Patent Publication Number: US-2015078824-A1

Title: Adjustable edge forming apparatus for paving machine

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to a pavement edge forming apparatus for a paving machine. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to an adjustable shaping plate for the pavement edge forming apparatus. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Paving machines are commonly used to lay asphalt/concrete on roads, bridges, parking lots, and other construction sites. Paving machines may also provide relative compaction to asphalt and/or concrete, to assist formation of an asphalt and/or concrete mat (hereinafter referred to as a mat) on a paving surface. For that purpose, paving machines generally include a screed that helps with the preliminary compaction requirement. Screeds may need to be extended or retracted depending on a desired mat width. An end gate is generally attached to the screed and may move with the screed to prevent undesirable spillage of the asphalt and/or concrete over an adjacent, unpaved surface. Such movement of the end gate with the screed generally results in the formation of a steep edge between the mat and the unpaved surface. 
     As it relates to driving on a road with a steep edge between the mat and base surface such as when a wheel slips off the roadway, it is undesirable to encounter such an affect. During an attempt to return to a corresponding drive lane, the steep edges may become an obstacle to a controlled return. Resultant difficulties may include a bumpy ride, occupant discomfort while plying over the adjacent unpaved surface and momentary loss of vehicular control. 
     It is known to apply a ramped edge or “pavement edge” to the margins of the paved surface. However, current methods pose significant challenges. One way to form the pavement edge is to use a wedge-shaped attachment between an extender of the screed and a frame of a paving machine. However, such attachments may prevent the extension and/or retraction of the screed. Another way to form the pavement edge is to use a tapered end gate shoe. However, the use of the tapered end gate shoe may reduce efficiency of the pavement edge forming operation. Further, the use of tapered end gate shoe may include a lot of maintenance and cost. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 8,591,142 discloses a road paving equipment and a pavement-shaping device. Although this reference discloses a system that forms a ramp at the edge of a paved roadway, the described pavement-shaping device does not accommodate for flexibility in the retraction and extension of the screed, when desired. Moreover, no provision is disclosed for modularly positioning the pavement-shaping device. 
     Accordingly, the system and method of the present disclosure solves one or more problems set forth above and/or other problems in the art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Various aspects of the present disclosure illustrate an edge forming apparatus for a paving machine. The paving machine forms margins of road paving materials concomitantly with a paving operation. The edge forming apparatus includes a tube member and an elongated member slidably engaged with the tube member. Further one or more lock plates are in positionable engagement with the elongated member. The one or more lock plates have one or more lock-plate openings. A shaping plate is adjustably coupled with the one or more lock plates. The shaping plate includes one or more offset strips that are fixedly attached to the shaping plate. The one or more offset strips include one or more apertures. At least one offset pin selectively positions the one or more lock plates with the one or more offset strips by an extension of the offset pin through the one or more lock-plate openings and the aperture. More particularly, the one or more lock plates are positionably movable with the elongated member to position the shaping plate in one of a retracted position and an angled position relative to the elongated member. Moreover, the shaping plate is restricted from substantial rotation through an engagement of the shaping plate with the tube member having a non-rotatable fit between the tube member and the elongated member in response to contact between the shaping plate and the road paving materials. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is side view of an exemplary paving machine incorporated with an edge forming apparatus, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged partial view of the edge forming apparatus of the paving machine shown in  FIG. 1  that includes a shaping plate, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the edge forming apparatus of  FIG. 2  with the shaping plate being shown in an angled position, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the edge forming apparatus of  FIG. 2 , in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown an exemplary paving machine  100 , which operates over the non-paved surface  102 . The paving machine  100  may be an asphalt paver that paves the non-paved surface  102 . To perform the paving operation, the paving machine  100  includes a variety of components, such as one or more hoppers  104 , an auger  106 , a screed  108 , an end gate  110 , a walk-platform  112 , and a pavement edge forming apparatus  114 . A fully formed paved surface may be referred to as a mat  116 . Machine movement may be executed along a direction, A, as shown. 
