CONSTRUCTION MACHINE, IN PARTICULAR ROAD PAVER OR TANDEM ROLLER

Abstract

A construction machine, in particular a road paver or tandem roller, for working a ground in a working direction, having a machine frame, an operator platform with at least one operator platform door and at least one travel unit, and an operating unit, the operating unit comprising an operator's seat for an operator of the construction machine, an operating console with operating elements for controlling the construction machine by the operator, a support structure on which both the operator's seat and the operating console are arranged, and a transverse guide with at least one guide rail, wherein the support structure is movably mounted on the at least one guide rail, so that the support structure together with the operator's seat and the operating console are configured to be movable along the at least one guide rail, wherein the support structure is configured such that it can be swiveled together with the operator's seat and the operating console about a swivel axis running in particular in vertical direction, the swivel axis being arranged in the working direction in front of the operator's seat.

Claims

1. A construction machine, in particular a road paver or tandem roller, for working a ground in a working direction, comprising: a machine frame; an operator platform at least one travel unit; and an operating unit, the operating unit comprising: an operator's seat for an operator of the construction machine; an operating console with operating elements for controlling the construction machine by the operator; a support structure on which both the operator's seat and the operating console are arranged; and a transverse guide with at least one guide rail, wherein the support structure is movably mounted on the at least one guide rail, so that the support structure together with the operator's seat and the operating console are configured to be movable along the at least one guide rail, wherein the support structure is configured such that it can be swiveled together with the operator's seat and the operating console about a swivel axis running in particular in vertical direction, the swivel axis being arranged in the working direction in front of the operator's seat.

2. The construction machine according to claim 1, wherein the swivel axis and the operating console are arranged on the supporting structure in the working direction in front of the operator's seat.

3. The construction machine according to claim 1, wherein the support structure is configured to swivel together with the operator's seat and the operating console exclusively about the swivel axis.

4. The construction machine according to claim 1, wherein the transverse guide has, in addition to the guide rail, a further mounting rail which is spaced from the guide rail in vertical direction and preferably runs parallel to the guide rail, and that the support structure is movably mounted on the guide rail and the mounting rail.

5. The construction machine according to claim 1, wherein a support slide is provided, on which the support structure is mounted such that it can be swiveled about the swivel axis together with the operator's seat and the operating console, and that the support slide is movably mounted on the transverse guide, so that the support slide is configured such that it can be moved along the transverse guide, in particular along the guide rail, together with the support structure, the operator's seat and the operating console.

6. The construction machine according to claim 1, wherein the support structure is mounted exclusively on the transverse guide, and that the support structure is mounted on the transverse guide exclusively in the working direction in front of the operator's seat.

7. The construction machine according to claim 6, wherein the operator's seat has a seat index point, and that the support structure is mounted on the guide rail such that it can be swiveled about the swivel axis such that the operator's seat can be swiveled between a straight-ahead position and a side position, wherein a vertical plane through the seat index point and the swivel axis in the straight-ahead position and a vertical plane through the seat index point and the swivel axis in the side position form a swivel angle, and wherein the swivel angle is in particular at least up to 40?, preferably at least up to 50? or at least up to 60? or at least up to 70? or at least up to 80? or at least up to 90?.

8. The construction machine according to claim 7, wherein the vertical plane through the seat index point and the swivel axis is oriented parallel to the working direction when the operator's seat is in the straight-ahead position.

9. The construction machine according to claim 7, wherein the transverse guide runs transversely to the working direction and, at its ends spaced apart transversely to the working direction, in each case defines an end position for the operator's seat, wherein the operator's seat, when in one of these end positions and in the straight-ahead position, is arranged such that the seat index point is arranged at the level of the transverse guide in a direction transverse to the working direction, and that in these end positions the operator's seat can be swiveled away from the guide rail about the swivel axis such that the seat index point lies behind the transverse guide in a direction transverse to the working direction.

