Soil compactor for compacting soil material and method for operating such a soil compactor

Abstract

A soil compactor for compacting soil material, in particular asphalt, comprises at least one compactor roller (14, 16) rotatable on a compactor structure (30) about a roller rotation axis (W) that is essentially orthogonal to a longitudinal direction (L) of the compactor and at least one marking unit (26, 26') carried on the compactor structure (30) for applying marking material (M) to soil material (12) driven over by the soil compactor (10).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a soil compactor with which soil material, in particular asphalt, can be compacted. The invention further relates to a method for operating such a soil compactor.

[0002] In road construction or the construction of runways at airports, it is common practice to apply markings, generally referred to as road markings, after the preparation of the ground, which is usually built up with asphalt and compacted by one or more soil compactors. For this purpose, pre-markings are applied using special equipment. These pre-markings, which are relatively thin and may be only partially visible, indicate the course of the road markings to be applied in a subsequent step. Liquid marking material can be used for both the pre-markings and the road markings; this material is sprayed or applied to the previously compacted ground.Particularly in construction sites, it is also known to create temporary road markings by applying marking material designed as roll-off strips in the style of adhesive tape.

[0003] A soil compactor according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from CN 216 739 134 U. In this soil compactor, a marking unit is provided along one of the compactor rollers in a longitudinal direction. The marking unit comprises a plurality of spray heads mounted transversely to the longitudinal direction of the compactor at intervals from one another on a support beam.

[0004] WO 00 / 70150 A1 discloses an asphalt paver with which asphalt material can be applied and distributed on a substrate. The asphalt paver is equipped with spray heads mounted transversely to a longitudinal direction of the paver at intervals from one another on a support beam. These spray heads, in interaction with a system for measuring the surface temperature of the applied and distributed asphalt material, can mark areas of excessively high or low temperature.

[0005] GB 302 210 A discloses a soil compactor in which one or more containers for storing paint material are provided along the longitudinal axis of the compactor, following a compaction roller. A discharge pipe is provided for each container, through which the paint material can be discharged onto the surface of the subgrade traversed by the soil compactor.

[0006] US Patent 4,162,862 A discloses a soil compactor in which a marking unit for applying marking material to soil is configured to dispense marking material in the form of a conveyor belt. Rollers of the conveyor belt are rotatably mounted on a compactor assembly of the soil compactor approximately in a central width region of the soil compactor for dispensing the conveyor belt.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a soil compactor and a method for operating a compactor, which enable a simplified production of a soil structure with a marking provided thereon.

[0008] According to a first aspect of the present invention, this problem is solved by a soil compactor for compacting soil material, in particular asphalt, comprising at least one compactor roller rotatable on a compactor structure about a roller rotation axis that is essentially orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the compactor, further comprising at least one marking unit carried on the compactor structure for applying marking material to soil material driven over by the soil compactor.

[0009] In order to be able to produce more complex forms of road markings, at least one marking unit is movably mounted on the compactor assembly.

[0010] Since compacting the soil material, generally asphalt, is the last or one of the last steps in the construction of a soil structure, for example in road construction, a soil compactor designed according to the invention can, for example, simultaneously apply marking material to the surface of the soil material during the last or one of the last passes for compaction. Additional work steps or additional equipment for this operation are then not required.

[0011] In a design that is easy to implement and supports a defined positioning of the dispensed marking material, at least one marking unit can be mounted on the compressor structure in a substantially immovable manner.

[0012] In order to gain access, in particular to the lateral edge areas of the compacted soil material, it is proposed that at least one marking unit, which is essentially immovable and mounted on the compactor structure, be supported on a lateral edge area of ​​the compactor structure.

[0013] An edge pressure unit can be provided on the compactor assembly in relation to at least one lateral edge area. In particular, in conjunction with a marking unit that is immovably mounted on a lateral edge area of ​​the compactor assembly, this ensures that a fixed, predetermined distance between the edge pressure unit and this marking unit, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the compactor, results in a correspondingly defined, predetermined distance between the applied marking material and the lateral edge of the compacted soil material.

[0014] For this purpose, for example, at least one guide rail can be provided on the compressor assembly, and at least one, preferably each, marking unit movably mounted on the compressor assembly can be movable along the at least one guide rail.

[0015] In order to be able to arrange a marking unit carried on a guide rail in different positions for dispensing marking material, a marking unit drive can be provided for moving the marking unit along the at least one guide rail in association with at least one, preferably each, marking unit movable along the at least one guide rail.