     The hoppers  104  may be configured to receive and generally store asphalt/concrete or other road forming materials from a dump truck (not shown) or known material transfer means. The hoppers  104  may be movable relatively upwards and downwards, and may be tiltable to dump a quantity of asphalt to a conveyor (not shown). The conveyor may be positioned between the pair of hoppers  104  to generally transfer the asphalt and/or concrete to the auger  106 . 
     The auger  106  is configured to receive and lay the asphalt and/or concrete on the non-paved surface  102 . The auger  106  may include a screw conveyor, which may include a mechanism that uses a helically shaped screw blade known as flighting. A rotation of such a screw conveyor may dump the asphalt and/or concrete as a stockpile over the non-paved surface  102 . 
     The screed  108  may be panned and controllable to evenly spread the dumped stockpile over the non-paved surface  102 . The screed  108  may provide at least a minimal compaction to the underlying stockpile to form the asphalt and/or concrete based mat  116 . A delivery of the stockpile may be such that a flattened, planer layer of the stockpile is substantially laid-out on the non-paved surface  102 . 
     The end gate  110  may be fixedly engaged along the ends of the screed  108 . While the screed  108  forms the mat  116 , the end gate  110  may restrict the unrequited spread of the stockpile beyond the specified limits, and may comply with a desired mat width. The end gate  110  includes a first end  118  that lies in proximity to the screed  108 . 
     The walk-platform  112  may be installed adjacent to the screed  108 , and towards the first end  118 . The walk-platform  112  is generally a walkway that enables an operator to stand and observe the paving process. While on the walk-platform  112 , various aspects of the mat  116 , such as leveling of the mat  116 , surface finish, and/or the like, may be inspected. 
     The pavement edge forming apparatus  114  is configured to shape steep edges of the mat  116  into a ramped surface. More particularly, the pavement edge forming apparatus  114  assists in the formation of margins of road paving materials (mat  116 ) concomitantly with a paving operation. The pavement edge forming apparatus  114  is positioned substantially between the screed  108  and the walk-platform  112 . Further, the pavement edge forming apparatus  114  may be positioned in proximity to the end gate  110 . The ramped surface is formed between the mat  116  and an adjacent unpaved surface that lies along an expanse of the associated roadway. Moreover, the ramped surface is disposed at an inclination to the unpaved surface. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , there is shown an enlarged view of the pavement edge forming apparatus  114  in a retracted position. The pavement edge forming apparatus  114  includes a tube member  221  integrally connected to a mounting bracket  202  (see  FIG. 3 ). An elongated member  204  is slidably positionable and adjustable within the tube member  221  with the mounting bracket  202 , and a shaping plate  206 , operably connected to the elongated member  204 . The shaping plate  206  includes two fixedly attached offset strips  208 , with four apertures  210  therein (best seen in  FIG. 4 ). It will be understood that one offset strip  208  or multiple offset strips may be contemplated for use on the shaping plate  206 . Moreover, although it is shown in an exemplary embodiment that there are four apertures  210  in each offset strip  208 , it is contemplated that each offset strip  208  may include four apertures  210  to adequately set an angle or various alternative angle options for the shaping plate  206 . It will be further understood that the offset strips  208  are fixed to the shaping plate  206 , for example, such as, by being welded or integrally formed with the shaping plate  206  or any other forming method known to those with ordinary skill in the art. 
