CONSTRUCTION MACHINE, IN PARTICULAR ROAD PAVERS OR TANDEM ROLLERS

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a construction machine, in particular a road paver or a tandem roller.

[0002] Construction machines of this type are used, for example, in road and path construction, in the construction of airfields and runways. Such a construction machine typically comprises a machine frame, a driver's cab, at least one driving device, and an operating unit. In particular, a construction machine of this type is a road paver or a tandem roller. A road paver typically further comprises a material hopper positioned in front of the driver's cab in the paving direction, conveyor devices for the longitudinal and transverse conveyance of paving material, and a paving screed. Tandem rollers typically have so-called roller drums as driving devices. Tandem rollers can be pivot-steered or articulated.Such construction machines are usually self-propelled construction machines that have a drive motor, for example an internal combustion engine or an electric motor, which provides the drive energy required to operate the construction machine. The supporting structure of the construction machine is usually a machine frame and a chassis that supports the machine frame and has at least one driving device, for example a wheel, a tracked drive or a compaction / rolling drum. The construction machines are typically operated from an operator's station on the construction machine. For this purpose, the operator's station has suitable operating devices. It is also known to provide at least one seat in the operator's station from which the operator can operate the construction machine in a sitting position. The operator's station can have at least one operator's station door.The operator's cab door can be adjusted, in particular pivotable, between a closed and an at least partially open position. The operator's cab door essentially represents a fall protection device and can, for example, be part of a railing structure. It can be provided that the operator's cab must be entered through the operator's cab door. This can be the case in particular with tandem rollers. However, it is also possible that the operator's cab door does not need to be opened to enter the operator's cab because another access is available, for example from the rear of the construction machine, as is often the case with road pavers. The operator's cab can, for example, be open, have at least one roof arranged above the operator's cab, or be designed in the form of a cabin that completely encloses the operator's cab.

[0003] Road pavers are used to apply or install a surface layer of paving material, such as asphalt or concrete, onto a prepared subgrade. For this purpose, they have a material hopper at their front end, which stores paving material. This material is transported through a central shaft to the rear of the machine, where it is distributed transversely to the working direction by a transverse distribution device, such as a screw conveyor. Finally, the paving material is smoothed off by a paving screed and pre-compacted. A typical road paver is disclosed, for example, in DE102017002225A1.

[0004] Tandem rollers, in turn, are typically used either to compact the subsoil on which a surface course is to be laid, or to compact a layer of paving material, in particular asphalt. For example, tandem rollers can be used in a paving train following a road paver in the paving direction and compact the asphalt mat laid out by the paver. For this purpose, tandem rollers typically have two compaction drums, which can essentially consist of hollow metal cylinders with which the tandem roller rolls on the soil to be compacted. In addition, at least one vibration exciter can be arranged in one or both of the compaction drums, which causes the compaction drum to vibrate in order to influence the compaction. A typical tandem roller is disclosed, for example, in DE102018007825A1.

[0005] Construction machines of this type also have at least one control unit. In this case, an control unit is understood to be a unit consisting of a driver's seat for the driver of the construction machine and the control elements used by the driver to control the construction machine. The control elements can, for example, be part of a so-called control console. An control console refers in particular to a type of panel-like arrangement of several control elements. The driver's seat and the control console are typically movably mounted in the operator's station to allow the driver to adopt different seating positions within the operator's station. This can improve operating comfort and the driver's overview of the work area and the external environment of the construction machine, which increases both the accuracy of the work and operational safety.Accordingly, in the present case, the operating unit also includes structures that connect the driver's seat to the operating console or contribute to its movable mounting. In addition to the driver's seat and the operating console, this also includes, for example, a support structure on which both the driver's seat and the operating console are arranged. It is known to provide a transverse guide with at least one guide rail along which the operating unit can be displaced. In construction machines of this type, the support structure can be movably mounted on the at least one guide rail, so that the support structure, together with the driver's seat and the operating console, is designed to be movable along the at least one guide rail. In other words, it is known to design the driver's seat and the operating console so that they can be displaced together in a direction transverse to the working direction of the construction machine within the operator's station.In this case, a working direction is understood to mean, in particular, a front / rear direction of the construction machine. Such driver seats or control units that can be moved transversely to the working direction of the construction machine are known, for example, from the applicant's patents DE 10 2010 035 270 B4 and EP 1 961 607 B1. DE 10 2010 035 270 B4, for example, discloses a driver seat that, together with the control console and steering wheel, is mounted transversely on a rail by means of a support structure. US 2017 / 088103 A1 discloses a control station with a seat support on which a driver seat and a control console are arranged. With the help of the seat support, the driver seat and the control console can be moved together along a guide rail. The driver seat is mounted so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis.

[0006] The driver's seat preferably has a so-called seat index point. The seat index point is a standard defined in the EN ISO 5353 standard. The EN ISO 5353 standard is hereby incorporated by reference. For the purposes of the present disclosure, the seat index point is determined using the determination device described in this standard. The seat index point of the driver's seat is therefore approximately located at the intersection point of a theoretical axis of the upper body of a person sitting in the driver's seat with the theoretical axis of the thigh on the vertical plane passing through the seat centerline. It is therefore located in the middle of the seat, a few centimeters above the seat surface. Further details on the seat index point can be found in the aforementioned standard. In other words, the seat index point represents a standard point for detecting a person sitting in a seat.At the same time, the seat index point can always be clearly located on every seat and in every position of the seat in accordance with the specifications of the standard, making it suitable for describing the position of the seat, in particular, for example, within the driver's position and / or in relation to other elements. If the seat does not have a seat index point, for example because it does not have a backrest, the seat index point of this seat, for the purposes of this description, should be considered to be a point located in the center of the seat surface and a few centimeters, in particular 5 cm, vertically above the seat surface. The center of the seat surface is preferably the midpoint of a surface resulting from a projection of the driver's seat surface onto the horizontal plane.

[0007] The work processes of this type of construction machinery are diverse and complex. At the same time, the demands on the work results are constantly increasing. It is therefore becoming increasingly important for the operators of this type of construction machinery to be able to control them as accurately and precisely as possible while maintaining the most comprehensive overview of the construction site situation. At the same time, it is important to relieve the operators of this task as much as possible, so that they do not have to concentrate on, for example, having to assume various uncomfortable postures to maintain an overview.

[0008] It is therefore the object of the present invention to further improve the driver's station with its control unit.

[0009] The problem is solved with a construction machine according to the independent claim. Preferred developments are specified in the dependent claims.

[0010] Specifically, the solution for a construction machine of this type is achieved by designing the support structure with the driver's seat and control console so that it can pivot about a vertical pivot axis, with the pivot axis being positioned in front of the driver's seat in the working direction. In this case, the pivot axis refers to a movement axis and not necessarily a component axis.

[0011] According to the invention, the support structure, together with the driver's seat and the control console, has a first degree of freedom, which is achieved by movement along the transverse guide or guide rail. This is, in particular, a linear movement. This preferably occurs horizontally and transversely to the working direction. The term "horizontal" refers to a situation in which the construction machine is standing on a horizontal surface. Furthermore, the transverse guide is designed in particular such that a corresponding movement of the support structure and the other components from a right side of the operator's station to a left side of the operator's station and vice versa is possible.This transverse displacement should therefore be possible, in particular starting from a first lateral displacement position, in which the driver's seat is positioned entirely in a first half of the operator's station with respect to the width of the operator's station transversely to the forward direction of the construction machine, at least beyond the center line separating the width halves of the operator's station into the other or second half of the operator's station, such that the driver's seat is positioned entirely in the second half of the operator's station. In particular, the transverse displacement should be possible across the entire width of the interior of the operator's station, i.e., from the left side to the right side as viewed in the working direction.For example, the support structure, together with the driver's seat and the control console, can be movable transversely to the working direction up to the side wall / railing that delimits the interior of the operator's station on the left or right side, or, if this has an openable element, the operator's station door. In other words, it is preferably provided that the support structure is adjustable in a horizontal plane transversely to the forward direction of the construction machine, i.e. in the direction of a width extension, at least with regard to the driver's seat, at least completely across the middle of the width extension of the operator's station from one side to the other side. In particular, the support structure and the driver's seat as well as the control console can be moved, in particular linearly displaced, up to immediately next to the operator's station door.If the operator's station of the construction machine has operator's station doors on both sides, spaced apart from one another transversely to the working direction, the support structure, the driver's seat, and the control console can be moved along the transverse guide from a position next to one operator's station door to a position next to the other operator's station door opposite in the direction of the width. It is therefore important that the range of adjustment in the width direction is not limited to a range of a few centimeters, as is known, for example, for the individual adjustment of a seat height depending on the body size or other individual factors of different operators. The linear adjustability in the direction of the width direction preferably covers a range of at least one meter, preferably of at least 1.5 meters.Finally, it is preferred if the movement along the transverse guide takes place over almost the entire width of the operator's station between a right-hand stop position, in which in particular the driver's seat, for example, on its right-hand side, abuts an adjustment travel limit formed in particular by a side limit positioned on the right-hand side of the operator's station, and a left-hand stop position, in which in particular the driver's seat, for example, on its left-hand side, abuts an adjustment travel limit formed in particular by a side limit positioned on the left-hand side of the operator's station.

