Paved road surface cutting machine

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a paved road surface cutting machine that does not use an internal combustion engine as a power source, does not generate exhaust gas or exhaust noise, and can automatically control the direction of travel to maintain straight forward movement when cutting. [Solution] A paved road surface cutting machine 100 comprises a crawler undercarriage 10, a cutter unit 20, a first movement mechanism 30, a second movement mechanism 40, a detection means 50, a battery 60, and a control means 70. The cutter unit 20 has a disc cutter 21 pivotally supported by a rotating shaft 21a, an electric motor 22 for driving the disc cutter 21, and a power transmission mechanism 23 provided between an output shaft 22a of the electric motor 22 and the rotating shaft 21a of the disc cutter 21. The control means 70 is configured to control operations by the crawler carriage 10, the cutter unit 20, the first movement mechanism 30, and the second movement mechanism 40.

Description

Pavement cutting machine

[0001] The present invention relates to a pavement cutting machine for cutting road pavement surfaces such as concrete and asphalt.

[0002] Pavement cutting machines used in infrastructure development such as road repair cut pavement surfaces by creating incisions in the road surface using a disk-shaped cutter (rotating blade) mounted on the front of a mobile carriage equipped with a prime mover. These machines are powered by a vehicular or industrial internal combustion engine. For example, the pavement cutting machine described in Patent Document 1 uses a water-cooled internal combustion engine as its power source. In this case, a radiator is installed to cool the cooling water for the internal combustion engine.

[0003] Conventional pavement cutting machines use the power of an internal combustion engine mounted on the machine to rotate a disc-shaped cutter installed on either the left or right side of the front of the machine using a transmission device such as a V-belt, and also to drive a traveling mechanism that moves the machine itself.

[0004] In such pavement cutting machines, when not performing cutting work, including when the machine is moving, the disc-shaped cutter for cutting the pavement is placed in a standby state by lifting the front part of the cutter upward with a hydraulic cylinder using the front wheel located at the front of the machine as an axis so that the disc-shaped cutter does not come into contact with the road surface.When cutting the pavement surface, the disc-shaped cutter for cutting is given a rotational motion and the lifted front part of the cutter is lowered to press the disc-shaped cutter against the road surface and cut to the required depth.

[0005] The disc cutter of a conventional pavement cutting machine is attached to one side of the front of the machine, so when cutting road surface while moving forward, the cutter is subjected to stress caused by the movement of the disc cutter, causing it to bend in the direction in which the disc cutter is attached, making it difficult to move in a straight line.As a result, the operator operating the cutter had to constantly adjust the path by resting his or her entire weight on the path adjustment rod attached to the rear of the cutter and applying a load to the side.

[0006] Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 53-111630

[0007] However, because conventional pavement cutting machines such as those described in Patent Document 1 use a vehicle or industrial internal combustion engine as a power source for the disk cutter and for moving the machine itself, it is difficult with current technology to make the exhaust gas completely harmless, even if an exhaust gas purification device for the internal combustion engine is used. As a result, the pavement cutting machine can only be used outdoors where the exhaust gas can diffuse, and there is a problem in that it is virtually impossible to use it in tunnels, indoors, or other places where it is impossible to remove the exhaust gas.

[0008] In addition, the internal combustion engine used as the power source is equipped with an exhaust gas silencer (muffler) to reduce exhaust gas noise, but there is a problem in that it is not possible to attenuate the exhaust noise to a level where it is no longer considered noise.

[0009] Furthermore, a dedicated cooling radiator is required to cool the internal combustion engine, and the heat emitted from the radiator can cause heat damage around the pavement cutting machine.

[0010] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 14, in conventional pavement cutting machines, the disc-shaped cutter 3 used for cutting the pavement surface is installed to the right of the front wheel 2a of the cutting machine 1, i.e., off-center from the cutting machine body 1a. Therefore, during cutting, the cutting machine is driven forward by the drive wheel 2b for travel located at the rear of the cutting machine body 1a. However, stress acting on the disc-shaped cutter 3 causes an imbalance in the force acting in the cutting machine's forward direction, causing it to veer toward the disc-shaped cutter 3. Therefore, the operator operating the cutting machine 1 must maintain a straight movement by resting their body weight on the load rod 4 for adjusting the force exerted on the left and right. This means that the operator must have sufficient physical strength and experience to keep the cutting machine 1 moving straight, making it difficult for women with weak muscles or inexperienced operators to operate.

[0011] Therefore, the present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and its object is to provide a pavement cutting machine that does not use an internal combustion engine as a power source and does not generate exhaust gases or exhaust noise.

[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide a pavement cutting machine that can automatically control the traveling direction during cutting and maintain straight movement.

[0013] The pavement cutting machine of the present invention is a pavement cutting machine for cutting pavement surfaces such as concrete and asphalt roads, and is equipped with a cutter unit having a disc-shaped cutter journalled by a rotating shaft, an electric motor for driving the disc-shaped cutter, and a power transmission mechanism provided between the output shaft of the electric motor and the rotating shaft of the disc-shaped cutter, a carriage on which the cutter unit is mounted via a first moving mechanism that can move up and down and that can travel on pavement surfaces, and control means for controlling the cutter unit, the first moving mechanism and the carriage (hereinafter referred to as the first pavement cutting machine of the present invention).

