Moldboard retention system for a milling machine

Abstract

A milling machine includes a frame, a ground-engaging rotor assembly coupled to the frame, and a rotor chamber surrounding the ground-engaging rotor assembly. The rotor chamber includes a moldboard having a top, a bottom, and two sides positioned between the top and the bottom, and the moldboard further having an open position and a closed position. The rotor chamber also includes at least one movable pin secured to the moldboard, the pin being movable by an in-line actuator between a pin extended position and a pin retracted position. Further, the rotor chamber includes a rotor chamber frame wall having an opening located to receive the pin when the pin is in the extended position and the moldboard is in the closed position, and the receiving of the pin in the rotor chamber frame wall opening secures the moldboard from movement.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A milling machine, comprising
 a frame; 
 a ground-engaging rotor assembly coupled to the frame; 
 a rotor chamber surrounding the ground-engaging rotor assembly, the rotor chamber including:
 a moldboard having a top, a bottom, and two sides positioned between the top and the bottom, the moldboard further having an open position and a closed position; 
 at least one movable pin secured to the moldboard, the pin being movable by an in-line actuator between a pin extended position and a pin retracted position; 
 a rotor chamber frame wall having an opening located to receive the pin when the pin is in the extended position and the moldboard is in the closed position, and the receiving of the pin in the rotor chamber frame wall opening secures the moldboard from movement; and 
 a sensor system associated with the movable pin to determine when the pin is in the pin extended or pin retracted position. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The milling machine of  claim 1 , wherein the in-line actuator is a hydraulic actuator, and the pin is a piston rod of the hydraulic actuator. 
     
     
       3. The milling machine of  claim 1 , wherein the frame wall is a first frame wall, and the milling machine further including a second frame wall, the second frame wall having an opening located to receive the pin when the pin is in the extended position and the moldboard is in the open position. 
     
     
       4. The milling machine of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one movable pin is a first movable pin, and the milling machine further includes a second movable pin secured to an opposite side of the moldboard with respect to the first movable pin, the second movable pin being movable by an in-line actuator between an pin extended position and a pin retracted position, and
 the rotor chamber frame wall is a first rotor chamber frame wall, and the milling machine further includes a second rotor chamber frame wall opposite the first rotor chamber frame wall, the second rotor chamber frame wall having an opening located to receive the second movable pin when the second pin is in the extended position and the moldboard is in the closed position. 
 
     
     
       5. The milling machine of  claim 1 , further including an operator input device for initiating a moldboard-up sequence, the moldboard-up sequence includes moving of the pin to the extended position after one or more moldboard sensors indicate that the moldboard is in the open position. 
     
     
       6. The milling machine of  claim 5 , further including a scraper door extending from the bottom of the moldboard, the scraper door being movable between a raised position and a lowered position, and the moldboard-up sequence includes moving the moldboard toward the open position after one or more scraper door sensors indicate that the scraper door is raised. 
     
     
       7. The milling machine of  claim 6 , further including moldboard one or more actuators configured to pivot the moldboard to the open position. 
     
     
       8. A milling machine, comprising
 a frame; 
 a ground-engaging rotor assembly coupled to the frame; 
 a rotor chamber surrounding the ground-engaging rotor assembly, the rotor chamber including:
 a moldboard having a top, a bottom, and two sides positioned between the top and the bottom, the moldboard further having an open position and a closed position; 
 at least one hydraulic actuator secured to the moldboard, the hydraulic actuator having a cylinder end and a rod, with the hydraulic actuator being movable between a rod extended position and a rod retracted position; 
 a first frame wall having an opening located to receive the rod end when the hydraulic actuator is in the extended position and the moldboard is in the closed position, the receiving of the rod in the first frame wall opening secures the moldboard from movement; and 
 a second frame wall having an opening located to receive the rod end when the hydraulic actuator is in the extended position and the moldboard is in the open position, the receiving of the rod in the second frame wall opening secures the moldboard from movement. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The milling machine of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one hydraulic actuator is a first hydraulic actuator, and the milling machine further includes a second hydraulic actuator secured to an opposite side of the moldboard with respect to the first hydraulic actuator, the second hydraulic actuator having a cylinder end and a rod end, with the second hydraulic actuator being movable between a rod extended position and a rod retracted position, and
 the milling machine further includes a third frame wall opposite the first frame wall, the third frame wall having an opening located to receive the rod end of the second hydraulic actuator when the second actuator is in the extended position and the moldboard is in the closed position. 
 
     
     
       10. The milling machine of  claim 8 , further including a sensor system associated with the hydraulic actuator to determine when the hydraulic actuator is in the extended or retracted position. 
     
     
       11. The milling machine of  claim 8 , further including an operator input device for initiating a moldboard-up sequence, wherein the moldboard-up sequence includes moving of the rod end to the extended position after one or more moldboard sensors indicate that the moldboard is in the open position. 
     
     
       12. The milling machine of  claim 11 , further including a scraper door extending from the bottom of the moldboard, the scraper door being movable between a raised position and a lowered position, and the moldboard-up sequence includes moving the moldboard toward the open position after one or more scraper door sensors indicate that the scraper door is raised. 
     
     
       13. The milling machine of  claim 12 , further including moldboard actuators configured to pivot the moldboard to the open position. 
     
     
       14. A method of operating a milling machine, the milling machine having a operator control, a moldboard, a scraper door coupled to the moldboard, and a pin assembly coupled to the moldboard, the method comprising:
 receiving a signal from the operator control corresponding to a requested moldboard-up sequence; and 
 performing the following in response to the signal:
 raising the scraper door; 
 moving a pin of the pin assembly from a pin securing position to a pin releasing position to release the moldboard from a frame wall of the machine; 
 moving the moldboard to an open position; and 
 moving the pin to a securing position to secure the moldboard to another frame wall of the machine when the moldboard is in the open position. 
 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the moving of the moldboard to an open position is initiated after confirming that the pin is in the pin releasing position. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , moving of the pin to the securing position is achieved via hydraulic actuation. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 14 , further including receiving a signal from the operator control corresponding to a requested moldboard-down sequence; and
 performing the following in response to the moldboard-down signal:
 moving the pin of the pin assembly from a pin securing position to a pin releasing position to release the moldboard from the another frame wall of the machine; 
 moving the moldboard to a closed position; 
 moving the pin to a securing position to secure the moldboard to the frame wall of the machine, when the moldboard is in the closed position; and 
 lowering the scraper door. 
 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein moving the moldboard to a closed position is initiated after confirming that the pin is in the pin releasing position. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , moving of the pin to the securing position is achieved via hydraulic actuation.