Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW Document 221-19 Filed 10/05/23 Page 1 of 5 PageID #: 17157
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` Exhibit 19
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`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW Document 221-19 Filed 10/05/23 Page 2 of 5 PageID #: 17158
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Berning et al.
`
`(io) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,530,641 B2
`May 12, 2009
`
`US007530641B2
`
`(54) AUTOMOTIVE CONSTRUCTION MACHINE,
`AS WELL AS METHOD FOR WORKING
`GROUND SURFACES
`
`(75) Inventors: Christian Berning, Zuelpich (DE);
`Herbert Lange, Overath (DE); Dieter
`Simons, Buchholz (DE)
`
`(73) Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH, Windhagen (DE)
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 162 days.
`
`(21) Appl.No.: 11/802,277
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`May 22, 2007
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`US 2007/0286678 Al Dec. 13, 2007
`
`(30)
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`May 22, 2006 (DE) ....................... 10 2006 024 123
`
`(51)
`
`Int.Cl.
`(2006.01)
`E01C 23/088
`(52) U.S. Cl............................................ 299/1.5; 404/84.05
`(58) Field of Classification Search ................. 299/1.05,
`299/1.4, 1.5; 404/84.05
`See application file for complete search history.
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4,139,318 A 2/1979 Jakob et al.
`5/1990 Lentetai.......................... 299/1.5
`4,929,121 A *
`
`(56)
`
`299/1.5
`
`299/1.5
`299/1.5
`299/1.5
`
`4,943,119 A
`Zarniko et al.
`* 7/1990
`5,607,205 A
`Burdick et al.
`* 3/1997
`5,984,420 A
`Murray et al.
`* 11/1999
`6,050,743 A
`Medinger
`4/2000
`6,152,648 A
`Gfroerer et al.
`* 11/2000
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`30 07 124 Al 9/1981
`DE
`1 408 158 Al 10/2003
`EP
`WO WO 97/20109
`6/1997
`* cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner—John Kreck
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Miles & Stockbridge P.C.;
`Vincent L. Ramik, Esq.
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`An automotive construction machine for working ground
`surfaces, with a machine frame, a drive engine for driving
`traveling devices and for driving working devices, and a mill­
`ing drum for milling the ground surfaces, which can be raised,
`driven by, and can be uncoupled from a drum drive, the
`milling drum can be moved into a raised position when not in
`milling mode, and when raised, the rotating direction of the
`milling drum corresponds to the rotating direction of the
`traveling devices and remains coupled with the drive engine,
`and a monitoring device monitors the distance between the
`milling drum and the ground surface and uncouples the raised
`milling drum from the drive engine or uncouples the traveling
`devices from the drive engine or raises the machine frame or
`generates an alarm signal when the monitoring device detects
`a deviation that falls below a pre-determined distance, or any
`of the latter.
`
`20 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
`
`

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`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW Document 221-19 Filed 10/05/23 Page 3 of 5 PageID #: 17159
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`US 7,530,641 B2
`
`1
`AUTOMOTIVE CONSTRUCTION MACHINE,
`AS WELL AS METHOD FOR WORKING
`GROUND SURFACES
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`The invention concerns an automotive construction
`machine, as well as a method for working ground surfaces.
`Such automotive construction machines for working
`ground surfaces are known, for instance, from EP1408158A.
`The road milling machine described therein shows a
`machine frame with a drive engine for driving traveling
`devices and for driving working devices. The traveling
`devices may consist of either wheels or crawler tracks, which
`are connected to the machine frame via lifting columns.
`A drum drive drives a milling drum for milling the ground
`surfaces preferably in up-milling mode. The milling drum is
`capable of being uncoupled from the drive train by means of
`a coupling. A scraper blade is located in a height-adjustable
`manner behind the milling drum when seen in the direction of
`travel, which can glide on the surface milled or to be milled by
`the milling drum. In milling mode, the lower edge of the
`scraper blade is always located at the lowest plane of the
`cutting circle of the milling drum.
`Such construction machines operate in strips in accordance
`with the width of the milling drum. This means that the
`construction machine has to travel back after having milled a
`pre-determined length of ground surface in order to then mill
`an adjacent strip.
`It is necessary that the milling drum is idle when traveling
`backwards in order to avoid any accidental collision of the
`tools of the milling drum with the ground surface, because the
`construction machine may be accelerated suddenly and
`uncontrollably in case of an inadvertent engagement of the
`milling drum with the ground surface. The circumferential
`speed of the milling drum, in particular at operating speed, is
`many times, for instance, three times that of the travel speed
`so that the road construction machine may be accelerated
`forcefully in case of an engagement of the milling drum.
