EP2813619B1 - Screed for a road finisher - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a screed for use on a paver according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such screeds are known in practice. They are used in road construction to smooth pavement layers, for example. Asphalt, and compact. There are different versions of screeds used, for. B. rigid planks whose width can not be changed, rigid planks whose width can be changed by means of separate attachments, and extendable planks, the width of which can be variably changed by means of Ausziehteilen. Here, in addition, separate widening parts can be grown. At the extreme end of the screed so-called side sliders are attached, which prevent the material escaping in front of and under the screed to the sides.

The width of the entire pile, also called working width, is an important parameter, since it influences important variables of the paver, eg. B. the material requirement in front of the screed and thus the flow rate or speed of material handling systems of the paver. Due to the increasing automation of the operation of road pavers, it is advantageous to provide the width of the screed to the various control systems in some way.

In conventional planks this is often done by entering by hand. Extending screeds use measuring systems that determine the sliding path of the screed extraction parts. In the simplest case, these are scales with pointers. After reading, the value must be added to the width of the base board and entered into the control. Other measuring systems determine the sliding path and provide it directly to the machine control. The addition of the respective sliding paths and the screed basic width is then done by the control system. However, such systems do not take into account any possibly mounted separate widening parts, so that when they are used again an input of the operator must be made.

The EP 2 239 374 A1 the applicant discloses a paver that can be upgraded with several additional components. These additional components are equipped with wirelessly readable identification devices, which are read by a reader of the paver can be read. As additional components, among other things, both exhaust parts of extendable screeds, as well as rigid widening parts are called. Also, a distance measurement between the reading device of the paver and attached to the Auszieh- or extension parts identification devices is provided. It has been found that this system has optimization potential. On the one hand, both the pull-out parts of extendable planks and all separate widening parts must be provided with identification means. On the other hand, the large number of identification devices creates a significant potential for error. So z. B. in very long planks with multiple attachments very many signals are processed, which increases the susceptibility. In addition, it may happen that the signal of the outermost fixture can not be received by the reading unit due to lack of reach or interference. So, if it only receives the signal of a further part inside, the control system will get an incorrect working width of the screed without the operator noticing. Additionally, problems can arise with asymmetrically spread planks, as it becomes so difficult to determine which signal from an attachment indicates the correct plank width.

Object of the present invention is to provide a screed for a paver available that allows a user-friendly and as little as possible fault-prone operation by means of structurally simple means possible.

This object is achieved by a screed with the features of claim 1 and by a method having the features of claim 11. Advantageous further developments are specified in the dependent claims.

The invention provides to attach at least one of a plurality of sideshift at least one reference element for determining the working width. In this case, the at least one reference element can be detected by sensor units when the side slides are mounted on the respective outer ends of the base pile or the pull-out parts or the widening parts. As a result, only one reference element per screed section is necessary. By attaching to the respective sideshifter ensures that the reference element is always attached to the outermost point of the screed. If the reference element is out of range of the sensor units or the signal path is disturbed in some other way, the sensor unit will not receive a signal. In this way, a malfunction of the operation would be noticed immediately. Preferably, in the event that no signal is received, an error signal may be displayed to the operator, e.g. As an optical, an acoustic or a tactile signal. Conceivable here are z. As warning sounds from existing signal generators or specially provided for this purpose signal generators, as well as special, earmarked warning lights or messages on a display such. As an alphanumeric display, a dot matrix display or a liquid crystal or LED display.

The sensor unit and the reference element can be based on different measurement methods, for. As ultrasound, radar, microwaves, radio signals or optical measuring methods such. B. lasers. Accordingly, a suitable or a plurality of suitable sensors in the sensor unit and suitable reference elements can be provided. Consequently, at least one sensor for detecting the above-mentioned signals can be provided in the sensor unit. Different types of reflectors or transceiver units are conceivable on the reference element. Furthermore, the sensor unit or the sensor units may include at least one transmitting device that is configured to emit a measuring signal of the type mentioned above. The measurement signals can be simply reflected or received by suitable transceiver units and, where appropriate, additional information, such. As timestamp, position or identification information, supplemented to be returned.

It is conceivable to provide at least one sensor unit on the base board, which is configured to measure the distances to the at least one reference element. It can be z. B. a sensor unit may be provided which detects all the reference elements on all side shifters and measures the distances to them. In a further example not belonging to the invention, one sensor unit can be provided per plank section, which is configured to measure the distance to an associated reference element on an associated side slide. In screeds with a left and a right screed section two sensor units would be provided in this case. A first right sensor unit would measure the distance to a reference element on a right side shifter, and a second left sensor unit would in this case measure the distance to a reference element on a left side shifter. In cases where the respective sensor units on the left or right edge attached to the base screed, could be a control system of a paver in which previously considered only the pull-out parts were to be upgraded without having to change the control.

