PAVER WITH ROTATING DISC FLOOR

Abstract: A ground-travelling paver (10) for spreading aggregate over a surface includes a collecting hopper (30) for receiving material from a dump truck. Rotating discs (56, 58) form a portion of the floor of the collecting hopper (30). On operation of the discs (56, 58) aggregate is moved to cascade from a rear edge (52) of the collecting hopper (30) into a feed hopper (124, 120, 118). Material flows from the feed hopper (30) to a region in advance of a screed (100) in the paver. The collecting hopper (30) is also tiltable fully to clean aggregate therefrom.

Description: This invention relates to so-called pavers or finishers, of the type adapted to receive aggregate, such as a mixture of crushed rock and asphalt, and then to spread such aggregate as a smooth layer over a surface being paved. In the usual instance, aggregate is supplied to the paver through a dump truck positioned in front of the paver, which dumps aggregate from the dump body of the truck into a receiving hopper provided in the paver. With larger units having a receiving hopper of appreciable size, problems are experienced in moving the aggregate within the hopper whereby such may fall from the hopper downwardly toward the region being paved and in advance of the screed in the paver which is the instrumentality which smooths and spreads the material on the surface being paved. If the hopper is made tiltable to cause material by gravity to flow downwardly in advance of the screed, problems arise in connection with the dump truck which is supplying the paver. Further explaining, clearance problems arise, with the hopper on being tilted tending to move into the dump body of the truck. This has required what may be referred to as "jack-rabbitting", with the truck having to move forwardly and free of the paver to permit tilting of the hopper, and the truck after the hopper is lowered moving back into proper dumping position to permit dumping of more of its load into the dump body. This obviously is time-consuming and tedious. Alternatively, a conveyor such as a drag chain may be provided along the base of the hopper. However, such are difficult to clean and the return run of the drag chain which of necessity travels under the hopper tends to draw material with it and away from the specific region where paving is being performed. Additionally, it is difficult accurately to control material flow where drag chains are present, since the presence of the chain is making it difficult to incorporate any closure structure operable to prevent material flow at the precise time desired. US-A-4012160 discloses a paver comprising a frame and ground-travelling means for supporting the frame for movement over the ground, a collecting hopper mounted on the frame for collecting aggregate dumped thereinto from a supply of aggregate and for delivering dumped aggregate rearwardly of the collecting hopper. In general terms, an object of the invention is to provide a novel paver or finishing machine which can take care of the above and related problems in a highly practical and satisfactory manner. According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a paver comprising a frame and ground-travelling means for supporting the frame for movement over the ground, a collecting hopper mounted on the frame for collecting aggregate dumped thereinto from a supply of aggregate and for delivering dumped aggregate rearwardly of the collecting hopper, characterised by rotary disc means in the collecting hopper and extending over a substantial portion of its floor and means for rotating the disc means substantially parallel with said floor to promote rearward flow of aggregate out of the collecting hopper. According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a paver comprising a frame, and ground-travelling means supporting the frame for movement over the ground, a collecting hopper mounted on said frame for collecting aggregate dumped therein from a supply, said collecting hopper having opposed hopper sides forming opposite sides of the collecting hopper extending upwardly, said hopper further having a floor terminating in a rear edge extending transversely of the hopper, a screed mounted on the paver frame, spaced from and located rearwardly from the rear edge of said floor, and an opening disposed intermediate the rear edge of said floor and said screed through which aggregate cascades on travelling to the surface being paved, characterised by opposed upstanding side walls mounted on said frame forming opposite sides of the paver, the collecting hopper being mounted between said opposed side walls, said opposed hopper sides being snugly adjacent respective ones of said side walls of said paver, means pivotally mounting said collecting hopper for adjustable pivotal movement about a horizontal pivot axis extending transversely of the paver adjacent said rear edge of the floor of the hopper, said floor of the hopper being partially formed by a pair of side-by-side rotatable discs rotatable about upright axes and having respective rear margins located adjacent the rear edge of the hopper floor and said pivot axis, power-operated means carried by the hopper for pivotal movement therewith connected to the discs for rotating the discs, and power-operated means for pivoting the hopper about said pivot axis and thus adjusting the position of said hopper. Such a paver may in addition to the discs, include a tiltable mounting with the hopper being tiltable to cause material by gravity to flow