EP2377998B1

EP2377998B1 - Screed unit for paver with a coupling system for extension sectors

Info

Publication number: EP2377998B1
Application number: EP11003040.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Reiner Mueller; Alois Kunz; Frank Rheinbay; Thomas Haubrich
Original assignee: Marini SpA
Current assignee: Marini SpA
Priority date: 2010-04-13
Filing date: 2011-04-12
Publication date: 2018-06-13
Anticipated expiration: 2031-04-12
Also published as: EP2377998A2; EP2377998A3; ITUD20100074A1; IT1399575B1

Description

Technical field

The present invention relates to a screed unit for paver finisher according to the characteristics of the pre-characterising part of claim 1.
The present invention also relates to a paver finisher machine according to the characteristics of the pre-characterising part of claim 14.

Definitions

During the present description the term "side" refers to a position on the machine placed sideways with respect to the advancing direction of the same machine in working condition.

Prior art

In the present state of the art the paver finisher machines also known in lingo as finishers, pavers, etc. are known.
These machines consist of two main screeds:

a self-propelled tractor on wheels or on tracks, generally operated by a Diesel engine
a material screed unit, towed by the tractor
The tractor's Diesel engine operates a series of hydraulic pumps that supply different dedicated circuits:
for the machine advancing,
for the screed material controlled feeding
for the screed unit operation and control

Technical solutions to make the extension sectors mounting easier and faster are known, for example by means of hydraulic rams or by wedge-shaped systems.
In US 3712189 interlocking extension units are disclosed for extending the screed of an asphalt paving machine. Each extension unit has an open inner end having two rotatable shafts extending vertically there across. A cylindrical cam is welded to each of the shafts in an off-centre position. Disposed about each of the cams is a steel ring having a bolt extending radially therefrom beyond the inner end of the unit, the bolt being adapted to be connected to a slotted plate in the outer end of an adjacent unit. Also, arranged in such a way to protrude from the inner end of each unit, two adjustable guide studs are present each of which is adapted to mate with the slotted plate to facilitate alignment of adjacent units and provide a limiting surface against which an adjacent unit is drawn when the cams are rotated.
In US 6190087 a paver screed is described which has a main screed with two outer side walls, at least one of the side walls being provided with insertion orifices for the releasable mounting of at least one lateral screed extension by means of fastening elements capable of being inserted through the insertion orifices. A screed extension is provided with fastening elements that comprise hydraulic cylinders each of which have a piston that is spring-biased into an initial, retracted position. The cylinders are actuated by hydraulic fluid to displace or extend the piston against the biasing action of the spring. Preferably, the hydraulic cylinders are connected a hydraulic circuit of the main screed. The piston of each hydraulic cylinder carries a shank capable of being inserted through a proximal insertion orifice and which are preferably provided with an abutment element configured for attaching the cylinder to the sidewall of the main screed.

Problems of the prior art

Applying the extensions, one or more extensions for each side of the base screed, generally implies the following operations (Figs. 3, 5, 6, 13) to be carried out both when a screed having fixed width and a screed with extensible sectors are involved:

dismounting the end plates (12) which retain the material distributed by the cochlea (4), which are generally fixed by means of bolts;
approaching the extension sector (18) to the end, for example the left one, of the left side section (11) of the main screed (19) of the total screed unit (17). In similar way for the right end, approaching the extension sector (18) to the end of the right side section (10) of the main screed (19) of the screed unit (17). The extension sector (18) can be unloaded from a transport means (not shown) directly on the ground, or on a platform (not shown). If suitable raising and moving means are not available the same paver finisher (45) carries out the approaching of the total screed unit (17) to the extension sector (18);
rough alignment of the extension sector (18) with the end of the total screed unit (17). This manoeuvre is generally carried out with a pry, until allowing the introduction of the fixing or coupling bolts (25) with the aid of one or more centring pins;
inserting of the fixing or coupling bolts (25) and slight clamping of the nuts until obtaining the extension sector vertical wall (18) approach to the vertical wall of the total screed unit end (17);
manoeuvre of the adjuster elements (22) to obtain the perfect co-planarity of the bottom plate (23) of the extension sector (18) with the bottom plate (23) of the total screed unit (17);
definitive clamping of the fixing or coupling bolts (25);
connection of the transmission elements of the tampers (26), typically first Cardan joints, elastic joints, toothed joints (27);
connection of the transmission elements of the vibrators (28), typically second Cardan joints, elastic joints, toothed joints (29).

