GB2606156A

GB2606156A - A material conveyor apparatus for re-surfacing roadways and pavements

Info

Publication number: GB2606156A
Application number: GB2105940.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lobley Matthew
Original assignee: ROAD AHEAD UK Ltd
Current assignee: ROAD AHEAD UK Ltd
Priority date: 2021-04-26
Filing date: 2021-04-26
Publication date: 2022-11-02
Also published as: GB202105940D0

Abstract

Apparatus for conveying road resurfacing material from a loading area to a dispensing area. The apparatus comprising a conveyor 18 housed within a first arm 4 and extending from the proximal end to the distal end of said first arm 4. The first arm pivotably and rotatably coupled at the proximal end to a mounting chassis (22, fig 3a), wherein the mounting chassis comprises an augur (24, fig 3b) positioned within a housing (28, fig 3a) and in a plane spaced apart and parallel to the plane of the first arm. The housing comprises a fixed portion (28, fig 3a) at one end and an axially rotatable portion (30, fig 3b) at the opposite end with the fixed portion mounted to the mounting chassis and proximate an aperture (32, fig 3c). The aperture provides a pathway for road resurfacing material to pass through from the aforementioned loading area onto the augur and, in use, be driven by the augur on to the conveyor of the first arm to be moved to a dispensing area.

Description

A MATERIAL CONVEYOR APPARATUS

FOR RE-SURFACING ROADWAYS AND PAVEMENTS

The present invention relates to a material conveyor apparatus for conveying material from a loading area to a dispensing area of a road resurfacing machine.

More particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a retrofittable apparatus suitable for attaching to a flatbed tipper truck and conveying asphalt stored therein to a use location such as a pavement or roadway. It is also envisaged that the apparatus could be used to convey other road resurfacing material from a stored location to a use location such as sand or gravel used, for example, by utilities companies when reinstating a road base after excavating.

It is known that road and pathway repairing material can be transported and deposited to the desired location to carry out resurfacing work using a simple flatbed tipper truck and a wheelbarrow. The truck is driven to the desired location, the back is raised, tipping the material stored on the flatbed out of the back of a truck and allowing the material stored there, for example asphalt, to exit the truck tailgate via opening chutes whereby it is caught in a wheelbarrow and manually manoeuvred before being tipped in a pile and spread out. This is a laborious, slow, labour intensive and inaccurate process for delivering quantities of asphalt to the desired location.

Apparatus for mechanically conveying material such as asphalt from a storage location to a use location such as a damaged path or roadway are also known. An example of which is the Sprider M-258. This comprises a flexible screw conveyor for laying asphalt on smaller or irregularly shaped surfaces. The screw conveyor extends from the back of an HGV on two pivot-jointed arms. The arms are remote-controlled and can extend and retract to be manoeuvred into position in order to deposit material directly onto the intended spot. However, the Sprider M-25® and other similar solutions suffer from the problem that they are built into the tipping truck back meaning that they cannot be dismounted if the truck is required for other uses.

Furthermore this known system uses jointed scrolls which are bulky, heavy, and cumbersome. Such a design makes apparatus such as the Sprider M-25® large and heavy and, as a result, the Sprider M-25® is mounted to a dedicated HGV. The apparatus is not retrofittable, or easily removable, and the HGV it is mounted to is difficult to manoeuvre in tight spaces, such as cul-de-sacs, alleyways, cycle paths and around street furniture and parked vehicles.

There exists, therefore, the need for a smaller, lighter weight tailgate apparatus, that can be retrofitted to existing flatbed tipper trucks with only minor and reversible modification to the tailgate. The apparatus can be mounted on a much smaller truck than the EIGV of the Sprider M-25® to enable the truck to access small cul-de-sacs, alleyways, etc., as mentioned above.

The present invention addresses all the shortcomings of the Sprider M-25® and the other known prior art. The present invention is designed to be easily retrofittable onto existing flatbed tipper trucks, its unit cost is low because it is smaller and simpler than existing prior art, and, as will be discussed in detail subsequently, the present invention addresses a key design challenge of available working height when a flatbed truck is in the tipped up position.

As a truck back tips up the rear end lowers towards the ground. This means that any solution which could not move the material with the minimum height drop would require a dedicated flat truck back with conveyor along the centre -akin to a gritter -with the associated complexity, cost of a dedicated truck back, lack of adaptability for using existing tipper trucks and cleaning overhead.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for conveying material from the tailgate of a tipper truck to a use location.

According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for conveying material as defined in the appended independent apparatus claim.

Further preferable features of the apparatus of the present invention are defined in the appended dependent apparatus claims.

