Floor Working Patents (Class 299/1.5)
  • 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
  • Patent number: 9365985
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a self-propelled ground milling machine for treatment of ground surfaces by means of a milling device, a transportation means and a drive device for driving the transportation means and the milling device. The milling device is mounted on a ground milling machine frame and can be switched between a working position, in which the milling device is in operative contact with the ground surface and a maneuvering position, in which the milling device is not in operative contact with the ground surface. The drive device comprises a drive control unit, which controls the driving power of the drive device. The ground milling machine further comprises a ground milling machine control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: BOMAG GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Nacke, Andre Hoffmann, Timo Loew, Marco Reuter
  • Patent number: 9206566
    Abstract: A method for leveling of a machine on a surface, and a machine for the same, is disclosed. The method may comprise equalizing the legs of the machine prior to extending or retracting the legs of the machine to raise or lower the machine during non-milling operational status. The method may also comprise extending or retracting the legs during milling operational status while maintaining the relative lengths of each leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel H. Killion
  • Patent number: 9174359
    Abstract: A concrete saw having a geared assembly for rotating a cutting blade is described. The saw utilizes a longitudinally oriented engine for rotating the blade. Various additional features and improvements are described including a particular belt tensioner assembly, an indicator and control system for cutting blade depth, a handle adjustment and locking system, and provisions for control of blade water are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: DIAMOND PRODUCTS, LIMITED
    Inventors: Martin D. Marsic, Kent A. Smith, Brian S. Edwards
  • Patent number: 9121146
    Abstract: A system is provided for determining a volume of material milled, or a surface area milled, by a construction machine having a milling drum. The volume of material milled is determined as a function of a cross-sectional area of material to be milled in front of the milling drum and a distance traveled by the construction machine while actively milling. The cross-sectional area is determined in part by direct machine observation of one or more profile characteristics of a ground surface in front of the milling drum. The surface area milled is determined as a function of the width of the area to be milled in front of the milling drum and a distance traveled by the construction machine while actively milling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Sven Paulsen, Stefan Wagner, Klaus Vollmann, Lothar Schwalbach, Cyrus Barimani, Günter Hähn
  • Patent number: 9103079
    Abstract: A milling machine includes a frame, a rotor coupled to the frame and vertically adjustable, a chamber coupled to the frame and at least partially surrounding the rotor, a speed sensor configured to measure a speed of the machine, a height sensor configured to measure a height of the rotor, a ground characteristic sensor configured to measure a ground characteristic, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive the speed of the machine from the speed sensor, receive the height of the rotor from the height sensor, receive the ground characteristic from the ground characteristic sensor, determine a target speed for the machine, determine a target height for the rotor, adjust the speed of the machine to the target speed, and adjust the height of the rotor to the target height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Schlenker, Jason W. Muir
  • Publication number: 20150137577
    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: July 25, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Dieter Simons
  • Publication number: 20150115689
    Abstract: In a method of milling asphalt, a relative elevation of an unmilled asphalt pavement surface adjacent to an area to be milled is sensed with respect to a milling machine body and rotatable milling drum of the milling machine. An elevation of a bottom surface of the rotatable milling drum is determined using a computer processor. Based on a map, stored in a computer memory, of a design surface specifying a design elevation of a milled surface over the area to be milled, the elevation of the milling machine body and the rotatable milling drum are automatically adjusted such that the rotatable milling drum mills the asphalt surface to the design elevation over the area to be milled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Jeroen Snoeck, Richard Paul Piekutowski
  • Patent number: 9016798
    Abstract: A self-propelled construction machine has a machine frame and an operating drum for processing the ground surface, wherein the operating drum is positioned in a downwards open drum housing, that is closed on both sides by an edge protector, which is adjustable in height by an actuator for raising and/or lowering the edge protector. A control unit comprises a sensor for registering the distance a between a reference point on the edge protector and the ground surface. Furthermore, the control unit is configured so that when the distance between reference point and ground surface falls below a predetermined minimum distance, the actuator is switched from a floating setting, so that the edge protector is raised. As a result, the edge protector tightly closes the drum housing at the sides without there being a risk that the edge protector can be entrenched in loose substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Hanjo Held, Philip Verhaelen, Cyrus Barimani, Günter Hähn
