Abstract: A vehicle includes a direct start engine, an automatic transmission having a threshold fluid pressure sufficient for enabling operation of the transmission when the engine is off, a controller, and a fuel delivery system. The controller determines the presence of predetermined engine states, and optimizes a stop-and-go functionality of the engine. The fuel delivery system includes a motor and an integrated pump assembly having a secondary high-pressure (HP) fuel pump which is selectively connectable to a rotatable shaft of the motor, and a secondary low-pressure (LP) fluid pump which is continuously connected to the shaft. The motor continuously energizes the secondary LP fluid pump via the rotatable shaft to thereby maintain the threshold fluid pressure during a first or second engine state, and selectively energizes the secondary HP fuel pump via the rotatable shaft to maintain the threshold fuel pressure during the second engine state.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a direct-start engine and a fuel rail with a threshold fuel pressure, a transmission having a threshold fluid pressure, and a fuel delivery system. The system has a controller, a motor having a shaft, and an integrated pump assembly including a high-pressure (HP) fuel pump and a low-pressure (LP) fluid pump each connected to the shaft. Threshold pressures are maintained during the predetermined engine state, which includes an engine idling and an engine cranking state. A method for providing stop-and-go functionality in a vehicle having a direct-start engine includes detecting a current engine state, rotating a motor shaft to energize a secondary HP fuel pump at a first threshold pressure during engine cranking, and rotating the shaft to energize an LP fluid pump at a second threshold pressure during engine idling and engine cranking. The secondary pumps can also be used when primary pumps are temporarily inoperable.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a direct-start engine and a fuel rail with a threshold fuel pressure, a transmission having a threshold fluid pressure, and a fuel delivery system. The system has a controller, a motor having a shaft, and an integrated pump assembly including a high-pressure (HP) fuel pump and a low-pressure (LP) fluid pump each connected to the shaft. Threshold pressures are maintained during the predetermined engine state, which includes an engine idling and an engine cranking state. A method for providing stop-and-go functionality in a vehicle having a direct-start engine includes detecting a current engine state, rotating a motor shaft to energize a secondary HP fuel pump at a first threshold pressure during engine cranking, and rotating the shaft to energize an LP fluid pump at a second threshold pressure during engine idling and engine cranking. The secondary pumps can also be used when primary pumps are temporarily inoperable.

Abstract: The invention describes a sensor mechanism for measuring hitch articulation angle. A configuration of the contact face between hitch ball and receiver eliminates the effect of the unwanted trailer motions, such as roll and pitch while accurately registering trailer yaw motion. Also, there is no yaw slippage at the contact that was a major problem during the successive acceleration and brake maneuvers. With the freely rotating ball and shaft, the angle is measured using an angle sensor, such as an optical encoder, potentiometer, or other means. For the case of a relative angle sensor, automatic zero angle calibration can be used to allow an absolute angle measurement.

Abstract: The invention describes a sensor mechanism for measuring hitch articulation angle. A configuration of the contact face between hitch ball and receiver eliminates the effect of the unwanted trailer motions, such as roll and pitch while accurately registering trailer yaw motion. Also, there is no yaw slippage at the contact that was a major problem during the successive acceleration and brake maneuvers. With the freely rotating ball and shaft, the angle is measured using an angle sensor, such as an optical encoder, potentiometer, or other means. For the case of a relative angle sensor, automatic zero angle calibration can be used to allow an absolute angle measurement.

Abstract: A roadway paving system for chipsealing a roadway surface comprising a novel roadway paving vehicle and a novel supply truck is provided. The roadway paving vehicle comprises an asphalt binder material dispensing system and an aggregate material dispensing system. The asphalt binder material dispensing system includes an asphalt tank and a sprayer that sprays a first layer of the asphalt binder material over the roadway surface. The aggregate material dispensing system comprises an aggregate hopper and conveyor mechanism that discharges a second layer of aggregate material over the roadway surface. No wheels run over a freshly laid surface. Supply trucks are linked to the roadway paving vehicle to refill the roadway paving vehicle on a continuous basis without the need of stopping the vehicle.

Abstract: A roadway paving system for chipsealing a roadway surface comprising a novel roadway paving vehicle and a novel supply truck is provided. The roadway paving vehicle comprises an asphalt binder material dispensing system and an aggregate material dispensing system. The asphalt binder material dispensing system includes an asphalt tank and a sprayer that sprays a first layer of the asphalt binder material over the roadway surface. The aggregate material dispensing system comprises an aggregate hopper and conveyor mechanism that discharges a second layer of aggregate material over the roadway surface. No wheels run over a freshly laid surface. Supply trucks are linked to the roadway paving vehicle to refill the roadway paving vehicle on a continuous basis without the need of stopping the vehicle.