[0012] Preferably, only one driver's seat is provided on the operator's platform of the construction machine and / or on the entire construction machine. In contrast, prior art solutions provide multiple driver seats, for example, two driver seats spaced apart from each other transversely to the working direction. Due to the mobility of the driver's seat according to the invention transversely to the working direction along the transverse guide, the seat can be positioned on either side, eliminating the need for a second seat. This not only reduces production costs, but also simplifies operation of the vehicle.

[0013] In addition to the first degree of freedom "displacement" explained above, a core idea of ​​the present invention is to equip the support structure with the driver's seat and control console with a further, second, degree of freedom. This is achieved by pivoting the support structure with the driver's seat and control console around the vertical pivot axis. It is important that the support structure, the driver's seat, and the control console together perform exactly the same pivoting movement around exactly the same pivot axis, so that their relative position to one another ideally remains the same both during "displacement" according to the first degree of freedom and during "swivel" according to the second degree of freedom. Only the respective pivoting path of the aforementioned components differs due to a different distance from the pivot axis. The pivot angle, in turn, is exactly the same for all of the aforementioned components.The pivoting movement occurs in particular relative to the transverse guide or the rest of the operator's station of the construction machine. The pivot axis runs vertically (again, relative to a construction machine standing on a horizontal floor), so that the joint pivoting of the support structure, the operator's seat, and the control console constitutes a rotation in the horizontal plane. This rotation or pivoting allows the operator's seat to assume different positions within the operator's station (or, as explained in more detail below, even outside the operator's station) and / or to be aligned differently, particularly with respect to the construction machine or the working direction or straight-ahead direction of the construction machine.For example, the driver's seat can be angled relative to the working direction so that the driver sitting in the driver's seat can more easily see to either side of the construction machine. The driver's seat can be angled towards either side of the construction machine, i.e., with respect to pivoting, either to the right or to the left. The terms "straight-ahead" and "sideways" are also used below to describe the positions of the driver's seat. The driver's seat is in a straight-ahead position when the line of sight of a driver sitting in the driver's seat and looking straight ahead is parallel to the working direction or the straight-ahead direction of the construction machine. However, the driver's line of sight "straight ahead" does not refer to the construction machine and its straight-ahead direction, but to the driver's seat.The arrangement of the seat, backrest (if applicable), and armrests of the driver's seat also allows for a "straight-ahead" viewing direction, particularly, for example, perpendicular to the vertical plane in which the backrest has its greatest extension, and from this plane toward the seat. Additionally or alternatively, the "straight-ahead" viewing direction can be defined in a horizontal plane parallel to the greatest extension of the armrests' armrests. If this viewing direction of the driver coincides with the straight-ahead direction of the construction machine, the driver's seat is in the straight-ahead position.If this viewing direction does not coincide with the straight-ahead direction of the construction machine, but instead forms an angle to the straight-ahead direction of the construction machine, for example, in a horizontal virtual reference plane, the driver's seat is in a lateral or inclined position. Because such lateral or inclined positions can be adjusted both to the right and to the left, the driver can choose from a variety of different positions and / or orientations of the driver's seat in the operator's station, depending on which position or orientation provides the best overview of work- and safety-relevant areas of the construction machine and / or its surroundings.The fact that the driver's seat, together with the control console and the supporting structure that supports these two components, can be pivoted around the pivot axis ensures that the control console always has the same orientation relative to the driver's seat. When pivoting around the pivot axis, the relative position of the control console and the driver's seat does not change. All controls on the control console are therefore always in the same place in relation to the driver's seat or the driver sitting in the seat. In this way, the spatial relative position of the driver's seat to the controls does not change (apart from individual seat adjustments by the driver regarding seat height, inclination, seat rotation, etc.).in order to accommodate differences between different drivers with regard to their body type and / or individual sitting posture preferences) despite pivoting around the pivot axis and / or shifting along the guide rail, which makes operation of the construction machine particularly simple and intuitive, as the controls always remain spatially accessible to the driver regardless of the current adjustment from his sitting position.

[0014] The pivot axis of the support structure can basically run in various positions relative to the driver's seat, whereby according to the invention it is at least always arranged in front of the driver's seat in the working direction. This relates to an arrangement or position of the pivot axis when the driver's seat is pivoted into a position in which a driver sitting on the driver's seat looks straight ahead in the forward direction of the construction machine. Depending on the specific arrangement of the pivot axis relative to the driver's seat, a different movement of the driver's seat and the control console results during the pivoting process. For example, it can be provided that the pivot axis runs in the working direction of the construction machine between the driver's seat and the control console. The control console is preferably located in front of the driver's seat in the working direction.In this case, for example, the control console would be pivoted in a different direction perpendicular to the working direction than the driver's seat when pivoted around the pivot axis. In other words, the control console would be pivoted to the left perpendicular to the working direction and the driver's seat to the right perpendicular to the working direction, or vice versa. However, it is particularly preferred if the pivot axis and the control console are positioned or run in front of the driver's seat on the support structure in the working direction. This means that the driver's seat covers a greater pivot path when pivoted around the pivot axis than the control console, but in the same direction. In this way, the driver's seat can assume more pronounced lateral positions by pivoting around the pivot axis, thus giving the driver a viewing angle that differs significantly from the straight-ahead position.

[0015] The pivot axis is preferably functionally the only pivot axis about which the support structure with the driver's seat and the control console can be pivoted. In other words, the support structure, together with the other components, is designed to be pivotable exclusively about the aforementioned pivot axis. In contrast, there are no further pivot axes for the support structure with the driver's seat and the control console. Instead, separate axes of rotation can be provided, for example the driver's seat can be rotated independently of the support structure and the control console, for example about a vertical axis. The control console can also, in principle, be designed to be rotatable about an axis, in particular a vertical axis, independently of the support structure and the driver's seat, for example to allow individual adjustment options for different drivers.However, for the joint pivoting of the support structure with the driver's seat and control console, only the one pivot axis mentioned above is available, resulting in a simple design with intuitively comprehensible pivoting movements. The pivot axis is not a physical component, but rather a virtual reference axis that characterizes the rotational movement and is specified or defined, in particular, by an articulated mounting of the support structure on the transverse guide.

[0016] The transverse guide generally refers to all components that contribute to the mounting of the support structure, and thus also of the driver's seat and the control console, with the described mobility along the transverse guide, in particular horizontally and transversely to the working direction of the construction machine. For this purpose, the transverse guide preferably comprises, for example, in addition to the guide rail, at least one transverse guide support via which the guide rail is arranged in the operator's station. It is ideal if the transverse guide has at least and very particularly exactly two transverse guide supports, in particular projecting vertically, which are arranged at the respective ends of the guide rail and mount it in the operator's station. The transverse guide supports can thus be designed in the form of a spar and preferably form a frame or supporting frame for the guide rail. It can be provided that the transverse guide supports are connected directly to the machine frame.It is preferred if the transverse guide supports are connected to a base structure forming the support structure of the operator's station, which base structure is mounted, in particular in a vibration-damped manner, on the machine frame. The transverse guide and the guide rail are preferably located in front of the driver's seat and / or the support structure and / or the control console in the working direction. The support structure can be connected to the guide rail, for example, via a sliding bushing, wherein the sliding bushing at least partially and preferably completely surrounds the guide rail and is preferably movably mounted on the guide rail via rolling bearings, for example ball bearings. In principle, one guide rail is sufficient for the mobility of the support structure along the transverse guide. In this case, it is preferred if the guide rail has a non-circular, in particular square or polygonal, cross-section in order to prevent rotation of the support structure about the longitudinal axis of the guide rail.In a preferred embodiment, however, it is provided that the transverse guide, in addition to the guide rail, has a further bearing rail arranged at a vertical distance from the guide rail. The bearing rail preferably also runs parallel to the guide rail with regard to its longitudinal extent. The support structure can, for example, be mounted on the bearing rail via at least one roller. In this case, the support structure is then movably mounted on the guide rail and the bearing rail. For example, it can be provided that the guide rail carries or absorbs a larger proportion of the weight of the support structure, the driver's seat and the control console than the bearing rail, and that the bearing rail is essentially intended to prevent rotation of the support structure about the guide rail. Preferably, the guide rail carries a large part of the weight of the support structure, the driver's seat and the control console.In this way, the bearing rail can be less solid than the guide rail. Because the bearing rail prevents rotation of the support structure around the guide rail, the guide rail can be designed with a round cross-section, and the support structure can be mounted on the guide rail, for example, via the sliding bushing using ball bearings. This enables particularly simple and smooth movement of the support structure along the transverse guide. This can therefore be achieved solely by the driver's muscle power, without the need for additional propulsion, and without causing discomfort.

