Abstract
A surface treatment apparatus in the form of an attachment for use with mobile hydraulic equipment which incorporates one or more grinding head. The apparatus incorporates components such as a gimbal and a linkage which further enhance the ability of the grinding head to achieve uniform surface treatment results on uneven surfaces. The linkage may also serve as a lever to prop up the weight of the apparatus on the surface and thereby allowing personnel safe and convenient access to service abrasive tooling bits on the underside of the grinding head. The purpose of such an apparatus is to achieve greater productivity without sacrificing quality of surface treatment finished results when treating a surface.
Claims
1. A surface treatment apparatus, comprising: at least one machine coupler interface; and at least one linkage pivotally attached to said machine coupler interface; and at least one frame pivotally attached to said linkage; and at least one gimbal pivotally attached to said frame; and at least one grinding head pivotally attached to said gimbal.
2. The surface treatment apparatus in claim 1 which includes: a lever; and a pivoting point on the said machine coupler interface which is the fulcrum of said lever, and is configured such that, when the said machine coupler interface is tilted it contacts the effort arm of said lever, and it applies an input force upon the effort arm of said lever, and the load arm of said lever contacts said frame, and applies an output force upon said frame, so as to raise or lower the said frame.
3. The surface treatment apparatus in claim 2 wherein said linkage and the said lever are one and the same.
4. The surface treatment apparatus in claim 2 wherein the effort arm of said lever is of a geometry such that when the said machine coupler interface is positioned within close proximity to a surface the said effort arm contacts the said surface and the surface supports weight of said frame by way of leverage.
5. The surface treatment apparatus in claim 4 wherein at least one wheel is attached to said lever effort arm as an extension of the effort arm.
6. The surface treatment apparatus in claim 1 wherein said linkage is affixed to said frame by means of pins supported by at least one bearing that permits angular rotation about a central point in two orthogonal directions.
7. The surface treatment apparatus in claim 1 which has a plurality of gimbals attached to said frame.
8. The surface treatment apparatus in claim 7 wherein there are a plurality of planetary grinding heads attached to said gimbals.
9. The surface treatment apparatus in claim 1 wherein said frame has a plurality of mounting holes for attaching said gimbal at different positions on the frame.
10. The surface treatment apparatus in claim 1 wherein said grinding heads are receive an input torque from hydraulic motors.
11. The surface treatment apparatus in claim 1 wherein said grinding heads are receive an input torque from electric motors.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a surface treatment apparatus.
[0019] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a surface treatment apparatus with hydraulic components and mounted to mobile hydraulic equipment.
[0020] FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of an example of a surface treatment apparatus.
[0021] FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of an example of a surface treatment apparatus.
[0022] FIG. 5 illustrates a front view of an example of a surface treatment apparatus.
[0023] FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a surface treatment apparatus mounted to mobile hydraulic equipment.
[0024] FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 illustrate an example of a surface treatment apparatus mounted to mobile hydraulic equipment and illustrate the freedom of movement of the components.
[0025] FIG. 10 illustrates an example of a surface treatment apparatus mounted to mobile hydraulic equipment.
[0026] FIG. 11 illustrates a side view of an example of a surface treatment apparatus mounted to mobile hydraulic equipment.
[0027] FIG. 12 illustrates a top view of an example of a surface treatment apparatus mounted to mobile hydraulic equipment.
[0028] FIG. 13 illustrates a front view of an example of a surface treatment apparatus mounted to mobile hydraulic equipment.
[0029] FIG. 14 illustrates an example of a surface treatment apparatus with hydraulic components and mounted to mobile hydraulic equipment.
[0030] FIG. 15 illustrates a top view of an example of a surface treatment apparatus with hydraulic components and mounted to mobile hydraulic equipment.
[0031] FIG. 16 illustrates a front view of an example of a surface treatment apparatus with hydraulic components and mounted to mobile hydraulic equipment.
