Patents by Inventor Martin Lenz
Martin Lenz has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Self-propelled construction machine and process for control of a self-propelled construction machine
Publication number: 20190145058Abstract: A self-propelled construction machine comprises a control unit configured in such a way that a point of reference on the construction machine moves along a route. A processing unit is configured in such a way that the position of at least one kink on the target route is determined from the imported data, at least a portion of the target route is displayed, and, for the section of the target route in which the target route has the kink, an interpolation curve that is substantially free of kinks is calculated. The relevant section of the target route is replaced by the interpolation curve for the determination of a modelled route. The control of the drive device is then not based upon the predetermined target route, but rather the modelled target route.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2018Publication date: May 16, 2019Inventors: Matthias Fritz, Martin Lenz, Cyrus Barimani -
Publication number: 20190136464Abstract: A texturing machine is provided for the subsequent treatment of a freshly produced concrete layer having a width between left and right edges and extending longitudinally in a working direction. Left and right height sensors are arranged to detect a height above the freshly produced concrete adjacent the left and right edges of the layer. At least one crown height sensor is arranged to detect a height above a crown of the freshly produced concrete layer. A controller is configured to receive input signals from the height sensors and to communicate height control sensors to the height adjustable columns and to communicate a crown control system to the crown actuator. A direction sensor may also detect at least one of the edges of the freshly produced concrete layer. The controller may receive a direction input signal from the direction sensor, and the controller may communicate a direction control signal to a steering actuator of one of the ground engaging units of the machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2018Publication date: May 9, 2019Inventors: Holger Thieme, Martin Lenz, Cyrus Barimani
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Self-propelled construction machine and method for controlling a self-propelled construction machine
Patent number: 10273642Abstract: The invention relates to a self-propelled construction machine, in particular a road milling machine, which possesses an undercarriage which has front and rear—in the working direction—wheels or travelling gears, a machine frame which is borne by the undercarriage, and a working means. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for controlling a self-propelled construction machine, in particular a road milling machine. The invention is based on the detection of objects O situated in the ground at a time at which the objects O can be readily detected. The construction machine according to the invention possesses a means for generating predictive object signals which are characteristic of the position of objects which lie in a portion of the ground which lies in the working direction A in front of the working region of the working means.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2018Date of Patent: April 30, 2019Assignee: Wirtgen GmbHInventors: Christian Berning, Martin Lenz, Cyrus Barimani -
Patent number: 10253461Abstract: A system for automatically varying the mold width and thus the paving width of a molded concrete slab on the fly as the slab is being molded. An external stringline reference is used to control the height and direction of a first side of the paving machine. A slope sensor is used for automatic control of the height of the second side of the machine frame. A starting point signal generator provides a signal to initiate the automatic width transition. A controller controls width actuators for controlled variation of the mold width in response to the starting signal and a pre-programmed function of the controller.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2016Date of Patent: April 9, 2019Assignee: Wirtgen GmbHInventors: Michael Engels, Martin Lenz, Cyrus Barimani
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Publication number: 20190084478Abstract: The invention relates to an automotive construction machine with a transport device extending in the working direction beyond the machine frame, in particular a road milling machine or surface miner. Moreover, the invention relates to a method for displaying an image of the surroundings of an automotive construction machine. The construction machine according to the invention has an image display device for displaying a bird's eye view image of the surroundings of the construction machine, which image display device has a camera system with a plurality of cameras for recording individual overlapping image regions of the construction machine surroundings from different image recording positions, and an image processing system. The image processing system is configured in such a way that image details of the individual image regions are joined together to form a total image from a bird's eye view.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2018Publication date: March 21, 2019Inventors: Harald Kröll, Herbert Lange, Martin Lenz
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Patent number: 10161088Abstract: A system is provided for varying the width of a molded concrete slab on the fly as the slab is being molded. Position and height of the paving machine relative to an external reference system are determined and controlled using at least two 3D stringless reference objects. An additional sensor provides a signal corresponding to a frame width and thus a concrete slab width, and an actuator controls the frame width actively as the paving machine advances.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2017Date of Patent: December 25, 2018Assignee: Wirtgen GmbHInventors: Michael Engels, Matthias Fritz, Martin Lenz
