US3541933A

US3541933A - Berm-forming apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3541933A
Application number: US750087A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edgar L Carpenter
Original assignee: EDGAR L CARPENTER
Current assignee: EDGAR L CARPENTER
Priority date: 1968-08-05
Filing date: 1968-08-05
Publication date: 1970-11-24
Anticipated expiration: 1987-11-24

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventor Edgar L. Carpenter 330 Empire Ave., Modesto, California 95351 [21] AppLNoi 750,087 [22] Filed Aug.5,1968 [45] Patented Nov.24, 1970 [54] BERM-FORMING APPARATUS 17 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 94/46 [51] lnt.Cl ..E01c 19/48 [50] FieldofSearch 94/44,46

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,541,547 2/1951 Robinson 94/46 2,623,446 12/1952 Clark 94/46 2,707,422 5/1955 Canfield 94/46 2,848,930 8/1958 Thompson... 94/44 3,015,261 1/1962 MacDonald. 94/44X 3,053,156 9/1962 Jennings 94/46 Primary Exam iner- Jacob L. Nackenoff Attorney-Gardner & Zimmerman ABSTRACT: Apparatus for constructing an asphalt berm or the like along a roadway. The apparatus is pulled along such roadway by a truck or other vehicle to which it may be attached, an it includes a hopper adapted to receive a supply of hot flowable asphalt therewithin. Communicating with the hopper is a belt-type conveyor that is transversely oriented and transports such flowable material from the hopper to an open receiver equipped at the rear end thereof with a mold. As the apparatus moves forwardly, the asphalt material discharged by the conveyor into the receiver is engaged by the mold which forms the material into the desired configuration while laying it along the road way.

/15//2 57 l i i Patented Nov. 24, 1970 3,541,933

Sheet 1 of 2 4 r 9 F 21 1 1, 15 1c INVENTOR.

Edgar L. Carpenter Attorneqs BERM-FORMING APPARATUS This invention relates to berm-forming apparatus and, more particularly, to a vehicular apparatus and adapted to traverse a ground surface and construct an asphalt berm or the like therealong.

Berms are well known structures used in various environments for a number of purposes such as to control the flow of runoff water along a slope or incline, and a particular form of berm having a somewhat curblike configuration is often used along highways and other roadways to control the runoff of water therefrom. In view of the prevalent use of such roadway berms, various types of apparatus are in existence for constructing the same; and an object, among others, of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus for constructing an asphalt berm or the like along a roadway.

Another object of the invention is in the provision of berrn forming apparatus in which a belt-type conveyor transports heated asphalt or other flowable material from an open hopper to an open receiver from which the material is confined, shaped, and somewhat compressed by a mold and is deposited thereby along such roadway.

Still another object is that of providing an improved apparatus of the character described which is structurally simple, relatively inexpensive and requires little maintenance yet is effective to construct with facility a berm of well defined configuration and long lasting composition along a roadway or other ground surface traversed by the apparatus.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention, especially as concerns particular features and characteristics thereof, will become apparent as the specification proceeds to describe the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. is a top plan view of apparatus embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view in elevation of the apparatus looking generally from the bottom toward the top as the apparatus is seen in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view in elevation of the apparatus, certain components thereof being shown in section, looking generally from the left toward the right as the apparatus is seen in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a broken, longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 4-4 ofFIG. I; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, broken vertical sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

The berm-forming apparatus illustrated in the drawings is designated in its entirety with the numeral and as shown best in FIG. 3, it includes a hopper section. II and a forming or laying section I2. The apparatus 10 is adapted to be transported along a ground surface which, for example, may be a roadway or the like; and in this respect, it is intended to be pulled by a truck or other self-propelled vehicle and is there fore equipped at the forward end thereof with hitches or connectors l3 and 14, which may be completely conventional for releasably interconnecting the apparatus with such vehicle. Evidently, the apparatus could be motorized and constitute a self-propelled vehicle able to traverse a ground surface under its own power.

The apparatus 10 and

sections

11 and 12 thereof comprise frame structure generally denoted in its entirety with the numeral 15, and the hopper section 11 defines a hopper 16 mounted upon the frame structure and adapted to receive a flowable material therewithin such as hot asphalt, mixed concrete, etc., which is solidifiable to form a rigid structure after being laid or constructed along a ground surface. As respects the present invention, the particular material used (ordinarily asphalt) may be conventional and, therefore, no specific elaboration thereof is necessary. As is customary, the hopper I6 is defined in part by upwardly extending walls and has an inclined bottom wall 17 that causes such flowable material to be directed toward the outlet opening I8 of the hopper.

