U.S. patent application number 14/591640 was filed with the patent office on 2015-07-23 for flow diverter for hopper of asphalt paving machine.
The applicant listed for this patent is Roadtec, Inc.. Invention is credited to Mikel A. Blank, David Swearingen.
Application Number | 20150204028 14/591640 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53544304 |
Filed Date | 2015-07-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150204028 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Swearingen; David ; et
al. |
July 23, 2015 |
FLOW DIVERTER FOR HOPPER OF ASPHALT PAVING MACHINE
Abstract
An asphalt paving machine includes a hopper for receiving
asphalt material and a distributing auger for distributing asphalt
material onto a roadway to be paved. A hopper conveyor is provided
to carry asphalt material from the hopper to the distributing
auger. The hopper conveyor has a rear end that is adjacent the
distributing auger, an outside edge, and a flow diverter that is
adapted to divert asphalt material being carried by the hopper
conveyor away from the outside edge thereof.
Inventors: |
Swearingen; David;
(Ooltewah, TN) ; Blank; Mikel A.; (Ooltewah,
TN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Roadtec, Inc. |
Chattanooga |
TN |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
53544304 |
Appl. No.: |
14/591640 |
Filed: |
January 7, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61929302 |
Jan 20, 2014 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
404/108 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E01C 19/48 20130101;
B65G 47/19 20130101 |
International
Class: |
E01C 19/00 20060101
E01C019/00 |
Claims
1. An asphalt paving machine comprising: (a) a hopper that is
adapted to receive asphalt material; (b) a distributing auger that
is adapted to distribute asphalt material onto a roadway to be
paved; (c) a hopper conveyor that is adapted to carry asphalt
material from the hopper to the distributing auger, said hopper
conveyor having: (i) a rear end that is adjacent the distributing
auger; (ii) an outside edge; (d) a flow diverter that is adapted to
divert asphalt material being carried by the hopper conveyor away
from the outside edge of said hopper conveyor.
2. The asphalt paving machine of claim 1 wherein the flow diverter
comprises a diverter plate which is supported by a diverter
bracket.
3. The asphalt paving machine of claim 2 wherein: (a) the hopper
conveyor has a drive chain on its outside edge; (b) an outer chain
protector plate is provided to cover the drive chain on the outside
edge of the hopper conveyor; (c) the diverter plate is located so
that its inwardmost extent is inside the outer chain protector
plate on the outside edge of the hopper conveyor.
4. The asphalt paving machine of claim 2 wherein the diverter plate
is disposed at an angle with respect to the outside edge of the
hopper conveyor that is within the range of about 10.degree. to
about 20.degree..
5. The asphalt paving machine of claim 2 wherein the diverter plate
is disposed at an angle of about 14.degree. with respect to the
outside edge of the hopper conveyor.
6. An asphalt paving machine comprising: (a) a hopper that is
adapted to receive asphalt material, said hopper having: (i) a
right outside wall; (ii) a left outside wall; (iii) a centerline
that is located midway between the left outside wall and the right
outside wall; (iv) a front end; (b) a distributing auger that is
adapted to distribute asphalt material onto a roadway to be paved;
(c) a right hopper conveyor that is adapted to carry asphalt
material from the hopper to the distributing auger, said right
hopper conveyor having: (i) a front end that is adjacent the front
end of the hopper; (ii) a rear end that is adjacent the
distributing auger; (iii) an outside edge; (iv) an inside edge that
is adjacent the centerline of the hopper; (d) a right flow diverter
that is adapted to divert asphalt material being carried by the
right hopper conveyor away from the outside edge of said right
hopper conveyor; (e) a left hopper conveyor that is adapted to
carry asphalt material from the hopper to the distributing auger,
said left hopper conveyor having: (i) a front end that is adjacent
the front end of the hopper; (ii) a rear end that is adjacent the
distributing auger; (iii) an outside edge; (iv) an inside edge that
is adjacent the centerline of the hopper; (f) a left flow diverter
that is adapted to divert asphalt material being carried by the
left hopper conveyor away from the outside edge of said left hopper
conveyor.
