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: 10746546
    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: January 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Fritz, Cyrus Barimani, Christian Berning
  • Patent number: 10724186
    Abstract: An earth working machine (10) includes a machine body (13) having a machine frame (12) and a drive configuration (46), rotationally drivable relative to the machine frame (12) around a drive axis (A), to which configuration a working apparatus (32) embodied for earth working is releasably connected in torque-transferring fashion, in an operating position operational for earth working, for rotation together around the drive axis (A), such that when the connection is released, the working apparatus (32) is removable from the operating position in an axial direction relative to the drive configuration (46) for deinstallation from the drive configuration (46) and, for installation on the drive configuration, is conveyable into the operating position in an axial direction relative to the drive configuration (46).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Karsten Buhr, Markus Frankemölle, Thomas Lehnert, Andreas Salz, Hardy Wilhelmi
  • Patent number: 10724188
    Abstract: An earth working machine includes a drive configuration and a working apparatus releasably connected together by a bolt component. A bolting moment bracing arrangement is connected or connectable in bolting moment-transferring fashion to the bolt component, and includes a bracing region that is embodied for bolting moment-bracing abutment in a bracing bolting direction against a counterpart bracing region, the drive configuration being embodied to be driven to rotate, in a rotation direction codirectional with the bracing bolting direction, while the bracing region is in abutment against the counterpart bracing region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Karsten Buhr, Markus Frankemölle, Thomas Lehnert, Andreas Salz, Hardy Wilhelmi
  • Patent number: 10724187
    Abstract: An earth working machine (10) includes a machine body (13) having a machine frame (12) and a drive configuration (46), rotationally drivable relative to the machine frame (12), and to which configuration a working apparatus (32) embodied for earth working is releasably connected in torque-transferring fashion, in an operating position, for rotation together around a drive axis (A), such that when the connection is released, the working apparatus (32) is removable from the operating position in an axial direction relative to the drive configuration (46) for deinstallation from the drive configuration (46) and, for installation on the drive configuration (46), is conveyable into the operating position in an axial direction relative to the drive configuration (46), an actuator (65) being provided which is embodied to move the working apparatus (32) out of the operating position when the connection is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Karsten Buhr, Markus Frankemölle, Thomas Lehnert, Andreas Salz, Hardy Wilhelmi
  • Patent number: 10718431
    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: March 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Tobias Stinner, Cyrus Barimani, Hardy Wilhelmi
  • Publication number: 20200224534
    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: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Thomas Lehnert, Philip Verhaelen
  • Patent number: 10697135
    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: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Cyrus Barimani, Philip Verhaelen
  • Publication number: 20200199828
    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: October 23, 2019
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Hanjo Held, René Müller
  • Patent number: 10655285
    Abstract: A self-propelled ground milling machine includes a working roller, 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, and a detection unit which determines a physical variable characteristic of an undesirable state of the operating process, wherein fragments are broken off from the traffic surface, apply compressive force to the hold-down device and can press the hold-down device into a raised position with respect to the traffic surface. A device for height-adjusting the hold-down device responds by applying a contact pressure, directed counter to the compressive force applied by the fragments, to the hold-down device. By applying sufficient contact pressure, the hold-down device can be effectively prevented from rising from the traffic surface, such a way that during the milling process it is at least made more difficult for fragments to break off undesirably from the traffic surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Philip Verhaelen, Cyrus Barimani
  • Publication number: 20200141073
    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: October 22, 2019
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Dieter Simons
  • Publication number: 20200131721
    Abstract: In a self-propelled construction machine for working ground pavements comprising at least one machine frame, at least one height-adjustable milling drum for working the ground pavement in a working operation, driven by at least one drive unit, at least one control device for monitoring and controlling the milling depth of the milling drum and the speed of the construction machine, it is provided for the following features to be achieved: that a monitoring device detects an interruption of the working operation, and when detecting the interruption of the working operation emits a signal to interrupt the drive of the milling drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Andreas Vogt, Cyrus Barimani
  • Patent number: 10626563
    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: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Vogt, Hanjo Held, Christian Berning, Cyrus Barimani
  • Publication number: 20200109528
    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: August 21, 2019
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Dirk Franzmann, Armin Montermann, Cyrus Barimani
  • Patent number: 10590613
    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: January 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Sebastian Winkels, Harald Kroell, Tobias Krista
  • Publication number: 20200072049
    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: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Andreas Vogt, Thomas Lehnert, Cyrus Barimani
  • Patent number: 10562433
    Abstract: In a method for transporting a large milling machine self-propelled by ground-engaging units and comprising a machine frame adjustable in height by means of lifting devices using a tractor unit with a fifth-wheel coupling for a semi-trailer couplable behind the tractor unit as seen in the direction of travel, the following steps are specified: a.) positioning the machine frame of the large milling machine for coupling the large milling machine to the fifth-wheel coupling of the tractor unit or to a trailer using the ground-engaging units and/or the lifting devices of the large milling machine, b.) coupling and supporting the machine frame on the fifth-wheel coupling of the tractor unit or on the trailer, c.) repeating steps a) and b) to establish a mechanical connection between the tractor unit and the trailer by means of coupling the tractor unit and the trailer via the machine frame of the large milling machine, d.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Christopher Mittelstaedt, Hardy Wilhelmi, Cyrus Barimani
  • Publication number: 20200024812
    Abstract: The invention relates to a self-propelled construction machine, comprising a machine frame supported by a chassis having wheels or crawler tracks. The basic principle of the invention involves determining a variable ? which is characteristic of the milling profile on the basis of a functional relationship between the variable which is characteristic of the milling profile and the advance speed v and/or milling drum rotational speed n. The variable ? which is characteristic of the milling profile is a correction variable for adjusting the height of the milling drum with respect to the surface of the ground.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Rene' Müller, Sebastian Hofrath, Cyrus Barimani
  • Publication number: 20200002904
    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: July 2, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Cyrus Barimani
  • Publication number: 20190390417
    Abstract: In a self-propelled construction machine (1), in particular road milling machine, recycler, stabilizer or surface miner, comprising a machine frame (4), at least two travelling devices (2), at least one hydraulic drive system (50) for driving at least two travelling devices (2), at least one working device, in particular a milling drum (6), for working the ground pavement (3), it is provided for the following features to be achieved: a detection device (44, 60, 62) is provided which detects fluctuations in the longitudinal speed (vact) of the construction machine (1) during movement of the construction machine (1), wherein a control unit (38) controls the hydraulic drive system (50) as a function of the detected fluctuations in such a fashion that the drive speed (vdrive) for driving the travelling devices (2) specified by means of the hydraulic drive system (50) is continuously adjusted so that the detected fluctuations are reduced or compensated for.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Stefan Wagner, Markus Bach, Christian Berning, Axel Mahlberg
  • Patent number: 10508541
    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 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Thomas Lehnert, Philip Verhaelen