[0014] In the pavement cutting machine of the present invention, the cutter unit, mounted on the carriage via a first movement mechanism that can move up and down, includes a disc-shaped cutter journaled by a rotary shaft, an electric motor for driving the disc-shaped cutter, and a power transmission mechanism provided between the output shaft of the electric motor and the rotary shaft of the disc-shaped cutter. The control means is configured to control the operation of the cutter unit, the first movement mechanism, and the carriage. This allows automatic adjustment of the vertical position of the disc-shaped cutter, including the electric motor as a power source, during cutting and non-cutting operations. Furthermore, since the machine does not use an internal combustion engine as a power source, it does not emit exhaust gases or exhaust noise. This allows it to be used in a variety of construction sites, including tunnels and indoors, without being limited by operating environments. Furthermore, since a cooling radiator is not required, heat damage to the surrounding area caused by heat emitted from the radiator can be prevented.

[0015] The first pavement cutting machine of the present invention preferably further includes a second movement mechanism for moving the cutter unit in the forward / backward direction, and the control means is configured to control the second movement mechanism to adjust the forward / backward position of the cutter unit (hereinafter referred to as the second pavement cutting machine of the present invention). This allows the position of the disc-shaped cutter to be automatically adjusted during cutting and non-cutting operations. This allows the disc-shaped cutter to be positioned in the center of the cutting machine during normal cutting operations. As a result, when cutting a road surface by rotating the disc-shaped cutter, the force applied to the road surface by the disc-shaped cutter is reversed in the front and rear of the center of rotation of the disc-shaped cutter. This generates a couple of forces that tend to deflect the straight movement of the cutting machine. This causes the stress to act near the center of the pavement cutting machine, reducing its impact and improving straight-line movement. Furthermore, when performing corner cutting operations such as cutting right up to an obstacle, the disc-shaped cutter can be moved to the front of the cutting machine.

[0016] In the first or second pavement cutting machine of the present invention, it is also preferable that the carriage is configured to travel on a pair of left and right crawlers, a pair of left and right drive motors that individually drive the pair of left and right crawlers are located near the drive wheels of the crawlers, and the control means is configured to independently control the rotation of the left and right drive motors and detect the rotation of the drive motor's rotation shaft or the drive wheel's rotation shaft (hereinafter referred to as the third pavement cutting machine of the present invention). By changing the movement means of the cutting machine body from the conventional tire-type to a crawler-type, contact resistance with the road surface is greater than with a tire-type. Even if stress that hinders the straight-line movement of the cutting machine body is generated by the disk-shaped cutter drive, the greater contact resistance with the road surface allows for straight-line movement to be maintained. Furthermore, by using crawlers as the movement means of the cutting machine body, it can be moved freely even on uneven or sloped road surfaces.

[0017] Preferably, the pavement cutting machine of the first or second invention further comprises detection means for detecting the direction in which the carriage should travel based on markers attached to the predetermined cutting locations, and the control means is configured to control the traveling direction of the carriage based on the detection results of the detection means (hereinafter referred to as the pavement cutting machine of the fourth invention). This allows the cutting machine to maintain its straightness during cutting work, so that it does not require great force or specialized skills to maintain straightness as in conventional machines, and can be operated with just a simple instruction before use.

[0018] It is preferable that the pavement cutting machine of the first or second aspect of the present invention further comprises a battery that supplies power to the electric motor (hereinafter referred to as the pavement cutting machine of the fifth aspect of the present invention). This eliminates the need for an external power supply and allows for free movement on the construction site.

[0019] It is preferable that the pavement cutting machine of the fifth invention further comprises an emergency engine generator for charging the battery (hereinafter referred to as the pavement cutting machine of the sixth invention). This allows the emergency engine generator to operate and charge the battery when the battery is low on power. A hybrid pavement cutting machine can be constructed that is equipped with a portable generator powered by the emergency engine generator as well as a battery.

[0020] In the sixth pavement cutting machine of the present invention, it is preferable that the carriage has a lift mechanism, and the lift mechanism comprises a base member serving as a support platform arranged on the underside of the carriage, front leg members and rear leg members arranged respectively in front and behind the upper part of the base member, with one end attached so as to be freely rotatable in the front-to-rear direction relative to the base member and the other end attached so as to be freely rotatable on the underside of the carriage, and a linear actuator that operates the front leg members (hereinafter referred to as the sixth pavement cutting machine of the present invention).

[0021] According to the present invention, a pavement cutting machine for cutting pavement surfaces such as concrete and asphalt roads includes a cutter unit having a disc-shaped cutter journaled by a rotary shaft, a motor for driving the disc-shaped cutter, and a power transmission mechanism provided between the motor's output shaft and the rotary shaft of the disc-shaped cutter; a carriage on which the cutter unit is mounted via a first moving mechanism that can move vertically and that can travel on pavement surfaces; and control means for controlling the cutter unit and the carriage. This allows the machine to operate using a motor as a power source without an internal combustion engine, and does not emit exhaust gases or exhaust noise. This allows for use in a variety of construction sites, including tunnels and indoors, without being limited by operating environment restrictions. Furthermore, the machine does not require a cooling radiator, preventing heat damage to the surrounding area due to heat emitted from the radiator.

