Screed for paving machines

Abstract

An improved screed for leveling abrasive paving material on a road surface. The improved screed is attachable to a typical road paving machine using standard mounting assembly and attachment components. The improved screed is highly abrasion-resistant and loses much less heat during shutdown periods than steel screeds because it is formed of a composite that includes a chromium-carbide alloy. The composite is formed of a relatively soft metal that is essentially completely fused to the chromium-carbide alloy. The highly abrasion-resistant alloy, which has a Brinell hardness in the range 550 to 600 and a low coefficient of friction, comes in direct contact with the abrasive paving material and its low thermal conductivity permits it to retain heat during shutdown. The relatively soft metal, which may be low-carbon steel, provides an easy and reliable surface for affixing standard attachment components, such as bolts to the improved screed, thereby providing an effective means for mounting to the paving machine. A curved leading edge of the screed prevents the paving material from welling up on the relatively soft metal upper surface of the improved screed. The curved leading edge is formed of the same composite as the rest of the screed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.