Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW-MPT Document 119-12 Filed 11/17/22 Page 1 of 13 PageID #:
`12418
`
`Exhibit L
`
`

`

`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW-MPT Document 119-12 Filed 11/17/22 Page 2 of 13 PageID #:
`I 1111111111111111 11111 111111111111111 lllll 111111111111111 111111111111111111
`12419
`
`US009879390B2
`
`c12) United States Patent
`Berning et al.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 9,879,390 B2
`*Jan.30,2018
`
`(54) ROAD MILLING MACHINE AND METHOD
`FOR MEASURING THE MILLING DEPTH
`
`(58) Field of Classification Search
`CPC ..................................................... E0lC 23/088
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(71) Applicant: Wirtgen GmbH, Windhagen (DE)
`
`(72)
`
`Inventors: Christian Berning, Zulpich (DE);
`Dieter Simons, Buchholz (DE)
`
`(73) Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH (DE)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis(cid:173)
`claimer.
`
`CA
`CN
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 15/376,023
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Dec. 12, 2016
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2017/0275832 Al
`
`Sep. 28, 2017
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(60)
`
`Continuation of application No. 14/341,191, filed on
`Jul. 25, 2014, now Pat. No. 9,523,176, which is a
`(Continued)
`
`(30)
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Dec. 22, 2006
`
`(DE) ........................ 10 2006 062 129
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`EOlC 23/()88
`G()JB 5/18
`EOlC 23/12
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`CPC .......... EOlC 23/()88 (2013.01); EOlC 231127
`(2013.01); G()JB 5/18 (2013.01)
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`3,158,945 A
`3,423,859 A
`
`12/1964 Curlett et al.
`1/1969 Swisher, Jr. et al.
`(Continued)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`6/2006
`2548521 Al
`3/1996
`2223305 Y
`(Continued)
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Ex. Al: German Office Action in DE 102005004211.0-25 , 3 pp. (not
`prior art).
`
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner - Matthew D. Troutman
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm - Patterson Intellectual
`Propert Law, PC; Lucian Wayne Beavers; Gary L. Montie
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`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.
`
`22 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
`
`10
`
`~
`
`14
`
`6
`
`+---3
`
`WA-0014244
`
`

`

`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW-MPT Document 119-12 Filed 11/17/22 Page 3 of 13 PageID #:
`12420
`
`US 9,879,390 B2
`Page 2
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`continuation of application No. 13/557, 729, filed on
`Jul. 25, 2012, now Pat. No. 8,807,867, which is a
`division of application No. 12/003,094, filed on Dec.
`20, 2007, now Pat. No. 8,246,270.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
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`
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`2011/0206456 Al
`
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`7 /2005 Holl et al.
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`12/2007 Berning et al.
`6/2008 Berning et al.
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`10/2008 Mannebach et al.
`12/2008 Von Schonebeck et al.
`4/2009 Berning et al.
`5/2010 Busley et al.
`8/2011 Jurasz et al.
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`CN
`CN
`DE
`DE
`DE
`DE
`DE
`DE
`DE
`DE
`DE
`DE
`DE
`DE
`DE
`DE
`EP
`EP
`EP
`EP
`EP
`EP
`EP
`GB
`GB
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`WO
`WO
`WO
`WO
`WO
`
`2305429 Y
`1270257 A
`2738455 Al
`2844413 Al
`3007124 Al
`8810670 Ul
`3812809 Al
`3920011 Al
`4017107 Al
`9114281 Ul
`4311809 Al
`19617442 Cl
`19724387 Al
`19756676 Cl
`100558980 Al
`10357074 B3
`0547378 Al
`0692183 Al
`0752501 Al
`1070856 Al
`1154075 A2
`1860241 A2
`1924746 Bl
`2313347 A
`2333862 A
`6462505 Al
`64062505 A
`2279805 A
`03013306 U
`03172404 A
`06-009045 Y2
`07-015847 Y2
`2522456 B2
`08302615 A
`2763509 B2
`2003253619 A
`2007009540 A
`9308003 Al
`9639562 Al
`02057112 Al
`03064770 Al
`2007031531 Al
`
`1/1999
`10/2000
`3/1979
`4/1980
`9/1981
`3/1989
`11/1989
`1/1991
`3/1991
`2/1992
`10/1994
`1/1998
`12/1998
`6/1999
`8/2001
`5/2005
`6/1993
`1/1996
`1/1996
`1/2001
`11/2001
`11/2007
`4/2016
`11/1997
`8/1999
`3/1989
`3/1989
`11/1990
`2/1991
`7/1991
`3/1994
`4/1995
`5/1996
`11/1996
`3/1998
`9/2003
`1/2007
`4/1993
`12/1996
`7/2002
`8/2003
`3/2007
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Ex. A2: Summary of Al, 2 pp. (not prior art).
`Ex. Bl: Third Pa1ty Observation-EP 20060793470, 4 pp. (Jan. 21,
`2013) (not prior art).
`Ex. B2: Sunnnary of Bl, 3 pp. (not prior art).
`Ex.: Cl: Third Party Observation EP 20060793470, 12 pp. (Sep.
`3, 2014) (not prior mt).
`Ex. C2: Sunm1ary of Cl, 5 pp. (not prior art).
`Ex. D: IPRP from PCT/EP2006/066305, 10 pp. (not prior art).
`Ex. E: Written Opinion of the ISA from PCT/EP2006/066305, 9 pp.
`(not prior art).
`Co-pending lJ.S. Appl. No. 15/597,234, filed May 17, 2017, 29 pp.
`(not prior art).
`Co-pending U.S. Appl. No. 15/625,266, filed Jun. 16, 2017, 27 pp.
`(not prior art).
`
`WA-0014245
`
`

