Road construction machine and method for spraying sucked bituminous fumes with a atomized liquid

Abstract

Road construction machine (1) configured in the form of a road paver (2) or in the form of a feeder vehicle (30) for supplying a road paver (2) with paving material, wherein the road construction machine (1) has at least one ventilation system (8, 8') with a negative pressure generating intake side (9) for extracting bituminous vapors (7, 7') and with a positive pressure generating discharge side (10) for blowing out the extracted bituminous vapors (7, 7'), and at least one spray device (17, 17'), and wherein the spray device (17, 17') is provided on the positive pressure generating discharge side (10) for spraying an exhaust air stream (13) formed thereon from extracted bituminous vapors (7, 7') with an atomized liquid (18).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a road construction machine according to claim 1. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method according to independent claim 15.

[0002] EP3276081A1 discloses a road construction machine configured as a paver with a screed. This paver has a spraying device positioned in front of the screed to spray the bituminous vapors generated in the area of ​​a transverse distribution above a transverse distribution auger with an atomized liquid, in particular water, so that the bituminous aerosols contained in the vapors are bound by the spray mist and thus can no longer rise to an operator on the driver's platform. An extraction device, as disclosed in US5,938,371, can also be used on this paver to extract bituminous vapors, in particular vapors mixed with spray mist, from the area of ​​the transverse distribution.

[0003] A problem with a road paver where bituminous fumes generated in the lateral distribution area are both sprayed and extracted is that, with increasing moisture content, the sprayed bituminous fumes become more difficult to extract using the extraction system; in other words, the spraying device can impair the operation of the extraction system. Furthermore, extracting sprayed fumes can lead to increased condensation within the extraction system, which can further reduce the extraction capacity and potentially cause the extraction system to wear out faster.

[0004] The object of the invention is to provide a road construction machine in the form of a road paver or in the form of a feeder vehicle and a method by which it is possible to better keep bituminous vapors away from the operating personnel in order to improve the working conditions for the operating personnel.

[0005] This problem is solved using a road construction machine according to claim 1 and a method according to independent claim 15.

[0006] Advantageous further developments of the invention are given by the respective subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0007] The road construction machine according to the invention is configured in the form of a road paver or as a feeder vehicle for supplying a road paver with paving material. The road construction machine according to the invention comprises at least one ventilation system with a negative pressure-generating intake side for extracting bituminous vapors and with a positive pressure-generating exhaust side for blowing out the extracted bituminous vapors. Furthermore, the road construction machine according to the invention has at least one spray device. The invention provides that the spray device is located on the positive pressure-generating exhaust side for spraying an atomized liquid onto an exhaust airflow formed therefrom from extracted bituminous vapors.

[0008] In contrast to the prior art cited, in which a spray device sprays vapors on the intake side that generates the negative pressure, the invention provides for the spraying of bituminous vapors on the exhaust side of the ventilation system. This allows the ventilation system to be operated more energy-efficiently and facilitates the extraction of the bituminous vapors. Above all, the invention makes it easier to prevent condensation within the ventilation system, or at least to reduce it to such an extent that gentle operation of the ventilation system is ensured. This is because, according to the invention, by spraying the exhaust airflow generated by positive pressure on the exhaust side, the extracted bituminous vapors are cooled by the spray mist only at the outlet of the ventilation system and, due to their associated increase in weight, then sink to the ground in a more controlled manner.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the invention, the exhaust airflow can be sprayed within and / or outside a pipe end section of an exhaust air duct provided on the discharge side of the ventilation system. In other words, in this variant, the cooling and weighting of the extracted bituminous vapors is only carried out at the end or at the outlet of the exhaust air duct in order to selectively bind the aerosols contained in the extracted bituminous vapors by means of an injected, atomized liquid, for example by means of an injected spray mist of water, so that they can no longer float freely to the operator of the road construction machine.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the invention, the spray device comprises at least one nozzle configured to spray the exhaust air stream within the end section of the duct. This nozzle can, in particular, be structurally integrated into the end section of the duct. This means that the end section of the duct itself forms the nozzle, i.e., it fulfills a dual function by forming both the exhaust air duct and the nozzle of the spray device in certain sections.

