Conveyor assembly for an asphalt paving machine

1. A conveyor assembly for an asphalt paving machine, the assembly being operable to convey material in the paving machine, the assembly comprising:

a first conveyor including

a first conveyor surface having an inner edge and an outer edge, and

a first drive chain adjacent the inner edge of the conveyor surface, the first drive chain being movable to cause material to be conveyed on the first conveyor surface;

a second conveyor generally parallel to the first conveyor, a central space being defined between the first conveyor and the second conveyor, the second conveyor including

a second conveyor surface having an inner edge and an outer edge, and

a second drive chain adjacent the inner edge of the conveyor surface, the second drive chain being movable to cause material to be conveyed on the second conveyor surface; and

a cover assembly including

a cover member positioned over the central space and covering the first drive chain and the second drive chain, the cover member having an upper surface substantially parallel to the first conveyor surface and to the second conveyor surface, the upper surface being positioned to directly engage and support material, at least a substantial portion of the upper surface directly engaging and supporting material, the cover member substantially preventing material from entering the central space between the first conveyor and the second conveyor, and

a divider member connected to the cover member and extending generally perpendicular to the upper surface, the divider member being positioned to directly engage material supported on the upper surface, the divider member having a divider upper surface, a first side facing toward the first conveyor and a second side facing toward the second conveyor, at least a substantial portion of the first side and the second side directly engaging material on the upper surface of the cover member.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cover assembly is provided by a first cover section and a second cover section, each cover section having a substantially “L” shape and including a first leg, providing a portion of the upper surface of the cover member, and a second leg, providing a portion of the divider member, the second leg being generally perpendicular to the first leg, the first leg of the first cover section providing a first portion of the upper surface of the cover member, the first leg of the second cover section providing a second portion of the upper surface of the cover member.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , and further comprising:

a first scraper member connected to the first drive chain and extending inwardly beyond the inner edge of the first conveyor surface, the first scraper member extending over a first portion of the upper surface of the cover member when the first drive chain is positioned with the first scraper member above the upper surface, the first scraper member being operable to move material on the upper surface of the cover member during movement of the first drive chain; and

a second scraper member connected to the second drive chain and extending inwardly beyond the inner edge of the second conveyor surface, the second scraper member extending over a second portion of the upper surface of the cover member when the second drive chain is positioned with the second scraper member above the upper surface, the second scraper member being operable to move material on the upper surface of the cover member during movement of the second drive chain.

4. The assembly of claim 3 , wherein the first scraper member has a lower surface movable along the first portion of the upper surface of the cover member when the first drive chain is positioned with first scraper member above the upper surface, and wherein the second scraper member has a lower surface movable along the second portion of the upper surface of the cover member when the second drive chain is positioned with the second scraper member above the upper surface.

5. The assembly of claim 3 , wherein the first scraper member has a forward surface substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of the cover member when the first drive chain is positioned with the first scraper member above the upper surface, and wherein the second scraper member has a forward surface substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of the cover member when the second drive chain is positioned with the second scraper member above the upper surface.

6. The assembly of claim 3 , wherein the first scraper member has an inner end extending proximate to the first side of the divider member when the first drive chain is positioned with the first scraper member above the upper surface, and wherein the second scraper member has an inner end extending proximate to the second side of the divider member when the second drive chain is positioned with the second scraper member above the upper surface.

7. The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the first conveyor further includes

a first outer chain adjacent the outer edge of the first conveyor surface, and

a first pusher connected to the first drive chain and to the first outer chain, the first pusher being movable with the first drive chain to convey material on the first conveyor surface, the first scraper member being connected to the first pusher, and

wherein the second conveyor further includes

a second outer chain adjacent the outer edge of the second conveyor surface, and

a second pusher connected to the second drive chain and to the second outer chain, the second pusher being movable with the second drive chain to convey material on the second conveyor surface, the second scraper member being connected to the second pusher.

8. The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the first conveyor further includes a plurality of first pushers connected to the first drive chain and to the first outer chain, each of the plurality of first pushers providing a first scraper member, and wherein the second conveyor further includes a plurality of second pushers connected to the second drive chain and to the second outer chain, each of the plurality of second pushers providing a second scraper member.

