Measurement device and method for continuously sensing a height reference.

The measuring device with alternating feeler levers addresses the issue of interrupted cable sensing by maintaining continuous contact, enabling accurate and stable leveling of the screed on paving machines.

JP2026070479APending Publication Date: 2026-04-27JOSEPH VOEGELE AG
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
JOSEPH VOEGELE AG
Filing Date
2025-10-06
Publication Date
2026-04-27

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Conventional mechanical height sensors for paving machines can get caught on tensioning blocks, leading to temporary deactivation and inaccurate leveling due to interrupted cable sensing, which results in paving errors.

Method used

A measuring device with two rotatable feeler levers that maintain continuous contact with a cable by alternating their positions to ensure one lever is always on the cable, even when passing through supports, using a swivel module and parallelogram hinge for stability.

Benefits of technology

Ensures continuous and accurate leveling of the screed by maintaining uninterrupted cable sensing, preventing tilting, and ensuring precise height adjustments during paving operations.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

This invention provides a method for continuously sensing a height reference in a measuring device for paving machinery. [Solution] The present invention relates to a measuring device 4 for a paving machine 1, comprising a height sensor 7 and a swivel module 9 having a sensing device 10 that is rotatably mounted on the height sensor 7 around a swivel axis 8 and has at least two feeler levers 11a, 11b for sensing a cable stretched along the paving section of the paving machine 1 as a height reference, wherein the two feeler levers 11a, 11b are configured such that when one of the two feeler levers 11a, 11b is pushed in a second direction 15a, 15b away from the cable 6 by a support used to stretch the cable, the other of the two feeler levers 11a, 11b faces a first direction 14a, 14b positioned to rest on the cable.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a measuring device for a paving machine according to claim 1. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for continuously sensing a height reference according to independent claim 15.

Background Art

[0002] A mechanical height sensor attached to the screed of a paving machine is used to mechanically sense a cable stretched along the paving section of the paving machine or to sense a guide wire, whereby the paving machine senses irregularities in the roadbed over which it moves in a contact manner, and based on this, the height-adjustable screed can be leveled to form a flat paving layer.

[0003] The problem with conventional mechanical height sensors is that they can get caught on tensioning blocks, i.e., supports attached along the paving section to apply tension to the cable or guide wire. For this reason, conventional height sensors are currently deactivated in the area of each clamping block or the clamping block is pushed back by an operator walking alongside the paving machine to prevent the height sensor from getting caught. However, temporarily deactivating the height sensor can lead to paving errors because the leveling system does not react to irregularities in the roadbed while it is deactivated. Pushing back the support is labor-intensive for the operator and the cable will loosen along the paving section, and the operator has to tighten it again many times. However, if no measures are taken with such problems, when the mechanical height sensor is pushed back or lifted from its normal guide in the support, the level adjustment of the screed may react, which can lead to an undesirable profile error in the paving layer.

[0004] German Utility Model No. 21 2024 000 014 U1 discloses a mechanical height sensor for sensing a reference in the form of a cable or guide wire stretched along a paved section of a paving machine. The height sensor comprises a rotary star-shaped feeler lever that can rotate and move away from a support when it comes into contact with the support during paving travel, thereby lifting it above the cable and support. As the rotary star rotates away from the support, the upper sensor portion of the height sensor forming the rotary star moves upward along the upward inclination guide of the lower sensor portion, thereby lifting the rotary star, which is in contact with the support, away from the cable and above the support, and as the rotary star rotates further on the support, it descends along the downward inclination guide of the lower sensor portion and comes into contact with the cable again. This allows the rotary star to bypass supports positioned along the pavement section without manual intervention. However, the measuring device suffers from the disadvantage that, at least temporarily, none of the sensors attached to the rotary star are mounted on the cable at each support. This means that the measurement process for mechanically scanning the height reference at each support is interrupted. Consequently, irregularities in the roadbed as the paving machine moves, particularly in the area of ​​each support, may not be taken into account or may only be recorded inaccurately in the measurements for leveling the screed, potentially resulting in inaccurate leveling. [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0005] The present invention aims to provide a measuring device and corresponding method that are improved in relation to the disadvantages described in the context of the prior art.

