Road construction machine

Abstract

The utility model relates to a road construction machine (1), which comprises a chassis (12, 112) used for moving the road construction machine (1); a main drive device (3, 103) for driving the chassis (12, 112); a main energy storage unit (17, 117) for supplying the main drive (3, 103) with electrical energy or an energy medium; a material hopper (7, 107); and a material hopper insert (14, 114, 14a) for receiving the paving material (PM). The material hopper insert (14, 114, 14a) is removably mounted on the material hopper (7, 107). The material hopper insert (14, 114, 14a) has at least one secondary energy storage unit (15, 115, 15a) for driving the chassis (12, 112) and / or for supplying the primary drive (3, 103) with electrical energy or an energy medium.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to a road construction machine that includes a material hopper insert with a secondary energy storage unit. Background Technology

[0002] Generally speaking, road construction machinery is known from existing technology. Road construction machinery can be, for example, a road paver used to produce a paving layer from paving material, or a feed vehicle used to supply paving material to the road paver.

[0003] Traditional road construction machinery typically uses diesel fuel as its energy source. The chemical energy of diesel fuel is converted into mechanical energy by a diesel engine, which is used to operate actuators. These actuators typically perform rotary or linear motion. Road construction machinery utilizes these motions to complete its work and sub-tasks. For a road paver, these work and sub-tasks may include, for example, driving, steering, material conveying, material dispensing, leveling, and material compaction. For a feed vehicle, these work and sub-tasks may include, for example, driving, steering, and material conveying. Rotary motion is achieved, for example, by means of a hydraulic motor, and translational motion is achieved, for example, by means of a hydraulic cylinder. To heat the screed of the road paver, mechanical energy is converted into electrical energy by a generator, which is then converted into heat. The disadvantages of this drive mechanism are the use of fossil fuels (e.g., diesel fuel) and the associated exhaust emissions.

[0004] It is also known from existing technology that road construction machinery can be electrically powered. However, the short operating range of such electric road construction machinery is problematic. Currently, road construction machinery equipped with diesel fuel tanks is designed to typically operate for up to 10 hours on a single tank of fuel, thus limiting its operating range. Assuming high utilization rates, when electric road construction machinery uses energy storage devices (such as batteries, for example, accumulators) as its energy source and electric drive system, the energy density of the accumulator is lower than that of diesel fuel. Therefore, significantly larger and heavier energy storage devices must be used to achieve a similar operating range as when using diesel. This can only be achieved to a limited extent without drastically increasing the size of the road construction machinery, resulting in a significant reduction in the working time or workload that the electric road construction machinery can perform. Due to the short operating range of electric road construction machinery (which uses batteries as its energy source), the batteries must be replaced or recharged once or multiple times. Alternatively, road construction machinery with empty batteries must be driven away from the construction site, allowing another road construction machinery with fully charged batteries to be used as a replacement. Therefore, construction sites inevitably have to be interrupted for periods of time, whether long or short. Interruptions not only negatively impact the energy efficiency of road construction machinery (e.g., screeds and material conveyors must be reheated after an interruption), but also affect paving quality. This is because such interruptions can lead to start-up marks, segregation, decreased mix temperature, compaction problems, and even cooling and solidification of the paving material within the road construction machinery. Utility Model Content

[0005] Based on existing technology, the technical problem to be solved by this utility model is to provide a road construction machine that eliminates or at least reduces the aforementioned disadvantages. Ideally, the operating range or service life of the road construction machine should be improved.

[0006] According to one aspect of this invention, a road construction machine is provided. The road construction machine includes: a chassis for moving the machine; a main drive unit for driving the chassis; a main energy storage unit for supplying electrical energy or an energy medium to the main drive unit; a material hopper and a material hopper insert for receiving paving material. The material hopper insert is detachably mounted on the material hopper. The material hopper insert has at least one secondary energy storage unit for driving the chassis and / or for supplying electrical energy or an energy medium to the main drive unit. This can extend the working time and operating range of the road construction machine (especially self-propelled road construction machines). It is thus possible to avoid stopping road construction operations, particularly stopping the production of paving layers from paving material, when the road construction machine runs out of energy or energy medium. Ideally, this can improve the paving quality of the paving layer or at least ensure a nearly constant paving quality during the production of the paving layer. Since the paving units of the road construction machine, such as screeds and material conveyors, must be reheated after an interruption, this invention can optionally increase the energy efficiency of the road construction machine.

