Paving machine with a material flow control mechanism

• US 20050074283A1
• Filed: 11/23/2004
• Published: 04/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VT LeeBoy, Inc. (Singapore Technologies Engineering Limited)
• Original Assignee: VT LeeBoy, Inc. (Singapore Technologies Engineering Limited)
• Inventors: Lee, William Michael, Lee, Eric Craig
• Granted Patent: US 7,186,055 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 404/108
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/405 with spreading-out, levelling or smoothing means other than the tamping or vibrating means for compacting or smoothing, e.g. with screws for spreading-out the previously dumped material, with non-vibratory lengthwise reciprocated smoothing beam E01C19/407 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/48 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 E01C19/002, E01C23/065 take precedence; devices for guiding or controlling the machines along a predetermined path E01C19/004
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/4873 Apparatus designed for railless operation

Abstract

An auger/cut off assembly for a floating screed asphalt paver. The auger/cut off assembly consists of an auger mechanism with an axis of rotation and a cut off mechanism. The cut off mechanism has a concave cut off panel that rotates about the axis of the auger mechanism from an open strike off position to a closed cut off position. Because the concave cut off panel closely conforms to a portion of the circumference of the auger mechanism, the cut off mechanism provides for low ground clearance. The concave cut off panel serves the dual function of striking off the paving material when in the open strike off position and cutting off the deposit of paving material when in the closed cut off position.

Claims

1. A paver with a material flow control mechanism comprising:

a. an auger rotatably supported forward of a floating screed; and

b. a concave cut off panel movably mounted adjacent to the auger, wherein the panel is actuatable to a closed cut off position in which flow of paving material is interruptible between the auger and a bed being paved.

2. The paver of claim 1 wherein the cut off panel includes a leading edge forward of the screed and the cut off panel is actuatable from the closed cut off position to an open position by moving the leading edge of the cut off panel toward the screed to permit flow of paving material to the bed being paved.

3. The paver of claim 2 wherein the concave cut off panel has open strike off ends so that when the concave cut off panel is in the closed cut off position, the concave cut off panel forms a trough beneath the auger for directing paving material outboard of the paver during continuing operation of the auger.

4. The paver of claim 2 wherein the cut off panel is continuously adjustable between the open position and the closed cut off position to adjust the degree of strike off material deposited by the auger.

5. The paver of claim 4 wherein the cut off panel is hydraulically actuatable.