US3638539A

US3638539A - Road base building apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3638539A
Application number: US876342A
Authority: US
Inventors: William Hurst Lewis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-11-13
Filing date: 1969-11-13
Publication date: 1972-02-01
Anticipated expiration: 1989-02-01

Abstract

A road base building apparatus is described that is adapted to be attached to the support ring of a conventional road grader. The apparatus includes a mounting frame for supporting a plurality of rotating scarifiers, a shoveling assembly and a split moldboard strikeoff with the two portions thereof oscillating in opposite directions. The scarifiers are adapted to loosen and/or mix the rock base material to a uniform consistency. The shoveling assembly functions to laterally distribute the material while the pair of strikeoff portions operate to effect a leveling and smoothing of the material. A Vplow is also adapted to be attached to the conventional road grader forward of the rotating scarifiers for laterally distributing the earth or base material deposited ahead of the apparatus. The various components of the apparatus are driven by hydraulic motors operatively connected to a hydraulic pump which, in turn, is connected to the engine of the road grader through a power takeoff located at the rear of the grader.

Description

I United States Patent [151 3,638,539

Lewis Feb. 1, 1972 [54] ROAD BASE BUILDING APPARATUS 3,490,539 l/l970 Hilmes ..94/44 X [72] lnventor: William Hurst Lewis, Norwalk, Calif. Primary Examiner jacob L. Nackenofi. [73] Assignee: Gerald L. Revell, Rolling Hills, Calif. Attorney-Jackson & Jones [22] Filed: Nov. 13, 1969 ABSTRACT [21] Appl' 876342 A road base building apparatus is described that is adapted to be attached to the support ring of a conventional road grader. [52] US. Cl ..94/44, 94/45, 172/59 The apparatus includes a mounting frame for supporting a plu- [51] Int. Cl. ..E0le 19/12 rality of rotating scarifiers, a shoveling assembly and a split Field Of Search 172/51, 59, moldboard strikeoff with the two portions thereof oscillating 172/110, 49, 72; 37/ 108 in opposite directions. The scarifiers are adapted to loosen and/or mix the rock base material to a uniform consistency. [56] References C'ted The shoveling assembly functions to laterally distribute the material while the pair of strikeoff portions operate to effect a UNITED STATES PATENTS leveling and smoothing of the material. A V-plow is also 510,143 12/1893 adapted to be attached to they conventional road grader forl,208,856 9 ward of the rotating scarifiers for laterally distributing the 2,065,698 12/1936 earth or base material deposited ahead of the apparatus. The 2,424,459 7/1947 various components of the apparatus are driven by hydraulic 2,426,702 1947 motors operatively connected to a hydraulic pump which, in 2,511,539 6/1950 turn, is connected to the engine of the road grader through a 2,65 1,246 9/1953 power takeoff located at the rear of the grader. 2,732,783 l/l956 3,111,917 11/1963 Dawrs ..172/59 X 30 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures MIENYEU FEB I SHEET 2 BF 4 PAIENTED FEB 1 1912 SHEET 3 OF 4 r I I rlllll PAT-ENTED FEB 1 972 saw u or 4 ROAD BASE BUILDING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to road building apparatus and more particularly to an improved earth finish or base building apparatus.

2. Description of the Prior Art Major economies have been effected in the construction of modern highways by reason of the utilization of large semiautomatic concrete finishing machines. As is well known, these machines are adapted to spread, compact and hand-finish in one operation a slab of concrete at any desired thickness. Furthermore, road base building apparatus have been constructed to provide a roadbed or road base according to the exacting specifications required by these finishing machines.

Although prior road base building and surface finishing apparatus have been manufactured in various constructions to function in various manners in preparing the road base, one type of apparatus which has met with a fair degree of success has included three main components; i.e., a scarifier, shoveling means, and moldboard strikeoff means. In such a device the scarifier functions to cut the roadbed to a subgrade and to reduce the material to sand and pebble size for easy removal or for mixing and leveling. The shoveling means functions to remove the excess material outside of the machine path, while the moldboard strikeoff functions to strike a true grade and to work the excess into material tumbled ahead of H into the low spots left by the scarifier. Although this type of device has met with a limited amount of success, various shortcomings are encountered which limit its widespread acceptance and use.

