Patent ID: 7300225

Claim:
A hopper machine comprising: a chassis having a front end and a rear end; a hopper disposed on said chassis at said front end; a driver station comprising a driver seat and a steering wheel; said driver station disposed on said chassis at said rear end; an engine and drive train coupled to said hopper and configured to provide propulsion of said hopper, said chassis and said driver station when said hopper is filled with road paving material and said driver station is occupied by a driver; means for moving hot mix asphalt (HMA) from said hopper toward said rear end; means for collecting fumes from said HMA, and said HMA is moving within one of said hopper and said means for moving, and said fumes toward a location to be heated; means for collecting exhaust from said engine and said exhaust toward said location to be heated; and means for directing hot gases into said location to be heated adjacent to HMA disposed in said hopper and thereby transferring heat, generated by combustion of said fumes, to said HMA.