When spreading aggregate material onto a layer of bitumen/wet bitumen, when forming a road surface, the aggregate is commonly spread from a truck in reverse, potentially causing accidents and injuries. Safety is improved by providing a spreading vehicle that can be driven in the direction in which it is spreading the aggregate material. This is achieved by providing a second driving cab and driver controls at a location that would normally be considered the rearward end of the vehicle. The second driver cab is above a conveyor system conveying aggregate material from a hopper of the vehicle to a spreader box. The second driver cab allows the vehicle to be driven in the direction it is spreading material, by a driver who is facing the direction of travel, and who can see if the vehicle is about to hit anything or run into a worker in the surrounding area.

A machine includes a frame. The machine also includes a hopper assembly supported on the frame proximate to a front end of the machine. The machine further includes a conveyor system disposed proximate to the hopper assembly. The conveyor system includes a conveyor belt assembly and a drive mechanism adapted to operate the conveyor belt assembly. The machine includes a bumper extending transversely across the front end of the machine. The bumper defines an opening that is adapted to communicate with a portion of the drive mechanism disposed proximate to the bumper.

The described systems can include any suitable component that allows them to move material (e.g., gravel and/or another bulk material), under at least a portion of a frame or other portion of a vehicle, and from one portion of the vehicle to another portion. In some cases, the systems include a chip spreader that includes a motorized vehicle and a material transfer device that is configured to move the material from a first end of the motorized vehicle to a second end of the motorized vehicle. In some cases, the material transfer device is disposed below an axle, frame, drivetrain, radiator, and/or other component of an undercarriage of the motorized vehicle. In some cases, the material transfer device includes one or more conveyors, augers, vibrators, gravity slides, and/or pneumatic systems that are configured to move the material. Other implementations are described.

A wear plate for the conveyor of a paving machine has a bend at one axial end, an oblique flat surface at another axial end, a tab with an aperture extending from a side surface, or a tab extending from a side surface with a tapered configuration.

A machine includes a frame. The machine also includes a hopper assembly supported on the frame proximate to a front end of the machine. The machine further includes a conveyor system disposed proximate to the hopper assembly. The conveyor system includes a conveyor belt assembly and a drive mechanism adapted to operate the conveyor belt assembly. The machine includes a bumper extending transversely across the front end of the machine. The bumper defines an opening that is adapted to communicate with a portion of the drive mechanism disposed proximate to the bumper.

A truck-mounted system for dispensing a coating to a road surface includes a coating storage and dispensing system and an aggregate storage and spreader system disposed on the truck chassis. The coating storage and dispensing system includes a liquid storage unit, a plurality of heating units, and a plurality of pumping units for separately storing, heating, and pumping the liquid components of the coating. The liquid components are mixed and dispensed to the road surface by a dispenser. The aggregate storage and spreader system includes a container for aggregate material and a spreader unit for dispensing the aggregate material to the road surface over the coating. The spreader unit is movable between folded and extended positions on the truck chassis.

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.

An aggregate spreading device includes a hopper, a conveyor system disposed below the hopper, and a spreader system extending from at least one side of the aggregate spreading device and configured to receive aggregate from the conveyor system. The spreader system includes a vertical support coupled to a frame of the aggregate spreading device, a first wall extending from a first end attached to the vertical support, and a second wall extending from a second end of the first wall. A lift actuator is configured to adjust the vertical placement of the spreader system and causing the first and second walls to move vertically.

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 material placer having an augmented hopper, which can receive and convey concrete or other material at a greater rate than other material placers known in the industry. The augmented hopper has a relatively large volume, a bumper structure, a hinged flop gate, and a sliding gate plate that improves the process of receiving concrete or other discharged material from delivery trucks. The hinged flop gate and/or the sliding plate can optionally be vibrated to aid in moving concrete or other material into the trough of the augmented hopper. The material placer is further configured to have ease of access for cleaning and maintenance.