  • Patent number: 8998344
    Abstract: A road cutting machine has a machine frame and at least one left-hand running gear and at least one right-hand running gear. A device is provided for raising or lowering the running gears resting on the ground, in relation to the machine frame, and also a control unit is provided for activating the device for raising and lowering the running gears, so that the height of the running gears can be adjusted to the machine frame. The control unit comprises sensors for detecting changes in the height of the ground to be covered by the running gears in relation to the machine frame, whereby the control unit contains a control mode for initiating actions in the control system for adjusting the height of the running gears. The control unit is configured in such a way in the control mode that if a change is detected in the height of the ground, the respective running gear or the respective running gears are raised or lowered so as to compensate any lateral tilting due to a change in the height of the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Dirk Franzmann, René Müller, Cyrus Barimani, Günter Hähn
  • Publication number: 20150054331
    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: August 18, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Andreas Vogt, Cyrus Barimani, Günter Hähn
  • Patent number: 8960806
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for operating a ground milling machine which comprises at least one height-adjustable milling roller, wherein the milling roller performs a tumbling movement (T?) which is controlled by way of open-loop and/or closed-loop control during lowering in operation. The present invention further relates to a control device for the closed-loop and/or open-loop control of this method, and also to a ground milling machine with such a control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: BOMAG GmbH
    Inventor: Steffen Wachsmann
  • Patent number: 8956076
    Abstract: In a method and a device for the treatment of a layer by introducing a binder and/or water and/or additives into a milled-up quantity of milled material of the layer to be stabilized by means of a construction machine or attachment machine with a milling/mixing rotor that is used to mill the layer at a specified milling depth, where the milling/mixing rotor is surrounded by a rotor housing which forms the boundary of the mixing chamber of the milling/mixing rotor, it is provided that during the positioning process, at least the binder quantity currently fed until reaching the specified milling depth is determined in accordance with the milled-up quantity of milled material currently present in the mixing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Menzenbach, Marc Ridder, Cyrus Barimani, Günter Hähn
  • Patent number: 8944517
    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: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Franzmann, Christian Berning, Herbert Ley, Cyrus Barimani, Günter Hähn
  • Patent number: 8944518
    Abstract: In a drum housing for a working drum of a construction machine or mining machine for working off milled material movable in a working direction, said working drum being provided with tools and rotating about a drum axis, with a housing shell that at least partially encloses the circumference of the working drum, and with at least one monitoring device arranged radially outside of the housing shell, said monitoring device inspecting the condition of the working drum or of the tools thereof, it is provided for the following features to be achieved: at least one inspection opening for each monitoring device is arranged in the housing shell, and a partial flow of the milled material passes through the at least one inspection opening during the milling operation and guiding devices conduct the partial flow, in radial direction behind the housing shell, in front of or behind the working drum as seen in the working direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Winfried von Schoenebeck, Joerg Berges, Peter Berghoff, Stefan Wagner, Cyrus Barimani, Guenter Haehn
  • Patent number: 8926024
    Abstract: The motorized cutter with wheels (10) comprises a motorized cutter (20) and a carriage (30). The motorized cutter (20) is equipped with an engine (24), a blade (22) rotatably driven by the engine (24), and a light-emitting unit (50) that generates laser light (52) in the same plane as the plane of rotation of the blade (22). A roadbed (90) is then cut along a line (X) drawn on the roadbed (90) by operating the motorized cutter with wheels (10) so that the line (X) is irradiated with the laser light (52). It is possible to remove the motorized cutter (20) from the carriage (30) together with the light-emitting unit (50).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukihiro Shima, Kenji Niwa, Shinki Ohtsu, Junichi Kamimura, Mitsuhiro Sunaoshi
  • Publication number: 20140379227