[0022] In addition, the pavement cutting machine includes a first movement mechanism that moves the cutter unit up and down and a second movement mechanism that moves the cutter unit back and forth, and the control means is configured to control the first and second movement mechanisms to adjust the position of the disc-shaped cutter during cutting and non-cutting operations, thereby automatically adjusting the position of the disc-shaped cutter during cutting and non-cutting operations. This allows the disc-shaped cutter for cutting to be positioned in the center of the cutting machine, reducing the stress that tends to bend the straightness of the cutting machine due to the couple of forces generated by the disc-shaped cutter during cutting operations, thereby improving straightness. Furthermore, when performing corner cutting, the disc-shaped cutter can be moved to the front of the cutting machine.

[0023] FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing the configuration of an embodiment of a pavement cutting machine according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing configuration examples (parts 1 and 2) of the power transmission mechanism of the pavement cutting machine of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing configuration examples (parts 3 and 4) of the power transmission mechanism of the pavement cutting machine of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a side view schematically showing the operating states of a first movement mechanism of the pavement cutting machine of FIG. 1, (A) a state when not cutting, and (B) a state when cutting. FIG. 5 is a top view schematically showing the cutting state of the pavement cutting machine of FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a side view schematically showing the operating states of a second movement mechanism of the pavement cutting machine of FIG. 1. FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the configuration of a detection means of the pavement cutting machine of the present invention, (A) a state when traveling straight along the regular route, and (B) a state when deviating from the regular route. FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing another example of the configuration of the detection means of the pavement cutting machine of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing another example of the configuration of the pavement cutting machine of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing another example of the configuration of the pavement cutting machine of the present invention. Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing another example of the configuration of the pavement surface cutting machine of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing another example of the configuration of the pavement surface cutting machine of the present invention. Fig. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing another example of the configuration of the pavement surface cutting machine of the present invention. Fig. 4 is a top view schematically showing the state of a conventional pavement surface cutting machine during cutting.

[0024] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a pavement cutting machine according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a pavement cutting machine 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 2 and 3 show schematic configurations of exemplary power transmission mechanisms 23, 23A, 23B, and 23C of the pavement cutting machine 100. FIG. 4 shows a schematic operating state of the first movement mechanism 30 of the pavement cutting machine 100. FIG. 5 shows a schematic operating state of the pavement cutting machine 100 during cutting work. FIG. 6 shows a schematic operating state of the second movement mechanism 40 of the pavement cutting machine 100. FIG. 7 shows a schematic configuration example of the detection means 50 of the pavement cutting machine 100. FIG. 8 shows a schematic configuration example of another detection means 50 of the pavement cutting machine 100.

[0026] As shown in Figures 1 to 8, the pavement cutting machine 100 of this embodiment comprises a crawler-type cart 10 as a cart, a cutter unit 20, a first movement mechanism 30 that moves the cutter unit 20 in an up-and-down direction, a second movement mechanism 40 that moves the cutter unit 20 in a forward-and-backward direction, a detection means 50 that detects the direction in which the crawler-type cart 10 should travel, a battery 60 that serves as the power source for the entire pavement cutting machine 100, and a control means 70 that controls the operation of the entire pavement cutting machine 100.

[0027] The crawler-type vehicle 10 is self-propelled and carries the cutter unit 20 and a travel drive mechanism. In this embodiment, a crawler (endless track) vehicle is used that is configured to travel using a pair of rotatable crawlers 11 attached to the bottom of the vehicle body. The crawler-type vehicle 10 has crawlers 11 consisting of wheels provided at the front and rear of the vehicle body in at least the direction of travel, and an endless crawler belt wound around these wheels, and a travel drive motor 12 for rotating the wheels. In addition, the crawler-type vehicle 10 can independently control the rotation of the left and right crawlers 11.

[0028] 1 and 2(A) and (B), the cutter unit 20 is composed of a disc-shaped cutter (rotary blade) 21 supported by a rotary shaft, an electric motor 22 for driving the disc-shaped cutter 21, and a power transmission mechanism 23 provided between an output shaft 22a of the electric motor 22 and the rotary shaft 21a of the disc-shaped cutter 21. The cutter unit 20 is fixed to a frame 30a of the first movement mechanism 30.

[0029] The disc-shaped cutter 21 is a rotary blade attached to the end of a horizontal shaft perpendicular to the traveling direction and used to make cuts in the road surface. The disc-shaped cutter 21 is supported on a rotary shaft 21a attached to the lower end of the cutter unit 20 and is fixed between the rotary shaft 21a and two fixed hubs. The disc-shaped cutter 21 is driven via a power transmission mechanism 23 attached between the output shaft 22a of the electric motor 22 and the rotary shaft 21a of the disc-shaped cutter 21. The dimensions of the disc-shaped cutter 21 can be selected and attached depending on the pavement surface to be cut. Furthermore, when cutting corners, the advancement amount of the disc-shaped cutter 21 must be changed each time depending on the diameter of the disc-shaped cutter 21.

[0030] The electric motor 22 is provided via a bracket on the upper end side of the cutter unit 20. The output shaft 22a of the electric motor 22 is provided so as to be parallel to the rotation shaft 21a of the disc-shaped cutter 21. The electric motor 22 is also electrically connected to the control means 70.

