Machine for the maintenance and conditioning of road shoulders

Abstract

A machine for the maintenance and conditioning of road shoulders having a work vehicle, an aggregate tiller, a screed assembly, and an attachment apparatus; the attachment apparatus being such that the screed assembly is rearward of the aggregate tiller, and such that the aggregate tiller and the screed assembly operate on the road shoulder while the work vehicle travels on the road proper. A preferred embodiment includes an assembly of the aggregate tiller, the screed assembly, the attachment apparatus, a folding apparatus whereby the assembly may be folded into a stowed position, a broom whereby the road edge may be swept clean, and adjustment mechanisms whereby the assembly may be adjusted; the adjustment mechanisms being remotely controlled.

1 . A machine for the maintenance and conditioning of road shoulders comprising:
 a work vehicle having a right side and a left side, said work vehicle adapted to receive an attachment, and said work vehicle being enabled to travel a path by employing a locomotion means, said locomotion means comprising a forward motion means and a rearward motion means, and said work vehicle having an operators console from which the locomotion means can be controlled by an operator;   a tilling means for scarifying and loosening an aggregate;   a screed means other than the tilling means,   an attachment means whereby the tilling means and the screed means are attached to the work vehicle;   the attachment means whereby the screed means is mounted rearward of the tilling means with respect to the forward motion means of the work vehicle, such that said screed means is positioned to receive the loosened aggregate created by the tilling means;   the attachment means whereby the tilling means and the screed means operate in a path separate but adjacent to the path traveled by the work vehicle;   the screed means being configured such that it conveys the loosened aggregate towards the path traveled by the work vehicle and screeds said aggregate adjacent to the path traveled by the work vehicle; and   the screed means whereby, in an event of there being an excess amount of the aggregate delivered towards the path traveled by the work vehicle, the excess amount of the aggregate is conveyed away from the path traveled by the work vehicle and deposited smoothly behind the screed means.   
   
   
       2 . A machine for the maintenance and conditioning of road shoulders as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the aggregate is such as is commonly found beside a road, said road being comprised of a road surface, a shoulder surface along and beside the road surface, a road edge defined as a line at which the road surface and the shoulder surface converge, said shoulder surface being comprised of said aggregate and, sometimes, an amount of vegetation growing in and amongst the aggregate; 
   
   
       3 . A machine for the maintenance and conditioning of road shoulders as claimed in  claim 2  further comprising
 a sweeping means whereby, in an event that an excess amount of the aggregate escapes the screed means and is deposited on the road surface, the excess amount of the aggregate is swept off the road surface and onto the shoulder surface.   
   
   
       4 . A machine for the maintenance and conditioning of road shoulders as claimed in  claim 2  further comprising
 an assembly comprised of the tilling means, the screed means and the attachment means, said assembly having a center of gravity;   a folding means whereby said assembly may be folded into a stowed position for transport; and   a plurality of adjustment means whereby the assembly may be adjusted.   
   
   
       5 . A machine for the maintenance and conditioning of road shoulders as claimed in  claim 4  further comprising
 a control means whereby said adjustment means can be remotely controlled from the operators console.   
   
   
       6 . A machine for the maintenance and conditioning of road shoulders as claimed in  claim 5  wherein said control means is adapted to simultaneously control two or more of the tilling means, the screed means and the folding means. 
   
   
       7 . A machine for the maintenance and conditioning of road shoulders as claimed in  claim 5  wherein said control means is adapted to independently control one of the tilling means, the screed means or the folding means. 
   
   
       8 . A machine for the maintenance and conditioning of road shoulders as claimed in  claim 4  wherein said folding means positions the assembly in a stowed position wherein the center of gravity of the assembly is less than 48″ off of the road surface. 
   
   
       9 . A machine for the maintenance and conditioning of road shoulders as claimed in  claim 4  wherein said folding means positions the assembly in a stowed position wherein the center of gravity of the assembly is between an imaginary pair of planes, said planes being vertical in orientation and further defined as a right plane and a left plane respectively, said left plane being parallel to said right plane, and the left plane coinciding with the left side of the work vehicle, and the right plane coinciding with the right side of the work vehicle. 
   
