Paving machine with gravity feed hopper and auger mechanism

• US 5,615,973 A
• Filed: 09/29/1994
• Issued: 04/01/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Roadtec Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Astec Industries Incorporated (Johnson Crushers International)
• Inventors: Campbell, Thomas R.
• Primary Examiner(s): LISEHORA, JAMES
• Application Number:
  US08/314,348
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 404/101, 404/102, 404/108, 404/110, 404/114, 404/75
• US Class Current: 404/75
• 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 19/4853 Apparatus designed for railless operation, e.g. crawler-mounted, provided with portable trackway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 2301/10 Heated screeds
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 2301/30 Cabin details

Abstract

A paving machine has a gravity feed hopper which is capable of delivering by gravity to the paving apparatus substantially all of the paving materials stored in the hopper without employing any internal conveyors. The discharge opening of the hopper is selectively closed by a feeder gate, the degree of opening of which is preferably coordinated with other operating parameters of the machine such as vehicle speed, distributing auger height and/or speed, and screed operation. Use of the gravity feed hopper significantly reduces construction and maintenance costs, provides a more uniform feed of materials from the hopper, and permits the use of a smaller engine. The paving machine as thus constructed is also relatively easy to operate and thus can be controlled by a single operator seated in the vicinity of the screed.

Claims

1. A paving apparatus, comprising:

a gravity feed hopper for holding paving materials, said gravity feed hopper having a capacity and including

a discharge opening for discharging paving materials, said discharge opening having a first transverse length;

a storage portion for storing paving materials, said storage portion including i) an upper section for increasing the capacity of said hopper, said upper section having a relatively constant width and terminating at an open top; and

ii) a lower generally frusto-conical section having an upper end of enlarged cross section and a lower end of reduced cross section, said upper end of enlarged cross section being connected to said upper section; and

a discharge portion for directing paving materials from said storage portion to said discharge opening, said discharge portion having a second transverse length, a discharge portion upper end connected to said lower end of reduced cross section and a bottom end in which said discharge opening is formed;

a feeder gate for selectively closing said discharge opening, said feeder gate being mounted on said discharge portion of said gravity feed hopper; and

a vertically adjustable distributing auger mechanism for distributing paving materials, said vertically adjustable distributing auger mechanism being supported by said lower generally frusto-conical of said gravity feed hopper, said vertically adjustable distributing auger having a third transverse length, a top and a screw auger extending transversely across the paving apparatus, said screw auger being mounted on a slide which is raiseable and lowerable with respect to said gravity feed hopper,

wherein i) said discharge opening is located between said storage portion and said vertically adjustable distributing auger mechanism and ii) said discharge portion is inclined downwardly and rearwardly towards said vertically adjustable distribution auger mechanism so as to direct paving materials towards said vertically adjustable auger mechanism without the aid of any external conveyors.

2. The paving apparatus of claim 1, wherein said feeder gate is a clam shell gate that is opened by a drive device, said drive device including a pair of hydraulic cylinders that are suspended from an outer wall of said storage portion and connected to respective end portions of said clam shell gate.

3. The paving apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first transverse length is equal to both said second transverse length and said third transverse length.

4. The paving apparatus of claim 1, wherein said discharge portion is inclined downwardly and rearwardly towards said vertically adjustable distribution auger mechanism so as to direct paving materials towards said top of said vertically adjustable auger mechanism without the aid of any external conveyors.

5. The paving apparatus of claim 1, wherein said gravity feed hopper has a capacity of about 12 tons of paving materials.

6. A paving machine, comprising:

a portable chassis i) having a first end and a second end and ii) including a frame;

a front axle that is mounted on said portable chassis, said front axle i) receiving steering wheels and ii) being steered;

an engine mounted on said portable chassis between said first end and said front axle;

a rear axle that is mounted on said portable chassis between said front axle and said second end, said rear axle i) receiving driving wheels and ii) being powered;

a screed assembly mounted on said portable chassis, said screed assembly including i) a pair of transversely opposed tow arms that are mounted on said portable chassis between said front axle and said rear axle and ii) a heated vibratory screed that is pivotably suspended from said pair of transversely opposed tow arms;

a gravity feed hopper for holding paving materials, said gravity feed hopper i) being mounted on said portable chassis, ii) having a capacity and iii) including

a discharge opening for discharging paving materials, said discharge opening having a first transverse length;

a storage portion for storing paving materials, said storage portion including an upper section for increasing the capacity of said hopper, said upper section having a relatively constant width and terminating at an open top; and

