Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02565506 2006-10-24
A FRAME RAISING MULTI-USE PAVING TRACTOR WITH BLIND HATEABLE
QUICK CONNECTING TOOL ATTACHMENTS
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS -
This application is related to Canadian application File No.
2,472,266 filed on June 25, 2004 entitled MULTI-USE PAVING TRACTOR
WITH TOOL ATTACHMENTS.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to road paving equipment, and more
particularly relates to pavers, and even more particularly relates to pavers
with a
capability for remixing hot mix asphalt (JIMA) material placed in the hopper
onboard the paver.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the past, road paving equipment designers have endeavored to improve
the functionality of road pavers. U.S. Patent 6,007,272 is an example of an
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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.
While these approaches of using independent pavers, road wideners and mix
transfer
machines, etc. have been used extensively in the past, they do have some
drawbacks. First
of all, they require significant investment. Secondly, they require
considerable space for
storage and transportation.
Consequently, there exists a need for improved methods and systems for
deploying
multiple paving equipment tools.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention seeks 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 blind-mateable multi-use
paving
tractor.
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It is an advantage of the present invention to reduce the cost of deploying a
group of
paving tools.
It is another advantage to permit multiple paving equipment tools to be easily
coupled
to a multi-use paving tractor.
It is yet another advantage to permit reduced costs in coupling several paving
tools to
a multi-use paving tractor on 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 "wasted time-less" manner in a sense that the
time needed to
couple and uncouple multiple paving hoppers, remixing equipment and propulsion
mechanisms for a group of road paving tools, has been greatly reduced.
In a broad aspect, the invention pertains to 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 the first
connection point is at an adjustable rear location on the paving tractor, and
where adjustment
of the adjustable rear location is accomplished by manipulating a frame raise
capability of the
paving tractor.
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The first detachable road-paving tool attachment is replaced with a second
detachable
road-paving tool attachment without welding or cutting metal at the first
connection point, the
first detachable road-paving tool attachment being configured to perform a
substantially
different task than the second detachable road-paving tool attachment. The
paving tractor is
a self-propelled vehicle configured to be driven by a driver located on and at
a rear end of
the paving tractor, the paving tractor further comprising a hopper disposed
forward of the
rear end, and means are provided for conveying paving material from the hopper
to the rear
end. The step of replacing comprises the steps of causing the first detachable
road-paving
tool attachment, while coupled to the paving tractor, to be disposed at
substantially the same
level as a tractor operating surface upon which the paving tractor is
disposed, causing a
vertical separation between the tractor operating surface and the first
detachable road-paving
tool attachment to decrease, supporting the first detachable road-paving tool
by deploying
structural support members which are stowed on the first detachable road-
paving tool during
operation of the first detachable road-paving tool and deployed at a time of
detachment from
the paving tractor. The step of causing a vertical separation is accomplished
by a
manipulation of the frame raise capability of the paving tractor, and the step
of supporting
further comprises the steps of lowering a stowed support member, from an
unused and
stowed position such that the stowed support member has a free end surface
which thereafter
contacts the ground and provides support that did not exist before the stowed
support
member was lowered, and using the frame raise capability of the paving tractor
to further
lower the first detachable road-paving tool attachment.
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In a further aspect, the invention provides 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 the
first connection point is at an adjustable rear location on the paving
tractor, and where
adjustment of the adjustable rear location is accomplished by manipulating a
frame raise
capability of the paving tractor, replacing the first detachable road-paving
tool attachment
with a second detachable road-paving tool attachment without welding or
cutting metal at the
first connection point. The first detachable road-paving tool attachment is
configured to
perform a substantially different task than the second detachable road-paving
tool attachment,
and wherein the paving tractor is a self-propelled vehicle configured to be
driven by a driver
located on and at a rear end of the paving tractor. The paving tractor further
comprises a
hopper disposed forward of the rear end, and means are provided for conveying
paving
material from the hopper to the rear end. The method also comprises the steps
of causing
the first detachable road-paving tool attachment, while coupled to the paving
tractor, to be
disposed at substantially the same level as a tractor operating surface upon
which the paving
tractor is disposed, causing a vertical separation between the tractor
operating surface and the
first detachable road-paving tool attachment to decrease, wherein the step of
causing a
vertical separation is accomplished by a manipulation of the frame raise
capability of the
paving tractor, supporting the first detachable road-paving tool by deploying
structural
support members which are stowed and unused on the first detachable road-
paving tool
during operation of the first detachable road-paving tool and deployed at a
time of
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CA 02565506 2013-06-27
detachment from the paving tractor, lowering a first stowed support member, so
as to
maintain a substantially constant alignment of the first detachable road-
paving tool both
before and after detachment from the paving tractor, and using the frame raise
capability of
the paving tractor to further lower the first detachable road-paving tool
attachment. The first
detachable road-paving tool attachment is detached from the paving tractor and
drives the
paving tractor away from first detachable road-paving tool attachment, backs
the paving
tractor up to the second detachable road-paving tool attachment, causes a
tractor portion of a
blind mateable connector to be in crude alignment with a conical tool
attachment portion of a
blind mateable connector on the second detachable road-paving tool attachment
by merely
backing up the paving tractor, causes the second detachable road-paving tool
attachment to
come into a requisite minute alignment with the paving tractor by merely
backing up further
and allowing the second detachable road-paving tool attachment to shift. The
second
detachable road-paving tool attachment is attached to the paving tractor, with
bolts which are
substantially smaller in cross-section than a widest portion of the conical
tool attachment
portion, causing the second detachable road-paving tool attachment to raise
slightly by
manipulating the frame raise capability of the paving tractor. A second
support member is
raised to a stowed position, and drives the paving tractor with the second
detachable road-
paving tool attachment attached thereto.