[0031] The power transmission mechanism 23 is provided between the output shaft 22a of the electric motor 22 and the rotation shaft 21a of the disc-shaped cutter 21 and transmits the rotational power of the electric motor 22 to rotate the disc-shaped cutter 21. For example, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B , the power transmission mechanism 23 is configured to transmit the rotation of the output shaft 22a of the electric motor 22 to the rotation shaft 21a of the disc-shaped cutter 21 by a serpentine (grooved) belt or a timing belt (toothed belt). In this case, in order to obtain the driving force for the disc-shaped cutter 21, the diameter of the belt pulley of the output shaft 22a of the electric motor 22 is smaller than the diameter of the pulley of the rotation shaft 21a of the disc-shaped cutter 21, thereby obtaining a larger driving force. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Other configurations may be used. For example, as shown in FIGS. 2C and 2D, the cutter unit 20A may use a chain-driven power transmission mechanism 23A between the output shaft 22a of the electric motor 22 and the rotation shaft 21a of the disc-shaped cutter 21. Also, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the cutter unit 20B may use a bevel gear and shaft-driven power transmission mechanism 23B between the output shaft 22a of the electric motor 22 and the rotation shaft 21a of the disc-shaped cutter 21. Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 3C and 3D, the cutter unit 20C may use a gear-driven power transmission mechanism 23C between the output shaft 22a of the electric motor 22 and the rotation shaft 21a of the disc-shaped cutter 21. Also, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the power transmission mechanisms 23, 23A, 23B, and 23C are covered with protective covers.

[0032] The first movement mechanism 30 raises and lowers the cutter unit 20 in the vertical direction. The first movement mechanism 30 includes an upper frame 31a and a lower frame base 31b that support the cutter unit 20, four guide posts 31 provided at four corners of the upper frame 31a and the lower frame base 31b, and a frame 30a to which the cutter unit 20 is attached. The frame 30a is attached to the cutter unit 20 via guide sleeves 30b so that it can move freely along the four vertical guide posts 31. The four guide posts 31 function to guide the vertical movement of the cutter unit 20. The vertical movement of the first movement mechanism 30 is performed by an electric motor (not shown) that operates based on a control signal from the control means 70. As shown in FIG. 4 , during non-cutting operations, the first movement mechanism 30 moves the cutter unit 20 upward, i.e., maintains it in the state shown in FIG. 4(A). On the other hand, during the cutting operation, the first moving mechanism 30 moves the cutter unit 20 downward, that is, holds it in the state shown in FIG. 4(B), and performs the cutting operation.

[0033] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the state of the pavement cutting machine 100 during cutting. As shown in FIG. 5, during normal cutting operations, the pavement cutting machine 100 travels while rotating the disc-shaped cutter 21, continuously cutting the road surface through the rotation of the disc-shaped cutter 21. In this case, the cutter unit 20, i.e., the disc-shaped cutter 21, is positioned approximately in the center of the vehicle body in the fore-and-aft direction, which significantly reduces the likelihood that the straight movement of the pavement cutting machine 100 itself will be disrupted during road cutting. However, because the disc-shaped cutter 21 is located on one side of the vehicle body, there is still a certain degree of possibility that the straight movement will be disrupted. Therefore, in this embodiment, a detection means 50 is provided that detects the direction in which the crawler vehicle 10 should travel based on markers attached at predetermined cutting locations, and the control means 70 controls the travel direction of the crawler vehicle 10 based on the detection results of the detection means 50.

[0034] The second movement mechanism 40 moves the cutter unit 20 in the front-rear direction. This second movement mechanism 40 is configured so that the lower frame base 31b supporting the cutter unit 20 can move freely along a pair of horizontal guide posts 41 via guide sleeves. The front-rear movement of the second movement mechanism 40 is performed by an electric motor (not shown) for front-rear movement that operates based on a control signal from the control means 70.

[0035] In addition, by controlling the movement position of the second movement mechanism 40, the cutter unit 20 is moved in the forward and backward directions, and the amount of movement of the cutter unit 20 to the front is adjusted when cutting corners.

[0036] Furthermore, when performing corner cutting operations such as cutting right up to an obstacle, the amount of advancement of the disc-shaped cutter 21 must be changed each time depending on the diameter of the disc-shaped cutter 21. Therefore, in the preparation stage for starting the cutting operation, the rotation speed of the disc-shaped cutter 21 to be used and the amount of movement of the cutter unit 20 toward the front of the vehicle body must be set. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6 , the disc-shaped cutter 21 is attached to a predetermined origin position, such as the rear end of the guide post 41. When using the disc-shaped cutter 21, the cutter unit 20 is temporarily moved to the front of the vehicle body, and the tip of the disc-shaped cutter 21 is brought into contact with an electrical switch (e.g., a limit switch) 80 to activate it. The movement distance L until the electrical switch 80 is activated is measured using a distance detection sensor such as a linear encoder or linear volume, and the diameter of the attached disc-shaped cutter 21 can be obtained from the measurement value of this distance detection sensor. Specifically, the relationship between the measured values ​​and the diameter of the disc-shaped cutter 21 may be calculated by substituting the values ​​into a fixed formula, or a comparison table may be prepared between the measured values ​​and the diameter of the disc-shaped cutter 21. This allows the appropriate rotation speed and the amount of forward movement of the cutter unit 20 to be set.

