Pavement marking remover with/for skid steer tractor

Abstract

An attachment for a motor vehicle, such as a skid steer tractor, as well as a system combination of the attachment and vehicle for removing pavement markings. The attachment can be removably attachable to the vehicle and can receive operating power therefrom. The attachment has limited rotation about at least one of pitch and roll axes to allow the attachment to more closely follow gross irregularities in the pavement contour. The attachment can also be attached generally centered along the centerline of the vehicle as well as offset to one side or the other to facilitate desired placement of the attachment around curbs or other obstacles. The attachment has a removal depth adjustment to accommodate different conditions which can be fixed to avoid operator misadjustment. The system substantially encloses both an operator as well as moving parts to provide increased safety and can also include a debris suppression system.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of the U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 613,017 entitled “Pavement Marking Remover Attachment For Skid Steer Tractor” filed Sep. 23, 2004, which is incorporated in its entirety herein.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The invention relates to the field of pavement / roadway construction / maintenance equipment and more particularly to an attachment for skid steer tractors configured to efficiently and economically remove pavement markings from paved surfaces. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] Paved surfaces, such as parking areas and roadways, are frequently provided with various patterns of markings. These markings can delineate parking spaces, travel lanes, pedestrian crosswalks, no passing zones, and the like. The markings are typically applied directly on the upper surface of the pavement and are typically formed with extremely durable and rugged paints which are d...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011] The invention includes an attachment which can be removably attachable to a motor vehicle, such as skid steer tractor. The attachment includes an abrasive cutter which is driven to remove pavement markings as well as an upper portion of the pavement surface, depending upon the particular application. In certain embodiments, the attachment receives operating power for the cutter from the vehicle, such as hydraulic power to drive a hydraulic motor of the attachment. Moving parts of the attachment as well as an operator can be substantially enclosed to provide protection against workplace hazards as well as dust and debris which is generated during use of the system. A debris suppression system can be included to suppress dust and debris generated during use. The attachment is simple and lightweight in construction and allows economical expansion of the capability of existing motor vehicles. The attachment can be arranged on the vehicle to facilitate removing pavement markings around obstacles such as curbs.

Problems solved by technology

A drawback to the man-propelled machines is that by being smaller, their rate of removal is typically lower than the larger self-propelled machines.

In addition, the man-propelled machines are also typically more susceptible to operator error, including inconsistent removal of the pavement markings and / or varying removal depth resulting in a less planarized surface.

The man-propelled machines also more directly expose the operator to potential hazards, such as moving traffic.

Drawbacks to the larger self-propelled machines are generally a much greater expense, both for initial purchase and ongoing utilization of the larger, more complicated machines.

A further drawback is that the larger self-propelled machines are frequently of single purpose in design and construction, i.e. limited to the sole use of the machine for removal of pavement markings.

Thus, a contractor or municipality performing work which includes removal of pavement marking may elect to incur the significant expense of purchase of a dedicated pavement marking machine, however, the actual use of the machine may be intermittent leading to the circumstance of an expensive piece of machinery frequently sitting unused and idle.

It will be appreciated that this can be an inefficient use of limited funds and resources.

A further limitation to the larger self-propelled machines but one which is also frequently experienced with smaller man-propelled machines is that they are frequently ill-suited to readily accommodating uneven pavement surfaces.

For example, transitions between a relatively flat and a cambered roadway section can result in an alteration of the engineered contour of the roadway crowning / camber and / or inconsistent removal of pavement marking and upper surfaces of the roadway.

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