QUICK-CHANGE SYSTEM FOR BOARD PLATES

Abstract

A road paver (10) is disclosed, comprising a frame (12), a motor (14) mounted on the frame (12), several ground engagement elements (16) supporting the frame (12), a drive train functionally arranged between the motor (14) and the ground engagement elements (16), a screed frame (38) pivotably attached to the frame (12), and a screed plate (42) attached to the screed frame (38), wherein either the screed frame (38) or the screed plate (42) has a locking structure (46), wherein the other element, either the screed frame (38) or the screed plate (42), has a complementarily shaped cavity (48), wherein the locking structure (48) and the cavity (48) are locked together by friction.

Description

Technical field

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to road pavers and in particular to systems for attaching plank panels to road pavers. State of the art

[0002] Asphalt pavers are well-known machines used to lay asphalt for the construction of roads, highways, parking lots, and other surfaces requiring a smooth, durable surface for cars, trucks, and other vehicles to drive on. An asphalt paver typically consists of a motorized tractor or similar vehicle to which a hopper is attached to receive hot asphalt. A conveyor belt carries the material from the hopper to an auger, which rotates to spread the asphalt across the entire width of the machine as the paver moves forward.

[0003] To compact the asphalt and give it a uniform thickness and appearance, a screed plate is used. More precisely, one or more screed plates are attached to a screed frame. The screed plate can be raised and lowered depending on the desired road thickness, the topography of the subgrade, and other factors. Since the screed plate is the component that actively holds and smooths the asphalt, it is subject to considerable wear. Over time, the screed plates must therefore be removed and replaced with new ones.

[0004] Removing and replacing a screed plate, however, involves considerable effort and time. Perhaps more importantly, each time the screed plate is replaced, the paver is out of operation, negatively impacting performance, efficiency, and profitability. Traditionally, such screed plates are attached to the screed frame with a series of bolts, washers, and nuts, all of which must be loosened and removed to take out the old screed plate. The new screed plate must then be installed in reverse order. Furthermore, these nuts and bolts are subject to heavy wear, rust, and seizing due to the environment in which such pavers operate.

[0005] US Patent No. 10,156,049 discloses a system for attaching a plank panel to a plank frame, but using retaining devices and fasteners in a manner similar to the one described above. Therefore, there is a need for a more efficient system for attaching a plank panel to a plank frame so that it can be removed and replaced more easily and quickly. Summary of Disclosure

[0006] According to one aspect of the disclosure, a road paver is disclosed comprising a frame, a motor mounted on the frame, a plurality of ground engagement elements supporting the frame, a drive train functionally arranged between the motor and the plurality of ground engagement elements, a screed pivotably attached to the frame, and a screed plate attached to the screed frame, wherein either the screed frame or the screed plate has a locking structure and the other element has a complementarily shaped cavity, wherein the locking structure and the cavity are locked together by friction.

[0007] According to another aspect of the disclosure, a method for attaching a screed to a screed frame of a road paver is disclosed. The method may include: providing a road paver with a frame, a frame-supported motor, several frame-supporting ground engagement elements, and a drive train functionally connecting the motor and several wheels; pivotally attaching a screed to the frame of the road paver; and attaching a screed to the screed frame by frictional engagement of a locking structure provided on one of the screed frames and the screed, with a complementarily shaped cavity provided in the other of the screed frames and the screed.

[0008] According to another aspect of the disclosure, a quick-change system for a screed of a road paver is disclosed, which may comprise a screed, a screed frame, a locking structure provided on the screed or screed frame and a cavity provided in the screed or screed frame, wherein the cavity is shaped complementarily to the locking structure so that the locking structure fits into the cavity.

