Stiffened screed extender tube
AssigneeCaterpillar Paving Products Inc.
InventorRyan Schuette
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A screed assembly for a paving machine may comprise a main screed having a frame with a fixed width, and an extension screed slidably connected to the main screed and configured to extend laterally from the main screed to a fully-extended position. The extension screed may include a deflector, an inner plate proximate a central axis of the main screed, and an outer plate opposite the inner plate. At least one extender tube may extend between, and may be fixed to, the inner plate and outer plate. Each extender tube may have a shell comprised of a first material with a second material disposed therein, the second material offering increased stiffness to the extender tube so as to restrict flexion of the extender tube when the extension screed is in a fully-extended position.
Claims20
A paving machine for paving a ground surface, the paving machine comprising:
- a chassis;
- a hopper;
- a distribution device configured to dispense paving material on the ground surface;
- and
- a screed assembly including a main screed having a rigid frame with a fixed width, an extension screed configured to extend laterally from the main screed, and a hydraulic cylinder to actuate the extension screed between a retracted position to an extended position, the extension screed including an extender tube movable relative to the main screen when then extension screed is actuated, having a shell comprised of a first material with a second curable material disposed therein, the second material restricting flexion of the extender tube when the extension screed is in the extended position.
A screed assembly for use with a paving machine, the screed assembly comprising:
- a main screed having a rigid frame with a fixed width;
- and
- an extension screed configured to extend laterally from the main screed between a retracted position to an extended position, the extension screed having a lower frame including a deflector assembly, an upper frame including a tube mounting assembly, and an extender tube fixed within the tube mounting assembly and having a shell comprised of a first material with a second curable material disposed therein, the second material offering increased stiffness to the extender tube.
A method of paving using a screed assembly including a main screed and an extension screed, the extension screed having an extender tube with a shell comprised of a first material, the method comprising:
- filling the extender tube with a second material;
- curing the second material, the cured second material restricting flexion of the extender tube when the extension screed is in an extended position;
- installing the cured extender tube to the screed assembly;
- extending the extension screed from a fully-retracted position to an extended position;
- and
- paving a portion of a ground surface with the screed assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.