Pavement cutting and water and cutting pickup apparatus

Claim 2

In pavement-cutting apparatus: support means adapted to traverse the pavement surface to be cut; rotatable pavementcutting means carried by the support means to cut the pavement surface; means for discharging a flushing fluid upon the pavement surface at the region of operation of said cutting means on the pavement surface to flush cuttings from such region; and suction means comprising tubular members disposed forwardly and rearwardly of said cutting means and adjacent thereto, said tubular members having bottom openings through which flushing fluid and cuttings are withdrawn from the region of operation of said cutting means; means supporting said tubular members a short distance above the pavement surface, said suction means being open in advance of said forward tubular member and rearwardly of said rearward tubular member to allow ambient air to be drawn at the pavement surface from regions forwardly and rearwardly of said tubular members and aid in lifting cuttings and flushing fluid from the pavement surface to said bottom openings.

Claim 3

In apparatus as defined in claim 1; a separating tank connected to said suction means, and a vacuum pump connected to said tank to discharge air from said tank and to create suction therein and in said suction means.

Claim 4

In apparatus as defined in claim 1; a separating tank connected to said suction means, and a vacuum pump connected to said tank to discharge air from said tank and to create suction therein and in said suction means; and means for withdrawing a slurry of cuttings and flushing fluid from the bottom of said tank.

Claim 5

In apparatus as defined in claim 1; a generally cylindrical separating tank; a vacuum tube connected to said suction means and to said tank, said vacuum tube discharging air and a slurry of cuttings and flushing fluid tangentially into said tank to effect separation between the slurry and air, and a vacuum pump connected to said tank to discharge air from said tank and to create suction therein and in said vacuum tube and suction means.

Claim 6

In apparatus as defined in claim 1; a separating tank connected to said suction means, and a vacuum pump connected to said tank to discharge air from said tank and to create suction therein and in said suction means; a second tank; means for withdrawing a slurry of cuttings and flushing liquid from the bottom of said separating tank and delivering the slurry into said second tank for separation of said cuttings and flushing liquid in said second tank; and means for conducting flushing liquid from said second tank to said flushing fluid discharging means.

Claim 7

In pavement-cutting apparatus: support means adapted to traverse the pavement surface to be cut; rotatable pavement-cutting means carried by the support means to cut the pavement surface; means for discharging a flushing fluid upon the pavement surface at the region of operation of said cutting means on the pavement surface to flush cuttings from such region; and suction means comprising tubular members disposed forwardly and rearwardly of and adjacent to said cutting means, said tubular members having bottom openings through which flushing fluid and cuttings are withdrawn from the region of operation of said cutting means; said suction means furTher comprising tubular members at opposite ends of said cutting means, all of said tubular members being supported a slight distance above the pavement surface and having bottom openings through which flushing fluid, cuttings and ambient air can pass to the interior of said tubular members.

Claim 8

In pavement-cutting apparatus: support means adapted to traverse the pavement surface to be cut; rotatable pavement-cutting means carried by the support means to cut the pavement surface; means for discharging a flushing fluid upon the pavement surface at the region of operation of said cutting means on the pavement surface to flush cuttings from such region; and suction means comprising tubular members disposed forwardly and rearwardly of and adjacent to said cutting means, said tubular members having bottom openings through which flushing fluid and cuttings are withdrawn from the region of operation of said cutting means; said suction means furTher comprising tubular members at opposite ends of said cutting means, all of said tubular members being supported a slight distance above the pavement surface and having bottom openings through which flushing fluid, cuttings and ambient air can pass to the interior of said tubular members.

Claim 9

In pavement cutting apparatus: support means adapted to traverse the pavement surface to be cut; rotatable pavement-cutting means carried by the support means to cut the pavement surface; means for discharging a flushing fluid upon the pavement surface at the region of operation of said cutting means on the pavement surface to flush cuttings from such region; and suction means adjacent to said cutting means for withdrawing flushing fluid and cuttings from the region of operation of said cutting means; said cutting means being elongate; said suction means including hollow side tubes located lengthwise of and forwardly and rearwardly of said cutting means and further including hollow end tubes at opposite ends of said cutting means, means supporting said side and end tubes a short distance above the pavement surface, said side and end tubes having bottom openings through which flushing fluid, cuttings and ambient air can pass to the interior of said tubes.

