Method for operating a trench milling machine and trench milling machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a trench milling machine, comprising a milling machine frame extending along a longitudinal axis, having longitudinal sides, at least one pair of milling wheels rotatably mounted at a lower end of the milling machine frame for milling a ground and being driven in a rotatable manner, and a connection section arranged at an upper end of the milling machine frame, designed to connect the trench milling machine to a carrier cable and supply lines, wherein the trench milling machine is laid down onto the ground with one longitudinal side from an upright operating position into a lying position. According to the invention, the connection section is provided with a swivel bearing for swiveling the milling machine frame at least 90° about the longitudinal axis and a hinge, wherein the trench milling machine can be lowered by tilting onto the ground with the first longitudinal side of the milling machine frame as well as with the second longitudinal side of the milling machine frame opposite the first longitudinal side without breaking the supply lines.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for operating a trench milling machine according to the preamble of claim 1, the trench milling machine comprising: a milling machine frame extending along a longitudinal axis having a longitudinal side; at least a pair of milling wheels rotatably mounted at the lower end of the milling machine frame for milling the ground and being driven in a rotatable manner; and a connecting section disposed at the upper end of the milling machine frame, designed to connect the trench milling machine to a carrying cable and supply line, wherein the trench milling machine is lowered from an upright operating position to a lying position by lying on the ground with one longitudinal side.

[0002] The present invention relates to a trench milling machine for producing milled grooves in the ground according to the preamble of claim 10, the trench milling machine comprising: a milling machine frame extending along a longitudinal axis having longitudinal sides; at least a pair of milling wheels rotatably mounted at the lower end of the milling machine frame for milling the ground and being driven in a rotatable manner; and a connection section disposed at the upper end of the milling machine frame, which is designed to connect the trench milling machine to a carrying cable and a supply line. Background Technology

[0003] A milling apparatus is known from EP 2378002 A1, in which a groove milling machine is suspended by means of a carrying cable using a suspension device. The groove milling machine has a frame-like milling machine frame with two pairs of milling wheels arranged at its lower end. Skids and steering plates are attached along the milling machine frame to guide the groove milling machine in the milling groove or to control its orientation.

[0004] To accommodate different groove widths, it is known to replace existing milling wheels with milling wheels of different sizes, particularly those with different widths. Replacing the milling wheels is relatively easy when the milling machine is suspended on a cable.

[0005] If the milling wheel width is changed for different groove widths, the skids and steering plates arranged on the milling machine frame must also be adapted and replaced. In cases where the typical height of a groove milling machine exceeds 10 meters, this cannot and is not permitted easily on a milling machine suspended from cables for safety reasons. Instead, it is necessary to lay the groove milling machine horizontally on the ground in a maintenance position with its longitudinal side down by means of a suspension device, in which the skids and steering plates can then be replaced close to the ground. Here, the milling machine lies in front of the load-bearing machinery in the longitudinal direction of the equipment. For this purpose, it is usually necessary to disconnect the supply lines attached to the top of the groove milling machine, especially the hydraulic lines and hoses used for supplying and / or discharging the milling suspension, to avoid kinking and thus damage to the supply lines.

[0006] If the trenching machine lies on the ground in the first maintenance position with its first longitudinal side facing down, the skids and steering plates on one side can then be replaced. It is then necessary to rotate the trenching machine 180° on the ground to bring it to the second maintenance position. This requires a separate lifting device, particularly a crane. In this second maintenance position, the skids and steering plates on the other side of the milling machine frame can then be replaced. For this 180° rotation of the trenching machine on the ground, in general-purpose trenching machines, the bolt connections on the hose lines and the rope flanges of the suspension device must be loosened at the latest. Furthermore, rotating the trenching machine is not easily achieved when it is no longer suspended from the load-bearing cable; instead, lifting equipment and / or auxiliary devices are required for safe rotation. After the assembly work is completed, the bolt connections and hose connections must be re-established, which generally involves a considerable amount of work. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a groove milling machine and a method that enables maintenance or assembly work to be performed in a particularly efficient manner in the lying position of the groove milling machine.

