Asphalt Paver Having Non-Stick Liner

Abstract

An asphalt paver is provided. The asphalt paver includes a hopper configured to receive asphalt. The hopper includes an inner surface having at least one corner of an apron of the hopper. A non-stick liner is replaceably affixed to the at least one corner and configured to prevent the asphalt received at the hopper from sticking to the at least one corner. A conveyor configured to move the asphalt received on the non-stick liner to a paving surface on which the asphalt paver moves is provided.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An asphalt paver, comprising:
 a hopper configured to receive asphalt, the hopper including an inner surface having at least one corner of an apron of the hopper;   a non-stick liner replaceably affixed to the at least one corner and configured to prevent the asphalt received at the hopper from sticking to the at least one corner; and   a conveyor configured to move the asphalt received on the non-stick liner to a paving surface on which the asphalt paver moves.   
     
     
         2 . The asphalt paver of  claim 1 , wherein the non-stick liner is replaceably affixed to the apron of the inner surface of the hopper. 
     
     
         3 . The asphalt paver of  claim 2 , wherein the apron is one of a hydraulic apron or a manual apron. 
     
     
         4 . The asphalt paver of  claim 1 , wherein the non-stick liner is further replaceably affixed to a planar surface of the hopper. 
     
     
         5 . The asphalt paver of  claim 1 , wherein the non-stick liner is replaceably affixed to an entirety of the inner surface of the hopper. 
     
     
         6 . The asphalt paver of  claim 1 , wherein the non-stick liner includes:
 a fluoroplastic film, and   a pressure sensitive adhesive backing attached to the fluoroplastic film,   wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive backing is configured to couple the non-stick liner to the hopper, and wherein the fluoroplastic film receives the asphalt above 170° C.   
     
     
         7 . The asphalt paver of  claim 6 , wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive backing of the non-stick liner is attached to a bare metal surface or a painted surface of the hopper. 
     
     
         8 . The asphalt paver of  claim 1 , wherein the non-stick liner is replaceably affixed to the hopper as a non-stick tape covering at least the apron of the hopper. 
     
     
         9 . The asphalt paver of  claim 8 , wherein a portion of the inner surface of the hopper that is not covered by the non-stick tape is covered by a non-stick spray coating. 
     
     
         10 . A method of making an asphalt paver, comprising:
 providing a hopper configured to receive asphalt, the hopper including an inner surface having at least one corner of an apron of the hopper; and   providing a non-stick liner replaceably affixed to the at least one corner and configured to prevent the asphalt received at the hopper from sticking to the at least one corner; and   providing a conveyor configured to move the asphalt received on the non-stick liner to a paving surface on which the asphalt paver moves.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the apron is a hydraulic apron or a manual apron. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the providing of the non-stick liner includes coupling the non-stick liner to an entirety of the inner surface of the hopper including the apron. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the providing the non-stick liner includes:
 providing a fluoroplastic film, and   providing a pressure sensitive adhesive backing attached to the fluoroplastic film,   wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive backing is configured to couple the non-stick liner to the hopper, and wherein the fluoroplastic film receives the asphalt above 170° C.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the providing the non-stick liner includes coupling the pressure sensitive adhesive backing of the non-stick liner to a bare metal surface or a painted surface of the hopper. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the providing the non-stick liner includes providing a non-stick tape covering at least the apron of the hopper. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 providing a non-stick spray coating to cover a portion of the inner surface of the hopper that is not covered by the non-stick tape.   
     
     
         17 . A hopper of an asphalt paver, comprising:
 an inner surface including an apron configured to receive an asphalt, the apron including at least one corner;   a non-stick tape replaceably affixed to the at least one corner, the non-stick tape configured to prevent the received asphalt from sticking to the at least one corner.   
     
     
         18 . The asphalt paver of  claim 17 , wherein the non-stick tape is replaceably affixed to an entirety of the apron. 
     
     
         19 . The asphalt paver of  claim 18 , wherein the apron is one of a hydraulic apron or a manual apron. 
     
     
         20 . The asphalt paver of  claim 17 , wherein a non-stick spray coating is applied to a portion of the inner surface that is outside the apron of the hopper.