[0009] These and other aspects and features of the present disclosure will be better understood with reference to the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Brief description of the drawings Fig. Figure 1 is a perspective view of a road paver constructed according to the teachings of the present revelation. Fig. Figure 2 is a side view of a road paver according to the teachings of the present disclosure. Fig. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the hopper of a road paver, showing an internal conveyor. Fig. Figure 4 is a schematic top view of the plank plate and plank frame with nested locking mechanism and cavity. Fig. Figure 5 is a schematic exploded view of Fig. 4. Fig. Figure 6 is a perspective view of a locking mechanism. Fig. Figure 7 is a perspective view of a cavity within a plank frame. Fig. Figure 8 is a perspective view of the locking mechanism. Fig. 6, which is in the cavity made of Fig. 7 is nested. Fig. Figure 9 is a flowchart that represents an example sequence of steps according to a procedure of the present disclosure.

[0010] Although the embodiments shown provide some exemplary approaches that include parts of the present invention, it is understood that these embodiments are not exhaustive and can be extended to additional embodiments as known to a person skilled in the art in this field. Detailed description

[0011] With reference to the drawings and in particular to Fig. 1. A road paver constructed according to the present disclosure shall be generally referred to by reference numeral 10. Although the following detailed description refers specifically to the road paver 10, it is understood that the teachings of the present disclosure can be applied to any other working machine for carrying out earthmoving, construction or agricultural activities.

[0012] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the road paver 10 comprises a frame 12 that supports a motor or other drive unit 14. The frame is supported for movement by a plurality of ground engagement elements 16. As shown, the plurality of ground engagement elements 16 are provided in the form of wheels 17, but the ground engagement elements 16 can also be provided in the form of endless tracks 18, as shown in Figure 1. Fig. 2 shown. Also supported by frame 12 is a driver's seat 20.

[0013] A hopper 24 is provided at a front end 22 of the road paver 12. The hopper 24 includes an open upper end 26 for receiving hot paving material such as asphalt. The hot paving material can be fed into the hopper 24 by a dump truck, wheel loader, or the like (not shown). To convey the hot paving material from the hopper 24 onto the roadway 28, a conveyor 30 or other assisting mechanism is mounted in a base 32 of the hopper 24, as best shown in Fig. Figure 3 shows that when the conveyor 30 is in operation, the hot asphalt moves along the hopper and through a feed slot 36 at the rear of the paver and is distributed onto a screw conveyor 33, which rotates and distributes the asphalt evenly in front of a screed 25, as described in more detail below.

[0014] To produce a uniformly dense and correctly dimensioned road surface 40 for use as a required road, parking lot, or the like, one or more screed panels 42 are attached to a screed frame 38. Furthermore, it should be noted that the screed 25 is designed so that it can be raised and lowered relative to the road surface (e.g., by a hydraulic cylinder 39) to control the thickness of the applied road surface 40. Although the screed panel 42 is described here as a single screed panel 42, it should be noted that, depending on the desired width of the surface to be laid, several screed panels 42' can also be used on a road paver 10. Typically, three (3) screed panels with flanking screed panels 42' on both sides of the main screed panel 42 are provided, but other numbers of panels are also possible.

[0015] However, since the screed plate 42 is the component of the paver 10 that comes into the most contact with the road surface 40 when the paver 10 moves forward (arrow 45) to lay further road surfaces, the screed plate 42 is subject to considerable wear. Over time, the screed plate 42 wears down and therefore eventually needs to be replaced. With conventional screed systems, this replacement was very labor-intensive and time-consuming. Perhaps even more importantly, however, the time-consuming replacement of the conventional screed plate meant that the paver 10 was out of operation, producing no paving and therefore not profitable.

[0016] Traditionally, the plank plate 42 was fastened to the plank frame 38 with a series of nuts, bolts, washers, and similar fasteners. Removing these fasteners not only required suitable tools, but due to the harsh environment in which the plank plate 42 operated, the fasteners themselves were subject to considerable wear, rust, and seizing, further increasing the time required for their removal.

[0017] The present disclosure therefore represents a significant improvement over this previous approach. As in Fig. As shown in Figure 4, this is achieved by providing a quick-change system 44 for the plank plate 42, without the need for conventional nuts, bolts, or similar fasteners. Referring to the Fig. Figures 4-5 show the plank panel 42 removablely attached to the plank frame 38. This is possible without conventional fasteners by using its novel quick-change system 44. The quick-change system 44 comprises a locking structure 46 and a complementarily shaped cavity 48. One of the locking structures 46 and the cavity 48 are provided in the plank frame 38, while the other locking structure 46 and cavity 48 are provided in the plank panel 42. In the illustrated embodiment, the locking structure 46 is provided in the plank panel 42 and the cavity 48 is provided in the plank frame 38; however, it is understood that they can also be provided in the reverse orientation.

