Patent Application
20050127741
This invention relates to a grinder vehicle for removing traffic markings from an underlying roadway surface, and more particularly, to such a grinder vehicle having a self propelled drive unit with an engine that drives both the drive unit and a grinder head assembly.
Roadways are often constructed from concrete or asphalt materials. Traffic markings, such as painted markings, painted lines, epoxy markings, thermoplastic lines, and tape lines, among other markings, are often applied to roadway surfaces to direct traffic. Occasionally, it becomes necessary to remove traffic markings from roadway surfaces.
Traditionally, traffic line removal has been accomplished by manually propelled grinders. Often these grinders remove the traffic markings at an undesirably slow rate and leave undesirably large indentations in the roadway surface in the areas where the traffic lines have been removed.
Some traffic line removal units have a grinder that is connected to a separate, independently driven self-propelled drive unit. However, although the self-propelled drive unit facilitates movement of the grinder, the motor in the grinder remains relatively small, causing the traffic marking removal rate of the traffic line removal unit to remain undesirably slow. Accordingly a need exists for an improved grinder for traffic lines from an underlying roadway surface.
In one embodiment, the present invention is a grinder vehicle for removing traffic markings from an underlying roadway surface. The grinder vehicle includes a drive unit having a frame assembly supported by a plurality of wheels and a drive unit engine that drives at least one of the plurality of wheels. A drive shaft is connected to the drive unit engine. A grinder head assembly is connected to the frame assembly of the drive unit and is driven by the drive shaft of the drive unit engine. The grinder head assembly includes a plurality of grinder heads for removing the traffic markings from the underlying roadway surface.
In another embodiment, the present invention is a grinder vehicle for removing traffic markings from an underlying roadway surface. The grinder vehicle includes a drive unit having a frame assembly supported by a plurality of wheels and a drive unit engine that drives at least one of the plurality of wheels. A drive shaft is connected to the drive unit engine. A grinder head assembly is connected to the frame assembly of the drive unit and includes a main shaft that is driven by the drive shaft of the drive unit engine. A plurality of grinder heads for removing the traffic markings from the underlying roadway surface is mounted to and rotatable by the main shaft of the grinder head assembly. A downward pressure adjuster is connected to the grinder head assembly for varying a downward pressure that each grinder head applies to the traffic markings and the underlying roadway surface.
In yet another embodiment, the present invention is a grinder vehicle for removing traffic markings from an underlying roadway surface. The grinder vehicle includes a drive unit having a frame assembly supported by a plurality of wheels and a drive unit engine that drives at least one of the plurality of wheels. A drive shaft is connected to the drive unit engine. A grinder head assembly is connected to the frame assembly of the drive unit and includes a main shaft that is driven by the drive shaft of the drive unit engine. A plurality of grinder heads for removing the traffic markings from the underlying roadway surface is mounted to and rotatable by the main shaft of the grinder head assembly. A hydraulic cylinder is connected to the grinder head assembly for varying a downward pressure that each grinder head applies to the traffic markings and the underlying roadway surface. A pivot adjuster is connected to the grinder head assembly for pivotally adjusting the position of the grinder head assembly with respect to the underlying roadway surface.
In still another embodiment, the present invention is a grinder for removing traffic markings from an underlying roadway surface that includes a grinder head assembly and a downward pressure adjuster. The grinder head assembly includes a plurality of grinder heads for removing the traffic markings from the underlying roadway surface. the downward pressure adjuster is connected to the grinder head assembly for varying a downward pressure that each grinder head applies to the traffic markings and the underlying roadway surface.
In another embodiment, the present invention is a grinder for removing traffic markings from an underlying roadway surface that includes a grinder head assembly and a pivot adjuster. The grinder head assembly includes a plurality of grinder heads for removing the traffic markings from the underlying roadway surface. The pivot adjuster is connected to the grinder head assembly for pivotally adjusting the position of the grinder head assembly with respect to the underlying roadway surface.
