US5015120A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods and apparatus for making an asphalt-aggregate pavement
Assignee: Roadtec Inc
•
Filing: 1989-02-10
•
Granted: 1991-05-14
•
Expires: 2009-02-10
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method for delivering asphalt-aggregate material from a plurality of supply trucks to a finishing machine. In a preferred form of the invention, the apparatus is a self-propelled storage vehicle including a hopper having a capacity substantially equal to the capacity of one of the supply trucks, a high capacity loading conveyor, and a high capacity unloading conveyor system. A tranversely disposed screw auger is provided for remixing the asphalt-aggregate material in the hopper prior to its discharge to the finishing machine. In the first method of operation the storage vehicle shuttles between the finishing machine and a remote location of the supply trucks and in the second method of operation the storage vehicle travels in tandem with the finishing machine as the paving operation is performed. The high capacity loading conveyor can be equipped with an extendable trough which has a pivotally attached trough floor with front and side plates. The extendable trough provides a large area which facilitates discharge of paving material from frameless trailers and allows for the early departure of the supply trucks from the conveyor. The final discharged paving material is gradually emptied from the extendable trough into the conveyor by hydraulic cylinders which tilt the trough to slide the material in the trough into the infeed end of the conveyor.
Inventors
- 👤 James D. Brock
- 👤 Donald W. Smith
- 👤 James H. Basset
- 👤 John P. Renneck
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 12:15
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60P; B60P1/00; B60P1/36; B60P1/38; E; E01; E01C; E01C19/00; E01C19/48; E01C2301/00; E01C2301/02; E01C2301/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
An apparatus capable of receiving material from a delivery truck, the apparatus comprising: chassis means capable of receiving material; inclined conveyor means mounted on the chassis means, the conveyor means having a discharge portion for discharging material into the chassis means and an inlet leading into the conveyor means; and a trough extending from the inlet to receive material from the delivery truck; wherein the trough is capable of having its volume decreased after receiving the material to move material in the truck dump hopper into the inlet.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
88 words
An apparatus capable of receiving material from a delivery truck, the apparatus comprising: chassis means capable of receiving material; inclined conveyor means mounted on the chassis means, the conveyor means having a discharge portion for discharging material into the chassis means and an inlet leading into the conveyor means; and a trough extending from the inlet to receive material from the delivery truck; wherein the trough is capable of having its volume decreased after receiving the material to move material in the truck dump hopper into the inlet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the trough comprises a floor which has two longitudinal edges and two side edges, the floor being pivotally connected at one longitudinal edge to the inlet and at the other longitudinal edge to a front wall, the trough also having two side walls communicating between the side edges of the floor and the front wall.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising lifting means connected between the conveyor means and a trough to pivot the trough about its pivotal connection to the inlet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the lifting means is a hydraulic cylinder.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the hydraulic cylinder is connected between the conveyor means and the trough side wall.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the floor is pivotally attached to the bottom of the inlet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the front wall has upper portion projecting away from the inlet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the front wall has a lip projecting approximately parallel to the floor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the inlet has inlet side walls and an inlet bottom wall, and wherein the trough floor is pivotally connected to the inlet bottom wall and the trough side walls are adjacent one another, and the trough side walls are capable of slidable movement relative to the inlet side walls.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the inlet bottom wall is curved.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
111 words
An apparatus capable of receiving material from a delivery truck, the apparatus comprising: chassis means capable of receiving material; conveyor means mounted on the chassis means, the conveyor means having a discharge portion for discharging material into the chassis means and an inlet leading into the conveyor means; and a trough extending from the inlet to receive material from the delivery truck; wherein the trough is capable of having its volume decreased after receiving the material to move material in the truck dump hopper into the inlet; further comprising a gate means connected to the conveyor means for partially restricting flow of paving material from the trough into the conveyor means.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
111 words
An apparatus capable of receiving material from a delivery truck, the apparatus comprising: chassis means capable of receiving material; conveyor means mounted on the chassis means, the conveyor means having a discharge portion for discharging material into the chassis means and an inlet leading into the conveyor means; and a trough extending from the inlet to receive material from the delivery truck; wherein the trough is capable of having its volume decreased after receiving the material to move material in the truck dump hopper into the inlet; further comprising a gate means connected to the conveyor means for partially restricting flow of paving material from the trough into the conveyor means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the gate means is adjustable.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the trough is capable of holding material which defines an angle of repose, and wherein the material received from the delivery truck must flow between the gate means and the angle of repose in order to reach the conveyor means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