`

`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW-MPT Document 119-12 Filed 11/17/22 Page 4 of 13 PageID #:
`12421
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`US 9,879,390 B2
`Page 3
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`European Search Report in corresponding European Patent Appli(cid:173)
`cation No. EP 13 15 4680, dated Jun. 30, 2016, 3 pp. (not prior art).
`Ex. F 1: Third Party Observation EP 20060793470, dated Oct. 23,
`2015, 7 pp. (not prior art).
`Ex. F2: Machine Translation of Ex. F 1, 8 pp. (not prior art).
`Ex. G !----'photo of a Wirtgen milling machine having a side plate
`raised by two Bowden cables which are pulled by a horizontally
`oriented hydraulic cylinder. The hydraulic cylinder is not visible in
`the photo, but is shown in the drawing Exhibit G2. A single wire
`rope sensor is attached to the center of the side plate to measure
`vertical movement of the side plate. (Undated but admitted to be
`prior art.).
`Ex. G2-drawing of a Wirtgen W1500;W1900 milling machine
`having a side plate raised by two Bowden cables which are pulled
`by a horizontally oriented hydraulic cylinder like that illustrated in
`Exhibit G 1. (Undated but admitted to be prior art.).
`Ex. H-----photo of a Wi1tgen Wl900 milling machine having a side
`plate raised by two vertical hydraulic cylinders. A single wire rope
`
`sensor is attached to the center of the side plate to measure vertical
`movement of the side plate. (Undated but admitted to be prior art.).
`Ex. I-----Brochure-----Wirtgen Cold milling machines W1500/W1900
`(8 pages) (dated 2001).
`Ex.: J-Brochure-Wirtgen Cold milling machines W/2000 (12
`pages) (dated 2000).
`Ex. K-Brochure-Wi1tgen Cold milling machines W/2100 (12
`pages) (dated 2001).
`Ex. L-----Brochure-----Wirtgen Cold milling machines W/2200 (16
`pages) (dated 2000).
`Notice of Opposition to EP 1924746 filed Jan. 27, 2017 by Bomag
`GmbI-I, with English language machine translation, 93 pp. (not prior
`art).
`Notice of Opposition to EP 1924746 filed Jan. 27, 2017 by Cater(cid:173)
`pillar Inc., with English language machine translation, 58 pp. (not
`prior art).
`KBS3: Merkmalsanalyse Patentanspruch 1, EP 1924746 Bl with
`English language machine translation, 3 pp. (not prior art).
`KBS7: Stein und Erden article "Mining-Tage in Windhagen" from
`Die Industrie der Stein + Erden, Ausgabe 4/02, with English
`language machine translation, 10 pp.
`
`WA-0014246
`
`

