Patent Application
20250207339
The present application claims priority to German Patent Application Ser. No. DE 10 2023 136 377.8, filed Dec. 21, 2023, which is incorporated herein by reference.
The present disclosure relates to a self-propelled earth working machine comprising a base earth working machine, the base earth working machine comprising:
The base earth working machine and in particular its machine frame are designed to accommodate a power system as a power source of the earth working machine, wherein the power system comprises a power apparatus, which is designed to provide working energy for an operation of at least one of the consumers of the earth working machine.
Such an earth working machine is generally known, for example from DE 10 2021 129 619 A1 (US2023151562) or DE 10 2014 011 195 A1. As in the case of DE 10 2021 129 619 A1, the self-propelled earth working machine in the present application is preferably a road milling machine, a stabilizer, a recycler or a surface miner. The working tool is therefore preferably a rotating working tool, which is designed to remove material from the ground, in particular a milling drum having a plurality of milling bits, which are supported on an outer side of a milling drum tube, preferably in a spiral-shaped arrangement.
Currently, self-propelled earth-working machines, such as in particular road milling machines, stabilizers, recyclers and surface miners, are constructed from their individual parts, wherein individual function units, such as for example a combustion engine as a central power source of the earth working machine, a drive unit having a revolving crawler, the working apparatus and/or the working tool, and the like, are installed as preassembled subassemblies on the self-propelled earth working machine produced as it is assembled.
Different ancillary requirements of the earth working machine apart from the direct earth working operation, for example with regard to noise emission, pollutant emission in different areas of use, in particular due to different legislation, different availabilities of quantities of energy and/or forms of energy and different technical constraints for the respective operational use, may possibly not be satisfied in the desired quality by a single earth working machine. Manufacturers of self-propelled earth working machines are thus facing the increasingly more demanding challenge of providing an earth working machine that is most suitable for a particular requirement.
Without further measures, this provision of earth working machines suitably equipped for a specified work spectrum, but constructed differently in order to cover the work spectrum while observing existing ancillary requirements, results in a considerable additional effort at least in the assembly and consequently probably also in an increased space requirement for the assembly, since, without further measures, it is not to be expected that earth working machines of different concepts with regard to their energy conversion and/or their energy transmission can be assembled without difficulty at one and the same assembly location.
The object of the present disclosure is therefore to reduce the effort for providing earth working machines which are suitable for covering one and the same earth working spectrum, but which differ conceptually in terms of the energy conversion and/or energy transmission always required on an earth working machine, and to enable an economical diversification of the product range of earth working machines for one and the same working spectrum.
Today, manufacturers of earth working machines already provide different earth working machines for a working spectrum that is similar because it is based on the same physical operating principle. These earth working machines, however, differ primarily in terms of their capacities, i.e., essentially in terms of the dimensions of their working apparatus, in particular of their working tool, and consequently in terms of the power consumption of the working apparatus. Thus, different earth working machines are offered for different working widths and/or different working capacities, which in turn can be equipped with different working tools for, in particular earth-removing, earth working operations that are similar because they work according to the same physical operating principle but are not identical in terms of the working result.
In the particularly preferred case of ground-removing earth work, different removal widths can be realized by earth working machines with working tools of different widths. Different removal priorities, such as the highest possible removal rate versus the finest possible processed ground surface, can be realized by working tools with removal devices, such as milling bits, differing in terms of design and/or number and/or arrangement.
The working spectrum that can be handled by an earth working machine results from the totality of the working tools that can be attached to one and the same basic machine. The basic machine is essentially determined by its machine frame, which sets limits to the working apparatuses and/or working tools that can be attached to it. In the technical field of earth-removing milling machines, which is of particular interest here, different milling tools can be attached to one and the same basic machine, which differ in their respective milling widths, which may be selected within a predetermined milling width range, and/or which may differ in terms of the number and/or shape of the milling bits attached to them.
Regardless of the range of different working apparatuses and working tools available for a given earth working machine, the rest of the earth working machine, that is, the basic machine, generally remains unchanged by the component selection in the area of its working apparatus.
The present disclosure is therefore not based on the question of how one and the same earth working machine can be made usable for different working tasks, but rather how one and the same earth working machine can best fulfill one and the same earth working task under different legal or/and technical or/and economic constraints. Of course, this does not preclude a change of working apparatus and/or working tool on an earth working machine according to the disclosure. Such a change, however, is not necessary for achieving the object defined above.
According to the disclosure, this object is achieved in that the earth working machine has a modular design with regard to its power system as its power source.
This makes it possible to select, already when planning the earth working machine, a power system particularly suitable for the eventual application from a plurality of different generally possible power systems and to install it in the earth working machine.
To realize the modular design with regard to the power system, the base earth working machine comprises:
The aforementioned interfaces make it possible to connect the power system to the base earth working machine mechanically via the first bearing interface, in signal and data-transmitting fashion via the first signal interface, and, for transmitting working energy to the at least one consumer, via the working energy interface.
The connection of a system mentioned in the present disclosure, such as the aforementioned power system, to the base earth working machine ultimately means a direct or indirect connection of the components to the machine frame.
The first bearing interface may have a plurality of mechanical coupling and/or fastening means. Possible coupling means may be bearing recesses or bearing projections, for example. Possible fastening means may be connecting means, such as for example at least one fastening opening having a form-locking contour, such as an internal thread in particular, and/or at least one fastening projection having a form-locking contour, such as in particular an external thread. The mechanical coupling and/or fastening means of the first bearing interface are preferably designed for complementary interaction with a corresponding first bearing counterpart interface on the side of the power system. According to a possible approach, albeit one which is less preferred because of its lesser flexibility once the connection between the power system and the base earth working machine has been established, the first bearing interface may be at least one joint formation for establishing a joint that is designed to be permanent, such as by riveting or welding.
The first signal interface may comprise a plug and/or a socket and/or a plurality of plugs and/or sockets or any other type of electrical or electronic coupling means. By way of a, preferably complementary, coupling to a correspondingly designed first signal counterpart interface, the first signal interface makes it possible to exchange signals and data between the thus coupled components and/or assemblies.
