Method and apparatus for laying roadway materials

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for depositing roadway material using a road paving machine having a hopper for storing the roadway material, a feed conveyor for transferring the roadway material from the hopper to an auger, and a screed for levelling the roadway material. A trough prevents the roadway material from falling from the feed conveyor onto a road surface. The trough diverts and deposits the roadway material to one side of the paving machine.

1 . A method of depositing roadway material using a road paving machine, said road paving machine including a hopper for storing roadway material, a longitudinally extending feed conveyor for transferring said roadway material from said hopper to a laterally extending auger, and a screed located rearwardly of said auger for levelling said roadway material, wherein said method includes locating a trough at the end of the feed conveyor of the paving machine and underneath said auger to prevent said roadway material from falling directly from said feed conveyor onto a road surface, said trough acting in conjunction with said auger to divert and deposit the roadway material to one side of the paving machine.  
     
     
         2 . The method of depositing roadway material using a road paving machine as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said trough is substantially U-shaped in cross-section.  
     
     
         3 . The method of depositing roadway material using a road paving machine as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said trough is substantially V-shaped in cross-section.  
     
     
         4 . The method of depositing roadway material using a road paving machine as claimed in  claim 1  wherein a spacer means is used to control the height of the screed above the road bed.  
     
     
         5 . The method of depositing roadway material using a road paving machine as claimed in  claim 4  wherein said spacer means is of a height which allows for compaction of the deposited material.  
     
     
         6 . A road paving machine comprising a self propelled vehicle including: 
 a hopper for storing roadway material;    a feed conveyor for transferring said roadway material from said hopper to a laterally extending auger;    a screed located rearwardly of said auger for levelling said roadway material; and    a trough located at the end of the feed conveyor and underneath said auger to prevent material from falling directly from said feed conveyor onto a road surface, said trough acting in conjunction with said auger to divert and deposit the roadway material to one side of the paving machine.    
     
     
         7 . The road paving machine as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said trough is substantially U-shaped in cross-section.  
     
     
         8 . The road paving machine as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said trough is substantially V-shaped in cross-section.