[0007] The chassis can be a wheeled chassis or a tracked chassis. A wheeled chassis may include multiple driven wheels, which the road construction machinery can use to move. A tracked chassis may include at least one driven track, which the road construction machinery can use to move.

[0008] The main drive unit for driving the chassis can be mounted (particularly in a detachable manner) at any location on the road construction machinery, preferably near the chassis. The main drive unit can be designed to drive the chassis, causing the chassis to move the road construction machinery in a direction of travel. For driving the chassis, the main drive unit and the chassis can be mechanically connected to each other.

[0009] The main energy storage unit (preferably detachably mounted) is installed at any location on the road construction machinery, preferably near the chassis. The main energy storage unit can be suitable for storing electrical energy or an energy medium. The main energy storage unit can be mechanically and / or electrically connected to the main drive unit to supply electrical energy or an energy medium to the main drive unit. The main energy storage unit can be a battery, particularly a rechargeable battery, such as an energy accumulator (battery). Alternatively, the main energy storage unit can be a fuel tank for storing an energy medium (e.g., fossil fuels or non-fossil fuels).

[0010] The chassis, main drive unit, secondary drive unit described below, main energy storage unit and / or secondary energy storage unit can be communicatively connected.

[0011] Road construction machinery may include a control system. This control system may be communicatively connected to the chassis, main drive unit, secondary drive unit, main energy storage unit, and / or secondary energy storage unit. The control system may be configured to control and monitor the driving and movement of the road construction machinery. For example, the control system may be configured to monitor the charging status or fill level of the main energy storage unit and / or secondary energy storage unit of the road construction machinery. The control system may also be configured to control and monitor the transfer of electrical energy or energy medium from the main energy storage unit and / or secondary energy storage unit to the main drive unit and / or secondary drive unit of the road construction machinery to drive the road construction machinery.

[0012] The material hopper insert can be detachably installed onto the material hopper using a fixing device, such as a threaded device or a clamping device. This facilitates the installation, removal, and replacement of the material hopper insert, for example, for maintenance or cleaning purposes. In particular, this makes it especially convenient to replace the secondary energy storage unit, for example, replacing an empty secondary energy storage unit with a fully charged one. Optionally, since the material hopper insert can be transported separately from the material hopper, it facilitates the transportation of the material hopper insert, for example, by truck.

[0013] Preferably, the main drive unit is an electric motor (particularly an electric motor using a fuel cell) or an internal combustion engine. The main drive unit can be determined based on the type, location, and / or duration of use of the road construction machinery. With an electric motor (particularly an electric motor with a fuel cell), the road construction machinery does not directly emit pollution during operation. Ideally, the road construction machinery operates with low noise. This is particularly advantageous if the road construction machinery emits only limited amounts of noise or pollution, for example, if it is operating within or near a construction area. Compared to road construction machinery driven by an electric motor, an internal combustion engine allows the road construction machinery to operate relatively economically over a longer operating range. This can be particularly advantageous if there are no requirements to limit noise or pollution or if the road construction machinery is to operate continuously over a long operating range.

[0014] The secondary energy storage unit is preferably detachably mounted at any location on the material hopper insert. The secondary energy storage unit may be mechanically and / or electrically connected to the main drive unit to supply electrical energy or an energy medium to the main drive unit.

[0015] Preferably, the secondary energy storage unit includes an additional battery (particularly a battery with a battery management system) to store electrical energy for the main drive unit. This allows the main drive unit (particularly an electric motor) to be powered more conveniently. Specifically, the additional battery can be rechargeable. For example, the battery can be an additional energy accumulator. This additional battery can be electrically connected to the main drive unit to supply power to it. Alternatively, the additional battery can be electrically connected to the secondary drive unit to supply power to it.

[0016] Preferably, the secondary energy storage unit includes an additional tank that stores the energy medium (particularly in liquid or gaseous form) for the primary drive unit. This additional tank may be mechanically connected to the primary drive unit to supply the energy medium to it. Alternatively, the additional tank may be mechanically connected to the secondary drive unit to supply the energy medium to it.

