The present invention generally relates to devices for cutting a material; in particular, the invention relates to a slab saw for cutting concrete, asphalt, and other materials.
There are many different types of machines used to make cuts in previously formed and hardened concrete and asphalt. For example, slab saws make generally vertically-oriented cuts and can be used for a variety of purposes, such as cutting trenches in concrete for laying pipe and/or cables, renovation projects in which a worn or broken surface may need modification and/or replacement, and other projects in which a concrete or asphalt surface needs to be cut.
Self-propelled slab saws are well known.
With the saw blade 2 raised above the concrete as shown in
Another issue that arises is difficulty in moving the slab saw to the work site and/or propelling the drive wheels over certain surfaces. For example, it is difficult to move the heavy slab saw across a dirt path to the work site because the wheels tend to sink into the dirt. Irregular surfaces also create difficulties in moving the saw to the work site. For example, the wheels of a typical slab saw will have difficulty being propelled over a gravel path. If the surface is slick, the drive wheels 4 will tend to slip and not propel the saw. A surface containing holes, such a potholes or a trench for laying pipe, can also pose difficulties for the slab saw to traverse.
According to one aspect, the invention provides a slab saw for cutting concrete, asphalt and other materials. Unlike existing slab saws, one embodiment of the invention provides a self-propelled saw having a control assembly that allows the saw to be steered left or right during operation. This increased maneuverability of the saw reduces (or eliminates) the need for the operator to apply physical force on the saw to maintain a position of the blade along a cutting path. For example, embodiments are contemplated in which the saw could be propelled by a left track and a right track that can be independently controlled. In such an embodiment, a differential between the speed and/or direction in which left and right tracks are driven could be used to turn the saw in either direction. A track-driven saw has other benefits, such as crossing large gaps or trenches and possibly driving in dirt, mud, rough surfaces and other possibly soft surfaces to get to a desired location. Likewise, a track-driven saw could be driven to a jobsite where the surface (e.g., concrete) is badly broken where wheeled saws could not go. Additionally, a slick surface would likely not deter traction of a track-driven saw. In another embodiment, the track-driven saw could be drive remotely using wireless communications, such as with a RF receiver and transmitter.
In many cases, embodiments of this invention provide safety advantages. For example, loading and unloading the saw is less likely to cause injuries. Additionally, due to the track-driven nature of the saw in some embodiments, the device tends to be more stable because weights and balances are not as much of a factor. Additionally, embodiments of the saw are less likely to tip because weight distribution is not needed to allow the back portion to be lifted by an operator and therefore balance is not as much of an issue.
According to another aspect, this disclosure provides a slab saw comprising a frame, an engine supported by the frame, an arbor, and first and second tracks disposed along opposing sides of the frame. The arbor may be configured to be rotated by the engine. The first track and the second track may be configured to propel the frame. A drive assembly may be configured to independently drive the first track with respect to the second track to propel the slab saw. A control assembly may be configured to control the drive assembly as to a speed and direction of the slab saw.
According to a further aspect, this disclosure provides a slab saw comprising a frame, an engine supported by the frame, an arbor, and first and second tracks disposed along opposing sides of the frame. The arbor may be configured to be rotated by the engine. The first track and the second track may be configured to propel the frame. The slab saw may include means for independently driving the first track with respect to the second track; and means for steering the slab saw by applying a speed differential between the first track and the second track.
According to yet a further aspect, this disclosure provides a method for operating a slab saw. This method includes the steps of: providing a track-driven slab saw having a first track and a second track; independently driving the first track with respect to the second track to propel the slab saw; the first track and the second track being disposed along opposite sides of the slab saw; and steering the slab saw by applying a speed differential between the first and second tracks.
Other embodiments are contemplated in which the drive assembly may include a left and right set of wheels that could be independently controlled—similar to a skid steer. As with the track driven embodiment, the left and right set of wheels could be driven at different speeds to turn the saw in a desired direction.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of the illustrated embodiment exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived. It is intended that all such additional features and advantages be included within this description and be within the scope of the invention.
The present disclosure will be described hereafter with reference to the attached drawings which are given as non-limiting examples only, in which:
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principals of the invention. The exemplification set out herein illustrates embodiments of the invention, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.
