Method, construction material and / or high-viscosity material transport system, and application

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for determining the current position (PM) of a construction material and / or high-viscosity material front (F) in a construction material and / or high-viscosity material line (1) having a line cross-sectional area (AL), for a construction material and / or high-viscosity material pump device (2) for transporting a construction material and / or high-viscosity material (B) through a construction material and / or high-viscosity material line (1), the method comprising the following steps: a) monitoring a adjusting force (FV) for adjusting at least one transfer piston (4) of the construction material and / or high-viscosity material pump device (2) and comparing the adjusting force (FV) with a predetermined force threshold (FVmin); b) determining the effective piston stroke (Heff) of at least one transfer piston (4) only when the adjusting force (FV) is greater than or equal to the force threshold (FVmin); and c) a step of determining a change in the position of the construction material and / or high viscosity material front (F) in the construction material and / or high viscosity material line (1) for the construction material and / or high viscosity material pump device (2) as a result of an effective piston stroke (Heff) to determine the current position (PM) of the construction material and / or high viscosity material front (F), wherein the change in position is determined based on an already known ratio of the transfer chamber cross-sectional area (AF) to the line cross-sectional area (AL) and the effective piston stroke (Heff).

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for determining the current position of a construction material and / or high-viscosity material front in a construction material and / or high-viscosity material line having a line cross-sectional area, for a construction material and / or high-viscosity material pump device for transporting a construction material and / or high-viscosity material through a construction material and / or high-viscosity material line. Additionally, the present invention relates to a construction material and / or high-viscosity material transport system for carrying out such a method. The present invention also relates to the use of such a construction material and / or high-viscosity material transport system. The problem to be solved

[0002] The object of the present invention relates to a method for determining the current position of a construction material and / or high-viscosity material front in a construction material and / or high-viscosity material line having a line cross-sectional area, for a construction material and / or high-viscosity material pump device for transporting a construction material and / or high-viscosity material through a construction material and / or high-viscosity material line having improved characteristics, a construction material and / or high-viscosity material transport system for carrying out such method, and an application of such a construction material and / or high-viscosity material transport system. means of solving the problem

[0003] The method according to the present invention is used to determine, particularly automatically, the current position of a construction material and / or high-viscosity material front in a construction material and / or high-viscosity material line for a construction material and / or high-viscosity material pump device. The construction material and / or high-viscosity material line, in particular, has a substantially constant line cross-sectional area across a longitudinal extension of the construction material and / or high-viscosity material line. The current position of the construction material and / or high-viscosity material front may correspond to the distance of the construction material and / or high-viscosity material front along the perfusion direction of the construction material and / or high-viscosity material line. The construction material and / or high-viscosity material line extends longitudinally, in particular, along the perfusion direction. The construction material and / or high-viscosity material pump device is used to transport the construction material and / or high-viscosity material through the construction material and / or high-viscosity material line. Accordingly, the construction material and / or high-viscosity material line is designed to allow the flow of construction material and / or high-viscosity material introduced into the construction material and / or high-viscosity material line by the construction material and / or high-viscosity material device. The construction material and / or high-viscosity material pump device has at least one transfer cylinder and at least one transfer piston. The at least one transfer cylinder and at least one transfer piston together define at least one volumetric transfer chamber of the construction material and / or high-viscosity material pump device. The volumetric transfer chamber has, in particular, a constant transfer chamber cross-sectional area. The transfer chamber cross-sectional area corresponds, in particular, to the displacement cross-sectional area of ​​the transfer piston. Additionally, the construction material and / or high-viscosity material pump device has a drive system. The drive system is configured to control a control force for controlling at least one transfer piston with respect to at least one transfer cylinder. In particular, the drive system is configured to generate the control force in a controlled manner.

