ROAD CONSTRUCTION VEHICLE WITH MATERIAL HOPPER WITH PIVOT FUNCTION

Abstract

A road construction vehicle comprises a chassis and a material hopper for receiving paving material. The material hopper has two hopper parts opposite each other, which are configured to define a receiving space for the paving material. At least one of the hopper parts has a base part and a side part. The base part is attached to the chassis pivotable about a main pivot axis between an open position and a closed position. The side part is attached to the base part along a pivot end edge of the side part pivotable about a side part pivot axis. A free end edge of the side part opposite the pivot end edge is configured to be located below the side part pivot axis when the base part is in the closed position.

Claims

1. A road construction vehicle comprising: a chassis; and a material hopper for receiving paving material; wherein the material hopper has two opposite hopper parts which are configured to define a receiving space for the paving material; wherein at least one of the hopper parts has a base part and a side part; wherein the base part is attached to the chassis pivotable about a main pivot axis between an open position and a closed position; wherein the side part is attached to the base part along a pivot end edge of the side part pivotable about a side part pivot axis; and wherein a free end edge of the side part opposite the pivot end edge is configured to be located below the side part pivot axis when the base part is in the closed position.

2. The road construction vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the side part comprises an intermediate part and an end part.

3. The road construction vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the intermediate part has a first surface and the end part has a second surface, wherein the first surface and the second surface are each configured to form part of an inner wall of the receiving space, and wherein the first surface and the second surface are configured to be inclined towards each other.

4. The road construction vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the intermediate part is attached to the base part pivotable about the side part pivot axis.

5. The road construction vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the end part is attached to the intermediate part pivotable about an end part pivot axis.

6. The road construction vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the intermediate part and the end part are rigidly connected to each other or integrally formed with each other.

7. The road construction vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the road construction vehicle further comprises a coupling device which is configured to couple a pivot position of the base part about the main pivot axis and a pivot position of the side part about the side part pivot axis.

8. The road construction vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the coupling device is configured to effect an automatic pivoting of the side part about the side part pivot axis when the base part is pivoted about the main pivot axis.

9. The road construction machine according to claim 8, wherein the coupling device is configured to effect the automatic pivoting of the side part in a same direction of rotation as the base part when the base part is pivoted about the main pivot axis.

10. The road construction vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the coupling device is configured to effect an automatic pivoting of the side part about the side part pivot axis by a second angle when the base part pivots about the main pivot axis by a first angle, wherein a value of the first angle and a value of the second angle differ from each other.

11. The road construction vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the coupling device is provided by control technology.

12. The road construction vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the coupling device comprises a mechanical coupling device.

13. The road construction vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the coupling device comprises a coupling rod connecting the side part to the chassis.

14. A method for operating a road construction vehicle, comprising: pivoting at least one hopper part of a material hopper of the road construction vehicle with respect to a chassis of the road construction vehicle about a main pivot axis, wherein the pivoting of the at least one hopper part about the main pivot axis is coupled with a pivoting movement in which a side part of the at least one hopper part is pivoted relative to a base part of the at least one hopper part about a side part pivot axis.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the pivoting of the at least one hopper part about the main pivot axis is mechanically coupled by a coupling device to the pivoting movement of the side part about the side part pivot axis.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the pivoting of the at least one hopper part about the main pivot axis takes place at least partially simultaneously with the pivoting movement of the side part about the side part pivot axis.

17. A road construction vehicle comprising: a chassis; and a material hopper with at least one hopper part which is connected via a main pivot axis to the chassis, wherein the at least one hopper part is foldable via two pivot axes in order to bring the road construction vehicle from a working configuration into a transport configuration with a reduced space requirement as compared to the working configuration.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0050] In the following, the disclosure is explained further with reference to the figures.