[0016] Essentially, the entire width of the soil material covered by a soil compactor or driven over during a pass can be used for the application of marking material if at least one, preferably each, guide rail extends substantially in the direction of the roller's axis of rotation, and / or if at least one, preferably each, guide rail is arranged following a compactor roller in the longitudinal direction of the compactor.

[0017] Particularly for smaller-scale applications or for applying guidelines for pre-marking, at least one, preferably each, marking unit can comprise a spray can containing a liquid marking material.

[0018] For a larger scope of work or for applying the final road markings, it is advantageous if at least one, preferably each, marking unit includes a spray head and at least one marking material tank connected to the spray head for supplying liquid marking material is provided on the compressor assembly.

[0019] At least one, preferably each, marking unit can be designed to apply a pre-marking to the ground material. Alternatively or additionally, at least one, preferably each, marking unit can be designed to apply a road marking to the ground material.

[0020] In order to create non-permanent road markings, for example in construction sites, it is proposed that at least one, preferably every, marking unit be designed as a roll-off belt for applying marking material.

[0021] For a defined operation of the at least one marking unit, it is proposed that this, preferably each marking unit, is under the control of a control unit and can be operated by issuing control commands from the control unit to dispense marking material.

[0022] According to a further aspect of the present invention, the problem mentioned at the outset is solved by a method for operating a soil compactor constructed according to the invention, wherein, when the soil compactor is moved over the soil material, at least one marking unit movably mounted on the compactor structure is operated for applying marking material to the soil material.

[0023] For example, when creating the edges of a roadway constructed with asphalt, if an edge-compaction unit is used to form an edge of the soil material driven over by the soil compactor, at least one marking unit can be used to apply marking material to the soil material as an edge marking. This ensures that the marking material applied during this process maintains a defined distance from an edge of the soil material created by the edge-compaction unit.

[0024] When a marking unit is operated as a conveyor belt for applying marking material, it is advantageous if the marking unit is arranged in one direction of movement of the soil compactor in front of at least one compaction roller. Thus, the conveyor belt discharged by the marking unit is immediately rolled over by the soil compactor and pressed firmly against the surface of the simultaneously compacted soil material. Particularly for creating complex pre-markings, it is proposed that, when at least one marking unit is operated for applying marking material for a pre-marking: Part of the pre-marking is generated during one marking pass and another part of the pre-marking is generated during a further marking pass, or / and part of the pre-marking is generated by one marking unit and another part of the pre-marking is generated by another marking unit.

[0025] To ensure that marking material is only dispensed where road markings are planned, it may be provided that at least one, preferably each, marking unit is operated for applying marking material to the soil material based on position data representing a position of the soil compactor on the soil material, preferably GPS data, and / or based on marking model data.

[0026] The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying figures. These show: Fig. 1 shows a soil compactor not included in the claimed invention during a compaction process with simultaneous application of marking material; Fig. 2 shows detail II in Fig. 1 enlarged; Fig. 3 an embodiment of a soil compactor according to the invention during a compaction process with simultaneous application of marking material; Fig. 4 detail IV in Fig. 3 enlarged; Fig. 5 one of the Fig. 4 corresponding view of another embodiment according to the invention; Fig. 6 another embodiment according to the invention of a soil compactor during a compaction process with simultaneous application of marking material; Fig. 7 in principle representation the control of a marking unit for applying marking material to a soil.

[0027] In Fig. 1 The illustrated embodiment shows a soil compactor 10 used in road construction, which drives over soil material 12 to be compacted, for example asphalt, and compacts it in the process. The soil compactor 10 is generally elongated in a longitudinal direction L and, in the illustrated embodiment, comprises two compaction rollers 14, 16 arranged at a distance from each other in the direction of the longitudinal direction L. The Fig. 1 The depicted soil compactor 10 moves within the space provided. Fig. 1 The depicted state in a direction of movement B along the soil material 12, in particular in a boundary area 18 thereof.

[0028] At the in Fig. 2 In the illustrated operation, which is one of the last or the last pass of the soil material 12 to be compacted, the edge 24 of the soil material 12 is formed in the edge area 18 of the soil material 12 by means of an edge pressing unit 20 provided on the soil compactor 10, in particular by pressing the soil material 12 present in this area.

