Asphalt Cutting Attachment

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a new and improved asphalt cutter attachment for cutting asphalt surface of a roadway or the like, for example, for facilitating cutting an edge of a roadway or driveway for repairing and installing new asphalt. The attachment includes an elongated baseplate having a top and bottom surface, a plurality of angularly disposed cutting teeth positioned along said bottom surface, and an engagement plate including an engagement channel for receiving the lower edge of an earth moving bucket.

Claims

1. An asphalt cutter attachment adapted to be mounted to the blade or bucket of a conventional earth moving vehicle, the bucket having a lower edge, a top surface and a bottom surface, the bucket angularly adjustable, comprising: an elongated baseplate having a top and bottom surface, and a front and rear end; a plurality of angularly disposed cutting teeth positioned along said bottom surface of said elongated baseplate; an engagement plate disposed on said top surface of said elongated baseplate, said engagement plate oriented transversely along said elongated baseplate, said engagement plate further including an engagement channel for receiving the lower edge of the earth moving bucket.

2. An asphalt cutter attachment as in claim 1 wherein said engagement channel includes a push bar, said push bar in contact with the lower edge of the earth moving bucket when said earth moving bucket fully engages said engagement channel.

3. An asphalt cutter attachment as in claim 2, wherein said engagement plate extends a width greater than said baseplate, and said push bar extends a width greater than said engagement plate.

4. An asphalt cutter attachment as in claim 1, wherein said engagement plate is angularly disposed on said front end of said elongated baseplate, said engagement channel defined by the angle between said baseplate top surface and said engagement plate.

5. An asphalt cutter attachment as in claim 1, wherein said plurality of angularly disposed cutting teeth comprise a removeable cutting tip.

6. An asphalt cutter attachment as in claim 1, wherein said plurality of angularly disposed cutting teeth rotate 360 degrees.

7. An asphalt cutter attachment as in claim 1, wherein said plurality of angularly disposed cutting teeth includes an “F” positioned cutting tooth and an “A” positioned cutting tooth, said A positioned cutting tooth having a pitch angle of about 75 to about 90 degrees, and said “F” and said “A” positioned cutting teeth having a yaw angle of about 0 degrees.

8. An asphalt cutter attachment as in claim 7, wherein said plurality of angularly disposed cutting teeth include a “B”, “C”, “D”, and “F” positioned cutting teeth, said “B”, “C”, “D”, and “F” positioned cutting teeth having a pitch angle of about 25 to about 75 degrees.

9. An asphalt cutter attachment as in claim 8, wherein said “B”, “C”, “D”, and “F” positioned cutting teeth, have a yaw angle of about 22 degrees, wherein said B″, “C”, “D”, and “F” positioned cutting teeth are staggered.

10. An asphalt cutter attachment as in claim 8, wherein said B″, “C”, “D”, and “F” positioned cutting teeth are staggered, and are angularly offset to dictate the width of the resultant cut path.

11. An asphalt cutter attachment as in claim 2, wherein said elongated baseplate top surface engages said bucket bottom surface 25B when said earth moving bucket fully engages said engagement channel.

12. An asphalt cutter attachment as in claim 11, wherein at least two of said angularly disposed cutting teeth extend beyond said lower edge of the earth moving bucket when said earth moving bucket fully engages said engagement channel.

13. An asphalt cutter attachment as in claim 2, wherein said push bar pivots about said lower edge of said earth moving device bucket, said angular orientation of said cutter attachment adjustable when said bucket is angularly positioned, said baseplate top surface moving from a position between full and semi engagement with said bucket bottom surface.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0009] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the cutter attachment employing the principles of the present invention;

[0010] FIG. 2 is a side view of the cutter attachment of FIG. 1 showing the angles of the cutter tips with respect to the horizontal plane of the cutter attachment;

[0011] FIG. 3 is a top view of FIG. 1 showing the angles of the cutter tips with respect to the vertical plane of the cutter attachment;

[0012] FIG. 4 illustrates the cutting attachment opening for engagement to the bucket of an earth moving device;

[0013] FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of the cutting attachment engaged to the lower edge of the bucket of an earth moving device;

[0014] FIG. 6 illustrates a bottom view of FIG. 5;

[0015] FIG. 7 illustrates a bottom perspective view of FIG. 6;

[0016] FIG. 8 illustrates the position of the cutter attachment prior to it being engaged to the lower edge of the bucket of an earth moving device;

[0017] FIG. 9 illustrates the cutting attachment engaged to the lower left position of a bucket of an earth moving device to facilitate cutting on a roadway surface edge.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] In the following description, the same numerical references refer to similar elements. The embodiments, geometrical configurations, materials mentioned and/or dimensions shown in the figures or described in the present description are preferred embodiments only, given for exemplification purposes only.

