Method, construction material and / or thick matter conveying system, and use

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for determining a current position (PM) of a construction material and / or thick matter front (F) in a construction material and / or thick matter line (1) having a line cross-sectional area (AL) relative to a construction material and / or thick matter pump device (2) for conveying construction material and / or thick matter (B) through the construction material and / or thick matter line (1), wherein the method comprises the steps: a) monitoring an adjustment force (FV) for adjusting at least one delivery piston (4) of the construction material and / or thick matter pump device (2), and comparing the adjustment force (FV) with a predetermined force threshold value (FVmin); b) only if the adjustment force (FV) is greater than or equal to the force threshold value (FVmin): ascertaining an effective piston stroke (Heff) of the at least one delivery piston (4); and c) determining a position change of a construction material and / or thick matter front (F) in the construction material and / or thick matter line (1) relative to the construction material and / or thick matter pump device (2) as a result of the effective piston stroke (Heff) in order to determine the current position (PM) of the construction material and / or thick matter front (F), wherein the position change is determined on the basis of a previously known ratio of the delivery chamber cross-sectional area (AF) to the line cross-sectional area (AL) and the effective piston stroke (Heff).

Description

[0001] Process, construction and / or thick material conveying system and use

[0002] FIELD OF APPLICATION AND STATE OF THE ART

[0003] The invention relates to a method for determining the current position of a construction and / or high-density material front in a construction and / or high-density material line having a line cross-sectional area relative to a construction and / or high-density material pumping device for conveying construction and / or high-density material through the construction and / or high-density material line. The invention also relates to a construction and / or high-density material conveying system for carrying out such a method. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of such a construction and / or high-density material conveying system.

[0004] TASK AND SOLUTION

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for determining a current position of a construction and / or thick matter front in a construction and / or thick matter line having a line cross-sectional area relative to a construction and / or thick matter pump device for conveying construction and / or thick matter through the construction and / or thick matter line, a construction and / or thick matter conveying system for carrying out such a method and a use of such a construction and / or thick matter conveying system, which have improved properties.

[0006] A method according to the invention serves to determine, in particular automatically, a current position of a construction and / or thick matter front in a construction and / or thick matter line relative to a construction and / or thick matter pumping device. The construction and / or thick matter line has a line cross-sectional area that is, in particular, substantially constant over a longitudinal extent of the construction and / or thick matter line. The current position of the construction and / or thick matter front can correspond to a distance of the construction and / or thick matter front along a flow direction of the construction and / or thick matter line. The construction and / or thick matter line is, in particular, longitudinally extended along the flow direction. The construction and / or thick matter pumping device serves to convey construction and / or thick matter through the construction and / or thick matter line.The construction and / or thick matter line can therefore be flowed through in particular by construction and / or thick matter, which is introduced into the construction and / or thick matter line by means of the construction and / or thick matter device. The construction and / or thick matter pump device has at least one delivery cylinder and at least one delivery piston. The at least one delivery cylinder and the at least one delivery piston together delimit at least one volume-variable delivery chamber of the construction and / or thick matter pump device. The volume-variable delivery chamber has a, in particular fixed, delivery chamber cross-sectional area. The delivery chamber cross-sectional area corresponds in particular to a displacement cross-section of the delivery piston. The construction and / or thick matter pump device also has a drive system. The drive system is designed to control an adjusting force for adjusting the at least one delivery piston relative to the at least one delivery cylinder.In particular, the drive system is designed to generate the adjustment force in a controlled manner.

[0007] The method according to the invention comprises a step a), according to which the adjustment force is monitored and compared with a predetermined force threshold value for the adjustment force. Furthermore, the method comprises a step b), according to which – only if the adjustment force is greater than or equal to the force threshold value – an effective piston stroke of the at least one delivery piston relative to the at least one delivery cylinder is determined. In this case, building and / or high-density material is displaced by means of the at least one delivery piston out of the at least one delivery chamber and into the building and / or high-density material line, in particular only during the effective piston stroke. "Determining the effective piston stroke" means that a volume of the effective piston stroke is determined. The volume of the effective piston stroke corresponds in particular to the volume of building and / or high-density material displaced by means of the effective piston stroke.The method further comprises a step c), according to which a change in position of a construction and / or thick matter front in the construction and / or thick matter line relative to the construction and / or thick matter pump device is determined as a result of the effective piston stroke. The change in position of the construction and / or thick matter front is determined in order to determine the current position of the construction and / or thick matter front, in particular by way of estimate. The change in position of the construction and / or thick matter front is determined based on both a previously known ratio of the conveying chamber cross-sectional area to the line cross-sectional area and on the effective piston stroke. In this way, the current position of the construction and / or thick matter front can be determined indirectly.In particular, the method can be used to obtain an improved overview, in particular for an operator of the construction and / or thick matter pumping device, of the ongoing operation of the construction and / or thick matter pumping device.

