Pavement cutting machine

Claim 2

Pavement cutting apparatus comprising a vehicle having an elongated cutter device, a frame, said frame having forward and rear ends, said forward end having a hinge support on a horizontal axis, said frame having a longitudinal axis, a pivotal support supporting said frame for hinge movement on said longitudinal axis, a floating beam means associated with said frame and having forward and rear ends, said forward end of said floating beam means having a hinge support on a horizontal axis, means on said frame supporting the rear end of said beam means for restricted floating movement upwardly or downwardly, means associated with said frame for supporting one end of said cutter device, means supporting the other end of said cutter device on said floating beam means, and separate hydraulic cylinder means acting on said frame and on said floating beam means to control the active or iDle position of said cutter device.

Claim 3

Pavement cutting apparatus comprising a vehicle having an elongated cutter device, a frame, said frame having forward and rear ends, said forward end having a hinge support on a horizontal axis, said frame having a longitudinal axis, a pivotal support supporting said frame for hinge movement on said longitudinal axis, a floating beam means associated with said frame and having forward and rear ends, said forward end of said floating beam means having a hinge support on a horizontal axis, means on said frame supporting the rear end of said beam means for restricted floating movement upwardly or downwardly, means associated with said frame for supporting one end of said cutter device, means supporting the other end of said cutter device on said floating beam means, and separate hydraulic cylinder means acting on said frame and on said floating beam means to control the active or iDle position of said cutter device.

Claim 4

Pavement cutting apparatus comprising a vehicle having an elongated cutter device, a frame, said frame having forward and rear ends, said forward end having a hinge support on a horizontal axis, said frame having a longitudinal axis, a pivotal support supporting said frame for hinge movement on said longitudinal axis, a floating beam means associated with said frame and having forward and rear ends, said forward end of said floating beam means having a hinge support on a horizontal axis, means on said frame supporting the rear end of said beam means for restricted floating movement upwardly or downwardly, means associated with said frame for supporting one end of said cutter device, means supporting the other end of said cutter device on said floating beam means, and separate hydraulic cylinder means acting on said frame and on said floating beam means to control the active or iDle position of said cutter device.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 1, and means on said frame engagable with the rear end portion of said floating beam means to lift the same when one of said hydraulic cylinder means is operated to lift the rear end of said frame.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 1, including a tractor, said hinge support at the forward end of said frame having a hitch connection with said tractor.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 1, said cutter device comprising two cutters arranged end-to-end with the outer ends of said cutters supported by opposite sides of said frame, respectively, said floating beam means comprising a floating beam for the inner end of each cutter.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said cutter device includes two cutters arranged end-to-end, said floating beam means comprising a floating beam at each end of each cutter.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said cutter device includes two cutters arranged end-to-end, said floating beam means including a floating beam at the outer end of each of said cutters, the inner ends of said cutters being supported by beams having rear ends fixed to said frame and having forward ends having a hinge support on said horizontal axis.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said cutter device comprises a single cutter having opposite ends each supported by a single floating beam constituting said floating beam means.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 1, said hydraulic cylinder means acting on said frame at the center of the rear of said frame, said cutter device extending symmetrically on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of said frame.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 1, and an engine for operating said cutter device, means supporting said engine on said frame whereby the weight of said engine is effective to move said frame on said hinge support and urge said cutter device to cutting position, said cutter device having opposite ends each having a depth control device each having a wheel for engaging the pavement.

Claim 13

A tractor-trailer assembly comprising: a tractor having an engine and traction wheels driven thereby, a first trailer having a hitch connection with said tractor, said first trailer having a frame member having a hitch connection with said tractor, a pair of parallel floating beams hingedly attached to said frame member and positioned longitudinally therein, a pair of cutter units having outer ends having universal bearings carried by said frame member, said cutter units having inner ends operably attached to said floating beams, respectively, for vertical movement of said inner ends independently of said outer ends thereof, said frame having a longitudinal axis, a hydraulic cylinder means acting on said frame on each side of said axis, means supporting said frame for movement about said axis, a hydraulic cylinder means for each of said beams, and an engine on said first trailer for rotating said cutter units.