10. The construction machine according to claim 9, wherein the seat index point of the operator's seat is adjustable transversely to the working direction beyond the outer contour of the construction machine by a distance, the distance being at least 5 cm, preferably at least 10 cm or at least 15 cm or at least 20 cm or at least 25 cm or at least 30 cm.

11. The construction machine according to claim 1, wherein the operator platform comprises at least one operator platform door, wherein the operator platform door has an outer side with which it forms an outer contour of the construction machine in a closed state, and that the operator's seat, in particular the seat index point of the operator's seat, can be adjusted transversely to the working direction away from a central longitudinal axis of the construction machine to beyond this outer contour of the construction machine by swiveling the operator's seat about the swivel axis when the operator platform door is open.

12. The construction machine according to claim 11, wherein a coupling device is provided which automatically opens and/or closes the operator platform door when the operator's seat is swiveled about the swivel axis next to the operator platform door.

13. The construction machine according to claim 11, wherein the operator platform door is configured such that it can be opened and closed about a door rotation axis, the door rotation axis being located further forward in the working direction than the swivel axis.

14. The construction machine according to claim 1, wherein a horizontally extending swivel floor is provided which can be adjusted, in particular swiveled, between a stowed position, in which the swivel floor is slid in underneath an operator platform floor, and a working position, in which the swivel floor extends the operator platform floor transversely to the working direction, in particular as far as the open operator platform door.

15. The construction machine according to claim 14, wherein the movement of the swivel floor between the stowed position and the working position is coupled to the movement of the operator platform door and/or the support structure, so that the swivel floor is automatically moved along with the operator platform door or the support structure.

16. The construction machine according to claim 1, wherein a locking device is provided to lock the support structure with the operator's seat and the operating console in different positions along the transverse guide and/or in different swivel positions about the swivel axis.

17. The construction machine according to claim 1, wherein it has at least one of the following features: it has an additional armrest console with operating elements for the operator, in particular on the operator's seat; it has an electronic steering system for the construction machine, in particular comprising a joystick; the operator's seat is height-adjustable; the operator's seat is rotatable; the support structure comprises a seat support extending in a radial direction of the swivel axis; the support structure comprises a vertically extending console support.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] The invention will be explained in more detail below by reference to the embodiment examples shown in the figures. In the schematic figures:

[0033] FIG. 1: is a side view of a road paver;

[0034] FIG. 2: is a side view of a tandem roller;

[0035] FIG. 3: is a perspective side view of an operating unit seen obliquely from an upper rear point of view;

[0036] FIG. 4: is a perspective front view of an operating unit seen obliquely from above;

[0037] FIG. 5: is a perspective top view of a road paver with the operator's seat in a central position on the operator platform and in the straight-ahead position;

[0038] FIG. 6: is a perspective top view of a road paver with the operator's seat in the left end position and in the straight-ahead position;

[0039] FIG. 7: is a perspective top view of a road paver with the operator's seat in the left end position and in a side position;

[0040] FIG. 8: is a top view of a road paver with the operator's seat in the left end position and in a side position; and

[0041] FIG. 9: is a perspective top view of a road paver with the operator's seat in a central position on the operator platform and in a side position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] Like parts or functionally like parts are designated by like reference numerals in the figures. Recurring parts are not designated separately in each figure.

[0043] FIGS. 1 and 2 show construction machines 1, more specifically a road paver (FIG. 1) and a tandem roller (FIG. 2). The construction machines 1 preferably have a machine frame 3 with an operator platform 2 and a travel mechanism. The construction machine 1 is operated from the operator platform 2. The travel mechanism preferably comprises travel units 6, which in the case of the road paver of FIG. 1 may be, for example, crawler tracks or wheels. In the case of the tandem roller shown in FIG. 2, the travel units 6 are configured, for example, as compaction drums. In the case of both construction machines 1, however, the travel units 6 might also be configured as wheels. Moreover, the construction machines 1 preferably comprise a drive motor 4, which may be, for example, an internal combustion engine, in particular a diesel engine, or an electric motor, and which provides drive energy for operating the construction machine 1. In working operation, the construction machines 1 move over the ground in or against the working direction or forward direction a and work the ground, for example by laying a base layer with the road paver or by compacting the ground with the tandem roller.

