Adjustable Canopy for Road-Building Machine Height Constraints

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing road construction machines face challenges with protective roofs that hinder operation during work while being cumbersome for transport, often interfering with work operations and requiring additional pivoting movements, which complicates maneuverability in height-restricted areas.

Innovation Solution

A road construction machine with a multi-part protective roof shell that can be easily folded for transport and unfolded for work, featuring roof shell segments that can be displaced relative to each other, allowing for a reduced height structure and enhanced maneuverability by shortening the roof length laterally, thus avoiding interference with work operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the protective roof is designed to cover the driver's cab completely, then operator protection from weather is improved, but the machine's maneuverability in height-restricted areas deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperator protection from weatherVSAvoidmaneuverability in height-restricted areas
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The protective roof is designed with adjustable supports that allow it to be positioned in different states: extended for full protection during operation, and retracted for passing through height-restricted areas. This dynamic adjustability resolves the contradiction by allowing the roof to adapt its height according to operational requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The protective roof structure is divided into separable components (roof shell and supports) that can be independently adjusted. The supports can be extended or retracted relative to the roof shell, enabling the structure to be segmented in function - providing full coverage when needed and reducing height when passing obstacles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the protective roof is extended for full coverage, then operator protection is improved, but interference with work operations increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperator protectionVSAvoidinterference with work operations
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The protective roof's position is made dynamic through adjustable supports that can be extended or retracted. During work operations, the supports can be retracted to reduce interference, while maintaining protection by keeping the roof shell in place. This resolves the contradiction by allowing the roof to dynamically adapt its configuration based on operational needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If additional pivoting movements are added to the protective roof mechanism, then transport capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransport capabilityVSAvoidmechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The protective roof is segmented into the roof shell and adjustable supports. This segmentation allows the supports to be independently positioned for transport (retracted) or work (extended), providing adaptability without requiring complex pivoting of the entire roof structure. The segmentation enables simple linear adjustment rather than complex rotational mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2723629B1Road-building machine
Publication Date: 2016.11.16 ABG ALLG BAUMASCHINEN GMBH
  • EP2723629B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2723629B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2723629B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a road-building machine, comprising a drivable chassis (1) on which a driver's cab (3) having a control panel (2) is provided. A canopy (5) that is fixed to the chassis by at least one support (6) is arranged above the driver's cab, wherein at least one support (6) is adjustably arranged on the chassis (1) such that the canopy (5) can be lowered for a transport position and raised for a working position. For a working position with reduced set-up height, the lowered canopy (5) forms a free space (9) for an operator in the region of the control panel (2) of the driver's cab (3), wherefore a canopy section covering the control panel (2) is designed such as to be movable relative to the chassis (1).