[0008] The thick material can be a building material. The thick material can be a paste-like mixture of different materials. The thick material can be mortar, cement, screed or concrete, each in a mixable and / or conveyable state. In the mixable and / or conveyable state, the thick material has not yet hardened or set. In particular, the terms “comprises” and / or “has” can be used synonymously for the term “comprises”. Additionally or alternatively, the term “configured” can be used synonymously for the term “formed”. Further additionally or alternatively, the term “direct” can be used synonymously for the term “immediately”. Further additionally or alternatively, the term “indirect” can be used synonymously for the term “indirectly”.

[0009] In this context, “control” can mean “steer” and / or “regulate”.

[0010] The formulation and alternatively or additionally -" in the present context shall be replaced by the wording "and / or" and vice versa.

[0011] The construction and / or slurry pumping device expediently comprises two delivery cylinders and two delivery pistons, with one of the delivery cylinders and one of the delivery pistons jointly defining one of two delivery chambers of the construction and / or slurry pumping device. The drive system is expediently designed to control the adjustment force for the coordinated adjustment of the delivery pistons relative to the delivery cylinders, in particular to adjust the volumes of the delivery chambers interdependently, in particular in opposite directions.

[0012] The method can be conveniently carried out jointly for all pumping chambers of the construction and / or thick matter pumping device, in particular by taking into account the effective piston strokes of all pumping pistons in total.

[0013] The construction and / or thick material front is expediently an end face of a construction and / or thick material column on construction and / or thick material displaced into the construction and / or thick material line.

[0014] The construction and / or thick matter column can be arranged in the construction and / or thick matter line between the construction and / or thick matter pumping device and another media column present in the construction and / or thick matter line, with the construction and / or thick matter front of the construction and / or thick matter column touching the other media column. The other media column can, for example, contain air and / or another construction and / or thick matter.

[0015] In an embodiment of the invention, the drive system comprises a hydraulic system. The hydraulic system is designed to control a hydraulic pressure. The adjusting force is dependent on the hydraulic pressure, in particular proportionally and / or directly. In particular, the hydraulic system is designed to generate the hydraulic pressure in a controlled manner. The hydraulic system is expediently designed to control the hydraulic pressure for the coordinated adjustment of several, in particular all, delivery pistons relative to several, in particular all, delivery cylinders, in particular to adjust the volumes of the delivery chambers interdependently, in particular in opposite directions.

[0016] In a further embodiment of the invention, when performing step a), the hydraulic pressure is monitored and compared with a predetermined pressure threshold for the hydraulic pressure in order to monitor the adjusting force and to compare the adjusting force with the force threshold. When performing step b), the effective piston stroke of the at least one delivery piston relative to the at least one delivery cylinder is determined only if the hydraulic pressure is greater than or equal to the pressure threshold.

[0017] In a further embodiment of the invention, the method comprises a step according to which

[0018] - if the adjustment force is greater than or equal to the force threshold value - it is detected that construction and / or high-density material is being displaced by the at least one delivery piston from the at least one delivery chamber into the construction and / or high-density material line. In particular, the detection that construction and / or high-density material is being displaced by the at least one delivery piston from the at least one delivery chamber into the construction and / or high-density material line occurs when the hydraulic pressure controlled by the hydraulic system of the drive system is greater than or equal to the pressure threshold value.

[0019] The effective piston stroke is expediently smaller than a total piston stroke of the at least one delivery piston relative to the at least one delivery cylinder if, for example, in an initial section and / or in a final section of the piston stroke, there is essentially no displacement of building and / or thick material from the at least one delivery chamber and into the building and / or thick material line.