[0011] Preferably, the spray device has at least one nozzle configured to spray the exhaust air stream outside the end section of the pipe. This nozzle can, for example, be associated with an outlet opening of the end section of the pipe to spray the exhaust air stream exiting the outlet opening immediately after it leaves the end section. Alternatively, the nozzle could be attached directly to the outlet of the end section to mist the outgoing exhaust air stream. In this variant as well, the nozzle can be an integral part of the end section of the pipe. The nozzle can also be designed separately from the end section of the pipe to mist the outgoing exhaust air stream outside the end section of the pipe, at a certain distance from the outlet opening, for example with water.

[0012] Preferably, the end section of the line has at least one connection for the spraying device, in particular for a hose of the spraying device, which supplies the at least one nozzle provided in the area of ​​the end section with liquid, in particular with water.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the end section of the pipe is detachably fastened, in particular removable without tools. This allows the end section to be easily removed, especially for cleaning purposes. It would be conceivable that the end section of the pipe is detachably fastened to the exhaust duct without tools by means of a screw connection and / or a toggle latch.

[0014] Preferably, the spray pattern of the atomized liquid injected outside the pipe end section is adjusted such that the exhaust airflow exiting the pipe end section can be deflected in a desired direction, in particular towards the surface on which the road construction machine is moving. In this variant, the liquid injected, for example in the form of an inclined lamella, can exert a entrainment or guiding effect on the exhaust airflow exiting the pipe end section in order to direct the exhaust airflow in a controlled manner, particularly towards the surface, so that the aerosols contained therein can be reliably and even more quickly deposited towards the ground.

[0015] Preferably, the spraying of the exhaust air stream by means of the spraying device can be carried out within the engine compartment of the road construction machine, particularly in the area of ​​the engine compartment floor. The exhaust air stream, guided there by the exhaust duct, can be blown out at a short distance from the ground, for example at a maximum distance of one hundred centimeters above the ground on which the road construction machine is moving, and misted with the atomized spray agent, so that the aerosols contained in the exhaust air stream can no longer spread upwards towards the operator's station.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the exhaust air stream can be sprayed by means of the spray device behind a driver's control station, at the height of the roof of the road construction machine. The exhaust air stream, now coated with spray fluid, reliably sinks to the ground due to its increased weight and can therefore be directed to descend outside the driver's control station during paving operations, without entering the area of ​​the driver or the screed operator next to the machine.

[0017] It would be advantageous if the spraying capacity of the spraying device could be controlled, and in particular dynamically regulated, depending on the set suction capacity of the ventilation system and / or on a detected weather condition, especially a detected wind speed and / or a detected humidity level. This would allow the spraying device to be optimally adapted to the current operating mode of the ventilation system in order to reliably suppress the aerosols contained in the extracted bituminous vapors and / or to react specifically to current weather conditions in order to adapt to them. For example, the spraying capacity could be reduced in high humidity, especially during rain on the construction site.On the other hand, at high wind speeds on the construction site, the spraying performance could be increased so that the bituminous vapors extracted by the ventilation system cannot be blown into an area of ​​the operator after being expelled due to increased weight.

[0018] According to one variant, the ventilation system is configured for extracting bituminous vapors above a transverse distribution screw, for extracting bituminous vapors from a material container of the road construction machine, for extracting bituminous vapors along a conveyor belt, for extracting bituminous vapors at a transfer area formed between successively conveying conveyor belts and / or for extracting bituminous vapors at the outlet of a discharge belt, in particular at the outlet of a swiveling belt.

[0019] It would be conceivable, in particular, that the ventilation system is configured to extract bituminous vapors at different points on the road construction machine and combine them along the exhaust line to form the exhaust airflow, so that spraying with spray fluid from the outlet of the ventilation system is only possible at one point on the road construction machine.

[0020] In particular, the ventilation system comprises a radial fan, preferably a radial fan with adjustable speed. This can be installed in the engine compartment of the road construction machine and powered by a generator installed therein.

[0021] One embodiment provides that the ventilation system and / or the spraying device is at least partially designed as a modular retrofit kit. The ventilation system and / or the spraying device can, in particular, include components that are either detachably or permanently installed on the road construction machine. It would be conceivable that externally visible sections of the ventilation system and / or the spraying device's piping are detachably attached using connectors, while other components of the ventilation system and / or the spraying device, such as a fan and / or a pump, are structurally integrated within the engine compartment.

[0022] Preferably, the spray device is configured to collect condensate formed by spraying the exhaust air stream and to separate any aerosols contained therein. For this purpose, the spray device can be equipped with a collection container and a return line with a filter function. This would allow at least a partial recirculation of the liquid used as a spraying agent.