[0032] FIGS. 17 and 18 illustrate examples of a surface treatment apparatus mounted to mobile hydraulic equipment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0033] The present disclosure provides an apparatus, in the form of a machine attachment, for surface treatment; wherein said surface is a floor or pavement constructed of concrete, stone, terrazzo, and/or similar materials and the said treatment is grinding, polishing, coating removal, or the like.
[0034] In one embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 1, the apparatus 001 has one or more grinding heads 006 affixed to a machine coupler interface 002 by means of one or more gimbals 005, one or more frames 004, and one or more linkages 003. The said grinding head 006 is a mechanical device powered by rotating an input shaft to rotate discs incorporated thereon and upon which abrasive tooling bits are attached. The machine coupler interface 002 provides features by which to attach the apparatus to mobile hydraulic equipment. The system of gimbal(s) 005, frame(s) 004, and linkage(s) 003 allow the grinding head(s) 006 to be manipulated by an operator in such a way that the abrasive tooling bits engage in contact with a surface which shall be treated. The system of gimbal(s) 005, frame(s) 004, and linkage(s) 003 also allow sufficient range of motion for the grinding head(s) to move independently from the machine coupler interface 002 to achieve a consistent contact pressure on the abrasive tooling bits when engaged in contact with the surface which shall be treated. The system of gimbal(s) 005, frame(s) 004, and linkage(s) 003 also allows the grinding head(s) 006 to be manipulated by an operator in such a way that the abrasive tooling bits can be accessed for service and/or replacement.
[0035] FIG. 2 illustrates the side view of one implementation of one embodiment of the apparatus 008 hydraulically powered by the auxiliary hydraulic circuit of a mobile hydraulic equipment 007 to which it is attached, where the said hydraulic equipment in FIG. 2 is a skid-steer loader. The illustration depicts the preferred orientation of the apparatus as it is being used to treat a surface 018.
[0036] FIGS. 3-5 show top, side, and front views of one embodiment of the surface treatment apparatus 001. In these illustrations, the apparatus 001 is depicted with a machine coupler interface 002 connected to a frame 004 by means of linkages 003 joined together pivotally by means of pins and bearings 020. There are three grinding heads 006 depicted, each pivotally attached to a gimbal 005 which is pivotally attached to the frame 004. The grinding heads are each illustrated with a motor 021 attached. The linkage 003 is illustrated with a geometry which allows it to be used as a lever to lift the frame 004 and components attached thereon. The linkage 003 is also shown to include a wheel 015 attached to an extended portion of the effort arm of the linkage when it is functioning as a lever. The frame 004 depicted has multiple mounting holes 019 for the gimbals 005 to be attached at different positions on the frame, this is to allow for the positions of the gimbals and corresponding grinding heads 006 to be repositioned to adjust the overall width of the apparatus 001.
