US20140037375A1 - Walking floor for paving machine - Google Patents
Walking floor for paving machine Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20140037375A1 US20140037375A1 US13/562,368 US201213562368A US2014037375A1 US 20140037375 A1 US20140037375 A1 US 20140037375A1 US 201213562368 A US201213562368 A US 201213562368A US 2014037375 A1 US2014037375 A1 US 2014037375A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- conveyor
- walking floor
- paving
- paving machine
- hopper
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
- E01C—CONSTRUCTION OF, OR SURFACES FOR, ROADS, SPORTS GROUNDS, OR THE LIKE; MACHINES OR AUXILIARY TOOLS FOR CONSTRUCTION OR REPAIR
- E01C19/00—Machines, tools or auxiliary devices for preparing or distributing paving materials, for working the placed materials, or for forming, consolidating, or finishing the paving
- E01C19/48—Machines, tools or auxiliary devices for preparing or distributing paving materials, for working the placed materials, or for forming, consolidating, or finishing the paving for laying-down the materials and consolidating them, or finishing the surface, e.g. slip forms therefor, forming kerbs or gutters in a continuous operation in situ
Definitions
- the present disclosure relates to paving machines, and more particularly to paving material movement through the paving machine.
- a conveyor is present in a front hopper of existing paving machines to convey paving material from the hopper to another unit on the paving machine.
- U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,804 relates to an improved extended auger arrangement and an improved asphalt paver with a tractor unit and a screed assembly, including a main screed and extendable screeds, having such an improved extended auger arrangement, the extendable screeds extending laterally outwardly from the main screed such that the screed assembly spans a width substantially greater than the width of the tractor unit.
- a system in one aspect of the present disclosure includes a conveyor and a walking floor.
- the conveyor is configured to convey paving material from a hopper of a paving machine.
- the walking floor is immediately adjacent to the conveyor.
- the walking floor is configured to convey at least a portion of the paving material to the conveyor.
- a method for paving material movement in a paving machine provides a conveyor to convey paving material from a hopper of the paving machine.
- the method also provides a walking floor immediately adjacent to the conveyor. Further, the method conveys at least a portion of the paving material from the walking floor to the conveyor.
- FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a paving machine, according to one aspect of the present disclosure
- FIG. 2 is a top view of the paving machine shown in FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 3 is a flowchart for paving material movement through the paving machine.
- FIG. 1 illustrates a paving machine 100 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
- the paving machine 100 may include an asphalt paver 102 .
- a person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the paving machine 100 may also include any other machine used to carry any other types of paving materials as well.
- the paving machine 100 may include drive tracks 104 for moving the paving machine 100 along a roadway.
- the drive tracks 104 are powered by a combustion engine (not shown) housed within an engine compartment 106 .
- a hopper 108 may be positioned forwardly of the engine compartment 106 .
- the hopper 108 may be configured to receive paving material from a dump truck or the like.
- one or more slatted conveyors 110 may be present in the hopper 108 .
- the conveyor 110 may serve to move the paving material rearwardly through the hopper 108 , through a tunnel 112 defined in the engine compartment 106 and to a spreading or distribution mechanism (not shown in figures).
- Parameters related to the conveyor 110 such as, for example, length, use of single or multiple conveyors, and the like, may vary without any limitation.
- the distribution mechanism may be configured to distribute the paving material to the roadway.
- the conveyor 110 may move the paving material from the hopper 108 , through the engine compartment 106 and to the spreading mechanism located at a rear end 114 of the paving machine 100 .
- the distributing mechanism may include a laterally extending trough to receive the paving material from the conveyor 110 .
- a pair of augers (not shown in figures) may be rotatably mounted within the trough for spreading the paving material on the roadway forwardly of a screed.
- the screed may serve to press and level the paving material on the roadway.
- the paving machine 100 may also include an operator station 116 . It should be noted that the paving machine 100 shown in the accompanied figures is on an exemplary basis.
- the paving machine 100 may include other components not described herein.
- the present disclosure relates to a walking floor 120 located at a front end 118 of the paving machine 100 .
