Patents by Inventor Christian Berning

Christian Berning 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).

  • Publication number: 20160356004
    Abstract: A self-propelled construction road milling machine, includes a machine frame and a milling drum housing, in which a milling drum is arranged. The machine includes a drive unit with which the height of the scraper blade of a scraper device can be adjusted in relation to the milling drum. A control unit for the drive unit adjusts the height of the scraper blade and a measurement device measures the distance between the lower edge of the scraper blade and the milled material. The control unit is designed in such a way that the scraper blade is height-adjustable depending on the height of the milled material remaining in the milled track. The control unit ensures that, on the one hand, the milled material can come out of the milling drum housing unimpeded behind the milling drum in the direction of work and, on the other hand, that the milling drum housing is shut above the material that is coming out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Andreas Vogt, Cyrus Barimani, Günter Hähn
  • Patent number: 9435086
    Abstract: A self-propelled road-milling machine for doing work on surfacings on the ground, and in particular carriageways. The road-milling machine is characterized by a signalling arrangement which has at least one control unit for the entry of at least two different states of operation by the driver of the road-milling machine and at least one visual indicator or display unit to indicate or display for the driver of the transporting vehicle the at least two states of operation which are preset with the control unit by the driver of the road-milling machine. The first state of operation may be a request for the transporting vehicle to be braked or stopped and the second state of operation may be a request for the transporting vehicle to be started or to continue travelling. In a preferred embodiment of the visual indicator or display unit, the request for braking or stopping is shown as a cross and the request for starting or continued travel as an arrow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Armin Montermann, Stefan Cutler, Cyrus Barimani, Guenter Haehn
  • Patent number: 9422677
    Abstract: A self-propelling construction machine has a machine frame, an operating drum and a drum housing enclosing the operating drum. The drum housing is closed off by a front and/or rear sealing element and/or lateral sealing element. The construction machine has a mechanism for raising and lowering the at least one sealing element. A measuring unit is configured so that the measuring unit measures the forces acting on the sealing element when the sealing element encounters an obstacle. A control unit generates a control signal for raising the sealing element when the force measured by the measuring unit is larger than a predetermined limit value, so that the sealing element is raised.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Franzmann, Christian Berning, Herbert Ley, Cyrus Barimani, Günter Hähn
  • Patent number: 9416501
    Abstract: A self-propelled building machine, especially a road cutting machine or a surface miner, has a machine frame and a chassis, comprising running gears resting on the ground. In addition, the present invention relates to a method for operating such a building machine. In an operating mode for adjusting the working depth of the working device the imposed weight applied by the building machine on the running gear is measured, whereby depending on the imposed weight either a controlled or an uncontrolled lowering of the building machine is indicated. A measuring device comprises a sensor for measuring the weight imposed by the building machine on at least one of the running gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Dirk Franzmann, Armin Montermann, Cyrus Barimani, Günter Hähn
  • Publication number: 20160208447
    Abstract: In an automotive milling machine, with a height-adjustable machine frame, with a controller for the travelling and milling operation, with a working drum, with a slewable transport conveyor device arranged in front of or behind the working drum as seen in the direction of travel of the milling machine, where the last or single transport conveyor of the transport conveyor device as seen in the direction of transport is slewable sideways, relative to the machine frame, about an essentially vertical axis under a slewing angle, and about an axis orthogonal to the axis under an elevation angle, and where the transport conveyor discharges the milled material at a specified conveying speed onto a point of impingement on a loading surface of a transport vehicle, it is provided for the following features to be achieved: the controller comprises a detection and control system which continuously locates the alterable position of the loading surface of the transport vehicle and of the transport conveyor relative to the m
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Dirk Franzmann, Armin Montermann, Cyrus Barimani, Günter Hähn
  • Publication number: 20160194840
