The present invention relates to a method for controlling a work train including a self-propelled road paver and a self-propelled feeder travelling ahead of the road paver, to a work train comprising a self-propelled road paver and a self-propelled feeder, as well as to a feeder and to a road paver for such a work train. According to one aspect of the present invention, the control of the road paver is effected automatically, to which end particularly the position of the feeder is determined and travel commands for the road paver are generated based on this information.

An apparatus for controlling the movement of a material transfer vehicle with respect to the front end of a paving machine that is being supplied by the material transfer vehicle includes a controller that is mounted on the material transfer vehicle and is operatively connected to drive systems for controlling the steering and speed of the material transfer vehicle. A sensor is mounted on the material transfer vehicle and is operatively connected to the controller. The sensor is located and adapted to execute multiple non-contact sensor scan passes across the front end of the paving machine to determine the distance from the sensor to the paving machine. The sensor is also adapted to communicate information to the controller about the distance from the sensor to the paving machine. The apparatus includes no components that are mounted on the paving machine.

A material transfer vehicle includes a frame and an operator's platform that is mounted on the frame. A conveyor is mounted on the frame, adjacent to and below the operator's platform. The conveyor is adapted to be moved between a working position and a travel position. An access stairway to the operator's station includes a side stair portion and a conveyor step that is mounted on the upper side of the conveyor.

A material transfer vehicle includes a frame and an operator's platform that is mounted on the frame. A conveyor is mounted on the frame, adjacent to and below the operator's platform. The conveyor is adapted to be moved between a working position and a travel position. An access stairway to the operator's station includes a side stair portion and a conveyor step that is mounted on the upper side of the conveyor.

An automotive building machine comprising a material bunker for accommodating therein pavement material to be laid is provided, the building machine being a road finisher or a charger. The material bunker comprises at least one lifting device, which is adapted to enter into releasable engagement with a movable tailgate of a truck supplying the material bunker with the pavement material and which is configured for displacing the movable tailgate of the truck between a first position and a second position. A method used for this purpose is also provided.

A material transfer vehicle includes a truck-receiving hopper that is adapted to receive asphalt material from a delivery truck. The truck-receiving hopper includes an expandable front portion having a right expandable sidewall assembly and a left expandable sidewall assembly. The right expandable sidewall assembly has a right outer front sidewall panel and a mechanism for moving the right outer front sidewall panel between an inner right position and an outer right position. The left expandable sidewall assembly has a left outer front sidewall panel and a mechanism for moving the left outer front sidewall panel between an inner left position and an outer left position. The truck-receiving hopper also includes a rear portion having a right sidewall panel and a left sidewall panel. The right and left sidewall panels of the rear portion are fixed against movement with respect to each other.

A damper device comprises a cylinder, a piston bearing on one side of the cylinder, a piston rod displaceably received by the piston bearing, and a bottom unit on another side of the cylinder. The cylinder, the piston bearing and the bottom unit form a closed chamber that is filled with a compressible liquid. The piston rod subdivides the chamber into first and second chamber halves between which the liquid can be displaced if the piston rod is displaced relative to the cylinder. Furthermore, the closed chamber provides for a variable volume so as to compensate temperature-induced pressure fluctuations inside the closed chamber.

A system for modifying an operational condition, i.e., the discharge speed or position, of a material-handling vehicle (MHV). The system includes a computer utilizing a machine learning engine to analyze visual data, a vision system comprising at least one camera mounted to the MHV for generating said visual data, and a controller operatively connected to the MHV. The vision system generates visual data by imaging an observed area proximate the MHV. That data is transmitted to the computer which, using a processor, analyzes the data to determine if a current operational condition of the MHV is outside of a tolerance band. If it is outside of the band, the computer system generates operational commands to bring the MHV back within the tolerance band and transmits said commands to the controller.

A road construction machine includes a chassis for moving the road construction machine, a primary drive for driving the chassis, a primary storage unit for supplying the primary drive with electrical energy or an energy medium, a material hopper and a material hopper insert for receiving paving material. The material hopper insert is detachably mounted on the material hopper. The material hopper insert has at least one secondary storage unit for driving the chassis and/or for supplying the primary drive with electrical energy or the energy medium.

Slipform paver may include rheometers for measuring rheological parameters. The rheometers may include vane rheometers in a grout box of the slipform mold. The slipform paver may dynamically determining the rheological parameters of concrete and controlling a target vibrational frequency of vibrators based on the rheological parameters. The slipform paver may also use depth sensors, cameras, and/or electric vibrators for controlling the target vibration frequency.