Stiffened screed extender tube
A screed assembly for a paving machine may comprise a main screed having a frame with a fixed width, and an extension screed slidably connected to the main screed and configured to extend laterally from the main screed to a fully-extended position. The extension screed may include a deflector, an inner plate proximate a central axis of the main screed, and an outer plate opposite the inner plate. At least one extender tube may extend between, and may be fixed to, the inner plate and outer plate. Each extender tube may have a shell comprised of a first material with a second material disposed therein, the second material offering increased stiffness to the extender tube so as to restrict flexion of the extender tube when the extension screed is in a fully-extended position.
1. A paving machine for paving a ground surface, the paving machine comprising:
a chassis;
a hopper;
a distribution device configured to dispense paving material on the ground surface; and
a screed assembly including a main screed having a rigid frame with a fixed width, an extension screed configured to extend laterally from the main screed, and a hydraulic cylinder to actuate the extension screed between a retracted position to an extended position, the extension screed including an extender tube movable relative to the main screen when then extension screed is actuated, having a shell comprised of a first material with a second curable material disposed therein, the second material restricting flexion of the extender tube when the extension screed is in the extended position.
2. The paving machine of claim 1 , wherein the extension screed further includes an upper frame and a lower frame, wherein an upper edge of the lower frame is fixed to a lower edge of the upper frame by welding.
3. The paving machine of claim 2 , the upper frame including an inner plate proximate a central axis of the main screed and an outer plate opposite the inner plate, wherein the extender tube is installed between the inner plate and the outer plate.
4. The paving machine of claim 3 , wherein an inner end of the extender tube is fastened to the inner plate by means of a bolt, and an outer end of the extender tube opposite the inner end is fastened to the outer plate by means of a bolt.
5. The paving machine of claim 2 , wherein the lower frame includes a deflector assembly including a deflector, a tamper bar, and a paving plate.
6. The paving machine of claim 1 , wherein the main screed frame includes a plurality of tube mounting bracket plates, each tube mounting bracket plate extending in an axially rearward direction from the main screed frame, each tube mounting bracket plate having a plurality of apertures, each aperture dimensioned to accommodate one extender tube.
7. The paving machine of claim 6 , wherein the extender tube is disposed in at least two tube mounting bracket plates.
8. The paving machine of claim 1 , further including an actuating mechanism for selectively extending and retracting the extension screed between the extended position and the retracted position.
9. The paving machine of claim 1 , wherein the first material is comprised of a metal.
10. The paving machine of claim 1 , wherein the second material offers increased stiffness to the extender tube and is comprised of a foam, an epoxy, or concrete.
11. A screed assembly for use with a paving machine, the screed assembly comprising:
a main screed having a rigid frame with a fixed width; and
an extension screed configured to extend laterally from the main screed between a retracted position to an extended position, the extension screed having a lower frame including a deflector assembly, an upper frame including a tube mounting assembly, and an extender tube fixed within the tube mounting assembly and having a shell comprised of a first material with a second curable material disposed therein, the second material offering increased stiffness to the extender tube.
12. The screed assembly of claim 11 , wherein the tube mounting assembly includes an inner plate proximate a central axis of the main screed and an outer plate opposite the inner plate.
13. The screed assembly of claim 12 , wherein a first end of the extender tube is fixed to the inner plate by means of a bolt, and a second end of the extender tube opposite the first end is fixed to the outer plate by means of a bolt.
14. The paving machine of claim 11 , wherein the deflector assembly includes a deflector, a tamper bar, and a paving plate.
15. The screed assembly of claim 11 , wherein the main screed frame includes a plurality of tube mounting brackets, each tube mounting bracket having a plurality of apertures, each aperture dimensioned to accommodate one extender tube.
16. The screed assembly of claim 15 , wherein the extender tube is disposed in at least two tube mounting brackets.
17. The screed assembly of claim 11 , further including an actuating mechanism for selectively extending and retracting the extension screed.
18. The screed assembly of claim 11 , wherein the first material is comprised of a metal, and the second material restricts flexion of the extender tube and is comprised of a foam, an epoxy, or concrete.
19. A method of paving using a screed assembly including a main screed and an extension screed, the extension screed having an extender tube with a shell comprised of a first material, the method comprising:
filling the extender tube with a second material;
curing the second material, the cured second material restricting flexion of the extender tube when the extension screed is in an extended position;
installing the cured extender tube to the screed assembly;
extending the extension screed from a fully-retracted position to an extended position; and
paving a portion of a ground surface with the screed assembly.
20. The method of paving of claim 19 , wherein the first material is comprised of a metal, and wherein the second material offers increased stiffness to the extender tube and is comprised of a foam, an epoxy, or concrete.