Integrated Road Marking Cutter with Suction and Vibration Damping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cutter devices for road markings require multiple separate units, including a cutter device, brushing machine, and escort vehicles, making the process costly and labor-intensive, and they often transfer vibrations to the tractor or vehicle, causing technical issues and inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

A cutter device integrated with a road traffic vehicle, featuring a cutter unit with suction equipment for simultaneous cutting and material collection, an asymmetric support wheel for reduced vibration transfer, and side-shift equipment for versatile operation, allowing a single operator to perform multiple tasks efficiently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a separate cutter device is used for cutting road markings, then cutting functionality is provided, but multiple separate units (cutter device, brushing machine, escort vehicles) are required making the process costly and labor-intensive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveroad marking production efficiencyVSAvoidnumber of separate units required
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the cutter device and brushing machine into a single integrated unit mounted on a vehicle. The cutter device cuts road markings while the brushing machine simultaneously collects the detached material, eliminating the need for separate units and reducing both cost and labor requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The vehicle-mounted system performs multiple functions: the cutter device creates road markings, the brushing machine collects material, and the vehicle provides mobility and support. This multi-functional approach replaces the need for multiple specialized units, improving productivity while reducing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If the cutter device is mounted on a vehicle, then mobility is improved, but vibrations are transferred to the vehicle causing technical issues and reduced performance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle mobilityVSAvoidvibration transfer to vehicle
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the vibration-generating cutter unit from the vehicle structure by mounting it on a separate, movable platform or frame that can be independently positioned. This separation prevents vibrations from being directly transferred to the vehicle's chassis and technical systems, while the vehicle retains its mobility for transporting the equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If the cutter device operates at higher speeds, then productivity increases, but vibration and impact on the vehicle increase causing technical problems

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting speedVSAvoidvibration and impact
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary vibration-dampening mechanism between the cutter device and the vehicle platform. This intermediary structure absorbs and dissipates vibrations and impacts generated during high-speed cutting operations, allowing the system to operate at higher speeds for improved productivity without transferring harmful forces to the vehicle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Loss of time

If suction equipment is integrated with the cutter device, then material collection is simultaneous with cutting, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetime for material collectionVSAvoidintegration of suction equipment
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the suction equipment with the cutter device into a single integrated system. The suction inlet is positioned adjacent to the cutter blade, allowing detached material to be immediately captured and removed. This integration eliminates the time loss associated with separate material collection operations while the compact design minimizes the increase in overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The integrated system enables cost-effective production of road markings at higher speeds with reduced vibration transfer, improving ergonomics and operational efficiency by combining cutting and material collection in a single machine.

Implementation Method 1

suction equipment arranged at least partially in the vicinity of the cutter unit for sucking road surface material produced that detaches during the cutting process from the road surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Implementation Method 2

an asymmetric support wheel (20) mounted with bearings to the cutter frame for supporting the cutter unit against the road surface... the asymmetric support wheel for reduced vibration transfer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration damping: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP3266935B1A cutting device, system and method for cutting road markings on a road surface
Publication Date: 2021.08.11 PYYKKO TOMMI
  • EP3266935B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3266935B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3266935B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a cutter device including a frame (12) for suspending a cutter unit (14) from a road traffic vehicle or its trailer and support equipment (35) for supporting the cutter unit (14) to the frame (12) movably in the vertical direction, said cutter unit (14) comprising a cutter frame (16), a cutter blade (18) and a support wheel (20), and the cutter device further including suction equipment (22) for sucking road surface (102) material produced that detaches during the cutting process. Height adjustment equipment (15) is arranged in the vicinity of the cutter frame (16) for moving the cutter frame (16) vertically relative to the frame (12) and the road surface (102) for adjusting the cutting depth of the cutter blade (18), and pressing equipment (25) is arranged in the vicinity of the cutter frame (16) for pressing the cutter blade (18) against the road surface (102) during the cutting process.