According to an embodiment of the invention, at least one of the side shifters is provided with a sensor unit which is configured to measure the distance to the at least one reference element at another of the side shifters. In this way, the number of both the sensor units and the reference elements can be minimized. In embodiments with left and right side shifters, only one sensor unit and one reference element are necessary. For this purpose, the entire screed width is detected directly without having to add different lengths.

It is conceivable that the reference elements are mounted directly on the side sliders. It can be z. B. be tackable or bolted elements which are attached to one side of the side slider, which faces in the direction of the respective sensor unit. Also in the respective sideshift integrated structures are conceivable.

In a further variant, the reference elements are indirectly attached to the side slides by means of adapter parts. Under certain circumstances, the orientation to the respective sensor unit can thus be improved, or adjusted during operation. For systems that are sensitive to objects placed in the signal path, the signal path can also be manipulated so that there are as few objects as possible.

It is advantageous if the respective reference element is aligned with an associated sensor unit when the respective side shifter is mounted respectively at the outer ends of the base board or the Ausziehteile or widening parts. As a result, the assembly of the sideshift or the reference elements can be facilitated. In addition, it is conceivable that the sideshifter and / or the adapters can only be fixed in a specific, correctly aligned configuration. This avoids errors during installation.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the sensor units for determining the working width by measuring the distance between a on a first side shifter (5) fixed first reference element (11) and a a second side member (12) fixed second triangulation (12) configured by triangulation. This allows a flexible arrangement of the sensor units. In addition, disturbing objects can also be bypassed in this way. Preferably, the screed invention is used on a paver.

It is particularly advantageous if the paver with the screed according to the invention comprises a control system that is configured to use the determined working width as an input variable. Based on the working width can be set different variables of the paver, z. For example, the speed of different conveyor systems.

It is also conceivable that at least one of the sensor units is provided for determining the working width of the paver. This may be useful in particular for very large paving widths, as possibly more exposed mounting positions exist on the paver than on the screed itself. This would reduce the connection costs of a sensor unit to the control system of the paver, since at least for the sensor unit no coupling between road paver and screed needed is.

The invention also relates to a method for determining the working width of a screed that can be used on a paver. The screed comprises a base pile whose working width is variable by means of pull-out parts and / or separate widening parts, a plurality of side sliders, which are respectively mounted at the outer ends of the base pile or the pull-out parts or the widening parts and limits the working width. The method is characterized by the fact that reference elements in the area of the sideshift are used to determine the working width.

It is conceivable, but not part of the invention, that the distance to at least one reference element, which is attached to one of the side shifters, is measured by at least one sensor unit associated with the respective side shifter. If, for example, a base pile with a right and a left pull-out part is provided, wherein a respective side slide is attached to the respective outer end of the left or right pull-out part, in this case a right and a left sensor unit would be used, which in each case the distance to the at least one reference element, which is attached to each of the right and the left sideshift, measures. In this case, the left or right sensor unit can be mounted in each case on the left or right end of the base board. However, it is also conceivable, but not part of the invention, that both sensor units are mounted centrally between the sideshift, on the screed or even on a paver that pulls the screed.

It is also conceivable, but not part of the invention, to combine the two mentioned sensor units in one sensor unit. In this variant, a sensor unit would be positioned between the side sliders or reference elements and would measure the distances to the reference elements in two different directions. In this case, only the two measured values would have to be added to obtain the working width of the screed. The width of the base board would not have to be known to the system. Such a sensor unit would only have to be positioned between the reference elements, i. H. a central arrangement is not mandatory. Rather, care must be taken only in the arrangement that the sensor unit is located on a straight line connecting two reference elements, and that the ranges of the sensor unit are not exceeded in both directions.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the distance to a reference element attached to a first of the side shifters is measured by a sensor unit mounted on a second of the side shifters. In a screed with two oppositely mounted side shifters only a sensor unit and a reference element would be necessary. In addition, the measured value, possibly taking into account the dimensions of the respective sensor unit and the respective reference element, would correspond directly to the working width of the screed. This configuration would therefore allow a particularly simple structure and a simple further processing of the measured value.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the distance between the reference elements is measured by triangulation. Although several sensor units are needed here. However, there are advantages, such. B. a greater freedom in the arrangement of the sensor units. These can be distributed in different places on the screed and the road paver. By a clever arrangement of the sensor units, the disturbance by objects in the signal path can additionally be prevented.

