Articulated road roller with self-propulsion and articulated roller unit

Abstract

Self-propelled articulated road roller (1), comprising a front (2) and a rear (3) vehicle body, a driver platform (5), an engine gondola (6) and a first roller unit (7) which is rigidly connected to one of the vehicle bodies (2, 3), and a second roller unit (8) which is pivotably connected to the other of the vehicle bodies (2, 3), characterized in that the driver platform (5) and the second roller unit (8) are connected to the same vehicle body (2, 3).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to the design of self-propelled articulated road rollers, the body of which is divided into a front and a rear section. A first roller unit is rigidly connected to one of the body sections, while a second roller unit is pivotally connected to the other body section. The front and rear bodies are pivotally and tiltably connected by an articulated coupling. The articulated coupling allows steering movements between the body sections about a vertical steering axis, with the road roller normally being controlled by steering movements about this axis ("articulated frame steering"). The connection of the second roller unit allows steering movements between the unit and the body about a further vertical steering axis, and the road roller can alternatively be controlled by steering movements about this axis ("offset steering").The road roller further comprises a driver's platform and an engine gondola, which are connected to the vehicle bodies. According to the invention, the roller units, the driver's platform, and the engine gondola are arranged such that the engine gondola can be designed to be more spacious. The more spacious engine gondola is required to provide room for the exhaust aftertreatment system (EAT = Emission After Treatment Equipment) of the drive engine. The engine gondola is designed to be more spacious without impairing maneuverability or increasing the overall length of the road roller.

[0002] The disclosure document SE502269C2 shows in Fig. Figure 1 of the drawings shows a known, self-propelled articulated road roller 1. The road roller 1 has a front body 2 and a rear body 3. The bodies 2 and 3 are pivotally and tiltably connected by an articulated coupling 4. The articulated coupling 4 allows steering movements between the bodies 2 and 3 about a vertical steering axis, whereby the road roller 1 is primarily controlled by steering movements about this axis. The road roller 1 also includes a driver's platform 5, an engine gondola 6, and a first and a second roller unit 7 and 8. Each roller unit 7 and 8, in turn, has rotatably connected rollers. The first roller unit 7 is rigidly connected to the front body 2, and the second roller unit 8 is pivotally connected to the rear body 3. The pivotability of the second roller 8 about a vertical axis is provided.The motor gondola 6 is designed with a longitudinal extension along the road roller 1 that just barely allows sufficient space for the drive motor 9 of the road roller 1. The extension of the motor gondola 6 simultaneously permits the necessary steering movements for the second roller unit 8. Problems arise when the motor gondola 6 needs to be made more spacious to accommodate an EAT (Automatic Energy Transfer) device. The necessary extension of the motor gondola 6 in the longitudinal direction of the roller leads to reduced steering movements if the overall length of the road roller 1 remains unchanged.

[0003] Patent document DD229449A1 describes an articulated roller whose operator platform, engine housing, and first roller unit are connected to the rear body of the road roller. The second roller unit is pivotally connected to the front body. Extending the engine housing longitudinally to accommodate an EAT (Electro-Action Exhaust System) would therefore not impair the pivotability of the second roller unit. However, extending the engine housing would increase the overall length of the road roller. Furthermore, this extension would shift the steering axis of the articulating coupling from a desirable position midway between the rollers of the two units. This shift would make the road roller more difficult to maneuver, as the rollers would follow different paths during articulated steering.

[0004] The invention is based on the objective of providing an articulated road roller whose engine nacelle is more spacious than that of a conventional articulated road roller, while maintaining the same overall length. This objective is achieved according to the invention by an innovative basic arrangement in which the operator platform and the pivoting second roller unit are connected to the same vehicle body.

[0005] The aforementioned Fig. Figure 1 shows a self-propelled articulated road roller with swiveling roller units according to the state of the art.

[0006] The present invention is described in detail below, with reference to the Fig. Reference is made to 2 to 4 of the attached drawings. Fig. Figure 2 shows a side view of a first and preferred embodiment of a self-propelled articulated road roller and articulated roller unit. Fig. 3 shows the road roller from Fig. 2 during a steering maneuver from above. Fig. Figure 4 is a side view of a second embodiment of the road roller according to the invention.

