Rumble strip cutter

Abstract

An apparatus and method for milling rumble strips into a pavement surface with a cutting wheel. The cutting wheel has rows of a cutting and non-cutting surface and is rotated to alternately present and withdraw a cutting surface and a non-cutting surface to the asphalt and cut a periodic rumble strip pattern as the apparatus moves forward. This alternating pattern is achieved without any up and down motion of the cutting wheel, and the apparatus can be operated a relatively rapid speed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A milling apparatus for milling rumble strips into pavement comprising; 
 a device for imparting forward motion to the milling apparatus,    at least one cutting wheel comprising at least one cutting row of pavement cutters and non-cutting surface disposed transversely at a periphery of the cutting wheel to present alternating cutting and non-cutting surfaces as the cutting wheel rotates,    a cutting wheel rotator for rotating the cutting wheel at a speed proportional to the forward motion and at a fixed distance above the pavement, such that the at least one cutting row is in turn presented into a cutting position for cutting into the pavement and then withdrawn from the cutting position to present the non-cutting surfaces to form periodic cut and uncut portions in the pavement.    
     
     
         2 . A milling apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein the cutting wheel rotator rotates the cutting wheel in a direction with a forward side moving down.  
     
     
         3 . A milling apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein the cutting wheel rotator rotates the cutting wheel in a direction with a forward side moving up.  
     
     
         4 . A milling apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein the cutting wheel is mounted on a rotational axis at a mounting angle less than 90 and greater the 0 degrees to the direction of travel and the cutting wheel rotator rotates the cutting wheel in a direction with the forward side moving down, 
 the rotator coordinating rotation speed of the cutting wheel relative to the forward motion such that there is essentially no forward or backward speed difference between movement of cutting teeth as they travel under the bottom of the cutting wheel and the pavement when the bottom cutting teeth are cutting into the pavement,  
 the mounting angle imparting a lateral motion the cutting teeth perpendicular to the direction to travel, such that each cutting tooth cuts a lateral groove perpendicular to the direction of travel,  
 the cutting teeth disposed in one or more helical rows on the cutting wheel at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis and at a spacing between adjacent cutting teeth on the row such that the adjacent cutting teeth in the helical row cut lateral grooves on a common axis with overlapping ends to produce an essentially continuous groove in the pavement essentially perpendicular to the direction of travel.  
 
     
     
         5 . A method for forming a rumble strip in pavement, the method comprising; 
 rotating and moving at least one cutting wheel a fixed distance above a pavement surface, the cutting wheel comprising at least one cutting row of pavement cutters and at least one row of a non-cutting surface disposed transversely at a periphery of the cutting wheel to present alternating cutting and non-cutting surfaces as the cutting wheel rotates, the cutting wheel rotating at a speed proportional to the moving of the cutting wheel above the pavement such that the cutting rows are in turn presented into a cutting position for cutting into the pavement and then withdrawn from the cutting position as the non-cutting surfaces are presented to form periodic cut and uncut portions in the pavement.    
     
     
         6 . A method as in  claim 5  wherein the cutting wheel rotator rotates the cutting wheel in a direction with a forward side moving down.  
     
     
         7 . A method as in  claim 5  wherein the cutting wheel rotator rotates the cutting wheel in a direction with a forward side moving up.