[0037] The detection means 50 detects the direction in which the crawler vehicle 10 should travel based on a mark (for example, a line P drawn on the road surface D) attached to a predetermined cutting location. The detection means 50 uses, for example, a laser measuring device 50a having a light emitter 51 that emits a beam such as a laser beam R, a reflector 52, and a light receiving plate 53.

[0038] As shown in Figure 7(A), when the pavement cutting machine 100 is cutting along a line P marked on the road surface, that is, when it does not deviate from the line P marked on the road surface, the emitted light and reflected light are on the same line. On the other hand, as shown in Figure 7(B), when the pavement cutting machine 100 deviates from the line P marked on the road surface, the emitted light and reflected light are not on the same line. This detects that the direction of travel of the pavement cutting machine 100 has shifted, and outputs a detection signal to the control means 70. Based on this detection signal, the control means 70 outputs a control signal to correct the direction of travel of the pavement cutting machine 100.

[0039] The detection means 50 of the present invention is not limited to the above configuration, and for example, as shown in Fig. 8, a camera measuring device 50b may be used as the detection means 50. In this case, the image acquired by the camera measuring device 50b is analyzed by an image analysis device provided in the control means 70 to determine whether the pavement cutting machine 100 has deviated from the line P drawn on the road surface, and if the control means 70 determines that the machine has deviated, it may output a control signal to correct the direction of travel.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 1 , the battery 60 is mounted on the crawler-type vehicle 10 and functions as a power source for the entire pavement cutting machine 100. The battery 60 is a rechargeable secondary battery. For example, a lithium-ion battery, a nickel-cadmium battery, a lead battery, or a lithium-ion capacitor can be used as the battery 60. The battery 60 is detachable from the crawler-type vehicle 10. The pavement cutting machine 100 is driven by power supplied from the battery 60.

[0041] The control means 70 controls the crawler-type vehicle 10, the cutter unit 20, the first movement mechanism 30, and the second movement mechanism 40, and uses a processor such as a microcomputer, for example. The processor controls the overall operation of the pavement cutting machine 100 in accordance with a control program. In this embodiment, the control means 70 is configured to control the traveling speed and traveling direction of the crawler-type vehicle 10 by controlling the rotation speed of each of the pair of crawlers 11 of the crawler-type vehicle 10 based on the detection result of the detection means 50.

[0042] The cutting speed is controlled by controlling the rotation speed of the cutter unit 20. The movement position of the first movement mechanism 30 is controlled to move the cutter unit 20 upward when not cutting, and to move the cutter unit 20 downward to the cutting position when cutting, and further to control the cutting depth. The diameter of the disc cutter 21 used varies depending on the content of the cutting work, and the control means 70 is configured to adjust the rotation speed of the disc cutter 21 to an optimal value depending on the diameter of the disc cutter 21 to maximize the efficiency of pavement cutting.

[0043] Next, a crawler-type vehicle 10A, which is another embodiment of the pavement cutting machine 100, will be described.

[0044] 9 to 12, the crawler-type vehicle 10A of this embodiment has a sprocket 11a, which is a crawler drive wheel, at the front and an idler 11e, which is a driven wheel, at the rear, with the endless track crawler 11 stretched between them. In addition, intermediate rollers 11B, 11c, and 11d for supporting and guiding the crawler 11 are arranged at approximately equal intervals between the sprocket 11a and the idler 11e.

[0045] 9 to 12 are cross-sectional views taken along the longitudinal direction of the crawler vehicle 10A at a position near the lateral center, showing the right side in the longitudinal direction.

[0046] The sprocket 11a has a gear shape similar to that of the drive wheel of a normal crawler 11, and is engaged with the drive hole of the crawler 11 so that the rotational force of the sprocket 11a can be converted into the drive force of the crawler 11. The idler 11e and intermediate rollers 11B, 11c, and 11d, which are driven wheels, are formed as cylindrical bodies with an annular recess formed in the center of their outer periphery so that they can guide the guide protrusion 11g of the crawler 11.

[0047] The crawler 11 has drive holes in its center at intervals corresponding to the tooth pitch of the sprocket 11a. Guide protrusions 11g are formed on the inner periphery between the drive holes. Meanwhile, lugs, which are protrusions for engaging with the work surface or ground, are formed at regular intervals or in a predetermined pattern on the outer periphery of the crawler 11.

[0048] In this embodiment, the ground is defined in a broad sense, and includes not only unpaved surfaces but also paved surfaces covered with concrete, asphalt, etc., on which the pavement cutting machine 100 works.

[0049] The crawler 11 may be made of rubber or iron, with rubber being preferred for protecting the work surface or ground.

[0050] A drive motor 12a is arranged on each of the left and right sprockets 11a via a gear box 13, which is a driving force transmission mechanism attached to a sprocket rotation shaft 13a, so that each sprocket 11a can be driven individually.

[0051] That is, drive motors 12a that drive the wheels of the sprockets 11a are disposed at positions corresponding to the left and right sprockets 11a at the front of the crawler-type vehicle 10A, respectively. As a result, the control means 70 can individually control each drive motor 12a, thereby enabling more precise and accurate control and correction of the traveling trajectory, thereby improving straightness and the ability to follow marking lines.

