Method and apparatus for cutting rumble strips in roads

• US 6,454,490 B1
• Filed: 02/14/2001
• Issued: 09/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dustrol Inc. (Recycling Enterprises, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dustrol Inc. (Recycling Enterprises, Inc.)
• Inventors: Murphy, Tim L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Will, Thomas B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pechhold, Alexandra K.
• Application Number:
  US09/783,418
• Publication Number:
  US 20020110420A1
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• Field of Search: 404/72, 404/75, 404/90, 404/93, 404/94, 299/39.1, 299/39.3, 299/39.4, 299/39.5, 299/39.6, 299/39.9, 299/40.1
• US Class Current: 404/94
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 23/0993 for forming or installing surface markings or signals in the paving, e.g. grooving for striping or for producing rumble strips, forming marker-receiving recesses E01C23/0946 takes precedence

Abstract

An apparatus and method of using the apparatus for creating rumble strips in a surface such as asphalt or concrete, including a vehicle with an attachment coupled thereto. The attachment includes a cutter wheel having teeth thereon and a flywheel coupled with the cutter wheel. A hydraulic motor is coupled with the cutter wheel for rotating the cutter wheel and the flywheel. Eccentric cams are provided for moving the cutter wheel vertically with respect to the surface being cut, and a gear box is coupled with the eccentric cams for rotating the eccentric cams. The eccentric cams do not contact the surface being cut. The apparatus further includes a sliding assembly coupled with the cutter wheel. The sliding assembly is both horizontally and vertically movable with respect to the surface being cut.

Claims

1. An attachment for cutting rumble strips in a surface, comprising:

a cutter wheel having teeth thereon;

a flywheel coupled with said cutter wheel;

a motor coupled with said cutter wheel for rotating said cutter wheel and said flywheel;

at least one rotatable eccentric cam coupled with said cutter wheel and wherein upon rotation of said eccentric cam said cutter wheel is moved up and down by the eccentric cam with respect to said surface, and wherein said eccentric cam exerts a positive downward pressure on the cutter wheel during downward movement of the cutter wheel; and

a gear box coupled with said at least one eccentric cam for rotating said eccentric cam.

2. The attachment of claim 1, wherein said eccentric cam has no contact with said surface being cut.

3. The attachment of claim 1, wherein the cutter wheel is mounted on a first shaft which is rotatably driven by said motor and the flywheel is mounted on a second shaft which is coupled with said first shaft by a belt.

4. The attachment of claim 1, wherein said gear box is coupled with said eccentric cam via a shaft.

5. The attachment of claim 1, further comprising;

a sliding assembly that is horizontally movable with respect to said surface being cut and wherein said sliding assembly is coupled with said cutter wheel so as to be able to position said cutter wheel with respect to said surface being cut.

6. The attachment of claim 5, wherein said sliding assembly is vertically movable with respect to said surface being cut.

7. A method for cutting rumble strips in a surface, comprising;

providing an apparatus for cutting rumble strips comprising a cutter wheel having teeth thereon, a flywheel coupled with said cutter wheel, a motor coupled with said cutter wheel for rotating said cutter wheel and said flywheel, an eccentric cam for moving said cutter wheel up and down with respect to said surface, and a gear box coupled with said eccentric cam for rotating said eccentric cam;

turning said cutter wheel so as to cut said surface; and

rotating said eccentric cam so as to raise and lower said cutting wheel, wherein said eccentric cam has no contact with said surface being cut and wherein said cutting wheel cuts rumble strips in said surface when lowered and does not cut when raised so as to create spaced apart rumble strips as said cutter wheel is advanced along said surface, said eccentric cam exerting a positive downward pressure on the cutter wheel during said lowering of the cutting wheel.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said surface is asphalt or concrete.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

controlling the speed of said cutter wheel by using a ground speed controller.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

providing a horizontal sliding mechanism coupled with said apparatus; and

moving said apparatus horizontally with respect to said surface.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

providing a vertical sliding mechanism coupled with said apparatus; and

moving said apparatus vertically with respect to said surface.

12. An apparatus for creating rumble strips in a surface, comprising:

a vehicle comprised of an engine and at least two wheels coupled with said engine; and

an attachment for cutting rumble strips coupled with said vehicle, wherein said attachment comprises a cutter wheel having teeth thereon, a flywheel coupled with said cutter wheel, a motor coupled with said cutter wheel for rotating said cutter wheel and said flywheel, an eccentric cam for moving said cutter wheel up and down with respect to said surface being cut, and a gear box coupled with said eccentric cam for rotating said eccentric cam, said eccentric cam being mounted for exerting a positive downward pressure on said cutter wheel during downward movement of the cutter wheel.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

a sliding assembly comprised of a horizontal sliding mechanism and a vertical sliding mechanism wherein said assembly is coupled with said vehicle and said attachment.