Self-propelled soil working machine with coolant disposal tank

Abstract

The present invention relates to a self-propelled soil cultivation machine (10) comprising: - a machine frame (16), - a chassis (12) supporting the machine frame (16), - a power source (24) for supplying the soil cultivation machine (10) with mechanical and / or electrical and / or hydraulic power, - a working unit (32) with a housing (30) for providing a soil cultivation zone (E), - a working device (28) received in the working unit (32) which is designed for soil cultivation, and - a liquid cooling device (50) which is designed to direct cooling liquid (C) into the working unit (32).According to the invention, the soil cultivation machine (10) has a disposal tank (58) and a discharge line arrangement (56), wherein the discharge line arrangement (56) connects the working unit to the disposal tank (58) and is designed to convey coolant (C) from the working unit (32) into the disposal tank (58).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a self-propelled soil tillage machine according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Such a soil tillage machine is known from KR 102016945 B1.

[0003] US 2018 / 010306 A1 discloses a truck configured as a ground milling machine. The known ground milling machine has two independently movable and controllable milling heads on its underside, which are movable at least translationally along parallel rails that run, among other things, in the transverse direction of the ground milling machine.

[0004] US 3572841 A1 discloses a grooving unit for surface texturing of traffic areas. The cutting sludge formed during cutting soil cultivation, a suspension of removed soil particles and cooling water, is removed from the treated soil surface using the centrifugal force provided by the rotating cutting tool.

[0005] A grinding unit for processing highways and similar surfaces, which, due to its design, enables an advantageous approach to obstacles, is known from US 2014 / 270956 A1.

[0006] Another soil tillage machine is known from KR 10 2016 0029897 A.

[0007] Another soil tillage machine is generally known, for example, from EP 3 901 373 A1. This known soil tillage machine, the features of which can also be implemented on the soil tillage machine of the present invention, carries a cutting roller as a working device, which serves to texturize soil surfaces. The cutting roller, also referred to in modern German as a "grinding roller" or "grooving roller," is rotatable about a working axis running parallel to the cross-machine direction. It has one or more cutting discs rotating around the working axis, each with geometrically defined cutting edges formed thereon and / or with geometrically undefined cutting edges arranged thereon, for example in the form of cutting grain bonded to the cutting discs. Such cutting rollers can, for example, be used to cut grooves into a soil surface.The rotation of the cutting roller around its working axis generates the necessary cutting speed at the cutting edges arranged on the cutting roller. The feed is generated by the drive via the chassis of the tillage machine.

[0008] A road milling machine as another soil cultivation machine is known from EP 3 613 900 A1. This known road milling machine also has a working device that can rotate about a working axis running in the transverse direction of the machine. The working device of the road milling machine is a milling drum equipped with individual milling tools. In contrast to a cutting drum with continuously or quasi-continuously rotating cutting discs with cutting edges formed thereon, the milling tools with their abrasive tool tips are arranged helically on the outer surface of the milling drum for improved removal of the milled material generated by soil removal. As a rule, only one milling tool is located at any axial position on the working axis of a milling drum. On road milling machines, too, the rotation of the milling drum about the working axis creates the necessary cutting speed of the milling tool tips, while the feed of the milling drum is generated by the road milling machine's drive.

[0009] For occupational safety reasons, the working device on the working unit is enclosed so that it is not accessible from the outside, at least during soil cultivation operations. The working unit can therefore have a housing open to the soil being worked. Such a housing is known as a milling drum box on road milling machines. A box functionally equivalent to the milling drum box, which shields a cutting drum on both sides in the transverse direction of the machine, on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the machine, and in the vertical direction of the machine towards the machine frame, can be provided on the working unit of a soil texturing machine.

[0010] The working unit may also have additional functional components, such as gears that transmit movement and power, heat exchangers and the like.

[0011] Both of these types of soil-removing implements are cooled during their intended operation by a coolant that is fed from the liquid cooling device into the working unit, particularly into the implement housing. Typically, the coolant is sprayed onto the implement and / or into the area of ​​contact between the implement and the soil to be removed. The coolant is usually water, which is carried by the soil tillage machine in a storage tank.

[0012] Due to the different situations at the machining point described above, the cutting tool has a significantly higher cooling requirement than the milling tool. With lower cooling requirements, the amount of coolant introduced into the working unit is not a problem. During milling soil removal at low cutting speeds, the coolant at most moistens the area surrounding the tool during operation and is removed from the working unit with the coarse-grained material chips. A further portion of the coolant remains as moisture in the removed soil.

[0013] As the cooling requirement increases, from a certain operating point onwards more coolant is fed into the working unit per unit of time than can seep into the worked soil and be carried away with the cuttings. This situation is further exacerbated by two further effects: Firstly, the increasing cooling requirement is accompanied by an increasing cutting speed and with it a significant reduction in the size of the chips created during soil cultivation. While during milling operation at a relatively low cutting speed, clod-like or coarse-grained cuttings are broken out of the soil surface, which can be handled as coarse bulk material, with increasing cutting speed, especially when transitioning to cutting, the cuttings increasingly take on a fine-grained, floury structure and begin to slurry upon contact with the coolant.

[0014] Secondly, with increasing cutting speeds, not only the volume of individual chippings decreases, but also the total volume of chippings removed per unit of time. While road milling machines are designed to remove substantial soil material to create a residual layer as a foundation for a new soil structure, cutting rollers are designed to merely texture a soil surface, for example, by cutting grooves. The ability of the soil being worked to absorb moisture or liquid therefore often decreases with increasing cooling requirements.

[0015] Therefore, it is state-of-the-art practice to actively dispose of the coolant from the tillage zone once the aforementioned operating point with the critical cooling requirement is exceeded. Due to the large quantities of coolant involved, the used coolant is transferred to a disposal vehicle, which is connected to the tillage machine via a hose line. The disposal vehicle travels alongside the tillage machine during tillage operations, while the used coolant is pumped from the tillage machine to the disposal vehicle.

[0016] The disadvantages of this solution are, on the one hand, that the availability of the tillage machine depends on the availability of the disposal vehicle when there is a high cooling demand, and, on the other hand, that the joint operation of the tillage machine and the disposal vehicle triggers an additional need for coordination, for example to prevent the line connection established between the disposal vehicle and the tillage machine from breaking.

[0017] In order to increase the availability of the soil tillage machine even when there is a high cooling requirement at the point of intervention for soil tillage and to avoid sources of error during soil tillage, the soil tillage machine mentioned at the outset has a disposal tank and a discharge line arrangement, wherein the discharge line arrangement connects the working unit to the disposal tank in a fluid-conducting manner and is designed to conduct cooling liquid from the working unit into the disposal tank.

