Paving machine with gravity feed hopper and auger mechanism

A paving machine, comprising:

• a portable chassis i) having a first end and a second end and ii) including a frame;
• a front axle that is mounted on said portable chassis, said front axle i) receiving steering wheels and ii) being steered;
• an engine mounted on said portable chassis between said first end and said front axle;
• a rear axle that is mounted on said portable chassis between said front axle and said second end, said rear axle i) receiving driving wheels and ii) being powered;
• a screed assembly mounted on said portable chassis, said screed assembly including i) a pair of transversely opposed tow arms that are mounted on said portable chassis between said front axle and said rear axle and ii) a heated vibratory screed that is pivotably suspended from said pair of transversely opposed tow arms;
• a gravity feed hopper for holding paving materials, said gravity feed hopper i) being mounted on said portable chassis, ii) having a capacity and iii) including
• a discharge opening for discharging paving materials, said discharge opening having a first transverse length;
• a storage portion for storing paving materials, said storage portion including an upper section for increasing the capacity of said hopper, said upper section having a relatively constant width and terminating at an open top;
• and a lower generally frusto-conical section having an upper end of enlarged cross section and a lower end of reduced cross section, said upper end of enlarged cross section being connected to said upper section;
• and
• a discharge portion for directing paving materials from said storage portion to said discharge opening, said discharge portion having a second transverse length, a discharge portion upper end connected to said lower end of reduced cross section and a bottom end in which said discharge opening is formed;
• a feeder gate for selectively closing said discharge opening, said feeder gate being mounted on said discharge portion of said gravity feed hopper;
• and
• a vertically adjustable distributing auger mechanism for distributing paving materials, said vertically adjustable distributing auger mechanism being supported by said lower generally frusto-conical section of said gravity feed hopper and being located between said heated vibratory screed and said gravity feed hopper, said vertically adjustable distributing auger having a third transverse length, a top and a screw auger extending transversely across the paving apparatus, said screw auger being mounted on a slide which is raiseable and lowerable with respect to said frame,
• wherein i) said discharge opening is located between said storage portion and said vertically adjustable distributing auger mechanism and ii) said discharge portion is inclined downwardly and rearwardly towards said vertically adjustable distributing auger mechanism so as to direct paving materials towards said vertically adjustable auger mechanism without the aid of any external conveyors.

A method comprising:

• providing a paving apparatus with
• a gravity feed hopper for holding paving materials, said gravity feed hopper having a capacity and including
• a discharge opening for discharging paving materials, said discharge opening having a first transverse length;
• a storage portion for storing paving materials, said storage portion including i) an upper section for increasing the capacity of said hopper, said upper section having a relatively constant width and terminating at an open top;
• and ii) a lower generally frusto-conical section having an upper end of enlarged cross section and a lower end of reduced cross section, said upper end of enlarged cross section being connected to said upper section;
• and
• a discharge portion for directing paving materials from said storage portion to said discharge opening, said discharge portion having a second transverse length, a discharge portion upper end connected to said lower end of reduced cross section and a bottom end in which said discharge opening is formed;
• a feeder gate for selectively closing said discharge opening, said feeder gate being mounted on said discharge portion of said gravity feed hopper;
• and
• a vertically adjustable distributing auger mechanism for distributing paving materials, said vertically adjustable distributing auger mechanism being supported by said lower generally frusto-conical section of said gravity feed hopper, said vertically adjustable distributing auger having a third transverse length, a top and a screw auger extending transversely across the paving apparatus, said screw auger being mounted on a slide which is raiseable and lowerable with respect to said gravity feed hopper,
• wherein i) said discharge opening is located between said storage portion and said vertically adjustable distributing auger mechanism and ii) said discharge portion is inclined downwardly and rearwardly towards said vertically adjustable distributing auger mechanism so as to direct paving materials towards said vertically adjustable auger mechanism without the aid of any external conveyors;
• then
• storing paving materials in said gravity feed hopper;
• and then
• feeding all of said stored paving materials by gravity through said discharge opening of said hopper towards said vertically adjustable distributing auger mechanism without employing any conveyors.

