Shiftable mold
AssigneeWirtgen GmbH
InventorsMilton Wilson, Nicholas Maupin, Michael Engels
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An inset slip form paving apparatus includes a frame having a front and a rear defining a paving direction. At least one left ground engaging support and at least one right ground engaging support support the frame from a ground surface. An inset mold assembly is located below the frame and between the left and right ground engaging supports. An adjustable support assembly supports the mold assembly from the frame so that the mold assembly is adjustable in position in the paving direction relative to the frame between a retracted position and an extended position.
Claims30
An inset slip form paving apparatus, comprising:
- a frame having a front and a rear defining a paving direction from the rear toward the front;
- at least one left ground engaging support and at least one right ground engaging support configured to support the frame from a ground surface;
- an inset mold assembly located below the frame and between the at least one left ground engaging support and the at least one right ground engaging support;
- and
- an adjustable support assembly supporting the mold assembly from the frame so that the mold assembly is adjustable in position parallel to the paving direction relative to the frame between a retracted position and an extended position.
An inset slip form paving apparatus, comprising:
- a frame having a front, a rear, a left side and a right side, a paving direction being defined as from the rear toward the front, and a widthwise direction being defined as perpendicular to the paving direction;
- at least one left ground engaging support and at least one right ground engaging support configured to support the frame from a ground surface;
- an inset mold assembly located below the frame and between the at least one left ground engaging support and the at least one right ground engaging support;
- first and second linear guides oriented in the paving direction and spaced apart in the widthwise direction, each of the linear guides connecting the mold assembly to the frame so that the mold assembly is adjustable in position parallel to the paving direction relative to the frame between a retracted position and an extended position, at least part of the mold assembly extending forward of the front of the frame when the mold assembly is in the extended position;
- and
- first and second linear actuators configured to move the mold assembly between its retracted and extended positions.
A method of retrofitting an inset slip form paving apparatus having a frame with a front and a rear defining a paving direction from the rear toward the front, at least one left ground engaging support and at least one right ground engaging support configured to support the frame from a ground surface, and an inset mold assembly located below the frame and between the at least one left ground engaging support and the at least one right ground engaging support, the method comprising steps of:
- removing the mold assembly from the frame;
- and
- installing an adjustable support assembly between the mold assembly and the frame so that the mold assembly is adjustable in position parallel to the paving direction relative to the frame between a first position and a second position.
A method of operating an inset slip form paving apparatus having a frame with a front and a rear defining a paving direction from the rear toward the front, at least one left ground engaging support and at least one right ground engaging support configured to support the frame from a ground surface, and an inset mold assembly located below the frame and between the at least one left ground engaging support and the at least one right ground engaging support, the method comprising steps of:
- (a) providing an adjustable support assembly between the mold assembly and the frame so that the mold assembly is adjustable in position parallel to the paving direction relative to the frame between a retracted position and an extended position;
- (b) extending the mold assembly to the extended position in which at least part of the mold assembly extends forward of the frame to improve visibility of the mold assembly to an operator located at an operator's station located above the frame;
- (c) performing a paving operation with the mold assembly in the extended position;
- (d) after step (c), retracting the mold assembly to the retracted position;
- and
- (e) with the mold assembly in the retracted position reconfiguring the slip form paving apparatus to a transport configuration wherein the ground engaging supports are configured to move the apparatus in a transport direction perpendicular to the paving direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.