• Figur 1 a zeigt eine perspektivische Ansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Einbaubohle mit ausgefahrenen Ausziehteilen.
• Figur 1b zeigt die Bohle aus Figur 1 a mit eingefahrenen Ausziehteilen.
• Figur 2 zeigt einen Seitenschieber der Einbaubohle aus den Figuren 1 a und 1b.
• Figur 3 zeigt eine schematische Draufsicht einer Einbaubohle mit ausgefahrenen Ausziehteilen und montierten Verbreiterungsteilen, nach einem ersten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung.
• Figur 4 zeigt eine schematische Draufsicht einer Einbaubohle nach einem zweiten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung.
• Figur 5 zeigt die Einbaubohle aus Figur 3 mit zwei ausgefahrenen Ausziehteilen aber nur einem montierten Verbreiterungsteil, wodurch eine asymmetrische Konfiguration der Einbaubohle entsteht.
• Figur 6 zeigt eine schematische Draufsicht einer Einbaubohle nach einem dritten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung, bei dem die Referenzelemente mit Hilfe von Adaptern an den Seitenschiebern montiert sind.
• Figur 7 zeigt eine schematische Draufsicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Einbaubohle nach einem vierten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung.
• Figur 8 zeigt eine schematische Rückansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Einbaubohle nach einem fünften Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung.
• Figur 9 zeigt eine schematische Rückansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Einbaubohle nach einem sechsten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung.
• Figur 10 zeigt einen Straßenfertiger, an dem eine erfindungsgemäße Einbaubohle montiert werden kann.

In the following, several advantageous embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to drawings.

• FIG. 1 a shows a perspective view of a screed according to the invention with extended pull-out parts.
• FIG. 1b shows the screed out FIG. 1 a with retracted pull-out parts.
• FIG. 2 shows a side slide of screed from the FIGS. 1 a and 1b.
• FIG. 3 shows a schematic plan view of a screed with extended Ausziehteilen and mounted widening parts, according to a first embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 4 shows a schematic plan view of a screed according to a second embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 5 shows the screed FIG. 3 with two extended pull-out parts but only one mounted widening part, creating an asymmetric configuration of the screed.
• FIG. 6 shows a schematic plan view of a screed according to a third embodiment of the invention, in which the reference elements are mounted by means of adapters on the side sliders.
• FIG. 7 shows a schematic plan view of a screed according to the invention according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 8 shows a schematic rear view of a screed according to the invention according to a fifth embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 9 shows a schematic rear view of a screed according to the invention according to a sixth embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 10 shows a paver on which a screed according to the invention can be mounted.

FIG. 1 It shows a screed 1. It comprises a base screed 2, which can be broadened by a first and a second pull-out part 3, 4. At the outer ends of the first and second extension parts 3, 4, a first and a second side pushers 5, 6 are mounted. They prevent the road construction material from spreading beyond a desired width. On the base board 2 mounting devices 7 are provided with which the screed 1 to a paver 8 (s. FIG. 10 ) can be mounted. According to an embodiment which does not belong to the invention with regard to the installation location of the two sensor units, the screed 1 has a first sensor unit 9 and a second sensor unit 10 (s. FIG. 3 ) on. They are mounted on the base board 2 in this version. The first sensor unit 9 measures a distance a to a first reference element 11, which is attached to the first side slider 5. The second sensor unit 10 measures a distance b to a second reference element 12, which is attached to the second side slider 6. The distances a and b thus measured are then added, taking into account the protrusion of the sensor units 9, 10, to the width of the base board 2, whereby a working width 26 of the screed 1 is obtained.

The mounting positions of the sensor units 9, 10 and the reference elements 11, 12 are only schematically exemplified. The mounting positions of the sensor units 9, 10 can be varied as desired. The reference elements 11, 12 can be attached to any position on the respective side sliders 5, 6. However, both in the positioning of the sensor units 9, 10 and in the positioning of the reference elements must be ensured that the signal flow between the sensor unit 9, 10 and associated reference element 11, 12 is not affected. Furthermore, the screed 1 may comprise, in addition to the extension parts 3, 4, any number of rigid widening parts 13, 14 which are mounted on the extension parts. Likewise, it is conceivable that the screed 1 comprises a rigid base screed 2 without pull-out parts 3, 4 and can be extended by means of rigid widening parts 13, 14. In any case, both symmetrical and asymmetrical screed configurations are conceivable.

