Patents by Inventor H. Matthew Johnson

H. Matthew Johnson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9574310
    Abstract: A system for controlling a cutting machine for cutting continuous sinusoidal 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 to control the cylinder to cut a subsurface sinusoidal strip wherein the cutting drum remains in the road surface once the cutting operation begins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: SURFACE PREPARATION TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: H. Matthew Johnson, Jeffrey M. Dows
  • Patent number: 9573295
    Abstract: A cutting tool, a mounting bracket for the cutting tool, and a rotatable cutting head are provided. The cutting tool includes a saddle portion configured to be secured to a mounting bracket, an aperture extending through the saddle portion, and at least one cutting bit attachment portion. The mounting bracket includes a base having a receiving slot configured to receive a cutting tool, a threaded recess extending at least partially through the base, and a curved bottom surface corresponding to a curvature of a cutting drum. The rotatable cutting head comprises a drive shaft connectable to a drive motor, a drum portion coupled to the drive shaft, the drum portion having a curved outer surface, a plurality of mounting brackets secured to the curved outer surface, and at least one cutting tool having at least one cutting bit attachment portion removably secured to at least one of the mounting brackets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: SURFACE PREPARATION TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: H. Matthew Johnson, Jeffrey M. Dows
  • Patent number: 9121148
    Abstract: A system and apparatus for cutting grooves in a surface includes a housing having a rotatable cutting head mounted therein. An actuator drives the cutting head out of and into contact with the surface. Sensors disposed on the housing sense a depth of the groove cut by the cutting head. A controller is arranged to receive a signal from the sensors and compare the depth of the groove with a predetermined reference depth. The controller sends a signal to the actuator and adjusts the position of the cutting head via the actuator to maintain the depth of the groove at about the reference depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: SURFACE PREPARATION TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: H. Matthew Johnson
  • Publication number: 20150132059
    Abstract: A system and apparatus for cutting grooves in a surface includes a housing having a rotatable cutting head mounted therein. An actuator drives the cutting head out of and into contact with the surface. Sensors disposed on the housing sense a depth of the groove cut by the cutting head. A controller is arranged to receive a signal from the sensors and compare the depth of the groove with a predetermined reference depth. The controller sends a signal to the actuator and adjusts the position of the cutting head via the actuator to maintain the depth of the groove at about the reference depth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventor: H. Matthew Johnson
  • Publication number: 20150086268
    Abstract: A system for controlling a cutting machine for cutting continuous sinusoidal 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 to control the cylinder to cut a subsurface sinusoidal strip wherein the cutting drum remains in the road surface once the cutting operation begins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: H. Matthew JOHNSON, Jeffrey M. DOWS
  • Publication number: 20140327294
    Abstract: A cutting tool, a mounting bracket for the cutting tool, and a rotatable cutting head are provided. The cutting tool includes a saddle portion configured to be secured to a mounting bracket, an aperture extending through the saddle portion, and at least one cutting bit attachment portion. The mounting bracket includes a base having a receiving slot configured to receive a cutting tool, a threaded recess extending at least partially through the base, and a curved bottom surface corresponding to a curvature of a cutting drum. The rotatable cutting head comprises a drive shaft connectable to a drive motor, a drum portion coupled to the drive shaft, the drum portion having a curved outer surface, a plurality of mounting brackets secured to the curved outer surface, and at least one cutting tool having at least one cutting bit attachment portion removably secured to at least one of the mounting brackets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: SURFACE PREPARATION TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: H. Matthew JOHNSON, Jeffrey M. DOWS
  • Patent number: 8821063
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Surface Preparation Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: H. Matthew Johnson, Jeffreu M. Dows
  • Publication number: 20130140870
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: SURFACE PREPARATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: H. Matthew Johnson
  • Patent number: 6755482
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Surface Preparation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: H. Matthew Johnson
  • Publication number: 20020192025
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventor: H. Matthew Johnson