The material conveyor apparatus of the present invention enables asphalt to be meted out in much more precise quantities to the point at which it is required without the use of manual handling, beyond directing the conveyor arms.

The material conveyor may also be mounted on the rear of the existing tipper truck back with minimal adaptations to the truck tailgate. No dedicated truck back is required. The apparatus does not need to be permanently affixed and may be mounted and dismounted so as not to limit the uses of the truck.

Guiding chutes may be added in the truck back. Preferably, the truck tailgate allows, under gravity, asphalt to be funnelled through a hole into an east-west augur which then deposits the asphalt onto a pivoting first section of chain conveyor where it is scraped up a minor incline before dropping onto a second elbow jointed conveyor which takes it to its destination up a similar incline, being then dropped directly to the position where it is required.

The pivot point of tipper trucks means that the truck back lowers significantly as the tip angle of the truck back increases. The truck back may be raised to increasingly steep angles through the working shift as the material volume lessens and it typically becomes slightly less fluid. The present invention is able to cope with the truck back tipped to its full incline without the mounted machine hitting the floor.

The apparatus may comprise at least two conveyor arms. This enables the conveyors to be folded to their most acute angle to aid transport between sites and manoeuvrability in tight spaces. The arms may be raised by a hydraulic ram to a parked position whereby the highest part of the conveyor (the centre joint) is below the height of the truck headboard.

Preferably, the chain conveyor design allows for the modular extension or shortening of the conveyor arms to fit specific truck size limits with minimal design alteration.

The at least two conveyors preferably comprise gentle rising sections, i.e. each section proximate the truck is lower than the section distal from the truck.

Advantageously, when in the folded position, the conveyor arms protrude by less than 1 metre from the back of the truck tailgate. More than two conveyor arms could be used to enable greater reach of the apparatus.

The apparatus can be lowered towards the ground by fully tipping the truck back and levelling the elbow jointed conveyor sections in their parked position, before legs are attached and the machine can stand in a stable manner on short legs whilst the truck is driven away leaving the machine dismounted. Refitting is then the reverse of removal.

Known system use jointed scrolls whereas the present invention comprises a chain drive conveyor. Chain drives enable the present invention to be a simpler and lighter machine of typically <400kg which therefore only minimally reduces the capacity of a typical 9 tonne capacity tipper truck to carry materials.

Chain drives will typically run at a standard rate with the augur providing the control over the amount of material entering the conveyor belt. For this reason a user would typically shut this off and allow the conveyor to evacuate material at the end of a job.

It will be appreciated that whilst designed for asphalt, the present invention would work equally well with gravel, sand or other such materials.

A key differentiator of the present invention from the prior art is that the unit cost is low because the present invention attaches to existing trucks and truck backs with only a minor and reversible modification to the tailgate.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a flatbed tipper truck in the tipped up position, with the present invention fixed to the tailgate; Figure 2 is a perspective view of section A of Figure 1 showing the present invention in more detail; Figure 3a a perspective view of the topside of the mounting chassis of the present invention; Figure 3b a perspective view of the underside of the mounting chassis of the present invention; Figure 3c a perspective view of the rear side of the mounting chassis of the present invention; Figure 4 is a detailed perspective view of the augur contained within the distributor housing of the present invention; Figure 5 is a side view of the apparatus showing the camber compensator in more detail; Figure 6 is a view of the camber compensator from the rear when connected to a flatbed truck or the like; and Figure 7 is a side view showing more detail of the camber compensator.

A material conveyor apparatus 2 according to the present invention is shown in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings. The apparatus 2 is removeably fixed to the rear, or tailgate, of a flatbed tipper truck.

The apparatus 2, shown in more detail in Figure 2, comprises a primary conveyor arm 4 and a secondary conveyor arm 6. The primary conveyor arm 4 is proximate the tailgate when the apparatus 2 is mounted the tailgate of a flatbed tipper truck, and the secondary conveyor arm 6 is distal from the rear of the flatbed tipper truck.

The primary conveyor arm 4 is coupled pivotally and rotationally to the tailgate of the tipper truck via a first conveyor rotation module 8 and coupled to the secondary 6 conveyor arm pivotally and rotationally via a second conveyor rotation module 9. The second conveyor rotation module 9 is coupled to the distal end of the primary arm 4 and the proximal end of the secondary arm 6. The conveyor rotation modules 8, 9 comprise rotation control ring gear 10 mounted approximately parallel to the ground and which enable rotation of the primary and secondary conveyor arms 4, 6 approximately parallel to the road surface when the apparatus is in use.