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Patent number: 10132046Abstract: A texturing machine is provided for the subsequent treatment of a freshly produced concrete layer. Left and right height sensors are arranged to detect a height above the freshly produced concrete adjacent the left and right edges of the layer. At least one crown height sensor is arranged to detect a height above a crown of the freshly produced concrete layer. A controller is configured to receive input signals from the height sensors and to communicate height control sensors to the height adjustable columns and to communicate a crown control system to the crown actuator. A direction sensor may also detect at least one of the edges of the freshly produced concrete layer. The controller may communicate a direction control signal to a steering actuator of one of the ground engaging units of the machine.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2015Date of Patent: November 20, 2018Assignee: Wirtgen GmbHInventors: Holger Thieme, Martin Lenz, Cyrus Barimani
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Patent number: 10086761Abstract: The invention relates to an automotive construction machine with a transport device extending in the working direction beyond the machine frame, in particular a road milling machine or surface miner. Moreover, the invention relates to a method for displaying an image of the surroundings of an automotive construction machine. The construction machine according to the invention has an image display device for displaying a bird's eye view image of the surroundings of the construction machine, which image display device has a camera system with a plurality of cameras for recording individual overlapping image regions of the construction machine surroundings from different image recording positions, and an image processing system. The image processing system is configured in such a way that image details of the individual image regions are joined together to form a total image from a bird's eye view.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2016Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: Wirtgen GmbHInventors: Harald Kröll, Herbert Lange, Martin Lenz
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Self-Propelled Construction Machine And Method For Controlling A Self-Propelled Construction Machine
Publication number: 20180258595Abstract: The invention relates to a self-propelled construction machine, in particular a road milling machine, which possesses an undercarriage which has front and rear—in the working direction—wheels or travelling gears, a machine frame which is borne by the undercarriage, and a working means. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for controlling a self-propelled construction machine, in particular a road milling machine. The invention is based on the detection of objects O situated in the ground at a time at which the objects O can be readily detected. The construction machine according to the invention possesses a means for generating predictive object signals which are characteristic of the position of objects which lie in a portion of the ground which lies in the working direction A in front of the working region of the working means.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2018Publication date: September 13, 2018Inventors: Christian Berning, Martin Lenz, Cyrus Barimani -
Publication number: 20180209105Abstract: A method is provided for preparing an area of the ground surface to be milled by a milling machine. Prior to performing any milling operation on the area of the ground surface, a survey vehicle separate from the milling machine is used to traverse the area. The survey vehicle detects the presence of buried obstacles with a sensor and generates a sensor output signal indicative of the presence of the buried obstacle. The sensor output signal is received in a controller which generates a sprayer actuation signal and responds to the sensor output signal. A marking sprayer is actuated in response to the sprayer actuation signal and sprays the ground surface above the obstacle with a visible marking emitted from the sprayer. Subsequently, a milling machine separate from the survey vehicle may be utilized to mill the ground surface and by observation of the visible markings the operator may avoid impacting the milling drum with the buried obstacles.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2017Publication date: July 26, 2018Inventors: Christian Berning, Martin Lenz, Cyrus Barimani
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Publication number: 20180155883Abstract: A system is provided for automatically varying the mold width and thus the paving width of a molded concrete slab on the fly as the slab is being molded. An external stringline reference is used to control the height and direction of a first side of the paving machine. A slope sensor is used for automatic control of the height of the second side of the machine frame. A starting point signal generator provides a signal to initiate the automatic width transition. A controller controls width actuators for controlled variation of the mold width in response to the starting signal and a pre-programmed function of the controller.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2016Publication date: June 7, 2018Inventors: Michael Engels, Martin Lenz, Cyrus Barimani
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Patent number: 9970164Abstract: A construction machine apparatus includes a plurality of ground engaging supports, a machine frame supported from the ground engaging supports and a milling drum supported from the machine frame. A milling drum location detection system is configured to determine a drum location in an external reference system. A location indicator system includes a memory configured to store information identifying a location of one or more areas to be avoided in the external reference system, and a controller configured to compare the drum location to the location of the one or more areas to be avoided, and to provide an output corresponding to a proximity of the milling drum to the location of the one or more areas to be avoided.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2016Date of Patent: May 15, 2018Assignee: Wirtgen GmbHInventors: Matthias Fritz, Christian Berning, Cyrus Barimani, Martin Lenz
