed and combined features. Of course, the memories 31, 32, 33 can form a joint memory. The memory 33 for computed and combined features contains computed features formed from a computed combination of one or more of the definite features and/or one or more of the variable features.

[0143] Accordingly, one or more definite feature(s), one or more variable feature(s)/or one or more computed and combined feature(s) of a milling drum 16 may be stored in the processing device 30.

[0144] FIG. 5 shows that the milling drum 16 is installed in the milling drum box 18 of the ground milling machine 10. Before the milling drum 16 is installed or when the milling drum 16 is installed, the storage unit 16.1 is read out.

[0145] Any information on the milling drum held in the storage unit forms the data set 16.2, which contains information on the current state of the milling drum 16. This data set 16.2 is transferred to the processing device 30. Accordingly, the definite features are stored in the definite features memory 31 and the variable features are stored in the variable features memory 32. A computational unit selects the features to be computed and combined from one or more of the definite features and one or more of the variable features. The computed and combined features are stored in the memory 33 for computed and combined features.

[0146] According to FIGS. 6 and 7, the ground milling machine 10 can be transferred to the milling operation. One or more relevant operating variables of the ground milling machine 10 are determined during the milling operation or after the milling operation. Suitable transducers, for instance, sensors record, for instance, the duration of operation of the ground milling machine, the volume of material milled out, the average or detailed milling depth, the average or detailed mechanical load, for instance, the engine power or drive torque, the average or detailed feed, the force/or load on the milling picks on average or detailed, and/or the number of overload events.

[0147] In addition or alternatively, the type of milled material, for instance asphalt or concrete, can also be recorded as a relevant operating variable and/or it can be recorded whether milling took place with or without removal of the milled material and/or information on the number of milling drum changes can be recorded.

[0148] From the relevant operating variables, changes in the wear of the milling drum 16 or a part of the milling drum 16 are computed in a computation unit and provided as an additional data set. A new data set is created in the computation unit taking into account the data set 16.2 and the additional data set. This new data set is stored in the storage unit 16.1, as FIG. 8 shows. This new data set then forms the data set 16.2, which provides information on the current status of the milling drum 16.

[0149] FIG. 8 further illustrates that the milling drum 16 can be removed after the milling process has been completed.

[0150] According to FIG. 9, the removed milling drum 16 now contains the data set 16.2 and is available for reuse. For instance, the memories 31, 32, 33 in the processing device 30 may now be erased and/or the data contained therein may be used elsewhere.

[0151] FIGS. 10 to 17 show a further variant of the embodiment of this invention. As shown in these images, a separate computing unit 40 is provided. This separate computing unit 40 has a connection to a wireless network, such as a telephone line or the Internet. Furthermore, a receiving circuit may be assigned to the computing unit 40 or this computing unit 40 may comprise a receiving circuit suitable for receiving and evaluating the signal emitted by the position transmitter 16.3 to locate the position of the milling drum. It may, for instance, be a GPS receiver.

[0152] FIG. 10 further illustrates that a connection to the ground milling machine 10 can be established via a telephone line or via the Internet.

[0153] It is conceivable that the ground milling machine 10 also has a GPS transmitter, whose signal the computing unit 40 can receive and evaluate to locate the position of the ground milling machine 10.

[0154] The milling drum 16 is again similar in structure to the milling drum 16 according to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 9. Reference can therefore be made to the above statements. The actuating arrangement 16 also has a storage unit 16.1. At least one characteristic feature 16.4 of the milling drum 16 is again stored in a readable form in the storage unit 16.1.

[0155] FIG. 10 shows that the computing unit 40 can use the position transmitter 16.3 to detect the position of the milling drum 16. The signal emitted by the milling drum 16 can also be used to transmit the characteristic feature 16.4 of the milling drum 16 to the computing unit 40. This information may be modulated onto the signal transmitted by the position transmitter 16.3.

[0156] The computing unit 40 has a memory. This memory stores the data set 16.2, which contains information on the current state of milling drum 16 and is linked to the characteristic feature 16.4.

[0157] FIG. 11 illustrates that the milling drum 16 can again be assembled with the ground milling machine 10. Before or after the installation of the milling drum 16, the characteristic feature 16.4 of the milling drum 16 can be detected, in accordance with the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 9.

[0158] As FIG. 12 shows, the characteristic feature 16.4 is transferred from the storage unit 16.1 to the processing device 30, e.g., manually, and stored in the memory 31 for definite features, for instance.

[0159] FIG. 14 illustrates that the ground milling machine 10 sends information to the computing unit 40 via the data line. In this case, the computing unit 40 is informed that the milling drum 16 with the characteristic feature 16.4 is installed or is to be installed at the ground milling machine 10.

[0160] At this point, both the separate computing unit 40 and the ground milling machine 10 have knowledge that the particular milling drum 16 having the characteristic feature 16.4 is installed at the ground milling machine 10. The data set 16.2 stored in the computing unit 40 and linked to the characteristic feature 16.4 can now be transmitted to the processing unit 30 of the ground milling machine 10 and stored in the storage units 31 and/or 32. Accordingly, the variable features and/or the computed and combined features contained in the data set 16.2 are transmitted to the processing device 30.

[0161] According to FIG. 15, the ground milling machine 10 is set in milling mode. According to FIG. 7 and the explanations given above, one or more relevant operating variables are recorded during the milling operation.

[0162] An additional data set is generated from one or more of the recorded relevant operating variables continuously or at intervals or at the end of the milling task. According to the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 9, a new data set is generated from the data set 16.2 and the additional data set. This new data set then forms the data set 16.2, which contains information on the current state of the milling drum 16.

[0163] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 to 17, the new data set is generated in the ground milling machine 10. However, this is not mandatory. Rather, it is also conceivable that the ground milling machine 10 transmits the additional data set to the computing unit 40. Because the data set 16.2 is also present in the computing unit 40, the new data set can also be generated in the computing unit 40 and stored there and/or re-transmitted to the ground milling machine 10.

[0164] FIG. 16 further shows that after the milling task has been completed, the milling drum 16 can be removed and stored separately, as FIG. 17 shows.

[0165] FIG. 17 further shows that at least one of the memories 31 to 33 can be erased upon completion of the milling task.

[0166] FIG. 18 shows a further development of the invention that can be used in a ground milling machine 10 according to the invention.

[0167] FIG. 18 shows a flow chart. Various blocks 50.1 to 50.12 are indicated in the flow chart.

[0168] According to block 50.1, the machine operator is asked whether one or more preset machine parameters are to be taken into account. If the machine operator wishes to enter a default machine parameter, such as a desired feed, a desired milling drum speed, a desired milling depth, a desired drive power for the milling drum 16, and/or a desired drive torque for the milling drum 16, these can be entered, for instance, via the control unit 15 at the control station 14.

[0169] According to block 50.2, the machine operator is asked whether one or more material parameters of the material to be milled are to be taken into account. If the machine operator wishes to enter one or more material parameters, the machine operator can do that, for instance using the control unit 15 at the control station 14.

[0170] According to block 50.3, the machine operator is asked whether one or more preset machine parameters are to be taken into account. If the machine operator wishes to enter one or more job data, the machine operator can do that, for instance using the control unit 15 at the control station 14.

[0171] It is conceivable that not all query blocks 50.1 to 50.3 are provided, but only one block or two blocks 50.1 to 50.3. The sequence of blocks 50.1 to 50.3 may also be changed.

[0172] According to block 50.4, a computing unit of the ground milling machine 10 determines the type of milling drum generally required for the upcoming milling task.

[0173] Block 50.5 determines, for instance using a further processing device, whether milling drums 16 of a suitable milling drum type are present in an actually existing pool of milling drums 16.

[0174] Taking into account the data sets 16.2 of the individual milling drums 16 actually present in the pool and considering the suitable milling drum type, then a determination is made, for instance based on the further processing device, whether a milling drum 16 is present in the pool that is actually suitable for the upcoming milling task (block 50.6).

[0175] In block 50.7, the operator is shown the actually suitable milling drum(s) 16 from the pool, it/they can be identified, e.g., by specifying the characteristic feature 16.4.

[0176] Block 50.8 illustrates that the actually suitable and selected milling drum 16 is connected to the ground milling machine 10.

[0177] Block 50.9 shows that the milling data of the ground milling machine 10 is acquired during or after the milling operation and the new actual current state of the milling drum is determined therefrom. Additionally or alternatively, provision may be made according to block 50.10 to determine the actual current state of the milling drum 16 by means of a detection device, for instance a laser scanner or a camera. In block 50.11, the new (updated) data set 16.2 is generated and stored according to 50.12, for instance in the computing unit 40 and/or the storage unit 16.1 of the milling drum 16.