Automotive Milling Machine Conveyor Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automotive milling machines face challenges in coordinating with transport vehicles due to the need for manual control of slewing angles, elevation angles, and conveying speeds, leading to potential material loss and operator distraction, especially during cornering or reverse travel.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a controller that specifies and monitors limit values for the maximum permissible slewing angle range of the transport conveyor, allowing dynamic adjustments based on the current operating situation, including cornering and vehicle position, to prevent over-slewing and ensure accurate material discharge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the operator manually controls the slewing angle, elevation angle, and conveying speed of the transport conveyor, then the milled material can be discharged onto the transport vehicle, but the operator becomes distracted from the milling operation and may cause collisions or material loss
Solution Approach 1:
The transport conveyor device automatically adjusts its slewing angle and conveying speed based on the milling machine's travel direction and speed, without requiring manual intervention from the operator. The system uses sensors to detect the milling machine's parameters and automatically controls the conveyor to discharge material onto the transport vehicle, making the system self-regulating and eliminating operator distraction
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the milling machine's travel direction and speed through sensors, and uses this feedback information to automatically adjust the transport conveyor's slewing angle and conveying speed. This closed-loop control ensures accurate material discharge while preventing collisions and material loss
2Adaptability or versatility
If the slewing angle range is increased to accommodate different transport vehicles and cornering situations, then the adaptability improves, but the risk of over-slewing and material loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the slewing angle range based on the current operating conditions, including the type of transport vehicle, cornering radius, and milling speed. Rather than using a fixed maximum slewing angle, the control system calculates the appropriate angle range in real-time to ensure material is discharged onto the transport vehicle without overshooting onto adjacent surfaces
Solution Approach 2:
The control system changes the slewing angle parameter dynamically based on detected operating conditions. When cornering is detected, the system adjusts the slewing angle range to accommodate the changed geometry while preventing excessive angles that would cause material loss. The system also adjusts conveying speed as a related parameter to optimize material discharge trajectory
Data Source
AI summary
In an automotive milling machine, comprising a machine frame, comprising a controller for the travelling and milling operation, comprising a working drum, comprising a transport conveyor, where the transport conveyor is slewable, relative to the machine frame, about a first axis extending essentially horizontally under an elevation angle, and sideways about a second axis extending orthogonally to the first axis under a slewing angle, where the transport conveyor discharges the milled material onto a loading surface of a transport vehicle at a specified conveying speed, and where the controller continuously controls positioning of the milled material automatically via, as a minimum, the slewing angle of the transport conveyor, it is provided for the following features to be achieved: the controller specifies and monitors limit values for a maximum permissible slewing angle range for slewing the transport conveyor variable in accordance with the current operating situation.