The at least one working energy interface serves to transmit working energy provided by the power system. Depending on the design of the relevant consumer, the working energy interface may comprise or be, for example, a shaft end or a hub, a transmitting means situated on a shaft end, such as a toothed wheel or a friction wheel for a gear train, or a driving belt for a belt drive and the like. At least one working energy interface of the at least one working energy interface may therefore be designed for transmitting mechanical working energy, that is, by inputting working energy or working power in the form of force and/or torque and movement.
Depending on the form in which the working energy is required at a consumer and is provided by the power system, a working energy interface of the at least one working energy interface may be an interface for transmitting fluid, in particular for transmitting a liquid, such as hydraulic oil, or a gas, such as compressed air, for example. In that case, the working energy interface may comprise or be a fluid quick coupling known per se. Such a case may occur, for example, if at least one consumer is a hydraulic motor or a hydraulic piston-cylinder system common in earth working machines, for which the power system provides potential working energy in the form of a quantity of hydraulic fluid at a predetermined pressure level that normally exceeds the atmospheric pressure of the surroundings. The same holds true for the provision of potential working energy in the form of a quantity of gas at a predetermined gas pressure level for at least one pneumatic consumer, such as a pneumatic piston-cylinder system, for example.
Working energy may also be electrical energy, for example if a consumer is an electrical consumer such as an electric motor, a data processing device such as a control unit, a light and the like. In that case, at least one working energy interface of the at least one working energy interface may be an electrical interface, that is, for example an electrical plug or an electrical socket. A plurality of working energy interfaces may also take the form of electrical interfaces so as to allow for a use of electrical energy in different characteristic forms on one and the same earth working machine. Thus, electrical energy of different frequencies up to direct current and/or of different voltages and/or of different amperages may be transmitted to different working energy interfaces.
For the case, which is the rule rather than an exception, that several consumers working according to different physical operating principles are provided on the working machine, the earth working machine preferably has a plurality of working energy interfaces on the side of its machine frame, preferably at least one for each form of energy transmitted from the power system to the consumers.
For the connection to the base earth working machine, in particular to the machine frame, by way of the first bearing interface, the power system has a first support device formed separately from the machine frame, which supports the power apparatus. For this purpose, the first support device has a first bearing counterpart interface for the physical connection, preferably designed to be disconnectable, of the power system to the base earth working machine, in particular to the machine frame. The first support device as a kind of adapter or “shape mediator” between the base earth working machine on the one hand and power systems on the other hand is an essential component, which in the production of the earth working machine allows for a quick and uncomplicated, but nevertheless durable and secure arrangement of different power apparatuses, working in particular on the basis of different physical operating principles, on the base earth working machine, in particular on the machine frame.
To fasten the power apparatus on the first support device, the power apparatus has a power apparatus interface, and the first support device has a power apparatus counterpart interface distinct from the first bearing counterpart interface. In specific embodiments of the disclosure, it may be the case that the power apparatus interface cannot be coupled directly to the first bearing interface, for example due to its shape and/or its points of connection. Irrespective of which power apparatus is accommodated on the first support device, the first support device respectively supporting the power apparatus can always be connected to the base earth working machine, in particular to the machine frame, by using the first bearing interface and the first bearing counterpart interface. If different power systems having different first support devices are provided for an earth working machine, then it is possible to ensure that the different power systems can be mechanically connected to and thus supported on the base earth working machine by using a quasi-standardized connection of first bearing interface and first bearing counterpart interface.
The power apparatus in turn is mounted on the first support device by a connection between the power apparatus interface and the power apparatus counterpart interface. The power apparatus interface may have one several power apparatus bearing formations. The power apparatus counterpart interface may have one or several power apparatus counter bearing formations, which can be coupled to the power apparatus bearing formations, wherein the power apparatus bearing formations and power apparatus counter bearing formations in the coupled state are secured or securable against disengagement from one another, in particular by a form-locking connection. What was said above about the embodiment of the first bearing interface and counterpart interface applies accordingly mutatis mutandis to the embodiment of power apparatus bearing formations and counter bearing formations and vice versa.
In this way, different first support devices can be prepared for different power apparatuses, their only design constraint being the formation or arrangement of a respective power apparatus counterpart interface. The respective power apparatus counterpart interface of a first support device is then individually adapted to the respective power apparatus to be accommodated and its power apparatus interface.
Hence, it is possible to provide a plurality of different power systems for a production set of components for producing the earth working machine, which differ in terms of their power apparatus but differ only to a limited extent with regard to their respective first support devices. The first support devices preferably differ only in their respective power apparatus counterpart interfaces for fastening the respective power apparatuses to them, since every power apparatus will have its own power apparatus bearing formations of individually different shapes and/or in individually different locations.
Although it is not necessary, for reasons of simplified manufacture and assembly, the first support devices of different power systems of the production set generally provided for the production of the earth working machine are preferably designed and formed identically with the exception of the individual power apparatus counterpart interfaces.
The advantage is obvious: with the interposition of the first support device, a base earth working machine without power system may always be designed in essentially identical fashion for the purpose of accommodating a power system. Strictly speaking, this is also the case in the prior art with the difference that in the prior art only exactly one power apparatus without a first support device fits on the thus prepared “base earth working machine” and is connectible to it. According to the present disclosure, by contrast, the power system, regardless of its type, can be connected quickly, unproblematically, permanently and securely to the machine frame of the base earth working machine as a preassembled assembly via the connection between the first bearing interface and the first bearing counterpart interface. On the base earth working machine, on the other hand, there is preferably no interface on the side of the machine frame for directly accommodating the power apparatus.
Since the first bearing interface and the first bearing counterpart interface constitute an interface formation for connecting three-dimensional bodies to each other, both the first bearing interface as well as the first bearing counterpart interface preferably comprise a plurality of cooperating and preferably complementary connecting formations.
