INSTALLATION BOARD PLATE ARRANGEMENT AND MANUFACTURING PROCESS

Abstract

A paving screed plate (136) for a paving screed assembly (130) towed by a mobile paver (100) is made from a carrier plate (150) and a plurality of geometric texturing protrusions (166). The carrier plate (150) has a lower material contact surface (152) which may be flat and even. The plurality of geometric texturing protrusions (166) each have a mounting base (170) suitable for connection to the carrier plate (150) and a projecting body designed to protrude with respect to the lower material contact surface (152). The plurality of geometric texturing protrusions (166) can be arranged in a texturing pattern (164) to physically texture the paving material (102) and can be connected to the carrier plate (150) as a retrofit kit.

Description

Technical field This patent disclosure relates generally to mobile installation machines for carrying out an installation process and in particular to an installation plank plate for attachment to a floating installation plank arrangement for distributing and compacting the installation material to produce a paving mat. State of the art Mobile paving machines, also known as asphalt pavers, are used during a paving operation to apply, spread, and compact paving material into a paving mat on the ground or roadbed to create a smooth, hard surface, such as a roadway, parking lot, or other paved area, on which cars, trucks, and other vehicles can drive. A common example of paving material used to create a paved surface is a hot asphalt mixture consisting of hard aggregates such as stones, finer materials such as sand, and a bitumen mixer or binder, along with possibly other additives and modifiers. The paving material is initially in a loose, almost liquid state to facilitate spreading and distribution across the work area and to cover the desired areas. For distributing the paving material, the mobile paver can be operatively connected to a floating screed assembly, which is attached to the paver and towed along its direction of travel. The screed assembly comprises one or more flat metal screed plates attached to the underside of a screed frame. The mobile paver places the paving material onto the work surface in front of the leading edge of the screed plate, which is moved across the distributed material by the forward movement of the mobile paver. The floating screed assembly can be self-leveling and attached to the mobile paver to hover freely above the distributed paving material. The weight of the screed assembly and the flatness of the screed plates distribute and compact the paving material into a paving mat.In possible variations, the installation plank arrangement is designed to vibrate in order to improve the compaction of the paving material, and the installation plank plate can be heated to prevent the paving material from sticking to it. It is generally desirable to distribute the paving material as evenly and homogeneously as possible to create a paving mat with sufficient density and smoothness for use as a roadway or similar paved surface subject to repeated vehicular traffic and varying weather conditions. To improve the homogeneous and uniform distribution of aggregates and fines in the asphalt mix, U.S. Patent 10,156,050 (“the '050 Patent”) describes a screed assembly with screed plates having a textured surface. The textured surface may have ribbing arranged parallel or perpendicular to the direction of travel of the mobile paver. The '050 Patent describes how texturing the underside of the screed plate results in a more homogeneous sorting and distribution of the aggregates in the paving material, and thus a more durable paved surface. Brief description The disclosure describes in one aspect a paving screed panel for a paving screed assembly designed to be towed by a mobile paver. The paving screed panel may be composed of a backing plate having a front leading edge and a rear trailing edge. The backing plate further has a top mounting surface extending between the front leading edge and the rear trailing edge, and a bottom material contact surface suitable for compacting and compressing the paving material sliding beneath the paving screed panel. The paving screed assembly further has a plurality of geometric texturing projections that can be attached to the backing plate.Each of the numerous geometric texturing protrusions comprises a mounting base designed to be placed adjacent to the backing board and a projecting body designed to extend from the lower material contact surface. To connect the numerous geometric texturing protrusions to the backing board, the inset board also incorporates a variety of structural connections. In another aspect, the disclosure describes a method for assembling a built-in plank panel from a carrier plate and a plurality of geometric texturing protrusions. The method includes manufacturing a carrier plate with a front leading edge, a rear trailing edge, a top mounting surface, and a lower material contact surface opposite the upper mounting surface. The method also includes manufacturing a plurality of geometric texturing protrusions, each having a mounting base that can be attached to the carrier plate and a projecting body designed to extend from the lower material contact surface. The method then assembles the plurality of geometric texturing protrusions into a texturing pattern on the lower material contact surface of the carrier plate.The process then connects the multitude of geometric texturing protrusions to the substrate in a fixed relationship within the texturing pattern. Brief description of the drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of a mobile paver with a floating screed assembly moving in the direction of travel to produce a homogeneous paving mat on a work surface. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the screed assembly, which is designed with screed extensions extending laterally from the screed frame and a plurality of textured screed plate arrangements attached to the underside of the screed frame. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the underside of a screed plate arrangement with a plurality of projecting geometric texturing protrusions connected to and projecting from a flat lower material contact surface, as disclosed in the disclosure.Figure 4 is a perspective view of an example of a polyhedral texturing protrusion suitable for connection with the flat lower material contact surface to create a textured inset slab assembly. Figure 5 is a perspective view of an example of a triangular or deltahedral texturing protrusion suitable for connection with the flat lower material contact surface. Figure 6 is a perspective view of an example of a pentahedral texturing protrusion suitable for connection with the flat lower material contact surface. Figure 7 is a perspective view of an example of a rhombic texturing protrusion suitable for connection with the flat lower material contact surface. Figure 8 is a perspective view of a projecting geometric texturing protrusion in the geometric shape of a truncated cone.Figure 9 is a perspective view of a projecting geometric texturing protrusion in the geometric shape of a spherical teardrop. Figure 10 is a perspective