AU785129B2 - A cutting head - Google Patents

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Invention Title: A CUTTING HEAD The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 2 A CUTTING HEAD FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates to tools and apparatus for cutting concrete, bitumen and masonry. The present invention has particular but not exclusive application for cutting roadways and pavements. By way of example only, reference will be made to the cutting of roadway and pavement surfaces.

PRIOR ART Damaged surfaces of roadways or pavements are repaired by initially cutting about the damaged sections and then removing the cut sections prior to relaying a new surface. In a similar manner, roadway and pavement surfaces are cut to excavate a trench for the laying or repair of pipes or telecommunication lines.

The cutting of the roadway and pavement surfaces is usually performed by a wheeled motor driven circular saw that is pushed or directed along the roadway and pavement surfaces. When cutting about a damaged roadway or pavement surface, an area considerably wider than the area of the damaged surface is usually circumscribed. A larger area is circumscribed to prevent the blade from being damaged or stuck within the cutting caused as a result of the blade tilting when the saw moves over an uneven damaged surface. As a consequence, there is additional expense when a larger area of roadway or pavement surface is relayed.

In addition, the cutting apparatus may be prevented from completing the cut by an obstacle such as a raised median strip in the middle of a roadway that prevents the cutting apparatus from cutting across the roadway.

3 Furthermore, the wheeled saw cannot cut a vertical masonry wall. Currently, rails are fixed to the wall and a cutting apparatus mounted to the rails cut the wall as it moves upwards.

Others have developed a cutting head with a cutting blade attached to the arm of a backhoe or tractor. The apparatus described in US 5423137 is a combination tool being a backhoe bucket with a blade mounted in the rear of the bucket. The blade is located remotely from the cabin of the tractor and uses the hydraulic system of the tractor to drive the blade. In operation, the arm with the blade is lowered, contacts and cuts the surface. While the cutting may not be restricted by obstacles such as a median strip because the blade is the only part in contact with the surface; the position of the cut, the direction of the cut and the depth of the cut is not well controlled. Also the cutting apparatus is limited to making cuts in one direction and cannot make perpendicular or sideways cuts.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative cutting head that will overcome one or more of the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one aspect the present invention is a cutting head for cutting concrete, bitumen and masonry surfaces including: a frame attachable to an arm of a vehicle; one or more blades mountable to the frame; and a guiding wheel mounted to the frame; 14-RUG-2006 14:29 From:WYNNES PAT&TM RTT 0733421292 To:262837999 P./24 4 wherein said guiding wheel enables the one or more blades to be raised and lowered relative to the surface and guides the one or more blades along the surface irrespective of surface terrain.

The guiding wheel is preferably a surface engaging wheel rotatably mounted to the frame. The guiding wheel is preferably positioned adjacent one end of the frame.

The guiding wheel is preferably spaced apart from the mounting of the frame to the arm to allow the blade to be raised and lowered by pivoting about the guiding wheel, The raising and lowering of the blade in this manner allows the depth of the cut to be varied depending on the circumstances. The raising and lowering of the blade in this 10 manner also provides greater control over the cutting.

Preferably the blades are disc shaped and mounted to the side of the frame.

Each blade preferably has a guard covering the exposed edge of the blade to prevent injury during operation. Each blade is preferably water cooled with a water outlet positioned adjacent the exposed edge of the blade in order to spray water on the blade edge.

Preferably there is one blade. In an aternative embodiment, the cutting head may have two blades mounted to opposite sides of the frame and spaced apart to provide a desired distance between the two cuts so that a trench for example may be formed with the desired width.

The blades are preferably driven by a motor mounted on the frame. In a preferred embodiment the motor is a hydraulic motor operatively connected to the hydraulic system of the vehicle.

In one aspect the present invention is a cutting head for cutting concrete, bitumen and masonry surfaces including; COMS ID No: SBMI-04448726 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:37 Date 2006-08-14 14-AUG-2006 14:29 From:WYNNES PFT&TM ATT 0733421292 To:0262837999 P.8/24 a frame attachable to an arm of a vehicle, said frame is attachable to a pivotal mounting that is also attachable to the arm whereby the pivotal mounting enables the frame to swivel relative to the arm; one or more blades mountable to the frame; and a guiding wheel mounted to the frame; wherein the guiding wheel enables the one or more blades to be raised and lowered relative to the surface and guides the one or more blades along the surface.

