Rotary Pivot Arm Positioning Assembly

摘要

A rotary pivot arm positioning assembly for a paving, texturing, or curing machine allows the machine to automatically transition from an operational orientation to a transport orientation without manual repositioning or disconnection of its components. The assembly includes a pivot arm coupled to both the front and aft ends of an end frame by a helical actuator, slew gear drive or other rotary actuator. The rotary actuator articulates each pivot arm, as well as the adjustable leg and steerable crawler connected to the pivot arm, through at least a 90-degree range. The end frame may be fixed to the left or right end of the machine. The assembly may additionally include a second helical actuator, slew gear drive or rotary actuator connecting each steerable crawler to the adjustable leg and configured to rotate the steerable crawler through a full 360 degrees.

主权项

1. An apparatus for automatically changing the configuration of a paving machine configured to operate in a paving direction, the paving machine having a left end, a right end, and a framework connecting the left end and the right end, the framework transverse to the paving direction and having at least one power source fixed thereto, the apparatus comprising:
at least one end frame removably couplable to either the left end or the right end, the at least one end frame extending parallel to the paving direction and having a first end and a second end; at least one pivot arm rotatably coupled to the first end or the second end via at least one first rotary actuator coupled to the at least one power source, the at least one first rotary actuator configured to articulate the at least one pivot arm through a first rotational angle of at least 90 degrees; at least one adjustable leg fixed to the at least one pivot arm opposite the at least one first rotary actuator, the at least one adjustable leg having a longitudinal axis; and at least one steerable crawler coupled to the at least one adjustable leg, the at least one steerable crawler including at least one steering track configured for linear propulsion of the steerable crawler.