In the method for transferring material between a truck and a driving road construction vehicle, a distance between the driving road construction vehicle and a truck driving in front of the road construction vehicle without contact to the road construction vehicle truck is kept constant by a distance control system. While the distance between the driving road construction vehicle and the truck is kept constant, material is being dumped from a loading cavity of the truck into a material hopper of the road construction vehicle. The road construction vehicle is a road finishing machine or a feeder for a road finishing machine.

A mobile earth working machine (10), the earth working machine (10), in a reference state ready for earth-working operation, encompassing: a machine frame (20); a working apparatus for material-removing earth working; a functional apparatus that is different from the working apparatus (12) and is connected to the machine frame (20) pivotably movably relative to the machine frame (20); a pivot joint arrangement, arranged functionally between the machine frame (20) and the functional apparatus, having a frame-associated joint element (46) that is connected to the machine frame (20) immovably relative to the machine frame (20), and having an apparatus-associated joint element (50) that is coupled to the frame-associated joint element (46) pivotably relative thereto by means of a pivot joint (54) around a pivot axis (S) and is connected to the functional apparatus. There is embodied between the machine frame (20) and the functional apparatus (34, 86) a mechanical coupling structure (44) by means of which the functional apparatus is coupled intentionally physically detachably to the machine frame (20); the coupling structure (44) comprising a frame-side coupling configuration (56) and comprising an apparatus-side counterpart coupling configuration (58); the frame-side coupling configuration (56) and the apparatus-side counterpart coupling configuration (58) being either both embodied on the frame-associated joint element (46) or both embodied on the apparatus-associated joint element (50).

A road working machine includes an operator's station that is adapted to be occupied by an operator of the road working machine. The road working machine also includes a controller and a safety light circuit that is operatively attached to the controller. The safety light circuit includes a plurality of downwardly directed safety lights that are located so as to provide lighted egress from the operator's station.

An asphalt receiving vehicle includes a receiving hopper that is adapted to receive a load of asphalt paving material from a supply truck, and a conveyor that is adapted to convey the asphalt paving material received from the supply truck out of the receiving hopper. A plurality of guidance lights are mounted on the asphalt receiving vehicle so as to illuminate the roadway adjacent to the receiving hopper to provide a landing pattern to assist a driver of the supply truck to properly maneuver the supply truck as the supply truck is backed into position adjacent the receiving hopper. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the plurality of guidance lights may also be used individually as directional signals.

A material transfer vehicle has a frame, a front end including an asphalt paving material receiving device, and rear end including a discharge conveyor which is adapted to convey asphalt paving material to the receiving hopper of an asphalt paving machine. An operator's station includes an operator's platform on which is mounted an operator's seat. The operator's platform is moveable between a travel position that is entirely within the outer periphery of the material transfer vehicle and an operating position that locates the operator's seat at least partially outside the outer periphery of the material transfer vehicle.

A material transfer vehicle includes a frame, a plurality of ground-engaging drive assemblies that define a plane of locomotion, a front end and a rear end. A discharge conveyor is located at the rear end and is adapted to convey asphalt paving material to the receiving hopper of an asphalt paving machine. An engine provides the motive force for driving the ground-engaging drive assemblies and is located on the frame at the rear end of the material transfer vehicle behind the ground-engaging drive assemblies and below the discharge conveyor. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a fuel tank and a hydraulic fluid tank are located between the ground-engaging drive assemblies.

A road-finishing machine for producing a paving layer from a laying material or a charger vehicle for supplying the road-finishing machine with a laying material. The road-making machine comprises a material bunker, and a pushing means fixed forward of the material bunker at a chassis, such that pushing rollers of the pushing means may dock to rear tires of a truck. The pushing rollers comprise a pair of first pushing rollers mountable in a first position in a seat of a traverse of the pushing means. Either the pushing means is expandable by at least one changeable attachment to which the first pushing rollers may be mounted in a second position further forward with respect to the first position, or the pushing means comprises a pair of second pushing rollers which may be selectively positioned forward of the first pushing rollers.

A material transfer vehicle includes a material-receiving device that is adapted to receive asphalt paving material, and a loading conveyor that is operatively connected to the material-receiving device and adapted to receive asphalt paving material from the material-receiving device. A ground operator's station is located adjacent to the material-receiving device. The ground operator's station includes a lower platform on which the ground operator may stand, and a seat on which the ground operator may sit.

A material transfer vehicle has a discharge conveyor with a discharge chute mounted thereon. A controller is operatively connected to the elevation control system and the steering control system for the discharge conveyor. The controller is adapted to communicate with the elevation control system for the discharge conveyor to adjust the elevation of the discharge conveyor. The controller is also adapted to communicate with the steering control system for the discharge conveyor so that the angular orientation of the discharge conveyor with respect to the longitudinal axis of the material transfer vehicle may be adjusted. A paver-locating sensor is operatively connected to the controller, and is located and adapted to execute multiple non-contact sensor scan passes across the front end of the paving machine to determine the distance and orientation of the paving machine with respect to the paver-locating sensor and to communicate this information.

A method and means to manage timing and delivery of paving material to refill a paver during a paving operation is provided. The invention employs a semi-automated dump routine to manage the level and condition of material in the dump hopper of the material transfer vehicle (MTV) thereby minimizing flaws in the roadbed otherwise expected. Further, the invention provides for monitoring and managing multiple operational data pertaining to delivery of material related to the paving process to determine and coordinate timing of travel and delivery of the paving material to increase optimal conditions of the paving material to minimize road and pavement defects.