[0008] This objective is achieved, on the one hand, by the method having the features of claim 1, and on the other hand, by a groove milling machine having the features of claim 10. Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

[0009] In the method according to the invention, the connecting section is configured to have a rotary bearing for twisting the milling machine frame about a longitudinal axis by at least 90° and a hinge, wherein the groove milling machine can be lowered to the ground by tilting, both on the first longitudinal side of the milling machine frame and on the second longitudinal side of the milling machine frame opposite to the first longitudinal side, without disconnecting the supply line.

[0010] The basic idea of ​​this invention is to design a connecting section in the upper region of a trenching machine such that this connecting section allows the trenching machine to be lowered and laid flat on the ground in an inclined manner, both on a first longitudinal side of the milling machine frame and on at least one second longitudinal side, the second longitudinal side being particularly opposite to the first longitudinal side. The trenching machine is lowered from an upright operating position to a lying position on the ground by gradually tilting or overturning. At the connecting section, a hinge with at least one hinge or pivot axis is preferably arranged along the longitudinal axis or central axis. The hinge is configured to allow pivoting or bending movement for tilting the trenching machine from the upright operating position to the lying position on the ground, while the trenching machine remains attached to the carrying cable. For this purpose, the hinge has a first hinge axis that allows the longitudinal axis of the trenching machine to be tilted or bent at least 90°, preferably 180°, relative to the vertical.

[0011] According to another aspect of the invention, the connecting section includes a rotary bearing, about which the milling machine frame of the groove milling machine can rotate at least 90°, preferably up to 180° or more, about a longitudinal axis. By means of the rotary bearing, the milling machine frame can be adjusted and aligned relative to the support device according to a desired lying orientation. The adjustment or rotation can, in principle, be performed manually. Preferably, a rotary drive can be arranged on the groove milling machine for this purpose.

[0012] Using the method according to the invention, a groove milling machine can be laid down on the ground in an efficient manner on the first longitudinal side of the milling machine frame, and if necessary, on the opposing second longitudinal side. This facilitates assembly or maintenance work on the groove milling machine in the lying position. In particular, the method allows the groove milling machine to be laid down first on the first longitudinal side and then subsequently on the opposing second longitudinal side, thus providing a free passage for assembly or maintenance work on the longitudinal sides overall.

[0013] In a variation of the invention, preferably, the trenching machine is tilted and laid down on the ground by lowering the carrier cable from the movable carrier and simultaneously moving the carrier. Thus, the tilting and laying down of the trenching machine can be achieved through a combined movement of the carrier coordinated with the controlled lowering of the carrier cable. This can, in principle, be manually controlled by the machine operator or semi-automatically or fully automatically by a control device for the carrier. Via the control device, the travel drive of the carrier and the winch for the carrier cable can be actuated according to a predetermined control program to perform a defined lowering movement. Alternatively, the milling wheel may be supported on a carriage that moves away (actively or passively) as the milling machine is lowered.

[0014] According to another improvement of the invention, it is particularly advantageous that the supporting device has a boom with a plane of rotation, and the grooving machine lies down in a direction transverse to the plane of rotation of the boom. Simultaneously, the pivot axis of the boom is oriented, in particular, perpendicular to the plane of rotation. In this way, the grooving machine can lie down on the ground transverse to the plane of rotation of the boom and therefore transverse to the longitudinal central axis of the supporting device. This lateral lying of the grooving machine beside the supporting device, compared to the grooving machine lying down in front of the supporting device in the longitudinal direction of the mast, is particularly space-saving and also advantageous from a static point of view.

[0015] When the grooving machine lies laterally across the boom's plane of rotation, a significantly smaller bending moment is applied to the boom, and a significantly smaller overturning moment is also applied to the load-bearing device. Therefore, the lowering process is simpler and safer.

[0016] Another advantageous configuration of the method according to the invention is that the carrying device has a traveling mechanism, particularly a tracked traveling mechanism, and an upper structure with a mast or boom rotatably mounted thereon, wherein, in order to lower the trenching machine, the upper structure with the mast or boom is preferably twisted 90° relative to the traveling mechanism, and the carrying device and the traveling mechanism move laterally to the plane of rotation of the boom. In this way, particularly efficient lateral lowering of the trenching machine can be achieved next to the carrying device. By selecting and determining the forward or backward direction of travel, the trenching machine can be easily lowered on the ground on a first longitudinal side or an opposite second longitudinal side.