rearwardly and out of the hopper. With the organisation contemplated, the discs may be employed to cause rearward movement of much of the load of the dump truck, and to the extent necessary to permit the truck to dump its entire load into the hopper without losing its closely coupled relation with the paver. With the entire load dumped and the truck moved away to receive another load, the hopper may be pivoted completely to clear it of the aggregate supplied by the truck, with the hopper being fully cleared when subsequently lowered to receive aggregate dumped from another truck. A preferred paver includes, in effect, a pair of hoppers, comprising a main or collecting hopper which receives material from the dump truck, and another, what is referred to herein as a "feed hopper", which receives material moved from the collecting hopper and controls the flow of such, typically directly in advance of the screed in the paver. With disc means forming the floor of the collecting hopper, the feed hopper may be constructed so as completely to confine material moved from the collecting hopper. Through appropriate control of closure means forming the base of the feed hopper, the amount of material deposited for levelling by the screed may be precisely controlled. A paver as contemplated herein is relatively easily cleaned and presents minimal maintenance problems. Readily incorporated with the paver are so-called screed extensions and other devices, such as augers, promoting enlarging of the side-to-side dimension of the layer of material spread by the screed, and a uniform distribution of material in a region in advance of the screed. Another advantageous provision for a paver is the screed to be mounted in a paver so as to permit adjustments to be made in the angle the spreading or levelling surface of the screed assumes with respect to the area being paved. One specific embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:- Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating a paver as contemplated; Figure 2 is a side elevation of a screed assembly in the paver shown in Figure 1 and, illustrating in dashed outline, an adjusted position for the screed assembly; Figure 3 is a view, on a somewhat enlarged scale, viewing the floor of a collecting hopper in the paver, as such would appear in a view taken along the line 3-3 in Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in Figure 3. Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Figure 1, a paver or finisher is shown generally at 10. In use, the paver trails a dump truck travelling in front of the paver and operates to collect and then spread, in a layer, aggregate poured from the truck into the paver. In Figure 1, the front of the paver is shown at the left and the rear of the paver is shown at the right. In this description, the longitudinal axis of the paver is construed as extending in the direction that the paver travels. The paver illustrated includes a frame 12. Mounted on the frame, and supporting the paver for movement over the ground, are wheels (or other ground-travelling means) illustrated at 16. In a preferred embodiment and in the embodiment illustrated, the paver is a self-propelled unit, in that such is powered under its own power during the paving operation (as compared to a tow-type paver which is coupled to the dump truck and which is towed by the truck while paving proceeds). Toward these ends, the wheels 16 are power-driven by means including the drive transmission partially shown at 18. Powering the drive transmission are conventional hydraulic motors (not shown) provided with fluid under pressure from a supply including an internal combustion engine and pump assembly, shown at 20, mounted on frame 12 in an elevated position adjacent the rear of the paver. As is usual with self-propelled pavers, during the paving operation, and, while receiving aggregate, such travels in trailing relation behind a dump truck which contains the aggregate is the body of the dump truck. Rollers, such as the roller shown at 22 rotatably mounted on the paver frame, engage the rear wheels of the dump truck, thus to establish the proper trailing relationship of the paver to the dump truck. The paver includes, and referring to Figures 1 and 3, side walls 24, 26 which are secured to the frame of the paver in an upright position. What is referred to herein as a collecting hopper is mounted on the paver in the space bounded by these side walls. The collecting hopper has been given the general reference numeral 30 in the drawings. Collecting hopper 30 includes a panel assembly 36, which in plan has a substantially rectangular configuration. As probably best illustrated in Figure 4, the top of the panel assembly is provided by a sheet 38 and forming the bottom of the panel assembly is a sheet 40. These are suitably secured to an inner bracing framework 42, whereby the sheets and framework form a rigid unit. Suitably secured in the panel assembly, along the right edge thereof, as such is viewed in Figures 3 and 4, are sleeve segments 46. The sleeve segments are located at spaced intervals along this edge of the panel assembly and have interspersed therewith sleeve segments 48 which are secured to the paver frame. The sleeve segments 46, 48 receive an elongate pin 50 whereby a piano-type hinge is provided hingedly or pivotally connecting the panel assembly to the paver frame. The pivot axis provided by this hinge assembly extends horizontally and transversely of the paver, adjacent the rear edge of the panel assembly