JPH0611966B2 - Grooving device - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a grooving device for forming a plurality of grooves on a road surface such as concrete or asphalt pavement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The grooving technique of forming anti-slip grooves on the road surface was first used in the United Kingdom in 1956 on the road surface of many airports as a means to prevent aircraft slippage on wet road surfaces. However, in the early Greek and Roman times, grooving technology was already used for tank driving and horse safety. Such ancient grooving techniques can be found in the historic sites of the marble town of ancient Ephesus, Greece, in the 10th century BC. During the 1940's and 1950's, many improvements were made in the United States in relation to road surface shape in order to solve the problems caused by wet road surfaces on highways and airfields.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention Conventionally, large grooving devices have been used on highways and airfields, but no grooving device that can set the height of the cutting blade at a predetermined position relative to the road surface has been proposed. Further, no grooving device has been proposed that can automatically form a new groove in parallel with an already formed groove by automatically steering.

An object of the present invention is to provide a grooving device capable of setting the height of a cutting blade with respect to a road surface at a predetermined position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a grooving device capable of automatically forming a new groove substantially in parallel with an already formed groove.

Means for Solving the Problems A grooving device of the present invention includes a frame, a steering device rotatably supported by the frame, front wheels rotatably attached to a lower end of the steering device, and a frame. An engine, a rear wheel drivingly connected to the engine, and a cutting blade device drivingly connected to the engine are provided. This grooving device includes a vertical guide member having a vertically formed guide groove and a vertical guide member attached to a frame, an elevating device having a retractable ram and a piston cylinder fixed to the frame, and a cutting blade. A bearing for supporting the rotary shaft of the device is fixed and attached to the end of the ram, and a support member movable along the guide groove of the vertical guide member and fixed to the frame and selectively operated by expansion and contraction of the ram. And a plurality of contacts for generating an electrical signal that electrically represents the vertical height of the cutting blade device.

Further, this grooving device is provided with a groove detecting device having a groove detecting member having a lower end to be inserted into a groove on the road surface, and a piezoelectric element for converting pressure generated corresponding to the displacement of the groove detecting member into an electric signal. And a displacement amount detecting device for measuring the displacement of the groove detecting device with respect to the grooving device, and a steering angle correcting device for controlling the steering device with the output of the displacement amount detecting device for operating the steering device in response to the output of the piezoelectric element. ing.

The vertical height of the cutting blade device is adjusted by actuating a selected one of the plurality of contacts mounted on the working frame by expansion and contraction of the ram, thereby selectively forming a groove of constant depth on the road surface. It becomes possible. Since the cutting blade device is moved almost perpendicularly to the road surface, it is possible to easily and accurately determine the depth of the groove to be formed on the road surface. Further, since the support member is moved along the guide groove of the vertical guide member, there is an advantage that the cutting blade device is firmly supported when cutting the groove on the road surface.

Further, the grooving device of the present invention has an automatic steering device. The groove detection device of the automatic steering device detects the groove already formed on the road surface by the groove detection member, and the piezoelectric element of the displacement amount detection device converts the displacement of the groove detection device with respect to the grooving device into an electric signal. The steering angle correction device controls the steering device by the output of the piezoelectric element. Therefore, the grooving device can automatically and continuously form a new groove almost in parallel with the existing groove.

Embodiments Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7.

First, as shown in FIG. 1, a grooving device 10 of the present invention includes a frame 11, a steering device 12 rotatably supported by the frame 11, and a front wheel rotatably attached to a lower end of the steering device 12. 13, an engine 14 supported by the frame 11, a rear wheel 15 drivingly connected to the engine 14, and a cutting blade device 16 drivingly connected to the engine 14.
And a lifting device 17 attached to the frame 11 and vertically moving the cutting blade device 16. The frame 11 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape and supports the entire panel 20 and the rear panel 21. The steering device 12 has a steering handlebar 22 used in a normal automobile. The steering handlebar 22 is connected to one front wheel 13 via a steering gear (not shown) and controls the rotation angle of the front wheel 13. To do. Two rear wheels 15 are provided on both sides of the grooving device 10.

