Road construction machine

Abstract

The utility model relates to a road construction machine, in particular to a road building machine or a feeding machine which is used for paving paving materials in the paving direction, and relates to a method for modifying the road construction machine. The utility model has the beneficial effect that the retrofit property of the road construction machinery is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to a road construction machine, in particular a road construction machine or a feeder, and a method for modifying the road construction machine. Background Art

[0002] Road construction machines of this type are, in particular, so-called road builders or feeders. These machines are typically used for street or highway construction, as well as for paving public squares. The primary function of a road construction machine is to receive paving material, such as asphalt or concrete, from a supply vehicle, such as a truck, and to distribute the paving material on the ground in layers, leaving a uniform, ideally pre-compacted layer, or to assist in this process. Road builders and feeders typically have a frame, a driver's console, and a drive motor, such as an internal combustion engine, typically a diesel engine. These machines are self-propelled machines, comprising a travel mechanism with at least one left and right travel mechanism. Both tracked and wheeled road builders and feeders are known, and such road builders and feeders are also encompassed by the present invention. For example, DE 10 2018 000576 A1 discloses such a road builder. DE 10 2016 006 187 A1 discloses a feeder and a road-building machine. The road-building machine includes a paving plate for leveling and compacting paving material laid on the ground surface. The feeder can be constructed in essentially the same manner, but in this case, instead of the paving plate, it includes a transfer device that transfers paving material stored in the feeder to the road-building machine behind it. The feeder thus acts as a buffer vehicle, ensuring a continuous supply of paving material to the road-building machine while the supply vehicle is being replaced.

[0003] In order to accommodate the paving material, these road construction machines usually have a material silo arranged at the front of the road construction machine in the paving direction. The material silo is thus a storage chamber in which the road construction machine can usually receive the paving material from a truck and can store the paving material for the paving process. To this end, the material silo has a silo bottom, silo side walls and a silo rear wall. The material silo can include a left swinging part and a right swinging part. The swinging parts are sometimes also called silo halves. The swinging parts of the material silo can be swung from a downward-swinging filling position or swung upward to an emptying position in order to move the paving material to a longitudinal conveying device positioned below the two swinging parts and at least partially between the two swinging parts. For this purpose, it can be provided that the silo halves are each constructed so as to be able to swing upward or flip around a swinging axis extending essentially in the paving direction. By this pivoting motion, the silo halves dump the paving material stored therein onto a longitudinal conveying device, usually located between the silo halves. The longitudinal conveying device then transports the paving material backward in the paving direction, toward the paving plate of the road construction machine or toward a transfer device on a feeder. The longitudinal conveying device is typically located between the pivoting portions and extends backward in the paving direction. In other words, the silo halves can be adjusted between a filled position, in which the material silo's storage volume is maximized, and an empty position, in which the storage volume is reduced. Such a material silo is disclosed, for example, in the aforementioned DE 10 2018 000 576 A1.

[0004] It is known that the left and right pivoting parts each include different wall elements. Thus, it can be provided that the left and right pivoting parts each include a silo bottom element, an upwardly protruding silo side wall element, and an upwardly protruding silo rear wall element. The silo bottom forms the bottom surface of the silo. Part of this bottom surface can be formed by one or more silo bottom elements of the pivoting part. The silo side wall elements define the silo receiving chamber on the right or left side transversely to the longitudinal axis of the road construction machine. Conversely, viewed opposite the paving direction of the road construction machine, the silo rear wall is located at the end of the silo and defines the silo in a direction opposite to the paving direction or opposite the loading edge of the silo front. The silo rear wall is primarily formed by the silo rear wall elements of the pivoting part. In addition to these wall elements of the silo's pivoting part, the silo can also include other wall elements, in particular wall elements fixed relative to the frame of the road construction machine, such as, for example, a rear wall and / or one or more bottom wall elements. The material bunker is typically designed to be lowered forward in the paving direction relative to the vertically protruding side wall elements and / or rear wall elements and is delimited by a loading edge. In the region of the loading edge, a small, in particular flexible, restraining element may be provided, which protrudes slightly vertically from the bunker bottom, in order to prevent the paving material stored in the material bunker from falling forward in the paving direction.

[0005] During operation of the road construction machine, paving material is supplied, for example, by a truck and dumped directly into the material bunker of the road construction machine. To this end, the swinging portion swings downward or is in its filling position. It can be provided that, during the ongoing paving process, the road construction machine pushes the truck in front of it by causing a controlled collision, thereby filling the material bunker with paving material. From the material bunker of the road construction machine, the paving material is transported via a longitudinal conveying device to the rear of the road construction machine, where, for a feeder, the paving material is received by a transfer device and transferred to a subsequent road construction machine. For a road construction machine, the paving material is distributed transversely across the paving width, for example, using a suitable transverse distribution device, and is then leveled and compacted by a paving plate, which typically floats on the paving material. The road construction machine can also be loaded directly from a transport vehicle, allowing the road construction machine to be used alone. In order to transfer the paving material stored in the material bunker to the longitudinal conveyor evenly and in the most quantitative manner possible during the ongoing paving process, the swinging parts can be swung separately or simultaneously into the emptying position when the material bunker is partially empty. This creates a funnel structure, allowing paving material in the lateral edge areas of the material bunker to slide onto the longitudinal conveyor. This concept is referred to below as the "swinging concept."