view of a projecting geometric texturing protrusion in the geometric shape of a polyhedral pyramid. Figure 11 is a perspective view of a projecting geometric texturing protrusion in the geometric shape of a conical pyramid. Figure 12 is a flowchart of a method for producing a built-in plank panel with a texturing pattern by joining a plurality of geometric texturing protrusions to the flat underside of the backing board. Figure 13 is a perspective assembly view of the underside of the backing board and a geometric texturing protrusion with a cooperative alignment feature.Figure 14 is a perspective view of a geometric texturing protrusion adapted to be attached to the lower material contact surface by a variety of fasteners. Detailed description With reference to the drawings, in which identical reference numbers refer to identical elements wherever possible, Fig. 1 shows an example of a mobile paving machine or paver 100 for applying paving material 102 to the ground, roadbed, or other work surface 104 to produce a paving mat 106 that covers the work surface and results in a paved area. The finished paved area may be intended as a roadway, highway, structural subgrade, or other surface with hardness, evenness, and durability properties that withstand repeated vehicular traffic and varying weather conditions, including temperature fluctuations and precipitation.To distribute the paving material 102 on the work surface 104, the mobile paver 100 can be self-propelled and operated to travel in a direction 108 aligned with the longitudinal axis or orientation of the paver. As used herein, the terms 'forward' or 'leading' can refer to the forward direction of the mobile paver 100 when traveling in the direction 108, and the terms 'rear', 'backward', or 'trailing' can refer to the direction behind the mobile paver. For receiving and transporting paving material 102 before distribution on the work surface 104, the mobile paver 100 can include a storage hopper 110 mounted on a machine frame or chassis 112, which forms the supporting structure and frame of the paver. The storage hopper 110 can be an open box-shaped structure or a container with upward-extending side walls 114 that oppose each other laterally and contain the paving material 102 stored therein. The storage hopper 110 can be located at the front end of the mobile paver 100 and receive paving material 102 from above via a transport vehicle, for example, a dump truck. During the distribution of the paving material from the mobile paver 100, the storage hopper 110 can be regularly refilled with fresh paving material supplied by an asphalt plant or facility. To convey the loose, granular paving material from the storage container 110 to the rear, the mobile paver 100 has a conveying system 116 that runs through and is supported by the chassis 112. The conveying system 116 can include one or more conveyor belts that move around rotating deflection rollers or drums to convey the paving material 102 to the rear and discharge the material from the mobile paver 100 onto the working surface 104. To move the mobile paver 100 across the work surface 104 during the paving process, the chassis 112 can be mounted on a variety of ground engagement elements 118 that direct and transmit tensile and driving forces to the work surface 104. An example of a ground engagement element 118 could be an endless chain wound around a variety of drive sprockets that can rotate relative to the chassis 112. The endless chains shift relative to the chassis 112 to move the mobile paver 100 across the work surface 104. Another example of a ground engagement element 118 could be swivel wheels mounted on the chassis 112. To generate drive power and power the ground engagement elements 118, the mobile paver 110 can have an engine 120 mounted on the chassis 112. The engine 120 can be a conventional internal combustion engine that burns a hydrocarbon-based fuel to convert the lateral chemical energy it contains into drive power for propulsion and other operations. The engine 120 can also be associated with a generator 122 to generate electricity for supplying the electrical system of the mobile paver 100. In other possible configurations, the mobile paver 100 can have an electric drivetrain and be powered by a variety of electric storage batteries or fuel cells. To accommodate an operator who steers and controls the mobile paver 100, an operator station 124 or an operator cabin can be mounted on top of the chassis 112 at a location that provides a good view of the work area 104. The operator station 124 can contain various operating elements and input control devices 126, such as a steering wheel for changing the direction of travel 108 of the mobile paver 100, accelerator and brake pedals, gear and direction switches, and the like. As a visual interface to the operator, the operator station can include an instrument panel 128 with various rotary knobs, display screens, and the like. Furthermore, the input control devices 126 and the instrument panel 128 can be associated with an electronic control system designed or programmed to receive and process data and information to support the operation of the mobile paver 100. To ensure a more even distribution of the paving material 104, a screed assembly 130 can be coupled to the rear end of the chassis 112. This assembly can be moved over the applied paving material 102 as the mobile paver 100 travels forward in the direction of travel 108. The screed assembly 130 can be associated with a screw conveyor 132, which is located behind and below the conveying system 116 and is designed to guide and move the loose paving material 114 discharged by the conveying system laterally towards the sides of the chassis 112. The screw conveyor 132 is arranged in a lateral direction 134 or axis that is perpendicular to the forward and reverse directions of travel 108 and at a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the chassis 112.Furthermore, the auger 132 is located vertically next to the working surface 104 and provides a vertical direction 135 that is perpendicular to both the direction of travel 108 and the lateral direction 134. The auger 132 can be an elongated, rotating structure with counter-rotating spiral or helical flights that push the paving material 104 laterally outwards as it rotates. To compact and smooth the granular paving material 102 distributed laterally by the conveyor screw 132, the installation plank arrangement 130 comprises one or more installation plank plates 136, which are attached to the underside of an installation plank frame 138. The installation plank plates 136 are metal plates that rest on and slide over the paving material 102 deposited on the work surface 104, the weight and load of the installation plank frame 138 compacting the loose paving material 102 into the denser, harder paving mat 106. For example, the material of the installation plank plates 136 can be cast nickel or hardened steel. To increase the compressive forces acting on the paving mat 106, the installation screed frame 138 can contain internal eccentric weights that generate vibrating forces 135 in the vertical direction, causing the installation screed plates 136 in contact with the paving material 102 to vibrate. To