[0017] A particularly simple design results when the support structure is mounted on the transverse guide via a support carriage. In this case, the support structure is preferably mounted on the support carriage via a pivot joint forming the pivot axis. The support carriage is thus mounted on the guide rail, for example, via the aforementioned sliding bushing or a similar movable bearing device, for displacement along the transverse guide. At the same time, the support carriage can have a further sliding bushing with which it is mounted on the bearing rail for displacement along the transverse guide. A sliding roller or similar bearing device is also possible, particularly for mounting on the bearing rail.To connect the two bearing devices, in particular sliding bushings or sliding rollers, the support carriage can, for example, have a carriage frame on which both bearing devices, in particular sliding bushings or sliding rollers, and the pivot joint for connection to the support structure are arranged. Overall, it is therefore preferably provided that a support carriage is provided on which the support structure with the driver's seat and the control console is pivotally mounted about the pivot axis. The support carriage is movably mounted on the transverse guide, so that the support carriage, together with the support structure, the driver's seat and the control console, is designed to be movable along the transverse guide, in particular along the guide rail. The support carriage is therefore movable along the transverse guide, but with regard to pivoting about the pivot axis, the support carriage is fixed relative to the transverse guide.The support carriage therefore does not pivot around the pivot axis, but represents the counter bearing for the support structure, relative to which it pivots around the pivot axis.

[0018] In principle, it could, for example, be provided that the support structure is mounted on the transverse guide on the one hand and, for example, at the opposite end of the support structure, there is another mounting, either on a further transverse guide or on the operator's cab floor. However, it is preferred if the support structure is mounted exclusively on the transverse guide, in particular comprising the guide rail and the bearing rail. In addition, it is further preferred if the support structure is mounted on the transverse guide exclusively in front of or behind the driver's seat, preferably in front of the driver's seat, as seen in the working direction of the construction machine. The support structure therefore projects rearward from the transverse guide in the working direction of the construction machine and is thus designed, on its side facing away from the transverse guide, to be spaced or suspended from a operator's cab floor, preferably as seen in the vertical direction, by a free space.In particular, the driver's seat is preferably designed to be spaced apart from the operator's cab floor by a free space, viewed vertically, or to be floating. In particular, the driver's seat is located at the floating end of the support structure. In other words, the driver's seat is mounted exclusively via the support structure and the transverse guide in the operator's cab, without being supported on the operator's cab floor, for example. This also enables particularly simple pivoting of the driver's seat and the support structure about the pivot axis, which is also driven, for example, solely by the driver's muscle power, without the need for an additional drive. Due to the floating mounting, only the frictional forces of the pivot joint of the pivot axis need to be overcome. Furthermore, this enables a particularly simple design of the operator's cab floor.In particular, the operator's platform floor is designed free of rails, guides, or other support devices for the driver's seat and / or the support structure and / or the control console. For example, the entire operator's platform floor can be formed from a single, continuous, closed-width panel that is not interrupted by cross rails or similar elements for supporting the driver's seat. The operator's platform floor is therefore preferably designed as a flat, closed surface, making it particularly comfortable to walk on and avoiding the risk of tripping.

[0019] As already explained, the support structure is preferably mounted on the guide rail so that it can pivot about the pivot axis that the driver's seat can pivot between a straight-ahead position and a lateral position. To define the pivot angle through which it is pivoted about the pivot axis, a vertical plane through the seat index point (optionally replaced by the point explained above if a driver's seat is used that does not have a seat index point) and the pivot axis can be used. If a vertical plane through the seat index point and the pivot axis in the straight-ahead position of the driver's seat is compared with the same plane in the lateral position, these two vertical planes enclose a pivot angle. The pivot angle is to be measured in particular in a horizontal plane or lies in a horizontal plane.As already mentioned, the lateral position can be assumed starting from the straight-ahead position on both sides of the construction machine or the operator's station. The greater the swivel angle, the more obliquely the support structure, the control console and in particular the driver's seat are arranged in the lateral position in the operator's station, thereby allowing the driver various advantageous viewing angles with regard to the construction machine and the work environment of the construction machine. It is therefore preferred that the support carriage, the support structure and the swivel joint are designed in such a way that large swivel angles are possible. For example, it is preferred that a swivel angle of at least up to 40° is adjustable, preferably at least up to 50° or at least up to 60° or at least up to 70° or at least up to 80° or at least up to 90°.

[0020] A particularly compact and symmetrical arrangement results when the vertical plane through the seat index point and the pivot axis is aligned parallel to the working direction when the driver's seat is in the straight-ahead position. This is achieved by appropriate design of the support carriage, the support structure and the driver's seat. It is further preferred if the support structure extends in a straight line parallel to the working direction. In other words, a connecting line preferably runs continuously in the vertical direction above the support structure between the seat index point in the working direction and the pivot axis. The support structure is therefore preferably designed as a straight, essentially horizontally elongated lever or support arm between the pivot axis and the driver's seat. It is very particularly preferred if the support structure is mirror-symmetrical with respect to the vertical plane running through the seat index point and the pivot axis.In this way, the swiveling of the support structure, control console, and driver's seat from the straight-ahead position is exactly the same to both sides, allowing, for example, the same amount of swiveling in both directions. In particular, the same swivel angle can be achieved on both sides. This provides the driver with particularly good and equal visibility of both sides of the construction machine when the driver's seat is in the side positions.

[0021] As already stated, the transverse guide preferably runs transversely to the working direction. In addition, it preferably specifies an end position for the driver's seat at each of its opposite ends, which are spaced apart from one another transversely to the working direction. For example, the transverse guide and / or the support structure and / or the support carriage can have an adjustment stop that allows displacement of the support structure along the transverse guide up to the respective end position at the end of the transverse guide, but prevents it from moving beyond that. The stop is preferably formed by a positive connection between the transverse guide and the support structure and / or the support carriage. The end positions are therefore the maximum displaced positions of the support structure along the transverse guide. The two end positions specified by the transverse guide are located opposite each other on the two sides of the driver's station that are spaced transversely to the working direction.If the driver's seat is arranged in one of these end positions and is in the straight-ahead position, the seat index point is arranged at the level of the transverse guide in the direction transverse to the working direction. This means that the seat index point is aligned with the transverse guide in the working direction. A vertical plane through the seat index point, which runs parallel to the working direction, therefore also intersects the transverse guide. It is now preferably provided that the driver's seat can be pivoted away from the guide rail about the pivot axis in these end positions in such a way that the seat index point is located behind or, depending on the viewing direction, in front of the transverse guide in the direction transverse to the working direction. In other words, the pivoting movement takes place outwards from the center of the driver's station.The fact that the seat index point is located behind the transverse guide in the direction transverse to the working direction means that a vertical plane through the seat index point, which runs parallel to the working direction, does not intersect the transverse guide in terms of its structural components. Instead, the vertical plane runs at a distance from the transverse guide in the direction transverse to the working direction, i.e. next to the transverse guide. In other words, the driver's seat is pivoted in such a way that it extends laterally beyond the transverse guide. By pivoting accordingly, the area accessible to the driver sitting in the driver's seat can be extended outwards by the pivot range of the driver's seat from the straight-ahead position in one of the end positions. This also improves the driver's overview of the machine and its external surroundings.This pivoting can even go so far that the seat index point is outside the control station, especially the control station floor.