[0017] In another improvement of the invention, the groove milling machine is laid down particularly gently on the ground by rotating and aligning it via a rotary bearing to tilt it down, wherein the first and second longitudinal sides of the milling machine frame are parallel to the rotation plane of the boom. Reliable tilting and laying of the groove milling machine on the ground can then be achieved by moving the support device.

[0018] In particular, for assembly or maintenance work on all longitudinal sides of the groove milling machine, according to a variation of the method according to the invention, it is advantageous that the groove milling machine, after being lowered to its first longitudinal side, is raised back to an upright position and then lowered to the ground on the second longitudinal side of the milling machine frame. Thus, with a box-shaped milling machine frame and the milling machine frame lowered to its first longitudinal side, assembly or maintenance work can be performed on all three exposed longitudinal sides. Assembly or maintenance work can also be performed on the first longitudinal side of the groove milling machine by subsequently raising the groove milling machine back to an upright position and then lowering it obliquely to its opposite (second) longitudinal side.

[0019] The method according to the invention essentially enables a groove milling machine to be laid down on any desired longitudinal side of the milling machine frame. Typically and preferably, the milling machine frame has a substantially rectangular cross-section with four longitudinal sides. In a preferred embodiment, the first and second longitudinal sides are arranged to form the wide sides of the milling machine frame. The other two longitudinal sides form so-called narrow sides, which are narrower than the wide sides. By laying the groove milling machine down on its wide side, particularly stable support for the groove milling machine on the ground is achieved. However, in principle, if this is advantageous or necessary for certain assembly or maintenance work, the method according to the invention can also be used alternatively or additionally to lay the groove milling machine down on one or two narrow sides. When the groove milling machine is laid down on the ground on its narrow side, the usual additional safety measures for supporting the groove milling machine and securing it to prevent tipping are reasonable and necessary, for example, by arranging side supports.

[0020] The fact that the milling wheel on the underside of the grooving machine is in contact with the ground allows the grooving machine to lie down on the ground in a particularly simple way. In this case, the outer edge of the milling wheel can form a pivot edge, around which the grooving machine tilts and swings to the ground and lies down.

[0021] To protect the milling wheel, in another improvement to the method according to the invention, the milling wheel can be arranged such that, at least temporarily, it is raised and held at a distance from the ground during the tilting and lowering of the trench milling machine. The raising of the milling wheel can be performed, for example, on a construction site using a lifting device (such as a mobile crane). In this way, excessive lateral force loads on the milling wheel, its bearings, the milling tool, or the milling wheel drive can be reduced or avoided. Essentially, to protect the milling wheel during the tilting and lowering process, the milling wheel can also be surrounded by a protective housing or placed on a special tilting device on the ground. This could also be a sand pile or a mound of earth in which the milling wheel is placed to tilt the milling machine.

[0022] Another improvement to the method according to the invention involves performing assembly or maintenance work on a trenching machine while it is lying on the ground, particularly replacing the milling wheel—especially to a milling wheel of a different size—and / or replacing the skids and / or steering plates on the milling machine frame, especially to skids or steering plates of a different size. In particular, milling wheels with varying widths can be installed. Installing the milling wheel in a lying position allows it to be installed or removed in its normal transport condition without needing to be erected.

[0023] The groove milling machine according to the invention is characterized in that the connecting section has a rotary bearing for twisting the milling machine frame about a longitudinal axis by at least 90° and a hinge, wherein the groove milling machine can be lowered to the ground about a pivot axis by tilting, both on the first longitudinal side of the milling machine frame and on the second longitudinal side of the milling machine frame opposite to the first longitudinal side.

[0024] The groove milling machine according to the invention can be used to perform the method previously described according to the invention. Here, the advantages and configurations previously described can be realized.

[0025] According to a preferred embodiment of the groove milling machine according to the invention, it is advantageous that a hinge is attached to the upper end of the milling machine frame and has at least a first hinge axis about which the milling machine frame can pivot at least 180°, and the hinge is connected to a suspension element that can be detachably connected to a carrying cable. In this configuration, the milling machine frame can tilt relative to the suspension element with the carrying cable about the first hinge axis and thus lie down on the ground in two directions. This provides particular flexibility in terms of the lying direction. The hinge axis is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the groove milling machine.

