Two-piece main frame assembly for paving vehicles

Abstract

A main frame assembly is for a paving vehicle having an engine and two wheel assemblies, at least one of the wheel assemblies being operably connectable with the engine for mobilizing the vehicle. The frame assembly includes a lower frame having two opposing sides, each side being configured to connect with a separate one of the two drive assemblies, and a mounting portion. An upper frame is connectable, preferably removably connectable, with the lower frame. The upper frame has a compartment configured to receive the engine and an attachment portion, the upper frame attachment portion being connected with the lower frame mounting portion so as to connect the upper and lower frames.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A main frame assembly for a paving vehicle, the vehicle having an engine and two wheel assemblies, at least one of the wheel assemblies being operably connectable with the engine for mobilizing the vehicle, the frame assembly comprising: 
 a lower frame having two opposing sides, each side being configured to connect with a separate one of the two drive assemblies; and    an upper frame removably connectable with the lower frame, the upper frame having a compartment configured to receive the engine.    
     
     
         2 . The frame assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein the two wheel assemblies are connectable with lower frame when the lower frame is separate from the upper frame and the engine is disposeable within the upper frame engine compartment when the upper frame is separate from the lower frame, such that when the upper frame is connected with the lower frame, the engine is positioned for operative connection with at least one of the two wheel assemblies.  
     
     
         3 . The frame assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein the vehicle further includes a paving material hopper and the lower frame has a front portion connectable with the material hopper and a rear portion connectable with the upper frame.  
     
     
         4 . The frame assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein: 
 the vehicle further has a material transport conveyor; and  
 the lower frame has a longitudinal axis, the two sides extending generally parallel with and disposed on opposing sides of the axis, and an upper support surface extending generally along the axis and configured to support the conveyor.  
 
     
     
         5 . The frame assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein: 
 the vehicle further has a material transport conveyor; and  
 a tunnel is defined generally between the upper and lower frames when the upper frame is connected with the lower frame, the tunnel being configured to generally enclose at least a portion of the conveyor.  
 
     
     
         6 . The frame assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein: 
 each one of the two wheel assemblies includes a base, each base being connectable to a separate one of the two vehicle sides, and a plurality of wheels connected with the base; and  
 the upper frame has two attachment portions, each attachment portion being removably connectable with a separate one of the two wheel bases so as to removably connect the upper frame with the lower frame.  
 
     
     
         8 . The frame assembly as recited in  claim 6  wherein each one of the two wheel assemblies includes an endless track disposed about the plurality of wheels.  
     
     
         9 . The frame assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein the lower frame has a longitudinal centerline and includes a pair of side walls spaced apart so as to extend generally parallel with respect to the centerline, each side wall providing a separate one of the two lower frame sides, and a plurality of transverse members, each transverse member extending generally perpendicularly across the centerline and having opposing ends, each member end being connected with a separate one of the two side walls.  
     
     
         10 . The frame assembly as recited in  claim 9  wherein the lower frame further includes a front wall extending side wall includes a front end and a rear end and the lower frame further includes a front wall extending across the front ends of the two side walls  
     
     
         11 . The frame assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein: 
 the vehicle further includes at least one pump connectable with the engine, a fuel tank connectable with the engine and a hydraulic reservoir connectable with the pump; and  
 the upper frame has a front portion providing the compartment, the compartment being configured to receive both the engine and the pump, and a rear portion integrally formed with the front portion and having another compartment, the other compartment being configured to receive the fuel tank and the reservoir.  
 
     
     
         12 . The frame assembly as recited in  claim 1  wherein the upper frame includes: 
 a generally horizontal base wall having a front end, a rear end and two opposing sides;  
 two generally vertical side walls, each side wall extending along a separate one of the two sides of the base wall;  
 a generally vertical front transverse wall extending along the front end of the base wall;  
 a generally vertical rear transverse wall extending along the rear end of the base wall; and  
 a generally vertical middle transverse wall extending generally between the side walls and disposed generally between the front and rear walls such that the compartment is defined between the front and middle transverse walls and another compartment is defined between the middle and rear transverse walls.  
 
     
     
         13 . A paving vehicle comprising: 
 a lower frame having two opposing sides and a mounting portion;    two wheel assemblies, each wheel assembly being connected with a separate one of the two lower frame sides;    an upper frame having an attachment portion, the upper frame attachment portion being connected with the lower frame mounting portion so as to connect the upper frame with the lower frame, the upper frame further having a compartment configured to receive an engine; and    an engine disposed in the upper frame compartment and operatively connected with at least one of the two wheel assemblies.    
     
     
         14 . The paving vehicle as recited in  claim 13  wherein the upper frame is removably connected with the lower frame.  
     
     
         15 . The paving vehicle as recited in  claim 13  wherein: 
 the lower frame mounting portion includes two spaced apart sections, each mounting section being disposed proximal to a separate one of the lower frame sides; and  
 the upper frame attachment portion is formed of two sections, each attachment section being removably connectable with a separate one of the lower frame mounting sections to connect the upper frame with the lower frame.  
 
     
     
         16 . The paving vehicle as recited in  claim 15  wherein each one of the two wheel assemblies includes a wheel base, each wheel base being connectable to a separate one of the two vehicle sides and having a portion providing a separate one of the two mounting surface sections of the lower frame.  
     
     
         17 . A method of manufacturing a paving vehicle comprising the steps of; 
 providing an upper frame configured to receive an engine;    providing a first lower frame configured to connect with two first wheel assemblies;    providing a second lower frame configured to connect with two second wheel assemblies;    selecting one of the first lower frame and the second lower frame; and    connecting the upper frame with the selected one of the first and second lower frames.    
     
     
         18 . The method recited in  claim 17  wherein: 
 each one of two first wheel assemblies includes a drive wheel, a second wheel and an endless belt disposed about the drive wheel and the second wheel; and  
 each one of the two second wheel assemblies includes a driven wheel and at least one second wheel.  
 
     
     
         19 . A method of constructing a paving vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a lower frame having two opposing sides, each side being configured to connect with a separate one of two wheel assemblies, and a support surface;    providing a conveyor configured to transport paving material;    positioning the conveyor on the lower frame support surface;    providing an upper frame configured to receive an engine;    connecting the upper frame with the lower frame such that the conveyor is disposed generally between the upper frame and the support surface of the lower frame.    
     
     
         20 . The method recited in  claim 19  further comprising the steps of: 
 providing two wheel assemblies;  
 connecting each wheel assembly with a separate one of the two lower frame sides;  
 providing an engine;  
 installing the engine within the upper frame;  
 operatively connecting the engine with at least one of the two wheel assemblies.