AU2018201217A1

AU2018201217A1 - A vehicle and a trailer

Info

Publication number: AU2018201217A1
Application number: AU2018201217A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Raymond David Matthews
Original assignee: Matthews Bros Eng Pty Ltd
Current assignee: MATTHEWS BROS ENGINEERING Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2017-02-20
Filing date: 2018-02-20
Publication date: 2018-09-06

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vehicle for laying particulate material, such as a layer of aggregate, stone or chips onto a surface, and a kit that can be fitted to a vehicle for laying a layer of particulate material. One of the advantages of the present invention is that the vehicle can be driven forward while the layer of aggregate is discharges from a forward end of the vehicle. The present invention also relates to a trailer that can be towed by the vehicle and aggregate can be transferred from the trailer to the vehicle while the vehicle is being driven. 10000921 1 (GHMatters) P105141.AU.1 15 - .... T.. . 17 22 22 17 23,24 1 - - 21 25 19 25 23,24 19 23.24

Description

A VEHICLE AND A TRAILER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a vehicle for laying particulate material, such as a layer of aggregate, stone or chips onto a surface, and a kit that can be fitted to a vehicle for laying a layer of particulate material. The particulate material may be used in road construction. The present invention also relates to a trailer that can be towed by the vehicle and aggregate can be transferred from the trailer to the vehicle while the vehicle is being driven.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Road construction is carried out using a range of different machinery including graders, compaction rollers and sprayers. Sprayers may be used for spraying a hot layer of tar or bitumen onto a prepared surface and then a stone layer is laid over the bitumen or tar to fix the stone to the road surface. A roller may then be used to press the stone layer deeper into the hot layer. The step of distributing the stone over the hot layer typically involves a tip truck being driven backwards over the hot layer while simultaneously discharging stone from its bin so that a layer of stone is laid ahead of the wheels so that they can run over the stone layer and not the hot layer. A spreader is often fitted below the tail gate of the bin to control the rate at which stone is discharged, and therefore the thickness at which the stone layer is laid.

The main difficulty with this type of procedure is that a driver of the truck is required to reverse the truck along the road for considerable distances. Whilst mirrors and reversing cameras are used to help, operating a truck in the reverse direction can be hazardous to the driver and personal on the ground.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a vehicle for laying a layer of particulate material, the vehicle including: a driver cabin having controls that allow a driver to drive the vehicle; a bin for carrying particulate material, the bin having a base and side wall extending from the base; a transporter that transports the particulate material from the bin to a forward end of the vehicle; a spreader assembly that receives particulate material from the transporter and can distribute a layer of particulate material on the ground so as to precede wheels of the vehicle when the vehicle is driven in a forward direction.

Ideally, the driver cabin is located forward of the bin, when viewing the vehicle driven in a forward direction. The advantage in this configuration is that the driver cabin is located at a forward end of the vehicle, which provides the driver with the best vantage point for seeing objects ahead in the direction of travel. Another possible advantage is that the driver can face forward in the driver cabin as the vehicle is being driven forward while distributing particulate material.

It is also possible that the driver cabin could be located rearwardly of the bin when viewing the vehicle driven in a forward direction.

In an embodiment, the bin is located in a fixed position relative to the chassis of the vehicle. In other words, the bin is not required to move upward into a tilted position for particulate material to move from the bin into the spreader assembly.

In another embodiment, the bin may be pivotally mounted so as to be able to tip into an inclined position to allow particulate material to slide to a lower region of the bin. The bin may be pivoted into an inclined position using any suitable means such as a hydraulic piston and cylinder actuator, or an electronic ram.

The transporter may move the particulate material from the bin to the spreader assembly while the bin is located in a fixed position.

The bin may be configured to discharge particulate material to the transporter via at least one feed opening for discharging a line of the particulate material from the bin.

In an embodiment, the base of the bin may include an inclined panel that extends upwardly from the feed opening so that particulate material can move through the feed opening under gravity. The feed opening may include at least one elongate opening that extends over at least half the length of the bin, and suitably over at least 75% of the length of the bin.

In one configuration, the base of the bin may have two elongate feed openings that face downwardly and two inclined panels that extend upwardly from the openings, in which one of the panels extends from each of the elongate openings. Ideally, two inclined panels may form a ridge formation arranged between the feed openings, the ridge formation having opposite inclined sides and a crest extending along the ridge formation.

The base of the bin may also include at least one outer inclined panel that extends from the feed opening upwardly toward the side wall of the bin. Ideally the base of the bin includes two outer inclined panels, one of each extending from the feed openings toward the side wall of the bin.

The bin may also include in a shield that this located above the, or each, feed opening so that particulate material being feed from the bin moves laterally toward the feed opening. In other words, the shield prevents the particulate material from moving in a vertical direction to the feed opening. In the situation in which the feed openings are elongated feed openings extending along the base of the bin, ideally the shields are arranged above the feed openings.

The, or each, feed opening may include an opening adjustor to adjust the width of the opening and in turn, control the amount or rate at which the line of the particulate material is being supplied from the bin. For example, the opening adjustor may include a gate that extends over the feed opening and is operable to adjust the width of the feed opening.

The opening adjustor may include a baffle defining at least in part the width of the feed opening, the baffle being movable between a retracted position, in which the width of the feed opening is increased and an advanced position, in which the width of the feed opening is decreased, thereby allowing the width of the line of particulate material to be controlled by changing the position of the baffle.

In one embodiment the opening adjustor may include a pair of the baffles, one of the baffles being located on opposite sides of the feed openings, in which the baffles can be moved toward or away from each other.

