Patent Application
20240093441
This patent disclosure relates generally to maintenance of rotary mixers, and, more particularly to tools and methods of servicing the floating ground guard on a rotary mixer.
Various machines or implements may include ground engaging tools for interacting, treating, or modifying the ground as the machine or implement travels. In the construction industry, such machines or equipment may include earth movers or cold planers, rotary mixers, or other milling machines, for example.
Machines such as rotary mixers and cold planers utilize a spinning rotor in the form of a drum with cutting elements or teeth to remove or grind a road surface. A floating skate or ground guard may ride along the road surface. In a cold planer, a housing and ground guard are designed to facilitate removal of the ground material; in a rotary mixer, the housing and ground guard are design to cause a mixing of the removed material and redistribution back toward the ground.
That is, rotary mixers may be utilized in rehabilitation of roads or other pavement to reclaim the pavement and base materials to serve as the basis for repavement. In-place full depth reclamation is growing in use as the worldwide supply of high quality aggregate becomes more scarce and increasingly expensive to haul. Reclamation may offer a cost-effective means to recycle the material that is already in place without the time and expense of removing and replacing it. Existing pavements are pulverized in place along with a portion of the existing base materials to form a new homogenous base. Reclamation may allow the contractor to not only reuse the materials at hand, but it also provide the opportunity to introduce water or emulsions, and other virgin aggregates to improve the material design. Compared with the costs of other rehabilitation methods—overlay or reconstruction— reclamation may be an economical choice over the life of the rehabilitated road.
The sharp teeth of the rotor pulverize road materials including the pavement and base materials, mixing the pulverized material as it is lifted when at least a portion the pulverized materials rotating with the rotor. The pulverized material is guided by a rotor housing and floating ground guards to be relaid. Occasionally, however, the floating ground guards may be plugged or bound up with debris, causing the floating ground guard to seize in up position. When seized in up position, pulverized material and the spinning rotor may be exposed in certain circumstances. Lowering the seized floating ground guard is a labor intensive, manual process, however.
U.S. Pat. No. 10,640,932 to Hogan et al. discloses a spray system for a cold planer machine, which likewise utilizes a spinning rotor and a skid arrangement. The Hogan patent teaches the placement of a spraying bank disclosed inside the housing and arranged to spray fluid directed at the rotor.
The disclosure describes, in one aspect, a rotary mixer including a frame supported above a surface of a ground by a ground-engaging portion and a suspension, a rotor supported by the frame and configured for working the ground, and a rotor housing assembly including a floating ground guard. The floating ground guard is mounted for vertical movement relative to the frame and relative to the rotor. The rotary mixer further includes an actuator configured to provide movement in at least a vertical plane relative to the frame, and a ground guard dislodging tool coupled to the floating ground guard. The ground guard dislodging tool and the actuator are disposed such that the actuator engages and exerts a force on the ground guard dislodging tool to move the floating ground guard in a downward direction relative to the frame.
The disclosure describes, in another aspect, a tool for freeing a bound ground-engaging member of a milling machine, the milling machine having an actuator. The tool includes an elongate body and a stabilizer. The elongate body has a first contact surface and a second contact surface, and is shaped to extend between a portion of the ground engaging member and a portion of the actuator. The first contact surface is arranged to oppose the portion of the ground engaging member during use, and the second contact surface arranged to oppose the portion of the actuator during use. The stabilizer is adjacent to the first contact surface.
The disclosure describes, in yet another aspect, a method of dislodging a floating ground guard of a rotary mixer that includes a frame supported above a surface of a ground by a ground-engaging portion, a rotor supported by the frame and configured for working the ground, and a rotor housing assembly including the floating ground guard. The floating ground guard is slidably mounted for vertical movement relative to the frame and relative to the rotor. The method includes coupling a ground guard dislodging tool to the floating ground guard, the ground guard dislodging tool including an arcuate upper surface, causing an actuator to move into engagement with the arcuate upper surface of the ground guard dislodging tool, and continuing to advance the actuator in at least a vertical plane to exert a dislodging force on the ground guard dislodging tool to move the floating ground guard in a downward direction relative to the frame.
