Road construction machine with air barrier device and method

Abstract

The disclosure refers to a road construction machine, adapted in particular in the form of a road paver or a feeder vehicle for a road paver. According to the disclosure, the road construction machine comprises a first and/or a second air barrier device adapted to shield a driver and/or an operator of the road construction machine. Furthermore, the disclosure refers to a corresponding method for generating an air flow during operation of a road construction machine in order to shield a driver and/or an operator from vapors and/or aerosols rising during operation of the road construction machine.

Claims

1. A road construction machine configured as a road paver or a feeder vehicle for a road paver, comprising an operating platform for a driver of the road construction machine and/or an external control station for an operator of the road construction machine, a first air barrier device for the driver of the road construction machine and/or a second air barrier device for the operator of the external control station of the road construction machine, as well as a hopper arranged in front of the operating platform in a direction of travel and having lateral hopper halves for receiving a paving material, wherein, viewed from above, the first air barrier device is adapted to generate at least one directed air flow in a form of an air wall extending within an area present laterally of and adjacent to the operating platform and/or the second air barrier device is adapted to generate at least one directed air flow in a form of an air wall extending within an area present laterally of and adjacent to the external control station.

2. The road construction machine according to claim 1, wherein the air wall generated by means of the first air barrier device and/or by means of the second air barrier device is adapted as an air wall intersecting the direction of travel of the road construction machine.

3. The road construction machine according to claim 1, wherein the first air barrier device comprises at least one nozzle arranged on a roof segment extendable transversely to the direction of travel, at least one nozzle arranged on a driver's seat console which can be swiveled out sideways relative to the operating platform, at least one nozzle arranged on an A-pillar of a roof structure and/or at least one nozzle arranged on the hopper halves for generating the air wall.

4. The road construction machine according to claim 3, characterized in that the at least one nozzle of the first air barrier device is integrally formed on a component of the extendable roof segment, integrally formed on a substructure or on a fall-out protection of the driver's seat console, integrally formed within the A-pillar and/or integrally formed within an upper edge of a hopper half of the hopper halves.

5. The road construction machine according to claim 1, wherein the first air barrier device or at least one fan device supporting the first air barrier device is adapted to generate at least one directed air flow in a form of an air wall associated in the direction of travel at least in sections along a front area of the operating platform.

6. The road construction machine according to claim 1, wherein the second air barrier device comprises at least one nozzle arranged on a sideshift of the external control station for generating the air wall and/or at least one nozzle arranged on a roof of the external control station for generating the air wall.

7. The road construction machine according to claim 1, wherein the second air barrier device comprises at least one nozzle arranged at a rear screed wall for generating an upwardly directed air flow and/or at least one nozzle arranged below a screed walkway for generating an air flow directed against the direction of travel of the road construction machine.

8. The road construction machine according to claim 1, wherein the road construction machine comprises at least one lateral engine compartment opening for drawing in air for the first air barrier device and/or the second air barrier device.

9. The road construction machine according to claim 1, wherein the first barrier device and/or the second air barrier device are/is operable by means of a fan formed in an engine compartment of the road construction machine for generating a cooling air flow and/or comprises at least one filter unit arranged in the engine compartment for cleaning air conveyed thereby.

10. The road construction machine according to claim 1, wherein a volume flow generated by means of the first air barrier device and/or the second air barrier device can be varied dynamically depending on a set and/or detected process parameter of the road construction machine.

11. The road construction machine according to claim 1, wherein, viewed from above, the first air barrier device is adapted to generate the at least one directed air flow in the form of the air wall extending within the area present laterally of and adjacent to the operating platform so that rising vapors and/or aerosols are transported away to a side of the road construction machine, and/or the second air barrier device is adapted to generate the at least one directed air flow in the form of the air wall extending within the area present laterally of and adjacent to the external control station so that rising vapors and/or aerosols are transported away to a side of the road construction machine.

12. A method for generating an air flow during operation of a road construction machine configured as a road paver or a feeder vehicle for a road paver, the method comprising generating, by a first air barrier device of the road construction machine, at least one directed air flow in a form of an air wall extending within an area present laterally of and adjacent to an operating platform of the road construction machine when viewed from above, and/or generating, by a second air barrier device, at least one directed air flow in a form of an air wall extending within an area present laterally of and adjacent to an external control station of the road construction machine when viewed from above.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the method comprises generating the air wall by the first air barrier device so that the air wall intersects a direction of travel of the road construction machine.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the method comprises generating the air wall by the second air barrier device so that the air wall intersects a direction of travel of the road construction machine.

