Patent Publication Number: US-2016230355-A1

Title: Push-roller assembly for paving machine

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a paving machine and more particularly, to a push-roller assembly for the paving machine. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Machines, such as a paving machine, are used for applying paying material on a surface, such as a roadway, during a paving operation. The paving machine includes a receptacle that receives the paving material, typically from a truck. For supplying the paving material into the receptacle of the paving machine, the truck backs up towards the paving machine such that a bed of truck can be tilted for unloading the paving material into the receptacle of the paving machine. The paving machine includes a push-roller provided at an end of the receptacle for aligning the truck with respect to the paving machine. When the truck is aligned, a pair of ground engaging members of the truck abuts the push-roller of the paving machine, thereby ensuring proper alignment of the truck with respect to the paving machine. However, trucks with different dimensions and sizes may be used for delivering the paving material to the paving machine. Based on size and dimension of the truck, the push-roller is adjusted to different positions for ensuring proper alignment of the truck with respect to the paving machine. Moreover, existing push-rollers require manual labor and tools for adjustment, based on the dimension and the size of the paving machine. Such manual adjustment of the push-roller would lead to inconvenience, usability reduction, and time wastage. 
     J.P Patent Application Number 2006/161399, hereinafter referred to as &#39;399 application, discloses a push roller device of a paving equipment. The push roller device includes a shock-absorbing device. The shock-absorbing device is provided for cushioning an impact between a dump truck and the paying equipment when a right rear wheel and a left rear wheel of a dump truck abut a pair of push rollers. However, the push roller device of the &#39;399 application may not be adjusted for positioning dump trucks of different sizes and shapes with respect to the paving machine. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     in one aspect of the present disclosure, a paving machine is provided. The paving machine includes a frame having an engaging portion at a front end of the paving machine. The engaging portion includes a top plate and a bottom plate spaced apart from the top plate. The engaging portion also includes a recess defined between the top plate and the bottom plate. Further, the engaging portion includes a slot formed within at least one of the top plate and the bottom plate. The paying machine also includes a push-roller assembly disposed at the front end of the paving machine. The push-roller assembly includes a push-roller support frame coupled with the engaging portion. The push-roller support frame is adapted to move along a longitudinal axis of the paving machine. The push-roller support frame includes a supporting portion, and a flange portion having a hole. The flange portion is received substantially within the recess. The push-roller support assembly includes a pin member engageable to the flange portion of the push-roller support frame through the hole of the flange portion. The pin member is partially received within the slot of the engaging portion. The pin member is adapted to move between a plurality of positions along the longitudinal axis within the recess. The push-roller assembly includes at least one roller coupled with the flange portion of the push-roller support frame. The at least one roller is adapted to move within the recess along with the pin member during a movement of the push-roller support frame along the longitudinal axis. The push-roller assembly also includes an actuator disposed on the frame of the paving machine. The actuator has a first end coupled with the frame and a second end coupled with the pin member. The push-roller assembly also includes at least one push-roller coupled with the supporting portion of the push-roller support frame. The at least one push-roller is adapted to be engaged with a vehicle. The actuator is adapted to selectively move the pin member within the recess. Further, the movement of the actuator causes the pin member and the at least one roller to displace the push-roller support frame with respect to the frame along the longitudinal axis. 