[0022] With the pivoting laterally beyond the transverse guide described above, it is thus possible for the operator sitting in the driver's seat to be pivoted out of the area of ​​the operator's station, in particular a space defined vertically by the floor of the operator's station, and thus sit at least partially practically "next to" the rest of the machine. In other words, the driver sitting in the driver's seat is moved at least partially outward beyond the outer edge of the operator's station, as seen in a horizontal reference plane. However, the operator's station is often delimited, particularly to the right and / or left, with respect to the forward direction of the construction machine by a fall protection device, for example in the form of a side wall of a driver's cab or a railing. For such arrangements, it is preferred if an operator's station door is arranged in this area.The end points specified by the transverse guide are preferably arranged next to the operator's cab door, so that the driver's seat in the straight-ahead position is located in the end positions directly next to the respective operator's cab door. Accordingly, the operator's cab door must be opened before or during pivoting beyond the transverse guide or out of the interior of the operator's cab. The operator's cab door can have an outer side with which it forms or helps form an outer contour of the construction machine when closed. In other words, if the operator's cab door is closed, its outer side forms part of the outer contour of the construction machine in the area of ​​the operator's cab. In this case, the outer contour of the construction machine, and in particular that part of the outer contour formed by the operator's cab door, refers exclusively to the position of the outer side of the operator's cab door when it is closed.When the operator's cab door is open, the outer contour of the machine is therefore a virtual reference surface located in the area of ​​the operator's cab door where the outer surface of the operator's cab door would be when the operator's cab door was closed. It is now preferably provided that the driver's seat, in particular the seat index point of the driver's seat, can be adjusted when the operator's cab door is open by pivoting the driver's seat about the pivot axis away from a central longitudinal axis of the construction machine and beyond this outer contour of the construction machine, transversely to the working direction. By pivoting the driver's seat about the pivot axis outwards, in other words away from the center of the operator's cab or away from the guide rail, the driver's seat pivots into an area in which the closed operator's cab door was previously located.The driver's seat, and in particular the seat index point of the driver's seat, is then located in an area that, when the cab door is closed, lies outside the cab. In this sense, the driver's seat is pivoted into an area outside the cab. In this position, in particular, the driver has a particularly advantageous view of the machine's external surroundings on the respective side, transverse to the working direction. In particular, the driver can look along the outer contour of the machine and observe both the work process and the machine's external surroundings on this side in a particularly advantageous manner.By pivoting the driver's seat outside the outer contour of the construction machine, the driver's seat or the seat index point is also moved outwards past an A-pillar of the operator's station or driver's cab, for example, so that the driver can see outside the A-pillar and the A-pillar is not in his field of vision. The A-pillar, as usual, refers to the front vehicle pillar with which, for example, the roof of the operator's station or driver's cab is connected to the machine frame. It is important that the driver's seat is moved outside the outer contour of the construction machine by pivoting around the pivot axis. In order to enable such viewing positions for the driver, the invention no longer requires, for example, the entire operator's station to be moved sideways, which is known in the prior art but requires immense structural effort.A lateral shift of the entire control station must also be motor-driven, while the pivoting according to the invention can be carried out directly by the driver himself, for example by manual drive.

[0023] The further the driver's seat or the seat index point of the driver's seat can be adjusted outwards beyond the outer contour of the construction machine, the better the driver's viewing position will be for various work situations that require an overview of the side and, in particular, the outside of the construction machine. It is therefore preferred that the seat index point of the driver's seat can be adjusted a distance beyond the outer contour of the construction machine transversely to the working direction, with the distance being at least 5 cm, preferably at least 10 cm or at least 15 cm or at least 20 cm or at least 25 cm or at least 30 cm. The corresponding adjustment is achieved by pivoting the driver's seat together with the support structure and the control console around the pivot axis.

[0024] As already indicated, it is preferred that the movement of the support structure along the transverse guide and / or the pivoting of the support structure about the pivot axis can be carried out manually by the operator and therefore no separate drive is necessary for these movements. A manual drive refers to a drive by the driver himself. Nevertheless, it is entirely possible and encompassed by the invention to drive the linear adjustment and / or the pivoting of the support structure by a motor, for example by an electric motor, hydraulically or pneumatically. It is equally possible for the operator to open the operator's cab door manually and / or separately before pivoting the driver's seat into the lateral positions described above with the seat index point in a direction transverse to the working direction behind the transverse guide or at a distance from the outer contour of the construction machine.Alternatively, however, it can be provided that the operator's cab door is automatically opened when the support structure and the driver's seat are pivoted laterally beyond the transverse guide or the outer contour of the machine from one of the end positions of the transverse guide. It can also be provided that the operator's cab door is automatically closed upon the opposite movement, i.e., when the support structure of the driver's seat pivots into one of the end positions of the transverse guide. For this purpose, a coupling device can preferably be provided that automatically opens and / or closes the operator's cab door when the driver's seat is pivoted about the pivot axis next to the operator's cab door. "Next to the operator's cab door" here means that the driver's seat is in one of the end positions of the transverse guide.For example, a stop can be provided on the support structure and / or the driver's seat, which strikes the operator's cab door when the vehicle is pivoted about the pivot axis and pushes the door outwards. In this case, the driver only has to unlock the locking mechanism of the operator's cab door, but can slide or open the door at the same time as the support structure pivots about the pivot axis. Alternatively, a mechanical or electronic unlocking of the operator's cab door could be provided, which is automatically triggered by the support structure pivoting from the straight-ahead position towards the operator's cab door. If the corresponding stop is designed to be magnetic, for example, and the operator's cab door comprises magnetic material, the corresponding stop can pull the operator's cab door along and close it due to magnetic attraction when the support structure and the driver's seat are pivoted back to the straight-ahead position.A corresponding design of the stop and the operator's cab door is therefore preferred. Alternatively, a lever, a hook, or an engagement arm can be provided, which, when the support structure and the driver's seat are pivoted from the straight-ahead position to one of the end positions of the transverse guide, engages the operator's cab door in a positive engagement with the latter. This positive engagement causes the door to close when the support structure and the driver's seat are pivoted back to the straight-ahead position.

[0025] During the pivoting beyond the outer contour of the construction machine as described above, the opening provided by the open operator's cab door must be large enough to allow the support structure, and in particular also the driver's seat, to pivot out through it at least partially. The operator's cab door is typically designed such that it can be opened and closed about a door pivot axis, in particular a vertical one. It is now preferably provided that the door pivot axis is arranged at the level of the pivot axis, viewed in the direction of work. A vertical plane through the pivot axis, which runs perpendicular to the direction of work, therefore also runs through the door pivot axis in this arrangement. It is even more preferred if the door pivot axis is further forward in the direction of work than the pivot axis.In this particularly preferred case, the door's pivot axis is located forward in the working direction, spaced from the vertical plane by the pivot axis, which runs perpendicular to the working direction. In this way, opening the operator's cab door creates a particularly large amount of free space, particularly in the area of ​​the pivot axis, so that the support structure with the driver's seat and control console can pivot out particularly easily and freely. In particular, collisions between the control console located in the area of ​​the pivot axis and the area in which the door's pivot axis is located are avoided.

[0026] The construction machine can, for example, have a mechanical-hydraulic steering system, as disclosed in particular in DE 10 2010 035 270 B4. For this purpose, a steering device, such as a steering wheel, can be arranged on the control console. A steering movement of the steering device, for example a rotation, can be transmitted mechanically via a steering input shaft to a steering output shaft and from there to a hydraulic steering valve. When using such a steering system, however, it must be ensured that the mechanical connection between the steering device and the steering output shaft or the hydraulic steering valve is compatible with the pivoting of the control console, the support structure, and the driver's seat about the pivot axis. The steering output shaft is fixed relative to the transverse guide or can even be designed as part of the transverse guide, for example as a bearing rail.This therefore rotates only to mechanically transmit the steering movement further, without changing its relative position to the transverse guide, apart from the rotation. Instead, it is preferably provided that the steering drive shaft is designed to be at least partially movable with the support structure. The steering drive shaft is coupled to the steering output shaft, which is fixed relative to the transverse guide, in such a way that a steering movement of a steering device, for example the steering wheel, on the control console is transmitted to the steering output shaft via the steering drive shaft.

