Asphalt-removing machine having a funnel-shaped ramp

• US 7,413,376 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2005
• Issued: 08/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Addie; Raymond W
• Application Number:
  US11/117,523
• Publication Number:
  US 20060045623A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,208 Days
• Field of Search: 404 90- 96
• US Class Current: 404/90
• 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 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;

at least one sensor associated with a plurality of wheels on the machine, the at least one sensor providing an indication of a compaction of the roadway,

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

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

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

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

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

8. The 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 machine and to facilitate replacement of the at least one of the plurality of blade members.

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

10. The 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 machine of claim 1, wherein the a plurality of wheels are located forward of the removal device relative to a travel direction of the machine and are operatively connected to the removal device, the plurality of wheels providing depth control for the removal device.

12. The machine of claim 1, wherein the funnel-shaped ramp includes at least two curved side members.

13. The machine of claim 1, wherein the funnel-shaped ramp has a first width at an asphalt-entering portion and a second width at an asphalt-exiting portion, the first width being larger than the second width.

14. The machine of claim 1, further including a controller in communication with the sensor and configured to affect an operation of the machine in response to the indication.

15. The machine of claim 11, further including 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;

folding the outer edges of the separated layer of asphalt over itself before the separated layer reaches the grinding; and

sensing a compaction of the asphalt before separating the layer of asphalt.

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, wherein guiding the separated layer of asphalt from the removal device to the grinding device includes guiding the separated layer of asphalt along a ramp having at least two curved side members.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein guiding the separated layer of asphalt from the removal device to the grinding device includes guiding the separated layer of asphalt along a ramp having a first width at an asphalt-entering portion that is larger than a second width at an asphalt-exiting portion.

23. The method of claim 16, further including affecting at least one operation of a machine comprising the removal device in response to the sensed compaction.

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

25. A 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 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 machine of claim 25, further including:

a plurality of wheels located forward of the removal device relative to a travel direction of the 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 machine in response to the indication.

28. The machine of claim 27, further including 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.

29. The machine of claim 25, wherein the funnel-shaped ramp includes curved side members.

30. The machine of claim 25, wherein a width of the funnel-shaped ramp progressively narrows from an asphalt-entering portion toward an asphalt-exiting portion.