A serious problem of this type of device occurs in its scarifier construction. One such scarifier utilizes a horizontally revolving tube having a plurality of digger teeth projecting radially outward therefrom. Although such a scarifier operates effectively in small size material, in the rugged type of subgrading the digger teeth encounters rather large rocks and because of the pile driving movement of these teeth they are subject to rapid disintegration in the course of these encounters. Another type of scarifier includes a reciprocating rake having a plurality of teeth reciprocating through the material in a transverse direction. As in the revolving scarifier, the reciprocating rake operates adequately in small size material, but in the rugged type of subgrading the rake teeth are easily damaged by the largerocks located therein.

Serious problems are also encountered in the shoveling means used in these prior devices. A prior shoveling means includes a paddle train comprising a plurality of paddles mounted on a flexible drive which function to push the excess material into windrows outside the machine path. One shortcoming lies in the complexity of the paddle and drive structure. The multiplicity of parts in such means seriously effects its reliability while rendering its maintenance exceptionally arduous. Moreover, such devices require a large amount of space which is usually attained by compromising adjoining structure to accommodate it.

Prior moldboard strikeoffs usually include an oscillating moldboard pivotally mounted to the superstructure of the apparatus. A serious shortcoming with such a device is that, being of heavy construction, the transverse oscillating movement creates a rocking moment on the superstructure as it moves forward. Such moments create undue stresses and strains on the apparatus and cause frequent breakdowns thereof.

Another serious shortcoming is the expense involved. Although these apparatus save many man hours of labor, their initial cost is prohibitive to the average road construction firms.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention obviates the above-mentioned shortcomings by providing a road base building apparatus that is adapted to perform a variety of different but related functions,

including the preparation of the subgrade for a road, the spreading and leveling of a select base for ,a road, and the spreading and leveling of treated earth for a road, as well as other uses in agriculture and large building sites, providing in all cases a roadbed or road base which is uniform, accurate and smooth. The road base building apparatus includes a frame adapted to be mounted onthe support ring of a conventional road grader. The frame includes three transverse beams, one beam supporting a plurality of rotating scarifiers transversely spaced across the entire width of the apparatus. Each scarifier rotates about a vertical axis and includes a plurality of axially extending projections adapted to rotate within the subgrade or finish material. The projections are adapted to receive either a plurality of digger teeth for desegregating the earth and/or base material to a uniform consistency or a plurality of paddles for mixing a treated base to a smooth consistency. The second beam is adapted to support a shoveling assembly which includes a rotating auger rotatably mounted behind the scarifiers and extending transversely across the entire width of the apparatus. The auger is rotatable about a horizontal axis in either direction and functions to remove any excess material into windrows outside the machine path. The third beam is adapted to support a pair of moldboard strikeoffs hingeably mounted thereon and extending transversely across the entire width of the apparatus. The moldboard strikeoffs are counteroscillated to achieve a balanced movement and prevent undue stresses'on the frame. Novel shock absorbing means are also provided to absorb the loads transferred from the moldboard strikeoffs to the drive linkages. A pair of moldboard strikeoff extensions are mounted on the exterior ends of the moldboard strikeoffs to strike off the grade on either side of the apparatus, the auger being axially movable to accommodate either of these extensions. A windrow splitter or V-plow is also adapted to be attached to the conventional road grader forward of the rotating scarifiers to split and laterally distribute the windrow of either finish or base material deposited ahead of the apparatus. The various components of the apparatus are driven by hydraulic motors operatively connected to a hydraulic pump which, in turn, is connected to the engine of the road grader through a power takeoff located at the rear of the grader. Although each of the above-mentioned components are individually adjustable, the elevation of the entire frame and the road grader support ring is controlled by a grade-wire control system to maintain exact elevation and frame cross-level.