15. The method according to claim 12 further comprising varying a volume flow generated by the first air barrier device and/or the second air barrier device dynamically depending on a set and/or detected process parameter of the road construction machine.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein the first air barrier device generates the at least one directed air flow in the form of the air wall extending within the area present laterally of and adjacent to the operating platform so that rising vapors and/or aerosols are transported away to a side of the road construction machine, and/or the second air barrier device generates the at least one directed air flow in the form of the air wall extending within the area present laterally of and adjacent to the external control station so that rising vapors and/or aerosols are transported away to a side of the road construction machine.

17. A road construction machine configured as a road paver or a feeder vehicle for a road paver, comprising an operating platform for a driver of the road construction machine and/or an external control station for an operator of the road construction machine, the road construction machine further comprising a first air barrier device for the driver of the road construction machine and/or a second air barrier device for the operator of the external control station of the road construction machine, wherein, viewed from above, the first air barrier device is configured to generate at least one directed air flow in a form of a first air wall extending within an area present laterally of and adjacent to the operating platform so that the first air wall extends away from a perimeter of the road construction machine and/or the second air barrier device is configured to generate at least one directed air flow in a form of a second air wall extending within an area present laterally of and adjacent to the external control station so that the second air wall extends away from the perimeter of the road construction machine.

18. The road construction machine according to claim 17, wherein, viewed from above, the first air barrier device is adapted to generate the first air wall so that rising vapors and/or aerosols are transported away to a side of the road construction machine, and/or the second air barrier device is adapted to generate the second air wall so that rising vapors and/or aerosols are transported away to a side of the road construction machine.

19. The road construction machine according to claim 17, wherein the road construction machine comprises the operating platform and a hopper arranged in front of the operating platform in a direction of travel, and wherein the hopper is configured to receive a paving material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Advantageous embodiments of the disclosure are explained in more detail with reference to the following figures.

(2) FIG. 1 shows the road construction machine according to the disclosure in the form of a road paver during a paving operation;

(3) FIG. 2 shows the road construction machine according to the disclosure in the form of a feeder vehicle for a road paver;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of a road paver from the top view with air barrier zones set up next to the operating platform and next to an external control station;

(5) FIG. 4 shows an operator's protecting roof with retractable roof segments;

(6) FIG. 5A shows a schematic view of an external control station with a roof and an air barrier device formed thereon; and

(7) FIG. 5B shows a schematic view of a supplementary air barrier device for the external control station.

(8) Identical components are marked with the same reference numerals throughout the Figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) FIG. 1 shows a road construction machine in the form of a road paver 1. The road paver 1 is configured to produce a paving layer 3 from a paving material 2 in the direction of travel R. To produce the paving layer 3, the road paver 1 has a paving screed 4 whose produced pave width is adjustable by means of extendable extending units 5. An external control station 6 for an operator B is provided on the extending unit 5 shown in FIG. 1. At the external control station 6, the operator B can set and monitor working functions of the screed 4, in particular of the extending unit 5. The external control station 6 is attached to a sideshift 7. The sideshift 7 limits the width of the produced paving layer 3.

(10) The road paver 1 shown in FIG. 1 also has an operating platform 8, which is located below an overhead guard 9. On the operating platform 8, a driver F of the road paver 1 can control and monitor work processes running on the road paver 1.

(11) FIG. 1 further shows that the driver F of the road paver 1 is positioned on a driver's seat console 10, which is swiveled laterally out of the area of the operating platform 8, so that the driver F can better overlook processes running on the road paver 1, in particular a filling level of the paving material 2 received in front of him inside a hopper 11.

(12) In FIG. 1, the paving material 2 is stored inside the hopper 11 up to lateral hopper halves 12. The paving material 2 stored inside the hopper 11, in particular inside the lateral hopper halves 12, is transported backwards to the paving screed 4 by means of a longitudinal conveying device (not shown) against the direction of travel R of the road paver 1 and distributed in front of the paving screed 4 within a transverse spreader duct 13 in the direction of the extending units 5. The paving material 2 thus distributed transversely in front of the paving screed 4 and the extending units 5 formed thereon is compacted into the paving layer 3 during the paving travel of the road paver 1.

(13) FIG. 2 shows a road construction machine in the form of a feeder vehicle 14. During a material transfer process, the feeder vehicle 14 can travel ahead of the road paver 1 shown in FIG. 1 in the direction of travel R and supply its hopper 11 with paving material 2. The feeder vehicle 14 shown in FIG. 2 has a hopper 15 comprising lateral hopper halves 16. During a material transfer process, the paving material 2 is transported from the hopper 15 of the feeder vehicle 14 to a feeder belt 17 by means of a longitudinal conveyor in the opposite direction to the direction of travel R and is thrown by this longitudinal conveyor into the hopper 11 of the road paver 1 which is following closely behind.

(14) The feeder vehicle 14 shown in FIG. 2 has an operating platform 18 that is structurally similar to the operating platform 8 shown in FIG. 1. In particular, the feeder vehicle 14 of FIG. 2 may also have a swivel-out driver's seat console 19 for a driver F.

