CA2039707A1 - End closure for a rotary cutter housing - Google Patents
End closure for a rotary cutter housingInfo
- Publication number
- CA2039707A1 CA2039707A1 CA002039707A CA2039707A CA2039707A1 CA 2039707 A1 CA2039707 A1 CA 2039707A1 CA 002039707 A CA002039707 A CA 002039707A CA 2039707 A CA2039707 A CA 2039707A CA 2039707 A1 CA2039707 A1 CA 2039707A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- housing
- cover plates
- frame
- opening
- cutter
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
- E01C—CONSTRUCTION OF, OR SURFACES FOR, ROADS, SPORTS GROUNDS, OR THE LIKE; MACHINES OR AUXILIARY TOOLS FOR CONSTRUCTION OR REPAIR
- E01C23/00—Auxiliary devices or arrangements for constructing, repairing, reconditioning, or taking-up road or like surfaces
- E01C23/06—Devices or arrangements for working the finished surface; Devices for repairing or reconditioning the surface of damaged paving; Recycling in place or on the road
- E01C23/08—Devices or arrangements for working the finished surface; Devices for repairing or reconditioning the surface of damaged paving; Recycling in place or on the road for roughening or patterning; for removing the surface down to a predetermined depth high spots or material bonded to the surface, e.g. markings; for maintaining earth roads, clay courts or like surfaces by means of surface working tools, e.g. scarifiers, levelling blades
- E01C23/085—Devices or arrangements for working the finished surface; Devices for repairing or reconditioning the surface of damaged paving; Recycling in place or on the road for roughening or patterning; for removing the surface down to a predetermined depth high spots or material bonded to the surface, e.g. markings; for maintaining earth roads, clay courts or like surfaces by means of surface working tools, e.g. scarifiers, levelling blades using power-driven tools, e.g. vibratory tools
- E01C23/088—Rotary tools, e.g. milling drums
Abstract
Abstract of the Disclosure End Closure for A Rotary Cutter Housing An end closure (34) for the cutter housing (24) of a road planer (10) in which a pair of self-opening and self-closing cover plates (48,50) provide a protective cover over a shaft clearance opening (46) in the end wall (36) of the housing (24).
The cover plates 48,50), pivotally mounted on an external wall surface of the housing (24) move between a closed position at which the cover plates (48,50) cooperatively overlay the shaft clearance opening (46), and an open position at which clearance is provided for a rotatable shaft (22) extending through the housing end wall (36), in response to moving the end wall (36) vertically with respect to the frame (12) on which the cutter (20) is rotatably mounted.
t:\ram\89-183us.doc
The cover plates 48,50), pivotally mounted on an external wall surface of the housing (24) move between a closed position at which the cover plates (48,50) cooperatively overlay the shaft clearance opening (46), and an open position at which clearance is provided for a rotatable shaft (22) extending through the housing end wall (36), in response to moving the end wall (36) vertically with respect to the frame (12) on which the cutter (20) is rotatably mounted.
t:\ram\89-183us.doc
Description
~3~7~
Description End Closure for A Rotary Cutter Housin~ ;
Technical Field This invention relates generally to an end closure for a rotary cutter housing on a road planer, and mora particularly to a self-actuating end closure for a rotary cutter housing.
Backqround Art Road planers, also known as pavement profilers, road milling machines or cold planers, are machines designed for scarifying, removing, mixing or reclaiming material from roadway and similar surfaces.
These machines typically have a rotatable cutter that is vertically adjustable with respect to the working surface. The rotatable cutter is enclosed within a housing that prevents the uncontrolled discharge of the cut roadway material. In operation, the lower portion o~ the housing abuts the uncut roadway surface adjacent the working area at the same time the cutter is removing material to a predetermined depth below the surfacP of the working area. Th~refore, the housing must be vertically adjustable with respect to the rotatable cutter. Furthermore, since the cuttar is mounted on an externally driven rotatable shaft that necessarily extends beyond at least one end of the housing, clearance for the shaft must be provided in the housing end wall to permit movement of the cutter into a working area elevationally lower than the surrounding roadway surface.
Several arrangement~ have been proposed for covering the shaft clearance opening in the housing end wall so that debris and other material are not 2~397~7 discharged through tha opening during operation o~ the road planer. U. S. Patent 3,746,101 i~sued July 17, 1973 to Harry H. Takata, discloses an earthworking vehicle having a rotatable cutter enclosed within a housing. The housing has an internally mounted rotatable plate that pivots in compliance with the relative vertical displacement o~ the cutter to maintain a cover over the shaft clearance opening.
However, it has been found that debris generated during operation of such machines i9 easily lodqed between the pivot plate and the housing or plate guides thereby impe~ing operation o~ the housing and cutter. Also, cut material retained wi~hin the housing may build up between the rotatable plate and the ~nd wall of the housing, resulting in damage to the cover plate.
