Smoothing apparatus for smoothing pavement surfaces

Abstract

An apparatus for smoothing pavement surfaces includes a wheeled frame and a smoothing drum where the smoothing drum is rotatable on a spinning axis mounted on the wheeled frame generally parallel to a pavement surface to be smoothed, and at a non-perpendicular angle to to the direction of travel of the smoothing device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for smoothing pavement surfaces comprising: a wheeled frame with a precision leveling system for mounting a smoothing drum rotatable on a spinning axis mounted on the wheeled frame generally parallel to a pavement surface to be smoothed, and at a non-perpendicular angle to the direction of travel of the smoothing device.

2. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the non-perpendicular angle is between 1 and 45 degrees.

3. The apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the non-perpendicular angle is between 5 and 10 degrees.

4. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the cutting drum is tapered at outer ends to decrease radius of the cutting drum at the outer ends.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the precision leveling system of the wheeled frame comprises a three-point support leveling system with at least one averaging arm.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the precision leveling system of the wheeled frame comprises a four-point support leveling system with two parallel averaging arm systems disposed laterally on either side of the smoothing drum.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the each averaging arm-system comprises a single averaging arm or more than one averaging arm.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the precision leveling system of the wheeled frame comprises two averaging arm systems positioned laterally at outer extents of a cutting drum, the averaging arms being substantially parallel to each other.

9. An apparatus for smoothing pavement surfaces comprising: a wheeled frame; a smoothing drum rotatable on a spinning axis mounted on the wheeled frame, the spinning axis being generally parallel to a pavement surface to be smoothed, and at a non-perpendicular angle to the direction of travel of the smoothing device the smoothing drum having a plurality of spaced cutting teeth, each having a cutting tip that is coated with an ultra-hard material; and a precision leveling system for mounting the smoothing drum on the wheeled frame.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a schematic of an exemplary road grinding or smoothing machine.

(2) FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 depict an embodiment of a bit 100 grinding a roadway surface 101. The bit may grind to a depth of 0.0625 inches. Such a depth helps create a roadway surface texture that may reduce tire air pumping noise. Such a texture also may provide good skid resistance.

(3) FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 show a roadway surface sharp contour 200 created by conventional road grinding machines. It also shows the roadway surface beveled 201 contour created by an embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment of the present invention may comprise a non-vertical beveled edge, wherein stress points are reduced. The beveled edge may create a durable trough comparatively superior to sharp edged troughs created by the conventional road grinding machines. High stress points created by the vertical saw blades may thus be avoided.

(4) FIG. 6 depicts a smoothing drum with diamonds cutters disposed thereon.

(5) FIG. 7 is a schematic of an exemplary three-point support smoothing system.

(6) FIG. 8 is a side schematic of an exemplary four-point support smoothing system.

(7) FIG. 9 is a side schematic of a four-point support system with adjustable averaging arms.

(8) FIG. 10 is another side schematic of a four-point support system with adjustable averaging arms.

(9) FIG. 11 is aside schematic of an alternate four-point support system with adjustable averaging arms.

(10) FIG. 12 is a top schematic of a four-point support smoothing system with adjustable averaging arms.

(11) FIG. 13 is a top schematic of a four-point support smoothing system.

(12) FIG. 14 shows an embodiment of a roadway road smoothing machine for raising a smoothing drum for avoiding a potentially destructive obstacle.

(13) FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a cutting drum.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(14) FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary roadway road smoothing machine.

(15) A smoothing drum 100 may be mounted on a trailer 120. Height sensors 150, 151, 152, and 153 may be mounted on a truck 110 and the trailer 120. A height sensor 154 may sense a position change between the truck 110 and the trailer 120. Combined with a rotational sensor (not shown), the spatial relationship between the truck 110 and trailer 120 may become an additional height input. A water tank 170 may be placed on a front portion of the trailer 120, and a cutting tailings hopper 141 may be disposed proximate to a rear portion of the trailer 120. A broom 140 may sweep directly behind a smoothing drum 100. A paint system 160 may be placed beyond the rear portion of the trailer 120 to mark bumps and dips for later cutting.