[0006] As the oscillating section swings upward, the paving material in the silo slides toward the center of the silo. This can cause the paving material to fall out of the silo over the front loading edge or accumulate on the front plate, located in front of the longitudinal conveyor in the paving direction and forming part of the silo's floor. Both processes can result in additional costs due to material losses or the increased personnel effort required during the ongoing paving operation.

[0007] In order to prevent this undesirable process from occurring, it is also known to provide a front flap instead of a front plate, which, unlike the front plate, is no longer fixed in position relative to the machine frame but can be pivoted upward about a pivot axis located inwardly relative to the loading edge and extending transversely to the working direction. For this purpose, a suitable actuator, such as a hydraulic cylinder, can be provided, by which the adjustment movement of the front flap is driven.

[0008] Furthermore, it is also known that, in addition to this, the pivoting portion is configured to have pivotable wing elements in the area overlapping with the front flap, which are pivotably supported on the corresponding pivoting portion, in particular on the bottom wall element of the corresponding pivoting portion. Through the cooperation of the front flap, the wing elements, and the pivoting portion, on the one hand, when the pivoting portion is swung upward, paving material located on the front flap can be scraped off in the direction of the longitudinal conveying device. Therefore, the wing elements are also called scrapers. On the other hand, the entire area of the front loading edge can be raised in a funnel-like manner, thereby preventing paving material from falling over the front loading edge and out of the material bin. This arrangement is disclosed, for example, in DE 20 2011 108 347 U1. In the following, this solution is also referred to as the "scraping solution."

[0009] Both solutions have advantages and disadvantages. Even if lightweight materials can be dropped over the loading edge of the material bunker in the solution with a front plate, for example due to the presence of only a few adjustable parts, this solution is more economical to manufacture and is also very robust and low-maintenance. On the other hand, the solution with a front flap is distinguished by the optimization of the emptying process, although the acquisition and maintenance costs are significantly higher.

[0010] Users of current road construction machines, i.e. road builders and feeders, usually have to decide between two options when purchasing such a machine or face high subsequent conversion costs, since conversion from one option to the other usually involves a practically complete replacement of the material bunker. Summary of the Invention

[0011] Starting from this, the object of the present invention is therefore to provide a possibility for improving the retrofittability of a road construction machine, in particular a road finishing machine or a feeder.

[0012] This object is achieved by a road construction machine, in particular a road making machine or a feeder, and a method according to the invention.

[0013] For the features of this type of road construction machine for laying paving material in a paving direction, reference is made to the details given above for known road construction machines, particularly road builders and feeders. The road construction machine comprises a frame, a driver's panel, a drive motor, a chassis having at least one left and right travel gear, and a material bunker located at the front of the road construction machine in the paving direction for receiving the paving material. The frame is the main load-bearing structure of the road construction machine. The driver's panel is the operating station from which the road construction machine can be operated during paving operation. The driver's panel can be mounted on the frame or adjustably supported on the frame. In certain road construction machines, in addition to the main operating station, which is typically part of the tractor of the road construction machine, one or more auxiliary operating stations can be provided, typically located at the paving plate. Subfunctions of the road construction machine, particularly, for example, the current paving width, can typically be controlled from the auxiliary operating stations. The drive motor of the road construction machine is the prime mover that generates at least the majority of the drive energy required for the working and driving operations of the road construction machine. This can be, for example, an internal combustion engine, in particular a diesel engine, a hybrid drive or the like. The chassis can include one or more track mechanisms and / or wheels. The expressions "left" and "right" refer to the sides as viewed in the paving direction or the direction of travel of the road construction machine. The road construction machine usually comprises a basic machine comprising the aforementioned components, which is also referred to as a tractor. The paving slab can be supported on the basic machine in such a way that, during the paving operation, the paving slab is pulled by the tractor over the paving material distributed on the paving surface and in the process levels and compacts the paving material.

[0014] In order to achieve a paving operation that is as continuous as possible, that is, the transfer and loading of paving material or the output of paving material onto the ground surface should be achieved, the road construction machine has a material bin, which is configured to temporarily store paving material. The material bin comprises a bottom wall, a left side wall and a right side wall as well as a rear wall which delimits the material bin as viewed from the front of the road construction machine. These wall portions define as a whole a receiving chamber in which the paving material is received and at least temporarily stored by the road construction machine. The individual wall portions can be composed of a plurality of cooperating wall elements, in particular also of a plurality of wall elements which can be adjusted relative to each other. In particular, it can be provided that the material bin comprises at least two swinging parts, which generally constitute the majority of the wall elements of the material bin. In addition, there can also be wall elements which are fixed in position relative to the frame.

[0015] The material silo comprises a left pivoting portion, or left silo half, and a right pivoting portion, or right silo half. The two pivoting portions can be designed to be essentially mirror-symmetrical to one another. The left and right pivoting portions can each have a rear wall element, a bottom wall element forming the silo floor, side wall elements protruding from the bottom wall element, and a loading edge with a front portion toward the front and extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the machine.

[0016] The road construction machine also includes a longitudinal conveying device extending along the longitudinal axis of the machine. The longitudinal conveying device is designed to transport paving material from the material silo in the opposite direction of the paving direction. For example, in the case of a road builder, this is toward a paving plate arranged at the rear of the road builder, and in the case of a feeder, this is toward a transfer device, such as a transfer conveyor belt, arranged at the rear of the feeder. The right and left oscillating parts can each have an inner edge facing the longitudinal conveying device, over which the paving material falls onto the longitudinal conveying device. To this end, the longitudinal conveying device can be arranged below the two oscillating parts, viewed in the vertical direction. The two oscillating parts can be spaced apart from each other in a horizontal plane with their inner edges transverse to the paving direction, thereby creating a well-shaped free space through which the paving material can fall from the material silo to the longitudinal conveying device.