Other arrangements include the use of a plurality of removable plates having a predetermined width and temporarily secured, such as by machine screws, over the shaft clearance opening. The plates are removed, or reinstalled as required, to maintain as small an opening as possible while at the same time permitting the cutter to operate at the desired depth~
As can be readily seen, this arrangement require constant attention and adjustment, iOe., removal or reinstallation o~ plates, to be effective.
Still oth~r arrangement~ include the use of flexible mats and skirts which deflect as the position o~ the housing is adjusted with respect to the cutter.
Such members, t~pically constructed of heavy canvas or rubberized materials9 are only partially ePfective in retaining ~he cut material within the housing enclosure and are prone to wear, thus requiring freguent replacement.
2~3~7~7 The present invention is directed to overcoming the prohlems sst forth above. It is desirable to have a housing :Eor a road planer in which the clearance opening for the rotatable shaft asse~ly extending through an end wal:L of khe housing has a self-closing cover arrangement that is positioned away ~rom the internal d0bris fil:Led environment o~ the housing. It is also desixab:Le to have such a cover arrangement that is self-opelling to provide the necessary clearance for the rotatable shaft assembly as the cutter is lowered into a working area, and simultaneously effectively closes the exposed portion of the shaft clearance opening.
Disclosure of the Invention In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an end closure ffl a housing on a road planer, in which the housing encloses a rotary cut-ter having a centrally disposed rotatable shaft assembly mounted on a frame, has a vertically movable end plate forming an end of the housing. The end plate has an opening for the rotatable shaft assembly that extends in a substantially vertical direction. A pair o~
cover plates are pivotally mounted on the end plate.
In response to movin~ the end plate in a vertical direction with respect to the frame, the cover plates mov between a closed po ition, at which they coop~ratively overlay the end plate openin~, and an open position at which the cover plates are spaced from the opening~
Other ~eatures of the end closure include a groove in each of the cover plates and a pair o~ pins attached to the frame. The pins extend outwardly from the frame and engage a ~roove, respectively, in one o~
the cover plates.
2$t~ )7 Brief Description o~ the Drawin~s Fig~ 1 is a side view o~ a road planer having a rotary cutter enclosed within a housing embodying the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a plan v.iew o~ the end closure ~or the housing e~bodying the pr~esent invention, showing the cover plates of the end closure in a closed position;
Fig. 3 is a plan view o~ the end closure o~
the housing embodying the present i.nvention, showing the cover plates o~ the end closure i.n an open position; and Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the end closure taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.
Best Mo~de for Carrying~Out the Invention A road planer, generally indicated by the reference numeral 10, comprises a frame 12 that i~
carried for movement along a road surface by a pair o~
front track assembli~ 14 and a pair of rsar track assemblies 16. The ~rame is supported on the track assemblies 14,16 by adjustable struts 18 which extend respectively between each of the track assem~lies and the ~rame. A rotary cutter 20 has a centrally disposed shaft assembly 22 that is rotatably mounted on the frame 12. A vertically adjustable housing 24 surrounds all but the bottom of the cutter 20 which is necessarily exposed to the road surface. The path 25 circumscribed by the cutting teeth of the rotary cutter is shown by dashed lines in Figs. 2 and 3O
The rotary cutter 20 is driven by an engine 26 that is m~chanically connected to the rotatable sha~t assembly 22 of the cutter by an ~ndless belt 28 extending between a drive pulley 30, engagably connected to the engine 26, and the shaft assembly. A
guard housing 32 encloses the endless belt 28, the drive pullsy 30 and the driven end o~ the shaft assembly 22.
With the rotary cutter ~0 mounted directly to the frame 12, ~he vertical. relationship o~ the rotaxy cutter 20 with rsspect to the road surface, i.e., the depth of cu~ or penetration of the cutting teeth carried on the cutter 20 into the ground, is controlled by appropriate extension or retraction o~
one or more of the adjustable struts 18. In order to maintain contact with the surrounding ground or road surface at varying depths of cut, the cutter housing 24 must therefore be vertically movable independently of the frame 12 and the cutter 20.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, shown in greater detail in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the rotary cutter housing 24 has an end closure assembly 34 forming an end of the housing. The snd closure assembly 34 comprisss a vertically movable end plate 36 slidably mounted on the rame 12 transversely with respect the rotatable shaft assembly 22 which projects through the end plate 36. A pair of pins 38,40 extend outwardly, i.e., away from the interior of the housing, and respectively engage one o~ a pair of vertically oriented slots 42,4~ provided in the end plate 36. Each of the pins 38,40 have a washer, having a diameter larger than the width of tha slot, disposed between the head of the pin and the end plate 36 to maintain the end plate in a position abutting the frame 12. The slots permit the end plate 36 to move vertically with respect to the frame 12. A wear strip 45 extends along the lower, surface contacting edge of the end plate.
