Short note: Road pavers

A road paver (finisher) is a self-propelled machine that lays, spreads and partly compacts bituminous mix (or concrete in the slip-form type) to the required width, thickness, camber and level.

 truck->[hopper]==conveyor==[auger]--[screed]
         tracks or wheels      spreads  vibrates & levels

• Parts: receiving hopper, feeder conveyors, augers, tamper bar, vibrating and heated screed, levelling sensors, tracks or rubber tyres, operator platform.
• Working: tipper trucks unload hot mix (130-160 degrees C) into the hopper; the conveyor carries it to the augers, which spread it; the screed floats on the mix, and gives a uniform mat of the set thickness. Rollers follow at once.
• Types: crawler and wheeled pavers; asphalt pavers; concrete slip-form pavers.
• Advantages: uniform thickness and riding quality, high output, and less labour.
• Care: continuous feed of material, steady speed, and correct temperature to avoid segregation and cold joints.