[0018] The disposal tank eliminates the direct dependence of the soil tillage machine on the availability of a disposal vehicle in operating situations with high cooling requirements. Depending on the capacity of the disposal tank, the operating period over which the soil tillage machine can operate with high cooling requirements is longer or shorter. Preferably, the disposal tank has a capacity of at least 1000 l (liters), particularly preferably of at least 2000 l. Even more preferably, the capacity of the disposal tank is greater than 2100 l. For reasons of stability of the machine frame and with consideration of the total weight of the soil tillage machine, the capacity of the disposal tank is preferably less than 5000 l, particularly preferably less than 4000 l, and more preferably less than 3000 l. In a currently designed version, the capacity of the disposal tank is less than 2500 l.However, the exact capacity of coolant depends not only on the external dimensions of the disposal tank, but also on its internal components.

[0019] The discharge line arrangement allows for a very advantageous free choice of the location of the disposal tank on the tillage machine. This makes it advantageous to position the disposal tank at a distance from the working unit on the tillage machine, allowing not only new tillage machines to be equipped with a disposal tank, but also existing tillage machines to be retrofitted with one.

[0020] It is therefore an object of the present invention to increase the usability of the soil tillage machine mentioned at the outset without excessive additional structural expenditure.

[0021] The present invention solves this problem by a self-propelled soil tillage machine having the features of claim 1.

[0022] The working device can be or comprise a cutting roller as described above for texturing soil surfaces, in particular for creating grooves in the soil surface. Additionally or alternatively, the working device can be or comprise a milling roller as described above. The above statements regarding the known soil cultivating machine with a cutting roller and the known road milling machine apply to the cutting roller or milling roller and the soil cultivating machine of the present invention equipped therewith.

[0023] As in the prior art, the cooling liquid for the soil tillage machine of the present invention is preferably water.

[0024] In principle, it is conceivable to arrange a discharge conveying pump in the discharge line arrangement in order to provide the necessary pressure drop in the discharge line arrangement for the targeted conveying of coolant from the working unit to the disposal tank. According to a preferred development of the present invention, the disposal tank additionally or preferably alternatively has a vacuum device which is designed to convey gas from the disposal tank. This vacuum device can generate a vacuum in the disposal tank, which ensures the pressure drop necessary for conveying coolant from the working unit to the disposal tank. The gas is usually air. However, it should not be ruled out that an atmosphere different from air is artificially created in the gas space above the coolant in the disposal tank, for example in order to hinder the growth of aerobic microbes.

[0025] The vacuum device is preferably designed to generate a pressure in the gas space inside the disposal tank that is at least 18 hPa lower than the ambient pressure outside the disposal tank, particularly preferably at least 22 hPa lower, and even more preferably at least 24 hPa lower. A negative pressure in the disposal tank compared to the ambient pressure with a pressure difference of -40 hPa should be sufficient in preferred embodiments to convey even large quantities of coolant per unit of time over long lines from the working unit to the disposal tank. Slightly above-average quantities of coolant per unit of time can be safely conveyed with a pressure difference of -34 hPa compared to the ambient pressure.To avoid unnecessary investments in vacuum devices, whose price increases with their maximum possible vacuum performance, a negative pressure with a pressure difference of -27 hPa relative to the ambient pressure may be sufficient for most soil tillage applications. Therefore, the vacuum device is preferably designed to generate a pressure in the disposal tank that is no more than 40 hPa, more preferably no more than 34 hPa, and even more preferably no more than 27 hPa lower than the ambient pressure.

[0026] The vacuum device can have at least one fan, preferably a plurality of fans, to convey gas, in particular air, out of the disposal tank. Preferably, a fan arrangement with one or more fans is arranged on an upper side of the disposal tank—when viewing the operational soil tillage machine—in order to be reached as late as possible during soil tillage operation, or better yet, not at all, by the rising coolant level in the disposal tank. Therefore, the upper side of the disposal tank is preferably formed by a flat wall or by a curved wall that is convex when viewed from the outside and thus concave when viewed from the inside, wherein the flat or curved wall supports the vacuum device, in particular its fan arrangement.

[0027] To achieve a sufficient relative negative pressure in the disposal tank compared to the ambient atmosphere, the fan arrangement as a whole can have a flow rate during soil cultivation of at least 10,000 m³ / h at a standard air atmosphere of 20°C and 1013 hPa. More preferably, the flow rate of the fan arrangement during soil cultivation is at least 13,000 m³ / h, even more preferably at least 16,000 m³ / h, in each case with the aforementioned standard air atmosphere as the test atmosphere.

[0028] Likewise, to avoid excessive energy consumption and excessive space requirements, the fan arrangement is preferably designed for a flow rate during soil cultivation of no more than 30,000 m³ / h at the standard air atmosphere. More preferably, the flow rate of the fan arrangement during soil cultivation is no more than 24,000 m³ / h, even more preferably no more than 19,000 m³ / h, in each case at the aforementioned standard air atmosphere as the test atmosphere. The fan arrangement is preferably designed according to the above performance requirements. For example, the fan arrangement can have corresponding nominal flow rates.

[0029] In the preferred case where the fan arrangement comprises a plurality of fans, the nominal air flow rates per hour at standard air atmosphere differ by no more than 15%, preferably by no more than 10%, relative to the larger of two compared nominal flow rates. Particularly preferably, the fans of a fan arrangement are designed with the same nominal flow rate. Most preferably, only identically constructed fans are combined into a fan arrangement of the vacuum device.

[0030] As already described above, the operating case discussed here with high cooling requirements occurs at high cutting speeds and low chip volume, which increases the tendency of used coolant to clog due to fine-grained chip material suspended in the coolant. In order to prevent the chip material suspended in the coolant from settling in the disposal tank, the disposal tank can have a movement device designed to set and / or maintain the movement of the coolant held in the disposal tank. The movement device can be a surge device that reciprocally moves a surge blade back and forth in the interior volume of the disposal tank. Preferably, the movement device is an agitator device designed to stir the coolant held in the disposal tank by means of the rotating movement of a stirring tool.The movement space of a stirring tool is smaller than that of a surge blade and whirlpools in the disposal tank often require the absorption of lower bearing forces than surge movements for the same amount of liquid in the disposal tank.

[0031] In principle, the disposal tank could be designed with a tray and a removable lid covering the tray. The tray preferably encloses the majority of the tank's capacity. The lid preferably supports the vacuum device and encompasses the aforementioned flat or curved upper tank wall. Then, when the nominal fill level of the disposal tank is reached, the full tray could be removed from the lid and, if necessary, from the machine frame and replaced with an empty tray. However, this requires additional machine operation on the construction site.