(15) FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of the road paver 1. The road paver 1 has a first air barrier device 20a, which creates an air wall 22 within an area 21 positioned to the side of the operating platform 8, by means of which rising vapors and/or aerosols D, in particular those from the hopper halves 12, can be shielded from the driver F who is positioned within the area 21, and can be transported away to the side. This air barrier principle is shown in FIG. 3 on both laterally adjacent zones of the operating platform 8.

(16) In FIG. 3, it is shown that the first air barrier device 20a comprises a nozzle 24 positioned inside an A-pillar 23 to generate the air wall 22 at an angle with respect to the direction of travel R. Alternatively or complementarily, an air wall serving to protect the driver F positioned within the area 21 could also be generated by means of a nozzle 27 arranged on a front edge 25 of an extendable roof segment 26 and/or by means of a nozzle 29 formed on a substructure 28 of the extendable driver's seat console 10. On the other side of the road paver 1, there could be a similar nozzle assembly for generating the air wall 22 and/or another air wall located within the area 21.

(17) FIG. 3 also shows a B-pillar 50 for the overhead guard 9, which is positioned behind the A-pillar 23 in the direction of travel R. An air wall 60 is blown out of the B-pillar 50 by means of a nozzle 51 installed in it, which together with the air wall 22 blown out of the A-pillar 23 further forward forms an air duct K for the driver F. The driver F shown in FIG. 3 is shielded both from vapors and/or aerosols D rising from the hopper area in front of him and from vapors and/or aerosols D rising from the transverse spreader duct 13 behind him.

(18) The first air barrier device 20a shown in FIG. 3, described above, may be installed in a similar manner on the feeder vehicle 14 of FIG. 2.

(19) FIG. 3 further shows a second air barrier device 20b, which is associated in particular with a lateral area 30 of the external control station 6 in order to generate in this zone an air wall 31 blown out at an angle with respect to the direction of travel R. The air wall 31 protects an operator B of the external control station 6 positioned within the area 30 from vapors and/or aerosols D rising from the transverse spreader duct 13.

(20) FIG. 3 further shows that the second air barrier device 20b generates the air wall 31 by means of a nozzle 32 positioned at the sideshift 7. FIG. 3 further shows that a roof 33 for the operator B is provided for the external control station 6 of the left side of the screed. On the roof 33 shown in FIG. 3, a nozzle 35 is formed along a front edge 34 for forming a vertical air curtain directed from top to bottom in front of the operator B in the direction of travel R.

(21) FIG. 3 shows that the second air barrier device 20b is formed on both the left and right external control station 6. Furthermore, FIG. 3 shows that another nozzle 37 is formed along a screed rear wall 36 to create an upwardly directed air wall 45 (see FIG. 5B) substantially along the set screed width, which rises as an air wall between the road paver 1 and a following compactor vehicle.

(22) FIG. 3 further shows an air flow 38 blown out behind the paving screed 4 in the opposite direction to the direction of travel R, which covers the produced paving layer 3 in the form of an air carpet.

(23) FIG. 4 shows the overhead guard 9 with extendable roof segments 26 that can be used for the road paver 1 in FIG. 1. The overhead guard 9 can also be used for the feeder vehicle 14 shown in FIG. 2. In FIG. 4, the roof segments 26 are in extended position. The extension of one of the two roof segments 26 takes place, for example, automatically in response to a swiveling-out of the driver's seat console 10, 19 positioned below it. Air flows out downwards at the front edge 25 of the two roof segments 26 in order to form an air wall for the driver F within the area 21 (see FIG. 3). Furthermore, FIG. 4 shows that an air flow directed from top to bottom emerges along an outer edge 39 of the roof segments 25. In this way, a driver F positioned below can be shielded inside an air cabin from vapors and/or aerosols D rising from the hopper area.

(24) FIG. 5A shows a schematic view of the paving screed 4 viewed from the rear in the direction of travel R with the extending units 5 and an external control station 6 arranged thereon with a roof 33. An air flow 40 emerges from the roof 33 from above from the nozzle 35 in front of the operator B positioned below. FIG. 5A further shows a vertically installed nozzle 41 for blowing out an air flow 42 directed sideways, which blows away vapors and/or aerosols sideways in front of the operator B.

(25) FIG. 5B shows in schematic view that a further nozzle 44 is arranged below a walkway 43 attached to the rear wall of the screed 36. The nozzle 44 is adapted to generate underneath the walkway 43 an air flow 38 directed against the direction of travel R directly above the paving layer 3 in order to cover vapors and/or aerosols D rising from the paving layer 3.

(26) The first and/or second air barrier device 20a, 20b shown in the Figures can draw in air through an engine compartment opening 46, 46 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 directly above the undercarriage of the road paver 1 or the feeder vehicle 14.