U.S. patent application number 14/248457 was filed with the patent office on 2014-08-07 for walkway assembly for paving machines.
This patent application is currently assigned to CATERPILLAR PAVING PRODUCTS INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is CATERPILLAR PAVING PRODUCTS INC.. Invention is credited to Jacob R. Ellwein.
Application Number | 20140219720 14/248457 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51259323 |
Filed Date | 2014-08-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140219720 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ellwein; Jacob R. |
August 7, 2014 |
WALKWAY ASSEMBLY FOR PAVING MACHINES
Abstract
A walkway assembly for a paving machine is disclosed in the
present disclosure. The walkway assembly comprises a main walkway,
an extender walkway, and a wheel assembly. The extender walkway
telescopically extends and retracts relative to the main walkway.
The wheel assembly comprises a hollow guard, a pin, and a wheel.
The hollow guard includes a first hole in a first transverse member
and a second hole in a second transverse member. The pin extends
therethrough between the first hole and the second hole of the
hollow guard. The pin couples the wheel assembly with the main
walkway. The wheel is mounted on the pin and positioned inside the
hollow guard. The wheel extends above the hollow guard and is in a
rolling contact with the extender walkway.
Inventors: |
Ellwein; Jacob R.; (Oak
Grove, MN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CATERPILLAR PAVING PRODUCTS INC. |
Brooklyn Park |
MN |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
CATERPILLAR PAVING PRODUCTS
INC.
Brooklyn Park
MN
|
Family ID: |
51259323 |
Appl. No.: |
14/248457 |
Filed: |
April 9, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
404/83 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E01C 2301/40 20130101;
E01C 19/48 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
404/83 |
International
Class: |
E01C 19/00 20060101
E01C019/00 |
Claims
1. A walkway assembly for a paving machine, the walkway assembly
comprising: a main walkway; an extender walkway configured to
telescopically extend and retract relative to the main walkway; a
wheel assembly, the wheel assembly comprising: a hollow guard,
wherein the hollow guard includes two transverse members and two
longitudinal members, wherein the hollow guard has a first hole on
the first transverse member and a second hole on the second
transverse member; a pin having a first end and a second end,
wherein the pin extends therethrough between the first hole and the
second hole of the hollow guard; and a wheel mounted on the pin and
positioned inside the hollow guard, wherein the wheel extends
partially above the hollow guard and in a rolling contact with the
extender walkway; and wherein the wheel assembly is coupled to the
main walkway by coupling the first end of the pin to the main
walkway.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to paving machines.
More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a walkway
assembly for a paving machine.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Paving machines are used for laying concrete and/or asphalt
on various surfaces such as, a road surface, a bridge, a parking
area, and the like. The concrete and/or asphalt laid on the
surfaces is given an initial compaction using a screed coupled to
the paving machine. The paving machine generally includes a walkway
at a rear end of the screed. The walkway enables an operator to
observe the paving operation. Additionally, the operator is able to
control screed functionalities from the walkway since an operator
control station is generally located in the vicinity of the
walkway.
[0003] The width of extendable screeds can be varied depending on a
given paving job. The walkway needs to be adjustable along with the
screed width to allow an operator standing on the walkway to
properly monitor the paving operation and control the paving
operation.
[0004] There are several known ways to extend and retract the
walkway. The extender walkway may slide relative to a main walkway
to vary the width of the walkway on a roller which is mounted
beneath the main walkway. However, during paving operation, asphalt
debris and other obstacles may prevent or limit walkway movement,
making it difficult to extend or retract when desired.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0005] One aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a
walkway assembly for a paving machine. The walkway assembly
includes a main walkway, an extender walkway, and a wheel assembly.
