Patent Application
20250052017
This application claims foreign priority benefits under 35 U.S.C. ยง 119(a)-(d) to European patent application number EP 23190058.0, filed Aug. 7, 2023, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The disclosure relates to the technical field of road construction vehicles with a material hopper. In particular, the disclosure relates to road construction vehicles in the form of a road paver or in the form of a feeder vehicle for a road paver.
In practice, road pavers are known in which the material hopper has two halves that are opposite each other with respect to a width direction perpendicular to the paving direction. During paving operation, the hopper halves are in a paving configuration. From the paving configuration, the hopper halves may each be pivoted towards each other about an axis extending along the paving direction, whereby the material hopper is brought into a transport configuration. In the transport configuration, the material hopper has a reduced width. When the material hopper is in the transport configuration, the road paver may be transported more easily between construction sites or may be parked space-efficiently. The pivotable hopper halves may each have a side wall that may be pivoted in relation to the rest of the hopper half. In the paving configuration, the side wall may be tilted outwards to the side in order to increase the width of the material hopper and thus facilitate the docking of a truck for dumping paving material into the material hopper.
Feeder vehicles for road pavers are also known in practice, which act as an intermediary between a truck driving in front of the feeder vehicle and a road paver driving behind the feeder vehicle. The truck may dump paving material into the material hopper of the feeder vehicle. A conveyor of the feeder vehicle may drop the paving material from above into the material hopper of the road paver.
According to an aspect of the disclosure, a road construction vehicle is provided. The road construction vehicle comprises a chassis and a material hopper for receiving paving material. The material hopper has two hopper parts opposite each other. The hopper parts 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 so as to be 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 so as to be pivotable about a side part pivot axis. The side part comprises a free end edge, which is opposite the pivot end edge. The free end edge of the side part is configured to be located below the side part pivot axis when the base part is in the closed position.
A transverse direction may be perpendicular to a travel direction of the road construction vehicle, in particular to a paving direction of the road construction vehicle. The transverse direction may be a horizontal direction. The transverse direction may be a left-right direction in relation to a travel direction of the road construction vehicle. The transverse direction may extend from one lateral side of the road construction vehicle to another lateral side of the road construction vehicle.
The two hopper parts may be formed analogously to each other. The two hopper parts may be designed as mirror images of each other. The two hopper parts may be opposite each other in the transverse direction.
A conveyor device may be provided between the two hopper parts in the transverse direction. The conveyor device may be configured to convey paving material out of the material hopper. The conveyor device may be configured to convey the paving material at least essentially parallel to a travel direction of the road construction vehicle, in particular against a travel direction of the road construction vehicle. The conveyor device may comprise a scraper belt. The conveyor device may form at least part of a floor of the receiving space.
In the open position, the base part may form at least part of a floor of the receiving space. The base part may comprise an inner surface. In the open position, the inner surface of the base part may form at least part of the floor of the receiving space. In the open position, the inner surface of the base part may form at least part of an inner wall of the receiving space. The inner surface of the base part may be a flat surface. The inner surface of the base part may be at least substantially horizontal in the open position. In the open position, the inner surface of the base part may be inclined relative to a horizontal plane by at most 5 degrees, or by at most 10 degrees, or by at most 15 degrees, or by at most 20 degrees, or by at most 25 degrees, or by at most 30 degrees.
The main pivot axis may be stationary in relation to the chassis of the road paver. The main pivot axis may extend along a travel direction of the road construction vehicle. The main pivot axis may extend at least essentially parallel to a travel direction of the road construction vehicle. The main pivot axis may extend parallel to a travel direction of the road construction vehicle, at least in projection from above.
The base part may be configured to be raised from the open position by pivoting about the main axis towards the opposite hopper part into the closed position. Pivoting the base part from the open position to the closed position may comprise pivoting by at least 30 degrees, or by at least 40 degrees, or by at least 50 degrees, or by at least 60 degrees, or by at least 70 degrees, or by at least 80 degrees about the main pivot axis. In the closed position, the inner surface of the base part may be inclined relative to a horizontal plane, for example by at least 30 degrees, or by at least 40 degrees, or by at least 50 degrees, or by at least 60 degrees, or by at least 70 degrees, or by at least 80 degrees. In the closed position, the inner surface of the base part may face towards the opposite half of the bunker.
When the base part is pivoted from the open position to the closed position, a base part of the other hopper part may be pivoted simultaneously from an open position to a closed position.
During a working operation of the road construction vehicle, the base part may be in the open position. In the open position, the at least one hopper part may be configured to receive paving material. The material hopper as a whole may be configured to receive paving material if the base parts of both hopper parts are in the open position. If the base part of the at least one hopper part is in the open position, in particular if the base parts of both hopper parts are in the open position, the material hopper may be in a working configuration.