[0020] In a further embodiment of the invention, the method comprises a step according to which

[0021] - if the adjusting force is less than the force threshold value - it is detected that no building and / or thick material is being displaced by the at least one delivery piston out of the at least one delivery chamber and into the building and / or thick material line. In particular, according to this step, it is detected that no building and / or thick material is being displaced by the at least one delivery piston out of the at least one delivery chamber and into the building and / or thick material line if the hydraulic pressure controlled by the hydraulic system of the drive system is less than the pressure threshold value. In a further embodiment of the invention, steps a) to c) of the method, in particular all steps of the method, are repeated for a number of strokes of the at least one delivery piston relative to the at least one delivery cylinder.In particular, steps a) to c) of the method, in particular all steps of the method, are repeated for a number of strokes of all delivery pistons.

[0022] In a further embodiment of the invention, the method is carried out until the construction and / or thick matter line is essentially completely filled with conveyed construction and / or thick matter. In particular, the method is carried out immediately after the start of conveying. Alternatively or additionally, the method can be carried out immediately after a change from the medium previously conveyed by means of the construction and / or thick matter pump device to the construction and / or thick matter. In particular, the method can be carried out, in particular immediately, after an exchange of the medium conveyed through the construction and / or thick matter conveying line. In particular, a renewed determination of the construction and / or thick matter front, the position of which is monitored according to the method, can take place for concrete technology reasons.

[0023] In a further embodiment of the invention, the method comprises a step according to which the current position of the construction and / or thick matter front in the construction and / or thick matter line relative to the construction and / or thick matter pumping device resulting from step c) is output. In particular, the current position of the construction and / or thick matter front in the construction and / or thick matter line relative to the construction and / or thick matter pumping device resulting from step c) is visualized. The output, in particular the visualization, can be carried out by means of an output device of a construction and / or thick matter conveying system comprising the construction and / or thick matter pumping device.

[0024] In a further embodiment of the invention, the construction and / or thick matter pumping device has a, in particular S-shaped, pipe switch. The pipe switch is pivotable relative to the at least one conveying chamber such that the at least one conveying chamber can be alternately connected to the construction and / or thick matter line by means of the pipe switch in a construction- and / or thick matter-conducting manner and can be separated from the construction and / or thick matter line in a construction- and / or thick matter-tight manner. An internal volume of the pipe switch through which construction and / or thick matter can flow is taken into account when determining the change in position of the construction and / or thick matter front according to step c). If the at least one conveying chamber is connected to the construction and / or thick matter line by means of the pipe switch in a construction- and / or thick matter-conducting manner, construction and / or thick matter can be displaced from the conveying chamber through the pipe switch into the construction and / or thick matter line.If the at least one conveying chamber is separated from the construction and / or thick matter line by means of the pipe switch in a construction-tight and / or thick matter-tight manner, the at least one conveying chamber can be connected to a storage chamber of the construction and / or thick matter pump device in a construction-tight and / or thick matter-conducting manner in order to suck in construction and / or thick matter located in the storage chamber for conveying.

[0025] A construction and / or high-density matter conveying system according to the invention comprises a construction and / or high-density matter pumping device. The construction and / or high-density matter pumping device of the construction and / or high-density matter conveying system serves to convey construction and / or high-density matter through a construction and / or high-density matter line. The construction and / or high-density matter pumping device comprises at least one conveying cylinder and at least one conveying piston, which together define at least one variable-volume conveying chamber of the construction and / or high-density matter pumping device. In addition, the construction and / or high-density matter pumping device comprises a drive system designed to control an adjusting force for adjusting the at least one conveying piston relative to the at least one conveying cylinder.The construction and / or slurry conveying system further comprises a control device, in particular an electronic and / or hydraulic one. The control device is configured and / or programmed to carry out a method according to the invention, as described above, and is connected for control purposes to the construction and / or slurry pumping system. The above-explained advantages of the method according to the invention thus also extend to the construction and / or slurry conveying system according to the invention.

[0026] In an embodiment of the invention, the construction and / or thick matter conveying system comprises a construction and / or thick matter line through which construction and / or thick matter can be conveyed by means of the construction and / or thick matter pumping device.

[0027] In a further embodiment of the invention, the drive system of the construction and / or thick matter pump device of the construction and / or thick matter conveying system comprises a hydraulic system. The hydraulic system is designed to control a hydraulic pressure for adjusting the at least one conveying piston relative to the at least one conveying cylinder, wherein the adjusting force is dependent on the hydraulic pressure, in particular proportionally and / or directly. It is conceivable, in particular with regard to the method and - alternatively or additionally - with regard to the construction and / or thick matter conveying system, that the drive system is designed to electrically generate the adjusting force and / or to electrically control the electrically generated adjusting force. The drive system can expediently be designed without a hydraulic system.