Abstract: A roadway paving system for chipsealing a roadway surface comprising a novel roadway paving vehicle and a novel supply truck is provided. The roadway paving vehicle comprises an asphalt binder material dispensing system and an aggregate material dispensing system. The asphalt binder material dispensing system includes an asphalt tank and a sprayer that sprays a first layer of the asphalt binder material over the roadway surface. The aggregate material dispensing system comprises an aggregate hopper and conveyor mechanism that discharges a second layer of aggregate material over the roadway surface. No wheels run over a freshly laid surface. Supply trucks are linked to the roadway paving vehicle to refill the roadway paving vehicle on a continuous basis without the need of stopping the vehicle.

Abstract: A directional control valve having three positions controls the direction of flow through an asphalt distributor. The directional control valve is interposed between a pump and a feed line assembly to a spray bar. The directional control valve has a first position in which flow is recirculated through the pump, a second position in which flow is delivered to the spray bar and a third position providing for handspray and transfer operations. A pressure relief valve is provided for controlling return flow of asphalt from the spray bar to the tank. The pressure relief valve is open in spray bar circulation mode and is closed during a spraying mode. According to the preferred embodiment the directional valve and pressure relief valve are contained within a modular control valve assembly. The directional control valve eliminates the need to reverse the flow in one of the individual feed lines and feed line assembly connecting the modular control valve assembly to the spray bar.

Abstract: A roadway paving system for chipsealing a roadway surface comprising a novel roadway paving vehicle and a novel supply truck is provided. The roadway paving vehicle comprises an asphalt binder material dispensing system and an aggregate material dispensing system. The asphalt binder material dispensing system includes an asphalt tank and a sprayer that sprays a first layer of the asphalt binder material over the roadway surface. The aggregate material dispensing system comprises an aggregate hopper and conveyor mechanism that discharges a second layer of aggregate material over the roadway surface. No wheels run over a freshly laid surface. Supply trucks are linked to the roadway paving vehicle to refill the roadway paving vehicle on a continuous basis without the need of stopping the vehicle.

Abstract: A conveyor mechanism is provided for transporting objects. The conveyor mechanism, includes a single continuous belt member wrapped around a plurality of chain loops and also around a pair of spaced-apart pulleys disposed outboard thereof. A chain drive drives the chain loops and the chain loops drive the surrounding belt. A frame having substantially frictionless channel guides provides additional support to the upper track portion of each chain so that the belt member can accommodate heavy loads. The belt has at least one guide ridge formed in its substantially flat undersurface. The belt turning rollers are provide with circumferential grooves which are sized to engage the raised guide ridge on the undersurface of the belt, so that cooperation between the grooves in the turning rollers and the ridge on the belt maintains lateral tacking of the belt. Further lateral stability is provided by disposing of pair of chain guides on either side of the ridge along the upper run of the belt.

Abstract: A feed line assembly includes adjacent running or coaxial delivery and return conduits for transferring asphalt between a spray bar and a pump and tank of an asphalt distributor. The coaxial feed line assembly provides for one directional flow in each of the feed lines between the spray bar and the asphalt tank/pump. The circulating system can be operated in spraying and circulating modes. Asphalt flows through the delivery conduit to the spray bar and out through nozzles in the spraying mode and asphalt flows from the delivery conduit through the spray bar and is returned through the return conduit in the circulation mode. Asphalt is substantially static in the return conduit during the circulation mode. The coaxial feed line assembly serves as a heat exchanger to transfer heat from the delivery conduit to the return conduit and thereby prevent freezing of substantially static asphalt in the return conduit during spraying mode.

Abstract: In an asphalt distributor having a tank for holding asphalt and a pump for pumping asphalt from the tank to a spraybar, a self draining asphalt strainer is provided. The asphalt strainer includes a body having an inlet and outlet with a filtering chamber disposed between the inlet and the outlet. A filter or straining element is disposed in the filtering chamber for filtering asphalt flowing between the inlet and the outlet. A conduit extends the inlet into the filtering chamber. A pair of valves are disposed on each end of the conduit forming a suckback chamber therebetween. A suckback tube is connected to the conduit intermediate the valves and extends into the filtering chamber. The pump is bidirectional and has a reverse mode which forces asphalt back through the outlet and inlet into the tank. The strainer has a first flow passage from the outlet to the inlet through both of the valves when open.