     Other lead aspects of this disclosure will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic view of a paving machine having a push-roller assembly, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, and a vehicle positioned adjacent to the paving machine during a material transfer process; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the push-roller assembly supported on a frame of the paving machine of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the push-roller assembly of  FIG. 2  supported on the frame of the paving machine; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial side sectional view of the frame with the push-roller assembly at a first position thereof; 
         FIG. 5  is a partial side sectional view of the frame with the push-roller assembly at a second position thereof; and 
         FIG. 6  is a partial side sectional view of the frame of the paving machine having a push-roller assembly, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to specific embodiments or features, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, corresponding or similar reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or corresponding parts. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a side view of a paving machine  10 . The paving machine  10  is embodied as a wheel-type paving machine. However, the paving machine  10  may be a track-type paving machine. The paving machine  10  may be used in various applications to apply a material, such as asphalt, on a work surface. The paving machine  10  includes a frame  16  that supports various components including, but not limited to, a receptacle  20 , an operator station  22 , and a screed assembly  24 . The receptacle  20  is disposed adjacent to a front end  26  of the paving machine  10 . The receptacle  20  is adapted to contain the material to be applied on the work surface. The operator station  22  is disposed adjacent to a rear end  28  of the paving machine  10 . The operator station  22  includes a control console  30  used by a machine operator to control various operations, such as a paving operation of the paving machine  10 . The control console  30  may include, but is not limited to, push buttons, electronic switches, toggle switches, and display units. Further, the screed assembly  24  is disposed at the rear end  28  of the paving machine  10 . The screed assembly  24  receives the material from the receptacle  20  and deposit the material on the work surface. The paving machine  10  also includes a pair of track assemblies  18  disposed on each side of the paving machine  10  for propelling the paving machine  10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a vehicle  14  is shown at the front end  26  of the paving machine  10 . The vehicle  14  is embodied as a dump truck. However, the vehicle  14  may also include, but is not limited to, a haul truck, an articulated truck, an off-highway truck or any other machine that is adapted to transport the material to a desired location. The vehicle  14  includes a frame  32  for supporting various components of the vehicle  14 , a bed  34  for loading, carrying, and unloading the material at the desired location, a set of ground engaging members  36  for propelling the vehicle  14 , and an operator cabin  38  for accommodating an operator. The bed  34  is pivotally connected to the frame  32  of the vehicle  14  and contains material for transferring to the desired location. The bed  34  may be operated by one or more control levers not shown) disposed in the operator cabin  38  of the vehicle  14 . 
     The set of ground engaging members  36  includes a front set of ground engaging members  40  and a rear set of ground engaging members  42 . The front net of ground engaging members  42  is disposed adjacent to a front end  44  of the vehicle  14 . The rear set of ground engaging members  42  is disposed adjacent to a rear end  46  of the vehicle  14 . The front and rear sets of ground engaging members  40 ,  42  are wheels. However, in various examples, the front and rear sets of ground engaging members  40 ,  42  may be track assemblies. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the paving machine  10  further includes a push-roller assembly  12  disposed at the front end  26  of the paving machine  10 . The push-roller assembly  12  is coupled with the frame  16  of the paving machine  10 . The push-roller assembly  12  is adapted to abut the set of ground engaging members  36  of the vehicle  14  during a paving operation. More specifically, the push-roller assembly  12  of the paving machine  10  abuts the rear set of ground engaging members  42  of the vehicle  14  during the paving operation. The push-roller assembly  12  provides a smooth engagement of the vehicle  14  with the paving machine  10  during the paving operation. 
     During the paving operation, the vehicle  14  is positioned adjacent to the front end  26  of the paving machine  10  such that the bed  34  is positioned adjacent to the receptacle  20 . This requires the vehicle  14  to back up to the paving machine  10  until the rear set of ground engaging members  42  of the vehicle  14  abuts the push-roller assembly  12 . Thereafter, the bed  34  may be raised to unload the material in the receptacle  20  of the paving machine  10 . The material is deposited in the receptacle  20  gradually as the paving machine  10  moves, while pushing the vehicle  14 , along the work surface to be paved. 
