Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW Document 250-7 Filed 10/25/23 Page 1 of 11 PageID #: 25502
`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW Document 250-7 Filed 10/25/23 Page 1 of 11 PagelD #: 25502
`
`EXHIBIT 7
`EXHIBIT 7
`
`

`

`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW Document 250-7 Filed 10/25/23 Page 2 of 11 PageID #: 25503
`
`Hommitilpio 111111111111111111
`111111111111111111111
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Busley et al.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 9,656,530 B2
`*May 23, 2017
`
`(54) AUTOMOTIVE CONSTRUCTION MACHINE,
`AS WELL AS LIFTING COLUMN FOR A
`CONSTRUCTION MACHINE
`
`(58) Field of Classification Search
`CPC
` EOIC 23/088; B6OS 9/10; B6OS 9/12
`(Continued)
`
`(71) Applicant: Wirtgen GmbH, Windhagen (DE)
`
`(72)
`
`Inventors: Peter Busley, Rhein (DE); Gunter
`Tewes, Rhein (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 181 days.
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis-
`claimer.
`
`CA
`DE
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 14/683,273
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Apr. 10, 2015
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication l)ata
`US 2015/0328948 Al
`Nov. 19, 2015
`Related U.S. Application Data
`(63) Continuation of application No. 13/351,305, filed on
`Jan. 17, 2012, now Pat. No. 9,010,871, which is a
`(Continued)
`
`(30)
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Sep. 12, 2005
`Sep. 15, 2005
`
`(DE)
`(DE)
`
` 10 2005 043 531
` 10 2005 044 211
`
`(51) Int. Cl.
`EOIC 23/088
`B6OG 17/015
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(Continued)
`
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`CPC
`
` B60G 17/015 (2013.01); B6OG 3/01
`(2013.01); B60G 17/019 (2013.01); E01C
`21/00 (2013.01);
`
`(Continued)
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`3,423,859 A
`3,598,027 A
`
`1/1969 Swisher, Jr. et al.
`8/1971 Swisher, Jr.
`(Continued)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`6/2006
`2548521 Al
`3/1979
`2738455 Al
`(Continued)
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Ex. Al: German Office Action in DE 102005004211.0-25, 3 pp. (not
`prior art).
`
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner — Sunil Singh
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — Lucian Wayne Beavers;
`Patterson Intellectual Property Law, PC
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Disclosed is an automotive road construction machine,
`particularly a recycler or a cold stripping machine, compris-
`ing an engine frame that is supported by a chassis, a working
`roller which is stationarily or pivotally mounted on the
`engine frame and is used for machining a ground surface or
`road surface. The chassis is provided with wheels or tracked
`running gears which are connected to the engine frame via
`lifting column and are vertically adjustable relative to the
`engine frame. Each individually vertically adjustable lifting
`column is equipped with a device for measuring the actual
`vertical state of the lifting column.
`
`32 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
`
`18
`
`23
`
`WA-0014234
`
`