(16) Smoothing Drum and Road Texture

(17) Referring to FIG. 2, an aspect uses teeth tipped with an ultrahard material. Polycrystalline diamond (PCD) tipped teeth have been found suitable accurate road smoothing. A suitable PCD tooth is developed by Novatek, Inc, in Provo, Utah. (See https://www.novatek.com/index.php.) United States Patent Application US20080035386, to Hall, discloses PCD-tipped teeth designed for asphalt rotomilling. These teeth can be adapted to the present road smoothing system.

(18) Other teeth with different construction or with coatings or surfaces of superhard material are suitable. These include, but are not limited to PCD (Poly Crystalline diamond), TSD (Thermally Stable Diamond), CBN (Cubic Boron Nitride), and CVD (Chemical vapor deposition) of diamond or boron nitride. As discussed above, WC (tungsten carbide) wears too quickly and is not hard enough to keep a level cutting surface after extended use.

(19) It is known that, square geometries cannot withstand as much stress as triangular geometries. Accordingly, cut channels comprising sharp, square edges in roadway surfaces are more prone to spalling than tapered triangular channels. By employing conically-shaped tips for the cutting teeth, tapered grooves may be cut into the roadway, reducing chances of spalling

(20) Reference is also made to FIG. 3. Shown schematically is a tooth tip 100 smoothing a roadway surface 101. The tooth tip may cut to a depth of 0.0625 inches (1.6 mm). The ground paths from the tooth tips may be spaced 0.154 inches (4 mm). Such a depth and spacing helps create a smooth roadway surface texture that may reduce tire air pumping noise. Such a texture also may provide good skid resistance.

(21) An advantage of the present system is that unlike diamond cutting, the grooves cut into the pavement have beveled edges due to the shape of the cutting teeth tips, and may not have sharp vertical right-angle edges. FIG. 4 is schematic drawing showing a roadway surface sharp contour 200 created by conventional diamond wheel road grinding machines. FIG. 5 shows the roadway surface beveled 201 contour created by an embodiment of the present invention showing a non-vertical beveled edge, wherein stress points are reduced. The beveled edge may create a durable trough comparatively superior to sharp-edged troughs created by the conventional diamond wheel machines. High stress points created by the vertical saw blades may thus be avoided.

(22) The texture of the roadway is important. The present system allows for creating or adjusting the texture of the roadway by adjusting the number of teeth, the angle of skew, and the forward speed. This is not possible by the current method of diamond grinding using saw blades.

(23) In addition, unlike diamond-blade systems, the texture achieved in the present system is durable as the cut groove angles are not parallel to the direction of travel. It may be appreciated that increasing traction on runways and roadways is beneficial. Diverting water to drain from runways and roadways is an essential method for increasing traction. Conventional diamond grooving equipment uses blades rotating on an axis perpendicular to the direction of travel, and accordingly cuts grooves parallel to the roadway. Since the grooves are cut parallel to the roadway, water may become trapped in the grooves and reduce traction or cause other problems. In the present system, grooves can be cut angled to the direction of travel. This may increase traction ratios on grooved, wet roadway surfaces. Cutting angled grooves, i.e., grooves with cut paths that are angled with respect to the direction of travel onto a roadway, may promote water to drain from runways and roadways. In addition, as traffic passes, tires may propel water along through the angled grooves, ridding the surface of free standing water.

(24) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an exemplary smoothing drum. The teeth of the smoothing drum do not cut continuous grooves, but cut out scoops or scallops from the pavement surface. The length, orientation and width of the scallops will vary based upon forward speed of the smoothing apparatus, rotational speed and size of the smoothing drum, and the angle or skew of the rotational axis of the drum to the forward travel.

(25) The cutting teeth are placed on the drum such that the cutting paths or cut scallops are adjacent or overlapping, thus presenting an abraded and continuous surface that is smooth at a new level, leaving none of the original surface between scallops.

(26) It may be desirable to ensure that both outermost edges of a cut roadway surface taper to an elevation substantially equal to an existing roadway surface. Since conventional diamond blades cut square channels, they may leave sharp ridges on the outermost edges of the cut roadway surface.