The end plate 36 also has a centrally disposed opening 46 extending in a substantially 2~3~7'3~
vertically direction and having a width sufficient to provide clearance ~or the rotatable shaft assembly 22 as the end plate 36 is moved vertically with respect to the shaft assembly 22.
The end closure assembly 34 also includes a pair of cover plates 48,50 pivotally attached to the end plate 36, respectively, hy a pair o~ sleeved pivot pins 52,54 that extend through th~ respective cover plate and thraadably engage the snd plate 36. The lo cover plates 48~50 are gen~rally triangularly shaped in which two of the three outer edges are arcuately shaped. A respective upper edge 56,58 of each of the cover plates 48,50 has a radius of curvature slightly greater than the radius of the rotatable shaft 22 so that when the plates are in the closed position, shown in Fig. 2, the cover plates cooperate with the end plate 36 to provide a generally circular opening for the sha~t assembly 22. The raspective radial edges 60,62 of the cover plates 48,50, i.e., the edges opposite the respective pivot pins 52,54 have a circular curvature, the radial center of which coincides with the center of the respective pivot pin and the radial length coincides with the distance between the respective pivot pin and the lower edgP of ~he end plate 36.
The end ~losure assembly 34 ~urther includes a means 64 ~or moving th~ cover plates 48,50 between a clo~ed position at which the cover plates cooperatively overlay the cantrally disposed shaft clearance opening 46 and an open position at which the cover plates 48,50 are spaced from the opening 46.
The means 64 for moving the cover plates 48,50 comprises a pair of arcuate grooves 66,68 each extending respectively throuyh a corresponding one of the cover plates 48,50, and a pair of follower pins 2~3~ 3~' 70,72 attached to the frame 12 and extending outwardly from the frame. As shown in Fig. 4, each of the follower pins 70,72 have a threaded end 74 that is threaded into the ~rama 12, and a sleeve 76 extending between the head of the pin and the frame 12.
The frame-mounted ~ollower pins 70,72 respectively engage a corresponding one of the arcuate grooves 66,68 in the coYer pl.at~s 48l50 and co-act with the corresponding groove to move the cover pla~es into the overlapping relationship shown in Fig. 2, or alternatively into the spaced apart relationship shown in ~ig. 3, or into an intermediate position between the overlapping and spaced apart positions. The position o~ the cover plates 48,50 with respect to each other and with respect to the centrally disposed shaft clearance opening ~6 is determined by the position of the ~rame 12 with respect to the end plate 3Ç of the housing 24. The cover plates 48,50 are moved toward the closed, or overlapping, position shown in Fig. 2 as the frame 12 is raised with respect to the end plate 36~ Conversely, as the ~ramP 12 is lowered with respect to the end plate 36, the cover plates 48,50 are moved toward the open, or spaced apart, position shown in Fig. 3.
In the closed position, the cover plates 48,50 cooperatively overlay the otherwise exposed portion of the shaft clearance opening 4~ thereby effectively providing a barrier across the opening to prev~nt discharge of material removed ~rom the roadway by the cutter 20 to the external environment. As the frame 12, and consequently the rotary cutter 20 attach~d thereto, is lowered to incr~ase the depth o~
cut into the roadway surface, the sleeved follower pins 70,72 bear against their respective groov~s 66,68 to progressively urge the cover platPs 48,50 away from .g3 i) one another, thereby providing progressive clearance for the shaft assembly 22. If the cutter 20 is raised to decrease the depth of cut, the frame mounted follower pins 70,72 will urge the plates toward the overlapping poæ.ition thereby progressively closing the exposed portion of the central opening 46.
As a result of the circular curvature of the radial edges 60,62 on the cover plates 48,50, a small area at the center of the opening 46 adjacent the lower edge of the end plate 36, is not covered. To provide for cov~rage of this area, a narrow plate 78 is removably attached, such as by screws, to the end plate. The width of the plat~e 78 required to close the opening below the cover plate~ 48,50 i~ determined by the size of the shaft clearance opening 46. For example, if the shaft clearance opening ~6 extPnds 33 cm (13.0 in) below the shaft ~ssembly 22 when the fr~me is in its uppermost position with respect to the end plate 36, i.e., t~e cutter has 33 cm o~ vertical travel with respect to the housing 24, and the width o~ the sha~t clearance opening 46 is 45.7 cm ~18.0 in) wide, the removable plate 78 should be about 7.6 cm (3 in) wide to provide complete closure of the opening 46. Thus, the shaft assembly 22 can move 2504 cm Z5 (10.0 in) below its position ~lush with the roadway surface before encountering interference with the removable plate 78. The removable plate 78 would therefors not r~quire removal unless the depth of cut exceeds 25.4 cm (10.0 in). For all cutting operations wherein the rotary cutter 20 is lowered less than 25.4 cm (10 in) with respect to the housing 24, the removable plate 76 should remain in place as shown in Fig~ 2.