7. The asphalt paving machine of claim 6 wherein: (a) the right
flow diverter comprises a right diverter plate which is supported
by a right diverter bracket; (b) the left flow diverter comprises a
left diverter plate which is supported by a left diverter
bracket.
8. The asphalt paving machine of claim 7 wherein: (a) the right
diverter plate is disposed at an angle with respect to the outside
edge of the right hopper conveyor that is within the range of about
10.degree. to about 20.degree.; (b) the left diverter plate is
disposed at an angle with respect to the outside edge of the left
hopper conveyor that is within the range of about 10.degree. to
about 20.degree..
9. The asphalt paving machine of claim 7 wherein: (a) the right
diverter plate is disposed at an angle of about 14.degree. with
respect to the outside edge of the right hopper conveyor; (b) the
left diverter plate is disposed at an angle of about 14.degree.
with respect to the outside edge of the left hopper conveyor.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application No. 61/929,302, which was filed on Jan. 20,
2014.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to asphalt paving
machines, and more particularly, to a flow diverter for the asphalt
material conveyor of a paving machine that helps to avoid
segregation in asphalt material being transported to the
distributing auger.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Paving of a roadway with asphalt material is generally
carried out by a paving machine that is supplied with asphalt
material by a number of supply trucks and/or a material transfer
vehicle. Asphalt material is comprised of an asphaltic binder and
aggregates of various sizes, including both coarse and fine
aggregate materials. Because the equipment needed to produce
asphalt material is expensive and the space required is extensive,
asphalt material is typically produced in a production facility
that is dedicated to such purpose. Consequently, it is frequently
necessary to transport the asphalt material from its place of
origin to a paving machine at a remote paving site. Even if the
asphalt material is ultimately loaded into a material transfer
vehicle for transport to the paving machine, it is usually
transported from the production site in dump trucks. The loading of
such material into the dump beds at the production site is
accomplished by dropping the asphalt material from an overhead
hopper or silo into the truck bed. Such loading operations, as well
as the vibrations and jostling associated with vehicular transport
to the paving machine (or to a material transfer vehicle for
transport to the paving machine) tend to separate the asphalt
materials into coarse and fine fractions in the truck bed. Although
some material transfer vehicles include mechanisms for re-mixing
the asphalt material, segregation in the asphalt material that
occurs during transport of the asphalt to the paving machine
continues to be a problem.
[0004] A typical asphalt paving machine is self-propelled and
driven by a wheeled or tracked drive system. Typically, a hopper is
located at the front end of the machine to receive asphalt material
from a truck or material transfer vehicle, and a conveyor system
typically comprised of one or more slat conveyors located below the
hopper transfers the asphalt material from the hopper to a
transverse distributing auger that is mounted near the rear of the
machine. Some conventional asphalt paving machines have two
slat-type hopper conveyors that are located beneath the hopper.
Each hopper conveyor in this type of machine includes a drive shaft
on one end and an idler shaft on the other end. Drive sprockets are
mounted on both ends of the drive shaft and idler sprockets are
mounted on both ends of the idler shaft. A pair of continuous drive
chains are also provided for each hopper conveyor, one of which is
wrapped around the idler sprocket and around the corresponding
drive sprocket on the same side. An angled chain protector plate
covers the chains on both sides of each conveyor, so that asphalt
material cannot fall on the chains and stop their motion. The
asphalt material conveyed by the hopper conveyors is deposited onto
and across the roadway or other surface to be paved by the
distributing auger. A floating screed located at the rear end of
the machine behind the distributing auger compacts the asphalt
material and forms the asphalt mat.
