Height Adjustment Patents (Class 299/39.6)
  • Patent number: 10086867
    Abstract: A steering mechanism for a milling attachment device provides steering capability without impeding cutting depth control. The steering mechanism has at least one wheel that is rotated by an actuating mechanism such as an extending cylinder, synchronized actuators, or the like. The steering mechanism may be integrated with depth control by using a parallelogrammic structure with pivot points to assist in the depth control or may operate independent of and without impeding depth control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Asphalt Zipper, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Tron Haroldsen, Matthew H. Taylor
  • Patent number: 9988774
    Abstract: A cutting device adapted to be pulled by a trailer. The cutting device comprises a frame which supports an engine and a cutting drum assembly powered by the engine. The cutting drum assembly comprises a self-aligning mount that allows movement of its drum relative to the frame. The engine is positioned such that its weight is provided to the cutting drum assembly to maintain a consistent depth of the cutting drum. A linear actuator, such as a hydraulic cylinder, allows the frame to pivot internally, so that the cutting drum assembly may be raised and lowered relative to the ground while translating the frame on wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Ironwolf Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventors: Todd Howe, Edward C. Hubkey
  • 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: 9203226
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for cutting a trench (e.g., for a fiber optic cable or wire conductors) in an existing covering surface (e.g., a road surface), wherein the trench has a depth of approximately 10 to 12 inches and a width of approximately 0.5 to 1.25 inches. Debris from the cut trench is evacuated (e.g., vacuumed) from the trench as the trench is cut. The trench may be backfilled by flowing a non-shrinking composition into at least a portion of the trench and, after hardening of the non-shrinking composition, applying a topping material to a remaining portion of the trench. In one example, the non-shrinking composition is configured to rigidify within one hour of being flowed into the trench, be substantially impermeable thereafter (e.g., having a hydraulic permeability of less than 0.0000001 cm/s upon drying), and be non-compressible and non-expanding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: CertusView Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Daniel Paul Miller
  • Patent number: 9194088
    Abstract: A road milling machine with a machine frame supported by a chassis with one front axle and one rear axle with wheels or crawler tracks, with a milling drum mounted at the machine frame to rotate between the rear wheels, where said milling drum ends nearly flush with a zero-clearance side, it is provided that the wheels or crawler tracks of the front axle as seen in the direction of travel are arranged offset from one another in such a fashion that one of the front wheels or tracks is arranged in front of the other front wheel or crawler track as seen in the direction of travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Roland Lull, Günter Hähn, Oliver Thiel, Cyrus Barimani
  • Patent number: 9127417
    Abstract: A device (100) is provided for the demolishing and in particular for milling horizontal, vertical and inclined surfaces or layers suitable for pedestrians and/or vehicles such as for instance asphalt and/or concrete roads. The device comprises rotatable working means (10) rotatably fixed to a main supporting frame (T) which comprises a first supporting element (L) and a second supporting element (F). The device also comprises regulating means adapted to adjust the position of the first supporting element (L) with respect to the main frame (T) independently of the position of the second supporting element (F). The regulating means comprise an arm (R) fixed to the main frame (T) so as to be free to rotate or translate. The first supporting element (L) is rotatably fixed to a portion (H) of the arm (L).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: SIMEX S.R.L.
