Material transport system for road finisher and feeder

The invention relates to a material handling system according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Bitumen-bound mixed materials are produced in mixing plants. To this end, the crushed stone is heated in a drum furnace and then fed to a mixer. In this mixer, hot bitumen is additionally pressed in and mixed with hot crushed stone. This mixture is then indirectly stored in hot silos or directly transported by truck to a road construction site. Asphalt leaves the mixer with a high and very even temperature. By subsequent storage, and above all by transport, the material being mixed unevenly cools. Usually, asphalt still has a very high core temperature when delivered to the construction site, but the edge areas are strongly cooled. The material subjected to mixing with an even temperature no longer occurs. Uniform temperature distribution in the material being mixed is one of the most important parameters for asphalt embedding and compaction. Many asphalt material properties depend on this temperature. Basically, this involves the viscosity of bitumen changing with temperature. Thus, the uneven temperature of the material being mixed is a factor that negatively affects the quality of the road surface. It leads to differences in density in load capacity, as well as errors in layer thickness, and consequently to unevenness of the road.

[0003] These statements have been used and implemented in a power supply system that is intended to improve the temperature uniformity of the material being mixed. For this purpose, for example, screw conveyors are used, which are arranged transversely to the main flow stream in the material tank. The screw conveyor drive is associated with the primary conveyor for the main flow stream. Thus, the rotation speed of the screw conveyors is proportional to the transfer efficiency of the primary conveyor. Through the screw conveyors, constantly colder material being mixed from the edge areas into the hotter main flow is transferred during the feed process. This permanent mixing leads to better homogeneity of the material being mixed. By permanently coupling the screw conveyor drives and the primary conveyor belt installation, this feed system is limited. Thus, for example, it is not possible to turn off the screw conveyors at the beginning of the transfer process: this seems to be expedient, however, because the first stream of material that comes from the truck, it is relatively cold and should not initially be mixed into the material being mixed. In addition, it is not possible to change the ratio of the lateral transfer amount and the main flow stream to thereby control the ratio of the cold edge material to the hot core material.

[0004] Description WO 2009/061278 A1 describes a transfer device for a road construction vehicle. The conveying device includes a material container for receiving embedded material subjected to mixing, the material container comprising two container cleats with transverse screw conveyors disposed therein. The material is transported through transverse screw conveyors

ΕΡ 2 377 994 Β1 built-in, mixed from the hopper halves onto the longitudinal conveyor. It is possible to set the speed of the transverse screw conveyors independently of the speed of the longitudinal conveyor device.

[0005] The object of the invention is to provide a material transfer system for the feeder or finisher, by means of which, by means of structurally simple means, an improved quality of the material being mixed can be achieved.

[0006] This task is solved according to the invention by the technical features of claim 1. Improved developments are given by the features of the dependent claims.

[0007] The invention relates to a material transfer system for a finisher and a power supply. It includes a material tank having a first and a second tank half, a main conveying device determining the main flow stream and running between the first and second tank half as well as screw conveyors determining a transverse flow stream and located in the tank halves, wherein the screw conveyors can be operated according to of the invention regardless of the main transferring device. Thus, the operator can change the ratio of the transverse flow stream to the main flow stream to intentionally affect the mixing temperature after leaving the material container.

[0008] In a targeted embodiment, a control system is provided for controlling the transverse flow stream independent of the main flow stream to control the ratio between the transverse flow stream and the main flow stream. Thanks to this, it is possible to achieve a particularly precisely desired, homogeneous mixing temperature in the embedded material. In this case, delayed start-up of the screw conveyors can occur due to the appropriate course control. In this way, it is achieved that hot core material enters the main flow stream as quickly as possible at the start of the feed cycle. Only then are the screw conveyors switched on. It is also possible for the screw conveyors to be switched off early at the end of the power cycle. In this way it is prevented that the cooled material embedded from the edge areas is completely consumed.