(27) In an embodiment of the present apparatus, a plurality of cutting teeth may be attached to a smoothing drum and may be aligned to produce a desired cut. Cuts in the roadway surface may be appropriately arranged by adjusting a speed of a vehicle and revolution rate of the smoothing drum. In one aspect of the present apparatus, the cutting teeth on the smoothing drum, the speed of the vehicle, and the revolution rate of the drum may produce cuts arranged in such a way to resemble long, continuous channels, but comprising a plurality of cuts.

(28) Skewed/Tapered Smoothing Drum

(29) By rotating the spinning axis of the smoothing drum at an angle nonperpendicular with respect to a direction of traffic on the roadway, the cutting teeth may cut angled scallops in the roadway surface according to the angle of the spinning axis of the cutting drum. In this manner, channels may be created that may be angled in any direction.

(30) An aspect of the present invention comprises the smoothing drum being disposed at a 1 to 45 degree angle from the perpendicular with respect to a direction of traffic on the road, a suitable angle being 5-10 degrees from the perpendicular.

(31) The smoothing drum may also be equipped with conically-shaped diamond cutting teeth tapered at a slightly decreased radius at the outermost edges of the drum in order to leave tapered edges on cut channels to ensure that the edges of the channels are even with existent surrounding roadway surfaces. The smoothing drum then comprises a greater diameter in a middle section than on its edges.

(32) FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a smoothing drum 700 cutting at a non-perpendicular angle to the direction of travel on a roadway surface 710. The cutting drum 700 may also comprise tapered edges 720. The cutting drum may leave beveled edges 730 on the worked roadway surface 740.

(33) Mounting of Teeth

(34) The conical tipped diamond cutting teeth may be held in place by blocks. An embodiment of the present invention may cut the roadway surface to a sufficient depth while preventing blocks from striking the roadway.

(35) Precision Leveler System

(36) In actual practice a precision leveler system can be constructed as the ideal averaging arm system described above, using one pivoting arm and one leading wheel, and the smoothing drum mount in between, with at least 15 feet (4.6 m). However for practical reasons, the precision leveling system can be constructed to effectively increase the smoothing ability. This can be accomplished, for example, by using compound averaging arms systems, and other constructions designed to improving the profile averaging. These leveling systems are regarded as precision leveling systems as defined here as their averaged profiles are superior to the ideal averaging arm system described above.

(37) One example is embodied is a road smoothing machine and leveling system comprising at least one smoothing drum for taking bumps off of asphalt and concrete pavements as described above. The smoothing drum is mounted on a system of averaging arms, with separate sets of averaging arm or arms disposed on both sides of the apparatus. The back of the averaging arms (the portion disposed behind the smoothing drums) may comprise one wheel. A second wheel, or a ‘bogy’ configuration, may also be employed. As described below, the configuration with two sets of averaging arms provides a four-point support for the precision leveling system.

(38) The four-point support using two sets of averaging arms is superior over use of only one averaging arm set which usually provides a three-point support (the one leading wheel, and two support wheels on the frame). In the three-part support, differences in elevation from side to side are not detected. With averaging wheel path down the center, the averaging effect is the same over the width of the smoothing drum. In addition, because of the tripod orientation the whole vehicle will rock along axes between the averaging wheel and each of the support wheels. This amplifies movement of the smoothing drum when one support wheel moves relative to the other by rocking the entire system back and forth. By having two independently operating averaging arm systems on both sides of the smoothing drum, the averaging effect is improved, and differences in elevation across the travel path are better accommodated.

(39) Additional or secondary averaging arms may also be employed. A front portion of the one or more averaging arms may comprise at least two wheels in contact with a road surface. For example, two sets of two wheels may be in contact with the road surface. Each set of two wheels may be secured together by a lower averaging arm. Each set of two wheels secured by the lower averaging arm may follow the contours of the pavement. An average arm may be operably connected to and disposed between the two sets of two wheels.

(40) A second or middle averaging arm may connect two lower averaging arms providing additional contour averaging.