[0007] The road roller in Fig. 2 comprises a front body 2 and a rear body 3. The terms "front body" and "rear body" refer to the part of the body located at the front and rear of the road roller, respectively. The front and rear of a road roller cannot be easily defined, as road rollers can be driven forwards and backwards. However, legal regulations require manufacturers of road rollers to define the front and rear of a road roller. Therefore, the front of the body 2 features white-appearing devices (not shown) that generate driving lights in the forward direction of the road roller 1, and the rear of the body 3 features red-appearing devices that generate taillights in the reverse direction of the road roller 1.Another distinguishing feature is the so-called "reverse alarm" installed by the manufacturers, which sounds when the road roller is traveling in the direction defined as reverse. The road roller 1 also includes an operator platform 5, an engine gondola 6, a first roller unit 7, a second roller unit 8, an articulated coupling 4, a drive motor 9, and an EAT unit 10. The operator platform 5 is the space where the operator of the road roller is located when the roller is in operation. The operator platform 5 has a cab that protects the operator, a driver's seat, and controls such as those that the operator can use to steer the road roller 1 via the articulated frame steering and / or offset steering. A version of the operator platform 5 without a cab is also possible, in which case the operator is instead protected by a protective frame with weather protection.The driver's seat and controls are swivelled to ensure good ergonomics for the driver in both directions of travel. Alternatively, the driver platform 5 can also be swivelled to provide good ergonomics for the driver.

[0008] The second roller unit 8 is pivotally connected to the same vehicle body as the operator platform 5. The operator platform 5 and the second roller unit 8 are connected to the front vehicle body 2. The first roller unit 7 is rigidly connected to the rear vehicle body 3. This arrangement gives the operator a good view of the steering movements of the second roller unit 8. The engine nacelle 6 is connected to the vehicle body 2, 3 that is not connected to the operator platform 5 and the second roller unit 8, i.e., to the rear vehicle body 3. The engine nacelle 6 is designed to accommodate both the drive motor 9 and the EAT unit 10. This design is possible because the rigidly connected first roller unit 7 does not require space for steering movements. The freed-up space can instead be used for a more spacious design of the engine nacelle 6.The overall length of the road roller remains the same compared to the road roller in . Fig. 1 unchanged. The articulated coupling 4 is in the same way as the one in conjunction with Fig. The joint coupling described in section 1 is arranged and also has the same functions.

[0009] Fig. Figure 3 shows the road roller 1 in combined steering mode. The front body 2 and the rear body 3 were actuated for a steering movement about the vertical axis of the articulated coupling 4 and assumed the angular position shown in the figure. Simultaneously, the pivoting second roller unit 8 was actuated for a steering movement about its vertical steering axis, which cancels out the effect of the steering movement of the body 2, 3. This steering operation is called "offset steering" and results in the road roller 1 being driven straight forward (or straight backward). The offset steering increases the working width of the road roller 1.

[0010] The in Fig. The road roller 1 shown in section 4 is, with one exception, completely identical to the road roller in [reference missing]. Fig. 2. In this second embodiment, the engine gondola 6 is connected to the same vehicle body 2, 3 as the operator platform 5 and the second roller unit 8, i.e., to the front vehicle body 2. The engine gondola 6 is designed to accommodate both the drive motor 9 and the EAT device 10 of the road roller 1. The articulated coupling 4 is moved slightly rearward from its ideal position in the middle between the rollers to create space for a more spacious engine gondola 6. The overall length of the road roller 1 is no greater than the overall length of the road roller in Fig. 2, and its maneuverability is only slightly affected by this relocation of the articulated coupling 4.

[0011] As mentioned above, defining the front and rear body sections of an articulated road roller can be problematic. Therefore, the claims of the present application are formulated as independently as possible from this definition, in accordance with the fact that the advantages of the invention are achieved independently of this definition.

Claims

[1] Self-propelled articulated road roller (1), comprising a front (2) and a rear (3) vehicle body, a driver platform (5), a motor nacelle (6) and a first roller unit (7) which is fixedly connected to one of the vehicle bodies (2, 3), and a second roller unit (8) which is pivotally connected to the other of the vehicle bodies (2, 3), characterized by that the driver platform (5) and the second roller unit (8) are connected to the same vehicle body (2, 3). [2] Self-propelled articulated road roller (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the driver platform (5) and the second roller unit (8) are connected to the front vehicle body (2). [3] Self-propelled articulated road roller (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the engine nacelle (6) is connected to the vehicle body (2, 3), which is not connected to the driver platform (5) and the second roller unit (8). [4] Self-propelled articulated road roller (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the engine nacelle (6) is connected to the same vehicle body (2, 3) as the driver platform (5) and the second roller unit (8).

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