[0028] According to the invention, the construction and / or thick material conveying system described above is used to convey construction and / or thick material and / or to form a strand of construction material for 3D printing a building component.

[0029] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Further advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the claims and the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, which are illustrated with reference to the drawings. Like reference numerals refer to like, similar, or functionally identical components.

[0031] It is understood that the features mentioned above and those to be explained below can be used not only in the combination specified in each case, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0032] Fig. 1 shows a rough schematic structure of an embodiment of a construction and / or thick material conveying system according to the invention when carrying out an embodiment of a method according to the invention, and

[0033] Fig. 2 schematically shows a course of an adjusting force and a hydraulic pressure over an entire piston stroke of a delivery piston relative to a delivery cylinder of a construction and / or thick matter pump device of the construction and / or thick matter delivery system according to Fig. 1.

[0034] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0035] A construction and / or thick matter conveying system 10 according to the invention comprises a construction and / or thick matter pumping device 2. The construction and / or thick matter pumping device 2 is provided for conveying construction and / or thick matter B through a construction and / or thick matter line 1. The construction and / or thick matter line 1 is presently a component of the construction and / or thick matter conveying system 10. Construction and / or thick matter B can be conveyed through the construction and / or thick matter line 1 by means of the construction and / or thick matter pumping device 2.

[0036] The construction and / or slurry pumping device 2 has at least one delivery cylinder 3 and at least one delivery piston 4. The at least one delivery cylinder 3 and the at least one delivery piston 4 together define at least one volume-variable delivery chamber 5 of the construction and / or slurry pumping device 2. In addition, the construction and / or slurry pumping device 2 has a drive system 12. The drive system 12 is designed to control an adjusting force FV for adjusting the at least one delivery piston 4 relative to the at least one delivery cylinder 3.

[0037] The construction and / or slurry conveying system 10 also has a control device 11, in particular an electronic and / or hydraulic one. The control device 11 is connected to the construction and / or slurry pumping device 2 for control purposes.

[0038] The control device 11 is configured and / or programmed to carry out a method according to the invention. The method serves to determine a current position PM of a construction and / or high-density matter front F in the construction and / or high-density matter line 1 relative to the construction and / or high-density matter pump device 2. The construction and / or high-density matter line 1 has a line cross-sectional area AL that, in this case, remains constant over a longitudinal extension of the construction and / or high-density matter line 1. The construction and / or high-density matter line 1 is elongated along a flow direction D.

[0039] The method comprises a step a), according to which the adjustment force FV is monitored. Furthermore, the adjustment force FV according to step a) is compared with a predetermined force threshold value FVmin for the adjustment force FV.

[0040] The method further comprises a step b), according to which - only if the adjusting force FV is greater than or equal to the force threshold value F ™ - an effective piston stroke Heft of the at least one delivery piston 4 relative to the at least one delivery cylinder 3 is determined. During the effective piston stroke H e tf, building and / or thick material B is displaced by means of the at least one conveying piston 4 from the at least one conveying chamber 5 into the building and / or thick material line 1.

[0041] The method further comprises a step c), according to which a change in position of the construction and / or thick matter front F in the construction and / or thick matter line 1 relative to the construction and / or thick matter pump device 2 is determined as a result of the effective piston stroke Hetr. The change in position is determined according to step c) in order to determine the instantaneous position PM of the construction and / or thick matter front F, in particular indirectly, wherein the determination of the change in position is based on a previously known ratio of the conveying chamber cross-sectional area AF to the line cross-sectional area AL and the effective piston stroke Herr.

[0042] The instantaneous position PM to be determined according to the method can correspond to a distance of the construction and / or thick matter front F along the flow direction D of the construction and / or thick matter line 1.

[0043] For example, the construction and / or thick matter pumping device 2 - as in the present case - has two delivery cylinders 3 and two delivery pistons 4, wherein one of the delivery cylinders 3 and one of the delivery pistons 4 together delimit one of two delivery chambers 5 of the construction and / or thick matter pumping device 2.

[0044] The drive system 12 is designed, for example, to control the adjustment force FV for the coordinated adjustment of the delivery pistons 4 relative to the delivery cylinders 3. The drive system 12 is designed here to control the adjustment force FV for adjusting the delivery pistons 4 relative to the delivery cylinders 3 such that the volumes of the delivery chambers 5 are adjusted interdependently, for example, in opposite directions.