a lower generally frusto-conical section having an upper end of enlarged cross section and a lower end of reduced cross section, said upper end of enlarged cross section being connected to said upper section; and

a discharge portion for directing paving materials from said storage portion to said discharge opening, said discharge portion having a second transverse length, a discharge portion upper end connected to said lower end of reduced cross section and a bottom end in which said discharge opening is formed;

a feeder gate for selectively closing said discharge opening, said feeder gate being mounted on said discharge portion of said gravity feed hopper; and

a vertically adjustable distributing auger mechanism for distributing paving materials, said vertically adjustable distributing auger mechanism being supported by said lower generally frusto-conical section of said gravity feed hopper and being located between said heated vibratory screed and said gravity feed hopper, said vertically adjustable distributing auger having a third transverse length, a top and a screw auger extending transversely across the paving apparatus, said screw auger being mounted on a slide which is raiseable and lowerable with respect to said frame,

wherein i) said discharge opening is located between said storage portion and said vertically adjustable distributing auger mechanism and ii) said discharge portion is inclined downwardly and rearwardly towards said vertically adjustable distributing auger mechanism so as to direct paving materials towards said vertically adjustable auger mechanism without the aid of any external conveyors.

7. The paving machine of claim 6, wherein said feeder gate is a clam shell gate that is opened and closed by a drive device, said drive device including a pair of hydraulic cylinders that are suspended from an outer wall of said storage portion and connected to respective end portions of said clam shell gate.

8. The paving machine of claim 6, wherein said first transverse length is equal to both said second transverse length and said third transverse length.

9. The paving machine of claim 6, further comprising a single operator'"'"'s console on which is located all manual controls required for operating said paving machine.

10. The paving machine of claim 6, further comprising a storage compartment located between said engine and said gravity feed hopper.

11. The paving machine of claim 6, wherein said discharge portion is inclined downwardly and rearwardly towards said vertically adjustable distributing auger mechanism so as to direct paving materials towards said top of said vertically adjustable auger mechanism without the aid of any external conveyors.

12. The paving machine of claim 6, wherein said gravity feed hopper has a capacity of about 12 tons of paving materials.

13. A method comprising:

providing a paving apparatus with

a gravity feed hopper for holding paving materials, said gravity feed hopper having a capacity and including

a discharge opening for discharging paving materials, said discharge opening having a first transverse length;

a storage portion for storing paving materials, said storage portion including i) an upper section for increasing the capacity of said hopper, said upper section having a relatively constant width and terminating at an open top; and

ii) a lower generally frusto-conical section having an upper end of enlarged cross section and a lower end of reduced cross section, said upper end of enlarged cross section being connected to said upper section; and

a discharge portion for directing paving materials from said storage portion to said discharge opening, said discharge portion having a second transverse length, a discharge portion upper end connected to said lower end of reduced cross section and a bottom end in which said discharge opening is formed;

a feeder gate for selectively closing said discharge opening, said feeder gate being mounted on said discharge portion of said gravity feed hopper; and

a vertically adjustable distributing auger mechanism for distributing paving materials, said vertically adjustable distributing auger mechanism being supported by said lower generally frusto-conical section of said gravity feed hopper, said vertically adjustable distributing auger having a third transverse length, a top and a screw auger extending transversely across the paving apparatus, said screw auger being mounted on a slide which is raiseable and lowerable with respect to said gravity feed hopper,

wherein i) said discharge opening is located between said storage portion and said vertically adjustable distributing auger mechanism and ii) said discharge portion is inclined downwardly and rearwardly towards said vertically adjustable distributing auger mechanism so as to direct paving materials towards said vertically adjustable auger mechanism without the aid of any external conveyors;

then

storing paving materials in said gravity feed hopper; and

then

feeding all of said stored paving materials by gravity through said discharge opening of said hopper towards said vertically adjustable distributing auger mechanism without employing any conveyors.

14. The method as defined in claim 13, wherein providing a paving apparatus includes providing a single operator'"'"'s console located in a vicinity of said screed and further comprising controlling an entire operation of said paving apparatus from said single operator'"'"'s console.

15. The method as defined in claim 13, wherein feeding substantially all of said stored paving materials by gravity through said discharge opening of said hopper includes feeding substantially all of said stored paving materials by gravity through said discharge opening of said hopper towards said top of said vertically adjustable distributing auger mechanism without employing any conveyors.

