Construction Machine

Abstract

In a self-propelled construction machine (1), in particular recycling machine or stabilizing machine, for working a ground (20), comprising at least one machine frame, a working device (10) for working the ground, which is supported on the machine frame (2), wherein the working device is at least partially enclosed by a housing, wherein the housing comprises a plate each at the front and rear end as seen in the main direction of travel that closes off the mixing chamber of the housing towards the front and the rear, respectively, wherein the front plate is adjustable by means of at least one front adjustment device and the rear plate is adjustable by means of at least one rear adjustment device, wherein, in a first working operation, the rear plate as seen in the main direction of travel is supported on the ground in a floating position, it is provided that in a second working operation, the front plate as seen in the main direction of travel is supported on the ground in a floating position.

Claims

1-16. (canceled)

17. A self-propelled construction machine for working a ground, comprising: a machine frame; a mixing and milling drum supported from the machine frame for working the ground; a housing at least partially enclosing the mixing and milling drum, the housing defining a mixing chamber and including a front plate for closing off the mixing chamber at a front end of the housing relative to a main direction of travel, and a rear plate for closing off the mixing chamber at a rear end of the housing relative to the main direction of travel; at least one rear adjustment actuator for adjusting a position of the rear plate, the rear adjustment actuator being configured such that in a first working operation wherein the machine is moving forward in the main direction of travel the rear plate is supportable on the ground in a floating mode; and at least one front adjustment actuator for adjusting a position of the front plate, the front adjustment actuator being configured such that in a second working operation wherein the machine is moving rearward the front plate is supportable on the ground in a floating mode.

18. The self-propelled construction machine of claim 17, wherein: the front adjustment actuator is configured such that during the first working operation the front plate may be held in a raised position above the ground.

19. The self-propelled construction machine of claim 17, wherein: the rear adjustment actuator is configured such that during the second working operation the rear plate may be held in a raised position above the ground.

20. The self-propelled construction machine of claim 17, wherein: the front and rear adjustment actuators are configured such that the positions of the front and rear plates, respectively, are adjustable in increments.

21. The self-propelled construction machine of claim 17, wherein: the front and rear adjustment actuators are configured such that in respective floating modes of the front and rear plates a supporting edge of the front or rear plate, respectively, is supportable on the ground with a predetermined contact force.

22. The self-propelled construction machine of claim 21, further comprising: a controller operably associated with the front and rear adjustment actuators, the controller being configured to control the predetermined contact force with which the respective supporting edge of the front or rear plate is supported on the ground in the respective floating mode.

23. The self-propelled construction machine of claim 22, wherein: the controller is further configured such that the controller controls the respective predetermined contact force of the respective supporting edge of the front or rear plate as a function of a material of the ground and/or a milling depth.

24. The self-propelled construction machine of claim 22, wherein: the controller is further configured such that the controller controls the respective predetermined contact force of the respective supporting edge of the front or rear plate such that the predetermined contact force results from an own weight of the respective front or rear plate and an additional force that is applied to the respective plate by the front or rear adjustment actuator.

25. The self-propelled construction machine of claim 24, wherein: the additional force acts in a direction of the ground or in an opposite direction from the ground.

26. The self-propelled construction machine of claim 22, wherein: the front and rear adjustment actuators are hydraulic adjustment actuators and the predetermined contact force with which the respective supporting edge of the front or rear plate is supported on the ground in the respective floating mode is continuously adjustable.

27. The self-propelled construction machine of claim 22, wherein: the controller is further configured such that when switching from the first working operation to the second working operation, the controller adjusts the predetermined contact force of the contact edge of the front plate with the front adjustment actuator such that the predetermined contact force of the contact edge of the front plate in the second working operation corresponds to the predetermined contact force of the contact edge of the rear plate prior to switching.

28. The self-propelled construction machine of claim 22, wherein: the controller is further configured such that when switching from the first working operation to the second working operation, the controller adjusts the position of the rear plate with the rear adjustment actuator such that the position of the rear plate in the second working operation corresponds to the position of the front plate prior to switching.

29. A method of working a ground with a construction machine, the method comprising: working the ground with a milling and mixing roller of the construction machine, the milling and mixing roller being at least partially enclosed by a housing, the housing including a front plate and a rear plate at a front end and a rear end, respectively, of the housing as seen in a main direction of travel, the front and rear plates closing off a mixing chamber of the housing towards the front end and rear end, respectively, of the housing, the plates being adjustable; mixing the ground in the mixing chamber enclosed by the housing while working the ground; during a first working operation in which the machine is moving forward in the main direction of travel, adjusting the rear plate such that the rear plate is supported on the ground in a floating mode; and during a second working operation in which the machine is moving rearward, adjusting the front plate such that the front plate is supported on the ground in a floating mode.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising: in the floating modes of either of the front plate or the rear plate, supporting a supporting edge of the front plate or the rear plate, respectively, on the ground with a predetermined contact force.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising: adjusting the predetermined contact force.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising: when switching from the first working operation to the second working operation, adjusting the predetermined contact force of the supporting edge of the front plate such that the predetermined contact force of the supporting edge of the front plate corresponds to the predetermined contact force of the supporting edge of the rear plate prior to switching.