`

`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW-MPT Document 119-12 Filed 11/17/22 Page 5 of 13 PageID #:
`12422
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan.30,2018
`
`Sheet 1 of 5
`
`US 9,879,390 B2
`
`I
`
`'l""I .
`.....
`Q'\
`IJ..
`
`co
`
`i N
`
`(Y)
`,....;
`
`WA-0014247
`
`/
`
`,....;
`
`

`

`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW-MPT Document 119-12 Filed 11/17/22 Page 6 of 13 PageID #:
`12423
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jan.30,2018
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`Sheet 2 of 5
`
`US 9,879,390 B2
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`8
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`~
`
`4
`
`16
`8
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`WA-0014248
`
`16 / - - \
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`
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`17
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`
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`26
`
`28
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`15
`
`Fig.3
`
`17
`
`

`

`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW-MPT Document 119-12 Filed 11/17/22 Page 7 of 13 PageID #:
`12424
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`Jan.30,2018
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`Sheet 3 of 5
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`US 9,879,390 B2
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`10
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`8
`
`10
`
`8
`
`16
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`4
`
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`
`Fig.4
`
`17
`
`35
`
`35
`
`4
`
`22
`
`21
`
`17
`
`Fig.5
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`WA-0014249
`
`

`

`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW-MPT Document 119-12 Filed 11/17/22 Page 8 of 13 PageID #:
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`Jan.30,2018
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`Sheet 4 of 5
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`US 9,879,390 B2
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`4
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`21
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`22
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`
`21
`22
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`
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`
`17
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`WA-0014250
`
`

`

`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW-MPT Document 119-12 Filed 11/17/22 Page 9 of 13 PageID #:
`12426
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`Jan.30,2018
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`Sheet 5 of 5
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`US 9,879,390 B2
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`Fig.7a
`
`8
`
`Fig.7b
`
`8
`~
`/ / / /
`
`Fig.7c
`
`8
`
`9
`
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`17
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`4
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`/
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`WA-0014251
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`

