Belted Compaction Apparatus Kit and Method

Abstract

The present invention relates to a belted compaction apparatus for compacting surfacing materials such as asphalt. In particular, a belted asphalt compactor conversion kit for converting a drum roller compactor into a belted asphalt compactor, the kit comprising a belted compaction apparatus securable to the frame of the compactor, the apparatus comprising a body; a pair of leading rollers at one end of the body and a pair of trailing rollers at the other end of the body; a plurality of intermediate rollers disposed between the leading and trailing rollers; a drive wheel; and a belt wound around the leading, trailing, and intermediate rollers, and the drive wheel, wherein the leading, trailing, and intermediate rollers exert a substantially downward pressure on the bottom nm of the belt to provide a uniform pressure applying surface over the area of the belt in contact with the asphalt.

1 . A belted asphalt compactor conversion kit for converting a drum roller compactor into a belted asphalt compactor, the kit comprising:
 a belted compaction apparatus securable to the frame of the compactor, the apparatus comprising:   a body;   a pair of leading rollers at one end of the body and a pair of trailing rollers at the other end of the body;   a plurality of intermediate rollers disposed between the leading and trailing rollers;   a drive wheel; and   a belt wound around the leading, trailing, and intermediate rollers, and the drive wheel, wherein the leading, trailing, and intermediate rollers exert a substantially downward pressure on the bottom run of the belt to provide a uniform pressure applying surface over the area of the belt in contact with the asphalt.   
     
     
         2 . The kit of  claim 1  wherein the apparatus is securable to the frame by an attachment means. 
     
     
         3 . The kit of  claim 2  wherein the attachment means comprises a transverse brace that extends from one side of the frame to the opposite side of the frame by passing through an aperture in the body. 
     
     
         4 . The kit of  claim 2  wherein the attachment means is a reversible attachment means. 
     
     
         5 . The kit of  claim 4  wherein the reversible attachment means is a hitch or a coupling. 
     
     
         6 . The kit of  claim 1  wherein one or all of the leading, trailing, and the intermediate rollers comprise a core surrounded by an outer layer, the outer layer comprising a resilient material. 
     
     
         7 . The kit of  claim 6  wherein the resilient material is rubber. 
     
     
         8 . The kit of  claim 1  wherein the belt is an elastomeric belt. 
     
     
         9 . The kit of  claim 8  wherein the elastomeric belt comprises laminated rubber. 
     
     
         10 . The kit of  claim 1  wherein the body is triangular and the leading, trailing and intermediate rollers are rotatably secured to the base and the drive wheel is rotatably secured at a distance above the leading, trailing and intermediate rollers. 
     
     
         11 . A belted asphalt compactor conversion kit for converting a dual drum roller compactor having a front drum and a rear drum into a belted asphalt compactor, the kit comprising:
 a leading compaction assembly which replaces the front drum roller of the drum roller compactor;   a trailing compaction assembly which replaces the rear drum roller of the drum roller compactor, wherein each assembly comprises a plurality of belted compaction apparatus arranged in a side-by-side configuration, each of said apparatus comprising:   a body securable to the frame of the compactor;   a pair of leading rollers at one end of the body and a pair of trailing rollers at the other end of the body;   a plurality of intermediate rollers disposed between the leading and trailing rollers;   a drive wheel; and   a belt wound around the leading, trailing, and intermediate rollers, and the drive wheel, wherein the leading, trailing, and intermediate rollers exert a substantially downward pressure on the bottom run of the belt to provide a uniform pressure applying surface over the area of the belt in contact with the asphalt.   
     
     
         12 . The kit of  claim 11 , wherein each assembly comprises two apparatus.