and has been given the reference numeral 52 in Figure 3. Considering further the construction of the collecting hopper, and as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, overlying sheet 38 forming the top of the panel assembly and rotatably mounted on the panel assembly are a pair of flat discs 56, 58. These have as shown, substantially the same diameters and are disposed side-by-side in a direction extending transversely of the paver. Rear margins of the respective discs overlie and are adjacent the rear edge of panel assembly 36. Means is provided for rotating each of the discs under power with the discs actuating in opposite directions. Specifically, and referring to disc 58 as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, suitably secured to the underside of panel assembly 36 is a hydraulic motor 60 supplied with pressurised hydraulic pressure fluid from the engine and pump assembly 20. The output shaft of motor 60 is secured to a pinion gear 62 suitably mounted within the interior of panel assembly 36. The teeth of pinion gear 62 mesh with the teeth of an idler gear 64 suitably journaled within the panel assembly. In turn, the teeth of gear 64 mesh with the teeth of a bull gear 66 suitably journaled within the panel assembly. The bull gear is suitably nonrotatably secured to a stub shaft 68 extending from disc 58. A similar drive system comprising a hydraulic motor and gears 62, 64, 66 is provided for the purpose of driving under power disc 56. Disc 58 is partially overlaid by a shield plate 80 suitably rigidly supported in the collecting hopper and extending from one side of the hopper. A similar shield plate 82, on the other side of the hopper, overlies a portion of disc 56. The shield plates cover side margins of the discs where such side margins are moving away from the rear edge of panel assembly 36. Completing the description of the collecting hopper, forming the sides of the hopper are hopper sides 84, 86 each having an approximately triangular configuration as such is viewed in Figure 1. These are suitably rigidly secured to the panel assembly in positions paralleling and closely adjacent respective side walls 24, 26. The end of the collecting hopper which faces forwardly in the paver is closed off by hopper end wall 88. The collecting hopper has a lowered position, as shown in Figure 1, where panel assembly 36 extends horizontally with the panel assembly supported by the paver frame. The hopper is tiltable by pivoting such about the pivot axis provided by sleeve segments 46 to the raised position indicated in dashed outline at 30A in Figure 1. In this position, the panel assembly and the disc plates which overlie it occupy sharply inclined positions. A power-operated means is provided for tilting the collecting hopper and adjustably positioning it between these two extreme positions described. More specifically, such comprises an extensible-contractible ram 90, having its cylinder 90 pivotally connected at 92 to a side wall of the paver and its rod end pivotally connected at 94 to the collecting hopper adjacent the end thereof which faces forwardly in the paver. If desired, another similar ram may be provided for raising the hopper associated with the side wall of the paver which is obscured from the viewer in Figure 1, i.e., the side wall in the paver on the opposite side of the paver from the side shown in Figure 1. From the above description, it should be apparent that a substantial portion of the floor of the collecting hopper is formed by the exposed portions of the rotating discs 56, 58. During operation of the paver and to produce movement of the material toward the rear edge of the collecting hopper, the discs are rotated in the directions of the arrows shown in Figure 3 (i.e., the upper disc in a counterclockwise direction and the lower disc in a clockwise direction), such movement tending to carry aggregate rearwardly in the hopper toward the rear edge thereof. Further considering the construction of the paver, pulled by the paver in trailing relation to the hopper just described is what is referred to as a screed assembly shown at 100. Such comprises an elongate structure extending transversely of the paver bottomed by a surface 102 which functions to level off and smooth aggregate placed in advance of the screed assembly as the paver moves forwardly along the area being paved. The screed assembly is supported on opposite sides of the paver by an elongate arm, such as the one shown at 106 in Figures 1 and 2. The rear end of this arm is suitably mounted on the screed assembly whereas the front end is pivotally supported by pivot means 108 on an adjustable mounting arm 110. Mounting arm 110 is pivotally mounted by pivot means 112 on the frame of the paver. The free end of arm 110 is guided for arcuate movement by guide 111 suitably secured to a side of the paver. As illustrated in Figure 2, with mounting arm 110 raised from the position shown in solid outline to the position shown in dashed outline in the figure, pivot means 108 is raised, and such serves to adjust the inclination of surface 102 with respect to the material being spread. Various forms of mechanisms may be provided for raising and lowering mounting arm 110 and holding such in various positions of adjustment. In the device illustrated in Figure 1, this is performed by providing a fluid-operated ram 113 which has its extensible, rod end pivotally connected at 114 to arm 110 and its cylinder end pivotally connected at 115 to a side of the paver. With