Patent ID: 8747022

Claim:
A tow point assembly for pivotally coupling a screed assembly rearward a traction unit in a paver for distributing paving material onto a roadway surface, the tow point assembly comprising: a tow arm having a forward end and a rearward end, the rearward end adapted to be secured to the screed assembly, a tow point plate, the tow point plate being pivotably coupled to the forward end of the tow arm at a pivot point, a tow point support adapted to be secured to the traction unit, the tow point support including a pair of substantially parallel forward edges and a pair of substantially parallel rearward edges, the forward edges and the rearward edges defining an elongated opening between the forward and rearward edges and extending through the tow point support, the tow point plate being slidably disposed through the opening for substantially vertical movement, and three roller assemblies coupled to the tow point plate, each of said roller assemblies including first and second rotatably mounted rollers disposed on opposite sides of the tow point plate, a first and a second of said roller assemblies being disposed such that the first and second rollers of the first and second roller assemblies roll upon contact with the forward edges, and a third of said roller assemblies being disposed such that the first and second rollers of the third of said roller assemblies roll on contact with respective rearward edges.