The hopper and discharge opening 18 thereof are transversely disposed with respect to the apparatus and direction of movement thereof (from right to left as viewed in FIG. 3), and the flowable material contained within the hopper is deposited through such opening I8 onto conveyor mechanism I9. The conveyor mechanism includes an endless belt 20 entrained at opposite ends thereof about rollers or

drums

21 and 22 which are journaled for rotation by axle and bearing structure in the usual manner. The belt may be made of any suitable material such as fabric, reinforced or otherwise, or it may be of flexible metal construction. Again as respects the precise characteristics of the conveyor belt 2|], any standard material and construction customary in this environment may be used.

The drum or roller 22 is an idler, but the drum 21 is driven by means ofa sprocket 23 mounted upon the shaft of the drum 21 and constrained with respect thereto so as to prevent relative rotation therebetween. Entrained about the sprocket 23 is an endless chain 24 which is also entrained about a drive sprocket 25 mounted upon the output shaft of a gear reducer 26 which has an input sprocket 27 driven by an endless chain 28 entrained thereabout. The chain 28 is also entrained about the output sprocket 29 of an engine 30 mounted upon the frame structure 15 of the apparatus. The engine 30 may be an ordinary gasoline engine; and clutch mechanism may be included to enable the engine 30 to be disengaged selectively from the conveyor mechanism 19. Such clutch mechanism is shown generally at 304 in FIG. I and is equipped with a handle 30b to enable manual manipulation thereof. As shown most clearly in FIG. I, the endless belt 20 extends entirely along the outlet 18 of the hopper l6, and is therefore transversely disposed with respect to the direction of travel of the apparatus.

Mounted upon the frame structure I5 of the apparatus adjacent one side thereof is a receiver 31 in open communication with the conveyor 19 adjacent the discharge end thereof. The receiver 31 constitutes a generally rectangular compartment open at its forward end and defined essentially by a transverse rear wall 32, outer longitudinal wall structure 33 and inner longitudinal wall structure 34. The

longitudinal wall structures

33 and 34 terminate a spaced distance above the level of the ground surface, generally denoted 35 in FIGS. 3 and 4, and they may be equipped therealong with depending seal structure 36 bolted thereto and which is adapted to ride upon or in close proximity to such ground surface, as shown in FIG. 4. The seal structure 36 may take any suitable form and, for example, may be a fabric, fiber or other component which is readily replaceable and is bolted or otherwise releasably to the associated wall structure along the lower edge thereof.

The

wall structures

33 and 34 are rigidly connected at their rear ends to the rear wall 32; and at its forward end the wall 33 is pivotally supported at 37 by a pair of

brace members

38 and 39 that are welded or otherwise fixedly secured to the frame structure 15. The wall structure 34 at its forward end is pivotally secured at 40 to the frame structure 15.

The receiver 31 at its rear or trailing end is equipped with a mold 41 that is longitudinally extending and as shown best in FIGS. 4 and 5, is of somewhat inverted U-shaped configuration having a top wall 42 extending rearwardly and downwardly from the wall 32 of the receiver and a pair of de

pending side walls

43 and 44 converging inwardly and rearwardly from the wall 32. Accordingly, the mold space or cavity 45 defined by the top wall 42 and depending

side walls

43 and 44 progressively decreases in volume in both vertical and transverse directions from the infeed or forward end 46 thereof which is in open communication with the receiver 31 through the wall 32 thereof toward its terminal end 47 from which the formed berm is discharged. The mold also includes

bottom wall segments

48 and 49 which are transversely disposed and project laterally in opposite directions from the respectively associated depending

walls

43 and 44. The

wall segments

48 and 49 are ordinarily disposed in close juxtaposition to the ground surface 35 being traversed by the apparatus, and they terminate in upwardly extending components defining a generally perimetric (three-sided) wali structure 50.

The wall structure 50 adjacent the entrance end 46 of the mold is welded or otherwise rigidly attached to the wall 32 of the receiver 31, and at its rear end the wall structure 50 is rigidly attached to an upwardly extending hanger 51. At its upper end, the hanger 51 is rigidly secured to a channelshaped support 52 which is generally rectangular in cross section (as shown in FIG. and extends forwardly to and is secured to the wall 32 ofthe receiver 31. The wall structure 50 of the mold 41 is further attached to the longitudinally disposed support 52 by a pair of

intermediate struts

53 and 54 which angle upwardly from the wall structure 50 at about the midpoint of the mold and inwardly to the support 52.