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.
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PATENT
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention may be more fully 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 multi-use paving tractor of the present
invention, with a partial cut-away portion to reveal a plurality of remixing
augers.
Fig. 2 is an elevation view of the paving tractor of Fig. 1, having an
attached mix transfer tool.
Fig. 3 is an elevation view of the paving tractor of Fig. 1, having an
attached road widener tool.
Fig. 4 is a partial top view of the paving tractor and road widener tool of
Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is an elevation view of the paving tractor of Fig. 1, having an
attached screed.
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an exploded view of a multi-use paving
tractor with a frame raise capability in combination with mounting plates for
tool
attachments.
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PAIENT
Fig. 7 is a side view of a detached HMA transfer tool attachment with a
blind-mateable connection to a multi-use paving tractor.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Now referring to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like matter
throughout, and more specifically referring to Fig. 1, there is shown a multi-
use
paving tractor 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. One of the key aspects of these prior art pavers is that they do not
exhibit
the characteristics of dropping or dribbling asphalt from a return conveyor
under
the machine as is common in other prior art pavers. The elimination of
dribbling
from underneath the prior art paver was not perceived as a significant benefit
because that machine and the machine described in the above-referenced patent
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PATENT
were both dedicated pavers. Dribbles on the ground in front of a paver were
not a
problem because the paver covered these dribbles as the paver progressed
forward.
However, for the present invention, it is desirable that the tractor 100 not
dribble
asphalt on the ground as it progresses forward. The non-dribbling
configuration of
the above-referen.ced patent and the above-described paver is preferred.
However,
it should be understood that any other non-dribbling or low-dribbling
mechanisms
could be used in conjunction with the remainder of the present invention.
A pull arm 103 is shown coupled to the tractor 100. Preferably, a pull aim
103 is disposed on each side of the tractor. Pull arm 103 may include a quick
connector 1032 disposed on or near a rear end 1031 of the pull arm 103. Pull-
arm
quick connector 1032 could be numerous types of connectors, such as a butt
plate
with holes for receiving bolts or pins, a channel for receiving an insert
dropped in
from above, a male or female connector, etc. Pull arm quick connector 1032 may
have additional connectivity capability beyond structural connections, such as
electric connections, hydraulic hose connections, etc. In any case, it is
preferred
that pull arm quick connector 1032 provide for the ability to add or remove
attachments very quickly and while in the field. Preferably, no welding or
powered tools, other than those receiving power from the multi-use paving
tractor
100 and a lift used to move the attachment, would be necessary. Hydraulic
cylinders 1034 and 1035 or other mechanism for manipulating pull arm 103
between various raised and lowered positions are also shown. In a preferred
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PATENT
arrangement, the pull arm 103 can be raised or lowered to engage tool
attachments, discussed in detail below. While it may be preferred to utilize
dual
pull arms 103 on each side, it should be understood that a centrally disposed
pull
arm or group of centrally disposed pull arms could be used as well. The pull
acm
103 is preferably movable, but it should be understood that it could be a
simple
fixed connection point disposed on the tractor 100. An upper link 104 could be
another connection between the tractor 100 and tool attachments. Upper link
104,
if hydraulically extendable and retractable, could be used to connect,
position and
otherwise manipulate any tool attachment coupled to pull arm 103. (Note that
the
upper link 104 may not be used on some attachments, such as the screed.) An
upper link 104 may be disposed on either side of the tractor 100, or a single
upper
link could be used as well. Appropriate driver controls 125 may be included to
assist in the manipulation of pull arm 103 and upper link 104.