The engine 14 supported by the frame 11 is drivingly connected to the rear wheels 15 via a clutch 30 and a transmission 31, as shown in FIG. Actually, the output shaft of the engine 14 and the input shaft of the clutch 30 are connected by a V belt or a chain. The clutch 30 is an operating lever 32
And the transmission 31 has a speed change lever 33.

The output shaft of the engine 14 is further provided with a cutting blade device 16 shown in FIG. 4 via a clutch 34 and a transmission 35.
Connected to the blade 40. The cutting blade device 16 is provided with a rotary shaft 41 to which a large number (about 30) of blades 40 are attached. Each blade 40 is provided with radial notches on its outer peripheral portion at regular angular intervals. Further, a water conduit (not shown) for supplying cooling water adjacent to the blade 40.
Is provided to supply cooling water to the blade 40 while forming the groove on the road surface. In addition, in this specification, "road surface" means
A road surface for people, livestock, vehicles, etc., a runway surface of an aircraft, and other road surfaces where it is necessary to prevent slips in stadiums, etc.

Both ends of the rotary shaft 41 are fixed via bearings 44 to a support member 24 to which the wheel 23 shown in FIG. 1 is rotatably mounted. The wheels 23 contact the road surface and limit the depth of cut of the blade 40 into the road surface. The support member 24 is fixed to the ram 43 of the hydraulic piston cylinder 42, respectively.
The protruding end 45 protruding outward from the support member 24 slides in a guide groove 47 formed in the vertical direction of the vertical guide member 46. However, if desired, the support member 24 may be omitted and the ram 43 may be directly connected to the bearing 44. A sprocket 48 is fixed to the rotating shaft 41, and the sprocket 48 is connected to the transmission 35 by a chain 49. The upper end of the hydraulic piston cylinder 42 is attached to the frame 11
It is fixed to the support portion 19 fixed to. The hydraulic piston cylinder 42 constitutes the lifting device 17 that moves the cutting blade device 16 in the vertical direction. Also, due to the restrictions on the mounting space,
The lifting device 17 may move the rotating shaft 41 with a hydraulic piston cylinder or a feed screw in a slightly inclined state.

A contact 50 is attached to the ram 43, and the contact 50 is brought into contact with one of a plurality of contacts 51 which are attached to the frame 11 adjacently and in an insulated state to electrically display the height of the rotating shaft 44 with respect to the road surface. It During transportation of the grooving device, the lifting device 17 is operated so that the blade 40 is fixed at a position elevated by 10 cm or more from the road surface.
Is moved to the raised position.

In the above structure, first, the lifting device 17 is operated to bring the wheels 23 mounted on the support plate 24 into contact with the road surface.
As a result, the outer peripheral portion of the blade 40 is lowered below the outer peripheral portion of the rear wheel 16, the height of the rotating shaft 44 is determined, and the cutting depth of the blade 40 with respect to the road surface is set. By operating the selected one of the plurality of contacts 51 attached to the frame 11 by the expansion and contraction of the ram 43, the cutting blade device 1
Since the vertical height of 6 is adjusted, it becomes possible to selectively form the groove 18 having a constant depth on the road surface. Since the cutting blade device 16 is moved almost perpendicularly to the road surface, it is possible to easily and accurately determine the depth of the groove 18 to be formed on the road surface. Further, since the support member 24 is moved along the guide groove 47 of the vertical guide member 46, there is an advantage that the cutting blade device 16 is firmly supported when cutting the groove 18 on the road surface.

On the other hand, after driving the engine 14, the clutch 34 and the transmission 35 are operated to rotate the rotary shaft 41 of the rotary blade device 16. Further, when the rear wheel 15 is rotated at the selected speed by operating the clutch 30 and the transmission 31, the grooving device 10 moves forward while forming a groove on the road surface.