[0006] This objective is satisfied by the measuring device described in claim 1 and the method described in claim 15. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] Advantageous further developments of the present invention are specified by the subject matter of each dependent claim.

[0008] The present invention relates to a measuring device for a paving machine, comprising a height sensor and a swivel module having a sensing device that is rotatably mounted to the height sensor about a swivel axis and has at least two feeler levers for sensing a cable stretched along a paving section of the paving machine as a height reference. In the present invention, the two feeler levers are configured such that one of the two feeler levers is positioned to rest on the cable so as to face a first direction, and the other of the at least two feeler levers is pushed in a second direction so as to move away from the cable by a support used to stretch the cable, but one of the feeler levers is always positioned to rest on the cable.

[0009] Therefore, even if one of the two feeler levers comes into contact with the support and thereby disengages from cable contact, at least one of the two feeler levers is always in contact with the cable. As a result, the measuring device according to the present invention makes it possible to continuously maintain contact-based cable sensing even when the cable passes through the support. In other words, the measuring device according to the present invention maintains contact with the cable without impairing contact even in the support. Even in the area of ​​the support, cable sensing without interruption, that is, continuous guidance of the sensing device along the cable is ensured, and as a result, measurement values ​​are recorded without interruption, and therefore it is possible to more accurately level the screed provided on the paving machine while it is running on the pavement.

[0010] During paving machine operation, if one of the two feeler levers touches a support for tensioning a cable, or a support for tensioning a guide wire used instead of a cable, such as a tensioning block, the feeler lever can be retracted from the support by this contact, i.e., pushed away from the support, thereby moving away from the cable, while the other of the two feeler levers remains on the cable or can be moved onto the cable before the feeler lever pushed away from the support temporarily loses contact with the cable. Therefore, since at least one of the two feeler levers is always in contact with the cable, the sensing device according to the present invention enables more accurate level adjustment.

[0011] The feeler levers are preferably separate feeler levers that are rotatably mounted around separate, spaced-apart axes of rotation, particularly vertical axes of rotation. Such a two-part design involving two feeler levers ensures that one of the two feeler levers retracts within the support and moves away from the cable, while the other feeler lever remains mounted on the cable at different positions along the cable, thereby ensuring continuous cable sensing contact. Thus, the two separate feeler levers complement each other perfectly to achieve continuous cable sensing contact along the pavement section.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the distance between the two rotation axes can be variable. The feeler levers can then be mounted at different distances apart. This makes it possible to mount the feeler levers in relation to a selected distance along the pavement section of the support so that these feeler levers do not pass the support simultaneously. This makes it possible to mount the feeler levers at a distance of, for example, 30 cm, 40 cm, or 50 cm from each other, sufficiently far apart so that they do not impair contact with the cable simultaneously during use.

[0013] Preferably, the feeler lever is mounted to be rotatable in the horizontal plane. To ensure reliable positioning relative to and on the cable in a preferred orientation, the feeler lever is preferably adjustable in steps within a predetermined range of rotation. This allows the feeler lever to either attempt to assume a lateral position on the cable or automatically return to its position after passing the support.

[0014] In one modification, at least one of the feeler levers exists in the form of a single lever or in the form of multiple levers. In the single-lever configuration, the feeler levers are configured as compact rods and can be mounted individually and spaced apart from each other on the side of the paving machine, particularly at the height of the lateral distribution auger mounted in front of the screed of the paving machine, and / or on the side thereof, so that they are mounted on the cable facing laterally with respect to the paving direction. In the multiple-lever configuration, each feeler lever can be configured as an individual rotary star. For the purpose of leveling, the rotary stars can be mounted spaced apart from each other on the side of the paving machine, particularly at the height of the lateral distribution auger mounted in front of the screed of the paving machine, and / or on the side thereof. A sensing device having feeler levers configured as rotary stars provides a particularly stable structure.