9. The assembly of claim 7 , and further comprising:

a first outer cover positioned over and covering the first outer chain, the first outer cover having a first outer cover upper surface substantially parallel to the first conveyor surface, the first outer cover upper surface being positioned to directly engage and support material, at least a substantial portion of the first outer cover upper surface directly engaging and supporting material, the first outer cover substantially preventing material from entering the first outer chain;

a first outer scraper member connected to the first pusher and extending outwardly beyond the outer edge of the first conveyor surface, the first outer scraper member extending over a portion of the upper surface of the first outer cover when the first drive chain is positioned with the first outer scraper member above the upper surface of the first outer cover, the first outer scraper member being operable to move material on the upper surface of the first outer cover during movement of the first drive chain;

a second outer cover positioned over and covering the second outer chain, the second outer cover having a second outer cover upper surface substantially parallel to the second conveyor surface, the second outer cover upper surface being positioned to directly engage and support material, at least a substantial portion of the second outer cover upper surface directly engaging and supporting material, the second outer cover substantially preventing material from entering the second outer chain; and

a second outer scraper member connected to the second pusher and extending outwardly beyond the outer edge of the second conveyor surface, the second outer scraper member extending over a portion of the upper surface of the second outer cover when the second drive chain is positioned with the second outer scraper member above the upper surface of the second outer cover, the second outer scraper member being operable to move material on the upper surface of the second outer cover during movement of the second drive chain.

10. A conveyor assembly for an asphalt paving machine, the assembly being operable to convey material in the paving machine, the assembly comprising:

a first conveyor including

a first conveyor surface having an inner edge and an outer edge, and

a first drive chain adjacent the inner edge of the first conveyor surface, the first drive chain being movable to cause material to be conveyed on the first conveyor surface;

a second conveyor generally parallel to the first conveyor, a central space being defined between the first conveyor and the second conveyor, the second conveyor including

a second conveyor surface having an inner edge and an outer edge, and

a second drive chain adjacent the inner edge of the second conveyor surface, the second drive chain being movable to cause material to be conveyed on the second conveyor surface;

a cover positioned over the central space and covering the first drive chain and the second drive chain, the cover having an upper surface, the cover substantially preventing material from entering the central space between the first conveyor and the second conveyor;

a first scraper member connected to the first drive chain and extending inwardly beyond the inner edge of the first conveyor surface, the first scraper member extending over a first portion of the upper surface of the cover when the first drive chain is positioned with the first scraper member above the upper surface, the first scraper member being operable to move material on the upper surface of the cover during movement of the first drive chain; and

a second scraper member connected to the second drive chain and extending inwardly beyond the inner edge of the second conveyor surface, the second scraper member extending over a second portion of the upper surface of the cover when the second drive chain is positioned with the second scraper member above the upper surface, the second scraper member being operable to move material on the upper surface of the cover during movement of the second drive chain.

11. The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the first scraper member has a lower surface movable along the first portion of the upper surface of the cover when the first drive chain is positioned with the first scraper member above the upper surface, and wherein the second scraper member has a lower surface movable along the second portion of the upper surface of the cover when the second drive chain is positioned with the second scraper member above the upper surface.

12. The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the first scraper member has a forward surface substantially perpendicular to the first conveyor surface when the first drive chain is positioned with the first scraper member above the upper surface, and wherein the second scraper member has a forward surface substantially perpendicular to the second conveyor surface when the second drive chain is positioned with the second scraper member above the upper surface.

13. The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the first conveyor further includes

a first outer chain adjacent the outer edge of the first conveyor surface, and

a first pusher connected to the first drive chain and to the first outer chain, the first pusher being movable with the first drive chain to convey material on the first conveyor surface, the first scraper member being connected to first pusher, and

wherein the second conveyor further includes

a second outer chain adjacent the outer edge of the second conveyor surface, and

a second pusher connected to the second drive chain and to the second outer chain, the second pusher being movable with the second drive chain to convey material on the second conveyor surface, the second scraper member being connected to the second pusher.

14. The assembly of claim 13 , wherein the first conveyor further includes a plurality of first pushers connected to the first drive chain and to the first outer chain, each of the plurality of first pushers providing a first scraper member, and wherein the second conveyor further includes a plurality of second pushers connected to the second drive chain and to the second outer chain, each of the plurality of second pushers providing a second scraper member.

