Patent Application
20140093315
This disclosure generally relates to the field of industrial machines. More specifically, the present invention relates to surface treatment machines equipped for road conditioning operations, as well as methods of manufacturing and operating the same.
Industrial machines may include mounted cutting rotors that contact a surface over which the industrial machine is operating. These industrial machines may include milling machines or cold planers designed to prepare or treat a surface such as a road surface, pavement, soil, or earth. The cutting rotor, which may have a coarse surface or attachments protruding from its surface, is rotationally driven by a motor. The motor may form part of a drive train that includes a series of pulleys connected by a drive belt that is used to rotate the cutting rotor so that it may contact the surface with a force sufficient to alter, treat, or even remove the surface to a predetermined depth. For operations such as milling a paved surface significant force may be required where the cutting rotor contacts the road surface for the breakup and removal of the surface.
After treatment by the machine, the surface may no longer be smooth as grooves may be formed due to the cutting rotor cutting into the surface. Present machines may use cutting rotors with finer tool spacing, so that the grooves that are formed on the ground are closer and better resemble a smooth surface, even after treatment.
However, the procedure to change from a normal cutting operation to a fine milling operation and vice-versa may be time-consuming and accordingly expensive as the procedure may involve changing the cutter rotor.
The present disclosure is directed, at least in part, to improving or overcoming one or more aspects of the prior art engine component support structures.
In a first aspect, the present disclosure describes a surface treatment machine comprising a chassis; a cutter member mounted to the chassis for milling a surface; and a smoother member mounted to the chassis for levelling raised edges of a milled surface, the smoother member being positioned behind the cutter member relative to the direction of travel, wherein the smoother member comprises a movably supported impact element for impacting the raised edges of the milled surface.
In a second aspect, the present disclosure describes a method of manufacturing a surface treatment machine comprising the steps of installing a cutting member to a chassis for milling a surface; and installing a smoother member to the chassis for levelling raised edges of a milled surface, wherein the smoother member is positioned behind the cutting member relative to the direction of travel and comprises a movably supported impact element for impacting the raised edges of the milled surface.
Other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be apparent from the following description of various embodiments, when read together with the accompanying drawings.
The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be more fully understood from the following description of various embodiments, when read together with the accompanying drawings, in which:
This disclosure generally relates to surface treatment machines which are configured for milling a surface.
The surface treatment machine 10 may comprise a chassis 14. The chassis 14 may include all frames, wheels, and machinery of the surface treatment machine 10. The chassis 14 may be raised or lowered with respect to surface 12. Surface treatment machine 10 may have forward treads 15 and rear treads 16 which provide sufficient traction to allow proper movement of surface treatment machine 10 along the direction of travel A. The forward treads 15 and rear treads 16 may have continuous metal belts, tires or wheels for rolling contact with surface 12 as surface treatment machine 10 moves in the direction of travel A.
The surface treatment machine 10 may comprise a cutter member 18. The cutter member 18 may be positioned between forward treads 15 and rear treads 16. The outer surface of the cutter member 18 may engage surface 12 for treatment thereof. The cutter member 18 may be raised or lowered with respect to surface 12 so that the cutter member 18 may penetrate beneath surface 12 to a depth sufficient to perform the desired treatment operations.
The surface 12 may be subject to a treatment by the surface treatment machine 10, for example a milling operation, where the engagement of the cutter member 18 may cut into the surface 12 to form grooves in the treated or milled surface 13. The edges of the grooves formed on the milled surface 13 may protrude vertically from the milled surface and away from the grooves.
The cutter member 18 may include a plurality of surface treatment tools of varying size or shape that are formed as part of its outer surface. The surface treatment tools may engage surface 12 during operation to, for example, facilitate milling or otherwise treat surface 12. The cutter member 18 may be driven by a drive train.
The surface treatment machine 10 may comprise a smoother member 17. The smoother member 17 may be configured to level raised edges of the milled surface 13. The smoother member 17 may impact on the raised edges so that the surface material which form the raised edges are displaced thereby to cause the milled surface 13 to be levelled or made smooth.
