Paving machine

Abstract

A paving machine having a frame extending along a longitudinal direction is provided. The frame defines a front portion, a rear portion and two lateral sides. A hopper is coupled to the front portion of the frame. A screed is coupled to the rear portion of the frame. A conveyor is configured to transfer a paving material from the hopper to the screed along the longitudinal direction. The paving machine includes two pairs of ground engaging members of different types and powered independently of each other, one pair of ground engaging members being disposed towards the front portion and other pair of ground engaging members being disposed towards the rear portion of the frame.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A paving machine comprising:
 a frame extending along a longitudinal direction, the frame having a front portion, a rear portion and two lateral sides;   a hopper coupled to the front portion of the frame;   a screed coupled to the rear portion of the frame;   a conveyor configured to transfer a paving material from the hopper to the screed along the longitudinal direction;   a pair of oval track units disposed on each of the two lateral sides of the frame towards the front portion of the frame; and   a pair of high drive track units disposed on each of the two lateral sides of the frame towards the rear portion of the frame.   
     
     
         2 . The paving machine of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of oval track units is disposed below the hopper. 
     
     
         3 . The paving machine of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of high drive track units is disposed behind the pair of oval track units and in front of the screed. 
     
     
         4 . The paving machine of  claim 1 , wherein a height of the pair of oval track units is lower than a height of the pair of high drive track units. 
     
     
         5 . The paving machine of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of oval track units and the pair of high drive track units are powered independently of each other. 
     
     
         6 . The paving machine of  claim 1 , wherein each oval track unit of the pair of oval track units comprises an idler wheel and a driving sprocket spaced apart in the longitudinal direction, and an endless track entrained about the idler wheel and the driving sprocket. 
     
     
         7 . The paving machine of  claim 1 , wherein each high drive track unit of the pair of high drive track units comprises two idler wheels spaced apart in the longitudinal direction and a driving sprocket disposed longitudinally between and vertically above the two idler wheels, and an endless track entrained about the two idler wheels and the driving sprocket. 
     
     
         8 . A paving machine comprising:
 a frame extending along a longitudinal direction, the frame having a front portion, a rear portion and two lateral sides;   a hopper coupled to the front portion of the frame;   a screed coupled to the rear portion of the frame;   a conveyor configured to transfer a paving material from the hopper to the screed along the longitudinal direction;   a pair of one or more bogie wheels disposed on each of the two lateral sides of the frame towards the front portion of the frame; and   a pair of high drive track units disposed on each of the two lateral sides of the frame towards the rear portion of the frame.   
     
     
         9 . The paving machine of  claim 8 , wherein the pair of one or more bogie wheels is disposed below the hopper. 
     
     
         10 . The paving machine of  claim 8 , wherein the pair of high drive track units is disposed behind the pair of one or more bogie wheels and in front of the screed. 
     
     
         11 . The paving machine of  claim 8 , wherein a height of the pair of one or more bogie wheels is lower than a height of the pair of high drive track units. 
     
     
         12 . The paving machine of  claim 8 , wherein the pair of one or more bogie wheels and the pair of high drive track units are powered independently of each other. 
     
     
         13 . The paving machine of  claim 8 , wherein the pair of one or more bogie wheels comprises two sets of bogie wheels. 
     
     
         14 . The paving machine of  claim 8 , wherein each high drive track unit of the pair of high drive track units comprises two idler wheels spaced apart in the longitudinal direction and a driving sprocket disposed longitudinally between and vertically above the two idler wheels, and an endless track entrained about the two idler wheels and the driving sprocket. 
     
     
         15 . A paving machine comprising:
 a frame extending along a longitudinal direction, the frame having a front portion, a rear portion and two lateral sides;   a hopper coupled to the front portion of the frame;   a screed coupled to the rear portion of the frame;   a conveyor configured to transfer a paving material from the hopper to the screed along the longitudinal direction;   a pair of oval track units disposed on each of the two lateral sides of the frame towards the front portion of the frame; and   a pair of drive wheels disposed on each of the two lateral sides of the frame towards the rear portion of the frame.   
     
     
         16 . The paving machine of  claim 15 , wherein the pair of oval track units is disposed below the hopper. 
     
     
         17 . The paving machine of  claim 15 , wherein the pair of drive wheels is disposed behind the pair of oval track units and in front of the screed. 
     
     
         18 . The paving machine of  claim 15 , wherein a height of the pair of oval track units is lower than a height of the pair of drive wheels. 
     
     
         19 . The paving machine of  claim 15 , wherein the pair of oval track units and the pair of drive wheels are powered independently of each other. 
     
     
         20 . The paving machine of  claim 15 , wherein each oval track unit of the pair of oval track units comprises an idler wheel and a driving sprocket spaced apart in the longitudinal direction, and an endless track entrained about the idler wheel and the driving sprocket.