~3~7~7 Industri~l_Applicabi~i~y The end clo.sure assembly 34 of the present invention is particularly useful for application on the rotary cutter housing of a road planer. In operation, the housing 24 is independently movable with respect to the rotary cutter 20 that i~ mounted on a rotatable shaft 22 within the housing. The housing 24 rides on a roadway surface whereas the cutter 24 operates at presele~cted distances below the roadw~y surface. The rotatable sha~t 22 necessarily extend~ through at least one end of the housing, and therefore an opening to permit the relative vertical movement of the shaft is provided in the housing end wall.
In the present invention, a pair of cover plates 48,50 automatically open or close, as required, to e~actively provide a protective cover over the shaft clearance opening 46 in the end wall 36 of the housing 2~ irrespective o~ the relative vertical relationship of the rotary cutter 20 and the housing.
The cover plates 48,50, mounted externally on the housing 24, are self-opening and self-closing in responss to vertical movement of the end wall 36 with respect to the frame 12 on which the cutter 20 is rotatably mounted. ~s the cutter is lowered into a cutting area extending below the surrounding roadway surface, the cover plates 48,50 move apart from an overlapping position to provide clearance for the rotatable shaft 22 while simultaneously maintaining a protective cover of otherwise exposed portions of the shaft clearance opening 46. Upon return of the cutter 20 to a position at or above the surrounding roadway ~urface, the cover plates 48,50 are automatically returned to their initial overlapping position at which they overlay the shaft clearance opening 46.
~3~
Other aspects, objects and advantages of tAis invention can b~ obtained from a study o the drawings, the disclosur~, and the appended claims.
Description End Closure for A Rotary Cutter Housin~ ;
Technical Field This invention relates generally to an end closure for a rotary cutter housing on a road planer, and mora particularly to a self-actuating end closure for a rotary cutter housing.
Backqround Art Road planers, also known as pavement profilers, road milling machines or cold planers, are machines designed for scarifying, removing, mixing or reclaiming material from roadway and similar surfaces.
These machines typically have a rotatable cutter that is vertically adjustable with respect to the working surface. The rotatable cutter is enclosed within a housing that prevents the uncontrolled discharge of the cut roadway material. In operation, the lower portion o~ the housing abuts the uncut roadway surface adjacent the working area at the same time the cutter is removing material to a predetermined depth below the surfacP of the working area. Th~refore, the housing must be vertically adjustable with respect to the rotatable cutter. Furthermore, since the cuttar is mounted on an externally driven rotatable shaft that necessarily extends beyond at least one end of the housing, clearance for the shaft must be provided in the housing end wall to permit movement of the cutter into a working area elevationally lower than the surrounding roadway surface.
Several arrangement~ have been proposed for covering the shaft clearance opening in the housing end wall so that debris and other material are not 2~397~7 discharged through tha opening during operation o~ the road planer. U. S. Patent 3,746,101 i~sued July 17, 1973 to Harry H. Takata, discloses an earthworking vehicle having a rotatable cutter enclosed within a housing. The housing has an internally mounted rotatable plate that pivots in compliance with the relative vertical displacement o~ the cutter to maintain a cover over the shaft clearance opening.
However, it has been found that debris generated during operation of such machines i9 easily lodqed between the pivot plate and the housing or plate guides thereby impe~ing operation o~ the housing and cutter. Also, cut material retained wi~hin the housing may build up between the rotatable plate and the ~nd wall of the housing, resulting in damage to the cover plate.
Other arrangements include the use of a plurality of removable plates having a predetermined width and temporarily secured, such as by machine screws, over the shaft clearance opening. The plates are removed, or reinstalled as required, to maintain as small an opening as possible while at the same time permitting the cutter to operate at the desired depth~
As can be readily seen, this arrangement require constant attention and adjustment, iOe., removal or reinstallation o~ plates, to be effective.
Still oth~r arrangement~ include the use of flexible mats and skirts which deflect as the position o~ the housing is adjusted with respect to the cutter.
Such members, t~pically constructed of heavy canvas or rubberized materials9 are only partially ePfective in retaining ~he cut material within the housing enclosure and are prone to wear, thus requiring freguent replacement.