For reasons of increased strength and rigidity, the first bearing interface and the first bearing counterpart interface are preferably designed for directly connecting to each other, preferably so as to be disconnectable. However, a modular design of the earth working machine may alternatively require that the first bearing interface and the first bearing counterpart interface are designed for an indirect connection, preferably designed to be disconnectable, with the interposition of at least one power mediating device, the power mediating device being distinct from the first support device. Here, the preceding expression “power” is only meant to indicate that the mediating device serves to fasten the power system on the machine frame. The mediating device may be an adapter, which is connectible on its one functional side to the first bearing interface, and which is connectible on its other functional side to the first bearing counterpart interface. Such a power mediating device may be for example a further support device of a different function system than the power system, as will be described in more detail below.
To be able to control the power system in operation to the required extent and/or to be able to detect states and operating states of the power system and process these through the control unit, the power system may comprise a first signal counterpart interface, which is designed to establish a signal-transmitting signal coupling, preferably designed to be releasable, to the first signal interface as part of the first signal connection. The first signal interface and the first signal counterpart interface are preferably connectible without tools, for example by establishing a plug-in connection between them. The first signal interface and the first signal counterpart interface are preferably designed having electrical contacts that are physically complementary to each other, for example as plug and socket and/or as contact shoe and contact reed and the like. The first signal interface and the first signal counterpart interface may be realized in each instance by one interface body, which ensures a particularly quick and simple connection. The first signal interface and the first signal counterpart interface, however, may also be formed by a plurality of interface sub-bodies separately connectible to one another, for example when starting from the power system signals must be transmitted to different locations on the machine frame and/or via different lines and/or when the existing installation space is too small for forming a single interface body.
An unwanted disconnection of the established plug-in connection between the first signal interface and the first signal counterpart interface may be prevented by a form-locking interconnection of the bodies bearing the respective contacts. Hence, one interface of the first signal interface and the first signal counterpart interface may have a locking formation and the respective other interface may have a locking counterpart formation cooperating with the locking formation in form-locking fashion.
The first signal counterpart interface may be connected in signal-transmitting and/or data-transmitting fashion to at least one sensor and/or to a local control unit of the power apparatus and/or to at least one actuator on the power apparatus.
To output the required working energy, the power system may comprise at least one working energy counterpart interface, which is designed to establish the working energy-transmitting working energy connection, preferably designed to be disconnectable, to the at least one working energy interface. For this purpose, at least one working energy counterpart interface of the at least one working energy counterpart interface may be designed to connect directly to at least one working energy interface of the at least one working energy interface and/or at least one working energy counterpart interface of the at least one working energy counterpart interface may be designed to connect indirectly to at least one working energy interface of the at least one working energy interface with the interposition of a transmission apparatus. Such a transmission apparatus may be for example a gearing or linkage, which connects a working energy counterpart interface outputting a mechanical working energy to a working energy interface receiving mechanical working energy. In the case of a provision of potential working energy in the form of a quantity of fluid at a predetermined pressure level, in particular a hydraulic fluid quantity, a transmission apparatus may be realized by a fluidic line arrangement, in particular a hose and/or pipe arrangement. In the case of a provision of electrical working energy, a transmission apparatus may be an electrical line arrangement, possibly including electrical circuits, such as a transformer for changing the electrical voltage and/or a converter for generating and/or changing a frequency of an electrical current provided as working energy. A possible objection that electrical current and electrical energy are different entities applies only theoretically in the present case but is irrelevant for the earth working machine under consideration. For the electrical working energy is used for the performance of work by the working apparatus and is thus provided as electrical working energy per unit of time, consequently as electrical power. Electrical power is the product of an electrical voltage and the current flowing at this voltage. When using a converter, both the provided electrical voltage as well as the current flow based on this voltage have a frequency. Here it should be noted that an electrical alternating current in earth working machines is required essentially for supplying alternating or three-phase alternating current motors, while other electrical consumers are normally operated with direct current, as is customary in vehicle.
According to the first law of thermodynamics, energy cannot be consumed. At best, a portion of the energy is dissipated into the environment as thermal loss without any further utility value. Because the required working energy as mechanical energy is not available, and in another form of energy is often not readily available, in storable form in the required quantity, the power apparatus preferably has at least one energy converter machine, which converts the operating energy fed into it in one form of energy into working energy of another form of energy on the output side. As the energy converter machine, the power apparatus may comprise a combustion engine and/or an electric motor and/or a fluid motor, in particular a hydraulic motor. In this case, the energy converter machine outputs mechanical energy directly on a moving output element such as a rotating output shaft, for example. The mechanical energy output by the energy converter machine may be directly working energy and/or may be converted, as will be explained further below, into another form of energy prior to being fed to a consumer.
The earth working machine preferably has an energy supply system having at least one energy supply apparatus for supplying operating energy to the power apparatus. Not only the use of different power systems, but also the different availabilities of forms of energy and/or quantities of energy at different locations of use can make the provision of different energy supply apparatuses for installation on the base earth working machine advantageous.
In principle, the energy supply apparatus may be mounted in a fixed manner directly on the machine frame, without utilizing a modular design and without a second support device, via individual fastening points and fastening means. Energy supply apparatus bearing formations on the energy supply apparatus are then physically connected directly to energy supply apparatus counter bearing formations on the machine frame. In this case, the energy supply apparatus is the energy supply system. Preferably it is provided, however, that the earth working machine is constructed in modular fashion also with regard to its energy supply system as its energy source.
The basic idea of the modularity in the present disclosure comprises the basic construction of a function system made up of a function apparatus and a support device supporting the function apparatus. Thus, for example, the power system described above is constructed as a function system.
Consequently, according to a preferred development of the presently discussed earth working apparatus, the energy supply system may comprise as a further possible function system:
The second support device serves to simplify the use of different energy supply systems on one and the same base earth working machine.
The second support device comprises a second bearing counterpart interface, which is designed for the physical attachment, preferably designed to be detachable, of the second support device to a second bearing interface. The second support device also comprises preferably an energy supply apparatus counterpart interface having one or several energy supply apparatus counter bearing formations for the physical connection to an energy supply apparatus interface of the respective energy supply apparatus in order to fasten the energy supply apparatus to the second support device. The energy supply apparatus interface may comprise at least one energy supply apparatus bearing formation, which is physically connectible to the at least one energy supply apparatus counter bearing formation of the energy supply apparatus counterpart interface. Of the possible multiple energy supply systems of an aforementioned production set, preferably all second support devices respectively have at least the same second bearing counterpart interface. The second support devices of the production set, however, probably have different energy supply apparatus counterpart interfaces adapted to the respective energy supply apparatus to be supported by them.