(41) An upper main averaging arm then rides upon the middle averaging arms and may average heights of the middle averaging arms, wherein the main averaging arm rides at a height equal to the average of all the wheels and averaging arms below it.

(42) Averaging arms disposed beyond a front portion of the smoothing drum may sense an altitude change due to bumps or dips in the pavement. A smoothing drum may be mounted proximal a rear end of the main averaging arm (near the pivot) and be raised and lowered according to the average taken by the averaging arms.

(43) An exemplary road smoothing machine includes one or more adjustable or selectable leveling arms for detecting road smoothness. The arms may be adjusted in length to obtain a selectable degree of profile averaging for smoothing for a particular roadway surfaces. The arms may be adjusted to a shorter length for smoothing bumpy and uneven roads, or may be adjusted to a longer length for smoothing less bumpy and uneven roads. On city streets, a road smoother comprising a short arm setting may be advantageous while on collector roads and highways, a larger, longer arm may be advantageous.

Three-Point Support Precision Leveling

(44) Referring to FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary leveling system. A single averaging arm 211 extends from a supporting pivot 233 to an averaging wheel 217. The pivot 233 is attached to a wheeled conveyance or carriage. Attached to the averaging arm 211 between the pivot and the averaging wheel is a smoothing drum 215. The spinning axis of the smoothing drum is held generally horizontal by side-by-side support wheels on the carriage through the pivot. The length of the averaging arm between the smoothing drum and the averaging wheel is at least 15 feet.

Four-Point Support Precision Leveling

(45) FIG. 8 is a side-view schematic illustrating an exemplary four-point leveling system. A system of averaging arms disposed laterally on each side of smoother apparatus provides two averaging arm systems on either side of a smoothing drum. For each averaging arm system, main or upper averaging arm 11 is supported by a fulcrum or pivot wheel 17. The fulcrum or pivot wheels 17 of the two leveling systems function as a carriage and support the leveling system as it operates along the road, and each also functions as a fulcrum upon which the averaging system operates.

(46) The averaging system is pulled by attachment 33 to a suitable conveyance. Suitably, attachment is from the underside of a truck bed or to the underside of a conventional trailer of a tractor-trailer truck. The smoothing system is towed in this embodiment at attachment 33 along the pavement 23 in the direction of the arrow, and the wheels of the conveying trailer/truck do not function as part of the leveling system. However, it is contemplated to have the system pushed, for example, at or near the fulcrum wheel 17, or the fulcrum wheel can be a drive wheel to convey along the pavement. The attachment 33 is structured to permit up and down movement of the upper averaging arm 11, while the upper arm operates from fulcrum wheel 17 and moves smoothing drum 15 up and down. Any suitable conveyance is contemplated. In addition to attachment 33, lifters 75 (shown in phantom) may be used to raise the entire smoothing assembly from the pavement to a non-operating height for transport between job, storage, and maintenance. These may be of any suitable construction, including one or more of hydraulic, geared, screwed, and levered systems.

(47) On each of the two leveling systems between the attachment 33 and the pivot wheel 17 is attached a smoothing drum 15 that extends across the path of the smoother between the two averaging arm systems. A hydraulic cylinder 13 is attached at an upper attachment 21 to the upper averaging arm 11 and at a lower attachment 21b to one or more averaging wheels 19. As shown, averaging wheels 19 are attached to a lower averaging arm 30, which is attached at its middle to the hydraulic cylinder 13 at a lower attachment 21b. Any suitable height adjusting structure may be used in place of the hydraulic cylinder.

(48) The hydraulic cylinder can be operated in a locked mode, or a variable level mode. The smoothing wheel height is adjusted in the variable level mode, and locked in the locked mode. During operation, the hydraulic cylinder moves the height of the averaging arm/smoothing drum to a suitable smoothing height and then is locked as the system moves and smooths. In the variable mode, the extent of smoothing can be adjusted during operation to conform to varying surface roughness, for example, as determined by previous profile measurements or profiling equipment mounted on the conveyance.