     Furthermore, in order to obtain proper alignment and positioning of the vehicle  14  and the bed  34  relative to the receptacle  20  of the paving machine  10 , the push-roller assembly  12  is positioned with respect to the frame  16  of the paving machine  10  and the vehicle  14 . A predefined distance between the paving machine  10  and the vehicle  14  is desired based on a size and configuration of the vehicle  14  in order to align and position the vehicle  14  relative to the receptacle  20  of the paving machine  10 . Therefore, the push-roller assembly  12  is adjustable in order to obtain the predefined distance between the paving machine  10  and the vehicle  14 . In one example, the push-roller assembly  12  is adjusted based on a user input from the control console  30 . In another example, the push-roller assembly  12  may be adjusted based on inputs from a controller (not shown) of the paving machine  10 . In such a case, the controller determines the predefined distance between the paving machine  10  and the vehicle  14 . The construction and working of the push-roller assembly  12  are explained in detail with reference to  FIGS. 2 to 4 . 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the push-roller assembly  12  supported on the frame  16  of the paving machine  10 . The frame  16  includes an engaging portion  48  positioned at the front end  26  of the paving machine  10 . The engaging portion  48  includes atop plate  50 , a bottom plate  52  spaced apart from the top plate  50 , and a side plate  54  extending between the top plate  50  and the bottom plate  52 . The top plate  50  includes a first top surface  56  and a first bottom surface  58 . The bottom plate  52  includes a second top surface  60  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) and a second bottom surface  62  (shown in  FIG. 4 ). 
     The bottom plate  52  is spaced apart from the top plate  50  along a vertical axis YY′ of the paving machine  10 . The top and bottom plates  50 ,  52  are attached to the side plate  54  in such a manner that the first bottom surface  58  of the top plate  50  faces the second top surface  60  of the bottom plate  52 . The top plate  50  includes a first slot  64  extending along a longitudinal axis XX′ perpendicular to the vertical axis YY′ of the paving machine  10 . Similarly, the bottom plate  52  includes a second slot  66  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) extending along the longitudinal axis XX′. Each of the first and second slots  64 ,  66  includes a first end  68  and a second end  70 . The engaging portion  48  also includes a recess  72 . The recess  72  is defined between the top plate  50  and the bottom plate  52  of the engaging portion  48 . 
     The push-roller assembly  12  includes a push-roller support frame  76  coupled with the engaging portion  48  of the frame  16 . In particular, the push-roller support frame  76  is supported within the recess  72  of the engaging portion  48 . The push-roller support frame  76  is movable within the recess  72  along the longitudinal axis XX′. 
       FIG. 3  is a top view of the push-roller assembly  12  supported on the frame  16  with one or more components removed. The push-roller support frame  76  includes a supporting portion  78  and a flange portion  80 . The flange portion  80  of the push-roller support frame  76  is received substantially within the recess  72  (see  FIG. 2 ) of the engaging portion  48 . The flange portion  80  defines a hole  96 . 
     The supporting portion  78  has an elongated cylindrical body. The supporting portion  78  has a first supporting end  82  and a second supporting end  84  distal to the first supporting end  82 . The supporting portion  78  supports a first push-roller  92  at the first supporting end  82 . The supporting portion  78  also supports a second push-roller  94  at the second supporting end  84 . In one example, the first push-roller  92  and the second push-roller  94  are rotatably supported at the first and second supporting ends  82 .  84 , respectively. The first and second push-rollers  92 ,  94  are adapted to be engaged with the rear set of ground engaging members  42  (see  FIG. 1 ) of the vehicle  14  during the paving operation. In one example, the first and second push-rollers  92 ,  94  may include outer surfaces adapted to rotatably engage with the rear set of ground engaging members  42 . 
     The push-roller assembly  12  also includes four rollers  90  coupled with the flange portion  80  of the push-roller support frame  76 . The rollers  90  facilitate movement of the push-roller support frame  76  within the recess  72 . In one example, the rollers  90  may be rotatably coupled with the flange portion  80  of the push-roller support frame  76  by means of shafts and bearings (not shown). The rollers  90  are supported on the bottom plate  52  of the engaging portion  48 . The rollers  90  are adapted to move on the bottom plate  52  in order to displace the push-roller support frame  76  within the recess  72  along the longitudinal axis XX′. Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the push-roller assembly  12  includes a pin member  98  engagable to the flange portion  80  of the push-roller support frame  76 . The pin member  98  is received through the hole  96  of the flange portion  80 . 