[0052] The drive motor 12a may be an AC motor or a DC motor. Examples of AC motors include permanent magnet synchronous motors, wound field synchronous motors, and induction motors, but permanent magnet synchronous motors are preferred in terms of efficiency and high output density.

[0053] The power source for the drive motor 12a is preferably a battery 60. When using the battery 60 as the power source, if an AC motor is used, it is necessary to provide the drive device with an inverter that converts the direct current of the battery 60 into alternating current.

[0054] Further, an encoder 15 for detecting rotation is connected directly or indirectly to the drive shaft of each drive motor 12a, so that the rotation of the drive shaft of the drive motor 12a can be detected.

[0055] The rotation detection encoder 15 for the drive shaft may be connected directly or indirectly to the sprocket rotating shaft 13a to directly detect the rotation of the sprocket rotating shaft 13a.

[0056] In this way, by detecting the rotation of the drive motor 12a or the rotation of the sprocket rotating shaft 13a, the control means 70 can check whether the desired rotation is being obtained while independently controlling each drive motor 12a. This makes it possible to control the speed of each crawler 11 with higher precision, improving the straightness and scribing line tracking ability of the pavement cutting machine 100.

[0057] The crawler vehicle 10A of this embodiment is equipped with a lift mechanism 110 that lifts the crawler vehicle 10A from a work surface or the ground.

[0058] The lift mechanism 110 comprises a base member 111 arranged on the underside of the crawler-type cart 10A, a pair of left and right front leg members 112 and a pair of left and right rear leg members 113 arranged on the front and rear sides of the upper side of the base member 111 and attached to the underside of the crawler-type cart 10A and the base member 111 so as to be freely rotatable in the front-to-back direction, and a linear actuator 115 that operates the front leg members 112.

[0059] The base member 111, the front leg member 112, and the rear leg member 113 are connected to one another so as to be freely rotatable, and as a whole they constitute a link mechanism.

[0060] The base member 111 is a support base for the lift mechanism 110, and when the crawler-type cart 10A is lifted from the work surface or ground, it comes into contact with the work surface or ground, stably supports the crawler-type cart 10A, and has the function of receiving the load.

[0061] For this reason, the base member 111 must have the desired strength and an area large enough to distribute the surface pressure so as not to damage or deform the work surface or ground surface due to the load, since it supports the entire weight of the pavement cutting machine 100 when the crawler-type vehicle 10A is lifted from the work surface or ground. It is also desirable that the base member 111 be large enough to be stored inside the underside of the crawler-type vehicle 10A.

[0062] A recess capable of accommodating the base member 111 is formed on the underside of the crawler-type vehicle 10A of this embodiment.

[0063] The front leg members 112 and rear leg members 113 are arranged in pairs on the left and right, and are arranged in front of and behind the base member 111. The left and right front leg members 112 and rear leg members 113 are each connected by a beam. In this embodiment, when simply referring to the front leg members 112 and rear leg members 113, this refers to the left and right front leg members 112 and the left and right rear leg members 113.

[0064] Furthermore, the lower ends of these members are rotatably attached to mounting portions of the base member 111 via left and right front leg lower pivot shafts 112b and left and right rear leg lower pivot shafts 113b. The front leg members 112 and rear leg members 113 pivot in a direction parallel to the longitudinal center axis of the crawler-type vehicle 10A, and are capable of pivoting in the front-to-rear direction.

[0065] The upper portions of the front leg members 112 and rear leg members 113 are rotatably attached to mounting portions formed near the side ends of the underside of the crawler-type carriage 10A via left and right front leg upper pivot shafts 112a and left and right rear leg upper pivot shafts 113a, respectively.

[0066] The front leg members 112 and the rear leg members 113 are restricted from pivoting forward from a perpendicular line centered on the front leg upper pivot shaft 112a and the rear leg upper pivot shaft 113a, respectively, and are structured to be able to pivot until they come into contact with the bottom surface of the mounting portion formed on the underside of the rear crawler-type vehicle 10A. In other words, the movable range of the front leg members 112 and the rear leg members 113 is a range of 90° rearward from a perpendicular line to the underside of the crawler-type vehicle 10A.

[0067] As a result, when the front leg members 112 and rear leg members 113 rotate rearward, the base member 111 is pulled toward the underside of the crawler-type cart 10A and stored in the recess, and when they rotate forward, the base member 111 moves toward the work surface or ground surface and engages with it, and the front leg members 112 and rear leg members 113 become upright, allowing the crawler-type cart 10A to be lifted from the work surface or ground surface.

[0068] When the front leg member 112 and the rear leg member 113 are upright, a locking mechanism (not shown) is activated to restrict unintended movement of the front leg member 112 and the rear leg member 113, thereby ensuring safety.

[0069] An actuator fixing member 114 is formed in the center of the beam of the front leg member 112, and the tip of an operating rod 115a of a linear actuator 115 is rotatably fixed via a rod rotation shaft 115b. In other words, the linear actuator 115 is disposed midway between the left and right front leg members 112 and rear leg members 113. The position of the beam that would interfere with the operating rod 115a is hollowed out to prevent interference between the two.