    Inventor: Mirco Risi
  • Patent number: 9085857
    Abstract: An automotive milling machine, for the treatment of road surfaces or ground surfaces includes a chassis comprising front and rear suspension axles with a total of no less than three suspension units with a machine frame supported by the chassis, with lifting columns between the suspension units and the machine frame at no less than two suspension units of a suspension axle, said suspension units being transversely offset from one another in the direction of travel, and with a working drum. The working drum is adjustable to a position for driving in travel mode with the working drum raised and, in the adjusted position of the working drum at a distance from the road surface or ground surface, the lifting columns are suitable for coupling to a spring device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Hanjo Held, Markus Schaefer, Christian Berning, Cyrus Barimani, Guenter Haehn
  • Patent number: 9016798
    Abstract: A self-propelled construction machine has a machine frame and an operating drum for processing the ground surface, wherein the operating drum is positioned in a downwards open drum housing, that is closed on both sides by an edge protector, which is adjustable in height by an actuator for raising and/or lowering the edge protector. A control unit comprises a sensor for registering the distance a between a reference point on the edge protector and the ground surface. Furthermore, the control unit is configured so that when the distance between reference point and ground surface falls below a predetermined minimum distance, the actuator is switched from a floating setting, so that the edge protector is raised. As a result, the edge protector tightly closes the drum housing at the sides without there being a risk that the edge protector can be entrenched in loose substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Hanjo Held, Philip Verhaelen, Cyrus Barimani, Günter Hähn
  • 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: 8998344
    Abstract: A road cutting machine has a machine frame and at least one left-hand running gear and at least one right-hand running gear. A device is provided for raising or lowering the running gears resting on the ground, in relation to the machine frame, and also a control unit is provided for activating the device for raising and lowering the running gears, so that the height of the running gears can be adjusted to the machine frame. The control unit comprises sensors for detecting changes in the height of the ground to be covered by the running gears in relation to the machine frame, whereby the control unit contains a control mode for initiating actions in the control system for adjusting the height of the running gears. The control unit is configured in such a way in the control mode that if a change is detected in the height of the ground, the respective running gear or the respective running gears are raised or lowered so as to compensate any lateral tilting due to a change in the height of the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Dirk Franzmann, René Müller, Cyrus Barimani, Günter Hähn
  • 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: 8960806
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for operating a ground milling machine which comprises at least one height-adjustable milling roller, wherein the milling roller performs a tumbling movement (T?) which is controlled by way of open-loop and/or closed-loop control during lowering in operation. The present invention further relates to a control device for the closed-loop and/or open-loop control of this method, and also to a ground milling machine with such a control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: BOMAG GmbH
    Inventor: Steffen Wachsmann
  • Patent number: 8944517
    Abstract: A self-propelling construction machine has a machine frame, an operating drum and a drum housing enclosing the operating drum. The drum housing is closed off by a front and/or rear sealing element and/or lateral sealing element. The construction machine has a mechanism for raising and lowering the at least one sealing element. A measuring unit is configured so that the measuring unit measures the forces acting on the sealing element when the sealing element encounters an obstacle. A control unit generates a control signal for raising the sealing element when the force measured by the measuring unit is larger than a predetermined limit value, so that the sealing element is raised.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Franzmann, Christian Berning, Herbert Ley, Cyrus Barimani, Günter Hähn
  • Publication number: 20140375110
    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 on pivoting arms 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) transfering the drive power from the engine to the working drum (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Thomas Mannebach, Peter Busley, Karsten Buhr, Günter Hähn
  • Patent number: 8899690
    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: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Heinz Kötting, Herbert Ley, Günter Hähn
  • Patent number: 8899689
    Abstract: A milling machine is provided including: a frame; a plurality of ground engaging units; a plurality of vertically adjustable legs, the plurality of vertically adjustable legs comprising a front leg and a rear leg; a rotatable mill configured to mill a surface; a user interface configured to receive a milling grade depth and a cut-transition factor; a speed sensor configured to provide a ground speed of the milling machine; a vertical position sensor; and a controller coupled to the speed sensor, the vertical position sensor, and the user interface, the controller configured to lower a height of the rotatable mill to the milling grade depth by incrementally adjusting a length of at least one of the plurality of vertically adjustable legs according to the cut-transition factor, the speed sensor, and the vertical position sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel H. Killion
  • Patent number: 8888194
    Abstract: A control module for a milling rotor of a machine is provided. The control module comprises a processor and a controller. The processor is configured to receive a first signal, indicative of a direction of motion of the machine, a second signal, indicative of a relative height of a pair of side plates with respect to the milling rotor, and a third signal, indicative of a relative height of a moldboard with respect to the milling rotor. The processor processes the first signal, the second signal, and the third signal to generate a control signal. The controller is configured to receive the control signal from the processor and selectively disengage the milling rotor of the machine based on the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel H. Killion
  • Publication number: 20140333119
    Abstract: A road milling machine includes a machine frame, front wheels or tracks, rear wheels or tracks, and a milling drum supported from the machine frame between the rear wheels or tracks. The front wheels or tracks are mounted on pivoting columns. Steering levers are attached to the pivoting columns. A steering tie rod includes a connecting part and a projecting arm. The connecting part is connected to the steering levers. A steering cylinder is connected to a free end of the projecting arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Oliver Thiel, Roland Lull, Cyrus Barimani, Günter Hähn
  • Publication number: 20140333115
