Paving machine screed assembly with material bypass prevention plate

1. A screed assembly for a paving machine, comprising:

a main screed;

an extension screed configured to extend from the main screed to a fully-extended position, the extension screed including

a deflector, and

a material bypass prevention plate affixed to the extension screed, the material bypass prevention plate having a projection that extends into and fills a space between the material bypass prevention plate and the main screed when the extension screed is in the fully-extended position.

2. The screed assembly of claim 1 , wherein the extension screed further includes a tamper bar.

3. The screed assembly of claim 2 , wherein the main screed includes a side plate, and wherein the projection fills a space between the material bypass prevention plate and the side plate to prevent the leakage of paving material therethrough.

4. The screed assembly of claim 3 , wherein the side plate is on a laterally outward-facing side of the main screed, and wherein the material bypass prevention plate is affixed to a laterally inward-facing side of the extension screed.

5. The screed assembly of claim 4 , wherein the extension screed is positioned axially aft of the main screed, and wherein the extension screed is configured to extend laterally outward from the main screed to the fully-extended position.

6. The screed assembly of claim 5 , wherein the projection projects laterally outward from a laterally outward-facing surface of the material bypass prevention plate.

7. The screed assembly of claim 6 , wherein the projection is a second plate affixed to the laterally outward-facing surface of the material bypass prevention plate.

8. The screed assembly of claim 7 , wherein the second plate includes an aft-facing edge positioned axially forward of and contouring a laterally inward edge of the tamper bar when the extension screed is in the fully-extended position.

9. The screed assembly of claim 8 , wherein the aft-facing edge of the second plate includes a chamfer.

10. The screed assembly of claim 9 , wherein the chamfer is configured to prevent compaction of the paving material between the tamper bar and the aft-facing edge when the extension screed is in the fully-extended position, and to direct the paving material between the tamper bar and the aft-facing edge to a front of the extension screed.

11. A paving machine configured to pave a paving material on a ground surface, comprising:

a chassis;

a hopper configured to carry the paving material;

a distributing device configured to distribute the paving material on the ground surface; and

a screed assembly including a main screed and an extension screed configured to extend from the main screed to a fully-extended position, the extension screed including

a deflector, and

a material bypass prevention plate affixed to the extension screed, the material bypass prevention plate having a projection that extends into and fills a space between the material bypass prevention plate and the main screed when the extension screed is in the fully-extended position.

12. The paving machine of claim 11 , wherein the extension screed further includes a tamper bar.

13. The paving machine of claim 12 , wherein the main screed includes a side plate, and wherein the projection fills a space between the material bypass prevention plate and the side plate to prevent the leakage of paving material therethrough.

14. The paving machine of claim 13 , wherein the side plate is on a laterally outward facing side of the main screed, and wherein the material bypass prevention plate is affixed to a laterally inward-facing side of the extension screed.

15. The paving machine of claim 14 , wherein the extension screed is positioned axially aft of the main screed, and wherein the extension screed is configured to extend laterally outward from the main screed to the fully-extended position.

16. The paving machine of claim 15 , wherein the projection projects laterally outward from a laterally outward-facing surface of the material bypass prevention plate.

17. The paving machine of claim 16 , wherein the projection is a second plate affixed to the laterally outward-facing surface of the material bypass prevention plate.

18. The paving machine of claim 17 , wherein the second plate includes an aft-facing edge positioned axially forward of and contouring a laterally inward edge of the tamper bar when the extension screed is in the fully-extended position.

19. The paving machine of claim 18 , wherein the aft-facing edge of the second plate includes a chamfer.

20. A method for preventing a paving material from leaking between a main screed and an extension screed of a screed assembly when the extension screed is in a fully-extended position, the extension screed being axially aft of the main screed and having a tamper bar, the method comprising:

attaching a material bypass prevention plate to the extension screed such that a projection of the material bypass prevention plate extends into and fills a space between the material bypass prevention plate and the main screed, and such that a chamfer on an aft-facing edge of the projection is axially forward of and contours the tamper bar;

allowing a portion of the paving material to flow between the tamper bar and the aft-facing edge;

using the chamfer to prevent compaction of the portion of the paving material between the tamper bar and the aft-facing edge;

redirecting the portion of the paving material between the tamper bar and the aft-facing edge to a front of the extension screed with the chamfer; and

paving the portion of the paving material with the extension screed.