The extender walkway is configured to telescopically extend and
retract relative to the main walkway. The wheel assembly includes a
hollow guard, a wheel, and a pin. The hollow guard includes two
transverse members, and two longitudinal members. The hollow guard
includes a first hole on the first transverse member and a second
hole on the second transverse member. The pin extends therethrough
between the first hole and the second hole of the hollow guard. The
pin includes a first end and a second end. The wheel is mounted on
the pin and positioned inside the hollow guard. The wheel extends
partially above the hollow guard. The wheel is in a rolling contact
with the extender walkway. Further, the wheel assembly is coupled
to the main walkway by coupling the first end of the pin to the
main walkway.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of an exemplary paving
machine, in accordance with the concepts of the present
disclosure;
[0007] FIG. 2 illustrates a bottom perspective view of a walkway
assembly, in an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0008] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a portion of the
walkway assembly, in an alternative embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0009] FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of the walkway assembly, in
accordance with the alternative embodiment of the present
disclosure; and
[0010] FIG. 5 illustrates an exploded view of a wheel assembly, in
accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of an exemplary paving
machine 100, in accordance with the concepts of the present
disclosure. In reference to FIG. 1, the paving machine 100 may
include a pair of hoppers 102, a conveyor, an auger 104, a screed
106, and a walkway assembly 108.
[0012] The pair of hoppers 102 of the paving machine 100 may
receive asphalt and/or concrete material from a dump truck or
similar transport means. The pair of hoppers 102 transfers the
asphalt and/or concrete material to the auger 104 via a conveyer
(not shown in FIGs). The auger 104 may be a rotating screw
mechanism configured to dump asphalt and/or concrete on a paving
surface. Examples of paving surfaces may be a road surface, a
parking area, a highway, and the like. The auger 104 may dump the
asphalt and/or concrete material on the paving surface in form of
stockpiles in front of the screed 106.
[0013] The asphalt and/or concrete material dumped on the ground is
given an initial compaction by the screed 106.
[0014] The screed 106 is coupled at a rear end of the paving
machine 100. In an embodiment, the screed 106 includes a main
screed and at least one extender. In a preferred embodiment, the
screed 106 includes two extender slideably coupled on each side of
the main screed. The at least one extender may be extended or
retracted relative to the main screed for different pavement
requirements. The at least one extender may be extended and
retracted by any mechanism such as, but not limited to, a hydraulic
actuating mechanism, a pneumatic actuating mechanism, an electric
actuating mechanism, a mechanical mechanism and the equivalents
thereof. The at least one extender is extended and positioned
adjacent to the main screed to increase the width of the asphalt
and/or concrete mat being laid on the paving surface. The screed
106 provides a uniformly paved surface as the paving machine 100
moves forwardly.
[0015] Furthermore, the screed 106 is coupled to the walkway
assembly 108. The walkway assembly 108 enables an operator to
observe the paving operation. Additionally, the operator may
control functionalities of the screed 106 from the walkway assembly
108 since an operator control station is generally located in the
vicinity of the walkway assembly 108.
[0016] FIG. 2 illustrates a bottom perspective view of the walkway
assembly 108, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
disclosure. The walkway assembly 108 includes a main walkway 202,
an extender walkway 204, and a wheel assembly 206. The extender
walkway 204 is telescopically extendable and retractable relative
to the main walkway 202. In an embodiment, the walkway assembly 108
includes two extender walkways such that one extender walkway 204
may extend and retract relative to one end of the main walkway 202
and other extender walkway 204 may extend and retract relative to
other end of the main walkway 202. The extender walkway 204 may be
coupled to the at least one extender of the screed 106 using a
support bracket 208. Therefore, the extender walkway 204 may extend
and retract relative to the main walkway 202 as the at least one
extender extends and retracts. It may be understood to a person
ordinarily skilled in the art that, the extender walkway 204 may
extend or retract relative to the main walkway 202 independently of
the movement of the at least one extender of the screed 106.
[0017] Further, the main walkway 202 is coupled to the wheel
assembly 206. In the present embodiment, there is a single wheel
assembly 206 coupled to each end of the main walkway 202. In this
embodiment, the wheel assembly 206 may be coupled to the main
walkway 202, such that the extender walkway 204 slides under the
wheel assembly 206. In other words, the extender walkway 204 is
positioned between the main walkway 202 and the wheel assembly 206.
Alternatively, the wheel assembly 206 may be positioned between the
main walkway 202 and the extender walkway 204. In other words, the
extender walkway 204 may slide over the wheel assembly 206.
