EP1845196A1 - Road finisher - Google Patents

Abstract

The paver (F) has at least one secure industrial wireless communication sector (WL) between a guide calculator (Z) and a communication part receiver. This sector includes at least one wireless input and output base station (10) and at least one wireless input and output module (11). The communication sector can augment or replace a wire bus system in the paver.

Description

The invention relates to a paver specified in the preamble of claim 1. Art.

In the out EP 0 790 353 A known paver a wired bus system is provided, in which the central computer, processing units, sensors, actuators and the like. Communicate. The central computer can deliver data about machine states to a portable storage medium via remote data transmission via a service interface. The central computer and / or the control panel can be located in a stationary outside control station, with which the paver is controlled. The transmission of control data and feedback data may be wireless. In any case, the bus system wired in the road paver requires considerable and labor-intensive wiring work, which causes acute sources of error, inter alia because of the relatively rough working conditions in a paver.

From DE 100 53 446 A Known soil compaction device includes an electronic cruise control device that controls the individual traction drives for steering the entire soil compaction system. The cruise control device can be controlled by radio or infrared from an external remote control.

At the WO 03/055714 A known electric vehicle is provided in the vehicle, a wired bus system with interface modules, with some interface modules communicate wirelessly.

According to US 5,469,150 A For communication, several sensors and actuators are linked via a wired single-wire or two-wire or four-wire bus system.

Recently, the wireless technology is increasingly being used in industrial technology, such. B. to transmit measured values or process signals. Different wireless standards are used, depending on the environmental conditions and the Control tasks. Please refer to the journal QUALITY ENGINEE-RING 11/2005, pages 58, 59 ; the magazine " The designer "10/2005, pages 10, 11 ; the magazine " The designer "10/2005, page 14 ; the newspaper " VDMA News 11.05 ", pages 54 to 57 ; the magazine " The designer '7-8 / 2005, pages 12, 14 ; the system and product overview WL / 05 * "ESALAN-Wireless", the company Elan switching elements GmbH & Co. KG, D-35435 Wettenberg, and the article " Industrial Wireless ", in UPDATE 1/06, pages 4, 5 , from the Internet at "update.phoenixcontact.com".

The invention has for its object to provide a paver of the type mentioned with a cost-effective and fail-safe computerized control system.

The stated object is achieved with the features of claim 1.

The cost of installation and control is reduced significantly with the application of wireless technology in the paver when used as a transmission medium electromagnetic waves that are not subject to mechanical wear and require no wiring. With wireless technology, increased mobility of the communication subscribers, also with regard to communication with outside control stations, a control panel, operating devices, remote controls and the like, is achieved. Large-area radio fields within the scope of the wireless radio link allow flexible integration of communication users. The installation and commissioning can be done quickly and easily. Communication with any local bus systems is wireless. The wiring to sensors / actuators is conventional, for example via pre-assembled connectors. The wireless technology also allows the use of the paver in contaminated terrain or other hazardous areas by wireless remote control units. If the radio link is safety-oriented, transmission errors due to environmental influences, high-frequency and critical interference, attenuation, reflection, absorption, scattering, diffraction, refraction and interference are avoided. In this case, the master computer also functions as a master for the processing units. In one embodiment, the processing units with their associated sensors / actuators could communicate and operate independently of the host computer, wherein the master computer then possibly only fulfills a monitoring and parameterization function.

In an expedient embodiment of the road paver, the wireless radio link completely replaces a wired bus system.

In an alternative embodiment, on the other hand, the wireless radio link complements a wired bus system or local wired bus systems. In any case, the wiring effort is reduced or minimized, and the acute sources of error in wired systems are avoided or at least significantly reduced.

Expedient are two optional or combined procedures. The master computer and the respective communication subscribers are connected to the base station or its modules. The wireless communication takes place between the base station and the modules, suitably bidirectional. In the other case, the host computer and at least some of the communication participants are designed to be capable of being wireless, in that the base station or the module is integrated in the host computer or the respective communication subscriber.

Since the master computer performs a master function, it is expedient to provide an I / O interface on the master computer or on the control panel, which is, for example, a USB interface or a WLAN interface. Data can be transmitted to the outside via the interface or imported from the outside, e.g. for linearization, updating, parameterisation or diagnostics.

In an expedient embodiment, each communication participant is connected to a separate Wreless 1 / O module or provided with such a module. This concept offers advantages in the event of a fault in terms of easy replacement or addition of other communication participants.

Alternatively, multiple communication users can share a wireless I / O module to achieve a reduced number of wireless components.

Furthermore, an application of wireless communication participants or communication participants, which are connected to a wireless I / O module, be useful with connected to local bus systems, analog units.

The safety-related and thus fail-safe wireless radio link in the paver can be easily extended or extended in wireless technology to at least one exterior or remote control station or a navigation system or a screed leveling system, provided that the basic components for the wireless radio link in industry-compatible and safety-oriented design in the road paver, optionally according to the WLAN standard, for example as wireless ETHERNET extension using at least one transmission protocol, the BLUETOOTH standard in the 2.4 GHz frequency hopping area, the TRUSTED wireless standard for analog and digital signals, the wireless MUX standard or the ASi-SaW standard. The choice of radio technology for the paver depends on the requirements of the paver and the requirement that the radio transmission be at least as reliable under the working conditions in the paver as cable connections.