[0026] In simple cases, the hinge can be designed as a pivoting or articulated joint with a first hinge axis. A particularly advantageous configuration of the groove milling machine according to the invention is achieved by designing the hinge as a universal joint with two hinge axes arranged at right angles to each other, the hinge axes being horizontally oriented when the groove milling machine is in an upright position. Particularly preferably, the two hinge axes of the universal joint are arranged parallel to the outer edge of the milling machine frame, which is rectangular in cross-section. With the universal joint, the milling machine can be laid down both when the superstructure is oriented in the travel direction of the traveling mechanism and when the superstructure is laterally torsional. Furthermore, by means of the universal joint, excessive lateral forces can be avoided if the groove milling machine is not precisely aligned in the laying direction, and increased flexibility regarding the laying direction is achieved.

[0027] In another embodiment variation of the groove milling machine according to the invention, it is advantageous that the supply line extends laterally to the hinge and preferably coils around the hinge by at least 180°. In this way, the additional length of the supply line provided in the connecting section ensures that no excessive tension is applied to the supply line during tilting descent. In particular, in contrast to straight line routing parallel to the longitudinal axis, this additional hose length provides sufficient line length to allow for torsion around the rotary bearing and / or for the groove milling machine to lie down on two opposing longitudinal sides of the milling machine frame.

[0028] According to another embodiment of the invention, it is advantageous that the connecting section has a protective cage surrounding the supply line and the hinge, and at least the upper section of the protective cage is pivotally mounted relative to the milling machine frame via at least one pivot joint. In particular, the protective cage ensures that, when a sufficient length of the supply line is provided, the supply line does not protrude beyond the outer perimeter of the milling machine frame. The protective cage (which protectively surrounds the upper connecting section according to the cross-sectional shape of the trench milling machine) prevents damage to the supply line due to kinking or compression when the milling machine is laid down on the ground and during milling operations in the trench in the ground. Through the pivotable design of at least the upper section of the protective cage via at least one pivot joint, the upper section can be adapted to the tilt angle during the tilting and lowering of the trench milling machine, and thus provides particularly good protection for the supply line during lowering.

[0029] According to another improvement of the invention, the groove milling machine according to the invention can achieve particularly good adaptability to different groove widths to be produced by means that the milling wheels are replaceable, especially replaceable with milling wheels having other milling wheel widths, and the skids and / or steering plates on the milling machine frame are replaceable, especially replaceable with skids or steering plates of different sizes. Therefore, the groove milling machine can be adapted with a high degree of freedom in terms of its working width relative to the grooves to be produced. The ability of the groove milling machine to lie flat on the ground allows the necessary assembly work to be performed on the horizontally positioned groove milling machine in a simple and safe manner.

[0030] The present invention also includes a milling apparatus having a support device and a groove milling machine, the groove milling machine being height-adjustably arranged on the boom of the support device by means of a support cable, wherein the groove milling machine is designed according to the present invention. Using such milling equipment, the aforementioned groove milling machine can be used efficiently, and the aforementioned method can be performed.

[0031] The frame-like milling machine frame of the trenching machine can have four longitudinal sides, wherein each pair of opposing longitudinal sides is designed as either narrow or wide. Preferably, the first and second longitudinal sides (where the trenching machine can lie flat on the ground) are wide sides. The upper section of the protective cage is pivotable about a pivot axis that extends in the width direction and is positioned approximately centrally between the first and second longitudinal sides. The pivot axis can extend through the hinge. Attached Figure Description

[0032] The invention will now be further described with reference to preferred exemplary embodiments schematically illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings: Figure 1 A perspective view of the groove milling machine of the present invention is shown, wherein the middle part of the milling machine frame is omitted for clarity; Figure 2 Previous view showed Figure 1 Enlarged detail of the upper area of ​​the groove milling machine; Figure 3 A perspective view of the groove milling machine according to the invention in a horizontal first assembly position is shown; Figure 4 The figure shows the second horizontal assembly position according to Figures 1 to 3 A perspective view of a groove milling machine; and Figure 5 A perspective view of a trenching machine being tilted and lowered to the ground by means of a support device is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0033] The invention is further described below with reference to an exemplary and highly illustrative groove milling machine 10, which in... Figures 1 to 4 It is shown in more detail below.

