MATERIAL TRANSFER VEHICLE WITH MODULAR ENGINE ASSEMBLY

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. A material transfer vehicle comprising: (a) a frame; (b) a plurality of ground-engaging drive assemblies that define a plane of locomotion; (c) a front end; (d) a rear end; (e) a discharge conveyor at the rear end, said discharge conveyor being adapted to convey asphalt paving material to the receiving hopper of an asphalt paving machine; (f) an engine that provides the motive force for driving the ground-engaging drive assemblies, said engine being located on the frame at the rear end of the material transfer vehicle behind the ground-engaging drive assemblies and below the discharge conveyor.

2. The material transfer vehicle of claim 1, which includes a fuel tank that is located between the ground-engaging drive assemblies.

3. The material transfer vehicle of claim 2 wherein: (a) the fuel tank has a fuel tank volume; (b) at least a portion of the fuel tank volume is located below the plane of locomotion.

4. The material transfer vehicle of claim 3 wherein at least about half of the fuel tank volume is located below the plane of locomotion.

5. The material transfer vehicle of claim 1, which includes a hydraulic fluid tank that is located between the ground-engaging drive assemblies.

6. The material transfer vehicle of claim 5 wherein: (a) the hydraulic fluid tank has a hydraulic fluid tank volume; (b at least a portion of the hydraulic fluid tank volume is located below the plane of locomotion.

7. The material transfer vehicle of claim 6 wherein at least about half of the hydraulic fluid tank volume is located below the plane of locomotion.

8. The material transfer vehicle of claim 1 which includes: (a) a fuel tank that is located between the ground-engaging drive assemblies; (b) a hydraulic fluid tank that is located adjacent the fuel tank and between the ground-engaging drive assemblies.

9. The material transfer vehicle of claim 1 wherein the engine is a part of a modular engine assembly.

10. The material transfer vehicle of claim 9: (a) which includes a fuel tank that is located between the ground-engaging drive assemblies; (b) which includes a hydraulic fluid tank that is located adjacent the fuel tank and between the ground-engaging drive assemblies; (c) wherein the modular engine assembly is mounted to the frame adjacent to the fuel tank and the hydraulic fluid tank.

11. The material transfer vehicle of claim 9 wherein the modular engine assembly includes, in addition to the engine, a combustion air intake, a hydraulic oil cooler, a charge air cooler, a pump section comprising hydraulic, fuel and coolant pumps, an engine exhaust treatment subassembly, an exhaust outlet, a fuel cooler and a radiator.

12. A material transfer vehicle comprising: (a) a frame; (b) a plurality of ground-engaging drive wheels including a left rear drive wheel having a left rear axis of rotation and a right rear drive wheel having a right rear axis of rotation; (c) a front end; (d) a rear end; (e) a discharge conveyor at the rear end, said discharge conveyor being adapted to convey asphalt paving material to the receiving hopper of an asphalt paving machine; (f) an engine that provides the motive force for driving the ground-engaging drive wheels, said engine being located on the frame at the rear end of the material transfer vehicle behind the left rear drive wheel and the right rear drive wheel and below the discharge conveyor; (g) a fuel tank that is located between the left rear drive wheel and the right rear drive wheel; (h) a hydraulic fluid tank that is located adjacent to the fuel tank, between the left rear drive wheel and the right rear drive wheel.

13. The material transfer vehicle of claim 12 wherein: (a) the hydraulic fluid tank has a hydraulic fluid tank volume; (b) a portion of the hydraulic fluid tank volume is located below the axes of rotation of the left rear drive wheel and the right rear drive wheel; (c) the fuel tank has a fuel tank volume; (d) a portion of the fuel tank volume is located below the axes of rotation of the left rear drive wheel and the right rear drive wheel.

14. The material transfer vehicle of claim 12 wherein the engine is a part of a modular engine assembly.

15. The material transfer vehicle of claim 14 wherein the modular engine assembly is mounted to the frame adjacent to the fuel tank and the hydraulic fluid tank.

