Self-Propelled Cold Milling Machine, As Well As Method For Milling Off And Transporting Away A Milled-Off Stream Of Material

Abstract

In a self-propelled cold milling machine, in particular cold milling machine, for working ground surfaces, with a milling drum supported at a machine frame, no less than one conveying device arranged at the machine frame which accepts the milled-off material from the milling drum and discharges said milled-off material, in conveying direction, at a discharge end along a parabolic trajectory onto a point of discharge, it is provided for the following features to be achieved: that the conveying device comprises a shielding device at the discharge end, where said shielding device shields the material milled off and leaving the conveying device without influencing the parabolic trajectory on a part of the path to the point of discharge at least by means of lateral sections.

Claims

1. A milling machine for working ground surfaces, comprising: a machine frame; a milling drum supported from the machine frame; at least one conveyor arranged on the machine frame to accept milled-off material from the milling drum, the at least one conveyor including a discharge end to discharge the milled-off material in a conveying direction along a parabolic trajectory; and a shield of multi-part design including separate lateral shield sections, the shield including an operating position in which the shield is arranged to shield the milled-off material leaving the at least one conveyor along at least part of the parabolic trajectory.

2. The milling machine of claim 1, wherein the shield is movable between the operating position and a transport position.

3. The milling machine of claim 2, wherein the shield is pivotable laterally about an axis extending essentially orthogonally to a loading surface of the at least one conveyor, or about an essentially vertical axis, from the operating position to the transport position.

4. The milling machine of claim 2, wherein the shield is shiftable in a longitudinal direction of the at least one conveyor from the transport position to the operating position, the transport position being located rearward of the operating position relative to the conveying direction of the at least one conveyor.

5. The milling machine of claim 2, wherein the shield is pivotable downward about an essentially horizontal axis from the operating position to the transport position.

6.-8. (canceled)

9. The milling machine of claim 1, wherein the shield includes a cover.

10. The milling machine of claim 9, wherein the cover comprises a solid cover plate.

11. The milling machine of claim 9, wherein the cover comprises a screen plate.

12. The milling machine of claim 9, wherein the cover comprises a flexible surface structure.

13. The milling machine of claim 9, wherein the cover includes a curvature radius in the conveying direction at least as large as a farthest reaching parabolic trajectory of the milled-off material at a maximum conveying speed of the at least one conveyor.

14. The milling machine of claim 1, wherein the lateral shield sections include a vertical width increasing downwards in the conveying direction.

15. A method of operating a milling machine, comprising: (a) milling off material from a ground surface with a milling drum; (b) receiving milled-off material on a conveyor; (c) discharging a stream of the milled-off material from the conveyor along a parabolic trajectory onto a point of discharge; and (d) shielding the stream of material at least from the lateral sides with separate lateral shield sections.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising: performing step (d) with the lateral shield sections located in an operating position; and after step (d), moving the lateral shield sections to a transport position during standstill of the milling operation or for transport of the milling machine.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein: step (d) further comprises shielding the stream of material from above with a cover, the cover including a curvature radius in a conveying direction at least as large as the parabolic trajectory at a maximum conveying speed of the milled-off material.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein: step (d) is performed at a lowest possible conveying speed of the conveyor by widened portions of the lateral shield sections.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein: step (d) includes separately moving the separate lateral shield sections.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The following is shown:

[0026] FIG. 1 shows the loading operation with a front-loading milling machine,

[0027] FIG. 2 shows a shielding device in operating position,

[0028] FIG. 3a shows the shielding device pivoted laterally to a transport position,

[0029] FIG. 3b shows the shielding device pivoted downward to a transport position,

[0030] FIG. 3c shows the shielding device shifted rearward to a transport position,

[0031] FIG. 4a shows a multi-part shielding device without cover in transport position,

[0032] FIG. 4b shows a multi-part shielding device with cover in operating position,

[0033] FIG. 5a shows an operating position of a shielding device which is shiftable by means of a link mechanism,

[0034] FIG. 5b shows the shielding device of FIG. 5a in a transport position, and

[0035] FIG. 6 shows a shielding device with elongated lateral sections.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] A milling machine 1 for working ground surfaces is shown in FIG. 1 in the embodiment of a front-loading milling machine. It is understood that the invention is also applicable to other types of milling machines provided with no less than one conveying device, in particular transport conveyor 18.

[0037] The milling machine 1 is used to mill off ground surfaces, in particular roadways made of asphalt, concrete or the like.