[0034] The groove milling machine 10 has a frame-like or box-like milling machine frame 12, which in Figures 1 to 4 Only a portion is visible. For clarity, the various components on the milling machine frame 12 are not shown.

[0035] At the lower end of the milling machine frame 12, two pairs of milling wheels 20 are rotatably mounted and driven in a generally known manner; these pairs of milling wheels are indicated only schematically. Along the milling machine frame 12, plate-shaped skids 17 and adjustable steering plates 19 are also arranged for controlling the orientation of the trench milling machine 10 in a trench in the ground.

[0036] The milling machine frame 12, which is generally frame-like or box-like, has a first longitudinal side 13 and an opposing second longitudinal side 14, forming the so-called wide side of the groove milling machine 10. The narrow side of the milling machine frame 12 is formed by a third longitudinal side 15 and a fourth longitudinal side 16. The longitudinal sides 13 to 16 extend vertically along the milling machine frame 12 in the longitudinal direction from the milling wheel 20 located at the bottom to the upper end of the milling machine frame 12.

[0037] A connection section 30 is designed at the upper end of the milling machine frame 12. The connection section 30 is used to connect and, in particular, suspend the groove milling machine 10 on a support device by means of a carrier cable (not shown), and to connect the groove milling machine 10 to a supply line 36, which may be designed as a suspension hose 37 and a hydraulic line 38. The supply line 36 may further or alternatively include electrical wires, data cables, or other conduits.

[0038] As part of the mechanical connection, the connection section 30 includes a hinge portion 40, which is preferably designed as a universal joint 40 having a first hinge portion axis 41 and a second hinge portion axis 42 arranged perpendicular to it. The first hinge portion axis 41 may extend parallel to the width direction of the groove milling machine 10, that is, along the wide side of the groove milling machine 10, while the second hinge portion axis 42 may extend parallel to the narrow side of the groove milling machine 10. Depending on how the groove milling machine 10 twists about the rotary bearing 34, the hinge portion axes 41, 42 may have different positions or orientations relative to the milling machine frame 12.

[0039] Furthermore, the hinge 40 can be fixedly connected downward to the milling machine frame 12 via the lower support element 31, and the hinge 40 can be fixedly connected to the suspension element 50 via the upper support element 32. The support elements 31 and 32 are preferably designed in a tubular or rod-like shape. A rotary bearing 34 is arranged below the hinge 40, by means of which the milling machine frame 12 can be twisted relative to the hinge 40 about its longitudinal axis by at least 90°, preferably at least 130°. The rotary bearing 34 is preferably arranged between the lower support element 31 and the milling machine frame 12.

[0040] The suspension element 50 may include a cable pulley around which a carrying cable (not shown) may be guided for suspending the groove milling machine 10 on a support device.

[0041] The suspension hose 37 can be connected to the top side of the milling machine frame 12 in the first side region, and can be coiled about 180° around the preferably rod-shaped support elements 31, 32 together with the hinge 40 and extended to the opposite side region. Similarly, the hydraulic line 38 can be connected to the top side of the milling machine frame 12, and coiled about 180° upwards towards the suspension element 50 around the support elements 31, 32 and the hinge 40 to the opposite side and extended. Compared to straight cable routing, the coiled arrangement of the supply line 36 around the hinge 40 in the region of the hinge 40 provides additional cable length for bending and / or twisting.

[0042] To protect the supply line 36, a protective cage 60 can be arranged at the upper end of the milling machine frame 12, the protective cage at least partially surrounding the supply line 36 outwards. The protective cage 60 may have a lower section 61 and an upper section 62, the lower section being fixedly attached to the upper end of the milling machine frame 12, and the upper section being pivotally mounted on the lower section 61 about a pivot axis 64. In particular, the pivotable mounting can be achieved by two lateral pivot joints 63, wherein the pivot axis 64 of the pivot joints 63 extends parallel to and preferably coaxial with the first hinge axis 41 of the hinge 40. Particularly suitable is that the protective cage 60 can be torsional together with the groove milling machine 10 about a rotary bearing 34, such that the pivot axis, depending on the torsion (when lying down), can also extend approximately coaxially with the hinge axis 42.