[0015] Each feeler lever configured as a rotary star is designed to rotate around its axis of rotation so that when one of the two rotary stars' feeler levers contacts the cable support, this feeler lever moves away from the cable only if another adjacent feeler lever in the rotary star has already reached the cable. This configuration allows for seamless switching of the feeler levers in the rotary star. This ensures that both feeler levers can be placed on the cable at any time, allowing the rotary star to interact to prevent the sensing device from tilting.

[0016] In one modification, the feeler lever is pre-biased in a first direction under a spring load, particularly when it exists as a single feeler lever. This allows the feeler lever to automatically pivot back to its first direction in order to be placed back onto the cable after passing through the support.

[0017] The feeler lever can take the form of a double lever rotatably mounted around a single axis of rotation. The measuring device may also have multiple such double levers. Such a double lever acts such that as soon as one of the two feeler levers formed on it comes into contact with a support, this feeler lever rotates around a common axis of rotation and moves away from the cable only when it has rotated a sufficient distance until the other feeler lever is already positioned on the cable. In such a double lever, the swapping of the feeler levers formed on it occurs on the cable, so that only one of them is placed on the cable without pivoting and retracting along the cable, and by pivoting and retracting this feeler lever, the other feeler lever, i.e., both feeler levers, is placed on the cable, at least temporarily. Once the feeler lever that has been pushed away by the support passes the support, i.e., is no longer pushed away by it, it can be rotated back in the first direction by a spring load, thereby lifting the other feeler lever away from the cable again. Next, only when the previously pushed-away feeler lever has already rotated a sufficient distance back to be placed back on the cable, does the other feeler lever, which is already on the cable, pivot away from the cable. Even when pivoting back around the axis of rotation in this way, whether pivoting outward or inward, the two feeler levers remain together on the cable at least temporarily, resulting in a seamless change in the position of the two feeler levers on the cable, which means that at least one of the two feeler levers is always on the cable.

[0018] In a dual-lever system, it would be useful for one of the feeler levers to be mounted in a first direction and the other in a second direction, pre-biased under a spring load when sensing the cable. This spring mounting ensures that the two feeler levers on the cable can be switched to simultaneously, at least temporarily, rest on and position on the cable as they pass through the support; that is, when one of the two feeler levers is pushed aside by the support, the other feeler lever is rotated onto the cable, reaching it before the pushed-aside feeler lever separates from the cable.

[0019] It would be advantageous for the feeler levers to be aligned at an angle greater than 80° and less than 100° relative to each other, preferably at right angles to each other. In this arrangement, the two feeler levers in a double feeler lever configuration are positioned relative to each other so that they are simultaneously placed on the cable, at least temporarily, as they pass through the support, thereby ensuring continuous cable sensing contact and thus allowing them to be used for continuous cable sensing. The feeler levers are preferably formed to be at least 10 cm long, more preferably at least 20 cm long.

[0020] The sensing device preferably comprises at least two spaced-apart feeler levers, which are oriented in a first direction when sensing the cable, while another third feeler lever is oriented in a second direction. The two feeler levers, which are mounted on the cable, are aligned horizontally on the cable in a predetermined pivot position to prevent the sensing device from tilting, in order to provide sufficient support to the sensing device in order to maintain it.

[0021] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the swivel module forms a parallelogram hinge for supporting a sensing device. The parallelogram hinge ensures a robust structure of the swivel module, thereby enabling the sensing device to be held in a desired horizontal swivel position.

[0022] In particular, the parallelogram hinge includes a mounting rail for the feeler lever. The mounting rail provides a stable base for mounting the feeler lever, and it is possible for them to selectively avoid the support. The mounting rail can be horizontally aligned in the parallelogram hinge to position the feeler lever mounted on it in the horizontal plane.

[0023] The feeler levers may be mounted adjustable along a mounting rail to adjust the distance between them, i.e., the distance between their axes of rotation. This allows the contact points of the feeler levers on the cable to be spaced at different distances to accommodate different support spacings. This prevents the feeler levers from passing over the support simultaneously. For this purpose, the mounting rail may be made extendable.