Abstract: In a vehicle for spreading liquid material, disclosed is a spray manifold based on an inventive variable orifice nozzle, spraying beyond the vehicle span while not extending beyond the vehicle span. Because of the inventive nozzle the vehicle is able to spray beyond the span of the vehicle with a uniform application to a swath of land over varying vehicle speeds and flow rates. The disclosed nozzle achieves a constant velocity and exit flow trajectory for a wide variety of flow rates, including low flow rates. The nozzle is particularly beneficial for vertical manifold arms with horizontally mounted nozzles because the trajectory distance is constant for a wide range of flow rates. The nozzle achieves these benefits by providing a fixed flow path and a variable flow path. The nozzle includes a substantially spherical poppet having a fixed hole orifice, variably retained by a spring adjacent to the orifice of the discharge port.

Abstract: A conveyor mechanism is provided for transporting objects. The conveyor mechanism, in particular, includes a single continuous belt member wrapped around one or more chain loops and also around a pair of spaced-apart pulleys disposed outboard thereof. A first axle having one or more drive sprockets, a second axle having an equal number of idler sprockets, and a motor connected to the first axle are provided for driving the chain loops and the surrounding belt member. In use, the belt member maintains a constant linear velocity throughout its travel path (i.e., both inboard and outboard of the two sets of sprockets), due to the action of the pulleys. In this way, the velocities of the belt member and chains are synchronized at all points where they are in engagement (i.e., inboard of the sprockets), and slipping and/or stretching of the belt member with respect to the chains is advantageously prevented at its reversal points (i.e., outboard of the sprockets).

Abstract: The mixer includes a cylindrical mixing tube substantially submerged in the liquid asphalt and a paddle assembly extending axially through the mixing tube. An auger drives the ground rubber into an upstream end portion of the mixing tube and into the liquid asphalt therein. The paddle assembly draws the ground rubber and the liquid asphalt from the upstream end portion of the mixing tube and through the mixing tube. In addition, the paddle assembly accelerates the rubber-asphalt mixture as it proceeds through the mixing tube whereupon the mixture is discharged through a downstream end of the mixing tube. The mixing tube is formed with longitudinally spaced openings to allow additional asphalt to enter the mixing tube as the velocity of the mixture increases.

Abstract: A gooseneck hitch is held in coupled relation with a trailer platform by a pivoted link which is adapted to be rocked rearwardly by hydraulic actuators to raise the forward end of the platform to a transport position and rocked forwardly to lower the forward end of the platform to the ground and permit removal of the gooseneck from the platform. During towing of the trailer with the platform in a normal transport position, the actuators are hydraulically unloaded and the link is held against forward rocking by a pair of compression cams. The cams are manually released from the link during removal of the gooseneck but are automatically re-engaged with the link during re-installation of the gooseneck so as to relieve the trailer operator of the re-engagement task. The cams may be selectively adjusted to change the transport height of the forward end of the platform and/or to compensate for variations in the height of the fifth wheel coupler of the towing vehicle.

Abstract: A gooseneck hitch is latched to a trailer platform by a pin which may be shifted linearly to an unlatched position against the bias of a spring so as to permit removal of the gooseneck from the platform. A first detent unit holds the latch pin in its unlatched position once the pin has been moved to that position and as long as the gooseneck remains in an installed position on the platform. As the gooseneck is removed from the platform, a second detent unit releases the first detent unit from the latch pin but continues to hold the latch pin in its unlatched position. Upon re-installation of the gooseneck, the second detent unit is automatically released from the pin and permits the spring to automatically shift the pin to its latched position.

Abstract: A three point implement hitch arrangement for a tractor including a frame assembly, a pair of draft arms pivotally supported on the frame assembly intermediate their ends and lift cylinders having a cylinder portion pivotally supported on the frame assembly above the draft arms and having a rod portion pivotally connected to the draft arms, forwardly of the draft arm pivotal connections. The lift cylinders are connected in series, wherein the area of the rod end of one cylinder is equal to the area of the head end of the second cylinder, whereby the cylinders may be operated independently to tilt the implement or operated in unison to lift the implement, eliminating the requirement for a complex structural support and control.

Abstract: An anti-theft security system for an off-road vehicle is disclosed. The system includes a master control module, which may be part of the vehicle's instrument cluster, and a remotely located security module, which is directly adjacent to at least one electrically-operated actuator of the vehicle normally operated as part of transporting the vehicle to another location. The security module includes a tamper-resistant housing which obstructs physical access to at least part of the actuator. The master module, which may include a microprocessor and LED display, has an operator interface such as a keypad for entering a first access code known only to authorized operators of the vehicle. When the sequence of entered keystrokes matches the first access code stored within the master module, the module automatically generates and transmits to the security module a signal containing a second and different access code.