prevent the paving material 102 from cooling down and adhering to the installation screed plates 136, inductive heating devices can be associated with the installation screed assembly 130, which are arranged in the installation screed frame 138. To adjust the thickness of the paving mat 106, the paving screed assembly 130 can be pivotally connected to the chassis 112 via one or more trailing arms 140. The trailing arms 140 are pivotable, allowing the paving screed frame 138 to be pivoted relative to the chassis 112 in order to adjust the angle of attack, or the angle at which the paving screed plates 136 come into contact with the paving material 102 that exits the conveying system 116 onto the work surface 104. By adjusting the mounting angle, the paving screed plates 136 can move and slide over the paving material 102, so that the paving screed assembly 130 appears to float relative to the work surface 104.To raise and lower the installation plank assembly 130 in a vertical direction 135, in order to bring it into contact with and release it from the working surface 104, one or more extendable and retractable hydraulic lifting cylinders 141 can also be connected between the chassis 112 and the installation plank frame 138. Referring to Fig. 2, the installation plank assembly 130 can be extended in the lateral direction 134 to adjust the lateral width of the installation plank frame 138. For example, the installation plank frame 138 can comprise a main installation plank section 142 and a first and a second extension installation plank section 144, which are arranged at the opposite lateral ends of the installation plank assembly 130. The extension installation plank sections 144 can be arranged behind the main installation plank section 142, and the structures can be slidably connected to each other, for example, by a sliding dovetail rail. In another embodiment, the extension installation plank sections 144 can be mounted towards the front of the installation plank frame 138 with respect to the direction of travel 108. The paving screed assembly 130 can also include hydraulically actuated extension cylinders 146 that effectively connect the main paving screed section 142 with the first and second extension paving screed sections 144. Actuation of the extension cylinders 146 moves the first and second extension paving screed sections 144 laterally 134 relative to the main paving screed section 142. To maintain the lateral distribution of the paving material 104, the first and second extension paving screed sections 144 can each have a lateral flange 148 or wing aligned parallel to the direction of travel 108. The paving screed panels 136 can be removably attached to the underside of the main paving screed section 142 and the first and second extension paving screed sections 144. A multiple of paving screed panels 136 can extend across the lateral width of the paving screed frame 138 to create a continuously smooth, flat paving mat 106 transverse to the lateral direction 134, extending in the direction of travel 108 behind the paving screed assembly 130. The front of the paving screed frame 138 can also have a front plate extending upwards from the intersection with the paving screed plates 136, which can be designed as a solid, flat plate extending laterally 134. The front of the paving screed frame 138 pushes the excess paving material 102, discharged by the conveying system, forwards in the direction of travel 108 until the material flows under the paving screed plates 136 and is compacted by them. The paving screed assembly 130 can also have a tamper bar on the front of the paving screed frame 138, which can be moved quickly and repeatedly up and down in a vertical direction 135 to compact the paving material flowing under the paving screed plates 136. With reference to Fig. 3, the paving slab 136 can, in one aspect of the disclosure, be composed of components arranged to improve the compaction of the paving material and the formation of the paving mat. For example, to act as a structural framework and support, the paving slab 136 can have a support plate 150, which has a flat and planar shape and may have a rectangular outline or perimeter. The support plate 150 can be produced by a casting process in which molten metal is poured into a mold of the desired shape and cooled to harden. Examples of suitable metals are high-carbon steel, nickel alloys and chromium carbide steel, cast iron, hardened aluminum-zinc alloys, and other materials that possess sufficient hardness and strength for prolonged physical contact and interaction with the paving material.Other possible materials for the carrier plate include ceramic and plastic. To adapt to the flat, planar shape, the support plate 150 can have a lower material contact surface 152 and an upper mounting surface 154 opposite the recessed material contact surface. When the screed plates 136 are attached to the screed frame, the lower material contact surface 152 is oriented to contact the underlying paving material, and the upper mounting surface 154 is in close contact with the screed frame. The lower material contact surface 152 can be flat and planar, as shown, although in possible variations the lower material contact surface may include structural features to improve interaction with the paving material. The upper mounting surface 154 can be flat and planar, although in some embodiments the upper mounting surface 154 may have assembly and fastening features to attach the screed plate 136 to the screed frame. The lower material contact surface 152 and the upper mounting surface 154 can extend between a front leading edge 156 and a rear trailing edge 158 of the rectangular outline of the cast slab 150. The terms front leading edge 156 and rear trailing edge 158 refer to the direction of travel 108 of the mobile paver and reflect the movement of the screed slab 136 relative to the working surface. The front leading edge 156 and a rear trailing edge 158 can be linear and parallel to each other in the lateral direction 134. The distance between the front leading edge 156 and a rear trailing edge 158 corresponds to the longitudinal length of the paving screed panel 136 and can be equal in area to the length of the paving screed frame in the direction of travel 108. To assist in guiding the paving material under the paving screed panel 136, the front leading edge 156 can be slightly angled upwards in the vertical direction 135. The rectangular outline or perimeter of the cast plate 150 can also have parallel first and second side edges 160, 162 extending between the front leading edge 156 and the rear trailing edge 158. The distance between the first and second side edges 160, 162 corresponds to the width of the installation plank 136 in the lateral direction 134. The first and second side edges 160, 162 can be linear and flat to fit seamlessly against the side edges of the adjacent installation plank 136 when attached to the installation plank frame. To improve the mixing of the paving material running beneath the installation plank 136, a three-dimensional texturing pattern 164 can be provided on the lower material contact surface 152 of the support plate 150. The three-dimensional topology of the texturing pattern 164 exhibits