US-12618205-B2 - Pavement grinding drum having modular bit mountings

Abstract

A pavement grinder is configured to rotate to remove pavement. The pavement grinder includes a pavement grinding drum with bit mountings mounted to the pavement grinding drum. The bit mountings are individually removable from and replaceable on the drum. The bit mountings each include a bit that is configured to engage with the pavement to remove pavement.

Inventors

• James C. Schroeder
• Daniel D. Rohling
• Roland M. Bedard

Assignees

• GRACO MINNESOTA INC.

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20240319

Claims (17)

1. 1 . A grinding drum for grinding hardened material, the grinding drum comprising: a mounting tube, the mounting tube elongate along a tube axis, the mounting tube have a plurality of bit mounting receivers arrayed circumferentially around and longitudinally along the mounting tube; and a plurality of bit mountings respectively received in the plurality of bit mounting receivers, the plurality of bit mountings comprising a plurality of bits wherein a first bit mounting of the plurality of bit mountings is mounted to a first bit mounting receiver of the plurality of bit mounting receivers; the first bit mounting receiver comprising: an outer recess extending into the mounting tube from an exterior of the mounting tube; and an inner receiver extending into the mounting tube from the outer recess; the first bit mounting comprising: a first bit holder supporting a first bit of the plurality of bits, the first bit holder including a stem and a head, wherein the stem is at least partially disposed in the outer recess and the first bit is mounted to the head; a mount fastener that extends through the stem and the head of the first bit mounting and extends into the first bit mounting receiver; wherein the plurality of bit mounting receivers are disposed in at least one mounting array and wherein the at least one mounting array is disposed helically about the mounting tube.
2. 2 . The grinding drum of claim 1 , wherein the at least one mounting array includes a plurality of mounting arrays, and wherein each mounting array of the plurality of mounting arrays is disposed helically about the mounting tube.
3. 3 . The pavement grinding drum of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of mounting arrays are disposed helically parallel with respect to each other.
4. 4 . The grinding drum of claim 1 , wherein each bit of the plurality of bits has a common cutting shape with respect to each other bit of the plurality of bits.
5. 5 . The grinding drum of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of bit mountings are arranged so that a leading bit mounting partially overlaps and is partially offset from a trailing bit mounting.
6. 6 . The grinding drum of claim 1 , wherein each bit mounting receiver of the plurality of bit mounting receivers comprises a leading inner notch into which a leading corner of the bit mounting of the plurality of bit mountings received within the bit mounting receiver is seated.
7. 7 . The grinding drum of claim 6 , wherein a leading wall of the leading inner notch is located directly radially outward of the leading corner such that the leading corner is located radially underneath the leading wall.
8. 8 . The grinding drum of claim 6 , wherein the leading corner is disposed in the leading inner notch such that the leading corner is radially overlapped by material defining the bit mounting receiver within which the bit mounting is disposed both radially inward and radially outward from the leading corner.
9. 9 . The grinding drum of claim 1 , wherein each bit mounting of the plurality of bit mountings is orientated offset from the tube axis.
10. 10 . The grinding drum of claim 1 , wherein the mount fastener is angled offset from the tube axis.
11. 11 . The grinding drum of claim 10 , wherein the mount fastener is disposed behind the bit relative to a direction of rotation of the mounting tube.
12. 12 . The grinding drum of claim 1 , further comprising: a first end hub mounted to a first end of the mounting tube, the first end hub including a first shaft bore extending therethrough on the tube axis; and a second end hub mounted to a second end of the mounting tube, the second end hub including a second shaft bore extending therethrough on the tube axis, the second shaft bore axially aligned with the first shaft bore such that a drive shaft can extend through the first shaft bore, the mounting tube, and the second shaft bore.
13. 13 . The grinding drum of claim 12 , wherein the first end hub includes: a hub body through which the first shaft bore extends; and a hub flange extending radially outward from the hub body; a plurality of mount notches extending into an outer face of the first end hub; and a plurality of apertures extending through the hub flange, each aperture of the plurality of apertures open into a mount notch of the plurality of mount notches; wherein the hub flange axially overlaps with the mounting tube and a plurality of hub fasteners extend through the plurality of apertures and into the mounting tube to connect the first end hub to the mounting tube.
14. 14 . The grinding drum of claim 12 , wherein a first subset of bit mountings of the plurality of bit mountings radially overlap with the first end hub and a second subset of bit mountings of the plurality of bit mountings radially overlap with the second end hub.
15. 15 . The grinding drum of claim 1 , wherein: the stem includes a leading surface, a trailing surface, and a side surface between the leading surface and the trailing surface; the outer recess includes a leading wall and a trailing wall; and the leading surface interfaces with the leading wall and the trailing surface interfaces with the trailing wall to prevent rotation of the stem within the outer recess.
16. 16 . A grinding drum for grinding hardened material, the grinding drum comprising: a mounting tube, the mounting tube elongate along a tube axis, the mounting tube have a plurality of bit mounting receivers arrayed circumferentially around and longitudinally along the mounting tube; and a plurality of bit mountings respectively received in the plurality of bit mounting receivers, the plurality of bit mountings comprising a plurality of bits, wherein a first bit mounting of the plurality of bit mountings is mounted to a first bit mounting receiver of the plurality of bit mounting receivers; the first bit mounting including a first bit holder supporting a first bit of the plurality of bits, the first bit holder including a stem and a head, the stem at least partially disposed in the first bit mounting receiver and the first bit connected to the head; the mounting tube including a first slot extending from a trailing end of the first bit mounting receiver; wherein the first bit holder is mounted to the first bit mounting receiver such that a trailing end of the first bit holder extends over the slot and is spaced away from a base of the slot; wherein each bit mounting of the plurality of bit mountings is individually removably mounted to the mounting tube; and wherein each bit mounting of the plurality of bit mountings is angled offset from the tube axis.