The opening adjustor may also be operable to change the spacing of the feed opening above the transporter, and thereby adjust the height and/or width of the line of the particulate material being supplied from the bin. For example, by adjusting the height of the line of the particulate material, the width of the line of particulate material can also be adjusted on account of slide of the particulate material at the sides of the line of the particulate material.

The transporter may, for example, include a conveyor such as a screw conveyor or a bucket conveyor. Ideally however, the transporter is a belt conveyor.

The belt conveyor ideally travels along a revolving path having a forward leg that transports the particulate material to the forward end of the vehicle, and a return leg. In one example, the belt conveyor may include a flexible continuous belt supported on rollers and a drive mechanism that drives the belt. In another example, the belt conveyor may include a series of interconnected links. In yet another example, the transported may include carriages configured for transporting particulate material from the rear to a forward end of the vehicle.

Ideally, the transporter includes a pair of the belt conveyors, in which each belt conveyor is arranged below one of the feed openings of the bin. To accommodate the belt conveyors below the feed openings of the bin, ideally the bin is mounted in an elevated position above the chassis of the vehicle on supports. The belt conveyor may be located between the chassis of the vehicle and a bottom face of the bin.

The drive mechanism of the transporter may include any suitable actuator such as an electric motor, pneumatic actuator, or a hydraulic actuator that is operable to move the conveyor.

The transporter may also include a controller that control operation of the drive mechanism including the speed of the, or each, conveyor. The controller can be operated by the driver to adjust the rate at which particulate material is moved by the transporter to the spreader assembly. For example, the controller can operate the driver mechanism so that the belt conveyors move at different speeds, similar speeds, or to stop one belt conveyor while the other is being operated. Moreover, the driver of the truck can adjust the controller and, in turn, adjust the relative speeds of, the or each, belt conveyor.

The belt conveyor belt may have any suitable formation, such as a raised sides or a concave profile. In one example, the belt conveyor may have an upwardly facing concave profile on the forward leg of the revolving path and a flat profile on the return leg. The raised sides of the conveyor belt may be provided by inclined rollers arranged along the forward leg of the conveyor belt.

The spreader assembly may include a primary hopper for receiving particulate material from the transporter and a distributor that is operable to move the particulate material within the primary hopper, and the primary hopper may have a supply opening for supplying particulate material.

The primary hopper may be elongated and the distributor may be a screw conveyor having a longitudinal axis that extends along the primary hopper and can be rotated in opposite directions for moving the particulate material in opposite directions along the primary hopper. Ideally, the primary hooper has a longitudinal axis, and the longitudinal axis is parallel to the axis of the screw conveyor.

The primary hopper may have first and second supply openings, the first supply opening being located toward one end of the primary hopper and the second supply opening being located toward an opposite end of the hopper.

The spreader assembly may include a primary actuator for rotatably driving the screw conveyor, and a primary controller for controlling operation of the primary actuator. In use, the primary controller can be adjusted to control operation of the primary actuator and enable the particulate material in the primary hopper to be moved toward one of the first and second supply openings of the primary hopper. For example, if the driver of the vehicle is aware that the particulate material is accumulating unevenly in the primary hopper when this is not desired, the driver may manually adjust the controller, and in turn, change the speed or direction of rotation of the screw conveyor.

In an embodiment, the spreader assembly may also include an optical sensor for sensing the position of particulate material within the primary hopper. An output signal of the optical sensor may be transmitted to the primary controller which uses the output signal for controlling operation of the primary actuator. For example when the output signal of the optical sensor detects an absence of particulate material at one end of the primary sensor and the objective is to evenly distribute particulate material in the primary hopper, the controller may operate the primary actuator until the output of the optical sensor indicates that particulate material has been moved to end of the primary hopper previously absent of particulate material.

Operating buttons may be arranged in the vehicle to allow a driver to adjusting settings of the controller. For example, the buttons may allow manually adjust the primary actuator, and/or adjusting settings that represent the output of the optical sensor.

The longitudinal axis of the primary hopper is ideally arranged widthwise across the vehicle. Ideally, the spreader assembly includes framework and the primary hopper is mounted in a fixed position relative to the chassis of the vehicle on the framework.

The spreader assembly may also include at least one secondary hopper that is arranged to receive particulate material from the primary hopper, the at least one secondary hopper being movable relative to the primary hopper so that the secondary hopper can be moved between a first position in which at least part of the secondary hopper is located outside of the width of the vehicle, and a second position in which the secondary hopper is located inwardly of the first position. The secondary hopper ideally includes a discharge opening for discharging a layer of the particulate material onto a road surface .

Ideally the spreader assembly includes a pair of the secondary hoppers that receive particulate material from the primary hopper, the secondary hoppers each being movable in opposed directions relative to the primary hopper between a first position in which at least part of at least one of the secondary hoppers can be located beyond the width of the vehicle, and a second position in which at least part of at least one of second hoppers is located inwardly of the first position. In other words, the secondary hoppers can be moved in a widthwise direction of the vehicle so as to be able to be moved between: a first outward position in which at least one, and preferably both of the secondary hoppers extend beyond the side of the vehicle to allow particulate material to be discharged over a path outside of the wheel tracking of the vehicle; and a second inward position in which the or each secondary hoppers are located inwardly of the first outward position.

The primary hopper may have two of the supply openings that allow particulate material to pass from the primary hopper into the secondary hoppers. The supply openings of the primary hopper can include a shoot for adjusting the direction at which the particulate material travels from the supply openings. For example, the shoot of one of the supply openings may be arranged to direct particulate material in a forward direction and the shoot of the other supply opening may be arranged to direct particulate material in a rearward direction.