Hence, it is possible to provide a plurality of different energy supply systems for a production set of components for producing the earth working machine, which differ only in terms of their energy supply apparatus. Although the second support devices may be designed differently, as long as they only have the second bearing counterpart interface, the second support devices are preferably constructed essentially identically for facilitating manufacture and assembly and preferably differ only in their respective energy supply apparatus counterpart interfaces, since every energy supply apparatus will have its own energy supply apparatus interface on individually different bearing locations. In the event that an energy supply apparatus is fastened to a second support device, the concrete embodiment of the energy supply apparatus counterpart interfaces no longer plays a role for the further installation of the thus formed energy supply system on the base earth working machine.
According to a preferred development of the disclosure, in basic agreement with what was said above about the first bearing interface, the following applies to the second bearing interface and the second bearing counterpart interface, in particular
Again, the preceding expression “energy supply” merely indicates the association of the mentioned mediating device with the energy supply system. Otherwise, what is said in the present application about the power mediating device also applies to the energy supply mediating device.
The second bearing interface may be formed directly on the machine frame.
The second support device may be the aforementioned power mediating device and may consequently support the power system in addition to the energy supply apparatus. It is also conceivable to fasten the second support device to the first support device so that the energy supply system as a preassembled module may be mounted on the first support device. In the latter case, the first support device supports the power apparatus and the energy supply system. Finally, the first support device may be the second support device. In that case, the first support device supports the power apparatus and the energy supply apparatus. In all aforementioned specific embodiments, the first bearing interface is also the second bearing interface. In both first-mentioned cases, the power system and the energy supply system may be situated on the machine frame in spite of the respective modular design as a preassembled higher-order function module. In the third mentioned case, the power apparatus, the energy supply apparatus and the first support device also form a preassembled function module. In this way, an installation space provided or reserved on the machine frame for function modules may be used optimally, for the individual distribution of the available installation space to the power system and the energy supply system can occur on the support device directly supporting a function apparatus and a function system.
Further alternatively, the first and the second bearing interface may be formed separately from each other in different areas on the base earth working machine, in particular on the machine frame. In this case, the power system and the energy supply system may be fastened independently of each other directly to the base earth working machine, in particular to the machine frame.
What is said in the present application about the possible embodiment of the first bearing interface applies accordingly mutatis mutandis to the second bearing interface.
The operating energy interface is designed to establish an operating energy-transmitting operating energy connection, preferably designed to be disconnectable, between the energy supply apparatus and the power apparatus and is situated on the power system. The operating energy interface may be situated on the first support device or on the power apparatus. The operating energy may be electrical energy so that the operating energy interface and the operating energy counterpart interface may have electrical contacts that are physically adapted to each other for establishing an electrical line. The electrical contacts, which are dimensioned according to the expected electrical power to be transmitted, may be physically realized in complementary fashion as a male and female contact. The operating energy interface and the operating energy counterpart interface may be designed as plug and socket.
As already explained above in connection with the first signal interface and the first signal counterpart interface, the operating energy interface and the operating energy counterpart interface, as incidentally also any other interface-counterpart interface combination of the present disclosure transmitting a fluid or an electrical current, may also be lockable to each other in particular by a form-locking connection so as to secure them against an unwanted disconnection.
The operating energy may be energy stored in fluid, that is, liquid and/or gaseous, fuels. The operating energy interface and the operating energy counterpart interface may then be complementary coupling sections of a fluidic quick coupling for forming a fluid line.
Rather less preferable than in principle possible, the operating energy may be provided as potential energy of a pressurized fluid quantity. In this case too, the operating energy interface and the operating energy counterpart interface may be complementary coupling sections of a fluidic quick coupling for forming a fluid line.
For providing operating energy, the energy supply apparatus may include at least one of the following devices:
The list is expressly not exhaustive.
The variant a. provides energy stored in a fluid that is usable by combustion. The variants b., e., f., g. and h. provide electrical energy as operating energy. The variants c. and d. provide potential energy in the form of a pressurized fluid quantity, in particular a quantity of hydraulic fluid. Said fluid pump may be a gas compressor or a hydraulic pump. A hydraulic pump is preferred due to the high compressibility of gas compared to a hydraulic fluid. The variant a. may be combined with a variant of b., c. and g.
To be able, when necessary, to control the energy supply system in operation to the required extent and/or to be able to detect states and operating states of the energy supply system and process these through the control unit, the energy supply system may comprise a second signal counterpart interface, which is designed to establish a signal-transmitting signal coupling, preferably designed to be releasable, with a second signal interface provided on the base earth working machine as part of a second signal connection. The second signal interface and the second signal counterpart interface are preferably connectible without tools, for example by establishing a plug-in connection between them. What was said above about the embodiment of the first signal interface and the first signal counterpart interface, including their mutual lockability as protection against unwanted disconnection, applies accordingly mutatis mutandis to the second signal interface and the second signal counterpart interface.
In many cases, the working energy interface of a consumer, in particular of a plurality of consumers, is spatially too far removed from the working energy counterpart interface of the power system to be able to connect the working energy interface and the working energy counterpart interface directly to each other in energy-transmitting fashion. For this reason, the earth working machine may have a transmission system for connecting the working energy interface and the working energy counterpart interface to each other. The transmission system is then arranged in or on the earth working machine for establishing at least a section of the working energy connection. The transmission system preferably has at least one mechanical power take-off.
One mechanical power take-off of the at least one mechanical power take-off is preferably connected or connectible to the working apparatus for transmitting torque via a mechanical transmission energy connection as part of the working energy connection to the at least one consumer and/or at least one mechanical power take-off of the at least one mechanical power take-off is connected to an energy converter for converting mechanical energy into another form of energy. Energy of the form of energy converted by the at least one energy converter is preferably transmittable as working energy to the at least one consumer through a fluidic and/or electrical transmission energy connection as part of the working energy connection. According to a preferred specific embodiment of the disclosure, the energy converter connected to the at least one mechanical power take-off of the transmission system may comprise or be a fluid pump, in particular a hydraulic pump, for generating a fluid flow, in particular a hydraulic flow and/or a fluid pressure level, in particular a hydraulic pressure level and/or the energy converter may comprise or be an electric generator.
