Self-Propelled Construction Machine Sealing Device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Road milling machines face challenges in operating modes where not all milled material is loaded, leading to material retention and increased friction, while stabilizers and recyclers lack a transport facility, requiring adjustments in sealing elements to prevent material escape and ensure proper operation.

Innovation Solution

A self-propelled construction machine with a sealing device featuring a pivotally arranged stripping element that adjusts its height based on the milled material's height, using a measuring device and control system to maintain a predetermined pivoting range, ensuring the sealing element is correctly positioned to prevent material retention and unintentional entry into the milling drum housing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the sealing element is raised to allow partial material loading, then material can remain in the milling track, but the milling drum housing becomes open and material can be thrown out

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperating mode flexibilityVSAvoidhousing closure reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing system is divided into multiple independent sealing elements (front sealing element, rear sealing element, and intermediate sealing elements) that can be individually adjusted. This segmentation allows each element to perform its specific function: front elements prevent material from entering the housing, while the rear element controls material discharge, resolving the contradiction between partial loading and housing closure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing elements are made height-adjustable through adjusting devices, transforming them from static to dynamic components. This allows the sealing elements to adapt their position based on the operating mode (complete loading, partial loading, or no loading), enabling the system to maintain housing closure reliability while accommodating different material loading requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the sealing element is lowered to close the housing, then material is contained, but material accumulates in the housing causing increased friction and reduced performance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehousing closureVSAvoidmilling performance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing system is divided into front sealing elements that close the housing and rear sealing elements that allow material discharge. This segmentation enables the front elements to maintain housing closure for reliability while the rear elements ensure material can escape to prevent accumulation and maintain productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing elements are designed to close the housing partially rather than completely, leaving controlled gaps or discharge paths. This partial closure action prevents material accumulation that would reduce productivity while maintaining sufficient housing closure for safety and operational reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Productivity

If the sealing element slides on the milled surface to ensure clean removal, then complete material loading is achieved, but wear increases and fuel consumption rises

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial loading efficiencyVSAvoidfuel consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing elements are made height-adjustable, allowing the operator to optimize their position based on operating conditions. In complete loading mode, the elements slide on the milled surface to ensure clean removal. In partial loading mode, the elements can be raised to reduce contact and friction, thereby reducing fuel consumption and wear while maintaining effective material loading.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Adaptability or versatility

If a height-adjustable sealing element is used for partial material loading, then operating flexibility is improved, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperating mode flexibilityVSAvoidsealing system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing system is divided into multiple independent sealing elements, each with its own adjusting device. This segmentation allows each element to be adjusted independently for its specific function, providing operating flexibility without requiring a single complex adjustable mechanism for the entire sealing system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing elements serve multiple functions: they close the housing to prevent material escape, control material discharge for different loading modes, and can be adjusted to different heights. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components for each function, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining operating flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4067573B1Self-propelled construction machine and method for operating the same
Publication Date: 2024.06.19 WIRTGEN GMBH
  • EP4067573B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4067573B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP4067573B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

The invention relates to a self-propelled construction machine, in particular a road milling machine, recycler or stabilizer, which has a machine frame 1 and a milling drum 4, which is arranged in a milling drum housing 5, which has a sealing device 11, which has a sealing element 12 arranged in the working device 10 of the construction machine behind the milling drum 4 for closing the milling drum housing 5, an adjusting device 16 for adjusting the height position of the sealing element 12 in relation to the milling drum and a control device 17 for controlling the adjusting device 16 of the sealing element 12.The construction machine is characterized by the fact that the sealing device 11 has a scraper element 18 which is pivotably arranged on the sealing element 12 such that the scraper element 18 rests on the milled material, so that when the construction machine is advanced, the scraper element 18 is pulled over the milled material and pivoted relative to the milling drum depending on the height of the milled material. The height position of the at least one sealing element 12 is adjusted depending on the pivot position of the scraper element 18 such that, when the construction machine is advanced, the pivot position of the scraper element lies within a predetermined pivot range.