Construction machine, in particular road milling machine, recycler or stabilizer, as well as drive train for construction machines of this type

Abstract

A construction machine, in particular road milling machine, recycler or stabilizer, with a machine frame (4) that is carried by a chassis (2) with a working drum (6) and a drive train (8) comprising at the least a drive engine (10), a traction mechanism (12) for the mechanical drive of the working drum (6) with a drive element, an output element and a traction element (30), a device (14) for switching the torque between the drive engine (10) and working drum (6), and device (16) for driving at least one hydraulic pump; it is provided that elements of the drive train (8) are divided into at least two groups, the first group (3) shows at least the drive engine (10), the second group (5) shows at least the drive element (11) of the traction mechanism, and where the first and the second groups (3, 5) are connected to one another via an articulated coupling device (20).

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of operating a construction machine, the construction machine including a machine frame carried by a chassis, a working drum, and a drive train, the drive train including at least a drive engine component, a traction drive component for driving the working drum, a clutch component, and a hydraulic pump drive component, and a traction drive for driving the working drum including a drive pulley, a driven pulley attached to the working drum, and a drive belt connecting the pulleys, the method comprising:
 (a) driving a subset of the components of the drive train from the drive engine component with an articulated coupling connected between the drive engine component and the subset of the components, the subset including at least the drive pulley of the traction drive component for driving the working drum, the clutch component and the hydraulic pump drive component, with the clutch component being located between the hydraulic pump drive component and the drive pulley; 
 (b) supporting the drive engine component from the machine frame elastically with a first spring stiffness; and 
 (c) supporting the subset of the components from the machine frame in a rigid manner or with a second spring stiffness, the second spring stiffness being relatively higher than the first spring stiffness; 
 wherein the drive engine component has an output axis aligned with an input axis of the hydraulic pump drive component and with an input axis of the drive pulley prior to operation of the construction machine; and 
 wherein in step (a) the articulated coupling accommodates a lack of alignment between the output axis of the drive engine component and the input axes of the hydraulic pump drive component and the drive pulley due to dynamic movement of the drive engine component relative to the subset of the components during operation of the construction machine. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 in step (a), accommodating movement of the drive engine component relative to the subset of the components of the drive train by articulation of the articulated coupling. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 step (c) further comprises rigidly supporting the subset of the components from the machine frame. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 in step (a) the articulated coupling is torsionally rigid. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 in step (a), the articulated coupling comprises a cardan shaft. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 in step (a), the articulated coupling is torsionally flexible. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein:
 in step (a), the articulated coupling comprises an elastomeric coupling. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 in step (a), the subset of the components further includes the clutch component, and the hydraulic pump drive component, and wherein the drive pulley of the traction drive component, the clutch component and the hydraulic pump drive component are jointly supported as a combined subset entity; and 
 step (c) further comprises supporting the combined subset entity from the frame in the rigid manner or with the second spring stiffness. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 in step (a), the subset of the components of the drive train further includes the clutch component and the hydraulic pump drive component, with the clutch component being located between the hydraulic pump drive component and the traction drive component.   
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 operating the clutch component and thereby switching on and off the a torque from the drive engine component to the working drum. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 in step (a), the clutch component is connected to the drive engine component, and the articulated coupling is located between the clutch component and the subset of the components of the drive train.   
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , wherein: A method of operating a construction machine, the construction machine including a machine frame carried by a chassis, a working drum, and a drive train, the drive train including at least a drive engine component, a clutch component, a hydraulic pump drive component, and a traction drive for driving the working drum including a drive pulley, a driven pulley attached to the working drum, and a drive belt connecting the pulleys, the method comprising:
 (a) driving a subset of the components of the drive train from the drive engine component with an articulated coupling connected between the drive engine component and the subset of the components, the subset including at least the drive pulley of the traction drive and the clutch component; 
 (b) supporting the drive engine component from the machine frame elastically with a first spring stiffness; and 
 (c) supporting the subset of the components from the machine frame in a rigid manner or with a second spring stiffness being relatively higher than the first spring stiffness; 
 wherein the drive engine component has an output axis aligned with an input axis of the clutch component and with an input axis of the drive pulley prior to operation of the construction machine; 
 wherein in step (a), the subset of the components of the drive train further includes the clutch component, and the articulated coupling is connected between the hydraulic pump drive component and the subset of the components; and 
 wherein in step (a) the articulated coupling accommodates a lack of alignment between the output axis of the drive engine component and the input axes of the clutch component and the drive pulley due to dynamic movement of the drive engine component relative to the subset of the components during operation of the construction machine. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the traction drive component includes a drive pulley, a driven pulley attached to the work drum, and a drive belt connecting the pulleys.   
     