`This results in a risk of the milling drum being damaged in
`case of an accidental engagement with the ground surface, so
`that the milling drum is first uncoupled from the drive train
`after it has been raised from the milled cut at the end of a
`ground surface to be worked. The construction machine can
`now be driven back to the beginning of the length of ground to
`be worked, where the speed of the drive engine must be
`reduced to idle speed first to enable coupling of the milling
`drum.
`Contrary to the engine of a passenger car, a considerable
`waiting period elapses until the speed of the drive engine,
`which consists of a combustion engine, has been reduced to
`idle speed and also until it has been increased to operating
`speed again.
`The combustion engine must then be brought back to oper­
`ating speed prior to working the next strip. These processes
`are very time-consuming and very annoying for the machine
`operator, in particular in case of short stretches of road to be
`worked. Moreover, the incessant switching operations of the
`coupling and the related frequent load changes of the com­
`bustion engine give rise to increased wear and tear of the
`coupling, the combustion engine and all components that are
`part of the drive train.
`The purpose of the invention is, therefore, to create a con­
`struction machine, as well as a method for working ground
`surfaces, which is capable of reducing the time required for
`working a pre-determined ground space.
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`The invention provides in an advantageous manner that the
`milling drum, when in raised position and with a direction of
`travel in which the rotating direction of the milling drum
`corresponds to the rotating direction of the traveling devices,
`remains coupled with the drum drive and that a monitoring
`device monitors a distance between the milling drum and the
`ground surface and uncouples the raised milling drum from
`the drive engine and/or uncouples the traveling devices from
`the drive engine and/or raises the machine frame and/or gen­
`erates an alarm signal when the monitoring device detects a
`deviation which falls below a pre-determined distance.
`According to the invention, the milling drum can remain
`coupled with the drive engine in a permanent manner.
`It is no longer required to uncouple the milling drum from
`the drive train when it is raised out of the milled cut. As a
`result, it is also not necessary to reduce and subsequently
`increase the speed of the combustion engine in order to
`engage the milling drum again after repositioning. The mill­
`ing drum can be removed from the milled cut by swivelling or
`raising it, for instance, via lifting columns of the traveling
`devices. When the milling drum is in the raised position, a
`monitoring device detects as to whether the distance between
`the raised milling drum and the ground surface, which has
`been pre-determined for traveling when not in milling mode,
`is maintained. If the deviation falls below the pre-determined
`distance, the raised milling drum, which at that time contin­
`ues rotating, is uncoupled from the drive engine so that,
`should the milling drum actually come into contact with the
`ground, the drive power has no effect on the milling drum and
`only the milling drum’s actual kinetic energy of rotation has
`to be destroyed. When doing so, the mass of the construction
`machine suffices to prevent the construction machine from
`carrying out a jump in the direction of travel in case the
`milling drum inadvertently engages with the ground surface.
`In this way, it is ensured that no time loss is incurred due to the
`fact that a reduction and increase of the speed of the drive
`engine have to be waited for when the construction machine
`is traveling without being in milling mode.
`A further advantage is that the wear and tear of machine
`elements, in particular of the coupling, the combustion engine
`and all other components that are part of the drive train, is
`reduced.
`It is preferably provided that the milling drum mills the
`ground surface in up-milling mode, in which case traveling in
`forward direction is uncritical as the milling drum rotates in
`opposition to the direction of travel. The invention concerns
`itself with traveling in backward direction, in which the mill­
`ing drum can, contrary to prior art, remain coupled with the
`drive engine despite the milling drum rotating in opposition to
`the direction of travel.
`Likewise, traveling backwards when the milling drum is in
`down-milling mode is uncritical due to the milling drum
`rotating in the direction of travel, and according to the inven­
`tion, the milling drum, when in raised position, remains
`coupled with the drive engine also when traveling in forward
`direction without being in milling mode.
`Monitoring of the pre-determined distance by the monitor­
`ing device can be effected either directly or indirectly. Direct
`measuring is effected, for instance, by means of mechanical
`or electronic measurement of the distance, whereas indirect
`measuring of the distance can be effected, for instance, via
`machine elements of the construction machine, via tracers or
`via the actual position of the lifting column carrying the
`machine frame.