     Two lock plates  212  are included, each of which have an engaged hole  213  and an unused hole  213 ′ at an upper end (best seen in  FIG. 4 ). Collectively, the engaged hole  213  and the unused hole  213 ′ may be referred to as holes  213 . At a lower end, the two lock plates  212  include a lock-plate opening  214  alongside a common lock-plate opening  214 ′ (best seen in  FIG. 4 ). Collectively, the lock-plate opening  214  and the common lock-plate opening  214 ′ may be referred to as lock-plate openings  214 . The holes  213  generally facilitate rotatable positioning of the shaping plate  206  relative to the elongated member  204 , and therefore, the shaping plate  206  may be adjustably coupled with the two lock plates  212 . The pavement edge forming apparatus  114  also has an offset pin  216  and a common offset pin  216 ′ (collectively referred to as offset pins  216 ). The common offset pin  216 ′ may commonly engage both the elongated member  204  and the shaping plate  206 . Further, a resilient member  218  is included as well. 
     The two lock plates  212  are in positionable engagement with the elongated member  204  and facilitate a fixed connection between the elongated member  204  and the shaping plate  206 . The holes  213  and the lock-plate openings  214  are substantially rectangular arrayed, as best seen in  FIG. 4 . A variation in the number of holes  213  and the lock-plate openings  214  may be contemplated. 
     The mounting bracket  202  may be structured to include a passage  220  within the tube member  221  (see  FIG. 4 ), through which the elongated member  204  may be slidably accommodated. A lock  228  is threaded into the tube member  221  to lock the elongated member  204  once the proper position of the shaping plate  206  is established. The lock  228  may be rotated by an operator once the shaping plate  206  is set to restrict movement and/or a position of the slidably disposed elongated member  204 , within the passage  220  of the tube member  221 . The passage  220  within tube member  221  may be square to complement the exterior shape of the elongated member  204  so as to restrict rotation of the elongated member  204  but to allow translation of the elongated member  204  within the tube member  221 . It will be understood that other cross-sectional profiles for the elongated member  204  and the tube member  221  may be used, such as, for example a triangle or a rectangle or any other cross sectional profiled known to those with ordinary skill in the art. The tube member  221  may be welded to the mounting bracket  202  or integrally formed in a known manner to those with ordinary skill, and each of the tube member  221  and mounting bracket  202  may be manufactured from a carbon based steel material, which is made to withstand the relatively extensive use and vibration corresponding to paving operations. The mounting bracket  202  may include a first hook portion  222 , as shown configured to retain an end of the resilient member  218  such as an extension spring, for example. 
     As best shown in  FIG. 3 , once the elongated member  204  is properly positioned by the operator, it may be locked by lock  228  such that any movement of the elongated member  204 , along the direction, B, may be restricted. At a lower end, the elongated member  204  includes an engagement slot  404  and a common engagement slot  404 ′ (see  FIG. 4 ). Collectively, the engagement slot  404  and the common engagement slot  404 ′ may be referred to as engagement slots  404 . The engagement slot  404  aligns with the engaged hole  213 , while the common engagement slot  404 ′ aligns with the common lock-plate opening  214 ′ of the lock plate  212 . Effectively, the elongated member  204  is removably and alternatively connected to the shaping plate  206 . The slidable disposal of the elongated member  204 , within the passage  220  of the mounting bracket  202 , enables the shaping plate  206  to be positioned at varying heights relative to the paving machine  100 . 
     The shaping plate  206  may generally include a flat, planar face  224  that shapes the ramped surface of the mat  116 , during operation. Although the offset strips  208  (two in the depicted embodiment) include four apertures  210  each, it may be contemplated that each offset strip  208  may include a varied set of apertures  210 . The offset strips  208  may be structured and arranged on the shaping plate  206  substantially laterally relative to the paving machine  100 . The offset strips  208  may also be paralelly structured relative to each other. 
     Once assembled with the elongated member  204 , the shaping plate  206  is restricted from substantial rotation through an engagement of the shaping plate  206  with the tube member  221 , in response to contact between the shaping plate  206  and the road paving materials (mat  116 ). This is because of the non-rotatable fit between the tube member  221  and the elongated member  204 . 