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Publication number: 20180094391Abstract: A system is provided for varying the width of a molded concrete slab on the fly as the slab is being molded. Position and height of the paving machine relative to an external reference system are determined and controlled using at least two 3D stringless reference objects. An additional sensor provides a signal corresponding to a frame width and thus a concrete slab width, and an actuator controls the frame width actively as the paving machine advances.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2017Publication date: April 5, 2018Inventors: Michael Engels, Matthias Fritz, Martin Lenz
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Self-propelled construction machine and method for controlling a self-propelled construction machine
Patent number: 9915041Abstract: The invention relates to a self-propelled construction machine, in particular a road milling machine, which possesses an undercarriage which has front and rear—in the working direction—wheels or travelling gears, a machine frame which is borne by the undercarriage, and a working means. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for controlling a self-propelled construction machine, in particular a road milling machine. The invention is based on the detection of objects O situated in the ground at a time at which the objects O can be readily detected. The construction machine according to the invention possesses a means for generating predictive object signals which are characteristic of the position of objects which lie in a portion of the ground which lies in the working direction A in front of the working region of the working means.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2015Date of Patent: March 13, 2018Assignee: Wirtgen GmbHInventors: Christian Berning, Martin Lenz, Cyrus Barimani -
Patent number: 9873991Abstract: A slipform paving machine includes a laser source for generating a laser reference plane. At least two laser receivers are mounted on the machine and intersect the laser reference plane. Inputs from the laser receivers are utilized to control distortion of the frame of the slipform paver machine.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2017Date of Patent: January 23, 2018Assignee: Wirtgen GmbHInventors: Matthias Fritz, Martin Dahm, Martin Lenz
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Publication number: 20170344027Abstract: A self-propelled paving machine includes a plurality of swing legs, each swing leg being supported from a ground surface by an associated crawler track steerably connected to an outer end of its associated swing leg. The machine may be re-oriented from a paving mode to a transport mode by driving the ground engaging units to rotate the frame substantially in place on the ground through a re-orientation angle of the frame relative to the ground, and as the frame is rotating, pivoting one or more of the swing legs from a paving position relative to the frame, to a transport position relative to the frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2017Publication date: November 30, 2017Inventors: Martin Dahm, Christian Liss, Martin Lenz, Benjamin Pock
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Patent number: 9797099Abstract: A system for varying the width of a molded concrete slab on the fly as the slab is being molded. Position and height of the paving machine relative to an external reference system are determined and controlled using at least two 3D stringless reference objects. An additional sensor provides a signal corresponding to a frame width and thus a concrete slab width, and an actuator controls the frame width actively as the paving machine advances.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2016Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: Wirtgen GmbHInventors: Michael Engels, Matthias Fritz, Martin Lenz
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Publication number: 20170284037Abstract: A slipform paving machine includes a laser source for generating a laser reference plane. At least two laser receivers are mounted on the machine and intersect the laser reference plane. Inputs from the laser receivers are utilized to control distortion of the frame of the slipform paver machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2017Publication date: October 5, 2017Inventors: Matthias Fritz, Martin Dahm, Martin Lenz
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Patent number: 9765620Abstract: The subject matter of the invention is a bit holder for an earth working machine, in particular a road milling machine, having a support member onto which an insertion projection is indirectly or directly attached on an insertion projection side, the insertion projection comprising at least one convex abutment surface and one pressure surface. In a bit holder of this kind, working forces can be dissipated in stress-optimized fashion into an attached base part when provision is made that the insertion projection comprises two convex abutment surfaces that are arranged at a distance from one another.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2015Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: Wirtgen GmbHInventors: Thomas Lehnert, Karsten Buhr, Martin Lenz, Cyrus Barimani, Günter Hähn, Karl Kammerer, Markus Roth, Bernhard Diessner
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Patent number: 9765619Abstract: A tool for mounting a chisel on a chisel holder, having an actuating member, which has a push-off section, wherein the actuating member can be displaced along a displacement direction. It is possible to simplify changing the chisel if the actuating member can be shifted by an actuating unit. The actuating unit has a draw-in section, which is spaced apart from the push-off section and is arranged transversely with respect to the displacement direction of the actuating member. The actuating member can be power-operated bidirectionally in the displacement direction by the actuating unit.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2015Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: Wirtgen GmbHInventors: Günter Hähn, Martin Lenz, Thomas Lehnert, Stefan Abresch