Claim 10

In pavement cutting apparatus: support means adapted to traverse the pavement surface to be cut; rotatable pavement-cutting means carried by the support means to cut the pavement surface; means for discharging a flushing fluid upon the pavement surface at the region of operation of said cutting means on the pavement surface to flush cuttings from such region; and suction means adjacent to said cutting means for withdrawing flushing fluid and cuttings from the region of operation of said cutting means; said cutting means being elongate; said suction means including hollow side tubes located lengthwise of and forwardly and rearwardly of said cutting means and further including hollow end tubes at opposite ends of said cutting means, means supporting said side and end tubes a short distance above the pavement surface, said side and end tubes having bottom openings through which flushing fluid, cuttings and ambient air can pass to the interior of said tubes.

Claim 11

In apparatus as defined in claim 7; and means providing an enclosure across said side tubes to confine ambient airflow from regions forwardly and rearwardly of said side tubes through the spaces between the bottoms of said side tubes and the pavement surface and to prevent substantial inward flow of air between said side tubes into said bottom openings.

Claim 12

In pavement-cutting apparatus: support means adapted to transverse the pavement surface to be cut; rotatable pavement-cutting means carried by the support means to cut the pavement surface; means for discharging a flushing fluid upon the pavement surface at the region of operation of said cutting means on the pavement surface to flush cuttings from such region; and suction means adjacent to said cutting means for withdrawing flushing fluid and cuttings from the region of operation of said cutting means; said suction means including a rectangular tubular structure comprising side tubes located lengthwise of and forwardly and rearwardly of said cutting means and end tubes secured to said side tubes and located at opposite ends of said cutting means, means supporting said tubular structure a sort distance above the pavement surface, said side and end tubes having bottom openings through which flushing fluid, cuttings and ambient air can pass to the interior of said tubes.

Claim 13

In pavement-cutting apparatus: support means adapted to transverse the pavement surface to be cut; rotatable pavement-cutting means carried by the support means to cut the pavement surface; means for discharging a flushing fluid upon the pavement surface at the region of operation of said cutting means on the pavement surface to flush cuttings from such region; and suction means adjacent to said cutting means for withdrawing flushing fluid and cuttings from the region of operation of said cutting means; said suction means including a rectangular tubular structure comprising side tubes located lengthwise of and forwardly and rearwardly of said cutting means and end tubes secured to said side tubes and located at opposite ends of said cutting means, means supporting said tubular structure a sort distance above the pavement surface, said side and end tubes having bottom openings through which flushing fluid, cuttings and ambient air can pass to the interior of said tubes.

Claim 14

In apparatus as defined in claim 9; said tubular structure being inclined in an upward and forward direction relative to the pavement surface.

Claim 15

In apparatus as defined in claim 9; and means providing an enclosure over said rectangular tubular structure to confine flow of ambient air from regions outwardly of said structure through the spaces between the bottoms of said side and end tubes and the pavement surface and to prevent substantial flow of air downwardly within said structure and into said bottom openings.

Claim 16

In apparatus as defined in claim 9; means providing an enclosure over said rectangular tubular structure to confine flow of ambient air from regions outwardly of said structure through the spaces between the bottoms of said side and end tubes and the pavement surface and to prevent substantial flow of air downwardly within said structure and into said bottom openings; a separating tank connected to said suction means, a vacuum pump connected to said tank to discharge air from said tank and to create suction therein and in said suction means; a second take; means for withdrawing a slurry of cuttings and flushing liquid from the bottom of said separating tank and delivering the slurry into said second tank for separation of said cuttings and flushing liquid in said second tank; and means for conducting flushing liquid from said second tank to said flushing fluid discharging means.

Claim 17

In pavement-cutting apparatus: support means adapted to traverse the pavement surface to be cut; rotatable pavement-cutting means carried by the support means to cut the pavement surface; means for discharging a flushing liquid upon the pavement surface at the region of operation by said cutting means on the pavement surface to flush cuttings from such region; a generally rectangular tubular structure comprising side tubes located lengthwise of and forwardly and rearwardly of said cutting means and end tubes communicating with said side tubes and located at opposite ends of said cutting means; means supporting said tubular structure a short distance above the pavement surface; said side and end tubes having bottom openings through which flushing liquid, cuttings and ambient air can pass into said tubes; a separating tank; a vacuum tube connected to one of said tubes and to said tank; and a vacuum pump connected to said tank to discharge air therefrom and to create suction in said tank, vacuum tube and tubular structure.