A more detailed understanding of the present invention can be achieved by
now referring to Fig. 2, which shows a multi-use paving tractor 100 of Fig. 1,
together with an HMA. mix transfer tool attachment, generally designated 200,
which includes an elevator assembly 205, which collects remixed HN/LA 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
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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 which
can be disposed on one pull arm 103 or one side of the multi-use paving
tractor
100, or it can have one on each side of multi-use paving tractor 100 or
attached to
right and left pull arms 103. Swinging slat conveyor raising mechanism 210, if
mounted to a side of multi-use paving tractor 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
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PA'rENT
cable/winch system or other system for lifting and swinging the swinging slat
conveyor 209.
Swinging slat conveyor pivot support 211 is preferably a support for
pivoting about a horizontal axis and a vertical axis. A rotational coupling or
independent orthogonal pivots could be used to enable swinging slat conveyor
209
to be both raised and swung as needed.
An even more detailed understanding of the present invention may be
achieved by now referring to Figs. 3 and 4, which shows a right- or left-sided
road
widener attachment 300, which is preferably attached to multi-use paving
tractor
100 via pull arm 103. In this figure, elevator assembly 205 is used to elevate
the
1-1114A for distribution to a chute or cross conveyor 302. The HMA is then
distributed alongside the multi-use paving tractor 100 so as to provide for
road
widening by road widener strike-off blade 417. The road width extension
dimension 414 can be adjusted by manipulation of road widener strike-off blade
angle control link 415, which controls the angle of road widener strike-off
blade
417. TheIEVIA is partially contained by road widener end gate assembly 413,
which is adjusted by manipulation of road widener end gate angle control link
416.
Right- or left-sided road widener attachment 300 is shown with few details
because it is believed that numerous right- or left-sided road widener
attachments
300 could be designed to meet the peculiar needs for various road types. It is
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PATENT
believed that a person skilled in the art of making road wideners could
readily
adapt the above-described concept to work with most any particular road
widening
project type. For example, road widener strike-off blade 417 could be made to
pivot about both a horizontal axis and a vertical axis.
Fig. 5 shows a multi-use paving tractor 100 with a paver screed 518
attached thereto. It is believed that one skilled in the art given the
description of
the present invention could develop various paver screeds 518 to meet
particular
needs of various paving job types.
Now referring to Fig. 6, there is shown a system of the present invention,
generally designated 600, which includes a paving tractor much like that shown
in
Fig. 1 except that an additional mechanism for adjusting the point of
attachment to
the tool attachments is included. The pull arm 103 of Figs. 1-5 is augmented
with
a frame raise capability.
The term "frame raise capability" is a name given to the well-known
capability to raise the rear of a paver as is found in Cedarapids, Inc.
products. The
raising may be a combined vertical and horizontal displacement as when
pivoting
along an arc or primarily a vertical translation of the paving tractor.
Pull ann 103 contemplates an adjustment of location of connection to the
tool attachment by one or more hydraulic arms. The frame raise capability,
which
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is not shown or discussed in detail, but well understood in the industry,
involves
lifting, raising or pivoting the entire rear end of the chassis and
superstructure of a
paver or in this case, a multi-purpose tractor, with respect to the ground or
some
forward located pivot point. System 600 includes the tractor 601, with the
frame
raise capability, as well as a structural support 602, which is attached to
the multi-
use tractor 601 and is raised when the frame raise mechanism is operated.
Structural support 602 is preferably permanently attached to the tractor 601,
but
other non-permanent attachment arrangements could be used as well. Structural
support 602 has voids therein for receiving self-centering cones therein. The
structural support 602 may be permanently attached to the tractor mount system
610, including a sturdy tractor mounting plate 612 which has cone-receiving
holes
614 therein for receiving therethrough the self-centering cones 624. Holes 614
may be made to have a diameter to match a diameter of self-centering cones
624.
Tractor mounting plate 612 may have mounting bolts 616 extending therethrough
for mating with mounting nuts 628 on the back side of tool mounting plate 622.
Tool mounting plate 622 has self-centering cones 624 mounted thereon.
Numerous other suitable quick connecting and/or blind mateable connection
points and connection schemes could be substituted, so long as they facilitate
quickly connecting attachments to a paving tractor having frame raise
capabilities.
The blind-mateable connection as shown in Fig. 6 is intended to be
representative,
in general, of the concept_ However, in particular paving equipment
attachments,
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PATENT
the point of attachment of the blind-mateable connection will vary, and
consequently the size, location, and other details are expected to differ.
The term "blind mateable" is used herein to describe a capability for mating
two structural components without requiring an exact alignment being made by
an
operator or other person assisting in the mating. "Blind mateable" suggests
that
once the two structural members are brought into a crude alignment, they can
be
brought into minute alignment without more precise alignment maneuvers or
adjustments occurring.