Obviously the aforementioned operations should be repeated for each extension sector (18) to be mounted and their laboriousness is evident mainly in relation to approaching the extension sector (18) to the unit and considering the important weight of these extension sectors (18) that does not allow an easy handling.
Also the solutions providing the use of hydraulic rams to make the mounting of the extension sectors easier and faster are subject to different drawbacks, among which the complexity of the hydraulic rams system and the total cost.
Moreover the known systems are not of simple workability and reliability during the coupling.

Aim of the invention

The aim of this invention is to supply a paver finisher machine comprising a fast coupling system of the screed unit extension sectors for the road paving carried out by self-propelled machines and/or by train, allowing to obtain an easy coupling of the same extension sectors in a reliable way.
Further aim of the invention is to shorten the installation time of the extension sectors. Concept of the invention
The aim is reached with the characteristics of claim 1. The sub-claims represent advantageous solutions.

Advantageous effects of the invention

The solution in accordance with the present invention, by the considerable creative contribution whose effect constitutes an immediate and not-negligible technical progress, presents various advantages.
First of all an easy and fast coupling of the same extension sectors is possible.
Besides this the solution according to the present invention is economic with respect to the prior art techniques.
Moreover the solution according to the present invention is applicable also to the existing machines, requiring a minimum amount of changes to these latter.

Description of the drawings

It is hereinafter described a solution obtained with reference to the included drawings to be considered as a non-limiting example of the present invention in which:

Fig. 1 schematically shows a wheeled tractor according to a plan view.
Fig. 2 schematically shows a screed unit according to a plan view.
Fig. 3 schematically shows the coupling of the screed unit of Figure 2 with the tractor of
Figure 1 according to a plan view.
Fig. 4 schematically shows the generic configuration of a screed unit according to a side view.
Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 schematically show the applying of extensions of the base screed unit.
Fig. 7 is a three-dimensional view schematically showing the female element of the fast coupling system of the screed unit extension sectors according to the present invention.
Fig. 8 is a three-dimensional view schematically showing the male element of the fast coupling system of the screed unit extension sectors according to the present invention.
Fig. 9 and Fig. 10 are three-dimensional views schematically showing the coupling between the male element and the female element of the fast coupling system of the screed unit extension sectors according to the present invention.
Fig. 11 is a side-view schematically showing the connection between the male and the female elements of the fast coupling system of the screed unit extension sectors according to the present invention.
Fig. 12 is a view from the bottom of the female element of the connection system of the fast coupling system of the screed unit extension sectors according to the present invention.
Fig. 13 is a three-dimensional view schematically showing the coupling of the components of the fast coupling system of the screed unit extension sectors according to the present invention.

Description of the invention

Fig.1 schematically shows a wheeled tractor (13) and includes:

a hopper (1) for the collection of the material to be spread: typically bituminous conglomerate, case-hardened aggregate, stabilized inert materials. Such materials are discharged in the collection hopper (1) from specially equipped transport means, typically trucks with overturnable platform, or from auxiliary means, typically front loaders, dumpers and the like. Advantageously the collection hopper (1) is provided with overturnable side-walls that, in opening position, allow the easy discharge of the material from the transport means and in closing position allow the tractor (13) to fall within the size allowed for its road haulage;
one or two conveyers-extractors (2) of the material from the collection hopper (1) to the rear part of the tractor (13);
two towing points (3) of the screed unit (17), opportunely adjustable in height to allow different screed thicknesses;
a material delivering cochlea (4), generally consisting of two independent sections, with the purpose to distribute the material evenly on the screed unit total width (17);
an operator seat (5) for driving the means and for controlling all the machine functions;
steering front wheels (6), if necessary also motive;
motive rear wheels (7).