This disclosure relates to rotary mixers, and more specifically, to tools, systems, and methods for lowering floating ground guards on rotary mixers to facilitate removal of debris. Referring now to
The rotary mixer 100 may include a frame 102 supported by a suspension 104 on ground-engaging elements 106. Although shown as wheels, the ground engaging elements 106 can be any kind of ground-engaging device that allows rotary mixer 100 to move over a surface within a working area, such as, for example, tracks. The rotary mixer 100 may be motivated by any appropriate power source, such as an engine and transmission, a hydraulic drive system, or one or more batteries (not visible in
A rotor 108 (see
The rotor 108 may be coupled to the frame 102 by a rotor support system 110 that may include, for example, a rotor arm 116 that may be pivotably coupled to the frame 102 and axially support the rotor 108. Rotation may be imparted to the rotor 108 by any appropriate arrangement, such as, for example, a rotor belt (not visible). In at least one embodiment, the rotor belt may be encased by a rotor belt casing, which may be, for example a rotor arm 116, such as is illustrated. The rotor arm 116 of the illustrated embodiment may pivot to adjust the position of the rotor 108 relative to a lower surface. A second rotor arm can be provided on the opposite side of the rotary mixer 100, which is not visible in
Due to the aggressive interaction between the rotor 108 and the ground, particles or debris may fly from the rotor 108 and may not be contained as desired. This flying debris may also be a hazard to workers or personnel operating the machine. Accordingly, a rotor housing assembly 112 may be provided to contain the debris and allow the debris to be maintained at or around the rotor 108 to allow for further mixing. The rotor housing assembly 112 may include a rotor housing 114 including at least one downwardly extending plate 115 that may assist in the containment of ground, particles, or debris around the rotor 108 on the front, rear, and sides of the rotor 108. The rotor housing assembly 112 may be coupled to the rotary mixer 100 by any appropriate arrangement. In one or more embodiments, the rotor housing assembly 112 may surround the rotor 108 as mentioned, and may be supported by the frame 102. In one or more embodiments, the rotor housing assembly 112 may be supported by the rotor support system 110 so as to move with the rotor 108 as the rotor 108 is adjusted upward and downward relative to the frame 102.
The rotor housing assembly 112 may also include a ground-engaging member such as a floating ground guard 130 adapted to generally continuously engage the ground so as to seal off the working area of the rotor 108. The floating ground guard 130 may, for example, be arranged like one or more downwardly extending plate portions at either end of the rotor 108, or a skirt on a bottom edge of the rotor housing 112. The floating ground guard 130 may include flanges or skis 132 on a bottom edge thereof that engage the ground and support the floating ground guard 130 relative to the ground. While an alternate angle may be provided, the flanges or skis 132 may extend at a right angle to the downwardly extending plates.
The floating ground guard 130 may be slidably supported by the rotor housing 114, such that the floating ground guard 130 may move up and down relative to the rotor housing 114 substantially independently of the rotor housing position. For example, as shown in
There are occasions, however, when portions of the chamber formed by the rotor housing 114 and the floating ground guard 130 may become overloaded with debris, which may cause the floating ground guard 130 to seize relative to the rotor housing 114, generally in an upward position. The seized floating ground guard 130 is thus unable to descend fully under the influence of gravity and conform to the work surface over which it passes. This disclosure provides a ground guard dislodging tool for assisting in lowering of the floating ground guard 130 relative to the rotor housing 114 by overcoming the seizing effect of the debris, and a method utilizing such a ground guard dislodging tool in lowering the floating ground guard 130 relative to the rotor housing 114.
Turning to
In order to dislodge the floating ground guard 130, the ground guard dislodging tool 140 includes a second contact surface that may include an arcuate upper surface 148. In the illustrated embodiment, the arcuate upper surface 148 is provided by a transversely extending cylindrical structure 150. It will be appreciated from this disclosure, however, that the arcuate upper surface 148 may be of an alternative design. For example, the generally vertical support 142 may include an arcuate upper surface.