[0004] A method according to the present invention comprises step a) monitoring a control force and comparing the control force with a predetermined force threshold for the control force. The method also comprises step b) determining an effective piston stroke of at least one transfer piston for at least one transfer cylinder only when the control force is greater than or equal to the force threshold. In particular, only during the effective piston stroke, the construction material and / or high-viscosity material is displaced by at least one transfer piston out of at least one transfer chamber and into the construction material and / or high-viscosity material line. "Determining the effective piston stroke" means, in this case, that the volume of the effective piston stroke is determined. The volume of the effective piston stroke corresponds, in particular, to the volume of the construction material and / or high-viscosity material displaced by the effective piston stroke. The method also comprises step c) determining a change in the position of the construction material and / or high-viscosity material front in the construction material and / or high-viscosity material line for the construction material and / or high-viscosity material pump device as a result of the effective piston stroke. Changes in the position of the front of the construction material and / or high-viscosity material are determined, particularly approximately, to determine the current position of the front of the construction material and / or high-viscosity material. The determination of changes in the position of the front of the construction material and high-viscosity material is based on the already known ratio of the conveying chamber cross-sectional area to the line cross-sectional area and the effective piston stroke. In this way, the current position of the front of the construction material and / or high-viscosity material can be determined indirectly. In particular, the above method makes it possible to obtain an improved overview of the ongoing operation of the construction material and / or high-viscosity material pump device, particularly for the operator of the construction material and / or high-viscosity material pump device.

[0005] High-viscosity materials may be construction materials. High-viscosity materials may be a mixture, such as a paste, of different materials. High-viscosity materials may be mortar, cement, screed, or concrete in a mixable and / or transportable state, in each case. In a mixable and / or transportable state, high-viscosity materials have not yet hardened or solidified.

[0006] In particular, the terms "comprises" and / or "includes" may be used synonymously with the term "has." Additionally or alternatively, the term "composed" may be used synonymously with the term "formed." Furthermore, additionally or alternatively, the term "directly" may be used synonymously with the term "direct." Additionally, additionally or alternatively, the term "indirectly" may be used synonymously with the term "indirect."

[0007] In the context of the present invention, "control" may mean "coordination" and / or "regulation."

[0008] In the context of this application, the phrase "and alternatively or additionally" may be replaced with the phrase "and / or" without alteration of meaning, and vice versa.

[0009] A construction material and / or high-viscosity material pump device preferably has two transfer cylinders and two transfer pistons, and in each case, one of the transfer cylinders and one of the transfer pistons borders at least one of the two transfer chambers of the construction material and / or high-viscosity material pump device together. A drive system is configured to customize the volumes of the transfer chambers, particularly in mutually dependent directions, particularly in mutually opposing directions, to control the adjusting force for coordinated adjustment of the transfer pistons relative to the transfer cylinders.

[0010] The above method can preferably be performed jointly for all transport chambers of a construction material and / or high-viscosity material pump device, particularly by considering the sum of the effective piston strokes of all transport pistons.

[0011] Preferably, the construction material and / or high-viscosity material front is the end face of a column of construction material and / or high-viscosity material formed by the construction material and / or high-viscosity material displaced into the construction material and / or high-viscosity material line.

[0012] A column of construction material and / or high-viscosity material may be arranged in a construction material and / or high-viscosity material line between a column of another medium existing in the construction material and / or high-viscosity material line and a construction material and / or high-viscosity material pump device, and the construction material and / or high-viscosity material front of the construction material and / or high-viscosity material column contacts the column of the other medium. The column of the other medium may have, for example, air and / or another construction material and / or high-viscosity material.

[0013] In one configuration of the present invention, the drive system has a hydraulic system. In this case, the hydraulic system is configured to control hydraulic pressure. The adjusting force depends on hydraulic pressure, in particular proportionally and / or directly. In particular, the hydraulic system is configured to generate hydraulic pressure in a controlled manner. Preferably, the hydraulic system is configured to control hydraulic pressure for the coordinated adjustment of a number of, in particular all, transfer pistons for a number of transfer cylinders to adjust the volumes of the transfer chambers in a particularly interdependent manner, particularly in opposite directions.

[0014] In a further configuration of the present invention, while performing step a), the hydraulic pressure is monitored to monitor the adjustment force and compare the adjustment force with a force threshold, and is compared with a predetermined pressure threshold for the hydraulic pressure. While performing step b), the effective piston stroke of the at least one transfer piston for the at least one transfer cylinder is determined only when the hydraulic pressure is above the pressure threshold.