`

`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW Document 250-7 Filed 10/25/23 Page 3 of 11 PageID #: 25504
`
`US 9,656,530 B2
`Page 2
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`continuation of application No. 11/991,846, filed as
`application No. PCT/EP2006/066305 on Sep. 12,
`2006, now Pat. No. 8,113,592.
`
`(51) Int. Cl.
`EOIC 23/12
`B6OG 3/01
`B6OG 17/019
`EOIC 21/00
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`CPC
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`
` E01C 23/088 (2013.01); E01C 23/127
`(2013.01); B6OG 2204/421 (2013.01); B6OG
`2300/09 (2013.01)
`
`(58) Field of Classification Search
`USPC
`280/5.504, 5.506, 5.507, 5.508, 5.513,
`280/5.514, 6.154, 6.155, 6.157; 299/39.4,
`299/39.6, 1.5, 39.1; 404/90-94; 33/483,
`33/809-811, 1 LE, 756
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
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`8,113,592 B2* 2/2012
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`Grubba
`Jurasz et al.
`Busley
`
`4/2013
`8,424,972 B2
`9,010,871 B2 * 4/2015
`
`Berning et al.
`Busley
`
`2002/0047301 Al
`2003/0094775 Al
`2004:0026180 Al
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`2007/0150148 Al
`
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`
`Davis
`Pivac
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`Troudl et al.
`Rasmussen
`
` B6OG 3/01
`280/6.157
`
` 1360G 3/01
`280/6.157
`
`2007/0286678 Al
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`2009/0108663 Al
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`
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`
`Berning et al.
`Berning et al.
`Arcona ct al.
`Mannebach et al.
`Von Schonebeck et al.
`Berning et al.
`Jurasz et al.
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`DE
`DE
`DE
`DE
`DE
`DE
`DE
`DE
`DE
`DE
`EP
`EP
`EP
`EP
`EP
`GB
`GB
`JP
`JP
`JP
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`JP
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`WO
`WO
`WO
`WO
`
`2844413 Al
`8810670 UI
`3812809 Al
`3920011 Al
`4017107 Al
`9114281 UI
`4311809 Al
`19617442 Cl
`100558980 Al
`10357074 B3
`0547378 Al
`0692183 Al
`1070856 A I
`1154075 A2
`1924746 B1
`2313347 A
`2333862 A
`64-062505 A
`2279805 A
`03-013306 U
`03-172404 A
`08-302615 A
`9308003 Al
`9639562 Al
`02057112 Al
`03064770 Al
`2007031531 AI
`
`4/1980
`3/1989
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`1/1991
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`10/1994
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`8/2001
`5/2005
`6/1993
`1/1996
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`11/2001
`4/2016
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`4/1999
`3/1989
`11/1990
`2/1991
`7/1991
`11/1996
`4/1993
`12/1996
`7/2002
`8/2003
`3/2007
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Ex. A2: Summary of Al, 2 pp. (not prior art).
`Ex. B1: Third Party Observation—EP 20060793470, 4 pp. (Jan. 21,
`2013) (not prior art).
`Ex. B2: Summary of B1, 3 pp. (not prior art).
`Ex.: Cl: Third Party Observation—EP 20060793470, 12 pp. (Sep.
`3, 2014) (not prior art).
`Ex. C2: Summary 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 U.S. Appl. No. 14/341,191, filed Jul. 25, 2014, 25 pp.
`(not prior art).
`Notice of Opposition to EP 1924746 filed Jan. 27, 2017 by Bomag
`GmbH, with English language machine translation, 93 pp. (not prior
`art).
`Notice of Opposition to LP 1924746 filed Jan. 27, 2017 by Cater-
`pillar Inc.. with English language machine translation, 58 pp. (not
`prior art).
`KBS3: Merkmalsanalyse Patentanspruch 1, EP 1924746 B1 with
`English language machine translation, 3 pp. (not prior art), Feb. 13,
`2017.
`KBS7: Stein and Erden article "Mining-Tage in Windhagen" from
`Die Industrie der Stein + Erden, Ausgabe Apr. 2002, with English
`language machine translation. 10 pp.
`Ex. Fl: Third Party Observation—EP 20060793470, dated Oct. 23,
`2015, 7 pp. (not prior art).
`Ex. F2: Machine Translation of Ex. F1, 8 pp. (not prior art), Jan. 13,
`2017.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`WA-0014235
`
`

`

`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW Document 250-7 Filed 10/25/23 Page 4 of 11 PageID #: 25505
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`May 23, 2017
`
`Sheet 1 of 3
`
`US 9,656,530 B2
`
`WA-0014236
`
`

`

`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW Document 250-7 Filed 10/25/23 Page 5 of 11 PageID #: 25506
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`May 23, 2017
`
`Sheet 2 of 3
`
`US 9,656,530 B2
`
`0
`T-4
`
`N.
`
`
`
`0
`ri
`
`N.
`
`(N/
`
`N-----
`
`1!
`
`WA-0014237
`
`

`

`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW Document 250-7 Filed 10/25/23 Page 6 of 11 PageID #: 25507
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`May 23, 2017
`
`Sheet 3 of 3
`
`US 9,656,530 B2
`
`18
`
`21
`
`2c
`
`20
`
`23
`
`30
`
`Fig.3
`
`WA-0014238
`
`

