Patent ID: 7458747

Claim:
A method of deploying multi-use road-paving equipment comprising the steps of: providing a paving tractor with a first detachable road-paving tool attachment operatively coupled thereto at a first connection point, where said first connection point is at an adjustable rear location on said paving tractor, where adjustment of the adjustable rear location is accomplished by manipulating a frame raise capability of the paving tractor; replacing said first detachable road-paving tool attachment with a second detachable road-paving tool attachment without welding or cutting metal at said first connection point; where said first detachable road-paving tool attachment is configured to perform a substantially different task than said second detachable road-paving tool attachment; wherein said paving tractor is a self-propelled vehicle configured to be driven by a driver located on and at a rear end of said paving tractor, said paving tractor further comprising a hopper disposed forward of said rear end, and means for conveying paving material from said hopper to said rear end; wherein said step of replacing comprises the steps of: causing said first detachable road-paving tool attachment, while coupled to said paving tractor, to be disposed at substantially the same level as a tractor operating surface upon which said paving tractor is disposed; causing a vertical separation between said tractor operating surface and said first detachable road-paving tool attachment to decrease; supporting said first detachable road-paving tool by deploying structural support members which are stowed on said first detachable road-paving tool during operation of said first detachable road-paving tool and deployed at a time of detachment from said paving tractor; wherein said step of causing a vertical separation is accomplished by a manipulation of the frame raise capability of the paving tractor; where said step of supporting further comprises the steps of: lowering a stowed support member, from an unused and stowed position such that said stowed support member has a free end surface which thereafter contacts the ground and provides support that did not exist before said stowed support member was lowered; and, using the frame raise capability of said paving tractor to further lower said first detachable road-paving tool attachment.