    Abstract: A road milling machine with a machine frame supported by a chassis with one front axle and one rear axle with wheels or crawler tracks, with a milling drum mounted at the machine frame to rotate between the rear wheels, where said milling drum ends nearly flush with a zero-clearance side, it is provided that the wheels or crawler tracks of the front axle as seen in the direction of travel are arranged offset from one another in such a fashion that one of the front wheels or tracks is arranged in front of the other front wheel or crawler track as seen in the direction of travel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Roland Lull, Günter Hähn, Oliver Thiel, Cyrus Barimani
  • 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: 8807867
    Abstract: A method is provided for measuring the milling depth of a road milling machine, the machine being operative to mill a ground surface with a milling roller lowered to a milling depth to create a milling track, the machine including at least one side plate located to at least one side of the milling roller to engage an untreated ground surface, and the machine including a stripping plate operative to be lowered onto the milling track generated by the milling roller. The method includes measuring the milling depth of the milling track, the measuring including detecting a measurement value of a ground engaging sensor engaging the milling track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Dieter Simons
  • 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: 8764118
    Abstract: A road milling machine includes a sensor mounting system having a first mounting member, which is attached to a first machine component and supports a portion of a position sensor, and a second mounting member attached to a second machine component having a pivotable attachment to a machine frame. An extension member has a first end attached to the second mounting member and a second end including an attachment flange. A unitary ski member has a first end attached to another portion of the position sensor and a second end pivotably attached to the attachment flange. The unitary ski member includes a ground engaging surface that is positioned inboard relative to first and second side plates, which flank a rotor, and has a pivot movement compensation curve. A controller is configured for determining a milling depth of the rotor from measurements obtained by the position sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Sundararajan Krishnamoorthy, Arul Kumar Ramasamy, Timothy Miller
  • Patent number: 8672581
    Abstract: A road construction machine comprising height adjustment devices which adjust the position of the plane of the machine frame in accordance with control signals, where the leveling device measures the distance of the ground surface to the machine frame and controls the height adjustment devices so the machine frame is movable at an adjusted orthogonal distance to the surface; a transmitter is arranged at the machine frame in a rigid fashion, and a receiver is movable, parallel to and synchronously with the machine frame, or vice versa, where the transmitter emits a measuring beam representative of a reference plane, the measuring beam being detectable by the receiver and representing either a plane extending parallel to the machine frame or a plane extending parallel to the ground surface, where the current distance of the machine frame to the current reference location is measurable from the detected position of the reference plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Rene Müller, Thomas Schmidt, Cyrus Barimani, Günter Hähn
  • Publication number: 20140054950
    Abstract: A road milling machine includes a rear wheel or track mounted on a pivot arm such that the wheel or track is movable between a first outer end position projecting laterally relative to the machine frame, and a second inner end position which permits milling close to an edge. A travel drive of the rear wheel or track provides a driving force to move the wheel or track between the end positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Tobias Stinner, Andreas Vogt, Cyrus Barimani, Günter Hähn
  • Publication number: 20140049093
    Abstract: A self-propelled building machine, especially a road cutting machine or a surface miner, has a machine frame and a chassis, comprising running gears resting on the ground. In addition, the present invention relates to a method for operating such a building machine. In an operating mode for adjusting the working depth of the working device the imposed weight applied by the building machine on the running gear is measured, whereby depending on the imposed weight either a controlled or an uncontrolled lowering of the building machine is indicated. A measuring device comprises a sensor for measuring the weight imposed by the building machine on at least one of the running gears.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Dirk Franzmann, Armin Montermann, Cyrus Barimani, Günter Hähn
  • Patent number: 8646847
    Abstract: A device and system for removing structures embedded in surrounding material is disclosed. Embodiments include a powered, expandable clamp attached to a rotating cutting tool for removing manholes from roadways. Select embodiments include anchoring a clamp to a manhole and using the manhole itself as leverage to move a cutting device through the surrounding material. Alternate embodiments allow an operator, working alone from a control station, to secure the manhole remover to the manhole, cut through the surrounding roadway, remove the manhole, and deposit the manhole at another location without requiring the operator to leave the control station. Further embodiments optionally include a depth gauge indicating the penetration depth of the cutting tool, an indicator reflecting the expanded state of the clamp, a pendulum mount allowing the clamp and drum to vertically orient using gravity, and/or the ability to attach to a host machine, such as a skid-steer loader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Coneqtec Corp.
    Inventors: Gary L. Cochran, Dennis Skraba
  • Publication number: 20130257136
    Abstract: An automotive milling machine, for the treatment of road surfaces or ground surfaces includes a chassis comprising front and rear suspension axles with a total of no less than three suspension units with a machine frame supported by the chassis, with lifting columns between the suspension units and the machine frame at no less than two suspension units of a suspension axle, said suspension units being transversely offset from one another in the direction of travel, and with a working drum. The working drum is adjustable to a position for driving in travel mode with the working drum raised and, in the adjusted position of the working drum at a distance from the road surface or ground surface, the lifting columns are suitable for coupling to a spring device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: WIRTGEN GMBH
    Inventors: Hanjo Held, Markus Schaefer, Christian Berning, Cyrus Barimani, Guenter Haehn
  • Patent number: 8534764
    Abstract: A self-propelled machine for cutting or milling, 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 basic principle of the machine according to the invention is that 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Winfried Von Schonebeck, Gunter Hahn
  • Patent number: 8485755
    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: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Menzenbach, Harald Kroell, Cyrus Barlmani, Guenter Haehn
  • Publication number: 20130134765
    Abstract: A steering mechanism for a milling attachment device provides steering capability without impeding cutting depth control. The steering mechanism has at least one wheel that is rotated by an actuating mechanism such as an extending cylinder, synchronized actuators, or the like. The steering mechanism may be integrated with depth control by using a parallelogrammic structure with pivot points to assist in the depth control or may operate independent of and without impeding depth control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: Asphalt Zipper, Inc.