147 words
A self-propelled mobile apparatus for supplying asphalt-aggregate material from a delivery truck to a finishing machine comprising: chassis means including ground engaging mobile support means and steering means for at least a part of the support means; motive power means carried by chassis means and connected to at least a part of said support means; hopper means mounted on said chassis means; inclined conveyor means mounted on said chassis means and having a receiving portion adapted to receive the asphalt-aggregate material as it is discharged from the delivery truck, said conveyor means also having a delivery portion for discharging the asphalt-aggregate material into said hopper means; and extendable trough means connected to the receiving portion of the conveyor means, the extendable trough means capable of holding asphalt-aggregate material and of reducing its volume to deliver material in the trough to the receiving portion of the conveyor means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
147 words
A self-propelled mobile apparatus for supplying asphalt-aggregate material from a delivery truck to a finishing machine comprising: chassis means including ground engaging mobile support means and steering means for at least a part of the support means; motive power means carried by chassis means and connected to at least a part of said support means; hopper means mounted on said chassis means; inclined conveyor means mounted on said chassis means and having a receiving portion adapted to receive the asphalt-aggregate material as it is discharged from the delivery truck, said conveyor means also having a delivery portion for discharging the asphalt-aggregate material into said hopper means; and extendable trough means connected to the receiving portion of the conveyor means, the extendable trough means capable of holding asphalt-aggregate material and of reducing its volume to deliver material in the trough to the receiving portion of the conveyor means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
176 words
A self-propelled mobile apparatus for supplying asphalt-aggregate material from a delivery truck to a finishing machine comprising: chassis means including ground engaging mobile support means and steering means for at least a part of the support means; motive power means carried by chassis means and connected to at least a part of said support means; conveyor means mounted on said chassis means and having a receiving portion adapted to receive the asphalt-aggregate material as it is discharged from the delivery truck, said conveyor means also having a delivery portion for discharging the asphalt-aggregate material into said chassis means; and extendible trough means connected to the receiving portion of the conveyor means, the extendible trough means capable of holding asphalt-aggregate material and of reducing its volume to deliver material in the trough to the receiving portion of the conveyor means; further comprising a gate means connected to the conveyor means to define a passage into the receiving portion of the conveyor means for partially restricting flow of paving material from the trough means into the conveyor means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
176 words
A self-propelled mobile apparatus for supplying asphalt-aggregate material from a delivery truck to a finishing machine comprising: chassis means including ground engaging mobile support means and steering means for at least a part of the support means; motive power means carried by chassis means and connected to at least a part of said support means; conveyor means mounted on said chassis means and having a receiving portion adapted to receive the asphalt-aggregate material as it is discharged from the delivery truck, said conveyor means also having a delivery portion for discharging the asphalt-aggregate material into said chassis means; and extendible trough means connected to the receiving portion of the conveyor means, the extendible trough means capable of holding asphalt-aggregate material and of reducing its volume to deliver material in the trough to the receiving portion of the conveyor means; further comprising a gate means connected to the conveyor means to define a passage into the receiving portion of the conveyor means for partially restricting flow of paving material from the trough means into the conveyor means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the gate means is adjustable.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
197 words
A self-propelled mobile apparatus for supplying asphalt-aggregate material from a delivery truck to a finishing machine comprising: chassis means including ground engaging mobile support means and steering means for at least a part of the support means; motive power means carried by chassis means and connected to at least a part of said support means; conveyor means mounted on said chassis means and having a receiving portion adapted to receive the asphalt-aggregate material as it is discharged from the delivery truck, said conveyor means also having a delivery portion for discharging the asphalt-aggregate material; extendible trough means connected to the receiving portion of the conveyor means, the extendible trough means capable of holding asphalt-aggregate material and of reducing its volume to deliver material in the trough to the receiving portion of the conveyor means; and gate means connected to the conveyor means for partially restricting flow of paving material from the trough means into the conveyor means; wherein the trough means is capable of holding material which defines an angle of repose, and wherein the material received from the delivery truck must flow between the gate means and the angle of repose to reach the conveyor means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
197 words