     The offset pins  216  may selectively position the lock plates  212  with the offset strips  208  by extension of the offset pins  216  through the lock-plate openings  214  and the aperture  210 . More particularly, a common aperture  210 ′ (see  FIG. 4 ) may facilitate an associated passage of the common offset pin  216 ′ through the offset strips  208 , during this assembly. The lock plates  212  are positionably movable with the elongated member  204  to position and deploy the shaping plate  206  in one of the retracted position and the angled position relative to the elongated member  204 . 
     The offset pins  216  may selectively and fixedly engage at least two of the lock-plate openings  214  (and thus the lock plates  212 ) with the shaping plate  206 . Here, an engagement to the shaping plate  206  may be facilitated through the apertures  210  structured on the offset strips  208 . A resultant two-point connection establishes a fixed engagement between the lock plates  212  and the shaping plate  206 . However, the shaping plate  206  remains unrestrained relative to the elongated member  204  until the lock pin  402  (see  FIG. 4 ) is engaged. 
     A shift in engagement of the lock plates  212 , along a length of the offset strips  208  is possible. More particularly, the two lock-plate openings  214  may suitably engage with any of the two consecutive apertures  210 . In that manner, a resultant manipulation of the shaping plate  206  is facilitated substantially laterally relative to the elongated member  204  (or the paving machine  100 ). Further, a second hook portion  226  that corresponds to the first hook portion  222  is also included in the shaping plate  206 . 
     The resilient member  218  is connected between the first hook portion  222  and the second hook portion  226 . The resilient member  218  may be among the commonly applied industrial springs known in the art. However, other resilient devices may be envisioned. The resilient member  218  may include a spring constant and other material characteristics that may suitably meet the resilience required to place the shaping plate  206  in a retracted position relative to the elongated member  204 . More specifically, the resilience assists in auto-retraction of the shaping plate  206 , from an extended (angled) position to a home position (retracted position). 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the extended position, opposed to the retracted position of the shaping plate  206 , is shown. This extended position may relate to a 120-degree inclination of the shaping plate  206 , relative to the pavement edge forming apparatus  114  (or the elongated member  204 ). In this extended position, the shaping plate  206  is in a work-state that helps in the formation of the ramped surface. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , an exploded view of the pavement edge forming apparatus  114  is shown. Each of the components of the pavement edge forming apparatus  114  discussed above may be viewed with clearer silhouettes and contours here. More particularly, the view includes the lock pin  402  that fixedly engages the lock plates  212  to the elongated member  204 . The lock pin  402  may be a cotter pin, which, when forming a joint, may pass through the engagement slot  404  within the elongated member  204 , while also engaging the lock plates  212 . At an opposed end, the lock pin  402  may be keyed away, as conventionally known, for a confirmed lock. Washers  406  may help with the joint formation process. Similar to the deployment of the lock pin  402 , the offset pins  216  may be locked away by key-loops  408 , also at an opposed end, during an assembly of the lock plates  212  to the shaping plate  206 . 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     In assembly, the engaged hole  213  and the common lock-plate opening  214 ′, may be respectively aligned with the engagement slots  404  (inclusive of the common engagement slot  404 ′). A resultant connection between the lock plates  212  and the elongated member  204  is enabled via the lock pin  402  and the common offset pin  216 ′ (see  FIG. 4 ). Similarly, both the lock-plate openings  214  (inclusive of the common lock-plate opening  214 ′) may also be simultaneously aligned with two consecutive apertures  210  (inclusive of the common aperture  210 ′) in the offset strips  208 . In that manner, the offset pins  216  (inclusive of the common offset pin  216 ′) may engage the lock plates  212  with the shaping plate  206 . The common offset pin  216 ′, therefore, connects to both the elongated member  204  and the shaping plate  206 , along with the lock plate  212 . Effectively, a fixed engagement between the elongated member  204  and the shaping plate  206  is established. 