The transmission energy connection is an energy connection, in which the preceding expression “transmission” merely indicates that the energy connection is associated with the transmission system and serves the energy-transmitting connection of the transmission system to at least one consumer. A mechanical transmission energy connection may comprise or be a driving belt and/or a gearing and/or linkage. A fluidic transmission energy connection may comprise or be at least one fluid line, in particular a fluid hose and/or fluid pipe. An electrical transmission energy connection may comprise or be at least one electrical line.
Although the power apparatus according to the description above is able to output potential energy as working energy, the power apparatus preferably comprises a thermal or electrical prime mover and outputs mechanical energy as working energy. For outputting the mechanical working energy, the working energy counterpart interface preferably has an output shaft or output hub. The transmission apparatus may have an input shaft or input hub designed for the connection to the working energy counterpart interface. The transmission apparatus may have an output shaft or output hub designed for the connection to the working energy interface.
The transmission system may comprise as a function or transmission apparatus a transfer gear having an input shaft and having at least one output shaft or generally a tapping point, preferably having a plurality of output shafts or generally having a plurality of tapping points, for energy or power that can be tapped on the output side of the transmission system. The transmission system may comprise in particular a so-called pump transfer gear, which has an at least one ancillary power take-off, preferably multiple ancillary power take-offs, on which respectively one hydraulic pump is connected so as to be driven by the transfer gear. However, at least one hydraulic pump may be replaced by an electric generator and/or by a gas compressor, if there is a corresponding demand for electrical current or pressurized gas on the earth working machine. Moreover, the pump transfer gear preferably has a mechanical main power take-off, which makes it possible to tap mechanical power input on the input side of the pump transfer gear on the output side of the pump transfer gear. This mechanical main power take-off is preferably coupled with the working apparatus, in particular with its working energy interface, in power and/or torque-transmitting fashion. The main power take-off is normally the power take-off of the transfer gear having the greatest power tap. The main power take-off and the auxiliary power take-offs as well as the main drive and the auxiliary drives, respectively, usually also differ in terms of the transmission ratio from the input side to the output side. For the main power take-off, this is normally closer to 1 than for the auxiliary power take-offs and for the main drive, this is normally closer to 1 than for the auxiliary drives.
To be able, when necessary, to control the transmission system in operation to the required extent and/or to be able to detect states and operating states of the transmission system and process these through the control unit, the transmission system may comprise a third signal counterpart interface, which is designed to establish a signal-transmitting signal coupling, preferably designed to be releasable, to a third signal interface provided on the base earth working machine as part of a third signal connection. The third signal interface and the third signal counterpart interface are preferably connectible without tools, for example by establishing a plug-in connection between them. What was said above about the embodiment of the first signal interface and the first signal counterpart interface, including their mutual lockability as protection against unwanted disconnection, applies accordingly mutatis mutandis to the third signal interface and the third signal counterpart interface.
Since a presently discussed earth working machine normally has not only multiple consumers, but rather multiple consumers operating according to different physical operating principles, such as electric motors for movement drives and electrical actuators, hydraulic motors and actuators, a mechanical working apparatus, and pneumatic actuators, the at least one working energy interface preferably comprises a mechanical first working energy interface and/or a hydraulic second working energy interface and/or an electrical third working energy interface and/or a pneumatic fourth working energy interface. The travel drive in particular uses hydraulic motors or also electric motors. Fluidic actuators may be piston-cylinder systems, for example, which are used as steering actuators for steering drive units of the front and/or rear axle or as lifting systems for raising and lowering components, such as a roof of the operator platform and the like.
As already indicated above, the transmission system may quite generally have a transmission apparatus, the transmission apparatus comprising:
Again, what was said above about the energy supply apparatus applies accordingly mutatis mutandis also to the transmission apparatus: in principle, the transmission apparatus may be mounted in a fixed manner on the machine frame without a support device via individual fastening points and fastening means, without utilizing a modular construction. A transmission apparatus interface with transmission apparatus bearing formations on the transmission apparatus is then directly physically connected to individually designed fitting transmission apparatus counter bearing formations on the machine frame. In this case, the transmission apparatus is the transmission system.
However, especially the use of different power systems on base earth working machines that are otherwise essentially identical can make the use of different transmission systems necessary or at least practical. A third support device may serve to facilitate the use of different transmission systems.
For this reason, the transmission system according to a preferred specific embodiment comprises a third support device, which supports the transmission apparatus, the third support device comprising a third bearing counterpart interface, which is designed for the physical connection, preferably designed to be disconnectable, of the third support device to a third bearing interface. The third support device preferably also comprises a transmission apparatus counterpart interface having transmission apparatus counter bearing formations for the physical connection to the transmission apparatus interface of a transmission apparatus in order to fasten the transmission apparatus physically to the third support device.
Hence, it is possible to provide a plurality of different transmission systems for a production set of components for producing the earth working machine, which differ only in terms of their transmission apparatus. Although the third support devices may be designed differently as long as they have the third bearing counterpart interface, the third support devices are preferably constructed essentially identically to facilitate manufacture and assembly and preferably differ only in their respective transmission apparatus counter bearing points, since every transmission apparatus will have its own transmission apparatus bearing points at individually different locations. In the event that a transmission apparatus is attached to a third support device, the concrete embodiment of the transmission apparatus counterpart interfaces no longer plays a role for the further installation of the thus formed transmission system on the base earth working machine.
For the third bearing interface and the third bearing counterpart interface, it is preferably the case
What is said in the present application about the possible embodiment of the first and second bearing interfaces applies accordingly mutatis mutandis to the third bearing interface.
The present disclosure also relates to a production set for a self-propelled earth working machine as it is described and developed above, the production set comprising:
Developments of this production set are described in the above specification in connection with the provision of a plurality of different energy supply systems and/or in connection with the provision of a plurality of different transmission systems.