   
       10 . A machine for the maintenance and conditioning of road shoulders as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said tilling means is configured to chop, cut, and otherwise reduce the vegetation found growing on the shoulder surface. 
   
   
       11 . A machine for the maintenance and conditioning of road shoulders as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising
 a compacting means whereby the loosened aggregate can be compacted, said compacting means to be mounted to the work vehicle, or the assembly rearward of the screed means.   
   
   
       12 . A machine for the maintenance and conditioning of road shoulders as claimed in  claim 4  whereby the attachment means is adapted to attach said assembly to a snow plow mount or a snow wing mount. 
   
   
       13 . A machine for the maintenance and conditioning of road shoulders as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said tilling means may be further defined as an excavating means whereby the aggregate is excavated and subsequently mixed and deposited forward of the screed means. 
   
   
       14 . A machine for the maintenance and conditioning of road shoulders as claimed in  claim 2  and  claim 13  wherein said excavating means excavates the vegetation along with the aggregate, and subsequently separates the vegetation from the aggregate, and then deposits the aggregate before the screed means while discharging the vegetation to an area other than forward of the screed means. 
   
   
       15 . A machine for the maintenance and conditioning of road shoulders comprising:
 a work vehicle having a right side, and a left side, said work vehicle adapted to receive an attachment, and said work vehicle being enabled to travel a path by employing a locomotion means, said locomotion means comprising a forward motion means and a rearward motion means, and said work vehicle having an operators console from which an operator can control the locomotion means of said work vehicle;   a tilling means for scarifying and loosening an aggregate, said tilling means adapted to convey the aggregate toward the path traveled by the work vehicle;   an attachment means whereby the tilling means is attached to the work vehicle;   the attachment means whereby the tilling means operates in a path separate but adjacent to the path traveled by the work vehicle;   an assembly comprising the tilling means and the attachment means, said assembly having a center of gravity; and   a folding means whereby said assembly may be folded into a stowed position for transport, said folding means positioning the assembly in a stowed position such that the center of gravity of the assembly is between an imaginary pair of planes, said planes being vertical in orientation and further defined as a right plane and a left plane respectively, said left plane being parallel to said right plane, and the left plane coinciding with the left side of the work vehicle, and the right plane coinciding with the right side of the work vehicle.   
   
   
       16 . A machine for the maintenance and conditioning of road shoulders as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the aggregate is such as is commonly found beside a road, said road being comprised of a road surface, a shoulder surface along and beside the road surface, a road edge defined as a line at which the road surface and the shoulder surface converge, said shoulder surface being comprised of said aggregate and, sometimes, an amount of vegetation growing in and amongst the aggregate; 
   
   
       17 . A machine for the maintenance and conditioning of road shoulders as claimed in  claim 16  further comprising
 a sweeping means whereby, in an event that an excess amount of the aggregate is deposited on the road surface, the excess amount of the aggregate is swept off the road surface and onto the shoulder surface.   
   
   
       18 . A machine for the maintenance and conditioning of road shoulders as claimed in  claim 16  wherein said tilling means is configured to chop, cut, and otherwise reduce the vegetation found growing on the shoulder surface. 
   
   
       19 . A machine for the maintenance and conditioning of road shoulders as claimed in  claim 15  further comprising
 a compacting means whereby the loosened aggregate can be compacted, said compacting means to be mounted to the work vehicle, or the assembly, rearward of the tilling means.   
   
   
       20 . A machine for the maintenance and conditioning of road shoulders as claimed in  claim 16  further comprising
 a plurality of adjustment means whereby the assembly may be adjusted.   
   
   
       21 . A machine for the maintenance and conditioning of road shoulders as claimed in  claim 20  further comprising
 a control means whereby said adjusting means can be controlled remotely from the operators console.   
   
   
       22 . A machine for the maintenance and conditioning of road shoulders as claimed in  claim 21  wherein said control means is adapted to simultaneously control both of the tilling means and the folding means. 
   
   
       23 . A machine for the maintenance and conditioning of road shoulders as claimed in  claim 21  wherein said control means is adapted to independently control one of the tilling means or the folding means. 
   
   
       24 . A machine for the maintenance and conditioning of road shoulders as claimed in  claim 15  whereby the attachment means is adapted to attach said assembly to a snow plow mount or a snow wing mount.