[0017] The pivoting parts can be adjusted between a downwardly pivoted filling position and an upwardly pivoted emptying position to move the paving material onto or toward the longitudinal conveyor. The pivoting parts can be adjusted independently of one another. One or more actuators, such as hydraulic cylinders, can be provided to drive the adjustment device. The pivoting axis of the pivoting parts can extend in a horizontal plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the machine or parallel to the straight-ahead direction of travel of the road construction machine. The pivoting parts can be connected, in particular, to the frame of the road construction machine via a suitable articulation. This can be, for example, a hinge.

[0018] It is now provided that the bottom wall elements of the pivoting parts each comprise a base part, in particular, directly and fixedly connected to the corresponding side wall element and the corresponding rear wall element, and a replacement part, in particular, directly and fixedly connected to the base part via a releasable fastening device. The replacement part respectively forms a portion of the inner edge of the corresponding pivoting part and a portion of the loading edge of the bottom surface of the corresponding pivoting part. Thus, each pivoting part comprises an overall structure, preferably rigid and fixedly connected to one another, consisting of the side wall element, the rear wall element, the base part, and the replacement part. In particular, the side wall element, the rear wall element, and the base part may form a complete module or a coherent component that cannot be disassembled non-destructively. These individual components may be materially connected to one another, for example, by welding, and / or at least partially formed, for example, by flange formation, from a common blank, such as sheet metal. Thus, during normal use of the component, these components are non-detachably connected to one another. In contrast, the replacement part behaves differently. It is also fixedly and preferably directly attached to the base module, in particular to the bottom wall element, and is connected to the base module. However, the present invention is unique in that the replacement element is secured to the base module via a removable fastening device and thus functions as a fixedly connected part of the base module in this arrangement. Consequently, when the pivoting part is adjusted from the filling position to the emptying position, the replacement element and the base module move in a unified motion, for example, pivoting about a common axis. This corresponds to the overall design of the pivoting part in the aforementioned "pivoting arrangement." However, the present invention is unique in that, because the replacement element is connected to the base module, particularly the base part, via a releasable fastening device, this portion of the pivoting part can be easily removed and disassembled from the rest of the pivoting part, particularly from the base part, by loosening the fastening device. This portion can then be replaced, for example, by wing elements that pivot relative to the base part, to convert to a "scraping arrangement." This eliminates the need to dismantle and replace the entire pivoting part to convert the pivoting part, but rather only a smaller portion of the base wall element. This significantly simplifies the conversion of road construction machines from a "pivoting arrangement" to a "scraping arrangement," and vice versa. In summary, according to the present invention, the swinging parts each have a basic part and a replacement part fixedly connected to the basic part by a releasable fixing device, and the replacement parts each form a part of the inner edge and a part of the loading edge of the bottom surface of the corresponding swinging part, and the bottom wall element is formed by the basic part and the replacement part.

[0019] Preferably, in a horizontal projection plane, or when projecting a replacement part normally installed in a road construction machine into a horizontal projection plane, in particular facing the longitudinal conveying device, the replacement part is surrounded only by at least a portion of the loading edge, a portion of the inner edge, and the abutment edge with the base part. In other words, in this projection plane, only these three edges form the outer edges of the replacement part. Additionally or alternatively, the replacement part is designed such that, in this horizontal projection plane, at least with respect to its surface forming part of the bottom wall, it has a substantially triangular shape, in particular a right-angled triangle.

[0020] The bottom surface of the material bunker does not need to be designed to be continuously flat and planar. For example, a projection can be provided at the edge, projecting toward the driver's platform, to improve visibility for the operator in certain operating situations. Protrusions can also be provided for space reasons, for example due to the presence of other components, such as a travel device arranged below the material bunker.

[0021] However, regarding the design of the bottom surface of the material bin in the contact area between the base part and the replacement part, it is preferred that the base part and the replacement part are configured relative to each other such that the bottom surface formed by the base part and the bottom surface formed by the replacement part are configured, at least in the area where they abut each other, so that these bottom surfaces transition into each other without a step. This means that, at least in this area, the total bottom surface formed by the base part and the replacement part is designed to be flat, or the bottom surface composed of the base part and the replacement part is designed to be a substantially flat overall surface.

[0022] It can be provided that, in particular, the replacement part is designed such that, in particular when the corresponding pivoting part is in the filling position, the entire bottom surface formed by the replacement part is designed to be flat and lies in a horizontal projection plane.

[0023] The material bin of the road construction machine may also have a front plate that is particularly fixed relative to the machine frame. The front plate may be arranged in particular in the front area of the material bin, in particular in the area between the longitudinal conveying device and the front loading edge, viewed in the paving direction. Thus, the front plate can form part of the bottom surface of the material bin in this area and, in the front area of the material bin, span the distance between the loading edge of the swing part and the longitudinal conveying device transversely to the paving direction. Preferably, the replacement part is now constructed and arranged in the swing part such that the replacement part is arranged at least partially overlapping with the front plate of the material bin in the vertical direction. Thus, preferably, at least a part of the loading edge formed by the replacement part and / or a part of the inner edge of the replacement part extends in the overlapping area with the front plate, in particular towards the longitudinal conveying device. Additionally or alternatively, it is preferred that the replacement part and the base part are constructed such that the abutting edges of the replacement part and the base part are non-overlapping with respect to the front plate.