Preferably the pivotal mounting has two pivotally connected plate members with a first member attachable to the arm and a second member attachable to the frame. In a preferred embodiment of the cutting head the arm Is attachable to two positions on the second member of the pivotal mounting and the first member of the pivotal mounting Is attachable to two positions on the frame to enable the cutting head to be tilted upwards and downwards.

The plate members are rotatable relative to each other and may be locked in 15 position relative to each other by a suitable locking means.

The pivotal mounting preferably allows the frame to be rotated at any desired angle relative to the arm and locked in position. The positioning of the frame at an angle relative to the arm allows perpendicular or oblique cuts. The positioning of the frame at 180 degrees relative to the arm allows cutting by the blade to proceed with the guiding wheel positioned rearward of the blade thereby avoiding any possible obstruction by a forwardly located obstacle.

In another aspect the invention is a cutting apparatus for cutting concrete, bitumen and masonry surfaces including: a vehicle with an extendable arm; and COMS ID No: SBMI-04448726 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:37 Date 2006-08-14 14-PJJG-2006 141:29 Fr-om:WYNNES PAffTh ATn 0733421292 To:0262837999 P.9 24 Sa a cutting head as described above mounted to the arm wherein the blade of the cutting head is actuated with the vehicle's hydraulic system.

The blade is preferably raised and towered pivoting about the guiding wheel with the extension and retraction of the tractor arm piston. The vehicle is preferably a tractor, backhoe or a suitable construction vehicle.

In a further aspect the Invention is a method of cutting a concrete, bitumen or masonry surface using the above described cutting apparatus including: positioning the guiding wheel on the surface; positioning and lowering the blade to the surface pivoting about the guiding wheel; COMS ID No: SBMI-04448726 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:37 Date 2006408-14 6 cutting the surface and moving along a desired path for cutting; raising the blade when finished cutting; and raising the cutting head from the surface.

During cutting the blade may be lowered to the desired depth pivoting about the guiding wheel.

In one embodiment the frame may be rotated 180 degrees with the pivotal mounting so that the guiding wheel is positioned rearward of the blade so that an obstacle in the path of cutting does not abut against the guiding wheel and prevent further cutting. With respect to this embodiment the blade may also be repositioned at a desired angle to the current cutting line by the pivotal mounting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the present invention be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the cutting head and the mounting to a tractor arm; Figure 2 is a sectional view of the cutting head shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view of the cutting head attached to a tractor arm; and Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of the cutting head attached to the tractor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a cutting head 10, mounting 11 and tractor arm 12. The cutting head 10 includes a disc shaped blade 13 mounted on an axle 14 which is supported within frame 15. There is also shown in phantom in figure 1 a semi-circular blade guard 19 positioned substantially over the 7 upper portion of blade 13. The blade guard 19 is an optional safety device to protect persons from injury during operation of the blade 13. The cutting head 10 also includes a guiding wheel 16 mounted to the front of the frame 15 so that it can engage a surface. The guiding wheel 16 is mounted on an axle 17 and supported on bearings 18. The frame 15 includes two spaced apart transverse attachment pins The attachment pins 20 are used to attach to the mounting 11.

Mounting 11 includes two plates 27, 28 with four upwardly projecting lugs 23 extending from plate 27 and four downwardly projecting lugs 22 extending from plate 28. The attachment pins 20 are passed through apertures 21 in lugs 22 to attach mounting 11 to frame 15. In a similar manner, locating pins 25a, 25b in tractor arm 12 are passed through apertures 24 in lugs 23 to attach the mounting 11 to the tractor arm 12. The mounting 11 also includes pivot pin 26 substantially centrally located within the mounting 11. The pivot pin 26 connects adjacent plates 27, 28.

The pivot pin 26 allows plate 28 to swivel or rotate relative to plate 27. Mounting 11 also has a locking pin 29 which is able to pass through aperture 30 in plate 27 and engage plate 28. The locking pin 29 is able to lock plate 27 in a fixed position relative to plate 28 by fastening the locking pin 29.