[0070] The rear end of the linear actuator 115 is integral with the drive mechanism 116, and is rotatably fixed to an actuator mounting portion 114 formed in the central portion of the rear end of the crawler-type carriage 10A by an actuator pivot shaft 115c arranged on the rear end side of the drive mechanism 116.

[0071] The linear actuator 115 can operate the operating rod 115a in the longitudinal direction by a hydraulic pump or motor (not shown). The linear actuator 115 is controlled by the control means 70, but the start and end of operation can be determined by the operator's discretion. An interlock may be provided to prevent the linear actuator 115 from operating while the cutter 20 or crawler of the pavement cutting machine 100 is in operation.

[0072] When the operating rod 115a of the linear actuator 115 is retracted to the minimum stroke position, the front leg member 112 and the rear leg member 113 rotate rearward and are folded together with the base member 111 onto the underside of the crawler-type vehicle 10A.

[0073] On the other hand, when the operating rod 115a is extended to the maximum stroke position, the front leg member 112 and the rear leg member 113 rotate forward and stand upright, and the pavement cutting machine 100 can be lifted up.

[0074] Specific examples of the linear actuator 115 include an electric actuator using a hydraulic cylinder, a ball screw, a rack and pinion mechanism, etc., but there are no particular limitations as long as it has the load driving force necessary to operate the lift mechanism 110.

[0075] Next, the operation of the lift mechanism 110 will be described. As shown in Figure 9, during normal use or movement, the operating rod 115a of the linear actuator 115 is contracted to the minimum stroke position, causing the front leg member 112 and the rear leg member 113 to rotate rearward and be folded together with the base member 111 under the crawler-type vehicle 10A for storage.

[0076] As shown in FIG. 9, a part of the actuator fixing member 114 of the front leg member 112 and the rod rotation shaft 115b are arranged in the space between the reinforcing ribs of the base member 111, so that they can be stored compactly.

[0077] Next, when the operating rod 115a begins to extend, the front leg member 112 and the rear leg member 113 rotate forward as shown in Figure 10, and the base member 111 moves downward to come into contact with and engage with the work surface or the ground. Note that in Figures 10 to 12, the area where the drive motor 12a is located is covered by a cover 10b.

[0078] Next, when the operating rod 115a is further extended, the front leg member 112 and the rear leg member 113 rotate further forward as shown in Figure 11, and as a result, the base member 111 moves further downward, and the pavement cutting machine 100 is lifted from the work surface or ground.

[0079] Next, as shown in Figure 12, when the operating rod 115a is extended to its maximum stroke, the front leg member 112 and the rear leg member 113 rotate further forward to become upright, and the pavement cutting machine 100 rises to its maximum height, completing the lift-up operation.

[0080] Furthermore, when the front leg member 112 and the rear leg member 113 are upright, a portion of the front leg member 112 and the rear leg member 113 abuts against the base member 111, mechanically restricting the rotation and preventing further rotation forward.

[0081] At this time, it is preferable that the center lines of the front leg members 112 and the rear leg members 113 are parallel to the vertical line or tilted slightly backward (with the upper parts tilted backward). By tilting them backward, a force is applied to rotate them forward, preventing the front leg members 112 and the rear leg members 113 from accidentally rotating backward. The degree of tilt backward is within 10 degrees from the vertical line, and preferably in the range of 2 to 6 degrees.

[0082] In addition, when the front leg member 112 and the rear leg member 113 are upright, a locking mechanism (not shown) is activated to restrict unnecessary movement of the front leg member 112 and the rear leg member 113, thereby improving safety.

[0083] The provision of the lift mechanism 110 makes it easy to lift up the pavement cutting machine 100, facilitating maintenance during operation and troubleshooting. For example, when the crawler is worn or damaged, replacement or repair work can be carried out quickly and safely.

[0084] As described above, the pavement cutting machine 100 of this embodiment includes the crawler-type vehicle 10, the cutter unit 20, the first moving mechanism 30, the second moving mechanism 40, the detection means 50, the battery 60, and the control means 70. The control means 70 is configured to control the operation of the cutter unit 20, the first moving mechanism 30, the second moving mechanism 40, and the crawler-type vehicle 10, and is thereby able to automatically adjust the vertical and front-to-rear positions of the disc-shaped cutter 21, including the electric motor 22 as a power source, during cutting and non-cutting operations. Furthermore, the traveling direction of the pavement cutting machine 100 can be corrected based on the detection signal from the detection means 50.

[0085] Furthermore, since it does not use an internal combustion engine as a power source, it does not emit exhaust gases or exhaust noise. This contributes to noise reduction at work sites and is not limited to certain environments, making it possible to use it in a variety of construction sites, including inside tunnels and indoors. Furthermore, since it does not require a cooling radiator, it can prevent heat damage to the surrounding area caused by heat emitted from the radiator.

[0086] In addition, since the disc-shaped cutter 21 for cutting can be positioned in the center of the cutting machine, the stress that tends to bend the straight movement of the pavement road cutting machine 100 due to the couple of forces generated by the rotation of the disc-shaped cutter 21 during cutting work is alleviated, thereby improving straight-line movement.

[0087] Furthermore, by using the crawler-type vehicle 10, the contact resistance with the road surface is greater than with a tire-type vehicle, and even if stress that hinders the straight-line movement of the cutting machine body is generated by driving the disc-shaped cutter 21, the large contact resistance with the road surface makes it less susceptible to the influence of said stress and allows the cutting machine body to maintain straight-line movement.In addition, it can move freely even on uneven or sloped road surfaces.