[0032] To relieve the load on the disposal tank, the soil tillage machine can have a feed pump designed to pump coolant held in the disposal tank out of the disposal tank. The feed pump can then pump coolant from the disposal tank into another tank, which can be mounted on a trailer, for example, and towed by the soil tillage machine as a tractor, or pushed by the soil tillage machine. The feed pump can also pump coolant from the disposal tank into a tank on a disposal vehicle with which the operating personnel at the site are already familiar. This still has the advantage that the disposal vehicle is only needed temporarily and its use can be planned and postponed within certain time limits without any loss of availability of the soil tillage machine.

[0033] The feed pump is preferably designed to feed liquid with a flow rate that allows a flow rate per hour exceeding the capacity of the disposal tank. The feed pump's flow rate is preferably at least 3200 l / h, particularly preferably at least 3500 l / h, and even more preferably at least 3800 l / h. For reasons of cost-effectiveness with regard to the maximum possible capacity of the disposal tank, the feed pump's flow rate is preferably no more than 6000 l / h, more preferably no more than 5000 l / h, and even more preferably no more than 4200 l / h.

[0034] To clean the used and thus contaminated coolant and thus facilitate its further processing or disposal, the soil tillage machine can have a filter device designed to filter out particles, in particular chip material from the abrasive soil tillage, suspended in the coolant held in the disposal tank. The proportion of particles suspended in the coolant can thus be significantly reduced.

[0035] In order to minimize the disruption of the coolant flow from the working unit, it is preferable to arrange the filter device in the feed line of the feed pump, so that coolant flows through the filter device only when the feed pump is operating to pump coolant out of the disposal tank. The filter device can be accommodated in the disposal tank, although this is less preferred due to the associated loss of storage volume for coolant and the associated effort for replacing or cleaning filter elements. The filter device can be mounted on the outside of the disposal tank, ensuring that the filter device is always carried along with the soil tillage machine along with the disposal tank.Alternatively, the filter device can be mounted on a support frame permanently connected to the disposal tank, but at a distance from the tank wall, in order to provide access to the filter device from as many sides as possible. The filter device can also be mounted on the machine frame at a distance from the disposal tank.

[0036] Typically, the soil tillage machine has a storage tank to provide cooling liquid for use by the liquid cooling device. This storage tank preferably has a capacity of at least 2900 l, more preferably of at least 3200 l, and even more preferably of at least 3400 l. Taking into account the cooling requirement on the one hand and the total weight of the soil tillage machine, the capacity of the storage tank is preferably not greater than 6000 l, particularly preferably not greater than 4500 l, and even more preferably not greater than 3700 l. Further preferably, the capacity of the storage tank is greater than the capacity of the disposal tank, so that, starting from an operation start with a completely full storage tank and a completely empty disposal tank, the disposal tank forms the operation-limiting component with regard to the required cooling.After all, when in doubt, it is easier to empty a full tank than to fill an empty one.

[0037] The operating time of the soil tillage machine, freed from the need for a disposal vehicle, can be further increased by installing a return line connecting the disposal tank to the storage tank with the intermediate filter device and the feed pump. The feed pump can then pump filtered coolant, preferably water, from the disposal tank back into the storage tank, from where the coolant can be fed back to the working unit. The filter device can be arranged on the suction side or on the pump side, or as a split filter device on both sides of the feed pump. The filter device is preferably arranged on the suction side of the feed pump so that the feed pump is already flowing with purified coolant and is therefore subjected to less abrasive stress during operation.

[0038] To prevent damage and excessive noise caused by contaminated coolant flowing into the disposal tank, a preferred embodiment provides a baffle plate in the disposal tank downstream of an inlet of the discharge line arrangement into the disposal tank, and preferably at a distance therefrom. The baffle plate can be a rigid body, such as a plate or shield made of metal or ceramic. In a preferred embodiment, the baffle plate can comprise elastic, for example elastomeric, flat bodies, such as a plate or a lip made of, preferably reinforced, rubber or silicone rubber or another elastomer. When coolant is pumped through the discharge line arrangement into the disposal tank, the coolant emerging from the discharge line arrangement strikes the baffle plate.

[0039] Preferably, the inlet of the discharge line arrangement into the disposal tank takes place in the upper half of the disposal tank when viewed in the ready-to-operate state, particularly preferably in the upper quarter of the disposal tank, so that the vacuum device can convey cooling liquid from the working unit into the disposal tank over the longest possible operating period without the counteraction of a back pressure from an increasing amount of liquid in the disposal tank.

[0040] The tillage machine can have a connection formation that communicates with the disposal tank to transmit fluid, for temporarily connecting a fluid line, for example, for connecting a fluid line leading to a disposal vehicle. This allows the coolant contained in the disposal tank to be removed, preferably while it is mounted on the tillage machine and particularly preferably during tillage, in order to increase the disposal tank's capacity again in the respective situation.

[0041] The connection formation can be formed directly in the tank wall or firmly connected to the tank wall as a connection piece or at the longitudinal end of a flexible line connected to the disposal tank, which eliminates the necessary lines between the disposal tank and the connection formation or at least allows them to be kept short. In addition, for example if the feed pump is housed inside the disposal tank, or alternatively, the connection formation can be arranged or formed on the feed pump or at a longitudinal end of a pressure-side feed line of the feed pump, remote from the pump. This means that the connection formation can be provided at almost any location on the soil tillage machine. In addition, the feed pump on the soil tillage machine always has the capacity to pump coolant out of the disposal tank, regardless of the design and equipment of the feed pump's delivery destination.The connection formation can be connected to the disposal tank with the intermediate arrangement preferably of the above-mentioned filter arrangement.

[0042] The feed pump and / or the filter arrangement and / or the connection formation can be accommodated on the above-mentioned support frame connected to the tank wall.

[0043] According to the invention, the soil tillage machine, as explained in detail above, is a soil-removing soil tillage machine. The working device is then, according to the invention, a removal device rotatable about a working axis, such as the cutting roller or milling roller described above. The working axis generally runs in the transverse direction of the machine, i.e., parallel to the pitch axis of the self-propelled soil tillage machine.

[0044] The soil tillage machine is preferably convertible between, for example, a working unit with a first soil tillage function and another working unit with a second soil tillage function different from the first. One working unit can, for example, be a cutting unit with a cutting roller for texturing a soil surface as a first soil tillage function. Another working unit can, for example, be a milling unit with a milling roller for removing entire soil layers from the soil surface as a second soil tillage function.

[0045] Additionally or alternatively, the soil tillage machine can be converted between a working unit requiring maintenance and an operational working unit, each with the same soil tillage function.