[0023] According to one embodiment of the invention, the spraying device is designed to spray bituminous vapors rising from a material hopper of the road construction machine and / or to spray bituminous vapors rising from a material hopper of a road paver following the road construction machine, provided that no extraction occurs in these areas. For this purpose, the spraying device can include at least one drone and / or at least one atomizing nozzle assigned to these spraying areas.

[0024] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the spraying device comprises a tank, in particular a temperature-controlled tank, and a pump, in particular an electrically operated pump or a pump connected to a pump distribution gearbox. It would be particularly conceivable for the tank to be actively cooled in order to maintain the liquid stored therein, for example water, at a temperature level that ensures a sufficient cooling effect when spraying the exhaust air stream to effectively condense the vapors contained in the exhaust air stream.

[0025] Preferably, a pump of the spraying device and a fan of the ventilation system can be connected by means of a coupling and / or by means of a gearbox and can be driven by means of a common drive, for example an electric motor, or are jointly connected to a pump distribution gearbox.

[0026] It would be helpful if the spraying device's filling nozzle could be accessed from the ground by an operator by opening a side panel, especially a side panel designed as a door, on the road construction machine.

[0027] Preferably, the ventilation system is designed to be heated, at least in sections. This prevents condensation from forming within the ventilation system. One variant provides that the ventilation system is installed within the engine compartment of the road construction machine in such a way that it can be heated, at least in sections, and in particular the exhaust duct formed therein, by means of a heated cooling airflow, for example, by means of a heated cooling airflow generated within the engine compartment to dissipate heat from the engine of the road construction machine, in order to counteract condensation within the ventilation system.

[0028] The invention also relates to an installation train with at least one road paver according to the invention and / or with at least one feeder vehicle according to the invention for supplying the road paver with installation material.

[0029] It would be conceivable for the paving train to comprise two asphalt pavers according to the invention, traveling one behind the other in the paving direction. The asphalt paver leading the train in the paving direction is configured as a binder course paver to lay a binder course, and the asphalt paver following it in the paving train is configured as a surface course paver to produce a surface course on top of the binder course. The surface course paver can be supplied with paving material by means of the leading binder course paver.

[0030] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method by which bituminous vapors are extracted from a paver and / or a paver feeder on a vacuum-generating intake side. The invention provides that an exhaust airflow formed from the extracted bituminous vapors is sprayed with an atomized liquid, for example, water, on a positive-pressure discharge side. This results in an advantageous, particularly energy-efficient and gentle operation of the ventilation system, reliably suppressing aerosols within the extracted vapors on the discharge side so that they can be kept away from the operating personnel.

[0031] The invention is explained in more detail with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures. The figures show: Figure 1: A road construction machine in the form of a paver with a spraying device for spraying an exhaust air stream. Figure 2: A road construction machine in the form of a paver with a spraying device for spraying an exhaust air stream. Figure 3: A road construction machine in the form of a feeder vehicle with a spraying device for spraying an exhaust air stream. Figure 4: Spraying an exhaust air stream outside a duct end section of an exhaust air duct. Figure 5: Spraying an exhaust air stream inside a duct end section of an exhaust air duct.

[0032] Technical features are consistently identified in the figures using the same reference symbols.

[0033] Figure 1Figure 1 shows a road construction machine 1 configured as a paver 2 for producing a new paving layer 3. The paver 2 has a screed 4, which is used to produce the paving layer 3. A transverse spreading auger 5 is positioned in the direction of travel R in front of the screed 4. Paving material is supplied to the transverse spreading auger 5 from a material hopper 6 by means of a longitudinal conveyor (not shown), which the auger 5 then spreads in front of the screed 4.

[0034] Bituminous vapors 7 are generated during the lateral distribution of the paving material in front of the screed 4. To extract the bituminous vapors 7 from the lateral distribution area, a system is installed on the paver 2. Figure 1A ventilation system 8 is provided. The ventilation system 8 is equipped with a negative pressure-generating intake side 9 for extracting the bituminous vapors. Furthermore, the ventilation system 8 has a positive pressure-generating exhaust side 10 for blowing out the extracted bituminous vapors 7. For extracting the bituminous vapors 7, the ventilation system 8 includes a fan 11, in particular a radial fan, between the intake side 9 and the exhaust side 10.