[0088] The pavement cutting machine 100 can be maintained in a straight line during cutting work by being equipped with a detection means 50 that detects the direction in which the crawler vehicle 10 should travel based on marks placed at predetermined cutting locations, and the control means 70 is configured to control the traveling direction of the crawler vehicle 10 based on the detection results of the detection means 50. Therefore, it is possible to operate the pavement cutting machine 100 by simply receiving a simple instruction before operation, without needing a large amount of force or specialized skills to maintain straight line movement as in the past.

[0089] Furthermore, since the power is supplied by the battery 60, no external power supply is required, and the robot can be moved freely on site.

[0090] In the above-described embodiment, the paving cutting machine 100 is described as an example in which the battery 60 mounted on the crawler vehicle 10 serves as the power source for the entire paving cutting machine 100 to supply power, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in Figure 13, the paving cutting machine 100A may also be equipped with an emergency engine generator 90 for charging the battery 60.

[0091] In this case, as shown in Figure 13, the pavement cutting machine 100A is configured to have an emergency engine generator 90 mounted on the crawler vehicle 10. When the battery 60 is low on power, the emergency engine generator 90 is operated to charge the battery 60. When the emergency engine generator 90 is operated, it is necessary to move the pavement cutting machine 100A to a location where exhaust and noise are not a problem and charge it there. During normal cutting work, power is supplied only by the battery 60.

[0092] This pavement cutting machine 100A has the same configuration as the above-described embodiment except that it is equipped with an emergency engine generator 90. A detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

[0093] In the above embodiment, the pavement cutting machine 100 is equipped with a battery 60 as a power source for the electric motor 22, etc., but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it is also possible to draw in a power line from an external source and supply power to the electric motor 22, etc.

[0094] In the above-described embodiment, the pavement cutting machines 100 and 100A do not have a storage cover for the disc-shaped cutter 21, but the present invention is not limited to this. If necessary, a storage cover for the disc-shaped cutter 21 may be provided.

[0095] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and its technical scope includes various modified design forms within the scope that do not deviate from the gist of the invention described in the claims.

[0096] The present invention can be used in a pavement cutting machine for cutting road pavement surfaces such as concrete and asphalt during infrastructure development such as road repairs.

[0097] 1 Cutting machine 1a Cutting machine body 2a Front wheel 2b Drive wheel 3 Disk-shaped cutter 4 Load rod for course adjustment 10, 10A Crawler-type carriage 11 Crawler 11a Sprocket (drive wheel) 12 Travel drive motor 12a Drive motor 20, 20A, 20B, 20C Cutter unit 21 Disk-shaped cutter 21a Rotating shaft 22 Electric motor 22a Output shaft 23, 23A, 23B, 23C Power transmission mechanism 30 First moving mechanism 30a Frame body 30b Guide sleeve 31 Guide post 31a Upper frame 31b Lower frame base 40 Second moving mechanism 41 Guide post 50 Detection means 50a Laser measuring device (detection means) 50b Camera measuring device (detection means) 51 Light emitter 52 Reflector 53: Light receiving plate 60: Battery 70: Control means 80: Electric switch 90: Emergency engine generator 100, 100A: Paving road cutting machine 110: Lift mechanism 111: Base member 112: Front leg member 113: Rear leg member 115: Linear actuator D: Road surface L: Travel distance P: Line drawn on road surface R: Laser beam

Claims

1. A pavement cutting machine for cutting pavement surfaces such as concrete and asphalt roads, comprising: a cutter unit having a disc-shaped cutter journalled by a rotating shaft, an electric motor for driving the disc-shaped cutter, and a power transmission mechanism provided between the output shaft of the electric motor and the rotating shaft of the disc-shaped cutter; a cart on which the cutter unit is mounted via a first moving mechanism capable of moving up and down and capable of running on the pavement surface; and a control means for controlling the cutter unit, the first moving mechanism and the cart.

2. The pavement cutting machine as described in claim 1, further comprising a second movement mechanism for moving the cutter unit in a forward / backward direction, and the control means is configured to control the second movement mechanism in order to adjust the position of the cutter unit in the forward / backward direction.

3. A pavement cutting machine as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the carriage is configured to travel using a pair of left and right crawlers, and the control means is configured to independently control the rotation of the left and right crawlers.

4. A pavement cutting machine as described in claim 1 or 2, further comprising a detection means for detecting the direction in which the trolley should travel based on marks placed at predetermined cutting locations, and the control means is configured to control the traveling direction of the trolley based on the detection results of the detection means.

5. The pavement cutting machine according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a battery for supplying power to the electric motor.

6. The pavement cutting machine according to claim 5, further comprising an emergency engine generator for charging the battery.

7. A pavement cutting machine as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the trolley has a lift mechanism comprising a base member serving as a support platform arranged on the underside of the trolley, front leg members and rear leg members respectively arranged at the front and rear of the upper part of the base member, one end of which is attached so as to be freely rotatable in the fore-and-aft direction relative to the base member and the other end of which is rotatably attached to the underside of the trolley, and a linear actuator for operating the front leg members.

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