A paving apparatus, comprising:

• a gravity feed hopper for holding paving materials, said gravity feed hopper having a capacity and including
• a discharge opening for discharging paving materials, said discharge opening having a first transverse length;
• a storage portion for storing paving materials, said storage portion including i) an upper section for increasing the capacity of said hopper, said upper section having a relatively constant width and terminating at an open top;
• and ii) a lower generally frusto-conical section having an upper end of enlarged cross section and a lower end of reduced cross section, said upper end of enlarged cross section being connected to said upper section;
• and
• a discharge portion for directing paving materials from said storage portion to said discharge opening, said discharge portion having a second transverse length, a discharge portion upper end connected to said lower end of reduced cross section and a bottom end in which said discharge opening is formed;
• a feeder gate for selectively closing said discharge opening, said feeder gate being mounted on said discharge portion of said gravity feed hopper;
• and
• a vertically adjustable distributing auger mechanism for distributing paving materials, said vertically adjustable distributing auger mechanism being mounted on said lower generally frusto-conical section of said gravity feed hopper, said vertically adjustable distributing auger having a third transverse length, a top and a hydrostatically driven screw auger extending transversely across the paving apparatus, said hydrostatically driven screw auger being mounted on a slide which is raiseable and lowerable with respect to said gravity feed hopper,
• wherein i) said discharge opening is located between said storage portion and said vertically adjustable distributing auger mechanism, ii) said discharge portion is inclined downwardly and rearwardly towards said vertically adjustable distributing auger mechanism so as to direct paving materials towards said vertically adjustable auger mechanism without the aid of any external conveyors, iii) said feeder gate is a clam shell gate that is opened and closed by a drive device, said drive device including a pair of hydraulic cylinders that are suspended from an outer wall of-said storage portion and connected to respective end portions of said clam shell gate and iv) said first transverse length is equal to both said second transverse length and said third transverse length.

A paving machine, comprising:

• a portable chassis i) having a first end and a second end and ii) including a frame;
• a front axle that is mounted on said portable chassis;
• an engine mounted on said portable chassis between said first end and said front axle, wherein said front axle i) receives steering wheels and ii) is steered hydrostatically by said engine;
• a rear axle that is mounted on said portable chassis between said front axle and said second end, said rear axle i) receiving driving wheels and ii) being powered hydrostatically by said engine;
• a screed assembly mounted on said portable chassis, said screed assembly including i) a pair of transversely opposed tow arms that are mounted on said portable chassis between said front axle and said rear axle and ii) a heated vibratory screed that is pivotably suspended from said pair of transversely opposed tow arms;
• a gravity feed hopper for holding paving materials, said gravity feed hopper i) being mounted on said portable chassis, ii) having a capacity and iii) including
• a discharge opening for discharging paving materials, said discharge opening having a first transverse length;
• a storage portion for storing paving materials, said storage portion including an upper section for increasing the capacity of said hopper, said upper section having a relatively constant width and terminating at an open top;
• and a lower generally frusto-conical section having an upper end of enlarged cross section and a lower end of reduced cross section, said upper end of enlarged cross section being connected to said upper section;
• and
• a discharge portion for directing paving materials from said storage portion to said discharge opening, said discharge portion having a second transverse length, a discharge portion upper end connected to said lower end of reduced cross section and a bottom end in which said discharge opening is formed;
• a single operator's console on which is located all manual controls required for operating said paving machine;
• a feeder gate for selectively closing said discharge opening, said feeder gate being mounted on said discharge portion of said gravity feed hopper;
• and
• a vertically adjustable distributing auger mechanism for distributing paving materials, said vertically adjustable distributing auger mechanism being mounted on said lower generally frusto-conical section of said gravity feed hopper between said heated vibratory screed and said gravity feed hopper, said vertically adjustable distributing auger having a third transverse length, a top and a hydrostatically driven screw auger extending transversely across the paving apparatus, said hydrostatically driven screw auger being mounted on a slide which is raiseable and lowerable with respect to said frame,
• wherein i) said discharge opening is located between said storage portion and said vertically adjustable distributing auger mechanism, ii) said discharge portion is inclined downwardly and rearwardly towards said vertically adjustable distributing auger mechanism so as to direct paving materials towards said vertically adjustable auger mechanism without the aid of any external conveyors, iii) said feeder gate is a clam shell gate that is opened and closed by a drive device, said drive device including a pair of hydraulic cylinders that are suspended from an outer wall of said storage portion and connected to respective end portions of said clam shell gate.