`

`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW-MPT Document 119-12 Filed 11/17/22 Page 10 of 13 PageID #:
`12427
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`US 9,879,390 B2
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`1
`ROAD MILLING MACHINE AND METHOD
`FOR MEASURING THE MILLING DEPTH
`
`RELATED APPLICATIONS
`
`5
`
`The present application claims the priority of the German
`Patent Application No. 10 2006 062 129.8 of Dec. 22, 2006,
`the disclosure of which is herewith incorporated herein by
`reference. This application is also a continuation of U.S.
`patent application Ser. No. 14/341,191 filed Jul. 25, 2014, 10
`which was a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
`13/557,729 filed Jul. 25, 2012, which was a divisional of
`U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/003,094 filed Dec. 20,
`2007, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by
`reference.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`2
`The invention advantageously provides that at least one
`measuring means detects the lifting of a first sensor means
`resting on the ground or traffic surface and/or the lowering
`of a second sensor means to the bottom of the milling track,
`the lifting or lowering being effected in correspondence with
`the present milling depth. From the measured values sup(cid:173)
`plied by the at least one measuring means, the control means
`can determine the milling depth at the level of the measuring
`means of the milling roll or the second sensor means.
`Here, the measurement is eftected preferably at the level
`of the stripping means arranged closely behind the milling
`roll, or immediately behind the stripping means, if a separate
`sensor means is provided.
`Using the stripping means as a sensor means is advanta-
`15 geous in that no measuring errors are caused by some
`unevenness in the milling track. It is another advantage that
`the stripping means is protected against wear at its bottom
`edge.
`As an alternative, the control means can use the measure-
`20 ment values of the at least one measuring means to deter(cid:173)
`mine the current milling depth of the milling roll at the level
`of the milling roll axis. Preferably, this is done by a
`calculation that may also take into account an inclined
`position of the machine frame.
`The measuring means are preferably formed by position
`sensing means. In one embodiment it is provided that the
`first sensor means is formed by at least one of the side plates
`arranged on either side at the front sides of the milling roll
`so as to be height-adjustable and pivotable with respect to
`30 the machine frame. The side plates rest on the ground or
`traffic surface or are pressed against these, so that a change
`of their position relative to the machine frame during
`operation allows for an exact detection of the milling depth,
`if a measurement of the change of the position of a second
`35 sensor means is performed additionally in the milling track
`relative to the machine frame.
`Also for side plates, there is an advantage that their
`bottom edges are protected against wear.
`Here, the measuring means may comprise cable lines
`coupled with the side plates and/or the stripping means, and
`associated cable-line sensors as the position sensors which
`measure the changes of the position of the side plates and the
`stripping means relative to the machine frame or the relative
`displacement of at least one of the side plates in relation to
`the stripping means or the second sensor means.
`Preferably, the cable lines coupled with the side plates and
`the stripping means are arranged transversely to the milling
`track in a substantially vertical plane extending approxi-
`mately at the level of the stripping means.
`Hereby, it can be avoided that a measurement error is
`caused by using difterent reference planes for the measure(cid:173)
`ment at the side plates with respect to the measurement at the
`stripping plate.
`To achieve this, it may be provided that a cable line is
`coupled on the one hand with the stripping means and, on the
`other hand, with at least one of the side plates via a guide
`roller, such that a cable-line sensor immediately measures
`the milling depth, e.g. at the guide roller.
`In another alternative it may be provided that the side
`60 plate has a respective measuring means at the side edges
`facing the side plates, which measures the relative displace(cid:173)
`ment of the stripping means with respect to the at least one
`adjacent side plate or the relative displacement of at least
`one side plate with respect to the stripping means.
`According to another alternative embodiment, the strip(cid:173)
`ping means may include at least one height-adjustable beam
`as the first sensing means, which is guided vertically and
`
`Field of the Invention
`The invention refers to a self-propelled road milling
`machine, especially a cold milling machine, as well as a
`methods for measuring the milling depth.
`Description of Related Art
`With such road milling machines, the machine frame is 25
`supported by a track assembly comprising wheels or cater(cid:173)
`pillar tracks connected to the machine frame through lifting
`columns, the lifting columns allowing to maintain the
`machine fran1e in a horizontal plane or in parallel to the
`ground or uuder a predetermined longitudinal and/or trans(cid:173)
`versal inclination.
`A milling roll for working a ground or traffic surface is
`supported at the machine frame.
`Near the front end sides of the milling roll height(cid:173)
`adjustable side plates are provided as edge protectors at an
`outer wall of the road milling machine, which side plates, in
`operation, rest on the ground or traffic surface at the lateral
`non-milled edges of the milling track. Behind the milling
`roll, seen in the travelling direction, a height-adjustable
`stripping means is provided which, in operation, may be 40
`lowered into the milling track formed by the milling roll to
`strip off milling material remaining in the milling track.
`Further, the road milling machine has a control means for
`controlling the milling depth of the milling roll.
`It is a problem with known road milling machines that the 45
`milling depth can not be controlled accurately enough and
`that, fix this reason, the milling depth has to be measured
`repeatedly by hand during the milling operation. Especially
`in cases where a hard traffic surface, e.g. concrete, is milled,
`the tools are worn heavily so that the milling depth set is 50
`corrupted by the decreasing diameter of the cutting circle.
`For example, the wear of the tools, when milling concrete,
`can cause a difference in the milling radius of 15 mm after
`only a few 100 m, so that the measuring of an adjustment of
`side plates, for example, with respect to the machine frame 55
`is not sufficiently accurate. If the milling depth is insuffi(cid:173)
`cient, a time-consuming reworking of the milling track has
`to be carried out. Should the milling track be too deep, more
`building material has to be applied afterwards in order to
`achieve the desired ground or traffic surface level.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`It is an object of the present invention to improve the
`accuracy of measuring the milling depth during the opera- 65
`tion of a road milling machine and to thereby minimize
`deviations from a predetermined milling depth.
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`WA-0014252
`
`