Moreover, one of the secondary hoppers may be arranged forwardly of the primary hopper and the other secondary hopper may be located reawardly of the primary hopper.

The supply openings of the primary hopper may have a fixed aperture which does not restrict the movement of particulate material.

At least one of the secondary hoppers may include a secondary distributor for moving particulate material within the respective secondary hopper. The secondary distributors may include a secondary screw conveyor that can be rotated in opposite directions for moving particulate material in opposite directions along the secondary hoppers.

The spreader assembly may also include a secondary controller for controlling a secondary actuator that rotatably drives the secondary screw conveyor. The secondary controller is operable to move particulate material within the secondary hopper in a desired direction. In one situation the secondary controller can operate the secondary actuator so as to distribute the particulate material evenly throughout receptacle of the secondary hopper. In another situation the secondary controller can operate the secondary actuator to move particulate material toward one of the opposite ends of the secondary hopper.

In an embodiment, the spreader assembly may also include a secondary optical sensor for sensing the position of particulate material within the or each secondary hopper. An output signal of the secondary optical sensor may be transmitted to the secondary controller which uses the output signal for controlling operation of the secondary actuator.

Secondary operating buttons may be arranged in the vehicle to allow a driver to adjusting settings of the secondary controller. For example, the secondary buttons may allow manually adjust the primary actuator, and/or adjusting settings that represent the output of the optical sensor.

The secondary hopper(s) may include a discharge outlet for discharging the particulate material in a layer onto the road. The discharge outlet may include a series of gates which can be opened and closed to allow the discharge of the particulate material. The secondary hoppers may include a first actuator operably connected to the gates for opening and closing the gates, and a second actuator operably connected to the gates for adjusting the size of the discharge outlet when the gates are in the opening position. The gates may include a curved shaped panel that moves across an aperture of the discharge opening and the second actuator is operable to adjust to the degree to which the curved panel obstructs the aperture.

The secondary hoppers may include a deflector for deflecting particulate material discharged from the discharge outlets. Ideally the deflectors of the secondary hoppers can be located so as to direct a stream of the particulate material being discharged from the discharge outlets toward each other.

Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a kit that can be fitted to a vehicle for laying a layer of particulate material, the kit including: a bin for carrying particulate material, the bin having a base and side wall extending from the base; a transporter that transports the particulate material from the bin to a forward end of the vehicle; and a spreader assembly that receives particulate material from the transporter and can distribute a layer of particulate material on the ground so as to precede wheels of the vehicle when the vehicle is driven in a forward direction.

The kit may also include any one or a combination of the features described herein, including features of the vehicle.

An embodiment of the present invention also relates to a trailer for supplying aggregate to the bin of the vehicle, suitably the trailer may be towed by the vehicle. The trailer includes: a hitch for connecting the trailer to a co-operating hitch on the vehicle; a secondary bin for carrying aggregate; and a transfer assembly that is arranged to transfer aggregate from the second bin to the primary bin of the vehicle while the trailer is connected to the vehicle.

The secondary bin may have a base and a side wall extending from the base, the secondary bin may include an opening through which aggregate can be discharged from the secondary bin. The opening of the secondary bin may include an elongate opening in the base of the secondary bin that extends longitudinally of the secondary bin.

The secondary bin may be pivotable from a rest position in which the bin is lowered toward the road, to a tilted position in which a forward end of the secondary bin has been raised relative to the road. When in the rest position, the transfer assembly may be arranged in a configuration so as not to be operative for transferring aggregate to the primary bin and when in the tilted position, the transfer assembly may be arranged in a configuration for transporting aggregate.

The transfer assembly may include a conveyor belt that is arranged so as to receive aggregate that is discharged from the opening of the secondary bin.

The conveyor belt may be arranged so as to extend from the opening of the secondary bin to an upwardly facing opening of the primary bin.

The conveyor belt may be arranged below the secondary bin and extends upward at an inclination relative to the trailer and over at least part of an opening of the primary bin.

Ideally, the conveyor belt has two sections including a rearward section that is located beneath the secondary bin and a forward section that can articulate relative to the rearward section and extends forwardly of the second bin. In addition, the rearward section of the conveyor belt is able to maintain a parallel relationship to the base of the secondary bin as the secondary bin moves between the rest position and tilted position. When the second bin is in the rest position and the rearward section and the forward section of the conveyer are articulated at a first angle to each other. Ideally, the forward section is also arranged a first angle if inclination to the ground.

When the second bin is in a tilted position, the rearward section of the conveyor belt is located in an operative position in which the rearward section and the forward section are articulated at a second angle, which is suitably less than the first angle. Ideally, the rearward section and the forward sections are arranged linearly or co-axially when in the operative position.

The conveyor belt may be a continuous loop conveyor belt and the first and second sections of the conveyor belt may include an elbow configuration at a leading end of the secondary bin.

The vehicle described herein may also include the trailer for transferring aggregate from the primary bin of the vehicle to the secondary bin of the trailer. The vehicle and the trailer may have co-operating hitches to allow the trailer to be connected to the vehicle .

