Road Milling Machine and Method for Measuring the Milling Depth

A method of measuring a milling depth of a milling machine, the milling machine having a machine frame, a milling roller supported from the machine frame, front and rear ground engaging supports, front and rear lifting columns supporting the machine frame from the ground engaging supports, and first and second side plates on opposing sides of the milling roller, the side plates being height-adjustable with respect to the machine frame and each comprising first and second piston-cylinder units spaced apart in a traveling direction, the method comprising:

• detecting a lifted condition of each of the lifting columns with a position sensor included as part of each respective lifting column;
• detecting changes in position for one or more of the side plates with at least first and second position sensors integrated as part of the first and second piston-cylinder units, respectively, for the one or more of the side plates;
• calculating a current milling depth of the milling roller based at least in part on the detected changes in position for the one or more side plates;
• and
• automatically controlling a vertical adjustment of the milling roller based on the calculated current milling depth with respect to a set milling depth value.