# US 11,077,534 B2 · Method for reconditioning a compactor wheel > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,077,534 B2 - Document ID: US11077534B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/614,016 - Filed: 2017-06-05 - Published: 2018-09-06 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2017-03-01 - Assignees: Radial Iron Works LLC - Applicants: Radial Iron Works LLC - Inventors: Robert John Brockway - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11077534B2 ## CPC - B24B 5/44: for grinding rims of vehicle wheels, e.g. for bicycles - B23P 6/00: Restoring or reconditioning objects (straightening or restoring form of sheet metal, metal rods, metal tubes, metal profiles, or specific articles made therefrom B21D1/00, B21D3/00; repairing defective or damaged objects by casting techniques B22D19/10) - B24B 5/366: {for grinding tyres} - B24B: MACHINES, DEVICES, OR PROCESSES FOR GRINDING OR POLISHING (grinding of gear teeth B23F, of screw-threads B23G1/36; by electro-erosion B23H; abrasive or related blasting B24C; tools for grinding, buffing or sharpening B24D; polishing compositions C09G1/00; abrasives C09K3/14; electrolytic etching or polishing C25F3/00; grinding arrangements for use on assembled railway tracks E01B31/17); DRESSING OR CONDITIONING OF ABRADING SURFACES; FEEDING OF GRINDING, POLISHING, OR LAPPING AGENTS - B23P: METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS (arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q) ## Abstract A method for reconditioning a compactor wheel of a compaction machine is provided. The method includes mounting a compactor wheel on a positioning system configured to provide one or more of angular adjustment, vertical and horizontal translation, and rotation of the compactor wheel, so as to position the compactor wheel in a desired position. The method also includes providing a welding system configured to perform a submerged arc strip welding or weld cladding operation on the compactor wheel. The submerged arc strip welding or weld cladding operation is performed on at least one surface or edge of the compactor wheel to add weldable material thereto, so as to recondition the at least one surface or edge of the compactor wheel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for reconditioning a compactor wheel of a compaction machine, the method comprising: mounting a compactor wheel on a positioning system configured to provide one or more of angular adjustment, vertical and horizontal translation, and rotation of the compactor wheel, so as to position the compactor wheel in a desired position; providing a welding system configured to perform a submerged arc welding operation on the compactor wheel; and performing the submerged arc welding operation on at least one surface or edge of the compactor wheel to add weldable material thereto, so as to recondition the at least one surface or edge of the compactor wheel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one surface or edge of the compactor wheel comprises an outer wrapper of the compactor wheel that includes inner and outer edges. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein performing the submerged arc welding operation comprises depositing an electroslag weld strip on the outer wrapper via the submerged arc strip welding operation, so as to recondition the outer wrapper. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 wherein the electroslag weld strip is deposited onto the outer wrapper done in one radial pass and one wheel rotation, about an entire outer circumference of the outer wrapper. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4 wherein the electroslag weld strip is deposited onto the outer wrapper in an area between rows of cleat pads affixed to the outer wrapper. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4 wherein the electroslag weld strip is deposited onto the outer wrapper at one or more of the inner and outer edges thereof. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6 further comprising depositing a hard-surfacing abrasion resistant weld material along a top surface of the one or more of the inner and outer edges of the outer wrapper via the submerged arc strip welding operation. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 wherein the electroslag weld strip comprises a 3″ wide ¼″ thick strip. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 wherein the electroslag weld strip is composed of a steel matrix material. ### Claim 10 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 wherein depositing the electroslag weld strip on the outer wrapper increases the thickness of the outer wrapper to ¾″ or greater. ### Claim 11 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 wherein the reconditioned outer wrapper presents a finished surface for which no grinding, sandblasting or wheel prep is required prior to welding cleat pads thereto. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one surface or edge of the compactor wheel comprises an inner sidewall and/or bolt cylinder extension of the compactor wheel. ### Claim 13 A compactor wheel of a compaction machine reconditioned by a process comprising the steps of: mounting a compactor wheel; providing a welding system configured to perform a weld cladding operation on the compactor wheel; and performing the weld cladding operation, via the welding system, on at least one surface or edge of the compactor wheel, so as to recondition the at least one surface or edge of the compactor wheel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The compactor wheel of claim 13 wherein the process further comprises performing one or more of angular adjustment, vertical and horizontal translation, and rotation of the compactor wheel via a positioning system on which the compactor wheel is mounted, so as to position the compactor wheel in a desired position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The compactor wheel of claim 13 wherein the process further comprises weld cladding strips of weldable material onto an outer wrapper of the compactor wheel in one radial pass and one wheel rotation, about an entire outer circumference of the outer wrapper. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The compactor wheel of claim 15 wherein the process further comprises weld cladding the strips of weldable material onto the outer wrapper of the compactor wheel in an area between rows of cleat pads affixed to the outer wrapper. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The compactor wheel of claim 13 wherein the process further comprises weld cladding a hard-surfacing abrasion resistant weld material along a top surface of one or more of inner and outer edges of the outer wrapper. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The compactor wheel of claim 15 wherein the process further comprises performing the weld cladding operation to deposit strips of weldable material onto the outer wrapper and onto one another until the thickness of the outer wrapper is increased to ¾″ or greater. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The compactor wheel of claim 18 wherein the strips of weldable material are composed of a stainless steel matrix, chrome nickel molybdenum, or a tungsten carbide impregnated material. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The compactor wheel of claim 18 wherein the strips of weldable material comprise a 3″ wide ¼″ thick strip.