Next, in the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, an automatic steering device 53 is provided to form a new groove in parallel with the groove already formed on the road surface. The automatic steering device 53 includes a groove detection device 54 that detects the groove 18 already formed on the road surface, a displacement amount detection device 55 that measures the displacement of the groove detection device 54 with respect to the grooving device 10, and a displacement amount detection device 55. The steering angle correction device 56 controls the steering device 12 with the output. The groove detecting device 54 includes a groove detecting member 57 having a lower end 57a that is inserted into the groove 18 formed on the road surface. The groove detecting member 57 is the disk 5
8, coil spring 59, disk 58, piezoelectric element 56, bracket 61 attached to the frame 11, piezoelectric element 6
0, the disk 58, the coil spring 59, and the disk 58. In addition, the groove detection member 57 has a disk 5
A protrusion 57b for fixing 8 is formed, and a clip 57c is attached. The piezoelectric element 60 has a groove detecting member 57.
The displacement amount detecting device 55 for converting the pressure generated corresponding to the displacement of the above into an electric signal is constituted. The steering angle correction device 56 includes a microcomputer 62 and a microcomputer 62.
And a pinion 64 of the steering wheel 22 driven by the driver circuit 63.
And a motor 66 that moves a rack 65 that is screwed to.

In the above configuration, when the groove detecting member 57 is arranged in the groove 18 and does not contact the side wall of the groove 18, the coil spring 59 is provided.
Since the pressure applied to the piezoelectric element 60 does not change, the microcomputer 62 does not generate an output. However, for example, when the grooving device 10 moves to the right in FIG. 5, the groove detection member 57 contacts the right side wall of the groove 18.
Therefore, the right piezoelectric element 60 receives a larger pressure than the left piezoelectric element 60, and this signal is input from the piezoelectric element 60 to the microcomputer 62. Therefore, the microcomputer 62 calculates an appropriate steering angle and gives a signal to the driver circuit 63. The driver circuit 63 is the motor 6
6 is driven to move the rack 65 and rotate the steering handle 22 to an appropriate angle. After that, the microcomputer 62 automatically generates an output so that the grooving device 10 goes straight, operates the driver circuit 63 and the motor 66, and rotates the steering handle 22 to return the steering handle 22 to the neutral position.

Conversely, when the grooving device 10 moves to the left in FIG. 5, the groove detection member 57 contacts the left side wall of the groove 18. Therefore, the piezoelectric element 60 on the left side is the same as the piezoelectric element 6 on the right side.
When a pressure greater than 0 is received, this signal is input from the piezoelectric element 60 to the microcomputer 62. Therefore, the microcomputer 62 calculates an appropriate steering angle and gives a signal to the driver circuit 63. The driver circuit 63 drives the motor 66 to move the rack 65 in the opposite direction and rotate the steering handle 22 to an appropriate angle. After that, the microcomputer 62 sets the grooving device 1
An output is automatically generated so that 0 goes straight, the driver circuit 63 and the motor 66 are operated, and the steering wheel 22 is rotated so as to return to the neutral position. in this way,
The grooving device 10 can operate the steering device 12 in accordance with the output of the piezoelectric element 60.

FIG. 7 shows a pair of guide wheels 7 used when visually steering the grooving device 10 in parallel with the already formed groove.
Indicates 0. The guide wheel 70 is rotatably attached to a bar 71 (FIGS. 1 and 2) protruding forward of the grooving device 10. The operator can operate the steering handle 22 to move the grooving device 10 in the proper direction when the guide wheel 70 falls off the groove 18 or when there is a risk of falling off.

