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: 20180266552
    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: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Tobias Stinner, Cyrus Barimani, Hardy Wilhelmi
  • Publication number: 20180258596
    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: March 7, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Dirk Franzmann, Armin Montermann, Cyrus Barimani
  • Publication number: 20180258595
    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: March 7, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Martin Lenz, Cyrus Barimani
  • Publication number: 20180209105
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Martin Lenz, Cyrus Barimani
  • Publication number: 20180202116
    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 16, 2018
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Andreas Vogt, Cyrus Barimani
  • Patent number: 9995009
    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: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Vogt, Hanjo Held, Christian Berning, Cyrus Barimani
  • Publication number: 20180149021
    Abstract: In a system for the tracking of milling material, comprising a milling machine for milling a section of a ground pavement in a milling operation, a means of transport which can be loaded with the milling material removed during milling of the section of the ground pavement and which can be used to transport away the removed milling material, a detection device for detecting data signals relating to the milling material, it is provided for the following features to be achieved: the detection device transmits the data signals relating to the milling material to a marking device, and the marking device, depending on the data signals relating to the milling material transmitted, marks the milling material deposited on the means of transport, or the means of transport loaded with the milling material, with a marking means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Christoph Menzenbach, Cyrus Barimani
  • Publication number: 20180135258
    Abstract: In a self-propelled construction machine, specifically, a road milling machine, a surface miner or a recycler, for milling a ground surface, comprising a machine frame with a longitudinal axis, comprising a chassis with wheels or tracked ground-engaging units which support the machine frame, comprising a controller for the travelling and milling operation, comprising a height-adjustable working drum, comprising a slewable transport conveyor arranged in front of or behind the working drum as seen in the direction of travel of the milling machine with a discharge end from which worked-off milling material is dischargeable onto a point of impingement on a loading surface of a means of transport, wherein the transport conveyor is slewable about, as a minimum, a first slewing axis extending essentially orthogonal to the machine frame laterally under a slewing angle, wherein the controller comprises a control system which controls, as a minimum, the slewing angle of the transport conveyor automatically in the trave
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Andreas Vogt, Cyrus Barimani
  • Publication number: 20180135410
    Abstract: In a system (3) for the tracking of milling material (26), comprising a milling machine (1) for milling a section (28) of a ground pavement (29) in a milling operation, a truck (14) for loading and transporting away the milling material (26) removed during milling of the section (28) of the ground pavement (29), a deposition site (24) for depositing the milling material (26) transported away by the truck (14), a first detection device (18) for detecting data signals relating to the milling material (26), it is specified for the following features to be achieved: that a second detection device (20) detects position data of the deposition site of the milling material (26), wherein the first and the second detection device (18, 20) transmit the data signals (60) relating to the milling material (26) and the position data of the deposition site (24) to a documentation device (22) which links the position data with the data signals relating to the milling material (26).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Christoph Menzenbach, Cyrus Barimani
  • Patent number: 9970164
    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: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Fritz, Christian Berning, Cyrus Barimani, Martin Lenz
  • Publication number: 20180126891
    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: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Christopher Mittelstaedt, Hardy Wilhelmi, Cyrus Barimani
  • Publication number: 20180119370
    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: October 27, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Sebastian Winkels, Harald Kroell, Tobias Krista
  • Patent number: 9915043
    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: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Dirk Franzmann, Armin Montermann, Cyrus Barimani
  • Patent number: 9915041
    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: August 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Martin Lenz, Cyrus Barimani
  • Publication number: 20180058020
    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: August 17, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Andreas Vogt, Cyrus Barimani
  • Publication number: 20180058214
    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 17, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Andreas Vogt, Thomas Lehnert, Cyrus Barimani
  • Patent number: 9896810
    Abstract: A self-propelled construction machine has an image capturing unit for capturing an image of the terrain, a display unit on which the captured image is displayed, and a data processing unit. In the displayed image, 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. The construction machine is then controlled in order to carry out translational and/or rotational movements on the terrain and/or to install a structure on the terrain or to alter the terrain on the basis of the spatial data set. As a result, the previously identified objects can be taken into account in the building project.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Matthias Fritz, Cyrus Barimani
  • Patent number: 9879391
    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: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Dieter Simons
  • Patent number: 9879390
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Dieter Simons
  • Patent number: 9873993
    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: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Andreas Vogt, Cyrus Barimani