Method for operating a self-propelled road construction machine and system for operating a road construction machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a self-propelled road construction machine and a system for operating a road construction machine using a remote control.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for operating a self-propelled road construction machine and a system for operating a road construction machine.

[0002] Road construction machinery is well-known and frequently used for the construction, renovation, and repair of roads, tracks, and / or squares. Depending on the task, various road construction machines can be used, in particular, for example, asphalt pavers and material feeders, soil milling machines, and soil compaction machines.

[0003] For laying a material mat, especially an asphalt mat, road pavers are frequently used. These can include, for example, a material hopper for receiving the bulk material intended for the production of the material mat, a longitudinal conveying system for transporting the bulk material from the hopper to the rear of the road paver, a transverse conveying system, particularly in the form of augers, for distributing the bulk material perpendicular to the working direction of the road paver, a screed for smoothing and compacting the bulk material, etc. Furthermore, to ensure a continuous supply of bulk material to the road paver, so-called feeders are increasingly being used. Their main task is to receive bulk material from one or more transport vehicles and transfer it into the material hopper of the road paver.Instead of the screed described above for a road paver, such feeders can have an unloading conveyor belt. A road paver and a feeder are described, for example, in DE102016006187B4.

[0004] During road construction, it may be necessary to mix the subsoil with a binding agent and / or mill and / or remove it to a desired depth. Soil milling machines can be used for this purpose. These machines can have a milling unit, particularly in the form of a milling drum, which rotates during milling operation, cutting into the subsoil to a specific depth and thereby milling it. Soil stabilizers are primarily used to mill the subsoil and mix it with one or more aggregates. In contrast, cold milling machines are more commonly used to remove at least part of an existing road surface to a desired depth. These machines may include one or more conveyor belts for transporting the bulk material. Soil milling machines are described, for example, in DE102014008749A1.

[0005] The primary function of a soil compaction machine is to compact the subsoil statically and / or dynamically. Soil compaction machines can be, for example, rollers, particularly roller trains, primarily used for soil compaction, or tandem rollers, primarily used for asphalt compaction. Such soil compaction machines typically include at least one roller drum, which the machine rolls on the subsoil to be compacted. Another type of soil compaction machine is the pneumatic tire roller. Soil compaction machines of the type relevant here are described, for example, in DE102019002439A1.

[0006] The road construction machines described above are self-propelled and therefore move independently across the ground being worked on during operation. Naturally, these machines are also comparatively heavy and considerably slower than conventional road vehicles. Such road construction machines are therefore regularly transported to and from their respective work sites using one or more transport vehicles. These transport vehicles are typically low-loaders, meaning they are designed so that the road construction machine can drive onto and off their loading platform under its own power.The necessary loading and unloading of the transport vehicle with the respective road construction machine is usually not carried out by an operator trained in the operation of that specific machine, but rather by the driver of the transport vehicle, often at times when no operator familiar with the operation of the road construction machine is available. Consequently, incorrect operation of the road construction machines frequently occurs when they are being unloaded from and / or loaded onto the transport vehicle. This can lead to significant damage to the transport vehicle and / or the road construction machines, as well as personal injury and / or damage to the surrounding area at the loading point.

[0007] It is also already known, for example, to optionally control road construction machines of the type asphalt paver during operation using a remote control, as described in DE102018005534A1 and EP3067774A1. However, with these systems, essentially only the operating functions previously displayed within the operator's cab are transferred to a mobile unit, or the operator takes this unit from the cab with them, so that the problems of incorrect operation described above during the loading and / or unloading process of the asphalt paver onto and / or from a transport vehicle also occur there.

[0008] Starting from this, the object of the invention is to provide a way to improve the loading and unloading process of a road construction machine, in particular for a driver of a transport vehicle who is not familiar with the operation of the respective road construction machine, and / or to reduce the risk of operating errors.

[0009] This problem is solved by a method for operating a self-propelled road construction machine and by a system for operating a road construction machine according to the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are specified in the dependent claims.

[0010] In a first aspect, the invention thus relates to a method for operating a self-propelled road construction machine, which is designed in particular as a road paver or feeder, using a remote control and a control device.

[0011] The road construction machine can be operated in a working mode. This working mode is characterized by the fact that the machine can not only drive and steer, but also activate and operate one or more working devices. These devices enable, for example, the preparation of the subgrade and / or the activation and control of auxiliary equipment that supports the processing process. This equipment ensures, for example, a reliable material flow, reduces emissions for the operator, adds process fluids, etc. This mode may also include assistance systems specifically designed for the respective task, such as measuring devices for determining working depth, thickness, and / or width.The road construction machine can be operated by an operator who, for example, is located in the operator's cab, rides along with the machine, or carries a remote control with which they can input and transmit suitable control commands to the machine. Operation from a remote control station using appropriate means is also conceivable in working mode.

[0012] As an alternative to operating the road construction machine in working mode, it is now provided that the road construction machine can be operated in a shunting mode, whereby control commands in shunting mode are or can be entered via the remote control. This does not necessarily mean that the road construction machine can only be controlled via the remote control in shunting mode. However, such a preferred embodiment of the invention is also included. The focus of the shunting mode is not on the specific work operation of the road construction machine, but is selectively directed towards moving the road construction machine for loading and unloading purposes, in particular onto and / or off a transport vehicle. This can especially involve loading and unloading a transport vehicle designed as a low-loader.In shunting mode, a large number of functions and / or work devices of the road construction machine are not required. Crucially, shunting mode is designed so that, compared to working mode, only a selection of the functions available on the road construction machine are accessible, specifically for carrying out shunting functions or movements. The shunting mode can therefore be configured in such a way that only control commands for shunting functions of the road construction machine are executed on the machine itself, or that the control unit executes the control commands required for the shunting process, or that their input and / or implementation is possible in shunting mode.Additionally, it may be provided that, for example, control commands for purely operational functions, the execution of which is not required or even undesirable in shunting mode, are actively suppressed, particularly by the control unit. Input devices configured for inputting control commands for operational functions in operational mode may then be deactivated, and / or control commands originating from them may be ignored by the control unit.

[0013] At the same time, it may now be necessary to ensure, particularly through design or functionality, that control commands relating to selectively purely operational functions of the road construction machine are not executed. Selectively purely operational functions, in this context, refer in particular to those functions that are not required for moving and adjusting the road construction machine during loading and unloading onto and from a transport vehicle. Examples of such purely operational functions are explained in more detail below. However, purely operational functions can also include those functions of the road construction machine that influence the intensity, scope, and / or quality of the work result and / or the handling of bulk material on or within the road construction machine. These can therefore also include, in particular, functions related to the drive or...This concerns the operation of one or more of the work facilities that work the soil surface.

[0014] The methods used to ensure this can vary. For example, it is possible to implement measures that prevent or block the fundamental, particularly manual, input of such control commands. One possibility is to omit any input devices on the remote control itself that are designed and / or intended for inputting and transmitting control commands related to or pertaining to purely operational functions. In this case, the remote control is specifically and preferably exclusively intended for shunting operation and, due to its limited functionality, is unsuitable for fully operating the road construction machine in operational mode.

[0015] Additionally or alternatively, the remote control may be designed to ensure, in shunting mode, that control commands relating solely to work functions are not generated in the first place, and / or are at least suppressed and / or not transmitted to the road construction machine, particularly despite, for example, a corresponding manual input. For this purpose, the remote control may, for example, include a control unit designed as a remote control control device, which is configured in such a way that it ultimately ensures that corresponding control commands relating solely to work functions are suppressed and / or not generated and / or not transmitted, for example, by filtering them out using a suitable computer program.In addition or alternatively, it is also possible that the road construction machine includes, for example, a control device designed as a machine control unit, which is designed in such a way that it filters out and / or suppresses control commands received in shunting mode and directed towards pure work functions of the road construction machine and / or does not activate and / or deactivates the operation of the devices on the road construction machine controlled by these control commands.

[0016] The range of functions that can be performed in shunting mode can vary and depends in particular on the specific characteristics of the respective road construction machine. In this context, it can be advantageous if the control commands for shunting functions that can be executed in shunting mode, especially by the road construction machine via the control unit, are and include control commands for primary shunting functions. Primary shunting functions, in this context, refer in particular to those functions that are essential for moving the road construction machine on the ground. These are therefore, in particular, driving functions of the road construction machine, such as carrying out forward and reverse travel, which can also include the implementation of acceleration and braking control commands, and the execution of steering commands for cornering.These primary functions enable the road construction machine to move relative to the ground, particularly under its own power, and thus to maneuver in a controlled manner away from and / or onto a transport vehicle. The primary functions may also include activating and deactivating at least parts of the road construction machine's drive system, especially a steering and / or travel drive. This may also include the fundamental activation and deactivation of a primary drive unit, such as starting and stopping an internal combustion engine. Alternatively, the primary drive unit may be activated and / or deactivated in a conventional manner directly on the road construction machine itself.It is further noted here that the aforementioned activation and deactivation of at least parts of a drive system may also include engaging and / or disengaging one or more drive units. Specifically, it is possible, for example, that the road construction machine has a diesel or electro-hydraulic drive train with a pump distribution gearbox driven by a primary drive unit. In the context of only partial activation of the drive system in shunting mode, it is possible, for instance, to disengage the drive connection to hydraulic pumps that exclusively serve selective, purely operational functions and are not required in shunting mode from the pump distribution gearbox via suitable coupling devices.

[0017] In addition to the primary functions permitted within the shunting mode, the shunting mode may also allow the activation and deactivation, or execution, of secondary shunting functions. Secondary shunting functions are those not directly required for moving the entire road construction machine, but which may be available in shunting mode for other reasons, such as comfort and / or safety.

[0018] It may therefore be provided that, in shunting mode, a secondary shunting function allows the lighting or a lighting device on the road construction machine to be switched on and / or off. The lighting device may, for example, include lights indicating the position of the road construction machine, lights illuminating the surroundings of the road construction machine, and / or lights illuminating the road construction machine itself.

[0019] Additionally or alternatively, a secondary shunting function may include an emergency stop activation, ideally via an emergency stop switch located on the remote control itself. Activating such an emergency stop switch allows the road construction machine to be deactivated, particularly completely, almost immediately.

