US2901843A - Subgrade planer - Google Patents

Description

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 10, 1953 Tom Thomas BY flaw INVENTOR.

MM Attorneys Sept. 1, 1959 T. THOMAS SUBGRADE PLANER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 10, 1955 Fig. 3

Tom Thomas" INVENTOR.

Sept. 1, 1959 T. THOMAS SUBGRADE PLANER Filed bee. 10, 1953 3 Sheets-Shget 3 Fig. 4

Tom Thomas INVENTOR. BY @MM udflawqH/ag United States Patent fOfifice patented Sept 1,1959

'SUBGRADE 'PLANER Tom Thomas, Houston, Tex.

Application'December 10, 1953, Serial No. 397,429

3 Claims. (Cl. 37-408) "This invention relates to a subgrade planer and more specifically provides a machine for accurately planing the subgrade of a road bed.

An-object of this invention is to provide a subgrade planer for use in conjunction with roadway forms and having a portion engaging "the upper surface of such forms and being interconnected with the form engaging member for accurately and rapidly verticallyadjusting the planer blade wherein a smooth and accurate grade may be planed.

Another object of this invention is to provide a selfpropelled subgrade planer which is easily operated by a single operator and which automatically retains the grade Within a 'very small tolerance or which may be a portable attachment'to a bulldozer, motor grader or the like.

A further object of this invention is to "provide a subgrade planer for use in setting grades to close tolerances wherein light Weight wooden -forms may be employed.

Still another object'of this invention is to provide a subgrade planer wherein the ground surface supports the weight of the machine wherein light weight wood forms may be employed as the forms do not support the weight of the planer but only the weight of a guide roller.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a subgrade planer which is rugged and relatively simple in construction, efficient and accurate in operation and well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details ofconstruction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the subgrade planer of this invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of this invention;

Figure .3 is a longitudinal, vertical section taken substantially along section line 33 of Figure 1 showing the details of construction of the subgrade planer;

Figure 4 is a transverse, vertical section taken'substantially along the center line of the machine of this invention showing various details .of construction of the actuating rollers and the planerblade;

Figure 5 is a detail section of one of the planer blade actuating pistons;

Figure 6 is a detail section of one of the throttling valves and the relationship of the actuating roller to the throttling valve;

Figure 7 is a detail section showing the clutch means for actuation of the ground engaging wheels;

Figure 8 is a detail section taken substantially along the center line of one of the ground engaging driving wheels;

Figure 9 is a transverse, top plan section taken substantially along section line 9-9 of Figure 2 showing the details of construction of the planer blade; and

Figure 10 is a detail section showing the planer blade and the planer blade actuating means.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, it will be seen thatthe numeral 10 generally designates the subgrade planer of this invention including a generally rectangular framemember 12 having a pair of axles 14 and 16 thereon in longitudinal spaced relation and parallel to each other. The axle 14 is supported below the frame 12 by suitable brackets 18 and the axle 16 is supported by suitable depending brackets 20. The axle 16 carries a pair of ground engaging wheels 22 thereon in transversely spaced relation and a pair of collars 2'4 orientate each wheel 22 on the axle 16. It will be seen that the wheels 22 are generally smooth on their outer surface and act .as supporting wheels. A pair of ground engaging wheels 26 are journaled on the axle 14 in transversely spaced relation and the wheels 26 are orientated by the spacer collars 28. The outer surface of the ground engaging wheels '26 is provided with transverse lugs 38 which are generally spiral in nature forming a ground engaging member wherein the wheels 26 are the driving wheels for the subgrade planer 10. A pair of links 32 are pivotally secured to the axle 16 adjacent the outer ends of the ground engaging wheels 22 and extend forwardly and are pivotally engaged with lugs 34 on each end of a planer blade 36 which has a replaceable sharpened edge member 38 for grading the road bed 40 to an accurate grade. The sharpened edge member 38 is secured to the planer blade 36 by suitable fastening means 42 wherein the sharpened edge 38 may be replaced as desired.

