IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,428,792
Granted Patent B2
US 12,428,792 · App. 18/597,618 · Granted Sep 30, 2025

Interchangeable unit for texturing ground surface work and road construction machine having such an interchangeable unit

Inventors: Sebastian Winkels (Windeck, DE); Dieter Bungarten (Neustadt, DE)
Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
E01C23/088E01C23/127E01C23/0933
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,428,792
App. No.
18/597,618
Granted
Sep 30, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention relates to an interchangeable unit ( 28 ) for material-removing work on a subsoil (U) starting from ground surface (A), the interchangeable unit ( 28 ) being designed for operational physical and functional coupling to a machine frame ( 12 ) of a road construction machine ( 10 ), the interchangeable unit ( 28 ) comprising: a housing ( 30 ), a removal tool ( 32 ), which is mounted on the housing ( 30 ) so as to be rotatable about a working axis (R) and of which a circumferential section protrudes from a working opening ( 30 c ), a drive belt pulley ( 62 ), which is rotatably mounted on the housing ( 30 ) and is able to be coupled to a drive belt ( 58 ), a transmission gear unit ( 76 ), which transmits torque and rotary motion from the drive belt pulley ( 62 ) to the removal tool ( 32 ) by reversing the direction of rotation, at least the axis of rotation (P 62 ) of the drive belt pulley ( 62 ) running at a distance from the working axis (R). According to the invention, a working shaft assemblage ( 74 ) penetrates a housing wall ( 30 d ) of the housing ( 30 ), the working shaft assemblage ( 74 ) connecting the removal tool ( 32 ) with a working gear component ( 70 ) situated on the side of the housing wall ( 30 d ) facing away from the removal tool ( 32 ) for equidirectional joint rotation, the transmission gear unit ( 76 ) being situated between the drive belt pulley ( 62 ) and the working gear component ( 70 ).

Claims (39)

1. A method of retooling a road construction machine, comprising:

disconnecting from a machine frame of the road construction machine a first milling unit including a milling drum configured to mill a ground surface to remove the ground surface, the milling drum prior to the disconnecting being functionally coupled to a belt drive of the road construction machine;

replacing the first milling unit with a second milling unit including a grooving drum configured to texture the ground surface;

functionally coupling the grooving drum to the belt drive of the road construction machine; and

providing the second milling unit with an increased drive ratio relative to the belt drive, as compared to a drive ratio of the first milling unit relative to the belt drive, so that the grooving drum is rotated at a higher rotational speed than was the milling drum for a given speed of the belt drive, wherein the providing the second milling unit with an increased drive ratio relative to the belt drive is accomplished by providing a transmission gear unit between the belt drive and the grooving drum.

2. A method of retooling a road construction machine, comprising:

disconnecting from a machine frame of the road construction machine a first milling unit including a milling drum configured to mill a ground surface to remove the ground surface, the milling drum prior to the disconnecting being functionally coupled to a belt drive of the road construction machine;

replacing the first milling unit with a second milling unit including a grooving drum configured to texture the ground surface;

functionally coupling the grooving drum to the belt drive of the road construction machine;

providing the second milling unit with an increased drive ratio relative to the belt drive, as compared to a drive ratio of the first milling unit relative to the belt drive, so that the grooving drum is rotated at a higher rotational speed than was the milling drum for a given speed of the belt drive; and

reversing a rotational direction of the grooving drum as compared to a rotational direction of the belt drive.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein:

the reversing is accomplished by providing a transmission gear unit between the belt drive and the grooving drum.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

shielding the transmission gear unit from the grooving drum with a separating wall.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the grooving drum has a smaller circular cutting diameter than did the milling drum.