`

`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW-MPT Document 119-12 Filed 11/17/22 Page 11 of 13 PageID #:
`12428
`
`US 9,879,390 B2
`
`4
`means in the absence of parallelism between the machine
`frame and the ground or traffic surface.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`5
`
`10
`
`3
`linearly in the stripping means and extends transversely to
`the travelling direction, said beam resting on the ground or
`traffic surface beside the milling track, the position of the
`beam relative to the stripping means, preferably with respect
`to height and/or inclination, being measurable by the mea-
`suring means.
`Due to gravity, the side plates may rest on the edges of the
`ground or traffic surface beside the milling track milled by
`the milling machine, or they may alternatively be pressed on
`the edges by hydraulic means.
`The stripping means may also be pressed on the surface
`of the milling track using hydraulic means.
`The hydraulic means ±ix pressing the side plates on the
`ground or traffic surface or for pressing the stripping means 15
`on the bottom of the milling track may comprise integrated
`position sensing systems.
`For lifting or lowering the side plates and/or the stripping
`means, a plurality of, preferably two respective piston/
`cylinder units with integrated position sensing systems may
`be provided, whose position sensing signals are used by the
`control means to calculate the current milling depth from the
`relative difference between the positions of the stripping
`means and the at least one first sensor means.
`The control means that receives the position sensing
`signals from the measuring means is adapted to automati(cid:173)
`cally control the lifted condition of the rear lifting columns,
`seen in the travelling direction, to establish parallelism
`between the machine fran1e and the ground or traffic surface
`at a desired milling depth.
`The side plates resting on the traffic surface so as to be
`pivotable with respect to the machine frame may comprise
`measuring means spaced apart in the travelling direction, the
`control means being capable to measure the longitudinal 35
`and/or the transversal inclination of the machine frame with
`respect to the ground or traffic surface from the difference
`between the measurement signals from the side plates and
`the stripping means.
`The front and/or rear lifting columns may include a
`position sensing system to detect the lifted condition. The
`control means that receives the position sensing signals from
`the measuring means can control the condition of all lifting
`columns such that the machine frame has a predetermined
`inclination or a predetermined travel-distance-dependent 45
`transverse inclination across the travelling direction.
`Preferably, the current set value for the milling depth of
`the milling roll is adjusted using the front lifting columns.
`The following is a detailed description of a preferred
`embodiment of the invention with reference to the accom- 50
`parrying drawings.
`
`30
`
`The road milling machine illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises
`a machine frame 4 supported by a track assembly having two
`front chain tracks 2 and at least one rear chain track 3. The
`chain tracks 2, 3 are connected with the machine frame 4 via
`lifting columns 12, 13. It is understood that wheels may be
`used instead of the chain tracks 2, 3.
`Using the lifting columns 12, 13, the machine frame 4 can
`be lifted or lowered or moved to take a predetermined
`inclined position with respect to the ground or traffic surface
`8. The milling roll 6 supported in the machine frame 4 is
`enclosed by a roll case 9 which is open at the front, seen in