`When doing so, the pre-determined distance between the
`raised milling drum and the ground surface can be monitored
`with at least one sensor.
`
`

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`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW Document 221-19 Filed 10/05/23 Page 4 of 5 PageID #: 17160
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`US 7,530,641 B2
`
`5
`ground surface 2 and uncouples the raised milling drum 12
`from the drum drive 10 when the monitoring device 14 detects
`a deviation that falls below a pre-determined distance. It may
`alternatively or additionally be provided that the traveling
`devices 8 are uncoupled from the drive engine 6, or that the
`machine frame is raised, or that an alarm signal is generated.
`The distance between the milling drum 12 and the ground
`surface 2 can be measured either directly or indirectly. The
`detection signals of the monitoring device 14 can either be
`forwarded to a machine control system, or can be used
`directly for uncoupling the milling drum 12 or the traveling
`devices 8 from the drive engine 6, or can alternatively or
`additionally be used for raising the machine frame 4 by means
`of the lifting columns 20 or for generating an alarm signal.
`A sensor is preferably provided for monitoring the distance
`between the milling drum 12 and the ground surface 2. This
`sensor can measure the distance to the ground surface 2 either
`directly or indirectly. The position of a sensing device is
`monitored, for instance, in case of indirect measuring, where
`the said monitoring is effected, for instance, by means of a
`path measuring device or by means of a limit switch that
`detects a certain position of the sensing device.
`The distance to be monitored may either be a pre-deter­
`mined fixed distance, or may consist of a pre-determined
`fixed minimum distance, or can be variable in that it is capable
`of being increased in accordance with an increasing travel
`speed of the traveling devices 8. This means that the pre­
`determined distance increases continually and preferably in a
`proportional manner in accordance with the increasing travel
`speed.
`A sensing device capable of being lowered relative to the
`raised milling drum 12 may be arranged at the machine frame
`4 in such a manner that the sensing device projects vis-a-vis
`the milling drum 12 towards the ground surface 2 by a pre­
`determined distance, with the monitoring device 14, in the
`raised position of the milling drum 12 and the simultaneously
`lowered position of the sensing device, uncoupling at least the
`milling drum 12 from the drive engine 6 when the monitoring
`device 14 detects a contact of the at least one sensing device
`with the ground surface 2 or that the at least one sensing
`device is raised by the ground surface 2. It is understood that,
`apart from uncoupling the milling drum 12 from the drive
`engine 6, the traveling devices 8 may alternatively or addi­
`tionally also be uncoupled from the drive engine 6 or the
`machine frame 4 be raised via the lifting columns 20.
`A preferred embodiment in accordance with FIGS. 1 and 2
`provides that the sensing device consists of a scraper blade 22
`that is arranged behind the milling drum 12 when seen in the
`direction of travel.
`When in milling mode in accordance with FIG. 1, the
`scraper blade 22, which is essentially height-adjustable ver­
`tically within a portal 21, is located in the milled track and
`scrapes the newly milled track behind the milling drum 12 to
`ensure that no remains are left behind in the milled track.
`The lower edge of the scraper blade 22 is then located in the
`same plane as the lowest point of the cutting circle of the
`milling drum 12 shown in the drawings.
`FIG. 2 shows the milling drum 12 in the raised position, in
`which the lowest point of the cutting circle shows a distance
`60
`from the ground surface 2. The scraper blade 22 is also in a
`raised position outside of the milled track, with the lower edge
`of the scraper blade 22 showing a significantly smaller dis­
`tance from the ground surface 2 than the milling drum 12. The
`distance of the lower edge of the scraper blade 22 may cor­
`respond to a pre-determined distance that the milling drum 12
`has to maintain from the ground surface 2.
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`40
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`6
`The monitoring device 14 is capable of determining, for
`instance, as to whether the scraper blade 22 touches the
`ground surface 2 by using, for instance, a structure-borne
`sound sensor.
`Alternatively, the monitoring device 14 is capable of deter­
`mining, for instance, as to whether the scraper blade 22 is
`raised by the ground surface 2, thus leaving its lower limit
`position. In the simplest case, this can be determined by
`means of limit switches for the lowest position of the scraper
`blade 22.
`It is understood that a distance sensor can also be arranged
`at the scraper blade 22, which is capable of measuring the
`distance to the ground surface 2 directly in a non-contact
`manner.
`It is further understood that in lieu of the scraper blade 22,
`a tracer can, for instance, be used that is preferably spring-
`loaded and projects from the machine frame 4.