[0020] Road construction machines of this type may also include devices that are adjustable relative to the machine frame in order to, for example, achieve different working widths and / or heights and / or adapt the material flow of bulk material, whether for receiving and / or loading purposes, to current working conditions. It may therefore be provided as a secondary shunting function that, within the scope of the shunting operation mode, one or more of these devices, in particular working devices, can be raised, lowered, and / or swiveled in order, for example, to change the external dimensions of the road construction machine for transport.

[0021] Furthermore, the road construction machine may include a cab roof. This roof can extend vertically. It is known to adjust the cab roof for transport purposes from an extended working position to a lowered transport position, for example, to ensure compliance with maximum permissible transport heights during transport. Therefore, it can be advantageous and even preferable if the adjustment of the cab roof, if present, between a working position and a transport position is also included in the secondary shunting functions and thus possible in shunting mode, for example, via remote control.

[0022] Additionally or alternatively, it may also be provided that adjusting a conveyor belt relative to the machine frame of the road construction machine is included among the secondary shunting functions permitted within the shunting mode. Road construction machines, such as road milling machines and feeders, may include an external conveyor belt projecting vertically and horizontally from a base machine. This conveyor belt may be pivotably mounted on the base machine about a vertical and / or horizontal axis and / or be foldable. It may be provided that one or more of these movements and / or adjustments of the respective external conveyor belt can be controlled by the remote control as a secondary shunting function within the shunting mode.

[0023] Another secondary shunting function that is advantageously permissible within the shunting mode is the activation and / or deactivation of one or more cameras on the road construction machine. Road construction machines can be equipped with one or more cameras to, for example, simplify the machine's operation, improve the operator's visibility, provide image data for one or more assistance systems, etc. It may be possible, and therefore permissible, to activate one or more cameras and / or other sensors as a secondary shunting function within the shunting mode. For example, a camera image can also be transmitted to the remote control, thereby facilitating the operator's maneuvering of the road construction machine using the remote control.Furthermore, one or more of the sensors can also be used for other functions during a shunting operation for loading and unloading purposes, as described in more detail below.

[0024] Regarding those control commands that should not be executable in shunting mode, various options can be used, either individually or in combination.

[0025] Road construction machines of this type may, for example, be equipped with an extraction system that can extract, filter, and / or discharge air contaminated with pollutants, such as dust and / or fumes, during operation at a location remote from the operator. The operation of such an extraction system is not typically required for purely maneuvering movements of the road construction machine, so it is advantageous to ensure that it cannot be accidentally activated during maneuvering.

[0026] The same applies to a sprinkler system that ideally cannot be activated during shunting operations. Sprinkler systems can be included on road construction machinery, for example, for cooling and / or dust reduction purposes. These systems can include one or more fluid pumps, a piping system, and one or more outlets. A typical fluid used is water. It is advantageous to ensure that such a sprinkler system cannot be activated during loading operations or while shunting.

[0027] Road construction machines can also have one or more bulk material conveying devices, for example, to load milled material, spread grit, or distribute bulk material on a ground surface. The operation of such bulk material conveying devices is also not required for shunting operations. It can therefore be advantageous to ensure that, in shunting mode, activating a bulk material conveying device and thus its conveying operation is not possible. It should also be noted here, as a precaution, that simply changing the spatial position of a bulk material conveying device relative to a reference structure of the road construction machine, in particular its frame, is not necessarily equivalent to activating the bulk material conveying device or its conveying operation.

[0028] Road construction machines of this type may also have one or more heating and / or cooling devices, for example, for heating one or more working components, such as smoothing plates of a screed and / or tamping devices of a screed of a road paver and / or channel walls of a bulk material conveying channel. Additionally or alternatively, heating and / or cooling devices for air conditioning, in particular of the operator's cab of the road construction machine, may also be provided. It is also preferred that their activation during shunting operation be reliably prevented.

[0029] Road construction machines of the present type may further include one or more vibration excitation devices, in particular, for example, in the form of unbalanced exciters. These may be designed to subject one or more of the drive units and / or a screed to vibrations for compaction purposes. It is also preferred that their activation be reliably prevented during shunting operations.

[0030] It is possible that, in shunting mode, individual functions of the road construction machine are exclusively controlled via the remote control. In this way, the design of the remote control itself ensures that only those functions for which one or more suitable input devices are provided on the remote control can be activated.

[0031] Additionally or alternatively, it is possible that no input via input devices located in the operator's cab of the road construction machine is possible in shunting mode. Therefore, the functions that are reliably excluded in shunting mode can preferably also include a general prevention of the execution of control commands entered via input devices located in the operator's cab of the road construction machine.

[0032] Road construction machines can incorporate one or more assistance systems. Such assistance systems can, for example, be used to map a work area and / or check the work result and / or reference external structures, enable automated or at least semi-automated bulk material handling, perform autonomous driving and / or work movements, etc. If such assistance systems are randomly activated during shunting operation, they can, for example, influence the machine's behavior in a way that may be unpredictable for the shunting process. Therefore, it can also be provided, additionally or alternatively, that the activation of assistance systems that are selectively usable for a particular work operation of the road construction machine, such as systems for determining a working depth and / or height and / or width, is ensured to be impossible during shunting operation.

[0033] Depending on the specific design of the respective road construction machine, the control commands that cannot be executed in shunting mode can vary further. If the road construction machine is designed as a paver or feeder, this can, in particular, affect at least one of the following functions: "width adjustment of a screed," "activation of a longitudinal conveying device," "activation of a vibration excitation device," and "activation of conveying operation of a transverse conveying device and / or a longitudinal conveying device." Paving screeds of road pavers are often suspended from a tractor unit that forms the base machine of the paver and can be adjusted in height. It is also known to design paving screeds as sliding screeds, comprising a base screed and adjustable screed elements mounted laterally on this base screed.By laterally shifting these adjustable screed elements, it is possible to vary the paving width of the asphalt paver. The paving width can be significantly wider than the maximum transport width. When asphalt pavers are parked at construction sites for further transport, the screed is often in a retracted position. Therefore, changing the screed width is frequently unnecessary for loading and / or unloading the paver. Alternatively, the permissible width adjustment may be limited to shunting mode or restricted to only reducing the screed width, not increasing it. Longitudinal conveying, on the other hand, is often used to transport material contained in the paver's hopper to the rear of the paver along its length.Such a longitudinal conveying device could be, for example, a scraper belt or similar. Material transport via the longitudinal conveying device is not required during shunting mode, so it may be advantageous if this function is also disabled in shunting mode. The same applies, additionally or alternatively, to the operation or activation of a conveying operation of a transverse conveying device and / or an unloading conveying device. The transverse conveying device could, for example, be the augers of a road paver that distribute bulk material in front of the screed perpendicular to a conveying direction. This transverse conveying device itself can also be height-adjustable relative to the machine frame or tractor of the road paver. Height adjustment alone can be useful for shunting mode, so it is preferably activated in shunting mode.In contrast, the conveying operation, in which, for example, the augers rotate around a horizontal axis of rotation perpendicular to the direction of travel, is not required for shunting mode. Therefore, it can be advantageous if the conveying operation cannot be activated in shunting mode. A similar situation applies to a bulk material conveying system designed as an overflow conveying device for a feeder, which, during operation, serves to transfer bulk material from the feeder to a paver. Here, too, it can be advantageous if the conveying operation of this bulk material conveying system cannot be activated in shunting mode.In contrast, the situation may be different with an adjustment drive for this transfer conveyor, which allows adjustment of the transfer conveyor or at least parts of it relative to the machine frame, for example, height adjustment and / or pivoting around a horizontal and / or vertical pivot axis. In this case, it may be advantageous if the adjustment drive can be activated in shunting mode.

[0034] If the road construction machine is configured as a soil milling machine, it can be advantageous if at least one of the following operating functions—"activating a rotary operation of a soil milling unit" and / or "raising and / or lowering wall elements of a milling drum housing" and / or "activating a conveying operation of a longitudinal conveying unit"—is reliably disabled during shunting mode. The soil milling unit of the soil milling machine can, for example, comprise a milling drum that rotates around a rotational axis and engages the subsoil to be milled during milling operation. It is advantageous if activation of this milling operation is reliably prevented during shunting operation of the soil milling machine. Furthermore, the soil milling unit can comprise one or more wall elements that are height-adjustable relative to the milling drum, such as a front wall, side panels, and / or a scraper plate.These elements can be used to seal a milling chamber during the milling or working operation of the soil milling machine and may include one or more adjustment drives, particularly in the form of hydraulic cylinders. It can be ensured that activation of a height adjustment of these wall elements is reliably prevented during maneuvering mode. Additionally or alternatively, activation of a conveying operation of a longitudinal conveyor system during maneuvering mode can also be reliably prevented. Such longitudinal conveyor systems may be included in soil milling machines for the internal transport and transfer of bulk material, particularly milled material, and may, for example, include an internal conveyor belt and an external conveyor belt.Additionally or alternatively, the soil milling machine can have a so-called hold-down device, which is positioned in the milling direction in front of the milling drum housing of the soil milling unit and can slide along the soil surface to be milled like a kind of sliding shoe. It can be designed so that activation or height adjustment of this hold-down device is reliably prevented during maneuvering mode.

[0035] In the event that the road construction machine is configured as a soil compaction machine, certain functions can preferably be ensured that they cannot be activated in shunting mode. The soil compaction machines can be, in particular, pneumatic tire rollers, especially turntable or articulated tandem rollers, or roller trains. Such soil compaction machines can, for example, include one or more vibration excitation devices, such as unbalance exciters, to subject one or more of the roller drums of the respective soil compaction machine to vibrations during a dynamic compaction process. It can be advantageous if the activation of such vibration excitation devices is reliably prevented during shunting mode. Additionally or alternatively, the soil compaction machine can be provided with a steering mode known as crab steering mode.In this mode, a front and a rear drive unit are steered in the same direction, thereby creating a lateral offset between the two tracks of the respective drive units, for example, to increase the working width of the soil compaction machine. It can now be advantageous for the shunting mode if activating a crab steering mode and / or steering in crab steering mode is reliably prevented.

