Modular spray assembly for a working machine

Abstract

A modular spray assembly for a working machine includes a base assembly that is attached to the frame of the working machine. The base assembly includes a working fluid conduit having an open end and a closed end, and a plurality of nozzle assemblies that are attached to and are in fluid communication with the working fluid conduit. A modular component includes a nozzle assembly, a first end, and a second end. The second end of the modular component is adapted to be removably attached to the open end of the working fluid conduit so as to be in fluid communication with the working fluid conduit. The modular spray assembly also includes an open end component that is adapted to be removably and alternatively attached to the open end of the working fluid conduit or to the first end of the modular component. The open end component includes a working fluid supply pipe that is in fluid communication with the working fluid storage tank of the working machine.

Claims

1. A modular spray assembly for a working machine that includes a frame and a working fluid storage tank and is adapted for operation on a roadway, said modular spray assembly further comprising: (a) a base assembly that is attached to the frame of the working machine, said base assembly comprising: (i) a working fluid conduit having an open end and a closed end; (ii) a plurality of nozzle assemblies that are attached to and are in fluid communication with the working fluid conduit; (b) a modular component comprising a modular fluid conduit which further comprises: (i) a first end; (ii) a second end that is adapted to be removably attached to the open end of the working fluid conduit so as to be in fluid communication with the working fluid conduit; and (iii) a nozzle assembly between the first end and the second end which is attached to and in fluid communication with the modular fluid conduit; (c) an open end component that is adapted to be removably and alternatively attached to the open end of the working fluid conduit or to the first end of the modular component, said open end component including a working fluid supply pipe that is in fluid communication with the working fluid storage tank.

2. The modular spray assembly of claim 1 wherein the open end component comprises a recirculating component for working fluid.

3. The modular spray assembly of claim 2: (a) which includes a working fluid return line that is in fluid communication with the working fluid storage tank; (b) wherein the open end component further comprises a connector for the working fluid return line.

4. The modular spray assembly of claim 1 which includes a thermal fluid storage tank and a thermal fluid circulating system by which thermal fluid is circulated from the thermal fluid storage tank through the modular spray assembly for heat transfer purposes and back to the thermal fluid storage tank.

5. The modular spray assembly of claim 4, wherein the open end component comprises a recirculating component for thermal fluid.

6. The modular spray assembly of claim 4: (a) wherein the open end component includes a thermal fluid output connector and a thermal fluid input connector; (b) which includes a thermal fluid supply line in the base assembly, said thermal fluid supply line having a first end and a second end; (c) which includes a thermal fluid return line in the base assembly, said thermal fluid return line having a first end and a second end; (d) which includes a thermal fluid connector that connects the second end of the thermal fluid supply line to the second end of the thermal fluid return line in the closed end of the working fluid conduit; (e) which includes a thermal fluid input line that is in fluid communication with the thermal fluid storage tank and the thermal fluid input connector of the end component; (f) which includes a thermal fluid output line that is in fluid communication with the thermal fluid storage tank and the thermal fluid output connector of the end component; (g) which includes a thermal fluid supply line extension in the modular component that is adapted to be connected between the first end of the thermal fluid supply line in the base assembly and the thermal fluid input connector of the end component; (h) which includes a thermal fluid return line extension in the modular component that is adapted to be connected between the first end of the thermal fluid return line in the base assembly and the thermal fluid output connector of the end component.

7. The modular spray assembly of claim 6 wherein the thermal fluid input line passes through the working fluid supply pipe so as to be in thermal communication therewith.

8. The modular spray assembly of claim 6 wherein: (a) the thermal fluid output connector comprises a female connection into which an end of the thermal fluid return line or an end of the thermal fluid return line extension may be inserted; (b) the thermal fluid input connector comprises a female connection into which an end of the thermal fluid supply line or an end of the thermal fluid supply line extension may be inserted.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The presently preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts throughout, and in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a side view of an asphalt paving machine which includes the invention.

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the modular spray assembly of the invention.

(4) FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a first portion of the first embodiment of the modular spray assembly shown in FIG. 2.

(5) FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a second portion of the first embodiment of the modular spray assembly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

(6) FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of a second embodiment of the modular spray assembly of the invention.

