AU2018204245A1

AU2018204245A1 - Forward moving gravel spreader

Info

Publication number: AU2018204245A1
Application number: AU2018204245A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Olivier Reillon
Original assignee: Acmar SAS
Current assignee: Acmar SAS
Priority date: 2017-06-14
Filing date: 2018-06-14
Publication date: 2019-01-17
Also published as: FR3067726A1; FR3067726B1

Abstract

FORWARD MOVING GRAVEL SPREADER 5 A gravel spreader (1) for spreading gravel on a road while moving in the forward direction comprises a gravity-fed bed (30) with a partially open bottom suitable for containing gravel (63). A graveling system (60) is connected to the front of the cab (20) with respect to the forward direction of travel of the gravel spreader (1). The graveling system (60) is adapted to deliver gravel (63) onto the road. A conveyor system (70) is 10 adapted to convey gravel from the bed (30) member to the graveling system (60) via the partially open bottom. The graveling system (60) is in communication with the conveyor system (70) such that at least some of the contents conveyed by the conveyor system (70) can be transferred from the bed (30) to the graveling system (60). The conveyor system (70) comprises a conveying ramp (72). The conveying ramp 15 (72) passes through the reserved space (50) and extends longitudinally from the graveling system (60) to at least a portion of the bed (30). 'IL 8x A#Ej 're 'Ie > [

Description

FORWARD MOVING GRAVEL SPREADER

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a gravel spreader.

More particularly, the invention relates to a gravel spreader for spreading gravel on a road onto previously spread bitumen, which advances in the forward direction.

BACKGROUND

Gravel spreaders traditionally spread gravel on a road after bitumen is spread. Spreaders can also spread material without any spreading of bitumen. This is the case for example in snow removal from roads.

Gravel spreaders generally move rearward with the bed tilted towards the rear. However, driving in reverse can be difficult for the operator of the machine and can lead to imprecise gravel spreading.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to improve gravel spreaders of this type, in particular to facilitate gravel spreading.

For this purpose, the invention proposes a gravel spreader (1) for spreading gravel on a road while moving in the forward direction, comprising: a chassis (10); a cab (20) mounted on the chassis (10), positioned at the front of the chassis (10) with respect to the forward direction of travel of the gravel spreader (1), a reserved space (50) being provided in the vertical direction between the cab (20) and the chassis (10); a bed (30) mounted on the chassis (10) behind the cab (20) with respect to the forward direction of travel of the gravel spreader (1), the bed (30) being suitable for containing gravel (63), the bed (30) being gravity-fed with a partially open bottom; a graveling system (60) connected to the front of the cab (20) with respect to the forward direction of travel of the gravel spreader (1), said graveling system (60) being adapted to deliver gravel (63) onto the road; and a conveyor system (70) adapted to convey

2018204245 14 Jun 2018 gravel from the bed (30) member to the graveling system (60) via the partially open bottom, the graveling system (60) being in communication with the conveyor system (70) such that at least some of the contents conveyed by the conveyor system (70) can be transferred from the bed (30) to the graveling system (60), the conveyor system (70) comprising a conveying ramp (72), the conveying ramp (72) passing through the reserved space (50) and extending longitudinally from the graveling system (60) to at least a portion of the bed (30).

With these arrangements, the gravel spreader operates in a forward direction, which improves the safety and quality of the act of spreading gravel, incidentally providing savings of 15 to 20%. In addition, as the bed of the gravel spreader is gravity-fed, it does not need to be raised or to have a sliding floor, and can be fed gravel continuously without needing to stop the movement of the gravel spreader. This makes it possible to work large areas of road in a shorter time, for example treating 2,000 m² of road surface in a single rotation. In addition, the forward direction of advancement, the non-tilting bed, and the absence of an operator on the rear of the equipment are all elements that optimize safety.

In various embodiments of the gravel spreader, one or more of the following arrangements may also be used:

• the conveying ramp (72) extends longitudinally from the graveling system (60) to the rear (30b) of the bed (30).

• further comprising an engine (40) adapted to actuate the movement of the gravel spreader (1), the cab (20) comprising a floor (21) facing the chassis, and the engine (40) being located vertically below the cab (20), the reserved space (50) being located vertically between the engine (40) and the floor (21) of the cab (20).