An important advantage of the rotating scarifiers is that they are able to operate efficiently and durably in all types of material to mix the base or finish material to a uniform consistency. Moreover, the scarifiers of the present invention are positioned in an overlapping interrelationship and are counterrotatable to function effectively as mixers when the material is composed of a treated base. The rotatable auger provides a simple and efficient way of removing the excess material from the path of the apparatus while being axially adjustable to also remove the excess material from the path of the moldboard strikeofi' extensions. Besides operating in a balanced manner, the moldboard strikeoffs are also vertically adjustable in various positions to form either a straight edge or various types of crowns in the finished grade of material.

Another very important advantage of the apparatus is that it is comparatively compact in size with respect to other road base building apparatus and since the apparatus functions as an attachment to a conventional road grader a substantial cost reduction is achieved.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and ad vantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the road base building apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the scarifier assembly;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the shoveling assembly;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the moldboard strikeoff;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in section of the moldboard strikeoff shock absorbing means;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the road building apparatus being attached to a conventional road grader; and

FIG. 7 is a side plan view of the road grader taken along lines 7--7 of FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a road base building apparatus 10, according to the present invention, as it would appear when traveling forwardly in the direction of the arrow 12. The apparatus 10 includes a rigid rectangular frame 14 which is adapted to be supported by a conventional road grader, hereinafter described.

Although the apparatus 10 is adapted to be utilized as a heavy duty accurate subgrader, the description hereinafter made will be directed to utilization of the apparatus 10 for spreading and leveling the base course material upon an already prepared subgrade. The base course for a concrete highway is usually a rock base or treated material over which the slab of concrete is laid. However, it should be noted that the present apparatus 10 is adapted to spread and level various types of base course materials as well as treated material which itself constitutes the road surface, and the description hereinafter made is therefore merely exemplary.

Since the accuracy of the grade of the base course to a great extent controls the accuracy of the finished road it is extremely important to mix, break up, spread and level the base course in relatively close tolerances. The base material is usually dumped into a conventional calibrated windrower (not shown) by a dump truck. The windrower lays down a windrow arranged coextensive with, and upon the proposed road bed, and the apparatus 10 mixes, spreads and levels the windrow to provide a finished base course for supporting an overlying slab of concrete to form the road. A windrow splitter of V-plow (see FIG. 6) is located ahead of the frame 14 and functions to split and laterally distribute the windrow of base or finish material across the width of the apparatus 10. In a typical instance, the material is spread to a loose depth of about 4% inches across a lateral span of 14 feet. The forward extremity of the frame 14 rearwardly of the V-plow 20 carries a scarifier assembly which desegregates or works the base material to a uniform consistency by mixing through the material in a rotating transverse direction. Mounted on the frame 14 rearwardly of the scarifier assembly 30 is a shoveling assembly which includes a horizontally rotating auger 41 to provide lateral distribution of the material.

To the rear of the shoveling assembly 40 the frame 14 mounts a transversely reciprocating moldboard strikeoff assembly 50, which effects leveling and smoothing of the material which is laterally positioned by the shoveling assembly 40. The moldboard strikeoff assembly includes a pair of transverse moldboard strikeoffs 51 which further function to pick up the material from the higher heavy spots and deliver it to the low or lean spots while also imparting an accurate finished surface to the base or finish material as the apparatus 10 proceeds beyond it.

As will be seen, each of the above-mentioned components is -individually adjustable to perform its function in a manner forced by various bracing components, including a pair of side trusses 21, but such bracing components will not be described in detail inasmuch as their particular construction does not form a part of the present invention. The members 15 and 16 and the beams 17 and 18 may be secured together in any suitable fashion, as by welding or bolting together, although welding is preferred to provide a unitized body capable of being easily attached to a road grader.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the crossbeam 17 forms the support for the scarifier assembly 30 by having a plurality of legs 31 mounted on a plurality of brackets 91 which extend about the crossbeam 17. Each bracket 91 includes three mounting screws 92 extending therethrough which engage the cross- I beam 17 and are adjustable therewith to permit the legs to be axially adjustable. Each of the outer brackets 91 located on the beam 17 also includes a wheel 93 which, upon adjustment of the screws 92, is adapted to engage and roll on the beam 17 to permit ease of traversal. A transverse box beam 32 is supported on the lower extremities of the support legs 31 by a plurality of trunnions 32' and is adjustably supported thereon by means of threaded nuts 31' to adjust the height of the box beam 32 to any desired position. A plurality of cylindrical bores 33 are formed in the box beam 32 to receive a plurality of shafts 34 which are rotatably journaled therein. The lower extremity of each shaft 34 extends below the box beam 32 and is integrally connected to a fork 35. Each fork includes a crossbar 36 integrally connected to a plurality of vertically oriented elongated elements 37 having a plurality of digger teeth 38 attached thereto for mixing the base or finish material to a uniform consistency by revolving through the material in a transverse direction. Each pair of elements 37, located on one side of the rotating axis is oriented to permit the teeth 38 to form the leading edge with respect to the rotation thereof. It should be noted that the forks 35 are overlapping and are counterrotatably driven as will be described hereinafter. It should also be noted that a plurality of paddles could also be attached to the elements 37 in place of the teeth 38 to effect a mixing operation when the base material is treated.