[0045] The method is carried out, for example, for all delivery chambers 5 together, in particular by taking into account the effective piston strokes of all delivery pistons 4 in a summing manner.

[0046] The construction and / or thick material front F can be an end face of a construction and / or thick material column S on construction and / or thick material B displaced into the construction and / or thick material line 1. The construction and / or thick material column S can be arranged in the construction and / or thick material line 1 between the construction and / or thick material pump device 2 and another media column MS present in the construction and / or thick material line 1. In this case, the construction and / or thick material front F of the construction and / or thick material column S can touch the other media column MS, in particular forming an interface. The other media column MS can, for example, contain air and / or another, previously conveyed construction and / or thick material.

[0047] The drive system 12 comprises, for example, a hydraulic system 6. The hydraulic system 6 is designed to control a hydraulic pressure p. The adjusting force FV is dependent on the hydraulic pressure p, in particular proportionally and / or directly. The hydraulic system 6 can be designed—as in the present case—to control the hydraulic pressure p for the coordinated adjustment of the delivery pistons 4 relative to the delivery cylinders 3, for example, to adjust the volumes of the delivery chambers 5 dependently, in particular in opposite directions.

[0048] For example, when performing step a), the hydraulic pressure p is monitored and compared with a predetermined pressure threshold p min for the hydraulic pressure p in order to monitor the adjustment force FV and to compare the adjustment force FV with the force threshold value FVmin. When performing step b), for example, only if the hydraulic pressure p is greater than or equal to the pressure threshold value p m in is - the effective piston stroke Heff of the at least one delivery piston 4 relative to the at least one delivery cylinder 3 is determined.

[0049] As an alternative to the embodiment shown, it is conceivable that the drive system 12 is designed to electrically generate and control the adjustment force FV. In this case, the drive system 12 can, in particular, be free of a hydraulic system 6.

[0050] For example, the method comprises a further step according to which - if the adjusting force FV is greater than or equal to the force threshold value FVmin - it is detected that building and / or thick material B is currently being displaced by means of the at least one delivery piston 4 from the at least one delivery chamber 5 into the building and / or thick material line 1. In the present case, it is detected that building and / or thick material B is being displaced by means of the at least one delivery piston 4 from the at least one delivery chamber 5 into the building and / or thick material line 1 if the hydraulic pressure p controlled by means of the hydraulic system 6 of the drive system 12 is greater than or equal to the pressure threshold value Pmin.

[0051] The effective piston stroke H e tf is in this case smaller than a total piston stroke H gesof the at least one delivery piston 4 relative to the at least one delivery cylinder 3. For example, in an initial section HA and - alternatively or additionally - in a final section HS of the piston stroke H, essentially no building and / or thick material B is displaced from the at least one delivery chamber 5 into the building and / or thick material line 1. In particular, the entire piston stroke H ges together from the initial section HA, the effective piston stroke H e ff and the final section HS.

[0052] The method comprises, for example, a further step according to which - if the adjusting force FV is smaller than the force threshold value FVmin - it is detected that no building and / or thick material B is being displaced by means of the at least one delivery piston 4 from the at least one delivery chamber 5 into the building and / or thick material line 1. Accordingly, the initial section HA and / or the final section HS of the piston stroke H can be detected. For example, in the present case it is detected that no building and / or thick material B is being displaced by means of the at least one delivery piston 4 from the at least one delivery chamber 5 into the building and / or thick material line 1 as long as the hydraulic pressure p controlled by means of the hydraulic system 6 of the drive system 12 is smaller than the pressure threshold value pmin.

[0053] For example, steps a) to c), in particular, and all other steps, of the method are repeated for a number of consecutive strokes of the at least one delivery piston 4 relative to the at least one delivery cylinder 3. In the present case, the steps of the method are repeated for all delivery pistons 4 and for all delivery cylinders 3.

[0054] The method is carried out, for example, until the construction and / or thick matter line 1 is essentially completely filled with the conveyed construction and / or thick matter B. In particular, the method can be carried out immediately after the start of conveying. Alternatively or additionally, the method can be carried out immediately after a change of the medium M previously conveyed by means of the construction and / or thick matter pumping device 2, until the construction and / or thick matter line 1 is essentially completely filled with conveyed construction and / or thick matter B. In particular, the construction and / or thick matter line 1 is considered to be essentially completely filled with the conveyed construction and / or thick matter B as soon as a medium M previously present in the construction and / or thick matter conveying line 1 has been completely replaced.As already mentioned, this medium M can be, for example, air or another building and / or thick material, in particular one which is different in terms of concrete technology.