As shown in
The roadway surface may be any one of a variety of roadway surfaces, such as concrete, asphalt, or asphalt rubber, among other appropriate roadways. The traffic markings may include painted markings, painted lines, epoxy markings, thermoplastic lines, and tape lines, among other appropriate materials for use as a traffic marker.
The cab 14 also includes foot pedals. The foot pedals include a control pedal 20 and a brake pedal 22. The control pedal 20 is connected to a hydrostatic drive of a transmission of the drive unit engine 26 (as shown in
A housing assembly 42 that supports a grinder head assembly 40 (as shown in
As described in detail below, the housing assembly 42 is moveable relative to the frame assembly 24 of the drive unit 12 to allow the grinder head assembly 40 to move between a grinding position, wherein the grinder heads 44 contact and grind the traffic markings, and a transporting position, wherein the grinder heads 44 are not in contact with the roadway surface.
As shown in
In one embodiment, the drive unit 12 is taken from a commercially available lawn mowing tractor, such as a John Deere® 1400 Series Mower, (hereinafter the John Deere® tractor.) The John Deere® tractor includes a drive unit similar to that described above having a cab portion mounted to a frame assembly and supported by front and rear wheels. A mower assembly is mounted to and extends forwardly from the cab portion, which includes a seat for receiving an operator. The mower assembly includes rotary blades for cutting a ground surface. The John Deere® tractor is driven by a drive unit engine having a drive shaft that extends from the drive unit engine to engage and rotatably drive the blades of the mower assembly.
The John Deere® tractor can be modified for use as the drive unit 12 in one embodiment of the present invention by disassembling the mower assembly from the frame assembly of the drive unit, mounting the housing assembly 42 of the grinder head assembly 40 to the frame assembly of the drive unit, and attaching the drive shaft 34 to the gear box 28 to drive the pulley system 36 and the grinder head assembly 40 attached thereto.
Other lawn mowing tractors that are suitable for modification and use as the drive unit 12 in exemplary embodiments of the present invention include lawn mowing tractors made commercially available by John Deere®, Jacobsen® and Toro® among other appropriate lawn mowing tractors made commercially available by other suitable manufactures and/or distributes. In addition, the drive unit in exemplary embodiments of the present invention may also be taken from other types of tractors and/or motored vehicles.
The gear box 28 includes an opening 46 that receives the drive shaft 34 of the drive unit engine 26. As shown in
A shroud 60 is also mounted to the housing assembly 42. The shroud 60 houses the grinder heads 44 of the grinder head assembly 40. The grinder head assembly 40 includes a plurality of mounting shafts 52. Each mounting shaft 52 extends laterally from the main shaft 38 of the grinder head assembly 40. Each grinder head 42 is rotatably mounted about a perimeter of its corresponding mounting shaft 52. As such, a rotation of the main shaft 38 of the grinder head assembly 40 causes each grinder head 44 to rotate both about the main shaft 38 of the grinder head assembly 40, as shown by arrow 56, and about its corresponding mounting shaft 52, as shown for example by arrow 54.
Each grinder head 44 includes a wheel 55 having a plurality of bits or teeth 58 extending peripherally about an outer perimeter thereof to contact and grind a traffic marking to remove the marking from an underlying roadway surface. In one embodiment, each bit 58 is composed of a tungsten carbide material. The bits 58 contact and grind the traffic markings, while minimizing the grinding of the underlying roadway surface. As shown in
In one embodiment, the grinder head assembly 40 is a Rotary Cutter Head Assembly as shown in
A base plate 130 connects the hub 120 to the main shaft 38 of the grinder head assembly 40 so that the hub 120 (and hence each grinder head 44) rotates when the main shaft 38 rotates. The main shaft includes a laterally extending mounting plate 135. The mounting plate 135 includes openings 138 that are aligned with corresponding openings 132 and 136 in the hub 120 and the base plate 130. Fasteners 134 extend through the openings in the base plate 120, the hub 120 and the mounting plate 135 of the main shaft 38 and engage nuts 140 to secure the hub 120 to the main shaft 38. An inner bushing 142 (such as a rubber bushing) and an outer bushing 144 (such as rubber bushings) are disposed in surrounding relation to the fasteners 134 to reduce vibrations. Each grinder head 44 includes a plurality of bits 58, such as tungsten carbide bits. Preferably each grinder head 44 includes either 24 bits (part number TR3-24) or 48 bits (part number TR3-48.)
