Self-Propelled Civil Engineering Machine And Method Of Controlling A Civil Engineering Machine

Abstract

A civil engineering machine and a method of controlling the machine are based on the position of at least one reference point which is relevant to the control of the civil engineering machine being changed, as the civil engineering machine moves, as a function of a relative position of the at least one reference point relative to a desired path of travel.

Claims

1-19. (canceled)

20. A self-propelled civil engineering machine, comprising: a chassis; a working unit arranged on the chassis and configured to produce structures on a piece of ground or to change the piece of ground; a drive unit configured to move the chassis and working unit in translatory and/or rotational movements on the piece of ground; at least one reference point defined on the civil engineering machine; at least one sensor configured to detect a position of the at least one reference point relative to the piece of ground; and a controller configured to receive input signals from the at least one sensor and to send control signals to the drive unit, the controller being configured to determine a deviation of the at least one reference point from a desired path of travel and to control the drive unit as a function of the deviation, so that the at least one reference point moves along the desired path of travel or at preset spacing from the desired path of travel, the controller being configured such that as the civil engineering machine moves, the position of the at least one reference point relative to the civil engineering machine can be changed as a function of the position of the at least one reference point relative to the desired path of travel.

21. The civil engineering machine of claim 20, wherein: the controller is configured such that before a transition from a substantially straight section of the desired path of travel to a curved section of the desired path of travel, the position of the at least one reference point can be shifted relative to the civil engineering machine rearward opposite to a direction of travel of the civil engineering machine.

22. The civil engineering machine of claim 20, wherein: the at least one reference point includes a front reference point and a rear reference point; and the controller is configured such that before or when the front reference point reaches a transition from a substantially straight section of the desired path of travel to a curved section of the desired path of travel, the position of the front reference point is shifted rearward relative to the civil engineering machine toward the rear reference point.

23. The civil engineering machine of claim 22, wherein: the controller is configured such that when the rear reference point reaches the transition, the front reference point is substantially coincident with the rear reference point, and the front reference point is inactivated while the rear reference point traverses the curved section of the desired path of travel.

24. The civil engineering machine of claim 23, wherein: the controller is configured such that as the rear reference point traverses the curved section of the desired path of travel the position of the front reference point is shifted forward, relative to the civil engineering machine away from the rear reference point.

25. The civil engineering machine of claim 22, wherein: the controller is configured such that when the rear reference point reaches the transition, the front reference point is at a preset spacing from the rear reference point.

26. The civil engineering machine of claim 25, wherein: the controller is configured such that before or when the rear reference point reaches a second transition from the curved section to another substantially straight section of the desired path of travel, the position of the front reference point relative to the civil engineering machine is shifted forward relative to the civil engineering machine to an original spacing between the front and rear reference points.

27. The civil engineering machine of claim 20, wherein: the drive unit includes one or more front wheels or running-gear units and one or more rear wheels or running-gear units; the at least one reference point includes a front reference point and a rear reference point; and the controller is configured such that: in a first mode of control a position of the front wheels or running-gear units and of the rear wheels or running-gear units is varied as a function of a deviation of the front reference point from the desired path of travel and of a deviation of the rear reference point from the desired path of travel; and in a second mode of control the position of the front wheels or running gear units is varied as a function of the deviation of the rear reference point from the desired path of travel.

28. A method of controlling a drive unit of a self-propelled civil engineering machine, the method comprising: (a) defining a defined position of at least one reference point on the civil engineering machine; (b) defining a desired path of travel of the at least one reference point relative to a ground surface, the desired path of travel including at least one substantially straight portion and at least one curved portion; (c) determining a deviation of the at least one reference point from the desired path of travel; (d) controlling the drive unit as a function of the deviation such that the at least one reference point on the civil engineering machine moves along the desired path of travel; and (e) changing the defined position of the at least one reference point on the civil engineering machine as a function of a relative position of that at least one reference point relative to the desired path of travel.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein: step (e) further comprises, before the relative position of the at least one reference point relative to the desired path of travel reaches a transition from the substantially straight portion to the curved portion, shifting the defined position of the at least one reference point rearward relative to the civil engineering machine.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein: in step (a), the at least one reference point includes a front reference point and a rear reference point; and step (e) further comprises, before or when the front reference point reaches a transition from the substantially straight section of the desired path of travel to the curved section of the desired path of travel, shifting the defined position of the front reference point rearward toward the rear reference point.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein: step (e) further comprises, continuing to shift the defined position of the front reference point rearward so that the front reference point is substantially coincident with the rear reference point by the time the rear reference point reaches the transition.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein: step (e) further comprises, shifting the front reference point forward as the rear reference point traverses the curved section of the desired path of travel.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein: step (e) further comprises, continuing to shift the defined position of the front reference point rearward so that the front reference point is at a preset spacing from the rear reference point by the time the rear reference point reaches the transition.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein: step (e) further comprises, before or when the rear reference point reaches a second transition from the curved section to another substantially straight section of the desired path of travel, shifting the defined position of the front reference point forward relative to the civil engineering machine to an original spacing between the front and rear reference points.

