Handrail assembly for paving machine

Abstract

A handrail assembly for a paving machine includes a central handrail section removably coupled to a screed walkway of a screed assembly of the paving machine. The central handrail section defines a first end and a second end. The handrail assembly also includes a first handrail section removably coupled to the screed walkway and the central handrail section proximal to the first end of the central handrail section. The first handrail section is movable relative to the central handrail section. The handrail assembly further includes a second handrail section removably coupled to the screed walkway and the central handrail section proximal to the second end of the central handrail section. The second handrail section is movable relative to the central handrail section. The central handrail section, the first handrail section, and the second handrail section are movable between a deployed position and a stowed position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A handrail assembly for a paving machine, the handrail assembly comprising:
 a central handrail section removably coupled to a screed walkway of a screed assembly of the paving machine, the central handrail section defining a first end and a second end, wherein the central handrail section includes:
 a pair of first members extending along a vertical axis, wherein the pair of first members are spaced apart from each other in a direction that is orthogonal to the vertical axis; and 
 a second member extending orthogonally relative to the pair of first members; 
   a first handrail section removably coupled to the screed walkway, wherein the first handrail section is further removably coupled to the central handrail section proximal to the first end of the central handrail section, wherein the first handrail section is movable relative to the central handrail section, and wherein the first handrail section includes a third member extending along the vertical axis and a fourth member extending orthogonally relative to the third member; and   a second handrail section removably coupled to the screed walkway, wherein the second handrail section is further removably coupled to the central handrail section proximal to the second end of the central handrail section, wherein the second handrail section is movable relative to the central handrail section, wherein the second handrail section includes a fifth member extending along the vertical axis and a sixth member extending orthogonally relative to the fifth member, wherein the central handrail section, the first handrail section, and the second handrail section are movable between a deployed position and a stowed position, and wherein the handrail assembly is positioned at a rear end of the screed walkway.   
     
     
         2 . The handrail assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the screed walkway includes a main walkway portion coupled to a main screed of the screed assembly, a first walkway portion coupled to a first screed extension of the screed assembly, and a second walkway portion coupled to a second screed extension of the screed assembly, and wherein the central handrail section is removably coupled to the main walkway portion, the first handrail section is removably coupled to the first walkway portion, and the second handrail section is removably coupled to the second walkway portion. 
     
     
         3 . The handrail assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the fourth member of the first handrail section is coupled with the second member of the central handrail section via a first telescopic joint, and wherein, during a movement of the first screed extension relative to the main screed, a distance between the first member of the central handrail section and the third member of the first handrail section varies based on a sliding of the fourth member relative to the second member. 
     
     
         4 . The handrail assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the sixth member of the second handrail section is coupled with the second member of the central handrail section via a second telescopic joint, and wherein, during a movement of the second screed extension relative to the main screed, a distance between the first member of the central handrail section and the fifth member of the second handrail section varies based on a sliding of the sixth member relative to the second member. 
     
     
         5 . The handrail assembly of  claim 2  further comprising at least one fourth handrail section adapted to be removably coupled with at least one of the first handrail section and the second handrail section, wherein the at least one fourth handrail section is removably coupled with at least one screed extender of the screed assembly, and wherein the at least one screed extender is adapted to be removably coupled with at least one of the first screed extension and the second screed extension. 
     
     
         6 . The handrail assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of the central handrail section, the first handrail section, and the second handrail section is movable between an extended position and a retracted position to dispose the central handrail section, the first handrail section, and the second handrail section in the stowed position. 
     
     
         7 . The handrail assembly of  claim 6 , wherein each of the pair of first members, the third member, and the fifth member includes a pair of handrail portions and a pin that couples the pair of handrail portions with each other, and wherein the pair of handrail portions pivot relative to each other to move the corresponding central handrail section, the corresponding first handrail section, and the corresponding second handrail section between the extended position and the retracted position. 
     
     
         8 . The handrail assembly of  claim 6 , wherein each of the pair of first members, the third member, and the fifth member includes a pair of handrail portions that are coupled with each other via a telescopic joint, and wherein the pair of handrail portions are slidable relative to each other to move the corresponding central handrail section, the corresponding first handrail section, and the corresponding second handrail section between the extended position and the retracted position. 
     
     
         9 . The handrail assembly of  claim 1 , wherein, in the stowed position, each of the central handrail section, the first handrail section, and the second handrail section is stored at least partially below the screed walkway. 
     
     
         10 . A screed assembly for a paving machine, the screed assembly comprising:
 a main screed;   a first screed extension coupled to the main screed;   a second screed extension coupled to the main screed, wherein the first screed extension and the second screed extension are disposed at opposing ends of the main screed;   a screed walkway including a main walkway portion coupled to the main screed, a first walkway portion coupled to the first screed extension, and a second walkway portion coupled to the second screed extension; and   a handrail assembly for the screed walkway, wherein the handrail assembly is positioned at a rear end of the screed walkway, the handrail assembly including:
 a central handrail section removably coupled to the main walkway portion, the central handrail section defining a first end and a second end, wherein the central handrail section includes:
 a pair of first members extending along a vertical axis, wherein the pair of first members are spaced apart from each other in a direction that is orthogonal to the vertical axis; and 
 a second member extending orthogonally relative to the pair of first members; 
 
 a first handrail section removably coupled to the first walkway portion, wherein the first handrail section is further removably coupled to the central handrail section proximal to the first end of the central handrail section, wherein the first handrail section is movable relative to the central handrail section, and wherein the first handrail section includes a third member extending along the vertical axis and a fourth member extending orthogonally relative to the third member; and 
 a second handrail section removably coupled to the second walkway portion, wherein the second handrail section is further removably coupled to the central handrail section proximal to the second end of the central handrail section, wherein the second handrail section is movable relative to the central handrail section, wherein the second handrail section includes a fifth member extending along the vertical axis and a sixth member extending orthogonally relative to the fifth member, and wherein the central handrail section, the first handrail section, and the second handrail section are movable between a deployed position and a stowed position. 
   
