Patent ID: 7497641
Filing Date: 2009-03-03
Classification: E01C

Abstract:
1. A paving machine comprising: a frame having a hopper, a screed and a conveyor configured to transfer a paving material from said hopper to said screed; ground engaging elements mounted to said frame; and a ballast system having a first ballast state for operating said paving machine in a first operating configuration and at least one other ballast state for operating said paving machine in a second operating configuration, said ballast system including a first ballast support element, a second ballast support element and a ballast transfer element coupled between the first ballast support element and the second ballast support element, each of the first ballast support element, the second ballast support element and the ballast transfer element being resident on the paving machine, and the ballast system further including an actuator configured to adjust a movable ballast within the paving machine by way of the ballast transfer element between the first ballast support element and the second ballast support element to switch between said ballast states whereby the location of the center of gravity of the paving machine is controlled in the fore and aft direction of the paving machine.