[0005] It is common for asphalt material that is dumped into the
hopper of a paving machine to separate into non-homogenous size
fractions as it is carried by the hopper conveyors from the hopper
to the distributing auger. In particular, it is common for asphalt
materials including a higher-than-desired proportion of
larger-sized aggregate materials to fall into the corners at the
front end of the hopper from the delivery truck or material
transfer vehicle. This non-homogenous asphalt material will tend to
flow along both sides of each hopper conveyor to the distributing
auger. The discharge of non-homogenous asphalt material onto the
roadway by the distributing auger results in an asphalt mat of
non-uniform density. It would be desirable if a device could be
provided that would tend to remix the asphalt materials being
transported by the hopper conveyors to obtain the desired size
homogeneity of asphalt materials in the asphalt mat produced by the
paving machine.
ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Among the advantages of a preferred embodiment of the
invention is that it provides a flow diverter for the hopper
conveyor of a paving machine that facilitates the transport of a
more homogeneous mixture of asphalt materials by aggregate size
through the conveyor tunnel to the distributing auger. Other
advantages and features of this invention will become apparent from
an examination of the drawings and the ensuing description.
Notes on Construction
[0007] The use of the terms "a", "an", "the" and similar terms in
the context of describing the invention are to be construed to
cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated
herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms "comprising",
"having", "including" and "containing" are to be construed as
open-ended terms (i.e., meaning "including, but not limited to,")
unless otherwise noted. The terms "substantially", "generally" and
other words of degree are relative modifiers intended to indicate
permissible variation from the characteristic so modified. The use
of such terms in describing a physical or functional characteristic
of the invention is not intended to limit such characteristic to
the absolute value which the term modifies, but rather to provide
an approximation of the value of such physical or functional
characteristic.
[0008] The use of any and all examples or exemplary language (e.g.,
"such as" and "preferably") herein is intended merely to better
illuminate the invention and the preferred embodiment thereof, and
not to place a limitation on the scope of the invention. Nothing in
the specification should be construed as indicating any element as
essential to the practice of the invention unless so stated with
specificity.
[0009] Various terms are specifically defined herein. These terms
are to be given their broadest possible construction consistent
with such definitions, as follows:
[0010] The term "asphalt material(s)" refers to a bituminous paving
mixture that is comprised of an asphaltic binder and any of various
aggregate materials, and which is used for paving purposes.
[0011] The terms "asphalt paving machine", "paving machine" and
similar terms refer to a finishing machine for applying asphalt
material to form an asphalt mat on a roadway, parking lot or
similar surface.
[0012] The term "paving direction", when used in describing the
operation of a paving machine or the relative position of a paving
machine or a component of a paving machine, refers to the direction
of advance of the paving machine as the paving operation is carried
out.
[0013] The term "hopper conveyor" refers to a single conveyor or to
one of a plurality of parallel conveyors that are adapted to convey
asphalt material from the hopper of a paving machine to the
distributing auger of the paving machine.
[0014] The term "conveying direction", when used in describing the
operation of a hopper conveyor of a paving machine or the relative
position of a component thereof, refers to the direction that
asphalt material is conveyed from the hopper towards the
distributing auger as the paving operation is carried out. The
conveying direction is generally 180.degree. from the paving
direction.
[0015] The terms "front" and "front end" of the paving machine
refer to the end of the machine that leads in the paving direction.
When referring to a hopper, hopper conveyor or other component of
the paving machine, the terms "front" and "front end" refer to that
portion of the hopper, hopper conveyor or component that is nearer
the front end of the paving machine.
[0016] The terms "rear" and "rear end" of the paving machine refer
to the end of the paving machine opposite the front end. When
referring to a hopper, hopper conveyor or other component of the
paving machine, the terms "rear" and "rear end" refer to that
portion of the hopper, hopper conveyor or component that is nearer
the rear end of the paving machine.
[0017] The terms "forward" and "in front of", as used herein to
describe a relative position or direction on or in connection with
a paving machine or a hopper, hopper conveyor or other component of
the paving machine, refer to a relative position towards the front
end of the machine.
[0018] The terms "rearward", "behind" and "rearwardly", as used
herein to describe a relative position or direction on or in
connection with a paving machine or a hopper, hopper conveyor or
other component of the paving machine, refer to a relative position
or direction towards the rear end of the machine.