Other grinder head assemblies and/or grinder heads that are suitable for use in exemplary embodiments of the present invention include grinder head assemblies and/or grinder heads made commercially available by EDCO® or Smith Manufacturing Company®, among other suitable manufactures and/or distributors.
In one embodiment, the drive shaft 34 is electrically connected to a clutch and is only activated when the clutch is activated. In the embodiment of
The rotational speed of the drive unit engine 26 (and hence the rotational speeds of the drive shaft 34, the pulley shaft 47, the pulley belt 48, the main shaft 38 of the grinder head assembly 40 and each grinder head 44) is variable and controlled by varying the position of a control lever 70 disposed in the cab 14 of the drive unit 12 in close proximity to the seat 16 (as shown in
As shown, in
As shown in
The pivot adjuster 66 includes a threaded rod 68 having a handle 90 that is disposed in close proximity to the seat 16 of the cab 14 of the drive unit 12. The handle 90 is used to rotate the threaded rod 68 as shown by arrow 91. Rotation of the handle 90 causes the housing assembly 42 to pivot about an axis 95 as shown by arrow 96 and described in more detail below.
The pivot adjuster 66 is connected to both the support bar 80 and the housing assembly 42. The pivot adjuster 66 is connected to a collar 87 that, in turn, is connected to the support bar 80 through a pivot arm 88, which is pivotally connected to the support bar 80. The collar 87 is held to the threaded rod 68 by fasteners 97. The collar 87 has an internal bore that prevents the collar 87 from moving relative to the threaded rod 68 when the handle 90 is rotated.
The pivot adjuster 66 is also connected to the housing assembly 42. The pivot adjuster 66 is connected to the housing assembly 42 by an protruding arm 86 of the housing assembly 42. The arm 86 has internal threads that threadably engage the threads of the threaded rod 68, such that rotation of the handle 90 causes a corresponding movement of the arm 86 along the threaded rod 68. Thus, rotation of the handle 90 causes a relative movement between the protruding arm 86 of the housing assembly 42 and the collar 87 of the support bar 80. This movement, along with the non-rigid connection of arms 83 and 85, respectively, to the connecting rod 85, which connects the support bar 80 to the housing assembly 42, allows the housing assembly 42 to pivot about the axis 95 as shown by the arrow 96.
As shown in
Movement of the shaft 101 of the hydraulic cylinder 100 relative to the body of the hydraulic cylinder 100 causes the mounting plate 102 to rotate the support bar 80 as shown by arrow 112. This, in turn, causes the connecting rod 84 and the housing assembly 42 of the grinder head assembly 40 to corresponding rotate as shown by arrow 112. By varying the force of the hydraulic cylinder 100 exerted on the mounting plate of the support bar 80 the downward pressure, as indicated by arrow 114, that the grinder heads 44 apply to the traffic markings of an underlying roadway surface 110 is varied.
In one embodiment, hoses are connected to the hydraulic cylinder 100 to add or remove hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic cylinder 100. The hoses are connected to a hydraulic control lever 71, which is located in close proximity to the seat 16 in the cab 14 of the drive unit 12. The hydraulic control lever 71 actuates valves connected to the hydraulic fluid hoses to control the amount of hydraulic fluid that is distributed to or removed from the hydraulic cylinder 100. The hydraulic control lever 71 has a neutral position where the grinder heads 44 are not in contact with the surface to be grinded 110. Moving the hydraulic control lever 71 away from the neutral position causes the hydraulic cylinder 100 to move the grinder heads 44 into contact with the surface 110 to be grinded. Each movement of the hydraulic control lever 71 away from the neutral position increases the downward pressure that the grinder heads 44 apply to the surface 110 to be grinded.