For every support device of the above-mentioned first, second and third support devices, it is the case that it may comprise a support frame or a support structure, which absorbs the weights of the function apparatus and/or function system supported by the respective support device. To reduce weight without significant loss of carrying capacity, the support frame or the support structure may be a truss frame or truss structure preferably comprising braces and connecting joints. A truss structure of a support device may be designed to be removable or may be designed to be joined undetachably, for example by welding and/or riveting. A support device may be formed as one part or as multiple parts. In a multipart design, at least two of the mechanical coupling and/or fastening means of the bearing counterpart interface of the support device are provided on different parts of the multipart support device which are formed physically separately from one another.
A control unit mentioned in the present application is preferably a data processing unit and as such preferably has at least one integrated circuit and a data memory. An operating program with control commands executable by the at least one integrated circuit may be stored in the data memory. Furthermore, the data memory may be used for storing operating data during the operation of the earth working machine.
In a departure from what was said above, the basic idea of the present disclosure can also be realized on a self-propelled earth working machine having a power apparatus fastened directly to the machine frame, i.e., without interposition of a first support device with a first bearing counterpart interface and a power apparatus counterpart interface, the energy supply system of which is connected to the machine frame with the interposition of an above-described second support device supporting it by using the second bearing interface and second bearing counterpart interface also described above. Such an earth working machine then has a second support device, but no first support device. It also has a, for example, second bearing interface, but no first bearing interface.
Accordingly, in a second specific embodiment, the present disclosure fundamentally also relates to a self-propelled earth working machine, comprising a base earth working machine, the base earth working machine comprising:
According to the basic idea of the present disclosure, this earth working machine of the second specific embodiment is developed further in that the base earth working machine further comprises:
The energy supply apparatus has an energy supply apparatus interface. The second support device has an energy supply apparatus counterpart interface distinct from the first bearing counterpart interface. The energy supply apparatus is mounted on the second support device by a connection between the energy supply apparatus interface and the energy supply apparatus counterpart interface.
According to an advantageous development, the base earth working machine may have a second signal interface for establishing a signal-transmitting second signal connection between the control unit and the energy supply system. If necessary, the control unit is thus able to control an operation of the energy supply system and/or acquire operating data and operating states of the energy supply system. The energy supply system then preferably has a second signal counterpart interface for connecting to the second signal interface.
The present disclosure also relates to a second specific embodiment of a production set adapted to the above second specific embodiment of the self-propelled earth working machine. Consequently, the present disclosure also relates to a production set for a self-propelled earth working machine of the second specific embodiment comprising a base earth working machine, as it is described herein, the second bearing interface, optionally the second signal interface, and the operating energy interface as a machine basis. The production set of the second specific embodiment additionally comprises a plurality of energy supply systems, the energy supply apparatuses of which provide operating energy on the basis of different physical operating principles and/or in different forms of energy.
The operating energy is again a different form of energy than the form of energy of the working energy.
Developments and embodiments of the energy supply system, the energy supply apparatus, the power apparatus, the traveling gear, the travel drive, the working apparatus, the control unit, the machine frame and the interfaces, couplings and connections explained in connection with the first specific embodiment are also developments and embodiments of the second specific embodiment, namely both regarding the earth working machine as well as regarding the production set, provided that they do not contradict the basic shape of the second specific embodiment described above.
It is the case both with regard to the first as well as with regard to the second specific embodiment that described developments of the earth working machine are also developments of the production set in the sense that a respective developed production set contains the components of the base earth working machine and further components that are required for producing the developed earth working machine.
Normally, in the event that the power apparatus is connected directly to the machine frame, a possibly existing transmission apparatus coupled to the power apparatus as a section of the working energy connection will also be coupled directly to the machine frame. The energy supply system is then preferably the only one of the above-mentioned systems that is connected to the machine frame with the interposition of the second support device.
The second specific embodiment is of particular interest for energy supply systems which supply an electrical power apparatus with electrical operating energy. In this case, as incidentally also in the first specific embodiment, the power apparatus may comprise multiple partial power apparatuses that are formed and arranged separately from one another, which respectively output working energy to a consumer. The number of consumers may be equal to the number of partial power apparatuses, may be greater than the number of partial power apparatuses or may be smaller than the number of partial power apparatuses.
The present disclosure will be explained in greater detail below with reference to the enclosed drawings. The figures show:
The viewer of
The self-propelled earth working machine 10 comprises a base earth working machine 11 as a machine basis.
The base earth working machine 11 comprises a machine frame 12, which forms the basic framework for a machine body 14. The machine body 14 comprises the machine frame 12 and components of machine 10 and of the base earth working machine 11 which are connected to the machine frame 12 and which are possibly movable relative thereto.
Machine body 14, the components of which grow in number during the assembly of the self-propelled earth working machine 10, comprises front hydraulic lifting columns 16 and rear hydraulic lifting columns 18 on the base earth working machine 11, which are connected at one end to machine frame 12 and at the other end respectively to front drive units 20 and to rear drive units 22.
It is not apparent in the lateral view of
The drive units 20 and 22 are depicted by way of example as crawler track units. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, they are constructed essentially identically and form the traveling gear 26 of the machine 10 as well as of the base earth working machine 11. In a departure therefrom, individual, or all, drive units 20 and/or 22 may also be wheel drive units. Each of the drive units 20 and 22 is motor-driven, in the illustrated exemplary embodiment by a hydraulic motor 28.
In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the drive unit 20 and the drive unit 22, their possible travel directions indicated by double arrow D, respectively have a radially inner accommodation and guidance structure 30 on which a revolving drive track 32 (labeled only on front drive unit 20) is arranged and is guided to perform a revolving movement. The inner guidance structure is connected to the drive unit connecting structure 24 so as to be tiltable about a tilting axis parallel to the pitch axis Ni.
The distance of the machine frame 12 from the drive units 20 and 22 is variable by way of hydraulic lifting columns 16 and 18.
