Flow diverter for hopper of asphalt paving machine

Abstract

An asphalt paving machine includes a hopper for receiving asphalt material and a distributing auger for distributing asphalt material onto a roadway to be paved. A hopper conveyor is provided to carry asphalt material from the hopper to the distributing auger. The hopper conveyor has a rear end that is adjacent the distributing auger, an outside edge, and a flow diverter that is adapted to divert asphalt material being carried by the hopper conveyor away from the outside edge thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An asphalt paving machine comprising:
 (a) a hopper that is adapted to receive asphalt material;   (b) a distributing auger that is adapted to distribute asphalt material onto a roadway to be paved;   (c) a hopper conveyor that is adapted to carry asphalt material from the hopper to the distributing auger, said hopper conveyor having:
 (i) a rear end that is adjacent the distributing auger; 
 (ii) an outside edge; 
   (d) a flow diverter that is adapted to divert asphalt material being carried by the hopper conveyor away from the outside edge of said hopper conveyor.   
     
     
         2 . The asphalt paving machine of  claim 1  wherein the flow diverter comprises a diverter plate which is supported by a diverter bracket. 
     
     
         3 . The asphalt paving machine of  claim 2  wherein:
 (a) the hopper conveyor has a drive chain on its outside edge; 
 (b) an outer chain protector plate is provided to cover the drive chain on the outside edge of the hopper conveyor; 
 (c) the diverter plate is located so that its inwardmost extent is inside the outer chain protector plate on the outside edge of the hopper conveyor. 
 
     
     
         4 . The asphalt paving machine of  claim 2  wherein the diverter plate is disposed at an angle with respect to the outside edge of the hopper conveyor that is within the range of about 10° to about 20°. 
     
     
         5 . The asphalt paving machine of  claim 2  wherein the diverter plate is disposed at an angle of about 14° with respect to the outside edge of the hopper conveyor. 
     
     
         6 . An asphalt paving machine comprising:
 (a) a hopper that is adapted to receive asphalt material, said hopper having:
 (i) a right outside wall; 
 (ii) a left outside wall; 
 (iii) a centerline that is located midway between the left outside wall and the right outside wall; 
 (iv) a front end; 
   (b) a distributing auger that is adapted to distribute asphalt material onto a roadway to be paved;   (c) a right hopper conveyor that is adapted to carry asphalt material from the hopper to the distributing auger, said right hopper conveyor having:
 (i) a front end that is adjacent the front end of the hopper; 
 (ii) a rear end that is adjacent the distributing auger; 
 (iii) an outside edge; 
 (iv) an inside edge that is adjacent the centerline of the hopper; 
   (d) a right flow diverter that is adapted to divert asphalt material being carried by the right hopper conveyor away from the outside edge of said right hopper conveyor;   (e) a left hopper conveyor that is adapted to carry asphalt material from the hopper to the distributing auger, said left hopper conveyor having:
 (i) a front end that is adjacent the front end of the hopper; 
 (ii) a rear end that is adjacent the distributing auger; 
 (iii) an outside edge; 
 (iv) an inside edge that is adjacent the centerline of the hopper; 
   (f) a left flow diverter that is adapted to divert asphalt material being carried by the left hopper conveyor away from the outside edge of said left hopper conveyor.   
     
     
         7 . The asphalt paving machine of  claim 6  wherein:
 (a) the right flow diverter comprises a right diverter plate which is supported by a right diverter bracket; 
 (b) the left flow diverter comprises a left diverter plate which is supported by a left diverter bracket. 
 
     
     
         8 . The asphalt paving machine of  claim 7  wherein:
 (a) the right diverter plate is disposed at an angle with respect to the outside edge of the right hopper conveyor that is within the range of about 10° to about 20°; 
 (b) the left diverter plate is disposed at an angle with respect to the outside edge of the left hopper conveyor that is within the range of about 10° to about 20°. 
 
     
     
         9 . The asphalt paving machine of  claim 7  wherein:
 (a) the right diverter plate is disposed at an angle of about 14° with respect to the outside edge of the right hopper conveyor; 
 (b) the left diverter plate is disposed at an angle of about 14° with respect to the outside edge of the left hopper conveyor.