`

`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW Document 250-7 Filed 10/25/23 Page 7 of 11 PageID #: 25508
`
`US 9,656,530 B2
`
`1
`AUTOMOTIVE CONSTRUCTION MACHINE,
`AS WELL AS LIFTING COLUMN FOR A
`CONSTRUCTION MACHINE
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`The invention relates to an automotive construction
`machine, as well as a lifting column for a construction
`machine.
`Such construction machinery is known, for instance, from
`DE 103 57 074 B3. The said construction machine shows a
`machine frame that is supported by a chassis, as well as a
`working drum that is mounted at the machine frame in an
`immovable and/or pivotable manner. and is used for work-
`ing a ground surface or traffic surface. The chassis is
`provided with wheels and/or crawler track units which are
`connected to the machine frame via lifting columns and are
`individually adjustable in height relative to the machine
`frame.
`The adjustment in height is made possible by a controller
`that raises or lowers the lifting columns by controlling the
`hydraulic input or hydraulic discharge of piston cylinder
`units in the lifting columns.
`The construction machine described in DE 103 57 074 B3
`is a recycler, and the disclosure of this publication is
`included in the present application to the extent that it is
`related to recyclers.
`A chassis for a machine used for milling carriageway
`pavements is known from DE 196 17 442 Cl, the front axle
`of the said chassis being, for instance, adjustable in height in
`the manner of a full-floating axle. The lifting columns of the
`chassis are capable of being raised or lowered respectively
`in a reciprocally opposed manner. The disclosure of this
`publication is also included by reference into the present
`application.
`A known construction machine of the applicant is the
`recycler WR 2000, the wheels of which are connected to the
`machine frame via lifting columns that are adjustable in
`height hydraulically. Each wheel is driven by an own
`hydraulic motor. The known construction machine is
`equipped with all-wheel steering, with the front and/or the
`rear wheels being capable of acting as the steered axle.
`It is understood that the present application is not limited
`to wheel-driven construction machines, but also includes
`such construction machines that are provided with crawler
`track units or a mixture of wheels and crawler track units.
`In the known construction machines, the lifting columns
`are adjusted manually via switchover valves, with sensors
`detecting that the piston of the piston cylinder unit adjusting
`the lifting column has reached pre-determined positions.
`The sensors may detect, for instance, the upper edge of the
`piston in the piston cylinder unit. A first sensor detects the
`position of the piston in an operating position for milling,
`and a further sensor detects the position of the piston in a
`transport position. In operating position, the machine frame
`therefore always has the same, pre-detennined distance from
`the ground surface. When the piston has left the pre-defined
`sensor positions, the inffirmation about the position of the
`machine is lost. It is, in particular, not possible to adjust any
`other operating positions in a flexible manner without
`remounting the position sensors. It is not even possible to,
`for instance, adjust an operating position that is parallel to
`the pre-adjusted operating position but deviates from the
`same in height. What is more, it is not possible to adjust a
`defined transverse inclination or any other practical position
`of the machine frame or the machine respectively without
`cumbersome remounting efforts.
`
`zo
`
`2
`This creates the additional problem that the machine
`frame can adopt a different distance to the ground surface or
`traffic surface because of different loads or load distributions