`In a further alternative, the side plate 24, which is prefer­
`ably arranged at the front ends on both sides of the milling
`drum 12, may also be used as a sensing device. FIG. 1 shows
`the side plate 24 in operating mode, in which the side plate 24
`rests on the ground surface 2 and prevents the milling edge
`from breaking. For that reason, such a side plate 24 is fre­
`quently also called an edge protection. As can be seen from
`the drawings, the side plate 24 is height-adjustable vertically,
`and it always rests on the ground surface 2 irrespective of the
`current milling depth of the milling drum 12.
`It can be seen in FIG. 2 that, in the raised position of the
`milling drum 12, the side plate 24 is also raised until it shows
`a pre-determined distance from the ground surface 2. It can be
`seen in FIG. 2 that the side plate 24 has reached the lower limit
`position in a vertical guide. Detection of the distance or of a
`minimum distance is effected in the same way as with the
`height-adjustable scraper blade 22.
`FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a scraper blade 22 as it is
`basically already known from EP 1 408 158 A.
`FIG. 4 shows the drive train of the construction machine 1,
`which consists of the drive engine 6, which is capable of being
`coupled with a drum drive 10 via a coupling 7, with the said
`drum drive 10 driving the milling drum 12, which is sup­
`ported in the machine frame 4, by means of a belt drive 11. It
`is understood that the coupling 7 may also be arranged on the
`output side in relation to the drum drive 10.
`It is understood that, although the embodiments show a
`road milling machine as a front-loader, other construction
`machines with a milling drum 12 like, for instance, rear­
`loaders or recyclers, can operate in accordance with the same
`principle.
`The monitoring device 14 enables an efficient and safe
`operation of the construction machine 1 so that it is no longer
`required to repeatedly reduce the drive engine 6 to idle speed
`and subsequently increase the operating speed again at the
`ends of a length of ground to be worked.
`What is claimed is:
`1. Automotive construction machine (1) for working
`ground surfaces (2),
`with a machine frame (4),
`with a drive engine (6) for driving traveling devices (8) and
`for driving working devices, and
`with a milling drum (12) for milling the ground surfaces
`(2), which is capable of being raised and is driven by and
`capable of being uncoupled from the drive engine (6),
`where the milling drum (12) is capable of being moved into
`a raised position when it is not in milling mode,
`characterized in that,
`the milling drum (12) remains coupled with the drive
`engine (6) when in raised position and with a direction of
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`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW Document 221-19 Filed 10/05/23 Page 5 of 5 PageID #: 17161
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`US 7,530,641 B2
`
`7
`travel in which the rotating direction of the milling drum
`(12) corresponds to the rotating direction of the traveling
`devices (8), and
`a monitoring device (14) monitors a distance between the
`milling drum (12) and the ground surface (2) and
`uncouples the raised milling drum (12) from the drive
`engine (6) and/or uncouples the traveling devices (8)
`from the drive engine (6) and/or raises the machine
`frame (4) and/or generates an alarm signal when the
`monitoring device (14) detects a deviation that falls
`below a pre-determined distance.
`2. Construction machine (1) in accordance with claim 1,
`characterized in that the milling drum (12) mills the ground
`surface (2) in up-milling mode, and in that the milling drum
`(12) is capable of being moved into a raised position for the
`purpose of traveling in backward direction, in which the
`milling drum (12) remains coupled with the drive engine (6).
`3. Construction machine (1) in accordance with claim 1,
`characterized in that the milling drum (12) mills the ground
`surface (2) in down-milling mode, and in that the milling
`drum (12) is capable of being moved into a raised position for
`the purpose of traveling in forward direction, in which the
`milling drum (12) remains coupled with the drive engine (6).
`4. Construction machine (1) in accordance with claim 1,
`characterized in that the monitoring device (14) monitors,
`with at least one sensor, a pre-determined distance between
`the raised milling drum (12) and the ground surface (2).
`5. Construction machine (1) in accordance with claim 1,
`characterized in that the pre-determined distance to be moni­
`tored by the monitoring device (14) is capable of being
`increased in accordance with the travel speed of the traveling
`devices (8).
`6. Construction machine (1) in accordance with claim 1,
`characterized in that the milling drum (12) is raised by a
`pre-determined amount that is larger than a minimum dis­
`tance between the milling drum (12) and the ground surface
`(2), and in that a sensing device measuring towards the
`ground surface (2) shows a lower limit position that corre­
`sponds to a pre-determined distance or to a minimum distance
`to be maintained between the milling drum (12) and the
`ground surface (2).