[0024] It is important for the specific design of the releasable fixture that, during normal use, the fixture can be disengaged from its fixed state so that the replacement part can be loosened / disassembled from the basic part in a non-destructive manner. But in order to realize disassembly by means of the fixture in the fixed state, it is possible to adopt suitable auxiliary devices, such as one or more tools that are also motor-driven. It is important that both the replacement part and the basic part do not need to be damaged at this time. About the specific design of the fixture, a wide variety of alternative and / or mutually complementary embodiments can be used. Thus, for example, it can be set that the releasable fixture partially includes the elements and / or devices formed by the basic part or the replacement part itself, such as one or more at least partially complementary form-locking elements in the connection area between the replacement part and the basic part, such as one or more fitting and / or guide rails, locking rails and / or similar matching elements. The basic part and / or the replacement part can also include one or more through holes for accommodating the fixing element. Additionally or alternatively, the portion of the fixing device may also be an additional element relative to the replacement part and the base part, the additional element being designed to cooperate with the portion of the fixing device formed by the base part or the replacement part. For this purpose, one or more releasable threaded connections, such as screws secured by nuts, may be provided, for example, and the screws are guided through mutually opposite through-holes in the base part and the replacement part. The fixing device may include one or more releasable threaded connections, the thread axes of which extend parallel to one another and / or substantially parallel to the plane of the bottom surface.

[0025] Preferably, the fixing device is completely disposed below the portion of the material bin's bottom wall formed by the base and replacement parts. Accordingly, it is advantageous if the fixing device is at least partially disposed on the underside of the swinging part. This allows the fixing device to be protected from more than just paving material during operation of the road construction machine. At least when the swinging part is in the emptying position, the fixing device is also relatively easily accessible from outside the road construction machine, further simplifying the refitting process.

[0026] The road construction machine can have one or more adjusting actuators designed and arranged to drive the adjustment movement of each pivoting part from the filling position to the emptying position. These actuators can be, for example, hydraulic cylinders or the like. It is preferably provided that the one or more actuators are arranged only between the machine frame and the base part and / or the side wall elements of the pivoting part. In other words, it is preferred that no actuators are directly articulated to the replacement part. This has the advantage that, when converting the road construction machine, for example, the actuators do not need to be separated from the replacement part, which may need to be removed. Furthermore, the drive system for adjusting the pivoting part from the filling position to the emptying position can be used for both the pivoting and scraping versions without having to extensively modify the actuators for adjusting the pivoting part.

[0027] When the replacement part is fixed in position but detachably connected to the base part, the base part and the replacement part each have edges facing each other. In particular, when the base part and the replacement part directly and immediately abut one another when mounted on one another, these edges can also be referred to as abutment edges. Preferably, the abutment edges between the base part and the replacement part are not only designed to be complementary to one another, but are also designed to be straight, and in particular to be completely straight.

[0028] The fastening device may comprise a seal, for example a plastic and / or metal seal, which seals the contact area and / or at least the area between the base part and the replacement part, in particular with respect to the receiving chamber of the material bunker, viewed in the vertical direction. This prevents paving material from entering the area between the base part and the replacement part and / or entering the fastening device, thereby preventing, for example, easy, in particular non-destructive, release of the fastening device and / or making removal of the replacement part from the base part more difficult.

[0029] To further reduce the effort required to convert from a "swing" to a "scraper" configuration, a receptacle can be provided below the front flap of a road construction machine in a "swing" configuration and remain unoccupied. In this case, when converting to a "scraper" configuration, the actuator for driving the adjustment movement of the front flap, which can be adjusted between a downwardly pivoted loading position and an upwardly pivoted unloading position, can be located in this receptacle. Additionally or alternatively, one or more connection points not used in the "swing" configuration can be pre-installed in the hydraulic system of the road construction machine, via which the actuator can be connected to the hydraulic system of the road construction machine when converting the road construction machine to a "scraper" configuration. Additionally or alternatively, the sensor system and / or machine control unit of the road construction machine may already include the components required for operating the "scraper" configuration even in the "swing" configuration. In the "scraper" configuration, the provisions for the swing configuration can be sufficiently sufficient that the road construction machine can also be converted on-site.

[0030] Another aspect of the invention relates to a method for retrofitting a road construction machine, in particular a road finisher or feeder, according to the invention. With regard to possible structural alternatives of the road construction machine itself for carrying out the method, reference is made to the above description of the road construction machine according to the invention.

[0031] The method according to the present invention first comprises, in one step: a) removing the replacement part from the base part. To this end, it is provided that in this step, at least the fixing device that connects the replacement part to the base part is loosened, so that the two elements form a fixed overall structure relative to each other. Therefore, this step is preferably carried out on road construction machines whose material compartment is designed as a "swinging system." To enable conversion to a "scraping system" in a subsequent step, it is provided in step b) that a scraper that can be pivoted relative to the base part via a pivoting joint is installed. The fixing device thus now includes at least one pivoting joint, so that a plate is once again connected to the base part via the fixing device, but this time it is no longer fixed in position, but is adjustable relative to the base part, in particular, pivotable about a pivot axis. Furthermore, the scraper is preferably larger than the replacement part.