[0046] According to the invention, the working unit is therefore a removable working unit that can be detachably removed from the machine frame. Thus, as a removable working unit, the working unit has coupling formations for coupling with counter-coupling formations on the machine frame. A coupling formation on the removable unit and a counter-coupling formation on the machine frame that interacts with it can each be a fastening tab with mutually facing tab surfaces that are designed to bear against one another. The tab surfaces are preferably flat tab surfaces. For securing them to one another, at least one of the fastening tabs has a through-opening. Then, either the other fastening tab can have a fastening projection that, when the tab surfaces are in contact, penetrates the through-opening.The fastening projection can comprise a threaded rod for clamping the fastening tab with the through-hole between the fastening tab carrying the fastening projection and the fastening nut by screwing on a fastening nut. Alternatively, both fastening tabs can each have a through-hole, which are aligned with each other when the tab surfaces are in contact, so that the aligned through-holes can be connected to each other by a fastening screw and a fastening nut or by a threaded pin with a fastening nut on each side of the fastening tabs.

[0047] The above-mentioned fastening projection can alternatively be movable hydraulically or pneumatically between a locking position engaging behind the fastening tab with the through-opening and a release position releasing the fastening tab with the through-opening to separate it from the fastening tab with the fastening projection.

[0048] A coupling formation, optionally a further one, can have a centering body, and a counter-coupling formation interacting with the coupling formation can have a centering recess, for example, a centering cone or a centering spherical cap as the centering body and a negatively conical centering recess. Such centering coupling formations and counter-coupling formations can quickly and reliably ensure that the machine frame and the interchangeable work unit are in a predetermined relative position and orientation to each other immediately before the interchangeable work unit is secured to the machine frame.

[0049] If the machine frame of the soil tillage machine discussed here is designed to accommodate a working unit with a milling drum, the machine frame according to the invention has a conveyor belt mount for detachably receiving a conveyor belt in order to convey removed soil material away from the location of the working unit. This applies to a soil tillage machine that is permanently designed as a road milling machine. However, this applies particularly to a soil tillage machine that can be optionally equipped with a milling unit or with a cutting unit thanks to coupling interfaces on the machine frame. Although the cutting unit generally does not require a conveyor belt with the transport capacity of a conveyor belt for a road milling machine, the conveyor belt mount is nevertheless extremely advantageous if the soil tillage machine is equipped as a road milling machine.

[0050] Due to the detachable arrangement of the conveyor belt on the machine frame, in the event of a conversion of the soil tillage machine for soil tillage with high cooling requirements, for example for texturing cutting, the disposal tank is detachably arranged on the conveyor belt holder according to the invention.

[0051] In the present application, "detachable" means detachable as intended, i.e. the respective component, here: the conveyor belt and the disposal tank, is non-destructively isolated by means of detachable fastening means as intended and can be removed and reattached from the rest of the soil tillage machine with little expenditure of time without prior disassembly of other components of the soil tillage machine.

[0052] Preferably, the soil tilling machine as a road milling machine is a front-loader road milling machine, which conveys milled material in the feed direction to the longitudinal end of the soil tilling machine leading in forward travel or beyond, for example, to discharge milled material into a transport vehicle traveling ahead in the feed direction. Such front-loader road milling machines are designed for high removal volumes per unit of time and have a correspondingly stable conveyor belt mount. The conveyor belt mount can, for example, have at least one bolt running in the machine height direction or preferably at least two bolts arranged coaxially in the machine height direction, to which not only the conveyor belt but also the disposal tank can be secured.To facilitate access to the at least one bolt, the at least one bolt can be arranged on a retaining bracket that projects from the machine frame in the longitudinal direction of the machine and is rigidly connected to the machine frame. When using more than one bolt, each bolt is preferably arranged on such a retaining bracket.

[0053] To facilitate securing the disposal tank to the machine frame, the soil tillage machine comprises a support bracket formed separately from the machine frame, which can be suspended from the conveyor belt mount, for example by sliding at least one securing eyelet or securing bushing onto the at least one bolt of the conveyor belt mount. Since the conveyor belt mount preferably has at least two, particularly preferably exactly two, coaxially arranged bolts, each of which protrudes in the same direction from the retaining tab supporting it in the machine height direction, the support bracket also preferably has at least two, particularly preferably exactly two, coaxially arranged securing eyes or securing bushings in order to be able to support a tilting moment on the machine frame about a tilting axis parallel to the machine height direction.

[0054] In a kinematic reversal, the at least one bolt can be arranged on at least one retaining lug of the support bracket, and the at least one securing eyelet or securing bushing can be rigidly arranged on the machine frame. To ensure its ability to be hooked onto the securing eyelet or securing bushing, a bolt projecting from a retaining lug of the support bracket projects in the opposite direction from its retaining lug as a bolt fixed to the machine frame.

[0055] Preferably, the support bracket is a component that is movably connected to the disposal tank relative to the disposal tank, so that the disposal tank coupled to the machine frame of the soil tillage machine can perform movements relative to the machine frame, for example in order to be able to adjust the disposal tank relative to the machine frame or to allow evasive movements in the event of a large amount of strongly sloshing coolant in the disposal tank.

[0056] A further advantage is the ability to manufacture the support bracket separately, which can be connected either to a conveyor belt or to the disposal tank. Preferably, a conveyor belt attached to the soil tillage machine, as part of the road milling equipment, has its own support bracket, and the disposal tank, as part of the soil texturing equipment, has its own identical support bracket.

[0057] As an alternative to assigning a separate support bracket to a conveyor belt and a separate support bracket to the disposal tank, the support bracket can be permanently connected to the conveyor belt holder on the machine frame and can be designed at a coupling engagement formation arranged at a distance from the conveyor belt holder for coupling to a coupling counter-engagement formation on the disposal tank.

[0058] Preferably, the disposal tank has an identical coupling counter-engagement formation as the conveyor belt, so that one and the same support bracket can support both the conveyor belt and the disposal tank.

[0059] A formation of a coupling engagement formation and a coupling counter-engagement formation, preferably the coupling counter-engagement formation of the disposal tank, comprises or includes spaced-apart, coaxial pins projecting in opposite directions. The coaxial arrangement of the pins allows the disposal tank to be tilted relative to the support bracket. The spaced-apart arrangement of the pins allows a tilting moment orthogonal to the tilt axis of the disposal tank relative to the support bracket to be supported.

[0060] If the pins are arranged on the disposal tank in a coupling-counter-engagement formation, they preferably protrude away from each other in opposite directions on different sides of the disposal tank. If the pins are arranged on the support bracket, they preferably protrude from sections of the support bracket in a direction toward each other.

[0061] The respective other formation of coupling engagement formation and coupling counter-engagement formation, which is not a pin, preferably comprises, for each pin, an associated encompassing section with an insertion mouth, through which the pin can be inserted into the encompassing section. The encompassing section encompasses the pin inserted into it along a circumferential section, approximately of 180°, so that the pin is received in the encompassing section in a form-fitting manner. To increase occupational safety, the insertion mouth is particularly preferably closable, for example by a displaceable closure component that is displaceable between a locked position, in which the insertion mouth is physically blocked, and a release position, in which the pin can be inserted into and removed from the encompassing section through the insertion mouth.In order to reduce the operating effort of the machine operator controlling the soil tillage machine, the locking component can be designed as a latch which is pre-tensioned into the locking position and which can only be displaced from the locking position into the release position by the pin when it is inserted into the encompassing section and which must be actively displaced into the release position when the pin is inserted into the encompassing section in order to enable the pin to be released from the encompassing section.