Fig. 2

a fixed length central section (8). The central section (8) generally consists of a first sub-section (30) and of a second sub-section (31) centrally hinged to one another to obtain different screed transverse sections;
in the case of extensible screed unit (17): one right side section (10) and one left side section (11). The right side (10) and left side (11) sections each have a width equal to about the half of the central section (8) and are hydraulically extensible to obtain variable screed widths;
in the case of fixed width screed unit (17) there is only the central section (8);
two end plates (12) retaining the delivered material.

Fig. 3

Fig. 4

The screed unit (17) is connected with the towing arms (9) by a pin (14) and a fixing system (15), able to change the angle between the arms and the screed unit (17).
According to prior art, the screed unit (17), is connected by means of articulations (32) only to the tractor's two towing points (3) to have a floating action. Its arrangement is determined by the equilibrium of the forces acting on it: towing force, material frictional resistance, material bearing capacity. The arrangement of the screed unit (17) in equilibrium conditions shows an angle (16) of the bottom plate (23) with respect to the screed surface; this angle, known as connecting angle, determines the capacity of the screed unit (17) to mount on the material during the screed and pre-compact it.
The screed unit (17) is furthermore generally equipped with accessories of known art, as reciprocate motion blades, called tampers (26), having vertical action to facilitate the inserting of the material below the bottom plate (23), and vibrators (28) to give the screed a good finishing, as well as a heating system (not shown) to avoid the adhering of the material to the bottom plate (23) and to the tamper (26) in the case of hot bituminous conglomerate screed.
During the screed to avoid the material to overflow outside the screed unit (17) width, appropriate retaining end plates (12) are provided. The end plates (12) are used to retain the material distributed by the cochleas in front of the screed unit (17) and to convey the material toward the machine longitudinal axis when the screed width tightens in case of screed unit (17) with extensible sectors.
As previously considered, when a screed width larger than the main screed (19) base width is required, extension sectors (18) are applied at the ends of the same screed until the required width is reached. Such extension sectors (18) are generally available with different widths and more extension sectors (18) can be applied one after the other until the limit established by the maker of the screed unit (17) is reached.
The applying of the extension sectors (18), one or more sectors for each side of the main screed (19), as previously explained, generally implies the following operations (Figs. 3, 5, 6, 13) to be carried out both for a fixed width screed unit and for a screed unit with extensible sectors:

dismounting of the end plates (12) retaining the material distributed by the cochlea (4), which are generally fixed by means of bolts;
approaching of the extension sector (18) to the end, for example left one, of the left side section (11) of the main screed (19) of the total screed unit (17). In similar way for the right end, approaching of the extension sector (18) to the end of the right side section (10) of the main screed (19) of the total screed unit (17). The extension sector (18) can be discharged from a transport means (not shown) directly on the ground, or on a platform (not shown). If appropriate raising and movement means are not available the same paver finisher (45) carries out the approaching of the total screed unit end (17) to the extension sector (18);
rough alignment of the extension sector (18) with the end of the total screed unit (17). This manoeuvre is generally made with a pry, until allowing the introduction of the fixing or coupling bolts (25) with the aid of one or more centring pins;
inserting of the fixing or coupling bolts (25) and slight clamping of the nuts until obtaining the approaching of the extension sector (18) vertical wall with the total screed unit(17) vertical wall;
manoeuvre of the adjuster elements (22) to obtain the perfect co-planarity of the bottom plate (23) of the extension sector (18) with the bottom plate (23) of the total screed unit (17);
definitive clamping of the fixing or coupling bolts (25);
connection of the transmission elements of the tamper (26), typically first Cardan joints, elastic joints, toothed joints(27);
connection of the transmission elements of the tampers (28), typically second Cardan joints, elastic joints, toothed joints (29).

The object of the invention consists in a system essentially consisting of two blocks (Figs. 7, 12, 8) which make up a coupling:

a male element (21) preferably (Fig. 8) of frustum conical shape (21), whose end (34), with an area minor than the corresponding base (33), is fixed to the external vertical wall of a fixed width screed unit, or to the equivalent and corresponding wall of the movable sector of an extensible unit;
a female element (20) able to house the male element (21) and made up (Figs. 7, 12) of two elements opportunely shaped to get in contact with the surface of said male element (21) with limited clearance.