[0032] The installation in step b) is preferably performed on the base part, at least partially utilizing components of a fastening device, by which the replacement part is fixed to the base part. For example, through-holes and / or other elements can be provided, which ideally can also be used to fasten the scraper and / or the articulation device, such as components of a rotary joint. This way, the modification effort can be further reduced.

[0033] To convert to a "scraper configuration" by replacing the replacement plate with a scraper, it can also be provided that, in step c), the fixed front plate relative to the machine frame is replaced by a front flap that pivots between a downwardly pivoted loading position and an upwardly pivoted unloading position. This allows, when the pivoting portion and the front plate are adjusted to the emptying and unloading positions, the entire front loading edge can be funneled upward in cooperation with the wing elements formed by the scraper. To this end, in addition to replacing the front plate with the front flap, an actuator must also be connected to the front flap. For this purpose, the actuator can be pre-installed in road construction machines manufactured with the "swing configuration" configuration. Alternatively, the actuator can be installed in the road construction machine as part of the aforementioned conversion, in which case suitable connections for connecting the actuator to the hydraulic system of the road construction machine may already be pre-installed in the hydraulic system of the road construction machine at least at the factory.

[0034] Additionally or alternatively, the retrofitting of the road construction machine can include connecting one or more sensors to the actuator and / or to the machine control unit. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] The present invention will be described in detail below based on the embodiments shown in the drawings.

[0036] Figure 1 is an oblique perspective view from the left front of the road construction machine with the swing portion in the filling position;

[0037] Figure 2 The swing part is in the emptying position Figure 1 Front view of a road construction machine in;

[0038] Figure 3 The swing part of the swing scheme is in the filling position Figure 1 and 2 A partial perspective view of a material bunker of a road construction machine type;

[0039] Figure 4 The swing part is in the emptying position Figure 3 A partial perspective view of the material bin in FIG;

[0040] Figure 5 is a partial perspective view of a material bin in a filling position according to a scraping scheme with a swinging portion;

[0041] Figure 6 The swing part is in the emptying position Figure 5 A partial perspective view of the material bin in FIG;

[0042] Figure 7yes Figure 3 and 4 A top view of the swing portion of the swing scheme;

[0043] Figure 8 yes Figure 7 A perspective exploded view of the swing part;

[0044] Figure 9 yes Figure 5 and 6 A perspective oblique view of the swinging portion of the scraping scheme in FIG.

[0045] Figure 10 Has a front plate and is in the emptying position Figure 3 、 4 , the swing portion in 7 and 8 (the “swing scheme”);

[0046] Figure 11 is with the front plate in the filled position Figure 5 、 6 and the swinging portion in 9 (“scrape-off scheme”);

[0047] Figure 12 Is with the front plate in the emptying position Figure 5 、 6 and the oscillating portion of 9 (“scrape-off scheme”); and

[0048] Figure 13 is a flow chart of a method for converting a road construction machine. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0049] Components that are identical or have the same function are marked with the same reference numerals in the figures. Repeated components are not necessarily marked individually in each figure.

[0050] Figure 1 The road construction machine 1 is shown, specifically a road building machine. The road construction machine 1 comprises a driving platform 2, a frame 3, a drive motor 4 (in Figure 1 The road construction machine 1 includes a plurality of moving parts (not shown in detail), such as an electric motor or an internal combustion engine, and a material bin 5 arranged in the front along the paving direction a. The paving direction a refers to the direction in which the road construction machine 1 moves on the foundation during operation. The road construction machine 1 extends in its longitudinal direction along the paving direction a, which extends straight forward. To achieve forward movement, the road construction machine 1 includes a chassis 6, which may include, for example, one or more crawler tracks and / or wheels as a driving device. In the present embodiment, the chassis 6 includes a right crawler track and a left crawler track.

[0051] exist Figure 1In the figure, the road construction machine 1 is a road builder. The road builder additionally includes a paving slab 7. This slab is typically pulled by the rest of the road builder at the rear end, floating on the material mat laid by the road builder, and in doing so levels and compacts the laid paving material. During operation, the material bunker 5 of the road builder is filled with paving material, for example, from a truck traveling in front of the road builder. Alternatively, the material bunker 5 can also be filled from a so-called feeder.

[0052] This feeder is also a road construction machine 1 and has a similar basic structure to a road builder. The main difference between the feeder and the road builder is that a transfer conveyor is provided instead of a paving plate 7. The transfer conveyor can transfer paving material stored in the material bunker of the feeder to the material bunker of the road builder, which usually travels behind the feeder during the paving process, so as to ultimately facilitate the continuous paving process of the road builder.

[0053] Paving material is conveyed from the material bunker 5 counter to the paving direction a toward the rear of the road construction machine 1. For this purpose, a longitudinal conveying device 8, such as a scraper base or the like, is provided, by which the paving material can be transported from the material bunker 5 toward the rear of the road construction machine 1 in the paving direction a. In the case of a feeder, the paving material arriving in the rear region of the road construction machine 1 is then transferred to a subsequent road construction machine by means of a conveying device. Alternatively, in the case of a road construction machine, the paving material is distributed transversely to the paving direction a across the entire paving width and leveled and compacted by a paving slab 7. For this purpose, the road construction machine can include a transverse distribution device, such as a screw conveyor.

[0054] The road construction machine 1 is operated from the driver's seat 2. For this purpose, at least one operating device, such as an operating panel or a control console, is typically located within the operator's platform. During paving operation, the operator stands or sits in front of the operating device within the driver's seat 2, viewing the paving direction a.