The upper extremity of each shaft 34 extends above the box beam 32 and is integrally attached to a sprocket 39. A plurality of hydraulic motors 42 are integrally connected to the box beam 32 and is drivingly engaged to each alternate upper extremity of the shafts 34. A closed loop timing chain 43 extends about alternate peripheral sectors of the sprockets 39 with respect to a plane extending through the axis of these sprockets 39. The remaining portion of the chain 43 extends around a plurality of sprockets 39' located at both ends of the beam 32 to form an endless loop thereon. Through the timing chain 43 the motors 42 function to drive the forks 35 in a counterrotating fashion.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the transverse beam 19 functions as the support for the shoveling assembly 40. As stated previously, the transverse beam 19 extends through each of the side members 15 and 16 and is also laterally moveable with respect thereto. In order to be axially slidable therewith each end of the transverse beam 19 includes a motor support plate 44 which is cantilevered over the upper surface of the side members 15 or 16. The outer extremities of the support plates 44 extend beyond the side members 15 and 16 and are integrally connected to a pair of journal plates 46. Each journal plate 46 is also connected to the outer extremities of the transverse beam 19 with the lower extremity of each journal plate 46 being apertured to receive one outer extremity of an auger shaft 47 which is rotatably journaled therein. The auger 41 is mounted on the auger shaft 47 in a helical configuration and is rotatably driven by a hydraulic motor 48 mounted on each support plate 44 by a pair of flanges 48'. Each motor 48 includes a motor shaft 49 extending out of the external side thereof with the outer extremity of the motor shaft 49 being supported by a journal bearing 52. The drive sprocket 53 is fixedly keyed to each shaft 49 and is drivingly connected by means of an endless chain 54 to a driven sprocket 55 located at one end of the auger shaft 47. Thus the auger 41 can be rotatably driven in either direction by the hydraulic motor 48 with the entire shoveling assembly 40 being axially movable to accommodate the moldboard strikeoff assembly hereinafter described. Upon rotation the auger 41 functions to laterally distribute the base or finish material while depositing the excess material into windrows outside the path of the apparatus 10.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 4 the crossbeam 18 is utilized to hingeably support the moldboard strikeoff assembly 50 which includes a pair of moldboard strikeoffs 51. Each moldboard strikeoff 51 includes an elongated horizontal scraper element 56, both of which extend across the width of the apparatus and is characterized by a straight lower edge. The scraper element 46 is welded to the forward edge of an elongated I-beam (not shown). Each I-beam includes a pair of cylindrical sheaths (not shown) welded thereto for slidably receiving a pair of vertically extending shanks 58 which are rotatably joumaled therein.' The upper extremity of each shank 58 is joumaled within one end of a hinge 59 located on the rear side of the crossbeam 18, while the other end of each hinge 59 extends to the forward side of the crossbeam 18 and is pivotally connected thereto. More particularly, the upper extremities of each of the pair of shanks 58 is threaded to receive a pair of wrench nuts 60 which are operable to adjust the vertical position of the shanks 58 relative to the hinges 59 whereby rotation of the nuts 60 in opposite directions raises and lowers'the shanks 58 reiative to the hinges 59. With this arrangement, a means is provided for relatively rapidly adjusting the height of the moldboard strikeoffs 51 as by merely rotating the nuts 60 in the proper direction. It should also be noted that these means permit the moldboard strikeoffs 51 to be adjusted to various horizontal positions, including a straight edge or various crown positions.