    Abstract: In an automotive milling machine, with a machine frame with longitudinal axis, with a chassis with wheels or tracked travelling drive units which support the machine frame, with a controller for the travelling, steering and milling operation, with a height-adjustable working drum, with a slewable last or single transport conveyor of specified length arranged in front of or behind the working drum as seen in the direction of travel of the milling machine, where the transport conveyor is, as a minimum, slewable sideways about an essentially vertical first axis under a slewing angle, it is provided for the following features to be achieved: the controller comprises a detection and control system which, as a minimum, detects the steering angle of the steering controller for the chassis or, as a minimum, the steering angle of the steering controller and the distance travelled or the travel speed, and controls the slewing angle of the transport conveyor in accordance with this no less than one parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Andreas Vogt, Cyrus Barimani, Günter Hähn
  • Patent number: 9382676
    Abstract: A road milling machine includes a machine frame, front wheels or tracks, rear wheels or tracks, and a milling drum supported from the machine frame between the rear wheels or tracks. The front wheels or tracks are mounted on pivoting columns. Steering levers are attached to the pivoting columns. A steering tie rod includes a connecting part and a projecting arm. The connecting part is connected to the steering levers. A steering cylinder is connected to a free end of the projecting arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Oliver Thiel, Roland Lull, Cyrus Barimani, Günter Hähn
  • Publication number: 20160160455
    Abstract: A self-propelled construction machine includes a machine frame and an operating drum arranged in a drum housing which is open downwards and is closed on both sides by an edge protector which is adjustable in height. A control assembly determines a reference value for the height of the ground surface relative to the machine frame on which the edge protector rests in a floating position, the height of the edge protector relative to the machine frame and the lowering speed of the edge protector. Furthermore, the control assembly is configured such that the height of the edge protector relative to the machine frame is determined at the point in time at which the lowering speed of the edge protector is less than a specified limit value. Preferred embodiments of the machine furthermore detect the edge protector sinking into the ground, and/or prevent the edge protector from digging into the ground.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Andreas Vogt, Hanjo Held, Christian Berning, Cyrus Barimani, Günter Hähn
  • Publication number: 20160160454
    Abstract: In an automotive construction machine, with a machine frame (4) with preferably vertically arranged lateral outer walls (5), a milling drum (6) mounted in the machine frame (4) for working a ground surface or traffic surface (8), and with an operator's platform (10), it is provided that the operator's platform (10) is moveable on the machine frame (4) transversely to the direction of travel, and is moveable outwards beyond the lateral outer walls (5) of the machine frame (4), that the machine frame (4) is provided with a guide (18) for the operator's platform (10) acting transversely to the direction of travel, and that the guide (18) projects laterally either not at all or just slightly beyond the outer walls (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Thomas Kramer, Dieter Simons, Günter Hähn
  • Patent number: 9359729
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Fritz, Christian Berning, Cyrus Barimani, Günter Hähn
  • Publication number: 20160130772
    Abstract: The road milling machine according to the invention comprises a cleaning device which has a cleaning unit arranged in front of the work roller in the working direction. The cleaning unit ensures that the surface of the terrain over which the wheels or running gears travel is clear of material. As a result, an optimum milling result is always achieved. The invention takes effect in particular when using small millers which have at least one rear wheel or running gear which can be moved into an inner working position in relation to a longitudinal side of the machine frame and into an outer working position in relation to a longitudinal side of the machine frame. In this preferred embodiment, the cleaning device comprises a pivot device which is designed in such a way that the cleaning unit can be moved into an inner working position in relation to a longitudinal side of the machine frame and into an outer working position in relation to a longitudinal side of the machine frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Dieter Bungarten, Peter Busley, Marius Kloft, Cyrus Barimani, Günter Hähn
  • Patent number: 9322139
    Abstract: A self-propelled construction road milling machine, includes a machine frame and a milling drum housing, in which a milling drum is arranged. The machine includes a drive unit with which the height of the scraper blade of a scraper device can be adjusted in relation to the milling drum. A control unit for the drive unit adjusts the height of the scraper blade and a measurement device measures the distance between the lower edge of the scraper blade and the milled material. The control unit is designed in such a way that the scraper blade is height-adjustable depending on the height of the milled material remaining in the milled track. The control unit ensures that, on the one hand, the milled material can come out of the milling drum housing unimpeded behind the milling drum in the direction of work and, on the other hand, that the milling drum housing is shut above the material that is coming out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Andreas Vogt, Cyrus Barimani, Günter Hähn
