Abstract: A vehicular sweeping machine includes a frame and a broom assembly that is mounted to the frame. The broom assembly includes a broom enclosure and a broom that is mounted within the broom enclosure. A plurality of links are pivotally mounted between the frame and the broom assembly. These links are adapted to permit the broom assembly to move upwardly and downwardly with respect to the frame. The vehicular sweeping machine also includes a broom conveyor having a lower end that is disposed within the broom enclosure.

Abstract: A vehicular sweeping machine includes a frame and a broom assembly that is mounted to the frame. The broom assembly includes a broom enclosure and a broom having a generally cylindrical tube with attached bristles that is mounted in the broom enclosure and adapted to rotate about a generally horizontal axis. The broom assembly also includes a material presentation system that is adapted to move material on the roadway into contact with the broom in the form of a windrow that is located generally in front of the center of the broom assembly. The sweeping machine also includes a broom conveyor having a lower end that is disposed within the broom enclosure.

Abstract: A vehicular sweeping machine includes a frame, a broom that is adapted to rotate about a generally horizontal axis and a broom enclosure. The broom enclosure has a left end gate, a right end gate and a moldboard assembly including an outer moldboard and an inner moldboard which are arranged to form a labyrinth seal at the rear of the broom enclosure.

Abstract: A vehicular sweeping machine includes a frame and a broom assembly that is mounted to the frame. The broom assembly includes a broom enclosure, a left hub that is mounted on a left hub mount arm, and a right hub that is mounted on a right hub mount arm. A broom is mounted between the left hub and the right hub. An outer tube is attached to the rear of the broom enclosure and to one of the left and right hub mount arms. An inner tube has a fixed end that is attached to the left or right hub mount arm to which the outer tube is not attached. The inner tube also has a free end that is adapted to slide within the outer tube. A linear actuator is attached between the broom enclosure and the left or right hub mount arm to which the fixed end of the inner tube is attached.

Abstract: A working machine such as a road milling machine of an asphalt paving machine has an automatic grade and slope control system that causes the machine to maintain a pre-selected grade and slope with respect to a reference without significant operator input. A calibration system employs a calibration controller to calibrate the automatic grade and slope control system. The calibration controller causes a current to be sent to a valve that operates a linear actuator that may be employed to change the attitude of the frame of the working machine. The calibration controller uses feedback from at least one sensor, such as a height-measuring sensor or a slope-measuring sensor, in an iterative process that determines the minimum current necessary to cause a change in the attitude of the frame of the working machine. Once this minimum value is determined, the system will establish the optimum settings for the automatic grade and slope control system to improve its efficiency and cause it to operate more smoothly.

Abstract: An asphalt receiving hopper for an asphalt paving machine includes a left sidewall, a right sidewall, a front wall and a pair of baffle panels. The left baffle panel is resiliently attached to the left sidewall and adapted to extend into the asphalt receiving hopper, and the right baffle panel is resiliently attached to the right sidewall and adapted to extend into the asphalt receiving hopper.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically controlling the flow of asphalt material from a truck-unloading hopper of a material transfer vehicle into the entry end of an adjacent truck-unloading conveyor in order to optimize at least one vehicle operating parameter includes a baffle mounted to the truck-unloading hopper adjacent to the entry end of the truck-unloading conveyor. The baffle is adapted to increase or decrease the hopper opening into the truck-unloading conveyor. A controller is operatively connected to the baffle and adapted to cause the baffle to increase or decrease the hopper opening into the truck-unloading conveyor. A sensor is provided for detecting at least one vehicle operating parameter. This sensor is operatively connected to the controller so that changes in the at least one vehicle operating parameter can be communicated to the controller.

Abstract: A working machine such as a road milling machine of an asphalt paving machine has an automatic grade and slope control system that causes the machine to maintain a pre-selected grade and slope with respect to a reference without significant operator input. A calibration system employs a calibration controller to calibrate the automatic grade and slope control system. The calibration controller causes a current to be sent to a valve that operates a linear actuator that may be employed to change the attitude of the frame of the working machine. The calibration controller uses feedback from at least one sensor, such as a height-measuring sensor or a slope-measuring sensor, in an iterative process that determines the minimum current necessary to cause a change in the attitude of the frame of the working machine. Once this minimum value is determined, the system will establish the optimum settings for the automatic grade and slope control system to improve its efficiency and cause it to operate more smoothly.