• the conveyor system (70) comprises a conveying ramp (72) in the form of an endless belt supported by pulleys (74a, 74b).

• the conveyor system (70) is actuated by two motors (76a, 76b) able to

2018204245 14 Jun 2018 move the endless belt in two opposite directions.

• each of the two motors (76a, 76b) is arranged at an end of the endless belt that is specific to said motor.

• each of the two motors (76a, 76b) is housed in one of the two pulleys (74a, 74b) that is specific to said motor.

• the conveyor system (70) is inclined with respect to the plane of the road so that the position of the conveyor system (70) relative to the vertical at the graveling system (60) is higher than the position of the conveyor system (70) relative to the vertical at the bed (30).

• the graveling system (60) is a telescoping graveling system.

• the conveyor system (70) is movable longitudinally between a first position where the conveyor system (70) extends longitudinally from the graveling system (60) to at least a portion of the bed (30), and a second position where the conveyor system (70) extends longitudinally from a position vertically below the cab (20) to at least a portion of the bed (30).

• the conveyor system (70) is movable longitudinally into a third position, where the conveyor system (70) extends longitudinally from the front (30a) of the bed (30) to a position longitudinally rearward of the rear (30b) of the bed (30).

• the conveyor system (70) is removable from the chassis (10).

• further comprising a bed (30) reversal system for placing the bed (30) in one of two positions where the front (30a) and the rear (30b) of the bed (30) are reversed relative to one another.

With these arrangements, the graveling system can be detached from the gravel spreader to provide a multi-use spreader (with or without gravel spreading). In addition, the different longitudinal positions of the graveling system allow emptying the bed when the gravel spreader is not in operation. Also, the reversibility of the bed means that it can also be used as a gravel spreader bed 60 to 70 days a year when

2018204245 14 Jun 2018 paving roads and as a conventional dump truck bed for the rest of the year, this being achieved by a simple front-to-back rotation and with the front graveling system unhooked.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of one of its embodiments, given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

- Figure la is a schematic front perspective view of a gravel spreader having a telescoping front graveling system shown here in the folded position;

- Figure lb is a schematic rear perspective view of the gravel spreader of Figure la; and

- Figure 2 is a schematic plan view of the side of the gravel spreader of Figures la and lb, partially transparent to reveal a front graveling system.

In the different figures, the same reference numerals designate identical or similar elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In the present description, the terms front and rear are used with respect to the longitudinal direction X of the vehicle, and to the traditional direction of driving a motorized vehicle. The terms upper or top and lower or bottom are used relative to the upward vertical direction Z, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X and to the transverse direction Y.

As represented in Figures la and lb, a motorized vehicle in the form of a gravel spreader 1, a semi-trailer for example, used for spreading gravel while moving in the forward direction on a road on which bitumen has been previously spread, comprises: a cab 20, which is a cab-forward or flat face cab for example, in which the operator driving the gravel spreader 1 will be positioned; a bed 30 behind the cab 20 used to transport the gravel; a graveling system 60 in front of the cab 20 for spreading

2018204245 14 Jun 2018 the gravel on the road; and a conveyor system 70 between the bed 30 and the graveling system 60, used to convey the gravel from the bed 30 to the graveling system 60, passing under the cab 20.

More specifically and as illustrated in Figure 2, the truck 1 comprises a chassis 10, the cab 20 being connected to the chassis 10 by a suspension system (not shown). The cab 20 is positioned towards the front of the chassis 10 with respect to the forward direction of travel of the gravel spreader 1, with a front face and a rear face defined with respect to the forward direction of travel of the gravel spreader 1. The cab 20 is an enclosed space of generally parallelepiped shape which comprises a floor 21 substantially parallel to and facing the chassis. The cab 20 contains a driving station 22 with a seat for the operator and driving means located above the floor 21. The bed 30 is mounted on the chassis 10 behind the cab 20 relative to the forward direction of travel of the truck. The bed 30 has a front 30a and a rear 30b.

The graveling system 60 comprises an enclosure 62 adapted to receive gravel 63 and a discharge ramp 61 located below the enclosure relative to the vertical, positioned facing the road to be graveled, and which makes it possible to pour gravel onto the road. The graveling system 60 is for example fixed to the front end of the chassis of the truck 1 or to the front face of the cab 20 by one of the lateral faces of its enclosure 62 so that the graveling system 60 overhangs the road. In this case the bottom of the graveling system 60 is facing the road.