[0036] Regarding the specific ways in which it can be ensured that one or more functions of the road construction machine are not activated or put into operation during shunting mode, or that it can be ensured that selectively individual or multiple control commands relating to purely operational functions of the road construction machine cannot be executed, there are various possibilities, which can also be combined. On the one hand, this can be achieved, for example, by actively suppressing such control commands using a control unit on the remote control side or with a remote control unit and / or on the side of the road construction machine or with a machine control unit. The remote control unit can thus be designed, in particular, to recognize and filter out control commands for functions that should not be activated in shunting mode.The machine control unit can either not transmit any control commands to the road construction machine at all, or conversely, only transmit control commands permissible for shunting mode to the road construction machine. Additionally or alternatively, the machine control unit can be designed to recognize and filter out control commands for functions that should not be activated in shunting mode, or not execute them at all, and instead transmit them to appropriate actuators or similar devices, and / or conversely, only execute control commands permissible for shunting mode.

[0037] Additionally or alternatively, it is also possible to ensure that certain control commands, particularly those relating to the road construction machine's purely operational functions, cannot be executed in shunting mode by means of design features on the remote control. The remote control can include one or more input devices, such as buttons, joysticks, control levers, etc., which an operator can use to input control commands. It is possible to design the remote control in such a way that input devices are provided exclusively for functions whose activation is permitted in shunting mode, or conversely, that the remote control does not have any input devices assigned to functions whose activation and / or execution should not be possible in shunting mode.In this case, a special remote control, or shunting remote control, intended solely for shunting operation is provided. This remote control is characterized by the fact that it selectively provides input for shunting functions and not for purely operational functions. Alternatively, it is also possible to equip a conventional remote control, which also allows the input of control commands for functions that should not be executable in shunting mode, with a mechanically acting locking cover. This locking cover is designed to lock and / or cover input for functions impermissible in shunting mode, leaving only those inputs accessible that relate to functions permitted in shunting mode.It may be provided that this locking cover mask is arranged on the remote control by means of a releasable locking device and can only be released, for example, by means of a key, user ID and / or code known to an experienced operator of the road construction machine and unknown to an employee of a transport company.

[0038] Control commands may exist that can be executed, or are intended to be executed, in both shunting and working modes. These are obviously control commands that affect the driving movements of the road construction machine, such as "forward," "reverse," and "steer." These functions must be available not only in working mode but also in shunting mode and must be operable by an operator or executable by the road construction machine. However, since, as explained in the introduction, the road construction machine can also be operated in shunting mode by operators who are unfamiliar with the characteristics and dimensions of the respective machine, it can be advantageous if such functions are only available in a reduced range when operating in shunting mode compared to working mode.This can mean, for example, that functions available in working mode are also available in shunting mode. However, they are then only available at a slower, weaker, and / or smaller speed. In this way, the same operating instruction from an operator can trigger the same function in shunting mode as in working mode, but with different operating characteristics, particularly regarding acceleration, speed, force, and / or the extent of the respective adjustment and / or movement.

[0039] Specifically, such a reduction in functionality can be achieved, for example, by limiting an adjustment range and / or travel distance in shunting mode compared to working mode. This could involve, for instance, setting a minimum and / or maximum lifting height, such as that of a machine frame relative to the ground and / or relative to one or more drive units, or of a conveyor belt relative to the ground and / or a machine frame, and / or of a screed relative to the ground and / or a machine frame, etc. Additionally or alternatively, one or more steering angles can be limited with respect to the maximum and / or minimum permissible steering angles in shunting mode. Road construction machines may also have structures that allow parts of the machine, such as its machine frame, working equipment, etc., to be moved., are adjustable with regard to their current lateral and / or longitudinal inclination relative to the ground surface. For example, soil milling machines may have a machine frame connected to travel mechanisms via lifting devices. It may be provided that a maximum and / or minimum permissible longitudinal and / or lateral inclination is limited in shunting mode compared to working mode, in particular by ensuring that at least a reduced maximum lateral inclination is permitted in shunting mode compared to working mode. Furthermore, or alternatively, the maximum adjustment speed of one or more actuators and / or a maximum travel speed of the road construction machine may be limited in shunting mode compared to working mode.As a further option, either independently or in addition, it is possible to limit the maximum available drive power, for example, of individual drive motors and / or a primary drive unit, in shunting mode compared to working mode. This limitation can be so extensive that the road construction machine can still move under its own power, or that sufficient drive power is still available for driving and steering maneuvers, but at the same time the available drive power is no longer sufficient for the operation of a work attachment. This can be achieved, for example, by reducing the speed limit of a primary drive unit, particularly an internal combustion engine, in shunting mode compared to working mode.Another supplementary and / or alternative way to restrict operation in shunting mode is to limit the ability to operate multiple functions simultaneously compared to working mode. This can ensure, for example, that an operator of the remote control in shunting mode can only perform certain functions sequentially, but not simultaneously. For instance, in shunting mode, it can be configured that only one drive can be activated at any given time, meaning that different drives can only be activated one after the other.One or more of the above restrictions may be achieved in particular by appropriate design of one or more control devices, especially by appropriate design of an overall control device comprising a machine control device and a remote control control device.

[0040] Another way to modify the method according to the invention lies in the specific manner in which switching between the working mode and the shunting mode is performed and / or how the road construction machine can be started in shunting mode. For example, it is possible to design the control unit, and in particular the remote control unit and / or machine control unit, such that it is always in shunting mode when switched on or started and can only be switched to working mode by an operator with additional measures. Such measures could, for example, involve entering a code and / or operating a key switch or similar measures to verify the corresponding authorization.Additionally or alternatively, it is also possible that an authorization check is performed by the control unit to activate and / or execute the shunting mode, for example, in the form of a code entry or query, or similar. Such a code can be generated on the road construction machine itself and / or transmitted remotely to an operator, for example, to a mobile device such as a smartphone. Furthermore, additionally or alternatively, the exchange of one or more authorization certificates or similar documents can be provided. Remote activation, if authorization is granted, is also possible and encompassed by the invention.

[0041] To activate and / or execute the shunting mode using the control unit, a presence and / or identity check of a transport vehicle can be performed additionally or alternatively. For this purpose, the transport vehicle can, for example, have a suitable transmitter for sending an identity signal, and the road construction machine and / or the remote control can have a suitable receiver for receiving the identity signal. These can be configured, for example, as radio transmitters and receivers and / or as an RFID transmitter-receiver system.It is also possible, additionally or alternatively, for the remote control and / or the road construction machine to include a camera for capturing an image of the transport vehicle, and for the transport vehicle to be identified using image data captured by the camera and a suitable image processing computer program, particularly one included in the control unit. For example, the road construction machine and / or the remote control may also include a database of approved transport vehicles for comparison purposes, or access such a database via a data transmission connection. In this way, it is possible, for instance, to make the activation of the shunting mode dependent on the presence of an approved transport vehicle.

[0042] A further preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention can consist of monitoring the distance between the remote control or an operator and the road construction machine using a distance monitoring device, and enabling the control unit to only allow the road construction machine to operate in shunting mode if the remote control and / or the operator is outside a defined minimum distance and / or within a defined maximum distance, in particular between the road construction machine or one or more reference points thereof and the operator and / or the remote control. This can also be achieved, for example, using one or more cameras, in particular 3D cameras, and suitable image processing programs and / or alternative suitable sensors, such as ultrasonic and / or lidar sensors.Furthermore, or alternatively, the road construction machine and / or the remote control may emit a protective field, particularly a spherical one, for example based on electromagnetic waves in the LF (low-frequency) range, i.e., in the range of 30 to 300 kHz, particularly preferably at a frequency of 125 kHz. Such a protective field can, for example, establish a minimum and / or maximum permissible distance between the road construction machine and the remote control and / or the operator, provided that the road construction machine or the remote control / operator has a suitable receiver and the other element has a suitable transmitter.

[0043] Loading operations can be particularly convenient when the shunting mode includes a tracking mode. In tracking mode, the control unit generates and executes control commands for at least, and specifically exclusively, the primary shunting functions "forward and reverse" and "steering commands for cornering," depending on the current distance between the road construction machine or a reference point and the remote control and / or an operator. In this case, a transmitter-receiver connection can also exist between the remote control / operator and the road construction machine. Alternatively, image capture, particularly from the road construction machine, and identification of the operator and / or the remote control in the captured image can be performed using suitable image processing software. This can be done, in particular, based on 3D image data.It can now be provided that, after identification of the operator and / or the remote control and / or the transport vehicle, the road construction machine follows behind the operator, particularly autonomously, and this can include not only forward and backward movements but also steering movements. For loading a transport vehicle, it is possible in this case for the operator to walk onto the loading platform of the transport vehicle, particularly via a loading ramp, and for the road construction machine to follow him autonomously, particularly within a defined distance.

[0044] In particular, to ensure that the road construction machine reliably moves and remains stationary on a ramp and / or the transport platform of the transport vehicle during shunting operations, it is preferably provided that, during shunting operations, information about the surface conditions in the vertical direction below the road construction machine is acquired using one or more sensors. For this purpose, one or more suitable sensors can be integrated into the road construction machine, such as distance sensors, especially ultrasonic sensors, and / or cameras, especially 3D cameras. This information can be transmitted from the road construction machine to the remote control and displayed to an operator at the remote control via a display device, such as a screen.Additionally or alternatively, this property information can be used to determine a two- or three-dimensional image of this area and / or to identify the approach surface of a transport vehicle. Furthermore, it is possible to use this property information to define a permissible driving area and / or to generate one or more control commands, for example, within the framework of the tracking mode described above.If, using this information about the characteristics of the vehicle, a ramp and / or the loading platform is detected and / or defined by the control unit, it is also possible, for example, that control commands that would move the road construction machine into an undesired relative position to the ramp and / or the loading platform, for example by driving over it at an angle and / or overhanging an edge, are ignored by the control unit and / or a warning message is generated for the operator, for example, which may be perceived acoustically and / or visually and / or haptically.

