Paver with rotating disc floor

Claim 2

A paver (10) comprising a frame (12) and ground-travelling means (16) for supporting the frame for movement over the ground, a collecting hopper (30) mounted on the frame (12) for collecting aggregate dumped thereinto from a supply of aggregate and for delivering dumped aggregate rearwardly of the collecting hopper (30), rotary disc means (56,58) in the collecting hopper (30) and extending over a substantial portion of its floor (36), and means (62, 64, 66, 68; 72, 74, 76, 78) for rotating the disc means substantially parallel with said floor (36) to promote rearward flow of aggregate out of the collecting hopper (30).

Claim 3

A paver according to claim 1, wherein the collecting hopper (30) has a rear edge (52) over which aggregate leaves the collecting hopper (30) and the disc means (56, 58) extends to be above and adjacent that rear edge (52).

Claim 4

A paver according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the disc means comprises two discs (56, 58) disposed side-by-side and rotatable in opposite directions with adjacent margins of the discs moving towards said rear edge (52).

Claim 5

A paver according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the collecting hopper further including shield plate means (80, 82) extending over side margins of its floor (36) and the disc means (56, 58).

Claim 6

A paver according to any preceding claim, wherein the collecting hopper (30) is mounted in the frame (12) for tilting about an axis (50) transversely of the frame, and further comprising means (90, 92, 94) for tilting the collecting hopper (30) about that axis (50) to promote movement of aggregate by gravity out of the collecting hopper (30).

Claim 7

A paver according to claims 5 as appendent to claim 2, wherein the tilting axis (50) for the collecting hopper is at or adjacent said rear edge (52).

Claim 8

A paver according to any preceding claim, comprising a transversely extending feed hopper (124, 120, 118) disposed rearwardly of the collecting hopper (30) to receive aggregate therefrom.

Claim 9

A paver according to claim 6, wherein the feed hopper (124, 120, 118) includes adjustable closure means (125) at its bottom for adjustment between positions opening and closing off discharge of aggregate through said bottom.

Claim 10

A paver according to any preceding claim, comprising a rearwardly disposed transversely extending screed (100) having an aggregate levelling surface (102), and means (106, 108, 110, 112) for adjusting the angle the aggregate levelling surface (102) makes with the plane of levelled aggregate.

Claim 11

A paver (10) comprising, a frame (12), and ground-travelling means (16) supporting the frame (12) for movement over the ground, opposed upstanding side walls (24, 26) mounted on said frame (12) forming opposite sides of the paver, a collecting hopper (30) mounted on said frame (12) between said opposed side walls (24, 26) for collecting aggregate dumped thereinto from a supply, said collecting hopper (30) having a rear opposed hopper sides (84, 86) forming opposite sides of the collecting hopper extending upwardly snugly adjacent respective ones of said side walls (24, 26) of said paver, said hopper (30) further having a floor (36) terminating in a rear edge (52) extending transversely of the hopper (30), means (90, 92, 94) pivotally mounting said collecting hopper (30) for adjustable pivotal movement about a horizontal pivot axis (50) extending transversely of the paver adjacent said rear edge (52) of the floor (36) of the hopper (30), said floor (36) of the hopper being partially formed by a pair of side-by-side rotatable discs (56, 58) rotatable about upright axes and having respective rear margins located adjacent the rear edge (52) of the hopper floor (36) and said pivot axis (50), power-operated means (60, 70) carried by the hopper (30) for pivotal movement therewith connected to the discs for rotating the discs, power-operated means (90, 92, 94) for pivoting the hopper (30) about said pivot axis (50) and thus adjusting the position of said hopper (30), a screed (100) mounted on the paver frame (12), spaced from and located rearwardly from the rear edge (52) of said floor (36), and an opening (125) disposed intermediate the rear edge (52) of said floor (36) and said screed (100) through which aggregate cascades on travelling to the surface being paved.

Claim 12

A paver (10) comprising, a frame (12), and ground-travelling means (16) supporting the frame (12) for movement over the ground, opposed upstanding side walls (24, 26) mounted on said frame (12) forming opposite sides of the paver, a collecting hopper (30) mounted on said frame (12) between said opposed side walls (24, 26) for collecting aggregate dumped thereinto from a supply, said collecting hopper (30) having a rear opposed hopper sides (84, 86) forming opposite sides of the collecting hopper extending upwardly snugly adjacent respective ones of said side walls (24, 26) of said paver, said hopper (30) further having a floor (36) terminating in a rear edge (52) extending transversely of the hopper (30), means (90, 92, 94) pivotally mounting said collecting hopper (30) for adjustable pivotal movement about a horizontal pivot axis (50) extending transversely of the paver adjacent said rear edge (52) of the floor (36) of the hopper (30), said floor (36) of the hopper being partially formed by a pair of side-by-side rotatable discs (56, 58) rotatable about upright axes and having respective rear margins located adjacent the rear edge (52) of the hopper floor (36) and said pivot axis (50), power-operated means (60, 70) carried by the hopper (30) for pivotal movement therewith connected to the discs for rotating the discs, power-operated means (90, 92, 94) for pivoting the hopper (30) about said pivot axis (50) and thus adjusting the position of said hopper (30), a screed (100) mounted on the paver frame (12), spaced from and located rearwardly from the rear edge (52) of said floor (36), and an opening (125) disposed intermediate the rear edge (52) of said floor (36) and said screed (100) through which aggregate cascades on travelling to the surface being paved.