Each moldboard strike off 51 is transversely oscillated by movement of a shaft 61 which translates rotary movement of the shaft 61 into reciprocating movement of the moldboard strikeoffs 51. The shaft 61 is located within a journal bearing 62 with its rear extremity fixedly attached to a link 63. The link 63 is connected on both sides of the shaft 61 to a pair of drive rods 64 which, in turn, are connected at their other ends to the respective moldboard strikeoffs 51 by shock absorbing means hereinafter described.

The forward end of the shaft 61 is connected through a connecting bar 61' to one end of a connecting link 65 with the other end of the link 65 being connected to an eccentric 66 rotatably mounted on a hydraulic motor 67. The hydraulic motor 67 is mounted on the crossbeam 18 by means of a pair of flanges 68 whereby rotation of the motor 67 causes oscillating movement of the shaft 61 for transversely reciprocating the rods 64.

A shock absorbing means is located at the one end of each drive rod 64 and, as more clearly shown in FIG. 5, includes a plate 69 which is integrally connected to an I-beam, the plate 69 being apertured to receive the drive rod 64. The shock absorbing assembly also includes a pair of elastomeric toroids 70 mounted over the drive rod 64 on both sides of the plate 69. A pair of cups 71 extend over the toroids 70 to prevent the toroids from expanding. A nut 94 and washer 95 are threadedly secured to the drive rods 64 on the outer sides of the toroids 70 for securing purposes. These means also are adjustable to adjust the stroke of the moldboard strikeoffs 51. A pair of cylindrical covers are integrally connected to the collars 71 and are positioned about the periphery of the toroids 70. When each drive rod 64 moves in one direction, one of the toroids 70 is compressed, followed by movement of the moldboard strikeoffs 51 in that direction. Conversely, when the drive arm 64 is moved in the opposite direction, the other toroid 70 is compressed, followed by movement of the moldboard strikeoffs 51 in such opposite direction. Thus the movement of the moldboard strikeoffs 51 in either direction is first cushioned by initial compression of the toroids 70, thereby reducing shock and smoothing the reversal of direction of the moldboard strikeoffs 51 during reciprocation of the drive rod 64.

It should also be noted that since the drive rods 64 are connected on opposite sides of the shaft 61, they are driven 180 out of phase. As a result, the .moldboard strikeoffs 51 are driven in a counteroscillating movement to cancel the effect of sidethrust on the apparatus 10.

Each end of the moldboard strikeoffs include an extension 73 which is slidably supported thereon by means of a pair of rods 74 extending into a pair of cylindrical sheaths 75. Each extension 73 includes a horizontal scraper element 76 welded to the forward edge of the extension 73 and extends over the scraper element 56 in an overlapping manner. The extensions 73 are maintained in any adjusted position by means of lock nuts 77 located on each rod 74. The extensions 73 function to enable the moldboard strikeofis to level the material on either side of the apparatus 10 with the auger 41 being axially adjustable in either direction to accommodate these extensions.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, the frame 14 includes four bores, two of which are formed in each of the crossbeams l7 and 18 and are utilized as attachment means for connecting the frame 14 to the rotating support ring 78 of a conventional road scraper 79. The support ring 78 is usually utilized to support the transverse plow. However, such a plow can easily be dismantled from the support ring and the frame 14 can be easily attached thereto.

Although the height of each component of the apparatus 10 can be individually adjusted, the entire frame 14 and the support ring 78 can also be adjusted by a pair of hydraulic cylinders 80 which is connected to the support ring 78 and to the main frame 81 of the road scraper 79 by means of arms 90. Furthermore, although the cylinders 80 can be manually controlled, a preferred grade-wire control system 82 is provided to control the elevation of the frame. The control system 82, shown schematically, includes a sensitive feeler 83 mounted on each side of the road grader 79 and is adapted to follow piano wire grade lines located at the side of the proposed road lane. Each feeler 83 is linked with a control valve or switch 85 which, in turn, is operatively connected to a servocontrol 86 located adjacent each hydraulic cylinder 80. Each servocontrol 86 functions to control the movement of the respective hydraulic cylinder 80 and is controlled by the movement of the feeler 83 acting through the valve or switch 85.