[0017] Preferably, the energy medium is hydrogen and / or ammonia and / or fossil fuels and / or synthetic fuels. This allows road construction machinery to be supplied with conventional energy media at a lower cost. The energy medium may depend on the type of primary drive unit and / or secondary drive unit.

[0018] Preferably, the additional tank is designed to store compressed hydrogen or chemically bonded hydrogen, particularly hydrogen bonded via LOHC or ammonia. Optionally, the secondary energy storage unit may include an electrolyzer for releasing the bonded hydrogen, particularly hydrogen bonded via LOHC or ammonia.

[0019] Preferably, the secondary energy storage unit has a secondary drive unit for driving the chassis of the road construction machinery. This allows the road construction machinery to operate using both the primary drive unit and / or the secondary drive unit. That is, the chassis can be driven by at least one of the secondary drive unit and the primary drive unit. The secondary drive unit can be, for example, an electric motor or an internal combustion engine, particularly with a generator for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy. The secondary drive unit can be mounted at any location on the secondary energy storage unit. By providing a secondary drive unit in addition to the primary drive unit, the reliability of the road construction machinery can be improved. For example, if operation cannot be performed using the primary drive unit (e.g., if the primary drive unit fails), the secondary drive unit can drive the chassis of the road construction machinery. Optionally, for example, if the driving force of the primary drive unit is insufficient to move the road construction machinery, the secondary drive unit can also supplement the primary drive unit to drive the chassis. This enables the road construction machinery to operate reliably. Optionally, the secondary drive unit can be electrically connected to the primary energy storage unit. For example, the secondary drive unit can be an internal combustion engine with a generator, and the secondary energy storage unit can be an energy storage tank. The internal combustion engine uses the energy provided by the secondary energy storage unit to generate mechanical energy. The generator converts the mechanical energy into electrical energy and delivers it to the main energy storage unit in the form of a rechargeable battery, which then supplies power to the road construction machinery.

[0020] Preferably, the material hopper insert has a base opening and a plurality of adjacent sidewalls, wherein at least one sidewall is inclined relative to the bottom opening (particularly the bottom opening surface), such that the upper edge of the inclined sidewall—particularly in a plan view—lies outside the base opening (particularly the base opening surface), with the secondary energy storage unit arranged below the inclined sidewall. The sidewall may include a bottom edge, particularly a bottom edge opposite to the top edge. The base opening, particularly the base opening area, can be formed by the lower edge of the sidewall. The upper opening surface may be between the upper edges. The material hopper insert may, for example, be funnel-shaped, particularly with the upper opening area larger than the bottom opening area. This allows the material hopper insert to be conveniently and uniformly filled with paving material. By arranging the secondary energy storage unit below the inclined sidewall, it is possible to utilize existing installation space in the material hopper. A very compact design of the road construction machinery can be achieved. Particularly when viewed from above, the upper edge of the inclined sidewall can extend parallel to the longitudinal direction (particularly along the travel direction) of the road construction machinery. The inclined sidewall may be, for example, the transverse sidewall of a material hopper insert. The secondary energy storage unit may be arranged below this transverse sidewall. Optionally, particularly when viewed from above, the upper edge of the inclined sidewall may extend orthogonally to the longitudinal direction (particularly the direction of travel) of the road construction machinery. The inclined sidewall may be, for example, the front or rear wall of a material hopper insert. The secondary energy storage unit may be arranged below the front or rear wall.

[0021] Preferably, the angle between the plane of the sidewall and the bottom opening (particularly the bottom opening surface) is at least 100°, preferably at least 110°, and / or at most 135°, preferably at most 125°. In principle, this angle can be any suitable size. The size of this angle can depend on the material hopper, the material hopper insert, and / or the secondary energy storage unit. The size of this angle can be selected such that the paving material in the material hopper insert can slide easily, and especially uniformly, onto the conveying unit of the road construction machinery arranged below the material hopper insert.

[0022] Preferably, the sloping sidewalls are formed as a cover for the secondary energy storage unit, particularly in the top view of the main hopper insert. This allows the secondary energy storage unit to be protected from external influences, especially from damage. This extends the service life of the secondary energy storage unit and ideally reduces repair / maintenance costs. In particular, when viewed from above, the sloping sidewalls can at least partially, preferably completely, cover the secondary energy storage unit.