structural variation with respect to the vertical direction 135. The structural irregularities and topographic variability of the texturing pattern 164 can displace larger aggregates within the paving material. Through the movement and displacement of the paving material caused by the structure of the texturing pattern 164, the aggregates can be even more firmly embedded in the fine particles and binder, resulting in a denser and harder paving mat.Furthermore, the additional mixing caused by the texturing pattern 164 can lead to a more homogeneous consistency of the aggregates and the fines in the paving material 102, which also leads to an improvement in the properties of the manufactured paving mat 106. To create the structure of the texturing pattern 164, a plurality of geometric texturing protrusions 166 can be attached to the otherwise flat lower material contact surface 154 of the carrier plate 150. The plurality of geometric texturing protrusions 166 can be arranged in a random or ordered pattern and spaced apart from one another to create a corresponding plurality of channeling grooves 168 located between the geometric texturing protrusions. The arrangement of the protruding elements 166 and the channeling grooves 168 results in a variable height with respect to the vertical direction 135. For example, the geometric texturing protrusions 166 can each have a three-dimensional structural shape that also projects from the lower material contact surface 154 in a spatial extent with respect to the vertical direction 135. For example, each of the plurality of geometric texturing protrusions 166 can have a mounting base 170 adapted to be attached to the lower material contact surface 152, and a projecting body 172 extending from the mounting base 170. The projecting body 172 can extend to a projecting prong 174 spaced from the mounting base 170 with respect to the vertical direction 135. The distance between the mounting base 170 and the projecting prong 174 can define the body height 176 of the geometric texturing protrusion 166 in the vertical direction 135. The geometric texturing protrusions 166 can be clearly machined from the carrier plate 150, for example by casting metallic material, and the mounting base 170 can be joined to the lower material contact surface 152 by an assembly process. To connect the geometric texturing protrusions 166 adjacent to the carrier plate 150, the mounting base 170 can be associated with a structural connection 178. The structural connection 178 can serve to securely fasten and hold the texturing protrusions 166 at defined locations within the texturing pattern 164 on the carrier plate. For example, in embodiments where the carrier plate 150 and the geometric texturing protrusions 166 are made of cast metal materials, the structural connection 178 can be a weld bead or brazing bead formed by a welding or brazing process. The structural connection 178 can extend around the circumference of the mounting base 170 at the interface with the lower material contact surface 156, so that the materials of the carrier plate 150 and the geometric texturing protrusions 166 are integrally joined or formed together.The structural connection 178 between the geometric texturing projections 166 and the carrier plate 150 can be produced by thermal heating, laser welding, or chemical processes. In another example, the structural connection 178 can be formed by a strong adhesive or adhesive cement located between the geometric texturing projections 166 and the lower material contact surface 152 of the carrier plate 150. In some possible variations, the structural connection 178 can allow the geometric texturing projections 166 to be detached from the installation board, for example by means of threaded fasteners. In another example, the fasteners can be more permanent, such as rivets. The mounting base 170 serves as a foundation or base, and the projecting body 172 corresponds in shape to the outline or perimeter of the mounting base 170. The mounting base 170 can be smooth and flat to contact and abut the correspondingly smooth and flat lower material contact surface 152 of the paving slab 150. The projecting body 172 can be dimensioned and adapted to project and extend from the lower material contact surface 152 in a vertical direction 135 when the mounting base 170 is attached to the support slab 150. The geometric texturing projections 166 can have any suitable three-dimensional shape to interact with the paving material. Furthermore, each of the plurality of geometric texturing projections 166 can have identical shapes, as shown in the texturing pattern 164 in Fig. 3, or different geometric shapes.For example, with reference to Fig. 4, the geometric texturing protrusions 166 can be three-dimensional polyhedra with a multitude of flat faces interacting along straight edges and along sharp vertices. In one example, the polyhedral projection 180 can be shaped as a rhombus with a four-sided rhombic base 182 and four intersecting edges 184. Each edge 184 of the four-sided rhombic base 182 is associated with a two-dimensional, flat, and planar face 186 extending from it. The face 186 can intersect the rhombic base 182 at an inward angle and taper to form a flat, planar prong 188. The prong 188 can run parallel to the four-sided rhombic base 182 and correspond to it in shape, so that the rhombic projection 180 is geometrically designed as a prism. In one embodiment, the shape of the polyhedral projection 180 can form a principal diagonal 190 of the rhombic base 182, extending between two opposite vertices. The rhombic base 182 can also have a minor diagonal 192 that intersects the principal diagonal 190 perpendicularly. The principal diagonal 190 is longer than the minor diagonal 192, so that the length of the rhombic base 182 is greater than its width. Furthermore, the opposite vertices associated with the principal diagonal 190 can be angularly smaller than the corresponding vertices associated with the minor diagonal 192. The polyhedral projection 180 can have a front projection edge 194 and a rear projection edge 196, which extends between the rhombic base 182 and the prong surface 188 and is formed by the intersection of two side faces 184. The front projection edge 194 can be aligned with the main diagonal 190. When the polyhedral projection 180 is attached to the lower material contact surface 152, the front projection edge 194 is aligned towards the front leading edge 156 of the support plate 150, and the rear projection edge 196 is aligned towards the rear trailing edge 158 of the support plate 150.Furthermore, the front projecting edges 194 and the rear projecting edges 196 can extend at smaller or shallower angles with respect to the rhombic base 182 and thus have a longer overall dimension than the lateral projecting edges 198, which can be associatively aligned with the shorter secondary diagonal 192 of the rhombic base 182. Referring to Fig. 5, the polyhedral projection in one example can be a delta-shaped or triangular projection, referred to herein as deltahedral projection 200, which has a three-sided triangular base 202 with three edges 204 and three lateral faces 206 extending from it. The three lateral faces 206 can extend to and intersect