[0045] It may be provided that the road construction machine includes a projection device and that, during operation of the road construction machine in shunting mode, the current travel path of the road construction machine is projected onto the ground by the projection device. This can also make it easier for the operator to estimate where the road construction machine is currently moving.

[0046] To further increase the safety of carrying out a method according to the invention, it is possible that, independently of the transmission of one or more control signals from the remote control to the road construction machine, an exchange of at least one safety signal takes place between the remote control and the road construction machine, and that the execution of control commands received by the road construction machine via control signals from the remote control only occurs if and / or only as long as the safety signal is simultaneously received. The safety signal can thus be a type of presence signal that ensures that the remote control is in close proximity and / or is functional. The transmission and / or reception of this safety signal between the remote control and the road paver can be unidirectional or bidirectional.The safety signal can be, for example, a radio signal or an IR signal. The safety signal can be transmitted continuously or at intervals. The transmission and / or processing of the received safety signal can be carried out by the control unit, in particular by both the remote control unit and the machine control unit, which can be appropriately configured for this purpose, for example, by being connected to suitable transmitters and / or receivers and / or by including a suitable computer program. The same applies to the road construction machine.

[0047] In principle, the type of signal transmission between the remote control and the device can be wired and / or wireless. Wireless signal transmission connections can be established, for example, using WPAN (Wireless Personal Area Network) or WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network).

[0048] The specific procedure for entering and operating in shunting mode can vary. For example, step a) might involve establishing a signal transmission link between the road construction machine and the remote control. This could involve connecting a cable to the remote control and / or the road construction machine, or establishing a wireless signal transmission link. Step a) may also include performing one or more authorization procedures to verify, for example, whether the remote control and / or road construction machine itself is authorized and / or whether the operator is authorized. This can be done using suitable protocols, code entries, and / or other identification methods.The relevant tests can be carried out, for example, by a control unit and / or a control unit appropriately trained for this purpose, in particular, for example, using one or more computer programs included in the control unit.

[0049] In step b), particularly after authorization according to step a) has been demonstrated and verified, for example by the control unit, an operator can manually enter one or more control commands at the remote control. These commands may relate to shunting functions, especially primary shunting functions. In this step, the operator thus specifies instructions for the movement of the road construction machine at the remote control. The remote control may have one or more suitable input devices for this purpose.

[0050] In step c), it can now be provided that one or more control commands are transmitted from the remote control to the road construction machine via the signal transmission link. For specific details regarding the possible design of this signal transmission link, reference is made to the preceding and / or following explanations. It is preferred that this is controlled by the control unit. In particular, the remote control unit can send a control command or a control signal encoding this control command, and the machine control unit can receive and, in particular, decode it.

[0051] Subsequently, according to step d), one or more control commands can be executed on the road construction machine. For this purpose, one or more actuators, such as drive motors and / or linear actuators, can be driven accordingly on the road construction machine, particularly by the control unit, and especially by the machine control unit.

[0052] In particular, within the scope of steps b), c), and d), step e) can ensure that only control commands relating to shunting functions are generated and / or released and / or implemented by the control unit. As described above, this can be achieved, for example, through design means and / or, alternatively, functionally, for instance, by means of a suitable computer program included in the control unit. The computer program can, for example, include a virtual library of control commands that are generally permissible and / or impermissible in shunting mode, and / or of functional limitations and / or functional permissions that exist in shunting mode.Step e) can therefore include, in particular, providing input devices on the remote control designed exclusively for inputting shunting functions and / or checking one or more entered control commands using a control unit of the remote control designed as a remote control control unit, and transmitting control commands relating to shunting functions exclusively via the remote control. Additionally or alternatively, checking one or more control commands received from the remote control of the road construction machine using a control unit of the road construction machine designed as a machine control unit, and executing control commands relating to shunting functions exclusively via the machine control unit of the road construction machine, can be carried out.The check by the control device, in particular the remote control control device and / or the machine control device, may each include releasing one or more control commands permissible for the shunting mode and / or blocking and / or ignoring one or more control commands impermissible for the shunting mode.

[0053] In particular, to improve operator comfort during shunting operations and, additionally or alternatively, to increase operational safety, a setup function can be activated and executed before, during, and / or after one of steps a) to e). This function adjusts one or more elements of the road construction machine into a position suitable for being moved up and / or down onto a transport vehicle and / or for being moved on a transport vehicle. The setup function can be triggered manually by the operator, for example, by a corresponding input on the remote control. The setup function thus refers in particular to an adjustment routine, preferably automated and controlled by the control unit, by which one or more elements of the road construction machine are moved into a transport-ready position.The transportable position is adjusted, particularly when initiated by the operator but otherwise automatically. This can include, for example, the automatic lowering of a driver's cab roof to reduce the transport height of the road construction machine. Additionally or alternatively, it can also include the automatic raising and / or lowering and / or swiveling and / or shifting of a working device, in particular, for example, the raising of a paving screed of a road paver. This ensures that the road construction machine is not moved and driven onto the transport vehicle with an element scraping along the ground surface, such as the paving screed of a road construction machine designed as a road paver. Additionally or alternatively, for example, for a road construction machine designed as a road paver or feeder, a bulk material bunker wall adjustment and / or an adjustment of the width or...The track width of the chassis may be adjusted, for example, to the width of a standard low-loader. For a road construction machine designed as a soil milling machine, the setup function may include, for example, the ability to pivot or fold a conveyor belt, particularly an external conveyor belt, into a transport position to reduce the longitudinal extent of the soil milling machine. For a road construction machine designed as a soil compaction machine, the setup function may include, for example, the ability to move a snowplow blade into a raised position and / or to convert a crab steering position into a steering position without lateral or track offset.

[0054] To detect individual or multiple adjustment positions of one or more of the elements of the respective road construction machine that can be adjusted as part of the setup function, the road construction machine can have one or more position sensors, such as proximity sensors, travel sensors and / or end stop sensors.

[0055] The setup function may also include a check performed by the control unit to determine whether one or more elements are in a defined position suitable for shunting and / or transport at the start of shunting mode and / or before the first driving and / or steering movement of the road construction machine. Based on this, it may also be stipulated that the control unit will only release a driving and / or steering movement in shunting mode if the preceding check has shown that the element(s) in question are positioned correctly for shunting mode.

[0056] Additionally or alternatively, it is also possible that the execution of the aforementioned setup function is a prerequisite for activating the shunting mode, which can also be queried, for example, by the control unit. The setup function can therefore also be performed or initiated, for example, when the road construction machine is shutting down in work mode.In principle, it may therefore be preferable if activation of the shunting mode is only possible if one or more elements of the road construction machine have been moved by the setup function into a position suitable for transport up or down onto the transport vehicle and / or for transport on the transport vehicle, and / or if the control unit has checked that they are in such a position, especially before further control commands are carried out within the shunting mode.

[0057] It can be advantageous if one or more of steps a) to e) can be carried out even when one or more elements of the road construction machine are already in a transport position. Specifically, for example, it may be designed so that the operator's cab roof has already been moved from a raised working position to a lowered transport position. This can result in the operator's cab of the road construction machine no longer being accessible, and therefore no control commands can be issued from it. Despite, or even because of, this adjustment, it may still be possible to drive and / or steer the road construction machine using control commands entered via the remote control.Although the road construction machine can no longer be operated from the driver's seat via control commands relating to driving and steering, this is now possible using the remote control.

[0058] The road construction machine can comprise one or more elements whose relative position differs during shunting compared to when the machine is stationary, for example, on the transport vehicle during transport and / or on the ground during a standstill. During actual shunting or transport, the screed of a road paver, for instance, should be raised, and when stationary, it should be lowered to the ground. Similarly, a road construction machine designed as a soil milling machine should have its milling unit in contact with the ground during shunting and, when stationary, be lowered to the ground and / or to suitable support structures resting on the ground.To ensure this, the invention provides that, upon termination of the shunting mode and / or upon reaching a desired end position of the road construction machine, a parking function is activated and / or can be activated, in which one or more elements of the road construction machine are moved into a parking position by the control unit. The parking function thus preferably also refers to an adjustment sequence of one or more elements of the road construction machine, carried out in particular by the control unit, wherein the adjustments in this case are aimed at moving these elements into a relative position suitable for a standstill of the road construction machine, for example, when it is on the transport vehicle and being transported.The shutdown function can be initiated by the operator to end the shunting mode, in particular by means of a manual input on the remote control.

[0059] Another aspect of the invention relates to a system or assembly for operating a road construction machine, comprising a road construction machine, in particular designed as a paver or feeder, a remote control, wherein the road construction machine and the remote control are connected via a signal transmission line, and a control unit. The remote control and / or the control unit can be part of the road construction machine itself. In this case, the road construction machine can, for example, include a suitable storage location for the remote control, such as a storage compartment and / or a docking station. Furthermore, a charging connection can be provided via which the remote control can be recharged with electrical energy.The charging connection can be a plug connection enclosed by the storage compartment and / or arranged within the storage compartment, or at least a plug connection half designed for connection with a plug connection half on the remote control side that corresponds at least partially to it.

[0060] The road construction machine can have a machine frame supported by at least partially driven drive systems. The machine frame is the essential supporting structure of the road construction machine. The road construction machine is thus designed to be self-propelled and can provide the drive energy required for at least travel and, in particular, also for work operations without relying on external energy sources. The road construction machine can include a drive unit. This refers to the entire drive system and can, for example, include at least one drive motor. The at least one drive motor can be, for example, an internal combustion engine or an electric motor. It is possible for the drive system to have several drive motors, which can also be, at least partially, hydraulic motors.The drive unit may also include one or more drive trains and / or distribution devices, such as a pump distribution gearbox.

[0061] A further component of the road construction machine may be a working unit that is at least partially adjustable between a working position or working position range and a maneuvering position and is at least partially driven by the drive unit. The working unit refers to a device that is present in addition to one or more drive units and that performs one or more work functions of the road construction machine, such as compacting a subgrade, spreading a material mat, and / or milling the subgrade.