[0027] If the driver's seat is swung outwards beyond the outer contour of the construction machine, the driver's seat also moves beyond the lateral end of the operator's platform floor. In this case, the ground on which the construction machine moves is located directly beneath the driver's seat or the supporting structure. However, this can pose a safety risk when the machine is in operation. Furthermore, the driver may lose objects from the driver's seat. In this case, these objects would fall directly onto the ground, possibly becoming damaged or lost. A horizontally extending swing floor is therefore preferably provided.This is adjustable, in particular pivotable, between a storage position in which the pivoting floor is pushed under a control station floor, and a working position in which the pivoting floor extends the control station floor transversely to the working direction, in particular up to the open control station door. For example, the pivoting floor is a floor plate which is usually located in a storage compartment arranged beneath the control station floor. When the control station door is open, the pivoting floor can then be pulled out of this storage compartment or pushed in order to be adjusted between the storage position and the working position. For this purpose, for example, a further pivot axis can be provided around which the pivoting floor is designed to be pivotable. The pivot axis of the pivoting floor is preferably coaxial with the door rotation axis of the control station door.In this way, the pivoting floor can particularly easily extend the operator's cab floor up to the open operator's cab door, namely over the entire extent of the operator's cab door. For this purpose, the pivoting floor is particularly preferably designed in the form of a circular section or circular sector, wherein the respective circular section or circular sector preferably lies in the horizontal plane. The pivot axis of the pivoting floor is preferably arranged at the tip of the circular sector. In the working position, the pivoting floor therefore preferably closes the area between the open operator's cab door and the operator's cab floor in a horizontal plane that is essentially at the level of the operator's cab floor or a few centimeters, for example a maximum of 1 cm, a maximum of 2 cm, or a maximum of 3 cm, below it.

[0028] In principle, the driver can move the swivel floor between the storage position and the working position as required. However, it is preferred that the movement of the swivel floor between the storage position and the working position is coupled to the movement of the operator's cab door and / or the support structure, so that the swivel floor moves automatically with the operator's cab door or the support structure. This automatic adjustment can be controlled mechanically or electronically, for example. For example, a pivoting of the support structure beyond the outer contour of the machine can be detected by a sensor and transmitted to an electronic control device. The electronic control device can then control a drive, for example an electric motor or a hydraulic drive, to initiate the movement of the swivel floor between the storage position and the working position.Furthermore, a mechanical coupling is also possible, for example, by providing a positive-locking element on the support structure that engages with a corresponding positive-locking element on the swivel floor when the driver's seat is in one of the end positions of the transverse guide. In this case, the positive locking between the two positive-locking elements on the support structure and the swivel floor can be used to automatically adjust the swivel floor between the storage position and the working position. Overall, the provision of the swivel floor can significantly increase both work safety and comfort for the driver.

[0029] To enable safe working, it is further preferred if the movement along the transverse guide and also the pivoting movement about the pivot axis can be blocked when not required, or if the support structure can be locked. For this purpose, it is preferably provided that a locking device is provided by which the driver's seat and the control console can be locked in various positions along the transverse guide and / or in various pivoting positions about the pivot axis. For example, the locking device can be designed such that it provides a releasable positive-locking or friction-locking connection between the support structure and the transverse guide and / or between the support structure and the support carriage.For example, a toothed rack can be provided on the transverse guide and / or a toothed ring on the pivot joint, into which a locking lever can engage in a form-fitting manner to prevent the respective movement. The locking lever can, for example, be designed with a spring preload such that the locking lever is preloaded in the position that locks or prevents movement. An operator can enable the movement of the support structure along the transverse guide or a pivoting of the support structure about the pivot axis by releasing the form-fitting or frictional connection between the locking lever and the toothed rail or the toothed ring by pivoting the locking lever. The locking lever(s) can be arranged vertically at the height of the control console or a few centimeters, for example a maximum of 5 cm or a maximum of 10 cm or a maximum of 15 cm or a maximum of 20 cm, below the control console.In this way, an operator can easily reach the locking lever(s) from the driver's seat. Alternatively, the locking lever(s) can also be designed as pedals for foot operation. In this case, the locking lever(s) is located in the operator's footwell on the support structure. However, since the operator typically supports himself with his feet on the operator's platform floor to move or pivot the support structure with the control console and driver's seat, it is preferable for the locking levers to be arranged in the area of ​​the control console so that they are as easy to reach with the hands as possible. A separate locking device is preferably provided for movement along the transverse guide and pivoting about the pivot axis.

[0030] The construction machine of the present invention can also have a number of further features. For example, an additional armrest console with further operating elements for the driver can be provided, in particular on the driver's seat. The armrest console can be provided in addition to the operating console or replace the operating console. In addition to or as an alternative to the mechanical-hydraulic steering system described above, an electronic steering system can also be provided for the construction machine, wherein this system particularly comprises a joystick. The joystick is designed, for example, as an operating element and in particular as a steering device for the construction machine. It can be part of the armrest console or arranged on it. The joystick can be used in addition to or as an alternative to the steering wheel already described.

[0031] The driver's seat, in turn, can also have various features. For example, the driver's seat can be height-adjustable and / or rotatable. For example, the driver's seat is attached to the support structure via a seat bearing, wherein the seat bearing has a height adjustment device that enables adjustment of the driver's seat in the vertical direction. For example, the height adjustment device can comprise a gas pressure spring that is used for height adjustment. Furthermore, the seat bearing can have a swivel joint that enables rotation of the driver's seat about a vertical axis of rotation. Via this axis of rotation, the driver's seat can be rotated relative to the support structure and the control console as well as the rest of the construction machine.

[0032] The support structure preferably comprises a seat support extending in the radial direction of the pivot axis. If the driver's seat is arranged in the straight-ahead position, the seat support thus extends parallel to the working direction. The seat support therefore forms a horizontally extending arm which supports the driver's seat on its side remote from the pivot axis, for example via the seat bearing. Lines and / or cables can be routed through the seat support, for example for connecting an armrest control console arranged on the driver's seat. In addition, the support structure preferably comprises a vertically extending console support. The console support is connected in particular to the seat support, in particular on the side of the seat support facing the pivot axis. The control console is arranged at the vertically upper end of the console support.Cables and lines required for the control console preferably run through the console support and connect the control console to a machine control device, such as an on-board computer. The console support is preferably connected to the support carriage via the pivot joint and can be pivoted relative to it via the pivot axis. The vertical extension of the console support and the horizontal extension of the seat support, running in the radial direction of the pivot axis, each describe their greatest spatial extent.

[0033] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures. They show schematically: Figure 1: a side view of a road paver; Figure 2: a side view of a tandem roller; Figure 3: a perspective side view of an operating unit, diagonally from the rear and above; Figure 4: a perspective front view of an operating unit, diagonally from above; Figure 5: a perspective top view of a road paver with the driver's seat in a middle position on the operator's platform in the straight-ahead position; Figure 6: a perspective top view of a road paver with the driver's seat in the left end position in the straight-ahead position; Figure 7: a perspective top view of a road paver with the driver's seat in the left end position in the side position; Figure 8: a top view of a road paver with the driver's seat in the left end position in the side position; and Figure 9: a perspective top view of a road paver with the driver's seat in a middle position on the operator's platform in the side position.

[0034] Identical or functionally identical components are designated by the same reference numerals in the figures. Recurring components are not identified separately in each figure.

[0035] The Figures 1 and 2 show construction machinery 1, specifically a road paver ( Figure 1 ) and a tandem roller ( Figure 2 ). The construction machines 1 preferably have a machine frame 3 with a control station 2 and a chassis. The construction machine 1 is operated from the control station 2. The chassis preferably comprises driving devices 6, which in the case of the road paver consist of Figure 1 For example, tracks or wheels can be used. In the case of the tandem roller made of Figure 2the driving devices 6 are designed, for example, as compaction drums. In the case of both construction machines 1, however, the driving devices 6 could also be designed as wheels. In addition, the construction machines 1 preferably comprise a drive motor 4, which can be, for example, an internal combustion engine, in particular a diesel engine, or an electric motor, and which provides drive energy for operating the construction machine 1. During operation of the construction machines 1, they move in or against the working direction or forward direction a over the ground and work it, for example by laying a base course using the road paver or by compacting the soil using the tandem roller.

[0036] The road paver according to Figure 1preferably has a material hopper 5 in which paving material is stored during operation. This is then transported by the road paver to its rear, where it is preferably distributed by a transverse distribution device such as a screw conveyor and smoothed and pre-compacted by a paving screed 7. Typically, tandem rollers such as the one according to Figure 2 in use, which compact the soil to a desired compaction level through their own weight and optionally through an unbalance exciter device arranged in one or more of the compaction drums 6, oscillating movement of the compaction drums.