`the travelling direction, towards a conveyor belt 11 that
`20 conveys the milled material in a front part of the machine
`frame 4 to a second conveyor means 13. The second
`conveyor means 13 with which the milled material may be
`delivered onto a truck, for example, is not fully illustrated in
`FIG. 1 because of its length. Behind the milling roll 6, a
`25 height-adjustable stripping means 14 is arranged which, in
`operation, has a stripping plate 15 engage into the milling
`track 17 formed by the milling roll 6 and strip the bottom of
`the milling track 17 so that no milled material is left in the
`milling track 17 behind the stripping plate.
`Above the milling roll 6, a driver's stand 5 with a control
`panel for the vehicle operator is provided for all control
`functions of the driving and milling operations. It also
`includes a control means 23 for controlling the milling depth
`of the milling roll 6.
`The side plates 10, arranged on either side near the front
`end of the milling roll 6, and the stripping means 14 are
`provided with measuring means 16 that allow the determi(cid:173)
`nation of the current milling depth at the level of the
`stripping means 14 or the calculation of the milling depth at
`40 the level of the rotational axis of the milling roll. Here, the
`milling depth is determined in a plane orthogonal to the
`ground or traffic surface, which plane is parallel to the
`rotational axis of the milling roll and includes the rotational
`axis.
`The position of a first sensor means, e.g. the side plates
`10, on the ground or traffic surface 8 and/or the lowering of
`a second sensor means, e.g. the stripping means, can thus be
`detected. Measuring means 16, preferably formed by posi(cid:173)
`tion sensing means, measure the displacements of the sensor
`means, e.g. the side plates 10 or a beam 20 or the stripping
`plate 15, with respect to the machine frame 4 or relative to
`each other.
`The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 shows a beam 20 as
`the sensor means, resting on the ground or traffic surface 8
`55 and guided at the stripping plate 15 of the stripping means
`in a slot 24 extending linearly and orthogonally to the
`bottom edge 19 of the stripping plate 15. It is understood that
`two mutually parallel slots 24 can be provided in the
`stripping plate 15 or that the beam 20, serving as the sensing
`60 means, can be guided in a difterent manner so as to be
`height-adjustable at the stripping means 14. The measuring
`means 16, provided in the form of a position sensing means,
`detects the displacement of the beam 20 with respect to the
`stripping means 14. Should two horizontally spaced slots 24
`65 be used, it is possible to separately detect the milling depth
`on the left side of the milling track 17 and on the right side
`of the milling track 17. Moreover, this offers the possibility
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 shows a cold milling machine.
`FIG. 2 illustrates a first sensor means attached to the
`stripping plate.
`FIG. 3 shows two piston/cylinder units for lifting or
`lowering the stripping plate of a stripping means.
`FIG. 4 illustrates an optical device for measuring the
`positional difference between the side plates and the strip(cid:173)
`ping means.
`FIG. 5 shows a cable line measuring means provided
`between the side plates and the stripping means.
`FIG. 6 illustrates a preferred embodiment.
`FIGS. 7a, b, care schematic illustrations of the measure(cid:173)
`ment error occurring at the stripping plate of the stripping
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`WA-0014253
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`