[0051] FIG. 1 schematically shows a sequence of a conversion of a material hopper of a road paver according to an embodiment from a transport configuration to a working configuration, wherein part A shows the transport configuration and part E shows the working configuration;

[0052] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of the material hopper according to the embodiment as viewed from the chassis along the paving direction;

[0053] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of the road paver according to the embodiment with the material hopper in the working configuration, wherein the end part is in the unfolded position; and

[0054] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of the road paver according to the embodiment with the material hopper in an intermediate configuration, wherein the end part is in the unfolded position.

[0055] FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of a feeder vehicle with a material hopper according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0056] Parts A to E of FIG. 1 show a time sequence during moving a road construction vehicle that is embodied as a road paver 1 from a transport configuration shown in part A to a working configuration shown in part E. The road paver 1 comprises a towing vehicle 3 with a chassis 5. A material hopper 9 for receiving paving material is provided at the front of the chassis 5 in the paving direction 7. The road paver 1 comprises a conveyor device 11 which, during a paving operation, conveys paving material from the material hopper 9 against the paving direction 7 and places it in front of a screed 13 towed behind the towing vehicle 3. The screed 13 compacts and smooths the paving material.

[0057] In the illustrated embodiment, the road paver 1 is a compact road paver 1, which may be used in a particularly space-saving manner. The compact road paver 1 of the illustrated embodiment comprises an operator platform 15 provided on the screed 13, from which an operator may control the road paver 1. The operator platform 15 may have a standing facility for the operator. The platform may be formed on or behind the screed 13. The operator may look in the forward direction from the platform over the chassis 5 along the paving direction 7.

[0058] In order to move the road paver 1 from the transport configuration to the working configuration (or from the working configuration to the transport configuration), a configuration of the material hopper 9 may be changed. In the working configuration shown in part E of FIG. 1, the material hopper 9 is ready for paving operation and may receive paving material. In the working configuration, the material hopper 9 has an excess width, i.e., the material hopper 9 protrudes laterally at least beyond the chassis 5 of the road paver 1. In the transport configuration shown in part A of FIG. 1, the material hopper 9 is folded and not ready for paving operation. In the transport configuration, the width of the material hopper 9 is significantly reduced, which simplifies maneuvering with the road paver 1 or transporting the road paver 1 between construction site operations. In the transport configuration, a height of the material hopper 9 is greater than in the working configuration. Nevertheless, in the illustrated embodiment, the material hopper 9 does not extend upwards beyond the chassis 5 of the road paver 1 even in the transport configuration. As a result, a forward view of an operator located on the operator platform 15 is impaired comparatively little by the material hopper 9, even in the transport configuration.

[0059] The sequence of parts A to E of FIG. 1 shows how the road paver 1 is moved from the transport configuration to the working configuration. It is understood that the road paver 1 may be moved from the working configuration to the transport configuration by going through the sequence in reverse, i.e., from part E to part A.

[0060] The material hopper 9 comprises two hopper halves 17 that are formed as mirror images of each other. The hopper halves 17 are opposite each other and may be formed identically except for the mirror symmetry. A part of the conveyor device 11 is provided between the hopper halves 17 in order to convey paving material present in the material hopper 9 out of the material hopper 9 in the opposite direction to the paving direction 7. In particular in the working configuration, the material hopper 9 forms a receiving space 19 for the paving material.

[0061] Each hopper part 17 comprises a base part 21 and a side part 23. Each base part 21 is pivotably attached to the chassis 5 along a main pivot axis 25. The side part 23 is pivotably attached to the base part 21 along a side part pivot axis 27. In particular, the side part 23 is attached to the base part 21 along a pivot end edge of the side part 23 pivotable about the side part pivot axis 27. The main pivot axis 25, the side part pivot axis 27 and the pivot end edge of the side part 23 extend along the paving direction 7. In particular, the main pivot axis 25, the side part pivot axis 27 and the pivot end edge of the side part 23 may extend at least substantially parallel to each other and parallel to the paving direction 7.

