Pavement grooving machine including a cutting blade guidance system

Claim 2

In a pavement grooving machine including a truck provided with steerable front wheels and at least one set of rear wheels located adjacent a horizontal rear transverse axis of the truck; a trailer connected to the truck for articulated motion about a vertical first pivot axis intersecting the rear transverse axis of the truck, the trailer having at least one set of rear wheels located adjacent a horizontal rear transverse axis of the trailer spaced rearwardly from the rear transverse axis of the truck; and at least one assembly of spaced, rotary cutting blades mounted on a generally horizontal drive shaft; a blade guidance system operable during movement of the pavement grooving machine around a curve in the pavement to maintain the cutting blades in substantially parallel relation to the curve, the guidance system comprising: a module mounted on the trailer for rotational motion about a vertical second pivot axis positioned between the rear wheels of the truck and the rear wheels of the trailer, said module supporting the cutting assembly with the blades in cutting engagement with the pavement and with the drive shaft extending in a generally transverse direction relative to the trailer; and linkage means connecting the truck with said module for rotating said module relative to the trailer during relative turning motion between the trailer and the truck in such relation that the drive shaft and the rear transverse axes of the truck and the trailer are all substantially aligned with a common turning center.

Claim 3

A guidance system as defined in claim 1, wherein the truck and the trailer have longitudinal centerlines, the first pivot axis being intersected by the longitudinal centerlines of both the truck and the trailer, the second pivot axis being positioned on the longitudinal centerline of the trailer at longitudinal distances L1 and L2 from the first pivot axis and from the rear transverse axis of the trailer, respectively; and wherein said linkage means comprises: at least one longitudinally extending link spaced on one side of said centerlines, said link at its forward and rearward ends being connected by pivotal connections to the truck and to said module at radii r1 and r2 from said first and second pivot axis, respectively, said radii having approximately the Following ratio,

Claim 4

A guidance system as defined in claim 2, further including two of said links positioned symmetrically on opposite sides of the centerlines of the truck and trailer, said links having sufficient resilient flexibility and sufficient looseness in their pivotal connections to the truck and module to enable turning of said module relative to said trailer without binding or permanently deforming said links over a predetermined range of angular motion of the module relative to a neutral position which said module occupies when the centerlines of the truck and trailer are in alignment.

Claim 5

A guidance system as defined in claim 3, wherein the predetermined range of angular motion of said module comprises approximately 8* in either direction from the neutral position.

Claim 6

In a pavement grooving machine including a truck provided with steerable front wheels and at least one set of rear wheels located adjacent a horizontal rear transverse axis of the truck; a trailer connected to the trailer for articulated motion about a vertical first pivot axis intersecting the rear transverse axis of the truck, the trailer having at least one set of rear wheels located adjacent a horizontal rear transverse axis of the trailer spaced rearwardly from the rear transverse axis of the truck; and at least one assembly of spaced, rotary cutting blades mounted on a generally horizontal drive shaft; a blade guidance system operable during movement of the pavement grooving machine around a curve in the pavement following a correspondingly curved guideline therealong, to maintain the cutting blades in substantially parallel relation to the curve, the guidance system comprising: a module mounted on the trailer for rotational motion about a second vertical pivot axis positioned between the rear wheels of the truck and the rear wheels of the trailer, said module supporting the cutting assembly with the blades in cutting engagement with the pavement and with the drive shaft extending in a generally transverse direction relative to the trailer; linkage means connecting the truck with said module for rotating said module relative to the trailer during relative turning motion between the trailer and the truck in such relation that the drive shaft and the rear transverse axes of the truck and the trailer are all substantially aligned with a common turning center; and positioning means alignable with the guideline connected with said module and with at least one of the front wheels of the truck for enabling the truck to be steered around the curve in such relation that said common turning center coincides substantially with the center of the curve in the pavement.

Claim 7

In a pavement grooving machine including a truck provided with steerable front wheels and at least one set of rear wheels located adjacent a horizontal rear transverse axis of the truck; a trailer connected to the trailer for articulated motion about a vertical first pivot axis intersecting the rear transverse axis of the truck, the trailer having at least one set of rear wheels located adjacent a horizontal rear transverse axis of the trailer spaced rearwardly from the rear transverse axis of the truck; and at least one assembly of spaced, rotary cutting blades mounted on a generally horizontal drive shaft; a blade guidance system operable during movement of the pavement grooving machine around a curve in the pavement following a correspondingly curved guideline therealong, to maintain the cutting blades in substantially parallel relation to the curve, the guidance system comprising: a module mounted on the trailer for rotational motion about a second vertical pivot axis positioned between the rear wheels of the truck and the rear wheels of the trailer, said module supporting the cutting assembly with the blades in cutting engagement with the pavement and with the drive shaft extending in a generally transverse direction relative to the trailer; linkage means connecting the truck with said module for rotating said module relative to the trailer during relative turning motion between the trailer and the truck in such relation that the drive shaft and the rear transverse axes of the truck and the trailer are all substantially aligned with a common turning center; and positioning means alignable with the guideline connected with said module and with at least one of the front wheels of the truck for enabling the truck to be steered around the curve in such relation that said common turning center coincides substantially with the center of the curve in the pavement.

Claim 8

A guidance system as defined in claim 5, wherein said positioning means comprises: at least one arm pivotally connected with said module, said arm in a neutral position relative to said module extending in a direction generally perpendicular to the drive shaft, said arm adapted to be visually aligned in overlying relation to the guideline whereby the drive shaft is positioned substantially in radial alignment to the cruve when said arm is in the neutral position thereof; at least one hub member connected with one of the truck front wheels movable angularly therewith in response to steering motion of the one front wheel; and connecting said hub member with said arm for causing motion thereof from its neutral position in directions inwardly and outwardly of the curve in response to steering motion of the one front wheel of the truck in directions inwardly and outwardly of the curve, respectively, whereby deviation of the one front wheel from a correct inclination to maintain the drive shaft in radial alignment to the curve causes said arm to move out of aligned, overlying relation to the guideline.

Claim 9

A guidance system as defiNed in claim 6, wherein the guidance system further includes: driving and steering means connected with one of the truck and trailer for driving and steering the truck; and an operator supporting platform connected with one of the trailer and the truck on which an operator may be positioned to operate said driving and steering means, said driving position being located in a position from which the operator can visually align said arm with the guideline.

Claim 10

A guidance system as defined in claim 6, wherein the truck and the trailer have longitudinal centerlines, the first pivot axis being intersected by the longitudinal centerlines of both the truck and the trailer, the second pivot axis being positioned on the longitudinal centerline of the trailer at longitudinal distances L1 and L2 from the first pivot axis and from the rear transverse axis of the trailer, respectively; and wherein said linkage means comprises: at least one longitudinally extending link spaced on one side of said centerlines, said link at its forward and rearward ends being connected by pivotal connection to the truck and to said module at radii r1 and r2 from said first and second pivot axis, respectively, said radii having approximately the following ratio,

Claim 11

A pavement grooving machine comprising: a truck having steerable front wheels and at least one set of rear wheels located adjacent a horizontal rear transverse axis of said truck; a trailer connected to said truck for articulated motion about a vertical first pivot axis intersecting the rear axis of said truck, the trailer including at least one set of rear wheels located adjacent a horizontal, rear transverse axis of said trailer spaced rearwardly from the rear axis of said truck; a module mounted on said trailer for rotational motion about a vertical second pivot axis positioned between said rear wheels of said truck and said rear wheels of said trailer; at least one assembly of spaced, rotary cutting blades mounted on a generally horizontal drive shaft, said module supporting said cutting assembly with said blades in cutting engagement with the pavement and said drive shaft extending in a generally transverse direction relative to said trailer; and a guidance system operable during movement of the pavement grooving machine around a curve in the pavement to maintain said cutting blades in substantially parallel relation to the curve, the guidance system including, linkage means connecting said truck with said module for rotating said module relative to said trailer during relative turning motion between said trailer and said truck in such relation that said drive shaft and the rear transverse axes of said truck and said trailer are all substantially aligned with a common turning center.

Claim 12

A pavement grooving machine comprising: a truck having steerable front wheels and at least one set of rear wheels located adjacent a horizontal rear transverse axis of said truck; a trailer connected to said truck for articulated motion about a vertical first pivot axis intersecting the rear axis of said truck, the trailer including at least one set of rear wheels located adjacent a horizontal, rear transverse axis of said trailer spaced rearwardly from the rear axis of said truck; a module mounted on said trailer for rotational motion about a vertical second pivot axis positioned between said rear wheels of said truck and said rear wheels of said trailer; at least one assembly of spaced, rotary cutting blades mounted on a generally horizontal drive shaft, said module supporting said cutting assembly with said blades in cutting engagement with the pavement and said drive shaft extending in a generally transverse direction relative to said trailer; and a guidance system operable during movement of the pavement grooving machine around a curve in the pavement to maintain said cutting blades in substantially parallel relation to the curve, the guidance system including, linkage means connecting said truck with said module for rotating said module relative to said trailer during relative turning motion between said trailer and said truck in such relation that said drive shaft and the rear transverse axes of said truck and said trailer are all substantially aligned with a common turning center.