[0035] Figure 1 Figure 1 shows that the extracted bituminous vapors 7 are blown out by means of the ventilation system 8 at the level of a roof 12 of the road paver 2. For this purpose, an exhaust air flow 13 generated by the fan 11 is transported along an exhaust air duct 14 to a duct end section 15 positioned at the level of the roof 12, at the outlet opening 16 of which the exhaust air flow 13 is expelled.

[0036] Furthermore, it shows Figure 1The asphalt paver 2 has a spraying device 17. This device is configured to spray the bituminous vapors 7 extracted from the transverse distribution area with an atomized liquid 18 on the pressurizing discharge side 10 of the ventilation system 8 at the level of the roof 12 of the asphalt paver 2, as the extracted vapors 7 leave the exhaust duct 14. This allows the bituminous aerosols emitted in the exhaust airflow 13 to be bound by the spray mist formed from the liquid 18, preventing them from spreading further to an operator on the driver's platform 19. The spray mist causes the aerosols to form droplets, which, due to their weight, reliably sink behind the driver's platform 19.

[0037] Figure 1Figure 17 shows that the spraying device 17 has a tank 20 for storing the liquid 18 and a pump 21 connected to the tank 20. The tank 20 and the pump 21 are arranged in an engine compartment 22 of the road paver 2. Figure 1 The tank 20 and the pump 21 are positioned behind a side panel 23, which can be opened, inside the engine compartment 22 so that they are accessible from the ground 24, on which the paver 2 moves, for an operator, for example for filling the tank 20.

[0038] The pump 21 is connected via a line 25 to a nozzle 26 of the spray device 17 positioned at the height of the roof 12, which is configured as an atomizing nozzle for producing the atomized liquid 18.

[0039] According to Figure 1From the pump 21 of the spraying device 17, a further line 27 leads to a further nozzle 28, which is configured to spray bituminous vapors 7' rising directly from the material container 6 by means of atomized liquid 18'.

[0040] Figure 2 Figure 1 shows a road paver 2 in which the ventilation system 8 installed on it expels the bituminous vapors 7 extracted from the area of ​​the transverse distribution via the exhaust line 14 laid on the pressure-generating discharge side 10 at a short distance above the surface 24. In this variant, the end section 15 of the exhaust line 14 is positioned within the engine compartment 22 such that the exhaust air 13 flowing out of the end section 15 can be sprayed with the atomized liquid 18 at a short distance above the surface 24, for example, at a distance of less than 100 cm above the surface 24.

[0041] Here, in contrast to the in Figure 1 In the illustrated embodiment, the expulsion of the extracted vapors 7 and their spraying with the atomized liquid 18 at a short distance from the surface 24 within the engine compartment 22 take place. This reliably keeps the bituminous aerosols contained in the exhaust air stream 13 away from the operating personnel of the asphalt paver 2, in particular the driver on the operator's platform 19 and the screed operator.

[0042] According to Figure 3 The road construction machine 1 is configured as a feeder vehicle 30. On the feeder vehicle 30 according to Figure 3Bituminous vapors 7 are extracted from a material container 6' by means of a ventilation system 8' of the feeder vehicle 30. The ventilation system 8' is configured to expel the extracted bituminous vapors 7 at a short distance above the surface 24 on which the feeder vehicle 30 is moving. The expelled exhaust air 13 is sprayed with atomized liquid 18, which is produced by a spray device 17' provided on the feeder vehicle 30.

[0043] Furthermore, it shows Figure 3 , that the spraying device 17' of the feeder vehicle 30 is configured to spray bituminous vapors 7 with atomized liquid 18 at other locations of the feeder vehicle 30. Figure 3 Figure 3 shows that in an area 31, at the entrance of a swivel belt 32, onto which installation material falls from a conveyor belt (not shown), the resulting bituminous vapors 7 are sprayed. Furthermore, Figure 3 shows Figure 3, that rising bituminous vapors 7 at a drop point 33 can be sprayed by means of atomized liquid 18. The vapors 7 arising at the drop point 33 can, for example, rise from a material container 6 of a road paver 2 following the feeder vehicle 30, which is supplied with paving material by the feeder vehicle 30.

[0044] Figure 4 Figure 1 shows, in isolated detail, the end section 15 of the ventilation system 8, 8'. The exhaust air flow 13 exiting the outlet opening 16 is shown according to... Figure 4 The area outside the end section of the line 15 is sprayed with the atomized liquid 18. This is done according to... Figure 4 The nozzle 26 is positioned outside the end section of the line 15 and aligned with its outlet opening 16 in such a way that a spray pattern 35 generated by it directs the exhaust air flow 13 exiting the end section of the line 15 in the direction 36 towards the surface 24.

