Automotive milling machine, as well as method for discharging milled material

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10100470-B2
Application number	US-201514827338-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 17, 2015
Priority date	Aug 21, 2014
Publication date	Oct 16, 2018
Grant date	Oct 16, 2018

Abstract

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 for discharging the milled material milled off by the working drum onto a loading surface of a transport vehicle comprising a rear wall, 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, it is provided for the following features to be achieved: a detection device is arranged on the bottom side of the transport conveyor, where said detection device is used to initiate an activation signal in case of the transport conveyor approaching an object, in particular, the rear wall of the loading surface.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An automotive milling machine for milling off milled material and discharging the milled material onto a loading surface of a transport vehicle, the milling machine comprising:
a machine frame;
a working drum supported from the machine frame for milling off the milled material;
a transport conveyor arranged to receive the milled material milled off by the working drum and to discharge the milled material onto the loading surface of the transport vehicle, the transport conveyor being mounted on the machine frame to be pivotable relative to the machine frame about an essentially horizontal first axis to define an elevation angle, and the transport conveyor being pivotable sideways about a second axis extending orthogonally to the first axis to define a slewing angle, the transport conveyor including a bottom side;
a first detector configured to detect one or more of a position of the loading surface and a position of the conveyor as seen in the direction of transport;
a second detector arranged on the bottom side of the transport conveyor and configured to initiate an activation signal in case of contact by the second detector with an object; and
a controller connected to the first detector and the second detector, and configured to control travelling operation and milling operation of the milling machine based at least in part on the detected one or more of the position of the loading surface and the position of the conveyor as seen in the direction of transport, and
wherein the controller is further configured, responsive to the activation signal from the second detector, to generate one or more of an alarm signal and a control signal for collision avoidance.

2. The automotive milling machine of claim 1 , wherein:
the second detector comprises at least one sensing element.

3. The automotive milling machine of claim 2 , wherein:
the at least one sensing element comprises at least one planar-shaped sensing element.

4. The automotive milling machine of claim 2 , wherein:
the at least one sensing element comprises at least one linear-shaped sensing element.

5. The automotive milling machine of claim 2 , wherein:
the at least one sensing element extends symmetrically to a longitudinal center line of the transport conveyor.

6. The automotive milling machine of claim 2 , wherein:
the at least one sensing element extends essentially parallel to the transport conveyor at a distance from the transport conveyor.

7. The automotive milling machine of claim 2 , wherein:
the second detector further comprises a sensor, and in case of contact of the at least one sensing element with an object, the sensing element acts on the sensor and the sensor generates the activation signal.

8. The automotive milling machine of claim 1 , wherein:
the control signal is configured to reduce an advance speed of the milling machine.

9. The automotive milling machine of claim 1 , wherein:
the control signal is configured to increase the elevation angle of the transport conveyor.

10. The automotive milling machine of claim 1 , wherein:
the control signal is configured as a drive signal for a vehicle driver of the transport vehicle.

11. The automotive milling machine of claim 1 , wherein:
the controller is further configured to generate a signal for a reduction of a conveyor belt speed in response to the activation signal from the second detector.

12. The automotive milling machine of claim 1 , wherein the second detector comprises:
at least one sensing element; and
at least one sensor coupled to the at least one sensing element, the at least one sensor being selected from the group consisting of a mechanically operable sensor, a capacitive sensor, an inductive sensor, and an optoelectronic sensor.

13. The automotive milling machine of claim 1 , wherein:
the second detector comprises a plurality of linearly distributed sensors.

14. The automotive milling machine of claim 1 , wherein:
the second detector comprises a plurality of planarly distributed sensors.

15. The automotive milling machine of claim 1 , wherein:
the second detector comprises at least one light barrier.

16. The automotive milling machine of claim 1 , in combination with at least one transport vehicle movable independently of the milling machine and positionable relative to the milling machine such that the milled material worked off by the milling machine is dischargeable onto the transport vehicle.

17. A method of discharging worked-off milled material of an automotive milling machine onto a loading surface of a transport vehicle, the method comprising:
(a) working off milled material with a working drum of the milling machine;
(b) transporting the milled material from the working drum with a transport conveyor and discharging the milled material from the transport conveyor onto the loading surface of the transport vehicle, the transport conveyor being pivotable sideways relative to a machine frame of the milling machine to adjust a slewing angle of the transport conveyor, and the transport conveyor having an adjustable elevation angle to adjust a discharge height of the transport conveyor, wherein control of the discharging of the milled material is based at least in part on information from a first detector corresponding to a detected position of one or more of the loading surface and the transport conveyor;
(c) generating an activation signal in an event of the transport conveyor approaching an object, the activation signal being generated upon contact with the object by a second detector located on a bottom side of the transport conveyor; and
(d) in the presence of an activation signal from step (c), generating one or more of a control signal and an alarm signal.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein:
in step (c), the second detector includes at least one planar-shaped sensing element.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein:
in step (c), the second detector includes at least one linear-shaped sensing element.

20. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
automatically reducing an advance speed of the milling machine in response to the control signal.

21. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
automatically stopping the milling machine in response to the control signal.

22. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
automatically increasing the elevation angle of the transport conveyor in response to the control signal.

23. The method of claim 17 , wherein generating a control signal in step (d) further comprises generating a drive signal for a vehicle driver of the transport vehicle.

24. The method of claim 17 , wherein generating a control signal in step (d) further comprises generating a signal for a reduction of a conveyor belt speed.

25. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
automatically controlling a point of impingement of the milled material on the loading surface.

Assignees

• Wirtgen Gmbh

Inventors

• Berning Christian
• Barimani Cyrus
• Verhaelen Philip

Classifications

• B65G41/002

  Pivotably mounted · CPC title

• B65G67/22 Primary

  Loading moving vehicles · CPC title

• E01C23/01 Primary

  Devices or auxiliary means for setting-out or checking the configuration of new surfacing, e.g. templates, screed {or reference line} supports (form rails E01C19/50); Applications of apparatus for measuring, indicating, or recording the surface configuration of existing surfacing, e.g. profilographs (E01C23/07 takes precedence; measuring roughness or irregularity in general G01B) · CPC title

• E01C23/127

  rotary, e.g. rotary hammers · CPC title

• E01C23/088 Primary

  Rotary tools, e.g. milling drums {(for forming recesses to receive marking materials E01C23/0946)} · CPC title