Walkway assembly for paving machines

Abstract

A walkway assembly for a paving machine is disclosed in the present disclosure. The walkway assembly comprises a main walkway, an extender walkway, and a wheel assembly. The extender walkway telescopically extends and retracts relative to the main walkway. The wheel assembly comprises a hollow guard, a pin, and a wheel. The hollow guard includes a first hole in a first transverse member and a second hole in a second transverse member. The pin extends therethrough between the first hole and the second hole of the hollow guard. The pin couples the wheel assembly with the main walkway. The wheel is mounted on the pin and positioned inside the hollow guard. The wheel extends above the hollow guard and is in a rolling contact with the extender walkway.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A walkway assembly for a paving machine, the walkway assembly comprising:
 a main walkway;   an extender walkway configured to telescopically extend and retract relative to the main walkway;   a wheel assembly, the wheel assembly comprising:
 a hollow guard, wherein the hollow guard includes two transverse members and two longitudinal members, wherein the hollow guard has a first hole on the first transverse member and a second hole on the second transverse member; 
 a pin having a first end and a second end, wherein the pin extends therethrough between the first hole and the second hole of the hollow guard; and 
 a wheel mounted on the pin and positioned inside the hollow guard, wherein the wheel extends partially above the hollow guard and in a rolling contact with the extender walkway; and 
   wherein the wheel assembly is coupled to the main walkway by coupling the first end of the pin to the main walkway.