[0044] The road paver according to FIG. 1 preferably has a material hopper 5 in which paving material is stored during operation. This paving material is then transported by the road paver to its rear, where it is preferably distributed by a transverse distribution device such as a screw conveyor and smoothed and precompacted by a paving screed 7. Typically, tandem rollers such as the one shown in FIG. 2 are used behind the paver in working direction a, which compact the ground to a desired compaction by their own weight and optionally by an oscillating movement caused by an imbalance exciter device arranged in one or more of the compaction drums 6.

[0045] The construction machines 1 have at least one operating unit 29 on their operator platform 2, which is shown in detail in FIGS. 3 and 4 by way of example. Components of the operating unit 29 are an operator's seat 8 and an operating console 9 and, according to the invention, a transverse guide 31. To control the construction machine 1, the driver preferably sits in the operator's seat 8. The operator's seat 8 has a seat index point SIP (FIG. 4), which is defined in the EN ISO 5353 standard. The standard also specifies a procedure for unambiguously determining the exact position of the seat index point SIP at any seat. The seat index point SIP is located approximately in the middle of the seat, a few centimeters above the seat surface. More detailed information can be found in the EN ISO 5353 standard. The operating console 9 preferably has operating elements for controlling the construction machine 1 by the operator sitting in the operator's seat 8. In the embodiment example shown, one of these operating elements is, for example, a steering device 10, which may be configured as a steering wheel. The operator's seat 8 is preferably arranged on or attached to a seat support 16 via a seat mount 15. The seat mount 15 may preferably comprise a height adjustment device for the operator's seat 8, so that it vertically adjustable with respect to its seat height. In addition, the seat mount 15 may also include a rotary bearing device for the operator's seat 8, so that the operator's seat 8 is rotatable about a vertical rotation axis. The seat support 16 is in turn preferably connected to a console support 17, the console support 17 preferably extending in vertical direction and supporting the operating console 9. Together, the seat support 16 and the console support 17 preferably form a support structure 30 which, as a whole, provides a rigid connection between the operating console 9 and the operator's seat 8. In turn, the support structure 30 is preferably attached to a support slide 37 (FIG. 4), which preferably comprises a slide frame 36, a slide bushing 19, and a steering slide bushing 25. In addition, the support slide 37 is preferably movably mounted on a mounting rail 38, for example via a slide roller, or is additionally supported on the latter. In particular, the slide frame 36 extends in vertical direction and provides a rigid connection of the slide bushing 19 to the steering slide bushing 25 and the mounting on the mounting rail 38.

[0046] Via the support slide 37, the support structure 30 is preferably mounted on a transverse guide 31. The transverse guide 31 preferably comprises a transverse guide support 21 and at least one guide rail 18. The transverse guide support 21 preferably forms a support frame that mounts the guide rail 18 on the operator platform 2 of the construction machine 1. In the embodiment example shown, the guide rail 18 is preferably configured as a round strut which is engaged around by the slide bushing 19 of the support slide 37. In particular, the slide bushing 19 is mounted on the guide rail 18 via rolling bearings, especially ball bearings, in such a way that the slide bushing 19 and thus also the support slide 37 are movable along the guide rail 18 or the transverse guide 31. The guide rail 18 is preferably oriented transverse or perpendicular to the working direction a, so that the direction of movement of the support slide 37 along the transverse guide 31 is also preferably transverse to the working direction a. In addition to the guide rail 18, the transverse guide 31 may preferably also have a further mounting rail 38, which is preferably vertically spaced from the guide rail 18. The mounting rail 38 is likewise preferably connected to the support slide 37 via a movable bearing, for example a roller bearing, in particular a slide roller. The mounting on the mounting rail 38 preferably forms the counter bearing to the mounting on the guide rail 18, so that these two bearings are configured to absorb the weight force, in particular the entire weight force, of the support slide 37. Furthermore, a steering output shaft 14 is preferably provided, which is part of the steering of the machine via the operating console 9. A steering slide bushing 25 is preferably likewise guided along the steering output shaft 14, which is preferably mounted on the steering output shaft 14 via rolling bearings, for example ball bearings. The steering output shaft 14 is preferably force-free with respect to supporting forces of the support slide 37 and the components arranged thereon, and thus does not perform a supporting function. Overall, it is therefore preferred if the support slide 37 has two, in particular exclusively two, bearings for transmitting its weight force to the transverse guide 31, the two bearings preferably each permitting movement of the support slide 37 along the transverse guide. The two bearings are preferably spaced apart from each other in vertical direction, so as to prevent rotation of the support slide 37 about the guide rail 18 and/or the mounting rail 38, respectively. It is preferred that for the load-bearing mounting of the support slide 37, apart from these two bearings, there are no other connections between the support structure 30, the operator's seat 8, the operating console 9, the support slide 37 on the one hand and the transverse guide 31 or the operator platform 2 or the rest of the construction machine 1 on the other hand. There may further be a connection with the steering output shaft 14 for transmitting steering movements. However, this connection is also preferably not provided to support weight forces of the support slide 37 on the transverse guide 31. In particular, the support structure 30 is configured to be free or floating on the side remote from the transverse guide 31.