     
       14. A construction machine, comprising:
 a machine frame carried by a chassis; 
 a working drum; 
 a drive train including at least the following elements:
 a drive engine; 
 a traction drive assembly for mechanically driving the working drum, the traction drive assembly including a drive element pulley, an output element a driven pulley, and a traction element drive belt connecting the pulleys; 
 a clutch for switching the a torque between the drive engine and the working drum; and 
 a hydraulic pump drive; and 
 
 wherein the elements of the drive train are divided into at least a first subset and a second subset; and 
 wherein the drive train further includes an articulated coupling connecting the first subset to the second subset; and 
 wherein the first subset includes at least the drive engine; and 
 wherein the second subset includes at least one element selected from the group consisting of:
 the hydraulic pump drive; 
 the clutch; and 
 the drive element pulley of the traction drive assembly; and 
 
 wherein the first subset is attached to the machine frame elastically with a lower spring stiffness so that transmission of vibrations to the machine frame is reduced, and the second subset is attached to the machine frame with a higher spring stiffness or in a rigid manner; 
 wherein the clutch is connected between the hydraulic pump drive and the drive pulley; 
 wherein the drive engine has an output axis aligned with an input axis of the hydraulic pump drive and with an input axis of the drive pulley prior to operation of the construction machine; and 
 wherein the articulated coupling accommodates a lack of alignment between the output axis of the drive engine and the input axes of the hydraulic pump drive and the drive pulley due to dynamic movement of the first subset relative to the second subset during operation of the construction machine. 
 
     
     
       15. The construction machine of  claim 14 , where:
 the second subset includes the hydraulic pump drive, the clutch, and the drive element of the traction drive assembly; and   the clutch is connected between the hydraulic pump drive and the drive element of the traction drive assembly.   
     
     
       16. The construction machine of  claim 14 , wherein the articulated coupling is torsionally rigid. 
     
     
       17. The construction machine of  claim 14 , wherein the articulated coupling includes a cardan shaft. 
     
     
       18. The construction machine of  claim 14 , wherein the articulated coupling is torsionally flexible. 
     
     
       19. The construction machine of  claim 18 , wherein the articulated coupling comprises an elastomeric coupling. 
     
     
       20. The construction of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the first subset further includes the clutch.   
     
     
       21. The construction machine of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the hydraulic pump drive includes:
 a gearbox casing having an outer circumference and having an interior space; and 
 a plurality of hydraulic pumps arranged radially outward from the interior space so that the interior space is free from hydraulic pumps, the pumps projecting from the gearbox casing and pointing either towards or away from the drive engine; and 
 the articulated coupling extends into the interior space of the gearbox casing. 
   
     
     
       22. The method of claim 1, wherein:
 in step (a) the drive pulley, the clutch component and the hydraulic pump drive component are jointly supported as a combined subset entity; and   step (c) further comprises supporting the combined subset entity from the frame with the second spring stiffness.    
     
     
       23. The method of claim 1, wherein:
 in step (a), the articulated coupling is torsionally flexible and includes an elastomeric coupling;   in step (a) the drive pulley, the clutch component and the hydraulic pump drive component are jointly supported as a combined subset entity; and   step (c) further comprises rigidly supporting the combined subset entity from the frame.    
     
     
       24. The method of claim 23, wherein:
 the construction machine is a road milling machine.    
     
     
       25. The construction machine of claim 14, wherein:
 the drive pulley, the clutch and the hydraulic pump drive are jointly supported as a combined subset entity; and   the combined subset entity is attached to the machine frame with the higher spring stiffness or in a rigid manner.    
     
     
       26. The construction machine of claim 25, wherein:
 the articulated coupling is torsionally flexible and comprises an elastomeric coupling.    
     
     
       27. The construction machine of claim 25, wherein:
 the combined subset entity is rigidly attached to the machine frame.    
     
     
       28. The construction machine of claim 14, wherein:
 the second subset is rigidly attached to the machine frame.    
     
     
       29. The construction machine of claim 14, wherein:
 the articulated coupling permanently couples an output shaft of the drive engine with an input shaft of the hydraulic pump drive.    
     
