CURB AND GUTTER FORMING MACHINE

• US 3,820,913 A
• Filed: 09/13/1972
• Issued: 06/28/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Miller H, Miller R
• Original Assignee: Miller H, Miller R
• Inventors: MILLER H, MILLER R
• Application Number:
  US05/288,687
• Time in Patent Office: 653 Days
• US Class Current: 404/98
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/4893 Apparatus designed for railless operation

Abstract

Self-propelled curb and gutter forming machine mounted on continuous traction devices and drawing a mold for the curb and gutter between the traction tread devices. The main frame of the machine is suspended on one side from the traction tread devices on two longitudinally spaced jacks transversely pivoted to the traction tread devices and conforming the main frame to the grade of the roadway. The main frame is suspended from the opposite continuous traction tread device on a support, transversely pivoted to the tread device and having supporting connection with the main frame above the tread device. This support may be vertically adjusted. The mold form is vertically pivoted at its front end to a draw bar at the front of the main frame. The pivot is sufficiently loose to accommodate transverse tilting of the mold form relative to the main frame. The rear end of the mold form is suspended from the main frame to move laterally about the axis of the vertical pivot and to tilt about one side of the mold form. The suspension from the main frame to the mold form includes a fluid pressure jack operable to tilt the mold form in accordance with the transverse slope of the roadway.

Claims

1. In a curb and gutter forming machine, the combination comprising:

a main frame, a pair of laterally spaced traction tread devices supporting and propelling said main frame, a mold form extending along said main frame between said traction tread devices, a vertical pivotal draft connection between said main frame and the forward end of said mold from suspending the forward end of said mold form from said main frame for movement about the axis of said vertical pivotal draft connection and for limited movement about an axis transverse to the axis of said vertical pivotal draft connection, adjustable supports between said traction tread devices and said main frame, supporting said main frame on said traction tread devices to adjust said main frame to the grade of the roadway, a slope conforming connection between said main frame and said mold form, suspending the rear end portion of said mold form from said main frame and operable to conform said mold form to the transverse slope of the roadway, comprising a cross bar extending across the rear end portion of said main frame, means slidably suspending said mold form from said cross bar and accommodating pivotal movement of said mold form about an axis extending longitudinally of said main frame including a power operated jack suspending from said cross bar, and operably connected with said mold form, said jack being operable to tilt said mold form about an axis extending longitudinally of said main frame to conform said mold form to the transverse slope of the roadway regardless of the angle of said main frame with respect to the transverse slope of the roadway.

2. The curb and gutter forming machine of claim 1, wherein the grade conforming connections between said traction tread devices and the main frame comprise first and second power operated jacks on the opposite side of said main frame from said jack suspending the ear end portion of said mold form from said main frame, and a vertical stabiliZing guide on the side of said main frame adjacent said jack suspending said main frame from said cross bar and cooperating with the tread devices opposite said first and second power operated grade conforming jacks to accommodate up and down movement of said main frame, and means locking said vertical stabilizing guide in position to cooperate with said first and second power operated grade conforming jacks and provide a three-point suspension for said main frame on said tread devices.

3. The curb and gutter forming machine of claim 2, wherein the laterally spaced traction tread devices are continuous traction tread devices, wherein each continuous traction tread device includes a tread frame, wherein the vertical stabilizing guide is transversely pivoted to said tread frame intermediate the ends thereof and includes a pair of telescopic tubes connected between said main frame and said continuous traction tread device, and wherein detachable means are provided connecting said tubes in fixed telescopic relation with respect to each other and selectively adjustable to accommodate adjustment of the transverse level of said main frame independently of the transverse level of said mold form.

4. The curb and gutter forming machine of claim 3, wherein the means slidably suspending said mold form from said cross bar comprises a hanger disposed beneath and extending parallel to said cross bar, a fixed connection between one end of said hanger and said mold form, a first roller on said cross bar, a suspension connection between said roller and the end of said hanger fixedly connected with said mold form, a second roller on said cross bar adjacent the end thereof opposite said first roller and a suspension connection between said second roller and said mold form comprising said jack suspending said mold form from said cross bar.