BREIF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures, of which:

Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a vehicle for distributing particulate material, the vehicle having a bin for carrying particulate material and a spreader assembly for spreading a layer of the particulate material from the forward end of the vehicle;

Figure 2 is a schematic end view of a bin shown in Figure 1 for carrying the particulate material;

Figure 3 is a schematic front end view of the vehicle shown in figure 1 in which the particulate material spreader assembly has been omitted so as to show a transporter for moving the particulate material from the bin to the spreader assembly;

Figure 4 is a schematic plan view of a forward portion of the spreader assembly and a forward end of the particulate material transporter, in which a primary screw conveyor of a primary hopper and first and second screw conveyors of secondary hoppers of the spreader assembly are located on a central axis of the vehicle, but the primary and secondary hoppers have been omitted;

Figure 5 is the same figure 4, save for the primary screw conveyor and the first and second secondary screw conveyors are located in offset positions;

Figure 6 is a schematic side view of the spreader assembly shown in Figures 4 and 5;

Figure 7 is a photograph of a base of the bin shown in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 8 is a photograph of the primary hopper of the spreader assembly shown in Figures 4 and 5, the primary hopper having the primary screw conveyor that can be rotated to move particulate material along the hopper toward or away one of the ends of the hopper;

Figure 9 is a photograph of the hopper shown in Figure 8 and parallel compartments in which the secondary hoppers can move;

Figure 10 is a schematic side view of a trailer that can be towed by the vehicle and can carry aggregate that can be transferred from the trailer into the bin of the vehicle, and in which the bin of the trailer is located in a rest position;

Figure 11 is a schematic side view of the trailer shown in figure 10 in which the bin of the trailed has been tilted into an operative position for transferring aggregate from the trailer into the primary bin of the vehicle; and

Figure 12 is a plan view of a bin of the trailer shown in figures 10 and 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION A preferred embodiment will now be described with reference to the accompanying in figures. To assist in identifying features of the preferred embodiment, reference numerals have been used in the following text and in the figures. However, all of the reference numerals may not be included in each of the figures in order to maintain the clarity of the figures.

The vehicle 10 for laying a stone layer includes a driver cabin 11 having the usual controls for driving the vehicle 10 and controls for operating the particulate material discharge mechanism. The vehicle 10 includes a primary bin 12 for carrying particulate material, a transporter 13 including two belt conveyors 14 for conveying particulate material from the primary bin 12 to a forward end of the vehicle 10, and a spreader assembly 15 at the forward end of the vehicle 10 that receives particulate material from the belt conveyor 14. The spreader assembly 15 enables the stone layer to be laid on prepared foundations over various widths depending on the configuration of the spreader assembly 15. In the widest configuration, the spreader assembly 15 can lay a stone layer over a width up to 4.2m. Moreover the spreader assembly 15 can be arranged to lay a stone layer over narrow widths of, for example, 0.3 to 0.5m. A major benefit provided by the preferred embodiment is that the vehicle 10 can be driven forward while the spreader assembly 15 lays a layer of stone onto a hot bitumen layer ahead of the vehicle 10, thereby eliminating the need for the vehicle 10 to be driven backwards in accordance with the conventional practice. The preferred embodiment therefore avoids the hazards associated with a conventional tip truck being driven backwards on a worksite to deliver the stone layer.

The primary bin 12 for carrying the particulate material includes a base 16 and side wall 17 extending from the base 16. The primary bin 12 is ideally fixed to the chassis 18 of the vehicle 10 on raised supports that support the primary bin 12 in a position above the chassis 18 of the vehicle 10 to allow the belt conveyors 14 to be accommodated below the primary bin 12, and ideally between the chassis 18 of the vehicle and the primary bin 12.

The base 16 of the primary bin 12 comprises two elongated feed openings 19 that extend in a lengthwise direction of the primary bin 12. As can best be seen in figures 2 and 7, the two feed openings 19 are separated by a centralised ridged formation 20 having opposite inclined panels that extend upwardly from the feed openings 19. The base 16 of the primary bin 12 also includes two outer inclined panels that extend upwardly from the feed openings 19 to the side wall 17 of the primary bin 12. The base 16 of the primary bin 12 also includes two elongated shields 22, best seen in figures 2 and 7, located above the feed openings 19 that obstruct a vertical path directly down through the feed openings 19. In other words, particulate material passing through the feed openings 19 will be at an angle to the vertical.

The feed openings 19 also include adjustable baffles 23 extending along the length of the elongated openings 19. The adjustable baffles 23 are arranged on opposite sides of the feed openings 19 and are operable so that they can be moved toward or away from each other, to narrow or widen the feed openings 19, respectively. The adjustable baffles are movable using any suitable means, including manually adjustable means that include clamping bolts that can be used to reposition and fix the baffles in the required position. The baffles 23 may include a first limb 24 that is seated on the outer inclined panels 21 of the base 16 of the primary bin 12 and a second limb 25 that extends downwardly toward the belt conveyors 14. Adjusting the baffles 23 toward or away from each other also enables the spacing between the second limb 25 and the belt conveyor 14 to be adjusted. The adjustable baffles 23 thereby enable a user to control the height and, in particular, the width of the line of particulate material passing through the feed openings 19 onto the belt conveyors 14.

As can best be seen in Figure 7, the configuration of the base 16 of the primary bin 12, including the feed openings 19, ridge formation 20, and outer inclined panels 21 can allow the particulate material to be drained from the primary bin 12 without manually handling the particulate material. In comparison, conventional flat bottom primary bins 12 may require the particulate material to be shovelled on accessions when the particulate material does not slide over itself at even rates within the primary bin 12.

The belt conveyors 14 are located in alignment with the feed openings 19 of the primary bin 12 and extend longitudinally of the vehicle 10. The belt conveyors 14 are suitably flexible continuous belts having a forward supply path and a return rearward path. The flexible belt 28 is supported on rollers 26 arranged along the length of the path of belt 28 and on the forward path of the belt 28, the rollers 26 ideally include inclined rollers 27 at the edges of the belt 28, best seen in figure 3, so that the belt conveyor 14 has a concave upper face to assist in retaining the particulate material on the belt 28. The rollers 26 may include terminating rollers 26A at either end of the belt conveyor 14 including a driving roller 29. The driving roller 29 may be rotated using any suitable drive mechanism including a hydraulic drive, electric drive or a pneumatic drive. Irrespective of the drive type, the speed at which the drive mechanism moves the belt conveyor 14 can be operated by a belt controller. The controller may, for example, be a dial or a speed regulator that is operated by the driver in the driver cabin 11.