Abstract: 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 fixed sidewall panel and a mechanism for moving the right outer fixed sidewall panel between an inner right position and an outer right position. The left expandable sidewall assembly has a left outer fixed sidewall panel and a mechanism for moving the left outer fixed 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.

Abstract: An asphalt receiving hopper for an asphalt paving machine includes a left sidewall, a right sidewall, a front wall and a pair of baffle panels. The left baffle panel is resiliently attached to the left sidewall and adapted to extend into the asphalt receiving hopper, and the right baffle panel is resiliently attached to the right sidewall and adapted to extend into the asphalt receiving hopper.

Abstract: A working machine for use in milling the surface of a road includes a drive engine that produces engine exhaust gases. The working machine also includes a milling drum that is mounted for rotation against the surface of the road so as to generate milled material including dust from the road surface. The milling drum is contained within a milling chamber, and a spray assembly directs water into the milling chamber in such a manner that, during a period of rotation of the milling drum against the surface of the road, at least a portion of the water is converted to a vapor. A conduit is provided for conducting at least a portion of the engine exhaust gases into an enclosed space in communication with the milling chamber to raise the temperature of a gas stream therein containing vapor and dust from the milled material.

Abstract: A hopper insert for the hopper of a paving machine is installed above a hopper conveyor that conveys asphalt material in a hopper conveying direction. The hopper insert has a front end and a rear end and a plurality of walls that together define an opening adjacent to the hopper conveyor. The opening to the hopper conveyor increases in width from front end of the hopper insert to the rear end.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically controlling the flow of asphalt material from a truck-unloading hopper of a material transfer vehicle into the entry end of an adjacent truck-unloading conveyor in order to optimize at least one vehicle operating parameter includes a baffle mounted to the truck-unloading hopper adjacent to the entry end of the truck-unloading conveyor. The baffle is adapted to increase or decrease the hopper opening into the truck-unloading conveyor. A controller is operatively connected to the baffle and adapted to cause the baffle to increase or decrease the hopper opening into the truck-unloading conveyor. A sensor is provided for detecting at least one vehicle operating parameter. This sensor is operatively connected to the controller so that changes in the at least one vehicle operating parameter can be communicated to the controller.

Abstract: A working machine for use in milling the surface of a road includes a drive engine that produces engine exhaust gases. The working machine also includes a milling drum that is mounted for rotation against the surface of the road so as to generate milled material including dust from the road surface. The milling drum is contained within a milling chamber, and a spray assembly directs water into the milling chamber in such a manner that, during a period of rotation of the milling drum against the surface of the road, at least a portion of the water is converted to a vapor. A conduit is provided for conducting at least a portion of the engine exhaust gases into an enclosed space in communication with the milling chamber to raise the temperature of a gas stream therein containing vapor and dust from the milled material.

Abstract: A broom assembly for attachment to a vehicle is adapted to rotate a brush having a tubular core. The broom assembly includes a center section, a left side plate, a right side plate, an idle hub on one of the side plates and a drive hub on the other of the side plates. These hubs define a core axis about which the brush is rotated. A first linear actuator is adapted to move the left side plate along an axis that is parallel to the core axis between a left open position and a left closed position, and a second linear actuator is adapted to move the right side plate along an axis that is parallel to the core axis between a right open position and a right closed position. The broom assembly may be operated in a work mode and a maintenance mode.

Abstract: A hopper insert for the hopper of a paving machine is installed above a hopper conveyor that conveys asphalt material in a hopper conveying direction. The hopper insert has a front end and a rear end and a plurality of walls that together define an opening adjacent to the hopper conveyor. The opening to the hopper conveyor increases in width from front end of the hopper insert to the rear end.

Abstract: An end gate assembly for a screed for a paving machine, where the screed is provided with a screed hinge component, includes a frame having a frame hinge portion that is adapted to mate with the screed hinge component to form a hinge having a hinge axis about which the frame may pivot. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the end gate has a pair of hinges. More specifically, the preferred end gate has a first frame portion having a first hinge portion and a second hinge portion. The first hinge portion is adapted to mate with the screed hinge component to form a first hinge having a first hinge axis about which the first frame portion may pivot. This preferred assembly also includes a second frame portion having a hinge member that is adapted to mate with the second hinge portion of the first frame portion to form a second hinge having a second hinge axis about which the second frame portion may pivot.