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a construction machine, in particular a ground milling machine, comprising transportation means connected to the machine frame via lifting columns. The lift adjustment of the lifting columns occurs as a function of the determined pressure values respectively applied to at least one actuator of a pair of front and/or rear transportation means. The present invention further relates to a method of compensating for ground unevenness for such a construction machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Marko Reuter, Andre Hoffmann, Andreas Nacke, Bernd Lubischer
  • Patent number: 8899690
    Abstract: A scraper device for a milling drum mounted in a construction machine at a machine frame between lateral walls with a milling drum axis, with a two-part scraper blade arranged in a height-adjustable fashion behind the milling drum when seen in the direction of travel, the lower part of which can glide over the ground surface milled off by the milling drum, where the lower part of the scraper blade is adjustable in height when in operating position, it is provided that the upper part of the scraper blade is attached, at the upper end, to swivel about a swivelling axis parallel to the axis of the milling drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Heinz Kötting, Herbert Ley, Günter Hähn
  • Patent number: 8899689
    Abstract: A milling machine is provided including: a frame; a plurality of ground engaging units; a plurality of vertically adjustable legs, the plurality of vertically adjustable legs comprising a front leg and a rear leg; a rotatable mill configured to mill a surface; a user interface configured to receive a milling grade depth and a cut-transition factor; a speed sensor configured to provide a ground speed of the milling machine; a vertical position sensor; and a controller coupled to the speed sensor, the vertical position sensor, and the user interface, the controller configured to lower a height of the rotatable mill to the milling grade depth by incrementally adjusting a length of at least one of the plurality of vertically adjustable legs according to the cut-transition factor, the speed sensor, and the vertical position sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel H. Killion
  • Patent number: 8888194
    Abstract: A control module for a milling rotor of a machine is provided. The control module comprises a processor and a controller. The processor is configured to receive a first signal, indicative of a direction of motion of the machine, a second signal, indicative of a relative height of a pair of side plates with respect to the milling rotor, and a third signal, indicative of a relative height of a moldboard with respect to the milling rotor. The processor processes the first signal, the second signal, and the third signal to generate a control signal. The controller is configured to receive the control signal from the processor and selectively disengage the milling rotor of the machine based on the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel H. Killion
  • Patent number: 8821063
    Abstract: A system for controlling a cutting machine for cutting rumble strips in a road surface includes a rotatable cutting head, a cylinder for driving the cutting head out of and into contact with the road surface, and a controller. The controller is programmed to execute an input/output function for varying a proportional gain and an error amplification signal over a range of forward speed of the cutting machine. An I/O function is based on six predetermined cutting machine speed values; wherein a proportional gain and a depth increment are specified for each speed value. The respective speed values increase progressively. As an actual forward speed of the cutting machine varies between two of the six predetermined input speed values a linear interpolation is applied between the next lower and the next greater speed value to vary the instantaneous proportional gain and depth increment to be applied by the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Surface Preparation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: H. Matthew Johnson, Jeffreu M. Dows
  • Patent number: 8807867
    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: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Dieter Simons
  • Patent number: 8794869
    Abstract: A rotary mixer herein includes: a rotor chamber configured to receive a first surface and produce a reclaimed surface, the rotor chamber including: a front door, a rear door, and a rotor; a particle size detector configured to detect a particle size of the reclaimed surface; and an electronic control module (ECM) electronically coupled to the rotor chamber and the particle sensor, the ECM configured to: receive a particle size from the particle sensor, compare the detected particle size to a desired particle size, adjust the degree of pulverization of the reclaimed surface according to the difference between the detected particle size and the desired particle size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Schlenker, Brent P. Bachmeier, Jason W. Muir, Mario J. Souraty, Maria L. Biberdorf
  • Publication number: 20140191560