[0062] An actuator 29 is provided for each hopper half 17, with which a pivot position of the respective base part 21 about the main pivot axis 25 is adjustable. In order to move the road paver 1 from the transport configuration (part A of FIG. 1) to the working configuration (part E of FIG. 1), the actuators 29 are controlled in order to pivot the base parts 21 outwards away from each other about the main pivot axes 25 and thus bring them into an open position. In order to move the road paver 1 from the working configuration (part E of FIG. 1) into the transport configuration (part A of FIG. 1), the actuators 29 are controlled in order to pivot the base parts 21 towards each other about the pivot axes 25 and thus bring them into a closed position.

[0063] A coupling device 31 in the form of a coupling rod 33 is provided for each hopper half 17. The coupling rod 33 is hinged both to the chassis 5 of the road paver 1 and to the side part 23 of the respective hopper half 17. As shown in FIG. 2, the coupling rod 33 is hinged to an extension 34 of the side part 23, in particular to an extension of an intermediate part 37 of the side part 23.

[0064] The coupling rod 33 is an inherently rigid element. Due to the coupling rod 33, a specific pivot position of the side part 23 about the side part pivot axis 27 is assigned to each pivot position of the base part 21 about the main pivot axis 25. The coupling device 31 thus ensures that when the pivot position of the base part 21 about the main pivot axis 25 is changed, a pivot position of the side part 23 about the side part pivot axis 27 is changed automatically and simultaneously.

[0065] A length of the coupling rod 33 may be constant during paving operation of the road paver 1. Nevertheless, a length of the coupling rod 33 may be adjustable, in particular in order to precisely approach the end positions despite manufacturing inaccuracies.

[0066] As may be seen from FIG. 1, changing the pivot position of the base part 21 about the main pivot axis 25 results in the assigned side part 23 pivoting about the side part pivot axis 27 with the same direction of rotation.

[0067] In the transport configuration of the material hopper 9 (part A of FIG. 1), the side part 23 is in a transport position with respect to the base part 21. In the working configuration of the material hopper 9 (part E of FIG. 1), the side part 23 is in a deployment position with respect to the base part 21. When the road paver 1 is moved from the transport configuration (part A of FIG. 1) to the working configuration (part E of FIG. 1), the side part 23 is pivoted outwards about the side part pivot axis 27 out of an intermediate space between the bunker halves 17. When the road paver 1 is moved from the working configuration (part E of FIG. 1) into the transport configuration (part A of FIG. 1), the side part 23 is pivoted about the side part pivot axis 27 into an intermediate space between the hopper halves 17.

[0068] At least in the transport configuration (part A of FIG. 1), a free end edge 35 of the side part 23, which is opposite the pivot end edge of the side part 23, is located below the side part pivot axis 27. As a result, the material hopper 9 is particularly compact in the transport configuration. In particular, an operator's view to the front is only slightly impaired by the material hopper 9 in the transport configuration. The free end edge 35 of the side part 23 extends along the paving direction 7 and, in particular, is parallel to the paving direction 7, the main pivot axis 25, the side part pivot axis 27 and the pivot end edge of the side part 23.

[0069] The side part 23 comprises an intermediate part 37 and an end part 39. The intermediate part 37 connects the base part 21 and the end part 39. The end part 39 defines the free end edge 35. The intermediate part 37 is connected to the base part 21 pivotable about the side part pivot axis 27. The intermediate part 37 comprises a first surface 41 and the end part 39 comprises a second surface 43 (see part D of FIG. 1). The first surface 41 and the second surface 43 each form a part of an inner wall of the receiving space 19 of the material hopper 9. In the working configuration (part E of FIG. 1), the intermediate part 37 forms a part of a bottom of the material hopper 9. In the working configuration, the end part 39 forms at least a part of a side wall of the receiving space 19 of the material hopper 9.

