With In Situ Means For Both Comminuting And Treating, E.g., Grading, Oiling, Stabilizing Patents (Class 404/90)
  • Patent number: 11879217
    Abstract: A retention system for retaining a milling drum to a driveshaft of a milling assembly. The driveshaft is powered to drive the milling drum about an axis. The retention system includes a retention member coupled to the driveshaft between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the retention member restricts a disengagement between an engagement surface of the driveshaft and a mating surface of the milling drum, inhibiting a release of the milling drum from the driveshaft along the axis. In the second position, the retention member provides clearance for the disengagement of the engagement surface and the mating surface, facilitating the release of the milling drum from the driveshaft along the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Craig Thomas Hedstrom, Nicholas Bernard Johnson, Ryan Steve Hutar
  • Patent number: 11866890
    Abstract: A mobile earth working machine includes a machine frame; a working apparatus; a functional apparatus connected to the machine frame pivotably; and a pivot joint between the machine frame and the functional apparatus, having a frame-associated joint element and an apparatus-associated joint element. A mechanical coupling includes a frame-side coupling configuration and an apparatus-side counterpart coupling configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Inventors: Roland Lull, Marcel Joisten, Oliver Freund
  • Patent number: 11851832
    Abstract: A machine service set position control system is used on a machine that includes a frame, traction devices connected to the frame, a power source connected to the traction devices and configured to rotate the traction devices, a drum chamber connected to the frame, a milling drum rotatably supported within the drum chamber and configured to engage with a ground surface, and a rotor drive train connected to the milling drum and configured to rotate the milling drum to mill the ground surface, the rotor drive train including a gearbox. The service set position control system is programmed to determine a position of at least the rotor drive train and selectively operate a rotor drive train actuator connected to the rotor drive train based on the determined position to move the machine into a machine service set position allowing easy access for a technician to perform service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Garrett Daniel Reed, Brian Joe Schlenker, Paul J Koenen
  • Patent number: 11834796
    Abstract: A vehicle for patching road pavements comprising a frame, a container for holding the new paving material, a radiating plate, a rake, a paver for distributing and levelling a new paving material, a compactor and a support structure which comprises a movable part. The frame supports the support structure and the container which comprises an outlet for supplying the paver. The movable part bears the paver, the rake and the compactor and translates with respect to the frame in a first direction from a retracted position to an extracted position so that they operate on successive parts of the zone to be patched. The radiating plate is movable vertically beneath the frame and the rake is vertically movable with respect to the paver and the compactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: BUNNI S.R.L.
    Inventor: Firas Bunni
  • Patent number: 11834798
    Abstract: A system for transferring torque from a driveshaft to a milling drum mountable on the driveshaft. The system includes a first coupler removably coupled to the driveshaft to co-rotate with the driveshaft. The first coupler defines an engagement surface. Also, the system includes a second coupler removably coupled to the milling drum. The second coupler defines a mating surface engageable with the engagement surface of the first coupler to engage the second coupler to the first coupler and transfer torque from the driveshaft to the milling drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Bernard Johnson, Craig Thomas Hedstrom, Ryan Steve Hutar
  • Patent number: 11821153
    Abstract: A propelled milling machine includes a cutting rotor that receives power from an internal combustion engine via a rotor drivetrain. To adjust the speed of the cutting rotor, the rotor drivetrain includes a rotor drivetrain transmission operatively associated with a rotor drivetrain lubrication circuit. To regulate temperature of the lubricant, a heat exchanger circuit is associated with the rotor drivetrain lubrication circuit and includes a rotor drivetrain lubricant heat exchanger and a rotor drivetrain lubricant pump assembly. The quantity of lubricant directed to the heat exchanger is regulated based on one or more sensed operating parameters associated with the lubricant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Nathaniel S. Doy, Derek P. Nieuwsma, Brian J. Schlenker, Matthew-David S. Frantz
  • Patent number: 11767645
    Abstract: A self-propelled construction machine, having a milling drum housing having a sealing device which has a sealing element arranged in the working direction of the construction machine behind the milling drum, an adjustment device for adjusting the height position of the sealing element, and a controller for controlling the adjustment device of the sealing element. The sealing device has a scraper element, which is pivotably arranged on the sealing element such that the scraper element rests on the milled material and is pivoted in relation to the milling drum on the basis of the height of the milled material. The height position of the sealing element is adjusted on the basis of the pivot position of the scraper element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Andreas Salz, Martin Quadt
