Self Propelled Remix Machine with Conveyor

Abstract

A dedicated self-propelled auger type remix machine with an elevating conveyor permanently coupled thereon.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the past, road paving equipment designers have endeavored to improve the functionality of road pavers. U.S. Pat. No. 6,007,272 is an example of an improved paver with mixing capabilities. While such improvements have been made to remixing capabilities of pavers, they remain a single use machine. Most paving contractors will have a paver, a road widener and some means for transferring the mix to the paver and road widener, all of which are independent machines.

Others have used independent mix transfer machines.

While these approaches of using independent remix pavers and HMA plants, etc. have been used extensively in the past they do have some drawbacks. First of all, the remix paver is limited in use to paving. Secondly, a mix transfer machine is very large and creates HMA, not remixes it.

Consequently, there exists a need for improved methods and systems for deploying a remix machine to be used in conjunction with other paving equipment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for deploying multiple paving equipment tools in an efficient manner.

It is a feature of the present invention to utilize a multi-use paving tractor.

It is an advantage of the present invention to reduce the cost of owning a group of paving tools.

It is another advantage to permit multiple paving equipment tools to be stored in a smaller space.

It is yet another advantage to permit reduced transportation costs in moving several paving tools to a job site.

The present invention is an apparatus and method for deploying multiple paving tools, designed to satisfy the aforementioned needs, provide the previously stated objects, include the above-listed features, and achieve the already articulated advantages. The present invention is carried out in a “redundant hardware-less” manner in a sense that the need to own, maintain and transport multiple paving hoppers, remixing equipment and propulsion mechanisms for a group of road paving tools, has been eliminated.

Accordingly, the present invention is a system and method including a paving tractor with a capability for readily connecting and disconnecting a road paving tool thereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be more filly understood by reading the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, in conjunction with the appended drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of the remix transfer machine of the present invention, with a partial cut-away portion to reveal a plurality of augers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Now referring to the drawing wherein like numerals refer to like matter throughout, and more specifically referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a remix machine of the present invention, generally designated 100, which includes a hopper and mixing apparatus 101, a conveying shaft 102, auger 109, driver station 120, driver seat 122, steering wheel 124, engine 126, chassis 127 and drive train 128. Items 101, 102, 109, 122, 124, 126, 127 and 128 are preferably similar or identical to components of prior art remixing road pavers such as described in the above-referenced U.S. patent and the prior art road paver manufactured by Cedarapids, Inc. of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Engine 126 is drawn as a simple block, but it may include numerous related systems and/or components not limited to components of a hydraulic pump and system, an electrical system and other systems.

As shown is an HMA mix transfer tool, generally designated 200, which includes an elevator assembly 205, which collects remixed HMA from the rear of conveying shaft 102 and hopper and mixing apparatus 101, and elevates the HMA. Elevator assembly 205 includes elevator assembly lower connecting floor 206, which seals the elevator assembly 205 to the rear of the conveying shaft 102. Elevator assembly lower connecting floor 206 is where the HMA is collected prior to being elevated above the conveying shaft 102 by the elevator assembly 205. Elevator assembly slat conveyor 207 is shown disposed in elevator assembly 205. It should be understood that the depicted arrangement of elevator assembly 205 is a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Alternate means and methods of elevating the HMA could be employed, such as augers, pumps and pipes or hoses, etc. The purpose of elevator assembly 205 is to collect the HMA and deliver it to swinging slat conveyor 209. However, it should be understood that elevator assembly 205 or its alternate means could be adjustable vertically and radially so as to eliminate the need for swinging slat conveyor 209.

In this preferred embodiment, swinging slat conveyor 209 is a vertically and radially adjustable conveyor which can be swung to the right or the left upon swinging slat conveyor pivot support 211, which can be a hinge or other pivot support. Swinging slat conveyor 209 includes a swinging slat conveyor interior chain assembly 208 and a swinging slat conveyor raising mechanism 210. Swinging slat conveyor raising mechanism 210, if mounted to a side of remix machine 100, can both raise swinging slat conveyor 209 and swing swinging slat conveyor 209 right and left as needed. Swinging slat conveyor raising mechanism 210 can be a hydraulic cylinder, a cable/winch system or other system for lifting and swinging the swinging slat conveyor 209.

Swinging slat conveyor pivot support 211 is preferably a permanently fixed support for pivoting about a horizontal axis and a vertical axis. A rotational coupling or independent orthogonal pivot could be used to enable swinging slat conveyor 209 to be both raised and swung as needed.

In operation, the apparatus and method of the present invention as described in FIG. 1, could function as follows:

Firstly, a remix machine 100 is provided which accepts HMA in a hopper and mixing apparatus 101 and transports it rearward via conveying shaft 102.

HMA mix transfer tool 200 elevates the HMA for delivery to another piece of paving equipment.

Throughout the above description, HMA is described as the material to be used. It should be understood that the present invention is directed to any type of road surface. It is believed that recycled asphalt products could be used, cold mix asphalt, and even in certain applications with any appropriate modifications, concrete could be the paving material. Hopper and mixing apparatus 101 may comprise a rectangular box or an angled rectangular or circular bin or any shaped container and material mixing and transfer apparatus which is suitable for the paving material being used.

It is thought that the method and apparatus of the present invention will be understood from the foregoing description and that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construct steps, and arrangement of the parts and steps thereof, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of their material advantages. The form herein described is merely a preferred exemplary embodiment thereof.

Claims

1. A remix 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 paving material from said hopper toward said rear end, such that said paving material is not dribbled below said tractor as a material conveyor loops underneath said tractor; and, a coupling means coupled to said chassis and toward said rear end, said coupling means configured to receive an elevator thereon.

2. A remix machine of claim 1 wherein said coupling means is for permanently coupling.

3. A remix machine of claim 2 wherein the elevator is a conveyor.

4. A method of remixing HMA comprising the steps of: providing a remix machine with a hopper and an elevator; driving the remix machine so as to be within a predetermined proximity to a source of HMA; depositing HMA into the hopper, remixing the PA and delivering the remixed HMA via the elevator to a piece of road building equipment.

5. A method of claim 4 wherein said elevator is a swinging and pivoting conveyor.

6. A remixing and transfer system comprising: a machine comprising: a chassis having a front and a rear end; a container for receiving and containing road hot mix asphalt paving material, disposed at and coupled to said front end; means for moving said hot mix asphalt paving material from said container to said rear end; an engine, coupled to said chassis, for providing motive force to propel said remix machine; said chassis comprising a connection point; and an elevator coupled to the connection point.

7. A machine of claim 6 wherein the elevator is permanently coupled to the connection point.