a prong face 208 that is parallel to and corresponds to the shape of the triangular base 202, so that the deltahedral projection 200 is a geometric prism. Furthermore, the three lateral faces 206 can be angled inwards with respect to the triangular base 202 and converge towards the prong face 208, so that the deltahedral projection 200 has a tapered shape. In one example, the delta-hedral projection 200 can be a geometrically isosceles triangle and have a longer front projection edge 210 formed along two intersecting faces 206 and orthogonal to a shorter rear projection base 212. When connected to the lower material contact surface 152 of the installation plank 136, the front projection edge 210 can be oriented towards the front leading edge 156 of the support plate 150 and the rear projection base 212 towards the rear trailing edge 158. Referring to Fig. 6, the polyhedral projection in one example can be a pentahedral projection 220 with a five-sided pentagonal base 222 having five edges 224, each of which extends from one of the five faces 226. The five faces 226 can extend to and intersect a flat, planar prong surface 228 that runs parallel to and corresponds to the shape of the pentagonal base 222. The five faces 226 can also be angled inwards with respect to the pentagonal base 222, so that the pentahedral polyhedron 220 is generally tapered. The pentagonal projection 220 can have five projection edges 230 extending between the pentagonal base 222 and the prong surface 228. In one example, the pentagonal projection 220 can have a regular pentagonal base 222, so that all projection edges 230 are of the same length, and each of the five symmetrically similar projection edges 230 can be oriented toward the front leading edge 156 when the pentagonal projection is connected to the carrier plate 150. In other examples, the pentagonal base 222 can be irregularly and asymmetrically shaped, and the five projection edges 230 can have different lengths. The asymmetric pentahedral projections can be arranged on the lower material contact surface 152 of the carrier plate 150 in a suitable orientation to reduce friction and resistance and to facilitate sliding interaction with the paving material. Referring to Fig. 7, the polygonal projection in one example can be a trapezoidal projection 240 with a four-sided trapezoidal base 242 having four edges 244, two of which can be parallel and two of which can be non-parallel. From each of the four edges 244, a trapezoidal side face 246 can extend, which together intersect a flat, planar prong surface 248 that corresponds in shape to and is parallel to the trapezoidal base 242. The four side faces 246 are oriented at an inward angle with respect to the trapezoidal base 242, so that the trapezoidal projection 240 is a tapered prism. Due to the non-parallel edges 244, the trapezoidal projection 240 can have a front surface 250 and an opposing rear surface 252. The front surface 250 can be shorter than the rear surface 252. When the trapezoidal projection 240 is connected to the support plate 150, the front surface 250 can be oriented towards the front leading edge 156 so that it is the first to encounter the paving material. The narrower width of the front surface 250 can result in the trapezoidal projection 240 encountering less resistance during operation as the structure moves through and displaces the paving material. Referring to Fig. 8, the geometric texturing protrusion in an example can have a circular, rounded, or curved shape instead of being geometrically designed as a polygonal structure. For example, a curved protrusion 260 can have a circular base 262 surrounded by a circumferential edge 264. The circumferential edge 264 can be a closed curved line extending 360° and intersecting itself as a circle. A cylindrical or conical side wall 266 can extend from the circumferential edge 264, intersecting and terminating with a flat, planar prong surface 268. The prong surface 268 can be parallel to and circular with the circular base 362, so that the curved protrusion 260 is geometrically designed as a prism.To taper the curved projection 260, the conical side wall 266 converges radially inwards with respect to the circular base 262 and can be cut off from the tine surface 268. The circular or rounded shape of the curved projection 260 results in a symmetrical geometry that allows the curved projection 260 to be mounted in any desired orientation with respect to the front leading edge and rear trailing edge 156, 158 of the carrier plate 150. In other examples, the curved projection 260 can have an oval or elliptical mounting base and a corresponding geometry. The asymmetrically curved projections can be mounted on the lower material contact surface 152 of the carrier plate 150 in a suitable orientation to reduce friction and resistance and to facilitate a sliding interaction with the paving material. For example, with reference to Fig. 9, a geometric texturing projection with an asymmetrically curved geometry in the form of a teardrop- or spherical projection 270 is shown.The teardrop projection 270 can have a flat, planar mounting base 272 surrounded by a curved edge 274, geometrically shaped like a teardrop. A corresponding curved surface or side wall 276 extends from the curved edge 274 and intersects a flat, planar prong surface 278. The prong surface 278 runs parallel to the mounting base 272 and corresponds to it in shape, so that the teardrop projection 270 is a three-dimensional prismatic structure. The teardrop projection 270 can have a leading or front projection edge 280 that corresponds to the intersection of the curved sidewall 276 with itself. The leading projection edge 280 can be angled with respect to the mounting base 272 such that the forward-facing sections of the curved sidewall 276 taper near the leading projection edge 280 between the curved edge 274 and the prong surface 278. When the teardrop projection 270 is attached to the lower material contact surface 152, the leading projection edge 280 is directed toward the front leading edge 156 of the support plate 150 to penetrate the paving material and reduce sliding resistance. To complete the teardrop shape, the teardrop projection 270 can also have a curved or U-shaped rear surface 282 opposite the front projection edge 280, extending between the mounting base 272 and the prong surface 278. In addition to the geometric prism shape, where the prong surface 176 is generally parallel and corresponds in shape to the mounting base 170, the geometric texturing protrusions 166 can also be designed as geometric pyramids. A pyramidal protrusion can be characterized by having a mounting base with a specific area and one or more lateral faces that converge at a common point or prong tip. For example, with reference to Fig. 10, a geometric texturing projection in the form of a pyramidal projection 290 is shown, which has a polygonal base 292 suitable for attachment to the mounting board and a single-pointed prong 294 spaced apart from the polygonal base 292. A plurality of side faces 296, which may have a triangular shape, can extend between the polygonal base 292 and the prong 294. The plurality of side faces 296 converge at an angle from the mounting base 292 towards the prong 