2~3~7~7 The present invention is directed to overcoming the prohlems sst forth above. It is desirable to have a housing :Eor a road planer in which the clearance opening for the rotatable shaft asse~ly extending through an end wal:L of khe housing has a self-closing cover arrangement that is positioned away ~rom the internal d0bris fil:Led environment o~ the housing. It is also desixab:Le to have such a cover arrangement that is self-opelling to provide the necessary clearance for the rotatable shaft assembly as the cutter is lowered into a working area, and simultaneously effectively closes the exposed portion of the shaft clearance opening.
Disclosure of the Invention In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an end closure ffl a housing on a road planer, in which the housing encloses a rotary cut-ter having a centrally disposed rotatable shaft assembly mounted on a frame, has a vertically movable end plate forming an end of the housing. The end plate has an opening for the rotatable shaft assembly that extends in a substantially vertical direction. A pair o~
cover plates are pivotally mounted on the end plate.
In response to movin~ the end plate in a vertical direction with respect to the frame, the cover plates mov between a closed po ition, at which they coop~ratively overlay the end plate openin~, and an open position at which the cover plates are spaced from the opening~
Other ~eatures of the end closure include a groove in each of the cover plates and a pair o~ pins attached to the frame. The pins extend outwardly from the frame and engage a ~roove, respectively, in one o~
the cover plates.
2$t~ )7 Brief Description o~ the Drawin~s Fig~ 1 is a side view o~ a road planer having a rotary cutter enclosed within a housing embodying the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a plan v.iew o~ the end closure ~or the housing e~bodying the pr~esent invention, showing the cover plates of the end closure in a closed position;
Fig. 3 is a plan view o~ the end closure o~
the housing embodying the present i.nvention, showing the cover plates o~ the end closure i.n an open position; and Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the end closure taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.
Best Mo~de for Carrying~Out the Invention A road planer, generally indicated by the reference numeral 10, comprises a frame 12 that i~
carried for movement along a road surface by a pair o~
front track assembli~ 14 and a pair of rsar track assemblies 16. The ~rame is supported on the track assemblies 14,16 by adjustable struts 18 which extend respectively between each of the track assem~lies and the ~rame. A rotary cutter 20 has a centrally disposed shaft assembly 22 that is rotatably mounted on the frame 12. A vertically adjustable housing 24 surrounds all but the bottom of the cutter 20 which is necessarily exposed to the road surface. The path 25 circumscribed by the cutting teeth of the rotary cutter is shown by dashed lines in Figs. 2 and 3O
The rotary cutter 20 is driven by an engine 26 that is m~chanically connected to the rotatable sha~t assembly 22 of the cutter by an ~ndless belt 28 extending between a drive pulley 30, engagably connected to the engine 26, and the shaft assembly. A
guard housing 32 encloses the endless belt 28, the drive pullsy 30 and the driven end o~ the shaft assembly 22.
With the rotary cutter ~0 mounted directly to the frame 12, ~he vertical. relationship o~ the rotaxy cutter 20 with rsspect to the road surface, i.e., the depth of cu~ or penetration of the cutting teeth carried on the cutter 20 into the ground, is controlled by appropriate extension or retraction o~
one or more of the adjustable struts 18. In order to maintain contact with the surrounding ground or road surface at varying depths of cut, the cutter housing 24 must therefore be vertically movable independently of the frame 12 and the cutter 20.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, shown in greater detail in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the rotary cutter housing 24 has an end closure assembly 34 forming an end of the housing. The snd closure assembly 34 comprisss a vertically movable end plate 36 slidably mounted on the rame 12 transversely with respect the rotatable shaft assembly 22 which projects through the end plate 36. A pair of pins 38,40 extend outwardly, i.e., away from the interior of the housing, and respectively engage one o~ a pair of vertically oriented slots 42,4~ provided in the end plate 36. Each of the pins 38,40 have a washer, having a diameter larger than the width of tha slot, disposed between the head of the pin and the end plate 36 to maintain the end plate in a position abutting the frame 12. The slots permit the end plate 36 to move vertically with respect to the frame 12. A wear strip 45 extends along the lower, surface contacting edge of the end plate.
The end plate 36 also has a centrally disposed opening 46 extending in a substantially 2~3~7'3~
vertically direction and having a width sufficient to provide clearance ~or the rotatable shaft assembly 22 as the end plate 36 is moved vertically with respect to the shaft assembly 22.