A prime mover 44 of any well known type is positioned centrally of the frame 12 and is provided with a transversely extending power take-oh shaft 46 having a pulley 48 mounted rigidlythereon with a sprocket chain 50 engaging the sprocket pulley 48 with the sprocket chain 50 passing over the sprocket gear 52 which drives a hydraulic pump 54 having a discharge line 56 and an intake line 58 which is in communication with a reservoir tank 60. As shown in Figure 7, each end of the shaft 46 is provided with a reduced portion 62 having a collar 64 thereon and a sprocket gear 66 journaled between the collar 64 and the enlarged portion of the shaft 46. A clutch member 68 is longitudinally slidable on the shaft 42 and keyed thereto by a suitable longitudinal key 70 and 'a bellcrank member 72 has a U-shaped end positioned in a peripheral groove in the clutch member 68 for movement of the clutch member 68 into engagement with the sprocket 66. The clutch member 68 is provided with a plurality of projecting pins 73 which are selectively engageable with a plurality of blind sockets 74 in the sprocket gear 66. The other end of the bellcrank 72 is connected by a connecting link 76 to an operating lever 78 pivotally mounted on a quadrant 80 having the usual notches 82 and the spring loaded dog 84 for selective positioning of the operating handle 78. The sprocket gear 66 is engaged by a sprocket chain 86 which passes over a sprocket gear 88 rigidly secured to each of the ground engaging wheels 26 thereby driving the ground engaging wheels 26 and propelling the machine 10 along the ground surface 40. As shown in Figure 3, a brake drum 90 is provided between the sprocket gear 88 and the drive wheel 26 and a brake band 92 is positioned therearound and individually connected to a portion of the frame member 94 and a connecting link 96 which is secured to a brake pedal in a conventional manner. It will be understood that a brake assembly is positioned adjacent each driving wheel 26 wherein the device may be directionally controlled by manipulation of the brake assemblies controlled by foot brake pedals 100. shown in Figure 3 an operators seat 98 is positioned on the upper surface of the frame 12 wherein the operating handles 78 are in position for selective actuation by an operator and by suitable manipulation the handle 78 and the foot pedal 100, the operator may propel the device along the ground 40. Along the transverse center line of the machine and projecting from each side thereof is mounted a roller 102 pivotally secured to the blade 36 by a crank-member 104. The innermost end of the crank member 104 supported by brackets 105 engages a valve stem 106 for throttling the flow of pressurized liquid through a throttling valve 108. It will be seen that the throttling valve 108 is, positioned in the hydraulic line 56. It will be understood that by raising and lowering of the roller 102 the throttling valve 108 will be actuated in the following manner. As the roller 102 is raised the throttling valve is restricted or urged towards the closed position, and as the roller 102 lowers the throttling valve is opened or becomes less restricted. As will be seen a hydraulic cylinder 110 is provided and has a piston 112 slidably mounted therein with the piston having a rod 114 extending downwardly through a sealing member 116 in the lower end of the cylinder 110 and pivotally connected to the upper end of the planer blade 36 by a suitable pivotal connection 118. It will be seen that the pressure line 56 passes through the underside of the piston 112 wherein pressure will raise the piston 112 along with the piston rod 114 and the planer blade 36 in an obvious manner.

It will be seen that the cylinder 110 is positioned in the pressure line 56 and the pressure line then proceeds to the inlet side of the throttling valve 108 and thence through a return line to the receiver or reservoir 60. It will be understood that each end of the planer blade 36 is connected to a piston rod 114 and each end of the blade is individually controlled by the control rollers 102 wherein the controls for the individual ends of the planer blade are independent of each other and separately activated by the rollers 102 which engage the upper surface of the forms 120 which are of light weight wood or other material rather than the usual heavy forms used in roadway work.

From the foregoing construction, the operation of the device will be easily understood. With the rollers 102 in engagement with the upper surface of the forms 120 and the grade set, the machine is propelled along the ground surface 40 and upon hitting a low spot, the frame actually will lower itself thereby raising the roller 102 wherein the throttling valve 108 will be restricted or moved towards its closed position thereby building a pressure up in the lower end of the cylinder 110 and moving the piston 112 upwardly thereby raising the planer blade 36 and accurately grading the desired grade to a very close tolerance. Obviously, upon the ground engaging wheels 26 moving over a high spot, the roller 102 will be relatively lowered thereby opening the throttling valve 108 permitting the pressure to return to the tank 60' thereby permitting the gravity of the planer blade 36 to move the blade 36 to a lower position towards the desired grade. It will be noted that the planer blade 36 is necessarily relatively heavy wherein gravity actuated lowering will be effected. Obviously, suitable control valves may be placed on the pump 54 and all the various rotating elements may be equipped with suitable grease fittings and the conduits 56 and 58 are equipped with suitable brackets for maintaining the conduits in their correct relationship.

In practical operation the subgrade planer of this invention will cut a desired grade within a tolerance of of an inch and at the same time eliminate the use of the usual metal heavy forms as the only weight resting upon the forms is the weight of the rollers 102. Any material meeting the desired specifications of the elements of this invention may be utilized as may be deemed necessary.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A subgrade planer comprising a mobile frame having ground engaging supporting wheels, a transversely extending planer blade vertically adjustably mounted on said frame, a fluid pressure actuated piston and cylinder arrangement interconnecting each end of the blade and the frame, a fluid pressure system communicated with each arrangement, a control valve for each piston and cylinder arrangement for controlling communication of the system therewith whereby the elevation of the blade may be varied, and freely movable means supported from each end of the blade and connected with each of said control valves for actuating said valves, said movable means extending laterally outwardly of the frame for engaging a present guide surface for maintaining the blade in constant relationship to the guide surface without the guide surface supporting any of the weight of the blade, each of said movable means including a pivotally supported arm having a guide surface contact element on the outer end thereof, each of said control valves having an actuating stem connected with the inner end of an arm whereby changes in the elevational relationship between the blade and guide surface will automatically change the scope of valve opening.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said guide surface contact element includes a roller journalled on the outer end of the arm, said arms projecting laterally outwardly of the blade whereby the rollers will be disposed out of the path of movement of the blade.

3. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said fluid pressure system includes a fluid pump mounted on said frame, a prime mover for driving said pump, said prime mover also supplying locomotive power for moving the planer in a path of movement between the preset guide surfaces.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,347,008 Brown July 20, 1920 1,849,754 Darrow Mar. 15, 1932 2,043,413 Knox et al. June 9, 1936 2,295,519 Millikin et al. Sept. 8, 1942 2,444,977 Clark July 13, 1948 2,481,679 Miller et al. Sept. 13, 1949 2,591,502 Bohannan Apr. 1, 1952 2,659,166 Mathias Nov. 17, 1953

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