  • Patent number: 11692563
    Abstract: A milling machine may have a frame, a milling drum attached to the frame, and ground engaging tracks that support the frame and propel the milling machine in a forward or rearward direction. The milling machine may have height adjustable actuators connecting the frame to the tracks. Each actuator may have a cylinder attached to the frame, a piston slidably disposed within the cylinder, and a rod connected at a first end to the piston and connected to a track at a second end. The milling machine may have a tank storing hydraulic fluid and a fluid conduit connecting the tank to the cylinder. The milling machine may have a control valve selectively controlling a flow rate of the hydraulic fluid in the fluid conduit. The milling machine may also have a controller that determines a height of the frame relative to the ground surface based on the flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Eric S. Engelmann, Conwell K. Rife, Jr., Mark Holub
  • Patent number: 11674272
    Abstract: A low-emission hot-in-place asphalt recycling equipment train system is disclosed, which comprises at least three heating units, a milling unit, a centralized hot mix heating unit, a mixing unit, and compatible paving and compacting units. The hot-in-place asphalt recycling equipment train system realizes stepwise uniform heating of pavements, recycling of heat energy, centralized treatment and discharge of fumes, centralized and uniform hot mix heating of materials without causing damage, simultaneous metering and feeding of required materials at multiple points, and on-site mobile batch mixing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: WTD HEAT TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventor: Weihong Yi
  • Patent number: 11629735
    Abstract: A milling machine may have a frame, a milling drum attached to the frame, and ground engaging tracks that support the frame and propel the milling machine in a forward or rearward direction. The milling machine may have a tank that stores hydraulic fluid. The milling machine may also have at least one actuator connecting the frame to the tracks. The actuator may adjust a height of the frame relative to a ground surface. A fluid conduit may connect the tank to the actuator. The milling machine may have a flow sensor in the fluid conduit. The flow sensor may determine a flow parameter associated with a flow of the hydraulic fluid into or out of the actuator. The milling machine may also have a controller that determines a height of the frame relative to the ground surface based on the flow parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Eric S. Engelmann, Conwell K. Rife, Jr., Mark Holub, Clayton Padgett, Matthew J. Sirovatka, Paul Friend
  • Patent number: 11591162
    Abstract: A conveyor system for a working machines such as a cold planer is disclosed. The working machine that can optionally have a frame, a rotor moveable relative to the frame to remove material from a surface of a working area and the conveyor system. The conveyor system can optionally include a first belt and a second belt. The conveyor system can be positioned to receive loose material from the rotor and transport the loose material relative to the frame away from the rotor. Optionally, the second belt can be positioned adjacent to and extending along the first belt and moveable relative to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventor: Dario Sansone
  • Patent number: 11466412
    Abstract: In a self-propelled construction machine comprising a machine frame with a longitudinal axis, a controller for the travelling and milling operation, a height-adjustable working drum, and a slewable transport conveyor: that the control system, at least as a function of a virtual trajectory for positioning the transport conveyor which is freely specifiable in a stationary coordinate system that is independent of the position and alignment of the machine frame, controls, by means of open-loop control or closed-loop control, at least the slewing angle of the transport conveyor automatically in such a fashion that a reference point of the transport conveyor always remains on the specified trajectory in the case of a change in position of the machine frame within the coordinate system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Andreas Vogt, Cyrus Barimani
  • Patent number: 11412671
    Abstract: A horticultural substrate conditioner includes a housing having an opening to receive a growing medium and an outlet to discharge the growing medium, a shaft arranged within the housing, the shaft rotatable relative to the housing, and a plurality of tines disposed on the shaft spaced apart from each other, the tines comprising a flexible material, wherein upon entry of a growing medium into the housing, the tines are capable of engaging the growing medium such that as the shaft rotates, the growing medium is broken apart and/or reduced in density and size to enable optimal distribution of the growing medium into a container upon discharge from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: PROFILE PRODUCTS L.L.C.
    Inventors: Robert Lando, Joseph Smith, George Andulics
  • Patent number: 11408136
    Abstract: A rotary mixer includes a frame. The rotary mixer also includes a milling enclosure supported by the frame. The milling enclosure includes a side plate. The rotary mixer further includes a rotor disposed within the milling enclosure. The rotary mixer includes at least one vibration device coupled to the milling enclosure. The at least one vibration device is arranged to induce vibrations in at least one component of the milling enclosure for resisting accumulation of debris on the at least one component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew-David S. Frantz, Derek Peter Nieuwsma, Nathaniel S. Doy, Dustin William Sondreal, Jason W. Muir
  • Patent number: 11401665
    Abstract: An interchangeable unit for material-removing work on a subsoil starting from ground surface includes a housing, a removal tool, a drive belt pulley and a transmission gear unit which transmits motion from the drive belt pulley to the removal tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Inventors: Sebastian Winkels, Dieter Bungarten
  • Patent number: 11396734
    Abstract: A system for uncovering a trench. The system comprises several subsystems, including a work machine and a frame for providing a seal with the surface to be trenched with a saw blade contained therein. The blade is supported on a hub which is slidably movable relative to the frame by operation of a linear actuator, which may be a hydraulic cylinder or the like. The vertical location of the blade within the frame is continuously adjustable to create a deeper or shallower trench. A monitoring system is provided to monitor the vertical location from an operator station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Cody L. Sewell, Michael C. Ruhl, David R. Bazzell, Vernon T. Stellman, Steven P. Seabolt, Andrew A. Schuermann
  • Patent number: 11346065
    Abstract: A self-propelled construction machine comprises a machine frame, at least three travelling devices, at least one hydraulic drive system for driving at least two travelling devices, wherein the hydraulic drive system comprises at least one controllable hydraulic motor with variable displacement volume and at least one hydraulic pump, at least one working device (e.g. a milling drum), for working the ground pavement. A detection device detects fluctuations in the longitudinal speed of the construction machine during movement thereof, wherein a control unit alters the displacement volume of the at least one controllable hydraulic motor as a function of the detected fluctuations so that the natural frequency of the hydraulic drive system is altered, wherein the control unit adjusts the discharge volume of the pump as a function of the amount of adjustment of the displacement volume in such a fashion that the specified drive speed remains constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Inventors: Stefan Wagner, Markus Bach, Axel Mahlberg, Markus Schäfer, Eduard Fitz
  • Patent number: 11186957
    Abstract: A method includes receiving information indicative of a cold planer travel path extending along a work surface, determining a mobile machine travel path extending along the work surface based at least partly on the information indicative of the cold planer travel path, and receiving sensor information associated with the work surface, wherein the sensor information is determined by at least one sensor of an autonomous mobile machine as the autonomous mobile machine traverses the mobile machine travel path. The method also includes generating a worksite map based at least partly on the sensor information, the worksite map identifying an object, wherein the object is disposed at least partly beneath a cut area to be formed by a cold planer, and controlling a position of a rotor of the cold planer, relative to the work surface and based at least partly on a location of the object identified in the worksite map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy M. O'Donnell
  • Patent number: 11136732
    Abstract: A milling machine may include a frame. The milling machine may include a first wheel and a second wheel connected to a first end of the frame, and a third wheel connected to a second end of the frame. The milling machine may include a first leg, a second leg, and a third leg connecting the frame and the first wheel, the second wheel, and the third wheel, respectively. The milling machine may include a pair of arms pivotably connected to opposite sides of the frame. The milling machine may have a milling drum rotatably connected to the arms with a rotational axis parallel to the pivot axis. Further, the milling machine may have an engine that rotates the milling drum via a transmission. An output shaft of the engine positioned transverse to the frame may have an output shaft axis spaced apart from the pivot axis of the arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Dustin W. Sondreal, Brian J. Schlenker
  • Patent number: 10995460
    Abstract: The present disclosure is a dust mitigation system for a cold planer. The dust mitigation system may include the following components: a cutting drum; a conveyor system proximate to the cutting drum and adapted to collect cut paving material from the cutting drum and convey the cut paving material to a conveyor system exit; a fan proximate the conveyor system and directing dust from the cutting drum to the conveyor system; a conduit having a first end positioned in the cutting chamber and a second end proximate the fan; a water source; and a conveyor spray nozzle located between the fan and the conveyor system exit and adapted to communicate water from the water source on to the conveyor system such that the dust directed from the fan to the conveyor system is blown through the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Colton J. Hirman, Eric S. Engelmann
  • Patent number: 10895061
    Abstract: A motorized vehicle for recycling aggregates includes a chassis and an engine unit, and, mounted on the chassis, a device for collecting aggregates, a crushing chamber supplied with aggregates by the device for collecting aggregates, by mechanical collection or by suction, and configured to crush the aggregates and to supply crushed aggregates to an outlet, a mixing device connected to the crushing chamber to receive at least one portion of the crushed aggregates available at the outlet of the crushing chamber and configured to mix these received crushed aggregates with at least one binder so as to produce a mortar, and a distribution channel configured to distribute the produced mortar at the outlet of the mixing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Inventors: Daniel Rivard, Philippe Dhervilly
  • Patent number: 10619314
    Abstract: An apparatus for in-place recycling of materials that form part of a roadway pavement with agglomerated aggregates in a bituminous composition, includes a load-bearing structure suitable for driving on the pavement in a direction of travel and carries, from the front to the rear in the direction of travel, a transverse milling machine for milling the pavement to a defined depth and width to produce milling debris, a mixing device for mixing the milling debris with a binding composition, and a spreading sub-assembly for distributing the milling debris/binding composition mixture across the milled pavement. The apparatus further includes a crusher with blades, between the milling machine and the mixing device, open on the bottom, for crushing the milling debris. In one embodiment, the crusher and the mixing device are located in a single unit. The application also relates to a crusher for milling debris from roadway pavements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: COLAS
    Inventors: Bouchaïb Safir, Claude Cazal, Thierry Le Roch
  • Patent number: 9605393
    Abstract: A milling machine includes a frame, a rotor coupled to the frame and vertically adjustable, a chamber coupled to the frame and at least partially surrounding the rotor, a speed sensor configured to measure a speed of the machine, a height sensor configured to measure a height of the rotor, a ground characteristic sensor configured to measure a ground characteristic, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive the speed of the machine from the speed sensor, receive the height of the rotor from the height sensor, receive the ground characteristic from the ground characteristic sensor, determine a target speed for the machine, determine a target height for the rotor, adjust the speed of the machine to the target speed, and adjust the height of the rotor to the target height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Schlenker, Jason W. Muir
  • Patent number: 9359728
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a milling drum for a ground milling machine, wherein a material guiding device is provided, which diverts the milled material in the direction of stagger of milling devices disposed one behind the other, as regarded in the direction of rotation. For this purpose, in particular, a wear plate is provided, which can be selectively replaced on the material guiding device. A further aspect of the present invention relates to such a material guiding device and also to a wear plate for such a material guiding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: BOMAG GmbH
    Inventor: Steffen Wachsmann
  • Patent number: 9328467
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotor hood for a milling apparatus, with a front hood part, a rear hood part and two side hood parts, the front and the rear hood part enclosing together with the two side hood parts a working space that is open at the bottom, further comprising a stripping device which is mounted on the rotor hood and which forms the rear lower edge of the rotor hood in the working direction. The present invention further relates to a construction machine with a milling apparatus and such a rotor hood and a method for operating a milling apparatus with a rotor hood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: BOMAG GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Forster, Peter Erdmann, Walter Mayer, Udo Lohse, Siegfried Schwarz
  • Patent number: 9091029