[0062] Preferably, the support frame comprises a holding fork which holds the disposal tank between its parallel fork struts when the disposal tank is in the operational state.

[0063] Regardless of the specific attachment of the disposal tank to the machine frame, the disposal tank is preferably tiltable relative to the machine frame about an inclination axis parallel to the contact area of ​​the soil tillage machine, either to adjust the disposal tank relative to the machine frame or for the aforementioned evasive movements. Additionally or alternatively, it could even be considered that the disposal tank, like the conveyor belt, is pivotably mounted on the machine frame about a pivot axis parallel to the yaw axis of the soil tillage machine. This would allow the orientation of the disposal tank relative to an accompanying disposal vehicle to be adapted to the equipment of the disposal vehicle or to the prevailing operating situation.

[0064] The soil tillage machine can have a tilt actuator to drive the disposal tank to tilt. Such a tilt actuator can be hydraulically, pneumatically, or electrically operated. It can be a piston-cylinder arrangement or a spindle drive. The tilt actuator can also be manually operated, for example, as a turnbuckle spindle drive.

[0065] Additionally or alternatively, the soil tillage machine may have a tilt damper to dampen any tilting movement of the disposal tank. This may be necessary to dampen sloshing movements of large quantities of liquid collected in the disposal tank and the resulting movements of the disposal tank itself.

[0066] If the disposal tank can be pivoted around the yaw axis or the machine's vertical axis, the soil tillage machine can have a pivot actuator to drive the disposal tank to pivot, and / or the soil tillage machine can have a pivot damper to dampen the pivoting movement of the disposal tank. The pivot actuator can be constructed in a similar way to the tilt actuator.

[0067] The chassis can have at least three tracks that can roll on a contact surface of the soil tillage machine. The tracks can be wheeled or tracked. Preferably, at least one of the tracks is steerable. Tracks on a common axle are particularly preferably steerable, preferably while maintaining the Ackermann condition.

[0068] Preferably, the working device is accommodated in a longitudinal region of the soil tillage machine—when the soil tillage machine is viewed in a straight line—which extends from the front end of the foremost drive unit to the rear end of the rearmost drive unit when the soil tillage machine is viewed in a straight line. Particularly preferably, the working device is arranged in a longitudinal region between the rearmost end of the foremost drive unit and the front end of the rearmost drive unit when the soil tillage machine is viewed in a straight line. For example, the soil tillage machine can have two drives forming a front axle and two drives forming a rear axle, with the working device preferably being arranged between the front drives and the rear drives in the machine's longitudinal direction.

[0069] To facilitate connection to an accompanying disposal vehicle, the disposal tank is preferably positioned straight ahead of the machine frame when driving forward. In this preferred case, at least 50%, particularly preferably at least 65%, and even more preferably at least 80% of the disposal tank's capacity is located in front of the front axle of the soil tillage machine.

[0070] The front axle drives are then preferably located in the longitudinal direction of the machine between the disposal tank and the working unit.

[0071] The power source of the soil tillage machine, which can be an internal combustion engine, in particular a diesel engine, or an electric motor, is preferably located closer to the rear axle than to the front axle in the machine's longitudinal direction, particularly preferably on the other side of the working device than the disposal tank, in order to provide a counterweight to the disposal tank. For the most even weight distribution along the machine's longitudinal axis, the above-mentioned storage tank is preferably located closer to the front axle than to the rear axle in the machine's longitudinal direction. A control station, on which a machine operator is located to operate the soil tillage machine during operation, is preferably located between the storage tank and the power source in the machine's longitudinal direction.

[0072] The power source can deliver mechanical power via a rotating shaft, which can be converted into hydraulic and / or electrical power by connecting a hydraulic pump and / or a generator. The mechanical power can also be used directly on the soil tillage machine via a mechanical transmission, for example, to drive the working device for rotation around the working axis. A transfer case allows the mechanical power delivered to a rotating shaft to be used as mechanical power without converting the power type, or to be converted into hydraulic and / or electrical power.

[0073] The present invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It shows: Fig. 1 is a roughly schematic side view of an embodiment of a soil cultivation machine according to the invention, equipped for texturing cutting of a soil surface, and Fig. 2 is a roughly schematic perspective view of the disposal tank of Fig. 1 with omitted side wall, coupled with a discharge line arrangement which discharges cooling liquid on both sides of a working device.

[0074] In Figure 1 An embodiment of a soil tillage machine according to the invention of the present application is generally designated 10. The soil tillage machine 10 is shown in side view. A Cartesian coordinate system typical for self-propelled vehicles, consisting of a roll axis Ro running along the machine's longitudinal axis L, a yaw axis Gi running along the machine's vertical direction H, and a pitch axis Ni running along the machine's transverse direction Q, is shown in the Figures 1 and 2The arrow on the machine's longitudinal direction L points in the forward direction.

[0075] The soil tillage machine 10, or hereinafter referred to as "machine," has a machine body 14 supported by a chassis 12. The machine body 14 comprises a rigid machine frame 16 and components and assemblies arranged thereon, some of which are movable relative to the machine frame 16, such as doors and flaps, the protective roof 46, and the like.

[0076] In the example shown, the chassis 12 comprises two front track drives 18, of which only the one closer to the viewer of Figure 1 The left track drive 18 can be seen, which conceals the right track drive behind it, and two rear track drives 20. Wheel drives can also be used instead of the track drives 18 and 20.

[0077] Each track drive 18 and 20 has its own hydraulic motor 22 as the travel drive. A power source 24, arranged in the area of ​​the rear of the soil tillage machine 10 on the machine frame 16 under a cover 23 and therefore shown in dashed lines, in the illustrated embodiment in the form of a diesel-powered internal combustion engine, supplies the power required to operate the soil tillage machine 10. Power is transferred from its crankshaft via a transfer case (not shown) to a hydraulic pump, which generates and maintains the hydraulic pressure required for the travel drive and for other hydraulic consumers on the soil tillage machine 10.

[0078] The machine frame 16 and with it the machine body 14 can be displaced in the machine height direction H relative to the support surface U, on which the soil tillage machine 10 stands via its chassis 12, via hydraulically actuated lifting columns 26. In the preferred case of a working device 28 arranged on the machine frame 16 so as to be non-displaceable in the machine height direction H, an engagement depth of the working device 28 in the support surface U for processing said ground can be adjusted by displacing the machine frame 16 in the machine height direction H. However, it is fundamentally also possible to arrange the working device 28 so as to be displaceable relative to the machine frame 16 in the machine height direction H and to adjust the engagement depth by displacing the working device 28 on the machine frame 16. Reference symbol E designates an engagement zone of the working device 28 in the support surface U.