[0062] The road construction machine can also include a receiving device designed to receive control commands transmitted by the remote control. The remote control, in turn, can preferably comprise one or more input means for an operator to input control commands for shunting functions, as well as a transmitting device, at least for sending control commands for transmission via the signal transmission line to the receiving device of the road construction machine. For exemplary possible configurations of the control device, the road construction machine, the remote control, the transmitting device, the receiving device, and / or the signal transmission line, reference is made to the preceding information in connection with the method according to the invention. The transmitting device and the receiving device can each be configured as a transmitting and receiving device and enable bidirectional communication.

[0063] The road construction machine may also include an operator's platform, for example, in the form of an operator's station that is at least partially open to the outside environment or in the form of a driver's cab. The operator's platform may have a control device by which an operator can operate the road construction machine, at least in working mode. However, particularly if the road construction machine is designed as an autonomously, and especially fully autonomously, operable road construction machine, it may also be designed without an operator's platform. In the shunting mode, which is then preferably not autonomous but manual, operation can then be carried out by the operator using a remote control.

[0064] According to the invention, to solve the problem, the road construction machine, the remote control, and the control unit can be configured together such that, in a shunting mode, only control commands for shunting functions of the road construction machine can be executed, while control commands relating to purely operational functions of the road construction machine are selectively disabled. For further examples, reference is made to the preceding descriptions of the method according to the invention. It is also preferred that the system, comprising the road construction machine, the remote control, and the control unit, is configured to carry out a method according to the invention.

[0065] Regarding the specific design of the road construction machine, various embodiments can be used, whereby reference is also made here to the preceding information on the method according to the invention, or which is preferably designed to carry out corresponding steps.

[0066] The road construction machine can preferably be, for example, a road paver. Its essential elements, in addition to those already described above, can include a bulk material hopper with adjustable hopper wall elements, a longitudinal conveying device for transporting bulk material from the hopper to the rear within the road paver, a transverse distribution device for distributing bulk material, particularly on the ground surface, transversely to a working direction, and a screed for compacting and smoothing bulk material placed on the ground surface. These elements together preferably form the working unit of the road paver. The screed and the transverse distribution device can be height-adjustable relative to the machine frame of the road paver, for example, by means of one or more hydraulic cylinders.The screed may include one or more vibration excitation devices and / or one or more tamping bars to increase compaction performance. The paver may also include a heating device designed to heat a smoothing surface of the screed and / or the tamping bar and / or wall sections of the bulk material hopper and / or wall sections bordering a bulk material conveying section, for example, to counteract material adhesion. A feeder may have a structure comparable to that of a paver, with the difference that an unloading conveyor belt is present instead of the transverse distribution device and the screed. The unloading conveyor belt may be adjustable relative to the machine frame about a vertical and / or horizontal pivot axis and / or foldable for transport purposes.The feeder's working equipment can therefore include the transfer conveyor belt instead of the paver's screed and cross-distributing device. The paver and / or feeder's drive systems can be wheels and / or tracks.

[0067] Alternatively, the road construction machine can be a soil compaction machine, in particular a tandem roller, roller compactor, or pneumatic tire roller. Soil compaction machines are used for the static and / or dynamic compaction of the subsoil. For this purpose, one or more of the drive units can be designed as roller drums. A tandem roller comprises at least two roller drums arranged one behind the other in the working direction. A roller compactor typically comprises a roller drum arranged at the front in the working direction and a rear set of drive wheels. A pneumatic tire roller, on the other hand, comprises a front and a rear set of wheels, each comprising, for example, three or four individual wheels, in particular arranged coaxially with each other.Soil compaction machines can have one or more vibration excitation devices, such as unbalanced exciters, as working equipment to subject one or more of the drive units to vibrations for the phased increase of the compaction performance of the soil compaction machine. Soil compaction machines of this type can also have a dozer blade, a bulk material spreader, and / or an edge-cutting device as working equipment.

[0068] The road construction machine can also preferably be a soil milling machine. These machines can have a milling unit as their working device, comprising a milling drum housing and a milling drum. The working device can also include one or more conveyor belts for removing the milled material generated during the milling process. Furthermore, the milling unit can be adjustable relative to the machine frame itself via adjustment mechanisms, and / or the machine frame, together with the milling unit, can be connected to the drive system via lifting devices, such as lifting columns. The drive system can be, for example, tracked undercarriages and / or wheels.

[0069] Road construction machines of the present type may further comprise a sprinkler system, a suction system, assistance systems, sensors, in particular distance sensors and / or cameras, as also described above in relation to the method according to the invention, reference being made to this here as well.

[0070] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the embodiments shown in the figures. The figures schematically show: Fig. 1 a side view of a road construction machine configured as a paver; Fig. 2 a side view of a road construction machine configured as a feeder; Fig. 3 a side view of a road construction machine configured as a roller; Fig. 4 a side view of a road construction machine configured as a tandem roller; Fig. 5 a side view of a road construction machine configured as a soil milling machine; Fig. 6 a view of a system with a road construction machine and remote controls; Fig. 7 a schematic diagram for selecting permissible and impermissible control commands in shunting mode; Fig. 8 a schematic diagram for information exchange between the road construction machine and the remote control; Figures 9A and 9B side views of a transport vehicle and a road construction machine; and Fig. 10 a flowchart of a method for operating a self-propelled road construction machine.

[0071] Identical or similarly functioning components are designated with the same reference numerals in the figures. Repeating components are not necessarily designated separately in each figure.

[0072] The Figures 1 to 5 show side views of various specific embodiments of a road construction machine 1. Fig. 1 concerns a road construction machine 1 of the type road paver 2, Fig. 2 concerns a road construction machine 1 of type feeder 3, Fig. 3 concerns a road construction machine 1 of the type soil compaction machine, specifically a roller train 4, Fig. 4 concerns a road construction machine 1 of the type soil compaction machine, specifically a tandem roller 5, and Fig. 5 This concerns a road construction machine 1 of the type soil milling machine, 6. The forward direction of travel is in the Figures 1 to 5 labelled A.

[0073] Each of these road construction machines 1 comprises a machine frame 7, travel mechanisms 8, and a drive unit 9 with at least one drive motor 10. The travel mechanisms 8 can be wheels, tracked undercarriages, or roller drums. The drive unit 9 can comprise one or more individual motors, for example, electric, hydraulic, and / or internal combustion engines. The elements comprised of the drive unit 9 can also include one or more drive trains, pump distribution gearboxes, couplings, etc. These possible details are not shown in the figures. The drive motor 10 can be a primary drive unit, for example, an internal combustion engine or one or more electric motors. The primary drive unit(s) provide the drive energy required for the travel and operation of the road construction machine 1.The road construction machines 1 can in particular be designed to be self-propelled or be driven by the drive energy provided by the drive unit 9 during driving and working operations.

[0074] Each of the road construction machines 1 can have a working device 11. The specific design of the working device 11 can vary from type to type of the respective road construction machine 1. For the road paver 2 according to Fig. 1 The work unit 11 can, for example, comprise a screed 16, a longitudinal conveying unit 18 and a transverse conveying unit 19, a bulk material conveying unit 17, heating units 20, a suction unit 21, etc. A bulk material hopper 22 with adjustable side walls can also be part of the road paver 2. The screed 16 can be positioned between the in Fig. 1shown, raised transport position (solid line) and a lowered working and floor support or parking position (in the Fig. 1 (indicated by a dashed line) be adjustable. One or more suitable adjustment drives, such as hydraulic cylinders, can be provided for this purpose. The cross distribution device can also be adjusted between the one shown in the Fig. 1 The raised and lowered positions shown can be adjusted via one or more actuators, such as hydraulic cylinders. The installation screed 16 can include one or more vibration excitation devices 24, for example, unbalance exciters.

[0075] The work device 11 of the feeder 3 according to the Fig. 2Compared to the road paver 2, it can be practically identical in function and / or components, whereby in this case, instead of the transverse distribution device and the paving screed, a conveyor belt designed as an overflow conveyor 23 can be included by the bulk material conveying device 17. In particular, the overflow conveyor 23 can be pivotable relative to the machine frame 7 about a horizontal axis H and / or a vertical axis V.

[0076] Part of the working device 11 of the two soil compaction machines according to the Figures 3 and 4 These can be one or more of the drive units 8 designed as roller drums 25. These can each include one or more vibration excitation devices 24, in particular unbalance exciters, as part of the working unit 11. A bulk material spreader 34 can also be part of the working unit 11 of the soil compaction machines ( Fig. 4) and / or an edge trimmer 33 ( Fig. 4 ), which is between a raised passive position that is not in contact with the ground (in the Fig. 4 (shown with a solid line) and a cutting position in contact with the ground (in the Fig. 4 (shown with a dashed line and labelled 33'). The road construction machines 1, in particular soil compaction machines, can be articulated, as for example in the roller train 4 according to the Fig. 3 shown, or turntable-steered, as for example in the tandem roller 5 according to the Fig. 4 shown, be designed. In particular, it is also possible to design the tandem roller with articulated steering. The soil compaction machines 4 and 5 can furthermore include, as part of the working device 11, a sprinkler system 26, via which one or more of the roller drums can be sprinkled with a fluid, in particular water.

[0077] If the road construction machine 1 is configured as a soil milling machine 6, it can include, as a working unit 11, a soil milling unit 27 comprising a milling drum housing 29 with adjustable wall elements 28, such as side plates, a scraper plate and / or a front plate and / or scraper flaps, and a milling drum 30. The soil milling machine 6 can also have a sprinkler system 26 and a suction system 21. During operation, the milling drum can be rotated about a rotation axis R extending horizontally and transversely to the forward direction A. The working unit 11 can also include a bulk material conveying system 17 with an unloading conveyor belt 23 or trailing conveyor belt and an internal conveyor belt or longitudinal conveying system 18. In particular, the unloading conveyor belt 23 can be pivotable relative to the machine frame 7 about a horizontal axis H and / or a vertical axis V.The transfer conveyor belt 23 can also be positioned with an upper part in a transport position designated 23' (in the . Fig. 5 (Indicated in incised lines) should be adjustable.

