Asphalt-removing work machine having a funnel-shaped ramp

• US 20060045623A1
• Filed: 04/29/2005
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Inventors: Renard, Jeffrey A., Potts, Dean Rogers, Tilstra, Andrew Harold
• Granted Patent: US 7,413,376 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 404/94
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/05 Crushing, pulverising or disintegrating apparatus preparing and placing involving breaking E01C19/466 ; in general B02C; Aggregate screening, cleaning, drying or heating apparatus; Dust-collecting arrangements specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 23/085 using power-driven tools, e.g. vibratory tools
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 23/122 with power-driven tools, e.g. oscillated hammer apparatus hand-held breakers: percussion tools B25D

Abstract

A work machine for removing asphalt from a roadway is disclosed. The work machine includes a removal device configured to remove asphalt from a roadway surface, and a grinding device configured to fracture the removed asphalt. The work machine also includes a funnel-shaped ramp configured to guide the removed asphalt from the removal device to the grinding device. A width of the removal device is larger than a width of the grinding device, and the funnel-shaped ramp is configured to fold the outer edges of the removed asphalt over itself before the removed asphalt reaches the grinding device.

Claims

1. A work machine, comprising:

a removal device configured to remove asphalt from a roadway;

a grinding device configured to fracture the removed asphalt; and

a funnel-shaped ramp configured to guide the removed asphalt from the removal device to the grinding device,

wherein the removal device has a width larger than a width of the grinding device and the funnel-shaped ramp is configured to fold the outer edges of the removed asphalt over itself before the removed asphalt reaches the grinding device.

2. The work machine of claim 1, further including a conveying device configured to urge the removed asphalt up the funnel-shaped ramp.

3. The work machine of claim 2, wherein the conveying device is a paddle-drag device.

4. The work machine of claim 1, further including a heating device configured to heat the removal device.

5. The work machine of claim 1, further including a vibration-inducing device configured to vibrate the removal device.

6. The work machine of claim 1, wherein the removal device includes a plurality of blade members, the plurality of blade members interconnected by way of hinges.

7. The work machine of claim 6, wherein the plurality of blade members are movable to accommodate the crown of a roadway surface.

8. The work machine of claim 6, further including a quick-locking mechanism associated with at least one of the plurality of blade members, the quick-locking mechanism configured to secure the at least one of the plurality of blade members to the work machine and to facilitate replacement of the at least one of the plurality of blade members.

9. The work machine of claim 1, wherein the grinding device includes a milling drum.

10. The work machine of claim 1, further including a scoring device located on each side of the removal device to score the asphalt prior to removal of the asphalt, the scoring of the asphalt facilitating clean removal of the asphalt.

11. The work machine of claim 1, further including a plurality of wheels located forward of the removal device relative to a travel direction of the work machine and operatively connected to the removal device, the plurality of wheels providing depth control for the removal device.

12. The work machine of claim 11, further including at least one sensor associated with the plurality of wheels, the at least one sensor providing an indication of a property of the roadway.

13. The work machine of claim 12, wherein the property includes compaction.

14. The work machine of claim 12, further including a controller in communication with the sensor and configured to affect an operation of the work machine in response to the indication.

15. The work machine of claim 11, further include at least one motor associated with the plurality of wheels, the at least one motor configured to drive at least one of the plurality of wheels and draw the asphalt toward the removal device and onto the funnel-shaped ramp.

16. A method of removing asphalt from a roadway surface, the method comprising:

separating a layer of asphalt from the roadway surface with a removal device;

guiding the separated layer of asphalt from the removal device to a grinding device; and

folding the outer edges of the separated layer of asphalt over itself before the separated layer reaches the grinding device.

17. The method of claim 16, further including vibrating the removal device to loosen the layer of asphalt.

18. The method of claim 16, further including heating the removal device to soften the layer of asphalt.

19. The method of claim 16, further including urging the separated layer of asphalt with a paddle-drag device up a funnel-shaped ramp to the grinding device.

20. The method of claim 16, further including scoring the asphalt on either side of the removal device.

21. The method of claim 16, further including sensing a property of the asphalt before separating the layer of asphalt.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the property is compaction.

23. The method of claim 21, further including affecting at least one operation of the work machine in response to the sensed property.

24. The method of claim 16, further including urging the asphalt toward the removal device.

25. A work machine, comprising:

a removal device configured to remove asphalt from a roadway;

a grinding device configured to fracture the removed asphalt;

a funnel-shaped ramp configured to guide the removed asphalt from the removal device to the grinding device;

a conveying device configured to urge the removed asphalt up the funnel-shaped ramp; and

at least one of a heating device configured to heat the removal device and a vibration-inducing device configured to vibrate the removal device,

wherein the removal device has a width larger than a width of the grinding device and the funnel-shaped ramp is configured to fold the outer edges of the removed asphalt over itself before the removed asphalt reaches the grinding device.

26. The work machine of claim 25, wherein the removal device includes a plurality of blade members, the plurality of blade members interconnected by way of hinges to accommodate the crown of a roadway surface.

27. The work machine of claim 25, further including:

a plurality of wheels located forward of the removal device relative to a travel direction of the work machine and operatively connected to the removal device, the plurality of wheels providing depth control for the removal device;

at least one sensor associated with the plurality of wheels, the at least one sensor providing an indication of a property of the roadway; and

a controller in communication with the sensor and configured to affect an operation of the work machine in response to the indication.

28. The work machine of claim 27, further include at least one motor associated with the plurality of wheels, the at least one motor configured to drive at least one of the plurality of wheels and draw the asphalt toward the removal device and onto the funnel-shaped ramp.