(49) Referring also to FIG. 13 a schematic from above of smoothing drum 15, pivot wheels 17 and averaging wheels 19 is shown. The road smoothing apparatus includes two assemblies, each placed on the lateral sides of the apparatus with the smoothing drum 15 in between. Each end of the smoothing drum 15 is supported above the pavement by averaging wheels 19 through the hydraulic cylinders 13 on each side and pivot wheels 17 on each side, resulting in a four-point support of the smoothing drum 15. Two points are provided by left and right pivot wheels 17, and two points are provided by left and right lower averaging arm/averaging wheels assemblies. The two averaging wheels 19 (shown in bogied assemblies that are connected by a lower averaging or bogy arm 20 shown in the FIG. 8) may be replaced with single averaging wheels.

Adjustable Averaging Arms with 4 Point Support

(50) Referring to FIG. 9, FIG. 10, and FIG. 11, schematics of a side view of a smoothing system are shown that include two laterally placed leverage arm systems supporting a smoothing drum between them.

(51) The smoothing system comprises upper averaging arm 11, which is supported by fulcrum wheel 17 and any one of three hydraulic cylinders 14a, 14b, 14c, which are in turn supported by averaging wheels 19. The three hydraulic cylinders allow an effective adjustment of the averaging arm length, which makes the smoothing system adaptable to different smoothing requirements.

(52) In a nominal operation, the main averaging arm 11 rides on middle averaging arm 35 through locked hydraulic cylinder 14b. The hydraulic cylinder 14b is attached to middle averaging arm at mid lower pivot 24b. The middle averaging arm 35 may function as a cover of the averaging wheels, as shown in FIG. 9 in phantom to show the averaging wheels, and in FIG. 10 to show it as a cover. The middle averaging arm may also be mounted in a non-covering relationship above the middle averaging arm 35 as in FIG. 11. The middle averaging arm 35 is attached near its ends at lower pivots 24a and 24b to a fore lower averaging arm 31a and aft lower averaging arm 31b. Each of the lower averaging arms 31a, 31b, is supported by two averaging wheels 19.

(53) This nominal operation provides superior smoothing of smaller bumps and dips. This may be the recommended cutting system for most roads. There are instances, however, where more variable averaging is required, such as in urban streets. For example a city street that has intersections commonly involves uneven roadway surfaces. In the intersections, road elevation may change considerably over a small distance. In such close quarter circumstances, conventional road grinding machines with non-adjustable averaging arms cannot adjust to roadway variability, and may produce roads that are uneven. In these circumstances, an averaging arm capable of adjusting to a different length may be desirable.

(54) The present disclosure describes a novel machine capable of adjusting its averaging arms to a plurality of settings, each of which may be ideal for varying roadways. Short averaging arms and long averaging arms may be disposed in the machine. It is possible to quickly change between averaging arm lengths, thus allowing one single road smoothing machine to improve the smoothness of various streets, such as urban streets, highways, and/or freeways.

(55) As illustrated, the smoothing drum 15 may be mounted on a main averaging arm 11. The main averaging arm 11 may be connected to a middle averaging arm 35. The middle averaging arm 35 in turn may be connected to one or more lower averaging arms 31a, 31b. The lower averaging arms 31a, 31b, may each ride on wheels 19.

(56) The main averaging arm 11 may be connected to the middle averaging arm 35 and the lower averaging arms 31a, 31b by one or more hydraulic cylinders 14a, 14b, 14c.

(57) Each of the hydraulic cylinders 14a, 14b, 14c may be configured in a plurality of modes. The first mode, or float mode, comprises a float position where an upper reservoir (not shown) and a lower reservoir of the hydraulic cylinder may be ported together, allowing the cylinder to float or move freely up or down. In this mode, averaging movements are not conveyed to the upper averaging arm from respective averaging wheels.

(58) The second mode comprises a locked mode. A cylinder in the locked mode may be locked in its existing position. If a cylinder operates in the locked mode, all other cylinders will operate in the float mode.

(59) The third mode comprises a variable level mode for changing the height of the smoothing drum by raising or lowering the main averaging arm 11. If any one hydraulic cylinder operates in the variable level mode, the other cylinders will operate in the float mode.