`which are due to, for instance, a different filling level of the
`5 fuel tank or a water tank.
`In case of wheels, deviations additionally result because
`of the filling pressure, the temperature and the interaction of
`the relatively soft wheel with the ground surface or traffic
`surface, which may, for instance, cause an alteration in
`io distance of several centimeters. These alterations in distance
`of the machine frame relative to the ground surface require
`the position of the sensors to be displaced. Even though it is
`also possible to unlock the sensor for the operating position
`and to override this lifting position, the disadvantage results
`15 that the piston, at its front surfaces, touches the respective
`front surfaces of the cylinder when the mechanical limit stop
`of the piston cylinder unit has been reached, which may
`cause the piston of the piston cylinder unit to turn loose
`when carrying out steering movements of the wheels.
`The purpose of the invention is to avoid the aforemen-
`tioned disadvantages and to enable the vehicle driver to
`select any given lifting position of the lifting columns as
`operating position in particular for the working operation.
`The invention provides in an advantageous manner that
`25 each individual height-adjustable lifting column is provided
`with a measuring device for measuring the current lifting
`state of the lifting column, the lifting columns comprise two
`hollow cylinders capable of telescoping which serve as
`guiding unit and accommodate at least one piston cylinder
`30 unit for height adjustment. preferably in a coaxial manner.
`on their inside, that each individual height-adjustable lifting
`column is provided with a measuring device for measuring
`the current lifting state of the lifting column, the measuring
`device is coupled with elements of the lifting column, which
`35 are adjustable relative to one another in accordance with the
`lifting position, in such a manner that a path signal pertain-
`ing to the lifting position of each lifting column is continu-
`ously detectable by the measuring device, and that a con-
`troller receiving the measured path signals from the
`40 measuring devices of all the lifting columns regulates the
`lifting state of the lifting columns in accordance with the
`measured path signals of the measuring devices and/or their
`alteration over time.
`The invention provides in an advantageous manner for
`45 pre-selectable positions of the lifting columns to be adjusted
`in a regulated manner, permitting the use of the measured
`path signal, and of the velocity and acceleration signals
`which can be deduced therefrom. Recording of the measured
`values enables the lifting state of the lifting columns to be
`so regulated automatically. A controller receiving the measured
`signals from the measuring device can adjust a desired
`lifting position of the lifting columns in a regulated manner
`without overshooting or with as little overshooting as pos-
`sible in accordance with the measured signals of the mea-
`.55 string device and/or their alteration over time.
`The measured signals may be suitable for supplying to an
`indicator device for the lifting position of the lifting col-
`umns. Because the vehicle driver receives information on
`the current lifting state of each lifting column via the
`60 indicator device, it is possible to adjust and define as
`operating position a freely selectable position of the machine
`frame without the need for limit switches or sensors to be
`displaced. Hence, the vehicle driver has the possibility to
`equalize different load situations that may arise due to, for
`65 instance, a different filling level of the fuel tank or the water
`tank. Furthermore, influences of the relatively soft wheels
`due to different temperatures, a different filling pressure or
`
`WA-0014239
`
`