[0015] In a further configuration of the present invention, the method comprises the step of detecting that a construction material and / or a high-viscosity material is displaced by the at least one conveying piston out of at least one conveying chamber and into the construction material and / or high-viscosity material line when the adjusting force is greater than or equal to the force threshold. In particular, the detection of that the construction material and / or high-viscosity material is displaced by the at least one conveying piston out of at least one conveying chamber and into the construction material and / or high-viscosity material line is performed when the hydraulic pressure controlled by the hydraulic system of the driving system is greater than or equal to the pressure threshold.

[0016] Preferably, the effective piston stroke is smaller than the total piston stroke of at least one transfer piston for at least one transfer cylinder, for example, in the initial section and / or final section of the piston stroke, where substantially no displacement of the construction material and / or high-viscosity material occurs out of at least one transfer chamber and into the line of the construction material and / or high-viscosity material.

[0017] In a further configuration of the present invention, the method comprises the step of detecting that when the adjusting force is less than the force threshold, the construction material and / or high-viscosity material is not displaced by the at least one conveying piston out of at least one conveying chamber and into the construction material and / or high-viscosity material line. In particular, according to this step, when the hydraulic pressure controlled by the hydraulic system of the driving system is less than the pressure threshold, the construction material and / or high-viscosity material is not displaced by the at least one conveying piston out of at least one conveying chamber and into the construction material and / or high-viscosity material line.

[0018] In a further configuration of the present invention, steps a) through c) of the method, in particular all steps of the method are repeated for a plurality of strokes of at least one transfer piston for at least one transfer cylinder. In particular, steps a) through c) of the method, in particular all steps of the method are repeated for a plurality of strokes of all transfer pistons.

[0019] In a further configuration of the present invention, the method is performed until the construction material and / or high-viscosity material line is substantially fully filled with the construction material and / or high-viscosity material being transported. In particular, the method is performed immediately after the start of transport. Alternatively or additionally, the method may be performed immediately after the change of the previously transported medium by the construction material and / or high-viscosity material pump device to the construction material and / or high-viscosity material. In particular, the method may be performed immediately after the replacement of the medium being transported by the construction material and / or high-viscosity material line. In particular, the construction material and / or high-viscosity material front, whose position is monitored according to the method, may be redefined for reasons related to concrete technology.

[0020] In a further configuration of the present invention, the method comprises the step of outputting a current position derived from step c) of a construction material and / or high-viscosity material front in a construction material and / or high-viscosity material line for a construction material and / or high-viscosity material pump device. In particular, visualization of the current position derived from step c) of a construction material and / or high-viscosity material front in a construction material and / or high-viscosity material line for a construction material and / or high-viscosity material pump device is performed. Output, in particular visualization, may be performed by an output device of a construction material and / or high-viscosity material transport system comprising a construction material and / or high-viscosity material pump device.

[0021] In a further configuration of the present invention, the construction material and / or high-viscosity material pump device has a pipe switch, in particular an S-shaped switch. Here, the pipe switch is pivotable with respect to at least one transport chamber, so that the at least one transport chamber can be alternately connected to a construction material and / or high-viscosity material line for the flow of the construction material and / or high-viscosity material by the pipe switch, and can be disconnected from the construction material and / or high-viscosity material line in a sealed manner with respect to the flow of the construction material and / or high-viscosity material. In this case, the internal volume of the pipe switch through which the construction material and / or high-viscosity material can flow is taken into account when determining the change in the position of the front of the construction material and / or high-viscosity material according to step c).

[0022] Where at least one transport chamber is connected to a line of construction materials and / or high-viscosity materials by a pipe switch in a manner that allows the flow of construction materials and / or high-viscosity materials, the construction materials and / or high-viscosity materials may be displaced from the transport chamber, through the pipe switch, and into the line of construction materials and / or high-viscosity materials. Where at least one transport chamber is separated from the line of construction materials and / or high-viscosity materials by a pipe switch in a manner that prevents the flow of construction materials and / or high-viscosity materials, at least one transport chamber may be connected to a reservoir of a construction materials and / or high-viscosity material pump device in a manner that allows the flow of construction materials and / or high-viscosity materials to draw in construction materials and / or high-viscosity materials located in the reservoir for transport.