[0047] The support slide 37, the support structure 30 and, with the latter, also the operating console 9 and the operator's seat 8 can therefore preferably be adjusted or moved along the transverse guide 31 transversely to the working direction a over the entire extension of the guide rail 18 and/or the mounting rail 38. Preferably, the respective ends of the rails or of the transverse guide 31 specify a respective end position. The end position preferably describes a position of maximum displacement of the support slide 37 along the transverse guide 31 in one of the two possible directions of displacement. The transverse guide 31 therefore preferably provides exactly two end positions, one for each of the displacement directions along the transverse guide 31. For example, the end positions are those positions where the slide bushing 19 and or the steering slide bushing 25 strikes the transverse guide support 21, thereby limiting movement. Alternatively, another stop may be provided on the support slide 37 and on the transverse support 31 to stop or limit the movement of the support slide 37 along the transverse support 31 in the end positions.

[0048] In addition, a locking device 24 (FIG. 3) may be provided to fix the support slide 37 at any position between the two end positions on the transverse support 31. For example, the locking device 24 may include a toothed rack that may be arranged parallel to the guide rail 18 and/or the mounting rail 38. In addition, there may be a lock operating element 20 (FIG. 3), for example in the form of a locking lever, which may be engaged with or disengaged from the locking device 24 by an operator. Preferably, the lock operating element 20 is preloaded toward the position locking the movement, i.e., into engagement with the locking device 24, for example by a spring.

[0049] In order to enable the movement of the support slide 37 and thus also of the operating console 9 along the transverse guide 31, a drag chain 22 is preferably provided, via which the operating elements of the operating console 9 are connected to a control device of the construction machine 1. The drag chain 22 is preferably used to route cables and other lines from the fixed transverse guide 31 onto the movable support slide 37 and up to the operating console 9 and its operating elements. In particular, the drag chain is dimensioned such that it is sufficient for adjusting the support slide 37 between the two end positions of the transverse guide 31.