Figs. 9, 10, 11

a) in the pre-approaching step of the screed unit (17) to the extension sector (18), the screed unit (17) is kept in a lower position with respect to the extension sector (18), namely the male element (21) is kept in a lower position with respect to the female element (20);
b) with the male element (21) approached to the seat (36) of the female element (20) and before (Fig. 9) of the screed unit (17) raising;
c) with the male element (21) completely inserted (Fig. 10) in the seat (36) of the female element (20) following the raising of the screed unit (17);
d) the clearance "p" (Fig. 11) allows the total disengaging of the male element (21) from the seat (36) of the female element (20) after the adjustment of the adjusters (22) for the co-planarity of the sliding plates (23) and the definitive clamping of the fixing or coupling bolts (25).

Fig. 13

The system provides the following operative steps:

misaligning of the two units to connect (12, 18, 19);
head approach of the two units to connect (12, 18, 19);
transverse movement of a unit (12, 18, 19) with respect to the other unit (12, 18, 19) obtaining the coupling of the coupling means (24) and the alignment;
locking by the fixing and clamping means with screws/bolts (25) of the two units to connect (12, 18, 19) to form an aligned single body.

variation of the reciprocal position in height and in transverse reciprocal inclination with respect to the advancing direction of the machine (46) of the two units to connect (12, 18, 19) determining a reciprocal misaligning of a unit to connect (12, 18, 19) with respect to the other unit to connect (12, 18, 19);
head approach of the two units to connect (12, 18, 19);
reciprocal adjusting position in height and in transverse reciprocal inclination with respect to the advancing direction of the machine (46) of the two units to connect (12, 18, 19) until the coupling of the coupling means (24) is reached;
reciprocal position adjusting in height and in transverse reciprocal inclination with respect to the advancing direction of the machine (46) of the two units to connect (12, 18, 19) until the reaching of the alignment of the support bases (23) of said two units to connect (12, 18, 19);
inserting of the fixing and clamping means with screws/bolts (25) and locking of the two units to connect (12, 18, 19) in a single body.

alignment of a unit to connect (12, 18, 19) with respect to the other unit to connect (12, 18, 19) by using means of regulation/adjustment (22) of the reciprocal position in height and in transverse reciprocal inclination with respect to the advancing direction of the machine (46) of one of said unit to connect (12, 18, 19) with respect to the other of said units to connect (12, 18, 19). This alignment will happen, for example, by means of adjusters (22) that also allow to obtain the desired inclination with respect to the ground of the coupled unit with respect to the inclination of the coupling unit and with respect also to the wearing conditions of the bottom plates (12) of the two units.

More in detail, the fixing holes (42) are a substantially-vertical developed slot. Also the slot allows, therefore, the reciprocal adjusting position in height and in transverse reciprocal inclination with respect to the advancing direction of the machine (46) of the two units to connect (12, 18, 19) until the alignment of the support bases (23) of the two units to connect (12, 18, 19), keeping in consideration also the wearing conditions of the bottom plates (12) of the two units is reached. Relative to the means of regulation/adjustment (22) of the reciprocal position in height and in transverse reciprocal inclination with respect to the advancing direction of the machine (46) of a unit to connect (12, 18, 19) with respect to the other unit to connect (12, 18, 19), as previously observed, the coupling of the coupling means (24) occurs up to an end-stroke condition of the same coupling movement. Preferably this condition corresponds to a condition in which the unit to connect that is coupled (12, 18, 19) is in a lower position with respect to the alignment position with the corresponding coupling unit. As coupling unit one intends the unit on which the extension sector is coupled (18), or the end plate (12), while as coupled unit one intends the main screed (19) or a previously coupled first extension sector (18) and to which an additional extension second sector (18) or an end plate (12) should be coupled. The unit that is coupled (12, 18, 19) is endowed with such means of regulation/adjustment (22) of the reciprocal position in height and in transverse reciprocal inclination with respect to the machine (46) advancing direction of a unit to connect (12, 18, 19) with respect to the other unit to connect (12, 18, 19). In one embodiment the means of regulation/adjustment (22) are a couple of screws whose end acts in pushing on a backing zone (47) of the frame of the coupling unit. A screw is a front screw placed on the unit to connect (12, 18, 19) at the front with respect to the advancing direction of (46) of the machine, while the other screw is a back screw placed on the unit to connect (12, 18, 19) rearward with respect to the advancing direction (46) of the machine. In this way, the screwing action of the screws initially involves the entry in abutment of the end of the screws with the corresponding backing zones (47) of the frame of the coupling unit. The additional screwing of the front screw corresponds to a raising of the forepart of the unit to connect (12, 18, 19) and to a possible inclination of the unit to connect (12, 18, 19) with respect to the coupling unit. The additional screwing of the back screw corresponds to a raising of the back part of the unit to connect (12, 18, 19) and to a possible inclination of the unit to connect (12, 18, 19) with respect to the coupling unit. The successive screwing action on the two back and front screws involves the progressive alignment of the unit to connect (12, 18, 19) with the coupling unit.
The present invention relates to, in general, also a screed unit (17) for paver finisher, of the type comprising a main screed (19), end plates (12) and reciprocally lineable extension sectors (18) by means of adjusters (22) and reciprocally fixable by means of screws/bolts (25) and fixing holes (42), of the type in which the main screed (19), the end plates (12) and the extension sectors (18) are reciprocally couplable and lineable by means of a coupling means (24) operating according to the previously described coupling system. The coupling means (24) consists of:

a male element (21), shaped with a base (33) and a reciprocally spaced end (34) and connected by a inclined side (35). The base (33) will have, in virtue of the presence of the inclined side (35), a superficial area greater than the superficial area of the end (34) of said male element (21), but in general, for example in the case of a generic undercut coupling, the base (33) and the end (34) can also have the same area;
a female element (20), comprising a seat (36) having a trapezoidal-shaped section delimited by inclined sides (41) according to an inclination angle corresponding to the inclination angle of said inclined sides (35) of said male element (21), the longitudinal development of said inclined sides (41) constituting a couple of guiding surfaces (37) of said male element (21) within said seat (36); it will be evident that as trapezoidal-shaped one intends to include also the quadrangular limit configuration, corresponding, for example to the previously described undercut coupling. As a result the expressions "trapezoidal-shaped configuration" and ""trapezoidal" as here used must be intended as also including such limit condition.

It will be obvious that, though the preferred solution of the present invention provides that the male element (21) is fixed on the main screed (19) or coupling unit and the female element (20) is fixed on the extension sector (18) or coupled unit, it is also possible to reverse this configuration providing that the female element (20) is fixed on the main screed (19) or coupling unit and the male element (21) is fixed on the extension sector (18) or coupled unit. Equally it may be also be provided that the female element (20) is rotated of a certain angle with respect to the shown vertical direction, up to be also rotated of 180 degrees with respect to the shown configuration, both in the case of fixing of the female element (20) on the main screed (19), and in the case of fixing of the female element (20) on the extension sector (18).
In general, therefore, the male element (21) is fixed on the coupling unit and the female element (20) is fixed on the coupled unit; the coupling unit will be selected from the group consisting of main screed (19) and extension sectors (18), while the coupled unit will be selected from the group consisting of extension sectors (18), end plates (12), because, as previously observed, the coupling means (24) is applicable not only in the coupling between main screed (19) and extension sector (18), but also between two adjacent extension sectors (18) and between an extension sector (18) and an end plate (12).
In particular, with regard to the coupling between two extension sectors (18), a first extension sector (18) includes, on the side-wall opposite with respect to the wall on which there is the coupling element relative to the possible coupling with a previous unit, for example main screed or another extension sector (18), an additional coupling element selected from the group consisting of male element (21) and female element (20). An additional second extension sector (18) will include in correspondence with the side-wall suitable to connect with the side-wall of such first extension sector (18) the other one of the coupling elements selected from the group consisting of male element (21) and female element (20). Finally, the inserting of the male element (21) within the seat (36) of the female element (20) will happen according to the direction corresponding to the longitudinal development of the inclined sides (41) and the condition of reciprocal engaging of the male element (21) and of the female element (20) will correspond to a combined condition and pre-alignment of the side-wall of the first extension sector (18) with the corresponding side-wall of the second extension sector (18).
In particular, with regard to the coupling between an end plate (12) and an extension sector (18), the screed unit (17) will include at least one end plate (12) in correspondence with at least one end of the screed unit (17). In this context as screed unit (17) one intends in general the main screed (19) if necessary including one or more extension sectors (18). The end plate (12) will include a coupling element selected from the group consisting of male element (21) and female element (20) connecting with the other element selected from the group consisting of male element (21) and female element (20) present in correspondence with the end of the screed unit (17) suitable to connect with the end plate (12).
In general, the essential characteristic is that the inserting of the male element (21) within the seat (36) of the female element (20) occurs according to the direction corresponding to the longitudinal development of the inclined sides (41), the condition of reciprocal engaging of male element (21) and female element (20) corresponding to an approaching and pre-alignment condition of the side-wall of the screed unit (17) with the corresponding said side-wall of said extension sector (18).
In the preferred form of embodiment the seat (36) of the female element (20) has a varying section according to one vertical direction (39). The seat (36) has a trapezoidal-shaped section, and the inclined sides (41) of said trapezium progressively approach one another reciprocally in the sequence of sections of the seat (36) taken along the vertical direction (39). Namely the seat (36) is delimited by two guide surfaces (37) reciprocally diverging according to the vertical direction (39) and reciprocally diverging with respect to an orthogonal horizontal direction (40) with respect to the vertical direction (39) and facing the support (38) on which the projections including the guide surfaces (37) are present.
It will be evident that in general it will be only necessary that the inclined sides (41) of the female element (20) and the sides (35) of the male element (21) have a corresponding shape. Thus, in general, the inclined side (35) of the male element (21) and the inclined side (41) of the female element (20) can have, for example, a reciprocally corresponding curvilinear development, or a reciprocally corresponding linear development.
Preferably said base (33) and the end (34) of the male element (21) are circular, and the male element (21) has a frustum conical shape.
As previously observed, moreover, the seat (36) of the female element (20) can have a greater depth than the thickness of the male element (21). The reciprocal engaging of the male element (21) and of the female element (20) occurs with a clearance (p). When the clamping of the coupling bolts (25) occurs there is the spacing of the male element (21) with respect to the female element (20) within the seat (36). Such spacing, in general, will have a distance not lower than the clearance (p). The operations of the adjusters (22) adjusting and of the coupling bolts (25) clamping, therefore, slightly disengage the male element (21) from the seat (36), preventing the reciprocal transmission of any stress.
In general it will be only necessary that the inclined side (35) of the male element (21) and the inclined side (41) of the female element (20) have a reciprocally corresponding development.
In the preferred form of execution of the present invention the base (33) and the end (34) of the male element (21) are circular and connected by a linear development surface in section, namely the male element (21) has a frustum conical shape.
Finally, the seat (36) of the female element (20) will preferably have a greater depth than the thickness of the male element (21). The reciprocal engaging of male element (21) and female element (20) will occur with a clearance (p) and the clamping of the screws/bolts (25) will cause the spacing of the male element (21) with respect to the female element (20) within the seat (36) of a distance not much minor than said clearance (p).
Finally the present invention also relates to a paver finisher (45) comprising a tractor (13) and a screed unit (17) in which:

the screed unit (17) for paver finisher is of the type comprising a main screed (19), end plates (12) and reciprocally lineable extension sectors (18) by means of adjusters (22) and reciprocally fixable by means of screws/bolts (25) and fixing holes (42), of the type in which at least one pair among said main screed (19), said end plates (12) and said extension sectors (18) is reciprocally coupleable and lineable by means of a coupling means (24) operating according to the previously described coupling system.
the screed unit (17) is of the previously described type.

The description of the present invention has been made with reference to enclosed figures in a preferred form of execution of the same, but it is evident that many possible alterations, changes and variants will be immediately clear to those skilled in the art of the sector in view of the previous description. So, it should be stressed that the invention is not limited by the previous description, but contains all alterations, changes and variants in accordance with the appended claims.