The smoother member 17 may be positioned on the chassis 14 such that the smoother member 17 may level the raised edges of the milled surface 13. The smoother member 17 may be positioned behind the cutter member 18 relative to the direction of travel A. In an embodiment, the smoother member 17 may be positioned behind the cutter member 18 relative to the direction of travel A and between the forward treads 15 and rear treads 16. The smoother member 17 may be positioned behind the cutter member 18 relative to the direction of travel A during a milling operation. The smoother member 17 may be positioned proximate to the cutter member 18. In an embodiment, the smoother member 17 may be integrated into the rear moldboard of the chassis 14. In an embodiment, the smoother member 17 may be an independent structure coupled to the chassis 14. In an embodiment, the smoother member 17 may be an independent structure coupled to another structural component connected to the chassis 14.
The smoother member 17 may be free floatingly mounted to the chassis 14 or free floatingly coupled to the rear moldboard of the chassis 14. In an embodiment, the smoother member 17 may be provided with at least one surface engagement element for the smoother element to have a support from the surface.
The smoother member 17 may be configured to be raised or lowered relative to the chassis 14 for performing the levelling of the raised edges at a desired height from the milled surface 13.
The smoother member 17 may comprise an impact element 19 for impacting the raised edges of the milled surface 13. The impact element 19 may be movably supported on the smoother member 17 such that the impact element 19 may be movable relative to the chassis 14. The impact element 19 may be connected to a power train which provides a supply of power for moving the impact element 19 to impact on the raised edges.
The support 24 may be a straight bar configured to rigidly support the impact tools 26. The impact tools 26 may extend laterally from the support 24. The impact tools 26 may extend substantially toward the cutter member 18 and may be mutually spaced along the support 24. The spacing between the impact tools 26 may be selected relative to the stroke of the smoother member 20. In an embodiment, the spacing between the impact tools 26 may be selected relative to the rotor pitch of the cutter member 18. In a further embodiment, the spacing between the impact tools 26 may be selected relative to the stroke of the smoother member 20 and the rotor pitch of the cutter member 18.
The longitudinal axis of each impact tool 26 may be substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the support 24.
The impact tools 26 may be suitably adapted to impact and pulverise the raised edges of the milled surface 13. In an embodiment, the impact tools 26 may be a set of “comb” shaped tools. In an embodiment, the support 24 may be removably mounted to the smoother member 20 so that the support 24 may be removed, when required, for example for maintenance work or replaced with another support 24.
In an embodiment, the impact tool 26 may be removably mounted to the support 24 so that the impact tool 26 may be removed, when required, for example for maintenance work or replaced with another impact tool 26. The impact tools 26 may be replaceable individually or in sets.
The impact element 22 may be arranged to laterally move in the smoother member 20. The impact element 22 may be arranged to be reciprocatable in the smoother member 20. The impact element 22 may be arranged to be reciprocatable relative to the chassis 14. The impact element 22 may be arranged to reciprocate along a path B which may be transverse to the direction of travel A.
The impact element 22 may be arranged to reciprocate with a relatively small amplitude and high frequency. In an embodiment, the impact element 22 may have an amplitude of 2-3 mm and a frequency of 40-60 Hz.
The impact element 22 may be arranged to reciprocate with a relatively large amplitude and low frequency. In an embodiment, the impact element 22 may have an amplitude of 10-20 mm with a frequency of 1-5 Hz.
In an embodiment, the impact element 22 may be arranged to reciprocate along a path B substantially transverse to the grooves formed by the cutter member 18.
The smoother member 20 may be integrated with the rear moldboard 28 such that the impact element 22 may be disposed at the lower end of the rear moldboard 28 In an embodiment, the impact element 22 may be disposed at the lower end of the rear moldboard 28 and in proximity to the surface to be milled.
The driving motor for actuating the impact element 22 may be installed on rear moldboard 28. In an embodiment, the driving motor may be installed on an outer (rear) surface of the rear moldboard 28. In an embodiment, the driving motor may be installed in the area proximate to the rear moldboard 28.
By positioning the impact element 22 at the lower end of the rear moldboard 28 the impact tools 26 may impact the raised edges of the milled surface 13 and the pulverised material may be passed directly into the rotor housing of the chassis 14.