Operative between the frame structure and support 52 to adjust and determine the general elevation of the mold 41 are motor means in the form of fluid-energized piston-

cylinder structures

55 and 56 disposed in longitudinally spaced relation, as shown most clearly in P16. 3. The cylinders of the motor means 55 and 56 are pivotally connected to the frame structure 15 by bifurcated fasteners or

clevises

57 and 58, respectively; and the rod-equipped pistons of such motor means are pivotally connected to the support 52 by bifurcated fasteners or clevises 59 and 60, respectively. A helical tension spring 61 attached at one end to the frame structure 15 and at its other end to the support 52 resiliently biases the mold 41, and receiver 31, upwardly about the axes respectively defined by the aforementioned

pivotal connections

37 and 40. As shown best in FIGS. 1 and 2, the frame structure 15 comprises a pair of angularly disposed

brackets

62 and 63 to which the motor means 55 and 56 are pivotally connected, respectively, at their upper ends via the

clevises

57 and 58.

The fluid motor means 55 and 56 may be hydraulically energized by a pump (not shown) driven by the engine 30 and which supplies fluid under pressure to a distribution manifold 64 connected by

valves

65 and 66 and

conduits

67 and 68, respectively, to the motor means 55 and S6. The

valves

65 and 66 are respectively equipped with manually manipulatable handles (as shown in H0. 1), and suitable adjustment thereof controls energization of the motor means to positively dis place the mold 41 downwardly or to permit it to be elevated by the resilient force imparted thereto by the spring 61. An additional valve 69 associated with the manifold 64 controls the supply of fluid to a conduit 70 which may be used for various purposes such as to control the position of the

hitches

13 and 14.

The apparatus 10 is equipped with means for rollingly supporting the same upon a ground surface, and in the particular form shown the apparatus includes tread mechanisms 71 and 72 (F108. 1 and 2) associated with the laying section 12. The

tread mechanisms

71 and 72 are conventional devices as are the

wheels

73 and 74; and in each instance, they are rotatably supported via intermediate structural members by the frame structure 15.

In use of the apparatus 10, it is attached by the

hitches

13 and 14 to a truck or other vehicle which is then used to advance the apparatus along a ground surface to be equipped with a berm which, as indicated hereinbefore, may be an asphalt berm constructed along a roadway. The berm may have any necessary and unusual dimensions and, by way of specific illustration, a typical berm may have a base width of about 10 inches, a top width of about 6 inches and a height ap proximating 2 inches. 1n such case, the mold 41 adjacent the exit end 47 thereof would have a trapezoidal configuration comprising such dimensions. The apparatus as viewed in FIG. 3 will be advanced toward the left, and a suitable supply of berm-forming flowable material, such as heated asphalt, will be provided within the hopper 16.

The engine 30 is started and the clutch 30a engaged to energize the conveyor 19-the belt of which is operative to travel from right to left (as viewed in FlGS. l and 2) to transport the flowable material from the hopper 16 to the receiver 31. The discharge of material from the conveyor into the receiver may take the general form shown diagrammatically by broken lines in FIG. 4, and as the apparatus progressively moves from right to left such material is deposited through the mold 41 onto the ground surface 35 to form a berm therealong, which berm is generally indicated at 75 in this FIG. Within the receiver 31, the

side walls

33 and 34 thereof confine the flowable material laterally which is otherwise essentially unconstrained and is under atmospheric pressure. However, as the apparatus 10 traverses the ground surface 35, the mass of flowable material within the receiver 31 is engaged by the mold 41 which forms the material into the desired configuration and at the same time tends to compact the material because of the tapered configuration of the mold which causes a downwardly directed force to be imparted to such mass of material.

The elevation of the mold 41 can be manually adjusted to permit it to accommodate irregularities and other changes in elevation of the surface along which the berm 75 is being constructed by suitable adjustment of the

valves

65 and 66. In this respect, and as explained heretofore, the mold 41 and receiver 31 swing upwardly and downwardly about the

axes

37 and 40 upon energization of the motor means 55 and 56; and although the motor means positively displace the mold and receiver downwardly in a clockwise direction (as viewed in FIG. 3), the mold and receiver are resiliently drawn upwardly (when the motor means permit) by the spring 61 to the limit defined by the adjustment of the motor means.