[0009] The delay in switching on the screw conveyors or an early switching off can take place by controlling the course or alternatively by means of a temperature measurement system of the main flow stream that detects the temperature of the material being mixed after leaving the material tank. The temperature of the main flow stream then serves as a criterion in order to properly control the activation or deactivation of the screw conveyors. Based on the temperature of the main flow stream, the screw conveyors can be operated in such a way that a homogeneous mixing temperature of the embedded material is set. Likewise, a temperature measurement system can be provided to measure the temperature of the transverse flow stream to control the operation of the screw conveyors independently of the main conveying device.

[0010] Preferably, a pivoting slide plate is arranged on the tank halves towards the main transferring device to direct the material transferred to the main transferring device. In this way, the transferred material can be reliably directed to the main device

ΕΡ 2 377 994 Β1 transferring and at the same time it is prevented by the sliding plate that the transferable material gets into the chassis of the main transferring device.

[0011] In a targeted embodiment, the main conveying device comprises two conveyor belts separated from each other by a partition. The partition supports the intentional sprinkling of both belt conveyors with embedded material. The partition supports the intentional sprinkling of both belt conveyors with embedded material.

[0012] It is also possible that the belt conveyor or belt conveyors of the main conveying device are operated independently of each other. Thus, it is ensured that with an early emptying of the tank half, the associated conveyor belt can be switched off early. The conveyor ratio of embedded material can also be set between the conveyor belts. [0013] In a C-shaped embodiment, the tank halves are pivotable at an angle between zero and forty-five steps towards the main conveying device, simultaneously or independently of each other. By this, the transport of embedded material from the tank halves to the main conveying device can be accelerated.

[0014] Preferably, the screw conveyors tilt together when the tank halves are tilted. The tilted screw conveyors support the accelerated transport of embedded material.

[0015] Preferably, there is at least one screw conveyor for each tank half. Depending on the capacity of the tank halves, several screw conveyors can be used. It is thus possible to transport all embedded material from the tank halves by means of screw conveyors towards the main conveying device.

[0016] It has proved particularly advantageous when the front end of the screw conveyors protrudes beyond the main conveying device. Due to this, the transverse flow is introduced particularly efficiently into the main flow stream.

[0017] It is advantageous if the screw conveyors of the first tank half are operated independently of the screw conveyors of the second tank half. Thus, screw conveyors whose half of the tank is already emptied can be turned off early. In addition, it is possible to drive separately, depending on the temperature distribution in the embedded material of the respective tank halves, the respective screw conveyors.

[0018] Preferably, the screw conveyors are arranged in the tank halves at an angle greater than sixty degrees to the direction of the main conveying device. Due to this inclined positioning, the mixing of the embedded material can already be improved in the tank halves.

[0019] In a targeted embodiment, the screw conveyors are rotatable to the left and to the right. In this case, by turning to the left or by turning to the right of the screw conveyors, the embedded material can be transferred towards the main conveying device or it can be kept away from the main conveying device. The rotation, opposite to the direction of the transverse flow stream, can be aimed at retaining the material embedded in the tank halves and thus does not affect the main flow stream.

[0020] Optionally, the tank halves can be pivoted rearwardly about the X axis simultaneously or independently. By tilting the tank halves around the X axis, the material tank is angled backwards.

ΕΡ2 377 994 Β1

In this way, embedded material still in the tank halves can be intentionally collected in the rear area of ​​the material tank. The inclined positioning of the material container around the X axis enables total consumption of embedded material.

[0021] The subject of the invention will now be explained based on the drawings.

And so they show:

Figure 1 is a schematic top view of the material transfer system used for power supplies or finishers, Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the material transfer system, Figure 3 is a side view from above of the material transfer system.

[0022] Fig. 1 refers to a material transfer system 1 that is used according to the invention for finishers or feeders. The material transfer system 1 is designed to assist in the homogenization of the embedded material temperature, with the embedded material temperature being adjustable. Since the uneven distribution of temperatures in the embedded material during asphalting can lead to damage in the road surface, the material transfer system 1 provides a technical solution to counteract the uneven distribution of temperatures in the embedded material. The material transfer system 1 comprises a material container 2 having on the side a first and a second container half 3, 4. Before installation or before feeding, 2 bitumen embedded material is pre-stored in the material tank. In this case, the first and second tank halves 3, 4 can receive particularly large amounts of embedding material. The embedded material is usually transported by the truck to the construction site for subsequent feeding to the power supply or finishing machine. Already during transport, an uneven temperature distribution was formed on the truck in the embedded material. Thus, the embedded material, added to the material container 2, is also characterized by an uneven temperature distribution.