[0019] The terms "downward" and "downwardly", as used herein to
describe a relative direction on or in connection with a paving
machine, a hopper or a hopper conveyor of a paving machine, refer
to a direction towards the roadway that is being paved by the
machine.
[0020] The terms "lower" and "below", as used herein to describe
the relative position of a hopper, hopper conveyor or other
component of a paving machine, refer to a relative position that is
in the downward direction.
[0021] The term "right", when used herein to describe a relative
position or direction on or in connection with a paving machine, a
hopper or a hopper conveyor or other component of a paving machine,
refers to the right side of the machine, hopper, hopper conveyor or
component from the perspective of an observer facing the paving
direction.
[0022] The term "left", when used herein to describe a relative
position or direction on or in connection with a paving machine, a
hopper or a hopper conveyor or other component of a paving machine,
refers to the left side of the machine, hopper, hopper conveyor or
component from the perspective of an observer facing the paving
direction.
[0023] The term "centerline", when used herein to describe a
relative position, direction or location on or in connection with a
hopper or a hopper conveyor of a paving machine, refers to a line
that is parallel to the conveying direction and located midway
between the left outside wall of the hopper and the right outside
wall of the hopper of the paving machine.
[0024] The term "outside", when used herein to describe a relative
position, direction or location on or in connection with a hopper
or a hopper conveyor of a paving machine, refers to a position,
direction or location line that is nearer an outside wall of the
hopper (or a line that is parallel to the outside wall of the
hopper) than the centerline.
[0025] The term "inside", when used herein to describe a relative
position, direction or location on or in connection with a hopper
or a hopper conveyor of a paving machine, refers to a position,
direction or location line that is nearer the centerline of the
hopper than to an outside wall of the hopper (or a line that is
parallel to the outside wall of the hopper).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0026] The invention comprises an asphalt paving machine having a
hopper that is adapted to receive asphalt material and a
distributing auger that is adapted to distribute asphalt material
onto a roadway to be paved. The asphalt paving machine has a hopper
conveyor that is adapted to carry asphalt material from the hopper
to the distributing auger. The hopper conveyor has a rear end that
is adjacent the distributing auger, an outside edge, and a flow
diverter that is adapted to divert asphalt material being carried
by the hopper conveyor away from the outside edge of the hopper
conveyor.
[0027] In order to facilitate an understanding of the invention,
the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the
drawings, and a detailed description thereof follows. It is not
intended, however, that the invention be limited to the particular
embodiment described or to use in connection with the apparatus
illustrated herein. Various modifications and alternative
embodiments such as would ordinarily occur to one skilled in the
art to which the invention relates are also contemplated and
included within the scope of the invention described and claimed
herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] The presently preferred embodiment of the invention is
illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0029] FIG. 1 is a side view of a conventional paving machine to
which a preferred embodiment of the invention may be mounted.
[0030] FIG. 2 is a top view of the hopper conveyor of a
conventional paving machine such as is shown in FIG. 1.
[0031] FIG. 3 is a perspective rear view of a portion of the hopper
conveyor that is shown in FIG. 2.
[0032] FIG. 4 is a top view of a hopper conveyor which has been
modified to include flow diverters according to the invention.
[0033] FIG. 5 is a perspective rear view of a portion of the hopper
conveyor that is shown in FIG. 4.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0034] Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-3 illustrate
conventional paving machine 10, which includes hopper 12 at its
front end 14 for receiving asphalt material from a dump truck or a
material transfer vehicle. Paving machine 10 also includes
operator's station 16, and track drive system 18 that is driven by
engine 20 so as to move the paving machine during the paving
operation in the paving direction indicated by arrow 22. The bottom
of hopper 12 is open. exposing right hopper conveyor 24 and left
hopper conveyor 25 (only one of which, right hopper conveyor 24, is
shown in FIG. 1). Preferably, left and right hopper conveyors are
slat-type conveyors that are mounted in a parallel configuration
under the hopper. These conveyors convey asphalt material from
hopper 12 through a conveyor tunnel under the engine and operator's
station to a pair of transverse distributing augers, one of which,
right distributing auger 26, is shown in FIG. 1. The distributing
augers are located near rear end 28 of paving machine 10 and serve
to distribute the asphalt material received from the hopper across
the width of the roadway or lane to be paved. Floating screed 30 is
attached to the paving machine by a pair of tow arms, one of which,
tow arm 32, is illustrated in FIG. 1. Screed 30 serves to compact
the asphalt material and form the asphalt mat 34.