- the walking floor 120 may be located immediately adjacent to the conveyor 110 .
- the walking floor 120 may be configured to convey the portion of the paving material to the conveyor 110 . It should be noted that the walking floor 120 may prevent build-up of the paving material in the front end 118 of the paving machine 100 .
- the walking floor 120 may include live floors or reciprocating conveyors known in the art. These live floors are typically used in loading and unloading of load in front end loaders.
- the walking floor 120 may be made of a series of floor members referred to as floor slats.
- the floor slats are powered by a hydraulic drive, usually located underneath the walking floor 120 .
- the floor slats may be disposed in side by side relation to form a flat surface or floor.
- each of the floor slats is movable fore and aft, either in unison, or in opposition, in order to move the paving material disposed on the walking floor in a fixed direction.
- the walking floor 120 may be located in the hopper 108 of the paving machine 100 , such that the walking floor 120 may be in front of the conveyor 110 .
- the walking floor 120 may be placed within the hopper 108 in such a way so as to prevent the paving material from falling through or collecting in the front end 118 of the paving machine 100 , in an area in proximity to the conveyor 110 .
- a direction of movement of the walking floor 120 may be same as a direction of movement of the conveyor 110 , as depicted using arrowhead P in FIG. 2 .
- the walking floor 120 may be positioned substantially parallel relative to the conveyor 110 . In one embodiment, the walking floor 120 may be positioned substantially inclined relative to the conveyor 110 .
- one end of the walking floor 120 may be in contact with an inner wall of the hopper 108 and another end of the walking floor 120 may be in contact with the conveyor 110 .
- orientation and positioning of the walking floor 120 relative to the conveyor 110 may vary.
- parameters such as speed of movement of the walking floor, length L of the walking floor 120 , type of the walking floor 120 used, time and duration of operation of the walking floor 120 , and the like may vary.
- the walking floor 120 may extend throughout a length of the hopper 108 , such that the conveyor 110 may be replaced with the walking floor 120 .
- the walking floor 120 may be continuously kept in an active or on state, based on an operation mode of the paving machine 100 . For example, when the paving material is being delivered to the asphalt paver 102 , the walking floor 120 may be kept active. Moreover, the walking floor 120 may be inactive or off state when the paving machine 100 is shutdown.
- a method 300 for movement of the paving material through the paving machine 100 is described in connection with FIG. 3 .
- a non conveying flat area also referred to as apron
- apron may exist between the inner wall of the hopper 108 and the conveyor 110 .
- the paving material has a tendency to stick to the apron.
- the apron may continue to build up with the more paving material.
- the paving material built up on the apron may become cold.
- Large aggregates of the paving material may then begin to separate from small aggregates in a process called material segregation. Segregation of the paving material may lead to mat defects when the paving material is finally laid down on the roadway.
- the walking floor 120 may be provided in place of the apron.
- the walking floor 120 facilitates in conveying the paving material to the conveyor 110 of the paving machine 100 , and may thereby prevent the build-up of the paving material.
- the walking floor 120 may eliminate need for a hydraulic folding apron as well as ground crew to manually clean out the hopper 108 of the paving machine 100 .
- the conveyor 110 may be provided to convey the paving material from the hopper 108 of the paving machine 100 .
- the walking floor 120 may be provided immediately adjacent to the conveyor 110 . As described above, the walking floor 120 may be so positioned as to prevent the build-up of the paving material in the area adjacent to the conveyor 110 .
- the portion of the paving material that may fall or collect on the walking floor 120 may be conveyed to the conveyor 110 .
- the walking floor 120 may operate keeping a continual flow of the portion of the paving material to the conveyor 110 . Hence, constant movement of the paving material may prevent the paving material from becoming cold or segregated.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Architecture (AREA)
- Civil Engineering (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
- Road Paving Machines (AREA)
Abstract
A system is provided. The system includes a conveyor and a walking floor. The conveyor is configured to convey paving material from a hopper of a paving machine. The walking floor is immediately adjacent to the conveyor. The walking floor is configured to convey at least a portion of the paving material to the conveyor.