16. The material transfer vehicle of claim 14 wherein the modular engine assembly includes, in addition to the engine, a combustion air intake, a hydraulic oil cooler, a charge air cooler, a pump section comprising hydraulic, fuel and coolant pumps, an engine exhaust treatment subassembly, an exhaust outlet, a fuel cooler and a radiator.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] The presently preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts throughout, and wherein:

[0035] FIG. 1 is a side view of a conventional material transfer vehicle of a first type that may be constructed according to the invention.

[0036] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a conventional material transfer vehicle of a second type that may be constructed according to the invention.

[0037] FIG. 3 is a side view of a portion of a material transfer vehicle similar to that shown in FIG. 1 that has been constructed according to the invention.

[0038] FIG. 4 is a perspective rear view of a portion of the material transfer vehicle shown in FIG. 3.

[0039] FIG. 5 is a rear view of the material transfer vehicle shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0040] FIG. 6 is a rear view of the material transfer vehicle shown in FIGS. 3-5, with the engine assembly removed to more clearly show the fuel and hydraulic fluid tanks.

[0041] FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the rear end of the material transfer vehicle shown in FIGS. 3-6, showing the fuel tank and hydraulic fluid tank assembly.

[0042] FIG. 8 is a top view of the fuel tank and hydraulic fluid tank assembly of the material transfer vehicle shown in FIGS. 3-7.

[0043] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an engine assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, comprising the engine, the engine exhaust treatment subassembly and the various cooling subassemblies.

[0044] FIG. 10 is the perspective view shown in FIG. 9, with the top and side of the engine assembly cover removed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0045] This description of the preferred embodiments of the invention is intended to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written description of this invention. The drawing figures are not necessarily to scale, and certain features of the invention may be shown exaggerated in scale or in somewhat schematic form in the interest of clarity and conciseness.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional self-propelled material transfer vehicle 10 includes a frame 12 that is supported on the roadway surface by front and rear ground-engaging drive assemblies including right front drive wheel 14 (which rotates about axis of rotation AR.sub.14, which is perpendicular to the page on which FIG. 1 is displayed) and right rear drive wheel 16 (which rotates about axis of rotation AR.sub.16, which is perpendicular to the page on which FIG. 1 is displayed). Material transfer vehicle 10 also includes a left front drive wheel (not shown but substantially similar to right front drive wheel 14) and a left rear drive wheel (not shown but substantially similar to right rear drive wheel 16). Each of the drive wheels is driven by a hydraulic motor (not shown) that is supplied with fluid under pressure by one or more hydraulic pumps (also not shown). In the alternative, the frame of the vehicle may be supported on the roadway surface by ground-engaging drive assemblies comprising left side track-drive assembly (not shown) having a left drive sprocket, and right side track-drive assembly (also not shown) having a right drive sprocket, as is known to those having ordinary skill in the art to which the invention relates.

[0047] Vehicle 10 includes receiving hopper 18 for receiving asphalt paving material from a delivery truck (not shown), although it could be equipped with a windrow pick-up head instead. An auger (not shown) is mounted in receiving hopper 18 and is adapted to assist in conveying asphalt paving material from receiving hopper 18 into loading conveyor 20, which in turn conveys the asphalt paving material off of its output end 22 and into surge bin 24. The surge bin includes transverse auger 26 that is employed to mix the asphalt paving material in the surge bin in order to minimize segregation or separation of the aggregate portion of the asphalt paving material by size. Surge conveyor 28 is adapted to convey asphalt paving material upwardly out of the surge bin so that it may fall through chute 30 and onto input end 32 of discharge conveyor 34.