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotor housing for a milling device for soil processing, in particular, for a road milling machine, a recycler, or a stabilizer, having a cleaning apparatus, with an interior open toward the ground for receiving a milling rotor, comprising two side walls, one front wall, and one rear wall, the side walls, the front wall, and the rear wall delimiting the interior to the outside, comprising an internally arranged cleaning strip. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a milling device with a rotor housing having such a cleaning apparatus and a method for cleaning a rotor housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: BOMAG GmbH
    Inventor: Helmut Roetsch
  • Patent number: 9010871
    Abstract: Disclosed is an automotive road construction machine, particularly a recycler or a cold stripping machine, comprising an engine frame that is supported by a chassis, a working roller which is stationarily or pivotally mounted on the engine frame and is used for machining a ground surface or road surface. The chassis is provided with wheels or tracked running gears which are connected to the engine frame via lifting column and are vertically adjustable relative to the engine frame. Each individually vertically adjustable lifting column is equipped with a device for measuring the actual vertical state of the lifting column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Busley, Günter Tewes
  • Patent number: 9011039
    Abstract: An apparatus for servicing roadways includes a frame configured to be secured to a prime mover. The apparatus further includes a grinding drum rotatably supported upon the frame. The apparatus still further includes a driving system supported upon the frame and configured to rotationally drive the grinding drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: RM Equipment, LLC
    Inventors: Tom L. Oxford, Stephen L. Monlux, Erik B. Skeen
  • Patent number: 8979424
    Abstract: The invention relates to a self-propelled road-milling machine for doing work on surfacings on the ground, and in particular carriageways. The road-milling machine according to the invention is characterized by a signalling arrangement which has at least one control unit for the entry of at least two different states of operation by the driver of the road-milling machine and at least one visual indicator or display unit to indicate or display for the driver of the transporting vehicle the at least two states of operation which are preset with the control unit by the driver of the road-milling machine. The first state of operation may be a request for the transporting vehicle to be braked or stopped and the second state of operation may be a request for the transporting vehicle to be started or to continue travelling. In a preferred embodiment of the visual indicator or display unit, the request for braking or stopping is shown as a cross and the request for starting or continued travel as an arrow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Armin Montermann, Cyrus Barimanl, Guenter Haehn, Angela Cutler
  • Patent number: 8961065
    Abstract: A method of milling asphalt is disclosed. The result of a survey of the unmilled asphalt pavement surface adjacent to the area to be milled is received. The result of the survey is stored in a computer memory. A map of the design surface specifying the design elevation of the milled surface over the area to be milled is stored in the computer memory. The relative elevation of the unmilled asphalt pavement surface adjacent to the area to be milled with respect to the machine body and rotatable milling drum of an asphalt milling machine is sensed. The elevation of the bottom surface of the rotatable milling drum is determined using a computer processor. The elevation of the milling machine body and the rotatable milling drum is automatically adjusted such that the milling drum mills the asphalt surface to the design elevation over the area to be milled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Jeroen Snoeck, Richard Paul Piekutowski
  • Patent number: 8944518
    Abstract: In a drum housing for a working drum of a construction machine or mining machine for working off milled material movable in a working direction, said working drum being provided with tools and rotating about a drum axis, with a housing shell that at least partially encloses the circumference of the working drum, and with at least one monitoring device arranged radially outside of the housing shell, said monitoring device inspecting the condition of the working drum or of the tools thereof, it is provided for the following features to be achieved: at least one inspection opening for each monitoring device is arranged in the housing shell, and a partial flow of the milled material passes through the at least one inspection opening during the milling operation and guiding devices conduct the partial flow, in radial direction behind the housing shell, in front of or behind the working drum as seen in the working direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Winfried von Schoenebeck, Joerg Berges, Peter Berghoff, Stefan Wagner, Cyrus Barimani, Guenter Haehn
  • Publication number: 20140286706
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a work train for milling an underlying ground surface and intermixing bulk material with the milled ground material, comprising a self-propelled ground milling machine, more particularly, a recycler or a stabilizer, comprising a milling drum mounted in a hood and a drive motor, a silo trailer drawn by the ground milling machine and comprising a storage container for bulk material, a conveying system, which transports bulk material during operation of the work train from the silo trailer to in front of the milling drum, as regarded in the direction of travel (a) of the ground milling machine, and an output means, which discharges the bulk material onto the ground in front of the milling drum, as regarded in the direction of travel (a). The present invention further relates to a towing device for such a work train.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: BOMAG GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Klöckner
  • Patent number: 8840191
    Abstract: An automotive machine (1) for producing carriageways by stabilizing insufficiently stable soils or by recycling road surfaces includes a machine chassis (4), a working drum (20) mounted to pivot in relation to the machine chassis (4), a combustion engine (32) supported by the machine chassis, and at least one mechanical power transmission device (36) transferring the drive power from the engine to the working drum (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Mannebach, Peter Busley, Karsten Buhr, Guenter Haehn
  • Patent number: 8794867
    Abstract: An asphalt milling machine control is provided for an asphalt milling machine of the type which mills an asphalt pavement surface over which the machine travels. The machine has a milling machine body, and a rotatable milling drum mounted on the lower portion of the milling machine body, the bottom surface of the milling drum contacting the asphalt pavement surface to mill the surface to a design elevation. The machine further includes a plurality of machine body supports which are adjusted to raise or lower the height of the milling machine body and the rotatable milling drum with respect to the asphalt pavement surface. This defines the elevation of the surface that results from milling with the drum. The control includes a floating plate, mounted to the side of the milling machine and the rotatable milling drum, or a pair of floating plates mounted to either side of the machine, for sliding over the surface adjacent to the area to be milled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Jeroen Snoeck, Richard Paul Piekutowski
  • Patent number: 8567872
    Abstract: An apparatus for grinding material includes a grinder bit including a drum and a plurality of grinders, at least a portion of the grinders disposed longitudinally in a first helical pattern along the outer surface of the drum. The apparatus further includes a plurality of cleats, at least a portion of the cleats disposed longitudinally in a second helical pattern along the outer surface of the drum. The second helical pattern is offset from the first helical pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Jonathan J. Carr
  • Publication number: 20130216308
    Abstract: Provided herein are roadways containing polyurethane materials. A roadway includes a base layer of a compacted in situ material and/or a wear layer disposed on the base layer. One or both of these layers may include the polyurethane material to bind other components in the layers and to form more robust and durable roadway structures capable of withstanding operating loads of the roadway. In some embodiments, the polyurethane material is added to the wear layer by mixing in situ soil and/or foreign aggregate with polyurethane material or by dispensing the polyurethane material over the existing partially formed wear layer. The base layer may or may not include a polyurethane material. The type, concentration, distribution, and processing of the polyurethane material in the wear layer may be the same or different than that in the base layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Inventor: Sean Somers Weaver
  • Publication number: 20130195554
    Abstract: A milling machine including a chamber, a milling rotor, a rear door and a moldboard. The chamber has a front portion and a rear portion. The milling rotor is rotatably mounted transversely on the chamber. The rear door is mounted mounted adjacent to the milling rotor, in a substantially vertical position. The moldboard is coupled with the rear door. The moldboard is vertically movable with respect to the rear door between a retracted position and an extended position. A bulkhead is mounted on the chamber, adjacent to the milling rotor, in a substantially vertical position. The bulkhead includes a guide bar. A guide pin is coupled with the moldboard and configured to move within the guide bar. The guide pin is used to lock the moldboard in the extended position and to unlock the moldboard in the retracted position with respect to the bulkhead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Rukavina, Timothy Miller
  • Patent number: 8398176
    Abstract: A milling attachment device has a rotating hood and provides both cutting depth control and bit access by rotating the rotating hood. The rotating hood is rotated by an actuating mechanism such as an extending cylinder, a slew drive, or drive rings. The rotating hood may also have a skid foot and/or a wheel to assist in the depth control. The milling attachment device may be connected to a host vehicle so that it can be maneuvered into position for milling or maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Asphalt Zipper, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Tron Haroldsen, Jeremy K. Nix
  • Patent number: 8333333
    Abstract: A dust-control apparatus may be used in combination with tilling, cultivating, harvesting, construction machinery, and other mobile soil treatment implements. The apparatus applies mist to dust particles where the mist is created by pumping water or other liquid through nozzles. Because the apparatus is used in combination with the operation of the dust-generating machinery, the dust suppressing mist is applied nearly simultaneously to the generation of the dust by the agitation of the soil by the machinery. In one embodiment of the device, the operation of the pump or valves which control liquid flow to the nozzles is automatically activated by a optical sensor. The optical sensors cause either the starting of a pump or opening of a valve thereby increasing or decreasing the pressure and/or volume of the liquid upon the dust level reaching a preset trigger point as detected by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Inventor: Lynn Embry
  • Patent number: 8297877
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotor box for a ground and/or road milling machine such as, in particular, for a road miller or a trench cutter which surrounds at least one milling rotor for removing ground material (B). It is provided that the wall of this rotor box is configured at least in one section with an enlarged distance from the milling rotor in order to allow a specific guiding of the milled material away from the milling rotor in this region of the rotor box and that at least one separating device is disposed between this section of the wall and the milling rotor, which prevents contact of the guided-away milled material with the milling rotor in this region. The present invention further relates to a ground and/or road milling machine such as in particular a road miller or trench cutter having at least one such rotor box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: BOMAG GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Erdmann, Karl-Hermann Moetz, Robert Laux, Steffen Wachsmann
  • Publication number: 20120243939
    Abstract: An apparatus for servicing roadways includes a frame configured to be secured to a prime mover. The apparatus further includes a grinding drum rotatably supported upon the frame. The apparatus still further includes a driving system supported upon the frame and configured to rotationally drive the grinding drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventors: Tom L. Oxford, Stephen L. Monlux, Erik B. Skeen
  • Patent number: 8262168
    Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a motorized vehicle comprises a vehicle frame. The vehicle frame comprises translatable elements. The frame comprises a forward end and a rearward end. The invention comprises of a first rotary degradation drum that is connected to the underside of the frame. The invention comprises of at least a second rotary degradation drum also connected to the underside of the frame and rearward of the first rotary degradation drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Inventors: David R. Hall, Thomas Morris
  • Patent number: 8261898
    Abstract: Construction machine, with working drum mounted at a machine frame, combustion engine for driving the working drum, drive train between the combustion engine and the working drum, and clutch in the drive train, where the clutch is arranged between a drive shaft and output shaft of the drive train, clutch elements on drive side capable of being engaged with clutch elements on output side, where clutch elements on the drive side or on output side are provided with several clutch part elements that are permanently engaged with one another via at least one mechanical coupling, it is provided that a braking device acting between the drive shaft and the output shaft is arranged at the clutch, said braking device being additionally engaged during engagement of the clutch in order to eliminate or reduce any rotary vibrations caused by play of mechanical coupling between clutch part elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Axel Mahlberg, Lothar Schwalbach, Günter Hähn
  • Publication number: 20120170978
    Abstract: A scraper device for a milling drum mounted in a construction machine at a machine frame between lateral walls with a milling drum axis, with a two-part scraper blade arranged in a height-adjustable fashion behind the milling drum when seen in the direction of travel, the lower part of which can glide over the ground surface milled off by the milling drum, where the lower part of the scraper blade is adjustable in height when in operating position, it is provided that the upper part of the scraper blade is attached, at the upper end, to swivel about a swivelling axis parallel to the axis of the milling drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: WIRTGEN GMBH
