Abstract: A system for controlling a cutting machine for cutting rumble strips in a road surface includes a rotatable cutting head, a cylinder for driving the cutting head out of and into contact with the road surface, and a controller. The controller is programmed to execute an input/output function for varying a proportional gain and an error amplification signal over a range of forward speed of the cutting machine. An I/O function is based on six predetermined cutting machine speed values; wherein a proportional gain and a depth increment are specified for each speed value. The respective speed values increase progressively. As an actual forward speed of the cutting machine varies between two of the six predetermined input speed values a linear interpolation is applied between the next lower and the next greater speed value to vary the instantaneous proportional gain and depth increment to be applied by the controller.

Abstract: A cutting machine for cutting depressions in a road surface. The cutting machine includes a rotatable cutting drum connected with a drive device for rotating the cutting drum and an engaging device for moving the cutting drum out of and into contact with the road surface. The drive device includes a gear box with a flywheel located on the input side of the gear box and the cutting drum comprises a plurality of cutting teeth, the teeth removably retained to the cutting drum to effectively cut the road surface and includes a means for anchoring a tooth shank to a tooth holder permanently affixed to said cutting drum. A power unit that moves the cutting drum along the road surface is provided with a detector for continuously detecting a distance that the cutting drum is moved by the power unit and for generating a signal indicative of the distance moved.

Abstract: A cutting machine for cutting depressions in a road surface. The cutting machine includes a rotatable cutting head connect with a drive device for rotating the cutting head and an engaging device for moving the cutting head out of and into contact with the road surface. A power unit that moves the cutting head along the road surface is provided with a detector for continuously detecting a distance that the cutting head is moved by the power unit and for generating a signal indicative of the distance moved. An electronic controller, responsive to the signal, electronically controls the engaging device so that the cutting head moves out of and into contact with the road surface in accordance with the distance that the cutting head moves along the road surface and a specified dimensional profile of the depressions which are stored in the electronic controller. The movement of the cutting head cuts depressions in the road.

Abstract: A cutting tool for cutting depressions in the shoulder or along the center line of a roadway comprises a plurality of rotatable cutting heads which are aligned generally in parallel with one another and which are fixedly connected to one another and to drive means for rotating the cutting heads. Each of the cutting heads may be rotatably mounted within a respective drum housing. First and second ones of the drum housings are rigidly connected to one another via a rigid connecting member to form a first cutting head set, and third and fourth ones of the drum housings are rigidly connected to one another to form a second cutting head such that the first and second cutting head sets is self-aligning. A least one of the cutting members is driven to rotate in a direction opposite from that of the other cutting members to prevent the cutting heads from pulling the cutting tools down the roadway.