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).

  • Patent number: 11346443
    Abstract: An earth working machine (10), encompassing a drive motor (42) and a working apparatus (22) drivable by the drive motor (42) so as to move rotationally, the drive motor (42) being connected to the working apparatus (22), for transfer of a torque, with interposition of a shiftable transmission (50; 150) comprising at least two gearing stages having different torque transfer ratios, is characterized in that by means of a first gearing stage of the shiftable transmission (50), an input shaft (48), coupled on the input side to the drive motor (42), of the shiftable transmission (50) is connectable in torque-transferring fashion directly to an output shaft (52), coupled on the output side to the working apparatus (22), of the shiftable transmission (50) so as to rotate together at the same rotation speed; and by means of a second gearing stage of the shiftable transmission (50), the input shaft (48) is connectable in torque-transferring fashion, with interposition of a transmission assemblage (64), to the output s
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Tobias Stinner, Cyrus Barimani, Hardy Wilhelmi
  • Patent number: 11346062
    Abstract: The invention relates to a planning system and method for operating one or more road milling machines. In that context, material properties of a road are captured and are geographically associated with one or more roads or road segments. Based on the material properties, an expected milling output of a road milling machine is ascertained, in the context of carrying out milling tasks on the road, or an expected wear on the milling tools. An optimized sequence of milling tasks to be carried out is created on the basis of those data. Accordingly, the invention may enable optimized deployment of the one or more road milling machines and of resources necessary for carrying out the road milling tasks. Aspects of the planning system may be remotely implemented for centralized application with respect to each of the road milling machines, or locally implemented for individual road milling machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Sebastian Hofrath, Cyrus Barimani
  • Patent number: 11313679
    Abstract: A civil engineering machine has a machine control unit configured to determine data which defines the position and/or orientation of a reference point on the civil engineering machine in relation to a reference system independent of the position and orientation of the civil engineering machine. A geometrical shape to be produced on the ground is preset in either a machine control unit or a field rover control unit. The field rover is used to determine a position of at least one identifiable point of the preset geometrical shape in the independent reference system. Curve data defining a desired curve in the independent reference system, corresponding to the preset shape, is determined at least partially on the basis of the position of the at least one identifiable point of the preset geometrical shape in the independent reference system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Inventors: Matthias Fritz, Cyrus Barimani, Christian Berning
  • Patent number: 11313087
    Abstract: A replaceable milling drum for an earth working machine includes a milling drum tube and a protrusion structure fixed to the milling drum tube. A bearing stem protrudes from the protrusion structure axially away from a drive axial end of the milling drum tube. The bearing stem has an outer surface including at least first and second cylindrical bearing surfaces axially spaced from each other, a furthest one of the cylindrical bearing surfaces from the drive axial end having a smaller diameter than a next furthest one of the cylindrical bearing surfaces from the drive axial end, the bearing stem having a central opening therethrough co-axial with the drive axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Karsten Buhr, Markus Frankemölle, Thomas Lehnert, Andreas Salz, Hardy Wilhelmi
  • Patent number: 11286627
    Abstract: The invention relates to a self-propelled ground milling machine, in particular a road milling machine or road recycler, having a machine frame supported by running gears and a working roller arranged on the machine frame in a roller housing, a hold-down device which is height-adjustable with respect to the traffic surface being arranged upstream of the working roller in the working direction. The invention further relates to a method for working on a traffic surface using a self-propelled ground milling machine. The ground milling machine comprises a detection unit which is formed in such a way that a physical variable characteristic of an undesirable state of the operating process is determined, in which state fragments are broken off from the traffic surface during work on the traffic surface using the working roller, apply a compressive force to the hold-down device and can press the hold-down device into a raised position with respect to the traffic surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Philip Verhaelen, Cyrus Barimani
  • Publication number: 20220034050
    Abstract: In a self-propelled construction machine (1), in particular road milling machine, stabilizer, recycler or surface miner, comprising a machine frame (2), and at least one working device (6), in particular milling drum, which is arranged in a housing (4) open towards the bottom that is at least partially closed on at least one side by at least one edge protector (8) height-adjustable relative to the machine frame (2), wherein, for the purpose of height adjustment, at least one first lifting device (10) is provided, the first end (15) of which is connected to the machine frame (2), and the second end (16) of which is connected to the height-adjustable edge protector (8), it is provided for the following features to be achieved: a second lifting device (12) is provided, the first end (18) of which is connected to the machine frame (2), and the second end (20) of which is connected to a first end (22) of a transmission device (14), which is in turn connected, with a second end (24), to the height-adjustable edge p
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Tobias Stinner, Christian Berning, Andreas Salz
  • Patent number: 11236611
    Abstract: The invention relates to a milling machine having a replaceable milling drum, different types of milling drums being capable of being associated with the milling machine; and having a control unit for controlling the milling machine, machine parameters of the milling machine being settable by way of the control unit. Provision is made that the milling machine has associated with it at least one means that is designed to detect at least one characteristic feature of the milling drum; that the at least one means is connected to the control unit; and that the control unit is designed to specify for at least one machine parameter, indirectly or directly from the characteristic feature, a value to be set, and/or a setting range. The invention further relates to a corresponding milling drum and to a corresponding method. The milling machine, milling drum, and method allow the selection of machine parameters for operation of the milling machine to be simplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Thomas Lehnert, Philip Verhaelen
  • Publication number: 20220025590
    Abstract: In a self-propelled construction machine (1), in particular road milling machine or surface miner, for working a ground pavement, comprising a milling drum (10), which is mounted in a machine frame, wherein a milling cut develops during milling of the ground pavement with the milling drum (10), wherein the milling drum (10) comprises a first and a second end side, at least a first measuring device, which is arranged next to the first end side of the milling drum (10) and measures the distance of the machine frame relative to the ground pavement next to the first end side of the milling drum (10), at least a second measuring device, which is arranged next to the second end side of the milling drum (10) and measures the distance of the machine frame relative to the ground pavement next to the second end side of the milling drum (10), and a control device (40) for controlling the milling depth, wherein, in a first milling operation, the control device (40) determines the milling depth by means of measurements pe
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Hanjo Held, René Müller
  • Publication number: 20210402930
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a self-propelled earth working machine (10) comprising a machine frame (14), a traveling gear (16) supporting the machine frame (14), a working apparatus (30), which is designed for working a subsoil, a driving force machine (46) for providing driving force for the earth working machine (10), an operator platform (28) situated on the machine frame (14) at an elevation level above the contact subsurface (U), and a climbing device (48) situated between the contact subsurface (U) and the operator platform (28), which has a plurality of step treads (54, 56, 58, 60), which are situated in succession along a virtual climbing axis (SA), the climbing device (48) being variable in length along the climbing axis (SA) and for this purpose at least one of the step treads (54, 56, 58, 60) being adjustable relative to at least one other of the step treads (54, 56, 58, 60) with the aid of an adjustment actuator (76).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Tobias Stinner, Christian Berning, Philipp Prassel
  • Patent number: 11203929
    Abstract: The invention relates to a milling machine, in particular a road milling machine, a stabiliser, a recycler or a surface miner, comprising a drive means which is configured such that the milling machine performs translatory and/or rotatory movements on the ground, and a working means which is configured such that the ground is machined. The invention also relates to a method for operating a milling machine of this type. The milling machine according to the invention has a control unit 15 to input drive parameters and work parameters. The control unit 15 is distinguished by a selection unit 15C to select an operating mode from a plurality of operating modes. The control and processing unit 20 has a memory 20A which stores at least one predetermined drive parameter which is assigned to the operating mode, and/or at least one predetermined work parameter which is assigned to the operating mode, for each operating mode of the plurality of operating modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Andreas Vogt, Thomas Lehnert, Cyrus Barimani
  • Publication number: 20210332536
    Abstract: The self-propelled construction machine according to the invention, in particular road-milling machine, recycler, stabiliser or surface miner, comprises a machine frame 2, which is supported by a chassis 1, which has wheels or tracks 1A, 1B. A milling drum 4 is arranged on the machine frame. The wheels or tracks 1A, 1B and the milling drum 4 are driven by a drive unit 8. Furthermore, the construction machine comprises a control unit 19 for controlling the drive unit 8 and a signal-receiving unit 18 for detecting at least one measurement variable M(t) which is characteristic of an operating state of the milling drum 4. The construction machine is characterised in that the rotational speed of the milling drum 4 is adapted, on the basis of at least one measurement variable M(t) which is characteristic of a critical operating state of the milling drum, to the operating conditions of the construction machine in such a way that the milling drum is operated in a non-critical operating state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Cyrus Barimani
  • Publication number: 20210324590
    Abstract: A method is provided for measuring the milling depth of a road milling machine, the machine being operative to mill a ground surface with a milling roller lowered to a milling depth to create a milling track, the machine including at least one side plate located to at least one side of the milling roller to engage an untreated ground surface, and the machine including a stripping plate operative to be lowered onto the milling track generated by the milling roller. The method includes measuring the milling depth of the milling track, the measuring including detecting a measurement value of a ground engaging sensor engaging the milling track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Dieter Simons
  • Publication number: 20210310203