[0023] The material transfer system 1 further includes a main transfer device 5 running in the middle relative to the material tank 2 and dividing it centrally into its both tank halves 3, 4. Into the main conveying device 5, embedded material is fed from the first and / or second tank 3, 4, then leaving the material tank 2 as the main flow stream. The main conveying device 5 transports the desired amount of build-in material to the finishing place of the finisher or forms part of the feeder system.

[0024] Transversely to the direction of the main flow stream, screw conveyors 6, 7 are arranged in the first and second halves 3, 4 of the tank. Screw conveyors 6, 7 define a transverse flow stream, transporting the embedded material from the first and second tank halves 3, 4 towards the main conveying device 5. The homogeneous temperature distribution in the embedded material of the main flow stream is particularly achieved in that the screw conveyors 6, 7 can be operated independently of the main conveying device 5. Mixing the main flow

37 2 377 994 Β1 flow with transverse flow occurs when the embedded material is conveyed by screw conveyors 6, 7 transverse to the direction of the main flow stream. [0025] When the screw conveyors 6, 7 are turned off, the embedded material can be retained in the first and second halves 3, 4 of the tank. Turning off the screw conveyors 6, 7 is particularly desirable when the embedded material of the first and second tank halves 3, 4 has cooled down and the low temperature of the embedded material of the first and second tank halves 3, 4 should not affect the higher temperature of the embedded material of the main flow stream.

[0026] To control the operation of the screw conveyors 6, 7 or the main conveying device 5 independently of each other, the material conveying system 1 comprises a control system. The control system can set the ratio between the transverse flow and the main flow. The control system can appear, for example, as a mileage controller, delaying the start of the screw conveyors 6, 7 or switching off the screw conveyors 6, 7 early, [0027] When unloading a truck, hot material is first placed on the main conveyor 5. To bring it immediately without admixing the embedded material from the transverse flow to the incorporation site, the screw conveyors 6, 7 remain off. It is only after some time has passed that the auger conveyors 6, 7 are then switched on by the flow controller. In addition, the flow controller can be prevented from completely emptying the first and second halves 3, 4 of the tank by switching off the screw conveyors 6, 7 early. remains in tank halves 3, 4. The cooled edge material can be mixed with a new load of embedded material to form a higher temperature embedded material.

By means of an independent drive of the screw conveyors 6, 7 and the main conveying device 5, the volume flow can be intentionally set in the main conveying direction. Thus, even at high speed of the main conveying device 5, the speed of the screw conveyors can be suppressed

6, 7 or at a relatively low speed of the main conveying device 5, the speed of the screw conveyors 6, 7 can be relatively high.

[0029] The independent drive can also be precisely adjusted by a temperature measuring system which is used to measure the temperature of the main flow stream after leaving the material tank or the temperature of the transverse flow stream. By measuring the temperature of the main flow stream or the transverse flow stream, the operation of the screw conveyors 6, 7 can be adjusted accordingly by the measurement result. In addition, in response to measuring the temperature of the main flow stream or the transverse flow stream, the speed of the main conveying device 5 or the screw conveyors 6, 7 can be adjusted. Often, when measuring high temperature the main flow stream slows down the main conveying device 5 and simultaneously increases the speed screw conveyors 6,

7. In contrast, the operation of the screw conveyors 6, 7 is slowed down or turned off when the temperature is close to the desired temperature of the main flow stream.

[0030] The main conveying device 1 may consist of two conveyor belts 8, 9. While the conveyor belt 8 receives a substantially transverse flow flow of the first tank half 3, the conveyor belt 9 serves to receive the transverse flow of the second

ΕΡ 2 377 994 Β1 halves of the 4th tank. The course of both belt conveyors 8, 9 can be adjusted independently of each other. Depending on the desired ratio of volume flows between the two conveyor belts 8, 9, their speed can be adjusted independently of each other.