Claim 14

A tractor-trailer assembly comprising: a tractor having an engine and traction wheels driven thereby, a first trailer having a hitch connection with said tractor, said first trailer having a frame member having a hitch connection with said tractor, a pair of parallel floating beams hingedly attached to said frame member and positioned longitudinally therein, a pair of cutter units having outer ends having universal bearings carried by said frame member, said cutter units having inner ends operably attached to said floating beams, respectively, for vertical movement of said inner ends independently of said outer ends thereof, said frame having a longitudinal axis, a hydraulic cylinder means acting on said frame on each side of said axis, means supporting said frame for movement about said axis, a hydraulic cylinder means for each of said beams, and an engine on said first trailer for rotating said cutter units.

Claim 15

Pavement cutting apparatus comprising a vehicle having an elongated cutter, support means for supporting said cutter in a generally transversely extending position relative to the direction of travel on a pavement, said support means comprising a frame having a longitudinal axis extending lengthwise of the direction of travel, said cutter extending transversely of said frame, separate hydraulic cylinder means for acting on said frame on opposite sides of said axis, and other hydraulic cylinder means for adjusting the vertical position of one end of said cutter with respect to said frame.

Claim 16

Pavement cutting apparatus comprising a vehicle having an elongated cutter, support means for supporting said cutter in a generally transversely extending position relative to the direction of travel on a pavement, said support means comprising a frame having a longitudinal axis extending lengthwise of the direction of travel, said cutter extending transversely of said frame, separate hydraulic cylinder means for acting on said frame on opposite sides of said axis, and other hydraulic cylinder means for adjusting the vertical position of one end of said cutter with respect to said frame.

Claim 17

Pavement cutting apparatus comprising a vehicle having an elongated cutter having a shaft and a bearing at each end of said shaft, a bearing support member for each of said bearings, each of said bearing support members being elongated in the direction of travel and having a forward end, a pivotal support supporting the forward ends of said bearing support members for pivotal movement on a horizontal axis transverselY to the direction of travel, separate hydraulic cylinder means acting on each of said bearing support members to control the active or idle position of said cutter, means supporting said bearing support members for hinge movement on a longitudinal axis, and depth control means associated with each end of said shaft for controlling the depth of cut.

Claim 18

Pavement cutting apparatus comprising a vehicle having an elongated cutter having a shaft and a bearing at each end of said shaft, a bearing support member for each of said bearings, each of said bearing support members being elongated in the direction of travel and having a forward end, a pivotal support supporting the forward ends of said bearing support members for pivotal movement on a horizontal axis transverselY to the direction of travel, separate hydraulic cylinder means acting on each of said bearing support members to control the active or idle position of said cutter, means supporting said bearing support members for hinge movement on a longitudinal axis, and depth control means associated with each end of said shaft for controlling the depth of cut.

Claim 19

Apparatus according to claim 12, each of said bearing support members being in the form of a floating beam, a frame having a forward end having a pivotal support on said horizontal axis, and means on said frame supporting the rear ends of said beams for floating movement upwardly or downwardly.

Claim 20

Pavement cutting apparatus comprising a vehicle having an elongated cutter extending in a generally transversely extending position relative to the direction of travel on a pavement, means for supporting each end of said cutter, said supporting means comprising a depth control support having an upper portion having a supporting connection with said supporting means, said support depending from said supporting means and terminating in an adjustable extension having a wheel following said cutter, a hinge between said support and said extension, and a screw for adjusting the angular position of said extension to adjust the position of said wheel and thereby adjust the cutting depth of said cutter, said support being in the form of a rocker, said supporting connection comprising a hinge connection between the upper portion of said rocker and said supporting means, said rocker also terminating in a wheel ahead of said cutter, said cutter having cutting disks spaced apart for groove cutting purposes.