(7) FIG. 6 is a front view of the portion of the second embodiment of the modular spray assembly that is illustrated in FIG. 5.

(8) FIG. 7 is an enlarged front view of the open end component of the invention and an associated modular assembly return line.

(9) FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the components of the invention illustrated in FIG. 7, also showing an associated modular assembly supply line.

(10) FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the components of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, showing these components assembled together.

(11) FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a portion of an embodiment of the invention showing a portion of the working fluid flow path.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

(12) This description of the preferred embodiment 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 drawings 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. In the various drawings, the same reference numbers are used to indicate the same components, and arrows marked with WF indicate the direction of flow of a working fluid such as asphalt cement.

(13) The invention comprises a modular spray assembly for use in connection with a working machine such as asphalt paving machine 12 shown in FIG. 1. Paving machine 12 includes operator's station 13 and track drive system 14 that is driven by an engine (not shown, but housed in engine compartment 16) so as to move in the working (or paving) direction indicated by arrow 18. Controller 19 is located in the operating station and is adapted to control the modular spray assembly and other operating components of the paving machine. Paving machine 12 also includes gravity-fed hopper 20 that is adapted to receive a quantity of asphalt paving material from a delivery truck or material transfer vehicle (not shown). A conventional conveyor (also not shown) is mounted in the bottom of hopper 20 and adapted to convey asphalt paving material from hopper 20 to transverse distributing auger 22 which operates to distribute the asphalt paving material across the width of the roadway or portion thereof to be paved. Floating screed 24 is located behind the distributing auger and adapted to level and compact the asphalt paving material to form an asphalt mat. Asphalt paving machine 12 also includes working fluid storage tank 26 for asphalt cement to be used as tack material, which working fluid storage tank is in fluid communication with modular spray assembly 28. As would be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art to which the invention relates, this fluid communication comprises a fluid circuit between working fluid storage tank 26 and modular spray assembly 28 which includes a pump and suitable piping or hoses to convey the tack material from the storage tank to the modular spray assembly.

(14) As shown in FIGS. 2-4, modular spray assembly 28 includes base assembly 30 that is attached to frame 32 of asphalt paving machine 12, by means of support beam 34. Base assembly 30 comprises working fluid conduit 36 and has open end 38 and closed end 40. A plurality of nozzle assemblies 42 are attached to and in fluid communication with the working fluid conduit. Open end component 44 is adapted to be removably attached to bracket 45 on open end 38 of working fluid conduit 36 by means of bolts or other suitable fasteners known to those having ordinary skill in the art to which the invention relates, or to bracket 45 on the first end of modular component 46 (shown in FIGS. 2-4), or to bracket 45 on the first end of modular component 47 (shown in FIGS. 5 and 6), or to a bracket (not shown) on the first end of a modular component having more than two nozzle assemblies 42 (also not shown). Both modular component 46 and modular component 47 have a bracket 48 on the second end which mates with bracket 45 on open end 38 of working fluid conduit 36 or with bracket 45 on the first end of another modular component. Open end component 44 includes asphalt cement supply pipe 49 that is in fluid communication with asphalt cement storage tank 26. Modular component 46 comprises a modular fluid conduit that is adapted to be removably and alternatively attached to the open end of working fluid conduit 36 so as to be in fluid communication therewith, or to the first end of another modular component. Modular component 46 includes a pair of nozzle assemblies 42 that are attached to and in fluid communication with the modular component. Modular component 47 comprises a modular fluid conduit that includes a single nozzle assembly 42, but other modular components may be provided of various lengths and including any convenient number of nozzle assemblies.