The earth working machine 10 or the base earth working machine 11 comprises an operator platform 34, from which a machine operator is able to control machine 10 via a control panel 36 with a control unit 38 accommodated therein.
A working apparatus 40 is situated below the machine frame 12, in this case by way of example as a milling apparatus 40 having a milling drum 44 accommodated in a milling drum housing 42 as a working tool of the working apparatus 40. The milling drum 44 is rotatable about a milling axis R extending in the transverse machine direction Q so that ground material may be removed therewith during an earth working operation, starting from the contact surface AO of the ground U to a milling depth determined by the relative vertical position of the machine frame 12 above the contact surface AO. The vertical adjustability of machine frame 12 by way of lifting columns 16 and 18 consequently also serves to set the milling depth, or generally working depth, of machine 10 in earth working operation. Alternatively or additionally, the milling drum 44 may be accommodated on the machine frame 12 so as to be vertically adjustable relative to the machine frame 12.
For the large road milling machine illustrated in
Lifting column 16, and with it drive unit 20, is rotatable about a steering axis S by way of a hydraulic steering apparatus 46 indicated only in rough schematic fashion. Preferably additionally, but also alternatively, the rear lifting column 18, and with it drive unit 22, may be rotatable by way of a steering apparatus about a steering axis parallel to steering axis S.
The operator platform 34 is covered by a protective canopy structure 48, which comprises a protective canopy 50. The protective canopy 50 is arranged on the machine frame 12 so that it can be raised and lowered by a movement guide 52 and a hydraulic movement drive 54. In
To build the earth working machine 10, a first power system 56 is arranged on the base earth working machine 11. The base earth working machine 11 receives a power system as a central power plant of the machine 10, which essentially provides the entire working power of machine 10.
The first power system 56 comprises a combustion engine 58 as a first power apparatus and comprises a first support device 60. To explain the design of the support device 60, additional reference is made to
On the machine frame 12 or on machine body 14, the base earth working machine 11 has a first bearing interface 62, on which the first support device 60 is attached by a first bearing counterpart interface 64 situated on the first support device 60. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the first bearing interface 62 is symbolized by three coupling formations 62a, with which three coupling counterpart formations 64a of the bearing counterpart interface 64 of the first support device 60 are coupled. For securing the position of the first support device 60 on the machine frame 12 particularly well, the coupling formations 62a and the coupling counterpart formations 64a are designed in complementary fashion. By way of a threaded engagement or other engagement, the coupling formations 62a and coupling counterpart formations 64a may be fastened to each other.
The first bearing interface 62 with its coupling formations 62a and the first bearing counterpart interface 64 with its coupling counterpart formations 64a are drawn anew in
The first bearing counterpart interface 64 is situated on the functional side 60a of the first support device 60 assigned to the machine frame 12. In the present case, the functional side 60a is also a physical side of the first support device 60.
The combustion engine 58 is situated on the functional side 60b of the first support device 60 opposite the functional side 60a. For this purpose, the first support device 60 has on the functional side 60b, which again is also a physical side of the first support device 60, a power apparatus counterpart interface 66, on which the combustion engine 58 is mounted via its power apparatus interface 68. The power apparatus interface 68 and the power apparatus counterpart interface 66 may be designed like an engine bearing known per se for mounting a combustion engine in a vehicle frame.
In
In addition, a pump transfer gear 70 is situated as a transmission apparatus on the functional side 60b assigned to the function apparatuses. The first support device 60, which supports the transmission apparatus in the illustrated exemplary embodiment, and which is therefore also a third support device in the sense of the introduction of the specification, has on its functional side 60b a transmission apparatus counterpart interface 72, symbolized by two transmission apparatus counter bearing formations 72a.
The pump transfer gear 70 is supported via its transmission apparatus interface 74 in a manner known per se on the transmission apparatus counterpart interface 72. The transmission apparatus interface 74 is symbolized by two transmission apparatus bearing formations 74a, of which only the right one is labeled in
The pump transfer gear 70 and the first or third support device 60 form a transmission system 76.
The combustion engine 58, for example a diesel combustion engine, has as its output element for outputting working power or working energy an output shaft 78, extending orthogonally with respect to the drawing plane, as a working energy counterpart interface, which in the operationally ready state is coupled in torque-transmitting fashion with an input hub 80 of the pump transfer gear 70.
The pump transfer gear 70 has as a first mechanical power take-off a belt pulley 82, which may be completed by a drive belt 83, merely indicated in
On a further power take-off, more precisely on an ancillary power take-off of the pump transfer gear 70, a hydraulic pump 86 is arranged, which in its operation outputs pressurized hydraulic fluid as fluidic working energy on a quick coupling 88 as a coupling formation. The fluidic working energy of the hydraulic pump 86 may be used by the hydraulic motors 28 for propelling the earth working machine 10, by the hydraulic movement drive 54 of the protective canopy structure 48 for raising and lowering the protective canopy 50, and by the steering apparatus 46 for a steering actuation of the front lifting columns 16 and/or of the rear lifting columns 18. The hydraulic pump 86 is able to pressurize a quantity of hydraulic fluid present on the earth working machine 10 via the quick coupling formation 88.
The combustion engine 58 has its own engine control unit 90, which in operation forms a component control unit subordinate to the control unit 38. For connecting the engine control unit 90 of the combustion engine 58 to the control unit 38 of the base earth working machine 11 or the earth working machine 10, the base earth working machine 11 has a first signal interface 92, with which a first signal counterpart interface 94 of the combustion engine 58 may be coupled in data and signal-transmitting fashion. One interface of the first signal interface 92 and the first signal counterpart interface 94 may comprise a plug and the respective other interface may comprise a fitting socket.
For the supply of fuel as a provider of operating energy for the operation of the combustion engine 58, the combustion engine 58 preferably has a quick coupling formation 96 as an operating energy interface, through which fuel may be supplied to the combustion engine 58.
To be able to ensure a longer operation of the combustion engine 58, an energy supply system 98 is situated on the base earth working machine 11. The energy supply system 98 supplies the combustion engine 58 with operating energy in its operation, that is, in the present case with fuel.
