U.S. patent application number 12/077265 was filed with the patent office on 2009-10-22 for paver hopper flap suspension system.
Invention is credited to Siegfried Mayer.
Application Number | 20090263193 12/077265 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41201229 |
Filed Date | 2009-10-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090263193 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mayer; Siegfried |
October 22, 2009 |
Paver hopper flap suspension system
Abstract
A paver hopper flap suspension system has a number flaps
attached to the hopper frame. A cable restraint line is attached to
the flaps. A tensioning system is attached to the cable restraint
line. The tensioning system allows the flaps to distort as the
loading truck body engages the hopper entrance. Once the truck
exits the hopper entrance the hopper flap suspension system causes
the flaps to spring back to their original shape. The suspension
system may include a torsion spring biasing the flaps into a
vertical position. The tensioning system may include a tension
adjuster. Using this system the flaps are not torn and hold the
asphalt in place as the loading trucks dump asphalt into the
hopper.
Inventors: |
Mayer; Siegfried; (Colorado
Springs, CO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LAW OFFICE OF DALE B. HALLING
3595 FOUNTAIN BOULEVARD SUITE A2
COLORADO SPRINGS
CO
80910
US
|
Family ID: |
41201229 |
Appl. No.: |
12/077265 |
Filed: |
April 21, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
404/110 ;
404/108 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E01C 19/48 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
404/110 ;
404/108 |
International
Class: |
E01C 19/18 20060101
E01C019/18 |
Claims
1. A hopper flap suspension system, comprising: a plurality of
flaps attached to a hopper frame of a paver; a cable restraint line
attached to each of the plurality of flaps; and a tensioning system
attached to the cable restraint line.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of flaps are made
of a stiff rubbery material.
3. The system of claim 1, further including a torsion spring
attached to the hopper frame and biasing one of the plurality of
flaps in a predetermined position.
4. The system of claim 2, wherein the cable restraint line is
attached to a top portion of the plurality of flaps.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the tensioning system is attached
to the hopper frame.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein the tensioning system has a
tension adjuster.
7. A hopper flap suspension system, comprising: a flap attached to
a hopper frame; and a flap biasing system biasing the flap into a
predetermined position.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein the flap is made of a stiff
rubbery material.
9. The system of claim 7, wherein the flap biasing system includes
a cable restraint line attached to the flap.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein the flap biasing system includes
a cable tensioner attached to the cable restrain line.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the cable tensioner includes a
tension adjuster.
12. The system of claim 10, wherein the flap biasing system
includes a torsion spring attached to the hopper frame and biasing
one of the plurality of flaps in a predetermined position.
13. A paver, comprising: a chassis; a hopper frame attached to the
chassis; a flap suspension system attached to the hopper frame.
14. The paver of claim 13, wherein the flap suspension system
comprises: a plurality of flaps attached to a hopper frame of a
paver; a cable restraint line attached to each of the plurality of
flaps; and a tensioning system attached to the cable restraint
line.
15. The paver of claim 14, further including a torsion spring
attached to the hopper frame and biasing one of the plurality of
flaps in a predetermined position.
16. The paver of claim 14, wherein the cable restraint line is
attached to a top portion of the plurality of flaps.
17. The paver of claim 14, wherein the tensioning system is
attached to the hopper frame.
18. The paver of claim 17, wherein the tensioning system has a
tension adjuster.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH
[0002] Not Applicable
THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT
[0003] Not Applicable
REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM
LISTING
[0004] Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention is related to asphalt paving machines
or pavers. Presently all asphalt pavers have stiff rubber flaps
that are bolted to the sides of the entrance of the hopper box. The
entrance of the hopper box is where the paver is loaded with
asphalt. The trucks carrying the hot asphalt from the asphalt plant
to the paver have dump beds that vary in height and width and have
differing angles of dump that engage the hopper entrance. This
variability results in harsh contact with the hopper flaps that are
intended to retain the asphalt in the hopper and prevent spillage
out of the hopper. As a result, within the first 100 hours of
operation of a new paver with new flaps, the flaps get ripped off
the hopper frame, or are folded over into the hopper or sag forward
out of the hopper. This results in the flaps failing in their
intended purpose of retaining the mix in the hopper. The result is
that the asphalt now spills out the sides and out the bottom
without restraint and creates piles of mix on the ground in front
of the paver tracks-wheels. This causes the paver to roll up on the
piles and thus changes the paver angle, disturbing the grading
plain of the finish mat. All of these variations in the pavement
have to fixed costing time and money.
