ROAD PAVER WITH HEIGHT-ADJUSTABLE DEFLECTOR PLATE

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a road paver for producing a paving layer from a paving material. The road paver comprises a screed, a longitudinal conveying device adapted to transport the paving material to the screed against a drive direction of the road paver, a transverse distribution arrangement, which is adapted to distribute the paving material transversely to the drive direction in front of the screed, and a deflector plate arrangement, which is arranged in front of the transverse distribution arrangement in the drive direction. The deflector plate arrangement has a height-adjustable deflector plate. The disclosure further relates to a method for operating a road paver.

Claims

1. A road paver for producing a paving layer from a paving material, comprising: a screed; a longitudinal conveying device adapted to transport the paving material to the screed against a drive direction of the road paver; a transverse distribution arrangement adapted to distribute the paving material transversely to the drive direction in front of the screed; and a deflector plate arrangement arranged in front of the transverse distribution arrangement in the drive direction, wherein the deflector plate arrangement has a height-adjustable deflector plate.

2. The road paver according to claim 1, wherein the height-adjustable deflector plate is movable in height during operation of the road paver.

3. The road paver according to claim 1, wherein the height-adjustable deflector plate is attached at least indirectly to a suspension of the transverse distribution arrangement.

4. The road paver according to claim 1, wherein the height-adjustable deflector plate is movable in height together with the transverse distribution arrangement.

5. The road paver according to claim 1, wherein the height-adjustable deflector plate is movable in height relative to the transverse distribution arrangement.

6. The road paver according to claim 1, wherein the deflector plate arrangement is arranged substantially between the longitudinal conveying device and the transverse distribution arrangement.

7. The road paver according to claim 1, wherein the height-adjustable deflector plate is pneumatically, hydraulically, electrically and/or mechanically movable in height.

8. The road paver according to claim 1, wherein the deflector plate arrangement comprises a second deflector plate, wherein the second deflector plate is not adjustable in height, wherein the second deflector plate is arranged in front of the height-adjustable deflector plate in the drive direction.

9. The road paver according to claim 1, wherein the deflector plate arrangement additionally comprises a comb-shaped or grid-shaped plate, wherein the comb-shaped or grid-shaped plate is adjustable in height.

10. The road paver according to claim 1, wherein the road paver comprises a material hopper for receiving the paving material, wherein the longitudinal conveying device is adapted to convey the paving material from the material hopper toward the screed.

11. The road paver according to claim 10, wherein the longitudinal conveying device is adapted to convey the paving material from the material hopper to the transverse distribution arrangement in front of the screed.

12. The road paver according to claim 1, wherein the road paver comprises a control unit configured to adjust a height of the height-adjustable deflector plate.

13. The road paver according to claim 1, wherein the road paver comprises a pre-scraper arrangement arranged behind the transverse distribution arrangement in the drive direction.

14. A method for operating a road paver, the method comprising: conveying paving material against a drive direction of the road paver in front of a screed of the road paver; and distributing the paving material in front of the screed transversely to the drive direction of the road paver by a transverse distribution arrangement; wherein the road paver comprises a deflector plate arranged in front of the transverse distribution arrangement in the drive direction, and wherein the deflector plate is moved in height during operation of the road paver.

15. The method for operating the road paver according to claim 14, wherein the deflector plate is automatically moved in height by a control unit and/or by an operator input.

16. The method for operating the road paver according to claim 14, wherein a vertical position of the deflector plate is adjusted based on a current operating mode of the road paver.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0046] In the following, advantageous embodiments of the disclosure are explained in more detail with reference to the attached figures.

[0047] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a road paver according to the disclosure;

[0048] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a road paver according to the disclosure;

[0049] FIG. 3 shows a top view of the longitudinal conveying device, the transverse distribution arrangement and the screed of a road paver according to the disclosure;

[0050] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the longitudinal conveying device, the transverse distribution arrangement and the deflector plate arrangement of a road paver according to the disclosure;

[0051] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the longitudinal conveying device and the deflector plate arrangement of a road paver according to the disclosure;

[0052] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the longitudinal conveying device and the deflector plate arrangement of a road paver according to the disclosure;

[0053] FIG. 7 shows a side sectional view of the longitudinal conveying device and the deflector plate arrangement of a road paver according to the disclosure; and

[0054] FIG. 8 shows a side sectional view of the longitudinal conveying device and the deflector plate arrangement of a road paver according to the disclosure;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0055] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a side view and a perspective top view of a road paver 1 according to the disclosure for producing a paving layer 2 on a substrate 3. The road paver 1 has a material hopper 4 at the front in the paving drive direction 100, from which a paving material 6 received therein is transported to a screed 7 of the road paver 1 in the opposite direction to the paving drive direction 100 of the road paver 1 by means of a longitudinal conveying device 5. The longitudinal conveying device 5 is arranged within a chassis 8 of the road paver 1 and first transports the paving material 6 to a transverse distribution arrangement 9 arranged in front of the screed 7 in the paving drive direction 100. The transverse distribution arrangement 9 is adapted to distribute the paving material 6 in front of the screed 7 along a transverse direction 200 transverse to the paving drive direction 100.