(60) In an extended length or freeway operation, the fore hydraulic cylinder 14a is placed in locked mode and the other cylinders 14b, 14c, are in floating mode. The main averaging arm 11 is then supported through fore hydraulic cylinder 14a and upper and lower fore pivots 22a and 24a to fore lower averaging arm 31a, which support two averaging wheels 19. In this configuration, averaging length of the main averaging arm 11 ahead of the cutting wheel 15 is extended.

(61) In a short length or local/city operation, the aft hydraulic cylinder 14c is placed in locked mode and the cylinders 14a, 14b, are in floating mode. The main averaging arm 11 is then supported through aft hydraulic cylinder 14c and upper and lower aft pivots 22c, and 24a, to aft lower averaging arm 31b. In this configuration, averaging length of the main averaging arm 11 ahead of the cutting wheel 15 is shortened.

(62) One or more absolute encoders or potentiometers may be paired to any one or more of the hydraulic cylinders 14a, 14b, 14c. The one or more absolute encoders or potentiometers may be set to monitor and relay absolute positional information of the one or more hydraulic cylinders.

(63) One cylinder may continuously operate in either the variable level mode or the locked mode at one time, all other cylinders operating in the float mode. Before operation, one of the cylinders 14a, 14b, 14c may be used to adjust the nominal operating height of the smoothing wheel, with the others in float mode. This can be accomplished during operation while the smoother is in forward motion.

(64) Changing the averaging length of the main averaging arm can be easily and quickly changed to adjust to different pavement conditions, which can be during operation and without stopping the forward motion of the smoothing system.

(65) Adjustment of the forward motion of the smoother, operation and speed of the smoother wheel, and operation of the hydraulic cylinders may be done manually, automatically, or autonomously. Full or partial, automatic or autonomous operation may involve data from one or more of GPS and mapping systems, and internal or external environmental or position sensors, receivers, or transmitters.

(66) In the above illustrated embodiments, hydraulic cylinders were used, but other linear motors or actuators may be used that involve one or more or of electric motors, gear trains, electric linear actuators, and the like.

(67) Referring to FIG. 12, a schematic from above showing two of the averaging systems illustrated in FIG. 9, or FIG. 10, or FIG. 11 on each side of a smoothing system vehicle is shown. Note that the ends of the smoothing wheel in this example are on the lateral axes of the pivot wheel 17 and averaging wheels 19. Achieved here is a four-point support of the smoothing wheel.

(68) In a suitable system, the upper averaging arm is around 20 feet (6-7 m) long. The lower averaging arms are greater than 4 feet (1 m), where the averaging wheels with a lower averaging arm form a wheeled bogie construction. While less suitable, the bogie construction can be eliminated and replaced with a single averaging wheel.

(69) A variation of this system is to eliminate the mid hydraulic cylinder 14b and associated structure along with the middle averaging arm 35. In addition, either one of the end (for or aft) hydraulic cylinders 14a, 14c can be eliminated while retaining the middle averaging arm. The adjustability aspect of the system can be expanded by extending the middle averaging arm and adding a fourth assembly that includes hydraulic cylinder, lower averaging arm, and lower averaging wheels.

(70) Integrated Smoother System

(71) Traditional diamond wheel road grinding is a road cutting method used in only a limited variety of applications, such as on new asphalt installations. In conventional embodiments, a roadway surface may require profiling to be done ahead of time, and may also require separate traffic control setups. Furthermore, conventional road grinding techniques require that road grinding equipment be carried to the site, unloaded, and carried away upon completion of grinding bumps.

(72) There is a great need for a road smoothing machine that can accurately and quickly smooth asphalt and concrete pavements. An exemplary embodiment may rapidly cut bumps from all types of roadways while avoiding conventional requirements discussed heretofore.

(73) One use for a road smoother may comprise key cutting low areas of a roadway surface to be patched. Asphalt patches perform optimally if laid ½ inch deep or deeper in the roadway surface. If the area to be patched isn't profiled and marked, a patching crew may experience difficulty when attempting to place the patch at a correct level and in a correct location. Since bumps and dips may be difficult to discern on a roadway surface, patches often produce only marginal smoothing.