33. A self-propelled construction machine for working a ground, comprising: a machine frame; a mixing and milling drum supported from the machine frame for working the ground; a housing at least partially enclosing the mixing and milling drum, the housing defining a mixing chamber and including a front plate for closing off the mixing chamber at a front end of the housing relative to a main direction of travel, and a rear plate for closing off the mixing chamber at a rear end of the housing relative to the main direction of travel; at least one rear adjustment actuator for adjusting a position of the rear plate; at least one front adjustment actuator for adjusting a position of the front plate; and a controller operably associated with the front and rear adjustment actuators, the controller being configured to control a contact force with which a respective supporting edge of the front or rear plate is supported on the ground in a floating mode.

34. The self-propelled construction machine of claim 33, wherein: the controller is further configured such that the controller controls the respective contact force of the respective supporting edge of the front or rear plate as a function of a material of the ground and/or a milling depth.

35. The self-propelled construction machine of claim 33, wherein: the controller is further configured such that when switching from the first working operation to the second working operation, the controller adjusts the contact force of the contact edge of the front plate with the front adjustment actuator such that the contact force of the contact edge of the front plate in the second working operation corresponds to the contact force of the contact edge of the rear plate prior to switching.

36. The self-propelled construction machine of claim 33, wherein: the controller is further configured such that when switching from the first working operation to the second working operation, the controller adjusts the position of the rear plate with the rear adjustment actuator such that the position of the rear plate in the second working operation corresponds to the position of the front plate prior to switching.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0067] In the following, embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the drawings.

[0068] The following is shown schematically:

[0069] FIG. 1 a side view of the construction machine according to the present invention,

[0070] FIG. 2 a simplified side view of the construction machine according to the present invention,

[0071] FIG. 3 the construction machine according to FIG. 2 with previously worked ground material, and

[0072] FIG. 4 the construction machine in a direction of travel opposite to the main direction of travel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0073] FIG. 1 shows a self-propelled construction machine 1 for working a ground 18, 20. The illustrated construction machine 1 is a stabilizing machine or recycling machine. The construction machine 1 comprises a machine frame 2. A working device 4 for working the ground 18, 20 is mounted on the machine frame 2. The working device 4 may be a milling drum, as in the illustrated embodiment. The working device 4 is at least partially enclosed by a housing 6.

[0074] In the illustrated embodiment, the housing 6, and therefore also the working device 4, may be adjusted in height relative to the machine frame 2 by means of a lifting device 28. Alternatively, the housing 6, and therefore the working device 4, may also be directly mounted on the machine frame 2 without being adjustable in height relative to the same.

[0075] Lifting columns 14 are arranged on the machine frame 2, and travelling devices 16 are connected to the lifting columns 14. Said travelling devices 16 may be wheels or also tracked ground-engaging units. The lifting columns 14 may be adjusted in height, thus enabling the machine frame to be adjusted in height relative to the ground 18, 20. Since the working device 4 is connected to the machine frame 2, the height of the working device 4 relative to the ground 18, 20 may therefore also be adjustable by means of an adjustment of the lifting columns 14.

[0076] In the present embodiment, the working device 4 may therefore be adjustable in height both relative to the machine frame 2 and, together with the machine frame 2 by means of the lifting device 14, relative to the ground 18, 20.

[0077] Embodiments are also possible, however, in which the working device 4 may only be adjustable in height relative to the machine frame 2, or may only be adjustable in height together with the machine frame 2 by means of the lifting device 14.

[0078] The housing 6 comprises a front plate 10 and a rear plate 8, respectively, at the front and rear end as seen in the main direction of travel 12, which close off the mixing chamber of the housing 6 towards the front and the rear.

[0079] The front plate 10 may be adjustable, in particular adjustable in height, by means of a front adjustment device 24, and the rear plate 8 may be adjustable, in particular adjustable in height, by means of a rear adjustment device 22. The front adjustment device 24 may be referred to as a front adjustment actuator 24, and the rear adjustment device 22 may be referred to as a rear adjustment actuator 22. In this arrangement, the plates may pivot, for example, or may also be guided along a guide. As shown in the illustrated embodiment according to FIG. 1, but not absolutely necessary, additional rubber lips 17 are also provided for sealing and closing off relative to the milled ground 20, or for levelling off the milled ground 20.