According to the ESALAN-wreless standard, the license-free 433 MHz band and 869 MHz band are alternately used, i. The system is then to operate with actually two radio links (dual-band system) in order to improve the reliability, the fault tolerance, the antenna diversity and the like. The WLAN standard, for example, as an extension of the ETHERNET or the BLUETOOTH standard in the 2.4 GHz range with frequency hopping are expedient alternatives. With the TRUSTED wireless standard, the secure transmission of measuring and control signals in particular over relatively long distances is possible, especially if only data volumes of a few bytes are required. The wireless MUX standard or the ASi-SaW standard with short response times of, for example, 40 ms can also be expedient, for example in conjunction with a fieldbus, Profibus, or Interbus-like fieldbus networks.

The wireless standards listed above are only a non-limiting selection. The wireless technology concept used in the paver is based solely on the ability required to operate the paver To transmit messages or signals, in particular process signals, as safely as possible as quickly as necessary.

Fig. 1

schematisch ein computerisiertes Steuerungssystem in einem Straßenfertiger, und

Fig. 2

eine alternative Ausführungsform in Schemadarstellung.

With reference to the drawings, embodiments of the subject invention will be explained. Show it:

Fig. 1

schematically a computerized control system in a paver, and

Fig. 2

an alternative embodiment in schematic view.

In Fig. 1, a paver F is schematically indicated in dash-dotted outline, having a computerized control system with multiple components capable of communication. By contrast, for the sake of simplicity of the paver F, the chassis with the Gutbunker at the front end, the cab and the prime mover, the chassis hinged screed, the drive and the drive means, the longitudinal conveyor line from Gutbunker to a rear transverse distribution device, and the like., Not shown. For example, as an essential part of the computerized control device in the cab, not shown, a host computer Z (central processing unit) housed with a control panel 1, not shown actuators, switches, display devices, input and display sections, and the like., And wired to the host Z. is. On the host computer Z (or on the control panel 1, expediently there on a housing, not shown), an I / O interface 3 is provided, for example, a USB interface or a WLAN interface, the unidirectional or bidirectional data exchange with an external data storage or a external computer allows.

Furthermore, a wireless I / O base station 10, which has a reception / transmission antenna device 2, is connected to the host computer Z, for example via a wired local bus. The antenna device 2 is optionally positioned at a convenient location in the paver.

Furthermore, a plurality of processing units 4a, 4b (modularly expandable by a further processing unit 4c) are provided in the paver F of the master computer Z, which are either each equipped with its own processor, or cooperate with a processor of the host computer Z.

The processing units 4a, 4b, 4c may be interchangeable modules or printed circuit boards with electronic components attached to addressed or coded slots.

In Fig. 1, each processing unit 4a, 4b, 4c is connected to a wireless I / O module 11 having a transmitting / receiving antenna device 2. Optionally, the modules 11 share a common antenna device 2.

The processing devices 4a, 4b, 4c are, for example, each part of a control loop to which at least one sensor 5a, 5b, 5c and an actuator 6a, 6b, 6c belongs. At least one sensor 5a, 5b, 5c and at least one actuator 6a, 6b, 6c share for control tasks a wireless I / O module 11 for communication either with the processing devices 4a, 4b, 4c and / or the master computer Z.

Furthermore, drive or control components connected to wireless I / O modules 11 may be provided for, for example, the traction drive, the drive and the metering of the longitudinal conveyor device, the transverse distribution device, and other components in the screed (not shown), wherein the communication participants do not have Wired cable connections communicate, but by means of electromagnetic waves as a carrier medium for data, signals, messages and the like ..

Thus, in the paver between the base station 10 and the modules 11, a wireless radio link WL is set up, which either replaces a wired bus system or supplements a wired bus system and, for example, for transmitting process signals and / or measured values and / or feedback and / or parameters / or setpoints and actual values and the like, for example in serial form. In this case, all modules 11 communicate with the base station 10 of the master computer Z.

In an alternative embodiment, instead of the modules 11 for the then own processors and the like. Having processing facilities 4a to 4c this corresponding many base stations 10 or a single base station 10 be assigned, so that the modules 11 of the sensors and actuators 5a to 5c and 6a to 6c not only or not communicate with the host computer Z, but with the processing means 4a to 4c.

Furthermore, further systems can communicate with the host computer Z via the wireless radio link WL, for example remote controls 7a, 7b of outside control booths not further highlighted (each equipped with a module 11 and an antenna device 2), navigation systems 8a, 8b (each with a module 11 and an antenna device 2) and a screed leveling system 7c (equipped with a module 11 and an antenna device 2).

