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  Systems and methods for milling paving material with increased stability, support, and powerRelated Patent Categories: Road Structure, Process, Or Apparatus, Apparatus, With Surface Marking (or Grooving), Applied To Existing Hard SurfaceThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070116519. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/348,063, filed Jan. 9, 2002, and entitled, "Systems and Methods for Milling Paving Material with Increased Stability, Support, and Power," which is incorporated by reference herein. BACKGROUND [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to systems and methods for milling paving material. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods that provide increased stability, support and power while grinding paving material. [0004] 2. Background of the Invention and Related Art [0005] Asphalt milling is a technique currently employed to remove asphalt pavement for reconstruction or resurfacing, and for accessing buried utility lines. The technique involves the removal of asphalt pavement through the use of a cold planer, which can remove up to approximately two inches of pavement surface during a particular pass. [0006] A cold planer typically includes a barrel-like attachment, referred to as a mandrel, and a variety of bits (e.g., 40) that are affixed to the exterior surface of the mandrel. Coupled to the cold planer is a vehicle (e.g., a bobcat or skid-steer) that is used to propel the cold planer. The mandrel rotates and is pushed into the pavement by the hydraulic system of the vehicle, causing the bits to grind up the asphalt pavement. The vehicle pushes the cold planer as the mandrel rotates to grind a trench in the asphalt pavement that is typically up to 24 inches wide. [0007] While this technique enables the creation of a trench that is up to 2 inches deep, various problems exist. For example, traditional cold planers stall out upon attempting to grind 2-3 inches of asphalt pavement. Thus, when desiring to mill a depth of 6 inches of pavement, at least three passes of the cold planer must be conducted. Furthermore, the milled asphalt composite left behind in the wake of the cold planer must be removed between each pass. As a result, this process has proven to be time consuming. [0008] The process is further delayed by the requirement of having to push the cold planer at an extremely slow rate. Much of the power from the skid-steer is used to rotate the mandrel. As such, limited power is available to push the cold planer forward. Typically, the cold planer creates a trench by grinding the pavement at a rate of up to 1/2 mph. [0009] The process is further hampered by instability. The vehicle used to propel the cold planer typically loses traction and has a tendency to shake. A loss in pressure between the actions of providing pressure on the cold planer and lowering the mandrel also yields to instability. Moreover, a procedure of edge milling typically requires the removal of supporting structures of the cold planer, triggering further instability. [0010] Thus, while the traditional technique of asphalt milling enables the creation of a milled trench that is up to 2 inches deep, the technique has proven to be instable and time consuming. Accordingly, it would be an improvement in the art to augment or even replace existing techniques to enable a trench to be milled in asphalt pavement at a quicker rate and/or to provide increased stability to the milling process. SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION [0011] The present invention relates to systems and methods for milling paving material. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods that provide increased stability, support and power while grinding paving material. [0012] Implementation of the present invention takes place in association with a self-powered milling system for use in milling or grinding asphalt and is configured for coupling to a vehicle (e.g., a bobcat, steer-skid, or other vehicle) that selectively pushes or pulls the milling system in a desired direction. The milling system includes a cylindrical mandrel, having a variety of bits attached thereon, which spins on an axis to break up and mill the asphalt. The mandrel is powered by a milling system motor that speeds up production and enables milling of very thick asphalt (e.g., 8 inch thick asphalt) in a single pass. A breaker bar of the milling system is continuously located at or near ground level during the milling process to hold the asphalt down as it tries to lift up during the process. The breaker bar further assists in breaking up the milled asphalt aggregate. [0013] In one implementation, the milling system includes a carriage that follows the contour of the ground. The carriage provides stability during the milling process, allowing only the mandrel or cutting head to move during the process. The carriage may be selectively adjusted to provide cuts at various angles. Furthermore, the carriage is designed to include a flush side to enable use of the milling system in performing precise edge milling of the asphalt. [0014] While the methods and processes of the present invention have proven to be particularly useful in providing increased stability, support and power in the area of milling asphalt, those skilled in the art shall appreciate that the methods and processes can be used to mill a variety of different surfaces. [0015] These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be set forth or will become more fully apparent in the description that follows and in the appended claims. The features and advantages may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. Furthermore, the features and advantages of the invention may be learned by the practice of the invention or will be obvious from the description, as set forth hereinafter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0016] In order that the manner in which the above-recited and other advantages and features of the invention are obtained, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which: [0017] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a representative embodiment of the present invention; [0018] FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 1; [0019] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a representative cutting head that may be used in association with the embodiment of FIG. 1; [0020] FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1; and Continue reading... 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