Description
- The present disclosure relates to paving machines, and more particularly to paving material movement through the paving machine.
- A conveyor is present in a front hopper of existing paving machines to convey paving material from the hopper to another unit on the paving machine. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,804 relates to an improved extended auger arrangement and an improved asphalt paver with a tractor unit and a screed assembly, including a main screed and extendable screeds, having such an improved extended auger arrangement, the extendable screeds extending laterally outwardly from the main screed such that the screed assembly spans a width substantially greater than the width of the tractor unit.
- In one aspect of the present disclosure a system is provided. The system includes a conveyor and a walking floor. The conveyor is configured to convey paving material from a hopper of a paving machine. The walking floor is immediately adjacent to the conveyor. The walking floor is configured to convey at least a portion of the paving material to the conveyor.
- In another aspect, a method for paving material movement in a paving machine is provided. The method provides a conveyor to convey paving material from a hopper of the paving machine. The method also provides a walking floor immediately adjacent to the conveyor. Further, the method conveys at least a portion of the paving material from the walking floor to the conveyor.
- Other features and aspects of this disclosure will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.
-
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a paving machine, according to one aspect of the present disclosure; -
FIG. 2 is a top view of the paving machine shown inFIG. 1 ; and -
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for paving material movement through the paving machine. -
FIG. 1 illustrates apaving machine 100 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in the accompanied figures, thepaving machine 100 may include anasphalt paver 102. A person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that thepaving machine 100 may also include any other machine used to carry any other types of paving materials as well. - Referring to
FIG. 1 , thepaving machine 100 may includedrive tracks 104 for moving thepaving machine 100 along a roadway. Thedrive tracks 104 are powered by a combustion engine (not shown) housed within anengine compartment 106. Ahopper 108 may be positioned forwardly of theengine compartment 106. Thehopper 108 may be configured to receive paving material from a dump truck or the like. - Further one or more
slatted conveyors 110 may be present in thehopper 108. Theconveyor 110 may serve to move the paving material rearwardly through thehopper 108, through atunnel 112 defined in theengine compartment 106 and to a spreading or distribution mechanism (not shown in figures). Parameters related to theconveyor 110 such as, for example, length, use of single or multiple conveyors, and the like, may vary without any limitation. - The distribution mechanism may be configured to distribute the paving material to the roadway. To this end, the
conveyor 110 may move the paving material from thehopper 108, through theengine compartment 106 and to the spreading mechanism located at arear end 114 of thepaving machine 100. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the distributing mechanism may include a laterally extending trough to receive the paving material from theconveyor 110. Moreover, a pair of augers (not shown in figures) may be rotatably mounted within the trough for spreading the paving material on the roadway forwardly of a screed. The screed may serve to press and level the paving material on the roadway. Thepaving machine 100 may also include anoperator station 116. It should be noted that thepaving machine 100 shown in the accompanied figures is on an exemplary basis. Thepaving machine 100 may include other components not described herein. - The present disclosure relates to a
walking floor 120 located at afront end 118 of thepaving machine 100. As can be seen inFIGS. 1 and 2 , thewalking floor 120 may be located immediately adjacent to theconveyor 110. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that during operation of thepaving machine 100, at least a portion of the paving material may collect or fall in an area adjacent toconveyor 110, specifically where thewalking floor 120 is located. Thewalking floor 120 may be configured to convey the portion of the paving material to theconveyor 110. It should be noted that thewalking floor 120 may prevent build-up of the paving material in thefront end 118 of thepaving machine 100. - A person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the