5. The curb and gutter forming machine of claim 4, wherein control means are provided for controlling the supply and release of fluid under pressure to and from said jack suspending said mold form from said cross bar, for extensibly and retractably moving said jack in accordance with the transverse slope of the roadway, and wherein said control means includes a pendulum on said hanger and tilting in accordance with the transverse position of said mold form and hanger, and fluid pressure controls operated by said pendulum.

6. The curb and gutter forming machine of claim 5, wherein a vertical stabilizing guide is provided between said main frame and said continuous traction tread device on the side of the machine adjacent said jack suspending said mold form from said cross bar, to stabilize movement of said tread devices and main frame to conform to the grade of the roadway, and wherein means are provided selectively operable to hold said stabilizing connection in fixed relation with respect to said tread device and said main frame.

7. In a curb and gutter forming machine, the combination comprising:

a main frame, laterally spaced traction tread devices supporting and propelling said main frame, a mold form extending along said main frame between said traction tread devices, means suspending the forward end of said mold form between said traction tread devices and drawing said mold form therewith, other means suspending the rear end of said mold form between said traction tread devices, the suspension means for said mold form between said traction devices including two independently operable jacks spaced along said main frame at one end of said mold form and operable to conform said mold form to the grade of a roadway, and a single jack at the opposite side of said mold form operable to conform said mold form to the slope of the roadway independently of the slope of said main frame.

8. The curb and gutter forming machine of claim 7, wherein the suspension means also includes a vertical pivotal draft connection between said main frame and the forwArd end of said mold form, suspending the forward end of said mold form from said main frame for movement about the axis of said vertical pivotal draft connection and for limited movement about an axis transverse to the axis of said vertical pivotal draft connection.

9. The curb and gutter forming machine of claim 8, wherein the grade conforming connections between said traction tread devices and the main frame comprise first and second power operated jacks on the opposite side of said main frame from said jack suspending the rear end portion of said mold form, a vertical stabilizing guide on the same side of said main frame as said single jack and cooperating with the tread devices on the opposite side of said main frame from said first and second power operated grade conforming jacks to accommodate up and down movement of said main frame, and means locking said vertical stabilizing guide in position to cooperate with said first and second power operated forming jacks and accommodating operation of said single jack to conform said mold form to the slope of the roadway independently of the position of said main frame relative to the roadway.

10. The curb and gutter forming machine of claim 8, wherein means are provided for slidably suspending said mold form from said main frame for limited movement transversely thereof, and for pivotal movement about an axis extending longitudinally of said main frame, and including means for slidably suspending said single jack from said main frame for movement transversely thereof and for pivotal movement with respect thereto about an axis extending longitudinally of said main frame, and cooperating with said draft connection and first mentioned slidable suspension means for providing a three-point suspension for said mold form.

11. The curb and gutter forming machine of claim 7, including a stabilizing guide on the same side of said main frame as said single jack, and control means for operating said independently operable jacks and said single jack in cooperation with said stabilizing guide for changing the angle of the mold frame relative to the main frame responsive to a control signal, to compensate for changes in the terrain.

12. A curb and gutter forming machine constructed in accordance with claim 11, wherein said mold form angle is changed about an axis extending longitudinally of the main frame.

13. A curb and gutter forming machine constructed in accordance with claim 11, wherein said mold form angle is changed about an axis extending transversely of the main frame.

14. A curb and gutter forming machine, the combination comprising, a main frame, laterally spaced traction tread devices supporting and propelling said main frame, a mold form extending along said main frame between said traction tread devices, a pivotal draft connection between said main frame and the front end of said mold form suspending the front end of said mold form from said main frame for movement about the pivotal draft connection, extensible supports on one side of said main frame between an associated traction tread device and said main frame supporting said main frame on said traction tread device to adjust said mold form to the grade of a roadway, a stabilizing guide at the opposite side of said main frame supporting said side of said main frame on an associated traction tread device, a slope conforming connection between said main frame and said mold form, suspending the rear end portion of said mold form from said main frame, and including extensible suspension means on the opposite side of said main frame from said extensible supports operable to conform said mold form to the transverse slope of the roadway.