[0023] A construction material and / or high-viscosity material transport system according to the present invention comprises a construction material and / or high-viscosity material pump device. The construction material and / or high-viscosity material pump device of the construction material and / or high-viscosity material transport system is used to transport construction material and / or high-viscosity material through a construction material and / or high-viscosity material line. In this case, the construction material and / or high-viscosity material pump device comprises at least one transfer cylinder and at least one transfer piston that together border at least one variable-volume transfer chamber of the construction material and / or high-viscosity material pump device. The construction material and / or high-viscosity material pump device comprises a drive system formed to control a control force for adjusting at least one transfer piston with respect to at least one transfer cylinder. The construction material and / or high-viscosity material transport system also comprises a control device, particularly electronic and / or hydraulic, said control device configured and / or programmed to perform the method according to the present invention as described above, and connected to the construction material and / or high-viscosity material pump device for control purposes. Accordingly, the advantages of the method according to the present invention described above also apply to construction materials and / or high-viscosity material transport systems according to the present invention.

[0024] In one configuration of the present invention, a construction material and / or high-viscosity material transport system has a construction material and / or high-viscosity material line in which the construction material and / or high-viscosity material can be transported by a construction material and / or high-viscosity material pump device.

[0025] In a further configuration of the present invention, the driving system of a construction material and / or high-viscosity material pump device of a construction material and / or high-viscosity material conveying system has a hydraulic system. The hydraulic system is configured to control hydraulic pressure for adjusting at least one conveying piston for at least one conveying cylinder, and said adjusting force depends on hydraulic pressure, in particular proportionally and / or directly.

[0026] Particularly regarding the method, and alternatively or additionally regarding the construction and / or high-viscosity material transport system, the drive system may be considered to be configured to electrically generate a regulating force and / or electrically control the electrically generated regulating force. In this case, the drive system may preferably be configured without a hydraulic system.

[0027] According to the present invention, the construction material and / or high-viscosity material transport system described above is used to transport construction materials and / or high-viscosity materials and / or to form strands of construction materials for 3D printing of structural components.

[0028] Brief explanation of the drawing

[0029] Further advantages and features of the present invention may become apparent from the claims of preferred exemplary embodiments of the present invention and the following description, which are illustrated with reference to the drawings. Identical reference numerals denote identical, similar, or functionally identical components.

[0030] It is obvious that the characteristics mentioned above and the characteristics to be described below may be used not only in specific combinations but also in other combinations or individually without departing from the scope of the present invention. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0031] FIG. 1 illustrates a rough schematic diagram of the setup of an embodiment of a construction material and / or high-viscosity material transport system according to the present invention while carrying out an embodiment of the method according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the profile of the adjusting force and hydraulic pressure over the entire piston stroke of the transfer piston for the transfer cylinder of the construction material and / or high viscosity material pump device of the construction material and / or high viscosity material transport system according to FIG. 1. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0032] A construction material and / or high-viscosity material transport system (10) according to the present invention has a construction material and / or high-viscosity material pump device (2). The construction material and / or high-viscosity material pump device (2) is provided to transport a construction material and / or high-viscosity material (B) through a construction material and / or high-viscosity material line (1). In this case, the construction material and / or high-viscosity material line (1) is a component of the construction material and / or high-viscosity material transport system (10). The construction material and / or high-viscosity material (B) can be transported by the construction material and / or high-viscosity material pump device (2) through the construction material and / or high-viscosity material line (1).

[0033] A construction material and / or high-viscosity material pump device (2) has at least one transfer cylinder (3) and at least one transfer piston (4). At least one transfer cylinder (3) and at least one transfer piston (4) together border at least one volume-variable transport chamber (5) of the construction material and / or high-viscosity material pump device (2). Additionally, the construction material and / or high-viscosity material pump device (2) has a drive system (12). The drive system is configured to control a control force (FV) for controlling at least one transfer piston (4) with respect to at least one transfer cylinder (3).

[0034] The construction material and / or high-viscosity material transport system (10) also has a control device (11), particularly electronic and / or hydraulic. The control device (11) is connected to a construction material and / or high-viscosity material pump device (2) for control purposes.

[0035] A control device (11) is configured and / or programmed to perform a method according to the present invention. This method is used to determine the current position (PM) of the construction material and / or high viscosity material front (F) in the construction material and / or high viscosity material line (1) for a construction material and / or high viscosity material pump device (2). The construction material and / or high viscosity material line (1) has a line cross-sectional area (AL) that is maintained constant across the longitudinal extension of the construction material and / or high viscosity material line (1), in this case. In this case, the construction material and / or high viscosity material line (1) extends longitudinally along the perfusion direction (D).

