Road Finisher with Lighting

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/492,177 filed Oct. 1, 2021, which claims foreign priority benefits under 35 U.S.C. § 119 (a)-(d) to German patent application number DE 102020125680.9 filed Oct. 1, 2020, which are incorporated by reference in their entireties.

The disclosure relates to a road finisher with a main control stand which provides an operating location for an operator on the road finisher.

From EP 3 214 223 A1, a road finisher for paving a road surface is known which comprises a material hopper located at the front in the paving travel direction for receiving paving material and a screed located at the rear in the paving travel direction for compacting the paving material. A workplace for an operator is provided on a driver's cab of the road finisher. The driver's cab is located at a central and elevated position on the road finisher and comprises a roof to protect the operator from the elements. A control panel with control elements is provided for controlling work components of the road finisher. The control elements may be operated by an operator seated on a driver's seat. A driver's cab lighting is provided to illuminate the driver's cab. The driver's cab lighting is provided at a support beam of the roof and shines from above into the occupational area of the operator in the driver's cab.

The inventors have recognized that this type of driver's cab lighting may have certain drawbacks when used on night construction sites. Due to the positioning and orientation of the driver's cab lighting, workers or other people in the vicinity of the road finisher may be blinded. In addition, passing road users may also be blinded. The operator in the driver's cab is directly illuminated by the driver's cab lighting and is therefore particularly clearly visible from the outside. This may lead to the operator feeling observed and unable to concentrate on his or her tasks in peace. Due to the positioning and orientation of the driver's cab lighting, considerable differences in brightness between the driver's cab and the surroundings of the road finisher may arise. The operator's eyes may adapt to the brightness in the driver's cab, as a result of which the operator's ability to look into darker areas in the vicinity of the road finisher is reduced. This may affect the operator's ability to monitor the paving process. In addition, impairments may arise if the operator cannot clearly see, for example, the movement of people in the region of the road finisher.

EP 2 578 748 B1 discloses a road finisher with an outer control stand provided behind the screed. The outer control stand is operated by a person walking along with the road finisher. A lighting device is integrated into a housing of a control panel of the outer control stand for illuminating a ground region arranged in front of, behind and/or under the outer control stand and to thus enable an obstacle on the ground traveled to be discovered.

EP 3 149 245 B1 describes a screed arrangement for a road finisher at which a work station for an operator is mounted. The work station comprises a floor plate on which the operator may stand. The workplace comprises a lighting unit for illuminating primarily the workplace itself and the outer region of the working width.

A road finisher with a driver's cab platform is known from EP 2 650 197 B1. The road finisher comprises an operator's seat which may be pivoted between a first working position and a second working position. In the first working position, the seat is oriented approximately in the direction of travel of the road finisher and is located within a width of the driver's cab platform. In the second working position, on the other hand, the operator's seat is pivoted outward so that it projects beyond a lateral boundary of the driver's cab platform and is oriented at an angle to the direction of travel.

It is an object of the disclosure to provide improved lighting for a road finisher.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, a road finisher comprising a material hopper for receiving paving material, a screed for compacting paving material, and a main control stand is provided. The main control stand provides an operating location for an operator on the road finisher. The main control stand comprises a floor area. The road finisher comprises a lighting unit. The lighting unit is arranged not more than 140 cm higher with respect to a vertical direction than the floor area of the main control stand. The lighting unit is arranged such that at least 60 percent of the light output emitted by the lighting unit during operation falls onto the floor area of the main control stand.

Due to the mounting height of no more than 140 cm above the floor area of the main control stand, an operator on the main control stand of the road finisher is typically not illuminated from above. In particular on night construction sites, this leads to reduced visibility of the operator from outside the road finisher and therefore to improved ease of use. The mounting height of the lighting unit of no more than 140 cm above the floor area of the main control stand also reduces the likelihood of the operator looking directly into the lighting unit and being blinded as a result. This applies to a standing operator as well as a seated operator. Directly visibility of the lighting unit from outside the road finisher is reduced due to the mounting height of no more than 140 cm above the floor area of the main control stand. This reduces the likelihood of workers or other people, in particular vehicle drivers, in the vicinity of the road finisher being blinded.

The floor area of the main control stand is particularly well illuminated because at least 60 percent of the light output emitted by the lighting unit during operation falls onto the floor area of the main control stand. This makes it easier for the operator to find his way around the main control stand even in the dark. In particular, the likelihood of the operator taking a wrong step is reduced due to the floor area being illuminated. The portion of light emitted onto the floor area of the main control stand is perceived as indirect illumination of the main control stand and therefore has a reduced risk of glare. Diffuse, i.e., non-blinding, illumination of the main control stand may be obtained by reflection of the light emitted onto the floor of the main control stand.

