Method and apparatus for spreading aggregate and road building materials related to vehicle speed

Abstract

A spreader assembly for the controlled delivery to a surface of granular materials such as aggregates from a hopper in communication with a source of the materials external to said assembly; wherein the assembly comprises; an opening to said hopper which receives said materials from said materials source, a discharge opening from the hopper, a gate or gates adjacent said discharge opening; control means for adjusting the rate and or quantity (weight or volume) of said materials delivered from said hopper; wherein the control means includes means to receive at least one input parameter and means to convert said at least one input parameter into an output parameter for performing at least one mechanical activity in the assembly; wherein the rate or quantity at which said material is delivered is dependent upon the at least one input parameter and said mechanical activity.

Description

BACKGROUND [0001] The present invention relates to methods and apparatuses for delivery of materials such as but not limited to aggregates and more particularly relates to an improved method for delivery of such aggregates from a spreader assembly and a system for controlling that delivery. The invention further relates to an attachable assembly for fixing to a vehicle having a source of granular material and the like and a control system for controlling the delivery of the material from the assembly. PRIOR ART [0002] Aggregates are widely used globally in pavement and road construction either for providing a road or pavement base or a durable wear surface which stands up to heavy traffic wear. One method of road construction involves preparing a sub grade surface, coating that sub grade with a layer of bitumen or the like and spreading gravel, metal aggregate road base or the like over the surface of the bitumen. This process is carried out partly by machine and partly by human lab...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004] The present invention provides an improved apparatus and method for the spreading of construction materials such as aggregates in such applications as, but not limited to road pavement construction. More particularly, the invention provides an apparatus and method for the automated and controlled delivery of construction materials particularly in road pavement surfacing. The invention operates to accurately spread granular material such as but not limited to aggregate, according to a predetermined rate on to a surface such as a road pavement or the like. The invention further provides an apparatus which is capable of computer control of both small and large material delivery jobs and which removes the inaccuracies of operation of the known equipment and provides economies by reduction of human labour and elimination of materials losses caused by oversupply per unit area.

Problems solved by technology

This has proven to be difficult according to the prior art methods, as the use of manual labour in part of the process leads to inaccuracies in the distribution of the materials.

Not only is there a high labour cost component when manual input is employed but also a high wastage component due to human error in material spreading.

If too much aggregate is deposited on a surface, apart from the economic waste, there is a safety hazard from gravel mounds which often result from manual spreading.

The prior art apparatuses have not, provided an aggregate discharge assembly which can be accurately controlled to deliver an accurate design quantity of material from a hopper and which may be calibrated and adjusted to compensate for assembly and operation parameters which influence discharge rate and quantity.

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