ROAD MAINTENANCE METHOD AND VEHICLE

• US 20100316444A1
• Filed: 06/15/2010
• Published: 12/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lee M. Waldo
• Original Assignee: Lee M. Waldo
• Inventors: Waldo, Lee M.
• Application Number:
  US12/815,985
• Publication Number:
  US 20100316444A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 404/75
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 23/082 using non-powered tools
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/7672 with the scraper blade being pivotable about a horizontal axis disposed parallel to the blade
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/7686 with the vertical centre-line of the scraper blade disposed laterally relative to the central axis of the frame

Abstract

The cutting blades and smoothing blades of a road maintenance vehicle are adjustable in position with respect to the wheels to avoid extremes in changes in the depth of a cut by a blade or the height of the blades caused by wheels of the vehicle dropping into low places in a road. By including a selected number of wheels mounted to the same stiff frame, the wheels riding on the highest part of the road will lift the rigid frame and other wheels rather than the wheels riding on the lowest part of the road determining the depth of the cut of the cutting blades. The height of the blades with respect to the wheels can then be adjusted so that they never cut too deep and overly stress the blades but do cut the highest elevations of the road and move the loose dirt and gravel into the lower parts of the road. A first frame is supported by wheels and a second frame is movably mounted to the first frame.

Claims

1. A road maintenance vehicle, comprising:

a first frame supported by a plurality of wheels;

a second frame movably mounted to said first frame, whereby the second frame may be adjusted with respect to said plurality of wheels;

a plurality of cutting blades;

at least one smoothing blade;

said plurality of cutting blades and said at least one smoothing blade being mounted to said second frame whereby said plurality of cutting blades and said at least one smoothing blade may be adjusted in position with respect to said plurality of wheels;

said first frame, said second frame, said plurality of cutting blades, said at least one smoothing blade and said plurality of wheels being arranged in a blade-height wheel-averaging arrangement.

2. A road maintenance vehicle in accordance with claim 1 wherein the plurality of cutting blades are moveably connected to the second frame wherein they may be adjusted to a cutting-blade distribution arrangement.

3. A method of maintaining a road with a road maintenance vehicle that includes a first frame supported by wheels, a second frame movably mounted to the first frame and movably supporting blades, comprising the steps of:

determining relevant road surface condition;

adjusting the movably supporting blades, said first frame and said second frame into a blade-height wheel-averaging arrangement; and

pulling the road maintenance vehicle along the road at a fast relevant speed and a slow relevant speed in accordance with the relevant road surface condition.