35. The method of claim 28, wherein: step (a) further comprises defining defined positions of a front reference point and a rear reference point; step (d) further comprises controlling positions of front and rear wheels or running gear units of the drive unit; and step (d) further comprises: (d)(1) in a first mode of control, varying position of the front and rear wheels or running-gear units as a function of a deviation of the front reference point from the desired path of travel and a deviation of the rear reference point from the desired path of travel; and (d)(2) in a second mode of control, varying the position of the front wheels or running-gear units as a function of the deviation of the rear reference point from the desired path of travel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] FIG. 1 is a view from the side of an embodiment of a slipform paver.

[0028] FIG. 2 is a view from the side of an embodiment of a road milling machine.

[0029] FIG. 3.1 is a highly simplified schematic view of a slipform paver in a first position where the slipform paver is moving along a straight section of a preset desired distance or path of travel.

[0030] FIG. 3.2 shows the slipform paver in a second position where the slipform paver is moving along the straight section towards a first discontinuity in the preset distance or path of travel.

[0031] FIG. 3.3 shows the slipform paver in a third position where the slipform paver is continuing to move along the straight section towards the first discontinuity in the preset distance or path of travel.

[0032] FIG. 3.4 shows the slipform paver in a fourth position where the slipform paver is situated at the first discontinuity in the preset distance or path of travel.

[0033] FIG. 3.5 shows the slipform paver in a fifth position where the slipform paver is situated at the first discontinuity.

[0034] FIG. 3.6 shows the slipform paver in a sixth position where the slipform paver is moving along a curved section of the preset distance or path of travel.

[0035] FIG. 3.7 shows the slipform paver in a seventh position where the slipform paver is moving along the curved section of the preset distance or path of travel towards a second discontinuity.

[0036] FIG. 3.8 shows the slipform paver in an eighth position where the slipform paver is continuing to move along the curved section of the preset distance or path of travel towards the second discontinuity.

[0037] FIG. 3.9 shows the slipform paver in a ninth position where the slipform paver is situated at the second discontinuity.

[0038] FIG. 3.10 shows the slipform paver in a tenth position where the slipform paver is situated at the second discontinuity.

[0039] FIG. 3.11 shows the slipform paver in an eleventh position after the transition from the curved section of the preset distance or path of travel to the straight section thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] FIG. 1 is a view from the side of a slip form paver which serves as an example of a self-propelled civil engineering machine. Because slipform pavers as such are part of the prior art, all that will be described here are those components of the civil engineering machine which are material to the invention.

[0041] The slipform paver 1 has a chassis 2 which is carried by running gear 3. The running gear 3 has two front and two rear track-laying running-gear units 4A, 4B which are fastened to front and rear lifting columns 5A, 5B. The direction of operation (direction of travel) of the slipform paver is indicated by an arrow A.

[0042] The track-laying running-gear units 4A, 4B and the lifting columns 5A, 5B are part of a drive unit to enable the civil engineering machine to perform translatory and/or rotational movements on the ground. By raising and lowering the lifting columns 5A, 5B, the chassis 2 of the machine can be moved relative to the ground to adjust its height and inclination. The civil engineering machine can be moved backwards and forwards with the steerable track-laying running-gear units 4A, 4B. The civil engineering machine thus has three degrees of freedom in translation and three in rotation.

[0043] The slipform paver 1 has an arrangement 6 for moulding concrete which is only indicated and which will be referred to below as a concrete mould. The concrete mould is part of a working unit which has work-doing means for producing a structure 7 of a preset shape on the ground.