[0029] A marking unit, generally designated 26, is provided on the soil compactor 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the marking unit 26 comprises a container for liquid marking material M, constructed in the manner of an aerosol can 28. The aerosol can 28 is replaceably mounted on a support 32 fixed to a compactor assembly 30 of the soil compactor 10, so that when the marking material M contained in the aerosol can 28 has been completely dispensed, the aerosol can 28 can be replaced by a new one.

[0030] As in the Fig. 1 und 2 As illustrated, by applying marking material M to the surface of the soil material 12, which is compacted by the soil compactor 10 and processed in the edge region 18 to form the edge 24, a guideline L of a pre-marking V is generated, for example, interrupted in the direction of movement B. Since the marking unit 26 is fixedly mounted on the compactor structure 30 of the soil compactor 10 in a lateral edge region 34 and thus has a defined, unchangeable distance to the edge pressing unit 20 transversely to the longitudinal direction L of the compactor and essentially in the direction of a roller rotation axis W of the two compactor rollers 14, 16, the pre-marking V generated by the marking unit 26 likewise has a defined and constant distance to the edge 24 of the compacted soil material 12, which has been shaped in the edge region 18.

[0031] The marking unit 26 can be activated by an operator controlling the soil compactor 10 to generate the pre-marking V, along which the actual road marking is subsequently created, for example, by a separate device. Alternatively or additionally, the activation of the marking unit 26 can be automated. For this purpose, position data, such as GPS data, can be used via a satellite-based positioning system to represent the position of the soil compactor on the soil material 12 to be compacted. Furthermore, model data for the course of the soil material 12 can be generated as early as the planning phase of the soil to be produced, in the example shown, a road.The road to be constructed is generated, which may also contain information about the course of, for example, the pre-marking V to be created along the edge 24 of the compacted soil material 12. Based on the position data and the marking model data, the marking unit 26 can then be activated by a control unit provided on the soil compactor 10 to dispense marking material M.

[0032] It should be noted that the other one in Fig. 1 A marking unit and, if necessary, an edge pressure unit may be arranged in the non-visible side edge area of ​​the soil compactor 10, so that even when moving in one of the Fig. 1 recognizable direction of movement B opposite direction of movement of the soil compactor 10 the in Fig. 1 can process the rear wheel area 36 shown, in particular can apply marking material M.

[0033] One embodiment of a soil compactor 10 according to the invention is described in the Fig. 3 und 4 As shown, in this soil compactor 10, two marking units 26, 26' are provided along the compactor roller 16 in the longitudinal direction L of the compactor. Each of the two marking units 26, 26' comprises a carrier 32 mounted on a guide rail 38, movable essentially in the direction of the roller's axis of rotation W, and a container in the form of an aerosol can 28, which contains the liquid marking material M. To move the marking units 26, 26' or the carrier 32 along the guide rail 38, a marking unit drive can be provided for each marking unit 26, 26', moving it longitudinally with the guide rail 38, i.e., essentially also in the direction of the roller's axis of rotation W, independently of the other marking unit.Such a marking unit drive can comprise a drive motor, for example an electric motor, which drives an endless belt running in the direction of the guide rail 38 via respective deflection rollers. A respective carrier 32 can be fixed to this endless belt.

[0034] The mobility of the marking units 26, 26' along the guide rail 38 makes it possible to generate guidelines L and L' for pre-markings V and V' with virtually any shape or course. As in Fig. 4 It can be seen that, in particular, a guideline L in a boundary region 18 and a guideline L' located away from the boundary region 18 can also be generated. As the Fig. 3 und 4 To illustrate this, the guideline L' can, in particular, form part of a pre-marking V' intended to create an arrow on the soil material 12. When the soil compactor 10 moves in the direction of movement B, only half of this pre-marking V can be created by the marking unit 26'. The other half can be created, for example, in a subsequent pass. Alternatively, both marking units 26 and 26' could be used together to create the entire pre-marking V', i.e., the outline of an arrow, in a single pass.

[0035] The two marking units 26, 26' can also be activated, for example, by an operator to apply marking material M. Alternatively or additionally, in this configuration, taking into account position data of the soil compactor 10 and a marking plan that reproduces marking model data for applying pre-markings to the soil material 12, it is also possible to activate the two marking units 26, 26' to dispense marking material M.

[0036] It should be noted that, of course, 10 of the soil compactors are attached to the soil compactor. Fig. 3 also one in Fig. 1 a recognizable fixed marking unit could be provided, so that, for example, a pre-marking can be applied in an edge area by means of the fixed marking unit, and pre-markings with a greater distance to the edge 24 of the soil material and with a more complex shape can be produced by means of the two marking units which are essentially movable in the direction of the roller rotation axis W or transversely to the compactor longitudinal direction L over the entire width of the soil compactor 10.

[0037] A variation of the one in the Fig. 3 und 4 The illustrated example is in Fig. 5 In this configuration, each of the marking units 26, 26' comprises a spray head 40 mounted on the respective support 32, through which the marking material M can be dispensed. A marking material tank 42 is also provided on the soil compactor 10, which is connected via lines 44 to the spray heads 40 of the two marking units 26, 26' in order to convey the liquid marking material contained therein to the spray heads 40 of the two marking units 26, 26' and dispense it onto the soil material 12.

[0038] The in Fig. 5 The design shown is particularly suitable for larger construction projects where comparatively large quantities of marking material M are to be dispensed. In particular, the design shown is suitable for... Fig. 5 The depicted design can also be used to generate the actual road markings themselves, without the need to generate pre-markings beforehand.

[0039] The Fig. 6 Figure 1 shows a design of a soil compactor in which the marking material M is not applied to the soil material 12 in liquid form, but rather in the form of a tape A. The tape A is supported on a carrier 32, which in turn is movably mounted on the guide rail 38, arranged along the longitudinal direction L of the compactor following the compactor roller 16, essentially in the direction of the roller's axis of rotation W. When the soil compactor 10 moves in the direction of movement B, the marking material provided in the form of the tape A for generating the road marking F can be pressed against the surface of the soil material 12 where, for example, a road marking F is to be created according to marking model data. The tape A, similar to adhesive tape, has an adhesive characteristic, so that it is unwound and adheres to the soil material 12 when the soil compactor 10 moves in the direction of movement B.For example, to create interrupted road markings F in the direction of movement B, a cutting tool can be provided on the support 32, which cuts off the marking material M at a suitable point. To prevent interaction between the marking material M and the ground material 12 where the road marking F is to have an interruption, the support 32 can also be movable in a vertical direction.

[0040] To be at the in Fig. 6 In the illustrated embodiment, to improve the adhesive effect of the marking material M, it can be provided that, when applying such marking material M to the soil material 12, the soil compactor 10 moves in such a way that the marking unit 26 is positioned ahead of at least one of the compaction rollers 14, 16 in the direction of movement. In the example of the Fig. 6 For this purpose, the soil compactor 10 would be moved in a direction of movement B' opposite to the direction of movement B.

[0041] The marking material M dispensed by the marking unit 26 is rolled over by the soil cultivation roller 16 following in the longitudinal direction L of the compactor, and in the example shown also by the soil cultivation roller 14, and thus pressed more strongly against the surface of the soil material 12.

[0042] The application of marking material M in the form of a roll-off tape A is particularly suitable in construction site areas where such marking material M is only to be applied temporarily and where no road marking provided by paint material 12 which adheres strongly to the ground material is to be created.

[0043] The Fig. 7 Figure 1 illustrates the operation of such a soil compactor 10 when applying marking material M, for example, liquid marking material. The marking unit 26 is controlled by a control unit 46, which, on the one hand, moves the marking unit 26 along the guide rail 38 and, on the other hand, dispenses marking material M at designated positions. The position P of the soil compactor 10 and the pre-marking V to be produced in this case can be displayed on a display unit 48, for example, a tablet or similar device.Using appropriate input devices, an operator can send corresponding control commands to the control unit 46 when the soil compactor 10 is in a designated position and a pre-marking V is to be created. The control unit then positions the marking unit 26 accordingly by moving it along the guide rail 38 and controls it to dispense marking material M. As previously explained, this control can also be based on position data and marking model data, so that operator interaction is not required. The display unit 48 merely illustrates to the operator the position of the soil compactor 10 and that, and where, a pre-marking V or, if applicable, a road marking F is to be created.