[0048] Discharge conveyor 34 is mounted for vertical pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal pivot axis at its input end that is perpendicular to the page of FIG. 1, as raised and lowered by a linear actuator (not shown). Discharge conveyor 34 is also adapted for side-to-side movement about an essentially vertical pivot axis by operation of one or more additional actuators (also not shown). Asphalt paving material that falls through chute 30 onto discharge conveyor 34 is carried upwardly by the discharge conveyor and discharged through chute 36 at conveyor output end 38 into an asphalt receiving hopper of an asphalt paving machine (not shown).

[0049] Hydraulic drive systems including hydraulic pumps and hydraulic motors are provided to drive the various augers and conveyors. An engine (not shown, but located within engine compartment 40 adjacent to operator's station 42) provides the motive force for the hydraulic pumps that drive the hydraulic motors for the drive wheels, the augers and the various conveyors and other components of the vehicle. Fuel tank 44 is located below the operator's station and entirely above the plane of locomotion of material transfer vehicle 10. A hydraulic fluid tank (not shown) is located adjacent to fuel tank 44 on the opposite side of vehicle 10 below operator's station 42 and entirely above the plane of locomotion.

[0050] FIG. 2 illustrates an alternative conventional material transfer vehicle 50 which includes a frame that is supported on the roadway surface by front and rear ground-engaging drive assemblies comprising left front drive wheel 52 (which rotates about axis of rotation AR.sub.52) and left rear drive wheel 54 (which rotates about axis of rotation AR.sub.54). Material transfer vehicle 50 also includes right front drive wheel 55 (which rotates about axis or rotation AR.sub.55) and a right rear drive wheel (not shown but substantially similar to left rear drive wheel 54). Each of the drive wheels is driven by a hydraulic motor (not shown) that is supplied with fluid under pressure by one or more hydraulic pumps (also not shown). In the alternative, the frame of the vehicle may be supported on the roadway surface by ground-engaging drive assemblies comprising left side track-drive assembly (not shown) having a left drive sprocket, and right side track-drive assembly (also not shown) having a right drive sprocket.

[0051] Vehicle 50 includes receiving hopper 56 for receiving asphalt paving material from a delivery truck (not shown). Auger 58 in receiving hopper 56 is adapted to urge asphalt paving material into loading conveyor 60, which is operatively attached to the receiving hopper. Loading conveyor 60 is adapted to convey asphalt paving material from receiving hopper 56 upwardly to its output end 62, from which it will fall through chute 64 onto the lower input end of a discharge conveyor (not shown, but substantially similar to discharge conveyor 34).

[0052] Material transfer vehicle 50 also includes operator's station 66 from which all operating functions of the vehicle may be controlled via control panel 68. Material transfer vehicle 50 includes various hydraulic pumps and hydraulic motors, which are provided to drive the various augers and conveyors. An engine (not shown, but located in engine compartment 70) provides the motive force for the hydraulic pumps that drive the hydraulic motors for the drive wheels, the augers and conveyors and other components of the vehicle. A hydraulic fluid tank 72 is located adjacent to engine compartment 70 below loading conveyor 60 and above the plane of locomotion of material transfer vehicle 50. A fuel tank (not shown) is located adjacent to hydraulic fluid tank 72 on the opposite side of engine compartment 70 below loading conveyor 60 and above the plane of locomotion.

[0053] FIGS. 3-10 illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention. As shown therein, material transfer vehicle 110 includes a frame 112 that is supported on the roadway surface by front and rear ground-engaging drive assemblies comprising right front drive wheel 114 (which rotates about axis of rotation AR.sub.114) and right rear drive wheel 116 (which rotates about axis of rotation AR.sub.116). Material transfer vehicle 110 also includes a left front drive wheel (not shown but substantially similar to right front drive wheel 114) and left rear drive wheel 118 (which rotates about axis of rotation AR.sub.118). Each of the drive wheels is driven by one or more conventional hydraulic motors (not shown) that are supplied with fluid under pressure by one or more conventional hydraulic pumps (also not shown). In the alternative, the frame of the vehicle may be supported on the roadway surface by ground-engaging drive assemblies comprising left and right side track-drive assemblies (not shown).