If required, the belt controllers can be operated to adjust the belt conveyors 14 to different speeds, or stop one of the belt conveyors 14 while the other belt conveyor 14 is operated. For example, the belt controller can be arranged so that the belt conveyor 14 on the left-hand side of the vehicle 10 can be operated at one speed and the belt conveyor 14 on the right-hand side of the vehicle 10 can be operated at a different speed. In one example the belt conveyor 14 on one side of the vehicle 10 can be stopped altogether, while the belt 28 on the other side of the vehicle 10 can be operated. In the event that the particulate material slides at different rates on different sides of the primary bin 12, the belt conveyor 14 on the side of the primary bin 12 at which the particulate material slides at a slower rate the speed of the belt conveyor 14 on that side can be increased, whereas the belt conveyor 14 on the side of the primary bin 12 which the particulate material slides at a faster rate can be decreased. On the other hand, if the layer of particulate material being laid by the vehicle 10 is predominately on one side of the vehicle 10 only, the speed at which the belt conveyors 14 are operated can also be adjusted to accommodate that thickness of the layer required.

The spreader assembly 15 includes a framework 30, best seen in figure 9 that mounts the spreader assembly 15 to the front end of the vehicle 10 and locates the spreader assembly 15 below the belt conveyor 14. The spreader assembly 15 includes a primary hopper 31 which receives a line of particulate material from the belt conveyors 14, and two secondary hoppers 32 arranged in parallel that receive particulate material from the primary hopper 31.

The primary hopper 31 has an elongated receptacle having two supply openings 46 for supplying particulate material from the primary hopper 31 to the two secondary hoppers 32 of the spreader assembly 15. One of the supply openings 46 is arranged over the left-hand side of the primary hopper 31 and the other supply opening 46 is arranged over the right-hand side of the primary hopper 31. Each supply opening also includes a shoot, best seen in figure 6, for directing particulate material passing through the supply openings 46 into the respective secondary hopper 32.

The primary hopper 31 includes a primary screw distributor, best seen in figure 8, centrally located along the axis of the receptacle that can be rotated in opposite directions by any suitable primary actuator 34, including an electric motor, hydraulic actuator or a pneumatic actuator, to distribute particulate material in a desired direction along the axis of the hopper. The primary actuator 34 can be operated so that the primary screw conveyor 33 moves particulate material toward either the left-hand side or the right-hand side of the primary hopper 31. Moreover, a primary controller 35 is operably connected to the primary actuator 34 to control rotation of the primary screw conveyor 33 and, in turn, control movement the particulate material in the primary hopper. For example, the primary controller 35 can be operated by a driver of the vehicle to adjust the primary screw conveyor 33 to move aggregate toward one side of the primary hopper 31, or conversely more evenly distribute particulate material over the primary hopper 31.

For instance, when the layer of particulate material being laid is thicker to the right-hand side of the vehicle 10, as view from the direction of travel of the vehicle 10, the primary controller 35 can operate the primary actuator 34 to rotate the primary screw conveyor 33 and mover particulate material to the right-hand side of the primary hopper 31, being the side from which particulate material is being discharged at a greater rate.

The spreader assembly 15 may also include an optical sensor (not shown in the figures) for sensing the proximity or distribution of the particulate material within the primary hopper 31. An output signal of the optical sensor may be transmitted to the primary controller 35 which uses the output signal for controlling operation of the primary actuator 34, and in turn, move the particulate material. For example when the output signal of the optical sensor detects an absence of particulate material at one end of the primary sensor and the objective is to evenly distribute particulate material in the primary hopper 31, the primary controller 35 may operate the primary actuator 34 until the output of the optical sensor indicates that the particulate material has been moved toward one side of the hopper previously absent of particulate material.

The framework 30 of the spreader assembly 15 includes forward and rearward compartments 36 that support a pair of the secondary hoppers 32, namely first and second secondary hoppers, in parallel relationship. The secondary hoppers 32 receive the particulate material passing through the forwardly facing and rearwardly facing supply openings 46 of the primary hopper 31. Although not shown in the Figures, the framework 30 may include suitable wheels and/or bearings, and the position of the secondary hoppers 32 on the framework 30 can be adjusted to allow the width of the path over which the layer of stone is being laid to be changed.

The secondary hoppers 32 are arranged below the primary hopper 31 so that particulate material can pass from the supply openings 46 into the top of the secondary hoppers 32. The secondary hoppers 32 each have an elongate receptacle that houses the secondary screw conveyors extending along the axis of the receptacles that are rotatable to move particulate material along the secondary hoppers 32 .

The secondary hoppers 32 include an outlet that can be opened and closed via a series of openable gates arranged consecutively along the length of the outlet. The outlet extends across the width of the secondary hoppers 32. A first gate actuator 37, suitably a pneumatic actuator, is operably connected to the openable gates for moving the gates between opened and closed positions. Ideally the first gate actuator 37 controller enables the gates 38 to be selectively opened and closed along the outlet of the secondary hoppers 32 so that particulate material can be discharged through an aperture created by the respective opened gate 38. A suitable number of gates 38 may be arranged along the outlet opening of each secondary hopper 32, for example, from five to ten gates 38. A second gate actuator 39, suitably an electronic actuator, is also operably connected to the openable gate 38 to adjust the size of the aperture of the outlet when the openable gates 38 are in the opened position. For example, the electronic actuator may be capable of adjusting a dimension of the aperture in by an amount of 1mm.

