Asphalt-removing work machine having a storage bin

Abstract

A work machine for removing asphalt from a roadway is disclosed. The work machine includes a removal device configured to remove asphalt from a roadway. The work machine also includes a storage bin operatively connected to the removal device and configured to house the removed asphalt.

1 . A work machine, comprising: 
 a removal device configured to remove asphalt from a roadway; and    a storage bin operatively connected to the removal device and configured to house the removed asphalt.    
   
   
       2 . The work machine of  claim 1 , further including a vibration-inducing device configured to vibrate the removal device.  
   
   
       3 . The work machine of  claim 1 , further including a heating device configured to heat the removal device.  
   
   
       4 . The work machine of  claim 1 , wherein the removal device includes a blade.  
   
   
       5 . The work machine of  claim 4 , wherein the blade includes a plurality of blade members, the plurality of blade members interconnected by way of hinges.  
   
   
       6 . The work machine of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of blade members are movable to accommodate the crown of a roadway surface.  
   
   
       7 . The work machine of  claim 5 , further including a quick-locking mechanism associated with at least one of the plurality of blade members, the quick-locking mechanism configured to secure the at least one of the plurality of blade members to the work machine and to facilitate replacement of the at least one of the plurality of blade members.  
   
   
       8 . The work machine of  claim 1 , further including a grinding device configured to fracture the removed asphalt.  
   
   
       9 . The work machine of  claim 8 , wherein the grinding device includes a milling drum.  
   
   
       10 . The work machine of  claim 8 , further including a funnel-shaped ramp, the funnel-shaped ramp configured to guide the removed asphalt from the removal device to the grinding device.  
   
   
       11 . The work machine of  claim 10 , wherein the removal device is configured to remove a layer of asphalt having a width larger than a width of the grinding device and the funnel-shaped ramp is configured to fold the outer edges of the removed asphalt layer over itself before the removed asphalt layer reaches the grinding device.  
   
   
       12 . The work machine of  claim 10 , further including a conveying device configured to urge the removed asphalt layer up the funnel-shaped ramp.  
   
   
       13 . The work machine of  claim 12 , wherein the conveying device is a paddle-drag device.  
   
   
       14 . The work machine of  claim 8 , further including at least one conveying device configured to move the fractured asphalt from the grinding device into the storage bin.  
   
   
       15 . The work machine of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one conveying device includes a screw conveyor.  
   
   
       16 . The work machine of  claim 1 , further including a scoring device located on each side of the removal device to score the asphalt prior to removal of the asphalt.  
   
   
       17 . The work machine of  claim 1 , further including a plurality of wheels located forward of the removal device relative to a travel direction of the work machine, the plurality of wheels being operatively connected to the removal device and configured to provide depth control for the removal device.  
   
   
       18 . The work machine of  claim 17 , further including at least one sensor associated with the plurality of wheels, the at least one sensor providing an indication of a property of the roadway prior to the removal of the asphalt.  
   
   
       19 . The work machine of  claim 18 , wherein the property includes compaction.  
   
   
       20 . The work machine of  claim 18 , further including a controller in communication with the sensor and configured to affect an operation of the work machine in response to the indication.  
   
   
       21 . The work machine of  claim 17 , further including at least one motor associated with the plurality of wheels, the at least one motor configured to drive at least one of the plurality of wheels and draw the asphalt toward the removal device and onto the funnel-shaped ramp.  
   
   
       22 . The work machine of  claim 1 , further including at least one conveying device located within the storage bin and configured to distribute the removed asphalt within the storage bin.  
   
   
       23 . The work machine of  claim 1 , further including an off-loading system configured to unload the storage bin from a side of the storage bin relative to a travel direction of the work machine.  
   
   
       24 . The work machine of  claim 23 , wherein the off-loading system includes a plurality of conveying devices configured to automatically sequentially actuate and unload the storage bin in response to a transport vehicle moving past the work machine.  
   
   
       25 . A method of removing asphalt from a roadway surface, the method comprising: 
 separating a layer of asphalt from the roadway surface with a removal device; and    storing the separated layer of asphalt in a storage bin operatively connected to the removal device.    
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , further including vibrating the removal device to loosen the layer of asphalt.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 25 , further including heating the removal device to soften the layer of asphalt.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the removal device includes a plurality of blade members interconnected by way of hinges and the method further includes moving the plurality of blade members to accommodate the crown of the roadway surface.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 25 , further including grinding the separated layer of asphalt prior to storing.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 25 , further including: 
 guiding the separated layer of asphalt from the removal device to a grinding device; and    folding the outer edges of the separated layer of asphalt over itself before the separated layer of asphalt reaches the grinding device.    
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30 , further including urging the separated layer of asphalt with a paddle-drag device up a funnel-shaped ramp to the grinding device.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 25 , further including scoring the asphalt on either side of the removal device.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 25 , further including sensing a property of the asphalt before separating the layer of asphalt.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the property is compaction.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 33 , further including affecting at least one operation of the work machine in response to the sensed property.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 25 , further including urging the asphalt toward the removal device.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 25 , further including distributing separated asphalt within the storage bin.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 25 , further including off-loading the separated asphalt from a side of the storage bin relative to a travel direction of the storage bin.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein off-loading includes sequentially actuating a plurality of conveying devices as a transport vehicle moves past the plurality of conveying devices.  
   
   
       40 . A work machine, comprising: 
 a removal device configured to remove asphalt from a roadway;    a grinding device configured to fracture the removed asphalt.    a storage bin operatively connected to the removal device and configured to house the fractured asphalt;    at least one conveying device configured to move the fractured asphalt from the grinding device into the storage bin; and    at least one conveying device located within the storage bin and configured to distribute the removed asphalt within the storage bin.    
   
   
       41 . The work machine of  claim 40 , wherein the removal device includes a blade having a plurality of blade members, the plurality of blade members interconnected by way of hinges to accommodate the crown of a roadway surface.  
   
   
       42 . The work machine of  claim 40 , further including a funnel-shaped ramp, the funnel-shaped ramp configured to guide the removed asphalt from the removal device to the grinding device, wherein the removal device is configured to remove a layer of asphalt having a width larger than a width of the grinding device and the funnel-shaped ramp is configured to fold the outer edges of the removed asphalt layer over itself before the removed asphalt layer reaches the grinding device.  
   
   
       43 . The work machine of  claim 40 , further including an off-loading system configured to unload the storage bin from a side of the storage bin relative to a travel direction of the work machine, wherein the off-loading system includes a plurality of conveying devices configured to automatically sequentially actuate and unload the storage bin in response to a transport vehicle moving past the work machine.