The road finisher preferably comprises a towing vehicle. The material hopper may be arranged at the towing vehicle. The screed may be pulled along behind the towing vehicle.

The main control stand is preferably arranged on the towing vehicle of the road finisher. The main control stand may be arranged in a central and/or elevated position on the towing vehicle of the road finisher. The main control stand may comprise an operating platform.

The main control stand may comprise a roof for protecting the operator from the elements. The main control stand may be an open control stand (not closed like a cabin) or a control stand that is closed like a cabin. The main control stand may comprise a fall protection, for example in, the form of a railing.

The lighting unit may comprise one or more light sources that generate visible light. The light sources may be electrical light sources. The light sources may, for example, be LEDs, lightbulbs, or gas discharge lamps. LEDs are preferred because of their low energy consumption and long service life. In particular, the light sources may be in the form of an LED strip which preferably extends along a transverse direction (transverse to the paving travel direction).

That the lighting unit is arranged no more than 140 cm higher with respect to the vertical direction than the floor area of the main control stand may mean in particular that a light exit surface through which the light provided by the lighting unit exits the lighting unit is arranged no more than 140 cm higher than the floor area. That the lighting unit is arranged no more than 140 cm higher with respect to the vertical direction than the floor area of the main control stand may mean in particular that a light-generating light source of the lighting unit is arranged no more than 140 cm higher with respect to the vertical direction than the floor area of the main control stand.

The floor area of the main control stand may be configured at least in part as a metal surface. A comparatively high portion of light is reflected from a metal surface, so that the light emitted by the lighting unit onto the floor area of the main control stand may still contribute to the illumination of the main control stand even after being reflected from the floor area. It would also be conceivable to have the floor area of the main control stand be formed, at least in sections, by a floor mat, such as a rubber mat, which may improve the operator's surefootedness on the main control stand.

As explained, the lighting unit is arranged not more than 140 cm higher with respect to a vertical direction than the floor area of the main control stand. According to some embodiments, the lighting unit is even arranged no more than 130 cm, or no more than 120 cm, or no more than 110 cm, or no more than 100 cm, or no more than 90 cm, or no more than 80 cm, or not more than 70 cm, or not more than 60 cm higher with respect to the vertical direction than the floor area of the main control stand.

As explained, the lighting unit is arranged such that at least 60 percent of the light output emitted by the lighting unit during operation falls onto the floor area of the main control stand. According to some embodiments, the lighting unit is arranged such that even at least 70 percent, or at least 75 percent, or at least 80 percent, or at least 90 percent of the light output emitted by the lighting unit during operation falls onto the floor area of the main control stand.

A main direction of emittance of the lighting unit may be inclined downward with respect to a horizontal plane. A main direction of emittance that is inclined downward with respect to a horizontal plane ensures that the operator on the main control stand is unlikely to be blinded, since the operator under normal conditions will not look into the lighting unit from below along the main direction of emittance if the lighting unit is arranged no more than 140 cm higher than the floor area of the main control stand. The main direction of emittance of the lighting unit may be the direction in which the highest light output is emitted. The main direction of emittance of the lighting unit may be at least substantially arranged centrally in an emittance volume of the lighting unit. The main direction of emittance of the lighting unit is inclined downward with respect to a horizontal plane preferably by at least 10 degrees, or by at least 20 degrees, or by at least 30 degrees, or by at least 40 degrees, or by at least 50 degrees, or by at least 60 degrees, or by at least 70 degrees, or by at least 80 degrees, or by about 90 degrees.

The road finisher may comprise an opaque upper shield which is arranged above the lighting unit and shields the lighting unit at least from a viewing direction from above. The opaque upper cover may prevent the operator from looking directly into the lighting unit from above and being blinded in the process.

The road finisher may comprise an opaque side shield which shields the lighting unit at least from a horizontal viewing direction. Shielding with respect to a horizontal viewing direction may prevent blinding people or road users in the vicinity of the road finisher. The horizontal viewing direction may be parallel to the paving travel direction of the road finisher. The horizontal viewing direction may be perpendicular to the paving travel direction of the road finisher. The horizontal viewing direction may have a component parallel to the paving travel direction of the road finisher and a component perpendicular to the paving travel direction of the road finisher.

The main control stand may comprise a control panel with control elements for controlling functions of the road finisher. The lighting unit may be mounted beneath the control panel. If the lighting unit is mounted beneath the control panel, the lighting unit is shielded by the control panel towards the top. An operator working at the control panel cannot look directly into the lighting unit. A lighting unit mounted beneath the control panel may provide indirect illumination of the main control stand. The lighting unit may use installation space otherwise unused below the control panel.