[0006] Thus there exists a need for a paver with a hopper flap
system that lasts longer and does not allow the asphalt to fall out
of the hopper as the hopper is being loaded.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0007] A paver hopper flap suspension system that overcomes these
and other problems has a number of flaps attached to the hopper
frame. A cable restraint line is attached to the flaps. A
tensioning system is attached to the cable restraint line. The
tensioning system allows the flaps to distort as the loading truck
body engages the hopper entrance. Once the truck exits the hopper
entrance the hopper flap suspension system causes the flaps to
spring back to their original shape. The suspension system may
include a torsion spring biasing the flaps into a vertical
position. The tensioning system may include a tension adjuster.
[0008] Using this system the flaps are not torn and hold the
asphalt in place as the loading trucks dump asphalt into the
hopper. As a result, the hopper flap system lasts longer and does
not allow the asphalt to fall out of the hopper as the hopper is
being loaded.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a side view of a paver in accordance with one
embodiment of the invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a hopper entrance in
accordance with one embodiment of the invention; and
[0011] FIG. 3 is a cutaway side view of the hopper entrance in
accordance with one embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The paver hopper flap suspension system of the present
invention has a number of flaps attached to the hopper frame. A
cable restraint line is attached to the flaps. A tensioning system
is attached to the cable restraint line. The tensioning system
allows the flaps to distort as the loading truck body engages the
hopper entrance. Once the truck exits the hopper entrance the
hopper flap suspension system causes the flaps to spring back to
their original shape. The suspension system may include a torsion
spring biasing the flaps into a vertical position. The tensioning
system may include a tension adjuster. Using this system the flaps
are not torn and hold the asphalt in place as the loading trucks
dump asphalt into the hopper.
[0013] FIG. 1 is a side view of a paver 10 in accordance with one
embodiment of the invention. The paver 10 has a chassis 12 that
moves on tracked wheels 14 over the ground 16. A hopper 18 is
attached to the chassis 12. The hopper 18 holds the asphalt 20. The
paver 10 requires the hopper 18 to be filled with asphalt 20 by
trucks. The trucks load the asphalt into a hopper entrance of the
hopper 18. The hopper entrance can be either on the side of the
hopper or on the end of the hopper.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a hopper entrance 30
in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The hopper
entrance 30 is defined by the hopper frame 32. The flaps 34, 36, 38
are attached to the hopper frame 32. The center flap 36 may be
bolted 40 to the hopper frame 32. The outer to flaps 34 & 38
are attached to the hopper frame. The torsion springs 42 bias the
flaps into a vertical or predetermined position. As shown herein
the center flap 36 is in front of the two outer flaps 34 & 38.
The flaps 34, 36, 38 are commonly made of a stiff rubbery material.
A cable restraint line 44 is attached to the tops of flaps 34, 36,
38. The restraint line 44 is a steel cable in one embodiment and
may be attached by U-bolts or may be threaded through the flaps 34,
36, 38. A tensioning system 46 tensions the cable restraint line
44. The tensioning system housing 48 is attached to the hopper
frame 32. Note that the flaps are not connected on their sides to
the sides of the hopper frame 32.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a cutaway side view of the hopper entrance in
accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The cable
tensioning system 46 has a cable guide 50 for holding the cable 44.
A tensioning device 52 is attached to cable 44. The tensioning
device 52 may be a spring (passive system) or hydraulic-pneumatic
ram (active user system). A tension adjuster 54 is attached to the
(passive) tensioning device 52. In one embodiment, the torsion
spring 52 is replaced by a hydraulic or pneumatic ram (active
system) system. An active system allows the operator to change the
amount of tension on the cable 44 to fit the operator's particular
need.
[0016] In operation, when a truck dumps its load of asphalt the bed
of the truck engages the flaps 34, 36, 38. The cable restraint line
44 plays out and allows the flaps 34, 36, 38 to fold and bend,
since they are not attached at the sides to the hopper frame. When
the bed of the truck releases from the flaps the cable restraint
line 44 is pulled back in by the tensioning system, which causes
the flaps 34, 36, 38 to rebound to their original position. Because
the flaps 34, 36, 38 are allowed to bend and fold when a truck
applies pressure to them and still return to their original
position, the flaps are not destroyed. In addition, the flaps
restrain the asphalt from falling out of the hopper bed. This save
time and money in wasted rework caused by asphalt spills.
[0017] While the invention has been described in conjunction with
specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alterations,
modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in
the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is
intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications, and
variations in the appended claims.
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