    Abstract: In a method for optimizing a cutting process in milling machines which are used to machine road coverings, which comprise a milling device fitted with milling tools which is sprayed with liquid in order to cool the milling tools, in addition to a drive motor, the following steps are provided: detection of the at least one parameter which is representative of the instantaneous power output of the milling device and controlling the amount of cooling liquid supplied according to the at least one parameter which is representative of the instantaneous power output of the milling device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Olaf Gaertner, Dieter Simons
  • Patent number: 8764118
    Abstract: A road milling machine includes a sensor mounting system having a first mounting member, which is attached to a first machine component and supports a portion of a position sensor, and a second mounting member attached to a second machine component having a pivotable attachment to a machine frame. An extension member has a first end attached to the second mounting member and a second end including an attachment flange. A unitary ski member has a first end attached to another portion of the position sensor and a second end pivotably attached to the attachment flange. The unitary ski member includes a ground engaging surface that is positioned inboard relative to first and second side plates, which flank a rotor, and has a pivot movement compensation curve. A controller is configured for determining a milling depth of the rotor from measurements obtained by the position sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Sundararajan Krishnamoorthy, Arul Kumar Ramasamy, Timothy Miller
  • Patent number: 8757730
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a monitoring apparatus for a ground processing machine, especially a ground milling machine, with the ground processing machine comprising at least one processing device for mechanically processing a ground surface and/or for applying a ground cover layer, comprising: at least one detection device for contactless detection at least in sections of a condition of the ground surface and/or the ground cover layer as produced by the processing device, and an evaluation device for the automated evaluation of the condition detected by the detection device. The present invention further relates to a ground processing machine, especially a ground milling machine, comprising at least one such monitoring apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: BOMAG GmbH
    Inventors: Steffen Wachsmann, Robert Laux
  • Patent number: 8757729
    Abstract: A method of maintaining a machine substantially level with a first surface is disclosed. The method may comprise determining an electronic travel path between a first point and a second point on a second surface, the second surface created by a tool removing a section of the first surface, and adjusting the length of the rear leg to maintain the frame substantially level to the first surface as the rear leg moves along the travel path from the first point to the second point in a forward direction. A machine for planing a road is disclosed that maintains a parallel orientation with the road during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Proudcts Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel H. Killion
  • Publication number: 20140167486
    Abstract: A road milling machine includes a sensor mounting system having a first mounting member, which is attached to a first machine component and supports a portion of a position sensor, and a second mounting member attached to a second machine component having a pivotable attachment to a machine frame. An extension member has a first end attached to the second mounting member and a second end including an attachment flange. A unitary ski member has a first end attached to another portion of the position sensor and a second end pivotably attached to the attachment flange. The unitary ski member includes a ground engaging surface that is positioned inboard relative to first and second side plates, which flank a rotor, and has a pivot movement compensation curve. A controller is configured for determining a milling depth of the rotor from measurements obtained by the position sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR PAVING PRODUCTS INC.
    Inventors: Sundararajan Krishnamoorthy, Arul Kumar Ramasamy, Timothy Miller
  • Publication number: 20140110990
    Abstract: A road cutting machine has a machine frame and at least one left-hand running gear and at least one right-hand running gear. A device is provided for raising or lowering the running gears resting on the ground, in relation to the machine frame, and also a control unit is provided for activating the device for raising and lowering the running gears, so that the height of the running gears can be adjusted to the machine frame. The control unit comprises sensors for detecting changes in the height of the ground to be covered by the running gears in relation to the machine frame, whereby the control unit contains a control mode for initiating actions in the control system for adjusting the height of the running gears. The control unit is configured in such a way in the control mode that if a change is detected in the height of the ground, the respective running gear or the respective running gears are raised or lowered so as to compensate any lateral tilting due to a change in the height of the ground.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Dirk Franzmann, René Müller, Cyrus Barimani, Günter Hähn
  • Patent number: 8672581