The cutting head 10 also has two hydraulic fluid connectors 33 mounted on the outside of frame 15 for connection to tractor hydraulic fluid hosepipes (not shown). The connectors 33 are internally connected by hoses 34 to a hydraulic motor 35 mounted within frame 15. Water connector 36 is also located on the outside of frame 15 and serves as a connection for a water hose supplying water from a water reservoir. Water is supplied via water connector 26 and piped through conduit 37 to outlet 38 which sprays the passaged water onto the blade 13 in order 8 to cool the blade 13 during operation. Hydraulic motor 35 drives blade 13 by an operative connection 39 to axle 14.

In Figure 2, there is shown two blades 13 mounted to opposite ends of the axle 14. The blades 13 are spaced apart to cut a section of a surface wide enough so that a trench of suitable width may be excavated. If a wider cut section is required, one or more spacers or other suitable means may be used to increase the distance between the two blades 13. When only one blade is required, the second blade may be removed. Furthermore the blades 13 can be replaced or exchanged for different sized blades.

With reference to Figures 3 and 4, there is shown cutting head 10 mounted to tractor arm 12. The connection of the tractor arm 12 to the mounting 11 is with the two locating pins 25a, 25b which provides the tractor arm 12 with two points of attachment. With two points of attachment, the cutting head 10 may be tilted with the operation of the tractor arm piston 41. As the tractor arm piston 41 is connected with the locating pin 25a proximal to the blade 13, the blade 13 may be raised and lowered relative to the guiding wheels 16. In this manner, the blade 13 may be raised so as not to contact and cut sections of the surface while guiding wheel 16 moves along the surface, so as to perform a series of intermittent surface cuts.

Further, the blade 13 can be lowered to contact and cut the surface to a desired depth.

For the cutting of a roadway or pavement surface, the cutting head attached to tractor arm 12 is lowered to the surface so that the guiding wheel 16 contacts the surface and is used to pivot the blade 13. The guiding wheel 16 may be moved along the surface without blade 13 cutting the surface when the tractor arm 12 extends and retracts or when the tractor 45 moves to position itself for the cutting 9 operation. When the desired position for the surface cut is located, the blade 13 is lowered with the operation of tractor arm piston 41. The blade 13 contacts and cuts the surface when the operator in the cabin 46 of the tractor 45 actuates the hydraulic motor 35 of cutting head 10. The cutting blade 13 moves along the desired path cutting the surface to the desired depth with the guiding wheel 16 forward of the blade 13 and assisting in maintaining the position of blade 13 irrespective of surface terrain. The weight of the cutting head 10 is substantially supported by the tractor arm 12 and the guiding wheel 16 so as to guide and maintain the position of the blade 13. When the cutting is finished, the blade 13 is raised with the aid of tractor arm piston 41 so that the blade 13 is clear of the surface. The cutting head 10 is then lifted off the surface by the retraction of the tractor arm 12.

Where there is an obstacle such as a median strip in the path of the cutting blade 13, the locking pin 29 in mounting 11 can be disengaged and the frame 15 of the cutting head 10 can be rotated 180 degrees so that the guiding wheel 16 is rearward of the blade 13. The mounting 11 then can be relocked in this position with the locking pin 29. The blade 13 can then continue cutting without the guiding wheel 16 butting against the obstacle and preventing the cutting head 10 from moving forwards.

In situations where the cutting head 10 is circumscribing around a section of a damaged surface, the single guiding wheel 16 does not cause the cutting blade 13 to tilt as the cutting head 10 is substantially supported by the tractor arm 12.

Where a perpendicular or oblique cut is required to be made, the pivotal mounting 11 can be used to turn the frame 15 ninety degrees or whatever other suitable angle is required by disengaging locking pin 29 and relocking the mounting 11 when the frame 15 and blade 13 are repositioned. This ability to cut surfaces at different angles may be achieved while maintaining thLe tractor 45 in the same position. The ability to cut surfaces at various angles also allows previously inaccessible surfaces to be cut. With these inaccessible surfaces, workers resorted to using hand tools such as jackhammers and the like.

The cutting head 10 attached to the tractor arm 12 can also be used to cut vertical masonry walls as the cutting head 10 is supported by the tractor arm 12.

