MOBILE POTHOLE PATCHING MACHINE
A mobile pothole patching vehicle includes a chassis and front and rear support wheels for the chassis. A cab is mounted on the chassis as is a paving material storage hopper. A paving material dispensing mechanism is mounted on the chassis and is in communication with the hopper. A discharge chute is in communication with the dispensing mechanism. A boom mechanism includes a proximal end mounted on the chassis. A first swivel mechanism rotates the boom mechanism in relation to the chassis. A tamper plate is mounted on a distal end of the boom mechanism. The machine can patch potholes through the actions of a single operator who remains in the cab during the patching or repair process, thus enhancing the safety of the patching operation.
This application claims priority from Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/468,122 which was filed on Mar. 28, 2011 and from Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/554,282 which was filed on Nov. 1, 2011. The subject matter of each of these applications is incorporated hereinto in its entirety.
BACKGROUNDThe present disclosure relates generally to road maintenance machinery. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a one man mobile pothole patching machine.
Our highly mobile society necessitates the use of paved surfaces, such as roads, sidewalks and pathways. Such paved surfaces are typically made of an aggregate composition, namely, asphalt pavement material or concrete. Wear and seasonal changes to such paved surfaces causes damage. The damage is usually to localized areas, making pavement patching an economical alternative to complete pavement replacement. These damaged areas are typically repaired manually using hot or cold asphalt composition mixtures. Such pavement repairs are costly and can use up large portions of city and state road maintenance budgets. While the asphalt material used to make the repairs is relatively inexpensive, safety issues and labor costs are the major expense of road repairs. The labor costs are directly related to the number of people that are needed to make the repairs, as well as the time required for the holes to be repaired.
Currently, multiple road working personnel are required to patch potholes with shovels and a small capacity dump truck carrying asphalt repair materials. The procedures involve strenuous manual labor with the road workers being exposed to the dangers of vehicular traffic. Because the damaged areas are typically irregularly shaped depressions which contain broken and pulverized aggregate pavement material, they need to be cleaned out first. Then, the holes need to be filled and the patching material needs to be tamped down and the area cleaned up thereafter.
There have been many instances of drivers accidentally striking the road maintenance crew members engaged in this activity. Every year across the country and around the world, hundreds of road maintenance and construction personnel are killed or seriously injured repairing potholes and removing other road hazards.
But, pothole repair cannot be ignored. When potholes are developed in pavement, additional damage becomes more likely. Water and environmental contaminants are able to seep into the aggregate composition further weakening it and setting the stage for more damage. Vehicle tires which pass over the damaged areas are often jolted by a recess or ridge, causing the vehicle to bounce, thereby exerting additional force on the surrounding pavement and spreading the damage. Damaged areas also affect the safety of vehicles and pedestrians. Recesses encountered by a vehicle may upset the stability of the vehicle and make it harder to control, thereby endangering pedestrians. Larger potholes may cause damage to vehicles directly, such as blown tires, suspension damage or bent wheels. Therefore, potholes need to be patched promptly in order to reduce additional damage or injury.
There have been proposals for single operator road repair machines. However, the proposed machines are astronomically expensive, very complicated and require a massive amount of preparation, maintenance and clean up after use and prior to shut down.
What is needed is a simple road patching system which is comprised of components that are familiar to all knowledgeable road working and construction oriented personnel. This would eliminate the learning curve of orientation and training on a new piece of equipment, as only proven field tested components are employed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONIn one embodiment, the present disclosure pertains to a mobile pothole patching vehicle which comprises a chassis and front and rear support wheels for the chassis. A cab is mounted on the chassis. A paving material storage hopper is mounted on the chassis, as is a paving material dispensing mechanism which is in communication with the hopper. A discharge chute is in communication with the dispensing mechanism. A boom mechanism includes a proximal end mounted on the chassis. A first swivel mechanism rotates the boom mechanism in relation to the chassis. A vibratory plate compactor is mounted on a distal end of the boom mechanism.
A door can be mounted between the dispensing mechanism and the discharge chute for selectively permitting communication between the dispensing mechanism and the discharge chute. The dispensing mechanism can include an auger and an auger drive. The discharge chute can be pivotable in relation to the chassis and can further include a mechanism for moving the discharge chute.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a pressurized air device is mounted to the chassis. An air nozzle is connected to the chassis and is in fluid communication with the pressurized air device. A control is provided for selectively actuating the pressurized air device. The air nozzle can be pivotable in relation to the chassis between the stowed orientation and a deployed orientation for cleaning out a pothole before patching same.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a plurality of surveillance cameras are mounted to the chassis. A monitor is located in the cab to enable an operator to view designated areas on the vehicle and in the environment. According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a brush is mounted to the chassis for cleaning out a pothole before dispensing of an associated paving material or a clean up thereafter. A traffic alert device can be mounted on the chassis, if so desired. The traffic alert device can include a telescopic section.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a tar storage tank can be mounted on the chassis. A tar spray nozzle is in communication with the tar storage tank.