`7. Construction machine (1) in accordance with claim 1,
`characterized in that at least one sensing device capable of
`being lowered relative to the raised milling drum (12) is
`arranged at the milling drum (12) in such a manner that the
`sensing device projects vis-a-vis the milling drum (12)
`towards the ground surface (2) by a pre-determined distance,
`and in that the monitoring device (14), in the raised position of
`the milling drum (12) and the simultaneously lowered posi­
`tion of the sensing device, uncouples at least the milling drum
`(12) from the drum drive (10) when the monitoring device
`(14) detects a contact of the at least one sensing device with
`the ground surface (2) or that the at least one sensing device is
`raised by the ground surface (2).
`8. Construction machine (1) in accordance with claim 6,
`characterized in that the sensing device consists of a scraper
`blade (22) that is arranged behind the milling drum (12) when
`seen in the direction of travel.
`9. Construction machine (1) in accordance with claim 6,
`characterized in that the sensing device consists of a hood
`(18) enclosing the milling drum (12) and/or of a side plate
`(24) arranged at the side next to a front end of the milling
`drum (12).
`10. Construction machine (1) in accordance with claim 1,
`characterized in that the traveling devices (8) show lifting
`columns (20) by means of which the machine frame (4) is
`capable of being raised together with the milling drum (12),
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`and in that the monitoring device (14) generates an input
`signal for the position of the lifting columns in accordance
`with the distance monitored and/or the travel speed.
`11. Method for working ground surfaces (2) with a con­
`struction machine (1) that is automotive by means of traveling
`devices (8) and in which a milling drum (12) supported in a
`machine frame (4) is driven by a drive engine (6),
`where the milling drum (12) is moved into a raised position
`when it is not in milling mode,
`characterized in that,
`the milling drum (12) remains coupled with the drive
`engine (6) when in raised position and with a direction of
`travel in which the rotating direction of the milling drum
`(12) corresponds to the rotating direction of the traveling
`devices (8),
`in that a distance is monitored between the rotating, raised
`milling drum (12) and the ground surface (2) or an
`obstacle located in front of the milling (12) when seen in
`the direction of travel, and
`in that the milling drum (12) is uncoupled from the drive
`engine (6), and/or the traveling devices (8) are
`uncoupled from the drive engine (6) and/or the machine
`frame (4) is raised and/or an alarm signal is generated
`when detecting that the deviation falls below a pre­
`determined distance between the milling drum (12) and
`the ground surface (2).
`12. Method in accordance with claim 11, characterized in
`that the ground surface (2) is milled in up-milling mode, and
`in that the milling drum (12) is moved into a raised position
`for the purpose of traveling backwards, in which the milling
`drum (12) remains coupled with the drive engine (6).
`13. Method in accordance with claim 11, characterized in
`that the ground surface (2) is milled in down-milling mode,
`and in that the milling drum (12) is moved into a raised
`position for the purpose of traveling forward, in which the
`milling drum (12) remains coupled with the drive engine (6).
`14. Method in accordance claim 11, characterized in that
`the pre-determined distance to be monitored is increased in
`accordance with the increasing travel speed of the traveling
`devices (8), preferably in a proportional manner.
`15. Method in accordance with claim 11, characterized in
`that the milling drum (12) is raised by a pre-determined
`amount that is larger than a minimum distance between the
`milling drum (12) and the ground surface (2), and in that a
`sensing device measuring towards the ground surface (2)
`takes a lower limit position which corresponds to a pre­
`determined distance or to a minimum distance to be main­
`tained between the milling drum (12) and the ground surface
`(2).
`16. Method in accordance with claim 11, characterized in
`that at least one sensing device at the milling drum (12) is used
`for monitoring the distance, the said sensing device being
`lowered relative to the raised milling drum (12) but without
`touching the ground surface, and
`in that, as a result of monitoring in the raised position of the
`milling drum (12) and the simultaneously lowered posi­
`tion of the sensing device, at least the milling drum (12)
`is uncoupled from the drive engine (6) when detecting a
`contact of the at least one lowered sensing device with
`the ground surface (2) or that the at least one sensing
`device is raised by the ground surface (2).
`17. Method in accordance with claim 15, characterized in
`that a scraper blade (22) that is arranged behind the milling
`drum (12) when seen in the direction of travel is used as a
`sensing device.
`
`