Claim 21

Pavement cutting apparatus comprising a vehicle having an elongated cutter extending in a generally transversely extending position relative to the direction of travel on a pavement, means for supporting each end of said cutter, said supporting means comprising a depth control support having an upper portion having a supporting connection with said supporting means, said support depending from said supporting means and terminating in an adjustable extension having a wheel following said cutter, a hinge between said support and said extension, and a screw for adjusting the angular position of said extension to adjust the position of said wheel and thereby adjust the cutting depth of said cutter, said support being in the form of a rocker, said supporting connection comprising a hinge connection between the upper portion of said rocker and said supporting means, said rocker also terminating in a wheel ahead of said cutter, said cutter having cutting disks spaced apart for groove cutting purposes.

Claim 22

Pavement leveling or grooving machine comprising at least two rotary cutters, means for supporting one of said cutters in advance of the other with the inner ends of said cutters in substantial alignment, wherein two of said cutters have outer ends supported by pillow blocks in a frame, hydraulic cyliner means for raising or lowering said frame, the inner ends of said two cutters each having a pillow block supported in a beam floating with respect to said frame, and an additional hydraulic cylinder for raising or lowering each of said floating beams whereby the inner ends of said cutters may be raised or lowered with respect to their outer ends to substantially fit either a convexity or a concavity of the pavement.

Claim 23

Pavement leveling or grooving machine comprising at least two rotary cutters, means for supporting one of said cutters in advance of the other with the inner ends of said cutters in substantial alignment, wherein two of said cutters have outer ends supported by pillow blocks in a frame, hydraulic cyliner means for raising or lowering said frame, the inner ends of said two cutters each having a pillow block supported in a beam floating with respect to said frame, and an additional hydraulic cylinder for raising or lowering each of said floating beams whereby the inner ends of said cutters may be raised or lowered with respect to their outer ends to substantially fit either a convexity or a concavity of the pavement.

Claim 24

Pavement leveling or grooving machine comprising at least two rotary cutters, means for supporting one of said cutters in advance of the other with the inner ends of said cutters in substantial alignment, wherein two of said cutters have outer ends supported by pillow blocks in a frame, hydraulic cylinder means for raising or lowering said frame, the inner ends of said two cutters each having a pillow block supported in a beam floating with respect to said frame, and an additional hydraulic cylinder for raising or lowering each of said floating beams whereby the inner ends of said cutters may be raised or lowered with respect to their outer ends to substantially fit either a convexity or a concavity of the pavement, in combination with a water tank trailer having a tank for a liquid coolant supply for the cutters and means whereby the weight of said tank is effective in opposing the lifting effort of said first-mentioned hydraulic cylinder means for said frame.

Claim 25

Pavement leveling or grooving machine comprising at least two rotary cutters, means for supporting one of said cutters in advance of the other with the inner ends of said cutters in substantial alignment, wherein two of said cutters have outer ends supported by pillow blocks in a frame, hydraulic cylinder means for raising or lowering said frame, the inner ends of said two cutters each having a pillow block supported in a beam floating with respect to said frame, and an additional hydraulic cylinder for raising or lowering each of said floating beams whereby the inner ends of said cutters may be raised or lowered with respect to their outer ends to substantially fit either a convexity or a concavity of the pavement, in combination with a water tank trailer having a tank for a liquid coolant supply for the cutters and means whereby the weight of said tank is effective in opposing the lifting effort of said first-mentioned hydraulic cylinder means for said frame.

Claim 26

Pavement leveling or grooving machine comprising at least two rotary cutters, means for supporting one of said cutters in advance of the other with the inner ends of said cutters in substantial alignment, wherein two of said cutters have outer ends supported by pillow blocks in a frame, hydraulic cylinder means for raising or lowering said frame, the inner ends of said two cutters each having a pillow block supported in a beam floating with respect to said frame, and an additional hydraulic cylinder for raising or lowering each of said floating beams whereby the inner ends of said cutters may be raised or lowered with respect to their outer ends to substAntially fit either a convexity or a concavity of the pavement, said additional hydraulic cylinders having a bearing support connected with said frame for adjusting the position of said beams with respect to said frame.

