Asymmetric Front Axle Offset for Tight Milling Curves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing road milling machines, particularly small ones, face limitations in maneuverability, especially when navigating tight curves and obstacles, due to symmetrical steering configurations that do not allow for sufficient steering angles and precise milling around small obstacles.
Innovation Solution
The front wheels or chain drives of the road milling machine are arranged with an offset in the direction of travel, allowing for a larger maximum steering angle and enabling the machine to achieve tighter curve radii by positioning the center of rotation closer to the milling drum, which can rotate nearly on the spot, and the rear wheel on the zero side can be pivoted inward for enhanced maneuverability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the wheels or chain drives of the front axle are arranged offset to one another in the direction of travel, then the maximum steering angle increases and tighter curve radii can be achieved, but the wheelbase needs to be lengthened
Solution Approach 1:
The front wheels are arranged asymmetrically with an offset in the direction of travel, where the wheel on the inner side in the steering direction is positioned forward relative to the adjacent wheel. This asymmetric configuration enables larger maximum steering angles and tighter curve radii without requiring a proportionally longer wheelbase, thereby improving maneuverability while controlling overall length
2Ease of operation
If the steering angle for cornering outwards is made particularly large, then the ability to follow tight curves is improved, but the steering geometry becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The steering system is configured with different maximum steering angles for different steering directions, with the outward steering angle being particularly large. This local differentiation in steering geometry allows the machine to follow tight curves effectively while maintaining a relatively simple overall steering mechanism through asymmetric wheel offset arrangement
Data Source
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AI summary
In a road milling machine for processing road or soil surfaces, comprising a machine frame (8) supported by a chassis, with a front and a rear axle (6, 7) with wheels (10, 12, 14, 16) or tracked undercarriages, and a milling drum (20) rotatably mounted on the machine frame (8) between the rear wheels (14, 16), wherein the milling drum (20) terminates with one end face almost flush with a lateral outer surface of the machine frame (8), the so-called zero side (24), in order to enable milling as close as possible to obstacles, wherein at least the wheels (14, 16) or tracked undercarriages of the rear axle (7) have wheel brackets with lifting columns (48) which are height-adjustable by means of hydraulic cylinders to adjust the milling depth relative to the machine frame (8), wherein at least the wheels (10, 12) or tracked undercarriages of the front axle (6) have wheel brackets (32) with swivel columns (34) havewhich are steerable about a pivot axis (38) by means of a steering lever (36), wherein the steering levers (36) of the wheels (10, 12, 14, 16) or track assemblies of the front axle (6) are articulated to one another via a rigid connecting part (40) for synchronous adjustment of the steering angles, and wherein at least one steering cylinder (44) articulated to a fixed point (42) relative to the machine frame (8) and directly or indirectly coupled to at least one wheel console (32) adjusts the steering angle of the wheels (10, 12) or track assemblies, it is provided that the wheels (10, 12) or track assemblies of the front axle (6) are arranged offset from one another in the direction of travel such that the wheel (10, 12) on the inside in the direction of steering or the wheel (12) or track assembly (6) located on the neutral side (24) is arranged in front of the adjacent wheel (10) or track assembly in the direction of travel. is.,