[0079] The working device 28, in the illustrated embodiment a cutting roller drivable for rotation about a working axis R running in the cross-machine direction Q for grooving and texturing the surface of the support base U, is accommodated in a box 30 that shields the working device on both sides in the machine longitudinal direction L and on both sides in the cross-machine direction Q as well as towards the machine frame 16 in the machine height direction H. The box 30 is part of an interchangeable working unit 32 that is detachably mounted on the machine frame 16 via predetermined mechanical interfaces 34 and energy supply interfaces 36 for transmitting hydraulic and / or pneumatic and / or electrical energy and can be exchanged for another working unit in a relatively short time.

[0080] The Figure 1The soil tillage machine 10 shown, at least its machine body 14 with the chassis 12 supporting it via the lifting columns 26, can be converted into a road milling machine by exchanging the working unit 32 shown for grooving and texturing cutting with a milling unit for milling the working surface.

[0081] By rotating the working device 28 about its working axis, the necessary cutting speed is generated at the respective cutting circle of the working device 28. The travel drive with the hydraulic motors 22 ensures the advance of the working device 28. In the illustrated embodiment, the front drives 18 are steered about front steering axles S1 by a front Ackermann steering device 38, and the rear drives 20 are steered about rear steering axles S2 by a rear Ackermann steering device 40.

[0082] The operation of the soil tillage machine 10 is controlled from a control station 42, where the machine operator is located during soil tillage operations or while the machine 10 is in motion. The control station 42 contains at least one control panel 44 for outputting information and inputting control commands. The control station 42 is also protected from the elements by the aforementioned retractable protective roof 46.

[0083] During soil cultivation, the working device 28 must be cooled. For this purpose, the soil cultivation machine 10 carries a storage tank 48 arranged in front of the operator's platform 42, which can hold approximately 3500 liters of water as the preferred cooling fluid C.

[0084] The storage tank 48 is part of a liquid cooling device 50, which introduces coolant C from the storage tank 48 into the working unit 32 by means of a coolant pump 52 via a coolant line 54.

[0085] The cooling requirement during the cutting or grooving action of the working device 28, designed as a cutting roller, is high. It amounts to approximately 3000 to 3500 l / h. This amount of coolant C cannot be continuously introduced into the working unit 32 without actively removing coolant C from the working unit 32.

[0086] For this purpose, the soil tillage machine 10 has a discharge line arrangement 56, which is designed to discharge cooling liquid C from the working unit 32. Also accommodated on the soil tillage machine 10 is a disposal tank 58, into which the cooling liquid C discharged by the discharge line arrangement 56 is introduced. Points P mark Fig. 1 Particles P, such as chippings, which are suspended in the discharged coolant C.

[0087] One in Figure 1 The portion of the discharge line arrangement 56 concealed by the machine body 14 runs in a shaft of the machine body 14, in which, when the soil tillage machine 10 is equipped as a road milling machine, a conveyor belt runs to convey milled material away from the working unit to the front of the soil tillage machine 10. The discharge line arrangement 56 is preferably arranged in a fully or partially detachable manner on the machine frame 16 and, as intended, can be replaced with a conveyor belt together with the disposal tank 58.

[0088] The disposal tank 58 is connected to the machine frame 16 via a support bracket 60. An identical support bracket 60 is also used when the soil tillage machine 10 is configured as a road milling machine to connect the aforementioned conveyor belt to the machine frame 16.

[0089] The support bracket 60 is mounted on a conveyor belt holder 61 of the soil tillage machine 10. The support bracket 60 (see also Figure 2 ) is connected via a lower securing eyelet 62 and an upper securing eyelet 64 to a bolt 68 projecting upwards from a lower retaining tab 66 and to a coaxial bolt 72 projecting upwards from an upper retaining tab 70. The retaining tabs 66 and 70, with their respective coaxially projecting bolts 68 and 72, form the conveyor belt holder 61.

[0090] The support bracket 60, with its securing eyes 62 and 64, is lowered from above along the machine height direction to the retaining tabs 66 and 70, so that the lower bolt 68 engages the lower securing eye 62 and the upper bolt 72 engages the upper securing eye 64. The retaining tabs 66 and 70 protrude forward in the machine longitudinal direction L.

[0091] Tension bearing cheeks 74 of the support bracket 60, which receive ends of tension rods or tension cables in the case of a coupling of the support bracket 60 with a conveyor belt, are also present for receiving conveyor belts due to the usability of the support bracket 60, but are non-functional in the case of a coupling with the disposal tank 58.

[0092] The support bracket 60 has a holding fork 76, between whose parallel angled struts 76a and 76b the disposal tank 58 is connected to the longitudinal end of the holding fork 76 so as to be tiltable about a tilt axis N parallel to the cross-machine direction Q. Via a manual actuator 78 in the exemplary form of a turnbuckle, i.e. basically a screw drive, which has a cross strut 76c (see Figure 2 ) of the holding fork 76 with an upper wall 58a of the disposal tank 58, the inclination of the disposal tank 58 relative to the machine frame 16 can be adjusted within predetermined limits.

[0093] The coupling of the disposal tank 58 to the holding fork 76 is explained in detail at the end of the description of the embodiment.

[0094] At the Figure 1On the side wall 58b of the disposal tank 58 facing the viewer, a maintenance opening covered by a maintenance cover 80 can be seen at the top left. The dimensions of the maintenance opening allow one person to climb through it.

[0095] At a location near the lowest point of the bottom 58d of the disposal tank 58, a cleaning opening is covered by an exemplary circular cover 82. Particulate material P deposited at the bottom 58d of the disposal tank 58 can be removed from the disposal tank 58 through the cleaning opening during maintenance work. The used coolant C delivered to the disposal tank 58 is typically a suspension of cooling water and fine-grained abrasive chips from soil cultivation, so there is a specific need for cleaning in the soil area.

[0096] The bottom 58d of the disposal tank 58 is advantageously inclined relative to the direction of gravity action parallel to the machine height direction, so that particles P resting on the bottom 58d are subjected to a downhill force, which causes settled particles P to accumulate at the lowest point of the disposal tank 58. In the illustrated embodiment, the bottom 58d is advantageously formed from several flat plates inclined relative to one another in a manufacturing-technical manner. However, this is merely one embodiment. The bottom can also be curved around one axis of curvature or around two orthogonal axes of curvature. A flat bottom oriented orthogonally to the direction of gravity action is also possible in principle.