The graveling system 60 is attached to the front of the gravel spreader 1 using a quick-fastening plate, which provides hooks on which the equipment is hung and tightened by fasteners such as bolts. The graveling system 60 is thus easily removable from the gravel spreader 1, so that the gravel spreader can be used as a simple truck if so needed.

The graveling system 60 may be a graveling system which is telescoping in the transverse direction Y. Figure la is a schematic front perspective view of the gravel spreader with the forward telescoping graveling system 60 in the folded position, and Figure lb in the extended position. The telescoping discharge ramp 61 is wider than a non-telescoping ramp, thus enabling better performance. The telescoping ramp 61

2018204245 14 Jun 2018 typically has a width of about 2m50, 3m60, 4m, 4m40, 5m, 6m.

The graveling system 60 comprises one or more doors (not shown) directed towards the road and through which the contents (in particular gravel) of the graveling system 60 can flow. Each door may for example be an opening with or without gravel guiding means. In the case where the graveling system overhangs the road, the door can be placed in the bottom of the graveling system. The graveling system 60 may typically comprise twenty doors having a width of about 20 cm each, their activation or in other words their passage from the open state to the closed state being controlled so as to spread gravel in the areas required. The operator can then for example select, a few seconds in advance, the areas where gravel is to be spread. The commands for the machine are then given by action of the operator on a control arm or a touch screen. Alternatively, the graveling commands can be given for example by voice command to an on-board computer system that can identify the doors to be opened based on the driver's instructions.

Referring to Figure 2, the cab 20 is mounted on the chassis 10, on an axis of rotation R located at the front face of the cab 20 so that the cab 20 can be tilted in the transverse direction Y towards the front of the truck about said axis, the tilting taking place in the vertical plane, in order to access the engine 40 mounted on the chassis 10 and vertically located under the cab 20 for example.

The rear portion of the cab 20 rests on two suspensions (not shown). Said suspensions and said axis of rotation are lengthened here typically by a length of between 40cm and 60cm and typically about 45cm from their usual dimensions, such that the cab 20 is raised relative to the chassis 10 in the vertical direction and is therefore vertically higher than its usual position relative to the chassis 10 in a conventional gravel spreader. The cab 20 is thus kept in suspension at a distance from the chassis 10, leaving a reserved space 50 between the cab 20 and the chassis 10.

The floor 21 of the cab and the chassis 10 are then substantially parallel, the reserved space 50 extending in the vertical direction between 20 cm and 80 cm and preferably between 40 cm to 45 cm.

The engine 40 is thus located under the floor 21 of the cab, the reserved

2018204245 14 Jun 2018 space 50 being located vertically between the floor 21 and the engine 40.

The graveling system 60 communicates with the conveyor system 70 so that at least a portion of the contents conveyed by the conveyor system 70 can be transferred to the graveling system 60. More particularly, the graveling system 60 comprises an opening which is in communication with the conveyor system 70, adapted so that at least a portion of the contents conveyed by the conveyor system 70 can be transferred to the graveling system 60.

The conveyor system 70 is adapted to convey gravel from the bed 30 member to the graveling system 60. The conveyor system 70 passes through the reserved space 50 between the bed 30 and the graveling system 60, and extends to the bed 30.

The conveyor system 70 comprises a conveying ramp 72. The conveying ramp 72 consists essentially of an endless belt of flexible material driven and supported by motorized pulleys 74a, 74b, located at the ends of the conveyor system 70.

The conveying ramp 72 is substantially horizontal and inclined at an angle relative to the horizontal in order to convey the gravel 63 from a low rear point in the bed 30 to a high front point in the graveling system 60. The inclination of the conveying ramp 72 is, for example, 3 degrees. The inclination of the conveying ramp 72 is, for example, between 2 and 5 degrees. The inclination of the conveying ramp 72 is, for example, less than 10 degrees. Thus, the conveying ramp 72 is inclined with respect to the plane of the road so that the position of the conveying ramp 72 relative to the vertical at the graveling system 60 is above the position of the conveying ramp 72 relative to the vertical at the bed 30.