[0055] Thus, the material bunker 5 is used to receive and store paving material on the road construction machine 1. It is desirable that the material bunker 5, on the one hand, provides a sufficiently large storage volume for the paving material. On the other hand, it is also advantageous that the material bunker 5 is designed so that the paving material stored therein can be emptied and supplied to the paving process as quantitatively as possible. To this end, the material bunker 5 includes swinging parts 91 and 9r, which can be swung, for example, Figure 1 The filling position shown in Figure 2 The paving device can be adjusted between the emptying positions shown in FIG. 1 and can be pivoted, in particular, about a pivot axis extending horizontally and in the paving direction a.

[0056] Starting from the basic structure, the material bunker arranged in front of the road construction machine 1 in the paving direction a comprises a right swing part 9r and a left swing part 9l as viewed in the paving direction a. The swing part can be swung from a filling position (e.g. according to the embodiment of the present invention) to a downward swing position. Figure 3 ) are respectively swung upward about the swing axis S extending along the paving direction a to, for example, Figure 4 , in the emptying position shown in the drawing, in the filling position the storage volume of the material bin 5 is at its maximum. By the upward swinging of the two swinging parts 9r, 9l, a funnel-like shape of the material bin 5 is achieved, so that the paving material received in the outer edge area of the material bin can also slide toward the center in the direction of the longitudinal conveying device 8, and can be conveyed from the material bin 5 from here backward in the opposite direction of the paving direction a. The material bin 5 comprises a rear wall 11, a bottom wall 12 and side walls 13. These wall portions are at least partially formed by the two swinging parts 9r, 9l, which for this purpose have a rear wall element 11', a bottom wall element 12' and a side wall element 13'. Thus, when the two swinging parts 9r, 9l swing, the rear wall element 11', the bottom wall element 12' and the side wall element 13' move as a whole around the corresponding swing axis S together with the swinging parts 9r, 9l. The rear wall 11 and also the bottom wall 12 may additionally include a portion that is fixed relative to the machine frame 3 and, accordingly, does not pivot with the adjustment of the pivoting parts 9r, 9l, and accordingly maintains its relative position relative to the machine frame 3. Furthermore, the material bunker 5 is designed to be lowered forward in the paving direction a relative to its upper edge and includes a loading edge 14. A slightly vertically protruding, particularly elastic, stop 15, for example made of a plastic or rubber material, may be provided on the loading edge 14 to prevent paving material from falling forward in the paving direction a over the loading edge 14, at least to a limited extent. The pivoting parts 9r, 9l each adjoin the longitudinal conveyor 8 with an inner edge 16. In particular, when the pivoting parts 9r, 9l are individually or jointly pivoted upward about their respective pivot axes S from the filling position to the emptying position, paving material falls over the inner edge from the respective pivoting part 9r, 9l onto the longitudinal conveyor 8.

[0057] With regard to the functional scope of the individual components of the material silo 5 , there are different levels of expansion, with an increased functional scope generally being associated with increased production and maintenance costs. Figure 3 and 4 Shows the functionality of the "swing scheme". Figure 3 and Figure 4 The comparison shows that in this scheme, when the filling position ( Figure 3 ) and the empty position ( Figure 4), the pivoting parts 9r and 9l pivot as a common unit uniformly about the respective pivot axis S. This solution is relatively economical and optimally suited for many applications. However, the operator of the road construction machine 1 is challenged by the fact that, during operation of the road construction machine 1, when the pivoting parts 9r, 9l are pivoted upward, they must ensure that, in particular in the area of the front plate 17, which is fixed relative to the machine frame 3 and extends in the extension of the longitudinal conveyor 8 in the paving direction a as far as the loading edge 14, as little paving material as possible is pushed out of the material bunker 5 over the loading edge 14 in the paving direction a and is thus no longer available for the further paving process in the desired manner.

[0058] For this reason, there is Figure 5 and 6 The "scraping solution" shown in detail in the figure is an alternative expansion level of the material bin 5. This solution differs from the "swinging solution" in that it has an increased range of functions. Instead of the front plate 17 fixed in position relative to the frame 3, a front flap 18 is provided which can swing upward around an axis extending horizontally and transversely to the paving direction a. This front plate swings downward in the filling position and swings upward in the emptying position, so that the loading edge 14 at the front of the material bin 5 is displaced upward in the vertical direction. The swing parts 9r and 9l each include a scraper 20 at the same time, which is supported on the swing part assembly so as to be swingable relative to the corresponding remaining swing part assembly around a swing axis K. This swing axis extends horizontally in the filling position and obliquely relative to the swing axis S of the corresponding swing part 9r, 9l. The front flap 18 includes an actuator 21, such as a hydraulic cylinder, for driving the adjustment movement of the front flap 18. Since the two scrapers 20 overlap with the front flap 18 arranged below the scraper 20 in the vertical direction, the front flap 18 drives the two scrapers 20, so that in particular as Figure 5 and 6 As shown by the comparison, this also results in an overall structure extending completely funnel-like in the direction of the longitudinal conveyor 8 in the area of the loading edge 14. It is clear that this arrangement significantly reduces the risk of paving material falling out of the material bunker 5 when the pivoting parts 9r, 9l are adjusted to the emptying position compared to the pivoting solution. However, this overall structure is also more complex and therefore more expensive and requires more maintenance.

