Walkway assembly for work machine

Abstract

A walkway assembly for a work machine includes a walkway unit pivotally coupled to the work machine. The walkway assembly also includes a system for assisting a movement of the walkway unit from a deployed position to a stowed position. The at least one coil spring is coupled to the walkway unit at one end thereof. The at least one coil spring is coupled to a portion of the work machine at another end thereof. The at least one coil spring is adapted to urge the walkway unit to the stowed position from the deployed position, based on potential energy stored within the at least one coil spring.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A walkway assembly for a work machine, the walkway assembly comprising:
 a walkway unit pivotally coupled to the work machine; and   a system for assisting a movement of the walkway unit from a deployed position to a stowed position, the system including:
 at least one coil spring, wherein the at least one coil spring is coupled to the walkway unit at one end thereof, wherein the at least one coil spring is coupled to a portion of the work machine at another end thereof, and wherein the at least one coil spring is adapted to urge the walkway unit to the stowed position from the deployed position, based on potential energy stored within the at least one coil spring. 
   
     
     
         2 . The walkway assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one coil spring includes a first coil spring disposed at a first side of the walkway unit and a second coil spring disposed at a second side of the walkway unit. 
     
     
         3 . The walkway assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the walkway unit is pivotally coupled to a screed assembly of the work machine. 
     
     
         4 . The walkway assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one coil spring is coupled to a frame of the screed assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The walkway assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one coil spring includes at least one of a flat coil spring and a round coil spring. 
     
     
         6 . The walkway assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the walkway assembly is associated with a paving machine. 
     
     
         7 . A walkway assembly for a work machine, the walkway assembly comprising:
 a walkway unit pivotally coupled to the work machine; and   a system for assisting a movement of the walkway unit from a deployed position to a stowed position, the system including at least one winch, wherein the at least one winch includes:
 a drum having an axis, the drum being rotatable about the axis; and 
 an elongate, flexible member at least partially wound around the drum, wherein the flexible member is coupled to the walkway unit at one end thereof, wherein the flexible member is coupled to the drum at another end thereof, and wherein the flexible member is adapted to move the walkway unit to the stowed position from the deployed position, based on a rotation of the drum. 
   
     
     
         8 . The walkway assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the flexible member includes at least one of a rope, a cable, a coil, and a strap. 
     
     
         9 . The walkway assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the walkway unit is pivotally coupled to a screed assembly of the work machine. 
     
     
         10 . The walkway assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the drum of the at least one winch is coupled to the screed assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The walkway assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the walkway assembly is associated with a paving machine. 
     
     
         12 . The walkway assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the system further includes a hand crank, and wherein the drum of the at least one winch is manually rotated via the hand crank. 
     
     
         13 . The walkway assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the system further includes an actuation system to rotate the drum of the at least one winch, and wherein the actuation system is at least one of electrically actuated, electromechanically actuated, hydraulically actuated, and pneumatically actuated. 
     
     
         14 . A walkway assembly for a work machine, the walkway assembly comprising:
 a walkway unit pivotally coupled to the work machine; and   a system for assisting a movement of the walkway unit from a deployed position to a stowed position, the system including:
 at least one actuating device, wherein the at least one actuating device is coupled to the walkway unit at one end thereof, wherein the at least one actuating device is coupled to a portion of the work machine at another end thereof, wherein the at least one actuating device is adapted to move the walkway unit to the stowed position from the deployed position, based on an actuation of the at least one actuating device, and wherein the at least one actuating device includes at least one of a strut and an actuator. 
   
     
     
         15 . The walkway assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one actuating device includes a first actuating device disposed at a first side of the walkway unit and a second actuating device disposed at a second side of the walkway unit. 
     
     
         16 . The walkway assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the walkway unit is pivotally coupled to a screed assembly of the work machine. 
     
     
         17 . The walkway assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one actuating device is coupled to a frame of the screed assembly. 
     
     
         18 . The walkway assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the walkway assembly is associated with a paving machine. 
     
     
         19 . The walkway assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the system further includes a switch communicably coupled to the at least one actuating device, wherein the switch is operable to actuate the at least one actuating device to move the walkway unit to the stowed position. 
     
     
         20 . The walkway assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one actuating device includes at least one of a gas strut, a coil strut, an electric actuator, an electromechanical actuator, a hydraulic actuator, and a pneumatic actuator.