[0044] FIG. 2 is a view from the side of a self-propelled road milling machine which serves as a further example of a civil engineering machine. The road milling machine too has, once again, a chassis 9 which is carried by running gear 10. The running gear 10 once again has front and rear track-laying running-gear units 12A, 12B which are fastened to front and rear lifting columns 13A, 13B. The road milling machine has a working unit 14 which has work-doing means to change the ground. This is a milling arrangement 14 having a milling drum 14A fitted with milling tools.

[0045] FIGS. 3.1 to 3.11 show various positions of a civil engineering machine, which is only shown in a highly simplified form, when entering and leaving a curve. The present embodiment is a slipform paver which is merely indicated. It has a chassis 15, a drive unit 16 having front and rear track-laying running-gear units 17A, 17B, a steering arrangement for steering the front and rear track-laying running-gear units 17A, 17B, and a concrete mould 19.

[0046] The slipform paver is going to produce, as a structure, a traffic island in the form of a cigar. For this purpose, the slipform paver has to move along a preset distance or path of travel which will be referred to in what follows as the desired distance or path of travel 20. FIGS. 3.1 to 3.11 show only part of the desired distance or path of travel by which the geometrical shape of the cigar is defined.

[0047] The desired distance or path of travel 20 has a first straight section 20A which merges into a radiused section 20B covering 180, which is again followed by a straight section 20C. In the present embodiment, the line followed by the desired distance or path of travel is laid down in a co-ordinate system (X, Y) which is independent of the movement of the civil engineering machine. As well as the fixed co-ordinate system (X, Y), what is also shown in FIGS. 3.1 to 3.11 is a co-ordinate system (x, y) referred to the civil engineering machine.

[0048] To control the drive unit 16, the civil engineering machine has a control and calculating unit 23 which is merely indicated. The control and calculating unit 23 controls the drive unit 16 in such a way that the civil engineering machine performs on the ground the translatory and/or rotational movements required to enable it to produce the structure 22 or change the ground when the civil engineering machine moves along the preset desired distance or path of travel. The control and calculating unit 23 comprises all the components required to carry out calculating operations and to generate control signals for the drive unit 16. It may be one self-contained sub-assembly or may comprise a plurality of separate sub-assemblies which may not only be arranged on the civil engineering machine but some or all of which may also be arranged on the ground near to the civil engineering machine.

[0049] In the present embodiment, the control and calculating unit 23 has a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) 24 which comprises a first GNSS receiver 24A and a second GNSS receiver 24B which are arranged in different positions on the civil engineering machine. As well as the two GNSS receivers, the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) may also have, on the ground, a reference station (not shown) for generating correcting signals. Using the two GNSS receivers, the GNSS system 24 determines data which gives the positions of the GNSS receivers in the co-ordinate system (X, Y). As well as this, the control and calculating unit may also have a programmable logic control system which is also referred to as a PLC system.

[0050] From the positions of the two GNSS receivers 24A, 24B and the known geometry of the civil engineering machine, the control and calculating unit 23 calculates the position of a reference point 25 on the civil engineering machine which is at the front in the direction of operation and the position of a reference point 26 on the machine which is at the rear in the direction of operation. The two reference points 25, 26 lie on a straight line which extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the civil engineering machine. The rear reference point 26 is situated in this case in line with that edge of the concrete mould 19 which is on the inside and at the rear in the direction of travel. This edge corresponds to the outer boundary of the structure 22 to be produced. The two reference points are arranged at an original spacing I.

[0051] The control and calculating unit 23 also has means for determining data defining the line followed by the desired distance or path of travel 20. Using a virtual design model, the line followed by the desired distance or path of travel is preset in the co-ordinate system (X, Y). This design model may be entered manually or may be read into a memory 23A belonging to the control and calculating unit 23 from a data carrier.

[0052] As well as this, the control and calculating unit 23 also has means for determining the deviation from the desired distance or path of travel 20 of the positions of the reference point 25 which is at the front in the direction of operation and of the reference point 26 which is at the rear in the direction of operation.

[0053] The control and calculating unit 23 controls the drive unit, i.e. the front and rear track-laying running-gear units 17A, 17B, as a function of the spacing between the reference point and the desired distance or path of travel. The control and calculating unit provides for this purpose two different modes of control.