The impact element 22 may be connected to a power train which provides a supply of power for reciprocating the impact element 22 so that the impact tools 26 may impact on the raised edges.
The support 34 may be a straight bar configured to rigidly support the impact tools 36. The impact tools 36 may extend substantially toward the cutter member 18 and may be mutually spaced along the support 34. The spacing between the impact tools 36 may be selected relative to the stroke of the smoother member 30. In an embodiment, the spacing between the impact tools 36 may be selected relative to the rotor pitch of the cutter member 18. In a further embodiment, the spacing between the impact tools 36 may be selected relative to the stroke of the smoother member 20 and the rotor pitch of the cutter member 18.
The longitudinal axis of each impact tool 36 may be substantially perpendicular relative to the longitudinal axis of the support 34. In an embodiment, the longitudinal axis of each impact tool 36 may be substantially inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the support 34.
The impact tools 36 may be suitably adapted to impact and pulverise the raised edges of the milled surface 13. In an embodiment, the impact tools 36 may be a set of “comb” shaped tools.
In an embodiment, the support 34 may be removably mounted to the smoother member 30 so that the support 34 may be removed, when required, for example for maintenance work or replaced with another support 34.
In an embodiment, the impact tool 36 may be removably mounted to the support 34 so that the impact tool 36 may be removed, when required, for example for maintenance work or replaced with another impact tool 36. The impact tools 36 may be replaceable individually or in sets.
The impact element 32 may be arranged to move in the smoother member 30. The impact element 32 may be arranged to be reciprocatable in the smoother member 30. The impact element 32 may be arranged to be reciprocatable relative to the chassis 14.
The impact element 32 may be arranged to reciprocate along a path C which is parallel to the direction of travel A. The impact element 32 may be arranged to reciprocate with a relatively small amplitude and high frequency. In an embodiment, the impact element 22 may have an amplitude of 2-3 mm and a frequency of 40-60 Hz.
The impact element 22 may be arranged to reciprocate with a relatively large amplitude and low frequency. In an embodiment, the impact element 22 may have an amplitude of 10-20 mm with a frequency of 1-5 Hz.
In an embodiment, the impact element 32 may be arranged to reciprocate along a path C substantially parallel to the grooves formed by the cutter member 18.
The smoother member 30 may be integrated with the rear moldboard 38 such that the impact element 32 may be disposed at the lower end of the rear moldboard 38. In an embodiment, the impact element 32 may be disposed at the lower end of the rear moldboard 38 and in proximity to the surface to be milled.
The driving motor for actuating the impact element 32 may be installed on rear moldboard 38. In an embodiment, the driving motor may be installed on an outer (rear) surface of the rear moldboard 38. In an embodiment, the driving motor may be installed in the area proximate to the rear moldboard 38.
By positioning the impact element 32 at the lower end of the rear moldboard 38 the impact tools 36 may impact the raised edges of the milled surface 13 and the pulverised material may be passed directly into the rotor housing of the chassis 14.
The impact element 32 may be connected to a power train which provides a supply of power for reciprocating the impact element 32 so that the impact tools 36 may impact on the raised edges.
The driving motor for reciprocating the impact elements 22, 32 may be provided by an eccentric shaft, by alternating motion of hydraulic cylinder(s), by an electric vibrator or by suitable means that may provide for an alternate longitudinal motion.
The support 44 may be a ring structure including cross-arms and configured to rigidly support the impact tools 46. In an embodiment the support 44 may be a disc. The impact tools 46 may extend laterally from the support 44. The impact tools 46 may extend radially from the support 44.
The impact tools 46 may be mutually spaced along the support 44. During a milling operation, the impact tools 46 may form a continuous pattern by the overlap of each tool 46 based on the travel speed of the machine and the rotating speed of the support 44.
Each impact tool 46 may have a curved edge. Each impact tool 46 may have a curved outer edge.
The smoother member 40 may further comprise a mounting element 47. The impact element 42 may be mounted to the smoother member 40 through the mounting element 47. The impact tools 46 may be rotatingly coupled to the mounting element 47 through pins 25 which connect the impact element 42 to the mounting element 47. The smoother member 40 may be powered by independent motors or by a single motor and a transmission means such as a chain, a belt or gears or the similar.