A self-propelled mobile apparatus for supplying asphalt-aggregate material from a delivery truck to a finishing machine comprising: chassis means including ground engaging mobile support means and steering means for at least a part of the support means; motive power means carried by chassis means and connected to at least a part of said support means; conveyor means mounted on said chassis means and having a receiving portion adapted to receive the asphalt-aggregate material as it is discharged from the delivery truck, said conveyor means also having a delivery portion for discharging the asphalt-aggregate material; extendible trough means connected to the receiving portion of the conveyor means, the extendible trough means capable of holding asphalt-aggregate material and of reducing its volume to deliver material in the trough to the receiving portion of the conveyor means; and gate means connected to the conveyor means for partially restricting flow of paving material from the trough means into the conveyor means; wherein the trough means is capable of holding material which defines an angle of repose, and wherein the material received from the delivery truck must flow between the gate means and the angle of repose to reach the conveyor means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
68 words
The self-propelled mobile apparatus of claim 12 wherein the extendable trough means comprises a floor which has two longitudinal edges and two side edges, the floor being pivotally connected at one longitudinal edge to the inlet and being connected to the other longitudinal edge to a front wall, the trough means also having two side walls communicating between the side edges of the floor and the front wall.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
49 words
The self-propelled mobile apparatus of claim 18 wherein the receiving portion comprises a curved bottom wall and side walls attached thereto, the trough side walls being adjacent to the receiving portion side walls, and the trough side walls capable of slidable movement relative to the receiving portion side walls.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
The self-propelled mobile apparatus of claim 19 further comprising activating means communicating between the conveyor means and the trough means to move the floor about its pivotal connection to the receiving portion.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
The self-propelled mobile apparatus of claim 20 wherein the floor is pivotally attached to the curved bottom wall of the receiving portion.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
15 words
The self-propelled mobile apparatus of claim 20 wherein the actuating means is a hydraulic cylinder.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of transferring material from a truck to a self-propelled mobile apparatus which includes (i) a hopper means, (ii) a conveyor means having discharge end for discharging into the hopper means and receiving end for receiving the material from a truck, and (iii) an extendable trough attached to the receiving end of the conveyor means, the method comprising the steps of: extending the trough toward the truck to expand the trough holding capacity; discharging material from the truck into the trough; and retracting the trough to feed the material into the receiving end of the conveyor means.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of transferring material from a truck to a self-propelled mobile apparatus which includes (i) a hopper means, (ii) a conveyor means having discharge end for discharging into the hopper means and receiving end for receiving the material from a truck, and (iii) an extendable trough attached to the receiving end of the conveyor means, the method comprising the steps of: extending the trough toward the truck to expand the trough holding capacity; discharging material from the truck into the trough; and retracting the trough to feed the material into the receiving end of the conveyor means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of re-extending the trough after it is emptied of material.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 23 wherein the trough is extended by pivoting it from a pivotal connection to the receiving end of the conveyor means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 23 wherein the material is discharged from a frameless truck.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 23 wherein the self-prOpelled mobile apparatus further comprises: (iv) gate means attached to the conveyor means and projecting into the extendable trough, the method further comprising the step of limiting the feed of material into the receiving end of the conveyor means to material between the gate means and an angle of repose of material in the trough.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 23 wherein the trough has a floor and the floor of the trough is retracted to at least the angle of repose.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of transferring material from a truck into a mobile apparatus which includes (i) a conveyor means having receiving end for receiving the material, (ii) a trough attached to the receiving end of the conveyor means, the trough having variable volume, (iii) gate means attached to the conveyor means to define a passage into the receiving end of the conveyor means, the method comprising the steps of: introducing material into the trough; and reducing the volume of the trough to feed material into the passage.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of transferring material from a truck into a mobile apparatus which includes (i) a conveyor means having receiving end for receiving the material, (ii) a trough attached to the receiving end of the conveyor means, the trough having variable volume, (iii) gate means attached to the conveyor means to define a passage into the receiving end of the conveyor means, the method comprising the steps of: introducing material into the trough; and reducing the volume of the trough to feed material into the passage.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 29 wherein the trough is pivotally attached to the conveyor means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-05-13 | 1994-11-12 | 1995-05-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-05-13 | 1998-11-12 | 1999-05-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-05-13 | 2002-11-12 | 2003-05-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |