Abstract: A milling machine includes a primary drum drive assembly for its milling drum, and a ground-engaging drive assembly for driving the milling machine along a roadway. A lifting column is attached between the frame and the ground-engaging drive assembly. The lifting column includes a linear actuator which can raise and lower the frame of the machine with respect to the roadway. A sensor mounted to the lifting column is adapted to determine if the lifting column is not supporting at least a predetermined portion of the weight of the milling machine. A controller is operatively attached to the drive assemblies and to the sensor, and is adapted to receive from the sensor a signal indicating that the lifting column is not supporting the predetermined portion of the weight of the milling machine. Upon receipt of such signal, the controller will automatically control certain machine functions.

Abstract: A side cutter milling assembly is used to modify a milling machine having a frame, a milling drum housing that is removably attached to the frame, a milling drum that is mounted for rotation within the milling drum housing, and a primary drum drive assembly that is adapted to rotate the milling drum. The side cutter milling assembly includes a drum housing having a main portion and a side portion. The main portion is adapted to be installed on the frame of the milling machine in place of the milling drum housing, and the side portion is offset to one side of the milling machine. A side cutter milling drum is mounted for rotation within the side portion of the drum housing, and a side cutter drivetrain is configured and adapted to be operatively attached to the side cutter milling drum and the primary drum drive assembly.

Abstract: A milling machine for milling a surface of a roadway includes a frame and a milling assembly having a cutter drum that is mounted for rotation with respect to the frame. The cutter drum has a drive shaft on which a sheave is mounted. A primary drum drive assembly is adapted to rotate the cutter drum with respect to the frame. The primary drum drive assembly includes a drive belt that cooperates with the sheave on an input drive shaft for the cutter drum to rotate the cutter drum. A belt lift assembly may be operated to selectively disengage the drive belt from the sheave of the input drive shaft for the cutter drum, so that an auxiliary drum drive assembly comprising an auxiliary drive motor may be operated to rotate the cutter drum independently of the primary drum drive assembly.

Abstract: A milling machine includes a primary drum drive assembly for its milling drum, and a ground-engaging drive assembly for driving the milling machine along a roadway. A lifting column is attached between the frame and the ground-engaging drive assembly. The lifting column includes a linear actuator which can raise and lower the frame of the machine with respect to the roadway. A sensor mounted to the lifting column is adapted to determine if the lifting column is not supporting at least a predetermined portion of the weight of the milling machine. A controller is operatively attached to the drive assemblies and to the sensor, and is adapted to receive from the sensor a signal indicating that the lifting column is not supporting the predetermined portion of the weight of the milling machine. Upon receipt of such signal, the controller will automatically control certain machine functions.

Abstract: A milling machine includes a primary drum drive assembly that is adapted to rotate a milling drum, and a ground-engaging drive assembly that is adapted to drive the milling machine along a roadway. A lifting column includes a linear actuator which can be operated to raise and lower the frame of the machine with respect to the roadway. A sensor that is mounted to the lifting column is adapted to determine if the lifting column is not supporting at least a predetermined portion of the weight of the milling machine. A controller is operatively attached to the primary drum drive assembly and to the sensor. The controller is adapted to receive from the sensor a signal indicating that the lifting column is not supporting the predetermined portion of the weight of the milling machine, and upon receipt of such signal, to stop the rotation of the milling drum.

Abstract: A milling machine includes a milling assembly having a housing to which left and right end gates are attached, a controller, a right front lifting column, a left front lifting column and a rear lifting column. Elevation sensors are located at the front and rear of each of the end gates. The controller is operatively attached to the elevation sensors and to linear actuators within the lifting columns of the milling machine. The elevation sensor that is located at the front end of the right end gate will provide feedback to control the position of the right front lifting column, and the elevation sensor that is located at the front end of the left end gate will provide feedback to control the position of the left front lifting column. The elevation sensors that are located at the rear ends of the end gates are available, as selected by the operator, to provide feedback to control the positions of one of the right and left front lifting columns, as well as the rear lifting column.

Abstract: A milling machine for milling a surface of a roadway includes a frame and a milling assembly having a cutter drum that is mounted for rotation with respect to the frame. The cutter drum has a drive shaft on which a sheave is mounted. A primary drum drive assembly is adapted to rotate the cutter drum with respect to the frame. The primary drum drive assembly includes a drive belt that cooperates with the sheave on an input drive shaft for the cutter drum to rotate the cutter drum. A belt lift assembly may be operated to selectively disengage the drive belt from the sheave of the input drive shaft for the cutter drum, so that an auxiliary drum drive assembly comprising an auxiliary drive motor may be operated to rotate the cutter drum independently of the primary drum drive assembly.