While in the foregoing specification an embodiment of the invention has been set forth in considerable detail for purposes of making a complete disclosure thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous changes may be made in such details without departing from the spirit and principles ofthe invention.

lclaim:

1. Apparatus for constructing a berm or the like from a solidifiable material in a ilowable condition, comprising frame structure equipped with means supporting the same for rolling engagement with a ground surface, a hopper mounted upon said frame structure for receiving a supply of such flowable material, a receiver carried by said frame structure and having at the rear end thereof a mold defining the configuration of such berm, conveyor mechanism extending between said hopper and receiver for transporting such material therebetween, drive mechanism for actuating said conveyor mechanism to effect such transport of flowable material thereby, said receiver and mold being rigidly interrelated and said receiver being pivotally connected adjacent the forward end thereof to said frame structure, spring means resiliently biasing said mold and receiver upwardly about such pivotal connection of said receiver with said frame structure and mechanism connected with both said frame structure and mold for displacing the mold downwardly about such pivotal connection of said receiver against the biasing force of said spring means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said conveyor mechanism is transversely disposed with respect to the direction of movement of said apparatus along such ground surface and includes an endless belt upon which such material is transported.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 in which said hopper is in open communication with said conveyor mechanism substantially from end to end thereof.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 in which said receiver and mold are located along one side of said frame structure, said conveyor mechanism communicating adjacent one end thereof with said receiver.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 in which said receiver, hopper and conveyor belt are all open to atmosphere 6. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said mechanism for displacing said mold comprises fluid motor means pivotally connected with both said frame structure and mold and being operative therebetween.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said mold has an in verted somewhat U-shaped configuration comprised of a top wall inclining downwardly and depending side walls inclining inwardly from said receiver toward the terminal end of said mold to progressively confine and compact the flowable material being deposited along such ground surface through said mold 8. The apparatus of claim 7 in which said receiver is open to atmosphere.

9. The apparatus of claim I in which said drive mechanism includes an engine mounted upon said frame structure.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said means supporting said frame structure includes wheels adapted to rollingly traverse such ground surface.

ll. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said conveyor mechanism is transversely disposed with respect to the direction of movement of said apparatus along such ground surface and includes an endless belt upon which such material is transported.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 in which said hopper is in open communication with said conveyor mechanism substantially from end to end thereof.

13. Apparatus for constructing a berm or the like from a solidifiable material in a flowable condition, comprising frame structure equipped with means supporting the same for rolling engagement with a ground surface, a hopper mounted upon said frame structure for receiving a supply of such flowable material. a receiver carried by said frame structure and having at the rear end thereof a mold defining the configuration of such berm. conveyor mechanism extending between said hopper and receiver for transporting such material therebetween, drive mechanism for actuating said conveyor mechanism to effect such transport of flowable material thereby, mechanism for adjusting the elevation of said mold relative to said frame structure and to any such ground surface being traversed thereby, said mechanism for elevating said mold comprising fluid motor means connected with both said frame structure and mold and being operative therebetween, said receiver and mold being rigidly interrelated and said receiver being pivotally connected adjacent the forward end thereof to said frame structure, and spring means resiliently biasing said mold and receiver upwardly about such pivotal connection of said receiver with said frame structure, said motor means comprising a plurality of piston-cylinder structures pivotally connected with said frame and with said mold for displacing the mold downwardly about such pivotal connection of said receiver against the biasing force of said spring means.

14. Apparatus for constructing a berm or the like from a solidifiable material in a flowable condition, comprising frame structure equipped with means supporting the same for rolling engagement with a ground surface, a hopper mounted upon said frame structure for receiving a supply of such flowable material, a receiver carried by said frame structure and having at the rear end thereof a mold defining the configuration of such berm, conveyor mechanism extending between said hopper and receiver for transporting such material therebetween, drive mechanism for actuating said conveyor mechanism to effect such transport of flowable material thereby, said conveyor mechanism being transversely disposed with respect to the direction of movement of said an paratus along such ground surface and including an endless belt upon which such material is transported, mechanism for adjusting the elevation of said mold relative to said frame structure and to any such ground surface being traversed thereby, said hopper being in open communication with said conveyor mechanism substantially from end to end thereof, said mechanism for elevating said mold comprising fluid motor means connected with both said frame structure and mold and being operative therebetween, said receiver and mold being located along one side of said frame structure, said conveyor mechanism communicating adjacent one end thereofwith said receiver, said receiver and mold being ri idl interrelated and said receiver being pivotally connecte ad jacent the forward end thereof to said frame structure, and spring means resiliently biasing said mold and receiver upwardly about such pivotal connection of said receiver with said frame structure, said motor means comprising a plurality of piston-cylinder structures pivotally connected with said frame and with said mold for displacing the mold downwardly about such pivotal connection of said receiver against the biasing force of said spring means.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 in which said mold has an inverted somewhat U-shaped configuration comprised of a top wall inclining downwardly and depending side walls inclining inwardly from said receiver toward the terminal end of said mold to progressively confine and compact the flowahle material being deposited along such ground surface through said mold.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 in which said receiver, hopper and conveyor are all open to atmosphere.

17. The apparatus of claim l6 in which said drive mechanism includes an engine mounted upon said frame structure.