(74) An exemplary integrated system includes an apparatus with the smoothing drum and precision leveling system described above. A road smoothing machine, operable by a single operator, may be mounted to a semi-trailer, wherein the semi-trailer may be driven to a cutting site to perform a cutting operation. Accordingly, this exemplary machine allows rapid cutting of bumps from all types of roadways.

(75) A smoothness or roughness of a roadway surface may be gauged by profiling. Profiling of the roadway surface may be accomplished on the truck and trailer ahead of the smoothing drum. The profiling may be accomplished by, for example, sensors or other suitable profilers. This may greatly speed up the road smoothing process, since both the profiling and the cutting is performed by a single machine, avoiding a need for separate traffic control and hand-painting areas to be cut. The machine may be pulled by the tractor at a forward speed of 5-10 mph until the profilers sense an area to be worked, upon which the machine can be slowed during the actual cutting. Profile measurements may also be accomplished in a separate vehicle traveling ahead of the smoothing machine.

(76) Sweeping of a newly cut roadway surface may be accomplished directly after the smoothing drum performs a cut and before an averaging arm touches the newly cut roadway surface. A cuttings hopper may hold as much as 5 tons, allowing a full day's work to be done before dumping, depending on a cutting depth.

(77) In an exemplary system, the machine may cut a wedge cut (key cut) at a beginning and end of a patch with great accuracy both quickly and efficiently. The patch may have a much better chance of holding up on the ends due to the wedge cut. A proper level of the patch may also be easier to estimate as the proper level comprises a level of the roadway surface on either side of the key cut. A straight edge or string line may also be used by matching the roadway surface to either side of the key cuts.

(78) Traffic can be managed in many cases with a simple arrow-board on the back of the trailer.

(79) The machine may include different aspects such as a smoothing drum for smoothing roadway surfaces mounted on a truck or a trailer pulled behind a truck capable of highway speeds. The smoothing drum can be positioned up for highway travel or down on hard (non-pneumatic) wheels for smoothing. A method for cleaning cut material from the roadway in front of the rear wheels is also contemplated.

(80) Another aspect is a machine as above with integral height sensors or inertial sensors to gather road profile data.

(81) Also, the machine may include a computer capable of storing and processing previously determined height and profile information to automatically adjust smoothing drum. This information can be determined by profiling systems traveling before the smoothing system, or independently obtained data.

(82) Another aspect is the pavement smoothing machine comprising two averaging arms positioned at outer extents of a smoothing drum, the averaging arms being substantially parallel to each other.

(83) Another aspect is a pavement smoothing machine wherein the machine is controlled to have a maximum cutting depth of 0 to 0.5 inch (0-13 mm), and suitably controlled to have a maximum cutting depth of 3/16 or ¼ inch (5 mm or 6.4 mm).

(84) Another aspect is a pavement smoothing machine further comprising an integral means to clean cut or ground off tailings before rear tires pass over a worked area.

(85) Another aspect is a pavement smoothing machine comprising a drum with super hard cutting teeth positioned on a spinning axis on a skew to the direction of travel.

(86) Another aspect is a pavement smoothing machine comprising a drum with tapered ends.

(87) Another aspect is a machine with a smoothing drum for smoothing roadway surfaces mounted on a trailer. A broom or air sweeping system may be mounted behind the smoothing drum and used for cleaning directly after the smoothing drum. A plurality of height sensors may be mounted in front of and behind the smoothing drum for gathering and storing road smoothness or profile data in a processor.

(88) Precise Raising of Smoothing Drum for Obstacles

(89) Many roadways comprise a plurality of manhole covers disposed on or under the pavement surface. Road grinding or smoothing machines comprising diamond or carbide cutting teeth may be damaged if they strike these manhole covers. It may be desirable to cut a roadway surface as close to the manholes as possible while preventing a cutting apparatus to strike the manhole covers and be damaged thereby.

(90) Those familiar with the art may appreciate a difficulty in avoiding manhole covers since it may be difficult to see exactly when a cutting apparatus needs to be raised or lowered. Prior-art cutting apparatuses commonly comprise a cylinder drum (referred to herein for convenience as a cutting drum) comprising a plurality of cutting teeth disposed thereon commonly disposed near the ground. Additionally, cutting drums may comprise covers for holding cuttings. These covers may make it difficult or impossible to see the cutting drum and manhole cover at the time.

