# US 11,992,971 B2 · Sawcut machine for sidewalks

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- Number: US 11,992,971 B2
- Document ID: US11992971B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/517,954
- Filed: 2019-07-22
- Published: 2021-01-28
- Granted: 2024-05-28
- Earliest claimed: 2019-07-22
- Assignees: N. Piccoli Construction
- Applicants: N. Piccoli Construction Ltd.
- Inventors: Mario Piccoli
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11992971B2

## CPC

- B28D 1/045: {Sawing grooves in walls; sawing stones from rocks; sawing machines movable on the stones to be cut}
- B28D 7/005: {Devices for the automatic drive or the program control of the machines}
- B28D 7/02: for removing or laying dust, e.g. by spraying liquids; for cooling work
- E01C 23/0933: {rotary, e.g. circular-saw joint cutters}
- E01C 2301/50: Methods or devices for preventing dust by spraying or sucking
- B28D: WORKING STONE OR STONE-LIKE MATERIALS
- E01C: CONSTRUCTION OF, OR SURFACES FOR, ROADS, SPORTS GROUNDS, OR THE LIKE; MACHINES OR AUXILIARY TOOLS FOR CONSTRUCTION OR REPAIR (forming roads or like surfaces by compacting or grading snow or ice E01H)

## Abstract

Disclosed is a machine for forming saw cuts into sidewalk concrete slabs, the machine comprising a frame, rubber tracks attached to the underside of the frame to self-propel the machine in a travel direction along a sidewalk during use, and a cutting assembly mounted to the frame. The cutting assembly comprises a saw for forming saw cuts, a linear actuator for moving the saw at a depth into the sidewalk, and a screw drive motor to move the saw to form the saw cut in a direction perpendicular to the travel direction. While road repair machinery has the luxury of more space, machines for sidewalks are smaller and tighter. The machine in accordance with the teachings of this invention uses a newly designed cutting assembly to keep the size of the machine useable for sawcuts in sidewalks.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A machine for forming saw cuts into concrete slabs of a sidewalk, the machine comprising:
a frame;
rubber tracks attached to the underside of the frame, the rubber tracks configured to travel over the sidewalk;
a track drive motor configured to drive the rubber tracks to propel the machine in a travel direction along the sidewalk during use;
a cutting assembly mounted to the frame, the cutting assembly comprising:
a saw for forming saw cuts;
a linear actuator for moving the saw at a depth into the sidewalk; and
a saw drive motor to move the saw to form the saw cut in a direction perpendicular to the travel direction;
a travel control assembly for controlling the travel of the saw while the saw is forming the saw cut, wherein the travel control assembly comprises a limit switch configured to signal the saw to stop forming the saw cut, and wherein the limit switch includes a switch wheel and the limit switch signals the saw to stop forming the cut when the switch wheel drops off the edge of the sidewalk; and
a gas generator coupled to the frame, the gas generator configured to provide electric power to at least one of the track drive motor and the saw drive motor, and the cutting assembly.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The machine of claim 1, wherein the saw drive motor is a screw drive motor connected to a drive screw such that they turn in unison.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The machine of claim 1, further comprising a depth control assembly using a programmable logic controller (PLC) for controlling the linear actuator.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The machine of claim 1, further comprising a vacuum with a cyclone separator to collect dust created by the saw cut formation.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The machine of claim 4, wherein the vacuum is electric.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The machine of claim 4, wherein the saw includes a dust guard to collect dust into the vacuum.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The machine of claim 1, wherein the track drive motor is turned off when the saw drive motor is turned on to reduce likelihood of damage to the saw.