Used nomenclature

With reference to the identification numbers reported in the enclosed figures, the following nomenclature was used:

1. Hopper
2. Extractor-conveyor
3. Towing point
4. Cochlea
5. Operator seat
6. Front wheels
7. Rear wheels
8. Central section
9. Towing arm
10. Right side section
11. Left side section
12. End plate
13. Tractor
14. Pin
15. Fixing system
16. Angle between bottom plate and ground
17. Screed unit
18. Extension sector
19. Main screed
20. Female element
21. Male element
22. Adjusters
23. Bottom plate
24. Coupling system or means
25. Coupling bolts
26. Tamper
27. First Cardan joints, elastic joints, toothed joints
28. Vibrators
29. Second Cardan joints, elastic joints, toothed joints
30. First sub-section
31. Second sub-section
32. Articulation
33. Base
34. End
35. Side
36. Seat
37. Guide surface
38. Support
39. Vertical direction
40. Horizontal direction
41. Inclined Side
42. Fixing holes
43. Extension first sector
44. Second extension sector
45. Paver finisher
46. Machine advancing direction
47. Backing zone
p. Clearance between female and male element

Claims

Screed unit (17) for paver finisher (45) provided with bottom plates (23), comprising a main screed (19), end plates (12) and extension sectors (18) which can be reciprocally aligned by means of adjusters (22) and which can be reciprocally locked by means of fixing and clamping means with screws/bolts (25) in fixing holes (42), characterised in that the screed unit (17) further comprises undercut coupting means (24) for reciprocally coupling and aligning said main screed (19), end plates (12) and extension sectors (18), the coupling means consisting of:
- a male element (21), shaped with a base (33) and an end (34) which are reciprocally spaced and connected by an inclined side (35), said base (33) having a surface-area which is greater than or equal to the surface-area of said end (34) of said male element (21);