[0018] How best to Fig. As shown in Figure 5, the locking structure 46 can be wedge-shaped, with the cavity 48 having a complementary shape so that the locking structure 46 can engage in the cavity 48. More precisely, the locking structure 46 has a first wall 50 and a second wall 51 arranged in a V-shape. The first wall 50 and the second wall 51 are connected by a front wall 52 and a rear wall 53, so that the locking structure 46 as a whole forms a trapezoidal shape. Furthermore, the locking structure 46 has a first width 54 at a front end 56 and a second width 58 at a rear end 59, the first width 54 being smaller than the second width 58.

[0019] Similarly, the cavity 48 has a first recess 60 and a second recess 61, which form the V-shaped cavity 48. The first recess 60 and the second recess 61 can be connected by a third recess 62, with the space 64 being open to the third recess 62. Furthermore, the cavity 48 has a first width 65 at a front end 66 and a second width 68 at a rear end 70, the first width 65 being less than the second width 68.

[0020] Although the locking structure 46 and the complementary shaped cavity 48 are described as wedge-shaped or V-shaped, it should be noted that other shapes are also possible, such as trapezoidal, triangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, U-shaped, teardrop-shaped, dovetail-shaped, and the like. Since the locking structure 46 and the complementary shaped cavity 48 are held together by friction, shapes that increase the total surface area in frictional engagement are most desirable.

[0021] With reference to the Fig. Figures 6-8 now illustrate in sequence how the locking structure 46 is fitted into the cavity 48. More precisely, the locking structure 46 described above is in Fig. 6 shown, and the cavity 48 described above is in Fig. 7 is shown and provided within the plank frame 38. It is understood that, for the sake of simplicity and better understanding, the locking structure 46 is shown in Fig. 6 is not shown as being attached to the plank plate 42. The plank plate 42 is attached to the plank frame 38 by pushing the locking structure 46 into the cavity 48, as shown in Fig. 8 shown.

[0022] By aligning the front ends 56 and 66 in the direction of travel of the paver, the locking structure 46 moves into the cavity 48, with the front end 56 of the locking structure engaging with the front end 66 of the cavity and the rear end 58 of the locking structure engaging with the rear end 70 of the cavity. To connect the components, they can be tapped into place, for example, with a hammer or similar tool. Further forward movement of the paver 10 creates sufficient friction between the locking structure 46 and the cavity 48 to lock the screed plate 42 to the screed frame 38. No external fasteners are required, although a locking pin, such as a cotter pin, can be used if desired. Furthermore, in the Fig. 6-8 to recognize that the walls 50 and 51 and the recesses 60 and 61 may be beveled or chamfered to facilitate mounting.

[0023] When sufficient wear occurs to necessitate the replacement of the screed plate 42, the screed plate 42 can be easily removed from the screed frame 38 by applying sufficient force in the opposite direction, for example with a hammer or similar tool, to overcome the frictional stress. In this way, the time required to replace the screed plate 42 and the downtime for the entire paver 10 are reduced by an order of magnitude compared to the prior art. Industrial applicability

[0024] It is evident from the foregoing that the technology disclosed herein is industrially applicable in a wide variety of environments, for example, but not limited to, road pavers or any other work machine with interchangeable parts. More specifically, the present disclosure is industrially applicable to provide a system by which screed panels can be quickly attached to and removed from a road paver.

[0025] In operation and with reference to Fig.9 A method for attaching a screed 42 to a road paver 10 is generally referred to by reference numeral 100. In a first step 102, the road paver 10 is provided. The road paver 10 can include the frame 12 to which the motor 14 is attached. The frame 12 can be supported by several ground engagement elements 16, with a drive train functionally connecting the motor 14 to the several ground engagement elements 16.

