Road surface planar
AssigneeWinchester E. Latham
InventorWinchester E. Latham
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A road surface planner having a coupling mechanism coupled between a working tool attachment and a transporter to permit independent movement (i.e., rotation and/or pivoting) between the transporter and the attachment is provided. The attachment can have a rotary driven element such as a grinding element for modifying an irregular surface of existing pavement. The rotary element can be supported by a rear frame with a rear wheel assembly, a boom at the front of the grinding element, and a front wheel assembly coupled to the boom. The coupling mechanism can include a first member pivotably coupled to the transporter, and a second member fixed to the rear frame. The first member has a central opening defined by an inner edge for slidably contacting along a hub that extends from the second member for rotation there along.
Claims20
A planar attachment for a transporter and coupled thereto by a mounting plate, the planar attachment comprising:
- a grinding element configured to modify a surface of existing pavement, an enclosure generally enclosing the grinding element except on a downward facing side confronting the pavement surface, a source of power coupled to the transporter to power the grinding element;
- a rear frame assembly coupled to a rear surface of the grinding element enclosure;
- a rear wheel assembly supported by the rear frame assembly;
- a boom coupled to a front surface of the grinding element enclosure;
- a front wheel assembly coupled to an end of the boom;
- and
- a coupling mechanism coupled between the rear frame assembly and said mounting plate, the coupling mechanism configured to permit pivot and rotation of said planar attachment relative to said transporter;
- where the coupling mechanism comprises a first attachment member and a second attachment member rotatably coupled to one another, one of the first attachment member and the second attachment member is configured to attach to the mounting plate, the other of the first attachment member and the second attachment member is coupled to the rear frame assembly, and the attachment between one of the first attachment member or the second attachment member and the respective one of the mounting plate or the rear frame assembly is a pivotal attachment.
A road surface planar for removing bumps or surface irregularities from a surface of existing pavement, comprising:
- a transporter having a frame, a mover means supporting the transporter frame above an existing pavement surface, and a motor coupled to the mover means for propulsion of the transporter relative to the pavement surface;
- a grinding element configured to modify the existing pavement surface, an enclosure generally enclosing the grinding element except on a downward facing side confronting the pavement surface, a source of power coupled to the transporter to power the grinding element;
- a rear frame assembly coupled to a rear surface of the grinding element enclosure;
- at least one pair of rear wheel assemblies coupled to the rear frame assembly, with each rear wheel assembly in a pair laterally spaced apart from one another;
- a boom coupled to a front surface of the grinding element enclosure;
- a front wheel assembly coupled to a front end of the boom;
- and
- a rotating coupling mechanism comprising a first attachment member pivotably coupled to a mounting plate attached to the transporter, the first attachment member having a central opening, and a second attachment member fixed to the rear frame assembly and having a hub extending along a rotation axis, the hub situated within the central opening to permit rotation of the first attachment member and the second attachment member relative to one another,
- whereby the planning profile of the grinding element remains substantially unaffected due to a change in elevation of the transporter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.