contraction of the ram from the position shown in Figure 1, mounting arm 110 pivots with raising of its free end to change the position of pivot means 108. Forming a continuation of side wall 24 are plates such as those shown at 116, 118. Similar plates are associated with side wall 26. These plates are suitably fastened to the paver frame. These plates, in conjunction with end wall 120, form a hollow housing structure in the region of the paver located rearwardly of plates 24, 26. Referring to Figures 1 and 3, extending under sleeve segments 46 forming part of the hinge means pivotally mounting the collecting hopper, and thence rearwardly and downwardly in the paver, is a wall 124. This wall, plus the bottom portion of wall 120 which is opposite it, as well as the bottom extremities of plate 118 and the corresponding plate on the other side of the paver, collectively define what is referred to herein as a feed hopper in the paver. The feed hopper has an opening at the top thereof located rearwardly and below the rear edge of panel assembly 36, adapted to collect material fed thereinto which cascades from the panel assembly with such inclined, or which gravitates into the hopper space under the action of rotating discs 56, 58. Forming a portion of the bottom of the feed hopper, is a wall 128 which extends downwardly and inwardly from end wall 120. Coacting with this wall is gate means 125 comprising multiple gates 126, 127, 128, 129 (see Figure 3) pivotally mounted on a rod or pin 130 extending transversely of the paver. Each of these gates is provided with power-operated means for pivoting the gate between raised and lowered positions, as illustrated by the raised position shown for a gate 126 in Figure 1 in dotted outline, and the lowered position shown for this gate in Figure 1 in dashed outline at 126A. Specifically, such mechanism includes, and as illustrated for gate 126, a fluid-operated extensible ram 131 having a cylinder end suitably mounted on the paver and its rod end connected to a slide element 132 supported for vertical reciprocal movement in a guide 133. The bottom end of the slide element is pivotally connected to links 134 which have their opposite ends pivotally connected to an ear bracket 135 secured to gate 126. With the construction described, and on extension of ram 131, gate 126 is swung to move its nonpivoted edge downwardly from wall 128. The other gates in the gate means are provided with similar rams and are similarly adjusted in position. In some instances, it may be desirable to produce a spreading of material in a swath which is wider than the side-to-side dimension of the paver. In this instance, the screed assembly is constructed with screed extensions whereby its length may be adjusted to one extending to some extent outwardly from opposite sides of the paver. Aggregate is conveyed outwardly from the ends of the feed hopper through openings provided in plate 118 on one side of the paver and the corresponding plate on the opposite side of the paver, the opening for plate 118 being indicated at 138. Such opening normally is closed by a closure plate 140 which is pivotally mounted through pivot means 112 on the paver. The plate in Figure 1 occupies a position closing opening 138 but may be swung upwardly about pivot means 112 to open up opening 138. With the paver equipped to produce levelling with screed extensions and to promote movement of material out through the openings 138, it may be desirable to include in the feed hopper, adjacent its top, an elongate auger, or similar device, extending transversely of the paver and rotated under power to produce lateral movement of material. In Figure 1, the outline for such an auger is shown at 146. Discussing generally the operation of the paver, during use the paver travels along the area to be paved, receiving aggregate from a vehicle such as a dump truck which dumps aggregate from the dump body of the truck into the collecting hopper. To move material from the collecting hopper, the discs 56, 58 are rotated with rotation causing the aggregate to cascade over the rear edge of the panel assembly into the feed hopper which is provided rearwardly of the collecting hopper in the paver. After dumping from the dump body of the truck of the last part of its load into the collecting hopper, the dump truck normally moves away from the paver to receive a new load of aggregate and free the space in front of the paver for another dump truck. To finally and completely clear the collecting hopper of aggregate at this time, the collecting hopper is tilted utilising rams 90 whereby the entire contents of the collecting hopper moves into the feed hopper. The collecting hopper may then be lowered to place it in a condition for receiving aggregate from a fully loaded dump truck. During paving, gates 126, 127, 128, 129 are actuated as desired to control flow of material immediately in advance of the screed 100. With the gates moved to a closed position closing off the base of the feed hopper, and because of the confinement offered to the flow of the material from the paver by the feed hopper, close control of material flow is provided essentially eliminating any waste of material dumped in front of the screed. The paver is relatively easily cleaned. Absent in the paver is any return run of a conveyor system introducing cleaning and material flow-control problems. While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described herein, modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appending claims.