Claim 13

A pavement grooving machine as defined in claim 9, wherein said truck and said trailer have longitudinal centerlines, the first pivot axis being intersected by the longitudinal centerlines of both said truck and said trailer, the second pivot axis being positioned on the longitudinal centerline of said trailer at longitudinal distances L1 and L2 from the first pivot axis and from the rear transverse axis of said trailer, respectively; and wherein said linkage means comprises: at least one longitudinally extending link spaced on one side of said centerlines, said link at its forward and rearward ends being connected by pivotal connections to said truck and to said module at radii r1 and r2 from said first and second pivot axis, respectively, said radii having approximately the following ratio,

Claim 14

A pavement grooviNg machine as defined in claim 10, further including two of said links positioned symmetrically on opposite sides of the centerlines of said truck and trailer, said links having sufficient flexibility and sufficient looseness in their pivotal connections to said truck and said module to enable turning of said module relative to said trailer without binding or permanently distorting said links over a predetermined range of angular motion of the module relative to a neutral position which said module occupies when the centerlines of said truck and said trailer are in alignment.

Claim 15

A guidance system as defined in claim 11, wherein the predetermined range of angular motion of said module comprises approximately 8 degrees in either direction from the neutral position.

Claim 16

A pavement grooving machine as defined in claim 9, wherein said trailer further includes: forward and rear base portions connected with said truck and with said rear wheels of said trailer, respectively; a longitudinal superstructure connected to said base portions for vertical motion relative thereto, said module being attached to said superstructure; and means for selectively raising and lowering said superstructure relative to said base portions of said trailer.

Claim 17

A pavement grooving machine as defined in claim 13, wherein said means for raising and lowering said superstructure includes at least one hydraulic jack, said hydraulic jack including: a stationary piston member secured to one of said base portions of said frame; a jack cylinder slidably movable along said jack piston, said jack cylinder being fixedly secured to said superstructure to raise and lower the same as hydraulic fluid is admitted and exhausted from the jack cylinder; the pavement machine further including, a latch extending axially along the lower end of the jack piston and secured thereto for vertical swinging motion about a horizontal axis between an upright position against the jack piston and an inclined position spaced away therefrom, said latch in the upright position having a horizontal, upwardly facing, end face abuttingly engaging an end face of the jack cylinder to support the same against downward movement.

Claim 18

A pavement grooving machine comprising: a truck having steerable front wheels and at least one set of rear wheels located adjacent a horizontal rear transverse axis of said truck; a trailer connected to said truck for articulated motion about a vertical first pivot axis intersecting the rear axis of said truck, the trailer including at least one set of rear wheels located adjacent a horizontal, rear transverse axis of said trailer spaced rearwardly from the rear axis of said truck; a module mounted on said trailer for rotational motion about a vertical second pivot axis positioned between said rear wheels of said truck and said rear wheels of said trailer; at least one assembly of spaced, rotary cutting blades mounted on a generally horizontal drive shaft, said module supporting said cutting assembly with said blades in cutting engagement with the pavement and said drive shaft extending in a generally transverse direction relative to said trailer; and a guidance system operable during movement of the pavement grooving machine around a curve in the pavement following a correspondingly curved guideline therealong, to maintain said cutting blades in substantially parallel relation to the curve, the guidance system including, linkage means connecting said truck with said module for rotating said module relative to said trailer during relative turning motion between said trailer and said truck in such relation that said drive shaft and the rear transverse axes of said truck and said trailer are all substantially aligned with a common turning center; and positioning means alignable with the guideline connected with said module and with at least one of the front wheels of said truck for enabling said truck to be steered around the curve iN such relation that said common turning center coincides substantially with the center of the curve in the pavement.