Claim 27

Pavement leveling or grooving machine comprising at least two rotary cutters, means for supporting one of said cutters in advance of the other with the inner ends of said cutters in substantial alignment, wherein two of said cutters have outer ends supported by pillow blocks in a frame, hydraulic cylinder means for raising or lowering said frame, the inner ends of said two cutters each having a pillow block supported in a beam floating with respect to said frame, and an additional hydraulic cylinder for raising or lowering each of said floating beams whereby the inner ends of said cutters may be raised or lowered with respect to their outer ends to substAntially fit either a convexity or a concavity of the pavement, said additional hydraulic cylinders having a bearing support connected with said frame for adjusting the position of said beams with respect to said frame.

Claim 28

Pavement leveling or grooving machine comprising at least two rotary cutters, means for supporting one of said cutters in advance of the other with the inner ends of said cutters in substantial alignment, wherein two of said cutters have outer ends supported by pillow blocks in a frame, hydraulic cylinder means for raising or lowering said frame, the inner ends of said two cutters each having a pillow block supported in a beam floating with respect to said frame, and an additional hydraulic cylinder for raising or lowering each of said floating beams whereby the inner ends of said cutters may be raised or lowered with respect to their outer ends to substantially fit either a convexity or a concavity of the pavement, said additional hydraulic cylinders having a bearing support connected with said frame for adjusting the position of said beams with respect to said frame, in combination with a tank trailer having a tank for a liquid coolant supply for the cutters, said frame having a forward hinge connection, and said first-mentioned hydraulic cylinder means bearing against a frame member of said tank.

Claim 29

Pavement leveling or grooving machine comprising at least two rotary cutters, means for supporting one of said cutters in advance of the other with the inner ends of said cutters in substantial alignment, wherein two of said cutters have outer ends supported by pillow blocks in a frame, hydraulic cylinder means for raising or lowering said frame, the inner ends of said two cutters each having a pillow block supported in a beam floating with respect to said frame, and an additional hydraulic cylinder for raising or lowering each of said floating beams whereby the inner ends of said cutters may be raised or lowered with respect to their outer ends to substantially fit either a convexity or a concavity of the pavement, said additional hydraulic cylinders having a bearing support connected with said frame for adjusting the position of said beams with respect to said frame, in combination with a tank trailer having a tank for a liquid coolant supply for the cutters, said frame having a forward hinge connection, and said first-mentioned hydraulic cylinder means bearing against a frame member of said tank.

Claim 30

Pavement leveling or grooving machine comprising at least two rotary cutters, means for supporting one of said cutters in advance of the other with the inner ends of said cutters in substantial alignment, wherein two of said cutters have outer ends supported by pillow blocks in a frame, hydraulic cylinder means for raising or lowering said frame, the inner ends of said two cutters each having a pillow block supported in a beam floating with respect to said frame, and an additional hydraulic cylinder for raising or lowering each of said floating beams whereby the inner ends of said cutters may be raised or lowered with respect to their outer ends to substantially fit either a convexity or a concavity of the pavement, said frame and said floating beams each having a forward end portion having a hinge connection on a horizontal axis with a transverse member having a hitch, said frame being substantially in the shape of a U, the bight of the U being a rear transverse member having thereon a slide rotatable in and guided for vertical movement by a vertical slot means which prevents lateral movement, said hitch comprising an upper ball member and a lower socket member, said frame and cutters being angularly adjustable about a horizontal axis through said hitch and said slide permitting said cutters to adapt to an inclined surface.