[0035] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, right slat-type hopper conveyor
24 and left slat-type hopper conveyor 25 extend in a parallel
configuration from the front end of hopper 12 (adjacent front end
14 of paving machine 10) towards the rear end of the paving
machine. Right hopper conveyor 24 has an outside edge 36 that is
nearer to right outside wall 38 of hopper 12. Right hopper conveyor
24 also has an inside edge 40 that is adjacent hopper centerline
42. Right hopper conveyor 24 includes drive shaft 44 on its rear
end to which are mounted a pair of drive sprockets, one of which,
drive sprocket 46, is shown schematically in FIG. 1. Right hopper
conveyor 24 also includes idler shaft 48 on its front end to which
are mounted a pair of idler sprockets, one of which, idler sprocket
50, is shown schematically in FIG. 1. A pair of continuous drive
chains 52 and 54 are also provided for the right hopper conveyor,
as shown in FIG. 3. Each drive chain is wrapped around the idler
sprocket and around the corresponding drive sprocket on the same
side of right hopper conveyor 24. Angled outside chain protector
plate 56 covers chain 52 on outside edge 36 of hopper conveyor 24,
and angled inside chain protector plate 58 covers chain 54 on
inside edge 40 of hopper conveyor 24, so that asphalt material that
falls on the chain protector plates is directed onto the slat
conveyor. In similar fashion, left hopper conveyor 25 has an
outside edge 60 that is nearer to left outside wall 62 of hopper
12. Left hopper conveyor 25 also has an inside edge 64 that is
adjacent hopper centerline 42. Left hopper conveyor 25 also
includes a drive shaft (not shown) on its rear end to which are
mounted a pair of drive sprockets (also not shown), and an idler
shaft (not shown) on its front end to which are mounted a pair of
idler sprockets (also not shown). A pair of continuous drive chains
66 and 68 are also provided for the left hopper conveyor, as shown
in FIG. 3. Each drive chain is wrapped around the idler sprocket
and around the corresponding drive sprocket on the same side of
left hopper conveyor 25. Angled outside chain protector plate 70
covers chain 66 on outside edge 60 of hopper conveyor 25, and
angled inside chain protector plate 72 covers chain 68 on inside
edge 64 of hopper conveyor 25, so that asphalt material that falls
on the chain protector plates is directed onto the slat
conveyor.
[0036] Each angled chain protector plate extends from the front end
of hopper 12 through the conveyor tunnel. Because the width of the
opening in the bottom of hopper 12 onto hopper conveyors 24 and 25
is the same at the front end and the rear end 74 of hopper 12,
larger-sized aggregate materials that fall to the corners at the
front end of the hopper are pulled straight back by the slat
conveyors, thus creating a stream of non-homogenous asphalt
material along the outsides of the hopper conveyors and continuing
through the conveyor tunnel. The asphalt material that falls off
the rear end of the hopper conveyors adjacent to the distributing
augers thus comprises a non-homogenous mixture. resulting in an
inferior asphalt mat.