[0024] This parallelogram hinge may have a counterweight unit for a sensing device. The counterweight unit allows the swivel module to be positioned at a desired swivel position, guiding the sensing device, which is mounted on the cable, to a predetermined height on the roadbed. In particular, the sensitivity of the measuring device can be adjusted using the counterweight unit. Preferably, the force applied by the counterweight unit is variable. The counterweight unit may include plate segments that are removable for this purpose.

[0025] In a variant, the feeler lever forms a bevel that extends upwardly at its outer end. This helps to reliably guide and return the feeler lever onto the cable.

[0026] According to one embodiment of the invention, the sensing device is a stopper element and comprises at least one stopper element for holding the feeler lever in a predetermined orientation of the feeler lever with respect to the cable, in particular in an orientation that intersects the cable orthogonally. This enables the feeler lever to be guided substantially perpendicular to the orientation of the cable during cable sensing, ensuring that they slide reliably over the cable and preventing the feeler lever from abutting the clamping block from the front.

[0027] The stopper element may be present, for example, in the form of a rotary star to define a latch position on the feeler lever or as an end stop, for example, on a single or double lever to stop the feeler lever when it pivots back laterally with respect to the orientation of the cable.

[0028] In particular, the feeler lever can be used for cable sensing on both the right and left sides of the paver machine. It is conceivable that a plurality of levers arranged in the form of a rotary star are configured to sense the cable in the direction of movement on both the right and left sides of the paver machine. Alternatively, it is possible to provide a corresponding left - or right - hand type of rotary star for sensing performed on the left and right sides of the machine.

[0029] It is advantageous if a single or double lever is configured to be pivotable or convertible from sensing on the right side with respect to the direction of movement of the paver machine to sensing on the left side with respect to the direction of movement of the paver machine. Alternatively, a type for use on the left side of the paver machine or a type for use on the right side of the paver machine is provided.

[0030] The present invention further relates to a paving machine having at least one mechanical measuring device according to the present invention. Such a measuring device enables continuous contact-type height measurement against a reference stretched along the paving section, such as a cable or guide wire, while the paving machine is traveling on the pavement, and based on this, precise level adjustment of the screed of the paving machine is possible. Such contact-type sensing of the height reference offers the advantage of robust, weather-independent operation, in particular, compared to non-contact measuring systems such as ultrasonic sensors.

[0031] The present invention further relates to a method for continuously sensing a cable stretched along a paving section of a paving machine as a height reference using a measuring device, wherein the measuring device comprises a sensing device having at least two feeler levers for sensing the cable. In the method according to the present invention, when one of the two feeler levers is pushed away from the cable in a second direction away from the cable by a support on which the cable is stretched, the other of the two feeler levers always faces in a first direction where it rests on the cable. This ensures that at least one of the two feeler levers is always in contact with the cable, even when the feeler lever must pass over the cable support. This enables continuous sensing of the cable by the sensing device, and therefore, height measurements for leveling the screed of a paving machine are continuously available for accurate leveling of the screed to produce a flat pavement layer.

[0032] The present invention will be described in more detail using embodiments shown in the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0033] [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows a side view of a paving machine equipped with measuring devices for sensing guide wires or cables, respectively. [Figure 2] Figure 2 shows a rear view of a paving machine equipped with measuring devices for palpating guide wires or cables, respectively. [Figure 3] Figure 3 shows individual diagrams of the measuring devices used to detect guide wires or cables, respectively. [Figure 4A] Figure 4A shows continuous sensing of a guide wire or cable using the measuring device shown in Figure 3. [Figure 4B] Figure 4B shows continuous sensing of a guide wire or cable using the measuring device shown in Figure 3. [Figure 4C] Figure 4C shows continuous sensing of a guide wire or cable using the measuring device shown in Figure 3. [Figure 5A] Figure 5A shows continuous sensing of a guide wire or cable using an alternative measuring device. [Figure 5B] Figure 5B shows continuous sensing of a guide wire or cable using an alternative measuring device. [Figure 5C] Figure 5C shows continuous sensing of a guide wire or cable using an alternative measuring device. [Figure 5D] Figure 5D shows continuous sensing of a guide wire or cable using an alternative measuring device. [Figure 6] Figure 6 shows a measuring device according to a further embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0034] Technical features are assigned the same reference numerals throughout the entire drawing.

[0035] Figure 1 shows a side view of the paving machine 1 during paving travel in the paving direction R. The paving machine 1 is equipped with a height-adjustable screed 2 for forming a new pavement layer 3 in the paving direction R. A measuring device 4 is attached to the screed 2. The measuring device is located in front of the screed 2 and is positioned on the side of the lateral distribution auger used for lateral distribution. The measuring device 4 is used to sense cables 6 or guide wires stretched by a support 5 along the pavement section in the paving direction R.

[0036] During paving machine 1's paving run, the measured values ​​recorded by the measuring device 4 are stored as actual values ​​for the automatic leveling system provided on paving machine 1. Based on these values, the height position of the screed 2 can be controlled in an open-loop or closed-loop manner by a leveling cylinder attached to the front traction point of the screed 2 in order to level the screed and form a flat paving layer 3. For accurate leveling of the screed 2, it is advantageous that the cable 6 is continuously sensed using the measuring device 4, even when the measuring device 4 is guided through each support 5.

[0037] Figure 2 shows a rear view of the paving machine 1. Figure 2 shows that the sensing cable 6 is located outside the paving area, i.e., to the side of the screed 2.

[0038] Figure 3 shows a modified example of the measuring device 4 in a standalone view. The measuring device 4 includes a height sensor 7. The swivel module 9 is rotatably mounted on the height sensor 7 around a swivel axis 8. A rotation position sensor (not shown) is incorporated into the height sensor 7 to detect the swivel position of the swivel module 9, and its measurement signal can be stored as a measured value for an automatic leveling system to level out the unevenness sensed by the measuring device 4 in the roadbed where the paving machine 1 is moving.

[0039] A sensing device 10 having two feeler levers 11a and 11b is provided at the lower end of the swivel module 9. In Figure 3, the feeler levers 11a and 11b are configured as single levers 12a and 12b, each of which is mounted to be rotatable around vertical rotation axes 13a and 13b.

[0040] In Figure 3, the two feeler levers 11a and 11b are each pre-biased and mounted in a first orientation 14a and 14b under a spring load. As shown by the dashed lines in Figure 3, when the two feeler levers 11a and 11b encounter the support 5 used to tension the cable 6, they are each rotatable from the first orientation 14a and 14b to a second orientation 15a and 15b around their respective axes of rotation 13a and 13b. Once the feeler levers 11a and 11b pass the support 5, they are rotatable again by the spring load, returning from the rotated second orientation 15a and 15b back to the first orientation 14a and 14b.

[0041] The swivel module 9 shown in Figure 3 forms a parallelogram hinge 16. The sensing device 10 is attached to its lower end. The parallelogram hinge 16 is provided with a mounting rail 17 on which two feeler levers 11a and 11b are mounted spaced apart from each other. Furthermore, the swivel module 9 is provided with a counterweight unit 18, which is positioned on the parallelogram hinge 16 on the side facing away from the mounting rail 17. The parallelogram hinge 16 is provided with a first leg 19a, one end of which is rotatably mounted to a height sensor 7 about a swivel axis 8 and connected to a rotational position sensor (not shown). Furthermore, the parallelogram hinge 16 is provided with a second leg 19b, which is rotatably mounted to a support 20 attached to the height sensor 7. The counterweight unit 18 is provided on the second leg 19b. The mounting rail 17 is joined to the lower ends of the two legs 19a and 19b.

[0042] The measuring device 4 shown in Figure 3 can be complemented by a third feeler lever rotatably mounted on a mounting rail 17 between the feeler levers 11a and 11b. In particular, the measuring device 4 is extendable along the mounting rail 17. This means that, if necessary, one or more extension rails can be attached to the mounting rail 17 to mount one or more additional feeler levers 11a and 11b. It is conceivable that the mounting rail 17 already has an extendable extension rail for mounting at least one additional feeler lever 11a and 11b. This makes it possible to provide the sensing device 10 with any number of feeler levers 11a and 11b required, such as three separate feeler levers 11a and 11b. This allows at least two spaced-apart feeler levers 11a and 11b to rest on the cable 6 and be positioned in the first orientation 14a and 14b, while the third feeler lever pivots outward to avoid the support 5. This prevents the measuring device 4 from tilting.

[0043] The feeler levers 11a and 11b shown in Figure 3 each have upwardly extending bevels 25a and 25b. These bevels 25a and 25b assist the feeler levers 11a and 11b in returning to the cable 6, and prevent the feeler levers 11a and 11b from returning to the cable 6 by rotating downwards.

[0044] Figure 4A shows that the measuring device 4 continuously senses the cable 6. As the measuring device 4 advances in the pavement direction R, the feeler lever 11a shown in Figure 4A retracts on the support 5 by pivoting around the rotation axis 13a from its first orientation 14a. The other feeler lever 11b is positioned in the first orientation 14b in Figure 4A. In Figure 4A, both feeler levers 11a and 11b are still resting on the cable 6.

[0045] As the paving machine 1 continues to move, the measuring device 4 is also moved forward in the paving direction R, which pushes the feeler lever 11a further away from the support 5. This causes the feeler lever 11a to swivel so far away from the cable 6 that it is no longer resting on the cable 6. This is shown in Figure 4B, in which only the other feeler lever 11b remains resting on the cable 6.

[0046] As the paving machine 1 continues to move, the feeler lever 11a is able to pass over the support 5 and, as shown in Figure 4C, automatically pivots back to its initial position around its axis of rotation 13a, i.e., to the first orientation 14a, where it is again placed on the cable 6. Next, according to Figure 4C, the other feeler lever 11b, as happened earlier with the other feeler lever 11a, comes into contact with the support 5 that the feeler lever 11a has already passed over, is pushed out of its first orientation 14b, is separated from the cable 6, and is steered to pass over the support 5.

[0047] Figures 4A to 4C show that when one of the two feeler levers 11a and 11b is pushed in a second orientation 15a and 15b, away from the cable 6, by the support 5 used to tension the cable 6, the other of the two feeler levers 11a and 11b is always facing a first orientation 14a and 14b, which is the position where it rests on the cable 6.

[0048] This principle of continuous cable sensing by the feeler levers 11a and 11b shown in Figures 4A to 4C can also be achieved using the embodiments shown in Figures 5A to 5D.

[0049] Figures 5A to 5D show a schematic plan view of the measuring device 4', which has two feeler levers 11a and 11b in the form of a double lever mounted so as to be rotatable around a single rotation axis 21.

[0050] In principle, the measuring device 4' is mounted above a pre-stretched cable 6 in the direction shown in Figure 5A. The feeler lever 11a rests on the cable 6 and is therefore positioned in the first orientation 14a. The other feeler lever 11b is not resting on the cable 6 and is spaced apart, and is therefore positioned in the second orientation 15b.

[0051] In Figure 5B, the feeler lever 11a comes into contact with the support 5 and is pushed away by the support 5, causing the feeler levers 11a and 11b to rotate together around the rotation axis 21. As a result, the feeler lever 11b is swung onto the cable 6. In the diagram of the vehicle traveling on pavement shown in Figure 5B, each of the two feeler levers 11a and 11b is positioned on the cable 6.

[0052] Figure 5C shows that as the paving machine 1 continues to move, the feeler levers 11a and 11b continue to rotate around the rotation axis 21, and at the point shown in Figure 5C, the feeler lever 11a is separated from the cable 6, while the feeler lever 11b is resting on the cable 6.

[0053] As the paving machine 1 continues to move, the feeler levers 11a and 11b rotate together around the rotation axis 21 according to Figure 5D, returning to their initial positions shown in Figure 5A, thereby placing the feeler lever 11a back onto the cable 6.

[0054] In the measuring device 4' shown in Figures 5A to 5D, it is possible to always have one of the two feeler levers 11a and 11b, and sometimes both, on the cable 6, in order to enable continuous sensing of the cable even when it passes along the support 5 along the paved section.