[0054] In the first mode of control, the drive unit 16 is controlled as a function of the spacing between the rear reference point 26 and the desired distance or path of travel 20 and as a function of the spacing between the front reference point 25 and the desired distance or path of travel. The control of the drive unit takes place in such a way that, this spacing of both the rear and the front reference points corresponds to a preset value during an advancing movement of the civil engineering, i.e. the civil engineering machine moves along the desired distance or path of travel at a preset spacing therefrom. The pivoted position of the rear track-laying running-gear units 17B is controlled in this case as a function of the deviation of the rear reference point 26 from the desired distance or path of travel 20 and the pivoted position of the front track-laying running-gear units 17A is controlled as a function of the deviation of the front reference point 25 from the desired distance or path of travel 20. The deviations of the reference points from the desired distance or path of travel are calculated by the control and calculating unit using the GPS system 24.

[0055] In the second mode of control on the other hand, the drive unit 16 is controlled as a function of the deviation only between the rear reference point 26 and the desired distance or path of travel 20. The control of the front track-laying running-gear units 17A takes place in such a way that the spacing of the rear reference point 26 on the civil engineering machine corresponds to a preset value during an advancing movement of the civil engineering machine, i.e. the rear reference point moves along the desired distance or path of travel at a preset spacing therefrom.

[0056] FIGS. 3.1 to 3.5 show the movement of the civil engineering machine as it advances along the straight section 20A of the desired distance or path of travel 20. During this movement, the control and calculating unit 23 presets the first mode of control and the two reference points 25, 26 are thus active. The two reference points lie one behind the other in this case at a preset spacing 1 on an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the machine.

[0057] As it travels along the straight section 20A, the civil engineering machine approaches the first discontinuity 30, i.e. the point at which the straight section 20A merges into the curved section 20B. During this travel, the control and calculating unit 23 continuously determines not only the deviation of the reference points from the desired distance or path of travel but also the distance along the travel which the reference points have covered. The distance covered will be referred to in what follows as the stationing. Because the original spacing 1 of the reference points is known, all that needs to be determined is the distance along the travel covered by one of the reference points, because the distance covered along the travel by the other reference point can then be calculated.

[0058] The reference point 25 which is at the front in the direction of operation is now moving towards the discontinuity 30. As it does so, the control and calculating unit 13 determines whether the front reference point is still on the straight section 20A or whether it is already on the curved section on which the position of the front reference point is compared with the stored design model. Consequently, what is available is not only the deviation and stationing but also data on the curvature of the desired distance or path of travel, i.e. data which specifies whether the reference point is on or next to a straight or curved section of the desired distance or path of travel. All the data is written continuously to the memory 23A of the control and calculating unit 23.

[0059] At the point in time at which the reference point 25 which is at the front in the direction of operation reaches the discontinuity 30, the position of the front reference point is changed. The control and calculating unit generates a control signal at this point in time because the front reference point detects the beginning of the curve. The front reference point 25 is then shifted backwards along the straight line, in the co-ordinate system (x, y) referred to the machine, in the opposite direction to the direction of operation, (FIG. 3.2 and FIG. 3.3), until the front reference point is at a preset spacing from the rear reference point on the straight line or, preferably, until the front reference point is on the rear reference point (FIG. 3.4). As this is done, the spacing 1 between the two reference points is reduced by the amount by which the stationing increases. It is noted that in FIGS. 3.2-3.4 the actual spacing between the points 25 and 26 is changing and is less than the original spacing I which is illustrated for comparison. The shifting of the front reference point preferably takes place continuously. The control signal is preferably generated by the control and calculating unit when the reference point is exactly on the discontinuity. Basically however, it is also possible for the control signal to be generated not when the reference point is exactly on the discontinuity but in the region of the transition between the substantially straight section (20A) and the curved section (20B), i.e. a short distance before it reaches the discontinuity or a short distance after it does so. In practice, the control signal is generated a short distance before the reference point reaches the discontinuity, thereby initiating the movement of the steering, and this movement of the steering is completed a short distance after the reference point reaches the discontinuity.