- a female element (20), comprising a seat (36) having a trapezoidal shaped section which is delimited by inclined sides (41) according to an inclination angle corresponding to the inclination angle of said inclined sides (35) of said male element (21), the longitudinal development of said inclined sides (41) forming a couple of guiding surfaces (37) of said male element (21) within said seat (36);
one of said male element (21) and female element (20) being fixed in correspondence with at least one of side-walls of said screed unit (17), the other one of said male element (21) and female element (20) being fixed in correspondence with at least one of the side-walls of said extension sector (18), the insertion of said male element (21) within said seat (36) of said female element (20) occurring according to the direction corresponding to the longitudinal development of said inclined sides (41), the reciprocal engagement condition of said male element (21) and said female element (20) corresponding to an approaching and preliminary-alignment condition of said side-wall of said screed unit (17) with said corresponding side-wall of said extension sector (18).
Screed unit (17) for paver finisher according to the previous claim characterised in that said coupling means (24) is a dovetail coupling means.
Screed unit (17) for paver finisher according to any of the previous claims 1 to 2 characterised in that said adjusters (22) of one unit to be coupled (12, 18, 19) with respect to the other unit to be coupled (12, 18, 19) consist of regulation/adjustment means of the reciprocal position in height and of the reciprocal transverse inclination with respect to a machine advancing direction (46) of one of said units to be coupled (12, 18, 19) with respect to the other of said units to be coupled (12, 18, 19) said regulation/adjustment means being a couple of screws whose end operates pushing on a striker zone (47) of the frame of said coupling unit, one of said screws being a front screw which is located on said unit to be coupled (12, 18, 19) in a frontal position with respect to the machine advancing direction (46), the other one of said screws being a rear screw which is located on said unit to be coupled (12, 18, 19) in a rear position with respect to the machine advancing direction (46), the screwing action of said screws initially causing the abutment condition of the end of said screws with the corresponding striker zone (47) of the frame of said coupling unit, the further screwing action of said front screw corresponding to a raising of the frontal part of said unit to be coupled (12, 18, 19) and to a possible inclination of said unit to be coupled (12, 18, 19) with respect to said coupling unit, the further screwing action of said rear screw corresponding to a raising of the rear part of said unit to be coupled (12, 18, 19) and to a possible inclination of said unit to be coupled (12, 18, 19) with respect to said coupling unit, the subsequent screwing action on said two front and rear screws causing the progressive alignment of said unit to be coupled (12, 18, 19) with said coupling unit.
Screed unit (17) for paver finisher according to any of the previous claims 1 to 3 characterised in that said fixing holes (42) have a dimension which is greater than the dimension in section of said screws/bolts (25), said greater dimension of said fixing holes (42) allowing the adjustment of the reciprocal position in height and the reciprocal transverse inclination with respect to the machine advancing direction (46) of said two units to be coupled (12, 18, 19) until the alignment is obtained of the bottom plates (23) of said two units to be coupled (12, 18, 19).
Screed unit (17) for paver finisher according to any of the previous claims 1 to 4 characterised in that said fixing holes (42) are slots having a substantially vertical development, said slots allowing the adjustment of the reciprocal position in height and the reciprocal transverse inclination with respect to the machine advancing direction (46) of said two units to be coupled (12, 18, 19) until the alignment is obtained of the bottom plates (23) of said two units to be coupled (12, 18, 19).