    Inventor: Asphalt Zipper, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8424972
    Abstract: In a self-propelled road milling machine (1), particularly a cold-milling machine, comprising a track assembly carrying the machine frame (4) via lifting columns (12,13), a milling roller (6) supported on the machine frame (4) for treatment of a ground surface (8) or traffic surface (8), height-adjustable side plates (10) for edge protection, arranged to rest on the ground surface (8) or traffic surface (8) to be treated, a height-adjustable stripping means (14) arranged in the moving direction behind the milling roller (6) and adapted to be lowered, during operation, into the milling track (17) generated by the milling roller (6), and a control means (23) for controlling the milling depth of the milling roller (6), the control means (23) detecting the milling depth of the milling roller (6) from the measurement values of at least one measuring means (16), it is provided that the control means (23) is operative to automatically control the lifting condition of at least one rear and/or front lifting column (12
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Dieter Simons
  • 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: 8376469
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Heinz Kötting, Herbert Ley, Günter Hähn
  • Patent number: 8246270
    Abstract: In a self-propelling road milling machine (1), particularly a (recycler or) cold-milling machine, comprising a machine frame (4) carried by a track assemblies (2,3) via lifting columns (12,13), a milling roll (6) supported on the machine frame (4) for treatment of a ground or traffic surface (8), height-adjustable side plates (10) for edge protection, arranged to rest on the ground or traffic surface (8) to be treated, a height-adjustable stripping means (14) arranged in the moving direction behind the milling roll (6) and adapted to be lowered, during operation, into the milling track (17) generated by the milling roll (6), and a control means (23) for controlling the milling depth of the milling roller (6), it is provided that at least one measuring means (16) is operative to detect the lifting, caused by the current milling depth, of a first sensor means resting on the ground or traffic surface (8), and/or the lowering of the stripping means (14) or a second sensor means onto the surface of the milling tra
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Dieter Simons
  • Publication number: 20120179339
    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: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: WIRTGEN GMBH
    Inventors: Peter Busley, Günter Tewes
  • Publication number: 20120146389
    Abstract: A self-propelled machine for cutting or milling, 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 basic principle of the machine according to the invention is that 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: WIRTGEN GMBH
    Inventors: Winfried Von Schönebeck, Gunter Hähn
  • Publication number: 20120080929
    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) transfering the drive power from the engine to the working drum (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Mannebach, Peter Busley, Karsten Buhr, Guenter Haehn
  • Publication number: 20120068524
    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: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Inventors: David R. Hall, Thomas Morris
  • 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
  • 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: 8100480
    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, that the scraper blade, when in operating position, is engaged with lateral retaining devices at the lateral walls, which retain the scraper blade in a position running essentially orthogonally to the ground surface, that a swivelling device is capable of swivelling the scraper blade about the swivelling axis when the scraper blade is disengaged from the lateral retaining devices, and that the swivelling
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Heinz Kötting, Herbert Ley, Günter Hähn
  • Patent number: 8075063
    Abstract: In an automotive machine (1) for producing carriageways by stabilizing insufficiently stable soils or by recycling road surfaces, with a machine chassis (4) supported by a running gear (2), a working drum (20) mounted to pivot in relation to the machine chassis (4), the shaft of which is mounted in pivoting arms (42) and runs transversely to the direction of travel, a cover (28) surrounding the working drum (20), a combustion engine (32) supported by the machine chassis with at least one output shaft (34) for the drive power required for driving the working drum, whereby at least one mechanical power transmission device (36) transfers the drive power from the output shaft (34) to the working drum (20), it is intended that the combustion engine (32) is arranged in a fixed manner at the machine chassis (4) between the pivoting arms (42) and that the at least one mechanical power transmission device (36), together with the working drum (20) mounted in the pivoting arms, can pivot about the axis of the output sha
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Mannebach, Peter Busley, Karsten Buhr, Guenter Haehn
  • Patent number: 8025342
    Abstract: A close proximity pavement grinder is utilized for grinding close to a raised structure such as a lower surface of curbs close to the curb wall. The grinding apparatus utilizes a wide grinding head with grinding blades mounted along the length of an arbor to grind the lower surface of the curb in a single pass. The grinder includes a narrow bearing and support at the outer end of the arbor and is driven at the inner end so that the grinding may be conducted within close proximity of the curb wall. The grinder has a pivoting grinding head that can be locked at various angles relative to the grinder to match the relative angles between the pavement and the lower surface of the curb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Diamond Surface, Inc.