[0019] Referring to FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the present invention 100 attached to the bucket 25 of an earth moving device. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the cutter attachment 100 is utilized to create score lines 30 in asphalt to create clean edges for either the addition of asphalt or the removal of asphalt separated from a bigger piece. The attachment 100 is made of a suitable steel with the various elements welded together as required to ensure the device maintains its structural integrity during use. The cutting teeth 22, holder base 22A, tip end 22B1, lip 22B3, and an elongated shaft end 22B2 are commercially available products available from milling vendors such as the Caterpillar and Kennametal companies.

[0020] Referring to FIG. 1, attachment 100 includes an elongated base plate 10 having a top surface 10C, a front end 10B and rear end 10A. Disposed towards front end 10B is an engagement plate 40 angularly oriented transversely across baseplate 10, and includes push bar 15, support plate 20, and support brace 17. Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 4 push-bar 15 extends across and beyond the edges of baseplate 10, the push bar having a bottom surface 15C engaged with Top surface 10C of baseplate 10. Support brace 17 engages support plate 20 and top surface 10C of baseplate 10 giving additional structural rigidity to engagement plate 40.

[0021] Referring to FIGS. 1, 4 and 8 Support plate 20 extends at an angle away from push bar 15 towards baseplate 10 rear end 10A and engages Push bar 15 top surface 15D and baseplate top surface 10C creating an engagement channel 18 to accept the bucket edge 25C. The engagement channel 18 can be designed to provide more or less space depending on the angle of support, plate 20 which would facilitate greater upward and downward pitch of attachment 100 while engaged with bucket 25 edge 25C. By lifting and angling bucket 25, based on the size engagement channel 18, different angles of attack for cutting teeth 22 may be realized.

[0022] Referring to FIG. 8, bucket 25 edge 25C engages cutter attachment 100 while the attachment 100 is stationary on the ground. As illustrated in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the bucket 25 scoops up the attachment 100. When fully engaged push bar rear edge 15B contacts bucket edge 25C. As illustrated in FIG. 5, 8 9 attachment 100 can be maneuvered along bucket edge 25C. When engaged with the bucket 25 moving forward push bar 15 engagement with bucket edge 25C keeps the cutting teeth 22 on a straight path and keeps the attachment 100 elongated base plate 10 perpendicular to bucket edge 25C.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 2, a plurality of cutting teeth 22 are oriented longitudinally along bottom surface 10D of baseplate 10. The cutting teeth 22 are removable from holder base 22A and include a tip end 22B1, a lip 22B3, and an elongated shaft end 22B2. The cutting teeth 22 tip ends 22B1 are 360 degrees rotatable while engaged within holder base 22A.

[0024] In a preferred embodiment, to control weight and the size of the cutter attachment six cutting teeth oriented in positions A through F are illustrated. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the cutting teeth are oriented angularly to facilitate efficient cutting. In the preferred embodiment, the cutting teeth at Positions B through F can have along the horizontal axis, a Pitch Angle between about 25 degrees to about 75 degrees, while the rear cutting tooth in Position A can have a pitch angle of about 75 to about 90 degrees. The Position A tooth at a higher pitch angle facilitates keeping the attachment 100 rear 10C aligned with the attachment 100 rear 10B during cutting operations. Although preferred angular positions of the cutting teeth are disclosed, other cutting teeth angular orientations may be utilized by those skilled in the art. Furthermore, as described above, pitching the bucket 25 upward can facilitate a deeper cut or score from the Position A tooth 22, if desired.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 3, the Position A and F teeth are oriented at a 0 degree yaw angle with respect to the vertical axis while Positions B through E are staggered at a 22 degree yaw angle offset from each other. The offset can be variable with respect to Positions B through F and dictates the width of the resultant cut path. Positions A and F at 0 degree yaw ensure that the center of the cut segment is adequately engaged and further allows for engagement of only the end teeth when the bucket 25 is angularly oriented. For example, using only the front most tooth at position F would better facilitate the straightness of the cut while utilizing the rearmost tooth at position A would be more efficient foe a radius type cut.

[0026] It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the invention. Thus, various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances that fall within the scope of the appended claims.