walking floor 120 may include live floors or reciprocating conveyors known in the art. These live floors are typically used in loading and unloading of load in front end loaders. For example, thewalking floor 120 may be made of a series of floor members referred to as floor slats. Typically, the floor slats are powered by a hydraulic drive, usually located underneath thewalking floor 120. The floor slats may be disposed in side by side relation to form a flat surface or floor. Further, each of the floor slats is movable fore and aft, either in unison, or in opposition, in order to move the paving material disposed on the walking floor in a fixed direction. - Referring to
FIG. 2 , in one embodiment, thewalking floor 120 may be located in thehopper 108 of thepaving machine 100, such that thewalking floor 120 may be in front of theconveyor 110. In one embodiment, thewalking floor 120 may be placed within thehopper 108 in such a way so as to prevent the paving material from falling through or collecting in thefront end 118 of thepaving machine 100, in an area in proximity to theconveyor 110. - Moreover, a direction of movement of the
walking floor 120 may be same as a direction of movement of theconveyor 110, as depicted using arrowhead P inFIG. 2 . Also, thewalking floor 120 may be positioned substantially parallel relative to theconveyor 110. In one embodiment, thewalking floor 120 may be positioned substantially inclined relative to theconveyor 110. - Further, as shown in
FIG. 2 , one end of thewalking floor 120 may be in contact with an inner wall of thehopper 108 and another end of thewalking floor 120 may be in contact with theconveyor 110. It should be noted that orientation and positioning of thewalking floor 120 relative to theconveyor 110 may vary. Additionally, parameters such as speed of movement of the walking floor, length L of thewalking floor 120, type of thewalking floor 120 used, time and duration of operation of thewalking floor 120, and the like may vary. For example, in one embodiment, thewalking floor 120 may extend throughout a length of thehopper 108, such that theconveyor 110 may be replaced with thewalking floor 120. In another embodiment, thewalking floor 120 may be continuously kept in an active or on state, based on an operation mode of thepaving machine 100. For example, when the paving material is being delivered to theasphalt paver 102, thewalking floor 120 may be kept active. Moreover, thewalking floor 120 may be inactive or off state when thepaving machine 100 is shutdown. - A
method 300 for movement of the paving material through thepaving machine 100 is described in connection withFIG. 3 . - In the
hopper 108 of existing paving machines a non conveying flat area, also referred to as apron, may exist between the inner wall of thehopper 108 and theconveyor 110. Generally, the paving material has a tendency to stick to the apron. Further, as more paving material may be placed in thehopper 108 of the existing paving machine, the apron may continue to build up with the more paving material. As time passes, the paving material built up on the apron may become cold. Large aggregates of the paving material may then begin to separate from small aggregates in a process called material segregation. Segregation of the paving material may lead to mat defects when the paving material is finally laid down on the roadway. - In the present disclosure, as described above, the walking
floor 120 may be provided in place of the apron. A person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the walkingfloor 120 facilitates in conveying the paving material to theconveyor 110 of the pavingmachine 100, and may thereby prevent the build-up of the paving material. Also, the walkingfloor 120 may eliminate need for a hydraulic folding apron as well as ground crew to manually clean out thehopper 108 of the pavingmachine 100. - At
step 302, theconveyor 110 may be provided to convey the paving material from thehopper 108 of the pavingmachine 100. Atstep 304, the walkingfloor 120 may be provided immediately adjacent to theconveyor 110. As described above, the walkingfloor 120 may be so positioned as to prevent the build-up of the paving material in the area adjacent to theconveyor 110. - Further, at
step 306, the portion of the paving material that may fall or collect on thewalking floor 120 may be conveyed to theconveyor 110. In one embodiment as the paving material is being delivered to the pavingmachine 100, the walkingfloor 120 may operate keeping a continual flow of the portion of the paving material to theconveyor 110. Hence, constant movement of the paving material may prevent the paving material from becoming cold or segregated. - While aspects of the present disclosure have been particularly shown and described with reference to the embodiments above, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various additional embodiments may be contemplated by the modification of the disclosed machines, systems and methods without departing from the spirit and scope of what is disclosed. Such embodiments should be understood to fall within the scope of the present disclosure as determined based upon the claims and any equivalents thereof.