[0044] The position data, which basically also specify the exact position of the soil compactor 10 in space and thus on the soil material 12 to be compacted, can be provided, for example, by the fact that the in Fig. 7 The display unit 48, as illustrated by the symbol 50 shown thereon, communicates directly with, for example, the GPS satellite system and has a corresponding receiver unit for this purpose, which is designed to evaluate the received data for position determination. Alternatively or additionally, such a receiver unit 52, also designed for evaluating the received data and thus for position determination, can be provided separately from the display unit 48 and connected to it for data exchange. For example, this receiver unit 52 can be arranged on the soil compactor 10 itself, for example on a roof 54 of an operator station 56 provided on the soil compactor 10.

Claims

1. A soil compactor for compacting soil material, in particular asphalt, comprising at least one compactor roller (14, 16) which is rotatable on a compactor structure (30) of the soil compactor (10) around a roller axis of rotation (W) which is essentially orthogonal to a compactor longitudinal direction (L), furthermore comprising at least one marking unit (26, 26') carried on the compactor structure (30) for applying marking material (M) to soil material (12) driven over by the soil compactor (10), characterized in that at least one marking unit (26, 26') is carried on the compactor structure (30) in a movable manner.

2. The soil compactor according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one marking unit (26) is carried on the compactor structure (30) in a substantially immovable manner.

3. The soil compactor according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one marking unit (26), which is carried on the compactor structure (30) in a substantially immovable manner, is carried on a side edge region (34) of the compactor structure (30).

4. The soil compactor according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that an edge pressing unit (20) is provided on the compactor structure (30) in association with at least one side edge region (34).

5. The soil compactor according to one of claims 1-4, characterized in that at least one guide rail (38) is provided on the compactor structure (30), and in that at least one, preferably each marking unit (26, 26') movably carried on the compactor structure (30) is movable along the at least one guide rail (38).

6. The soil compactor according to claim 5, characterized in that, in association with at least one, preferably each marking unit (26, 26') movable along the at least one guide rail (38), a marking unit drive for moving the marking unit (26, 26') along the at least one guide rail (38) is provided.

7. The soil compactor according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that at least one, preferably each guide rail (38) extends substantially in the direction of the roller axis of rotation (W), or / and in that at least one, preferably each guide rail (38) is arranged following a compactor roller (16) in the compactor longitudinal direction (L).

8. The soil compactor according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that at least one, preferably each marking unit (26, 26') comprises a spray can (28) containing liquid marking material, or / and in that at least one, preferably each marking unit (26, 26') comprises a spray head (40), and in that at least one marking material tank (42) connected to the spray head (40) for supplying liquid marking material is provided on the compactor structure (30).

9. The soil compactor according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that at least one, preferably each marking unit (26, 26') is designed to apply a pre-marking (V, V') to the soil material (12), or / and in that at least one, preferably each marking unit (26, 26') is designed to apply a road marking (F) to the soil material (12), or / and in that at least one, preferably each marking unit (26) is designed to apply marking material (M) as an unrolling tape (A).

10. The soil compactor according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that at least one, preferably each marking unit (26, 26') is controlled by a control unit (46) and is operable by outputting control commands from the control unit (46) to dispense marking material (M).

11. A method for operating a soil compactor according to any one of claims 1-10, wherein when the soil compactor (10) is moved over the soil material (12), at least one marking unit (26, 26') carried on the compactor structure (30) of the soil compactor (10) in a movable manner for applying marking material (M) to the soil material (12) is operated.

12. The method according to claim 11, if referring back to claim 4, characterized in that, when the edge pressing unit (20) is operated to form an edge (24) of the soil material (12) driven over by the soil compactor (10), at least one marking unit (26) is operated to apply marking material (M) to the soil material (12) as an edge marking.

13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, if referring back to claim 9, characterized in that, when a marking unit (26) is operated for applying marking material as an unrolling tape (A), the marking unit (M) is arranged in front of at least one compactor roller (16) in a direction of movement (B') of the soil compactor (10).

14. The method according to any one of claims 11-13, characterized in that, when at least one marking unit (26, 26') is operated for applying marking material (M) for a pre-marking (V, V'): - a part of the pre-marking (V, V') is created during one marking pass and another part of the pre-marking (V, V') is created during a further marking pass, or / and - a part of the pre-marking (V, V') is created by one marking unit (26) and another part of the pre-marking (V, V') is created by a further marking unit (26').

15. The method according to any one of claims 11-14, characterized in that at least one, preferably each marking unit (26, 26') for applying marking material (M) to the soil material (12) is operated based on position data representing a position (P) of the soil compactor (10) on the soil material (12), preferably GPS data, or / and based on marking model data.

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