In one embodiment, the hydraulic cylinder 100 can exert up to approximately 1600 psi (pounds per square inch) of pressure. As a result, by movement of the hydraulic control lever 71, the down pressure that the grinder heads 44 apply to the surface 110 to be grinded can vary from zero to approximately 1600 psi.
To drive the grinder vehicle 10 in either the forward or reverse directions, the control pedal 20 must be depressed and the control lever 70 must be moved from an idle position. Depressing the control pedal 20 activates the hydrostatic drive of the transmission of the drive unit engine 26. The control pedal 20 controls the amount of fuel that is distributed to the drive unit engine 26. Thus, the more the control lever 70 is moved from an idle position, the more fuel that is distributed to the drive unit engine 26 and the faster the rotational speed of the drive unit engine 26. To drive the grinder vehicle 10 in a forward direction, a top portion of the control pedal is depressed. To drive the grinder vehicle 10 in a reverse direction, a bottom portion of the control pedal is depressed.
When the grinder vehicle 10 is being driven, the grinder heads 44 can either be activated to grind a surface or deactivated by toggling the clutch switch 73, which controls the drive shaft 34 of the drive unit engine 26. The drive shaft 34 drives the grinder heads 44 as described above. An advantage of having a single drive unit engine 26 that drives both the drive unit 12 and the grinder head assembly 40 and having the grinder head assembly 40 activated by the actuation of a clutch is that the drive unit 12 can be driven to a desired location while the grinder head assembly 40 remains in a inactivated state. The grinder head assembly 40 can then be activated only when it is desired to grind a surface, increasing the safety of the grinder vehicle 10.
A grinding operation can also be performed when the grinder vehicle 10 is stationary. In order to perform such an operation, the clutch switch 73 is turned to the on position, thus activating the drive shaft 34 of the drive unit engine 26, and the control lever 70 is moved from an idle position, while the control pedal 20 is not depressed. Thus, the grinder head assembly 40 is activated but the hydrostatic drive of the transmission of the drive unit engine 26 is not activated. As such, the grinder head assembly 40 can grind a surface while the grinder vehicle 10 is stationary. As discussed above, the more the control lever 70 is moved from an idle position, the more fuel that is distributed to the drive unit engine 26 and the faster the rotational speed of the drive unit engine 26 (and hence the drive shaft 34 and the grinder head assembly 40 driven thereby.) In one embodiment, the drive unit engine 26 is a twenty four Horsepower, three cylinder, liquid cooled diesel engine. Such an engine is much larger than engines used in traffic marking removers of the prior art. Using a twenty four horsepower engine allows the drive unit 12 to drive the grinder vehicle 10 to a speed in a range of approximately zero to twelve mph (miles per hour) in the forward direction and to a speed in a range of approximately zero to five mph (miles per hour) in the reverse direction.
Since the control lever 70 controls the speed of rotation of the drive unit engine 26 and the engine 26 drives the grinder heads 44 through the drive shaft 34, the control lever 70 also controls the speed of rotation of the grinder heads 44. Therefore, the speed of rotation of the grinder heads 44 is also variable. In one embodiment, the drive shaft 34 rotates each grinder head 44 at a speed in the range of approximately 200 rpm (revolutions per minute) to approximately 1600 rpm. Rotating the grinder heads 44 against the traffic markings of an underlying roadway surface at such high rotational speeds allows the grinder vehicle 10 to remove the traffic markings at a much faster rate than other grinders.
As shown in
The preceding description has been presented with reference to various embodiments of the invention. Persons skilled in the art and technology to which this invention pertains will appreciate that alterations and changes in the described structures and methods of operation can be practiced without meaningfully departing from the principle, spirit and scope of this invention.
