The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 01, 1997
Filed:
Sep. 29, 1994
Thomas R Campbell, Chatanooga, TN (US);
Astec Industries, Inc., Chattanooga, TN (US);
Abstract
A paving machine has a gravity feed hopper which is capable of delivering by gravity to the paving apparatus substantially all of the paving materials stored in the hopper without employing any internal conveyors. The discharge opening of the hopper is selectively closed by a feeder gate, the degree of opening of which is preferably coordinated with other operating parameters of the machine such as vehicle speed, distributing auger height and/or speed, and screed operation. Use of the gravity feed hopper significantly reduces construction and maintenance costs, provides a more uniform feed of materials from the hopper, and permits the use of a smaller engine. The paving machine as thus constructed is also relatively easy to operate and thus can be controlled by a single operator seated in the vicinity of the screed.