[0078] Part of the road construction machine 1 can be a driver's platform 14. This can have a driver's platform roof 15 and optionally also serve as a driver's cab (for example, in the Figures 3 and 4 The driver's cab roof 14 can be designed from an upright working position (in the Figures 1, 2 and 5 (shown in a crossed-out line) in a transport position (into the Figures 1, 2 and 5(shown in a dashed line and labelled 15') can be adjustable. Operating devices, comprising one or more input means and not shown in detail in the figures, may be provided in the operator's cab 14, via which an operator located inside the operator's cab 14 can input control commands for controlling a working mode in the working operation of the road construction machine 1.

[0079] The road construction machines 1 may have a control unit 12. If it is positioned on the machine side, this may also be referred to as a machine control unit 13. The control unit 12 may comprise one or more computer programs for performing control and / or regulation functions. The road construction machines may also have one or more [unclear] in the Figures 1 to 5For the sake of clarity, the system may include sensors not shown, in particular cameras and / or distance sensors and / or end-of-travel sensors and / or position sensors, etc., to detect areas in the vicinity of the road construction machine 1 and / or the current positions of adjustable elements, such as parts of the respective working devices 11, adjustment ranges, etc. The respective sensors may be connected to the control unit via a data communication link. Furthermore, data communication links may be provided between the control unit 12 and one or more motors and / or adjustment drives and / or other functional units of the respective road construction machine 1, via which the control unit 12 can transmit control commands to the respective units for control purposes.

[0080] The road construction machine 1 may also include a transmitting and / or receiving device 31. This may, for example, be a radio signal transmitter and / or radio signal receiver. The transmitting and / or receiving device 31 can be used for signal transmission with a remote control described in more detail below. Additionally or alternatively, a cable connection between the remote control and the road construction machine can also be used for signal transmission.

[0081] The road construction machines 1 can also include one or more in the Figures 1 to 5only indicated assistance systems 32. These may include, for example, systems for determining the position of the respective road construction machine 1, such as GPS receivers and / or receivers of signals from local coordinate systems, for determining and / or monitoring a current working depth and / or width and / or height and / or length, for recording the ground surface and / or the surroundings of the road construction machine 1, for monitoring work progress, such as compaction progress, for detecting a working edge and / or for guiding the road construction machine 1 along such a working edge, etc.

[0082] Fig. 6 Illustrated by example using a starting point Fig. 1 The road construction machine 1, trained as a road paver 2, uses a system 35 for operating a road construction machine 1. It is understood that instead of the road paver 2 shown, one of the machines described in the Figures 2 to 5The road construction machines shown here could be used in a corresponding manner.

[0083] System 35, or the entire system, comprises, in addition to the road construction machine 1, a remote control 36, wherein in the Fig. 6 Two different and, in particular, alternative embodiments I and II of the remote control 36 are given as examples. One of the two remote controls 36 is sufficient to complete the system 35.

[0084] The remote controls 36 can have a housing 37 and a power supply 38, for example in the form of an electrical energy storage device. The power supply can additionally or alternatively be provided via a cable connection and a connection of the remote control 36 to, for example, the on-board electrical system of the road construction machine 1. The remote controls 36 can thus be portable. A control unit 12 can also be part of the remote control 36. If it is part of the remote control 36 itself, this can also be referred to as a remote control control unit 36. The control unit 12 of the system 35 can thus simultaneously comprise a machine-side control unit 13 and a remote control control unit 36, or comprise two control units 12 that communicate with each other, particularly in the manner described in more detail below.

[0085] The remote control 36 also includes one or more input devices 40. The input devices 40 can be used to input control commands for operating the road construction machine 1 in a shunting mode. For example, the input devices can include input devices for manual input by the operator of control commands for primary shunting functions, such as an input device 41 for forward and reverse travel and / or an input device 42 for steering movements and / or an input device 43 for activating and deactivating at least parts of a drive unit of the road construction machine, for example, for starting and / or switching off a primary drive unit of the road construction machine 1.Furthermore, input means 40 can be included with the remote control 36, which can serve for manual input by the operator of control commands for secondary shunting functions, such as an emergency stop switch 44 and / or an input means 45 for activating and / or deactivating lighting on the road construction machine 1 and / or for adjusting one or more attachments, such as a conveyor belt and / or a screed, a driver's cab roof, etc. The remote control 36 can have a transmitter and / or receiver 46, via which control signals, for example generated from control commands manually entered by the operator via input means 40 on the remote control and from the control unit 12, in particular remote control control unit 39, can be transmitted via a wired and / or wireless signal transmission line 47 to, for example, the transmitter and / or receiver 31 of the road construction machine 1.

[0086] To ensure that in shunting mode only control commands relating to shunting functions are executed by the control unit 12, in particular the machine control unit 13, on the road construction machine 1 from the remote control 36, there are various possibilities which can also be combined.

[0087] According to embodiment 36.I, the remote control 36 is designed such that the input means on the remote control 36 relate exclusively to input means 40 for inputting primary and / or secondary shunting functions. Input means for control commands that should not be executable in shunting mode, such as activating one of the bulk material conveying devices 17, are therefore not included in the remote control 36.I by design. This is ensured by design means by the fact that the remote control does not have any corresponding input means for inputting functions that should not be performed in shunting mode. The remote control 36.1 is therefore designed as a kind of special remote control, which is suitable exclusively for operating the road construction machine 1 in shunting mode and not in working mode, since it cannot operate the full range of functionalities of the road construction machine 1 for working operation.

[0088] In addition or alternatively, embodiment 36.II provides that the remote control, by its overall design, is also configured to operate the road construction machine 1 in working mode and, for this purpose, includes input means 48 for inputting control commands that are not intended to be executed in shunting mode. However, these may be mechanically locked and / or blocked in shunting mode. For this purpose, a cover 49 may be provided, which can be fixed to the housing 37 of the remote control 36, for example, by means of one or more fixing devices 51. The cover 49 may include recesses 50 through which the input means 40 relating to primary and / or secondary shunting functions can be operated.Input devices 40, which are not intended to be used in shunting mode, are not assigned such a recess 50, so that they are covered externally by the cover mask 49 and thus cannot be accessed by the operator. It is possible that a shunting mode using the remote control 36.II is only possible if, for example, the cover 49 is positioned on the housing 37, as detected by the locking devices 51. It is possible that the locking devices 51 can only be released using additional measures, such as code entry and / or other authorization.The assurance that control commands not related to shunting functions cannot be entered in shunting mode is therefore also achieved here by means of constructive means, such that the cover mask mechanically blocks access to such input means, via which these control commands not related to shunting functions could be entered in working mode.

[0089] Finally, another way to ensure that only control commands relating to primary and / or secondary shunting functions are transmitted and / or executed in shunting mode can also be achieved additionally or alternatively using one or more control units 12 or using a computer program, and thus in a "software-based" manner. This is exemplified by the Fig. 7This is illustrated in more detail below. For example, a type of library 52 or database can be included by the control unit 12, in which control commands 53 are stored, for example, in a suitable storage device. The control commands 53 can be classified into several groups, for example, a primary shunting function group 54, a secondary shunting function group 55, and a group 56 that relates to functions that are not executable in shunting mode but are executable in working mode. In working mode, for example, it can be provided that all available control commands are permitted and transmitted by the control unit 12 (13 and / or 39) for further processing.In shunting mode, for example, the control unit 12 (13 and / or 39) may check manually entered control inputs from the operator via the remote control 36 to determine whether they are permissible control commands 53 in shunting mode, specifically from groups 54 or 55. If the control command is permissible, the control unit 12 (13 and / or 39) forwards a corresponding control signal 57. If, on the other hand, the control command is impermissible in shunting mode from group 56 of control commands not executable in shunting mode, the control unit 12 (13 and / or 39) ignores and / or rejects and / or blocks this control command 58 accordingly. Fig. 7To ensure functionality, and to selectively prevent control commands relating to purely operational functions of the road construction machine, or control commands that should not be executed in shunting mode, from being executed in shunting mode, it can be provided that the control unit 12 (13 and / or 39) checks the control commands received by it. Therefore, in shunting mode, only control commands permitted for shunting mode are forwarded by the control unit 12 (13 and / or 39). In this case, the control unit 12 thus acts as a kind of filter.

[0090] It should be noted here as a precautionary measure that the one in the Fig. 7The process described can also be carried out in two stages, particularly if the system 35 includes both a remote control unit 39 and a machine control unit 13 as the control unit 12 of the system 35. In this case, it is possible that the Fig. 7 The test shown was carried out both on the side of the remote control unit 39 and on the side of the machine control unit 13.

[0091] Referring to Fig. 6 The remote control 36.I further illustrates that it is also possible for the remote control 36 to include a display device 59. This device can be used, for example, to display images from one or more cameras 60 arranged on the road construction machine 1 on the remote control. Examples of cameras 60 are shown in the Fig. 6The direction of each camera is indicated by an arrow K on the road construction machine 1. The camera 60 located at the rear of the road construction machine 1 thus records an area, in particular the ground surface viewed in the forward direction A behind the road construction machine 1, in the direction of arrow K1, and the camera 60 located at the front of the road construction machine 1 records an area, in particular the ground surface viewed in the forward direction A in front of the road construction machine 1, in the direction of arrow K2. The camera 60 directed in the direction of arrow K3 towards the ground beneath the road construction machine 1 can, for example, be used to record one or more ground surfaces immediately surrounding the drive mechanism 8.

[0092] Another way to ensure that only control commands relating to primary and / or secondary shunting functions are transmitted and / or executed in shunting mode can be achieved additionally or alternatively using a remote control 36 whose display unit 59 is designed as a touch-sensitive screen or so-called "touchscreen". This makes it possible, for example, to display only certain operating areas on the screen depending on the current operating mode and thus offer only a limited range of functions and controls, especially in shunting mode. This can also be achieved by including one or more control units 12 or by using a computer program, and thus in a "software-based" manner.

[0093] It is understood that the road construction machine 1 may, in addition to and / or as an alternative to the camera(s) 60, have further sensors 61, such as proximity sensors 60.1 and / or direction sensors 60.2 and / or speed sensors 60.3 and / or position and / or travel and / or end-stop sensors 60.4. With the aid of these sensors 60, it is possible to record the status and / or operating parameters of individual and / or multiple elements of the road construction machine 1, particularly also in shunting mode, and to transmit them to, for example, the control unit 12. The control unit can use this information for control and / or regulation purposes.