`

`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW Document 250-7 Filed 10/25/23 Page 8 of 11 PageID #: 25509
`
`US 9,656,530 B2
`
`3
`because of the interactions with the ground can be equalized
`individually for each wheel or crawler track unit.
`111e measuring device for the lifting position preferably
`includes a path measuring device, and all known path
`measuring systems like, for instance, capacitive, inductive,
`mechanical path measuring systems or laser measuring
`systems may be used.
`The lifting columns comprise two hollow cylinders
`capable of telescoping which serve as guiding unit and
`accommodate at least one piston cylinder unit, preferably in
`a coaxial manner, on their inside.
`A preferred path measuring device includes at least one
`wire-rope that is coupled with the elements of a lifting
`column, and one wire-rope sensor.
`A wire-rope that is under tension and capable of being
`rolled up is coupled with elements of the lifting column,
`which are capable of being displaced relative to one another
`in accordance with the lifting position, in such a manner that
`a path signal pertaining to the lifting position of each lifting
`column is detectable continuously. The path signal trans-
`mitted to the indicator device may be used for manual
`control of the height adjustment by the vehicle driver with
`the aid of the indicator device, but also for automatic control
`or regulation.
`"lbe construction machine can be adjusted to a reference
`plane. where a desired spatial position like, for instance, a
`parallel position of the machine frame to the ground surface
`or traffic surface can be stored on the reference plane by
`storing the current measured signals of the measuring device
`in accordance with the current lifting positions of the lifting
`columns as a reference lifting position of the chassis.
`By means of the reference plane, which is preferably a
`horizontal plane, the vehicle driver can bring the machine
`frame into a specific position which he can define as the
`reference lifting position. In case of a level machine frame,
`the said machine frame could, for instance, be brought into
`a precisely horizontal position which, with a pre-determined
`distance from the ground or the traffic surface, could be
`defined as the reference lifting position of the lifting col-
`umns. The vehicle driver can recognize the said reference
`lifting position by means of the indicator device and can
`approach it specifically as and when required. On the other
`hand, it is also possible to raise or to lower individual lifting
`columns or a combination of lifting columns by a specific
`amount. The vehicle driver can, for instance, also adjust an
`operating position which deviates from the reference lifting
`position by a specific amount, e.g. 100 mm, or a specific
`transverse inclination or a plane in space arbitrarily defined
`by the vehicle driver.
`In a preferred embodiment, it is provided that at least one
`limiting value for the height adjustment monitored by the
`measuring device is adjustable for each lifting column, the
`said limiting value limiting the lowest and/or highest lifting
`position of a lifting column to a pre-determined position. It
`is thus ensured that the piston cylinder unit provided on the
`inside of a lifting column will not run up against its
`corresponding mechanical limit stops, as the piston cylinder
`unit may be damaged or may turn loose from the lifting
`column in these mechanical end positions, in particular in
`case of steering angles.
`Consequently, it is provided that the lowest or highest
`lifting position in the direction of movement is positioned in
`front of the mechanical limit stop of the piston against the
`cylinder of the piston cylinder unit.
`Recording of the measured values enables a controller,
`which receives the measured signals from the measuring
`devices, to regulate the lifting state of the lifting columns
`
`5
`
`0
`
`4
`automatically in such a manner that the machine frame is
`subject to the smallest possible displacement due to the
`structure of the ground surface or traffic surface.
`Alternatively, it is also possible for the controller to
`regulate the lifting state of the lifting columns by means of
`the measured signals in such a manner that the machine
`frame is subject to the smallest possible transverse inclina-
`tion or transverse oscillation transverse to the direction of
`travel due to the existing structure of the ground surface or
`traffic surface.
`It may additionally be provided that, when altering the
`lifting state of one wheel or crawler track unit. a neighbour-
`ing wheel or crawler track unit in transverse direction or
`longitudinal direction of the machine frame is adjustable in
`height in an opposite manner. Controlling of the lifting state
`IS may be effected, for instance, in accordance with the hydrau-
`lic method described in DE 196 17 442 C1. In case of a
`hydraulic forced coupling of neighbouring lifting columns,
`one single measuring device for both lifting columns is
`sufficient due to the identical amount of stroke adjustment.
`There is, however, also the possibility of controlling the
`lifting state of each wheel purely electronically in the
`manner of a full-floating axle. With such a full-floating
`control, an additional stroke adjustment can be overridden
`by the vehicle driver.
`25 With the reciprocal control of the lifting state, the neigh-
`bouring wheels or crawler track units are preferably adjusted
`in height by the same amount and in an opposite manner.
`In case of a cold milling machine, the rear wheels or
`crawler track units when seen in the direction of travel are
`30 preferably adjustable in height in the manner of a full-
`floating axle by the same amount and in opposite direction.
`In case of a recycler, the wheels or crawler track units
`arranged behind one another on one side of the machine
`when seen in the direction of travel may be adjustable in
`35 height in the manner of a full-floating axle by the same
`amount and in opposite direction.
`A controller receiving the measured signals from the
`measuring devices can adjust a desired lifting position of the
`lifting columns without overshooting or with as little over-
`40 shooting as possible in accordance with the measured sig-
`nals from the measuring devices and/or their alteration over
`time.
`The measured signals from the measuring devices may be
`calibrated to a unit of length. so that a specified stroke
`45 amount can be entered in millimeters for the purpose of
`height adjustment.
`The controller may regulate the working depth of the
`working drum, in which case the controller receives the
`measured path signals from the measuring device and
`so includes them into the regulation of the working depth of the
`working drum.
`Each lifting column is provided at the lower end with a
`support for the wheel or crawler track unit, where a distance
`sensor measures the distance of the support to the ground
`55 surface and traffic surface, preferably in a pre-determined
`distance in front of or next to the wheel or crawler track unit,
`and transmits a measured signal to a controller for the lifting
`position of the lifting columns, and/or to a controller for the
`working depth of the working drum, and/or to the indicator
`60 device.
`
`20
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL
`VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`65
`
`In the following, embodiments of the invention are
`explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. The
`following is shown:
`
`WA-0014240
`
`

