Paver Hopper Side Wing for Automatic Material Sweeping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pavers with movable front parts for hopper units are expensive, maintenance-intensive, and require manual labor for material removal, posing safety risks.
Innovation Solution
A paver design with a hopper unit that includes a first side wing pivotally attached to a base portion, rotating inwardly to automatically sweep paving material from a stationary front part onto a conveyor unit without hydraulic actuators, utilizing the geometry of the wing and hopper movement for inward rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a movable front part with hydraulic cylinders is used to automatically remove material, then automation is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The side wing is designed to automatically perform the material removal function by utilizing the existing movement of the hopper unit. As the hopper unit moves between raised and lowered positions, the side wing passively sweeps material onto the conveyor without requiring its own power source or control system, achieving automation through self-service.
Solution Approach 2:
The side wing serves multiple functions: it acts as a structural component of the hopper unit, a material sweeping device, and a gravity-fed conveyor assist. By making the side wing multi-functional, the patent eliminates the need for dedicated hydraulic actuators while maintaining automatic material removal capability.
2Extent of automation
If a movable front part with hydraulic cylinders is used, then automatic material removal is achieved, but maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the hydraulic actuation system from the material removal function. By removing the hydraulic cylinders and their associated control systems, the design eliminates the maintenance burden of complex mechanical-hydraulic components while retaining automatic operation through the side wing's passive sweeping action.
3Device complexity
If manual material removal is used, then device complexity is reduced, but labor requirements and safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The side wing automatically performs the material removal task that would otherwise require manual labor. The existing hopper movement serves dual purposes: positioning the hopper and simultaneously activating the side wing to sweep material, eliminating the need for operators to manually remove material while keeping the structure simple.
4Extent of automation
If hydraulic cylinders are used to move the front part, then automation is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The side wing is designed as a simple, inexpensive structural component that performs the automation function without requiring expensive hydraulic systems. By using a passive, mechanically-simple sweeping element instead of costly hydraulic actuators, the patent achieves automation at a fraction of the cost.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables automatic, low-cost, and safe material removal from the front part, reducing labor requirements and maintenance, while maintaining operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the hopper unit being movable between a lowered position and a raised position for directing paving material towards the conveyor unit
Implementation Method 2
the first side wing being rotated inwardly and a sweep edge of the first side wing being moved in contact with the front part
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a
AI summary
The invention relates to a paver (1), comprising a conveyor unit (200) having a first edge (202), a hopper unit (100) having a front end (102) and a rear end (104) with respect to the paving direction (P) and an inward paving material storage (106), the hopper unit (100) being movable between a lowered position and a raised position for directing paving material towards the conveyor unit (200), and wherein the hopper unit (100) includes a first hopper (120) with a first base portion (122) and a first wall (124), the first hopper (120) having a first hopper pivot axis (126) being adjacent to the first edge (202) of the conveyor unit (200) and the first base portion (122) being pivotally arranged in respect to the first hopper pivot axis (126), and a front part (110) which is arranged inwardly adjacent to the first hopper (120) between the front end (102) and the conveyor unit (200).