Patent ID: 7334964
Filing Date: 2008-02-26
Classification: E01C

Abstract:
1. A combination finishing machine for compacting and smoothing a layer of hot asphalt composition, comprising: a) a chassis having a front end and a rear end; b) an engine mounted on said chassis for motivation of said machine; c) a hydraulic system mounted on said chassis; d) a front primary roller element having a front primary roller axis and a rear primary roller element having a rear primary roller axis, both of said primary roller elements being mounted on said chassis and being supportive of said chassis for movement of said machine, wherein at least one of said primary roller elements is driven by said engine; e) a front secondary roller element having a front secondary roller axis and being pivotably mounted on said chassis via at least one front pivotable arm; f) a front hydraulic cylinder actuator operatively connected to said hydraulic system and pivotably mounted on said chassis and acting to selectively move said front roller element between first and second positions thereof, wherein said front secondary roller element is non-loadbearing of the weight of a front portion of said machine in said first position and is loadbearing of said weight of said front portion of said machine in said second position, and wherein in said second position said front secondary roller element is simultaneously in contact with said front primary roller element and with said layer of hot asphalt composition to bear said weight of said front portion of said machine in said second position via said front primary roller element; g) a rear secondary roller element having a rear secondary roller axis and being pivotably mounted on said chassis via at least one rear pivotable arm; and h) a rear hydraulic cylinder actuator operatively connected to said hydraulic system and pivotably mounted on said chassis and acting to selectively move said rear secondary roller element between first and second positions thereof, wherein said rear secondary roller element is non-loadbearing of the weight of a rear portion of said machine in said first position and is loadbearing of said weight of said rear portion of said machine in said second position; and wherein in said second position said rear secondary roller element is simultaneously in contact with said rear primary roller element and with said layer of hot asphalt composition to bear said weight of said rear portion of said machine in said second position via said rear primary roller element.