[0060] FIGS. 3.4 and 3.5 show that the front track-laying running gear units 17A and the rear track-laying running-gear units 17B are turned to the steering angle precisely when the front and rear reference points 25, 26 are on the discontinuity 30. In practice however, the process of turning to the steering angle is initiated when the front reference point is still a preset distance before reaching the discontinuity. Similarly, the process of turning to the steering angle is not completed until a preset distance after the front reference point reaches the discontinuity.

[0061] During the turning to the steering angle, the control and calculating unit 23 makes the changeover from the first mode of control to the second. This changeover may however equally well be made manually by the driver of the machine.

[0062] If the control and calculating unit 23 has preset the second mode of control, in which only the rear reference point 26 is active, the front track-laying running-gear units 17A are controlled only as a function of the spacing of the rear reference point 26 from the desired distance or path of travel 20. In the course of this, the positions of the front and rear track-laying running-gear units meet the known condition for Ackermann steering, something which is indicated by dashed lines in the drawings.

[0063] If the rear track-laying running-gear units are situated at the point where the concrete mould is situated, the said rear track-laying running-gear units may remain steered in the straight-ahead position. Otherwise, the track-laying running-gear units are set to a theoretical or calculated steering angle which is not changed. This steering angle should meeting the condition for Ackermann steering.

[0064] FIGS. 3.6 to 3.9 show how the rear reference point 26 moves along the curved section 20B of the desired distance or path of travel 20 at a preset spacing therefrom. When this happens, steering is only by the front track-laying running-gear units 17A while no further change is made in the position of the rear track-laying running-gear units 17B.

[0065] When what was previously the rear reference point 26, which may be congruent with what was previously the front reference point 25, has reached the discontinuity, the control and calculating unit 23 again generates a control signal, after which the front reference point 25 is again shifted forward in the direction of operation.

[0066] The shifting of the front reference point 25 takes place until the spacing between the two points again corresponds to the original spacing 1. Consequently, the front reference point 25, which is not active, moves ahead of the rear reference point 26 which is active. The front reference point 25 is shown as an asterisk designated as 25 because it is not active.

[0067] FIG. 3.8 shows the civil engineering machine during its movement along the curved section of the preset distance or path of travel. When the rear reference point 26 on the civil engineering machine is on the discontinuity 31 (FIG. 3.9), the front and rear track-laying running-gear units 17A, 17B are re-positioned for straight-ahead travel (FIG. 3.10). However, in a similar way to what is done on entry into a curve, this steering process is already initiated when leaving a curve when there is still a preset distance of travel before the rear reference point 26 reaches the discontinuity. Similarly, the track-laying running-gear units are not positioned for straight-ahead travel until the rear reference point is a preset distance of travel past the discontinuity.

[0068] The control and calculating unit 23 thereupon again presets the first mode of control, and control thus again takes place as a function of the deviation of the two reference points from the desired distance or path of travel. The civil engineering machine is now moving again along a straight section 30B in the same way as it was before entering the curve.

[0069] The shifting of the front reference point 25 at the transition from a straight section to a curved section enables exact guidance of the civil engineering machine along the desired distance or path of travel to be achieved.

[0070] An alternative embodiment of civil engineering machine makes provision for use to be made not of a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) but of a string line. This embodiment differs from the embodiment employing the GNSS system only in that respective sensors (not shown) are provided at the front and rear reference points to measure the spacing from a string line (not shown) rather than the spacing from the virtual desired distance or path of travel. The string line then extends along the solid line (equidistant line) in the interior of the structure. The locations of the sensors are thus identical with the locations of the reference points. The spacing sensors may have mechanical sensing members or may be ultrasonic sensors which operate without physical contact. Sensors of these kinds are known in the prior art. The sensor which is at the rear in the direction of operation may be fastened to the chassis of the machine in a fixed position while the front sensor may be guided on a rail on the chassis of the machine to be displaceable in the longitudinal direction. The displacement of the front sensor may be carried out with a drive (not shown) which may for example be an electric-motor-driven spindle drive. Hence, what takes place in the alternative embodiment is a shift not of the front reference point but of the spacing sensor itself, what is done being not to calculate the spacing from a desired distance or path of travel defined by co-ordinates in a co-ordinate system but to measure the spacing from a string line which extends along the desired distance or path of travel. The above-mentioned advantages are obtained in both embodiments, and this is done by shifting the reference point or by shifting the sensor situated at a reference point.