Structural support 602 and tractor mounting plate 612 may either singly or
in combination fbnn a connection point which is rigidly attached to the rear
end of
the paving tractor 601.
The system 600 could operate as follows: The tractor 601 with structural
support 602 and tractor mounting plate 612 attached thereto, could be steered
to
back up to a tool attachment. The frame raise capability of the tractor 601
could
be used to generally match the height of the tractor mounting plate 612 to the
tool
mounting system 620 with tool mounting plate 622; the self-centering cones 624
would enter the holes 614 at any location within the hole, including locations
off
center. This would be considered a crude alignment done by the operator. As
the
tractor backs up farther, the tool and/or paving tractor will automatically
experience slight relative motion to better align the holes 614 with the self-
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PATENT
centering cones 624. By the time the shorter bolts reach the tool mounting
plate,
they are made to be registered with the holes therein where tool mounting
bolts
626 can be mounted thereon. This would be considered minute alignment. This
process of blind mating the attachment to the tractor facilitates quick and
relatively
easy alignment and, therefore, attachment of tool attachments to the tractor
601.
Now referring to Fig. 7, there is an alternate HMA transfer tool attachment
which is configured to be readily connected to or disconnected from a paving
tractor 601. HMA transfer tool attachment, generally designated 700, includes
an
HMA input opening 702 and an HMA output opening 704. A first elevator section
706 delivers HMA to a second elevator section 708.
When attachment 700 is detached from paving tractor 601, it requires
support to remain in the desired attach and detach orientation.
A second elevator support member 710 is shown disposed below the
second elevator 708 and pivotal around a support pivot point 712. Support
member 710 is preferably extendable by removing a retractable support portion
714, shown in the Lily retracted and stowed position. When deployed, the
retractable support portion 714 extends to the ground and is adjustable in
length by
insertion of a pin into one of a plurality of variable positioned adjustment
holes
(not shown). In alternate embodiments, other structures could be used, such as
a
hydraulic cylinder or a suitable substitute.
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PAIENT
Upper connection members 718 are coupled to a portion of a paving tractor
601 via connectors 716. In one embodiment, the length of the connection
members 718 can be adjusted by turning the connectors 716 which are coupled to
the connection members via threaded connections. In alternate embodiments, a
hydraulic cylinder could be used or a suitable substitute.
The attachment 700 is also coupled to the paving tractor 601 via blind
mateable connector 720 which includes a centering cone 722 and a plurality of
connection bolts 724.
The attachment 700 is stabilized with a front support member 730 having a
retractable stand 732 (shown in the fully retracted and stowed position) which
is
held in place via a pin 734. A hydraulic cylinder or a suitable substitute
could be
used if desired.
In operation, the apparatus and method of the present invention as
described in Figs. 1-7, could function as follows:
Firstly, a multi-use paving tractor 601 is provided which accepts HMA in a
hopper and mixing apparatus and transports it rearward via conveying shaft.
One of several attachments, such as HLV1A mix transfer tool attachment 700,
right- or left-sided road widener attachment 300 or paver screed 518 could be
attached to the multi-use paving tractor 601, depending upon the needs at the
time.
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PATENT
The combination is then deployed and used on a road. The attachment then is
removed and replaced with another of the several attachments, and the new
combination is used. Numerous road-paving tools can be deployed on one job
without the need for redundant components.
The HM.A transfer tool attachment could be detached from the paving
tractor 601 as follows:
The paving tractor 601, which has a frame raise capability, has the frame
raise in a center position. The attachment 700 is lowered hydraulically to a
low
position slightly above a point of contact with the ground. The support
members
710 and 730 are deployed by lowering the retracted members 714 and 732
respectively. Pins are placed therein so as to minimize their distances from
the
ground.
The frame raise feature is lowered so as to allow the attachment 700 to rest
on the ground.
The connectors 716 are disconnected from the paving tractor 601. All
hydraulic and electrical connections are disconnected.
The bolts 724 are removed and the tractor 601 pulls away from the
attachment 700.
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The process is reversed to couple the attachment 700 to the paving tractor
601.
A screed could be attached in a similar manner. In an alternate
embodiment, a screed could be blind-mateably coupled to a spreading screw
section which is itself blind mateable with a tractor 601. Details of such a
multi-
stage modular attachment scheme is described in the above-referenced patent
application entitled "Multi-stage modular road paving equipment and method of
manufacture and sales," application No. 60/743,657 filed on March 22, 2006.
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
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sacrificing all of their material advantages. The form herein described is
merely a
preferred exemplary embodiment thereof.
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