[0037] FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the modification of the hopper
conveyors to include a pair of flow diverters. As shown therein,
right slat-type hopper conveyor 124 and left slat-type hopper
conveyor 125 extend in a parallel configuration from the front end
114 of hopper 112 towards the rear end of the paving machine. Right
hopper conveyor 124 has an outside edge 136 that is nearer to right
outside wall 138 of hopper 112. Right hopper conveyor 124 also has
an inside edge 140 that is adjacent to hopper centerline 142. Right
hopper conveyor 124 includes a drive shaft on its rear end (not
shown, but substantially similar to drive shaft 44 of right hopper
conveyor 24). A pair of drive sprockets (also not shown, but
substantially similar to drive sprocket 46) are mounted on the
drive shaft of right hopper conveyor 124. Right hopper conveyor 124
also includes an idler shaft on its front end (not shown, but
substantially similar to idler shaft 48 of right hopper conveyor
24). A pair of idler sprockets (also not shown, but substantially
similar to idler sprocket 50) are mounted on the idler shaft of
right hopper conveyor 124. A pair of continuous drive chains 152
and 154 are also provided for the right hopper conveyor, as shown
in FIG. 5. Each drive chain is wrapped around the idler sprocket
and around the corresponding drive sprocket on the same side of
right hopper conveyor 124. Angled outside chain protector plate 156
covers chain 152 on outside edge 136 of hopper conveyor 124, and
angled inside chain protector plate 158 covers chain 154 on inside
edge 140 of hopper conveyor 124, so that asphalt material that
falls on the chain protector plates is directed onto the slat
conveyor. In similar fashion, left hopper conveyor 125 has an
outside edge 160 that is nearer to left outside wall 162 of hopper
112. Left hopper conveyor 125 also has an inside edge 164 that is
adjacent hopper centerline 142. Left hopper conveyor 125 also
includes a drive shaft (not shown) on its rear end to which are
mounted a pair of drive sprockets (also not shown), and an idler
shaft (not shown) on its front end to which are mounted a pair of
idler sprockets (also not shown). A pair of continuous drive chains
166 and 168 are also provided for the left hopper conveyor, as
shown in FIG. 5. Each drive chain is wrapped around the idler
sprocket and around the corresponding drive sprocket on the same
side of left hopper conveyor 125. Angled outside chain protector
plate 170 covers chain 166 on outside edge 160 of hopper conveyor
125, and angled inside chain protector plate 172 covers chain 168
on inside edge 164 of hopper conveyor 125, so that asphalt material
that falls on the chain protector plates is directed onto the slat
conveyor.
[0038] Right flow diverter 174 and left flow diverter 176 are
located at the rear end of the hopper conveyors on their outside
edges. Preferably as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, right flow diverter
174 comprises diverter plate 178 that is supported by diverter
bracket 180. Similarly, left flow diverter 176 comprises diverter
plate 182 that is supported by diverter bracket 184. The diverter
plates can be located at any of various positions along the outside
edges of the hopper conveyors; however, it is preferred that they
be located at the rear end of the hopper conveyors where the
asphalt material is discharged onto the distributing augers.
Preferably, the angle and length of the diverter plates are
selected so that the inwardmost extent of each diverter plate is
inside the outer chain protector plate on the outside of the hopper
conveyor with which it is associated. Preferably, the angle .theta.
of each diverter plate with respect to the outside edge of the
hopper conveyor with which it is associated is within the range of
about 10.degree. to about 20.degree., most preferably about
14.degree.. The placement of diverter plates with respect to the
rear ends of the hopper conveyors will cause asphalt material being
carried along the outsides of the hopper conveyors to be directed
away from the outside edges of the hopper conveyors and towards
hopper centerline 142. The modification of the hopper conveyors to
include flow diverters as described herein serves to re-direct any
non-homogenous asphalt material being carried along the outsides of
the hopper conveyors away from the outside edges of the hopper
conveyors so that such material can be re-mixed with the more
homogenous asphalt material being carried inside the outside edges
of the hopper conveyors by the distributing augers, thereby
resulting in an improved asphalt mat of uniform density.
[0039] Although this description contains many specifics, these
should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, but
as merely providing illustrations of the presently preferred
embodiment thereof, as well as the best mode contemplated by the
inventor of carrying out the invention. The invention, as described
herein, is susceptible to various modifications and adaptations, as
would be understood by those having ordinary skill in the art to
which the invention relates.
* * * * *