System and method for exchanging a milling drum assembly
View Patent ↗In one aspect of the invention, a system for exchanging a milling chamber comprises a vehicle comprising a milling chamber supported by the underside of the vehicle. The underside comprises a track that interfaces with a guide of the milling chamber. The track and guide are configured to accommodate lateral movement of the milling chamber with respect to a length of the vehicle.
1. A system for exchanging a milling chamber, comprising:
a vehicle comprising a milling chamber supported by an underside of the vehicle;
the underside comprising a track that interfaces with a guide of the milling chamber;
wherein the track and guide are configured to accommodate lateral movement of the milling chamber with respect to a length of the vehicle; and
wherein the guide is configured to hang off the track.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is a milling machine.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the milling chamber comprises a rotary drum assembly.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the track comprises at least one roller configured to move the milling chamber.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the roller is in mechanical communication with a rotor of a motor.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the milling chamber comprises a moldboard aligned concentrically with a rotary drum assembly.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the milling chamber comprises a water jet manifold attached to an end of the moldboard.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the guide comprises a structure configured to stop a lateral movement of the milling chamber as the milling chamber approaches an end of the guide.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle comprises a winch assembly configured to pull the milling chamber laterally.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein a pulley is configured to guide a cable of the winch assembly when pulling the milling chamber.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the underside of the vehicle is located on a trailer.
12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is a truck.
13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system comprises a hydraulic ram configured to push the milling chamber.
14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the track and guide interface through a rack and pinion arrangement.
15. The system of claim 1 , wherein a second track is linked to a first track by a cross arm attached to the milling machine.
16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the underside comprises a mechanism configured to distribute a weight of the milling chamber off of the guide.
17. The system of claim 1 , wherein the milling chamber is configured to rotate such that a width of the milling chamber is aligned with the length of the vehicle.
18. A method of replacing a rotary drum assembly on a milling machine, comprising the steps of:
providing a milling machine comprising a rotary drum assembly supported by an underside of the machine;
providing a separate vehicle configured to carry a plurality of rotary drum assemblies;
aligning the milling machine with the separate vehicle; and
exchanging at least one rotary drum assembly between the milling machine and the separate vehicle with a sliding mechanism.
19. A system for exchanging a rotary drum assembly, comprising:
a vehicle comprising a rotary drum assembly supported by an underside of the vehicle;
the underside comprising a track that interfaces with a guide of the rotary drum;
wherein the track and guide are configured to accommodate lateral movement of the rotary drum assembly with respect to a length of the vehicle; and
wherein the guide is configured to hang off the track.