The smoother member 40 may further comprise an arm 48. The arm 48 may connect the mounting element 47 to the chassis 14. In an embodiment the arm 48 may be extendable and retractable relative to the chassis so that the mounting element 47 may be raised or lowered relative to the chassis 14. In an embodiment the arm 48 may be movable relative to the chassis so that the mounting element 47 may be tilted relative to the chassis 14. The relative movement of the arm 48 enables the rear moldboard 49 for rotor inspection and maintenance.
The smoother member 40 may be positioned between the rear treads 16 and the rear moldboard 49.
In an embodiment, the smoother member 40 may comprise a plurality of impact elements 42. In an embodiment, the smoother member 40 may comprise two impact elements 42. In an embodiment, the smoother member 40 may comprise three impact elements 42. In an embodiment, the smoother member 40 may comprise four impact elements 42. In an embodiment, the smoother member 40 may comprise five or more impact elements 42. The plurality of impact elements 42 may be mutually spaced on the mounting element 47 such that the impact tools 46 of the impact elements do not contact. In an embodiment, the impact tools 46 may be mutually spaced in a staggered arrangement. The impact tools 46 may be arranged transverse to the direction of travel A.
The impact tools 46 may be suitably adapted to impact and pulverise the raised edges of the milled surface 13.
In an embodiment, the support 44 may be removably mounted to the mounting element 47 so that the support 44 may be removed, when required, for example for maintenance work or replaced with another support 44.
In an embodiment, the impact tool 46 may be removably mounted to the support 44 so that the impact tool 46 may be removed, when required, for example for maintenance work or replaced with another impact tool 46.
The impact element 42 may be arranged to move in the smoother member 40. The impact element 42 may be arranged to rotate in the mounting element 47. The impact element 42 may be arranged to rotate relative to the chassis 14. The impact element 42 may be arranged to “sweep” completely the milled surface depending on the travel speed of the machine and the speed of the impact element 42.
The impact element 42 may be arranged to rotate at a high speed. In an embodiment, the impact element 42 may have a maximum peripheral speed of 6-7 m/s.
The impact element 42 may be connected to a power train which provides a supply of power for rotating the impact element 42 so that the impact tools 46 may impact on the raised edges.
The impact element 42 may be connected to a drive train which rotates the impact element 42 so that the impact tools 46 may impact on the raised edges.
The support 54 may be a chain structure and configured to rigidly support the impact tools 56. The impact tools 56 may extend laterally from the support 54. The impact tools 56 may be suitably adapted to impact and pulverise the raised edges of the milled surface 13.
The impact tools 56 may be mutually spaced along the support 54. The number of impact tools 56 and the speed of rotation of the support 54 may be selected so that a continuous smooth surface may be achieved by the impact tools 56 during a milling operation.
Each impact tool 56 may have a curved edge. Each impact tool 56 may have a curved outer edge. Each impact tool 56 may have a curved outer edge.
In an embodiment, each impact tool 56 may have a straight edge.
The smoother member 50 may further comprise a mounting element 57 carrying gears 55. The gears 55 may be disposed at opposite ends of the mounting element 57. The gears 55 may be rotatingly coupled to the mounting element 57 through pins 53 which connect the gears 55 to the mounting element 57. In an embodiment, rollers may be placed between the gears 55 to sustain the support 54 during the cutting operation.
The smoother member 50 may further comprise an arm 58. The arm 58 may connect the mounting element 57 to the chassis 14. In an embodiment the arm 58 may be extendable and retractable relative to the chassis so that the mounting element 57 may be raised or lowered relative to the chassis 14. In an embodiment the arm 58 may be movable relative to the chassis so that the mounting element 57 may be tilted relative to the chassis 14. The relative movement of the arm 58 enables the rear moldboard 59 for rotor inspection and maintenance.
The smoother member 50 may be positioned between the rear treads 16 and the rear moldboard 59.
In an embodiment, the support 54 may be removably coupled to the gears 55 so that the support 54 may be removed, when required, for example for maintenance work or replaced with a another support 54.
In an embodiment, the impact tool 56 may be removably mounted to the support 54 so that the impact tool 56 may be removed, when required, for example for maintenance work or replaced with another impact tool 56.