[0080] The illustrated construction machine 1 may be, for example, a stabilizing machine or recycling machine. For the stabilization of soils of insufficient loadbearing capacity, the ground may be milled with the working device 4, which may be a milling and mixing rotor. The ground material then accumulates in the mixing chamber 7 (FIG. 2), which is surrounded by the housing 6, where binders such as, for example, cement slurry may then be added, and the rear plate 8 may then level off the material.

[0081] With a recycling machine, damaged asphalt layers may be milled and crushed, for example, and the milled-off and crushed ground material may then be mixed in the mixing chamber, which is surrounded by the housing 6, and binder such as, for example, foamed bitumen may be added, and the rear plate 8 may then level off the material 20. The material 20 may also be termed milled ground 20.

[0082] The individual steps of mixing and levelling off are explained in more detail in the schematic FIGS. 2 to 4.

[0083] FIG. 2 shows merely a schematic illustration of the construction machine 1. The working device 4 is shown in lowered position and is in the first working operation and moves in the main direction of travel 12. The working device 4 mills the ground 18 and the milled material accumulates in the mixing chamber 7, which is surrounded by the housing 6. Binding agents may be added in the mixing chamber 7.

[0084] The front plate 10 is moved into a predefined position during the first working operation. The predefined position is preferably a raised position. The raised position may be described as a raised position above the ground 18. The raised position allows the flow of material into the housing 6. The supporting edge 9 of the rear plate 8 is supported on the ground 18 in floating position in the first working operation. In floating position means that the supporting edge 9 is supported on the ground 18, 20 with a predetermined contact force. The floating position of the rear plate 8 may also be described as a floating mode of the rear plate 8.

[0085] The contact force with which the supporting edge 9 of the rear plate 8 is supported on the ground 18 in the floating position may be adjusted by means of a control device 30. The control device 30 may also be referred to as a controller 30. The control device 30 controls the contact force of the supporting edge 9 of the rear plate 8 as a function of the material that is mixed in the mixing chamber 7. Depending on the strength of the material, the contact force must be adapted accordingly. In doing so, it should be ensured that the rear plate is not raised too far and, consequently, the contact force is too low, since this will not allow sufficient mixing of the material in the mixing chamber 7. On the other hand, the rear plate should not be lowered too far and, consequently, the contact force be too high, since the construction machine 1 will otherwise be slowed down and, in the worst case, the engine will be stalled due to the excessively high load.

[0086] The appropriate contact force may be determined by means of tests under different working conditions, so that values for specific working conditions are already known to the operator in advance.

[0087] Factors leading to different working conditions, which the amount of the contact force or also the amount of the open position of the plate are dependent upon, are, for example: [0088] the material to be worked [0089] the milling depth/working depth [0090] the type of binder to be introduced [0091] the amount of binder to be introduced [0092] the operating speed/forward advance speed

[0093] Particularly advantageously, such predetermined values may be stored in a storage unit 40 assigned to the control unit 30. In this arrangement, the storage unit 40 may be a part of the control unit 30 or designed separately from the same. It may in particular be provided that proposed machine settings, in particular advantageous contact forces of the plate, are assigned to different working conditions in the storage unit 40 in the form of a table. The machine operator may then set the machine to an appropriate configuration status by selecting a predetermined subsoil condition appropriate to the currently prevailing working conditions.

[0094] On the other hand, the operator may also determine the optimum contact force by trying and testing the material that is actually present.

[0095] Particularly advantageously, the operator may first preselect a machine configuration by choosing from subsoil conditions or working conditions, respectively, and then adapt these to the actual conditions during the operation.

[0096] In FIG. 3, the construction machine 1 has moved forward relative to the position illustrated in FIG. 2. The ground material has been mixed and the mixed material 20, to which binder has been added, is discharged again. The rear plate 8 levels off the material so that a desired height of the material is created.

[0097] Since the material exhibits a higher volume due to mixing, and the volume is also higher due to the addition of the additional binder, the worked ground 20, as illustrated in FIG. 3, is usually higher than the previous, non-worked ground 18.

[0098] The contact force with which the supporting edge 9 of the rear plate 8 is supported on the ground 18, 20 in the floating position, may be adjustable in such a fashion that the contact force results from the own weight of the rear plate 8 and an additional force that is applied to the plate 8 by means of the rear adjustment device 22.

[0099] The force that is applied to the rear plate 8 by means of the adjustment device 22 may act in the direction of the ground so that the force of the own weight is further increased. Alternatively, the force may also act in the opposite direction away from the ground 18, 20 so that the force of the own weight, which normally acts on the ground 18, 20, is reduced and the total contact force is therefore lower than the force of the own weight. The contact force may thus be optimally adapted to the requirements.

[0100] The rear adjustment device 22 is preferably a hydraulic adjustment device and may therefore continuously adjust the contact force. Alternatively, other adjustment devices are also possible.

