Walking floor for paving machine

Abstract

A system is provided. The system includes a conveyor and a walking floor. The conveyor is configured to convey paving material from a hopper of a paving machine. The walking floor is immediately adjacent to the conveyor. The walking floor is configured to convey at least a portion of the paving material to the conveyor.

1 . A system comprising:
 a conveyor configured to convey paving material from a hopper of a paving machine; and   a walking floor immediately adjacent to the conveyor, the walking floor configured to convey at least a portion of the paving material to the conveyor.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the paving machine further includes an asphalt paver. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the walking floor is in front of the conveyor. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a direction of movement of the walking floor and a direction of movement of the conveyor is the same. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the walking floor is located in the hopper of the paving machine. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the walking floor is substantially parallel relative to the conveyor. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the walking floor is substantially inclined relative to the conveyor. 
     
     
         8 . A method comprising:
 providing a conveyor to convey paving material from a hopper of a paving machine;   providing a walking floor immediately adjacent to the conveyor; and   conveying at least a portion of the paving material from the walking floor to the conveyor.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein providing the walking floor immediately adjacent to the conveyor further includes providing the walking floor in front of the conveyor. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  further including moving the walking floor in a direction same as a direction of movement of the conveyor. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein providing the walking floor immediately adjacent to the conveyor further includes providing the walking floor in the hopper of the paving machine. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein providing the walking floor immediately adjacent to the conveyor further includes providing the walking floor substantially parallel relative to the conveyor. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein providing the walking floor immediately adjacent to the conveyor further includes providing the walking floor substantially inclined relative to the conveyor. 
     
     
         14 . A paving machine comprising:
 a power source;   a hopper configured to receive paving material;   a conveyor configured to convey the paving material from the hopper; and   a walking floor immediately adjacent to the conveyor, the walking floor configured to convey at least a portion of the paving material to the conveyor.   
     
     
         15 . The paving machine of  claim 14 , wherein the paving machine further includes an asphalt paver. 
     
     
         16 . The paving machine of  claim 14 , wherein the walking floor is in front of the conveyor. 
     
     
         17 . The paving machine of  claim 14 , wherein a direction of movement of the walking floor and a direction of movement of the conveyor is the same. 
     
     
         18 . The paving machine of  claim 14 , wherein the walking floor is located in the hopper. 
     
     
         19 . The paving machine of  claim 14 , wherein the walking floor is substantially parallel relative to the conveyor. 
     
     
         20 . The paving machine of  claim 14 , wherein the walking floor is substantially inclined relative to the conveyor.