17. 17 . A grinding drum for grinding hardened material, the grinding drum comprising: a mounting tube, the mounting tube elongate along a tube axis, the mounting tube have a plurality of bit mounting receivers arrayed circumferentially around and longitudinally along the mounting tube; and a plurality of bit mountings respectively received in the plurality of bit mounting receivers, the plurality of bit mountings comprising a plurality of bits wherein a first bit mounting of the plurality of bit mountings is mounted to a first bit mounting receiver of the plurality of bit mounting receivers; the first bit mounting receiver comprising: an outer recess extending into the mounting tube from an exterior of the mounting tube; and an inner receiver extending into the mounting tube from the outer recess; the first bit mounting comprising: a first bit holder supporting a first bit of the plurality of bits, the first bit holder including a stem and a head, wherein the stem is at least partially disposed in the outer recess and the first bit is mounted to the head, wherein the head extends forward and rearward of the stem; wherein a leading surface of the stem includes a first flat, a leading wall of the outer recess includes a second flat, and the first flat interfaces with the second flat to inhibit rotation of the stem within the outer recess, wherein the outer recess includes a first side wall and a second side wall extending from the leading wall, and wherein the first side wall and the second side wall are curved; wherein the plurality of bit mounting receivers are disposed in at least one mounting array and wherein the at least one mounting array is disposed helically about the mounting tube.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/456,578 filed Apr. 3, 2023 and entitled “PAVEMENT GRINDING DRUM HAVING MODULAR BIT MOUNTINGS,” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND The present disclosure concerns removal of hardened material from ground surfaces. More particularly, the present disclosure concerns grinders for grinding removal of the hardened material. Hardened material, such as pavement, can be removed from a ground surface by grinding. A grinding machine includes grinding bits that are rotated to come into contact with and grind the pavement. When grinding the hardened material, the grinding bits and driving structure can become worn and/or damaged. Regular maintenance and replacement of parts can be required. Such maintenance and replacement can be laborious and time consuming. For example, the grinder can include plates that support the grinding bits. The plates can be stacked on a shaft to assemble the grinder. Multiple plates may need to be removed to access and replace a worn grinding bit. SUMMARY According to an aspect of the disclosure, a grinding drum for grinding hardened material includes a mounting tube, the mounting tube elongate along a tube axis, the mounting tube have a plurality of bit mounting receivers arrayed circumferentially around and longitudinally along the mounting tube; and a plurality of bit mountings respectively received in the plurality of bit mounting receivers, the plurality of bit mountings comprising a plurality of bits. The plurality of bit mounting receivers are disposed in at least one mounting array and wherein the at least one mounting array is disposed helically about the mounting tube. According to an additional or alternative aspects of the disclosure, a grinding drum for grinding hardened material includes a mounting tube, the mounting tube elongate along a tube axis, the mounting tube have a plurality of bit mounting receivers arrayed circumferentially around and longitudinally along the mounting tube; a first end hub mounted to a first end of the mounting tube, the first end hub including a first shaft bore extending therethrough on the tube axis; a second end hub mounted to a second end of the mounting tube, the second end hub including a second shaft bore extending therethrough on the tube axis, the second shaft bore axially aligned with the first shaft bore such that a drive shaft can extend through the first shaft bore, the mounting tube, and the second shaft bore; and a plurality of bit mountings respectively received in the plurality of bit mounting receivers, the plurality of bit mountings comprising a plurality of bits. Each bit mounting of the plurality of bit mountings are individually mounted to the mounting tube and are removably mounted to the mounting tube. According to another additional or alternative aspects of the disclosure, a grinding drum for grinding hardened material includes a mounting tube, the mounting tube elongate along a tube axis, the mounting tube have a plurality of bit mounting receivers arrayed circumferentially around and longitudinally along the mounting tube; and a plurality of bit mountings respectively received in the plurality of bit mounting receivers, the plurality of bit mountings comprising a plurality of bits. Each bit mounting of the plurality of bit mountings is removably mounted to the mounting tube. Each bit mounting of the plurality of bit mountings is angled offset from the tube axis. According to yet another additional or alternative aspects of the disclosure, a grinding drum for grinding hardened material includes a mounting tube, the mounting tube elongate along a tube axis, the mounting tube have a plurality of bit mounting receivers arrayed circumferentially around and longitudinally along the mounting tube; and a plurality of bit mountings respectively received in the plurality of bit mounting receivers, the plurality of bit mountings comprising a plurality of bits. A first bit mounting of the plurality of bit mountings is at least partially disposed in a first bit mounting receiver of the plurality of bit mounting receivers. The first bit mounting receiver extends along a mount axis angled relative to the tube axis such that the mount axis does not intersect the tube axis. According to yet another additional or alternative aspects of the disclosure, a grinding drum for grinding hardened material includes a mounting tube, the mounting tube elongate along a tube axis, the mounting tube have a plurality of bit mounting receivers arrayed circumferentially around and longitudinally along the mounting tube; and a plurality of bit mountings respectively received in the plurality of bit mounting receivers, the plurality of bit mountings comprising a plurality of bits. A first bit mounting of the plurality of bit mountings includes a first head supporting a first bit of the plurality