FIG. 1b shows a perspective view of the screed FIG. 1a However, here are the pull-3, 4 retracted and therefore not recognizable.

FIG. 2 As an example, it shows the first side slide 5. Like the second side slide 6 or all the side slides of the screed 1 according to the invention, it is designed so that it can be mounted at the outer end of the screed 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of a non-inventive embodiment of the screed 1, which has been extended in this case by a first and a second widening part 13, 14. The broadening parts 13, 14 are representative of all screed configurations that can be realized with the aid of any number of broadening parts 13, 14 that can have any desired dimensions. As already mentioned above, the sensor units 9, 10 measure the two distances a and b the two reference elements 11 and 12. In the illustrated embodiment, not according to the invention, the dimensions of the sensor units 9, 10 must be taken into account when adding to the width of the base board 2. This can be avoided by the sensor units 9, 10 are not mounted as shown on the side surfaces of the base board 2, but mounted flush with just these side surfaces. For example, the mounting on an upper surface of the base board 2 is conceivable. It is also possible to integrate the sensor units 9, 10 in the base board 2 so that they are flush with the side surfaces.

FIG. 4 shows the screed 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. The first sensor unit 9 is here mounted on the second side slider 6. The first reference element 11 is still mounted on the first side slider 5. The first sensor unit 9 measures the distance to the first reference element 11. As a result, only the dimensions of the first sensor unit 9 and the first reference element 11 have to be taken into account in order to obtain the working width 26 of the screed 1. In order to avoid this intermediate step, it is conceivable that both the first sensor unit 9 and the first reference element 11 are mounted on the respective side sliders 5, 6 so that they lie in the same plane as the side sliders 5, 6. This can, for example with the help of adapters 15, 16 (see FIGS. 6 and 7 ) can be achieved.

FIG. 5 shows a variant of the non-inventive embodiment Fig. 1 , Here only the first broadening part 13 is mounted. This creates an asymmetric screed configuration. At the determination of the working width 26 of the screed 1 nothing changes.

FIG. 6 shows a non-inventive embodiment of the screed 1 in a schematic plan view. The reference elements 11 and 12 were here mounted by means of a first and a second adapter 15, 16 on the first and second side pushers 5, 6. This can on the one hand offer the advantage that, as already mentioned above, the reference elements 11, 12 can be arranged on the same plane as the side sliders 5, 6 and so a correction step can be saved in determining the working width of the screed 1. Another advantage is that the reference elements 11, 12 can possibly be better aligned with the respective sensor units 9, 10. The same applies to the mounting of the sensor units 9, 10 by means of fastening units 17, 18. Here too, a configuration can be selected that the Alignment of the sensor units 9, 10 to the reference elements 11, 12 improved. Moreover, it is also possible here to arrange the sensor units 9, 10 in such a way that it is not necessary to take their dimensions into account when determining the working width 26 of the screed 1.

In FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view of the screed 1 shown according to a non-inventive embodiment. The configuration substantially corresponds to that of the previous embodiment. However, instead of the two sensor units 9, 10, a single sensor unit 19 is provided. It is located on a straight line between the reference elements 11, 12 and measures both the distance to the first reference element 11 and the distance to the second reference element 12. Thus, these two measured distances need only be added to obtain the working width of the screed 1. As a correction, only the width of the sensor unit 19 is to be added. In the processing of the measured values, this corresponds to the addition of the measured widths a and b to the width of the base board 2 from the first exemplary embodiment. Existing systems could therefore be easily converted.

FIG. 8 shows a schematic rear view of the screed 1 according to a non-inventive embodiment of the invention. This embodiment also provides a single sensor unit 19. However, this is not positioned as in the previous embodiment on a straight line between the reference elements 11, 12, but mounted by means of a holding unit 20 to the base board 2. The holding unit 20 makes it possible to position the sensor unit 19 at an exposed location, thus preventing a disturbance of the signal path (represented by a dotted line) by objects positioned therein. This can be advantageous, in particular, in the case of systems which rely on direct visual contact, such as optical methods or acoustic methods. The holding unit 20 and the sensor unit 19 mounted thereon can be provided both on the screed 1 and on a road paver 8 pulling the screed 1. In in FIG. 8 illustrated embodiment, only one sensor unit 19 is provided. Since this is not located on a straight line between the reference elements 11, 12, here the vertical distance between the sensor unit 19 and the reference elements 11, 12 and possibly also the horizontal distance in the direction orthogonal to the line between the reference elements 11, 12 known be set to calculate the working width of the screed 1.