[0059] In order not to have to let the customer decide from the outset whether to choose a oscillating solution or a scraping solution when purchasing such a road construction machine 1 and, ideally, even to allow conversion from one solution to the other on site, it is now provided that the oscillating parts 9r, 9l of the oscillating solution have a basic part 22 and a replacement part 23. This is particularly true in Figure 7 、 89. It is additionally noted that the description in the figures, which is partially based on only one pivot part 9r, also applies to the left pivot part 9l (which in the present case can be designed mirror-symmetrically to the pivot part 9r).

[0060] The basic part 22 and the replacement part 23 are fixedly connected to each other by means of a fixing device 24 and form an inherently rigid whole in this state. However, this inherently fixed connection achieved by means of the fixing device 24 is constructed so as to be loosen, in particular in a non-destructive manner. Specifically, for example, fixing openings corresponding to each other can be provided in the basic part 22 and the replacement part 23, through which releasable fixing screws or the like can be guided in order to connect the two components. In the installed state, the replacement part 23 at least substantially and in particular only forms a part of the bottom surface or bottom wall 12' of the corresponding swing part 9r. When the replacement part 23 is projected into an imaginary horizontal projection plane, as for example Figure 7 As shown in FIG, the replacement part 23 can have a portion of the loading edge 14 and the inner edge 16, as well as an abutment edge 25, which is the edge of the replacement part 23 that adjoins the base part 22. Thus, in the assembled state, the abutment edge 25 extends within the bottom surface of the material bin 5. Accordingly, the replacement part can have a triangular outline, in particular a right-angled triangle, in the projection plane. Furthermore, a seal can be provided between the base part 22 and the replacement part 23 in the region of the abutment edge 25 to facilitate subsequent release of the fastening device.

[0061] Thus, the swing part 9r comprises a basic part 22, to which the side wall elements 13', in particular completely, the rear wall element 11', in particular completely, and, but only partly, the bottom wall element 12' belong. The remaining part of the bottom wall element 12' is formed by a replacement part 23, which preferably forms only part of the bottom wall element 12' of the swing part 9r, for the wall elements 11', 12' and 13'. Figure 10 As shown in FIG, this overall structure can also be pivoted as a whole and fixed in position relative to the front plate 17. The front plate 17 is fixed in position relative to, for example, the frame 3 of the road construction machine 1. With respect to this overall structure, the pivoting part 9r (and also 9l) comprising the basic part 22 and the replacement part 23 is pivoted upwards to the position in the Figure 10 To drive this adjustment movement, an actuator 26 (exemplarily in Figure 2 The actuator 26, for example a hydraulic cylinder, is preferably arranged between the machine frame 3 or at least one part of the road construction machine 1 that is stationary relative to the machine frame 3 and the base part 22 of the corresponding pivoting part 9 and is therefore not directly articulated to the exchange part 23, although this is also possible in principle.

[0062] The pivoting parts 9 r , 9 l , in particular the exchange part 23 , can be non-overlapping relative to the front plate 17 , but they can also at least partially overlap.

[0063] Basic part 22 and replacement part 23 can be connected to each other like this, make their bottom part be located in common plane.Described basic part and replacement part can all be configured to be flat in its bottom surface, and be configured to, make basic part and replacement part transition to each other without step.

[0064] Therefore, when using the oscillating solution, it is not actually necessary to separate the oscillating part into the basic part 22 and the replacement part 23, because the two components are always used as a fixed unit. However, the presence of a predetermined separation point between the basic part 22 and the replacement part 23 significantly simplifies the upgrade of the road construction machine 1 from the oscillating solution to the scraping solution. Figure 13 The conversion method provided for this purpose is explained in its essential steps in the flowchart in FIG, and the improvement method is furthermore shown in detail with the aid of the remaining figures.

[0065] When the road construction machine 1 is converted from the oscillating mode to the scraping mode, the method for converting the road construction machine 1 comprises: in step I, removing the replacement part 23 from the basic part 22. To this end, the fixing device 24 is loosened, for example by loosening a suitable screw connection or a similar releasable connection. Thus, the replacement part 23 can be selectively removed from the corresponding oscillating part 9r, 9l, as in Figure 8 The remaining parts of the pivoting parts 9r, 91 (or the respective base part 22) can remain on the road building machine 1.

[0066] Instead of the replacement part 23, in step II, a scraper 20 that can swing relative to the basic part 22 is mounted on the basic part 22, and in this case, in step III, the mounting is preferably carried out on the basic part 22 using at least partially parts of the fixing device 24, by which the replacement part 23 was previously fixed to the basic part 22.

[0067] Unlike the replacement part 23, however, the scraper 20 is not fixed or stationary to the base part 22, but is articulated thereto, for example, via a pivot joint, particularly a pivot hinge. Furthermore, the scraper 20 may differ from the replacement part 23 in its contour. Advantageously, the scraper 20 forms a larger base element 12' on the bottom surface than the replacement part 23, or has a larger bottom surface, and in particular, extends further toward the longitudinal center axis or toward the longitudinal conveyor 8, particularly at the corner formed by the loading edge 14 and the abutment edge 25. This allows the scraper 20 to overlap with the area of the front plate 17 of the pivoting design or the area of the front flap 18 of the scraping design. Consequently, when the respective pivoting parts 9r, 9l are adjusted, the scraper 20 can be pivoted inward toward the longitudinal conveyor 8 relative to the base part 22 by the upward pivoting movement of the pivoting parts 9r, 9l themselves and / or by the upward pivoting of the front flap 18, thereby achieving optimized material guidance toward the longitudinal conveyor 8.