[0036] The method includes step a) in which the adjustment force (FV) is monitored. Additionally, according to step a), the adjustment force (FV) is a predetermined force threshold (FV) for the adjustment force (FV). min It is compared with ).

[0037] In addition, the above method has a adjusting force (FV) and a force threshold (FV min Only when greater than ) the effective piston stroke (H) of at least one transport piston (4) eff It includes step b), in which ) is determined for at least one transfer cylinder (3). Effective piston stroke (H eff During this time, the construction material and / or high-viscosity material (B) is displaced from at least one transport chamber (5) into the construction material and / or high-viscosity material line (1) by at least one transport piston (4).

[0038] The above method additionally allows for a change in the position of the construction material and / or high viscosity material front (F) in the construction material and / or high viscosity material line (1) for the construction material and / or high viscosity material pump device (2) to be effective with respect to the piston stroke (H eff It has step c), which is determined as a result of ).

[0039] In this case, the change in position is determined according to step c) to determine the current position (PM) of the front (F) of the construction material and / or high-viscosity material, particularly indirectly, where the determination of the change in position is based on the already known ratio of the transport chamber cross-sectional area (AF) to the line cross-sectional area (AL) and the effective piston stroke (H eff It is performed based on ).

[0040] The current position (PM) that can be determined according to the above method may correspond to the distance of the front (F) of the construction material and / or high viscosity material along the flow direction (D) of the construction material and / or high viscosity material line (1).

[0041] For example, as in this case, the construction material and / or high-viscosity material pump device (2) has two transfer cylinders (3) and two transfer pistons (4), and in each case, one of the transfer cylinders (3) and one of the transfer pistons (4) together border one of the two transfer chambers (5) of the construction and / or high-viscosity material pump device (2).

[0042] The drive system (12) is configured to control a controlling force (FV) for coordinated adjustment of the transfer pistons (4) with respect to the transfer cylinders (3), for example. In this case, the drive system (12) is configured to control a controlling force (FV) for adjusting the transfer pistons (4) with respect to the transfer cylinders (3) in such a manner that the volumes of the transfer chambers (5) are adjusted in a manner that depends on each other, for example, in opposite directions.

[0043] For example, the above method is particularly effective piston strokes (H) of all transfer pistons (4). eff By considering the sum of ), it is performed jointly for all transport chambers (5).

[0044] The construction material and / or high viscosity material front (F) may be an end face of a construction material and / or high viscosity material column (S) formed by a construction material and / or high viscosity material (B) that is displaced into the construction material and / or high viscosity material line (1). The construction material and / or high viscosity material column (S) may be arranged in the construction material and / or high viscosity material line (1) between another medium column (MS) present in the construction material and / or high viscosity material line (1) and a construction material and / or high viscosity material pump device (2). In this case, the construction material and / or high viscosity material front (F) of the construction material and / or high viscosity material column (S) may come into contact with the other medium column (MS), particularly while forming an interface. For example, the other medium column (MS) may have air and / or another previously transported construction material and / or high viscosity material.

[0045] The drive system (12) has, for example, a hydraulic system (6). The hydraulic system (6) is configured to control hydraulic pressure (p). The adjusting force (FV) depends on hydraulic pressure (p), particularly in proportion to and / or directly. As in this case, the hydraulic system (6) may be configured to control hydraulic pressure (p) for the coordinated adjustment of the transfer pistons (4) to the transfer cylinders (3), for example, to adjust the volumes of the transfer chambers (5) in an interdependent manner, particularly in opposing directions.

[0046] For example, when step a) is performed, the adjustment force (FV) is monitored and the adjustment force (FV) is a force threshold (FV min The hydraulic pressure (p) is monitored to be compared with ) and a predetermined pressure threshold (p) for the hydraulic pressure (p) minIt is compared with ). When step b) is performed, the effective piston stroke (H) of at least one transfer piston (4) for at least one transfer cylinder (3) eff ) is, for example, hydraulic pressure (p) is the pressure threshold (p min It can be determined only if it is greater than or equal to ).