[0023] Preferably, the material hopper insert has an insulating portion. This insulating portion prevents significant temperature changes in the paving material within the material hopper insert, particularly preventing temperature drops. Ideally, it ensures that the paving material within the material hopper insert has a minimum temperature, for example, at least around 80°C. This improves the further processing of the paving material. Ideally, it can prevent the paving material from solidifying within the material hopper insert. Warm paving material can release some of its heat into the material hopper insert, causing it to heat up. The insulating portion can be used to reduce the heat dissipated from the material hopper insert to its surrounding environment, particularly to the secondary energy storage unit. This ensures that the secondary energy storage unit is not overheated by the heat dissipated from the material hopper insert, and in the worst case, becomes overheated and unable to operate. In particular, the size of the thermal management system of the secondary energy storage unit (which controls the operating temperature of the secondary energy storage unit) can be determined to be small, particularly with low power. Optionally, due to the use of an insulating component, the size of the heating equipment used to heat the paving screed and / or conveyor belt can be determined to be smaller, particularly with lower power. If the paving material does not fall below a minimum temperature, it is possible that the heating equipment can use less energy to maintain the temperature of the paving material for further processing. The insulating component can be at least partially or completely attached to the material hopper insert, particularly to the outer side of the sidewall of the material hopper insert. The insulating component can be, for example, an insulating pad or insulating foil, which can be attached (particularly detachably attached) to the material hopper insert. Optionally, the insulating component can be (particularly non-detachably) sprayed onto or be sprayed onto the material hopper insert as an insulating film.

[0024] The material hopper insert may include at least one pickup device for lifting the material hopper insert into and / or out of the material hopper. This allows for easy assembly and disassembly of the material hopper insert onto the material hopper. Ideally, this allows for quick and convenient replacement of the material hopper insert (e.g., for maintenance or cleaning purposes). For example, the pickup device may be designed as an eyelet into which lifting equipment (e.g., a crane hook) can engage to move the material hopper insert.

[0025] Preferably, the secondary energy storage unit can be connected to the road construction machinery, particularly the main drive unit and / or the main energy storage unit, via an interface for transmitting electrical energy or an energy medium. This enables simple transmission of electrical energy or an energy medium. Through the interface, the road construction machinery can connect to the secondary energy storage unit, and vice versa. The secondary energy storage unit can be mechanically or electrically connected to the road construction machinery through this interface.

[0026] Preferably, the road construction machinery is: a road paver for producing a paving layer from paving material; or a feed vehicle for supplying paving material to the road paver. This extends the operating time and working range of the road paver or feed vehicle. This avoids the road paver or feed vehicle stopping before completing the paving layer, thus preventing the interruption of paving operations. In particular, this improves the paving quality of the paving layer, or at least ensures a nearly constant paving quality during the paving process.

[0027] The main drive unit and / or secondary energy storage unit can supply energy (especially electrical energy) to at least one consumable component (especially an electrical component) of the road construction machinery. This allows the chassis of the road construction machinery and the consumable component to be driven together. No separate drive unit or energy storage unit is required for the consumable component. This contributes to a particularly compact and lightweight design for the road construction machinery. In principle, the consumable component can be any consumable component required for the use of the road construction machinery. On a road paver, the consumable component can be, for example, an electric lighting system, an electric heating device, an electro-hydraulic unit, an electric longitudinal conveyor, and / or an electric lateral conveyor. On a feed vehicle, the consumable component can be, for example, an electric lighting system, an electric conveyor for carrying material, and / or an electric heating device for the feed vehicle. The main drive unit and / or secondary energy storage unit can be connected to only one consumable component or to multiple consumable components. Optionally, the consumable component can be connected to at least one of the main drive unit and the secondary energy storage unit. Attached Figure Description

[0028] The present invention will be explained below with reference to exemplary embodiments.

[0029] The diagram shows:

[0030] Figure 1It is a perspective view of a road construction machine in the form of a road paver according to one embodiment;

[0031] Figure 2 This is a perspective view of a material hopper insert for a road paver according to one embodiment;

[0032] Figure 3 This is a frontal view of the road paver.