     
       30. The construction machine of claim 14, wherein:
 the hydraulic pump drive includes:
 a gearbox casing; 
 a plurality of hydraulic pumps projecting from the gearbox casing; and 
 the hydraulic pump drive having an interior space free of hydraulic pumps; and 
   the articulated coupling extends into the interior space of the hydraulic pump drive.    
     
     
       31. The construction machine of claim 30, wherein:
 each of the pumps projects from the gearbox casing and points towards the drive engine.    
     
     
       32. The construction machine of claim 14, wherein:
 the articulated coupling is torsionally flexible and includes an elastomeric coupling; and   the hydraulic pump drive, the clutch, and the drive pulley are jointly supported as a combined subset entity, and the combined subset entity is rigidly attached to the machine frame.    
     
     
       33. The construction machine of claim 32, wherein:
 the construction machine is a road milling machine.    
     
     
       34. A construction machine, comprising:
 a machine frame carried by a chassis;   a working drum;   a drive train including at least the following elements:
 a drive engine; 
 a traction drive assembly for mechanically driving the working drum, the traction drive assembly including a drive element, an output element, and a traction element; 
 a clutch for switching a torque between the drive engine and the working drum; and 
 a hydraulic pump drive; and 
   wherein the elements of the drive train are divided into at least a first subset and a second subset; and   wherein the drive train further includes an articulated coupling connecting the first subset to the second subset; and   wherein the first subset includes at least the drive engine; and   wherein the second subset includes the drive element of the traction drive assembly and at least one element selected from the group consisting of:
 the hydraulic pump drive; and 
 the clutch; and 
   wherein the first subset is attached to the machine frame elastically with a lower spring stiffness so that transmission of vibrations to the machine frame is reduced, and the second subset is attached to the machine frame with a higher spring stiffness or in a rigid manner; and   wherein the hydraulic pump drive includes:
 a gearbox casing; 
 a plurality of hydraulic pumps projecting from the gearbox casing; and 
 the hydraulic pump drive having an interior space free of hydraulic pumps; and 
   wherein the articulated coupling extends into the interior space of the hydraulic pump drive;   wherein the drive engine has an output axis aligned with an input axis of the drive element and with an input axis of one of the hydraulic pump drive and the clutch prior to operation of the construction machine; and   wherein the articulated coupling accommodates a lack of alignment between the output axis of the drive engine and the input axes of the drive element and one of the hydraulic pump drive and the clutch due to dynamic movement of the first subset relative to the second subset during operation of the construction machine.    
     
     
       35. The construction machine of claim 34, wherein:
 each of the pumps projects from the gearbox casing and points either towards or away from the drive engine.    
     
     
       36. The construction machine of claim 34, wherein the articulated coupling is torsionally rigid.  
     
     
       37. The construction machine of claim 36, wherein the articulated coupling includes a cardan shaft.  
     
     
       38. The construction machine of claim 34, wherein the articulated coupling is torsionally flexible.  
     
     
       39. The construction machine of claim 38, wherein the articulated coupling comprises an elastomeric coupling.  
     
     
       40. The construction machine of claim 34, wherein:
 the drive element of the traction drive assembly, the clutch and the hydraulic pump drive are jointly supported as a combined subset entity; and   the combined subset entity is attached to the machine frame with the higher spring stiffness or in a rigid manner.    
     
     
       41. The construction machine of claim 40, wherein:
 the combined subset entity is rigidly attached to the machine frame.    
     
     
       42. The construction machine of claim 34, wherein:
 the second subset is rigidly attached to the machine frame.    
     
     
       43. The construction machine of claim 34, wherein:
 the articulated coupling permanently couples an output shaft of the drive engine with an input shaft of the hydraulic pump drive.    
     
     
       44. The construction machine of claim 34, wherein:
 the articulated coupling is torsionally flexible and includes an elastomeric coupling;   the second subset includes the hydraulic pump drive, the clutch, and the drive element of the traction drive assembly;   the clutch is connected between the hydraulic pump drive and the drive element of the traction drive assembly; and   the hydraulic pump drive, the clutch, and the drive element of the traction drive assembly are jointly supported as a combined subset entity, and the combined subset entity is rigidly attached to the machine frame.    
     
     
       45. The construction machine of claim 44, wherein:
 the construction machine is a road milling machine; and   the drive element includes a drive pulley, the output element includes a driven pulley and the traction element includes a drive belt connecting the pulleys.