A first ring gear braking motor lla is coupled to the rotation control gear 10 of the first conveyor rotation module 8. Similarly a second ring gear braking motor 1 lb is coupled to the rotation control gear 10 of the second conveyor rotation module 9.

The motors 1 la and 1lb are used with a hydraulic loop. Such an arrangement means that manual movement of the conveyor arms 4, 6 pushes fluid around the loop through the associated motor 1 la or 1 lb. The motor 1 la and/or 1 lb can then be used to brake the flow to maximise the rate of the conveyor arm swinging. This enables an Operator Not Present level to stop the arm swinging altogether.

In another embodiment, the motors lla and/or 1 lb may be used to power the movement of the arm, i.e. the arms 4, 6 are rotated about their respective rotation control gears 10 by driving the relevant ring gear motor Ila or 1 lb. With regard to conveying material along the arms 4, 6, a first conveyor drive motor 12 is configured at the distal end of the primary conveyor arm 4 and a second conveyor drive motor 13 is configured at the distal end of the secondary conveyor arm 6 such that a conveyor belt 18 contained within both conveyor arms 4, 6 can be rotated, via a drag chain 14, to convey material. The tension of the conveyor belt 18 can be adjusted via a chain tensioner 16 positioned at the proximal end of the secondary conveyor arm 6. A deflector 20 is then positioned at the distal end of the secondary conveyor arm 6 and positioned so as to deflect material conveyed from the tipper truck and along the conveyor arms, down to the use location.

Chain conveyors are used because of their suitability to move fluid or dry materials up a small incline. They are also low cost, simple, easy to clean, low maintenance, have good longevity, reliable and are proven in coal and other mining applications. The relatively light weight of the conveyor sections and the ability to level them in both planes enables the arms of the apparatus to be manually moved, thus adding simplicity, reducing weight, and reducing cost.

With regard to the mounting of the arms 4, 6, to the tripper truck, this is achieved via a mounting chassis 22. The mounting chassis 22 is shown in more detail in Figures 3a and 3b.

Figure 3a shows a perspective view of the topside of the mounting chassis 22 which comprises an augur 24 housed within a distributor housing 26. The housing 26 is cylindrical and surrounds the augur 24. The housing 26 comprises a fixed portion 28 at one end and an axially rotating portion 30 at the opposite end. The fixed portion 28 is mounted to the mounting chassis 22 and proximate a material supply aperture 32 (shown most clearly in Figure 3c). The aperture 32 provides a pathway for material to pass from the tipper truck, through the tailgate, and into the distributor housing 26 such that the rotating augur 24 housed therein can drive said material towards the rotating portion 30 of the distributor housing 26, wherein there is a material exhaust 34 (shown best in Figure 3b). The material driven to the material exhaust 34 by the augur 24 then drops through said exhaust 34 and onto the proximal end of the primary conveyor arm 4 to be conveyed as described above.

A power arm ram 36 coupled to the rotating portion 30 of the distributor housing 26 via a U-shaped rotator power arm 38 enables rotation of the rotating portion 30 of the distributor housing 26 to be controlled.

The arrangement of the mounting chassis 22 and associated parts as described above and shown in Figures 3a and 3b is crucial in the operation of the apparatus. The arrangement enables the material drop to be minimised so that the elbow jointed conveyors 4, 6 have clearance to move material over a typical high kerb of >20cm.

The augur 24 enables material to be moved from the truck onto the first conveyor section with an extremely small drop when compared to those of e.g. gritters or other machines which transfer material onto another moving section.

To maximise the reach of the aims, an east-west scroll (augur 24) is utilised to position the pivot point of the primary arm 4 (i.e. the pivot point proximal the truck) closer to the pavement allowing for a longer reach in right hand drive markets with the truck to face the same direction as traffic. The design would be reversed (west -east as one looks at the back of the truck) for left hand drive markets.

The mounting chassis 22 also works as a load bearing pivot for the conveyor sections, enabling them to be lowered from the upright parked position by the power arm ram 36 until level to ensure that do not move of their own accord under gravity.

The mounting chassis 22 works in a horizontal plane to level the arm against the camber of the road. This prevents the conveyor swinging out of its own accord due to gravity. The mechanism may be self-levelling and damped, or may be manually set via a screw or hydraulic system. The swing of the pivoting conveyor arms may also be damped or braked by integrating a motor with a small toothed wheel connected to a large toothed wheel.

The augur 24, shown most clearly in Figure 4 comprises a shaft 35 on which is a screw thread or augur flight 37 and two circular over feed plates 39 at either end of the shaft 35. The flight 37 of the augur 24 is positioned between the two over feed plates 39. The over feed plates 39 are essentially discs fitted to the shaft 35 which extended radially therefrom and prevent the material driven by the augur from travelling past.