The embodiments of the present invention described above can be modified. For example, the steering device may be connected to the front wheels 13 and may also be drivingly connected to the engine to advance the grooving device by a front wheel drive system. Further, when the guide wheel 70 is unnecessary, the bar 71 may be rotated upward as shown in FIG.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION In the present invention, the vertical height of the cutting blade device is adjusted by operating a selected one of the plurality of contacts mounted on the frame by the expansion and contraction of the ram to selectively form a groove having a constant depth. It can be formed on the road surface. Since the cutting blade device is moved almost perpendicularly to the road surface, it is possible to easily and accurately determine the depth of the groove to be formed on the road surface. Further, since the support member is moved along the guide groove of the vertical guide member, there is an advantage that the cutting blade device is firmly supported when cutting the groove on the road surface. Further, since the grooving device is automatically advanced in parallel with the already formed groove by the automatic steering device, it is possible to save labor in the grooving work.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 is a side view of the grooving device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view thereof, FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a drive system used in the grooving device of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a cutting blade device. 5 and 5 are cross-sectional views showing a groove detecting portion of the automatic steering device, and FIG. 6 is an electrical block diagram of an automatic steering device for automatically operating a steering handle on the basis of a signal generated in the groove detecting portion. FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing an example in which a guide wheel is mounted in the groove. 10 ... Grooving device, 11 ... Frame, 12 ...
... Steering device, 13 ... Front wheels, 14 ... Engine, 15 ...
… Rear wheel, 16 …… Cutting blade device, 17 …… Lifting device, 18
...... Groove, 22 ...... Steering wheel, 24 ...... Support member, 40 ...... Blade, 41 ...... Rotary shaft, 42 ...... Hydraulic piston cylinder, 43 ...... Ram, 44 ...... Bearing, 4
5 ... Bearing part, 46 ... Vertical guide member, 47 ... Guide groove, 48 ... Sprocket, 49 ... Chain, 51 ...
… Contact point, 53 …… Automatic steering device, 54 …… Groove detection device,
55 ... Displacement amount detection device, 56 ... Steering angle correction device, 5
7 ... Groove detection member, 60 ... Piezoelectric element,

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A frame, a steering device rotatably supported by the frame, front wheels rotatably attached to a lower end of the steering device, an engine supported by the frame, and drive-coupled to the engine. A grooving device comprising a rear wheel and a cutting blade device drivingly connected to an engine, comprising a vertical guide member having a vertically formed guide groove and attached to the frame, and an extendable ram and a frame. A lifting device equipped with a piston cylinder fixed to the shaft, a bearing that supports the rotating shaft of the cutting blade device is fixed and attached to the end of the ram, and a support that is movable along the guide groove of the vertical guide member. A member and a plurality of contacts fixed to the frame and selectively actuated by expansion and contraction of the ram to generate an electrical signal electrically indicating the vertical height of the cutting blade device Grooving and wherein the. 2. The grooving device according to claim 1, wherein the number of front wheels is one and the number of rear wheels is two. 3. The cutting blade device is supplied with cooling water.
The grooving device according to (1). 4. The grooving device according to claim 1, wherein the cutting blade device has a plurality of rotary blades extending downward from the rear wheel. 5. A frame, a steering device rotatably supported by the frame, front wheels rotatably attached to a lower end of the steering device, an engine supported by the frame, and a drive unit connected to the engine. A grooving device having a wheel and a cutting blade device drivingly connected to an engine, comprising a vertical guide member formed in a vertical direction and having a vertical guide member attached to a frame and an extendable ram, and An elevating device having a fixed piston cylinder, a bearing that supports the rotating shaft of the cutting blade device is fixed and attached to the end of the ram, and a supporting member that can move along the guide groove of the vertical guide member. And a plurality of contacts on the road surface that are fixed to the frame and selectively actuated by expansion and contraction of the ram to generate electrical signals that electrically indicate the vertical height of the cutting blade device. A groove detecting device having a groove detecting member having a lower end to be inserted into the groove, and a groove detecting device for a grooving device, which is provided with a piezoelectric element for converting pressure generated corresponding to the displacement of the groove detecting member into an electric signal. A grooving device provided with a displacement amount detecting device for measuring displacement and a steering angle correcting device for controlling the steering device with the output of the displacement amount detecting device for operating the steering device in response to the output of the piezoelectric element. .