[0097] The filling level of the disposal tank can be visually checked via a sight glass 84, which is advantageously made of plastic, for example polymethyl methacrylate, and whose dimensions along the direction of gravity are advantageously larger than transversely thereto.

[0098] In the illustrated embodiment, a vacuum device 86 is arranged on the upper wall 58a of the disposal tank 58 at its front longitudinal end, which vacuum device 86 has four similar fans 88 in the illustrated embodiment (see Figure 2 ). With the vacuum device 86, air can be pumped out of the disposal tank 58 so that a relative negative pressure with respect to the pressure prevailing in the working unit 32 can be generated and maintained in the disposal tank 58.

[0099] Driven by this relative negative pressure, coolant C flows from the working unit 32 via the discharge line arrangement 56 into the disposal tank 58. Preferably, the discharge line arrangement 56 therefore does not require a discharge pump, although it should not be ruled out that the conveyance of used coolant C from the working unit 32 into the disposal tank 58 can be supported by a discharge pump or even effected alone.

[0100] In the exemplary embodiment, a support frame 90 is attached to the outside of the front, lower area of ​​the disposal tank 58, for example, welded, screwed, or riveted. The disposal tank 58 is preferably made of metal, in particular of sheet metal. A feed pump 92 is arranged on the support frame 90, which draws coolant from the disposal tank 58 on the suction side via a feed line 94 and delivers it on its pressure side to a discharge location not shown in detail in the figures. A pressure-side flange 96 is a connection formation for connecting a further feed line, for example to a disposal vehicle. A return line 97, via which the feed pump 92 can pump coolant C from the disposal tank 58 back into the storage tank 48, is indicated only symbolically by dashed lines.

[0101] Between the disposal tank 58 and the feed pump 92, a filter device 98 (shown only symbolically) is arranged in the feed line 94, which is designed to filter out particles P suspended in the cooling liquid C, so that the feed pump 92 is already flowed through by cooling liquid C with a significantly lower dirt load than the cooling liquid C taken directly from the disposal tank 58. This not only reduces the wear load on the feed pump 92, but also allows the cooling liquid C to be pumped back into the storage tank 48 through the return line 97, if necessary with the interposition of a further filter device between the feed pump 92 and the storage tank 48, for example for fine filtering, in order to remove even smaller particles P from the cooling liquid C than the filter device 98 is able to do.

[0102] In Figure 1Furthermore, one can see, protruding from the upper tank wall 58a, a shaft stub 100 of a stirring device 102, which serves to keep the cooling liquid C held in the disposal tank 58 in motion in order to at least delay the settling of the removal chips suspended thereon.

[0103] In Figure 2 The working device 28, the discharge line arrangement 56 and the disposal tank 58 with the support bracket 60 are shown in perspective from the front and above. Figure 1 The tank wall 58b facing the viewer is in Figure 2 omitted to show and explain the interior of the disposal tank 58.

[0104] The disposal tank 58 of the illustrated embodiment is mirror-symmetrical with respect to a mid-vertical plane, which is oriented parallel to the machine height direction H and the machine longitudinal direction L. The viewer of the Figures 1 and 2opposite side wall, which leads to the Figure 1 shown side wall 58a, therefore also has a maintenance cover 80 for closing a maintenance opening, a sight glass 84 and a cleaning cover 82 for closing a cleaning opening.

[0105] The stirring device 102 has, at its longitudinal end opposite the shaft end 100, a stirring tool 104, for example with four stirring blades positioned relative to the rotational axis of the stirring device 102, which are arranged at a distance of 90° around the rotational axis of the stirring device 102. Due to the mirror-symmetrical design of the disposal tank 58, a second stirring tool is provided, which Figure 2 is not shown, since it is identical to the front stirring tool 104 shown.

[0106] A partition wall 106 extending in the mirror symmetry plane above the floor 58d is intended to prevent an accumulation of settling particles P in the transverse center of the floor 58d. As in Figure 2 As can be seen, the feed pump 92 draws from the disposal tank 58 not only on the side facing the viewer via a feed line 94, but also on the side facing away from the viewer. However, only the connecting flange 94a for connecting an additional feed line is shown there. The additional feed line itself, which is mirror-symmetrical to the feed line 94 shown, is not shown.

[0107] In order to ensure that no particle sediment remains permanently in the transverse center between the two suction points of the feed pump 92 in the disposal tank 58, the partition wall 106 is arranged.

[0108] In the rear area of ​​the disposal tank 58, in the area of ​​the partition wall 106, a further cleaning opening 107 can be formed, which can also be closed with a circular lid.

[0109] Approximately at the height midpoint of the disposal tank 58, distributed over a central region extending in the machine height direction H, three reinforcing cross struts 108 are arranged, for example, between the side walls of the disposal tank 58, extending in the cross-machine direction Q. One of the cross struts 108 runs coaxially to the tilt axis N and reinforces the disposal tank 58 directly in the cross-machine direction Q between the articulation points of the holding fork 76 of the support bracket 60.

[0110] For example, three lines carrying coolant C lead from the discharge line arrangement 56 into the rear side wall of the tank 58, which, when the disposal tank 58 is arranged on the machine frame 16 in an operational manner, points towards the rear of the soil tillage machine 10. The three lines of the discharge line arrangement 56 open in the machine height direction H in the region of the uppermost 15 to 20% of the height of the disposal tank 58, in order to ensure that even when the disposal tank 58 is heavily filled with coolant C, there is still a direct connection between the vacuum device 86 and the opening of the discharge line arrangement 56, so that the negative pressure in the gas space generated by the vacuum device 86 in the disposal tank 58 can act on the discharge line arrangement 56 directly and without the counteraction of a back pressure caused by the coolant C held in the disposal tank 58.

[0111] The discharge line arrangement 56 sucks cooling liquid C from the working unit 32 via slot nozzles 110 essentially over at least 80%, preferably over at least 90% of the extension of the working device 28 in the cross-machine direction Q in the longitudinal machine direction L, both in front of the engagement zone E of the engagement of the working device 28 with the support surface U to be machined and behind the engagement zone E.

[0112] For example, to protect the stirring device 102 with its stirring tool 104 from being struck by particle-containing coolant C flowing into the disposal tank 58, a baffle surface 112, for example made of reinforced elastomer, is arranged in the disposal tank 58 at a distance from the opening of the discharge line arrangement 56 into the disposal tank 58. The baffle surface 112 can be securely anchored in the disposal tank 58 via a metal frame 114. Coolant C flowing into the tank then strikes the baffle surface 112 and flows off it. In addition to the stirring device 102, the baffle surface 112 also protects the vacuum device 86 from direct contact with particle-containing coolant C flowing into the disposal tank.

[0113] The disposal tank 58 can be pivoted about the common axis of the bolts 68 and 72, which is parallel to the machine height direction H. To pivot the disposal tank 58, a pivot actuator already present on the machine frame 16 can be used to pivot the conveyor belt, which pivot actuator engages the support bracket 60.