       FIG. 4  is a partial side sectional view of the frame  16  showing the push-roller assembly  12  at a first position. The pin member  98  is partially received within the first slot  64  of the top plate  50  and the second slot  66  of the bottom plate  52 . At the first position, the pin member  98  is disposed at the first ends  68  of the first and second slots  64 ,  66 . The pin member  98  is movable between a plurality of positions along the longitudinal axis XX′ within the recess  72 . The plurality of positions is defined between the first ends  68  and the second ends  70  of the first slot  64  and the second slot  66 . More specifically, the pin member  98  is movable to any location between the first ends  68  and the second ends  70 . The movement of the pin member  98  along the longitudinal axis XX′ displaces the push-roller support frame  76  with respect to the frame  16  in order to position the first and second push-rollers  92 ,  94  at the predefined distance. 
     Further, in order to move the pin member  98  within the first and second slots  64 ,  66 , the push-roller assembly  12  includes an actuator  100 , The actuator  100  is adapted to selectively move the pin member  98  between the plurality of positions based on the user input from the control console  30 . The actuator  100  has a first end  102  and a second end  104  distal to the first end  102 . The first end  102  is coupled with the frame  16  of the paving machine  10  and the second end  104  is coupled with the pin member  98  of the push-roller assembly  12 . The actuator  100  is a hydraulic actuator. However, the actuator  100  may be an electric actuator, a screw type actuator, a pneumatic actuator or any other linear actuator known in the art. 
     In one example, the actuator  100  includes a cylinder  106  extending between ahead end  108  and a rod end  110 . The actuator  100  also includes a plunger  114  slidably received within the cylinder  106  through the rod end  110  of the cylinder  106 . The plunger  114  is coupled with the pin member  98  of the push-roller assembly  12 . The plunger  114  is movable between a retracted position (shown in  FIG. 4 ) and an extended position (shown in  FIG. 5 ) within the cylinder  106  to selectively move the pin member  98  between the plurality of positions within the recess  72 . In the retracted position, the plunger  114  is disposed adjacent to the head end  108  of the cylinder  106 . Further, in the extended position, the plunger  114  is disposed adjacent to the rod end  110  of the cylinder  106 . 
       FIG. 5  is a partial side sectional view of the frame  16  showing the push-roller assembly  12  at a second position. At the second position, the pin member  98  is disposed at the second ends  70  of the first and second slots  64 ,  66 . Based on the movement of the plunger  114  to the extended position, the pin member  98  is moved to the second ends  70  of the first and second slots  64 ,  66 . Further, the movement of the pin member  98  causes the rollers  90  to displace the push-roller support frame  76  with respect to the frame  16  along the longitudinal axis XX′. For explanation purposes, the pin member  98  is shown to move between the first ends  68  and the second ends  70  of the first and second slots  64 ,  66 , however, it is contemplated that the pin member  98  may be moved between any intermediate positions defined between the first and second ends  68 ,  70  based on the user input. 
       FIG. 6  is a partial side sectional view of the frame  16  of the paving machine  10  having a push-roller assembly  116 , according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. The frame  16  includes a first engaging portion  118  and a second engaging portion  120 . The first engaging portion  118  is spaced apart from the second engaging portion  120  along a vertical axis AA′ of the paving machine  10 . The first engaging portion  118  includes a first top plate  122 , a first bottom plate  124 , and aside plate  126 . The first top plate  122 , the first bottom plate  124 , and the side plate  126  together define a first recess  128  therebetween. Further, the first engaging portion  118  includes a first slot  130  defined in the first top plate  122 , and a second slot  132  defined in the first bottom plate  124 . Similarly, the second engaging portion  120  includes a second top plate  134  and a second bottom plate  136 . The second top plate  134  and the second bottom plate  136  are attached to the side plate  126 . The second top plate  134 , the second bottom plate  136 , and the side plate  126  together define a second recess  138  therebetween. The second top plate  134  defines a third slot  140  and the second bottom plate  136  defines a fourth slot  142 . 
