Rolling wedge cutter drum
View Patent ↗A cutter drum for profiling a surface includes a body extending along an axis from a first end to a second end. The body includes an outer surface encircling the axis. A plurality of first working elements are disposed on the body. Each of the first working elements including a cutter mount attached to the outer surface of the body and a rotary cutter rotatably coupled to each cutter mount of the plurality of cutter mounts. A plurality of second working elements are coupled to the outer surface of the body. The second working elements have a different configuration than the first working elements and are configured to crush material of the working surface.
1 . A cutter drum for profiling a working surface, the cutter drum comprising:
a body extending along an axis from a first end to a second end, the body including an outer surface encircling the axis;
a plurality of first working elements disposed on the body, each of the first working elements comprising:
a cutter mount attached to the outer surface of the body, and
a rotary cutter rotatably coupled to the cutter mount; and
a plurality of second working elements coupled to the outer surface of the body, the second working elements having a different configuration than the first working elements, wherein the second working elements are configured to crush material of the working surface,
wherein a ratio of the number of first working elements to the number of second working elements on the cutter drum is at least 4.
2 . The cutter drum according to claim 1 , wherein each of the second working elements is attached to the outer surface of the body by a respective mount.
3 . The cutter drum according to claim 1 , wherein each of the second working elements is a carbide pick.
4 . The cutter drum according to claim 1 , wherein the cutter drum includes a continuous central section extending over at least 50% of the cylindrical body along the axis of the cylindrical body, and wherein the central section is free of any second working elements.
5 . The cutter drum according to claim 1 , wherein each rotary cutter includes a front side and teeth disposed around a circumference of the front side.
6 . The cutter drum according to claim 5 , wherein each rotary cutter in a first group is canted at a side angle such that the front side of the rotary cutter faces a tangential direction of the cylindrical body so as to face a line of action of the rotary cutter as the cutter drum is rotated.
7 . The cutter drum according to claim 6 , wherein each rotary cutter in the first group is canted at a tilt angle such that the front side of the rotary cutter faces away from the circumferential outer surface of the cylindrical body.
8 . The cutter drum according to claim 7 , wherein the teeth of each rotary cutter are configured to follow a circular path with respect to the circumferential outer surface of the cylindrical body.
9 . The cutter drum according to claim 1 , wherein a back side of each rotary cutter includes a shaft that is rotatably held in one of the cutter mounts so as to form a freewheeling connection between the rotary cutter and the respective cutter mount.
10 . The cutter drum according to claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the number of first working elements to the number of second working elements on the cutter drum is at least 6.
11 . The cutter drum according to claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the number of first working elements to the number of second working elements on the cutter drum is at least 10.
12 . A surface profiling machine comprising:
a vehicle propulsion system; and
a cutter drum including:
a body extending along an axis from a first end to a second end, the body including an outer surface encircling the axis;
a plurality of first working elements disposed on the body, each of the first working elements comprising:
a cutter mount attached to the outer surface of the body, and
a rotary cutter rotatably coupled to the cutter mount; and
a plurality of second working elements coupled to the outer surface of the body, the second working elements having a different configuration than the first working elements, wherein the second working elements are configured to crush material of the working surface,
wherein a ratio of the number of first working elements to the number of second working elements on the cutter drum is at least 4.
13 . The surface profiling machine according to claim 12 , wherein the vehicle propulsion system includes a wheel or track.
14 . The surface profiling machine according to claim 13 , wherein the cutter drum is positioned to profile the surface that supports the wheel or track.
15 . The surface profiling machine according to claim 14 , wherein the second working elements include carbide end picks disposed at opposing ends of the cylindrical body.
16 . The surface profiling machine according to claim 12 , wherein each of the second working elements is attached to the outer surface of the body by a respective mount.
17 . The surface profiling machine according to claim 12 , wherein the cutter drum includes a continuous central section extending over at least 50% of the cylindrical body along the axis of the cylindrical body, and wherein the central section is free of any second working elements.
18 . A method of profiling a surface, the method comprising:
positioning a cutter drum against the surface, the cutter drum comprising:
a body extending along an axis from a first end to a second end, the body including an outer surface encircling the axis;
a plurality of first working elements disposed on the body, each of the first working elements comprising:
a cutter mount attached to the outer surface of the body, and
a rotary cutter rotatably coupled to the cutter mount, and
a plurality of second working elements coupled to the outer surface of the body, the second working elements having a different configuration than the first working elements, wherein the second working elements are configured to crush material of the working surface,
wherein a ratio of the number of first working elements to the number of second working elements on the cutter drum is at least 4; and
rotating the cutter drum against the surface such that the first working elements and second working elements engage the surface and remove portions of the surface.
19 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein the cutter drum includes a continuous central section extending over at least 50% of the cylindrical body along the axis of the cylindrical body, and wherein the central section is free of any second working elements.
20 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein rotating the cutter drum against the surface forms a cut profile, and wherein sides of the cut profile are formed by the second working elements.