[0068] Accordingly, the conversion method can include, in step IV, replacing the front plate 17, which is fixed relative to the frame 3, with a front flap 18 that can be pivoted relative to the frame 3 between a downwardly pivoted loading position and an upwardly pivoted emptying position. Furthermore, this additional conversion step includes installing the actuator 21 or at least connecting the front flap 18 to a pre-installed actuator 21. For this purpose, a dedicated receiving chamber 27 can be provided on the road construction machine 1, in particular below the front plate 17, into which the actuator 21 can be pre-installed or subsequently installed.

[0069] Especially through the use of swing schemes Figure 10 With scraping scheme Figure 11 and 12 The comparison of the illustrated functionality is shown. In the oscillating solution, the oscillating portion 9r oscillates as an inherently rigid unit about the oscillating axis S from the filling position to the Figure 10 This movement is carried out, for example, adjacent to the front plate 17 or with a small overlap.

[0070] In contrast, according to Figure 11 and 12 In the scraping scheme, the swing parts 9r, 9l are not only swung upward, but also swung from Figure 11 The filling position shown in Figure 12. Since the scraper 20 overlaps the front flap 18 (or also the front plate 17), it also pivots inward relative to the pivoting part 9r toward the interior of the material bunker 5, scraping the floor formed by the front flap 18 (or the front plate 17) and pushing any paving material located there toward the longitudinal conveyor 8. Simultaneously, the free space formed between the two pivoting parts 9r and 9l toward the loading edge 14 is additionally narrowed, thereby reducing the overall risk of paving material falling out of the material bunker 5 over the loading edge 14 during adjustment of the pivoting parts 9r, 9l due to this increased structural effort.

Claims

1. A road construction machine (1) for laying paving material along a paving direction (a) and comprising - racks (3), - Bridge (2), - drive motor (4), - a running gear (6) having at least one left running gear and one right running gear, - a material bunker (5) for accommodating paving material, arranged at the front of the road construction machine (1) in the paving direction (a), the material bunker (5) comprising -left swing part (9l) and - right swing part (9r), The left swing part (9l) and the right swing part (9r) each have a rear wall element (11'), a bottom wall element (12') forming the bottom surface of the material bin (5), a side wall element (13') protruding from the bottom wall element (12'), and a loading edge (14) having a front portion toward the front side and extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the machine, and a longitudinal conveying device (8) extending along the longitudinal axis of the machine, the longitudinal conveying device being configured to transport paving material from the material bin (5) backwards in the paving direction (a), the right oscillating part (9r) and the left oscillating part (9l) each having an inner edge (16) facing the longitudinal conveying device (8), The pivoting parts (9r, 9l) can be adjusted between a downwardly pivoted filling position and an upwardly pivoted emptying position, respectively, in order to move the paving material onto the longitudinal conveying device (8). It is characterized by: The pivoting parts (9r, 9l) respectively have a basic part (22) and a replacement part (23) fixedly connected to the basic part (22) via a releasable fixing device (24), the replacement part (23) respectively forming a part of the inner edge (16) of the corresponding pivoting part (9r, 9l) and a part of the loading edge (14) of the bottom surface, and the bottom wall element (12') is jointly formed by the basic part (22) and the replacement part (23).

2. The road construction machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that In a horizontal projection plane, the replacement part (23) is surrounded only by at least a portion of the loading edge (14), a portion of the inner edge (16) and the abutment edge (25) with the base part (22).

3. The road construction machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The replacement part (23) has essentially a triangular shape in a horizontal projection plane.

4. The road construction machine according to claim 3, characterized in that: The replacement part (23) has essentially the shape of a right triangle in a horizontal projection plane.

5. The road construction machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The bottom surface formed by the base part (22) and the bottom surface formed by the replacement part (23) are designed so that they transition into each other without a step.

6. The road construction machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The bottom surface formed by the basic part (22) and the replacement part (23) is configured as a substantially flat overall surface.

7. The road construction machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The replacement portion (23) is configured to overlap with the front plate (17) of the material bin in a vertical direction.

8. The road construction machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The releasable fixing device (24) comprises at least one of the following features: The fixing device comprises one or more form-fitting elements in the connection area between the replacement part (23) and the base part (22), which are at least partially designed to complement each other; - the fixing means comprises one or more releasable threaded connection structures; The fixing device comprises one or more releasable screw connections, the thread axes of which extend parallel to one another and / or substantially parallel to the plane of the bottom surface.

9. The road construction machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The abutment edge (25) between the base part (22) and the replacement part (23) is designed to be straight.

10. The road construction machine according to claim 9, characterized in that: The abutment edge (25) between the base part (22) and the replacement part (23) is designed to be completely straight.

11. The road construction machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The fixing device (24) is arranged on the lower side of the pivoting part (9r, 9l).

12. The road construction machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: An adjusting actuator is provided between the frame (3) and the base part (22) and / or the side wall element (13') of the pivot part (9r, 9l), the adjusting actuator being configured to drive the adjusting movement of the pivot part (9r, 9l) from a filling position to an emptying position.

13. The road construction machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The fixing device (24) includes a sealing element.

14. The road construction machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The road construction machine is a road maker or a feeder.

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