The impact element 52 may be arranged to move in the smoother member 50. The impact element 52 may be arranged to rotate along with the rotation of the gears 55. The impact element 52 may be arranged to rotate relative to the chassis 14. Following the path of the support 54 the impact element 52 may be arranged to rotate at a high speed. In an embodiment, the impact element 52 may have a maximum peripheral speed of 6-7 m/s.
The gears 55 may be connected to a power train which provides a supply of power for rotating the impact element 52 so that the impact tools 56 may impact on the raised edges.
The gears 55 may be connected to a drive train which rotates the impact element 52 so that the impact tools 56 may impact on the raised edges.
During operation, surface treatment machine 10 may advance in a direction of travel A over surface 12 with cutter member 18 situated at predetermined depth below surface 12. The cutter member 18 may be rotating as it engages with surface 12 with the surface treatment machine 10 advancing in a direction of travel A. The engagement of the cutter member 18 which may be rotating and advancing forward, at the forward operating speed of surface treatment machine 10 may be sufficient to pulverise the surface 12 to the predetermined depth to thereby form a milled surface 13.
The cutter member 18 may cut into the surface 12 to form grooves in the treated or milled surface 13. The edges of the grooves formed on the milled surface 13 may protrude vertically away from the grooves.
As the surface treatment machine 10 advances further along the direction of travel A, the impact elements 22, 32, 42, 52 of the smoother member 20, 30, 40, 50 may impact on the raised edges to smoothen the milled surface 13. The surface treatment machine 10 may perform simultaneous cutting and surface smoothening operations.
The surface treatment machine 10 may be manufactured by installing a cutter member 18 to a chassis 14 of the surface treatment machine 10 for milling the surface 12. The smoother member 20, 30, 40, 50 may be installed to the chassis 14 for levelling raised edges of the milled surface 13. The smoother member 20, 30, 40, 50 may be positioned behind the cutter member 18 relative to the direction of travel A. The smoother member 20, 30, 40, 50 may comprise a movably supported impact element 22, 32, 42, 52 for impacting the raised edges of the milled surface 13. The smoother member 20, 30, 40, 50 may be independently powered respect to the main cutting member 18. The smoother member 20, 30, 40, 50 may be engaged or disengaged from the smoothing operation independently from the main cutting operation by simply stopping the impact element 22, 32, 42, 52 or by raising the smoother member 20, 30, 40, 50 from the ground.
A water spraying or water injection device may be used in conjunction with the surface treatment machine 10 to clean the milled and smoothed surface, lubricate and cool the finishing tools and/or collect part or all of the milled material.
The material pulverised by the smoother member 20, 30, 40, 50 may be collected into the main machine milling group and delivered to the discharge truck with the rest of the milled asphalt.
The skilled person would realise that foregoing embodiments may be modified to obtain the surface treatment machine 10 of the present disclosure.
This disclosure describes a surface treatment machine 10 for milling a surface 12 and levelling or smoothening the milled surface 13.
The industrial applicability of the surface treatment machine 10 as described herein will have been readily appreciated from the following discussion.
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.
The surface treatment machine 10 may coarsely mill a surface 12 using a standard cutter member and use a smoother member 20, 30, 40, 50 to make the milled surface smoother after the milling operation by pulverizing the raised edges of the milled grooves.
The surface treatment machine may enable more flexibility in milling operations as the operator may effect cutting a smoothed milled by activating or de-activating the smoother member 20, 30, 40, 50 installed on the machine.
With the smoother member 20, 30, 40, 50 it may no longer be necessary to perform long, costly and time consuming rotor changes in order to have different surface textures.
Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by references signs, the reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, neither the reference signs nor their absence have any limiting effect on the technical features as described above or on the scope of any claim elements.
One skilled in the art will realise the disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the disclosure or essential characteristics thereof. The foregoing embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects illustrative rather than limiting of the disclosure described herein. Scope of the invention is thus indicated by the appended claims, rather than the foregoing description, and all changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalence of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
The present application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/EP11/59731 filed Jun. 10, 2011, which is fully incorporated herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/EP11/59731 | Jun 2011 | US |
| Child | 14101480 | US |