     A common alignment point exists between the elongated member  204 , the shaping plate  206 , and the lock plates  212 . To this end, the apertures  210  may include a common aperture  210 ′ (see  FIG. 4 ) that forms part of the common alignment point. During assembly, this common aperture  210 ′ is brought into engagement with the common engagement slot  404 ′ (see  FIG. 4 ) of the elongated member  204 , and the common lock-plate opening  214 ′ of the lock plate  212 . The resulting common alignment point is established by extending and securing the common offset pin  216 ′ commonly into the common lock-plate opening  214 ′, common aperture  210 ′, and the common engagement slot  404 ′. 
     A resulting connection between the elongated member  204  and the shaping plate  206  is a three-point connection. This three-point connection leaves at least one hole (referred to as the unused hole  213 ′) unused. A switch between the unused hole  213 ′ and the engaged hole  213 , which solely facilitates engagement of the lock plate  212  to the elongated member  204 , enables a switch between two operable configurations of the shaping plate  206 . The two operable configurations may include the shaping plate  206  in one of the retracted position and the angled position, relative to the elongated member  204 . 
     In operation, a first configuration may include the shaping plate  206  to be positioned at right angles with the elongated member  204 . A second configuration may exemplarily include a 120-degree angular placement of the shaping plate  206  (or zero degree to the horizontal) relative to the elongated member  204 . The right-angled position of the shaping plate  206 , relative to the elongated member  204 , may be the retracted position, while the 120-degree angular placement may be the angled position, as already noted. In either configuration, the shaping plate  206  defines a fixed engagement with the elongated member  204 . Other angular arrangements and configurations may be contemplated. Because the common lock-plate opening  214 ′ facilitates a substantial permanent accommodation of the common offset pin  216 ′ therethrough, the shaping plate  206  rotates relative to the common alignment point during a change in configuration. 
     An exemplary switch from the retracted position to the angled position may be enabled by removing the lock pin  402 , shifting (or pushing) the shaping plate  206  to the angled position, and re-securing the lock pin  402 . Here, re-securing includes engaging the lock pin  402  into the unused hole  213 ′ and engagement slot  404  that corresponds to the angled position. A similar procedure may be contemplated when the shaping plate  206  is being changed over from the angled position to the retracted position. Notably, the resilient member  218  may assist in auto-retraction of the shaping plate  206 , from the angled position to the retracted position. In an angled position, the shaping plate  206  is deployed for the formation of an edge for the mat  116  (see  FIG. 1 ). In the retracted position, however, the shaping plate  206  is in a stacked-away, stored state. In the retracted position, the shaping plate  206  may also be applied to form a seamless joint between two adjacent newly laid road surfaces. 
     In an embodiment, additional lock-plate openings  214  may be suitably (and sequentially) structured on the lock plates  212 . In such a case, a switch to either of the sequentially placed unused lock-plate openings  214  may facilitate a variation in the number of shaping plate ( 206 ) configurations. Given the switchable configuration, a shiftable or a positionable engagement exists between the lock plates  212  and the elongated member  204 . This is because the engaged hole  213 , engaged solely with the elongated member  204 , may be desirably interchanged (or positionable) with the unused hole  213 ′. 
     A location of the shaping plate  206  may also be altered. Such alterations may occur along the length of the offset strips  208 , laterally to the paving machine  100 . To this end, the offset pins  216  may be first removed and the offset strips  208  adjusted according to the new positional requirement. Thereafter, when the lock-plate openings  214  coincide with a subsequent pair of apertures  210  (four in the disclosed embodiment), a re-securement of the offset pins  216  according to the desired position is performed. 
     The modular and removable structural configuration of the pavement edge forming apparatus  114  allows the paving machine  100  to accommodate adjustments and provisions for an edge formation of the mat  116  on either machine sides. This modularity may allow the paving machine  100  to structure a ramped surface at either ends (or about the width) of a roadway, along an expanse of the roadway. 
     It should be understood that the above description is intended for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. Thus, those skilled in the art will appreciate that other aspects of the disclosure may be obtained from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claim.