[0094] Fig. 8Figure 3 illustrates, by way of example, communication between the remote control 36 and the road construction machine 1, particularly with regard to signals and / or information that can be exchanged between the remote control 36 and the road construction machine 1, especially between the remote control machine control unit 39 and the machine control unit 12. As explained above, control commands 53 and / or control signals 57 can be transmitted from the remote control 36 to the road construction machine 1. In shunting mode, this can include, in particular, control commands and / or control signals specifically relating to primary and / or secondary shunting functions. Furthermore, distance information 62 and / or presence information 63 and / or functional integrity information 64, for example in the form of a safety signal, can be exchanged unidirectionally and / or bidirectionally between the remote control 36 and the road construction machine 1.In addition or alternatively, sensor and / or camera information 65 can be transmitted from the road construction machine 1 to the remote control 36, for example for display on the display device 59.

[0095] Fig. 6 further illustrates that the road construction machine 1 can include one or more lighting devices 66.

[0096] Furthermore, it may be provided that the road construction machine 1 and / or the respective remote control 36 not only communicate directly with each other via the signal transmission line 47, but additionally or alternatively via signal transmission lines 67 directly and / or indirectly with other transmission means 68 (for example, satellites) and / or one or more mobile devices and / or remote control workstations and / or servers (in the Fig. 6(designated in total as 69). In particular, these signal transmission lines 67 and / or the multiple mobile devices and / or remote control workstations and / or servers can also be used, for example, for identification and / or authorization purposes of the road construction machine 1 and / or the remote control 36 and / or an operator.

[0097] The Figures 9A and 9B illustrates situations of a typical loading and unloading process in a side view. Fig. 9A A road construction machine 1, designed for illustrative purposes only as a road paver 2, drives onto a transport surface 70 of a transport vehicle 71, designed for illustrative purposes in this case as a low loader. The transport vehicle 71 can include a ramp 73, which can form an entry and exit surface 72. Figures 9A and 9BThis clarifies that no soil preparation is required for the loading and unloading process, and therefore, in particular, functions of the respective road construction machine 1 that are solely dedicated to soil preparation are not needed. It is therefore sufficient if a limited range of functions is available for maneuvering the road construction machine 1 or for its operation in maneuvering mode, compared to working mode. This also makes operating the road construction machine 1 in maneuvering mode safer, especially for operators unfamiliar with its specific characteristics, as incorrect operation of certain components of the respective road construction machine 1 is thus inherently prevented.

[0098] The Figures 9A and 9BFigure 1 further illustrates an optional special loading process in which the road construction machine 1 or the system 35 is operated in a tracking mode within the shunting mode. Using a distance monitoring device 74, a distance 75 between the road construction machine 1 and the remote control 36 and / or an operator 76 can be monitored. It can then be provided that the road construction machine follows the remote control 36 and / or the operator 76 in shunting mode while maintaining this distance. The control commands required for this can be generated, for example, by the control unit 12 (in particular 13).Additionally or alternatively, the distance monitoring device 74 can also be used to check whether the operator 76 and / or the remote control 36 is outside a minimum distance and / or within a maximum distance to the road construction machine 1 and only execute control commands in shunting mode if this is the case.

[0099] Fig. 10 Illustrates steps of a method 77 for operating a self-propelled road construction machine 1, in particular a road construction machine 1 as part of a system 35, as explained in the preceding figures.

[0100] The road construction machine 1 can be operated in a working mode 78 and, in particular together with the remote control 36 and / or one or more of the control units 12, 13, 39, in a shunting mode 79. The following descriptions refer to the shunting mode 79. However, it may be provided that, prior to the procedure 77, a selection 84 between the working mode 78 and the shunting mode 79 takes place, for example by an operator. Alternatively, it may also be provided that operation by the remote control 36 always takes place, at least initially, in the shunting mode 79 and / or that, upon activation of the road construction machine 1 in any way, the shunting mode 79 is always selected first and subsequently by further measures, for example one or more authorization certificates, etc.A switch to working mode 78 takes place, meaning that the road construction machine 1 can only be fully commissioned from shunting mode 78.

[0101] For the procedure 77, it can now be provided that control commands 53 are entered, in particular manually, at the remote control 36, for example via the input means 40 described above. Based on these control commands, it is now possible for the control unit (12 or 13 and / or 39) to execute control commands 81 exclusively for shunting functions of the road construction machine 1 on the road construction machine 1. For this purpose, the control commands can be transmitted 86 from the remote control 36 to the road construction machine 1 in a single step 86. It can now be provided that, simultaneously, a safeguard 82 is ensured such that, for example, control commands relating selectively to purely operational functions of the road construction machine 1 are not issued and / or executed.

[0102] This can be achieved, for example, mechanically and structurally (i.e., through constructive means) and / or by means of a computer program and, for example, by means of a defined selection of control commands 53 from a library and their assignment to primary and / or secondary shunting functions permissible in shunting mode and / or their active suppression and / or non-transmission, as described above. This can, for example, involve functions such as adjusting the width of a screed and / or activating a longitudinal conveying device and / or activating the conveying operation of a transverse conveying device and / or an unloading conveying device.

[0103] The execution 81 of control commands can take place in shunting mode 79 with a reduced scope of functions compared to working mode 78, or may include a restriction 83 of this scope of functions compared to working mode, for example by restricting an adjustment range and / or adjustment path and / or a maximum adjustment speed and / or a maximum travel speed of the road construction machine and / or a maximum available drive power, for example of a primary drive unit.

[0104] It may also be provided that an authorization query 85 is performed, which may occur at one or more points in the procedure, for example, before selection 84 and / or execution 81. For example, in combination with or independently of the query 85, it may be provided that a signal transmission connection 87 is established between the road construction machine 1 and the remote control 36. This may be a wired connection or a wireless signal transmission connection.

[0105] The query 85 can additionally or alternatively include checking one or more entered control commands and / or checking one or more control commands received from the remote control of the road construction machine to determine whether these are permissible control commands in shunting mode or not.

[0106] It may be provided that, for example, during step 81 (execution) and / or at the beginning of the procedure, a presence and / or identity check 88 of a transport vehicle and / or identification of a transport and / or approach surface (which may also include, for example, the acquisition of condition information, in particular soil condition information [for example, by means of one or more cameras, distance sensors, etc.]) and / or a check 89 of a current distance between the road construction machine 1 and the remote control and / or an operator is carried out, in particular to determine whether the operator is sufficiently close and / or not too close to the road construction machine 1 or is within a permissible maximum distance and / or outside a permissible minimum distance.

[0107] In particular, at least during the entire operation in shunting mode 79, it is possible that an exchange 90 of at least one safety signal, especially one generated and / or emitted and / or received independently of specific control commands, takes place between the remote control 36 and the road construction machine 1. This exchange can be unidirectional or bidirectional. In this way, it is ensured that a signal connection between the remote control and the road construction machine is always maintained. If the safety signal is no longer received, it may be provided that the operation of the road construction machine 1 in shunting mode is immediately stopped, in particular that a primary drive unit is switched off, and / or current adjustment movements are stopped and / or held.Prior to and / or in parallel to this, it may be provided that an acoustically and / or visually and / or haptically perceptible alarm is issued, in particular on the remote control 36, whereby the cessation of operation of the road construction machine 1 then only takes place after a time delay following the loss of the existing signal connection.

[0108] It is possible for a setup function 91 to be executed, with which elements of the road construction machine 1 are automatically or by the control unit 12 adjusted into a position suitable for transport. This setup function 91 can be executed, for example, after selecting shunting mode 79 or during shunting mode 79 as a separate control command. Possible functions of setup function 91 include, for example, the Fig. 6explained in more detail. For example, the installation screed 16 can be adjusted between a raised transport position B or transport position (solid line) and a lowered working and / or parking position C (dashed line), and / or the operator's cab roof 15 can be adjusted between a raised working position C and a lowered transport position B.

[0109] Similar to the setup function 91, a parking function 92 can also be included in the procedure 77, either additionally or alternatively. This can be carried out, in particular, following the shunting mode 79, by moving one or more elements of the respective road construction machine 1 into a parking position. Referring again to Fig. 6 This could therefore mean, for example, lowering the installation plank 16 down to the ground surface and / or the loading surface of the transport vehicle or similar.

[0110] Both the setup function 91 and the shutdown function 92 can thus perform adjustment functions, particularly automatically. Ideally, these adjustment functions serve solely to bring the road construction machine 1 into a mobile and / or ready-to-shut-down state. In shunting mode, the affected element(s), such as the lifting function of the screed and / or the operator's cab roof, do not need to be controlled individually, for example, by separate input devices, but can be initiated centrally and jointly by the operator, particularly via the remote control, with a single action. The setup function 91 can be designed in such a way that heating devices and / or vibration excitation devices and / or sprinkler systems and / or milling devices potentially included in the road construction machine are not activated or cannot be activated.It may be additionally or alternatively provided that, within the framework of the setup function, the transport operation of potentially included bulk material transport facilities of the road construction machine is not activated or cannot be activated.