When the base part is in the closed position, the at least one hopper part may be upright. When the base part is in the closed position, the at least one hopper part may be folded inwards towards the other hopper part with respect to the transverse direction. When the base part is in the closed position, the material hopper may have a reduced width. When the base part of the at least one hopper part is in the closed position, in particular when the base parts of both hopper parts are in the closed position, the material hopper may be in a transport configuration. In the transport configuration, transportation of the road construction vehicle between work operations may be simplified due to a reduced bunker width.
When the base part is in the closed position, the height of the material hopper may be greater than when the base part is in the open position. If the free end edge of the side part is below the side part pivot axis in the closed position of the base part, the height of the material hopper in the closed position may still be at least less than if the free end edge of the side part were above the side part pivot axis. Due to a free end edge of the side part being located below the side part pivot axis in the closed position of the base part, the material hopper may have a comparatively low height even when the base part is in the closed position. A comparatively low height of the material hopper in the closed position may provide an operator or driver of the road construction vehicle with an improved view, in particular an improved view to the front. For example, an operator or driver of the road construction vehicle may look forward over the material hopper even when the base part is in the closed position, making it easier to safely guide the road construction vehicle.
Preferably, the at least one hopper part or the material hopper does not extend upwards beyond the chassis of the road paver when the base part is in the closed position.
When the base part is pivoted about the main pivot axis, the at least one hopper part may be pivoted about the main pivot axis as a whole with respect to the chassis of the road paver.
The side part pivot axis may extend along a travel direction of the road construction vehicle. The side part pivot axis may be at least substantially parallel to a travel direction of the road construction vehicle. The side part pivot axis may be parallel to a travel direction of the road construction vehicle, at least in plan view. The side part pivot axis may be at least substantially parallel to the main pivot axis.
The base part may extend between the main pivot axis and the side part pivot axis. The side part may connect to the base part along the side part pivot axis.
The side part may be configured to be pivoted about the side part pivot axis relative to the base part between a deployment position and a transport position. When the base part is in the open position and the side part is in the deployment position, the side part may form at least part of a side wall of the receiving space and/or laterally delimit the receiving space. The side part may be pivoted about the side part pivot axis from the deployment position into the transport position with the same direction of rotation as the base part is pivoted from the open position into the closed position.
When pivoting the side part from the deployment position into the transport position, the side part may be folded into the inside of the material hopper.
The pivot end edge of the side part may be at least substantially parallel to one or more of the following: the main pivot axis, the side part pivot axis, a paving direction of the road construction vehicle, the free end edge of the side part.
The free end edge of the side part may be at least substantially parallel to one or more of the following: the main pivot axis, the side part pivot axis, a paving direction of the road construction vehicle, the pivot end edge of the side part.
The pivot end edge and/or the free end edge of the side part may extend parallel to a travel direction of the road construction vehicle, at least in plan view.
The free end edge of the side part may be located below the side part pivot axis when the base part is in the closed position and the side part is in the transport position. If the free end edge of the side part is located below the side part pivot axis when the base part is in the closed position, the material hopper may have a comparatively low height in the closed position. A comparatively low height of the material hopper in the closed position may provide an operator or driver of the road construction vehicle with an improved view, in particular an improved view to the front. Preferably, the at least one hopper part or the material hopper does not extend upwards beyond the chassis of the road paver when the base part is in the closed position and the side part is in the transport position.
The side part may have an intermediate part and an end part. For example, several intermediate parts could also be provided, so that the side part has several intermediate parts and an end part.
The intermediate part may have a first surface. The end part may have a second surface. The first surface and the second surface may each be configured to form part of an inner wall of the receiving space.
The first surface and the second surface may come together along a boundary line which is at least substantially parallel to one or more of the following: the main pivot axis, the side part pivot axis, the pivot end edge of the side part, the free end edge of the side part, a travel direction of the road construction vehicle.
The first surface and the second surface may be configured to be inclined towards each other.
The intermediate part and the end part may be rigidly connected or integrally formed with each other. The first surface and the second surface may be formed at an angle to each other. The first surface and the second surface may define a kink in the side part. A kink in the side part allows the side part to be accommodated particularly compactly in the closed position.
The intermediate part may be attached to the base part pivotable about the side part pivot axis.
The end part may be attached to the intermediate part pivotable about an end part pivot axis. The end part pivot axis may be at least substantially parallel to one or more of the following: the main pivot axis, the side part pivot axis, the pivot end edge of the side part, the free end edge of the side part, a travel direction of the road construction vehicle.