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`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW-MPT Document 119-12 Filed 11/17/22 Page 12 of 13 PageID #:
`12429
`
`US 9,879,390 B2
`
`5
`to detennine an inclination of the machine frame 4 with
`respect to the ground or traffic surface 8.
`FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment wherein the strip(cid:173)
`ping plate 15 of the stripping means 14 can be lifted or
`lowered by means of hydraulic means. The hydraulic means
`are formed by piston/cylinder units 26, 28 with an integrated
`position sensing system. This means that the piston/cylinder
`units 26, 28 not only allow for the stroke movement of the
`stripping means, but moreover generate a position signal.
`As is evident from FIG. 3, the piston/cylinder units 26, 28
`have one end connected to the machine frame 4 and the other
`end connected to the stripping plate 15.
`FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment, wherein the relative
`movement between the side plates 10 and the stripping plate
`15 is measured directly in order to detect the milling depth
`of the milling track 17. To achieve this, elements 38, 40 of
`the measuring means 16 are provided, e.g., at the side plates
`10 and opposite thereto at the stripping plate 15, which
`elements allow for the detection of the relative displacement
`of the stripping plate 15 with respect to the side plates 10.
`This displacement corresponds to the milling depths in FIG.
`4. For example, such a measuring means, which measures
`relative displacements, may be formed by an optical system,
`e.g. by reading a scale with an optical sensor, or by an 25
`electromagnetic or inductive system.
`As an alternative and as illustrated in FIG. 5, the relative
`position sensing system between the side plates 10 and the
`stripping plate 15 may also be formed by a cable line 22 in
`combination with a cable-line sensor 21. the cable line 22 is 30
`coupled with the stripping plate 15 of the stripping means 14
`on the one hand and, on the other hand, with at least one of
`the side plates 10 via a guide roller 35, so that the signal
`from the cable-line sensor 21 can immediately indicate the
`value of the current milling depth.
`The side plates 10 themselves can be used as first sensor
`means by monitoring their position with respect to the
`machine frame 4 or the second sensor means by means of a
`cable line and a cable-line sensor or by means of piston/
`cylinder units 30, 32 with integrated position sensing means. 40
`For example, the measuring means can also measure the
`displacement of the side plates 10 with respect to the
`machine frame 4. Should two measuring means be used, one
`in front of the side plates 10 and one behind the same, seen
`in the travelling direction, it is also possible to determine the 45
`longitudinal inclination of the machine fran1e 4 with respect
`to the ground or traffic surface 8 or to also determine the
`transverse inclination of the machine frame 4 by a compari(cid:173)
`son of the measured values for both side plates 10 on both
`sides of the milling roll 6.
`FIG. 6 illustrates a preferred embodiment, wherein cable
`lines 22 comprising cable-line sensors 21 mounted to the
`machine frame 4 are arranged on both sides of the stripping
`means 15. On either side of the machine, the side plates 10
`are also provided with cable lines 22 and cable-line sensors 55
`21 fastened at the machine frame 4. The milling depth s is
`determined from the diflerence between the measured values
`of the cable-line sensors 21 for the side plates 10 and the
`cable-line sensors 21 of the stripping means 15. Here, the
`measurement should preferably be made in the same sub- 60
`stantially vertical plane in order to avoid measurement
`errors.
`FIGS. 7a to 7c illustrate the cable-line sensors 21 for the
`side plates 10 and the stripping plates 14, the drawings only
`indicating one cable-line sensor 21, since the cable-line 65
`sensors are arranged one behind the other in substantially the
`same plane.
`
`6
`FIGS. 7a, b, care to illustrate the case where the ground
`or traffic surface 8 is not parallel to the machine frame 4, the
`measured milling depth value indicated by the measuring
`means having to be corrected because of an angle error,
`5 because a longitudinal inclination of the machine frame 4
`corrupts the measurement signal at the level of the stripping
`plate 15 or a second sensor means near the stripping means
`14. Due to the fixed geometrical relations, i.e. the distance
`of the stripping plate 15 from the rotational axis of the
`10 milling roll 6, the measured milling depth value can be
`corrected, knowing the angular deviation from the horizon(cid:173)
`tal in the travelling direction, and the current milling depth
`at the level of the milling roll axis can be calculated. The
`angular deviation in the travelling direction may be deter-
`15 mined, for example, from the position of the lifting columns
`12, 13 of the caterpillar track assemblies 2, 3 or the piston/
`cylinder units 30, 32.
`It is further evident from FIGS. 7a to c, to which extent
`the side plates 10 are pivotable with respect to the machine
`20 frame 4. Since the piston/cylinder units 30, 32 are also
`provided with position sensing systems, these measuring
`signals may be used as an alternative to cable-line sensors 21
`to determine the distance of the side plates 10 from the
`machine frame 4.
`FIG. 7c illustrates the position of the at least one side plate
`10 for a ground-parallel position of the machine frame 4.
`The stripping plate 15 illustrated in FIGS. 7a to 7c is located
`at the roll case 9, so that the distance of the stripping plate
`14 from the rotational axis to the milling roll 6 can be
`determined unambiguously in order to allow for a calcula(cid:173)
`tion of the milling depth correction should the machine
`frame 4 not be parallel to the ground.
`The control means 23 can calculate the current milling
`depth at the level of the milling roll axis from the position
`35 sensing signals received, and it can possibly also generate a
`control signal for a vertical adjustment of the milling roll 6.
`Preferably, the control means 23 can automatically con-
`trol the lifted condition of the at least one rear lifting column
`13, seen in the travelling direction, to establish parallelism
`between the machine frame 4 and the ground or traffic
`surface 8 or to the horizontal plane or to a predetermined
`desired milling plane.
`Although the invention has been described and illustrated
`with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it is not
`intended that the invention be limited to those illustrative
`embodiments. Those skilled in that art will recognize that
`variations and modification