    Abstract: A road construction machine comprising height adjustment devices which adjust the position of the plane of the machine frame in accordance with control signals, where the leveling device measures the distance of the ground surface to the machine frame and controls the height adjustment devices so the machine frame is movable at an adjusted orthogonal distance to the surface; a transmitter is arranged at the machine frame in a rigid fashion, and a receiver is movable, parallel to and synchronously with the machine frame, or vice versa, where the transmitter emits a measuring beam representative of a reference plane, the measuring beam being detectable by the receiver and representing either a plane extending parallel to the machine frame or a plane extending parallel to the ground surface, where the current distance of the machine frame to the current reference location is measurable from the detected position of the reference plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Rene Müller, Thomas Schmidt, Cyrus Barimani, Günter Hähn
  • Patent number: 8668274
    Abstract: In a method for optimizing a cutting process in milling machines which are used to machine road coverings, which comprise a milling device fitted with milling tools which is sprayed with liquid in order to cool the milling tools, in addition to a drive motor, the following steps are provided: detection of the at least one parameter which is representative of the instantaneous power output of the milling device and controlling the amount of cooling liquid supplied according to the at least one parameter which is representative of the instantaneous power output of the milling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Olaf Gaertner, Dieter Simons
  • Publication number: 20140035343
    Abstract: A self-propelled construction machine has a machine frame and an operating drum for processing the ground surface, wherein the operating drum is positioned in a downwards open drum housing, that is closed on both sides by an edge protector, which is adjustable in height by an actuator for raising and/or lowering the edge protector. A control unit comprises a sensor for registering the distance a between a reference point on the edge protector and the ground surface. Furthermore, the control unit is configured so that when the distance between reference point and ground surface falls below a predetermined minimum distance, the actuator is switched from a floating setting, so that the edge protector is raised. As a result, the edge protector tightly closes the drum housing at the sides without there being a risk that the edge protector can be entrenched in loose substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Hanjo Held, Phillip Verhaelen, Cyrus Barimani, Günter Hähn
  • Patent number: 8632132
    Abstract: A control system for a construction machine senses the reaction forces applied by the ground surface to a milling drum, and in response to the sensed changes in those reaction forces controls the rate of feeding the milling drum into the ground surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Menzenbach, Axel Mahlberg, Herbert Lange, Cyrus Barimani, Günter Hähn
  • Publication number: 20130341996
    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: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventors: Dirk Franzmann, Christian Berning, Herbert Ley, Cyrus Barimani, Günter Hähn
  • Publication number: 20130249271
    Abstract: A control module for a milling rotor of a machine is provided. The control module comprises a processor and a controller. The processor is configured to receive a first signal, indicative of a direction of motion of the machine, a second signal, indicative of a relative height of a pair of side plates with respect to the milling rotor, and a third signal, indicative of a relative height of a moldboard with respect to the milling rotor. The processor processes the first signal, the second signal, and the third signal to generate a control signal. The controller is configured to receive the control signal from the processor and selectively disengage the milling rotor of the machine based on the control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel H. Killion
  • Patent number: 8528988
    Abstract: In a method for milling an opencast mining surface or for milling off layers of an asphalt or concrete traffic surface with a milling machine removing the ground surface, by milling the ground surface along a predetermined milling track having a predetermined length, by transporting the milled material via a conveying device to at least one container of a truck that travels along next to the milling machine, said truck having a predetermined maximum loading volume per load, and by replacing a fully loaded truck with an unloaded truck when the maximum loading volume of a truck load has been reached, it is provided for the following features to be achieved: calculation of the maximum total loading volume resulting over the length of the current milling track as a function of the current effective working width and a milling depth that has been optimized in relation to a predetermined, preferably maximum milling power, calculation of the number of truck loads required for the maximum total loading volume of a mi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Winfried Von Schönebeck, Stefan Wagner
  • Publication number: 20130162003