The end part may be configured to be pivoted about the end part pivot axis between a folded position and an unfolded position. The end part may be configured, at least when the base part is in the open position, to be pivoted about the end part pivot axis between the folded position and the unfolded position. In the folded position, the end part may form at least part of a side wall of the receiving space when the base part is in the open position. In the folded position, the end part may be aligned at least substantially vertically when the base part is in the open position. In the unfolded position, the end part may form an at least substantially planar continuation of the base part. In the unfolded position, the end part may form at least part of a bottom surface of the receiving space when the base part is in the open position. When the base part is in the open position, a width of the material hopper may be greater when the end part is in the unfolded position than when the end part is in the folded position. Pivoting the end part around the end part pivot axis from the unfolded position to the folded position may be performed with the same direction of rotation as pivoting the base part around the main pivot axis from the open position to the closed position and/or as pivoting the side part around the side part pivot axis from the deployment position to the transport position.
The road construction vehicle may comprise a coupling device. The coupling device may be 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. The coupling device may be configured to couple the pivot position of the base part about the main pivot axis and the pivot position of the side part about the side part pivot axis in such a way that each pivot position of the base part about the main pivot axis is assigned a corresponding pivot position of the side part about the side part pivot axis. The coupling device may simplify operation of the material hopper. The coupling device may ensure that the base part and the side part are always in the correct position relative to each other.
The coupling device may be configured to effect an automatic pivoting of the side part about the side part pivot axis when the base part pivots about the main pivot axis. The coupling device may be configured to effect an automatic pivoting of the side part about the side part pivot axis with the same direction of rotation when the base part pivots about the main pivot axis.
The coupling device may be configured to pivot the side part from the deployment position to the transport position when the main part is pivoted from the open position to the closed position. The coupling device may be configured to pivot the side part from the transport position to the deployment position when the base part is pivoted from the closed position to the open position.
The coupling device may be configured to effect an automatic pivoting of the side part about the side part pivot axis by a second angle, when pivoting the base part 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 one another.
The coupling device may be formed by means of control technology. When a user input is received with an adjustment command, a control device of the road construction vehicle may be configured to control both an actuator for pivoting the base part about the main pivot axis and an actuator for pivoting the side part about the side part pivot axis.
The coupling device may comprise a mechanical coupling device. In particular in the case of a mechanical design of the coupling device, only one actuator may be provided, which is configured both for pivoting the base part about the main pivot axis and for pivoting the side part about the side part pivot axis, in particular simultaneously.
The coupling device may comprise a coupling rod. The coupling rod may connect the side part to the chassis. The coupling rod may be pivotably attached to the side part and to the chassis. The side part may have an extension to which the coupling rod is connected. The coupling rod may be in a horizontal position when the base part is in the open position. The coupling rod may be in an upright position when the base part is in the closed position.
The material hopper may be attached at a front of the road construction vehicle with respect to a paving direction.
The road construction vehicle may be formed as a road paver or as a feeder vehicle for a road paver.
The road paver may comprise a towing vehicle. The chassis may be a chassis of the towing vehicle. The material hopper may be provided at and/or attached to the towing vehicle. The road paver may comprise a screed. The screed may be attached to the towing vehicle to be towed behind the towing vehicle. The road construction vehicle may comprise a conveyor device. The conveyor device may be configured to convey paving material from the material hopper to the rear against the paving direction and submit it to the screed.
The feeder vehicle may comprise a conveyor. The conveyor may be designed to transport paving material from the material hopper of the feeder vehicle and drop it from above into a material hopper of a road paver traveling behind the feeder vehicle.
According to a further aspect of the disclosure, a method for operating a road construction vehicle is provided. At least one hopper part of a material hopper of the road construction vehicle is pivoted with respect to a chassis of the road construction vehicle about a main pivot axis. The pivoting movement 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.
The pivoting movement of the at least one hopper part about the main pivot axis may be coupled, in particular mechanically coupled, to the pivoting movement of the side part about the side part pivot axis by a coupling device.
The pivoting movement of the at least one hopper part about the main pivot axis may take place at least partially simultaneously with the pivoting movement of the side part about the side part pivot axis.
According to a further aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a use of a material hopper. The material hopper comprises at least one hopper part. The at least one hopper part is connected to a chassis of a road construction vehicle via a main pivot axis. The at least one hopper part is foldable in itself via two pivot axles. The material hopper is used to move a road construction vehicle into a transport configuration with reduced space requirements.
As described, various aspects of the disclosure relate to a road construction vehicle, a method of operating a road construction vehicle and a use of a material hopper. Features described in relation to one of these aspects are also valid for the other aspects and may be applied to or combined with them. The road construction vehicle may be suitable, adapted and/or configured to perform the method or to perform the use. The method may be performed with the road construction vehicle. The use may be performed with the road construction vehicle. Performing the method may comprise the use. The use may comprise performing the method.
In the following, the disclosure is explained further with reference to the figures.
Parts A to E of
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.
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
The sequence of parts A to E of
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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.
As may be seen from
In the transport configuration of the material hopper 9 (part A of
At least in the transport configuration (part A of
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
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.
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.
In all parts of
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
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).
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23190058.0 | Aug 2023 | EP | regional |