A control system is located in the cab of the vehicle for controlling an operation of the paving material dispensing mechanism, the boom arm and the tamper plate. In one embodiment, the control system also controls an operation of the discharge chute and a door mounted between the dispensing mechanism and the discharge chute. If desired, the control system can also control an operation of an air spray nozzle and a brush mechanism. Further, in one embodiment, the control system can also control operation of a tar spray nozzle.
According to the present disclosure, the boom mechanism comprises a plurality of link members. The boom mechanism is collapsible so that it can be moved from a use position to a stowed position. A second swivel mechanism can be provided for rotating the vibratory plate in relation to the boom arm. For energy efficiency reasons, an engine exhaust line can extend through the paving material storage hopper in order to heat the associated paving material which is stored therein.
In one embodiment, a pair of discharge chutes are provided, one on each of a left and right side of the vehicle. Further provided is a first motor for propelling the vehicle and a second motor for selectively actuating the paving material dispensing mechanism.
Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating several embodiments of the disclosure only and not for purposes of limiting same,
It is evident that there are tires supporting the chassis 2 on a ground surface. Disposed behind the air compressor 4 is a paving device or machine 5. The paving device can hold a paving material such as an asphalt material or the like. The material can be either a cold patch, a warm mix or a hot asphalt patching material. Located in the vicinity of the paving device is at least one directional safety arrow 6 which can be best seen in
It should be appreciated that the vibratory plate compactor can be modified with blades on all sides in order to allow the operator to manipulate and move the asphalt patching material into place if the vehicle is unable to drive over the repair area. All of the controls for operating the various pieces of equipment mounted to the chassis are located in the cab of the vehicle. Such controls can be handles, joy sticks, switches, levers, push buttons and the like.
Mounted to the front end of the vehicle chassis can be one or more surveillance cameras 9. Such surveillance cameras may also be located on the rear end of the chassis, as well as beneath the chassis at the location where the asphalt or other patching material is deposited into the pothole. Thus, the entire underside of the vehicle can be covered by the several cameras so that the driver of the vehicle, who is at the same time also controlling the equipment supported on the vehicle, can see the road surface. Put another way, the disclosed embodiment provides an in-cab video surveillance of all repair functions or patching functions which are performed by the vehicle and the equipment held on it. Also, a single operator can control all operations performed by the vehicle.
Provided at the rear end of the chassis is the rear safety bumper 10. Disposed on the rear end of the chassis is a stove plate 11 on which the vibratory plate compactor 8 can be supported when not in use. This plate can also serve as a reservoir for a non-stick liquid in order to prevent the paving material from sticking to plate compactor. The boom assembly is supported on a boom mounting plate 12 fastened to the chassis 2. Similarly, the one or more directional safety arrows 6 can be supported on the chassis 2 by one or more mounting plates 13.
If desired, one or more road cleaning brushes 14 (
With reference now to
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A top view in schematic form of the machine of
One embodiment of such a patching machine is shown in
In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the patching machine includes a vehicle comprising a cab and a chassis mounted on wheels. However, in this embodiment, only a paving unit is mounted on the chassis. In other words, there would be no air compressor and no boom assembly mounted on the chassis. It can be contemplated that such a paving machine would also be advantageous because it would be less expensive and may, therefore, be preferable for certain municipalities where budgetary considerations are paramount. It is known that certain municipalities do not clean out the pothole before covering the pothole with patching material. As to tamping down the paving material, it can be contemplated that the rear tires of the vehicle can run over the patched pavement and tamp down the patching material. Some municipalities, in fact, do not tamp down the paving material in the newly patched pothole. In an effort to save money, such municipalities simply allow oncoming traffic to run over the newly patched pothole expecting that the tires of the vehicles traversing the highway will tamp down the paving material into the pothole. For this embodiment of the disclosure, rather than using a double tire arrangement as at 122 in
With reference now to
A paving material dispensing mechanism is mounted on the chassis and is in communication with the hopper. As previously disclosed, the dispensing mechanism can comprise an auger for moving the paving material, as well as an auger housing. Further provided is a discharge chute 240 and a chute door 242. A chute door actuator 244 can be provided. The chute door actuator can be a piston and cylinder mechanism, as is illustrated. The chute door is mounted between the dispensing mechanism and the discharge chute 240 for selectively permitting communication between the dispensing mechanism and the discharge chute. It is noted that the discharge chute can be pivotable in relation to the chassis and can further include a known mechanism for moving the discharge chute between various orientations thereof.