    Abstract: A milling machine is provided including: a frame; a plurality of ground engaging units; a plurality of vertically adjustable legs, the plurality of vertically adjustable legs comprising a front leg and a rear leg; a rotatable mill configured to mill a surface; a user interface configured to receive a milling grade depth and a cut-transition factor; a speed sensor configured to provide a ground speed of the milling machine; a vertical position sensor; and a controller coupled to the speed sensor, the vertical position sensor, and the user interface, the controller configured to lower a height of the rotatable mill to the milling grade depth by incrementally adjusting a length of at least one of the plurality of vertically adjustable legs according to the cut-transition factor, the speed sensor, and the vertical position sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel H. Killion
  • Publication number: 20130162004
    Abstract: A method of maintaining a machine substantially level with a first surface is disclosed. The method may comprise determining an electronic travel path between a first point and a second point on a second surface, the second surface created by a tool removing a section of the first surface, and adjusting the length of the rear leg to maintain the frame substantially level to the first surface as the rear leg moves along the travel path from the first point to the second point in a forward direction. A machine for planing a road is disclosed that maintains a parallel orientation with the road during operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel H. Killion
  • Publication number: 20130140870
    Abstract: A system for controlling a cutting machine for cutting rumble strips in a road surface includes a rotatable cutting head, a cylinder for driving the cutting head out of and into contact with the road surface, and a controller. The controller is programmed to execute an input/output function for varying a proportional gain and an error amplification signal over a range of forward speed of the cutting machine. An I/O function is based on six predetermined cutting machine speed values; wherein a proportional gain and a depth increment are specified for each speed value. The respective speed values increase progressively. As an actual forward speed of the cutting machine varies between two of the six predetermined input speed values a linear interpolation is applied between the next lower and the next greater speed value to vary the instantaneous proportional gain and depth increment to be applied by the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: SURFACE PREPARATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: H. Matthew Johnson
  • Publication number: 20130099551
    Abstract: A control and switchover system is provided for controlling milling depth and/or slope of a milling drum of a road construction machine during a milling operation to create a milled surface. The system controls the milling depth and/or slope at least in part on a measurement made with a first sensor. Without interrupting the milling operation the system switches over the control of the milling depth and/or slope to control based at least in part on a measurement made with a second sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventor: Wirtgen GmbH
  • Patent number: 8424972
    Abstract: In a self-propelled road milling machine (1), particularly a cold-milling machine, comprising a track assembly carrying the machine frame (4) via lifting columns (12,13), a milling roller (6) supported on the machine frame (4) for treatment of a ground surface (8) or traffic surface (8), height-adjustable side plates (10) for edge protection, arranged to rest on the ground surface (8) or traffic surface (8) to be treated, a height-adjustable stripping means (14) arranged in the moving direction behind the milling roller (6) and adapted to be lowered, during operation, into the milling track (17) generated by the milling roller (6), and a control means (23) for controlling the milling depth of the milling roller (6), the control means (23) detecting the milling depth of the milling roller (6) from the measurement values of at least one measuring means (16), it is provided that the control means (23) is operative to automatically control the lifting condition of at least one rear and/or front lifting column (12
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Dieter Simons
  • Publication number: 20130082507
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for operating a ground milling machine which comprises at least one height-adjustable milling roller, wherein the milling roller performs a tumbling movement (T?) which is controlled by way of open-loop and/or closed-loop control during lowering in operation. The present invention further relates to a control device for the closed-loop and/or open-loop control of this method, and also to a ground milling machine with such a control device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: BOMAG GMBH
    Inventor: Steffen Wachsmann
  • Patent number: 8408838
    Abstract: A milling machine includes a main frame, a rotatable cutter drum coupled with the frame, and an engine mounted to the frame and operatively connected with the drum, and crawler assemblies connected with the frame and including a hydraulic motor. A pump is disposed on the frame for driving the crawler motor and is adjustable to vary a speed of the motor. A regulator adjusts cutter drum speed, a speed selector generates an input corresponding to a desired drum speed, and a sensor senses a drum speed. A control receives input from the selector and the sensor and operates the regulator such that drum speed corresponds to the desired speed. Further, the control also compares sensed drum speed with desired drum speed and adjusts the pump to reduce crawler motor speed when the sensed drum speed has a value lesser than a predetermined portion of the desired drum speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment AB