    Inventors: Heinz Kötting, Herbert Ley, Günter Hähn
  • Publication number: 20120128419
    Abstract: In a ground working machine (1) for milling soils (2) or traffic areas, it is provided that a controller (18) for terminating the milling process controls the milling depth of a milling device (8) along a specified trajectory (24) in conjunction with simultaneous forward and reverse travel (5,7), thus enabling the milling device (8) to be raised into the upper position (9) disengaged from the ground without a depression (22) resulting from raising the milling device (8) remaining in the worked ground surface (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Menzenbach, Harald Kroell, Cyrus Barimani, Guenter Haehn
  • Patent number: 8113736
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention relates to a flexible sled that conforms to the contour of the pavement for applying a liquid emulsion onto a pavement surface comprising a rigid frame with flexible squeegee assembly adapted to be towed along a pavement surface. Another embodiment of the invention includes a hopper assembly for distributing aggregate. Another embodiment of the invention includes a sled for repairing ruts in wheel lanes of a road. Another aspect of the invention is a polymer emulsion composition having a high coefficient of friction comprising a mixture of polymer resin blended with a mixture of cement and angular sand aggregate and titanium dioxide to provide a solar reflectance index number that ranges from 0.30 to 0.38 and a friction number in the range of 45 to 55.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Inventor: Jack H. Wilson, Sr.
  • Patent number: 8113592
    Abstract: A road construction machine includes a machine frame, a working drum and a plurality of ground engaging supports. A plurality of lifting columns are connected between the machine frame and the ground engaging supports. Each of the lifting columns include two telescoping hollow cylinders. A plurality of lifting position measuring devices are provided, each measuring device being coupled with elements of one of the lifting columns, which elements are capable of being displaced relative to one another in accordance with the lifting position of the lifting column in such a manner that a path signal pertaining to a lifting position of the lifting column is continuously detectable by the measuring device. A controller is operably connected to the lifting position measuring devices to receive the path signals and to regulate the lifting positions of the lifting columns in response to the path signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Busley, Günter Tewes
  • Publication number: 20120027514
    Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a pavement degradation machine comprises a motor vehicle comprising a combustion engine connected to an electrical generator, a pavement degradation assembly comprising a plurality of cutting elements, the pavement degradation assembly being in mechanical communication with the electric motor, wherein the generator is in electrical communication with the electric motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventor: David R. Hall
  • Patent number: 8100481
    Abstract: The invention relates to a self-propelled machine for cutting or milling, which has a chassis (1), which is carried by track-laying units or wheels and which has a cutting or milling arrangement (2) and an arrangement (8) for adjusting the height of the chassis to set the depth of cutting or milling. The driver's station is decoupled from the shaking movements or vibrations from the arrangement (2) for cutting or milling which are transmitted to the chassis, and from the vibrations from the internal combustion engine for driving the machine. This decoupling is accomplished by having the height-adjusting arrangement (8) form a system which connects the track-laying units or wheels to the chassis not rigidly but in such a way that they are able to move.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Winfried Von Schönebeck, Gunter Hähn
  • Patent number: 8086360
    Abstract: A device for moving a jet member on a carriage (6) between two selectable extreme positions along a guide (5) has means for detecting that the carriage has reached a selectable extreme position, said means comprising members (24, 25) adapted to form a mechanical resistance against continued movement of the carriage so as to influence the flow of hydraulic liquid in an hydraulic circuit (27) of a hydraulic drive arrangement for moving the carriage. Members (31) are arranged to sense a parameter of the hydraulic liquid, the magnitude of which is depending upon the flow of hydraulic liquid in the hydraulic circuit, and send information about the magnitude of this parameter to a control unit (14) adapted to control the turning of the carriage on the basis of this information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Aquajet Systems Holding AB
    Inventor: Ronnie Hilmersson