A boom assembly 250 is mounted on the chassis. The boom assembly includes a proximal end 252 which is mounted to the chassis and a distal end 254 to which is mounted tamper plate 260. The tamper plate can be a vibratory plate/compactor. There can also be provided a swivel mechanism 262 positioned between the distal end 254 of the boom assembly and the tamper plate. In this way, the tamper plate 260 can be pivoted in relation to the boom assembly. At the same time, the boom assembly is pivotable in relation to the chassis, as previously discussed. A boom mounting plate 268 is provided on the vehicle for rotatably mounting the boom assembly thereon.
If so desired, electronic or hydraulic controls 280 can be provided for the paving machine 210 and the boom assembly 250 on the chassis and outside the cab 206 thereof, as illustrated in
A pressurized air device 290 can be mounted on the chassis. An air nozzle 292 is connected to the chassis and is in fluid communication with the pressurized air device. A control is provided for selectively actuating the pressurized air device. It is noted that the air nozzles 292 are selectively pivotable in relation to the chassis between a stowed orientation and a deployed orientation.
In one embodiment, a plurality of surveillance cameras 300 can be mounted to the chassis. As illustrated in
If desired, a brush 310 can be provided to clean out the pothole after the air nozzles have been employed and before patching material is dispensed via the discharge chute 240 or to clean the vicinity of the pothole after the patching process.
In this embodiment, there is provided a tar storage tank 320 and a dispensing nozzle 322 (see
Positioned in the cab 206 of the vehicle is a control system. The control system controls the operation of the paving material dispensing mechanism, the boom arm and the compacting plate. It can also control the operation of the discharge chute and the door mounted between the dispensing mechanism and the discharge chute. Further, the control system can also control the operation of the air spray nozzles and the brush mechanism. In addition, the control system can control the operation of the tar or spray nozzles 322 and 324.
With reference now to
It should be appreciated that a pair of discharge chutes 240 are provided, one on each of left and a right side of the vehicle. This can be advantageous in order to allow the vehicle to patch potholes on both sides of the vehicle.
Also provided are a plurality of electrical control lines 320 which extend to the excavator boom assembly 250 and the asphalt paver 210 from the cab 206. If desired, an electronic control station 322 with joystick controls can be employed to selectively actuate the boom assembly 250 and, hence, the tamping or vibratory compacting plate 260 and the asphalt paver 210 from the cab of the vehicle.
With reference again to
Disclosed has been a one man pothole repair or patching machine which can include a truck and chassis. The truck can be single, tandem or triple axle, depending on customer requirements. An asphalt paving machine with a heated asphalt containment unit, known as an asphalt paver, is mounted on the truck. The paver can be 4, 6, 8 or 10 ton unit, depending on customer requirements. Thus, up to 10 tons of patching material can be carried on the chassis 2. Also supported on the vehicle is a boom assembly, which can be 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 or 18 feet in length depending on customer requirements. Mounted to the free end of the boom is a vibratory plate compactor. Also mounted on the cab, if desired, is an air compressor which provides pressurized air pumped to air clean out nozzles for the potholes being patched. If desired, cleaning brushes and a tar or other tackifying material dispenser can be mounted on the chassis. Mounted on the vehicle are left and right asphalt distribution funnels or chutes. Auger rotation of the paving unit will determine whether the discharge of the asphalt is to the left or the right funnel. Provided in the cab are all the controls for remote operation of the various pieces of equipment. Moreover, video surveillance of all pothole repair operations is covered via the in cab monitors. Since the operator stays in the vehicle the risk of injury to the operator during patching operations is greatly lessened.
The disclosed pothole repair unit or machine allows for repair and clean-up of interstate highways, county and city roads and alleys. Clean up and repair of federal, state, county, city and township parks and properties are also possible with only a single operator. The unit can further be used for sidewalks, airports, race tracks, drag strips and commercial parking lots.
The unit greatly enhances safety as the operator remains in the cab at all times, thus reducing work related fatalities and injuries, reducing insurance costs, improving budgets by significantly reducing the cost of patching potholes. But, most importantly, the disclosed pothole patching machine saves lives.