[0056] The extension of the paving layer 2 in the transverse direction 200 is referred to as the working width 210 or paving width 210. The screed 7 has a screed base 10 and laterally extendable extension parts 11. The working width 210 of the paving layer 2 may be varied and adjusted by extending the extension parts 11 sideways.

[0057] The road paver 1 also has a control unit 33. The control unit 33 may be operated by user input or automatically. The control unit 33 is adapted to adjust the vertical position of a height-adjustable deflector plate 26. The control unit 33 is adapted to move the height-adjustable deflector plate 26 in height.

[0058] FIG. 3 shows a schematic top view of the screed 7 and the longitudinal conveying device 5 of the road paver 1 according to the disclosure. The longitudinal conveying device 5 has a conveyor belt in the form of a scraper belt 12. The scraper conveyor 12 comprises a left scraper conveyor section 13a and a right scraper conveyor section 13b. The designations left and right are to be understood as looking in the paving drive direction 100.

[0059] The paving material 6 dropped in front of the screed base 10 of the screed 7 by means of the scraper belt 12 is distributed along a front side 14 of the screed base 10 by means of the transverse distribution arrangement 9, as shown by arrows 220.

[0060] A rear wall 15 of the chassis 8 of the road paver 1 together with the front side 14 of the screed base body 10 forms a transverse distribution channel 16 for the transverse distribution arrangement 9.

[0061] The extension parts 11 of the screed 7 may be extended laterally in the transverse direction 200 relative to base screed 10, allowing the screed 7 to be widened and the working width 210 to be varied. The transverse distribution channel 16 may be further extended laterally in accordance with a widening of the screed 7.

[0062] The paving material 6 is transferred from the scraper belt 12 of the longitudinal conveying device 5 to the transverse distribution arrangement 9, which is positioned in front of the screed 7. The transverse distribution arrangement 9 is adapted to distribute the paving material 6 in front of the screed 7 in the transverse direction 200 transverse to the paving drive direction 100 within the transverse distribution channel 16.

[0063] The transverse distribution arrangement 9 is attached to the rear end of the chassis 8 of the road paver 1. The transverse distribution arrangement 9 comprises a left distribution auger 17 and a right distribution auger 18. The left distribution auger 17 and the right distribution auger 18 are supported on a suspension 19 in the form of an auger suspension 19.

[0064] The housing formed by the auger suspension 19 contains an auger drive (not shown) for powering the two distribution augers 17, 18. The transverse distribution arrangement 9 comprises a shaft 20, which may be two individual shafts 20 (left shaft 21, right shaft 22) or one shaft 20 that is shared by the two distribution augers 17, 18. The left distribution auger 17 is detachably coupled to the left shaft 21. The right distributor auger 18 is detachably coupled to the right shaft 22. The outer end of each shaft 21, 22, i.e., the end facing away from the auger suspension 19, is supported in an auger bearing 23.

[0065] The deflector plate arrangement 24 according to the disclosure is not shown in FIG. 3. The position of the deflector plate arrangement 24 is indicated by the reference sign 24.

[0066] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the longitudinal conveying device 5, the transverse distribution arrangement 9 and the deflector plate arrangement 24 of a road paver according to the disclosure. The deflector plate arrangement 24 is arranged between the longitudinal conveying device 5 and the transverse distribution arrangement 9.

[0067] In order to better illustrate the individual components of the longitudinal conveying device 5 and the deflector plate arrangement 24, only part of the transverse distribution arrangement 9 is shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 shows the right distribution auger 18, the right shaft 22 and the auger suspension 19 of the transverse distribution arrangement 9. The auger suspension 19 is mounted on the transverse distribution bracket 25.