The end closure assembly 34 also includes a pair of cover plates 48,50 pivotally attached to the end plate 36, respectively, hy a pair o~ sleeved pivot pins 52,54 that extend through th~ respective cover plate and thraadably engage the snd plate 36. The lo cover plates 48~50 are gen~rally triangularly shaped in which two of the three outer edges are arcuately shaped. A respective upper edge 56,58 of each of the cover plates 48,50 has a radius of curvature slightly greater than the radius of the rotatable shaft 22 so that when the plates are in the closed position, shown in Fig. 2, the cover plates cooperate with the end plate 36 to provide a generally circular opening for the sha~t assembly 22. The raspective radial edges 60,62 of the cover plates 48,50, i.e., the edges opposite the respective pivot pins 52,54 have a circular curvature, the radial center of which coincides with the center of the respective pivot pin and the radial length coincides with the distance between the respective pivot pin and the lower edgP of ~he end plate 36.
The end ~losure assembly 34 ~urther includes a means 64 ~or moving th~ cover plates 48,50 between a clo~ed position at which the cover plates cooperatively overlay the cantrally disposed shaft clearance opening 46 and an open position at which the cover plates 48,50 are spaced from the opening 46.
The means 64 for moving the cover plates 48,50 comprises a pair of arcuate grooves 66,68 each extending respectively throuyh a corresponding one of the cover plates 48,50, and a pair of follower pins 2~3~ 3~' 70,72 attached to the frame 12 and extending outwardly from the frame. As shown in Fig. 4, each of the follower pins 70,72 have a threaded end 74 that is threaded into the ~rama 12, and a sleeve 76 extending between the head of the pin and the frame 12.
The frame-mounted ~ollower pins 70,72 respectively engage a corresponding one of the arcuate grooves 66,68 in the coYer pl.at~s 48l50 and co-act with the corresponding groove to move the cover pla~es into the overlapping relationship shown in Fig. 2, or alternatively into the spaced apart relationship shown in ~ig. 3, or into an intermediate position between the overlapping and spaced apart positions. The position o~ the cover plates 48,50 with respect to each other and with respect to the centrally disposed shaft clearance opening ~6 is determined by the position of the ~rame 12 with respect to the end plate 3Ç of the housing 24. The cover plates 48,50 are moved toward the closed, or overlapping, position shown in Fig. 2 as the frame 12 is raised with respect to the end plate 36~ Conversely, as the ~ramP 12 is lowered with respect to the end plate 36, the cover plates 48,50 are moved toward the open, or spaced apart, position shown in Fig. 3.
In the closed position, the cover plates 48,50 cooperatively overlay the otherwise exposed portion of the shaft clearance opening 4~ thereby effectively providing a barrier across the opening to prev~nt discharge of material removed ~rom the roadway by the cutter 20 to the external environment. As the frame 12, and consequently the rotary cutter 20 attach~d thereto, is lowered to incr~ase the depth o~
cut into the roadway surface, the sleeved follower pins 70,72 bear against their respective groov~s 66,68 to progressively urge the cover platPs 48,50 away from .g3 i) one another, thereby providing progressive clearance for the shaft assembly 22. If the cutter 20 is raised to decrease the depth of cut, the frame mounted follower pins 70,72 will urge the plates toward the overlapping poæ.ition thereby progressively closing the exposed portion of the central opening 46.
As a result of the circular curvature of the radial edges 60,62 on the cover plates 48,50, a small area at the center of the opening 46 adjacent the lower edge of the end plate 36, is not covered. To provide for cov~rage of this area, a narrow plate 78 is removably attached, such as by screws, to the end plate. The width of the plat~e 78 required to close the opening below the cover plate~ 48,50 i~ determined by the size of the shaft clearance opening 46. For example, if the shaft clearance opening ~6 extPnds 33 cm (13.0 in) below the shaft ~ssembly 22 when the fr~me is in its uppermost position with respect to the end plate 36, i.e., t~e cutter has 33 cm o~ vertical travel with respect to the housing 24, and the width o~ the sha~t clearance opening 46 is 45.7 cm ~18.0 in) wide, the removable plate 78 should be about 7.6 cm (3 in) wide to provide complete closure of the opening 46. Thus, the shaft assembly 22 can move 2504 cm Z5 (10.0 in) below its position ~lush with the roadway surface before encountering interference with the removable plate 78. The removable plate 78 would therefors not r~quire removal unless the depth of cut exceeds 25.4 cm (10.0 in). For all cutting operations wherein the rotary cutter 20 is lowered less than 25.4 cm (10 in) with respect to the housing 24, the removable plate 76 should remain in place as shown in Fig~ 2.
~3~7~7 Industri~l_Applicabi~i~y The end clo.sure assembly 34 of the present invention is particularly useful for application on the rotary cutter housing of a road planer. In operation, the housing 24 is independently movable with respect to the rotary cutter 20 that i~ mounted on a rotatable shaft 22 within the housing. The housing 24 rides on a roadway surface whereas the cutter 24 operates at presele~cted distances below the roadw~y surface. The rotatable sha~t 22 necessarily extend~ through at least one end of the housing, and therefore an opening to permit the relative vertical movement of the shaft is provided in the housing end wall.