[0043] By arranging the hinge 40 above the milling machine frame 12, the groove milling machine 10 can be laid substantially horizontally on the ground from its normally upright operating position with respect to its first longitudinal side 13 for assembly or maintenance work, such as... Figure 3 As shown in the diagram. Furthermore, the hinge 40 allows the groove milling machine 10 to also lie down on its opposite second longitudinal side 14, as shown in the diagram. Figure 4 As shown in the image.

[0044] With the preferred design of the protective cage 60 having at least one pivot joint 63 allowing a preferred pivoting range of at least 90°, the supply line 36 can be protected from compression or undesirable kinks when the trenching machine 10 is laid down on the ground, such as... Figure 3 It is schematically visible in the middle.

[0045] Figure 5 The illustration depicts a method for operating a groove milling machine 10, wherein the groove milling machine is held and suspended on a carrier cable 5 of a carrier device 1 via a connecting device 30 and a suspension element 50. The carrier device 1 may preferably have a travel mechanism 2, particularly a tracked travel mechanism, having an upper structure 3 with a boom 4 rotatably mounted thereon.

[0046] To lay the trenching machine 10 down, it can be lowered onto the ground in an upright orientation. Preferably, the trenching machine 10 is twisted about its longitudinal axis via a swivel joint, wherein the first and second longitudinal sides of the milling machine frame 12, forming the wide side, are oriented parallel to the plane of rotation of the boom 4. Subsequently, the support device 1 can be moved laterally toward the thus-positioned trenching machine 10 with the superstructure 3 twisted 90° relative to the travel mechanism 2, causing the trenching machine 10 to tilt and lower toward the ground, particularly until the trenching machine is lying approximately horizontally on the ground with one longitudinal side. In this way, the trenching machine 10 can be laid down laterally beside the support device 1 on the first longitudinal side of the milling machine frame 12. By moving the support device 1 in the opposite direction, the trenching machine 10 can also be laid down laterally beside the support device 1 on the second longitudinal side of the milling machine frame 12, opposite the first longitudinal side of the milling machine frame 12.

[0047] Here, as Figure 5 As clearly illustrated, it is particularly preferred that the vertically oriented trenching machine 10 is not placed directly on the ground, but rather held at a certain distance from the ground in the area of ​​the milling wheel 20 by means of a lifting device 72. In this way, damage to the milling wheel 20, its bearings and drive mechanism, and to the milling tool can be avoided during tilting. Preferably, the lifting device 72 may comprise a lifting cable from a mobile crane 70, such as... Figure 5 As shown in the image.

[0048] When the trenching machine 10 is preferably laid horizontally on the ground, assembly and / or maintenance work can be performed on the trenching machine 10 in a particularly simple manner. In particular, for example, the milling wheel 20 can be replaced with other milling wheels 20 with different milling wheel widths. To accommodate other widths of the milling wheel 20, the skid 17 and / or steering plate 19 can also be replaced in this position if necessary.

[0049] Assembly and / or maintenance work can also be performed on the lying-down groove milling machine 10 in a simple and efficient manner on the opposite longitudinal side of the milling machine frame 12 by raising the groove milling machine 10 and then tilting and lowering it again on the other side.

Claims

1. A method for operating a groove milling machine (10), the groove milling machine comprising: - A milling machine frame (12) extending along a longitudinal axis, having longitudinal sides (13, 14, 15, 16), - At least one pair of milling wheels (20), rotatably mounted at the lower end of the milling machine frame (12) for milling the ground and capable of being driven in a rotatable manner, and - A connection section (30) is arranged at the upper end of the milling machine frame (12), which is configured to connect the groove milling machine (10) to the carrying cable (5) and the supply line (36). - Wherein, the groove milling machine (10) moves from the upright operating position to the lying position by lying down on the ground on one longitudinal side (13,14,15,16). Its features are, - The connecting section (30) includes a rotary bearing (34) for torsion of the milling machine frame (12) about the longitudinal axis by at least 90° and a hinge (40), wherein the groove milling machine (10) can be lowered on the ground by tilting with both the first longitudinal side (13) of the milling machine frame (12) and the second longitudinal side (14) of the milling machine frame (12) opposite to the first longitudinal side (13) on the ground without disconnecting the supply line (36).

2. The method according to claim 1, Its features are, The groove milling machine (10) is tilted and laid down on the ground by lowering the load cable (5) from the movable support device (1) and simultaneously moving the support device (1).