Each of the secondary hoppers 32 have a secondary screw conveyor 40 for moving particulate material along the receptacle of the secondary hopper 32. As with the primary screw conveyor 33, the secondary screw conveyors 40 are rotatably driven by secondary actuators 41 that are controlled by a secondary controller. The secondary controller is operably connected to the secondary actuators 41 to operate the screw conveyors within the secondary hopper 32 in a desired direction. In one situation the secondary controller can operate the secondary actuators 41 and rotate the secondary screw conveyor 40 so as to distribute the particulate material evenly throughout receptacles of the secondary hoppers 32. In another situation the secondary controller can operate the secondary actuators 41 to rotate the secondary screw conveyors 40 to move particulate material along the receptacle of the secondary hopper 32 and toward one of the opposite sides of the secondary hoppers 32.

As can best be seen in figure 6, the outlets of the secondary hoppers 32 include a pivotally mounted deflector 43 that can deflect particulate material discharging from the outlet. A deflector actuator 45 is operably connected to the deflectors 43. In use, the deflectors 43 can be located such that particulate material being discharged from the outlets of the two secondary hoppers 32 makes contact with the ground at substantially the same location.

Figures 4 and 5 are schematic illustrations showing the forward end of the belt conveyor 14 and the primary and secondary screw conveyors 40 of the primary and the secondary hoppers 31 and 32. The primary hopper 31 is located in a fixed position to the vehicle 10 by the framework 30 of the spreader assembly 15, and the secondary hoppers 32 are movable sidewards. Figure 4 illustrates a situation in which a primary screw conveyor of a primary hopper and first and second screw conveyors of secondary hoppers are located on a central axis of the vehicle, however, for clarity of the figures, the first and second hoppers have been omitted. Figure 4 is also representative of a situation in which the secondary hoppers of the first and second screw conveyors are located in an in-line central position. Figure 5 illustrate the situation in which the first and second secondary screw conveyors are offset from the in-line central position so as to extend beyond the outside edges of the vehicle 10 and thereby enable the layer of stone to be laid over a path wider than the vehicle 10 itself. Figure 5 is therefore also representative of the situation in which the secondary hoppers are offset to allow the aggregate to be spread over a wider path. In one example, the layer of stone can be laid over a path up to 4.2m wide .

Although not illustrated in the Figures, it will also be appreciated that the secondary hoppers can be located in different positions, namely one of the hoppers in an in-line position, whilst the other secondary hopper may be located in an offset position. In addition, although not shown in the Figures, the spreader assembly 15 may include secondary linear actuators, such as hydraulic piston and cylinders or screw rams, in which the secondary linear actuators are operably connected to the secondary hoppers 32 between the in-line position and the offset position. The each of the secondary hoppers 32 may be located in different positions, such as both secondary hoppers 32 in the in-line position, one of the secondary hopper 38 in-line and the other in an offset position, or both secondary hoppers 38 in the offset position. The spreader assembly 15 also includes a linear actuator controller (not shown in the drawings) that controls operation of the secondary linear actuators.

Figures 10 and 11 illustrate a trailer 50 for carrying aggregate that can be used to supply aggregate to the primary bin 12 of the vehicle 10 while the vehicle 10 is being driven and towing the trailer 50. The trailer 50 includes: a hitch 51 which can connect to a cooperating hitch 60 on the chassis of the vehicle, a secondary bin 54 for carrying aggregate, and a transfer assembly in the form of an articulated conveyor belt 57 that is arranged to transfer aggregate from the secondary bin 54 to the primary bin 12 while the trailer 50 is hitched, and can be operated while the trailer 50 is being towed by the vehicle.

The secondary bin 54 includes a base wall 61 and a side wall formation extending from the base. Ideally the base wall 61 includes a pair of side panels 64 and a rear panel 65 that are inclined relative to an elongate opening 66 that extends along the base wall 61 of the secondary bin 54. A cover formation is ideally positioned above the elongated opening 66 such that aggregate travels at an angle to the elongate opening 66 rather than in a direction vertically down through the opening 66. The conveyor belt 57 includes a rearward section 55 and a forward section 56. The rearward section 55 extends along the length of the elongated opening 66 of the base wall 61 of the secondary bin 54 and beyond a forward end of the bin 54. The rearward section 55 is mounted beneath the elongated opening 66 and maintains a substantially parallel relationship to the base wall 61 of the secondary bin 54. Although not shown in the figures, the elongated opening 66 may include an adjustable baffle for adjusting the width of the elongated opening 66, and for adjusting the spacing or clearance between the elongate opening and the rearward section 55 of the conveyor belt 57.

The secondary bin 54 is pivotable from a rest position, as shown in figure 10, in which the secondary bin 54 is lowered toward the road and seated directly or indirectly on the chassis 52 of the trailer 50, to a tilted position, as shown in figure 11, in which the forward end of the secondary bin 54 has been raised relative to the road and above the chassis 52 of the trailer 50. The secondary bin 54 may be pivotally mounted on a rear pivot axis and can be moved using any suitable means including a hydraulic ram and cylinder arrangement or an electronic screw ram. When in the titled position, the bin 54 forms an angle to the chassis 52 of the trailer 50, for example, in the range of 5 to 20 degrees, and suitably approximately 14 degrees.