`

`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW Document 250-7 Filed 10/25/23 Page 9 of 11 PageID #: 25510
`
`US 9,656,530 B2
`
`5
`FIG. 1 is a side view of the construction machine in
`accordance with the invention, in which the working drum
`is in a working position,
`FIG. 2 a top view of the construction machine in accor-
`dance with FIG. 1, and
`FIG. 3 a lifting column of the construction machine.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`
`FIG. 1 shows a road construction machine 1 for producing
`and working carriageways by stabilizing insufficiently stable
`soils or by recycling road surfaces, with a machine frame 4
`supported by a chassis 2, as it is basically known from DE
`103 57 074 B3. The chassis 2 is provided with two each rear
`and front wheels 10, which are attached to lifting columns
`14 in a height-adjustable manner and can be raised and
`lowered independently of one another or also synchronously
`to one another. It is understood that other drive means like,
`for instance, crawler track units may also be provided in lieu
`of the wheels 10. The wheels or crawler track units may also
`be referred to as ground engaging supports for supporting
`the construction machine on the ground surface or traffic
`surface 24. The lifting columns 14 are attached to the
`machine frame 4.
`Both axles of the chassis, which are formed by the front
`and rear wheels 10 respectively, may be steerable.
`As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, an operator's platform
`12 for a vehicle driver is arranged at the machine frame 4
`above the front wheels 10 or in front of the front wheels 10,
`with a combustion engine 32 for the travel drive and for
`driving a working drum 6 being arranged behind the driver.
`In this manner, the operator's platform 12 can be ergonomi-
`cally optimized for the vehicle driver.
`The working drum 6 which rotates, for instance, in
`opposition to the direction of travel when seen in the
`direction of travel, and the axis of which extends trans-
`versely to the direction of travel, is mounted to pivot relative
`to the machine frame 4 in such a manner that it is capable
`of being pivoted from an idle position to a working position,
`as depicted in FIG. 1, by means of pivoting arms 42 arranged
`on both sides. Each pivoting arm 42 is mounted in the
`machine frame 4 at one end and accommodates the support
`of the working drum 6 at its other end.
`It is also possible to operate the machine 1 in reversing
`direction, with the milling operation then taking place syn-
`chronously to the direction of travel.
`The working drum 6 is, for instance, equipped with
`cutting tools that are not depicted in the drawings in order to
`be able to work a ground surface or traffic surface 24.
`The working drum 6 is surrounded by a hood 28 which,
`as can be seen from FIG. 1, is capable of being raised
`together with the working drum 6 by means of the pivoting
`arms 42.
`In operating position, the hood 28 rests on the ground
`surface or traffic surface 24 to be worked, as can be seen
`from FIG. 1, while the working drum 6 is capable of being
`pivoted further down according to the milling depth.
`It is understood that other embodiments of such a con-
`struction machine exist in which the hood 28, or the hood 28
`and the working drum 6. are mounted at the machine frame
`4 in a rigid manner. In the latter case, the working depth of
`the working drum 6 is adjusted via the lifting columns 14,
`in all other cases through an adjustment in height of the
`working drum 6.
`FIG. 3 shows an individual lifting column 14 comprising
`two hollow cylinders 13, 15 which are capable of telescop-
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`25
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`6
`ing in a form-litting manner. The hollow cylinders 13, 15
`serve as guiding unit for the height adjustment of the
`machine frame 4. The upper outer hollow cylinder 13 is
`attached at the machine frame 4, and the lower inner hollow
`5 cylinder 15 is attached at a support 11 which may be coupled
`with a wheel 10 or a crawler track unit. The lifting column
`14 is further provided with a hydraulic piston cylinder unit
`16 for the stroke adjustment. The piston cylinder unit 16 acts
`between the machine frame 4 and the support 11, so that the
`10 machine frame 4 is capable of being adjusted in height
`relative to the support 11 and thus, ultimately, relative to the
`ground surface or the traffic surface 24 respectively. In the
`embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the piston element of the
`15 piston cylinder unit 16 is attached at the support 11, and the
`cylinder element of the piston cylinder unit 16 is attached at
`the upper hollow cylinder 13, which is attached at the
`machine frame 4.
`It is understood that more than one piston cylinder unit 16
`zo may also be present in the lifting column 14.
`The piston cylinder unit 16 may also be force-coupled