[0045] Figure 5Figure 1 shows the line end section 15 of the ventilation system 8, 8' with a connection 37 for the spray device 17, 17'. The nozzle(s) 26' can be supplied with liquid 18 from the tank 20 via this connection 37. [At the in] Figure 5 In the shown pipe end section 15, the atomized liquid 18 is injected into the exhaust airflow 13 formed within the pipe end section 15. Unlike in Figure 5 As shown, the end section of the pipe 15 can be inclined so that it forms a gradient, allowing the exhaust air flow 13 containing spray mist to flow out of the end section of the pipe 15 more easily.

Claims

1. Road construction machine (1) configured in the form of a road paver (2) or in the form of a feeder vehicle (30) for supplying a road paver (2) with paving material, wherein the road construction machine (1) has at least one ventilation system (8, 8`) with a negative pressure generating intake side (9) for extracting bituminous vapors (7, 7`) and with a positive pressure generating discharge side (10) for blowing out the extracted bituminous vapors (7, 7`), and at least one spray device (17, 17`), characterized by the fact that the spray device (17, 17`) is provided on the overpressure generating discharge side (10) for spraying an exhaust air flow (13) formed therefrom from extracted bituminous vapors (7, 7`) with an atomized liquid (18).

2. Road construction machine according to claim 1, characterized by the fact thatthe exhaust air flow (13) inside and / or outside a line end section (15) of an exhaust air line (14) provided on the discharge side (10) of the ventilation system (8, 8`) can be sprayed.

3. Road construction machine according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that the spray device (17, 17`) comprises at least one nozzle (26`) configured to spray the exhaust air flow (13) inside the duct end section (15) and / or has at least one nozzle (26) configured to spray the exhaust air flow (13) outside the duct end section (15).

4. Road construction machine according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by the fact that the end section of the line (15) has at least one connection (37) for the spray device (17, 17`).

5. Road construction machine according to one of the preceding claims 2 to 4, characterized by the fact that the end section of the line (15) is detachably fastened, in particular it can be removed without tools.

6. Road construction machine according to one of the preceding claims 2 to 5, characterized by the fact that a spray pattern (35) of the atomized liquid (18) sprayed outside the end section of the pipe (15) is adjusted such that the exhaust air flow (13) exiting the end section of the pipe (15) can be deflected in a desired direction (36), in particular in the direction of a surface (24) on which the road construction machine (1) moves.

7. Road construction machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that The spraying of the exhaust air flow (13) by means of the spray device (17, 17`) within an engine compartment (22) of the road construction machine (1), in particular in the area of ​​a floor of the engine compartment (22), is possible.

8. Road construction machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact thata spray performance of the spray device (17, 17`) can be controlled depending on a set suction performance of the ventilation system (8, 8`) and / or depending on a detected weather condition, in particular a detected wind speed and / or a detected humidity.

9. Road construction machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the ventilation system (8, 8`) and / or the spray device (17 ,17`) is at least partially designed as a modular retrofit kit.

10. Road construction machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the spray device (17, 17`) is configured to collect condensate formed by spraying the exhaust air flow (13) and to separate aerosols contained therein.

11. Road construction machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact thatthe spraying device (17, 17`) is designed for spraying bituminous vapors (7, 7`) rising from a material container (6, 6`) of the road construction machine (1) and / or for spraying bituminous vapors (7) rising from a material container (6, 6`) of a road paver (2) following the road construction machine (1).

12. Road construction machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the spray device (17, 17`) comprises a tank (20), in particular a temperature-controlled tank (20), and a pump (21), in particular an electrically operated pump or a pump (21) connected with a pump distribution gearbox.

13. Road construction machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact thaton the road construction machine (1) a filling nozzle of the spraying device (17, 17`) is accessible to an operator from the ground (24) by opening a side panel (23) and / or the ventilation system (8, 8`) is designed to be heated at least in sections.

14. Paving train comprising at least one road paver (2) according to one of the preceding claims and / or at least one feeder vehicle (30) according to one of the preceding claims.

15. Method in which bituminous vapors (7) are extracted from a road paver (2) and / or from a feeder vehicle (30) for a road paver (2) on a vacuum-generating suction side (9), characterized by the fact that on a pressure-generating discharge side (10) an exhaust air flow (13) formed from the extracted bituminous vapors (7) is sprayed with an atomized liquid (18).

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