     
     
         11 . The screed assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the fourth member of the first handrail section is coupled with the second member of the central handrail section via a first telescopic joint, and wherein, during a movement of the first screed extension relative to the main screed, a distance between the first member of the central handrail section and the third member of the first handrail section varies based on a sliding of the fourth member relative to the second member. 
     
     
         12 . The screed assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the sixth member of the second handrail section is coupled with the second member of the central handrail section via a second telescopic joint, and wherein, during a movement of the second screed extension relative to the main screed, a distance between the first member of the central handrail section and the fifth member of the second handrail section varies based on a sliding of the sixth member relative to the second member. 
     
     
         13 . The screed assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the handrail assembly further includes at least one fourth handrail section adapted to be removably coupled with at least one of the first handrail section and the second handrail section, wherein the at least one fourth handrail section is removably coupled with at least one screed extender of the screed assembly, and wherein the at least one screed extender is adapted to be removably coupled with at least one of the first screed extension and the second screed extension. 
     
     
         14 . The screed assembly of  claim 10 , wherein each of the central handrail section, the first handrail section, and the second handrail section is movable between an extended position and a retracted position to dispose the central handrail section, the first handrail section, and the second handrail section in the stowed position. 
     
     
         15 . The screed assembly of  claim 14 , wherein each of the pair of first members, the third member, and the fifth member includes a pair of handrail portions and a pin that couples the pair of handrail portions with each other, and wherein the pair of handrail portions pivot relative to each other to move the corresponding central handrail section, the corresponding first handrail section, and the corresponding second handrail section between the extended position and the retracted position. 
     
     
         16 . The screed assembly of  claim 14 , wherein each of the pair of first members, the third member, and the fifth member includes a pair of handrail portions that are coupled with each other via a telescopic joint, and wherein the pair of handrail portions are slidable relative to each other to move the corresponding central handrail section, the corresponding first handrail section, and the corresponding second handrail section between the extended position and the retracted position. 
     
     
         17 . A paving machine comprising:
 a frame; and   a screed assembly coupled to the frame, the screed assembly including:
 a main screed; 
 a first screed extension coupled to the main screed; 
 a second screed extension coupled to the main screed, wherein the first screed extension and the second screed extension are disposed at opposing ends of the main screed; 
 a screed walkway including a main walkway portion coupled to the main screed, a first walkway portion coupled to the first screed extension, and a second walkway portion coupled to the second screed extension; and 
 a handrail assembly for the screed walkway, wherein the handrail assembly is positioned at a rear end of the screed walkway, the handrail assembly including:
 a central handrail section removably coupled to the main walkway portion, the central handrail section defining a first end and a second end, wherein the central handrail section includes:
 a pair of first members extending along a vertical axis, wherein the pair of first members are spaced apart from each other in a direction that is orthogonal to the vertical axis; and 
 a second member extending orthogonally relative to the pair of first members; 
 
 a first handrail section removably coupled to the first walkway portion, wherein the first handrail section is further removably coupled to the central handrail section proximal to the first end of the central handrail section, wherein the first handrail section is movable relative to the central handrail section, and wherein the first handrail section includes a third member extending along the vertical axis and a fourth member extending orthogonally relative to the third member; and 
 a second handrail section removably coupled to the second walkway portion, wherein the second handrail section is further removably coupled to the central handrail section proximal to the second end of the central handrail section, wherein the second handrail section is movable relative to the central handrail section, wherein the second handrail section includes a fifth member extending along the vertical axis and a sixth member extending orthogonally relative to the fifth member, and wherein the central handrail section, the first handrail section, and the second handrail section are movable between a deployed position and a stowed position. 
 
   
     
     
         18 . The paving machine of  claim 17 , wherein the fourth member of the first handrail section is coupled with the second member of the central handrail section via a first telescopic joint, wherein, during a movement of the first screed extension relative to the main screed, a distance between the first member of the central handrail section and the third member of the first handrail section varies based on a sliding of the fourth member relative to the second member, wherein the sixth member of the second handrail section is coupled with the second member of the central handrail section via a second telescopic joint, and wherein, during a movement of the second screed extension relative to the main screed, a distance between the first member of the central handrail section and the fifth member of the second handrail section varies based on a sliding of the sixth member relative to the second member. 
     
     
         19 . The paving machine of  claim 17 , wherein the handrail assembly further includes at least one fourth handrail section adapted to be removably coupled with at least one of the first handrail section and the second handrail section, wherein the at least one fourth handrail section is removably coupled with at least one screed extender of the screed assembly, and wherein the at least one screed extender is adapted to be removably coupled with at least one of the first screed extension and the second screed extension. 
     
     
         20 . The paving machine of  claim 17 , wherein each of the central handrail section, the first handrail section, and the second handrail section is movable between an extended position and a retracted position to dispose the central handrail section, the first handrail section, and the second handrail section in the stowed position, and wherein each of the pair of first members, the third member, and the fifth member includes a pair of handrail portions that are movable relative to each other to move the corresponding central handrail section, the corresponding first handrail section, and the corresponding second handrail section between the extended position and the retracted position.