Claim 31

Pavement leveling or grooving machine comprising at least two rotary cutters, means for supporting one of said cutters in advance of the other with the inner ends of said cutters in substantial alignment, wherein two of said cutters have outer ends supported by pillow blocks in a frame, hydraulic cylinder means for raising or lowering said frame, the inner ends of said two cutters each having a pillow block supported in a beam floating with respect to said frame, and an additional hydraulic cylinder for raising or lowering each of said floating beams whereby the inner ends of said cutters may be raised or lowered with respect to their outer ends to substantially fit either a convexity or a concavity of the pavement, said frame and said floating beams each having a forward end portion having a hinge connection on a horizontal axis with a transverse member having a hitch, said frame being substantially in the shape of a U, the bight of the U being a rear transverse member having thereon a slide rotatable in and guided for vertical movement by a vertical slot means which prevents lateral movement, said hitch comprising an upper ball member and a lower socket member, said frame and cutters being angularly adjustable about a horizontal axis through said hitch and said slide permitting said cutters to adapt to an inclined surface.

Claim 32

Pavement leveling or grooving machine comprising at least two rotary cutters, means for supporting one of said cutters in advance of the other with the inner ends of said cutters in substantial alignment, wherein two of said cutters have outer ends supported by pillow blocks in a frame, hydraulic cylinder means for raising or lowering said frame, the inner ends of said two cutters each having a pillow block supported in a beam floating with respect to said frame, and an additional hydraulic cylinder for raising or lowering each of said floating beams whereby the inner ends of said cutters may be raised or lowered with respect to their outer ends to substantially fit either a convexity or a concavity of the pavement, said frame and said floating beams each having a forward end portion having a hinge connection on a horizontal axis with a transverse member having a hitch, said frame being substantially in the shape of a U, the bight of the U being a rear transverse member having thereon a slide rotatable in and guided for vertical movement by a vertical slot means which prevents lateral movement, said hitch comprising an upper ball member and a lower socket member, said frame and cutters being angularly adjustable about a horizontal axis through said hitch and said slide permitting said cutters to adapt to an inclined surface, incLuding separate means for laterally adjusting the position of said hitch and said slot means permitting shifting of the outer end of said cutters to a position closely adjacent to a curb.

Claim 33

Pavement leveling or grooving machine comprising at least two rotary cutters, means for supporting one of said cutters in advance of the other with the inner ends of said cutters in substantial alignment, wherein two of said cutters have outer ends supported by pillow blocks in a frame, hydraulic cylinder means for raising or lowering said frame, the inner ends of said two cutters each having a pillow block supported in a beam floating with respect to said frame, and an additional hydraulic cylinder for raising or lowering each of said floating beams whereby the inner ends of said cutters may be raised or lowered with respect to their outer ends to substantially fit either a convexity or a concavity of the pavement, said frame and said floating beams each having a forward end portion having a hinge connection on a horizontal axis with a transverse member having a hitch, said frame being substantially in the shape of a U, the bight of the U being a rear transverse member having thereon a slide rotatable in and guided for vertical movement by a vertical slot means which prevents lateral movement, said hitch comprising an upper ball member and a lower socket member, said frame and cutters being angularly adjustable about a horizontal axis through said hitch and said slide permitting said cutters to adapt to an inclined surface, incLuding separate means for laterally adjusting the position of said hitch and said slot means permitting shifting of the outer end of said cutters to a position closely adjacent to a curb.

Claim 34

Pavement cutting apparatus comprising a vehicle having a header, said header having a hitch element for pivotal movement on a longitudinal axis extending transversely of said header, an elongated cutter extending substantially parallel to said header, means associated with said header for supporting said cutter for pivotal movement on a horizontal axis including a floating beam pivotally connected to said header for supporting one end of said cutter, and separate fluid pressure operated means acting to snub or lift opposite ends of said cutter including fluid pressure means acting on said floating beam.

Claim 35

Pavement cutting apparatus comprising a vehicle having a header, said header having a hitch element for pivotal movement on a longitudinal axis extending transversely of said header, an elongated cutter extending substantially parallel to said header, means associated with said header for supporting said cutter for pivotal movement on a horizontal axis including a floating beam pivotally connected to said header for supporting one end of said cutter, and separate fluid pressure operated means acting to snub or lift opposite ends of said cutter including fluid pressure means acting on said floating beam.