In FIG. 9 is a schematic rear view of the screed 1 shown according to a further embodiment of the invention. Here, a second two-sided sensor unit 21 is provided. The vertical distance between these sensor units 19, 21 to the reference elements 11, 12 need not be known in this embodiment. Instead, the working width of the screed 1 is determined by triangulation. The sensor units 19, 21 can be executed in a structural unit. You can also be mounted with the help of the holding unit 20 both on the base board 2 as well as anywhere on the paver 8. The number of sensor units used for triangulation may also be greater than two. As a result, the position of the reference elements 11, 12 can be determined more accurately and also increase the robustness of the system against interfering objects in the signal path.

In FIG. 10 a perspective view of the paver 8 is shown. The paver has mounting means 22 which can be connected to the mounting means 7 of the screed 1. The paver has a control system 23. Thus, the operation of the paver can be controlled, for example, the conveying speed of various conveyors. In FIG. 10 are representative of all conveyors of the paver 8 Querförderschnecken 27 shown. The control system 23 may use the working width 26 determined by one of the above methods and apparatuses as an input. It is also conceivable that one or more of the above-described sensor units 9, 10, 19, 21 or further provided sensor units are attached to the paver 8, for example on the roof structure 24 or on a mast 25 mounted on the paver 8.

As a distance measuring method can in all embodiments z. As laser, ultrasound or Radarmessverfahren be used. Accordingly, different types of reference elements 11, 12 are conceivable, for example. Various reflectors or transceiver units that receive a distance measurement signal and possibly it to additional information such. B. timestamp, position or identification information, added back.

Claims (8)

1. A paving screed (1) to be employed on a road finisher (8), comprising: a base screed (2), the operating width (26) of which may be modified by protractable extending units (3, 4) and/or separate removable bolt-on extensions (13, 14), a plurality of side plates (5, 6) each being mountable on the outer ends of the base screed (2) or the extending units (3, 4) or the bolt-on extensions (13, 14) and which delimit the operating width (26),
   characterized in that at least one reference element (11, 12) for determining the operating width (26) is provided on at least one of the side plates (5, 6), and that the at least one reference element (11, 12) is detectable by sensor units (9, 10) when the side plates (5, 6) are each mounted on the outer ends of the base screed (2) or the extending units (2, 3) or the bolt-on extensions (13, 14), wherein
   a sensor unit (9) is provided on at least one of the side plates (5, 6), the sensor unit (9) being configured to measure a distance (c) to the at least one reference element (11, 12) on another one of the side plates (5, 6), or
   the sensor units (9, 10) are configured for determining the operating width (26) by measuring the distance between a first reference element (11) mounted to a first side plate (5) and a second reference element (12) mounted to a second side plate (6) through triangulation.
2. The paving screed according to claim 1, characterized in that the reference elements (11, 12) are attached directly to the side plates (5, 6).
3. The paving screed according to claim 1, characterized in that the reference elements (11, 12) are indirectly attached to the side plates (5, 6) through adapters (15, 16).
4. The paving screed according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one reference element (11, 12) is aligned with the associated sensor unit (9, 10) when the side plates (5, 6) are each mounted on the outer ends of the base screed (2) or the extending units (3, 4) or the bolt-on extensions (13, 14).
5. A road finisher (8), characterized by a paving screed (1) according to one of the preceding claims.
6. The road finisher according to claim 5, characterized in that the road finisher (8) includes a control system (23) which is configured to utilize the determined operating width (26) as an input value.
7. The road finisher according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that sensor units (9, 10) for determining the operating width (26) are provided on the road finisher (8).
8. A method for determining the operating width (26) of a paving screed (1), which may be employed on a road finisher (8), wherein the paving screed (1) comprises: a base screed (2), the operating width (26) of which may be modified by protractable extending units (3, 4) and/or separate removable bolt-on extensions (13, 14), a plurality of side plates (5, 6) each being mountable on the outer ends of the base screed (2) or the extending units (3, 4) or the bolt-on extensions (13, 14) and which delimit the operating width (26),
   characterized in that the reference elements (11, 12) in the area of the side plates (5, 6) are used for determining the operating width (26), wherein
   a distance (c) to a reference element (11, 12) attached to a first one of the side plates (5, 6) is measured by a sensor unit (9, 10) attached to a second one of the side plates (6, 5), or
   the respective distances (a, b, c) or a distance (d) between the reference elements (11, 12) is measured by triangulation.

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