[0055] For example, the method comprises a further step according to which the current position PM is output. For example, the current position PM of the construction and / or thick matter front F can be visualized relative to the construction and / or thick matter pumping device 2. The output, in particular the visualization, can be implemented by means of an output device of the construction and / or thick matter conveying system 10. The output device can be connected to the control device 11 for control purposes.

[0056] In the present case, the construction and / or thick matter pumping device 2 has a pipe switch 7. The pipe switch 7 is, for example, S-shaped. In this case, the pipe switch 7 is pivotable relative to the at least one conveying chamber 5 such that the at least one conveying chamber 5 can be alternately connected to the construction and / or thick matter line 1 by means of the pipe switch 7 in a construction- and / or thick matter-conducting manner and can be separated from the construction and / or thick matter line 1 in a construction- and / or thick matter-tight manner. The pipe switch 7 has an internal volume 8 through which construction and / or thick matter B can flow. This internal volume 8 can be taken into account when determining the change in position of the construction and / or thick matter front F according to step c).

[0057] If the at least one conveying chamber 5 is connected to the construction and / or thick matter line 1 by means of the pipe switch 7 in a construction-tight and / or thick matter-tight manner, the construction and / or thick matter B can be displaced from the conveying chamber 5 through the pipe switch 7 into the construction and / or thick matter line 1, as shown here, for example, for the conveying chamber 5 shown at the top in Fig. 1. If the at least one conveying chamber 5 is separated from the construction and / or thick matter line 1 by means of the pipe switch 7 in a construction-tight and / or thick matter-tight manner, the at least one conveying chamber 5 can be connected to a storage chamber 9 of the construction and / or thick matter pump device 2 in a construction-tight and / or thick matter-tight manner in order to suck in the construction and / or thick matter B located in the storage chamber 9 for conveying, as shown here by way of example for the conveying chamber 5 shown at the bottom in Fig. 1.

[0058] The construction and / or thick material conveying system 10 according to the invention is used, in particular during the implementation of the method, to convey construction and / or thick material B. Alternatively or additionally, the construction and / or thick material conveying system 10 is used, in particular during the implementation of the method, to form a strand of construction material B for 3D printing a structural component.

Claims

Patent claims, method for determining a current position (PM) of a construction and / or thick matter front (F) in a construction and / or thick matter line (1) having a line cross-sectional area (AL) relative to a construction and / or thick matter pump device (2) for conveying construction and / or thick matter (B) through the construction and / or thick matter line (1), wherein the construction and / or thick matter pump device (2) comprises: - at least one delivery cylinder (3) and at least one delivery piston (4), which together define at least one volume-variable delivery chamber (5) of the construction and / or thick matter pump device (2) having a delivery chamber cross-sectional area (AF), and - a drive system (12) which is designed to generate an adjusting force (FV) for adjusting the at least one delivery piston (4) relative to the at least one delivery cylinder (3) to control, - wherein the method comprises the steps of: a) monitoring the adjusting force (FV) and comparing the adjusting force (FV) with a predetermined force threshold value (FVmin) for the adjusting force (FV); b) only if the adjusting force (FV) is greater than or equal to the force threshold value (FVmin): determining an effective piston stroke (Heff) of the at least one delivery piston (4) relative to the at least one delivery cylinder (3), wherein during the effective piston stroke (H e ff) construction and / or thick material (B) is displaced by means of the at least one delivery piston (4) out of the at least one delivery chamber (5) and into the construction and / or thick material line (1); c) determining a change in position of a construction and / or thick material front (F) in the construction and / or thick material line (1) relative to the construction and / or thick material pump device (2) as a result of the effective piston stroke (H eff) to determine the instantaneous position (PM) of the construction and / or thick matter front (F), wherein the determination of the position change is based on a previously known ratio of the conveying chamber cross-sectional area (AF) to the line cross-sectional area (AL) and on the effective piston stroke (Heir).

2. Method according to the preceding claim, - wherein the drive system (12) comprises a hydraulic system (6), - wherein the hydraulic system (6) is designed to control a hydraulic pressure (p), wherein the adjusting force (FV) is dependent on the hydraulic pressure (p), in particular proportionally and / or directly.