[0033] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a road paver as seen from above;

[0034] Figure 5 This is a perspective view of a road construction machine in the form of a feeding vehicle according to one embodiment; and

[0035] Figure 6 This is a perspective view of a material hopper insert for a feeding vehicle according to one embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0036] Figure 1 A perspective view of a road construction machine 1 in the form of a road paver 2, according to one embodiment, is shown. The road paver 2 is configured to produce a paving layer PL (see [image source]) from a paving material PM (asphalt mixture). Figure 4 The road paver 2 is self-propelled in the direction of travel D.

[0037] The road paver 2 also has a chassis 4, an operating platform 5 (for the operator of the road paver 2), a driver's canopy 6, and a material hopper 7. A material hopper insert 14 for holding the paving material PM is mounted on the material hopper 7 (see...). Figures 2 to 4 Furthermore, a height-adjustable screed 8 (which is dragged in the direction of travel D) and a conveyor unit 9 (which includes a conveyor belt 9a) are attached to the chassis 4 so that paving material PM is supplied from the material hopper insert 14 of the road paver 2 to the screed 8 by means of the cross-distribution device 10 of the road construction machinery 1.

[0038] Figure 1 Two exemplary power-consuming components 11 of the road paver 2 are also shown. The first power-consuming component 11a is a lighting device for illuminating the surrounding environment or the control console 5. The second power-consuming component 11b is a heating device for heating the paving screed 8. The paving screed 8 includes components such as a compaction unit (screed, tamper, and pressure bar (not shown)). The paving material PM is compacted under the weight of the compaction unit itself. To prevent the paving material PM from sticking to the components of the paving screed 8, a heating device (not shown) – which is typically an electric heating device – may be integrated into these components.

[0039] For movement in direction R, the road paver 2 has a wheeled chassis 12 with two driven wheels 12a. The road paver 2 also has a main drive unit 3 in the form of an electric motor 3a to drive the wheeled chassis 12. Through the electric motor 3a, the road paver 2 does not directly emit pollution during operation. Ideally, the road paver 2 can operate with low noise. This is particularly advantageous if only a limited amount of noise or pollution from the road paver 2 is permitted, for example, if it operates within or near a construction area. The electric motor 3a is designed to drive the wheeled chassis 12, causing the wheeled chassis 12 to move the road paver 2 in the direction of travel D. For this purpose, the electric motor 3a and the wheeled chassis 12 are mechanically connected to each other.

[0040] Furthermore, the electric motor 3a is electrically connected to the main energy storage unit 17 so that it can be supplied with electrical energy through the main energy storage unit 17. For this purpose, the main energy storage unit 17 is designed as a rechargeable energy storage device 17a to store electrical energy and deliver it to the electric motor 3a. The energy storage device 17a is detachably mounted on the road paver 2 near the electric motor 3a by means of a threaded connection.

[0041] Figures 2 to 4 Details of the material hopper insert 14 are shown. The material hopper insert 14 is used to store the paving material PM and is detachably mounted on the material hopper 7. For this purpose, for example, four threaded fastening devices 24 are provided, arranged on the outer side of the sidewall 19a of the material hopper insert 14, and connect the material hopper insert 14 to the material hopper 7 (see...). Figure 4 This makes it easy to replace the material hopper insert 14 during, for example, maintenance or cleaning.

[0042] like Figure 2 As shown, the material hopper insert 14 also has a heat insulation portion 22. This heat insulation portion 22 is completely adhered to the outside of all sidewalls 19, 19a of the material hopper insert 14 in the form of a heat insulation film. This will prevent significant temperature changes of the paving material PM in the material hopper insert 14, and in particular prevent cooling and solidification in the material hopper insert 14.

[0043] Figure 3 and 4 The front and top views of the road paver 2 are schematically shown, particularly the front and top views of the material hopper insert 14. The material hopper insert 14 has a bottom opening 21. The paving material PM located in the material hopper insert 14 falls through the bottom opening 21 onto the conveyor belt 9a and is then transferred to the paving screed 8 via the conveyor belt.