[0037] In one implementation, illustrated in FIGS. 6-9, the operator of the mobile hydraulic equipment 007 attaches one embodiment of the apparatus 001 to the mobile hydraulic equipment by securing the machine coupler interface on the apparatus to a coupler on the mobile hydraulic equipment. Wedges on the coupler engage with features on the machine coupler interface to mechanically secure the coupler and machine coupler interface together. The operator then manipulates the apparatus 001 by means of lifting and tilting the coupler as enabled by the mobile hydraulic equipment 007. The operator proceeds to treat a surface 018 using the apparatus 001 by lifting the apparatus and driving the mobile hydraulic equipment 007 onto, or near, the surface which shall be treated. The operator then raises the apparatus 001 and tilts it forwards and then lowers the apparatus until the abrasive tooling bits engage in contact with the surface 018. The operator positions the machine coupler interface in such an orientation that the frame on the apparatus is free to move vertically 015, move horizontally 013, pitch 010 forwards and backwards, and roll 023 side-to-side, all within a limited yet sufficient range of motion relative to the mobile hydraulic equipment 007 and machine coupler interface; this orientation is depicted in the figures. The operator then applies power to motor(s) mounted to the grinding head(s) 006 to rotate input shaft(s) on each grinding head(s) and thereby start the motion of the abrasive tooling bits across and against the surface 018. These abrasive tooling bits achieve the desired surface treatment in areas where they contact the surface 018 with sufficient pressure and speed, enough to cause particles of the surface to break free. While sustaining power to the motor(s) on the grinding head(s) the operator next proceeds to drive the mobile hydraulic equipment 007 across 012 the surface 018 pushing the apparatus across the surface and thereby treating any areas where the abrasive tooling bits contact the surface. As the operator drives the mobile hydraulic equipment 007 across the surface 018 the mobile hydraulic equipment and the conjoined machine coupler interface may pitch 011, roll 023, or move vertically 025, due to irregularities of the surface or accelerations of the mobile hydraulic equipment, however, due to the inventive design these motions have negligible effect on the orientation of the grinding head(s) and the pressure applied to the abrasive tooling bits against the surface remains consistent. Irregularities in the surface 018 being treated cause the frame(s) on the apparatus 001 to pitch 010 or roll 023 and assume a planar orientation different from the planar orientation of the grinding head(s) resting on the surface, therefore, the gimbal(s) to which the grinding head(s) are mounted are designed to allow the grinding head(s) to pitch and roll 009 independently from the frame, conforming to the unevenness of the surface, to achieve a consistent pressure of the abrasive tooling bits against the surface. One or more bearing(s) on the pin joint(s) for the linkage(s) joining the machine coupler interface to the frame allow the pin joint(s) to rotate about a center point in two orthogonal directions, permitting the frame to move 013 left to right within a limited range of motion and allowing a sinusoidal-like motion 014 of the grinding head(s) to occur as the apparatus is moved across the surface.
[0038] FIGS. 10-13 illustrate another implementation of one embodiment of the surface treatment apparatus 001 attached to a mobile hydraulic equipment 007 resting on a surface 018. These illustrations depict the preferred orientation of the apparatus to allow personnel access to service the abrasive tooling bits 016, which are mounted to rotatable discs 017 on the underside of the grinding heads 006. This orientation is preferred for this task because the weight of the apparatus 001 is directly supported by the surface 018 rather than being held aloft by hydraulic jacks on the mobile hydraulic equipment. This is achieved by the design of the linkages 003 allowing it to function as a lever where the reactionary forces of the surface 018 support the load on the effort arm of said lever, with the fulcrum of the lever being the point where the linkage is attached to the machine coupler interface. The point where the linkage 003 attaches to the frame 004 of the apparatus 001 is on the load arm of the lever and the linkage thereby serves to support aloft the weight of the frame and members attached thereon. A wheel 015 is depicted on what is the effort arm of the portion of the linkage 003 when it functions as a lever. These wheels 015 serve to allow the effort arm to roll along the surface during the action of the lever, and thereby preventing the linkage from scratching or marring the surface.
[0039] In one embodiment, shown in FIGS. 14-16, the surface treatment apparatus 008 is depicted with a hydraulic system which powers hydraulic motors on the grinding heads. The apparatus 008 is shown attached to a mobile hydraulic equipment 007 where said mobile hydraulic equipment is a skid-steer loader. In the implementation illustrated, the apparatus is shown in the preferred orientation when in use treating a surface 018.
[0040] FIG. 17 illustrates one embodiment of the apparatus 001 attached to a mobile hydraulic equipment in the form of a telehandler 022, the apparatus is depicted in the preferred orientation for treating a surface. FIG. 18 illustrates one embodiment of the apparatus 001 attached to a mobile hydraulic equipment in the form of a compact wheel loader 026, the apparatus is depicted in the preferred orientation for servicing abrasive tooling bits on the grinding heads.
[0041] It is to be understood that, although the invention herein has been described and depicted with reference to particular embodiments and implementations, these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention. Various changes may be made to the illustrative embodiments and other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