In the present invention, a pair of cover plates 48,50 automatically open or close, as required, to e~actively provide a protective cover over the shaft clearance opening 46 in the end wall 36 of the housing 2~ irrespective o~ the relative vertical relationship of the rotary cutter 20 and the housing.
The cover plates 48,50, mounted externally on the housing 24, are self-opening and self-closing in responss to vertical movement of the end wall 36 with respect to the frame 12 on which the cutter 20 is rotatably mounted. ~s the cutter is lowered into a cutting area extending below the surrounding roadway surface, the cover plates 48,50 move apart from an overlapping position to provide clearance for the rotatable shaft 22 while simultaneously maintaining a protective cover of otherwise exposed portions of the shaft clearance opening 46. Upon return of the cutter 20 to a position at or above the surrounding roadway ~urface, the cover plates 48,50 are automatically returned to their initial overlapping position at which they overlay the shaft clearance opening 46.
~3~
Other aspects, objects and advantages of tAis invention can b~ obtained from a study o the drawings, the disclosur~, and the appended claims.
Claims (2)
1. An end closure (34) for a housing (24) on a road planer (10) enclosing a rotary cutter (20) having a centrally disposed rotatable shaft assembly (22) mounted on a frame (12), comprising:
a vertically movable end plate (36) slidably mounted on said frame (12) transversely with respect to said rotatable shaft assembly (22) and forming an end of said housing (24) and having an opening (46) extending in a substantially vertical direction;
a pair of cover plates (48,50) pivotally mounted on an external surface of said end plate (36);
and, means (64) for moving said cover plates (48,50) between a closed position at which the cover plates (48,50) cooperatively overlay said opening (46) in said end plate (36) and an open position at which the cover plates (48,50) are spaced from said opening (46) in said end plate (36) in response to moving said end plate (36) vertically with respect to said frame (12),
a vertically movable end plate (36) slidably mounted on said frame (12) transversely with respect to said rotatable shaft assembly (22) and forming an end of said housing (24) and having an opening (46) extending in a substantially vertical direction;
a pair of cover plates (48,50) pivotally mounted on an external surface of said end plate (36);
and, means (64) for moving said cover plates (48,50) between a closed position at which the cover plates (48,50) cooperatively overlay said opening (46) in said end plate (36) and an open position at which the cover plates (48,50) are spaced from said opening (46) in said end plate (36) in response to moving said end plate (36) vertically with respect to said frame (12),
2. An end closure (34), as set forth in Claim 1, wherein said means (64) for moving said cover plates (48,50) comprises a groove (66,68) in each one of said pair of cover plates (48,50), and a pair of pins (70,72) attached to said frame (12) and extending outwardly from said frame (12) and engaging a respective groove (66,68) of each cover plate (48,50).
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US7/425,524 | 1989-10-23 | ||
| US07/425,524 US4938537A (en) | 1989-10-23 | 1989-10-23 | End closure for a rotary cutter housing |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2039707A1 true CA2039707A1 (en) | 1991-04-24 |
Family
ID=23686929
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002039707A Abandoned CA2039707A1 (en) | 1989-10-23 | 1990-02-01 | End closure for a rotary cutter housing |
Country Status (7)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US4938537A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0449993B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH04502498A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU5151290A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2039707A1 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE69008340T2 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1991005915A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (23)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2669050B1 (en) * | 1990-11-09 | 1993-08-20 | Sico Metal Jura | SYSTEM FOR CHANGING A CYLINDRICAL ELEMENT SUCH AS A SWEEPING BRUSH, MOUNTED ROTATING IN A PROTECTIVE SUPPORT HOUSING. |
| US5297894A (en) * | 1992-07-14 | 1994-03-29 | Safety Grooving & Grinding, Inc. | Machine and method for repetitively cutting equally spaced and dimensioned highway surface depressions |