Claim 19

A pavement grooving machine comprising: a truck having steerable front wheels and at least one set of rear wheels located adjacent a horizontal rear transverse axis of said truck; a trailer connected to said truck for articulated motion about a vertical first pivot axis intersecting the rear axis of said truck, the trailer including at least one set of rear wheels located adjacent a horizontal, rear transverse axis of said trailer spaced rearwardly from the rear axis of said truck; a module mounted on said trailer for rotational motion about a vertical second pivot axis positioned between said rear wheels of said truck and said rear wheels of said trailer; at least one assembly of spaced, rotary cutting blades mounted on a generally horizontal drive shaft, said module supporting said cutting assembly with said blades in cutting engagement with the pavement and said drive shaft extending in a generally transverse direction relative to said trailer; and a guidance system operable during movement of the pavement grooving machine around a curve in the pavement following a correspondingly curved guideline therealong, to maintain said cutting blades in substantially parallel relation to the curve, the guidance system including, linkage means connecting said truck with said module for rotating said module relative to said trailer during relative turning motion between said trailer and said truck in such relation that said drive shaft and the rear transverse axes of said truck and said trailer are all substantially aligned with a common turning center; and positioning means alignable with the guideline connected with said module and with at least one of the front wheels of said truck for enabling said truck to be steered around the curve iN such relation that said common turning center coincides substantially with the center of the curve in the pavement.

Claim 20

A pavement grooving machine as defined in claim 15, wherein said positioning means includes: at least one arm pivotally connected with said module, said arm in a neutral position relative to said module extending in a direction generally perpendicular to said drive shaft, said arm adapted to be visually aligned in overlying relation to the guideline whereby said drive shaft is positioned substantially in radial alignment to the curve when said arm is in the neutral position thereof; at least one hub member connected with one of said truck front wheels movable angularly therewith in response to steering motion of said one front wheel; and means connecting said hub member with said arm for causing motion thereof from its neutral position in directions inwardly and outwardly of the curve in response to steering motion of said one front wheel of said truck in directions inwardly and outwardly of the curve, respectively, whereby deviation of said front wheel from a correct inclination to maintain said drive shaft in radial alignment to the curve causes said arm to move out of aligned, overlying relation to the guideline.

Claim 21

A pavement grooving machine as defined in claim 16, wherein said means connecting said hub member with said arm includes: spring means connected with said arm and with said module for resiliently biasing said arm in one transverse direction; a flexible line extending between said arm and said hub member; and pulley means configuring the path of the line such that said line exerts a pull on said arm in an opposite transverse direction to the action of said spring means.

Claim 22

A pavement grooving machine as defined in claim 16, further including: two of said arms positioned at opposite transverse ends of said module extending forwardly therefrom; two of said hub members, said hub members connected with said front wheels projecting concentrically and sidewardly therefrom in opposite directions; and two of said connecting means for connecting each of said hub members with the adjacent one of said arms.

Claim 23

A pavement grooving machine as defined in claim 16, wherein said guidance system further includes: driving and steering means connected with one of said truck and said trailer for driving and steering said truck; and an operator supporting platform connected with one of said trailer and said truck on which an operator may be positioned to operate said driving and steering means, said driving position being located in a position from which the operator can visually align said arm with the guideline.

Claim 24

A pavement grooving machine as defined in claim 15, wherein said truck and said trailer have longitudinal centerlines, the first pivot axis being intersected by the longitudinal centerlines of both said truck and said trailer, the second pivot axis being positioned on the longitudinal centerline of said trailer at longitudinal distances L1 and L2 from the first pivot axis and from the rear transverse axis of said trailer, respectively; and wherein said linkage means comprises: at least one longitudinally extending link spaced on one side of said centerlines, said link at its forward and rearward ends being connected by pivotal connections to said truck and to said module at radii r1 and r2 from said first and second pivot axis, respectively, said radii having approximately the following ratio,

Claim 25

A pavement grooving machine as defined in claim 20, further including two of said links positioned symmetrically on opposite sides of the centerlines of said truck and said trailer, said links having sufficient resilient flexibility and sufficient looseness in their piVotal connections to said truck and said module to enable turning of said module relative to said trailer without binding or permanently deforming said links over a predetermined range of angular motion of the module relative to a neutral position which said module occupies when the centerlines of said truck and said trailer are in alignment.

Claim 26

A pavement grooving machine as defined in claim 21, wherein the effective working range of angular motion of said module relative to said trailer comprises approximately 8* in either direction from the neutral position.