A second support beam 87 is pivotally attached to the front portion of the main frame 81 directly behind the front wheels 88 of the road grader 79. The support beam 87 normally functions to support a plurality of digger teeth (not shown). However, when the apparatus 10 is being utilized these teeth are removed from the support beam 87 and a V-plow or windrow splitter 20 is mounted thereon. The V-plow 20, located ahead of the apparatus 10, comprises a pair of elongated rearwardly diverging plow plates 22 whose forward extremities are secured to a short longitudinally extending plate 23. The initial windrow splitting angle of the plow 20 is hydraulically adjustable so that the base course material is mixed and spread or laterally distributed in the most advantageous manner. More particularly, the plow 20 includes a splitter plate 24 pivotally connected to the forward end of the plate 23 and including an integral operating arm 25, which is pivotally connected to the piston of a double-acting hydraulic cylinder 26. The cylinder 26 of the plow 20 is suitably connected to the hydraulic controls of the apparatus 10 so that the operator is able to precisely split the windrows as required by the particular application at hand, whereby complete flexibility is provided for splitting and lateral distribution of the windrows of the base course material.

The hydraulic motors of all of the above-mentioned components are driven by a pump 90 located at the rear of the grader 79 which is driven by a power takeoff located thereon. A reservoir 91 is mounted adjacent the pump 90 to supply sufficient motive fluid for driving the hydraulic motors. Most of the details of the structure of the pump and the hydraulic motors and the means interconnecting these units are not described herein for reasons of brevity, because such details form no part of the present invention, and because such details will immediately suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

From the above description, it will be apparent that the apparatus is effective to accurately spread and level base course material for a road, to also mix, spread and level treated material, and to also actually prepare the subgrade itself. The apparatus 10, being attached to conventional road graders is adapted to follow conventional windrowers and split, spread, mix and level the windrows to provide a roadbed of accurate grade.

I claim:

1. A road building apparatus for mixing, spreading and leveling treated base and/or finish materials comprising:

a frame;

scarifier means including a plurality of forks laterally spaced across the width of said frame, each of said forks is rotatable about a vertical axis and includes a plurality of vertically oriented elongated elements adapted to extend into the base material;

shovel means supported on said frame rearwardly of said scarifier means to laterally distribute the road base or finish material leaving said scarifier means;

strikeoff means pivotally mounted on said frame rearwardly of said shovel means, said strikeoff means comprising a split moldboard with each section being pivotally mounted on hinge means which in turn is pivotally mounted on said frame, said moldboard being mounted to said hinges by leg means which are axially adjustable therewith to enable said moldboard strikeoff to be mounted in a plurality of elevational and angular positions with respect to the horizontal plane;

means for transversely reciprocating said strikeoff means to level the base or finish material; and

drive means for simultaneously rotating said scarifier means and said shovel means, and actuating said means for reciprocating said strikeoff means whereby a strip of earth and/or road base material of uniform height and consistency may be continuously provided.

2. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said adjacent forks are alternately rotatable in the opposite direction.

3. The invention in accordance with claim 2 wherein said plurality of forks are laterally spaced in such a manner that the end elements of each fork overlap the end elements of each adjacent fork.

4. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein a plurality of digger teeth are adapted to be inserted on said elongated elements for digging, loosening, mixing and spreading the base or finish material to a uniform consistency.

5. The invention in accordance with claim 3 wherein a plurality of paddles are adapted to be inserted on said elongated elements for mixing road grade materials.

6. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said shovel means includes an auger selectively rotatable in either direction mounted on said frame.

7. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said moldboard strikeoffs are counteroscillated by said reciprocating means to dynamically balance the movement thereof and to prevent sidethrust of said frame.

8. The invention in accordance with claim 7 wherein said reciprocating means includes:

journal means rotatably supporting a shaft;

drive means for oscillating said shaft;

eccentric means mounted on said shaft with the eccentrics being located on opposite sides of said shaft; and

a rod connected to each moldboard strikeoff with each rod being connected to one of said eccentrics on opposite sides of said shaft in a 180 phase relationship.