Options for the pothole repair machine include air pressure clean out nozzles, street sweepers or brooms, digital recording of operations and traffic conditions, GPS tracking and the like. Other options available after the potholes are repaired include a change out of the vibratory plate compactor unit for a digger bucket, an auger drill, a bucket thumb, excavator shears, a stump grinder or any other compatible attachment. Moreover, the high pressure pothole clean out nozzles can be directed to blow snow. Further, salt can be distributed from the paving unit.
The several components mounted on the chassis should be familiar to most road workers as they should already have been trained on like asphalt repair units, booms and compressors.
What has been disclosed is a one man pothole repair and patching vehicle including a truck having a chassis supporting an asphalt paving machine and a boom mechanism supporting a vibratory plate compactor. The disclosed unit greatly limits the danger to road maintenance personnel of patching potholes, as well as other outdoor repair and clean up duties which reduces insurance costs, improves township budgets and saves lives.
Disclosed has been a one man mobile pothole patching machine which includes a truck chassis and cab, an asphalt paver, including a conveyor for delivery of the asphalt to a road surface and an asphalt containment unit. Also provided is a vibratory plate compactor. An air compressor can be employed to clean out the potholes before the machine advances the paver to patch the pothole. Thereafter, the vibratory plate compactor compacts the asphalt material.
The disclosure has been described with reference to several embodiments. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the disclosure be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.
Claims
1. A mobile pothole patching vehicle, comprising:
- a chassis;
- front and rear support wheels for the chassis;
- a cab mounted on the chassis;
- a paving material storage hopper mounted on the chassis;
- a paving material dispensing mechanism mounted on the chassis and in communication with the hopper;
- a discharge chute in communication with the dispensing mechanism;
- a boom mechanism including a proximal end mounted on the chassis;
- a first swivel mechanism for rotating the boom mechanism in relation to the chassis; and,
- a vibratory plate compactor mounted on a distal end of the boom arm.
2. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a door mounted between the dispensing mechanism and the discharge chute for selectively permitting communication between the dispensing mechanism and the discharge chute.
3. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the dispensing mechanism includes an auger and an auger drive.
4. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the discharge chute is pivotable in relation to the chassis and further including a mechanism for moving the discharge chute.
5. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising:
- a pressurized air device mounted to the chassis;
- an air nozzle connected to the chassis and in fluid communication with the pressurized air device; and,
- a control for selectively actuating the pressurized air device.
6. The vehicle of claim 5 wherein the air nozzle is pivotable in relation to the chassis between a stowed orientation and a deployed orientation for cleaning out a pothole before patching same.
7. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising:
- a plurality of surveillance cameras mounted to the chassis; and,
- a monitor located in the cab to enable an operator to view designated areas on the vehicle and in the environment.
8. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a brush mounted to the chassis for at least one of cleaning out a pothole before dispensing of an associated paving material or clean up thereafter.
9. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a traffic alert device mounted on the chassis.
10. The vehicle of claim 9 wherein the traffic alert device includes a telescopic section.
11. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising:
- a tar storage tank mounted on the chassis; and,
- a tar spray nozzle in communication with the tar storage tank.
12. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a control system located in the cab for controlling an operation of the paving material dispensing mechanism, the boom arm, the tamper plate.
13. The vehicle of claim 12 wherein the control system also controls an operation of the discharge chute and a door mounted between the dispensing mechanism and the discharge chute.
14. The vehicle of claim 13 wherein the control system also controls an operation of an air spray nozzle and a brush mechanism.
15. The vehicle of claim 14 wherein the control system also controls an operation of a tar spray nozzle.
16. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the boom mechanism comprises a plurality of link members and wherein the boom mechanism is collapsible so that it can be selectively moved from a use position to a stowed position.
17. The vehicle of claim 16 further comprising a second swivel mechanism for rotating the vibratory plate in relation to the boom arm.
18. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising an engine exhaust line which extends through the paving material storage hopper in order to heat an associated paving material stored therein.
19. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein a pair of discharge chutes are provided, one on each of a left and right side of the vehicle.
20. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a first motor for propelling the vehicle and a second motor for selectively actuating the paving material dispensing mechanism.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 28, 2012
Publication Date: Oct 4, 2012
Inventor: Terrence K. Byrne (Lexington, OH)
Application Number: 13/432,594
International Classification: E01C 19/48 (20060101); E01C 19/16 (20060101); E01C 19/20 (20060101);