294, so that the pyramidal projection 290 has a tapered geometry. The polygonal base 292 can have any shape, and the flat side faces 296 can be present in any number, so that the pyramidal projection 290 can have various geometric configurations. With reference to Fig. 11, a geometric texturing protrusion is shown, which geometrically corresponds to a curved or rounded pyramid, such as a conical protrusion 300. The conical protrusion 300 may have a circular mounting base 302 with a defined area and a prong tip 304 spaced apart from the circular base 302. A continuous conical side surface 306 may extend between the circular base 302 and the prong tip 304. The conical side surfaces converge radially inward between the circular base 302 and the prong tip 304, so that the conical protrusion 300 is conically shaped. The geometric texturing protrusions 166 described herein are exemplary, and the geometric texturing protrusions may have other suitable shapes and designs sufficient to interact with the paving material and produce a homogeneous and dense paving mat.The shape and design of the geometric texturing projections 166 can be selectively designed and adapted to the respective installation methods. For example, the geometric design of the texturing projections 166 can be adapted to work with specific compositions of paving materials, for example, based on the size of the aggregates and the viscosity of the binder. As another example, the body height 176 of the geometric texturing projections 166 can be adjusted according to the depth of the paving mat to be produced. The texturing pattern 164 can be structurally characterized by the fact that the geometric texturing projections 166 are arranged in successive lateral rows of projections 310, which are aligned parallel to the front leading edges and rear trailing edges 156, 158 in the lateral direction 134. For example, as shown in Fig. 3, the successive lateral element rows 310 can generally extend between the parallel first and second side edges 160, 162 across the lateral width of the support plate 150.In a particular example, the texturing pattern 164 can comprise a plurality of successive lateral projection rows 310, including a first projection row 312 extending adjacent to and parallel with the leading front edge 156 of the beam installation plank 150, and a second lateral projection row 314 located behind the first lateral projection row 312 with respect to the direction of travel 108. A third lateral projection row 316 can be located behind the second lateral projection row 314, such that the texturing pattern 164 extends toward the trailing rear edge 158 of the beam installation plank 150. The geometric texturing elements 166 in each of the successive lateral projection rows 310 can be laterally spaced from one another in the lateral direction 134, resulting in a dimensional projection spacing 318. The lateral spacing associated with the projection spacing 318 can create the channel groove 168 delineated between the plurality of geometric texturing projections 166. The channeling grooves 168 guide the paving material between the adjacent projecting elements 166 as the lower textured surface 152 moves relative to the work surface. The channeling grooves 168 can generally extend along the direction of travel 108 over the length of the lower textured surface 152. The successive rows of lateral projections 310 of the texturing pattern 164 can be arranged offset from one another. For example, the geometric texturing projections 166 of the second row of lateral projections 314 can be laterally displaced and offset in the lateral direction 134 relative to the plurality of geometric texturing projections 166 in the first row of lateral projections 312. The geometric texturing projections 166 of the second row of lateral projections 314 are arranged at the projection spacing 318 of the first row of lateral projections 312 and are therefore inserted between the respective geometric texturing projections 166 of the first row of lateral projections 312. The geometric texturing projections 166 of the third row of lateral projections 316 can be aligned with the geometric texturing projections 166 in the first row of lateral projections 312 with respect to the direction of travel 108.As a result of the lateral displacement of the successive lateral projection rows 310 of the texturing pattern 164, the channeling grooves 168 can assume an oblique or zigzag pattern across the lower textured surface 152, while the channeling grooves extend from the front leading edge 156 toward the rear trailing edge 158. The curved or laterally displaced pattern of the channeling groove 168 contributes to physically manipulating and mixing the paving material moving within it. In one embodiment, the installation plank 136 can have a lateral leveling band 320 to aid in smoothing the manufactured paving mat. The lateral leveling band 320 is arranged adjacent to the rear edge 158 of the lower textured surface 152. The lateral leveling band 320 can be located behind the texturing pattern 164 in the direction of travel 108. The lateral leveling band 320 is characterized by the absence of any protruding elements 166 and channeling grooves 168 of the texturing pattern 164 and thus has a flat, planar design. The lateral leveling band 320 can occupy the remaining 15% to 33%, in particular the remaining 20%, of the length of the lowered textured surface 152 in the direction of travel 108 of the installation plank 136.The vertical flatness of the lateral leveling strip 320 can serve to further compact and smooth the paving material moving under the installation plank plate 136. To attach the installation plank panel 136 to the installation plank frame, the support plate 150 can have one or more fastening devices 322, 324 arranged on the upper fastening surface 154. The fastening devices 322 can be designed as opposing claws extending in the lateral direction 134 across the upper fastening surface 154, with a first fastening device 322 located at the front leading edge 156 and the second fastening device 324 located near the rear trailing edge 158. The fastening devices 322, 324 can engage with and disengage from corresponding structures on the installation plank frame to detachably fasten the installation plank panel 136. In addition to the claw-like design, the fastening devices 322, 324 can utilize different connection techniques and structures for fastening the installation plank panel and the installation plank frame. Commercial applicability With reference to Fig. 12 and with further reference to the preceding figures, an exemplary flowchart of a method and process for manufacturing a paving screed 136 with a texturing pattern 164 for the physical processing of aggregated paving material during an installation operation is presented. Aspects of the illustrated manufacturing process 400 can be carried out in a production facility or industrial plant to produce paving screed 136 in large quantities on an industrial scale. Aspects of the manufacturing process 400 can also be carried out on-site to adapt and retrofit existing paving screed 136 with flat, level, bottom material contact surfaces 154 to incorporate a texturing pattern 164 as described herein.Additionally, aspects