[0055] Figure 6 shows a measuring device 4" in which the feeler levers 11a and 11b exist in the form of multiple levers that can rotate around spaced-apart rotation axes 13a and 13b. According to Figure 6, these multiple levers are configured as rotary stars 22a and 22b. Similar to the feeler levers 11a and 11b shown in Figures 4A to 4C, the rotary stars 22a and 22b shown in Figure 6 can be configured such that, in the measuring device 4", when one of the rotary stars 22a and 22b is pushed in a second orientation 15a and 15b away from the cable 6 by a support 5 used to tension the cable 6, i.e., when it is no longer placed on the cable, the other of the two rotary stars 22a and 22b is always positioned in a first orientation 14a and 14b so that it is placed on the cable 6.

Claims

1. A measuring device (4, 4', 4") for a paving machine (1), comprising a height sensor (7) and a slewing module (9) having a sensing device (10) attached to the height sensor (7) so as to be rotatable about a pivot axis (8) and having at least two feeler levers (11a, 11b) for sensing a cable (6) stretched along the paving section of the paving machine (1) as a height reference, wherein the two feeler levers (11a, 1 A measuring device (4, 4', 4") characterized in that one of 1b) is positioned to rest on the cable (6) so as to face a first direction (14a, 14b), and even when at least the other of the two feeler levers (11a, 11b) is pushed in a second direction (15a, 15b) so as to move away from the cable (6) by a support (5) used to tension the cable (6), the one of 1b) is always positioned to rest on the cable (6).

2. The measuring device according to claim 1, characterized in that the feeler levers (11a, 11b) exist as separate feeler levers (11a, 11b) that are rotatably mounted around spaced-apart rotation axes (13a, 13b).

3. The measuring device according to claim 2, characterized in that at least one of the feeler levers (11a, 11b) exists in the form of a single lever (12a, 12b) or in the form of multiple levers.

4. The measuring device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the feeler levers (11a, 11b) are pre-biased in the first direction (14a, 14b) under a spring load.

5. The measuring device according to claim 1, characterized in that the feeler levers (11a, 11b) exist in the form of a double lever that is rotatably mounted about a single axis of rotation (21).

6. The measuring device according to claim 5, characterized in that when sensing the cable (6), one of the feeler levers (11a, 11b) is pre-biased under a spring load, mounted in the first direction (14a, 14b), and the other of the feeler levers (11a, 11b) is mounted in the second direction (15a, 15b).

7. The measuring device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the feeler levers (11a, 11b) are aligned at an angle greater than 80° and less than 100° relative to each other, preferably at a right angle to each other.

8. The measuring device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the sensing device comprises at least two spaced-apart feeler levers (11a, 11b) facing the first direction (14a, 14b) while sensing the cable (6), and the other third feeler lever (11a, 11b) facing the second direction (15a, 15b).

9. The measuring device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the swivel module (9) forms a parallelogram hinge (16) for supporting the sensing device (10).

10. The measuring device according to claim 9, characterized in that the parallelogram hinge (16) comprises a mounting rail (17) for the feeler levers (11a, 11b).

11. The measuring device according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the parallelogram hinge (16) has a counterweight unit (18) for the sensing device (10).

12. The measuring device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the feeler levers (11a, 11b) form bevels (25a, 25b) that extend upward at their outer ends.

13. The measuring device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the sensing device (10) comprises at least one stopper element for holding the feeler levers (11a, 11b) in a predetermined orientation relative to the cable (6), and / or the feeler levers (11a, 11b) can be used for cable sensing on both the right and left sides of the paving machine (1).

14. A paving machine (1) having at least one measuring device (4, 4', 4") according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

15. A method for continuously sensing a cable (6) stretched along a paved section of a paving machine (1) as a height reference using a measuring device (4, 4', 4"), wherein the measuring device (4, 4', 4") comprises a sensing device (10) having at least two feeler levers (11a, 11b) for sensing the cable (6), characterized in that when one of the two feeler levers (11a, 11b) is pushed away from the cable (6) by a support (5) on which the cable (6) is stretched and directed in a second direction (15a, 15b) away from the cable (6), the other of the two feeler levers (11a, 11b) is directed in a first direction (14a, 14b) where it is placed on the cable (6).