[0038] The milling machine 1 comprises a machine frame 2 which is supported by crawler tracks 4 or wheels. A milling drum 8, which extends transversely to the direction of travel, is mounted in the machine frame 2. It is understood that a corresponding transport conveyor 18 may also be mounted, for example, as the single conveying device on a rear-loading milling machine.

[0039] With a rear-loading milling machine, the milled-off material 3 is discharged against the direction of travel whereas with a front-loading milling machine in accordance with FIG. 1, the milled-off material 3 is conveyed to the front as seen in the direction of travel onto a transport vehicle 10. A first conveying device 14 comprising a transport conveyor is arranged in front of the milling drum 8 as seen in the direction of travel. The first transport conveyor 14 conveys the milled-off material 3 to a second conveying device comprising a transport conveyor 18. The second transport conveyor 18 is adjustable in height by means of an adjustable angle of inclination and can additionally be slewed laterally about, for example, 30 so that transport vehicles 10 driving next to the track of the cold milling machine 1 can also be loaded.

[0040] FIG. 2 shows a shielding device 6 arranged at a discharge end 12 of the conveying device 18, said shielding device 6 having an essentially U-shaped cross-section and comprising lateral sections 20 extending downwards essentially vertically on both sides from a cover 22 of the shielding device.

[0041] In FIG. 2, the shielding device 6 is depicted as a single-part element. It is understood, however, that the shielding device 6 may also be of multi-part design as will be illustrated in connection with FIGS. 4a and 4b.

[0042] In FIG. 2, the shielding device 6 is shown in its operating position 26 in which it encloses the material 3 being discharged along a parabolic trajectory 9 without influencing the parabolic trajectory 9 itself and without touching the main stream of the stream of material.

[0043] The curvature of the cover 22 is therefore curved, in conveying direction 24, by a curvature radius which is larger than or the same as the farthest-reaching parabolic trajectory 9 at the maximum conveying speed of the conveying device for the milled-off material 3.

[0044] For the shielding device 6 to be able to ensure shielding also at low conveying speeds, it may be intended for the lateral sections 20 to feature a height which increases downwards as seen in the conveying direction as depicted in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6.

[0045] FIGS. 3a to 3c show different embodiments in which the shielding device 6 has been transferred from the operating position 26 shown in FIG. 2 into a transport position 28.

[0046] FIG. 3a, for example, shows the shielding device 6 being pivoted laterally about an essentially vertical axis or about an axis which extends orthogonally to the discharge end 12 of the conveying device 18, respectively, or about an axis extending essentially orthogonally to the loading surface at the discharge end 12 of the conveying device 18. In this design, the shielding device 6 is pivoted laterally next to the discharge end 12 of the conveying device 18.

[0047] FIG. 3b shows a different embodiment in which the shielding device 6 is pivotable preferably downwards about an essentially horizontal axis in order to be transferred into a transport position 28 and locked in the same.

[0048] FIG. 3c shows, in a schematic illustration, an embodiment in which the shielding device 6 is shifted against the conveying direction 24 towards the rear, for example, by means of rail guides formed accordingly or by means of a four-link mechanism as shown in FIGS. 5a, 5b and 6.

[0049] FIG. 4a shows a multi-part shielding device 6 which may either comprise only two laterally pivotable lateral sections 20 or, as in shown FIG. 4b, may additionally comprise a cover 22 when in the operating position 26. In the embodiments of FIGS. 4a and 4b, the lateral sections 20 may widen in the conveying direction, as depicted in FIG. 6, in order to ensure lateral shielding also at the lowest possible conveying speed.

[0050] The cover 22 may be formed of different materials, for example, of a continuous sheet metal part or a screen plate or of a rollable fabric, in particular a rubber fabric or a tarpaulin, in which case the cover may also be transferred, in the type of a roller shutter, along guides at the lateral sections 20 from the transport position 28 into an operating position 26.

[0051] Finally, the cover 22 may be of a shiftable or rollable design while the lateral sections are pivotable.

[0052] In effect, the different embodiments of the shielding device 6 enable the shielding against outer influences, such as strong winds, so that these cannot impair the flight path along the parabolic trajectory 9. Particularly advantageous is also the cover 22 to the top which, on the one hand, does not impair the flight path of the parabolic trajectory and invariably avoids contact with the milled-off material 3 but, on the other hand, together with the lateral sections 20 is suited to prevent, to the greatest possible extent, individual particles from leaving the normally resulting parabolic trajectory 9 of the main stream of material.

[0053] FIG. 6 shows a shielding device 6 pivotable about a four-link mechanism with side panels 20 widened towards the bottom in the case of a main stream of material at the lowest possible conveying speed of the conveying device 18.