The ramp 72, which is more or less wide, has a lower run 72a and an upper run 72b which supports and carries the gravel placed on it. The conveying ramp 72 may be provided with chevron ribs for better entrainment of the gravel. The path of the conveyor ramp 72 may be horizontal, in other words parallel to the plane of the road, or may be ascending or descending. It may be rectilinear or have curves.

The pulleys 74a, 74b are motorized by means of a motor 76a, 76b, each of

2018204245 14 Jun 2018 which, in one embodiment, is specific to its pulley. It is possible for one of the two motors 76a, 76b to be driving, while the other is passive. It is possible that one of the two motors 76a, 76b can be actuated according to the direction of the ramp. The conveyor system 70 can thus operate in a forward direction, to bring the gravel to the graveling system 60, and in a reverse direction to empty the gravel from the bed 30. For example, the motor 74a at the front of the ramp 72 could operate the ramp 72 to feed the graveling system 60 (movement from rear to front), and the motor 74b at the rear of the ramp 72 could operate the ramp 72 to empty the gravel onto the road (movement from front to rear). It is also possible that the two motors 74a, 74b can be actuated simultaneously to move the belt forward or in reverse.

In one embodiment, the motors 74a, 74b are integrated with the pulleys 72a, 72b, preferably inside them, so that the conveyor system 70 is detachable from the gravel spreader 1.

In one embodiment, the speed of the motors 74a, 74b is adjustable in order to adjust the flow rate of the gravel ultimately poured onto the road. The operator can for example adjust the gravel flow rate from the cab 20.

The conveyor system 70 can be positioned at different positions relative to the chassis 10, depending on whether the conveyor system 70 is being used in graveling or emptying mode, or in order to detach the conveyor system 70. The conveyor system 70 is mounted on rails for easy detachment, for example in order to access the engine 40 when maintenance is needed.

Thus, the conveyor system 70 is movable longitudinally between a first position where the conveyor system 70 extends longitudinally from a position vertically at the graveling system 60 to at least a portion of the bed 30, and a second position where the conveyor system 70 extends longitudinally from a position vertically below the cab 20 to at least a portion ofthe bed 30. In the first position, the conveyor system 70 may extend longitudinally from the graveling system 60 to the rear 30b ofthe bed 30 without extending beyond the rear 30b ofthe bed 30, as shown in Figure 2. The first position corresponds to an operating or graveling position. The second position corresponds to a position for detachment of the conveyor system 70.

2018204245 14 Jun 2018

A longitudinal offset between the first position and the second position is for example 800mm. In the second position, a rear portion of the ramp 72 may extend beyond the rear of the bed 30.

The conveyor system 70 may be longitudinally movable to a third position, where the conveyor system 70 extends longitudinally from the front of the bed 30 to a longitudinally rearward position at the rear of the bed 30. The third position corresponds to a discharge position for emptying the gravel from the bed 30 by pouring it directly onto the road from the rear of the gravel spreader 1 without traveling through the graveling system 60. In the third position, a rear portion of the ramp 72 may extend substantially beyond the rear 30b of the bed 30. The longitudinal offset between the first position and the third position is for example 400mm.

As illustrated in Figure lb, the bed 30 is a gravity-fed bed. In particular, the bed 30 is of substantially parallelepipeds shape with a funnel-shaped bottom that is open at its lowest point. The bed 30 is in communication with the graveling system 60 via the funnel-shaped bottom. The hole may in particular be closed by a bed door (not shown) which is opened for example automatically as controlled by the user from the cab. The hole may be longitudinal, extending partially or entirely along the bed 30, and having a width corresponding to a width of the conveying ramp 72 or less in order for gravity to feed the gravel 63 onto it.

The arrival of gravel on the conveyor system 70 is controlled by a gravel level sensor, for example an ultrasonic sensor, which can trigger the operation of the conveyor system 70 according to the fill level of the graveling system.

The bed 30 typically has dimensions of 10m to 20m in height and in particular about 15m, 20m to 30m in width and in particular about 25m, and between 40m and 60m in length and typically 55m. A longitudinal distance can be reserved between the cab 20 and the bed 30.

Alternatively, the bed 30 may be a semi-tipping bed. Alternatively, the bed 30 may also be heat insulated.

Alternatively, the bed 30 is reversible. The bed 30 may be arranged on a bed turning system, which allows swapping the front and rear of the bed according to

2018204245 14 Jun 2018 the desired application (gravel bed or conventional dump truck bed) by a simple frontrear rotation.