15. The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the upper surface of the cover is generally parallel to the first conveyor surface and to the second conveyor surface.

16. The assembly of claim 15 , wherein the cover is provided by a cover assembly including

a cover member providing the upper surface, and

a divider member connected to the cover member and extending generally perpendicular to the upper surface.

17. The assembly of claim 16 , wherein the divider member has a first side surface facing toward the first conveyor and a second side surface facing toward the second conveyor, wherein the first scraper member has an inner end extending proximate to the first side surface of the divider member when the first drive chain is positioned with the first scraper member above the upper surface, and wherein the second scraper member has an inner end extending proximate to the second side surface of the divider member when the second drive chain is positioned with the second scraper member above the upper surface.

18. The assembly of claim 16 , wherein the cover assembly is provided by a first cover section and a second cover section, each cover section having a substantially “L” shape and including a first leg, providing a portion of the upper surface of the cover member, and a second leg, providing a portion of the divider member, the second leg being generally perpendicular to the first leg, the first leg of the first cover section providing a first portion of the upper surface of the cover member, the first leg of the second cover section providing a second portion of the upper surface of the cover member.

19. The assembly of claim 13 , and further comprising:

a first outer cover positioned over and covering the first outer chain, the first outer cover having first outer cover upper surface substantially parallel to the first conveyor surface, the first outer cover substantially preventing material from entering the first outer chain;

a first outer scraper member connected to the first pusher and extending outwardly beyond the outer edge of the first conveyor surface, the first outer scraper member extending over a portion of the upper surface of the first outer cover when the first drive chain is positioned with the first outer scraper member above the upper surface of the first outer cover, the first outer scraper member being operable to move material on the upper surface of the first outer cover during movement of the first drive chain;

a second outer cover positioned over and covering the second outer chain, the second outer cover having a second outer cover upper surface substantially parallel to the second conveyor surface, the second outer cover substantially preventing material from entering the second outer chain; and

a second outer scraper member connected to the second pusher and extending outwardly beyond the outer edge of the second conveyor surface, the second outer scraper member extending over a portion of the upper surface of the second outer cover when the second drive chain is positioned with the second outer scraper member above the upper surface of the second outer cover, the second outer scraper member being operable to move material on the upper surface of the second outer cover during movement of the second drive chain.

20. An asphalt paving machine comprising:

a first conveyor including

a first conveyor surface having an inner edge and an outer edge,

a first inner chain adjacent the inner edge of the conveyor surface, a first outer chain adjacent the outer edge of the conveyor surface, and

a plurality of first pushers connected to the first inner chain and to the first outer chain, each first pusher being movable to convey material on the first conveyor surface;

a second conveyor generally parallel to the first conveyor, a central space being defined between the first conveyor and the second conveyor, the second conveyor including

a second conveyor surface having an inner edge and an outer edge,

a second inner chain adjacent the inner edge of the conveyor surface, a second outer chain adjacent the outer edge of the conveyor surface, and

a plurality of second pushers connected to the second inner chain and to the second outer chain, each second pusher being movable to convey material on the second conveyor surface;

a hopper for dispensing material to be conveyed onto the first conveyor and onto the second conveyor;

a cover assembly including

a cover member positioned over the central space and covering the first inner chain and the second inner chain, the cover member having an upper surface substantially parallel to the first conveyor surface and to the second conveyor surface, the cover member substantially preventing material from entering the central space between the first conveyor and the second conveyor, and

a divider member connected to the cover member and extending generally perpendicular to the upper surface;

a plurality of first scraper members, each first scraper member being connected to an associated first pusher and extending inwardly beyond the inner edge of the first conveyor surface, each first scraper member extending over a first portion of the upper surface of the cover member and to one side of the divider member when the first inner chain is positioned with the first scraper member above the upper surface, each first scraper member being operable to move material on the upper surface of the cover member during movement of the first inner chain; and

a plurality of second scraper members, each second scraper member being connected to an associated second pusher and extending inwardly beyond the inner edge of the second conveyor surface, each second scraper member extending over a second portion of the upper surface of the cover member and to an opposite side of the divider member when the second inner chain is positioned with the second scraper member above the upper surface, each second scraper member being operable to move material on the upper surface of the cover member during movement of the second inner chain.