While the concepts of the present disclosure are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific exemplary embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit the concepts of the present disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
As explained in more detailed below, an embodiment is contemplated in which the slab saw includes a drive assembly configured to independently drive the tracks 20, 22 to steer the saw 10 towards the left or right as desired. In one embodiment, for example, the drive assembly includes a first hydraulic motor 24 for driving the first track 20 and the second track 22 may be independently driven by a second hydraulic motor 26. As shown, the first hydraulic motor 24 is controlled by a first hydrostatic pump 28 using a first valve assembly 30 and the second hydraulic motor 26 is controlled by a second hydrostatic pump 32 with a second valve assembly 34. Although this example shows the use of hydrostatic pumps, embodiments are contemplated in which hydraulic pumps could be used. Additionally, embodiments are contemplated in which the treads could be driven by electric motor in combination with a speed control circuit. Other mechanisms for driving the tracks could be provided as should be appreciated by one skilled in the art.
In one embodiment, a control assembly with a lever 36 may be used by the operator to control the speed and steer the direction in which the saw 10 is propelled. For example, the lever 36 may increase the speed in which the saw 10 is propelled the further that the lever 36 is moved in the direction of arrow 38. Likewise, the lever 36 may be used to reverse the direction of the saw and be propelled towards the rear 12 if the operator moves the lever 36 in the direction of arrow 40. If the lever 36 is twisted in a clockwise direction in this embodiment, the saw 10 turns toward the right side 18. Conversely, if the lever 36 is twisted in the counter-clockwise direction in this embodiment, the saw 10 turns toward the left side 16. This allows the saw 10 to be moved not only in forward and reverse directions, but also steered either left or right. Although the embodiment shown uses a single lever 36 to control both speed and steering of the saw 10, other embodiments are contemplated that could use separate devices to control speed and steering. For example, a steering device, such as a steering wheel, could be used to steer the saw 10 and a speed control device could be used to separately control the speed in which the saw 10 is propelled.
In one embodiment, the lever 36 may be used to control the position of the first and second valve assemblies 30, 34 to control the direction and speed with which the tracks 20, 22 are driven. For example, a differential in the valve positions between the pumps 28, 32 could be used to steer the saw 10. With this arrangement, for example, the first motor 28 may be configured to independently drive the first track 20 and the second motor 32 could be independently configured to drive the second track 22.
In the example shown, the saw 10 includes an engine 42 (shown diagrammatically) that may be used to drive the hydrostatic pumps 28, 32 and a saw blade 43. Although the saw blade 43 is mounted on a right arbor in this example, the saw blade 43 could be mounted on the left arbor. A blade guard (not shown) may be provided for purposes of safety.
As shown, the engine 42 is mounted in-line with a transverse gear box 44 that cooperates with a belt 46 (
In the example shown, the rear 12 of the saw 10 includes a cowl 48 with an instrument panel 50 showing various operating parameters of the saw 10. As shown, the cowl includes an access opening 52 for accessing various hydraulics and other components for maintenance and/or servicing. In the embodiment shown in
Referring to
Referring to
An end of a first control cable 80 is connected with the first valve assembly 30 and an end of a second control cable 82 is connected with the second valve assembly 34. As discussed below, the opposing ends of the cables 80, 82 are connected with the control assembly so that the lever 36 can independently move the cables 80, 82 to independently control the valve assemblies 30, 34, which allow the motors 24, 26 to be independently driven using the lever 36 (or other control/steering mechanism).
In operation, the operator will use the lever 36 to propel the saw 10 forward or in reverse. In this embodiment, the operator will be able to steer the saw 10 left or right by twisting the lever 36 in a counter-clockwise or clockwise direction. This will allow the operator to stand on the platform 54 or a seat 56 and maneuver the saw 10 solely using the lever 36, without needing to exert physical force on the saw 10 itself to maintain the saw blade 44 along the intended cut path.
Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to particular means, materials, and embodiments, from the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of the invention and various changes and modifications may be made to adapt the various uses and characteristics without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/676,512 filed Jul. 27, 2012, for a “Track Driven Concrete Slab Saw,” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61676512 | Jul 2012 | US |