Construction machine with offset hopper rear walls

Abstract

A construction machine according to the disclosure comprises a material hopper for receiving bulk material. The material hopper comprises a first sub-hopper that is pivotable about a first axis and a second sub-hopper that is pivotable about a second axis, wherein the first and second axes extend parallel to each other. The first and second sub-hoppers each comprise a rear wall, and the rear walls are shifted with respect to each other in a direction parallel to the axes, whereby a collision of the rear walls is prevented when pivoting the first and/or the second sub-hopper.

1 . A construction machine comprising:
 a material hopper for receiving bulk material, the material hopper comprising a first sub-hopper that is pivotable about a first axis and a second sub-hopper that is pivotable about a second axis, wherein the first axis and the second axis extend parallel to each other, and wherein the first and second sub-hoppers each comprise a rear wall, the rear walls being shifted with respect to each other in a direction parallel to the axes, whereby a collision of the rear walls is prevented when pivoting the first sub-hopper and/or the second sub-hopper.   
     
     
         2 . The construction machine according to  claim 1  wherein the first axis and the second axis extend in the direction of travel of the construction machine. 
     
     
         3 . The construction machine according to  claim 1  wherein the first and second axes extend at an angle to the to a direction of travel of the construction machine. 
     
     
         4 . The construction machine according to  claim 1  further comprising a machine wall extending substantially parallel to the rear walls. 
     
     
         5 . The construction machine according to  claim 4  wherein a first distance between the machine wall and the rear wall of the first sub-hopper is greater than a second distance between the machine wall and the rear wall of the second sub-hopper. 
     
     
         6 . The construction machine according to  claim 4  further comprising a stripper that extends between the machine wall and the rear wall of the first sub-hopper when the first sub-hopper is pivoted with respect to the machine wall, the stripper being configured to remove bulk material from the machine wall or the rear wall of the first sub-hopper when the first sub-hopper is pivoted with respect to the machine wall. 
     
     
         7 . The construction machine according to  claim 6  wherein the stripper is attached to the machine wall. 
     
     
         8 . The construction machine according to  claim 6  wherein the stripper comprises a resilient lip. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The construction machine according to  claim 8  wherein the resilient lip bears against the rear wall of the first sub-hopper. 
     
     
         11 . The construction machine according to  claim 1  further comprising a machine wall having first and second portions, wherein the first portion of the machine wall extends substantially parallel to the rear wall of the first sub-hopper and the second portion of the machine wall extends substantially parallel to the rear wall of the second partial hopper, and wherein the portions of the machine wall are shifted with respect to each other in a direction parallel to the axes. 
     
     
         12 . The construction machine according to  claim 11  wherein a first distance between the first portion of machine wall and the rear wall of the first sub-hopper and a second distance between the second portion of the machine wall and the rear wall of the second sub-hopper are equal in size. 
     
     
         13 . The construction machine according to  claim 1  wherein the first sub-hopper comprises a first edge at a side located opposite from the rear wall of the first sub-hopper, and the second sub-hopper comprises a second edge at a side located opposite from the rear wall of the second sub-hopper, wherein the first and second edges are in a plan view from above aligned flush with each other. 
     
     
         14 . The construction machine according to  claim 1  wherein the construction machine is a road paver or a feeder. 
     
     
         15 . The construction machine according to  claim 6  wherein the stripper has a tapered shape that narrows toward a top of the stripper. 
     
     
         16 . The construction machine according to  claim 6  wherein the stripper extends laterally inwardly of the rear wall of the first sub-hopper when the first sub-hopper is positioned in a starting position. 
     
     
         17 . The construction machine according to  claim 13  further comprising first and second hinges attached to the first and second sub-hoppers, respectively, wherein the first hinge is shifted with respect to the second hinge so that the rear walls are shifted with respect to each other in the direction parallel to the axes when the first and second sub-hoppers are mounted on a body of the construction machine. 
     
     
         18 . The construction machine according to  claim 13  further comprising first and second hinges attached to the first and second sub-hoppers, respectively, wherein the hinges have different geometries so that the rear walls are shifted with respect to each other in the direction parallel to the axes. 
     
     
         19 . A construction machine comprising:
 a machine wall; and   a material hopper for receiving bulk material, the material hopper including a first sub-hopper that is pivotable relative to the machine wall about a first axis, and a second sub-hopper that is pivotable relative to the machine wall about a second axis that extends parallel to the first axis, wherein the first and second sub-hoppers each include a rear wall, the rear walls being located on one side of the machine wall and being shifted with respect to each other in a direction parallel to the axes, whereby a collision of the rear walls is prevented when pivoting the first sub-hopper and/or the second sub-hopper, and wherein the first sub-hopper further includes a first edge at a side located opposite from the rear wall of the first sub-hopper, and the second sub-hopper includes a second edge at a side located opposite from the rear wall of the second sub-hopper, and wherein the first and second edges are in a plan view from above aligned flush with each other.   
     
     
         20 . A construction machine comprising:
 a material hopper for receiving bulk material, the material hopper including first and second sub-hoppers and first and second hinges attached to the first and second sub-hoppers, respectively, for allowing the first sub-hopper to pivot about a first axis and the second sub-hopper to pivot about a second axis that extends parallel to the first axis, wherein the first and second sub-hoppers each comprise a rear wall, and the first hinge is modified with respect to the second hinge so that the rear walls are shifted with respect to each other in a direction parallel to the axes, whereby a collision of the rear walls is prevented when pivoting the first sub-hopper and/or the second sub-hopper.   
     
     
         21 . The construction machine according to  claim 20  wherein the hinges have different geometries or are shifted with respect to each other.