[0018] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a portion of the
walkway assembly 108, in accordance with an alternative embodiment
of the present disclosure. In this embodiment (as shown in FIG. 3
and FIG. 4), there are two wheel assemblies 206 coupled to each end
of the main walkway 202. Further, the extender walkway 204 includes
a first side 302 and a second side 304. The first side 302 and the
second side 304 of the extender walkway 204 may be of L shape, a C
shape or equivalent thereof. In this embodiment (as shown in FIG. 3
and FIG. 4), one wheel assembly 206 is positioned between a first
side 210 of the main walkway 202 and the first side 302 of the
extender walkway 204 and the other wheel assembly 206 is positioned
between a second side 212 of the main walkway 202 and the second
side 304 the extender walkway 204. Therefore, the first side 302
and the second side 304 of the extender walkway 204 may act as
rails for the wheel assembly 206. Therefore, the extender walkway
204 may slide relative to the main walkway 202 over the wheel
assembly 206.
[0019] FIG. 5 illustrates an exploded view of the wheel assembly
206 associated with the present disclosure. The wheel assembly 206
comprises a hollow guard 502, a wheel 504, and a pin 506. The
hollow guard 502 includes a first transverse member 508, a second
transverse member 510, a first longitudinal member 512 and a second
longitudinal member 514. In an embodiment, the first transverse
member 508, the second transverse member 510, the first
longitudinal member 512, and the second longitudinal member 514
forms sides of a box shaped structure such as, but not limited to,
a trapezoidal shaped box. The hollow guard 502 includes a first
hole 516 on the first transverse member 508 and a second hole 518
on the second transverse member 510. The hollow guard 502 is
configured to protect the wheel 504 from the asphalt debris.
[0020] The wheel 504 is positioned inside the hollow guard 502 and
extends partially above the hollow guard 502. Further, the wheel
504 is in a rolling contact with the extender walkway 204 (as shown
in FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4). The wheel 504 is mounted on the pin
506 and is configured to rotate with respect to the pin 506.
[0021] The wheel 504 is mounted on the pin 506 by inserting the pin
506 in a through hole 520 of the wheel 504. Further, the pin 506
extends therethrough between the first hole 516 and the second hole
518 of the hollow guard 502. The pin 506 includes a first end 522
and a second end 524. The first end 522 of the pin 506 is coupled
with the first side 210 of the main walkway 202 as shown in FIG. 2,
FIG. 3, and FIG. 4. The first end 522 of the pin 506 may be coupled
with the first side 210 of the main walkway 202 by a method such
as, but limited to, welding, fastening and the like. In an
embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the second end 524 of the pin 506
is coupled with the second side 212 of the main walkway 202.
Therefore, the wheel assembly 206 is coupled with the main walkway
202 by coupling the first end 522 and the second end 524 of the pin
506 to the main walkway 202. In the alternative embodiment, when
the wheel assembly 206 is positioned between the sides of the main
walkway 202 and the extender walkway 204, only the first end 522 of
the pin 506 is coupled to the side of the main walkway 202 as best
shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0022] The present disclosure relates to the paving machine 100.
The paving machine 100 includes the pair of hopper 102, the
conveyor, the auger 104, the screed 106, and the walkway assembly
108. The paving machine 100 receives asphalt and/or concrete
material in the pair of hoppers 102. The paving machine 100 dumps
the asphalt and/or concrete material on a paving surface via the
conveyor (not shown) and the auger 104 in front of the screed 106.
The screed 106 gives initial compaction to the asphalt and/or
concrete as the paving machine 100 moves forward. The width of the
screed 106 may be adjusted for different pavement requirements. The
width of the screed 106 may be varied by extending and retracting
the at least one extender of the screed 106 relative to the main
screed. Since, the at least one extender of the screed 106 is
coupled to the extender walkway 204 of the walkway assembly 108,
the extension of the at least one extender of the screed 106 causes
extension of the extender walkway 204. Therefore, the width of the
walkway assembly 108 is varied by extending and retracting the
extender walkway 204 relative to the main walkway 202.
[0023] The extender walkway 204 extends and retracts by sliding
over the wheel 504 of the wheel assembly 206. The wheel 504 is
positioned inside the hollow guard 502. During the paving
operation, the hollow guard 502 prevents the entry of asphalt
material or debris between the wheel 504 and the extender walkway
204. Further, the hollow guard 502 may also prevent the entry of
asphalt material or debris between the extender walkway 204 and the
main walkway 202. Thereby, the hollow guard 502 prevents jamming of
the extender walkway 204. Therefore, the wheel assembly 206 assists
in easy extension and retraction of the extender walkway 204.
* * * * *