Pavement marking remover with/for skid steer tractor

Abstract

An attachment for a motor vehicle, such as a skid steer tractor, as well as a system combination of the attachment and vehicle for removing pavement markings. The attachment can be removably attachable to the vehicle and can receive operating power therefrom. The attachment has limited rotation about at least one of pitch and roll axes to allow the attachment to more closely follow gross irregularities in the pavement contour. The attachment can also be attached generally centered along the centerline of the vehicle as well as offset to one side or the other to facilitate desired placement of the attachment around curbs or other obstacles. The attachment has a removal depth adjustment to accommodate different conditions which can be fixed to avoid operator misadjustment. The system substantially encloses both an operator as well as moving parts to provide increased safety and can also include a debris suppression system.

1 . An attachment for tractors comprising: 
 an attachment frame which is removably attachable to a tractor providing both motive power for movement of the tractor and operative power for ancillary equipment;    a drive motor attached to the frame and interconnected to the tractor such that the drive motor receives operative power from the tractor; and    a cutter head attached to the frame, operably interconnected to the drive motor, and arranged such that the motor can drive the cutter head so as to remove an upper portion of a pavement surface.    
   
   
       2 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment is connectable to the tractor so as to allow a limited rotation about at least one of a transverse pitch axis and a longitudinal roll axis so as to allow the attachment to follow irregularities in the gross planarity of the pavement surface as the tractor drives the attachment.  
   
   
       3 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment frame is configured for attachment to a skid steer tractor.  
   
   
       4 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the drive motor comprises a hydraulic drive motor.  
   
   
       5 . The attachment of  claim 1 , further comprising a height adjuster such that a removal depth of the attachment into the pavement surface can be adjusted.  
   
   
       6 . The attachment of  claim 5 , wherein the height adjuster is configured to be fixed in position once adjusted to inhibit further adjustment of the removal depth.  
   
   
       7 . The attachment of  claim 5 , wherein the height adjuster adjusts the removal depth by varying a spacing between the frame and the pavement surface.  
   
   
       8 . The attachment of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of attachment supports wherein the attachment supports are configured and arranged to facilitate travel of the attachment over the pavement surface.  
   
   
       9 . The attachment of  claim 8 , wherein the attachment supports comprise at least one of skids and casters.  
   
   
       10 . The attachment of  claim 1 , further comprising a drive assembly providing the operative interconnection between the cutter head and drive motor.  
   
   
       11 . The attachment of  claim 10 , wherein the drive assembly provides a rotational speed differential between the drive motor and the cutter head.  
   
   
       12 . The attachment of  claim 10 , wherein the drive assembly comprises a belt and pulleys system.  
   
   
       13 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the drive motor and cutter head are substantially enclosed within the attachment so as to shield an operator from moving parts and to reduce exposure of the operator to dust and debris that is generated during use of the attachment.  
   
   
       14 . The attachment of  claim 1 , further comprising a debris suppression system head to suppress dust and debris that is generated during use of the attachment.  
   
   
       15 . The attachment of  claim 14 , wherein the debris suppression system comprises a spray nozzle arranged to direct a water spray adjacent the cutter.  
   
   
       16 . A pavement marking removal system comprising: 
 a self-propelled tractor; and    a marking removal attachment removably attached to the tractor and receiving operating power therefrom.    
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the tractor comprises a hydraulic pump and wherein the removal attachment receives operating power from the tractor via a pressurized hydraulic feed.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the tractor and the removal attachment are substantially enclosed to shield an operator and by-standers against dust and debris generated during use of the system.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the removal attachment is attached to the tractor such that the attachment has a limited degree of rotation about at least one of pitch and roll axes to allow the attachment to more closely follow an irregular pavement surface as the tractor drives over the surface.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the removal attachment is attachable to the tractor so as to be offset to one side of a longitudinal centerline of the tractor.