[0050] An essential basic idea of the invention now is that the support structure 30 together with the operator's seat 8 and the operating console 9 are configured to swivel about a swivel axis S. For this purpose, the support structure 30 is preferably arranged or mounted on the support slide 37 such that it can swivel about a swivel joint defining the swivel axis S. The swivel axis S preferably extends in vertical direction. When the support structure 30 is swiveled about the swivel axis S, the operating console 9 and the operator's seat 8 are automatically swiveled along with the support structure 30. The movement of these components therefore takes place together and about the same swivel angle. In this way, the relative arrangement of the operating console 9 and the operating elements arranged on the operating console 9 with respect to the operator's seat 8 and the operator sitting in the operator's seat 8 always remains the same. The operator can therefore control the construction machine 1 from the operator's seat 8 in the same, intuitive manner via the operating console 9 and, for example, the steering device 10, irrespective of the particular swivel position of the support structure 30 about the swivel axis S. Therefore, the operator does not have to get used to or take into account a changed position of the operating elements or the operating console 9 when swiveling around the swivel axis S. The swivel axis S is preferably arranged in the working direction a in front of the operator's seat 8, in particular just like the transverse guide 31. In other words, the swivel axis S is preferably located at the end of the support structure 30 opposite the operator's seat 8. In this way, the swivel path of the operator's seat 8 becomes as large as possible when swiveling about the swivel axis S, which in turn leads to the position and orientation of the operator's seat 8 with respect to the construction machine 1 or the operator platform 2 changing particularly strongly. The fact that the operator can freely select the swivel position of the operator's seat 8 about the swivel axis S means that he can choose from a variety of different positions and orientations of the operator's seat 8, depending on the requirements of his current work situation with regard to the overview of the construction machine 1 or its external environment.

[0051] A locking device 32 (FIG. 4) is preferably provided so that the operator can lock or fix a freely selected swivel position of the support structure 30, the operating console 9 and the operator's seat 8 about the swivel axis S. The locking device 32 is preferably arranged at the swivel joint of the swivel axis S and comprises, for example, a toothed rim and a lock operating element 23 such as a locking lever. For example, the lock operating element 23 has a stop with which it can engage positively in the toothed rim of the locking device 32 to prevent rotation of the support structure 30 relative to the support slide 37 or the transverse guide 31. Preferably, the lock operating element 23 is preloaded into the locking position by a spring preload. It can be moved out of this position by the operator actuating the lock operating element 23, so that swiveling about the swivel axis S becomes possible. As soon as the operator releases the lock operating element 23, the preload causes the lock operating element 23 to engage the locking device 32 and prevent further swiveling.

[0052] In the embodiment example shown, a steering device 10 in the form of a steering wheel is arranged on the operating console 9. The steering wheel may be part of a mechanical-hydraulic steering system. For this purpose, the rotary movement of the steering wheel, which is triggered by an operator, is preferably transmitted to the steering output shaft 14. Details can be taken from DE 10 2010 035 270 B4, which has already been mentioned. Alternatively, a cable connection may be provided via which signals from an electric steering device can be transmitted.

[0053] FIGS. 5 to 9 show various positions or orientations that the operator's seat 8 and the operating console 9 can assume together with the support structure 30 by moving along the transverse guide 31 and swiveling about the swivel axis S. By way of example, FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a road paver seen obliquely from an upper rear point of view. The operator platform 2 of the road paver is shown without a roof for reasons of clarity. However, the present invention relates to both operator platforms 2 with and without a roof. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the operator's seat 8 is located in the middle of the operator platform 2 and is in a straight-ahead position. An operator sitting in the operator's seat 8 and looking straight ahead from the orientation of the operator's seat 8 thus looks exactly in the working direction a. In addition, the operator's seat 8 is arranged exactly in the middle between the two end positions specified by the transverse guide 31. In this position, the driver has a particularly symmetrical view to the front and rear. FIG. 5 also shows an example of how an additional operating console, more specifically an armrest console 33 on the operator's seat 8, may be provided. Further operating elements for the construction machine 1 may be arranged on the additional operating console, i.e., the armrest console 33. For example, a joystick 34 may be arranged on the armrest console 33, which may be provided in addition or as an alternative to the steering device 10, which is configured as a steering wheel. For example, the construction machine 1 may have an electronic control system or an electronic steering system that is controlled by the joystick 34. It is also possible for two such additional operating consoles to be provided, for example on both armrests.

