Roadway planing apparatus

An improved planer apparatus for removing a top portion of a paved roadway to form a roadway surface having a predetermined grade and cross-slope, comprising:

• a main frame;
• drive means, disposed in contact with the roadway, for supporting and moving the main frame;
• means for selectively varying the spatial orientation of the main frame with respect to the drive means;
• planing means supported by the main frame for cutting the top portion of the roadway;
• and
• a first material lifting conveyor means for receiving roadway material dislodged by the planing means at a receiving end and for elevating and rearwardly moving the material to a discharge end, the first material lifting conveyor means further comprising:
• a first conveyor frame formed from substantially parallel side members;
• a receiving end roller rotatably mounted at opposite ends on the side members of the first conveyor frame adjacent the receiving end;
• a discharge end roller rotatably mounted at opposite ends on the side members of the first conveyor frame adjacent the discharge end;
• an endless conveyor belt having a transport surface for carrying roadway material and a non-transport surface engaged in rolling contact with the discharge and receiving end rollers, the rollers thereby dividing the conveyor belt into upper and lower portions;
• and
• a first conveyor motor mounted on the first conveyor frame between the side members and between the upper and lower portions of the conveyor belt, with the first conveyor motor providing driving rotation of the discharge end roller.

An improved planer apparatus for removing a top portion of a paved roadway to form a roadway surface having a predetermined grade and cross-slope, comprising:

• a main frame;
• drive means, disposed in contact with the roadway, for supporting and moving the main frame;
• means for selectively varying the spartial orientation of the main frame with respect to the drive means;
• planing means supported by the main frame for cutting the top portion of the roadway;
• a first material lifting conveyor means for receiving roadway material dislodged by the planing means at a receiving end and for elevating and rearwardly moving the material to a discharge end;
• and
• a second material lifting conveyor means, pivotally connected to the main frame, for receiving roadway material from the first material lifting conveyor means at a receiving end and for elevating and rearwardly moving the material to a selectively positionable discharge end, the second material lifting conveyor means further comprising:
• a second conveyor frame formed from substantially parallel side members;
• a receiving end roller rotatably mounted at opposite ends on the side members of the second conveyor frame adjacent the receiving end of the second conveyor frame;
• a discharge end roller rotatably mounted at opposite ends on the side members of the second conveyor frame adjacent the discharge end of the second conveyor frame;
• an endless conveyor belt having a transport surface for carrying roadway material and a non-transport surface engaged in rolling contact with the discharge end and receiving end rollers, the discharge and receiving end rollers thereby dividing the conveyor belt into upper and lower portions;
• and
• a second conveyor motor mounted on the second conveyor frame between the side members and between the upper and lower portions of the conveyor belt, with the second conveyor motor providing driving rotation of the discharge end roller.

An improved planer apparatus for removing a top portion of a paved roadway to form a roadway surface having a predetermined grade and cross-slope, comprising:

• a main frame;
• drive means, disposed in contact with the roadway, for supporting and moving the main frame;
• means for selectively varying the spatial orientation of the main frame with respect to the drive means;
• planing means supported by the main frame for cutting the top portion of the roadway;
• water spray means for dispersing water spray adjacent the planing means, the water spray means comprising at least one nozzle;
• a cutter housing assembly enclosing the planing means and comprising:
• an upper housing member disposed above the planing means, the upper housing member having at least one aperture formed therethrough adjacent said nozzle;
• an upper closure member disposed above the upper housing member;
• and
• means coacting with the upper housing member and the upper closure member to form therewith a closed chamber above the planing means;
• and
• a main drive unit for powering operation of the planer apparatus, the main drive unit further comprising an exhaust discharge system for routing exhaust produced by the main drive unit to the external environment, with the exhaust discharge system further comprising:
• an exhaust conduit terminating in said closed chamber, such that discharging exhaust from the exhaust conduit flows in heat-transferring contact with the nozzle.

In an apparatus for removing a top portion of a paved roadway, said apparatus having planing means for cutting away said top portion and conveyor means for transporting material dislodged from the roadway from the planing means, wherein said conveyor means comprises:

• at least one conveyor frame formed from substantially parallel side members;
• a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted on the side members and extending therebetween;
• an endless conveyor belt mounted on the rollers, said belt having a transport surface along which the material dislodged from the roadway is transported and a non-transport surface engaged in rolling contact with said rollers;
• and
• means for rotationally driving one of said rollers,
• the improvement wherein said apparatus further comprises means, mounted on the conveyor frame, for directing water spray on to the non-transport surface of the conveyor belt.