9. The invention in accordance with claim 8 further including shock absorbing means interconnecting each of said rods to said respective moldboard strikeoffs.

10. The invention in accordance with claim 9 wherein each of said shock absorbing means includes:

a apertured plate integrally connected to said moldboard strikeoff with said rod extending through said plate aperture;

a pair of cylindrical casings located on both sides of said plate and about said bar, each of said casings includes a closed end integrally connected to said rod and an open end facing said plate; and

a pair of elastomeric toroids located within said pair of cylindrical casings, one side face of each toroid engaging the closed end of each casing with the other side face thereof engaging said plate.

11. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said moldboard strikeoffs includes an extension that is transversely adjustably mounted on the outer end thereof.

12. The invention in accordance with claim 11 wherein said shovel means includes an auger rotatably mounted on said frame, said auger being axially adjustable with respect to said frame.

13. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said frame includes attaching means for connecting said frame to a support ring of a conventional road grader.

14. The invention in accordance with claim 13 further including V-plow means adapted to be mounted on the conventional road grader ahead of said rotating scarifier means for laterally distributing the earth or rock base materials.

15. The invention in accordance with claim 2 wherein each of said forks includes a shaft rotatably mounted within a frame member and said scarifier drive means includes a plurality of hydraulic motors drivingly connected to said fork or paddle shafts.

16. The invention in accordance with claim 2 wherein each of said forks or paddles includes a shaft rotatably mounted within a frame member and a sprocket fixedly attached to each of said shafts, and said scarifier drive means includes a timing chain drivingly engaging said sprockets and motor means driving said chain;

17. The invention in accordance with claim 16 wherein said endless timing chain is looped about said sprockets in such a manner that at any one time one portion of the chain extends transversely across the width of said frame and partially around the outer two sprockets, with the remaining portion extending about alternate peripheral sectors of said sprockets with respect to a plane extending through the axes of said sprockets.

18. The invention in accordance with claim 13 further including grade control means for controlling the elevation of said support ring and attachment.

19. The invention in accordance with claim 18 wherein said grade control means includes:

feeler means responsive to separate wire grade lines located at each side of said apparatus;

switch or valve means operatively attached to said feeler means; and

servo means responsive to said switch or valve means for operating the hydraulic cylinders of the conventional road grader for raising or lowering the apparatus in response to the change grade level lines.

20. The invention in accordance with claim 13 wherein said drive means includes a plurality of hydraulic motors operatively connected to a hydraulic pump which is adapted for connection to a power takeofi located at the rear of the conventional road grader.

21. The invention in accordance with claim 1 including means to oscillate the sections in opposite directions.

22. The invention in accordance with claim 13 further including means for adjusting the height of the support ring.

23. A road base building apparatus for preparing earth or base material into a roadbed comprising:

a frame;

scarifier means connected to said frame and including a plurality of forks laterally spaced across the entire width of the frame, each of said forks is rotatable about a vertical axis and includes a plurality of vertically oriented elongated elements adapted to extend into the earth of base material for mixing, spreading and leveling the base material to a uniform mixture and grade level; and

strikeoff means pivotally mounted on said frame rearwardly of said shovel means, said strikeoff means comprising a split moldboard with each section being pivotally mounted on hinge means which in turn is pivotally mounted on said frame, said moldboard being mounted to said hinges by leg means which are axially adjustable therewith to enable said moldboard strikeoff to be mounted in a plurality of elevational and angular positions with respect to the horizontal plane; and

means for reciprocating said moldboard sections in opposite directions.

24. The invention in accordance with claim 23 wherein said plurality of forks is alternately rotatable in the opposite direction.

25. The invention in accordance with claim 24 wherein said plurality of forks are laterally spaced in such a manner that the end elements of each fork or paddle overlap the end elements of each adjacent fork or paddle.

26. The invention in accordance with claim 23 further including a plurality of digger teeth mounted on said elongated elements.

27. The invention in accordance with claim 25 further including a plurality of paddles mounted on said elongated elements for mixing all earth treated finish and/or base material.