The energy supply system 98 has a module design and comprises a tank 100 as the energy supply apparatus and a second support device 102 for the attachment to the machine frame 12 of the base earth working machine 11 or of the earth working machine 10. A quantity of fuel is accommodated in tank 100, which may be supplied to the combustion engine 58 through a fuel delivery line 104 as an operating energy line and as part of an operating energy connection 106. For this purpose, the fuel delivery line 104 has a quick coupling counterpart formation 108 as an operating energy counterpart interface, which can be connected quickly and without tools to the quick coupling formation 96 on the side of the combustion engine to form the operating energy connection 106. The quick coupling formation 96 and the quick coupling counterpart formation 108 form an operating energy coupling in the coupled fluid-transmitting state.
A delivery module 110 may be situated in the fuel tank 100, which can be controlled by control unit 38. For this purpose, the fuel tank 100 has a second signal counterpart interface 112, which can be coupled with a second signal interface 122 (not shown in
The fuel tank 100 as an energy supply apparatus of the earth working machine 10 has an individual energy supply apparatus interface 114, by which it is fastened to a likewise individual energy supply apparatus counterpart interface 116 of the second support device 102. For this purpose, the energy supply apparatus interface 114 has a plurality of energy supply apparatus bearing formations 114a, shown merely symbolically, each one of which is coupled with and physically fastened to a complementary energy supply apparatus counter bearing formation 116a.
Via the second support device 102 on a second bearing interface 118 of the machine frame 12, the energy supply apparatus 98 is directly fastened to the machine frame 12 or machine body 14. The second support device 102 has a second bearing counterpart interface 120 for fastening to the second bearing interface 118. The second bearing interface 118 is represented in
The second bearing counterpart interface 120 is situated on the functional and also physical side 102a of the second support device 102 facing the machine frame 12, while the energy supply apparatus counterpart interface 116 is situated on the opposite functional and physical side 102b of the second support device 102 facing away from the machine frame 12.
In this way, the earth working machine 10 can be constructed in modular fashion with respect to its supply of working energy or working power and can be adapted to the respective customer preferences or constraints of its use.
On the bottom left,
Thus, in a departure from the transmission system 76 of
The belt pulley 82 on the output side of the pump transfer gear 70′ is unchanged, since the belt pulley 84 as the working energy interface of the earth working machine is also unchanged. However, the pump transfer gear 70′ in
Using four hydraulic pumps 86′ makes it possible to use a local control unit 128 for controlling the pump transfer gear 70′ or generally the transmission system 76′, which can be coupled with the third signal interface 124 via a third signal counterpart interface 126.
In contrast to the first power system 56 with the combustion engine 58, the alternative power system 56′, as an electrical power system 56′, requires operating energy in an electrical form of energy. For this purpose, an alternative energy supply system 98′ is provided, which has an accumulator 130 as an energy store. Accordingly, the operating energy interface 96′ and the operating energy counterpart interface 108′ are designed as electrical quick coupling components, for example as plug and socket. Electrical cables thus connect the electric motor 58′ and its energy supply, the accumulator 130.
In a departure from
The coupling counterpart formations 64a and the coupling counterpart formations 120a are illustrated in the figures in different shapes merely by way of example to help distinguishing them graphically. The coupling counterpart formations 64a and the coupling counterpart formations 120a can actually be of identical shape, which is even preferred with a view to the manufacturing effort. The described possible sameness of shape also applies to the coupling formations 62a and the coupling formations 118a as well as to at least two counter bearing formations of the power apparatus counter bearing formations 66a, the transmission apparatus counter bearing formations 72a′ and the energy supply apparatus counter bearing formations 116a as well as to at least to bearing formations of the power apparatus bearing formations 68a, the transmission apparatus bearing formations 74a′ and the energy supply apparatus bearing formations 114a.
In place of the energy supply system 98′ having the electrical accumulator 130, it is possible to use a module of an energy supply system 98″ having a fuel cell 132 and a connected operating agent tank 100″ for conversion into electrical energy in the fuel cell 132. A control unit 113 controlling the operation of the fuel cell 132 is connectible via the second signal counterpart interface 112′ to the control unit 38 on the base earth working machine 11. Such an energy supply system 98″ may also be prepared on a second support device 102′ for installation on the base earth working machine 11. The second support device 102′, like the one of the energy supply system 98′, may be mounted indirectly via the first support device 60′ or directly on the machine frame via a second bearing interface.
It is also possible to use as the energy supply system on the earth working machine 10 a prepared module made up of the energy supply system 98″ having a cable reel 134 mounted thereon with an electrical line 136 for connecting to a current supply on the side of the construction site.
Because of the different systems available in the production set 8, it is thus possible to equip the earth working machine 10 with comparatively little effort with different prime movers and with different energy supply systems for supplying operating energy as well as with different transmission systems and to configure the earth working machine 10 for different usage constraints.
The example of different modules provided above is merely by way of example and not exhaustive.
Systems, apparatuses, components and component sections identical and functionally identical as in the
The second specific embodiments of earth working machine or base earth working machine 1011 and production set 1008 will be described below only to the extent that they differ from the corresponding first specific embodiments of
The essential difference between the base earth working machine 11 of the first specific embodiment and the base earth working machine 1011 is that the power system 1056′ having the electric motor 1058′ as the power apparatus just as the transmission system 1076′ in the exemplary form of the pump transfer gear 1070′ is firmly connected directly to the machine frame 1012 via corresponding bearing and counter bearing formations. The power system 1056′ and the transmission system 1076′ are thus part of the base earth working machine 1011.
Only the energy supply systems 1098′, 1098″ and 1098′″ are connectible, preferable so as to be disconnectable, to the base earth working machine 1011 via a second bearing interface 1118 and a second, preferably complementarily matching, bearing counterpart interface 1120 of a second support device 1102 and 1102′, respectively.
Since the second support device 1102 and 1102′ are coupled via the second bearing interface 1118 and the second bearing counterpart interface 1120 to the machine frame 1012 or the machine body 1014, all second support devices 1102 and 1102′ of
An earth working machine can thus be individually equipped with the most suitable energy supply system according to the respective requirements.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2023 136 377.8 | Dec 2023 | DE | national |