The main control stand may comprise a seat for an operator. In particular, an operator seated in the seat may operate control elements of the control panel. An imaginary linear connecting line between an upper end of a backrest of the seat and the lighting unit may run through the control panel or through a structure provided beneath the control panel, such as a holder for the control panel or a panel guide for the control panel. The control panel or the structure provided beneath the control panel may block an operator seated in the seat from having a direct view onto the lighting unit and thereby prevent the operator from being blinded. The upper end of the backrest may be defined by a backrest main body. The upper end of the backrest may be configured as the upper end of a headrest provided optionally.

The lighting unit may be mounted to an underside of a component of the road finisher. For example, the lighting unit may be mounted to an underside of the control panel. Alternatively, the lighting unit may be mounted to an underside of a holder for the control panel or a panel guide for sliding a control panel of the road finisher with respect to a sliding direction. The panel guide may enable, for example, the control panel provided at the main control stand to be slid transversely to the paving travel direction.

The floor area of the main control stand is preferably a walking surface and/or a tread surface and/or a standing surface for an operator of the road finisher.

A luminosity of the lighting unit may be individually adjustable. An adjustable luminosity makes it possible to adjust the lighting to the respective construction site environment or to the preferences of the operator. The luminosity may be set, for example, using the control panel. The luminosity may be effected, for example, by switching on or off individual light sources of the lighting unit or by dimming one or more light sources of the lighting unit.

A light color of the lighting unit may be individually adjustable. An adjustable light color makes it possible to adjust the lighting to the respective construction site environment or to the preferences of the operator. The light color may be set, for example, using the control panel.

The road finisher may comprise a brightness sensor, and a control device of the road finisher may be configured to adjust a luminosity of the lighting unit in dependence of a sensor output by the brightness sensor. For example, the control device of the road finisher may regulate the luminosity of the lighting unit into a predefined range or to a predefined value based on a sensor output by the brightness sensor. It may be achieved by way of the brightness sensor that an appropriate brightness is obtained without any active intervention on the part of the operator.

According to a further aspect, the disclosure relates to a road finisher with a material hopper for receiving paving material, a screed for compacting paving material, and a main control stand. The main control stand comprises a seat for an operator and a control panel with control elements for controlling functions of the road finisher. The road finisher comprises a lighting unit. An imaginary linear connecting line between an upper end of a backrest of the seat for the operator and the lighting unit runs through the control panel or through a structure provided beneath the control panel.

The control panel or the structure provided beneath the control panel may prevent an operator seated in the seat from looking directly into the lighting unit and being blinded as a result. The control panel or the structure provided beneath the control panel may shield the lighting unit. The control panel or the structure provided beneath the control panel may prevent a region of the main control stand located above the control panel from being illuminated excessively.

The structure provided beneath the control panel may be, for example, a holder for the control panel or a panel guide for the control panel. The panel guide may allow the control panel to be slid relative to a sliding direction which may run in particular transverse to the paving travel direction.

A main direction of emittance of the lighting unit is preferably oriented forward or rearward with respect to a paving travel direction of the road finisher. A main direction of emittance oriented forward means that people disposed behind the road finisher cannot be directly blinded by the lighting unit. A main direction of emittance oriented rearward means that people disposed in front of the road finisher cannot be directly blinded by the lighting unit. That the main direction of emittance of the lighting unit is oriented forward or rearward with respect to the paving travel direction does not preclude that the main direction of emittance may additionally be inclined with respect to a horizontal plane. The main direction of emittance of the lighting unit could also be oriented vertically downward. This also makes it possible to effectively avoid blinding people in the vicinity of the road finisher.

A main direction of emittance of the lighting unit may be inclined downward with respect to a horizontal plane. The main direction of emittance may be inclined with respect to a horizontal plane, for example by at least 10 degrees, or by at least 20 degrees, or by at least 30 degrees, or by at least 40 degrees, or by at least 50 degrees, or by at least 60 degrees, or by at least 70 degrees, or by at least 80 degrees, or by about 90 degrees.

The lighting unit may be mounted at the control panel. The lighting unit may in particular be mounted to an underside of the control panel.

The road finisher may comprise a panel guide for sliding the control panel with respect to a sliding direction. The lighting unit may be mounted to an underside of the panel guide.