[0054] Vehicle 110 includes a receiving hopper (not shown, but substantially similar to receiving hopper 18 and receiving hopper 56) for receiving asphalt paving material from a delivery truck (not shown), although it could alternatively be equipped with a windrow pick-up head. An auger (not shown) is mounted in the receiving hopper and is adapted to assist in conveying asphalt paving material from the receiving hopper into loading conveyor 120, which in turn conveys the asphalt paving material off of its output end 122 and into surge bin 124. The surge bin includes transverse auger 126 that is employed to mix the asphalt paving material in the surge bin in order to minimize segregation or separation of the aggregate portion of the asphalt paving material by size. Surge conveyor 128 is adapted to convey asphalt paving material upwardly out of the surge bin so that it may fall through chute 130 and onto the input end of discharge conveyor 134.

[0055] Discharge conveyor 134 is mounted for vertical pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal pivot axis at its input end that is perpendicular to the plane of the page of FIG. 3, as raised and lowered by linear actuator 135 (shown in FIG. 4). Discharge conveyor 134 is also adapted for side-to-side movement about a substantially vertical pivot axis by operation of one or more additional actuators (also not shown). Asphalt paving material that falls through chute 130 onto discharge conveyor 134 is carried upwardly by the discharge conveyor and discharged through chute 136 at conveyor output end 138 into an asphalt receiving hopper of an asphalt paving machine (not shown). Hydraulic drive systems including conventional hydraulic pumps and hydraulic motors are provided to drive the various augers and conveyors.

[0056] In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings (especially FIG. 10), modular engine assembly 140 includes engine 142, combustion air intake 144, hydraulic oil cooler 146, charge air cooler 148, pump section 150 (comprising hydraulic, fuel and coolant pumps), engine exhaust treatment subassembly 152, exhaust outlet 154, fuel cooler 156 and radiator 158. Engine 142 provides the motive force for driving the ground-engaging drive assemblies. More specifically, engine 142 provides the motive force for the hydraulic pumps that drive the hydraulic motors for the drive wheels, the augers and the various conveyors and other components of the vehicle.

[0057] As shown in FIGS. 6-8, the preferred embodiment of the invention locates fuel tank 160 and hydraulic fluid tank 162 between the rear drive wheels. Fuel tank 160 has a fuel tank volume, and at least a portion of the fuel tank volume is located below the plane of locomotion of vehicle 110. Similarly, hydraulic fluid tank 162 has a hydraulic fluid tank volume and at least a portion of the hydraulic fluid tank volume is located below the plane of locomotion of vehicle 110. Most preferably, at least about one-half of the volume of fuel tank 160 and at least about one-half of the volume of hydraulic fluid tank 162 are located below the plane of locomotion of vehicle 110. In addition, modular engine assembly 140 is located adjacent to the fluid tanks and below discharge conveyor 134, as shown in FIGS. 3-6. At least a portion of the modular engine assembly 140 (including engine 142) is also located below the plane of locomotion of vehicle 110.

[0058] The invention thus provides a material transfer vehicle, such as vehicle 110, which has a lower center of mass for greater machine stability. The location of engine assembly 140 on the rear end of the frame beneath discharge conveyor 134, and the relocation of the fluid tanks between the rear drive wheels offers more convenient and safer access to the engine and the fluid tanks. It also locates engine 142, the primary noise and heat source, farther from the operator's station than in a conventional vehicle. Furthermore, engine assembly 140 is provided as a modular component or machine sub-assembly that is mounted on an end of the frame of the material transfer vehicle, thus simplifying the manufacturing process.

[0059] Although this description contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of the presently preferred embodiment thereof, as well as the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out the invention. The invention, as described and claimed herein, is susceptible to various modifications and adaptations, as would be understood by those having ordinary skill in the art to which the invention relates.