[0044] The bottom opening 21 (particularly the bottom opening surface 21') is formed by four side walls 19, 19a (particularly their lower edges 19', 19a'). The side walls 19, 19a also have upper edges 19”, 19a”, which, opposite to the lower edges 19', 19a', unfold to form an upper opening surface 21”. Specifically, when viewed from above, this upper opening surface 21” is larger than the bottom opening surface 21'. The opposing side walls 19 are inclined relative to the bottom opening 21, such that (in a plan view of the material hopper insert 14) their upper edges 19” are located outside the bottom opening 21. The angle 29 between the planes of the side walls 19 and the bottom opening 21 (particularly the bottom opening surface 21') is approximately 130°. Therefore, the material hopper insert 14 is funnel-shaped. This allows the material hopper insert 14 to be conveniently and uniformly filled with the paving material PM.

[0045] To increase the working range and operating time of the road paver 2, the road paver 2 also has one or two secondary energy storage units 15, which have a basically the same structure (see...). Figure 2 Each secondary energy storage unit 15 has an additional energy accumulator 15' for storing electrical energy. Each secondary energy storage unit 15 is electrically connected to the electric motor 3a via an interface 25 to transfer electrical energy to the electric motor 3a. Thus, the electric motor 3a can be supplied with electrical energy not only via the main energy storage unit 17, but also, as an alternative, via the secondary energy storage units 15. This improves the reliability of the road paver 2. For example, if the main energy storage unit 17 is not sufficiently charged to produce the paving layer PL, energy can be supplied to the electric motor 3a via the secondary energy storage units 15. This prevents the road paver 2 from stopping before completing the paving layer PL, thus avoiding the need to interrupt the paving operation. In particular, this improves the paving quality of the paving layer PL.

[0046] The secondary energy storage unit 15 is detachably mounted on the outside of the inclined sidewall 19 of the material hopper insert 14 by means of a threaded connection, specifically on the heat insulation portion 22. This means that each secondary energy storage unit 15 is arranged below the inclined sidewall 19. This makes full use of the available installation space, thus achieving a particularly compact design for the road paver 2.

[0047] In the top view of the material hopper insert 14, the inclined sidewall 19 also forms the cover plate of the secondary energy storage unit 15 (see...). Figure 3 and 4 The sloping sidewall 19 completely covers the secondary energy storage unit 15. This protects the secondary energy storage unit 15 from external influences, especially damage. This extends the service life of the secondary energy storage unit 15 and ideally reduces repair / maintenance costs.

[0048] Furthermore, the primary energy storage unit 17 and the secondary energy storage unit 15 are electrically connected to the electrical load 11 to supply energy to it. This means that the load 11 does not require a separate energy storage unit. This contributes to a compact and lightweight design.

[0049] The road paver 2 is controlled by the control system 16 (see...) Figure 1 The control system 16, wheeled chassis 12, electric motor 3a, main energy storage unit 17, secondary energy storage unit 15, and consumable components 11 are communicatively connected to each other. The control system 16 monitors the energy requirements of the road paver 2. Furthermore, the control system 16 monitors the charging status of the main energy storage unit 17 and the secondary energy storage unit 15. If the control system 16 detects, for example, that the charging status of the main energy storage unit 17 is insufficient to produce paving layer PL, it supplies additional energy to the electric motor 3a via the secondary energy storage unit 15. This prevents the road paver 2 from stopping before completing paving layer PL, thus avoiding the need to interrupt paving operations.

[0050] also, Figures 2 to 4The image shows a road paver 2 before and after the first material hopper insert 14 installed on it has been replaced by a second material hopper insert 14a. The first and second material hopper inserts 14 and 14a are substantially identical in construction. Similarly, the first-stage energy storage unit 15 and the second-stage energy storage unit 15a are substantially identical in construction. To replace the first material hopper insert 14, the first-stage energy storage unit 15 is first disconnected from the road paver 2 via the first interface 25. In the next step, the first fixing device 24 of the first material hopper insert 14 is manually removed from the material hopper 7. This has the advantage of not requiring additional tools. In the next step, the first material hopper insert 14 is removed from the material hopper 7, and thus the first-stage energy storage unit 15 is removed. To raise and lower the material hopper insert 14, a four-hole pickup device 23 is attached to the two sidewalls 19a. A lifting device (e.g., a crane hook) can engage with the orifice, thereby lifting the material hopper insert 14 out of the material hopper 7. This allows for easy removal of the material hopper insert 14 from the material hopper 7. In the next step, a second material hopper insert 14a is inserted into the material hopper 7. This is achieved in the same manner as removing the first material hopper insert 14 by means of a crane, which engages with the second material hopper insert 14a using four pick-up devices 23a. A second-stage energy storage unit 15a is mounted on the second material hopper insert 14a, such that the second-stage energy storage unit 15a is placed in the material hopper 7 together with the second material hopper insert 14a. In the next step, the second material hopper insert 14a is secured to the material hopper 7 by means of four second fixing devices 24a. In the next step, the second-stage energy storage unit 15a is connected to the road paver 2 via a second interface 25a. Thus, the secondary energy storage unit 15a is mechanically connected to the electric motor 3a, thereby transmitting electrical energy to the electric motor 3a and thereby driving the road paver 2.

