Reduced volume sonic noise alert pattern grinder and method

Abstract

A pavement grinding apparatus moves along a direction of travel and includes a cutting assembly. The cutting assembly has a grinding carriage; the grinding carriage including a rotating arbor having cutting elements. A control wheel is in contact with the pavement and connected to the grinding carriage to impart a cyclical up and down movement to the grinding carriage. The control wheel includes equally spaced apart lobes on the periphery of the control wheel that move the arbor in a sinusoidal up and down pattern.

Claims

1. A pavement grinding apparatus moving over pavement, having a surface, along a direction of travel, comprising: a cutting assembly comprising: a grinding carriage; the grinding carriage including a rotating arbor having a plurality of cutting elements; a control wheel in contact with the pavement and connected to the grinding carriage for maintaining the arbor in continuous contact with the pavement, the control wheel having a rotational axis and an outer periphery, wherein a first portion of the outer periphery is furthest from the rotational axis and a second portion of the outer periphery is closest to the rotational axis; wherein the first portion of the periphery of the control wheel has a radius of curvature at least as great as a radius of curvature of the second portion of the periphery of the control wheel; a link connecting the control wheel to the grinding carriage to maintain a constant relative elevation between the rotating arbor and the control wheel and to impart a continuous cyclical up and down movement to the grinding carriage to increase and decrease a desired grinding depth of the arbor below the pavement surface through a plurality of revolutions of the control wheel.

2. A pavement grinding apparatus according to claim 1, the control wheel comprising a plurality of equally spaced apart lobes on a periphery of the control wheel.

3. A pavement grinding apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control wheel comprises a plurality of sections of reduced radius alternating with the lobes on the periphery of the control wheel.

4. A pavement grinding apparatus according to claim 2, comprising a plurality of the control wheels mounted on an axle transverse to the direction of travel.

5. A pavement grinding apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the lobes of each of the plurality of the control wheels is laterally aligned.

6. A pavement grinding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control wheel is ahead of the arbor along the direction of travel.

7. A pavement grinding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cutting assembly is mounted to a truck chassis.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a first motor driving the truck chassis and a second motor driving the arbor.

9. A pavement grinding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cutting assembly is mounted to a truck chassis and extends rearward from the truck chassis.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a radius of the control wheel increases and decreases to impart a substantially sinusoidal pattern in the pavement.

11. A pavement grinding apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an adjustable profile cylinder coupled to the rotating arbor and configured to adjust the height of the rotating arbor relative to the control wheel by extending or contracting.

12. A pavement grinding apparatus moving over pavement, having a surface, along a direction of travel, comprising: a cutting assembly comprising: a grinding carriage; the grinding carriage including a rotating arbor having a plurality of cutting elements; a control wheel in contact with the pavement and connected to the grinding carriage for maintaining the arbor in continuous contact with the pavement, the control wheel having a rotational axis and an outer periphery, wherein a first portion of the outer periphery is further from the rotational axis than a second portion of the outer periphery; wherein the first portion of the outer periphery of the control wheel is at a furthest distance from the rotational axis of the control wheel and has a radius of curvature at least as great as a radius of curvature of the second portion of the periphery of the control wheel closer to the rotational axis of the control wheel.

13. A pavement grinding apparatus according to claim 12, the control wheel being connected to the grinding carriage to maintain a constant relative elevation between the rotating arbor and the control wheel and to impart a continuous cyclical up and down movement to the grinding carriage to increase and decrease a desired grinding depth of the arbor below the pavement surface.

14. A pavement grinding apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the first portion of the control wheel at a greatest distance from a rotational axis of the control wheel comprises an arcing outer periphery and is opposite the second portion of the control wheel at minimum distance from the rotational axis of the control wheel.

15. A pavement grinding apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the second portion of the outer periphery of the control wheel comprises a portion of the control wheel closest to the rotational axis.