16. A paving apparatus, comprising:

a gravity feed hopper for holding paving materials, said gravity feed hopper having a capacity and including

a discharge opening for discharging paving materials, said discharge opening having a first transverse length;

a storage portion for storing paving materials, said storage portion including i) an upper section for increasing the capacity of said hopper, said upper section having a relatively constant width and terminating at an open top; and

ii) a lower generally frusto-conical section having an upper end of enlarged cross section and a lower end of reduced cross section, said upper end of enlarged cross section being connected to said upper section; and

a discharge portion for directing paving materials from said storage portion to said discharge opening, said discharge portion having a second transverse length, a discharge portion upper end connected to said lower end of reduced cross section and a bottom end in which said discharge opening is formed;

a feeder gate for selectively closing said discharge opening, said feeder gate being mounted on said discharge portion of said gravity feed hopper; and

a vertically adjustable distributing auger mechanism for distributing paving materials, said vertically adjustable distributing auger mechanism being mounted on said lower generally frusto-conical section of said gravity feed hopper, said vertically adjustable distributing auger having a third transverse length, a top and a hydrostatically driven screw auger extending transversely across the paving apparatus, said hydrostatically driven screw auger being mounted on a slide which is raiseable and lowerable with respect to said gravity feed hopper,

wherein i) said discharge opening is located between said storage portion and said vertically adjustable distributing auger mechanism, ii) said discharge portion is inclined downwardly and rearwardly towards said vertically adjustable distributing auger mechanism so as to direct paving materials towards said vertically adjustable auger mechanism without the aid of any external conveyors, iii) said feeder gate is a clam shell gate that is opened and closed by a drive device, said drive device including a pair of hydraulic cylinders that are suspended from an outer wall of-said storage portion and connected to respective end portions of said clam shell gate and iv) said first transverse length is equal to both said second transverse length and said third transverse length.

17. A paving machine, comprising:

a portable chassis i) having a first end and a second end and ii) including a frame;

a front axle that is mounted on said portable chassis;

an engine mounted on said portable chassis between said first end and said front axle, wherein said front axle i) receives steering wheels and ii) is steered hydrostatically by said engine;

a rear axle that is mounted on said portable chassis between said front axle and said second end, said rear axle i) receiving driving wheels and ii) being powered hydrostatically by said engine;

a screed assembly mounted on said portable chassis, said screed assembly including i) a pair of transversely opposed tow arms that are mounted on said portable chassis between said front axle and said rear axle and ii) a heated vibratory screed that is pivotably suspended from said pair of transversely opposed tow arms;

a gravity feed hopper for holding paving materials, said gravity feed hopper i) being mounted on said portable chassis, ii) having a capacity and iii) including

a discharge opening for discharging paving materials, said discharge opening having a first transverse length;

a storage portion for storing paving materials, said storage portion including an upper section for increasing the capacity of said hopper, said upper section having a relatively constant width and terminating at an open top; and

a lower generally frusto-conical section having an upper end of enlarged cross section and a lower end of reduced cross section, said upper end of enlarged cross section being connected to said upper section; and

a discharge portion for directing paving materials from said storage portion to said discharge opening, said discharge portion having a second transverse length, a discharge portion upper end connected to said lower end of reduced cross section and a bottom end in which said discharge opening is formed;

a single operator'"'"'s console on which is located all manual controls required for operating said paving machine;

a feeder gate for selectively closing said discharge opening, said feeder gate being mounted on said discharge portion of said gravity feed hopper; and

a vertically adjustable distributing auger mechanism for distributing paving materials, said vertically adjustable distributing auger mechanism being mounted on said lower generally frusto-conical section of said gravity feed hopper between said heated vibratory screed and said gravity feed hopper, said vertically adjustable distributing auger having a third transverse length, a top and a hydrostatically driven screw auger extending transversely across the paving apparatus, said hydrostatically driven screw auger being mounted on a slide which is raiseable and lowerable with respect to said frame,

wherein i) said discharge opening is located between said storage portion and said vertically adjustable distributing auger mechanism, ii) said discharge portion is inclined downwardly and rearwardly towards said vertically adjustable distributing auger mechanism so as to direct paving materials towards said vertically adjustable auger mechanism without the aid of any external conveyors, iii) said feeder gate is a clam shell gate that is opened and closed by a drive device, said drive device including a pair of hydraulic cylinders that are suspended from an outer wall of said storage portion and connected to respective end portions of said clam shell gate.