[0031] A partition 10 can be arranged between the two conveyor belts 8, 9. The partition 10 can prevent the embedded material from one of the conveyor belts 8, 9 from falling into the chassis of the main conveyor device 5. In addition, the partition supports the even distribution of the embedded material on the conveyor belts. 7, 8.

[0032] In order to efficiently introduce a transverse flow stream from the first and second tank halves 3, 4 into the main flow stream, a swiveling slide plate 11 is arranged on the tank halves 3, 4. Through the slide plate 11 it is possible to prevent the material being embedded from falling into the area between the tank halves 3, 4 and the main transferring device 5. [0033] To accelerate the transfer of the transverse flow stream, the tank halves 3, 4 can be tilted either simultaneously or independently at an angle up to forty-five degrees to the direction of the main flow stream. When tilting the tank halves 3, 4, the screw conveyors 6, 7 tilt together without colliding with the main conveying device 5. In the case of the invention, screw conveyors 6, 7 can be connected, as required, to assist the lateral flow flow or to mix the embedded material of the tank halves 3, 4 with the embedded material of the main flow stream. It has proved useful to use at least one screw conveyor for each tank half.

[0034] The effective mixing of the transverse flow with the main flow, and thus the improved uniformity of the temperature of the embedded material, is assisted by the fact that the screw conveyors 6, 7 protrude beyond the slide plate 11 into the main flow of the main conveyor 5. This leads to optimally mixing the transverse flow with the main flow.

[0035] Optionally, the screw conveyors 6 of the first tank half 3 can also be operated independently of the screw conveyors 7 of the second tank half. This makes it possible to mix the embedded material from only one of both tank halves 3, 4 with the main flow stream, while there is no cross flow of the other tank half. This seems expedient when only substantially half of the embedded material is to be transferred quantitatively. In addition, the speed of the screw conveyors 6 can be set independently of the speed of the screw conveyors 7 by controlling the mileage.

[0036] In the first and second tank halves 3, 4, the screw conveyors 6, 7 can be positioned at an angle β to the direction of the main flow stream. Depending on the use case, the angle β may be greater than sixty degrees. Positioning the screw conveyors 6, 7 against the direction of the main flow stream allows mixing of the transverse flow stream with the main flow stream in the rear area of ​​the material tank 2. By this it is achieved that the mixed matter! the built-in first travels a certain distance along the main conveying device 5 before it passes through the temperature measuring device, whereby a more realistic temperature measurement of the main flow of the temperature measuring system follows. Alternatively, conveyors

ΕΡ 2 377 994 Β1 screw 6, 7 can also be positioned in the direction of the main flow stream, whereby the transport of material embedded along the direction of the main flow stream can be accelerated.

[0037] In a further embodiment, the screw conveyors 6, 7 are rotatable in both directions, i.e. they can be rotated to the right and to the right. Depending on the design of the screw conveyors 6, 7, the material can be stopped in a rotation opposite to the direction of the transverse flow stream, the material embedded in the tank half 3, 4.

[0038] The rotation of the screw conveyors 6, 7 in the opposite direction to the transverse flow direction also has the effect of pumping material embedded in the tank halves 3, 4. When pumping into tank container 3, 4, mixing of the transverse flow stream with the main flow stream can be avoided to the greatest extent. If embedded material from the tank halves 3, 4 is desired, then the direction of rotation of the screw conveyors 6, 7 is changed to direct the transverse flow to the main flow.

[0039] Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the material transfer system 1. Fig. 2 shows the rear deck walls 12 supporting the material embedded in the material tank 2. The rear deck walls 12 are double-walled and surround the air gap. By double-walled rear deck walls 12, excessive heat transfer to the power supply chassis or the finishing machine can be prevented. Besides, by fig. 2 it is shown that the screw conveyors 6, 7 protrude from the tank halves 3, 4 beyond the main conveying device 5.

[0040] Fig. 3 clearly shows the geometry of the tank halves 3, 4. To be able to affect the mixing of the transverse flow into the main flow, also the tank halves 3, 4 can be swung independently of each other or simultaneously around the X axis. Swiveling around the X axis causes the transverse flow to mix in at a higher level into the main flow. Optionally, the material tank 2 may also include a front closing deck wall (not shown) into which the material moves! built-in when the material container 2 tilts clockwise around the X axis,