16. A method for forming reduced volume rumble strips into a surface of pavement, the method comprising: providing a chassis and a cutting assembly attached to the chassis, the cutting assembly comprising: a grinding carriage; the grinding carriage including a rotating arbor having a plurality of cutting elements configured to cut the pavement; a control wheel in contact with the pavement and connected to the grinding carriage for maintaining the arbor in continuous contact with the pavement, the control wheel having a rotational axis and an outer periphery, wherein a first portion of the outer periphery is further from the rotational axis than a second portion of the outer periphery; wherein the first portion of the outer periphery of the control wheel is at a furthest distance from the rotational axis of the control wheel and has a radius of curvature at least as great as a radius of curvature of the second portion of the periphery of the control wheel closer to the rotational axis of the control wheel; contacting the surface of the pavement with the control wheel; rotating the control wheel along a direction of travel across the surface of the pavement and translating the chassis along the pavement, wherein the control wheel imparts a continuous up and down movement to the grinding carriage and the plurality of cutting elements relative to the surface of the pavement; wherein the continuous up and down movement of the grinding carriage cycles the grinding carriage through a plurality of peak positions and trough positions to impart a continuous cut of varying depth below the surface of the pavement through a plurality of revolutions of the control wheel, the peak positions comprising at least one of the plurality of cutting elements being at least partially below the surface of the pavement and the trough positions comprising at least one of the plurality of cutting elements being below the peak positions.

17. A method according to claim 16, the method further comprising extending or retracting an adjustable profile cylinder to change the height of the arbor relative to the control wheel.

18. A method according to claim 16, wherein the continuous up and down movement of the grinding carriage cycles the grinding carriage through a plurality of peak positions and trough positions to impart a continuous substantially sinusoidal cut of varying depth below the surface of the pavement through a plurality of revolutions of the control wheel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals and letters indicate corresponding structure throughout the several views:

(2) FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a pavement grinder according to the principles of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the rear of the truck chassis and cutting assembly with the laterally adjusted positions of the arbor shown in phantom;

(4) FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a control wheel and grinding arbor in a first position for the pavement grinder shown in FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a control wheel and grinding arbor in a second position;

(6) FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a control wheel and grinding arbor in a third position;

(7) FIG. 6 is a top plan of a cutting head;

(8) FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the control wheel assembly;

(9) FIG. 8 is an end profile of the control wheel assembly;

(10) FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of a rim and tire for the control wheel assembly; and

(11) FIG. 10 is a side view of a sinusoidal profile of a sonic noise alert pattern made according to the principles of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(12) Referring to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1, there is shown a pavement grinder, generally designated 100. The grinder 100 includes a truck chassis 102 supporting a cutting assembly 120 at the rear of the chassis 102. The cutting assembly 120 has a grinding carriage 130 with an arbor 122. As shown in FIG. 6, hardened carbide cutting teeth 124 mount in a side by side arrangement on an arbor axle 126. The truck chassis 102 includes a cab 104 for the driver providing an open field of vision for the driver. The cab 104 also has controls for the grinder, such as speed and grinding functions. The truck chassis 102 provides propulsion and is powered by an engine 110. An engine 118 mounted on the bed of the truck chassis 102 supplies power for hydraulic motors for the cutting assembly 120 and other systems of the cutting assembly 120. A water tank 116 supplies the water for cooling and dust control. Moreover, oil and fuel tanks 114 may be mounted on the truck chassis. Moreover, although shown mounted to the rear of a truck chassis 102 in FIG. 1, the present invention may be configured as a dedicated self-propelled grinder.

(13) The cutting assembly 120 includes an arbor 122, shown in FIG. 6, which includes cutting elements 124, such as carbide cutting teeth, mounted along a cylinder 126 of the arbor 122. The width of depressions ground in the pavement is variable depending on the number of teeth 124 and their arrangement on the arbor 122. It can be appreciated that the teeth 124 may be mounted in groups or rows as may be best suited for the pavement material and the grinding conditions. The arbor 122 mounts to the grinding carriage 130 of the cutting assembly 120. The grinding carriage 130 includes a housing 134 containing motors and a drive train, such as a drive belt(s) or drive chain(s) to drive the arbor 122. The drive train may include belts, chains or motors directly mounted to the arbor shaft 126. The cutting assembly may also include a cooling system typically providing cooling water for the arbor 122 to prevent the teeth 124 from overheating. The grinding carriage 130 has a control wheel 150 that is coupled by a linkage 132 to the arbor 122 to control up and down motion of the arbor 122, as explained hereinafter. The height of the arbor 122 relative to the control wheel 150 can be changed by extending or retracting an adjustable profile cylinder 138. The profile cylinder adjusts the relative height of the arbor 122 and therefore the depth of the recesses being formed in the pavement.

(14) The grinding carriage 130 is mounted to the rear of the chassis 102 on a support assembly 136. As shown in FIG. 2, the support assembly 136 provides for adjusting the lateral position of the grinding carriage 130 relative to the chassis 102. With such adjustment the chassis 102 can be driven in a position on a road that minimizes traffic disruption, keeps the pavement grinder 100 in a safe path of travel, allows the driver to view the grinding carriage 130 operate and keeps the arbor 122 cutting a pattern at the correct location on the pavement.