The conveyor belt 57 includes an elbow formation 58 at the junction of the rearward section 55 and the forward section 56 which allows the rearward and forward sections 55 and 56 to articulate relative to each other as the secondary bin 54 is moved between the rest and the tilted positions. Specifically, as can be seen in figure 10 the secondary bin 54 is lowered in the rest position and the rearward section and the forward section of the conveyor belt 57 articulate about the elbow formation 58. Specifically, the elbow formation 58 may include suitable pivot connections in the subframe of the conveyor belt 57, allowing the rearward and forward sections 55 and 56 to be oriented relative to each other at a first angle.

The forward section 56 of the conveyor belt 57 is also pivotally connected to a mast 53 extending upwardly from the chassis 52 of the trailer 50, which supports the forward section 56 of the conveyor belt 57 at various angles to the ground. Figure 11 illustrates the situation in which the secondary bin 54 has been tilted and the rearward section 55 of the conveyor belt 57, in parallel relationship to the base wall 61 of the secondary bin 54, is also tilted into an inclined position. The forward section 56 of the conveyor belt 57 pivots on the mast 53 between first and second angles of inclination relative to the ground as the secondary bin 54 moves between the rest position and a tilted position. As can be seen by comparing the position of the forward section 56 of the conveyor belt 57 in figures 10 and 11, the first angle of inclination of the forward section 56 of the conveyor belt 57 in figure 10 is greater than the second angle of inclination of the conveyor belt 57 in figure 11. Moreover, the rearward and forward sections 55 and 56 of the conveyor belt 57 are arranged linearly, or close to linearly, when the bin 54 of the trailer 50 is located in a tilted position. When the rearward and forward sections 55 and 56 of the conveyer belt 57 are oriented linearly, the belt 57 can be driven to transfer aggregate.

The conveyor belt 57 is a continuous loop that can be driven using any suitable means including a hydraulic drive or electric drive.

The conveyor belt 57 may also include suitable supporting rollers including inclined side rollers to provide the conveyor belt 57 with an upwardly facing curve profile.

The forward most end of the conveyor belt 56 may also include a chute 59 for directing aggregate from the end of the conveyor belt into the primary bin of the vehicle 10.

Although not shown in the figures, the mast 53 can be extended or retracted to adjust the angle of inclination of the forward section 56 of the conveyor belt 57. In addition, the mast 53 can be lowered when the conveyor belt is not in use and to assist in maintenance activities .