    Inventors: Paul E. Willis, Justin Zupanc
  • Patent number: 8380345
    Abstract: A method for controlling the extraction capacity of longwall operations in underground coal mining, including ascertaining the respective demand of the longwall operations, for air-technology and climate-technology resources, as influencing variables for a projected delivery quantity on the basis of data applicable to equipment of the longwall operations and to mineral deposit parameters, and storing the ascertained influencing variables in a computer as target data. Actual data for a raw coal delivery quantity, for air flowing through, for the supplied cooling capacity, and for the exhaust gas during running operation is detected and conveyed to the computer. If an increased demand for resources is recognized, coverage is initiated via a changeover of excess resources available at other longwall operations or, if a reduced demand for resources is recognized, excess resources are rerouted to other longwall operations experiencing corresponding demand deficiencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: RAG Aktiengesselschaft
    Inventors: Martin Junker, Walter Hermülheim, Detlef Rother, Armin Friederich
  • Publication number: 20130002002
    Abstract: A control system for a construction machine senses the reaction forces applied by the ground surface to a milling drum, and in response to the sensed changes in those reaction forces controls the rate of feeding the milling drum into the ground surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: WIRTGEN GMBH
    Inventors: Christoph Menzenbach, Axel Mahlberg, Herbert Lange, Cyrus Barimani, Gunter Hahn
  • Publication number: 20120286558
    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: July 25, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Dieter Simons
  • Patent number: 8292371
    Abstract: An adaptive advance control system for a construction machine senses the reaction forces applied by the ground surface to a milling drum, and in response to the sensed changes in those reaction forces controls the rate of lowering the milling drum into the ground surface. Early and rapid detection of such changes in reaction forces allow the control system to aid in preventing lurch forward events of the construction machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Menzenbach, Axel Mahlberg, Herbert Lange, Cyrus Barimani, Gunter Hahn
  • Patent number: 8246270
    Abstract: In a self-propelling road milling machine (1), particularly a (recycler or) cold-milling machine, comprising a machine frame (4) carried by a track assemblies (2,3) via lifting columns (12,13), a milling roll (6) supported on the machine frame (4) for treatment of a ground or traffic surface (8), height-adjustable side plates (10) for edge protection, arranged to rest on the ground or traffic surface (8) to be treated, a height-adjustable stripping means (14) arranged in the moving direction behind the milling roll (6) and adapted to be lowered, during operation, into the milling track (17) generated by the milling roll (6), and a control means (23) for controlling the milling depth of the milling roller (6), it is provided that at least one measuring means (16) is operative to detect the lifting, caused by the current milling depth, of a first sensor means resting on the ground or traffic surface (8), and/or the lowering of the stripping means (14) or a second sensor means onto the surface of the milling tra
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Dieter Simons
  • Publication number: 20120200138
    Abstract: An adaptive advance control system for a construction machine senses the reaction forces applied by the ground surface to a milling drum, and in response to the sensed changes in those reaction forces controls the rate of lowering the milling drum into the ground surface. Early and rapid detection of such changes in reaction forces allow the control system to aid in preventing lurch forward events of the construction machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: WIRTGEN GMBH
    Inventors: Christoph Menzenbach, Axel Mahlberg, Herbert Lange, Cyrus Barimani, Gunter Hahn
  • Patent number: 8220806
    Abstract: A cart assembly for milling a surface includes a cart having a support frame, a triad of wheel assemblies, and a triad of receivers. The triad of wheel assemblies is disposed on the support frame. Each wheel assembly includes an actuator that selectively extends and retracts a shaft of the wheel assembly to maintain the support frame at a given elevation. The triad of receivers is disposed on the support frame in a generally triangular configuration. The receivers are in electrical communication with the actuators of the wheel assemblies. The cart assembly further includes a milling assembly mounted to the support frame of the cart. The milling assembly includes a grinder adapted to remove material from a surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Inventor: Roger Hartel Neudeck