Abstract: A side cutter milling assembly is used to modify a milling machine having a frame, a milling drum housing that is removably attached to the frame, a milling drum that is mounted for rotation within the milling drum housing, and a primary drum drive assembly that is adapted to rotate the milling drum. The side cutter milling assembly includes a drum housing having a main portion and a side portion. The main portion is adapted to be installed on the frame of the milling machine in place of the milling drum housing, and the side portion is offset to one side of the milling machine. A side cutter milling drum is mounted for rotation within the side portion of the drum housing, and a side cutter drivetrain is configured and adapted to be operatively attached to the side cutter milling drum and the primary drum drive assembly.

Abstract: A milling machine for milling a surface of a roadway includes a frame and a milling assembly having a cutter drum that is mounted for rotation with respect to the frame. The cutter drum has a drive shaft on which a sheave is mounted. A primary drum drive assembly is adapted to rotate the cutter drum with respect to the frame. The primary drum drive assembly includes a drive belt that cooperates with the sheave on the drive shaft for the cutter drum to rotate the cutter drum. A belt lift assembly may be operated to selectively disengage the drive belt from the sheave of the drive shaft for the cutter drum.

Abstract: A milling machine for milling a roadway surface includes a frame and a milling drum that is mounted for rotation with respect to the frame. A primary drum drive assembly is operatively attached to the milling drum and is adapted to rotate the milling drum, and a ground-engaging drive assembly is adapted to drive the milling machine along the roadway surface. A lifting column is attached at its upper end to the frame and at its lower end to the ground-engaging drive assembly. The lifting column includes a linear actuator which can be operated to raise and lower the frame of the machine with respect to the roadway surface. A sensor that is mounted to the lifting column is adapted to determine if the lifting column is not supporting at least a predetermined portion of the weight of the milling machine. A controller is operatively attached to the primary drum drive assembly and to the sensor.

Abstract: A milling machine for milling a roadway surface includes a frame and a milling drum that is mounted for rotation with respect to the frame. A primary drum drive assembly is operatively attached to the milling drum and adapted to rotate the milling drum, and a ground-engaging drive assembly that is adapted to drive the milling machine along the roadway surface. A lifting column is attached at its upper end to the frame and at its lower end to the ground-engaging drive assembly. The lifting column includes a linear actuator which can be operated to raise and lower the frame of the machine with respect to the roadway surface. A sensor that is associated with the lifting column is adapted to determine if the lifting column is not supporting a portion of the weight of the milling machine sufficient to insure that the milling drum is not supporting any part of the weight of the milling machine. A controller is operatively attached to the primary drum drive assembly and to the sensor.

Abstract: A milling machine includes a milling assembly having a housing to which left and right end gates are attached, a controller, a right front lifting column, a left front lifting column and a rear lifting column. Elevation sensors are located at the front and rear of each of the end gates. The controller is operatively attached to the elevation sensors and to linear actuators within the lifting columns of the milling machine. The elevation sensor that is located at the front end of the right end gate will provide feedback to control the position of the right front lifting column, and the elevation sensor that is located at the front end of the left end gate will provide feedback to control the position of the left front lifting column. The elevation sensors that are located at the rear ends of the end gates are available, as selected by the operator, to provide feedback to control the positions of one of the right and left front lifting columns, as well as the rear lifting column.

Abstract: A milling machine for milling a surface of a roadway includes a frame and a milling assembly having a cutter drum that is mounted for rotation with respect to the frame. The cutter drum has a drive shaft on which a sheave is mounted. A primary drum drive assembly is adapted to rotate the cutter drum with respect to the frame. The primary drum drive assembly includes a drive belt that cooperates with the sheave on the drive shaft for the cutter drum to rotate the cutter drum. A belt lift assembly may be operated to selectively disengage the drive belt from the sheave of the drive shaft for the cutter drum.

Abstract: A milling machine includes a frame, a housing, a milling drum mounted on the frame within the housing and a drive assembly. A positioning assembly is provided for moving the drive assembly between a first position which is laterally outside the periphery of the machine housing and a second position which is laterally inside the periphery of the machine housing, and for locking the drive assembly in at least the first and second positions without requiring the operator to manually manipulate a locking pin.

Abstract: A milling machine includes a frame, a housing, a milling drum mounted on the frame within the housing and a drive assembly. A positioning assembly is provided for moving the drive assembly between a first position which is laterally outside the periphery of the machine housing and a second position which is laterally inside the periphery of the machine housing, and for locking the drive assembly in at least the first and second positions without requiring the operator to manually manipulate a locking pin.