3. The method according to claim 2, Its features are, The supporting device (1) has a boom (4) with a rotating plane, and The groove milling machine (10) lies down in the direction of lying down, which is transverse to the plane of rotation of the boom (4).

4. The method according to claim 3, Its features are, The carrying device (1) includes a traveling mechanism (2), particularly a tracked traveling mechanism, and an upper structure (3) rotatably mounted thereon with the boom (4). In order to lay down the groove milling machine (10), the upper structure (3) with the boom (4) is preferably twisted 90° relative to the travel mechanism (2), and the bearing device (1) and the travel mechanism (2) move laterally to the plane of rotation of the boom (4).

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, Its features are, In order to lower the groove milling machine (10) at an angle, the groove milling machine is twisted and aligned via the rotary bearing (34), wherein the first longitudinal side (13) and the second longitudinal side (14) of the milling machine frame (12) are parallel to the rotation plane of the boom (4).

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, Its features are, The trench milling machine (10) is raised back to an upright position after being laid down on the first longitudinal side (13), and then laid down on the ground on the second longitudinal side (14) of the milling machine frame (12).

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, Its features are, The first longitudinal side (13) and the second longitudinal side (14) form the wide side of the milling machine frame (12).

8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, Its features are, During the tilt reduction of the groove milling machine (10), the milling wheel (20) is at least temporarily raised and kept at a distance from the ground.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, Its features are, While lying on the ground, perform assembly or maintenance work on the groove milling machine (10), particularly replacing the skids (17) and / or steering plates (19) on the milling machine frame (12), especially replacing them with skids (17) or steering plates (19) of different sizes, and / or replacing the milling wheels (20), especially replacing them with milling wheels (20) of other widths.

10. A trenching machine for creating trenches in the ground, particularly for performing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, the trenching machine comprising: - A frame-like milling machine frame (12) extending along the longitudinal axis, having longitudinal sides (13, 14, 15, 16), - Two pairs of milling wheels (20), rotatably mounted at the lower end of the milling machine frame (12) for milling the ground and capable of being driven in a rotatable manner, and - A connection section (30) is arranged at the upper end of the milling machine frame (12), which is configured to connect the groove milling machine (10) to the carrying cable (5) and the supply line (36). Its features are, - The connecting section (30) has a rotary bearing (34) for torsion of the milling machine frame (12) about the longitudinal axis by at least 90° and a hinge (40), wherein the groove milling machine (10) can be lowered onto the ground by tilting, both on the first longitudinal side (13) of the milling machine frame (12) and on the second longitudinal side (14) of the milling machine frame (12) opposite to the first longitudinal side (13).

11. The trenching machine according to claim 10, Its features are, The hinge (40) is attached to the upper end of the milling machine frame (12) and has at least a first hinge axis (41), the milling machine frame being pivotable about the first hinge axis by at least 180°, and The hinge (40) is connected to the suspension element (50), which is detachably connected to the carrying cable (5).

12. The groove milling machine according to claim 10 or 11, Its features are, The hinge (40) is designed as a universal joint with two hinge axes (41, 42) arranged at right angles to each other, the hinge axes pointing horizontally when the groove milling machine (10) is in the upright position.

13. The groove milling machine according to claim 10 or 11, Its features are, The connecting section (30) has a protective cage (60) surrounding the supply line (36) and the hinge (40), and At least the upper section (62) of the protective cage (60) is pivotally mounted relative to the milling machine frame (12) via at least one pivot joint.

14. The groove milling machine according to claim 10 or 11, Its features are, The supply line (36) extends laterally to the hinge (40) and preferably coils around the hinge (40) at least 180°.

15. The groove milling machine according to claim 10 or 11, Its features are, The milling wheel (20) is replaceable, especially replaceable with milling wheels (20) of other widths, and The skids (17) and / or steering plates (19) on the milling machine frame (12) are replaceable, and in particular, can be replaced with skids (17) or steering plates (19) of different sizes.

16. A milling apparatus comprising a support device (1) and a groove milling machine (10), the groove milling machine being height-adjustably mounted on a boom (4) of the support device (1) by means of a support cable (5). Its features are, The groove milling machine (10) is designed according to any one of claims 10 to 15.

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