[0070] The intermediate part 37 and the end part 39 may be rigidly connected to each other so that there is a fixed angle between the first surface 41 and the second surface 43, for example an angle of 90 degrees, or an angle between 90 degrees and 180 degrees, or an angle between 60 degrees and 120 degrees. Alternatively, the intermediate part 37 and the end part 39 may be connected to each other pivotable about an end part pivot axis 42. The end part pivot axis 42 extends along the paving direction 7 and is in particular parallel to the main pivot axis 25, the side part pivot axis 27 and the paving direction 7. The end part pivot axis 42 may extend parallel to the pivot end edge of the side part 23 and to the free end edge 35 of the side part 23.

[0071] A pivot position of the end part 39 with respect to the intermediate part 37 may be adjustable independently of a pivot position of the base part 21 about the main pivot axis 25 and of a pivot position of the side part 23 about the side part pivot axis 27. The pivot position of the end part 39 in relation to the intermediate part 37 about the end part pivot axis 42 may be adjustable manually or automatically. Predefined locking positions may be provided for a pivot position of the end part 39 in relation to the intermediate part 37.

[0072] In all parts of FIG. 1, the end part 39 is in a folded position with respect to the intermediate part 37. In the folded position, there is an angle of approximately 90 degrees between the first surface 41 and the second surface 43 in the embodiment shown.

[0073] FIG. 3 shows the road paver 1 in the working configuration (corresponding to part E of FIG. 1), wherein, in contrast to part E of FIG. 1, the end parts 39 have been folded into an unfolded position about the end part pivot axis 42 relative to the intermediate parts 37. In the unfolded position, there is an angle of at least substantially 180 degrees between the first surface 41 and the second surface 43. There could also be an angle of less than 180 degrees between the first surface 41 and the second surface 43. By pivoting the end parts 39 into the unfolded position, a width of the material hopper 9 may be increased, for example in order to simplify the docking of a truck for supplying the material hopper 9 or to make it possible in the first place.

[0074] FIG. 4 shows the road paver 1 in an intermediate configuration between the transport configuration and the working configuration, wherein here, too, the end part 39 is in the unfolded position relative to the intermediate part 37.

[0075] In the described embodiment with the coupling rod 33, the coupling device 31 comprises a mechanical coupling device. According to other embodiments, the coupling device 31 may be formed by means of control technology 50 (see FIG. 1). When a user input comprising an adjustment command is received, the control technology 50 (e.g., control device of the road construction vehicle) may control both an actuator for pivoting the base part 21 about the main pivot axis 25 and an actuator for pivoting the side part 23 about the side part pivot axis 27.

[0076] FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of a road construction vehicle formed as a feeder vehicle 51. The feeder vehicle 51 comprises a chassis 5 on which an operator platform 15 is provided. A material hopper 9 is provided at the front in the travel direction 7, which may correspond to the material hopper 9 described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. With respect to the rear in the travel direction 7, the feeder vehicle 51 has a conveyor 53. A conveyor device 55 of the feeder vehicle 51 is configured to convey paving material from the material hopper 9 against the travel direction 7 and to transfer it to the conveyor 53. The conveyor 53 is configured to drop the paving material from above into a material hopper of a road paver traveling behind the feeder vehicle 51.

[0077] As one skilled in the art would understand, the above mentioned control technology 50, control device, as well an any other control system, or the like described herein may individually, collectively, or in any combination comprise appropriate circuitry, such as one or more appropriately programmed processors (e.g. one or more microprocessors including central processing units (CPU)) and associated memory, which may include stored operating system software and/or application software executable by the processor(s) for controlling operation thereof and/or for performing the particular algorithms represented by the various functions and/or operations described herein, including interaction and/or cooperation between any such control technology, control device, control system, or the like. One or more of such processors, as well as other circuitry and/or hardware, may be included in a single ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuitry), or several processors and various circuitry and/or hardware may be distributed among several separate components, whether individually packaged or assembled into a SoC (System-on-a-Chip).