It will be understood to persons skilled in the art of the invention that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A vehicle for laying a layer of particulate material, the vehicle including: a driver cabin having controls that allow a driver to drive the vehicle; a bin for carrying particulate material, the bin having a base and side wall extending from the base; a transporter that transports the particulate material from the bin to a forward end of the vehicle; a spreader assembly that receives particulate material from the transporter and can distribute a layer of particulate material on the ground so as to precede wheels of the vehicle when the vehicle is driven in a forward direction.
2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the driver cabin is located forward of the bin when viewing the vehicle driven in a forward direction.
3. The vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the bin is located in a fixed position relative to the chassis of the vehicle.
4. The vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the transporter moves the particulate material from the bin to the spreader assembly while the bin is located in a fixed position.
5. The vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transporter includes a controller that can be operated by the driver to adjust the rate at which particulate material is moved by the transporter to the spreader assembly.
6. The vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transporter includes at least one belt conveyor. Ί. The vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bin is configured to discharge particulate material to the transporter via at least one feed opening for discharging a line of the particulate material from the bin.
8. The vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bin is configured to discharge particulate material to the transporter via two feed openings that discharge a line of the particulate material from the bin, and the transporter includes a pair of the belt conveyors, in which each belt conveyor is arranged below one of the feed openings of the bin, and the bin is mounted in an elevated position above a chassis of the vehicle to accommodate the conveyors beneath the feed openings.
9. The vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base of the bin includes inclined panels that extend upwardly from a feed opening so that particulate material can move through the feed opening under gravity to the transporter.
10. The vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base of the bin has two elongate feed openings that face downwardly and inclined panels that extend upwardly from the openings toward an upper opening of the bin, and a ridge formation arranged between the feed openings, the ridge formation having opposite inclined sides and a crest extending along the ridge formation.
11. The vehicle according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the, or each, feed opening includes an opening adjustor that is operable to adjust the width of the opening and in turn, control the width of the line of the particulate material that is discharged from the bin via the feed opening.
12. The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the opening adjustor includes a baffle defining at least in part the width of the feed opening, the baffle being movable between a retracted position, in which the width of the feed opening is increased and an advanced position, in which the width of the feed opening is decreased, thereby allowing the width of the line of particulate material to be controlled by changing the position of the baffle.
13. The vehicle according to claim 11 or 12, wherein opening adjustor is operable to change the spacing of the feed opening above the transporter, and thereby adjust the height and/or width of the line of the particulate material being supplied from the bin.
14. The vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the spreader assembly includes a primary hopper for receiving particulate material from the transporter and a distributor that is operable to move the particulate material within the primary hopper, in which the distributor is a screw conveyor having a longitudinal axis that extends along the primary hopper and can be rotated in opposite directions for moving the particulate material in opposite directions along the primary hopper, and primary hopper may have first and second supply openings, the first supply opening being located toward one end of the primary hopper and the second supply opening being located toward an opposite end of the hopper.
15. The vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the spreader assembly includes a primary actuator for rotatably driving the screw conveyor, and a primary controller for controlling operation of the primary actuator.
16. The vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the spreader assembly include an optical sensor for sensing the position of particulate material within the primary hopper, and output signal of the optical sensor is transmitted to the primary controller which uses the output signal for controlling operation of the primary actuator .
17. The vehicle according to claim 16, wherein operating buttons are arranged in the vehicle to allow a driver to adjust settings of the controller.
18. The vehicle according to any one of claims 14 to 17, wherein the spreader assembly includes at least one secondary hopper that is arranged to receive particulate material from the primary hopper, the at least one secondary hopper being movable relative to the primary hopper so that the secondary hopper can be moved between a first position in which at least part of the secondary hopper is located outside of the width of the vehicle, and a second position in which the secondary hopper is located inwardly of the first position. The secondary hopper ideally includes a discharge opening for discharging a layer of the particulate material onto a road surface .
19. The vehicle according to claim 18, wherein at least one of the secondary hoppers includes a secondary distributor for moving particulate material within the respective secondary hopper, in which the secondary distributors include a secondary screw conveyor that can be rotated in opposite directions for moving particulate material in opposite directions along the secondary hoppers, and the spreader assembly includes a secondary controller for controlling a secondary actuator that rotatably drives the secondary screw conveyor .
20. The vehicle according to claim 18 or 19, wherein the spreader assembly includes a secondary optical sensor for sensing the position of particulate material within the or each secondary hopper, and an output signal of the secondary optical sensor is transmitted to the secondary controller which uses the output signal for controlling operation of the secondary actuator.
21. The vehicle according to any one of claims 18 to 20, wherein secondary operating buttons are arranged in the vehicle to allow a driver to adjusting settings of the secondary controller.
22. The vehicle according to any one of claims 18 to 21, wherein the secondary hopper(s) include a discharge outlet for discharging the particulate material in a layer onto the road, and wherein the discharge outlet has a series of gates that are operable to open and close sections of the discharge outlet to selectively allow or prevent the particulate material from being discharged from the sections .
23. The vehicle according to claim 22, wherein the secondary hoppers may include a first gate actuator operably connected to the gates for opening and closing the gates, and a second gate actuator operably connected to the gates for adjusting the size of the discharge outlet when the gates are in the opening position.
24. A kit that can be fitted to a vehicle for laying a layer of particulate material, the kit including: a bin for carrying particulate material, the bin having a base and side wall extending from the base; a transporter that transports the particulate material from the bin to a forward end of the vehicle; and a spreader assembly that receives particulate material from the transporter and can distribute a layer of particulate material on the ground so as to precede wheels of the vehicle when the vehicle is driven in a forward direction.
25. The kit according to claim 24, wherein the kit includes any one or a combination of the features of the vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 23.
26. A trailer for supplying aggregate to the bin of the vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 23, wherein the trailer includes : a hitch for connecting the trailer to a co-operating hitch on the vehicle; a secondary bin for carrying aggregate; and a transfer assembly that is arranged to transfer aggregate from the second bin to the primary bin of the vehicle while the trailer is connected to the vehicle.
27. A trailer for supplying aggregate to a primary bin of a vehicle, wherein the trailer includes: a hitch for connecting the trailer to a co-operating hitch on the vehicle; a secondary bin for carrying aggregate; and a transfer assembly that is arranged to transfer aggregate from the second bin to the primary bin of the vehicle while the trailer is connected to the vehicle.
28. The trailer according to claim 27, wherein the secondary bin has a base and a side wall extending from the base, the secondary bin has an elongate opening in the base of the secondary bin that extends longitudinally of the secondary bin that supplies aggregate onto the transfer assembly.
29. The trailer according to claim 27 or 28, wherein the secondary bin may be pivotable from a rest position in which the bin is lowered toward the road, to a tilted position in which a forward end of the secondary bin has been raised relative to the road, and when in the rest position, the transfer assembly is arranged in a configuration so as not to be operative for transferring aggregate to the primary bin and when in the tilted position, the transfer assembly is arranged in a configuration for transporting aggregate.
30. The trailer according to claim 27 or 28, wherein the transfer assembly includes a conveyor belt that is arranged so as to receive aggregate that is discharged from the opening of the secondary bin.
31. The trailer according to claim 30, wherein the conveyor belt is arranged so as to extend from the opening of the secondary bin to an upwardly facing opening of the primary bin.
32. The trailer according to any claim 30 or 31, wherein the conveyor belt is arranged below the secondary bin and extends upward at an inclination relative to the trailer and over at least part of an opening of the primary bin.
33. The trailer according to claim 30 or 31, wherein the conveyor belt has two sections including a rearward section that is located beneath the secondary bin and a forward section that can articulate relative to the rearward section and extends forwardly of the second bin, the rearward section of the conveyor belt is able to maintain a parallel relationship to the base of the secondary bin as the secondary bin moves between the rest position and tilted position, and when the second bin is in the rest position and the rearward section and the forward section of the conveyer are articulated at a first angle to each other, and wherein the forward section is also arranged a first angle if inclination to the ground.
34. The trailer according to claim 33, wherein when the second bin is in a tilted position, the rearward section of the conveyor belt is located in an operative position in which the rearward section and the forward section are articulated at a second angle, which is suitably less than the first angle.
35. The trailer according to any one of claims 30 to 34, wherein the conveyor belt is a continuous loop conveyor belt and the first and second sections of the conveyor belt may include an elbow configuration at a leading end of the secondary bin.
36. The trailer according to any one of claims 30 to 35, in which the trailer includes a belt actuator that drives the belt in the continuous loop, and the trailer includes a belt controller that this configured to operate the belt actuator, and the controller includes operating buttons that a driver of the vehicle towing the trailer can operate to adjust settings of the controller and, in turn, adjust the speed of the belt actuator.
37. The vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 23 and the trailer according to any one of claims 27 to 30, wherein and aggregate in the secondary bin of the trailer can be transferred to the primary bin of the vehicle while vehicle is towing the trailer.