[0047] As an alternative to the illustrated embodiment, it is considered that the drive system (12) may be configured to electrically generate and control the adjustment force (FV). In this case, the drive system (12) may not have a hydraulic system (6) in particular.

[0048] For example, the method is such that the adjusting force (FV) is the force threshold (FV min ) If greater than ) there is an additional step in which construction material and / or high-viscosity material (B) is detected to be currently displaced from at least one transport chamber (5) into the construction material and / or high-viscosity material line (1) by at least one transport piston (4). In this case, the hydraulic pressure (p) controlled by the hydraulic system (6) of the drive system (12) is a pressure threshold (P min If the above condition is detected, the construction material and / or high-viscosity material (B) is displaced from at least one transport chamber (5) to the construction material and / or high-viscosity material line (1) by at least one transport piston (4).

[0049] In this case, the effective piston stroke (H eff ) is the total piston stroke (H) of at least one transfer piston (4) for at least one transfer cylinder (3). ges It is smaller than ). This is because, for example, in the initial section (HA) of the piston stroke (H) and - alternatively or additionally - the final section (HS), the construction material and / or high-viscosity material (B) is not substantially displaced from at least one transport chamber (5) into the construction material and / or high-viscosity material line (1). In particular, the total piston stroke (H ges) is the initial section (HA), effective piston stroke (H eff It consists of ) and the final section (HS).

[0050] The method is, for example, that the adjusting force (FV) is a force threshold (FV min If it is less than ), there is an additional step of detecting that the construction material and / or high-viscosity material (B) is not displaced from at least one transport chamber (5) into the construction material and / or high-viscosity material line (1) by at least one transport piston (4). Accordingly, an initial section (HA) and / or final section (HS) of the piston stroke (H) can be detected. For example, in this case, the hydraulic pressure (p) controlled by the hydraulic system (6) of the drive system (12) is a pressure threshold (p min As long as it is less than ) it is detected that the construction material and / or high-viscosity material (B) is not displaced from at least one transport chamber (5) into the construction material and / or high-viscosity material line (1) by at least one transport piston (4).

[0051] For example, steps a) through c) of the method and in particular all other steps are repeated for a number of consecutive strokes of at least one transfer piston (4) for at least one transfer cylinder (3). In this case, the steps of the method are repeated for all transfer pistons (4) and all transfer cylinders (3).

[0052] The above method is performed, for example, until the construction material and / or high-viscosity material line (1) is substantially fully filled with the transported construction material and / or high-viscosity material (B). In particular, the above method may be performed immediately after the start of transport. Alternatively or additionally, the above method may be performed immediately after the change of the medium (M) previously transported by the construction material and / or high-viscosity material pump device (2) until the construction material and / or high-viscosity material line (1) is substantially fully filled with the transported construction material and / or high-viscosity material (B). The construction material and / or high-viscosity material line (1) is considered to be substantially fully filled with the transported construction material and / or high-viscosity material (B) as soon as the medium (M) previously present in the construction material and / or high-viscosity material transport line (1) is completely replaced. As previously mentioned, this medium (M) may be, for example, air or another construction material and / or high-viscosity material—different, in particular, from the perspective of concrete technology.

[0053] For example, the above method includes an additional step in which the current position (PM) is output. For example, the current position (PM) of the front (F) of the construction material and / or high-viscosity material for the construction material and / or high-viscosity material pump device (2) can be visualized. Output, in particular visualization, can be implemented by an output device of the construction material and / or high-viscosity material transport system (10). The output device can be connected to a control device (11) for control purposes.

[0054] In this case, the construction material and / or high-viscosity material pump device (2) has a pipe switch (7). The pipe switch (7) may be, for example, S-shaped. The pipe switch (7) is pivotable with respect to the at least one transport chamber (5), so that the at least one transport chamber (5) can be alternately connected to the construction material and / or high-viscosity material line (1) for the flow of the construction material and / or high-viscosity material by the pipe switch (7), and can be disconnected from the construction material and / or high-viscosity material line (1) in a sealed manner with respect to the construction material and / or high-viscosity material. The pipe switch (7) has an internal volume (8) through which the construction material and / or high-viscosity material (B) can flow. This internal volume (8) may be taken into account when determining the change in the position of the construction material and / or high-viscosity material front (F) according to step c).