Claims: 1. A paver (10) comprising a frame (12) and ground-travelling means (16) for supporting the frame for movement over the ground, a collecting hopper (30) mounted on the frame (12) for collecting aggregate dumped thereinto from a supply of aggregate and for delivering dumped aggregate rearwardly of the collecting hopper (30), characterised by rotary disc means (56,58) in the collecting hopper (30) and extending over a substantial portion of its floor (36), and means (62, 64, 68) for rotating the disc means substantially parallel with said floor (36) to promote rearward flow of aggregate out of the collecting hopper (30). 2. A paver according to claim 1, wherein the collecting hopper (30) has a rear edge over which aggregate leaves the collecting hopper (30) and the disc means (56, 58) extends to be above and adjacent that rear edge (52). 3. A paver according to claim 2, wherein the disc means comprises two discs (56, 58) disposed side-by-side and rotatable in opposite directions with adjacent margins of the discs moving towards said rear edge. 4. A paver according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the collecting hopper further includes shield plate means (80, 82) extending over side margins of its floor (36) and the disc means (56, 58). 5. A paver according to any preceding claim, wherein the collecting hopper (30) is mounted in the frame (12) for tilting about an axis (52) transversely of the frame, and further comprising means (90, 92, 94) for tilting the collecting hopper (30) about that axis (52) to promote movement of aggregate by gravity out of the collecting hopper (30). 6. A paver according to claim 5 as appendant to claim 2, wherein the tilting axis (52) for the collecting hopper is at or adjacent said rear edge. 7. A paver according to any preceding claim, comprising a transversely extending feed hopper (124, 120, 118) disposed rearwardly of the collecting hopper (30) to receive aggregate therefrom. 8. A paver according to claim 7, wherein the feed hopper (124, 120, 118) included adjustable closure means (125) at its bottom for adjustment between positions opening and closing off discharge of aggregate through said bottom. 9. A paver according to any preceding claim, comprising a rearwardly disposed transversely extending screed (100) having an aggregate levelling surface (102) and means (106, 108, 110, 112) for adjusting the angle the aggregate levelling surface (102) makes with the plane of levelled aggregate. 10. A paver (10) comprising a frame (12), and ground-travelling means (16) supporting the frame (12) for movement over the ground, a collecting hopper (30) mounted on said frame for collecting aggregate dumped therein from a supply, said collecting hopper (30) having opposed hopper sides (84, 86) forming opposite sides of the collecting hopper extending upwardly, said hopper (30) further having a floor (36) terminating in a rear edge extending transversely of the hopper (30), a screed (100) mounted on the paver frame (12), spaced from and located rearwardly from the rear edge of said floor (36), and an opening (125) disposed intermediate the rear edge of said floor (36) and said screed (100) through which aggregate cascades on travelling to the surface being paved, characterised by opposed upstanding side walls (24, 26) mounted on said frame forming opposite sides of the paver, the collecting hopper (30) being mounted between said opposed side walls (24, 26), said opposed hopper sides (84, 86) being snugly adjacent respective ones of said side walls (24, 26) of said paver, means (90, 92, 94) pivotally mounting said collecting hopper (30) for adjustable pivotal movement about a horizontal pivot axis (52) extending transversely of the paver adjacent said rear edge of the floor (36) of the hopper (30), said floor (36) of the hopper being partially formed by a pair of side-by-side rotatable discs (56, 58) rotatable about upright axes and having respective rear margins located adjacent the rear edge of the hopper floor (36) and said pivot axis (52), power-operated means (60) carried by the hopper (30) for pivotal movement therewith connected to the discs for rotating the discs, and power-operated means (90, 92, 94) for pivoting the hopper (30) about said pivot axis (52) and thus adjusting the position of said hopper (30).

Inventors: LAYTON, JACK DOUGLAS
Applicants: LAYTON, JACK DOUGLAS
Application year: 1988
Main classification: E01C19
IPC codes: E01C19