Screw jack assembly for paving machine

{
  "publication_number": "US11293532B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Screw jack assembly for paving machine",
  "abstract": "A screw jack assembly includes a first body defining a longitudinal axis and a screw drive disposed within the first body. The screw jack assembly also includes a second body movable relative to the first body and coupled to the screw drive, and a first gear coupled to the screw drive. The screw jack assembly further includes a handle assembly having a tube member coupled to the first body. The handle assembly also includes a second gear coupled to the first gear. The handle assembly further includes a handle member coupled to the second gear and adapted to rotate about a rotational axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The handle member is adapted to selectively rotate between an operating position and a stowed position about the longitudinal axis based, at least in part, on rotation of the tube member relative to the first body along the longitudinal axis.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A paving machine comprising: a chassis; a tow arm pivotally coupled to the chassis; a screed assembly pivotally coupled to the tow arm, the screed assembly having a frame and at least one side gate movably disposed on the frame; and at least one screw jack assembly operably coupled to the at least one side gate, the at least one screw jack assembly including: a first body defining a longitudinal axis and fixedly coupled to the frame; a screw drive rotatably disposed within the first body and axially aligned along the longitudinal axis, the screw drive defining a first end and a second end; a second body movable relative to the first body along the longitudinal axis and operably coupled to each of the screw drive and the at least one side gate; a first gear coupled to the first end of the screw drive; and a handle assembly including: a tube member movably coupled to the first body and axially aligned along the longitudinal axis; a second gear disposed within the tube member and operably coupled to the first gear; and a handle member fixedly coupled to the second gear and adapted to rotate about a rotational axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein the handle member is adapted to selectively rotate between an operating position and a stowed position about the longitudinal axis based, at least in part, on rotation of the tube member relative to the first body along the longitudinal axis.",
    "2. The paving machine of claim 1, wherein the handle assembly further includes a plunger disposed in association with each of the tube member and the first body, the plunger adapted to selectively engage and disengage with the first body.",
    "3. The paving machine of claim 2, wherein the handle assembly further includes a resilient member disposed in association with the plunger, the resilient member adapted to bias the plunger in engagement with the first body.",
    "4. The paving machine of claim 2, wherein the first body includes at least one hole adapted to engage with the plunger.",
    "5. The paving machine of claim 4, wherein the at least one hole includes a plurality of holes, each of the plurality of holes disposed spaced apart from another on the first body.",
    "6. The paving machine of claim 1, wherein the handle assembly is adapted to selectively move away from the first body along the longitudinal axis to disengage the second gear relative to the first gear.",
    "7. The paving machine of claim 6, wherein the handle assembly further includes a resilient member disposed in association with the tube member, the resilient member adapted to bias the second gear in engagement with the first gear.",
    "8. The paving machine of claim 1, wherein the handle member is adapted to selectively move away from the tube member along the rotational axis to disengage the second gear relative to the first gear.",
    "9. The paving machine of claim 8, wherein the handle assembly further includes a resilient member disposed in association with the handle member, the resilient member adapted to bias the second gear in engagement with the first gear.",
    "10. The paving machine of claim 1, wherein the handle assembly is adapted to selectively rotate up to 360 degrees about the longitudinal axis.",
    "11. The paving machine of claim 1, wherein each of the first gear and the second gear is a bevel type gear.",
    "12. A screw jack assembly for a screed assembly associated with a paving machine, the screw jack assembly comprising: a first body defining a longitudinal axis and fixedly coupled to a frame of the screed assembly; a screw drive rotatably disposed within the first body and axially aligned along the longitudinal axis, the screw drive defining a first end and a second end; a second body movable relative to the first body along the longitudinal axis and operably coupled to each of the screw drive and a side gate of the screed assembly; a first gear coupled to the first end of the screw drive; and a handle assembly including: a tube member movably coupled to the first body and axially aligned along the longitudinal axis; a second gear disposed within the tube member and operably coupled to the first gear; and a handle member fixedly coupled to the second gear and adapted to rotate about a rotational axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein the handle member is adapted to selectively rotate between an operating position and a stowed position about the longitudinal axis based, at least in part, on rotation of the tube member relative to the first body along the longitudinal axis.",
    "13. The screw jack assembly of claim 12, wherein the handle assembly further includes a plunger disposed in association with each of the tube member and the first body, the plunger adapted to selectively engage and disengage with the first body.",
    "14. The screw jack assembly of claim 13, wherein the handle assembly further includes a resilient member disposed in association with the plunger, the resilient member adapted to bias the plunger in engagement with the first body.",
    "15. The screw jack assembly of claim 12, wherein the first body includes at least one hole adapted to engage with the plunger.",
    "16. The screw jack assembly of claim 12, wherein the handle assembly is adapted to selectively move away from the first body along the longitudinal axis to disengage the second gear relative to the first gear.",
    "17. The screw jack assembly of claim 16, wherein the handle assembly further includes a resilient member disposed in association with the tube member, the resilient member adapted to bias the second gear in engagement with the first gear.",
    "18. The screw jack assembly of claim 12, wherein the handle member is adapted to selectively move away from the tube member along the rotational axis to disengage the second gear relative to the first gear.",
    "19. The screw jack assembly of claim 18, wherein the handle assembly further includes a resilient member disposed in association with the handle member, the resilient member adapted to bias the second gear in engagement with the first gear.",
    "20. The screw jack assembly of claim 12, wherein each of the first gear and the second gear is a bevel type gear."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present disclosure relates to a screw jack assembly for a paving machine. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to the screw jack assembly for a screed assembly associated with the paving machine.\n\nA paving machine, such as an asphalt paver, includes a screed assembly for paving a layer of asphalt on a work surface. In many situations, the screed assembly may include one or more side gates disposed on opposite sides of the screed assembly. The side gates may be raised or lowered relative to the work surface using one or more screw jacks disposed on the screed assembly and coupled to the respective side gates. The screw jacks may include a rotating handle for operating the screw jack which, in some operating/stowed positions, may protrude outwardly from the screed assembly.\n\nIn such a situation, the rotating handle may increase an overall width of the paving machine. Accordingly, the increase in the overall width of the paving machine may interfere during shipping of the paving machine from one location to another, such as interfering with surrounding objects, increasing potential of damage to the screw jacks and/or surrounding objects, and so on. The rotating handle may also interfere with surrounding objects while paving, such as when paving up next to a building, with mailboxes, and the like. Also, in many situations, the increase in the overall width of the paving machine may require special shipping permits, in turn, increasing costs, increasing shipping duration, and so on. Hence, there is a need for an improved screw jack assembly for such applications.",
  "cpc": [
    "F16H 25/20",
    "B66F 3/16",
    "E01C 19/12",
    "E01C 19/42",
    "E01C 19/48",
    "E01C 19/4866",
    "E01C 2301/16",
    "F16H 2025/2046",
    "F16H 2025/2062"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "E01C 19/42",
    "E01C 19/48",
    "F16H 25/20"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Caterpillar Paving Products Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Cameron Eitel Graves",
    "John Eron Jorgensen",
    "Ryan Todd Thiesse"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2020-01-23",
  "publication_date": "2022-04-05",
  "grant_date": "2022-04-05",
  "priority_date": "2020-01-23",
  "application_number": "US-202016750117-A",
  "family_id": "76753652",
  "cited_by_count": 0,
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}