28. The invention in accordance with claim 24 wherein each of said forks includes a shaft rotatably mounted within a frame member and said scarifier drive means includes a plurality of hydraulic motors drivingly connected to said fork shafts.

29. The invention in accordance with claim 24 wherein each of said forks includes a shaft rotatably mounted within a frame member and a sprocket fixedly attached to each of said shafts, and said scarifier drive means includes an endless timing chain drivingly engaging said sprockets and motor means driving said endless chain.

30. The invention in accordance with claim 29 wherein said timing chain is looped about said sprockets in such a manner that at any one time one portion of the chain extends transversely across the width of said frame and partially around the outer two sprockets, with the remaining portion extending about alternate peripheral sectors of said sprockets with respect to a plane extending through the axes of said sprockets.

Claims

1. A road building apparatus for mixing, spreading and leveling treated base and/or finish materials comprising: a frame; scarifier means including a plurality of forks laterally spaced across the width of said frame, each of said forks is rotatable about a vertical axis and includes a plurality of vertically oriented elongated elements adapted to extend into the base material; shovel means supported on said frame rearwardly of said scArifier means to laterally distribute the road base or finish material leaving said scarifier means; strikeoff means pivotally mounted on said frame rearwardly of said shovel means, said strikeoff means comprising a split moldboard with each section being pivotally mounted on hinge means which in turn is pivotally mounted on said frame, said moldboard being mounted to said hinges by leg means which are axially adjustable therewith to enable said moldboard strikeoff to be mounted in a plurality of elevational and angular positions with respect to the horizontal plane; means for transversely reciprocating said strikeoff means to level the base or finish material; and drive means for simultaneously rotating said scarifier means and said shovel means, and actuating said means for reciprocating said strikeoff means whereby a strip of earth and/or road base material of uniform height and consistency may be continuously provided.

8. The invention in accordance with claim 7 wherein said reciprocating means includes: journal means rotatably supporting a shaft; drive means for oscillating said shaft; eccentric means mounted on said shaft with the eccentrics being located on opposite sides of said shaft; and a rod connected to each moldboard strikeoff with each rod being connected to one of said eccentrics on opposite sides of said shaft in a 180* phase relationship.

10. The invention in accordance with claim 9 wherein each of said shock absorbing means includes: a apertured plate integrally connected to said moldboard strikeoff with said rod extending through said plate aperture; a pair of cylindrical casings located on both sides of said plate and about said bar, each of said casings includes a closed end integrally connected to said rod and an open end facing said plate; and a pair of elastomeric toroids located within said pair of cylindrical casings, one side face of each toroid engaging the closed end of each casing with the other side face thereof engaging said plate.

16. The invention in accordance with claim 2 wherein each of said forks or paddles includes a shaft rotatably mounted within a frame member and a sprocket fixedly attached to each of said shafts, and said scarifier drive means includes a timing chain drivingly engaging said sprockets and motor means driving said chain.

19. The invention in accordance with claim 18 wherein said grade control means includes: feeler means responsive to separate wire grade lines located at each side of said apparatus; switch or valve means operatively attached to said feeler means; and servo means responsive to said switch or valve means for operating the hydraulic cylinders of the conventional road grader for raising or lowering the apparatus in response to the change grade level lines.

20. The invention in accordance with claim 13 wherein said drive means includes a plurality of hydraulic motors operatively connected to a hydraulic pump which is adapted for connection to a power takeoff located at the rear of the conventional road grader.

23. A road base building apparatus for preparing earth or base material into a roadbed comprising: a frame; scarifier means connected to said frame and including a plurality of forks laterally spaced across the entire width of the frame, each of said forks is rotatable about a vertical axis and includes a plurality of vertically oriented elongated elements adapted to extend into the earth of base material for mixing, spreading and leveling the base material to a uniform mixture and grade level; and strikeoff means pivotally mounted on said frame rearwardly of said shovel means, said strikeoff means comprising a split moldboard with each section being pivotally mounted on hinge means which in turn is pivotally mounted on said frame, said moldboard being mounted to said hinges by leg means which are axially adjustable therewith to enable said moldboard strikeoff to be mounted in a plurality of elevational and angular positions with respect to the horizontal plane; and means for reciprocating said moldboard sections in opposite directions.