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US 11,370,617 B2Granted
Flexible hopper for a conveyor system
AssigneeCaterpillar Paving Products Inc.
InventorsColton Hirman, Nathan Mashek, Nick Johnson, Ryan Hutar
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Some examples described herein include a flexible hopper for a conveyor system. The flexible hopper may include a hopper weldment attached to a frame of the conveyor, wherein the hopper weldment surrounds a charge end of the conveyor, a flexible frame configured to enable an opening of the flexible hopper to expand or contract, and/or a skirt attached to the flexible frame and configured to form an enclosure between the flexible frame and the hopper weldment.
Claims14
A cold planer, comprising:
- a frame;
- at least one traction device configured to support the frame;
- a milling drum;
- an engine supported by the frame and configured to drive the at least one traction device to propel the cold planer and the milling drum to remove material;
- a first conveyor comprising a first charge end, configured to receive material removed by the milling drum, and a first discharge end;
- a second conveyor comprising a second charge end and a second discharge end;
- and
- a flexible hopper fixed to the second charge end of the second conveyor and configured to receive material from the first discharge end of the first conveyor,
- wherein the flexible hopper comprises:
- a flexible frame, and
- a flexible skirt attached to the frame and configured to form an enclosure between the first discharge end and the second charge end.
8 more elements
A machine comprising:
- a milling drum configured to remove material;
- a conveyor to convey material from a charge end to a discharge end,
- wherein the material is received at the charge end from the milling drum;
- and
- a flexible hopper configured to receive material from the discharge end,
- wherein the flexible hopper comprises:
- a flexible frame, and
- a flexible skirt attached to the flexible frame and configured to form an enclosure associated with the discharge end.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.