Claims (20)
1. A system comprising:
a conveyor configured to convey paving material from a hopper of a paving machine; and
a walking floor immediately adjacent to the conveyor, the walking floor configured to convey at least a portion of the paving material to the conveyor.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the paving machine further includes an asphalt paver.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the walking floor is in front of the conveyor.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein a direction of movement of the walking floor and a direction of movement of the conveyor is the same.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the walking floor is located in the hopper of the paving machine.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the walking floor is substantially parallel relative to the conveyor.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the walking floor is substantially inclined relative to the conveyor.
8. A method comprising:
providing a conveyor to convey paving material from a hopper of a paving machine;
providing a walking floor immediately adjacent to the conveyor; and
conveying at least a portion of the paving material from the walking floor to the conveyor.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein providing the walking floor immediately adjacent to the conveyor further includes providing the walking floor in front of the conveyor.
10. The method of claim 8 further including moving the walking floor in a direction same as a direction of movement of the conveyor.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein providing the walking floor immediately adjacent to the conveyor further includes providing the walking floor in the hopper of the paving machine.
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein providing the walking floor immediately adjacent to the conveyor further includes providing the walking floor substantially parallel relative to the conveyor.
13. The method of claim 8 , wherein providing the walking floor immediately adjacent to the conveyor further includes providing the walking floor substantially inclined relative to the conveyor.
14. A paving machine comprising:
a power source;
a hopper configured to receive paving material;
a conveyor configured to convey the paving material from the hopper; and
a walking floor immediately adjacent to the conveyor, the walking floor configured to convey at least a portion of the paving material to the conveyor.
15. The paving machine of claim 14 , wherein the paving machine further includes an asphalt paver.
16. The paving machine of claim 14 , wherein the walking floor is in front of the conveyor.
17. The paving machine of claim 14 , wherein a direction of movement of the walking floor and a direction of movement of the conveyor is the same.
18. The paving machine of claim 14 , wherein the walking floor is located in the hopper.
19. The paving machine of claim 14 , wherein the walking floor is substantially parallel relative to the conveyor.
20. The paving machine of claim 14 , wherein the walking floor is substantially inclined relative to the conveyor.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US13/562,368 US20140037375A1 (en) | 2012-07-31 | 2012-07-31 | Walking floor for paving machine |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US13/562,368 US20140037375A1 (en) | 2012-07-31 | 2012-07-31 | Walking floor for paving machine |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20140037375A1 true US20140037375A1 (en) | 2014-02-06 |
Family
ID=50025610
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US13/562,368 Abandoned US20140037375A1 (en) | 2012-07-31 | 2012-07-31 | Walking floor for paving machine |
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Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US9481966B2 (en) | 2015-10-20 | 2016-11-01 | Caterpillar Paving Products Inc. | Hopper assembly for paving machines |
US10322626B2 (en) * | 2016-05-27 | 2019-06-18 | Bomag Gmbh | Road construction machine of the road paver or feeder type |
US10378158B2 (en) * | 2016-05-18 | 2019-08-13 | Bomag Gmbh | Road paver or feeder with material retention device with overload protection, material retention device, and method for protecting a material retention device |
US10415194B2 (en) * | 2016-05-27 | 2019-09-17 | Bomag Gmbh | Road paver or feeder with approach guidance aid, and approach guidance aid |
-
2012
- 2012-07-31 US US13/562,368 patent/US20140037375A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US9481966B2 (en) | 2015-10-20 | 2016-11-01 | Caterpillar Paving Products Inc. | Hopper assembly for paving machines |
US10378158B2 (en) * | 2016-05-18 | 2019-08-13 | Bomag Gmbh | Road paver or feeder with material retention device with overload protection, material retention device, and method for protecting a material retention device |
US10322626B2 (en) * | 2016-05-27 | 2019-06-18 | Bomag Gmbh | Road construction machine of the road paver or feeder type |
US10415194B2 (en) * | 2016-05-27 | 2019-09-17 | Bomag Gmbh | Road paver or feeder with approach guidance aid, and approach guidance aid |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: CATERPILLAR PAVING PRODUCTS INC., MINNESOTA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:FRELICH, TOBY A.;GRAHAM, LUKE E.;REEL/FRAME:028681/0550 Effective date: 20120710 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |