# US 2017/0282983 A1 · Adjustable bolster swing legs for mounting and aligning and reorienting crawlers for slipform paving machines

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- Number: US 2017/0282983 A1
- Document ID: US20170282983A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/623,012
- Filed: 2017-06-14
- Published: 2017-10-05
- Earliest claimed: 2010-03-26
- Assignees: Guntert & Zimmerman Const. Div., Inc.
- Applicants: Guntert & Zimmerman Const. Div., Inc.
- Inventors: Ronald M. Guntert, Jr.; Gerald L. Dahlinger; Richard Wood Francis; Randy Smith
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170282983A1

## CPC

- B62D 55/084: Endless-track units or carriages mounted separably, adjustably or extensibly on vehicles, e.g. portable track units (B62D55/07 takes precedence)
- B62D 7/06: for individually-pivoted wheels, e.g. on king-pins
- B62D 11/003: {Electric or electronic control systems}
- B62D 11/20: Endless-track steering having pivoted bogie carrying track (B62D11/02 takes precedence)
- B62D 55/065: Multi-track vehicles, i.e. more than two tracks {(soil-shifting machines E02F; mining machines E21C)}
- E01C 19/002: {Apparatus for preparing and placing the materials and for consolidating or finishing the paving}
- E01C 19/42: Machines for imparting a smooth finish to freshly-laid paving courses other than by rolling, tamping or vibrating (for distributing only E01C19/12; {hand-actuated smoothing tools E01C19/44})
- E01C 19/48: for laying-down the materials and consolidating them, or finishing the surface {, e.g. slip forms therefor, forming kerbs or gutters in a continuous operation in situ (E01C19/002, E01C23/065 take precedence; devices for guiding or controlling the machines along a predetermined path E01C19/004)}
- E01C 19/4853: {Apparatus designed for railless operation, e.g. crawler-mounted, provided with portable trackway arrangements}
- E01C 23/04: Devices for laying {inserting or positioning} reinforcing elements or dowel bars {with or without joint bodies (installing or inserting joint bodies per se E01C23/023, E01C23/026)}; Removable supports for reinforcing {or load transfer} elements (non- removable supports therefor {E01C11/02} E01C11/16; side forms adapted to supporting reinforcement E01C19/50); Devices, e.g. removable forms, for making essentially horizontal ducts in paving, e.g. for prestressed reinforcements
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)
- E01C: CONSTRUCTION OF, OR SURFACES FOR, ROADS, SPORTS GROUNDS, OR THE LIKE; MACHINES OR AUXILIARY TOOLS FOR CONSTRUCTION OR REPAIR (forming roads or like surfaces by compacting or grading snow or ice E01H)

## Abstract

A paving machine for spreading, leveling and finishing concrete having a main frame, center module, bolsters laterally movably, and a crawler track associated with respective aft and forward ends of the bolsters. A bolster swing leg for each crawler track supports an upright jacking column. A worm gear drive permits rotational movements of the crawler track and the jacking column. A hinge bracket is interposed between each swing leg and a surface of the bolsters to enable pivotal movements of the swing leg. A length-adjustable holder engages the pivot pin on the hinge bracket and pivotally engages the swing leg. The holder permits pivotal motions of the swing leg in its length-adjustable configuration and prevents substantially any motion of the swing leg in its fixed-length configuration. A feedback loop cooperates with transducers keeping the crawler tracks position. The paving machine can be reconfigured into a narrowed transport configuration.

## Claims

### Claim 1

(canceled)

### Claim 2

A paving machine configured to move in a paving direction for laying concrete into a molded form, having a generally upwardly exposed concrete surface and terminating in lateral concrete sides, the paving machine comprising:
a center module having a forward end, an aft end, and lateral sides;
a forward bolster connected to the forward end of the center module;
an aft bolster connected to the aft end of the center module;
a first crawler track and a second crawler track mechanically coupled to the forward bolster and a third crawler track mechanically coupled to the aft bolster;
the forward bolster having a first swing leg, an upright first jacking column secured to the first swing leg, and a rotary connection between the first jacking column and the first crawler track permitting relative rotational movements of the first crawler track and the first jacking column about an upright axis; and
a first power drive between the first jacking column and the first crawler track of the first swing leg, configured for translating relative rotational movements between the first jacking column and the first crawler track.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A paving machine according to claim 2 further comprising:
a hinge bracket interposed between the first swing leg and an associated surface of the forward bolster;
an upright pivot shaft that engages the first swing leg that permits pivotal movements of the first swing leg relative to the hinge bracket about an upright axis in a substantially horizontal plane, the hinge bracket including a pivot connection point that is laterally spaced from the pivot shaft; and
a hydraulic actuator mounted on the hinge bracket, arranged to control the pivoting of the first swing leg relative to the center module.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A paving machine according to claim 3 further comprising:
a first angular position transducer between the first jacking column and first crawler track, emitting a first position signal which is indicative of an angular orientation of the first crawler track relative to the first jacking column;
a second angular position transducer between the first swing leg and the hinge bracket, emitting a second signal which is indicative of the angular orientation of the first swing leg relative to the hinge bracket; and
a processor receiving the first signal and second signal and emitting a control signal for activating the first power drive and thereby rotationally moving the first crawler track relative to the first jacking column for keeping the first crawler track oriented in the paving direction in response to changes of the first signal caused by pivotal motions of the first swing leg about the pivot shaft.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

A paving machine according to claim 2 wherein the first power drive further comprises a first helical worm gear drive and a second helical worm gear drive, diametrically opposed, wherein the first and second helical worm gear drives engage and drive a ring gear disposed between them.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

A paving machine according to claim 4, wherein the first power drive further comprises a slew gear drive, configured to receive the control signal and maintain the first crawler track in the paving direction.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

A paving machine according to claim 4 including a feedback for maintaining an orientation for each of the first, second, and third crawler tracks at predetermined positions independently of angular inclinations of the first, second, and third crawler tracks relative to either the forward or aft bolsters.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

A paving machine according to claim 7 including a feedback loop operatively coupled to the first swing leg and the first crawler track for angularly repositioning the first crawler track relative to the first swing leg in response to angular motions of the first swing leg about the pivot connection, thereby keeping the first crawler track oriented in a travel direction.

### Claim 9 (depends on 2)

A paving machine according to claim 2, wherein the forward bolster is mechanically coupled to a laterally telescoping leg, configured to extend from the center module in a direction perpendicular to the forward end, wherein the second crawler track is mechanically coupled to the laterally telescoping leg via an upright second jacking column, and further comprising:
an angular position transducer between the second jacking column and second crawler track, emitting a first position signal which is indicative of an angular orientation of the second crawler track relative to the second jacking column;
a linear position transducer between the laterally telescoping leg and the forward bolster, emitting a second signal which is indicative of the position of the laterally telescoping leg relative to the center module; and
a processor receiving the first signal and second signal and emitting a control signal for maintaining the first crawler track and the second crawler track as oriented in the paving direction in response to changes of the first signal caused by motions of either the first swing leg or the laterally telescoping leg relative to the center module.

### Claim 10 (depends on 2)

A paving machine according to claim 2, wherein the forward bolster is mechanically coupled to a second swing leg, an upright second jacking column secured to the second swing leg, and a rotary connection between the second jacking column and the second crawler track permitting relative rotational movements of the second crawler track and the second jacking column about an upright axis, and wherein the second swing leg further includes a second power drive between the second jacking column and the second crawler track, configured for translating relative rotational movements between the second jacking column and the second crawler track.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

A paving machine according to claim 10 further comprising:
a hinge bracket interposed between the second swing leg and an associated surface of the forward bolster;
an upright pivot shaft that engages the second swing leg that permits pivotal movements of the second swing leg relative to the hinge bracket about an upright axis in a substantially horizontal plane, the hinge bracket including a pivot connection point that is laterally spaced from the pivot shaft; and
a hydraulic actuator mounted on the hinge bracket, arranged to control the pivoting of the second swing leg relative to the center module.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

A paving machine according to claim 11 further comprising:
a first angular position transducer between the second jacking column and the second crawler track, emitting a first position signal which is indicative of an angular orientation of the second crawler track relative to the second jacking column;
a second angular position transducer between the second swing leg and the hinge bracket, emitting a second signal which is indicative of the angular orientation of the second swing leg relative to the hinge bracket; and
a processor receiving the first signal and second signal and emitting a control signal for activating the second power drive and thereby rotationally moving the second crawler track relative to the second jacking column for keeping the second crawler track oriented in the paving direction in response to changes of the first signal caused by pivotal motions of the second swing leg about the pivot shaft.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

A paving machine according to claim 12 further comprising:
a feedback for maintaining an orientation of the first crawler track and the second crawler track relative to each other independently of angular inclinations of the first and second crawler tracks relative to the forward and aft bolsters; and
a feedback loop operatively coupled to the second swing leg and the second crawler track for angularly repositioning the second crawler track relative to the second swing leg in response to angular motions of the second swing leg about the pivot connection, thereby keeping the second crawler track oriented in the paving direction.

### Claim 14 (depends on 2)

A paving machine according to claim 2, wherein the aft bolster is mechanically coupled to an aft swing leg, an upright aft jacking column secured to the aft swing leg, and a rotary connection between the aft jacking column and the third crawler track permitting relative rotational movements of the third crawler track and the aft jacking column about an upright axis, and wherein the aft swing leg further includes a third power drive between the aft jacking column and the third crawler track, configured for translating relative rotational movements between the aft jacking column and the third crawler track.

### Claim 15 (depends on 2)

A paving machine according to claim 2 further comprising:
a conveyor arranged to deliver semi-solid concrete to a hopper;
the hopper arranged to receive and vibrate semi-solid concrete; and
a profile mold, arranged to receive semi-solid concrete from the hopper and configured to lay down concrete in a shaped form.

### Claim 16 (depends on 2)

A paving machine according to claim 2, further wherein at least one of:
the first swing leg is laterally and movably connected to the forward bolster, the paving machine further comprises a second swing leg that is laterally and movably connected to the forward bolster, or the paving machine further comprises an aft swing leg that is laterally and movably connected to the aft bolster.

### Claim 17

A paving machine configured to move in a paving direction for laying concrete into a molded form, having a generally upwardly exposed concrete surface and terminating in lateral concrete sides, the paving machine comprising:
a center module having a forward end, an aft end, and lateral sides;
one forward bolster connected to the forward end of the center module;
one aft bolster connected to the aft end of the center module;
a crawler track mechanically coupled to each of the forward bolster, one of the lateral sides of the center module, and the aft bolster;
the forward bolster having a forward swing leg, an upright forward jacking column secured to the forward swing leg, and a first rotary connection between the forward jacking column and the associated crawler track permitting relative rotational movements of the crawler track and the forward jacking column about a forward upright axis, wherein the forward swing leg is optionally laterally and movably connected to the forward bolster;
a side swing leg, connected to the same lateral side of the center module that is connected to the associated crawler track, a upright side jacking column secured to the side swing leg, and a second rotary connection between the side jacking column and the associated crawler track permitting relative rotational movements of the crawler track and the side jacking column about a side upright axis, wherein the side swing leg is optionally laterally and movably connected to the lateral side of the center module; and
a power drive between associated jacking columns and crawler tracks configured for translating relative rotational movements between the associated jacking columns and the crawler tracks.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

A paving machine according to claim 17, wherein the paving machine further comprises:
a side hinge bracket interposed between the side swing leg and an associated surface of the side bolster;
an side upright pivot shaft that engages the side swing leg that permits pivotal movements of the side swing leg relative to the side hinge bracket about the side upright axis in a substantially horizontal plane; and
a side hydraulic actuator mounted on the side hinge bracket, arranged to control the pivoting of the side swing leg relative to the center module;
and wherein the forward bolster further comprises:
a forward hinge bracket interposed between the forward swing leg and an associated surface of the forward bolster;
an forward upright pivot shaft that engages the forward swing leg that permits pivotal movements of the forward swing leg relative to the forward hinge bracket about the forward upright axis in a substantially horizontal plane; and
a forward hydraulic actuator mounted on the forward hinge bracket, arranged to control the pivoting of the forward swing leg relative to the center module.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

A paving machine according to claim 18, further comprising:
a first forward angular position transducer between the forward jacking column and the associated crawler track, emitting a first forward signal which is indicative of an angular orientation of the crawler track relative to the forward jacking column;
a second forward angular position transducer between the forward swing leg and an associated hinge bracket, emitting a second forward signal which is indicative of the angular orientation of the forward swing leg relative to the associated hinge bracket;
a first side angular position transducer between the side jacking column and the associated crawler track, emitting a first side signal which is indicative of the angular orientation of the crawler track relative to the side jacking column;
a second side angular position transducer between the side swing leg and an associated hinge bracket, emitting a second side signal which is indicative of the angular orientation of the side swing leg relative to the associated hinge bracket; and
a processor receiving the first forward signal, the second forward signal, the first side signal, and the second side signal, and emitting a control signal for activating the power drive and thereby rotationally moving the crawler tracks relative to the respective jacking columns for keeping the crawler tracks oriented in the paving direction in response to changes of both the first forward signal caused by pivotal motions of the forward swing leg about the forward pivot shaft, and the first side signal caused by pivotal motions of the side swing leg about the side pivot shaft.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

A paving machine according to claim 19 further comprising:
a feedback for maintaining an orientation of each of the crawlers relative to each other independently of angular inclinations of the crawlers relative to bolsters;
a first feedback loop operatively coupled to the forward swing leg and the associated crawler track for angularly repositioning the crawler track relative to the forward swing leg in response to angular motions of the forward swing leg; and
a second feedback loop operatively coupled to the side swing leg and the associated crawler track for angularly repositioning the crawler track relative to the side swing leg in response to angular motions of the side swing leg, thereby keeping the crawler tracks oriented in a travel direction.

### Claim 21 (depends on 17)

A paving machine according to claim 17, further comprising
a conveyor arranged to deliver semi-solid concrete to a hopper;
the hopper arranged to receive and vibrate the semi-solid concrete; and
a profile mold, arranged to receive semi-solid concrete from the hopper and configured to lay down concrete in a shaped form.