Screed unit (17) for paver finisher according to any of the previous claims 1 to 5 characterised in that a first extension sector (18) includes, on the opposite side-wall with respect to the side-wall on which there is a coupling element relative to a possible coupling with a previous unit, an additional coupling element selected from the group consisting of said male element (21) and said female element (20), a further second extension sector (18) comprising the other of said coupling elements selected from the group consisting of said male element (21) and said female element (20) at the side-wall intended to be coupled with the side-wall of said first extension sector (18), the insertion of said male element (21) within said seat (36) of said female element (20) occurring according to the direction corresponding to the longitudinal development of said inclined sides (41), the reciprocal engagement condition of said male element (21) and said female element (20) corresponding to an approaching and preliminary-alignment condition of said side-wall of said first extension sector (18) with said corresponding side-wall of said second extension sector (18).
Screed unit (17) for paver finisher according to any of the previous claims 1 to 6 characterised in that it further includes at least one end plate (12) in correspondence with at least one end of said screed unit (17), said end plate comprising a coupling element selected from the group consisting of said male element (21) and said female element (20) coupling with the other element selected from the group consisting of said male element (21) and said female element (20) which is present in correspondence of said end of said screed unit (17).
Screed unit (17) for paver finisher according to any of the previous claims 1 to 7 characterised in that said seat (36) of said female element (20) has a variable cross-section according to a vertical direction (39), said seat (36) having a trapezoidal shaped section, the inclined sides (41) of said trapezoidal shape progressively reciprocally approaching in the sequence of sections of said seat (36) taken along said vertical direction (39), said seat (36) being delimited by two guiding surfaces (37) which are reciprocally diverging surfaces with respect to said vertical direction (39) and which are reciprocally diverging surfaces with respect to a horizontal direction (40) which is orthogonal with respect to the vertical direction (39) and oriented towards a support (38) on which there are the projections including said guiding surfaces (37).
Screed unit (17) for paver finisher according to any of the previous claims 1 to 8 characterised in that said male element (21) is fixed on a coupling unit and the female element (20) is fixed on a coupled unit, said coupling unit being selected from the group consisting of main screed (19) and extension sectors (18), said coupled unit being selected from the group consisting of extension sectors (18), end plates (12).
Screed unit (17) for paver finisher according to any of the previous claims 1 to 9 characterised in that said inclined side (35) of said male element (21) and said inclined side (41) of said female element (20) have a reciprocally corresponding curvilinear shape-development.
Screed unit (17) for paver finisher according to any of the previous claims 1 to 10 characterised in that said inclined side (35) of said male element (21) and said inclined side (41) of said female element (20) have a reciprocally corresponding shape-development.
Screed unit (17) for paver finisher according to any of the previous claims 1 to 11 characterised in that said base (33) and said end (34) of said male element (21) are circularly shaped and they are connected by a surface having linear shape-development in section, said male element (21) having a frusto-conical shape.
Screed unit (17) for paver finisher according to any of the previous claims 1 to 12 characterised in that said seat (36) of said female element (20) has a depth which is greater than the thickness of said male element (21), the reciprocal engaging of said male element (21) and said female element (20) occurring with a clearance (p), the clamping action of said screws/bolts (25) causing the spacing of said male element (21) with respect to said female element (20) within said seat (36) by a distance which is greater than zero and lower than said clearance (p).
Paver finisher (45) comprising a tractor (13) and a screed unit (17) characterised in that said screed unit (17) is made according to any of the previous claims 1 to 13