With using the cutting head 10 attached to tractor arm 12, there is no need for rails or any other form of attaching a cutting apparatus to the vertical wall. With the ability to rotate the cutting head, substantially horizontal cuts as well as vertical cuts may be performed and doorways formed.

ADVANTAGES

The advantages of the present invention include raising and lowering the cutting blade to provide more control and precision to the cutting. The raising and lowering of the blade pivoting about a guiding wheel also provides the cutting of a surface to a desired depth. As the cutting head is substantially supported by a tractor arm, the cutting blade does not tilt when the guiding wheel travels over an uneven or damaged surface.

An advantage of the preferred embodiment is that the cutting head can be rotated or swiveled so that the surface may be cut at various angles and is not restricted to preceding in a single direction. The rotating or swiveling of the cutting head relative to the tractor arm also allows the guiding wheel to be repositioned rearward when there is an obstacle in the cutting path. When the guiding wheel is positioned rearward, the cutting may continue unhindered.

11

VARIATIONS

It will of course be realised that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth.

Throughout the description and claims this specification the word "comprise" and variations of that word such as "comprises" and "comprising", are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.

Claims (1)

14-AUG-2006 14:29 From:WYNNES PAT&TM ATT 0733421292 To:0262837999 P.10/24 12 CLAIMS 1. A cutting head for cutting concrete, bitumen and masonry surfaces including: a frame attachable to an arm of a vehicle, said frame is attachable to a pivotal mounting that is also attachable to the arm whereby the pivotal mounting enables the frame to swivel relative to the arm; one or more blades mountable to the frame; and a guiding wheel mounted to the frame; wherein the guiding wheel enables the one or more blades to be raised and lowered relative to the surface 10 and guides the one or more blades along the surface. 2. A cutting head as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pivotal mounting has two pivotally connected plate members with a first member attachable to the arm and a second member attachable to the frame. 3. A cutting head as claimed in claim 2 wherein the plate members are rotatable relative to each other and lockable in a desired position. 4. A cutting head as claimed in claim 3 wherein the plate members are lockable in a desired position by a locking pin. A cutting head as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the cutting blade may be positioned at an angle to the line of cutting by rotating the frame relative to the arm. COMS ID No: SBMI-04448726 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:37 Date 2006-08-14 14-FUG-206 14:30 From:WYNNES PAT&T FTT 0733421292 To:262837999 P.11,24 13 6. A cutting head as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the frame is rotated 180 degrees relative to the arm so that the guiding wheel is repositioned rearward of the blade. a. a a 15 a 0 7. A cutting head as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the arm is attachable to two positions on the second member of the pivotal mounting and the first member of the pivotal mounting is attachable to two positions on the frame to enable the cutting head to be tilted upwards and downwards. 8. A cutting head as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the guiding wheel is a surface engaging wheel rotatably mounted adjacent an end of the frame so that the one or more blades can be raised or lowered by pivoting about the guiding wheel. 9. A cutting apparatus for cutting concrete, bitumen and masonry surfaces including a vehicle with an extendable arm; and a cutting head as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the blade of the cutting head is actuated with the vehicle's hydraulic system. A method for cutting concrete, bitumen and masonry surfaces using the cutting apparatus claimed in claim 7 including COMS ID No: SBMI-04448726 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:37 Date 2006-08-14 14-AUG-2006 14:30 From:WYNNES PAT&TM ATT 0733421292 To:262837999 P.12/2,1 14 positioning the guiding wheel on the surface; positioning and lowering the blade to the surface pivoting about the guiding wheel: cutting the surface and moving along a desired path for cutting; raising the blade when finished cutting; and raising the cutting head from the surface. S S 11. A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein the blade may be lowered to a desired depth pivoting about the guiding wheel. 12. A cutting head as substantially described herein with reference to and illustrated by the accompanying figures. .5 15 5 *SS* S S S. S 13. A cutting apparatus as substantially described herein with reference to and Illustrated by the accompanying figures. 14. A cutting method as substantially described herein with reference to and illustrated by the accompanying figures. DATED THIS FOURTEENTH DAY OF AUGUST 2006 David Glen Bolton by his Patent Attorneys Wynnes Patent Trade Mark Attorneys COMS ID No: SBMI-04448726 Received by IP Australia: Time 14:37 Date 2006-08-14