[0051] Figure 5 A perspective view of a road construction machine 1 is shown, which is a feed vehicle 18 used to deliver paving material PM to a road paver 2 traveling behind it. The feed vehicle 18 is self-propelled in the direction of travel D'.

[0052] The feeding vehicle 18 also includes a chassis 104, a control console 105, a driver's canopy 106, a material hopper 107 (with a material hopper insert 114 for receiving paving material PM), and a conveying unit 109 (which includes a conveyor belt 109a for conveying paving material PM from the material hopper insert 114 of the feeding vehicle 18 to the material hopper insert 114 of the road paver 2).

[0053] In addition, the feeding vehicle 18 has two power-consuming components 111. The first power-consuming component 111a is a lighting device for illuminating the surrounding environment or the control console 105. The second power-consuming component 111b is a heating device for heating the conveyor belt 109a.

[0054] A tracked chassis 112 is provided to move the feed vehicle 18. The track 112 has two driven tracks 112a. The feed vehicle 18 also has a main drive unit 103 in the form of an internal combustion engine 103a to drive the tracked chassis 112. Compared to using an electric motor for operation, the internal combustion engine 103a allows the feed vehicle 18 to operate relatively economically over a longer operating range. This is particularly advantageous if there are no requirements to limit noise or pollution, or if the feed vehicle 18 is to operate over long distances without interruption.

[0055] The internal combustion engine 103a is designed to drive the tracked chassis 112, causing the tracked chassis 112 to move the feed vehicle 18 in the direction of travel D'. The internal combustion engine 103a and the tracked chassis 112 are mechanically connected to each other to drive the tracked chassis 112. The internal combustion engine 103a is also mechanically connected to a main energy storage unit 117, through which an energy medium in the form of diesel fuel is supplied. For this purpose, the main energy storage unit 117 is designed as a fuel tank 117a for storing diesel fuel. The main energy storage unit 117 is detachably mounted on the feed vehicle 18 near the internal combustion engine 103a by means of a threaded connection.

[0056] Figure 6 Details of the material hopper insert 114 are shown. The material hopper insert 114 of the feeding vehicle 18 has a substantially the same structure as the material hopper insert 14 of the road paver 2. The components in the material hopper insert 114 (which correspond to those components in the material hopper insert 14) are labeled with the same reference numerals. Two secondary energy storage units 115 are mounted on the material hopper insert 114, and are also mounted on the material hopper insert 14.

[0057] Unlike the secondary energy storage unit 15 of the road paver 2, the secondary energy storage unit 115 of the feed vehicle 18 has: an additional fuel tank 115b for storing diesel fuel; and a secondary drive unit 115c in the form of an internal combustion engine for driving the tracked chassis 112. For this purpose, the secondary drive unit 115c is mechanically connected to the tracked chassis 112 via an interface 125. Furthermore, the auxiliary fuel tank 115b is mechanically connected to the secondary drive unit 115c to supply diesel fuel to the secondary drive unit 115c.

[0058] The feeding vehicle 18 is controlled by the control system 116 (see...) Figure 5The control system 116, tracked chassis 112, main drive unit 103, main energy storage unit 117, secondary energy storage unit 115 (i.e., secondary drive unit 115c and auxiliary oil tank 115b) and consumable components 111 are interconnected.