[0101] The front plate 10 may be adjusted to different positions depending on the amount of material that is to enter the mixing chamber 7. The positions may preferably be adjustable in increments.

[0102] The appropriate position of the front plate 10 may be determined by means of tests under different working conditions, so that values for specific working conditions are already known to the operator in advance.

[0103] Factors leading to different working conditions, which the amount of the open position of the plate is dependent upon, are, for example: [0104] the material to be worked [0105] the milling depth/working depth [0106] the type of binder to be introduced [0107] the amount of binder to be introduced [0108] the operating speed/forward advance speed

[0109] Particularly advantageously, such predetermined values may be stored in the storage unit 40 assigned to the control unit 30. In this arrangement, the storage unit 40 may be a part of the control unit 30 or designed separately from the same. It may in particular be provided that proposed machine settings, in particular advantageous positions of the plate, are assigned to different working conditions in the storage unit 40 in the form of a table. The machine operator may then set the machine to an appropriate configuration status by selecting a predetermined subsoil condition appropriate to the currently prevailing working conditions.

[0110] On the other hand, the operator may also determine the optimum position by trying and testing the material that is actually present.

[0111] Particularly advantageously, the operator may first preselect a machine configuration by choosing from subsoil conditions or working conditions, respectively, and then adapt these to the actual conditions during the operation.

[0112] The front plate 10 may preferably be moved into said predefined position by means of the front adjustment device 24.

[0113] A second working operation is illustrated in FIG. 4. The construction machine 1 moves in the direction 13 opposite to the main direction of travel 12. In the second working operation, the front plate 10 as seen in the main direction of travel 12 is supported on the ground 18, 20 in a floating position. The floating position of the front plate 10 may also be described as a floating mode of the front plate 10.

[0114] When switching from the first working operation to the second working operation, the control device 30 adjusts the contact force of the contact edge 11 of the front plate 10 by means of the front adjustment device 24 in such a fashion that it essentially corresponds to the contact force of the contact edge 9 of the rear plate 8 prior to switching. This has the advantage for the operator that, when driving opposite to the main direction of travel 12, namely, in reverse direction, he does not have to make a readjustment of the contact force.

[0115] When switching, the contact force previously read out from the storage unit 40 at the beginning of the work process and used for the rear plate 8 may therefore also be used for the front plate 10. Alternatively, the value actually adjusted at the rear plate 8 may particularly preferably be used. The value actually adjusted is, in particular, the value read out at the beginning of the work process and used for the rear plate 8, but which has been adapted by the operator during the operation.

[0116] The rear plate 8 is moved into a predetermined position during the second working operation, which is preferably a raised position. Since the construction machine 1 now moves in the direction 13, the flow of material into the housing 6 takes place in the area of the rear plate 8. The material 23 is levelled off by the front plate 10.

[0117] Exactly as has already been described with regard to the first working operation, the ground 18 is milled by means of the working device 4. The material accumulates in the mixing chamber 7, which is enclosed by the housing 6. Binder is added and the material 23 is discharged again, wherein the material is levelled off by the front plate 10 supported on the ground 18 in floating position. Also in the second working operation, it is decisive that the contact force is not too high and not too low.

[0118] As a result of the present invention, the contact force of the supporting edge 11 corresponds to the contact force of the supporting edge 9, and thus a consistent work result is possible without the need for additional adaptations. However, due to the possibility of changing conditions, the contact force may still be adapted by the machine operator during the further operation.

[0119] In this arrangement, the control device 20 also takes into account different geometries of the suspension and different adjustment devices. FIG. 1 illustrates, for example, how differently the adjustment devices 22 and 24 may be suspended. The decisive factor is that the contact force of the supporting edge on the ground is identical. The difference in the own weight of the front and rear plate may also play a role in the actual force of the adjustment device 24 being adjusted differently from the force of the adjustment device 22.

[0120] In addition, when switching from the first working operation to the second working operation, the control device 30 may adjust the position of the rear plate 8 in such a fashion that it corresponds to the predetermined position of the front plate 10 prior to switching. The different geometries of the plates or also different suspensions may also be taken into account.

[0121] When switching back from the second working operation to the first working operation, the control device 30 may adjust the contact force of the rear plate 8 by means of the rear adjustment device 22 in such a fashion that it essentially corresponds to the contact force of the front plate 10 prior to switching. Alternatively, it would also be possible that, in the control device, the previous values of the first working operation are stored in the storage unit 40 and the same are simply adopted again when switching back to the first working operation.

[0122] As a basic principle, the values of the first and second working operation may be stored in the storage device 40 so that the operator may select the same again in accordance with requirements.

[0123] The control device 30 may be integrated into the machine control system or may be arranged separately from the same.