of the manufacturing process 400 can be carried out to repair and refurbish paving slabs 136 where the three-dimensional texturing pattern 164 has been worn or damaged, for example, through prolonged interaction with abrasive paving materials. Repair or retrofit kits containing a variety of geometric texturing protrusions 166 and associated hardware can be provided for this purpose. To manufacture the structural components, the manufacturing process 400 can include a plate manufacturing step 402 in which the carrier plate 150 is produced. For example, the carrier plate 150 can be cast by introducing molten metal into a suitably shaped mold and subsequent hardening. In another example, the carrier plate 150 can be machined from existing stock material during the plate manufacturing step 402. Other possible materials suitable for the carrier plate include ceramics and plastics. The carrier plate 150 can also be produced from other materials and using other methods. The carrier plate 150 can be manufactured with a flat, planar lower material contact surface 152. The manufacturing process 400 may also include a protrusion manufacturing step 404 in which a variety of geometric texturing protrusions 166 are produced. In various examples, the protrusion manufacturing step 404 may produce the geometric texturing protrusions 166 by casting steel or metal alloys, or it may involve machining with conventional machine tools. Other possible materials suitable for the geometric texturing protrusions include ceramics and plastics. In some examples, the geometric texturing protrusions 166 themselves may be composed of one or more subcomponents. The manufacturing process 400 can next include an assembly step 408 in which the carrier plate 150 and the plurality of geometric texturing projections 166 are assembled to create the texturing pattern 164, which is arranged on the lower material contact surface 152. The texturing pattern 164 can arrange and align the plurality of geometric texturing projections 166 in successive rows between the front edge 156 and the rear edge 158 of the installation plank 136, as shown in Fig. 3. The aligned texturing pattern 164 can create the offset and laterally displaceable arrangement of the channeling grooves 168 formed between the geometric texturing projections 166. In other embodiments, for example, when the installation plank 136 is assembled on-site in a changeover operation, the positions of the geometric texturing projections 166 in the texturing pattern 164 can be random.Assembly step 408 can include arranging the mounting protrusions 170 of the plurality of geometric texturing protrusions 166 adjacent to the flat, planar lower material contact surface 152 of the carrier plate, such that the projecting body 172 protrudes from the lower material contact surface 152 and the projecting prong 174 is vertically spaced 135 apart from it in the vertical direction. Indicators can be provided or included on the lower material contact surface 152 to assist in the placement of the plurality of geometric texturing protrusions 166 within the texturing pattern 164. To secure and fix the plurality of geometric texturing protrusions 166 arranged on the carrier plate 150, assembly step 408 can include an assembly and joining operation 410 or a sub-step. Various techniques can be used for the assembly and joining operation 410.For example, the geometric texturing protrusions 166 can be physically bonded to the lower material contact surface 152 of the carrier plate 152 in an adhesive bonding process 412. In one particular example, the adhesive bonding process 412 can be a welding or brazing process in which the metallic, geometric texturing protrusions 166 are structurally joined to the material of the carrier plate 150, with or without filler material, depending on the convention. The adhesive bonding process 412 can create the structural connection 178 between the geometric texturing protrusion 166 and the carrier plate 150 shown in Fig. 3. In another example, the adhesive bonding process 412 can use adhesive or cement to join the geometric texturing protrusions 166 and the carrier plate 150. In another example, the assembly and joining step 410 can utilize alignment features to align the geometric texturing protrusions 166 with respect to the texturing pattern 164 and to facilitate their connection with the carrier plate 150. The alignment of the geometric texturing protrusions 166 can be achieved by an alignment operation 414. The alignment operation 414 can assist in the production of texturing patterns 164 that exhibit an ordered arrangement of the plurality of geometric texturing protrusions 166, such as successive rows. Referring to Fig. 13, in one example of generating the alignment features 416, the carrier plate 150 can have a plurality of alignment recesses 418 arranged in the lower material contact surface 152.The alignment recesses 418 can be voids cast or machined into the carrier plate 150, accessible from the lower material contact surface 152, and whose shape corresponds to the geometric texturing projections 166. For example, if the geometric texturing projections 166 are rhombic or polyhedral, the plurality of alignment recesses 418 can each be formed as rhombuses or polygons of similar shape and size, projecting into the lower material contact surface 152 of the carrier plate 150. To utilize the alignment features 416, each geometric texturing projection 166 is oriented toward its respective alignment recess 418, with the mounting base 170 facing the lower material contact surface 152.The contour of the mounting base 170 can correspond to the shape of the alignment recess 418, allowing the geometric texturing projection 166 to be inserted into it and form a sliding fit. The depth of the alignment recess 418 can be dimensioned to accommodate the mounting base 170, with the projecting body 172 extending beyond the lower material contact surface 152. The geometric texturing projections 166 received in the alignment recess 418 can be structurally bonded to the carrier plate 150, for example, by the adhesive bonding process 412. One advantage of the alignment features 416 is the maintenance of the orientation of the plurality of geometric texturing protrusions 166 within the texturing pattern 164. For example, if the geometric texturing protrusions 166 include front protrusion edges and rear protrusion edges, these features can be correctly oriented and aligned with respect to the front leading edge 156 and the rear trailing edge 158 of the support plate 150. The alignment features 166 can also maintain the desired spacing of the plurality of geometric texturing protrusions 166 within the texturing pattern 164 to create the desired shape and arrangement of the channeling grooves 168. The alignment features 416 thus facilitate the assembly of the installation plank plate 136. In another example, the geometric texturing protrusions 166 can be removable from the carrier plate 150. For instance, if the projecting body 172 of a single geometric texturing protrusion 166 becomes worn or damaged, the component can be removed and replaced as part of a fastening operation 420. To facilitate removable fastening, with reference to Fig. 14, the geometric texturing