  • Publication number: 20160060820
    Abstract: The invention relates to a self-propelled construction machine, which has a chassis having front and rear wheels or running gears in the working direction, a drive device for driving the front and rear wheels or running gears, and a working device. The construction machine has an image capturing unit for capturing an image of the terrain and a display unit on which the captured image is displayed. The image data of the image capturing unit are processed in a data processing unit, which comprises an identification unit and a referencing unit. In the image displayed on the display unit, objects that are relevant to the building project, for example manhole covers, water inlets or curbs, are identified and a spatial data set containing information regarding the position of the identified objects in a reference system which is independent of the movement of the construction machine is determined from the image data of the capturing unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Matthias Fritz, Cyrus Barimani, Günter Hähn
  • Publication number: 20160060826
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Cyrus Barimani, Günter Hähn
  • Publication number: 20160060827
    Abstract: The invention relates to a self-propelled road-milling machine for doing work on surfacings on the ground, and in particular carriageways. The road-milling machine according to the invention is characterised by a signalling arrangement which has at least one control unit for the entry of at least two different states of operation by the driver of the road-milling machine and at least one visual indicator or display unit to indicate or display for the driver of the transporting vehicle the at least two states of operation which are preset with the control unit by the driver of the road-milling machine. The first state of operation may be a request for the transporting vehicle to be braked or stopped and the second state of operation may be a request for the transporting vehicle to be started or to continue travelling. In a preferred embodiment of the visual indicator or display unit, the request for braking or stopping is shown as a cross and the request for starting or continued travel as an arrow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Armin Montermann, Stefan Cutler, Cyrus Barimani, Guenter Haehn
  • Publication number: 20160052731
    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 slewable relative to the machine frame, where the transport conveyor discharges the milled material onto a point of impingement on a loading surface of different transport vehicles, where the controller comprises a detection and control unit which monitors the alterable position of the loading surface of the transport vehicle by an image-recording system comprising no less than one sensor which continuously generates no less than one digital image of, as a minimum, the loading surface, it is provided for the following features to be achieved: the detection and control unit comprises an analysis device which detects faults or errors in the image generated by the no less than one sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Sebastian Winkels, Harald Kroell, Tobias Krista, Cyrus Barimani, Günter Hähn
  • Publication number: 20160053447
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventors: Matthias Fritz, Christian Berning, Cyrus Barimani, Günter Hähn
  • Publication number: 20160053448
    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, 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, where the transport conveyor discharges the milled material onto a loading surface of a transport vehicle at a specified conveying speed, and where the controller continuously controls positioning of the milled material automatically via, as a minimum, the slewing angle of the transport conveyor, it is provided for the following features to be achieved: the controller specifies and monitors limit values for a maximum permissible slewing angle range for slewing the transport conveyor variable in accordance with the current operating situation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Sebastian Winkels, Harald Kroell, Tobias Krista, Cyrus Barimani, Günter Hähn
  • Publication number: 20160053445
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Cyrus Barimani, Günter Hähn
  • Patent number: 9249545
    Abstract: In a road milling machine, in particular small milling machine, for working road surfaces, with a machine frame, with a milling drum supported at the machine frame in a drum casing, with a milling drum drive comprising a drum gearbox mounted at the drum casing, where the drum gearbox comprises a gearbox housing with a connecting flange for mounting at the drum casing, as well as a reduction gearbox and an output shaft for driving the milling drum, it is provided for the following features to be achieved: that the gearbox housing comprises, on the underside between the reduction gearbox and the connecting flange, a cut-out dividing the gearbox housing and extending radially inwards in such a fashion that the reduction gearbox is arranged in a first housing part arranged outside of the drum casing, and the output shaft is arranged in a second housing part protruding into the drum casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Franzmann, Christian Berning, Philip Verhaelen, Cyrus Barimani, Günter Hähn