`hydraulically with a neighbouring lifting column 14, as has
`been basically described in DE 196 17 442 Cl, in order to
`form a purely hydraulic full-floating axle.
`The lifting column 14 is provided with a measuring
`device 18 for measuring the current lifting state of the lifting
`column 14. In the embodiment, the said measuring device 18
`includes a wire-rope 22 that is attached at the support 11 or
`the lower hollow cylinder 15 and is, on the other hand,
`30 coupled with a wire-rope sensor 21 that is attached at the
`cylinder element of the piston cylinder unit 16 or at the
`upper hollow cylinder 13. The stroke path of the lifting
`column 14 can be measured by means of the wire-rope
`sensor 21. The wire-rope sensor 21, and the path signal
`35 produced by the same, is ultimately also suitable for being
`converted into a velocity signal or acceleration signal by
`including a time measurement.
`The measured path signal of the wire-rope sensor 21 is
`transmitted to an indicator device 20 and/or a controller 23
`40 by means of a signal line 26. The indicator device 20 and/or
`the controller 23 receive measured path signals from each
`lifting column, as indicated in the drawing in FIG. 3. With
`a total of four existing lifting columns 14, four measured
`path signals can be displayed in the indicator device 20, so
`45 that the vehicle driver is immediately informed about the
`current lifting state of each lifting column and can alter the
`lifting position, if required.
`The measured path signals can additionally be supplied to
`a controller 23, which enables overall control or regulation
`so of the lilting position of the lifting columns 14.
`The controller 23 can, for instance, adjust a desired lifting
`position of the lifting column 14 without overshooting or
`with as little overshooting as possible in accordance with the
`measured path signals of the measuring devices 18 and/or
`55 their alteration over time.
`In case of a full-floating axle, floating can be effected
`purely hydraulically through piston cylinder units 16 which
`are provided with a piston capable of being loaded from two
`sides, and the counter-operating cylinder chambers of which
`60 are force-coupled with the corresponding cylinder chambers
`of the piston cylinder unit of a neighbouring wheel 10.
`Alternatively, a height adjustment in the manner of a full-
`floating axle may be effected with purely electronic control
`by means of the measured path signals detected.
`The control or regulation may be such that, for instance,
`the machine frame 4 is subject to the smallest possible
`displacement.
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`WA-0014241
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`Case 1:17-cv-00770-JDW Document 250-7 Filed 10/25/23 Page 10 of 11 PageID #: 25511
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`US 9,656,530 B2
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`The machine frame 4 may alternatively be regulated by
`means of the lifting state of the lifting columns 14 in such
`a manner that a pre-determined transverse inclination of the
`machine frame 4 transverse to the direction of travel is
`maintained.
`A further alternative provides that the time sequence of
`the position of the machine frame 4 such as, for instance, a
`path-dependent transverse inclination sequence of the
`machine frame 4, may also be regulated by means of the
`measured path signals and the piston cylinder units 16 in 10
`combination with a path or machine position measurement.
`Ultimately, it is also understandable that a longitudinal
`inclination or a combination of a transverse and longitudinal
`inclination can also be regulated by means of the controller
`23.
`The measured signals of the measuring device 18 may be
`calibrated to a unit of length like, for instance, millimeters.
`In this way, it is possible for the vehicle driver to also alter
`the lifting state of the lifting columns 14 through entering a
`specific stroke in millimeters.
`Each lifting column 14 may be provided with a distance
`sensor 30 each at the supports 11, which measures the
`distance of the support 11 to the ground surface and traffic
`surface 24. By means of the measured signal of the distance
`sensors 30, and in combination with the measured path
`signals of the measuring device 18, the controller 23 for the
`lifting columns 14 can also calculate the current distance of
`the machine frame 4 from the ground surface and traffic
`surface 24.
`The distance sensor 30 can measure the distance of the
`support 11 to the ground surface and traffic surface 24 also
`in a pre-determined distance in front of or next to the wheel
`10 or crawler track unit. Measuring in front of the wheel 10
`offers the possibility of using the measured signal of the
`distance sensor 30 for the purpose of controlling the height
`adjustment of the lifting columns 14 in a manner that allows
`an immediate reaction to any ground irregularity. Finally, the
`distance sensors