6. A method of retooling a road construction machine, comprising:

disconnecting from a machine frame of the road construction machine a first milling unit including a milling drum configured to mill a ground surface to remove the ground surface, the milling drum prior to the disconnecting being functionally coupled to a belt drive of the road construction machine;

replacing the first milling unit with a second milling unit including a grooving drum configured to texture the ground surface;

functionally coupling the grooving drum to the belt drive of the road construction machine;

providing the second milling unit with an increased drive ratio relative to the belt drive, as compared to a drive ratio of the first milling unit relative to the belt drive, so that the grooving drum is rotated at a higher rotational speed than was the milling drum for a given speed of the belt drive; and

accelerating the grooving drum towards an operating speed using a start-up motor.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

separating the start-up motor from the grooving drum with a start-up clutch.

8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

braking the grooving drum using the start-up motor to resist rotation of the grooving drum.

9. A method of retooling a road construction machine, comprising:

disconnecting from a machine frame of the road construction machine a first milling unit including a milling drum configured to mill a ground surface to remove the ground surface, the milling drum prior to the disconnecting being functionally coupled to a belt drive of the road construction machine;

replacing the first milling unit with a second milling unit including a grooving drum configured to texture the ground surface;

functionally coupling the grooving drum to the belt drive of the road construction machine;

providing the second milling unit with an increased drive ratio relative to the belt drive, as compared to a drive ratio of the first milling unit relative to the belt drive, so that the grooving drum is rotated at a higher rotational speed than was the milling drum for a given speed of the belt drive; and

changing a speed transmission ratio between a motor of the road construction machine and the belt drive by changing a first output belt pulley to a second output belt pulley of a different diameter.

10. A method of retooling a road construction machine, comprising:

disconnecting from a machine frame of the road construction machine a first milling unit including a milling drum configured to mill a ground surface to remove the ground surface, the milling drum prior to the disconnecting being functionally coupled to a belt drive of the road construction machine;

replacing the first milling unit with a second milling unit including a grooving drum configured to texture the ground surface;

functionally coupling the grooving drum to the belt drive of the road construction machine; and

providing the second milling unit with an increased drive ratio relative to the belt drive, as compared to a drive ratio of the first milling unit relative to the belt drive, so that the grooving drum is rotated at a higher rotational speed than was the milling drum for a given speed of the belt drive;

wherein a working axis of the grooving drum after the replacing is at a greater distance from the machine frame than was a working axis of the milling drum prior to the disconnecting.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 15, 2024
From: WINKELS, SEBASTIAN; BUNGARTEN, DIETER
To: WIRTGEN GMBH
Reel/Frame 066780/0730 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2020 111 311.0 · Apr 24, 2020 · national
Continuity (3)
Continuation 17876983 · Jul 29, 2022
Continuation 17224846 · Apr 7, 2021
Related Publication 20240328096A1 · Oct 3, 2024
References Cited (23)
US 3724900A · Hatcher · 1973 [cited by examiner]
US 5094565A · Johnson · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 8056549B1 · Fleetwood · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 9033423B2 · Darscheid et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9624628B2 · Busley et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9783938B2 · Reuter · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 10676881B2 · Desch et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 11401665B2 · Winkels · 2022 [cited by examiner]
US 11926974B2 · Winkels · 2024 [cited by examiner]
US 20030127905A1 · Haroldsen et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20130154339A1 · Darscheid et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130300182A1 · Hammes et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20140265525A1 · Schafer et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20150091363A1 · Reuter et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20170130406A1 · Steeg · 2017 [cited by examiner]
DE 8508708U1 · 1986 [cited by applicant]
DE 102012024452A1 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
DE 102012008252A1 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
DE 102012012738A1 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
DE 102012024770A1 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
EP 1294991A1 · 2003 [cited by applicant]
EPO Search Report for corresponding patent application No. EP 21 16 9374, dated Sep. 24, 2021, 5 pages (not prior art). [cited by applicant]
German Office Action for corresponding German Application Serial No. 10 2020 111 311.0 dated Feb. 19, 2021, 6 pages (not prior art). [cited by applicant]