(91) It may be desirable to utilize an apparatus for detecting and marking a position of potentially destructive obstacles while the obstacles are clearly visible. A light or metal detector may be fitted onto the road grinding or smoothing machine to detect and provide input to a computer. For example, a distance traveled by the cutting machine may be monitored in order to execute a function to raise a smoothing drum or a cutting drum over the manhole cover when the drum is close to the manhole cover. The computer may also execute a function to lower the drum when the drum has passed over the potentially destructive obstacle in order to continue with normal cutting operations.

(92) An apparatus may be included for marking manholes to determine a proper time to raise a smoothing drum or a cutting drum to avoid striking a potentially destructive obstacle.

(93) An embodiment of the present invention includes a method to mark a position of a potentially destructive obstacle. An obstacle detection device may be attached to a road grinding or smoothing machine. The obstacle detection device may comprise a width of a smoothing drum or a cutting drum of the road grinding or smoothing machine and may be disposed in a location where an operator may easily see both the obstacle detection device and a potentially destructive obstacle. The device may be disposed close to a roadway surface or may comprise a laser light for shining on the roadway surface. The device may also comprise drag chains or other known apparatuses for demarcating an exact position relative to the potentially destructive obstacle. In other embodiments, a plate made from Plexiglas with a marker line down its center may be used.

(94) Using the computer, a road grinding or smoothing machine operator may mark a starting point and an ending point of the potentially destructive obstacle. The computer may store a depth of cut, a distance to the drum, a diameter of the cutting teeth, and a diameter of the drum.

(95) An encoder may continually update the processor with a forward travel of the machine.

(96) When the road grinding or smoothing machine approaches the manhole, the drum may be lifted to avoid striking a potentially destructive obstacle. Said lift may be accomplished by tying directly into hydraulic cylinders capable of controlling a height of the road grinding or smoothing machine. By using a combination of hydraulic control spools it is easily possible to raise, hold, and lower drum into position. The combination of spools may be connected to the L1 and L2 of the hydraulic cylinders.

(97) The drum may be raised on both sides simultaneously. It may also be raised on only one side. Computer input buttons may need to accommodate a single side or both sides.

(98) Instead of raising a drum away from a potentially destructive obstacle immediately, the drum may be raised gradually. For example when cutting 1″ deep, a taper may exit the cut 1″ per ten feet of forward travel, yielding a relatively smooth transition for vehicles traveling the roadway.

(99) An exemplary system is a set of devices attached to a roadway cutting machine comprising a marking device that has a size greater than or equal to a width of a cutter of the cutting machine. A marking device may comprise a transparent strip positioned 1 to 12 inches above a roadway surface or a laser light shining on the roadway. The set of devices may comprise a set of input buttons, a processor with data storage capabilities, a forward travel sensor, and a hydraulic spool controlled by said processor to raise a smoothing drum or a cutting drum.

(100) Referring to FIG. 14, a truck 100 is shown with a trailer 110 and a smoothing drum 100 mounted to an underside 130 of the trailer. When an obstacle detection device 180 detects a beginning portion 141 of a potentially destructive obstacle 140, an operator may mark the potentially destructive obstacle 140 by pressing a button (not shown). Likewise, when the obstacle detection device 180 detects an ending portion 142 of the potentially destructive obstacle 140, the operator may again press a button to mark the ending portion 142. Subsequently, when the smoothing drum passes 120 over the potentially destructive obstacle 140, it may be raised by one or more hydraulic cylinders (not shown). Information from a metal detector 150 may match a location of a potentially destructive obstacle 140 marked by the operator. When the metal detector 150 detects a potentially destructive obstacle 140, a computer (not shown) may alarm, stop a forward motion of the truck 100, or raise the smoothing drum 120.

(101) While this invention has been described with reference to certain specific embodiments and examples, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that many variations are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention, and that the invention, as described by the claims, is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the invention which do not depart from the spirit of the invention.