The bed 30 may for example be continuously fed by a gravel reserve mounted on an external dump truck and which could follow the gravel spreader 1 as it 5 moves, the contents of its bed gradually poured into the bed of the gravel spreader.

The dump truck could for example roll in reverse behind the gravel spreader 1 which is rolling forward, and pour the contents of its bed into the bed 30 of the gravel spreader.

For the winter season for example, in order to be able to use the truck for 10 snow removal for example, the conveyor system 70 can be dismounted by removing it from its rail, and the graveling system 60 can be detached from the quick-fastening plate, the bed 30 then turned around for another use.

Claims

1. Gravel spreader (1) for spreading gravel onto a road while moving in the forward direction, comprising:

a chassis (10), a cab (20) mounted on the chassis (10), positioned at the front of the chassis (10) with respect to the forward direction of travel of the gravel spreader (1), a reserved space (50) being provided in the vertical direction between the cab (20) and the chassis (10), a bed (30) mounted on the chassis (10) behind the cab (20) with respect to the forward direction of travel of the gravel spreader (1), the bed (30) being suitable for containing gravel (63), the bed (30) being gravity-fed with a partially open bottom, a graveling system (60) connected to the front of the cab (20) with respect to the forward direction of travel of the gravel spreader (1), said graveling system (60) being adapted to deliver gravel (63) onto the road, and a conveyor system (70) suitable for conveying gravel from the bed (30) member to the graveling system (60) via the partially open bottom, the graveling system (60) being in communication with the conveyor system (70) such that at least some of the contents conveyed by the conveyor system (70) can be transferred from the bed (30) to the graveling system (60), the conveyor system (70) comprising a conveying ramp (72), the conveying ramp (72) passing through the reserved space (50) and extending longitudinally from the graveling system (60) to at least a portion of the bed (30).

2. Gravel spreader (1) according to claim 1, wherein the conveying ramp (72) extends longitudinally from the graveling system (60) to the rear (30b) of the bed (30).

3. Gravel spreader (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 2, further comprising an engine (40) adapted to actuate the movement of the gravel spreader

2018204245 14 Jun 2018 (1), the cab (20) comprising a floor (21) facing the chassis, and the engine (40) being located vertically below the cab (20), the reserved space (50) being located vertically between the engine (40) and the floor (21) ofthe cab (20).

4. Gravel spreader (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the conveyor system (70) comprises a conveying ramp (72) in the form of an endless belt supported by pulleys (74a, 74b).

10

5. Gravel spreader (1) according to claim 4, wherein the conveyor system (70) is actuated by two motors (76a, 76b) able to move the endless belt in two opposite directions.

6. Gravel spreader (1) according to claim 5, wherein each of the two 15 motors (76a, 76b) is arranged at an end of the endless belt that is specific to said motor.

7. Gravel spreader (1) according to one of claims 5 or 6, wherein each of the two motors (76a, 76b) is housed in one of the two pulleys (74a, 74b) that is specific

2 0 to said motor.

8. Gravel spreader (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the conveyor system (70) is inclined with respect to the plane of the road so that the position of the conveyor system (70) relative to the vertical at the graveling system

2 5 (60) is higher than the position of the conveyor system (70) relative to the vertical at the bed (30).

9. Gravel spreader (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the graveling system (60) is a telescoping graveling system.

2018204245 14 Jun 2018

10. Gravel spreader (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the conveyor system (70) is movable longitudinally between a first position where the conveyor system (70) extends longitudinally from the graveling system (60) to at least a portion of the bed (30), and a second position where the conveyor system (70) extends longitudinally from a position vertically below the cab (20) to at least a portion of the bed (30).

11. Gravel spreader (1) according to claim 10, wherein the conveyor system (70) is moveable longitudinally into a third position, where the conveyor system (70) extends longitudinally from the front (30a) of the bed (30) to a position longitudinally rearward of the rear (30b) of the bed (30).

12. Gravel spreader (1) according to one of claims 10 and 11, wherein the conveyor system (70) is removable from the chassis (10).

13. Gravel spreader (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, further comprising a bed reversal system (30) for placing the bed (30) in one of two positions where the front (30a) and the rear (30b) of the bed (30) are reversed relative to one another.