    Inventors: Terrence L. Kraemer, Gerald Nestel
  • Patent number: 8002360
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the disclosure include planers with side plates which may be adjusted independently or simultaneously. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a planer with adjustable side plates is comprised of a planer housing enclosing a grinding drum with grinding tools to be moved over a surface to be ground in a direction of travel and a pair of side plates are arranged substantially parallel to the direction of travel and mounted substantially adjacent the housing. The side plates are mechanically linked to the housing and are hydraulically controlled to be adjustably raised and lowered relative to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Coneqtec Corp.
    Inventors: Gary Cochran, Dennis Skraba
  • Publication number: 20100308640
    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: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Inventors: J. Tron Haroldsen, Jeremy K. Nix
  • Patent number: 7837276
    Abstract: A close proximity pavement grinder is utilized for grinding close to a raised structure such as a lower surface of curbs close to the curb wall. The grinding apparatus utilizes a wide grinding head with grinding blades mounted along the length of an arbor to grind the lower surface of the curb in a single pass. The grinder includes a narrow bearing and support at the outer end of the arbor and is driven at the inner end so that the grinding may be conducted within close proximity of the curb wall. The grinder has a pivoting grinding head that can be locked at various angles relative to the grinder to match the relative angles between the pavement and the lower surface of the curb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Diamond Surface, Inc.
    Inventors: Terrence L. Kraemer, Gerald Nestel
  • Patent number: 7748789
    Abstract: A pavement profiler having a grinding element within an enclosure for smoothing an existing road surface includes a transporter having a frame supported on a set of wheels with the enclosure situated between the forward and rearward wheels of the transporter. Positioning mechanisms coupled between the transporter frame and the grinding element enclosure positions the grinding element relative to the pavement surface. The positioning mechanisms includes a front support and a front lift mechanism, and a rear support and a rear lift mechanism. The rear support has vertically extending tracks fixed to the transport frame, and vertically extending rails movable relative to the tracks, the rails being coupled to the rear lift mechanism. Forwardly projecting flanges fixed to the rails have a pivot defining element. Rearwardly projecting flanges from the enclosure are coupled to the pivot defining element to permit the enclosure to pitch relative to the transport frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Inventor: Charles W. Freeburn
  • Publication number: 20100109422
    Abstract: Disclosed is an automotive road construction engine (1), particularly a recycler or a cold stripping machine, comprising an engine frame (4) that is supported by a chassis (2), a working roller (6) which is stationarily or pivotally mounted on the engine frame (4) and is used for machining a ground surface or road surface (24). The chassis (2) is provided with wheels (10) or tracked running gears which are connected to the engine frame (4) via lifting column (14) and are vertically adjustable relative to the engine frame (4). The lifting columns (14) are composed of two hollow cylinders (13, 15) that can be inserted into each other, are used as a guiding unit, and preferably coaxially accommodate at least one piston-cylinder unit (16) therein for vertical adjustment purposes. Each individually vertically adjustable lifting column (14) is equipped with a device (18) for measuring the actual vertical state of the lifting column (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventors: Peter Busley, Günter Tewes
  • Patent number: 7686402
    Abstract: The invention concerns a ground-machining machine (100) comprising: a secondary chassis (104) able to move in translation with respect to the ground (118); a main chassis (106) carrying a machining device (110) and able to move with respect to the secondary chassis (104) between an idle position and a machining position and vice versa; a maneuvering mast (102) integral with the said secondary chassis (104) and extending along a principal axis (160) substantially vertical with respect to the ground (118), the said maneuvering mast (102) comprising driving means (134) for moving the main chassis (106) from the said idle position to the said machining position and vice versa; an actuation means (120) mounted on a top plate (622) disposed at the top of the said maneuvering mast (102), the said actuation means (120) allowing actuation of the said driving means (134) by a user; the ground-machining machine (100) being such that the maneuvering mast (102) and the said driving means (134) are adapted to allow the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Husqvarna Belgium S.A.
    Inventors: Jacky Chabrier, Sylvain Gauthier