Road Milling Machine Frame Recess for Steering Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large road milling machines have limited maneuverability, making it difficult to follow curved lines, especially with tight curve radii, due to their design and lack of visibility of the steering angle, which restricts their use in various road construction scenarios.
Innovation Solution
A self-propelled large milling machine design featuring a recess in the machine frame on the zero side, which widens downwards and forwards, allowing improved visibility of the steering angle and enabling precise navigation along curved paths, along with a driver's seat alignment that enhances observation of the milling drum and steering position, and optional use of mirrors and projection devices for enhanced guidance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a large milling machine is designed with the milling drum between the front and rear axles, then the machine can achieve a compact structure, but the maneuverability is limited and the driver cannot follow tight curve radii
Solution Approach 1:
The machine frame is segmented by introducing a recess on the zero side, which divides the frame structure into distinct sections. This segmentation allows the driver to see through the recess to the front chain drive and steering angle, improving visibility and maneuverability while maintaining the compact overall structure with the milling drum positioned between the axles.
2Ease of operation
If the driver's seat is positioned for optimal viewing of the milling area, then the milling operation is improved, but the visibility of the steering angle and front axle is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The recess in the machine frame acts as an optical intermediary, allowing the driver to see through it to both the milling area and the front chain drive. This intermediary structure enables simultaneous visibility of the steering angle and the milling operation without requiring the driver to change position or use additional mirrors.
3Ease of operation
If a recess is added to the machine frame to improve visibility, then maneuverability is improved, but the construction volume and water tank capacity are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The recess is designed with specific local dimensions and positioning on the zero side of the machine frame. By optimizing the local geometry of the recess - its depth, width, and position - the design achieves the necessary visibility improvement while minimizing the impact on overall machine volume and water tank capacity.
Data Source
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AI summary
In a self-propelled road milling machine (1), in particular a large milling machine, for milling a ground or traffic surface (8) with a chassis comprising a front axle (2) and a rear axle (3) consisting of tracked undercarriages (30) or wheels, a machine frame (4) supported by the chassis with side outer walls (5a, 5b) and a longitudinal central axis (52), a milling drum (6) mounted on the machine frame (4) between the tracked undercarriages (30) or wheels of the front axle (2) and the rear axle (3), wherein the milling drum (6) extends with one end face to an outer surface of the machine frame (4) designated as the zero side (12) for edge milling, and a driver's station (10) with a platform (15) for the operator, it is provided that the part of the machine frame (4) located on the zero side (12) is recessed inwards in the direction of travel in front of the operator's platform (15). such that a vertically running,A recess (16) open to the outside, as well as downwards and upwards, is formed in the machine frame (4), which extends downwards and forwards in the direction of travel.