[0055] If at least one transport chamber (5) is connected to a construction material and / or high-viscosity material line (1) by a pipe switch (7) so that the construction material and / or high-viscosity material can flow between them, the construction material and / or high-viscosity material (B) can be displaced from the transport chamber (5) through the pipe switch (7) and into the construction material and / or high-viscosity material line (1), as illustrated exemplarily here for the transport chamber (5) shown at the top of FIG. 1. When at least one transport chamber (5) is separated from the construction material and / or high-viscosity material line (1) by a pipe switch (7) in a manner that prevents the flow of construction material and / or high-viscosity material, the at least one transport chamber (5) may be connected to a reservoir (9) of a construction material and / or high-viscosity material pump device (2), so that the construction material and / or high-viscosity material may flow between them to suck in the construction material and / or high-viscosity material (B) located in the reservoir (9) for transport, as exemplarily illustrated with respect to the transport chamber (5) shown at the bottom of FIG. 1.

[0056] A construction material and / or high-viscosity material transport system (10) is used to transport the construction material and / or high-viscosity material (B), particularly while the method is being performed. Alternatively or additionally, the construction material and / or high-viscosity material transport system (10) is used to form strands of the construction material (B) for 3D printing of structural components, particularly while the method is being performed.

Claims

Claim 1 A method for determining the current position (PM) of a construction material and / or thick material front (F) in a construction material and / or thick material line (1) having a line cross-sectional area (AL) for a construction material and / or thick material pump device (2) for transporting a construction material and / or thick material (B) through a construction material and / or thick material line (1), wherein the construction material and / or thick material pump device (2) comprises: - at least one transport cylinder (3) and at least one transport piston (4) that together border at least one volume-variable transport chamber (5) of the construction material and / or thick material pump device (2) having a transport chamber cross-sectional area (AF), and - a drive system (12) formed to control a control force (FV) for controlling the at least one transport piston (4) with respect to the at least one transport cylinder (3), and - the method comprises the following steps: a) Monitor the adjustment force (FV) and a predetermined force threshold (FV) for the adjustment force (FV) min A step of comparing ) with the above adjustment force (FV); b) The above adjustment force (FV) is the above force threshold (FV min Only when greater than ): the effective piston stroke (H) of the at least one transfer piston (4) for the at least one transfer cylinder (3). eff As a step of determining ), the effective piston stroke (H eff During ), the effective piston stroke (H) of the at least one transfer piston (4) in which the construction material and / or high-viscosity material (B) is displaced out of the at least one transfer chamber (5) and into the construction material and / or high-viscosity material line (1) by the at least one transfer piston (4). eff Step to determine ); c) To determine the current position (PM) of the front (F) of the above construction material and / or high-viscosity material, the effective piston stroke (H eff As a result of ), the method includes the step of determining a change in the position of the construction material and / or high-viscosity material front (F) in the construction material and / or high-viscosity material line (1) for the construction material and / or high-viscosity material pump device (2), wherein the determination of the change in position is based on the already known ratio of the transport chamber cross-sectional area (AF) to the line cross-sectional area (AL) and the effective piston stroke (H eff A method for determining the current position of a construction material and / or high-viscosity material front, performed based on ). Claim 2 A method for determining the current position of a construction material and / or high-viscosity material front, wherein the driving system (12) has a hydraulic system (6), and the hydraulic system (6) is configured to control a hydraulic pressure (p), and the adjusting force (FV) depends, in particular proportionally and / or directly, on the hydraulic pressure (p). Claim 3 In paragraph 2, - while performing step a), the adjustment force (FV) is monitored and said adjustment force (FV) is a force threshold (FV min The hydraulic pressure (p) is monitored to be compared with ) and a predetermined pressure threshold (p) for the hydraulic pressure (p) min ) compared with, - during the execution of step b), the effective piston stroke (H) of the at least one transfer piston (4) for the at least one transfer cylinder (3) eff ) is, the above hydraulic pressure (p) is the pressure threshold (p min A method for determining the current position of a construction material and / or high-viscosity material front, determined only when ) or more. Claim 4 In any one of claims 1 to 3, the method follows the following steps: - the adjusting force (FV) is the force threshold (FV min ) If it is greater than ), in particular, the hydraulic pressure (p) controlled by the hydraulic system (6) of the drive system (12) is a pressure threshold (p min A method for determining the current position of a construction material and / or high-viscosity material front, comprising the step of detecting