Claim 18

In pavement-cutting apparatus: support means adapted to traverse the pavement surface to be cut; rotatable pavement-cutting means carried by the support means to cut the pavement surface; means for discharging a flushing liquid upon the pavement surface at the region of operation by said cutting means on the pavement surface to flush cuttings from such region; a generally rectangular tubular structure comprising side tubes located lengthwise of and forwardly and rearwardly of said cutting means and end tubes communicating with said side tubes and located at opposite ends of said cutting means; means supporting said tubular structure a short distance above the pavement surface; said side and end tubes having bottom openings through which flushing liquid, cuttings and ambient air can pass into said tubes; a separating tank; a vacuum tube connected to one of said tubes and to said tank; and a vacuum pump connected to said tank to discharge air therefrom and to create suction in said tank, vacuum tube and tubular structure.

Claim 19

In apparatus as defined in claim 13; said vacuum tube being connected to one of said end tubes, and another vacuum tube connected to said other of said end tubes and to said tank.

Claim 20

In apparatus as defined in claim 13; said separating tank being a generally cylindrical horizontal tank; said vacuum tube being connected to one of said end tubes; another vacuum tube connected to said other of said end tubes and to said tank; said vacuum tubes being connected to the upper end portions of said tank to discharge air and a slurry of cuttings and flushing liquid tangentially into said tank to effect separation between the slurry and air; said vacuum pump being connected to the upper midportion of said tank.

Claim 21

In apparatus as defined in claim 13; said separating tank being a generally cylindrical horizontal tank; said vacuum tube being connected to one of said end tubes; another vacuum tube connected to said other of said end tubes and to said tank; said vacuum tubes being connected to the upper end portions of said tank to discharge air and a slurry of cuttings and flushing liquid tangentially into said tank to effect separation between the slurry and air; said vacuum pump being connected to the upper midportion of said tank; and means for withdrawing a slurry of cuttings and flushing liquid from the bottom of said tank.

Claim 22

In apparatus as defined in claim 13; and means for withdrawing a slurry of cuttings and flushing liquid from said tank.

Claim 23

In apparatus as defined in claim 13; said separating tank being a generally cylindrical horizontal tank; said vacuum tube being connected to one of said end tubes; another vacuum tube connected to said other of said end tubes and to said tank; said vacuum tubes being connected to the upper end portions of said tank to discharge air and a slurry of cuttings and flushing liquid tangentially into said tank to effect separation between the slurry and air; said vacuum pump being connected to the upper midportion of said tank; a second tank; means for withdrawing a slurry of cuttings and flushing liquid from the bottom of said separating tank and delivering the slurry into said second tank for separation of said cuttings and flushing liquid in said second tank; and means for conducting flushing liquid from said second tank to said flushing liquid discharging means.

Claim 24

In apparatus as defined in claim 13; means providing an enclosure over said rectangular tubular structure to confine flow of ambient air from regions outwardly of said structure through the spaces between the bottoms of said side and end tubes and the pavement surface and to prevent substantial flow of air downwardly within said structure and into said bottom openings; a second tank; means for withdrawing a slurry of cuttings and flushing liquid from the bottom of said separating tank and delivering the slurry into said second tank for separation of said cuttings and flushing liquid in said second tank; and means for conducting fluShing liquid from said second tank to said flushing liquid discharging means.

Claim 25

In apparatus as defined in claim 13; means providing an enclosure over said rectangular tubular structure to confine flow of ambient air from regions outwardly of said structure through the spaces between the bottoms of said side and end tubes and the pavement surface and to prevent substantial flow of air downwardly within said structure and into said bottom openings; a second tank; means for withdrawing a slurry of cuttings and flushing liquid from the bottom of said separating tank and delivering the slurry into said second tank for separation of said cuttings and flushing liquid in said second tank; and means for conducting flushing liquid from said second tank to said flushing liquid discharging means; said separating tank being a generally cylindrical horizontal tank; said vacuum tube being connected to one of said end tubes; another vacuum tube connected to said other of said end tubes and to said separating tank; said vacuum tubes being connected to the upper end portions of said tank to discharge air and the slurry of cuttings and flushing liquid tangentially into said tank to effect separation between the slurry and air; said vacuum pump being connected to the upper midportion of said tank.