Edge cutting system for compactor

Abstract

An edge cutter associated with a drum of a compactor is provided. The edge cutter includes a back plate, an actuator, a bracket and a cutting unit. The back plate is fixedly attached to a shaft of the drum. The actuator includes a first end coupled to the back plate. The actuator is configured to extend or retract along an actuating axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the steering shaft where the longitudinal axis is an axis of rotation of the drum. The bracket is coupled to a second end of the actuator. The actuator is configured to move the bracket along the actuating axis. The cutting unit has a rotating blade. The cutting unit is coupled to the bracket and is configured to move along with the bracket.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An edge cutter associated with a drum of a compactor, the edge cutter comprising:
 a back plate fixedly attached to a steering shaft of the drum;   an actuator having a first end coupled to the back plate, wherein the actuator is configured to extend or retract along an actuating axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the steering shaft, the longitudinal axis is an axis of rotation of the drum;   a bracket coupled to a second end of the actuator, wherein the actuator is configured to move the bracket along the actuating axis; and   a cutting unit having a rotating blade, the cutting unit coupled to the bracket, wherein the cutting unit is configured to move along with the bracket.   
     
     
         2 . The edge cutter of  claim 1 , wherein the bracket further comprises a slot aligned along the actuating axis. 
     
     
         3 . The edge cutter of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a restricting member fixedly attached to the back plate, the restricting member configured to be received within the slot of the bracket, and wherein the bracket is configured to move relative to the restricting member. 
 
     
     
         4 . The edge cutter of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a spacer member provided between back plate and the bracket, the spacer member configured to move along with the bracket relative to the back plate. 
 
     
     
         5 . The edge cutter of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a supporting member to couple the back plate to the steering shaft. 
 
     
     
         6 . The edge cutter of  claim 5 , wherein the back plate is connected to the steering shaft by a steering bracket. 
     
     
         7 . The edge cutter of  claim 1  further comprises a coolant unit coupled to the back plate. 
     
     
         8 . An edge cutter associated with a drum of a compactor, the edge cutter comprising:
 a back plate attached to a steering shaft of the drum;   an actuator having a first end coupled to the back plate, wherein the actuator is configured to extend or retract along an actuating axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the steering shaft, the longitudinal axis is an axis of rotation of the drum; and   a bracket coupled to a second end of the actuator, the bracket having a slot, wherein the actuator is configured to move the bracket along the actuating axis;   a restricting member fixedly attached to the back plate, the restricting member configured to be received within the slot of the bracket, wherein the bracket is configured to move relative to the restricting member; and   a cutting unit having a rotating blade, the cutting unit coupled to the bracket, wherein the cutting unit is configured to move along with the bracket.   
     
     
         9 . The edge cutter of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a spacer member provided between back plate and the bracket, the spacer member configured to move along with the bracket relative to the back plate. 
 
     
     
         10 . The edge cutter of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a supporting member to couple the back plate to the steering shaft. 
 
     
     
         11 . The edge cutter of  claim 10 , wherein the back plate is connected to the steering shaft by a steering bracket. 
     
     
         12 . The edge cutter of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a coolant unit coupled to the back plate. 
 
     
     
         13 . A compactor comprising:
 an engine;   a frame;   a drum coupled to the frame of the compactor, the drum having a steering shaft; and   an edge cutter associated with the drum, the edge cutter comprising:
 a back plate fixedly attached to the steering shaft of the drum; 
 an actuator having a first end coupled to the back plate, wherein the actuator is configured to extend or retract along an actuating axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the steering shaft, the longitudinal axis is an axis of rotation of the drum; 
 a bracket coupled to a second end of the actuator, wherein the actuator is configured to move the bracket along the actuating axis; and 
 a cutting unit having a rotating blade, the cutting unit coupled to the bracket, wherein the cutting unit is configured to move along with the bracket. 
   
     
     
         14 . The compactor of  claim 13 , wherein the bracket further comprises a slot aligned along the actuating axis. 
     
     
         15 . The compactor of  claim 14  further comprising:
 a restricting member fixedly attached to the back plate, the restricting member configured to be received within the slot of the bracket, and wherein the bracket is configured to move relative to the restricting member. 
 
     
     
         16 . The compactor of  claim 13  further comprising:
 a spacer member provided between back plate and the bracket, the spacer member configured to move along with the bracket relative to the back plate. 
 
     
     
         17 . The compactor of  claim 13  further comprising:
 a supporting member to couple the back plate to the steering shaft. 
 
     
     
         18 . The compactor of  claim 17 , wherein the back plate is connected to the steering shaft by a steering bracket. 
     
     
         19 . The compactor of  claim 13  further comprising:
 a coolant unit coupled to the back plate. 
 
     
     
         20 . The compactor of  claim 13 , wherein the actuator includes a hydraulic cylinder.