Pavers, in particular slipform pavers

Abstract

A machine frame is supported by running gears. A slipform is supported from the machine frame. A material distributor has a distributor element arranged in front of the slipform in the working direction. The distributor includes a distributor arm having at least two boom components articulated to one another, wherein the lower part of the distributor arm is pivotably fastened to the machine frame about a first axis substantially parallel with respect to the working plane of the paver, and the distributor element is pivotably fastened to the upper part of the distributor arm about a further axis substantially parallel with respect to the working plane of the paver. The distributor arm allows the distributor element to move in front of the slipform by pivoting movements of the at least two boom components in order to distribute the material to be laid over the working width of the paver.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A slipform paver, comprising:
 a machine frame;   a plurality of running gears for supporting the machine frame;   a slipform for laying paving material; and   at least one paving material distributor arranged in a working direction in front of the slipform to distribute the paving material in front of the slipform, the at least one paving material distributor including:
 a distributor arm including at least two boom components articulated to one another, the distributor arm including a lower part pivotably fastened to the machine frame about a first axis substantially parallel with respect to a working plane of the paver; and 
 a distributor element pivotably attached to an upper part of the distributor arm about a further axis substantially parallel with respect to the working plane of the paver, such that the distributor element can be moved in front of the slipform to distribute the paving material by pivoting movements of the at least two boom components. 
   
     
     
         18 . The slipform paver of  claim 17 , wherein the distributor element includes a body shaped in the manner of a cookie cutter. 
     
     
         19 . The slipform paver of  claim 17 , wherein the distributor element includes a hollow body shaped as a hollow circular, oval, rectangular or polygonal body. 
     
     
         20 . The slipform paver of  claim 19 , wherein the hollow body has a maximum width and a maximum height, and a ratio of the maximum width to the maximum height is in a range of from 1.5 to 2.5. 
     
     
         21 . The slipform paver of  claim 20  wherein the ratio of the maximum width to the maximum height is in a range of from 1.7 to 2.3. 
     
     
         22 . The slipform paver of  claim 19 , wherein the distributor element encloses a volume in a range of from 0.1 to 1 m 3  for receiving the paving material. 
     
     
         23 . The slipform paver of  claim 22  wherein the volume is in a range of 0.2 to 0.4 m 3  for receiving the paving material. 
     
     
         24 . The slipform paver of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the at least two boom components is a telescopic boom component. 
     
     
         25 . The slipform paver of  claim 17 , wherein the lower part of the distributor arm is pivotably fastened to the machine frame about a third axis substantially vertical with respect to the working plane of the paver. 
     
     
         26 . The slipform paver of  claim 17 , wherein the machine frame includes a left frame part extending in the working direction, a right frame part extending in the working direction, and a middle frame part extending transversely to the working direction. 
     
     
         27 . The slipform paver of  claim 26 , wherein the middle frame part extending transversely to the working direction has a variable length in the transverse direction. 
     
     
         28 . The slipform paver of  claim 26 , wherein the lower part of the distributor arm is fastened to the middle frame part midway between the left and right frame parts. 
     
     
         29 . The slipform paver of  claim 26 , wherein the lower part of the distributor arm is fastened to the middle frame part so as to be movable between the left and right frame parts in a direction extending transverse to the working direction. 
     
     
         30 . The slipform paver of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one paving material distributor includes two paving material distributors arranged at a distance from one another in front of the slipform for distributing the paving material in front of the slipform. 
     
     
         31 . The slipform paver of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the machine frame includes a left frame part extending in the working direction, a right frame part extending in the working direction, and a middle frame part extending transversely to the working direction; and   the lower part of the distributor arm is fastened to the left or right frame part such that the at least two boom components of the distributor arm extend in a direction transverse to the working direction.   
     
     
         32 . The slipform paver of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the at least two boom components include a first boom component and a second boom component;   the first boom component is pivotably articulated to the machine frame about the first axis by a first piston/cylinder arrangement;   the second boom component is pivotably articulated to the first boom component about a second axis by a second piston/cylinder arrangement; and   the distributor element is pivotably articulated to the second boom component by a third piston/cylinder arrangement.   
     
     
         33 . The slipform paver of  claim 32 , further comprising:
 a controller operable to actuate the first, second and third piston/cylinder arrangements, the controller being configured to actuate at least two of the first, second and third piston/cylinder arrangements simultaneously such that the distributor element performs a movement along a predetermined path.   
     
     
         34 . The slipform paver of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the at least two boom components include a first boom component and a second boom component, and the first and/or second boom component is configured as a parallelogram guide such that the distributor element remains in a predetermined angular position during a pivoting movement of the distributor arm.