Construction machine and method for controlling a construction machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11465461-B2
Application number	US-202016840394-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 5, 2020
Priority date	Apr 12, 2019
Publication date	Oct 11, 2022
Grant date	Oct 11, 2022

Abstract

The invention relates to a construction machine, road milling machine, stabiliser, recycler, surface miner, and a to method for controlling a construction machine. The construction machine has a machine frame 2 supported by a chassis 1 and a plurality of hydraulic systems 15, 16, each of which has at least one hydraulic component 18, 22, at least one hydraulic pump 17, 21 for conveying hydraulic fluid for the at least one hydraulic component and at least one hydraulic line 28, 31 for transporting the hydraulic fluid from the at least one hydraulic pump to the at least one hydraulic component. The drive device of the construction machine comprises at least one internal combustion engine 24. A power transmission device 44 is provided for transmitting at least part of the drive power from the internal combustion engine 24 to the hydraulic pumps 17, 21. The construction machine according to the invention is characterised by a hydraulic control device 26, which is assigned to two hydraulic systems 15, 16 of the plurality of hydraulic systems. The hydraulic control device 16 is designed such that, in a special operating mode, at least part of the hydraulic fluid delivered by the hydraulic pump 17 of the one hydraulic system 15 is supplied to the other hydraulic system 16.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A construction machine, comprising:
a machine frame;
a plurality of ground engaging units for supporting the machine frame from a ground surface;
a cooling system including a fan;
a plurality of lifting columns supporting the machine frame from the plurality of ground engaging units for adjusting a height of the machine frame relative to the ground surface, each of the lifting columns including a hydraulic piston and cylinder unit;
at least a first hydraulic system and a second hydraulic system, each of the hydraulic systems including:
at least one hydraulic component;
at least one hydraulic pump for conveying hydraulic fluid for the at least one hydraulic component; and
at least one hydraulic line for supplying the hydraulic fluid to the at least one hydraulic component;

at least one internal combustion engine supported from the machine frame;
a power transmission configured to transfer at least a part of a drive power from the at least one internal combustion engine to the at least one hydraulic pump of the first hydraulic system and the at least one hydraulic pump of the second hydraulic system;
wherein the at least one hydraulic component of the first hydraulic system includes a hydraulic motor configured to drive the fan;
wherein the at least one hydraulic component of the second hydraulic system includes the hydraulic piston and cylinder units of the lifting columns;
a first hydraulic control valve operably associated with the first and second hydraulic systems, the first hydraulic control valve being configured such that at least a part of the hydraulic fluid conveyed by the at least one hydraulic pump of the first hydraulic system can be supplied to the second hydraulic system, such that the hydraulic piston and cylinder units of the lifting columns are operated with the part of the hydraulic fluid conveyed by the at least one hydraulic pump of the first hydraulic system and the hydraulic fluid conveyed by the at least one hydraulic pump of the second hydraulic system; and
a second hydraulic control valve configured to reduce or interrupt a volume flow of the hydraulic fluid supplied to the at least one hydraulic component of the first hydraulic system, wherein the second hydraulic control valve interacts with the first hydraulic control valve such that when the volume flow of the hydraulic fluid which is supplied to the at least one hydraulic component of the first hydraulic system is reduced or interrupted, the first hydraulic control valve is actuated such that a volume flow of the hydraulic fluid which is not supplied to the at least one hydraulic component of the first hydraulic system is supplied to the at least one hydraulic component of the second hydraulic system.

2. The construction machine of claim 1 , further comprising:
a tank containing hydraulic fluid;
wherein the first hydraulic control valve includes an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet;
wherein the at least one hydraulic pump of the first hydraulic system includes a suction connection and a pressure connection;
a suction line connecting the tank to the suction connection;
wherein the at least one hydraulic line of the first hydraulic system includes a pressure line including a first line portion connecting the pressure connection to the inlet of the first hydraulic control valve, a second line portion connecting the first outlet of the first hydraulic control valve to the second hydraulic control valve, and a third line portion connecting the second hydraulic control valve to the at least one hydraulic component of the first hydraulic system; and
a connecting line connecting the second outlet of the first hydraulic control valve to the second hydraulic system.

3. The construction machine of claim 2 , further comprising:
a check valve disposed in the connecting line.

4. The construction machine of claim 2 , wherein:
the first hydraulic control valve is a proportional directional valve configured to be controlled by hydraulic fluid, and the proportional directional valve including first control connection and a second control connection;
the proportional directional valve further comprising:
a first control line connecting the first control connection to the second line portion downstream of the first hydraulic control valve and upstream of the second hydraulic control valve; and
a second control line connecting the second control connection to the third line portion downstream of the second hydraulic control valve.

5. The construction machine of claim 1 , wherein:
the second hydraulic control valve is an electromagnetically controlled proportional valve or an electromagnetically controlled shut-off valve.

6. The construction machine of claim 1 , further comprising:
a controller configured to provide a boost operating mode wherein the second hydraulic control valve is actuated such that the volume flow of the hydraulic fluid supplied to the at least one hydraulic component of the first hydraulic system is reduced or interrupted.

7. The construction machine of claim 6 , wherein:
the controller is configured such that the boost operating mode is automatically switched on when the at least one hydraulic component of the second hydraulic system is operated.

8. The construction machine of claim 6 , further comprising:
an operating element actuatable by a human operator of the construction machine to switch on the boost operating mode,
wherein the controller is configured such that the boost operating mode is switched on when the operating element is actuated.

9. A method of controlling a construction machine, the construction machine including:
a machine frame;
a plurality of ground engaging units for supporting the machine frame from a ground surface;
at least a first hydraulic system and a second hydraulic system, each of the hydraulic systems including:
at least one hydraulic component;
at least one hydraulic pump for conveying hydraulic fluid for the at least one hydraulic component; and
at least one hydraulic line for supplying the hydraulic fluid to the at least one hydraulic component;

at least one internal combustion engine supported from the machine frame;
a power transmission configured to transfer at least a part of a drive power from the at least one internal combustion engine to the at least one hydraulic pump of the first hydraulic system and the at least one hydraulic pump of the second hydraulic system;
a plurality of lifting columns supporting the machine frame from the plurality of ground engaging units for adjusting a height of the machine frame relative to the ground surface, each of the lifting columns including a hydraulic piston and cylinder unit; and
a cooling system including a fan, the fan being driven by a hydraulic motor;
wherein the at least one hydraulic component of the first hydraulic system includes the hydraulic motor driving the fan;
wherein the at least one hydraulic component of the second hydraulic system includes the hydraulic piston and cylinder units of the lifting columns;
a first hydraulic control valve operably associated with the first and second hydraulic systems; and
a second hydraulic control valve configured to reduce or interrupt a volume flow of the hydraulic fluid supplied to the at least one hydraulic component of the first hydraulic system;
wherein the method comprises:
providing a boost operating mode with a controller configured such that:
at least a part of the hydraulic fluid conveyed by the at least one hydraulic pump of the first hydraulic system is supplied to the second hydraulic system; and
the hydraulic piston and cylinder units of the lifting columns are operated with the part of the hydraulic fluid

Assignees

• Wirtgen Gmbh

Inventors

• Burkhard Frank

Classifications

• E02F9/2264

  Arrangements or adaptations of elements for hydraulic drives · CPC title

• F15B11/17 Primary

  using two or more pumps · CPC title

• E01C23/088 Primary

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

• F01P5/04

  Pump-driving arrangements · CPC title

• F15B13/044

  operated by electrically-controlled means, e.g. solenoids, torque-motors · CPC title