[0037] The construction machines 1 have at least one control unit 29 in their control station 2, which is shown in detail in the Figures 3 and 4Components of the operating unit 29 are a driver's seat 8 and an operating console 9 as well as, according to the invention, a transverse guide 31. To control the construction machine 1, the driver is preferably located on the driver's seat 8. The driver's seat 8 has a seat index point SIP ( Figure 4), which is a standard defined in the EN ISO 5353 standard. The standard also specifies a method for clearly determining the exact position of the seat index point SIP on any given seat. The seat index point SIP is located approximately in the middle of the seat, a few centimeters above the seat surface. More precise information can be found in the EN ISO 5353 standard. The control console 9 preferably has control elements for controlling the construction machine 1 by the driver sitting on the driver's seat 8. In the exemplary embodiment shown, one of these control elements is, for example, a steering device 10, which can be designed as a steering wheel. The driver's seat 8 is preferably arranged or fastened to a seat support 16 via a seat bearing 15. The seat bearing 15 can preferably comprise a height adjustment device for the driver's seat 8, so that the seat height can be adjusted vertically.In addition, the seat bearing 15 can also comprise a pivot bearing for the driver's seat 8, so that the driver's seat 8 is designed to be rotatable about a vertical axis of rotation. The seat support 16, in turn, is preferably connected to a console support 17, wherein the console support 17 preferably extends in the vertical direction and supports the control console 9. Together, the seat support 16 and the console support 17 preferably form a support structure 30, which overall represents a rigid connection between the control console 9 and the driver's seat 8. The support structure 30, in turn, is preferably attached to a support carriage 37 (. Figure 4), which preferably comprises a carriage frame 36, a sliding bushing 19, and a steering sliding bushing 25. Furthermore, the support carriage 37 is preferably movably mounted on a bearing rail 38, for example via a sliding roller, or is additionally supported thereon. In particular, the carriage frame 36 extends vertically and establishes a rigid connection between the sliding bushing 19 and the steering sliding bushing 25 and the bearing on the bearing rail 38.

[0038] The support structure 30 is preferably mounted on a transverse guide 31 via the support carriage 37. The transverse guide 31 preferably comprises a transverse guide support 21 and at least one guide rail 18. The transverse guide support 21 preferably forms a support frame that supports the guide rail 18 in the operator's platform 2 of the construction machine 1. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the guide rail 18 is preferably designed as a round beam, which is encompassed by the sliding bushing 19 of the support carriage 37. In particular, the sliding bushing 19 is mounted on the guide rail 18 via rolling bearings, in particular ball bearings, in such a way that the sliding bushing 19 and thus also the support carriage 37 are designed to be movable along the guide rail 18 or the transverse guide 31. The guide rail 18 is preferably oriented transversely or perpendicularly to the working direction a, so that the direction of movement of the support carriage 37 along the transverse guide 31 also preferably runs transversely to the working direction a.In addition to the guide rail 18, the transverse guide 31 can preferably also have a further bearing rail 38, which is preferably arranged at a vertical distance from the guide rail 18. The bearing rail 38 is also preferably connected to the support carriage 37 via a movable bearing, for example a roller bearing, in particular a sliding roller. The bearing on the bearing rail 38 preferably forms the counterbearing for the bearing on the guide rail 18, so that these two bearings are designed to absorb the weight, in particular the entire weight, of the support carriage 37. In addition, a steering output shaft 14 is preferably provided, which is part of the steering of the machine via the control console 9. A steering sliding bushing 25 is preferably also guided along the steering output shaft 14, which is preferably mounted on the steering output shaft 14 via rolling bearings, for example ball bearings.The steering output shaft 14 is preferably force-free with respect to supporting forces of the support carriage 37 and the components arranged thereon and thus does not fulfill any supporting function. Overall, it is therefore preferred if the support carriage 37 has two, in particular exclusively two, bearings for transmitting its weight force to the transverse guide 31, wherein the two bearings preferably each allow movement of the support carriage 37 along the transverse guide. The two bearings are preferably spaced apart from one another in the vertical direction in order to prevent rotation of the support carriage 37 about the guide rail 18 and / or the bearing rail 38. It is preferred that, apart from these two bearings, there are no further connections between the support structure 30, the driver's seat 8, the control console 9, the support carriage 37 on the one hand and the transverse guide 31 or the operator's station 2 or the rest of the construction machine 1 on the other hand for the supporting mounting of the support carriage 37.Furthermore, there may be a connection to the steering output shaft 14 for transmitting steering movements. However, this connection is also preferably not intended to absorb the weight forces of the support carriage 37 on the transverse guide 31. In particular, the support structure 30 is designed to be free or floating on the side remote from the transverse guide 31.

[0039] The support carriage 37, the support structure 30 and, with it, the control console 9 and the driver's seat 8 can therefore preferably be adjusted or moved transversely to the working direction a over the entire extent of the guide rail 18 and / or the bearing rail 38 along the transverse guide 31. A respective end position is preferably structurally predetermined at the respective ends of the rails or the transverse guide 31. The end position preferably describes a position of maximum displacement of the support carriage 37 along the transverse guide 31 in one of the two possible directions of displacement. The transverse guide 31 therefore preferably predetermines exactly two end positions, one for each of the displacement directions along the transverse guide 31. For example, the end positions are those positions in which the sliding bushing 19 and / or the steering sliding bushing 25 strikes the transverse guide support 21 and thereby limits the movement.Alternatively, another stop can be provided on the support carriage 37 and on the cross member 31, which stops or limits the movement of the support carriage 37 along the cross member 31 in the end positions.

[0040] In addition, a locking device 24 ( Figure 3 ) may be provided to fix the support carriage 37 at any position between the two end positions on the cross member 31. For example, the locking device 24 may comprise a rack, which may be arranged parallel to the guide rail 18 and / or the bearing rail 38. In addition, a locking operating element 20 ( Figure 3 ), for example in the form of a locking lever, which can be brought into or out of engagement with the locking device 24 by an operator. Preferably, the locking control element 20 is preloaded into the movement-blocking position, i.e., into engagement with the locking device 24, for example by a spring.

[0041] To enable the movement of the support carriage 37 along the transverse guide 31 and thus also of the control console 9, a drag chain 22 is preferably provided, via which the control elements of the control console 9 are connected to a control device of the construction machine 1. The drag chain 22 preferably serves to guide cables and other lines from the fixed transverse guide 31 to the movable support carriage 37 and to the control console 9 and its control elements. The drag chain is dimensioned in particular such that it is sufficient for adjusting the support carriage 37 between the two end positions of the transverse guide 31.

[0042] A key fundamental idea of ​​the invention is that the support structure 30, together with the driver's seat 8 and the control console 9, are designed to be pivotable about a pivot axis S. For this purpose, the support structure 30 is preferably arranged or mounted on the support carriage 37 so as to be pivotable about a pivot joint defining the pivot axis S. The pivot axis S runs in the vertical direction. By pivoting the support structure 30 about the pivot axis S, the control console 9 and the driver's seat 8 are automatically pivoted along with the support structure 30. The movement of these components therefore occurs jointly and by the same pivot angle. In this way, the relative arrangement of the control console 9 and the control elements arranged on the control console 9 with respect to the driver's seat 8 and the driver sitting on the driver's seat 8 always remains the same.The driver can therefore control the construction machine 1 via the control console 9 and, for example, the steering device 10 in the same intuitive manner from the driver's seat 8, regardless of the respective pivoting position of the support structure 30 about the pivot axis S. Therefore, when pivoting about the pivot axis S, the driver does not have to get used to or take into account a changed position of the control elements or the control console 9. The pivot axis S is preferably arranged in front of the driver's seat 8 in the working direction a, in particular just like the transverse guide 31. In other words, the pivot axis S is preferably arranged at the end of the support structure 30 opposite the driver's seat 8.In this way, when pivoting about the pivot axis S, the pivoting path of the driver's seat 8 is as large as possible, which in turn leads to a particularly significant change in the position and orientation of the driver's seat 8 with respect to the construction machine 1 or the operator's station 2. Because the driver can freely select the pivot position of the driver's seat 8 about the pivot axis S, he can choose from a variety of different positions and orientations of the driver's seat 8, depending on the requirements of his current work situation regarding the overview of the construction machine 1 or its external environment.