(15) Referring to FIGS. 7-9 the control wheel 150 is configured as a non-round wheel. As shown in FIG. 7, the wheel 150 is formed of an outer tire 152 mounted on an inner rim 154. The tire 152 is a solid element and made of a hard compound having minimal to no compression even when subjected to the forces associated with pavement grinding. As shown in FIG. 8 the periphery of the tire 152 is non-round and the diameter varies in a continuous undulating repeated pattern. The pattern is sinusoidal and wraps around the periphery of the tire 152. The tire 152 forms three lobes 160 of maximum diameter. The lobes 160 alternate with depressions 162 of minimum diameter. The areas between the lobes and the depressions 162 gradually transition in the sinusoidal pattern. In the embodiment shown the diameter varies one quarter inch, between twelve and three-quarter inches at the depressions 162 and thirteen inches at the maximum height of the lobes 160. The distance between adjacent depressions 162 and also between the peaks of the lobes 160, is fourteen and one-half inches. As the depressions 162 and the lobes 160 are evenly spaced about the periphery of the tire 152, the distance between any two lobes 160 and the distance between any two depressions is the same fourteen and one-half inches.

(16) As shown in FIG. 7, the control wheel 150 is supported on an axle 156 and hub 158. Moreover, the control wheel may include multiple tires 152, rims 154 and hubs 158 mounted in a side by side relationship along the axle 156. Therefore, the control wheel 150 provides increased lateral contact with the pavement and less variation due to minor flaws and defects in the pavement.

(17) Referring to FIGS. 3-5, the control wheel 150 controls the up and down movement of the cutting assembly and the depth with which the arbor 122 grinds the pavement. The control wheel has a non-circular outer periphery, as shown in FIG. 8. The diameter of the control wheel 150 increases and decreases gradually and continuously around the wheel in an evenly spaced pattern. In the embodiment shown, the control wheel 150 has three lobes 160 of increased diameter alternating with three depressions 162 of decreased diameter. The outer periphery gradually transitions from the depressions 162 to the lobes 160. The gradual increase and decrease follows a sinusoidal pattern extending around the periphery of the control wheel 150. The varying diameter causes the axle at the axis of rotation of the control wheel 150 to rise and fall. The control wheel axis of rotation is at a maximum elevation relative to the ground when one of lobes 160 is in contact with the ground surface while the axis of rotation is at its lowest elevation when one of the depressions 162 engages the ground. The height of the axis of rotation relative to the ground rises and falls as the control wheel 150 ground engagement point transitions between the maximum at the apex of the lobes 160 and the trough at the bottom of the depressions 162 on the control wheel surface.

(18) As the cutting assembly 120 is coupled to the control wheel 150, the height of the arbor rises and falls with the height of the axle of the control wheel 150, the arbor 122 also rises and falls in a sinusoidal pattern. The rising and falling causes the arbor to grind a sinusoidal pattern. Such a sonic noise alert pattern is shown in FIG. 10. It can be appreciated that the depth of the pattern can be varied by varying the relative position of the arbor relative to the control wheel 150. However, the depth may be set so that the arbor 122 does not grind when the lobes engage the ground. It can also be appreciated that the grinding is at its deepest when the depressions of the control wheel 150 engage the ground.

(19) As shown in FIG. 3, when one of the lobes is engaging the ground, the arbor 122 is raised. As the grinder 100 advances and the control wheel 150 rolls along the ground, the control wheel 150 is supported on a portion of its periphery transitioning between the maximum diameter of a lobe and the bottom of a depression, as shown in FIG. 4. At this position, the arbor 122 is lower slightly to grind at a shallow depth in the pavement. Further advancement of the grinder and rotation of the control wheel 150 takes the cutting assembly 120 to the position shown in FIG. 5. In FIG. 5, one of the depressions of the control wheel 150 engages the ground and the grinding arbor 122 descends to its greatest depth into the pavement. This forms the bottom of a depression in the pavement of a sonic noise alert pattern. As the grinder advances further and the control wheel 150 continues to roll along the ground, the cutting assembly again attains the configuration of FIG. 4. Further advancement moves the control wheel 150 and arbor 122 to the configuration shown in FIG. 3. As the grinder 100 advances, the pattern repeats and an evenly spaced sinusoidal pattern is formed as shown in FIG. 10. The transitions between the pavement surface and the bottom of a depression formed in the pavement are gradual and the sinusoidal pattern formed is quieter when driven over by vehicle tires as compared to conventional sonic noise alert patterns.

(20) It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and the changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.