(15) The preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings includes a thermal fluid circulating system by which thermal fluid is circulated through the modular spray assembly, in thermal communication with the working fluid, for heat transfer purposes. In this embodiment of the invention, open end component 44 also includes thermal fluid input line 50 that passes through asphalt cement supply pipe 49 so as to be in thermal communication therewith. Asphalt paving machine 12 also includes thermal fluid storage tank 51 for a thermal fluid such as oil, which thermal fluid storage tank is in fluid communication with thermal fluid input line 50 of modular spray assembly 28. As shown in FIG. 1, thermal fluid storage tank 51 is located laterally outside of and above asphalt cement storage tank 26. As would be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art to which the invention relates, the fluid communication between thermal fluid storage tank 51 and thermal fluid input line 50 of modular spray assembly 28 comprises a fluid circuit which includes a pump and suitable piping or hoses to circulate the thermal fluid between the thermal fluid storage tank and the modular spray assembly. In the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, thermal fluid passing through thermal fluid input line 50 passes out of asphalt cement supply pipe 49 at connector 52, passes through intermediate thermal fluid line 54, re-enters open end component 44 at connector 56 (best shown in FIG. 5) and terminates (with respect to the open end component) in thermal fluid input connector 58, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. Thermal fluid input connector 58 is adapted to be connected in fluid communication with first end 59 of thermal fluid supply line 60 in base assembly 30 or alternatively, with first end 61 of thermal fluid supply line extension 62 in modular component 46 (shown in FIGS. 2-4) or in modular component 47 (shown in FIGS. 5 and 6). Preferably, thermal fluid input connector 58 comprises a female connection into which first end 59 of thermal fluid supply line 60 or first end 61 of thermal fluid supply line extension 62 may be inserted. In this embodiment of the invention, both first end 59 and second end 63 of thermal fluid supply line 60 are essentially identical, as are first end 61 and second end 64 of thermal fluid supply line extension 62. First end 59 of thermal fluid supply line 60 and first end 61 of thermal fluid supply line extension 62 are preferably provided with a pair of O-rings 70 (best shown in FIGS. 7 and 8) to insure a fluid-tight fit with thermal fluid input connector 58. When modular component 46 is attached to base assembly 30, thermal fluid connector sleeve 72 is employed to provide for a fluid-tight fit between an end of thermal fluid supply line extension 62 and the adjacent first end 59 of thermal fluid supply line 60. Closed end component 73 is fixed to closed end 40 of working fluid conduit 36 and includes thermal fluid connector 74 (shown in FIG. 4) that connects second end 63 of thermal fluid supply line 60 to second end 75 of thermal fluid return line 76. Thermal fluid return line 76 is essentially identical to thermal fluid supply line 60. Support 78 may be provided in base assembly 30 to support thermal fluid supply line 60 and thermal fluid return line 76 within working fluid conduit 36.

(16) When a modular component such as modular component 46 is attached to base assembly 30, first end 79 of thermal fluid return line 76 is attached by means of thermal fluid connector sleeve 72 to second end 80 of thermal fluid return line extension 82 in modular component 46 or to second end 80 of thermal fluid return line extension 82 in modular component 47. Thermal fluid return line extension 82 is essentially identical to thermal fluid supply line extension 62. First end 83 of thermal fluid return line extension 82 is preferably provided with a pair of O-rings 70 (best shown in FIG. 8) to insure a fluid-tight fit with thermal fluid output connector 84 of open end component 44. Thermal fluid that flows through thermal fluid return line 76 and thermal fluid return line extension 82 into thermal fluid output connector 84 of open end component 44 flows out of the open end component through connector 86 and thermal fluid output line 88 and is circulated back to thermal fluid storage tank 51.

(17) In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 2-9, open end component 44 comprises a recirculating component for both thermal fluid and working fluid. Thus, working fluid enters open end component 44 through asphalt cement supply pipe 49, passes through working fluid conduit 36, and, optionally, one or more modular components, through various nozzle assemblies 42 and back out of connector 90 through working fluid return line 92 and is circulated back to asphalt cement storage tank 26. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, however, there is no recirculation of the working fluid. Thus, in the non-circulating embodiment, working fluid enters open end component 94 through asphalt cement supply pipe 96, passes through working fluid conduit 36, and, optionally, one or more modular components, and through various nozzle assemblies 42 onto the roadway.

(18) The invention provides a modular spray assembly for a working machine that is easily configured to accommodate any desired width of a working machine by adding modular components of various convenient sizes. This modular spray assembly also allows the addition and removal of modular components without removing the base portion of the spray assembly from the working machine.

(19) Although this description contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments 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 appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art to which the invention relates.