    Abstract: In a self-propelled construction machine (1), in particular road milling machine, comprising a machine frame (8), at least three travelling devices (12, 16), at least one working device, in particular a milling drum (6), for working the ground pavement (3), at least one hydraulic drive system (70) for driving at least two travelling devices (12, 16), wherein the hydraulic drive system (70) comprises at least one hydraulic pump (78), wherein the hydraulic drive system (70) comprises at least one hydraulic fixed displacement motor (74) for driving at least one driven travelling device, and one each hydraulic variable displacement motor (72) for driving the remaining driven travelling devices that are not driven by a fixed displacement motor (74), wherein a first gearbox (90) is arranged between the fixed displacement motor (74) and the associated travelling device, and wherein one each second gearbox (92) is arranged between the remaining driven travelling devices and the respective hydraulic variable displa
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Sebastian Drumm
  • Patent number: 11105052
    Abstract: In a self-propelled construction machine (1), in particular road milling machine or surface miner, for working a ground pavement, comprising a milling drum (10), which is mounted in a machine frame, wherein a milling cut develops during milling of the ground pavement with the milling drum (10), wherein the milling drum (10) comprises a first and a second end side, at least a first measuring device, which is arranged next to the first end side of the milling drum (10) and measures the distance of the machine frame relative to the ground pavement next to the first end side of the milling drum (10), at least a second measuring device, which is arranged next to the second end side of the milling drum (10) and measures the distance of the machine frame relative to the ground pavement next to the second end side of the milling drum (10), and a control device (40) for controlling the milling depth, wherein, in a first milling operation, the control device (40) determines the milling depth by means of measurements pe
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Hanjo Held, René Müller
  • Patent number: 11072893
    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: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Martin Lenz, Cyrus Barimani
  • Publication number: 20210190490
    Abstract: A civil engineering machine has a machine control unit configured to determine data which defines the position and/or orientation of a reference point on the civil engineering machine in relation to a reference system independent of the position and orientation of the civil engineering machine. A geometrical shape to be produced on the ground is preset in either a machine control unit or a field rover control unit. The field rover is used to determine a position of at least one identifiable point of the preset geometrical shape in the independent reference system. Curve data defining a desired curve in the independent reference system, corresponding to the preset shape, is determined at least partially on the basis of the position of the at least one identifiable point of the preset geometrical shape in the independent reference system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Matthias Fritz, Cyrus Barimani, Christian Berning
  • Publication number: 20210170557
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tool for installing a bit on and/or deinstalling a bit from a bit holder system of a milling machine, in particular a road milling machine, having at least one initiator with which installation and/or deinstallation of a bit is initiated. Provision is made that the tool comprises a detection device having at least one counting device; and that the detection device is designed to detect a number of bits deinstalled using the tool and/or a number of bits installed using the tool. The invention also relates to a corresponding bit holder system and to a method for monitoring wear. With the tool and the bit holder system, additional information regarding bit changes that have been carried out is made available to a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Matthias Brück, Lothar Schwalbach, Cyrus Barimani
  • Publication number: 20210164173
    Abstract: A self-propelled earth working machine (10), for example a road milling machine, recycler, or surface miner, includes: a working apparatus (12) for material-removing working of a region of a substrate (U); and an extraction device (40) that is embodied to extract dust-laden air from at least one machine region at least one extraction location (46), and to exhaust extracted air at a discharge location (50) different from the extraction location (46), the extraction device (40) comprising a filter apparatus (42) arranged along an operational flow path from the at least one extraction location (46) to the discharge location (50), the filter apparatus (42) encompassing: a filter housing (54); and a filter element (52) received in the filter housing (54), the filter element (52) being embodied to remove dust particles from the air flowing through the filter apparatus (42).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Stephan Drumm
  • Patent number: 11015306
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Sebastian Winkels, Harald Kroell, Tobias Krista
  • Patent number: 11015304
    Abstract: The self-propelled construction machine, in particular road-milling machine, recycler, stabiliser or surface miner, comprises a machine frame 2, which is supported by a chassis 1, which has wheels or tracks 1A, 1B. A milling drum 4 is arranged on the machine frame. The wheels or tracks 1A, 1B and the milling drum 4 are driven by a drive unit 8. Furthermore, the construction machine comprises a control unit 19 for controlling the drive unit 8 and a signal-receiving unit 18 for detecting at least one measurement variable M(t) which is characteristic of an operating state of the milling drum 4. The construction machine is characterised in that the rotational speed of the milling drum 4 is adapted, on the basis of at least one measurement variable M(t) which is characteristic of a critical operating state of the milling drum, to the operating conditions of the construction machine in such a way that the milling drum is operated in a non-critical operating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Cyrus Barimani