[0111] Another possible operating mode is a tracking mode 93. In this operating mode, the road construction machine 1 automatically follows, for example, the remote control 36. Suitable distance monitoring 94 can be used for this purpose, as is the case, for example, in the Figures 9A and 9B shown. If the operator activates this operating mode, the road construction machine 1 follows while maintaining a target distance of 75 ( Figures 9A and 9B ) automatically via remote control 36. Reference symbol list

[0112] 1 Road construction machine 2 Road paver 3 Feeder 4 Roller train 5 Tandem roller 6 Road milling machine 7 Machine frame 8 Travel system 9 Drive system 10 Drive motor 11 Working device 12 Control device 13 Machine control device 14 Operator's platform 15 Operator's platform roof 16 Screed 17 Bulk material conveying device 18 Longitudinal conveying device 19 Transverse conveying device 20 Heating device 21 Extraction device 22 Bulk material bunker 23 Transfer conveying device 24 Vibration excitation device 25 Roller drum 26 Sprinkler system 27 Soil milling device 28 Wall elements 29 Milling drum housing 30 Milling drum 31 Transmit and / or receive device 32 Assistance system 33 Edge cutting device 34 Bulk material spreader 35 System for operating a road construction machine 36 Remote control 37 Housing 38 Power supply 39 Remote control unit 40 Input device 41 Input device for forward and reverse travel 42 Input device for steering movements 43 Input device for activating and deactivating at least parts of a drive unitRoad construction machine 44 Emergency stop switch 45 Input device for activating and / or deactivating lighting 46 Transmit and / or receive device 47 Signal transmission line 48 Input device for inputting control commands, including those that should not be executable in shunting mode 49 Cover mask 50 Recess 51 Fixing device 52 Library 53 Control command 54 Group relating to primary shunting functions 55 Group relating to secondary shunting functions 56 Group relating to functions that should not be executable in shunting mode 57 Control signal 58 Blocked control signal 59 Display device 60 Camera 61 Sensors 62 Distance information 63 Presence information 64 Function integrity information 65 Sensor and / or camera information 66 Lighting device 67 Signal transmission line 68 Transmission means 69 Mobile devices and / or remote control workstations and / or servers 70 Transport area 71 Transport vehicle 72 Loading and unloading area 73 Loading ramp74 Distance monitoring device 75 Distance 76 Operator 77 Procedure for operating a self-propelled road construction machine 78 Working mode 79 Shunting mode 80 Inputting one or more control commands on the remote control 81 Executing control commands exclusively for shunting functions 82 Securing 83 Restricting / Executing with limited functionality 84 Selecting 85 Querying authorization 86 Transmitting 87 Establishing a signal transmission link 88 Presence and / or identity check of a transport vehicle 89 Current distance between the road construction machine and the remote control and / or an operator 90 Exchanging at least one safety signal 91 Setup function 92 Parking function 93 Tracking mode 94 Distance monitoring A Forward direction B Transport position C Working and / or parking position H Horizontal axis K Camera recording direction R Rotation axis V Vertical axis

Claims

1. Method (77) for operating a self-propelled road construction machine (1) using a remote control (36) and a control device (12), wherein the road construction machine (1) can be operated in a working mode (78) and in a shunting mode (79), wherein in the shunting mode (79) the input (80) of control commands (53) is made at the remote control (36) and - the execution (81) of control commands (53) exclusively for shunting functions of the road construction machine (1) at the road construction machine (1) by the control device (12) and - at the same time ensuring (82) that control commands (53) relating selectively to purely working functions of the road construction machine (1) are not executed.

2. Method (77) according to claim 1, characterized by thatThe control commands (53) executable in shunting mode (79) for shunting functions include: - at least one of the following primary shunting functions: - forward and reverse travel; - steering commands for cornering; - activation and deactivation of at least parts of a drive unit (10) of the road construction machine (1); - and / or at least one of the following secondary shunting functions: - switching lights on and off; - emergency stop activation; - raising, lowering, and / or swiveling work equipment (11); - adjusting a driver's cab roof (15) between a working position (C) and a transport position (B); - adjusting a conveyor belt (17); - activating and / or deactivating one or more cameras (60).

3. Method (77) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by thatThe control commands (53) that cannot be executed in shunting mode (79) relate to at least one of the following working functions: - Activating a suction device (21); - Activating a sprinkler device (26); - Activating a bulk material conveying device (17); - Activating a heating and / or cooling device (20); - Activating a vibration excitation device (24); - Commissioning assistance systems (32) that can be used selectively for the operation of the road construction machine (1), such as systems for determining a working depth and / or height; - Executing control commands (53) that are entered via input means arranged in a driver's cab (14) of the road construction machine (1).

4. Method (77) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by thatthe control commands (53) which are ensured cannot be executed in shunting mode (79) in the event that the road construction machine (1) is designed as a road paver (2) or a feeder (3), relate to at least one of the following working functions: - width adjustment of a screed (16); - activation of a longitudinal conveying device (18); - activation of a conveying operation of a transverse conveying device (19) and / or an unloading conveying device (23); - activation of a vibration excitation device (24).

5. Method (77) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by thatthe control commands (53) which are ensured cannot be executed in shunting mode (79) in the event that the road construction machine (1) is designed as a soil milling machine (6) relate to at least one of the following working functions: - Activating a rotational operation of a soil milling device (27); - Raising and / or lowering wall elements (28) of a milling drum box (29); - Activating a conveying operation of a longitudinal conveying device (18).

6. Method (77) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the control commands (53) which are ensured cannot be executed in shunting mode (79) in the event that the road construction machine (1) is designed as a soil compaction machine (4, 5) relate to at least one of the following working functions: - Activating a vibration excitation device (24); - Activating a crab steering mode and / or steering in the crab steering mode.

7. Method (77) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by that Ensuring (82) that control commands (53) relating to selectively pure work functions of the road construction machine (1) cannot be executed is achieved by means of an active suppression of such control commands (53) by the control device (12).

8. Method (77) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by thatControl commands (53) that can be executed in both shunting mode (79) and working mode (78) can only be executed with a reduced range of functions in shunting mode (79) compared to working mode (78), whereby a reduction in the range of functions is achieved in particular by one or more of the following measures: - limiting (83) an adjustment range and / or adjustment path; - limiting (83) a minimum and / or maximum lateral and / or longitudinal inclination; - limiting (83) a maximum adjustment speed; - limiting (83) a maximum travel speed; - limiting (83) a maximum available drive power; - limiting (83) the possibility of simultaneous operation of several functions.

9. Method (77) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact thatfor the activation and / or execution of the shunting mode (79) using the control unit (12) an authorization query (85) is carried out and / or for the activation and / or during the execution of the shunting mode (79) using the control unit (12) a presence and / or identity check (88) of a transport vehicle (71) is carried out.

10. Method (77) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by thatDistance monitoring (89) between the remote control (36) or an operator (76) and the road construction machine (1) is carried out by means of a distance monitoring device (74), and that operation of the road construction machine (1) in shunting mode (79) is only enabled by the control unit (12) if the remote control (36) or the operator (76) is outside a defined minimum distance and / or within a defined maximum distance, wherein the shunting mode (79) includes a tracking mode (93), wherein the control unit (12) in tracking mode (93) generates and executes control commands (53) for at least and in particular exclusively the primary shunting functions "forward and reverse travel" and "steering commands for cornering" depending on a current distance (75) between the road construction machine (1) and the remote control (36) and / or an operator (76).

11. Method (77) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by that In shunting mode (79), information on the condition of the area located vertically below the road construction machine (1) is acquired using one or more sensors (61), and the condition information is displayed by the control unit (12) to an operator (76) at the remote control (36) via a display unit (59), to determine a two- or three-dimensional image of this area and / or to identify the approach surface of a transport vehicle (71), to define a permissible driving area and / or to generate one or more control commands (53).

12. Method (77) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by thatirrespective of the transmission (86) of one or more control signals from the remote control (36) to the road construction machine (1), an exchange of at least one safety signal takes place between the remote control (36) and the road construction machine (1), and that the execution (81) of control commands (53) received by the road construction machine (1) from the remote control (36) takes place only if and / or only as long as the safety signal is received simultaneously.

13. Method (77) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by thatto enter shunting mode (79) and / or to operate in shunting mode (79): a) establishing (87) a signal transmission link (67) between the road construction machine (1) and the remote control (36), b) manually entering (80) one or more control commands (53) at the remote control (36), c) transmitting (86) the one or more control commands (53) to the road construction machine (1) via the signal transmission link (67), and d) executing (81) the one or more control commands (53) at the road construction machine (1), wherein in at least one of steps b) to d) according to step e) it is ensured (82) that only control commands (53) relating to shunting functions are generated and / or released and / or implemented by the control unit (12).where step e) comprises at least one of the following measures: - providing input means (40) on the remote control (36) designed exclusively for inputting shunting functions; - checking one or more input control commands (53) using a control unit (12) of the remote control (36) designed as a remote control control unit (39) and transmitting control commands (53) relating exclusively to shunting functions by the remote control (36); - checking one or more control commands (53) received by the remote control (36) from the road construction machine (1) using a control unit (12) of the road construction machine (1) designed as a machine control unit (13) and executing control commands (53) relating exclusively to shunting functions by the machine control unit (13) of the road construction machine (1); and , thatbefore, during or after any of steps a) to e) a setup function (91) is activated and performed which adjusts one or more elements of the road construction machine (1) into a position suitable for transport up or down onto a transport vehicle (71) and / or for transport on a transport vehicle (71).

14. Method (77) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by that When the shunting mode (79) is terminated and / or when the road construction machine (1) reaches a desired end position, a parking function (92) is activated and / or can be activated, in which one or more elements of the road construction machine (1) are moved into a parking position controlled by the control unit (12).

15. System (35) for carrying out a method (77) according to any one of claims 1 to 14 for operating a road construction machine (1), comprising a road construction machine (1), a remote control (36), wherein the road construction machine (1) is in a data transmission connection with the remote control (36) via a signal transmission line (67), and a control device (12), wherein the road construction machine (1) is a road paver (2), a feeder (3), a soil compaction machine (4, 5) or a soil milling machine (6), - the road construction machine (1) comprising a machine frame (7) supported by at least partially driven drive units (8), a drive unit (9) comprising at least one drive motor (10), a working unit (11) adjustable at least partially between a working position and a shunting position and driven at least partially by the drive unit (9) and at least one receiving unit (31),which is designed to receive control commands (53) sent by the remote control (36); - the remote control (36) comprising one or more input means (40) for inputting control commands (53) for shunting functions and a transmitting device (31) at least for sending control commands (53) for transmission via the signal transmission line (47) to the receiving device of the road construction machine (1), , characterized by that the road construction machine (1), the remote control (36) and the control device (12) are designed together in such a way that in a shunting mode (79) only control commands (53) for shunting functions of the road construction machine (1) can be executed and at the same time control commands (53) relating to pure working functions of the road construction machine (1) cannot be executed selectively.

Images