[0068] The deflector plate arrangement 24 comprises a height-adjustable deflector plate 26. The height-adjustable deflector plate 26 is connected to the transverse distribution bracket 25 via a support structure 27. The transverse distribution bracket 25 may be moved in height in order to adjust the vertical position of the transverse distribution arrangement 9. Due to the connection via the support structure 27, the height-adjustable deflector plate 26 is thereby moved in height together with the transverse distribution arrangement 9. In alternative embodiments, the height-adjustable deflector plate 26 may be movable in height independently of the transverse distribution arrangement 9. The upper side 28 of the height-adjustable deflector plate 26 is arranged at an angle to the vertical 300, so that the paving material is guided to the transverse distribution arrangement 9.

[0069] The deflector plate arrangement 24 further comprises a comb-shaped plate 29. The comb-shaped or grid-shaped plate 29 is arranged between the longitudinal conveying device 5 and the height-adjustable deflector plate 26. The comb-shaped plate is preferably made of spring steel, in order to be able to evade contact with the conveyor chain of the longitudinal conveyor without being damaged.

[0070] The deflector plate arrangement 24, in particular the height-adjustable deflector plate 26, reduces the entry of paving material 6 under the longitudinal conveying device 5. The deflector plate arrangement 24, in particular the height-adjustable deflector plate 26, reduces that paving material 6 is conveyed away from the transverse distribution arrangement 9 in the installation drive direction 100. The deflector plate arrangement, in particular the height-adjustable deflector plate 26, may reduce the entrainment of paving material 6 by scraper bars of the empty strand 30 of the scraper belt 12 in the installation drive direction 100. This may be further reduced by the comb-shaped or grid-shaped plate 29. The driving gear 31 of the road paver 1 is arranged at each side of the longitudinal conveying device 5. The deflector plate arrangement 24, in particular the height-adjustable deflector plate 26, reduces the entry of paving material 6 into or under the driving gear 31.

[0071] FIGS. 5 and 6 show perspective views of the longitudinal conveying device 5 and deflector plate arrangement 24 shown in FIG. 4. The transverse distribution arrangement 9 is not shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 for reasons of clarity.

[0072] The deflector plate arrangement 24 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 additionally comprises a second deflector plate 32. In the illustration shown in FIG. 4, the second deflector plate 32 is covered by other components of the road paver 1. The second deflector plate 32 is fixed and connected to the chassis 8 of the road paver 1 or the longitudinal conveying device 5. Accordingly, the second deflector plate 32 is not movable in height. The second deflector plate 32 may also be omitted, as the height-adjustable deflector plate 24 largely or completely takes over the function of the second deflector plate 32.

[0073] FIG. 5 shows the height-adjustable deflector plate 26 in a raised position. FIG. 6 shows the height-adjustable deflector plate 26 in a lowered position. The comb-shaped or grid-shaped plate 29 is connected to the height-adjustable deflector plate 26 and may be moved in height together with the height-adjustable deflector plate 26.

[0074] FIGS. 7 and 8 show side views of the longitudinal conveying device 5 and deflector plate arrangement 24 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 7 shows the height-adjustable deflector plate 26 and the comb- or grid-shaped plate 29 in a raised position. When driving the road paver 1 onto a transport truck via a loading ramp, a certain substrate clearance or drive-on angle 400 below the deflector plate arrangement 24 must be ensured. Otherwise, the deflector plate arrangement 24 could get into contact with the substrate 3 when driving onto the loading ramp, which could damage the deflector plate arrangement 24. By moving the height-adjustable deflector plate 26 into the raised position, a sufficiently large drive-on angle 400 is made possible.

[0075] FIG. 8 shows the height-adjustable deflector plate 26 and the comb- or grid-shaped plate 29 in a lowered position. During the installation of the paving material 6, it may be advantageous to limit the vertical distance, also referred to as height in the present application, between the deflector plate arrangement 24 and the substrate 3. A small vertical distance 310 between the deflector plate arrangement 24 and the substrate 3 may reduce the entry of paving material 6 under the longitudinal conveying device 5 and/or the driving gear 31. In the lowered position, the height-adjustable deflector plate 26 is arranged at a first vertical distance 310 from the substrate 3. The fixed, second deflector plate 32 is arranged at a second vertical distance 320 from the substrate 3. In the prior art, only road pavers 1 with the fixed deflector plate 32 are known. Due to the height difference 330 between the first vertical distance 310 and the second vertical distance 320, which is achieved by the height-adjustable deflector plate 26, the entry of paving material 6 under the longitudinal conveying device 5 and the driving gear 31 may be reduced.

[0076] As one skilled in the art would understand, the above-mentioned control unit 33 may 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. One or more of such processors, as well as other circuitry and/or hardware, may be included in a single component (e.g., an ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit)), 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).