3. Method according to the preceding claim, - wherein, when carrying out step a), the hydraulic pressure (p) is monitored and compared with a predetermined pressure threshold value (p min) for the hydraulic pressure (p) in order to monitor the adjustment force (FV) and to compare the adjustment force (FV) with the force threshold value (FV m in) to compare, - where, when performing step b), only if the hydraulic pressure (p) is greater than or equal to the pressure threshold (p m in), the effective piston stroke (Heft) of the at least one delivery piston (4) relative to the at least one delivery cylinder (3) is determined.

4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the method comprises the step: - if the adjusting force (FV) is greater than or equal to the force threshold value (FVmin), in particular if a hydraulic pressure (p) controlled by means of a hydraulic system (6) of the drive system (12) is greater than or equal to a pressure threshold value (p min) is: recognizing that building and / or thick material (B) is displaced by means of the at least one conveying piston (4) out of the at least one conveying chamber (5) and into the building and / or thick material line (1).

5. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the method comprises the step: - if the adjusting force (FV) is smaller than the force threshold value (FVmin), in particular if a hydraulic pressure (p) controlled by a hydraulic system (6) of the drive system (12) is smaller than a pressure threshold value (p m in) is: detecting that no building and / or thick material (B) is displaced by means of the at least one conveying piston (4) out of the at least one conveying chamber (5) and into the building and / or thick material line (1).

6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, - wherein steps a) to c) are repeated for a number of strokes of the at least one delivery piston (4) relative to the at least one delivery cylinder (3).

7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, - wherein the method, in particular immediately after the start of pumping and / or immediately after a change of the medium (M) pumped by means of the construction and / or thick matter pump device (2) to the construction and / or thick matter (B), is carried out as long as until the construction and / or thick material line (1) is essentially completely filled with conveyed construction and / or thick material (B).

8. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the method comprises the step: - Outputting, in particular visualizing, the current position (PM) of the construction and / or thick matter front (F) in the construction and / or thick matter line (1) resulting from step c) relative to the construction and / or thick matter pump device (2).

9. Method according to one of the preceding claims, - wherein the construction and / or thick matter pump device (2) has a, in particular S-shaped, pipe switch (7), - wherein the pipe switch (7) is pivotable relative to the at least one conveying chamber (5) such that the at least one conveying chamber (5) can be alternately connected to the construction and / or thick matter line (1) by means of the pipe switch (7) in a construction-tight and / or thick matter-tight manner and can be separated from the construction and / or thick matter line (1) in a construction-tight and / or thick matter-tight manner, - wherein an internal volume (8) of the pipe switch (7) through which building and / or thick material (B) can flow is taken into account when determining the change in position of the building and / or thick material front (F) according to step c).

10. Construction and / or thick material conveying system (10), comprising: - a construction and / or thick matter pumping device (2) for conveying construction and / or thick matter (B) through a construction and / or thick matter line (1), wherein the construction and / or thick matter pumping device (2) comprises: - at least one delivery cylinder (3) and at least one delivery piston (4), which together define at least one volume-variable delivery chamber (5) of the construction and / or thick matter pump device (2), and - a drive system (12) designed to control an adjusting force (FV) for adjusting the at least one delivery piston (4) relative to the at least one delivery cylinder (3); and - a control device (11), in particular an electronic and / or hydraulic one, which is set up and / or programmed to carry out a method according to one of the preceding claims and which is connected for control purposes to the construction and / or thick matter pump device (2).

11. Construction and / or thick material conveying system (10) according to the preceding claim, - wherein the construction and / or thick matter conveying system (10) comprises a construction and / or thick matter line (1) through which the construction and / or Thick matter pumping device (2) for conveying building and / or thick matter (B).

12. Construction and / or thick material conveying system according to one of the two preceding claims, - wherein the drive system (12) comprises a hydraulic system (6), - wherein the hydraulic system (6) is designed to control a hydraulic pressure (p) for adjusting the at least one delivery piston (4) relative to the at least one delivery cylinder (3), wherein the adjusting force (FV) is dependent on the hydraulic pressure (p), in particular proportionally and / or directly.

13. Use of a construction and / or thick material conveying system (10) according to one of the two preceding claims for conveying construction and / or thick material (B) and / or for forming a strand of construction material (B) for 3D printing a building part.

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