In at least one embodiment, the arcuate upper surface 148 of the cylindrical structure 150 may extend transversely from the generally vertical support 142 (see transverse extensions 152). That is, the arc of the arcuate upper surface 148 may extend into one or more planes that are disposed parallel to a plane including the generally vertical support 142 and stabilizers or braces 146, such that a portion of the arcuate upper surface 148 is offset from the generally vertical support 142 and stabilizers or braces 146 or at least a portion of the arcuate upper surface 148 may be offset from the remainder of the generally vertical support 142. In this way, the arcuate upper surface 148 provides additional area for exertion of a dislodging force on the ground guard dislodging tool 140.
The ground guard dislodging tool 140 may be formed by any appropriate method of any appropriate material that will withstand a dislodging force exerted on the ground guard dislodging tool 140. By way of example only, the ground guard dislodging tool 140 may be cast, forged, or machined. The ground guard dislodging tool 140 may be formed of steel, iron or other material, for example. Moreover, the ground guard dislodging tool 140 may be formed as a unitary structure, or may be formed in multiple pieces that are then secured together by any appropriate method, such as, for example, welding, or other coupling arrangement.
Referring to
An arrangement for dislodging the floating ground guard 130 further includes an actuator 160. While the actuator may be of any appropriate design to exert a generally downward force on the arcuate upper surface 148 of the ground guard dislodging tool 140, in the illustrated embodiment, the actuator 160 may be a portion of the rotary mixer 100 associated with the support system 110 of the rotor 108, for example. In the illustrated embodiment, the actuator 160 may be the rotor arm 116. In this way, when the rotor arm 116 is pivoted downward, a portion of the rotor arm 116 may confront and ride along the arcuate upper surface 148 of the ground guard dislodging tool 140. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that it may be a portion of the housing associated with the rotor arm 116 surrounding a rotary belt for example, that may physically confront the arcuate upper surface 148. As the rotor arm 116 continues to move downward, it exerts a downward force on the ground guard dislodging tool 140, and, accordingly, the floating ground guard 130. This downward force may dislodge the seized floating ground guard 130, freeing it to move downward relative to the rotor housing 114. This separation may allow further cleaning of binding debris, if desired or necessary.
Thus, in a method according to this disclosure, the ground guard dislodging tool 140 may be coupled to the floating ground guard 130 by any appropriate arrangement, such as welding, and/or one or more fasteners and/or brackets. The actuator 160 is then caused to move into engagement with the arcuate upper surface 148 of the ground guard dislodging tool 140. The actuator 160 continues advancing in at least a vertical plane to exert a dislodging force on the ground guard dislodging tool 140 to move the floating ground guard 130 in a downward direction relative to the frame 102. Referring to
The present disclosure is applicable to rotary mixers 100 and other machines that include a floating ground guard 130. The ground guard dislodging tool 140 together with the actuator 160, and the method of dislodging a seized floating ground guard 130, may facilitate cleaning of portions of the rotor housing 114 and the floating ground guard 130. In at least some embodiments, this may minimize the labor associated with such dislodging.
An example embodiment can be a tool for freeing a bound ground-engaging member of a milling machine, the milling machine having an actuator. Such a tool has an elongate body with first and second contact surfaces. The elongate body can be shaped to extend between a portion of the ground engaging member and a portion of the actuator, the first contact surface arranged to oppose the portion of the ground engaging member during use, and the second contact surface arranged to oppose the portion of the actuator during use. The tool also can have a stabilizer adjacent to the first contact surface, adjacent meaning a portion of the stabilizer is arranged to make contact with the portion of the ground engaging member as the bound ground-engaging member is freed.
It will be appreciated that the foregoing description provides examples of the disclosed system and technique. However, it is contemplated that other implementations of the disclosure may differ in detail from the foregoing examples. All references to the disclosure or examples thereof are intended to reference the particular example being discussed at that point and are not intended to imply any limitation as to the scope of the disclosure more generally. All language of distinction and disparagement with respect to certain features is intended to indicate a lack of preference for those features, but not to exclude such from the scope of the disclosure entirely unless otherwise indicated.
Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and “at least one” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The use of the term “at least one” followed by a list of one or more items (for example, “at least one of A and B”) is to be construed to mean one item selected from the listed items (A or B) or any combination of two or more of the listed items (A and B), unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context.
Accordingly, this disclosure includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the disclosure unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.