that the construction material and / or high-viscosity material (B) is displaced out of the at least one transport chamber (5) and into the construction material and / or high-viscosity material line (1) by the at least one transport piston (4). Claim 5 In any one of claims 1 to 4, the method follows the following steps: - the adjusting force (FV) is the force threshold (FV min ) When less than ), in particular, when the hydraulic pressure (p) controlled by the hydraulic system (6) of the drive system (12) is a pressure threshold (p min A method for determining the current position of a construction material and / or high-viscosity material front, comprising the step of detecting that no construction material and / or high-viscosity material (B) is displaced out of at least one transport chamber (5) and into the construction material and / or high-viscosity material line (1) by the at least one transport piston (4). Claim 6 In any one of claims 1 to 5, - steps a) to c) are a method for determining the current position of a construction material and / or high-viscosity material front, which is repeated during a plurality of strokes of the at least one transfer piston (4) with respect to the at least one transfer cylinder (3). Claim 7 A method for determining the current position of a construction material and / or high viscosity material front, wherein, in any one of claims 1 to 6, the method is performed immediately after changing the medium (M) being transported by the construction material and / or high viscosity material pump device (2) to the construction material and / or high viscosity material (B) and / or immediately after the start of transport, until the construction material and / or high viscosity material line (1) is substantially completely filled with the transported construction material and / or high viscosity material (B). Claim 8 A method for determining the current position of a construction material and / or high viscosity material front, wherein, in any one of claims 1 to 7, the method comprises the following steps: - outputting, in particular visualizing, the current position (PM) derived from step c) of the construction material and / or high viscosity material front (F) in the construction material and / or high viscosity material line (1) for the construction material and / or high viscosity material pump device (2). Claim 9 In any one of claims 1 to 8, the construction material and / or high-viscosity material pump device (2) has a pipe switch (7), in particular a pipe switch of the S shape, and the pipe switch (7) is pivotable with respect to the at least one transport chamber (5), so that the at least one transport chamber (5) can be alternately connected to the construction material and / or high-viscosity material line (1) for the flow of the construction material and / or high-viscosity material by the pipe switch (7), and can be disconnected from the construction material and / or high-viscosity material line (1) in a sealed manner with respect to the flow of the construction material and / or high-viscosity material, and the internal volume (8) of the pipe switch (7) through which the construction material and / or high-viscosity material (B) can flow is considered when determining the change in the position of the front (F) of the construction material and / or high-viscosity material according to step c), a method for determining the current position of the construction material and / or high-viscosity material front. Claim 10 As a construction material and / or high-viscosity material transport system (10), - as a construction material and / or high-viscosity material pump device (2) for transporting a construction material and / or high-viscosity material (B) through a construction material and / or high-viscosity material line (1), the construction material and / or high-viscosity material pump device (2) comprises: - at least one transport cylinder (3) and at least one transport piston (4) that together border at least one variable-volume transport chamber (5) of the construction material and / or high-viscosity material pump device (2), and - a driving system (12) formed to control a controlling force (FV) for controlling the at least one transport piston (4) with respect to the at least one transport cylinder (3), and - a control, particularly electronic and / or hydraulic, configured and / or programmed to perform a method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, and connected to the construction material and / or high-viscosity material pump device (2) for control purposes. A construction material and / or high-viscosity material transport system (10) having a device (11). Claim 11 In claim 10, - the construction material and / or high viscosity material transport system (10) has a construction material and / or high viscosity material line (1) in which the construction material and / or high viscosity material (B) can be transported by the construction material and / or high viscosity material pump device (2). Claim 12 In claim 10 or 11, the drive system (12) has a hydraulic system (6), and the hydraulic system (6) is configured to control a hydraulic pressure (p) for adjusting the at least one transfer piston (4) with respect to the at least one transfer cylinder (3), and the adjusting force (FV) depends in particular proportionally and / or directly on the hydraulic pressure (p), a construction material and / or high-viscosity material transport system (10). Claim 13 Use of a construction material and / or high-viscosity material transport system (10) according to claim 11 or 12 for transporting construction materials and / or high-viscosity materials (B) and for forming strands of construction materials (B) for 3D printing of structural components.

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