| US5607255A (en) * | 1993-09-10 | 1997-03-04 | Thomas; Glen E. | Method of milling to form highway depressions |
| US5391017A (en) * | 1993-09-10 | 1995-02-21 | Thomas; Glen E. | Continuous moving depression cutting tool for highway use |
| IT1311091B1 (en) * | 1999-10-05 | 2002-02-28 | Simex Engineering S R L | EQUIPMENT FOR EARTH-HANDLING, BUILDING, ROAD HANDLING MACHINES, GENERAL, FOR MILLING AND FOR SCARIFYING THE ROAD COVER, |
| US7029072B1 (en) | 2002-03-11 | 2006-04-18 | Wirtgen America, Inc. | Modified rumble strip cutter |
| KR100461721B1 (en) * | 2002-05-27 | 2004-12-14 | 삼성전기주식회사 | Ceramic package for transfering heat through lid |
| US7029370B2 (en) | 2003-02-24 | 2006-04-18 | Coneqtec Corp. | Grinding machines for depression patterns along roads |
| DE10357074B3 (en) | 2003-12-04 | 2005-05-19 | Wirtgen Gmbh | Self-propelled road surfacing machine with direct mechanical drive of working roller from drive take-off shaft of internal combustion engine |
| US7665806B2 (en) * | 2006-06-13 | 2010-02-23 | Volvo Construction Equipment Ab | Containment wall closure device for milling machine cutter drum assembly |
| DE102006062129B4 (en) * | 2006-12-22 | 2010-08-05 | Wirtgen Gmbh | Road construction machine and method for measuring the cutting depth |
| WO2009114595A2 (en) * | 2008-03-11 | 2009-09-17 | Coneqtec Corp. | Adjustable planer system |
| DE102008020263A1 (en) * | 2008-04-22 | 2009-10-29 | Dynapac Gmbh | road milling machine |
| US8556536B2 (en) * | 2009-01-02 | 2013-10-15 | Heatwurx, Inc. | Asphalt repair system and method |
| US8562247B2 (en) | 2009-01-02 | 2013-10-22 | Heatwurx, Inc. | Asphalt repair system and method |
| BRPI0905569A2 (en) * | 2009-12-16 | 2011-08-16 | Federica Arata | equipment for cutting rocks, pavements or floors and their working process |
| US9416499B2 (en) | 2009-12-31 | 2016-08-16 | Heatwurx, Inc. | System and method for sensing and managing pothole location and pothole characteristics |
| US8801325B1 (en) | 2013-02-26 | 2014-08-12 | Heatwurx, Inc. | System and method for controlling an asphalt repair apparatus |
| DE102011114710A1 (en) * | 2011-09-30 | 2013-04-04 | Bomag Gmbh | Side shield assembly for a milling device, use of a side shield assembly and milling device with a side shield assembly |
| USD700633S1 (en) | 2013-07-26 | 2014-03-04 | Heatwurx, Inc. | Asphalt repair device |
| USD755859S1 (en) * | 2014-08-12 | 2016-05-10 | Bomag Gmbh | Milling machine |
| USD866618S1 (en) * | 2018-03-16 | 2019-11-12 | Wirtgen Gmbh | Body panels for a road milling machine |
| US11591162B2 (en) * | 2021-06-22 | 2023-02-28 | Caterpillar Paving Products Inc. | Conveyor system for material transport on cold planer |
Family Cites Families (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3746101A (en) * | 1971-02-01 | 1973-07-17 | Raygo Inc | Earth working machine |
| US3901325A (en) * | 1974-10-07 | 1975-08-26 | Harold W Richards | Cultivator having a floating plant guard |
| US3965787A (en) * | 1975-12-15 | 1976-06-29 | Plischke Eugene W | Retractable blade guard |
| DE7837368U1 (en) * | 1978-12-16 | 1980-05-22 | Chr. Eisele Maschinenfabrik Gmbh & Co Kg, 7316 Koengen | PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR THE CIRCULAR SAW BLADE OF CIRCULAR SAWING MACHINES WITH VERTICALLY MOVABLE SAW MACHINE |
| US4325580A (en) * | 1979-05-07 | 1982-04-20 | Cmi Corporation | Roadway planing apparatus |
| GB2150620A (en) * | 1983-11-19 | 1985-07-03 | Bowmer & Kirkland Product Sale | Road surface cutting machine |
| GB8331266D0 (en) * | 1983-11-23 | 1983-12-29 | Bowmer & Kirkland Products Sal | Road milling/cutting machine |
-
1989
- 1989-10-23 US US07/425,524 patent/US4938537A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1990
- 1990-02-01 DE DE69008340T patent/DE69008340T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1990-02-01 CA CA002039707A patent/CA2039707A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1990-02-01 WO PCT/US1990/000539 patent/WO1991005915A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 1990-02-01 AU AU51512/90A patent/AU5151290A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1990-02-01 JP JP2503717A patent/JPH04502498A/en active Pending
- 1990-02-01 EP EP90903662A patent/EP0449993B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| AU5151290A (en) | 1991-05-16 |
| WO1991005915A1 (en) | 1991-05-02 |
| DE69008340T2 (en) | 1994-08-04 |
| JPH04502498A (en) | 1992-05-07 |
| EP0449993A1 (en) | 1991-10-09 |
| DE69008340D1 (en) | 1994-05-26 |
| EP0449993B1 (en) | 1994-04-20 |
| US4938537A (en) | 1990-07-03 |
| EP0449993A4 (en) | 1992-04-08 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Discontinued |