In the wireless radio link WL, for example, process or control signals are transmitted from or to acting, measuring or registering components or assemblies of the paver, wherein the established wireless radio link WL could well be divided into several large-area radio fields, which is e.g. allows the flexible integration of other communication participants. Instead of a wired bus system or in addition to the bus system, the wireless I / O modules 11 and the Wirelessl / O base station 10, which is assigned to the master computer Z, used, where appropriate, some communication participants, for example, connected to a local bus. The wireless I / O base station 10 may be a gateway module and automatically control communication among the communication parties. The wiring to the sensors / actuators can be made conventionally, for example via pre-assembled connectors.

The embodiment of the computerized control system of the paver in Fig. 2 differs from that of Fig. 1, characterized in that the individual communication participants, such as the host Z, the processing units 4a, 4b, 4c, the sensors / actuators 5b, 6b, the outside control booths with their remote controls 7a, 7b, the navigation systems 8a, 8b, and the screed leveling system 7c are each designed to be wireless capable, for example, in which the wireless I / O base station 10 in the master computer Z and the Wreless I / O modules 11 in the processing units and the other communication participants are integrated. The sensor 5b and the actuator 6b are eg smart components which have a predetermined basic intelligence. A further alternative option in FIG. 2 is to connect an analog unit 12 to the smart sensor 5b via a local bus 9, for example, and thus also to use the integrated module 11 of the smart sensor 5b in the wireless radio link. The paver could be remotely controlled via the remote control units 7a, 7b even in contaminated or potentially explosive terrain or in other hazardous areas.

Basically, for the use of wireless technology in the paver, the wireless radio link WL safety-oriented and designed for industrial use, so that in the operation of the paver, inevitable influences do not interfere and the radio transmission as robust and reliable works as a cable connection. For example, a safety-related and industrial-grade wireless wireless link WL can be created using a variety of wireless standards, including the ESALAN standard, the WLAN standard, the BLUETOOTH standard, the TRUSTED wireless standard, the wireless MUX standard, or the ASi-SaW standard and other wireless standards that are currently being tested or ready for series production. Security means, for example, that the processing, transmission, addressing and timing of the information or messages or signals over the wireless link will operate properly despite unavoidable interference such as RFI, attenuation, interference, reflections, interference, magnetic interference and the like. For example, industrialized means that the rough working conditions in the paver, vibrations, the weather, nearby machines or power lines and the like do not affect the proper functioning of the wireless equipment components.

In this case, for example, the master computer Z is used as a master in the control system to which all information is given and from which the information necessary for operation, monitoring or the like. About the carrier medium of the electromagnetic waves are transmitted to other communication participants. The transmission may be serial, using standardized transmission protocols where appropriate.

Claims (11)

Paver (F), with at least one screed and an electronic control system for control or regulation or monitoring or parametrization tasks a host computer (Z), at least one control panel (1) and a communication bus system for serial transmission of at least Process signals between at least two of the following communication participants: the host computer (Z), drives for a chassis, working units, drives for aggregates, sensors (5a, 5b, 5c), actuators (6a, 6b, 6c), electronic data processing units (4a , 4b, 4c), and the like., Characterized in that in the paver (F) between at least one of the host computer (Z) associated wireless I / O base station (10) and at least one at least one other communication participants associated wireless I / O module (11) at least one industry-standard and safety-oriented wireless radio link (WL) is installed. Road paver according to claim 1, characterized in that the wireless radio link (WL) is designed as a replacement of a wired bus system. Road paver according to claim 1, characterized in that the wireless radio link (WL) is designed as a supplement to a wired in the paver bus system or local bus systems (9). Road paver according to claim 1, characterized in that the host computer (Z) to the wireless I / O base station (10) or at least one communication station in each case to the wireless I / O module (11) is connected. Road paver according to claim 1, characterized in that the wireless I / O base station (10) are integrated into the wireless-capable host computer (Z) and the respective wireless I / O module in at least one other wireless-enabled communication participants. Paver according to claim 1, characterized in that the control computer (Z) or the control panel (1) an I / O interface (3), eg a USB or a WLAN interface, for communication or data exchange to the outside or from outside. Road paver according to claim 1, characterized in that each communication participant for communication with the host computer (Z) has its own wireless I / O module (11). Road paver according to claim 1, characterized in that several communication participants for communication with the host computer (Z) share a wireless I / O module (11). Paver according to claim 1, characterized in that with a to a wireless I / O module (11) connected or by integration of a wireless I / O module (11) wireless communication station within a wired local bus system (9) at least one analog unit (12) is connected. Road paver according to claim 1, characterized in that in the paver (F) furnished, safety-oriented radio link (WL) to at least one exterior control station (7a, 7b) or a navigation system (8a, 8b) or a screed leveling system (7c) extended or expandable is. Road paver according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the safety-related radio link (WL) with its by the wireless I / O base station (10) and the wireless I / O modules (11) formed in the transceiver components in the paver (F) is designed according to one of the following industry-standard wireless standards: the ESALAN standard in the 433 MHz band or in the 869 MHz band or in the dual band; the WLAN standard, for example, as wireless ETHERNET extension, the BLUETOOTH standard in the 2.4 GHz range, possibly with frequency hopping technology; the TRUSTED wireless standard; the wireless MUX standard with multiplexing function; or the ASi-SaW standard; optionally in conjunction with a CAN bus, field bus, Profibus, Interbus or another bus network.

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