[0043] In order for the driver to be able to determine or fix a freely adjustable swivel position of the support structure 30, the control console 9 and the driver's seat 8 around the swivel axis S, a locking device 32 ( Figure 4) is provided. The locking device 32 is preferably arranged on the pivot joint of the pivot axis S and comprises, for example, a gear ring and a locking control element 23 such as a locking lever. For example, the locking control element 23 has a stop with which it can positively engage in the gear ring of the locking device 32 in order to prevent rotation of the support structure 30 relative to the support carriage 37 or the transverse guide 31. It is preferred that the locking control element 23 is preloaded into the locking position by a spring preload. It can be moved out of this position by the driver by actuating the locking control element 23, so that pivoting about the pivot axis S is possible. As soon as the driver releases the locking control element 23, the preload causes the locking control element 23 to engage in the locking device 32 and prevents further pivoting.

[0044] In the illustrated embodiment, a steering device 10 in the form of a steering wheel is arranged on the control console 9. The steering wheel can be part of a mechanical-hydraulic steering system. For this purpose, the rotational movement of the steering wheel, which is initiated by a driver, is preferably transmitted to the steering output shaft 14. Details on this can be found in the aforementioned DE 10 2010 035 270 B4. Alternatively, a cable connection can be provided via which signals from an electric steering device can be transmitted.

[0045] The Figures 5-9 show different positions or orientations that the driver's seat 8 and the control console 9 together with the support structure 30 can assume by a movement along the transverse guide 31 and by a pivoting about the pivot axis S. Figure 5shows an example of a road paver from a perspective view diagonally from the rear and top. The operator's cab 2 of the road paver is shown without a roof for reasons of clarity. However, the present invention relates to both operator's cabs 2 with and without a roof. In the example according to Figure 5 The driver's seat 8 is arranged in the middle of the driver's station 2 and is in a straight-ahead position. A driver sitting on the driver's seat 8, looking straight ahead based on the orientation of the driver's seat 8, is therefore looking exactly in the working direction a. Furthermore, the driver's seat 8 is arranged exactly in the middle between the two end positions specified by the transverse guide 31. In this position, the driver has a particularly symmetrical view to the front and rear. Furthermore, in Figure 5It is shown by way of example that an additional control console, specifically an armrest console 33 on the driver's seat 8, can be provided. Further control elements for the construction machine 1 can be arranged on the additional control console, i.e. the armrest console 33. For example, a joystick 34 is arranged on the armrest console 33, which can be provided in addition to or as an alternative to the steering device 10 designed as a steering wheel. For example, the construction machine 1 can have an electronic control system or an electronic steering system which is controlled by the joystick 34. It is also possible for two such additional control consoles to be provided, for example on both armrests.

[0046] In Figure 6the driver's seat 8 is in the left end position, specified by the transverse guide 31, with respect to the movement transverse to the working direction a. The driver's seat 8 and the control console 9 are located in this position directly next to the left operator's cab door 26. However, the driver's seat 8 and the control console 9 could also be moved along the transverse guide 31 to the right side of the operator's cab 2 into the right end position, so that they are located directly next to the right operator's cab door 26. Merely as an example, Figure 6 the left end position is shown. In addition, Figure 6 the vehicle pillars of the operator's station 2 of the construction machine 1, specifically the A-pillar A and the B-pillar B. If the driver wants to drive from the driver's seat 8 in the Figure 6To observe the outside environment to the left of and in front of machine 1 from the position shown, he must look past vehicle pillar A. In other words, vehicle pillar A in the example shown is directly in the driver's field of vision and hinders his observation of the work environment.

[0047] The present invention can provide a remedy here. Figure 7 a situation is shown in which the left operator's cab door 26 is open. In addition, the support structure 30 together with the control console 9 and the driver's seat 8 is pivoted outwards about the pivot axis S. The pivoting movement outwards refers to a pivoting movement about the pivot axis S away from the central longitudinal axis M of the construction machine 1. As the figure shows, the driver's seat 8 is pivoted out through the open operator's cab door 26 or the opening cleared by the open operator's cab door 26 into an area which, when the operator's cab door 26 is closed, according to Figure 6was still outside the operator's station 2. In particular, the driver's seat 8 has been moved by pivoting about the pivot axis S into a position which is further away from the central longitudinal axis M of the construction machine 1 than the A-pillar A. As will be explained in more detail below, this information relates in particular to the seat index point SIP of the driver's seat 8. In this way, the driver can comfortably look past the A-pillar A from the driver's seat 8 and observe the external surroundings of the construction machine 1. In addition, he can particularly easily look past another vehicle on the construction site, for example a truck driving in front of or behind the construction machine 1. The usual communication on a construction site with the driver of this other vehicle, for example via hand signals, is also facilitated.In particular, the operator can also look along the outer contour of the machine and, for example, determine with high precision where the construction machine 1 is traveling and which parts of the ground are therefore being worked by it and which are not. Distances to obstacles can also be determined particularly precisely in this way. The operator's cab door 26 can be opened manually by the driver. Alternatively, a coupling device 35 (. Figure 3) may be provided, which leads to an automatic opening of the operator's cab door 26 when the support structure 30 is pivoted about the pivot axis S in one of the end positions of the transverse guide 31 onto the operator's cab door 26. The coupling device 35 can, for example, be a stop that pushes the operator's cab door 26 open outwards. In addition, the coupling device 35 can also comprise a magnet, so that the operator's cab door 26 can also be automatically closed by the coupling device 35 when the support structure 30 and the driver's seat 8 as well as the control console 9 are pivoted from the pivoted-out position back into the straight-ahead position.

[0048] To ensure that the driver’s seat 8 is in the swung-out position according to Figure 7does not hang freely in the air or hovers freely above the ground over which the construction machine 1 travels, a pivoting floor 27 is preferably provided. This preferably has the shape of a circular sector and is pivotable about a pivot axis, in particular between a storage position and a working position. The pivot axis of the pivoting floor 27 is preferably coaxial with a door rotation axis T ( Figure 8), wherein the pivot axis of the pivoting floor 27 is also preferably arranged at the tip of the circular sector. In the stowed position, the pivoting floor 27 is preferably arranged in a storage compartment under the operator's cab floor 28 and can be pulled out from this into a working position in which the pivoting floor 27 preferably bridges or closes the area between the operator's cab floor 28 and the open operator's cab door 26 in the horizontal plane. The pivoting floor 27 therefore extends the operator's cab floor 28 beyond the actual extent of the operator's cab floor 28 when the operator's cab door 26 is open and therefore secures the driver, who is no longer above the operator's cab floor 28 when the driver's seat 8 is pivoted out. In the lateral position, the driver's seat 8 is then arranged above the pivoting floor 27 in the working position.

[0049] For further explanation, the situations of Figures 5 , 6 and7 again in Figure 8 summarized in plan view. Specifically, Figure 8 the position of the driver’s seat 8, the control console 9 and the supporting structure 30 as well as the operator’s cab door 26 and the swing floor 27 according to Figure 7 . The positions of these elements according to the Figures 5 and 6 are shown in phantom lines. Figure 8 Various preferred geometric designs of the invention now emerge. For example, Figure 8 shows that the displacement direction h of the support structure 30 with the control console 9 and the driver's seat 8 runs transversely to the working direction a. In addition, Figure 8that the pivoting of the support structure 30 or the control console 9 and the driver's seat 8 about the pivot axis S is preferably characterized by a pivot angle W, which is spanned by two vertical planes, each of which runs through the seat index point SIP of the driver's seat 8 and the pivot axis S. One vertical plane results from the straight-ahead position of the driver's seat 8 before pivoting about the pivot axis S and the second vertical plane results from the lateral position of the driver's seat 8 after pivoting about the pivot axis S. Between these two vertical planes, the pivot angle W measured in the horizontal plane results. The larger the pivot angle W, the further the driver's seat 8 and its seat index point SIP can be pivoted outwards. Figure 8It is also apparent that the operator's cab door 26 can be opened or closed about a door rotation axis T. In addition, the door rotation axis T is preferably arranged in the working direction a in front of the pivot axis S. In particular, the door rotation axis T is arranged by an offset v in the working direction a in front of the pivot axis S. In this way, it is ensured that pivoting of the support structure 30 and in particular of the control console 9 about the pivot axis S is possible even in the end positions predetermined by the transverse guide 31. If, for example, the door rotation axis T were in Figure 8 in the working direction a only at the level of the swivel axis S and not in front of it, the control console 9 would be positioned with its left rear corner, which is in Figure 8protrudes beyond the outer contour of the construction machine 1, collide with the operator's cab door 26. Due to the correspondingly preferred arrangement of the door rotation axis T in the working direction a in front of the pivot axis S, sufficient space is provided in this area so that the operating console 9 can also pivot freely into the lateral position.