[0059] The control system 116 monitors the energy requirements of the feed vehicle 18. Furthermore, the control system 116 monitors the fill levels of the main energy storage unit 117 (i.e., fuel tank 117a) and the secondary energy storage unit 115 (i.e., the additional fuel tank 115b). If the control system 116 detects, for example, that the energy generated by the main drive unit 103 is too low for the operation of the feed vehicle 18, the control system 116 enables the tracked chassis 112 to be additionally driven via the two secondary drive units 115c. This prevents the feed vehicle 18 from stopping before completing the paving layer PL, thus avoiding the need to interrupt the paving operation.

Claims

1. A road construction machine (1), comprising: a chassis (12, 112) for moving the road construction machine (1), a main drive device (3, 103) for driving the chassis (12, 112), a main energy storage unit (17, 117) for supplying the main drive device (3, 103) with electrical energy or an energy medium, a material hopper (7, 107), and a material hopper insert (14, 114, 14a) for receiving paving material (PM), wherein the material hopper insert (14, 114, 14a) is detachably mounted on the material hopper (7, 107), wherein the material hopper insert (14, 114, 14a) comprises at least one secondary energy storage unit (15, 115, 15a) for driving the chassis (12, 112) and / or for supplying the main drive device (3, 103) with electrical energy or an energy medium.

2. The road construction machine according to claim 1, wherein The main drive device (3, 103) is an electric motor (3a) or an internal combustion engine (103a).

3. The road construction machine according to claim 2, wherein The electric motor (3a) is an electric motor with a fuel cell.

4. The road construction machine according to claim 1, wherein The secondary energy storage unit (15, 115, 15a) comprises an auxiliary battery which stores electrical energy for the main drive device (3, 103).

5. The road construction machine according to claim 4, wherein The auxiliary battery is a battery with a battery management system.

6. The road construction machine according to claim 2, wherein The secondary energy storage unit (15, 115, 15a) comprises an auxiliary battery which stores electrical energy for the main drive device (3, 103).

7. The road construction machine according to claim 6, wherein The auxiliary battery is a battery with a battery management system.

8. The road construction machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein, The energy medium is hydrogen and / or ammonia and / or fossil fuel and / or synthetic fuel.

9. The road construction machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein, The secondary energy storage unit (15, 115, 15a) comprises an additional tank (115b) which stores an energy medium for the main drive device (3, 103).

10. The road construction machine according to claim 9, wherein The energy medium is a liquid or gaseous energy medium.

11. The road construction machine of claim 9, wherein, The additional tank (115b) is designed for storing compressed hydrogen or for storing chemically bound hydrogen.

12. The road construction machine of claim 11, wherein, The chemically bound hydrogen is hydrogen bound by LOHC or ammonia.

13. The road construction machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein, The secondary energy storage unit (15, 115, 15a) comprises a secondary drive device (115c) for driving the chassis (12, 112).

14. The road construction machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein, The material hopper insert (14, 114, 14a) comprises a bottom opening (21) and a plurality of side walls (19, 19a) adjacent thereto, wherein at least one side wall (19) is inclined with respect to the bottom opening (21) such that an upper edge (19”) of the inclined side wall (19) is located outside the bottom opening (21), wherein the secondary energy storage unit (15, 115, 15a) is arranged at the inclined side wall (19).

15. The road construction machine of claim 14, wherein, An angle (29, 129) between the side wall (19) and the bottom opening (21) is at least 100° and / or at most 135°.

16. The road construction machine of claim 15, wherein, An angle (29, 129) between the side wall (19) and the bottom opening (21) is at least 110° and / or at most 125°.

17. The road construction machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein, The inclined side wall (19) forms a cover plate of the secondary energy storage unit (15, 115, 15a).

18. The road construction machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein, The material hopper insert (14, 114, 14a) comprises a thermally insulating portion (22, 122).

19. The road construction machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein, The secondary energy storage unit (15, 115, 15a) is connectable to the road construction machine (1) via an interface (25, 125, 25a) for delivering electrical energy or an energy medium.

20. The road construction machine of claim 19, wherein, The secondary energy storage unit (15, 115, 15a) is connectable to the main drive (3, 103) and / or to the main energy storage unit (17, 117).

21. The road construction machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein, The road construction machine (1) is either a road paver (2) for producing a paving layer (PL) from the paving material (PM) or a feeding vehicle (18) for supplying the road paver (2) with the paving material (PM).

Images