According to a further aspect of the disclosure, a road finisher for paving a road surface on a subgrade is provided. The road finisher comprises a material hopper for receiving paving material, a screed for compacting paving material, a main control stand, and a subgrade lighting. The main control stand comprises an operating platform and a seat unit with a seat for an operator. The seat unit is movable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the seat is disposed at least substantially within a width of the operating platform. The width of the operating platform relates to an extension in a transverse direction of the road finisher perpendicular to the paving travel direction, meaning to the left and the right as seen in the paving travel direction. In the second position, the seat projects laterally beyond the operating platform. The subgrade lighting is mounted to the seat unit. The subgrade lighting is configured to illuminate the subgrade in the second position of the seat unit.

The movability of the seat unit makes it possible to adapt the seating position of an operator to the requirements of the respective paving situation. When the seat unit is disposed in the first position, an operator seated in the seat has good access to control devices on the main control stand. In the first position of the seat unit, the operator in the seat may have a good forward view in the paving travel direction. When the seat unit is disposed in the second position, meaning it projects laterally beyond the operating platform, an operator seated in the seat has an improved view of the subgrade laterally beside the road finisher. The operator may look substantially laterally beside the road finisher directly downward, or downward forward or downward to the rear, and thereby has an improved view of the edge region of the paved road surface.

The illumination of the subgrade with the subgrade lighting makes it easier for the operator to follow processes on the ground when the seat unit is in the second position and thereby enables the operator to control the paving process in an improved and adapted manner, in particular on night construction sites. Since the subgrade lighting is mounted to the seat unit, it is moved along when the seat unit is moved to the second position. As a result, the subgrade lighting may be optimally positioned for illuminating the subgrade in the field of vision of an operator seated in the seat. When the seat unit is moved back to the first position, the subgrade lighting is moved along and is then relatively well protected against soiling and damage, in particular within the width of the operating platform.

The subgrade lighting is preferably disposed within the width of the operating platform when the seat unit is disposed in the first position. The subgrade lighting is preferably disposed laterally outside the operating platform when the seat unit is in the second position.

The subgrade lighting may be mounted at the underside of the seat unit. The subgrade lighting may illuminate the subgrade directly and efficiently from the underside of the seat unit. Mounting the subgrade lighting to an underside of the seat unit reduces the risk of people in the vicinity of the road finisher or other road users being blinded by the subgrade lighting.

The seat unit may comprise a console carrying the seat. The console may comprise, for example, a plate onto which the seat is mounted. The movability of the seat unit may be provided by the movability of the console. The subgrade lighting may be mounted in particular to the underside of the console.

The seat unit may be pivotable about a vertical axis between the first position and the second position. The seat unit may be slidable between the first position and the second position. Mixed forms are also conceivable in which a motion of the seat unit between the first position and the second position comprises pivoting, in particular about a vertical axis, and a translational motion.

In the first position of the seat unit, the seat may be oriented at least substantially in the paving travel direction of the road finisher. This gives an operator sitting in the seat an optimal view in the paving travel direction.

In the second position of the seat unit, the seat may be pivoted relative to the paving travel direction.

A main direction of emittance of the subgrade lighting is preferably inclined downward with respect to a horizontal direction by at least 30 degrees, or by at least 45 degrees, or by at least 60 degrees, or by at least 80 degrees, or by substantially 90 degrees. Direct and efficient illumination of the subgrade is achieved by the main direction of emittance of the subgrade lighting being inclined downward. In addition, the blinding effect for other road users is reduced.

The road finisher may comprise a control device that is configured to activate the subgrade lighting in an automated manner when the seat unit is moved to the second position. In this case, the operator only needs to move the seat unit to the second position if he wants to see the subgrade at the side of the road finisher. Manual activation of the subgrade lighting is no longer necessary. The control device may detect a motion of the seat unit to the second position and, based thereupon, activate the subgrade lighting in an automated manner.

Alternatively, the subgrade lighting could be activated manually or be activated or deactivated together with the machine lighting.

The main direction of emittance of the subgrade lighting may be adjustable. The main direction of emittance of the subgrade lighting may be adjusted, for example, in an automated manner by way of a control device or manually by the operator.

According to a further aspect, the disclosure relates to a road finisher for paving a road surface on a subgrade. The road finisher comprises a material hopper for receiving paving material, a screed for compacting paving material, a main control stand, a subgrade lighting, and a control device. The main control stand comprises an operating platform and a seat unit with a seat for an operator. The seat unit is movable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the seat is disposed at least substantially within a width of the operating platform. In the second position, the seat projects laterally beyond the operating platform. The subgrade lighting is configured to illuminate the subgrade. The control device is configured to activate the subgrade lighting in an automated manner when the seat unit is moved to the second position.