     The push-roller assembly  116  is disposed at the front end  26  of the paving machine  10 . The push-roller assembly  116  includes a push-roller support frame  144 . The push-roller support frame  144  is engaged with both the first and second engaging portions  118 ,  120 . The push-roller support frame  144  is movable along a longitudinal axis BB′ perpendicular to the vertical axis AA′ of the paving machine  10 . The push-roller support frame  144  includes a supporting portion  146 , a first flange portion  148 , and the second flange portion  150 . The supporting portion  146  supports a first push-roller  152  and a second push-roller (not shown). The first push-roller  152  and the second push-roller are adapted to be engaged with the rear set of ground engaging members  42  of the vehicle  14 . 
     The first flange portion  148  is partially received within the first recess  128  of the first engaging portion  118 . The second flange portion  150  is received within the second recess  138  of the second engaging portion  118 . The first flange portion  148  has a first hole  154  and the second flange portion  150  has a second hole  156 . 
     The push-roller assembly  116  further includes a first pin member  158  and a second pin member  160 . The first pin member  158  is received through the first hole  154  of the first flange portion  148 . The first pin member  158  is also partially received within both the first and second slots  130 ,  132 . Further, the second pin member  160  is received through the second hole  156  of the second flange portion  150 . The second pin member  160  is also partially received within the third and fourth slots  140 ,  142  of the second top plate  134  and the second bottom plate  136 . Both the first pin member  158  and the second pin member  160  are movable between a plurality of positions along the longitudinal axis BB′ within the corresponding slots. 
     The push-roller assembly  116  also includes four first rollers  162  and four second rollers  164 . The first rollers  162  are coupled with the first flange portion  148  of the push-roller support frame  144 . The second rollers  164  are coupled with the second flange portion  150  of the second flange portion  150  of the push-roller support frame  144 . The first rollers  162  are movable along with the first pin member  158  within the first recess  128 . Further, the second rollers  164  are movable along with the second pin member  160  within the second recess  138  along the longitudinal axis BB′. 
     The push-roller assembly  116  includes an actuator  168  disposed on the frame  16  of the paving machine  10 . The actuator  168  is adapted to selectively move the first pin member  158  and the second pin member  160  within the first recess  128  and the second recess  138 , respectively, along the longitudinal axis BB′. The actuator  168  has a first end  170  coupled with the frame  16  and second ends  172  coupled with the first and second pin members  158 ,  160 . The actuator  168  may be a hydraulic actuator, an electric actuator, a screw type actuator, a pneumatic actuator or any other linear actuator known in the art. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The present disclosure relates to the push-roller assemblies  10 ,  116  for aligning and positioning the vehicle  14  with respect to the paving machine  10  during the paving operation. The first rollers  92 ,  162  and the second push-rollers  94 ,  164  of the push-roller assemblies  10 ,  116  engage with the rear set of ground engaging members  42  of the vehicle  14  when the vehicle  14  is backing towards the front end  26  of the paving machine  10 . The push-roller support frames  76 ,  144  are movable along the longitudinal axes XX′, AA′ to position the first push-rollers  92 ,  162  and the second push-rollers  94 ,  164  at a predefined distance based on a size and configuration of the vehicle  10 . Further, the actuators  100 ,  168  of the push-roller assemblies  10 ,  116  absorb impact loads caused by the vehicle  14 , This prevents spillage of the paving material from the receptacle  20  of the paving machine  10  and marking or detects in the paving material during the paving operation. 
     The push-roller assemblies  10 ,  116  have simple and cost effective constructions without requiring a large number mechanical linkages and components. Further, the first push-rollers  92 ,  162  and the second push-rollers  94 ,  164  of the push-roller assemblies  10 ,  116  are adjusted by actuating the corresponding pin members, via the corresponding actuators  100 ,  168 . Therefore a control of the actuators  100 ,  168  may be integrated with an operation of the paving machine  10 , thereby simplifying the operation of the paving machine  10 . Further, the push-roller assemblies  10 ,  116  may be conveniently retrofittable with an existing paving machine. 
     While aspects of the present disclosure have been particularly shown and described with reference to the embodiments above, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various additional embodiments may be contemplated by the modification of the disclosed machines, systems, and methods without departing from the spirit and scope of what is disclosed. Such embodiments should be understood to fall within the scope of the present disclosure as determined based upon the claims and any equivalents thereof.