The apparatus has been designed to avoid any need for electrical power, instead utilising the tipper truck's hydraulic power pack.

All sections of the apparatus have opening hatches to enable cleaning.

The apparatus also includes a camber compensator 40, shown most dearly on Figure 2, 3a and 3b, and in more detail on Figures 5, 6 and 7.

The camber compensator 40 connects to opposing sides of the axially rotating portion 30 of the housing 26 via a pivot 42. The camber compensator 40 is also connected to the mounting chassis 10 via the conveyor rotation module 8.

This arrangement enables the camber compensator 40 to level in the horizontal plane in relation to the back of the vehicle. The ram 36 and the rotating portion 30 of the housing 26, in use, move to allow the arm 4 to be lowered or raised such that it is horizontal if the truck is facing up or down hill. The camber compensator 40 and the rotating portion 30 enable levelling in both planes so no amount of gravitational pull will lead to arms 4 and 6 swinging round of their own accord.

The camber compensator 40 further includes means (not shown) to enable this levelling. This could take the form of a manual screw adjuster, a small hydraulic ram or other means to adjust such as a spirit level working in both planes.

The configuration described above of the material conveyor apparatus 2 enables road reparation material to be passed through the load bearing joint itself, i.e. the joint that, in use, connects the arms of the apparatus to the back of a flatbed truck. This, in combination with the joint being able to adjust position in all axes, enables the apparatus to be much more compact than compared to the prior art.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. Apparatus (2) for conveying road resurfacing material from a loading area to a dispensing area, the apparatus comprising; a conveyor (18) housed within a first arm (4) and extending from the proximal end to the distal end of said first arm (4), the first arm (4) pivotably and rotatably coupled at the proximal end to a mounting chassis (22), wherein the mounting chassis (10) comprises an augur (24) positioned within a housing (26) and in a plane spaced apart and parallel to the plane of the first arm (4), the housing (26) comprising a fixed portion (28) at one end and an axially rotatable portion (30) at the opposite end, the fixed portion (28) mounted to the mounting chassis (22) and proximate an aperture (32), wherein the aperture (32) provides a pathway for road resurfacing material to pass through from a loading area onto the augur (24) and, in use, be driven by the augur (24) on to the conveyor of the first arm (4).
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a second arm (6) is pivotably and rotatably coupled to the distal end of the first arm (4) in a plane spaced apart and parallel to the plane of the first arm (4) and the plane of the augur (24) and comprises a conveyor (18) housed within said second arm (6) and extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the second arm (6).
Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the conveyor (18) is a chain drive.
4. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the arm (4) or arms (4, 6) comprise gentle rising sections, i.e. each section proximate the mounting chassis (22) is lower than the section distal from the mounting chassis (22).

Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising rotation control ring gear (10) mounted substantially parallel to the first arm (4) and arranged to enable planar rotation of said arm (4).

Apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising rotation control ring gear (10) mounted substantially parallel to the second arm (6) and arranged to enable planar rotation of said arm (6).

7, Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a ring gear braking motor (11 a, 11b) coupled to the rotation control gear (10) of the arm (4, 6) and arranged with a hydraulic loop such that manual movement of the conveyor arm (4, 6) forces fluid around the loop through the associated motor (11a, lib), Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a motor (11 a, 11 b) coupled to the rotation control gear (10) of the arm (4, 6) and arranged to power the movement of the arm (4, 6) by driving the relevant ring gear motor (11 a, 11b).Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a conveyor drive motor (12) arranged to drive the conveyor (18) via a drag chain 14, to, in use, convey material.10. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a chain tens oner (16) arranged to adjust the tension of the conveyor belt (18).11. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a deflector 20 positioned at the distal end of the conveyor arm (4, 6) and configured to deflect conveyed material down to a use location. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a ram (36) coupled to the rotatable portion (30) of the distributor housing (26) such that rotation of the rotating portion (30) of the distributor housing (26) can be controlled by actuating the ram (36).Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the augur (24) comprises a shaft (35) on which is an augur flight (37) and two circular over feed plates (39) at either end of the shaft (35).Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the flight (37) of the augur (24) is positioned between the two over feed plates (39).Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the over feed plates (39) are discs fitted to the shaft (35) and which extend radially therefrom such that, in use, material driven by the augur (24) is prevented from travelling therepast.Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a camber compensator (40) connected to opposing sides of the axially rotating portion (30) of the housing (26) via a pivot (42).Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the camber compensator (40) is also connected to the mounting chassis (10) via the conveyor rotation module (8).