protrusions can have one or more fastening openings 422 arranged in the structure of the mounting base 170. The fastening opening 422 can consist of cylindrical holes or bores designed to receive a threaded fastener 424 that can engage in a corresponding threaded bore arranged in the lower material contact surface 152 of the carrier plate 150.During the fastening process 420, the threaded bolts 424 can fasten the geometric texturing protrusions 166 to the carrier plate 150 in the texturing pattern 164 and can be unscrewed if necessary to remove the geometric texturing protrusions 166. In one embodiment, the mounting base 170 can have a circumferential rim 426 or a flange that projects laterally with respect to the projecting body 172. The fastening openings 422 can be integrated into the circumferential rim 426 for improved accessibility. In another embodiment, the fastening openings 422 can be arranged within the structure of the projecting body 172. The fastening openings 422 can be provided with countersinks to accommodate the heads of the fasteners and to prevent disturbance of the paving material during sliding contact. The use of fasteners 424 to connect the geometric texturing projections 166 to the carrier plate 150 can facilitate the retrofitting of existing paving slabs 136. It is evident that the foregoing description provides examples of the disclosed system and technology.However, it is conceivable that other implementations of the disclosure may differ in detail from the preceding examples. All references to the disclosure or to examples thereof are to refer to the specific example described at that point and are not intended to imply any limitation of the general scope of the disclosure. Any expression of distinction or disparity with respect to certain features is not intended to indicate any preference for those features, nor is it intended to exclude them entirely from the scope of the disclosure, unless otherwise stated. The specification of value ranges is intended merely as a shorthand notation for referring to each individual value falling within the range, unless otherwise stated herein, and each individual value is included in the description as if it were listed separately. All procedures described herein may be carried out in any suitable order, unless otherwise stated or the context clearly indicates otherwise. The use of the terms "a", "one", "an", "a", "a", and "the", "a", and "at least one" or the term "one or more" and similar references in the context of the description of the invention (particularly in the context of the following claims) shall be interpreted as covering both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise specified herein or clearly contradicted in the context. The use of the term "at least one" followed by a list of one or more elements (for example, "at least one of A and B" or "one or more of A and B") shall be interpreted as meaning the selection of one element from the listed elements (A or B) or a combination of two or more of the listed elements (A and B), unless otherwise specified herein or clearly contradicted in the context.Accordingly, to the extent permitted by law, this disclosure includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter specified in the claims attached herein. Furthermore, any combination of the elements described above in all possible variations thereof is included in the disclosure, unless otherwise stated herein or the context clearly indicates otherwise. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature US 10,156,050

[0004]

Claims

Paving screed plate (136) for a paving screed assembly (130) towed by a mobile paver (100), comprising: a support plate (150) with a front leading edge (156), a rear trailing edge, an upper mounting surface (154) extending between the front leading edge (156) and the rear trailing edge, and a lower material contact surface (152) suitable for compacting and compressing paving material (102) sliding under the paving screed plate (136); a plurality of geometric texturing projections (166) mountable on the support plate (136), each of the plurality of geometric texturing projections (166) having a mounting base (170) adapted for adjacent placement on the support plate (150) and a projecting body adapted to project from the lower material contact surface (152);and a structural connection (178) that connects one or more of the plurality of geometric texturing projections (166) to the support plate (150). Installation plank plate (136) according to claim 1, wherein the structural connection (178) comprises one or more of a weld bead, a brazing bead, an adhesive and a fastening means (424). Installation plank plate (136) according to claim 1, wherein the geometric texturing projection (166) is a geometric prism comprising a prong surface (176) which generally faces the mounting base (170) and corresponds to it in shape. Installation plank plate (136) according to claim 3, wherein the geometric texturing projection (166) is a polyhedral projection (180). Installation plank plate (136) according to claim 4, wherein the polyhedral projection (180) is one or more of a rhombic projection (180), a deltahedral projection (200), a pentahedral projection (220) and a trapezoidal projection (240). Installation plank plate (136) according to claim 3, wherein the geometric texturing projection (166) is a curved projection (260). Installation plank plate (136) according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of geometric texturing projections (166) are arranged in a texturing pattern (164) with successive lateral projection rows (310) on the support plate (150) generally parallel to the front leading edge (156) and to the rear trailing edge. Installation plank plate (136) according to claim 7, wherein the texturing pattern (164) has a plurality of channeling grooves (168) that are delimited between the plurality of geometric texturing projections (166) that are generally aligned orthogonally to the front leading edge (156) and the rear trailing edge. Installation plank plate (136) according to claim 8, wherein the successive lateral projection rows (310) are offset and each of the plurality of channeling grooves (168) is laterally displaced between the front leading edge (156) and the rear trailing edge. Method for manufacturing an installation plank plate (136) with a texturing pattern (164) for physically manipulating installation material (102), the method comprising: manufacturing a carrier plate (150) having a front leading edge (156), a rear trailing edge, an upper mounting surface (154) and a lower material contact surface (152) opposite the upper mounting surface (154); manufacturing a plurality of geometric texturing protrusions (166), each having a mounting base (170) mountable to the carrier plate (150) and a projecting body designed to project from the lower material contact surface (152); assembling the plurality of geometric texturing protrusions (166) in a texturing pattern (164) on the lower material contact surface (152);and connecting the multitude of geometric texturing protrusions (166) with the support plate (150) in a fixed relationship within the texturing pattern (164).;

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