[0054] In FIG. 6, the operator's seat 8 is in the left end position specified by the transverse guide 31 with respect to the movement transverse to the working direction a. In this position, the operator's seat 8 and the operating console 9 are located directly next to the left operator platform door 26. In a completely analogous manner, however, the operator's seat 8 and the operating console 9 could also be moved along the transverse guide 31 to the right side of the operator platform 2 and to the right end position, so that they are located immediately adjacent to the right operator platform door 26. FIG. 6 only shows the left end position as an example. In addition, FIG. 6 shows the vehicle pillars of the operator platform 2 of the construction machine 1, specifically the A-pillar A and the B-pillar B. If the operator wants to observe the external environment to the left side and to the left in front of the machine 1 from the operator's seat 8 in the position shown in FIG. 6, he must look past the vehicle pillar A. In other words, in the example shown, the vehicle pillar A is directly in the operator's field of view and obstructs him from observing the working environment.

[0055] This can be addressed by the present invention. FIG. 7 shows a situation in which the left operator platform door 26 is open. In addition, the support structure 30 together with the operating console 9 and the operator's seat 8 is swiveled outward about the swivel axis S. The outward swivel movement refers to a swivel movement about the swivel axis S away from the central longitudinal axis M of the construction machine 1. As the figure shows, the operator's seat 8 has swiveled out through the open operator platform door 26 or the opening left by the open operator platform door 26, into an area that was still outside the operator platform 2 when the operator platform door 26 was closed as shown in FIG. 6. In particular, the operator's seat 8 has been moved by swiveling about the swivel axis S to a position further away from the central longitudinal axis M of the construction machine 1 than the A-pillar A. As will be explained in more detail below, this information refers in particular to the seat index point SIP of the operator's seat 8. In this way, the operator can comfortably look past the A-pillar A from the operator's seat 8 and observe the external environment of the construction machine 1. In addition, it is particularly easy for him to look past another vehicle on the construction site, for example a truck driving in front of or behind the construction machine 1. Communication with the operator of this other vehicle, for example via hand signals, which is customary on construction sites, is also facilitated. In particular, he can also look along the outer contour of the machine, and determine with high precision, for example, where the construction machine 1 is traveling along and which portions of the ground are therefore being worked by it and which are not. Distances to obstacles can also be determined particularly precisely in this way. The operator can open the operator platform door 26 manually. Alternatively, a coupling device 35 (FIG. 3) may be provided on the support structure 30, for example on the seat support 16, which leads to automatic opening of the operator platform door 26 when the support structure 30 is swiveled about the swivel axis S in one of the end positions of the transverse guide 31. The coupling device 35 may, for example, be a stop that pushes the operator platform door 26 open in an outward direction. In addition, the coupling device 35 may also comprise a magnet so that the operator platform door 26 may also be automatically closed by the coupling device 35 when the support structure 30 and the operator's seat 8 and the operating panel 9 are swiveled back from the swiveled-out position to the straight-ahead position.

[0056] To prevent the operator's seat 8 from hanging freely in the air or floating freely above the ground over which the construction machine 1 travels in the swiveled-out position as shown in FIG. 7, a swivel floor 27 is preferably provided. This swivel floor is preferably in the form of a circular sector and can be swiveled about a swivel axis, in particular between a stowed position and a working position. The swivel axis of the swivel floor 27 is preferably coaxial with a door rotation axis T (FIG. 8), and the swivel axis of the swivel floor 27 is also preferably arranged at the tip of the circular sector. In the stowed position, the swivel floor 27 is preferably arranged in a stowage compartment under the operator platform floor 28 and can be extended out of said compartment into a working position in which the swivel floor 27 preferably bridges or closes the area between the operator platform floor 28 and the open operator platform door 26 in the horizontal plane. The swivel floor 27 thus extends the operator platform floor 28 beyond the actual extension of the operator platform floor 28 when the operator platform door 26 is open, and therefore secures the operator, who is no longer located above the operator platform floor 28 when the operator's seat 8 is in the swiveled-out position. In the side position, the operator's seat 8 is then arranged above the swivel floor 27, which is in the working position.

[0057] For further explanation, the situations of FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are again summarized in FIG. 8 in a top view. More specifically, FIG. 8 shows the position of the operator's seat 8, the operating console 9 and the support structure 30 as well as the operator platform door 26 and the swivel floor 27 as shown in FIG. 7. The positions of these elements according to FIGS. 5 and 6 are shown in phantom lines. FIG. 8 now shows various preferred geometric configurations of the invention. For example, it can be seen from FIG. 8 that the displacement direction h of the support structure 30 with the operating console 9 and the operator's seat 8 is transverse to the working direction a. In addition, FIG. 8 shows that the swiveling of the support structure 30 or the operating console 9 and the operator's seat 8 about the swivel axis S is preferably characterized by a swivel angle W that is spanned by two vertical planes, each of which passes through the seat index point SIP of the operator's seat 8 and the swivel axis S. One vertical plane results from the straight-ahead position of the operator's seat 8 before it is swiveled about the swivel axis S, and the second vertical plane results from the side position of the operator's seat 8 after it has been swiveled about the swivel axis S. Between these two vertical planes is the swivel angle W, which is measured in the horizontal plane. The greater the swivel angle W, the further outward the operator's seat 8 and also its seat index point SIP can be swiveled. FIG. 8 also shows that the operator platform door 26 can be opened or closed about a door rotation axis T. In addition, the door rotation axis T is preferably arranged in the working direction a in front of the swivel axis S. In particular, the door rotation axis T is arranged in the working direction a in front of the swivel axis S by an offset v. This ensures that the support structure 30 and, in particular, the operating console 9 can be swiveled about the swivel axis S even in the end positions specified by the transverse guide 31. If, for example, the door rotation axis T in FIG. 8 were merely in the working direction a at the level of the swivel axis S and not in front of it, the left rear edge of the operating console 9, which in FIG. 8 projects beyond the outer contour of the construction machine 1, would collide with the operator platform door 26. By contrast, the preferred arrangement of the door rotation axis T in the working direction a in front of the swivel axis S provides sufficient space in this area so that the operating console 9 can also swivel freely into the side position.

[0058] In particular, FIG. 8 also shows that the seat index point SIP of the operator's seat 8 can preferably be swiveled outward to beyond an outer contour K of the construction machine 1. The outer contour K of the construction machine 1 is defined by the outer surface of the construction machine 1 and in particular of the operator platform 2 when the operator platform door 26 is closed. In that area in which the closed operator platform door 26 is arranged, the outer contour K of the construction machine 1 is thus defined by the position of the outer surface of the closed operator platform door 26. In this case, the outer contour K of the construction machine 1 remains as a virtual reference surface in the same position as it is in when the operator platform door 26 is closed, even when the operator platform door 26 is open. The operator's seat 8 and, in particular, also the seat index point SIP of the operator's seat 8 are thus swiveled outward beyond this outer contour K by swiveling the support structure 30 about the swivel axis S. In particular, the seat index point SIP is moved beyond the outer contour K such that it has a distance d to the outer contour K. The distance d is measured in particular in a direction transverse to the working direction a.

[0059] It is again pointed out that the above explanations refer to the left side of the construction machine 1 only by way of example. All operations may also be performed on the other, i.e., right side of the construction machine 1. With regard to the elements and operations described, the operator platform 2 and the control unit 29 are thus preferably mirror-symmetrical. For example, the operator's seat 8 can be swiveled beyond the outer contour K of the construction machine 1 also on the right side when the operator platform door 26 is open. A swivel floor 27 is also arranged on this side. Therefore, to avoid repetitions, reference is made to the above discussion.

[0060] FIG. 9 shows that swiveling of the support structure 30 with the operator's seat 8 and the operating console 9 about the swivel axis S is also possible in a position along the transverse guide 31 that is not an end position. In FIG. 9, for example, the operator's seat 8 is completely within the operator platform 2, although it is in a side position, i.e., in a position swiveled about the swivel axis S. This also allows the operator to adopt different positions and different orientations of the operator's seat within the operator platform, thus improving his overview of the construction machine 1 and the work process. Overall, therefore, the invention makes it possible to significantly improve the flexibility of an operating unit 29 of a generic construction machine 1 and thus to increase work safety and work quality.