[0026] In a second step 104, the plank frame 38 is pivotally attached to the frame 12 of the paver. This creates a structure to which the plank panel or panels 42 can be detachably attached.

[0027] In a third step 106, the plank panel 42 is attached to the plank frame 38 by the locking structure on one of the two elements, the plank frame 38 or the plank panel 42, engaging by friction in the complementary shaped cavity on the other element, the plank frame 38 or the plank panel 42. This can be achieved by aligning the complementary shaped cavity 48 with the locking structure 46 and pushing the two components together so that the locking structure 46 snaps into the cavity 48, and then tapping the components together with a hammer or similar tool.

[0028] Although the foregoing descriptions and illustrations encompass some embodiments of the present disclosure, it is understood that the scope of the invention is not limited to such embodiments.

[0029] embodiments are limited, but are instead covered by the following claims and their equivalents. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] 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

[0000] US 10,156,049

[0005]

Claims

[1] A road paver (10), comprising a frame (12); a motor (14) mounted on the frame (12); a multitude of ground-penetrating elements (16) that support the frame (12); a drive train which is functionally arranged between the motor (14) and a plurality of ground engagement elements (16); a plank frame (38) positioned behind the frame (12) and pivotably attached to it, the plank frame (38) having a front end and a rear end, the front end being closer to the frame than the rear end; and a plank plate (42) attached to the plank frame (38), wherein either the plank frame (38) or the plank plate (42) has a locking structure (46), wherein the other element of the plank frame (38) and the plank plate (42) has a complementarily shaped cavity (48), wherein the locking structure (46) and the cavity (48) are locked together by friction. [2] The road paver (10) according to claim 1, wherein the locking structure (46) is designed to have a wedge shape. [3] The road paver (10) according to claim 1, wherein the locking structure (46) is designed to have a triangular shape. [4] The road paver (10) according to claim 1, wherein the locking structure (46) is designed to have a trapezoidal shape. [5] The road paver (10) according to claim 1, wherein the locking structure (46) has a first width (54) in the forward direction and a second width (58) in the reverse direction, wherein the first width (54) is smaller than the second width (58). [6] The road paver (10) according to claim 1, wherein the locking structure (46) is provided on the screed frame (38) and the cavity (48) is provided in the screed plate (42). [7] The road paver (10) according to claim 1, wherein the locking structure (46) is provided on the plank plate (42) and the cavity (48) is provided in the plank frame (38). [8] Method (100) for attaching a plank panel (42) to a plank frame (38) of a road paver (10), comprising: Providing a road paver (10) with a frame (12), a motor (14) supported by the frame (12), several ground engagement elements (16) supporting the frame (12) and a drive train that functionally connects the motor (14) and the several ground engagement elements (16), pivotable attachment of a plank frame (38) to the frame (12) of the road paver; Fastening a plank plate (42) to the plank frame (38) by frictionally engaging a locking structure (46) provided on one of the plank frames (38) and the plank plate (42) with a complementarily shaped cavity (48) provided in the other of the plank frames (38) and the plank plate (42), wherein the locking structure (46) engages in the cavity (48). [9] Method (100) according to claim 8, further comprising providing the locking structure (46) in a wedge shape. [10] The method (100) according to claim 8, which further comprises operating the road paver (10), wherein the plank plate (42) is attached to the plank frame (38), wherein only surface friction is used between the plank plate (42) and the plank frame (38). [11] The method (100) according to claim 10, which further comprises removing the plank plate (42) from the plank frame (38) by exerting a force against the plank plate (42) in a direction opposite to the forward direction of the road paver (10). [12] The method (100) according to claim 8, which further comprises attaching the locking structure (46) having a first width (54) in the forward direction and a second width (58) in the reverse direction, wherein the first width (54) is less than the second width (58). [13] The method (100) according to claim 8, which further comprises attaching the locking structure (46) to the plank frame (38) and to the cavity (48) in the plank plate (42). [14] The method (100) according to claim 8, which further comprises providing the locking structure (46) on the plank plate (42) and the cavity (48) in the plank frame (38).

Images