[0114] The coupling of the disposal tank 58 with the holding fork 76 is explained below: of which only in Figure 1 A pin 116 projects outwardly along the tilt axis N from the side wall 58b of the disposal tank 58 shown. The above-explained mirror-symmetrical design of the disposal tank 58 also applies to the coupling of the disposal tank 58. The pin 116 is rotationally symmetrical with respect to the tilt axes, so that the pin 116 is the pivot pin of a tilt joint formed together with the holding fork 76.

[0115] The pin 116 is in the Figures 1 and 2shown coupling situation with the holding fork 76 is surrounded by a generally U-shaped encompassing section 118 which encompasses the pin 116 at its circumferential section pointing towards the ground U over approximately 180°.

[0116] The upwardly open encompassing section 118 has an insertion mouth 120 through which the pin 116 was inserted into the encompassing section 118.

[0117] The machine operator of the soil tillage machine 10 can perform the movements necessary for inserting the pin 116 into the wrap-around section 118 using the chassis 12 and the lifting columns 26. To accommodate the disposal tank 58 detached from the soil tillage machine 10 or its machine body 14, the operator lowers the machine body 14 with the support bracket 60 until the wrap-around section 118 is completely lower than the pin 116. The machine operator then approaches the machine body 14 with the disposal tank 58 such that the insertion opening 120 is located below the pin 116 in the machine height direction H. In this situation, the machine operator lifts the machine body 14 with the support bracket 60 so that the pin is inserted into the recess of the wrap-around section 118.A locking latch 122 allows a relative movement of the pin 116 along the machine height direction into the recess of the wrap-around section 118 and blocks an opposite relative movement of the pin 116 out of the wrap-around section 18.

[0118] In this situation, the machine operator attaches the manual actuator 78 to the corresponding attachment eyelet on the disposal tank 58. Likewise, the manual actuator 78 is attached to the cross strut 76c of the holding fork 76 using the attachment eyelet provided for it. By actuating the manual actuator 78, for example by rotating a larger-diameter internal threaded section 78a of the actuator component, which in the illustrated embodiment is connected to the attachment eyelet of the disposal tank 58, relative to the external thread of a threaded rod 78b connected to the attachment eyelet of the cross strut 76c, the machine operator can adjust the relative inclination of the disposal tank 58 relative to the support bracket 60 about the inclination axis N. This adjustment work may be facilitated if the disposal tank 78 is raised from the ground U via the lifting columns 26.

[0119] Removal of the disposal tank 78 occurs in the reverse sequence, whereby the locking latch 122 must be actively moved into its release position retracted from the insertion mouth 120. This can be done manually or by an actuator provided with the locking latch 22.

Claims

1. A self-propelled earth working machine (10), comprising: - a machine frame (16), - a traveling gear (12) supporting the machine frame (16), - a power source (24) for supplying the earth working machine (10) with mechanical and / or electrical and / or hydraulic power, - a working unit (32) having a housing enclosure (30) for providing an earth working zone (E), - a working apparatus (28) accommodated in the working unit (32), which is designed for earth working operation, and - a liquid cooling apparatus (50), which is designed to conduct liquid coolant (C) into the working unit (32), wherein the earth working machine (10) comprises a discharge tank (58) and a discharge line system (56), the discharge line system (56) connecting the working unit to the discharge tank (58) and being designed to conduct liquid coolant (C) from the working unit (32) into the discharge tank (58), wherein the self-propelled earth working machine (10) is an earth (U) removing earth working machine (10), the working apparatus (28) being a removing apparatus rotatable about a working axis (R), characterized in that the working unit (32) is a swappable working unit (32) that is releasable from the machine frame (16) according to its intended use, wherein the machine frame (16) comprises a conveyor belt holding fixture (61) for releasably accommodating a conveyor belt for transporting removed earth material away from the location of the working unit (32), wherein the discharge tank (58) is situated in releasable fashion on the conveyor belt holding fixture (61).

2. The self-propelled earth working machine (10) as recited in Claim 1, characterized in that the discharge tank (58) comprises a vacuum apparatus (86), which is designed to remove gas from the discharge tank (58).

3. The self-propelled earth working machine (10) as recited in Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the discharge tank (58) comprises a motion apparatus (102), which is designed to keep liquid coolant (C) collected in the discharge tank (58) in motion.

4. The self-propelled earth working machine (10) as recited in Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the earth working machine (10) comprises a transfer pump (92) for transferring liquid coolant (C) collected in the discharge tank (58) from the discharge tank (58).

5. The self-propelled earth working machine (10) as recited in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the earth working machine (10) comprises a filter apparatus (98), which is designed to filter particles (P), which are suspended in the liquid coolant (C) collected in the discharge tank (58), out of the liquid coolant (C).

6. The self-propelled earth working machine (10) as recited in Claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the earth working machine (10) comprises a reservoir (48), which is designed to provide liquid coolant (C) for use by the liquid cooling apparatus (50), wherein a return line (97) connects the discharge tank (58) to the reservoir (48) by interposition of the filter apparatus (98) and the transfer pump (92).

7. The self-propelled earth working machine (10) as recited in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a baffle (112) is situated in the discharge tank (58) downstream from an inlet of the discharge line system (56) into the discharge tank (58).

8. The self-propelled earth working machine (10) as recited in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the earth working machine (10) comprises at least one connection formation (96) communicating with the discharge tank for the temporary connection of a fluid line.

9. The self-propelled earth working machine (10) as recited in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the discharge tank (58) is inclinable relative to the machine frame (16) about an axis of inclination (N) that is parallel with respect to the contact area of the earth working machine (10) and / or is swivable about a swivel axis that is parallel with respect to the yaw axis (Gi) of the earth working machine (10).

10. The self-propelled earth working machine (10) as recited in Claim 9, characterized in that the earth working machine (10) comprises an inclination actuator (78) in order to drive the discharge tank (58) to perform an inclining movement, and / or the earth working machine (10) comprises an inclination damper in order to dampen an inclining movement of the discharge tank (58), and / or the earth working machine (10) comprises a swivel actuator in order to drive the discharge tank (58) to perform a swiveling movement, and / or the earth working machine (10) comprises a swivel damper in order to dampen a swiveling movement of the discharge tank (58).

11. The self-propelled earth working machine (10) as recited in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the traveling gear (12) comprises at least three drive units (18, 20) rollable on a contact area (U) of the earth working machine (10), of which at least one is steerable, the working apparatus (28) being accommodated in a longitudinal area of the earth working machine (10), which, when the drive units (18, 20) are oriented for straight-ahead travel of the earth working machine (10), extends from the front end of the front-most drive unit (18) to the rear end of the rear-most drive unit (20).

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