[0050] In particular, Figure 8It is also apparent that the seat index point SIP of the driver's seat 8 can preferably be pivoted outwards beyond an outer contour K of the construction machine 1. The outer contour K of the construction machine 1 is defined by the outer surface of the construction machine 1 and in particular of the operator's station 2 when the operator's station door 26 is closed. In the area in which the closed operator's station door 26 is arranged, the outer contour K of the construction machine 1 is therefore defined by the position of the outer surface of the closed operator's station door 26. The outer contour K of the construction machine 1 remains as a virtual reference surface in the same position as it is when the operator's station door 26 is closed, even when the operator's station door 26 is open. The driver's seat 8 and in particular also the seat index point SIP of the driver's seat 8 are therefore pivoted outwards beyond this outer contour K by pivoting the support structure 30 about the pivot axis S.The seat index point SIP is moved beyond the outer contour K in such a way that it has a distance d to the outer contour K. The distance d is measured in particular in the direction transverse to the working direction a.

[0051] It should be noted again that the above explanations refer only to the left side of the construction machine 1 as an example. All processes can also be performed on the other, right-hand side of the construction machine 1. With regard to the described elements and processes, the operator's station 2 and the control unit 29 are therefore preferably mirror-symmetrical. Thus, the driver's seat 8 can also be pivoted beyond the outer contour K of the construction machine 1 on the right-hand side when the operator's station door 26 is open. A pivoting floor 27 is also arranged on this side. Reference is made to the above explanations solely to avoid repetition.

[0052] Figure 9shows that pivoting of the support structure 30 with the driver's seat 8 and the control console 9 around the pivot axis S is also possible in a position along the transverse guide 31 which is not an end position. Figure 9 For example, the driver's seat 8 is located entirely within the operator's station 2, even though it is in a lateral position, i.e., pivoted about the pivot axis S. This also allows the driver to adopt different positions and different orientations of the driver's seat within the operator's station, thus improving his overview of the construction machine 1 and the work process. Overall, the invention therefore makes it possible to significantly improve the flexibility of an operating unit 29 of a generic construction machine 1 and thus increase work safety and work quality.

Claims

1. A construction machine (1), in particular a road paver or tandem roller, for working a ground in a working direction (a), comprising: a machine frame (3); an operator platform (2) at least one travel unit (6); and an operating unit (29), the operating unit (29) comprising: an operator's seat (8) for an operator of the construction machine (1); an operating console (9) with operating elements for controlling the construction machine (1) by the operator; a support structure (30) on which both the operator's seat (8) and the operating console (9) are arranged; and a transverse guide (31) with at least one guide rail (18), wherein the support structure (30) is movably mounted on the at least one guide rail (18), so that the support structure (30) together with the operator's seat (8) and the operating console (9) are configured to be movable along the at least one guide rail, characterized in that the support structure (30) is configured such that it can be swiveled together with the operator's seat (8) and the operating console (9) about a swivel axis (S) running in vertical direction, the swivel axis (S) being arranged in the working direction (a) in front of the operator's seat (8).

2. The construction machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the swivel axis (S) and the operating console (9) are arranged on the support structure (30) in the working direction (a) in front of the operator's seat (8).

3. The construction machine (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support structure (30) is configured to swivel together with the operator's seat (8) and the operating console (9) exclusively about the swivel axis (S).

4. The construction machine (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transverse guide (31) has, in addition to the guide rail (18), a further mounting rail (38) which is spaced from the guide rail (18) in vertical direction and preferably runs parallel to the guide rail (18), and that the support structure (30) is movably mounted on the guide rail (18) and the mounting rail (38).

5. The construction machine (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a support slide (37) is provided, on which the support structure (30) is mounted such that it can be swiveled about the swivel axis (S) with the operator's seat (8) and the operating console (9), and that the support slide (37) is movably mounted on the transverse guide (31), so that the support slide (37) is configured such that it can be moved along the transverse guide (31), in particular along the guide rail (18), with the support structure (30), the operator's seat (8) and the operating console (9).

6. The construction machine (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support structure (30) is mounted exclusively on the transverse guide (31), and that the support structure (30) is mounted on the transverse guide (31) exclusively in the working direction (a) in front of the operator's seat (8).

7. The construction machine (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the operator's seat (8) has a seat index point (SIP), and that the support structure (30) is mounted on the guide rail such that it can be swiveled about the swivel axis (S) such that the operator's seat (8) can be swiveled between a straight-ahead position and a side position, wherein a vertical plane through the seat index point (SIP) and the swivel axis (S) in the straight-ahead position and a vertical plane through the seat index point (SIP) and the swivel axis (S) in the side position form a swivel angle (W), and wherein the swivel angle (W) is in particular at least up to 40°, preferably at least up to 50° or at least up to 60° or at least up to 70° or at least up to 80° or at least up to 90°.

8. The construction machine (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the vertical plane through the seat index point (SIP) and the swivel axis (S) is oriented parallel to the working direction (a) when the operator's seat (8) is in the straight-ahead position.

9. The construction machine (1) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the transverse guide (31) runs transversely to the working direction (a) and, at its ends spaced apart transversely to the working direction (a), in each case defines an end position for the operator's seat (8), wherein the operator's seat (8), when in one of these end positions and in the straight-ahead position, is arranged such that the seat index point (SIP) is arranged at the level of the transverse guide (31) in a direction transverse to the working direction (a), and that in these end positions the operator's seat (8) can be swiveled away from the guide rail (18) about the swivel axis (S) such that the seat index point (SIP) lies behind the transverse guide (31) in a direction transverse to the working direction (a).

10. The construction machine (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the seat index point (SIP) of the operator's seat (8) is adjustable transversely to the working direction (a) beyond the outer contour of the construction machine (1) by a distance (d), the distance (d) being at least 5 cm, preferably at least 10 cm or at least 15 cm or at least 20 cm or at least 25 cm or at least 30 cm.

11. The construction machine (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the operator platform (2) comprises at least one operator platform door (26), wherein the operator platform door (26) has an outer side with which it forms an outer contour of the construction machine (1) in a closed state, and that the operator's seat (8), in particular the seat index point (SIP) of the operator's seat (8), can be adjusted transversely to the working direction (a) away from a central longitudinal axis (M) of the construction machine (1) to beyond this outer contour of the construction machine (1) by swiveling the operator's seat (8) about the swivel axis (S) when the operator platform door is open.

12. The construction machine (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that a coupling device (35) is provided which automatically opens and / or closes the operator platform door when the operator's seat (8) is swiveled about the swivel axis (S) next to the operator platform door (26).

13. The construction machine (1) according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the operator platform door (26) is configured such that it can be opened and closed about a door rotation axis (T), the door rotation axis (T) being located further forward in the working direction (a) than the swivel axis (S).

14. The construction machine (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a horizontally extending swivel floor (27) is provided which can be adjusted, in particular swiveled, between a stowed position, in which the swivel floor (27) is slid in underneath an operator platform floor (28), and a working position, in which the swivel floor (27) extends the operator platform floor (28) transversely to the working direction (a), in particular as far as the open operator platform door (26).

15. The construction machine (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the movement of the swivel floor (27) between the stowed position and the working position is coupled to the movement of the operator platform door (26) and / or the support structure (30), so that the swivel floor (27) is automatically moved along with the operator platform door (26) or the support structure (30).

16. The construction machine (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a locking device (24, 32) is provided to lock the support structure (30) with the operator's seat (8) and the operating console (9) in different positions along the transverse guide (31) and / or in different swivel positions about the swivel axis (S).

17. The construction machine (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has at least one of the following features: it has an additional armrest console (33) with operating elements for the operator, in particular on the operator's seat (8); it has an electronic steering system for the construction machine (1), in particular comprising a joystick (34); the operator's seat (8) is height-adjustable; the operator's seat (8) is rotatable; the support structure (30) comprises a seat support (16) extending in a radial direction of the swivel axis (S); the support structure (30) comprises a vertically extending console support (17).