Asphalt milling attachment with adjustable baffle and secure attachment

Abstract

A milling attachment is attachable to a host vehicle so that the host vehicle provides propulsion of the milling attachment. The milling attachment has a milling drum, a discharge baffle, and a baffle actuator. The milling drum is adjustably positioned vertically to determine milling depth. The discharge baffle is positioned rearward of the milling drum and pivotally adjustable to maintain a desired space between the milling drum and the discharge baffle at any of the vertical positions of the milling drum. The baffle actuator causes the pivoting of the discharge baffle. The milling attachment may further comprise a hood with a bit access hatch that provides access to the milling drum. The milling attachment may also further comprise a connection securing assembly for securing the milling attachment to the host vehicle by securing a bucket of the host vehicle within a bucket slot in the milling attachment.

1 . A milling attachment for connection to a host vehicle for propelling the milling attachment and having a bucket to engage the milling attachment, the milling attachment comprising:
 a milling drum that is adjustably movable to determine milling depth;   a discharge baffle disposed rearward of the milling drum and pivotally adjustable to maintain a desired space between the milling drum and the discharge baffle as the milling drum is moved; and   a baffle actuator for causing the pivoting of the discharge baffle.   
     
     
         2 . The milling attachment as in  claim 1  further comprising a hood and a bit access assembly that provides access to the milling drum. 
     
     
         3 . The milling attachment as in  claim 1  further comprising a connection securing assembly for securing the connection of the host vehicle to the milling attachment. 
     
     
         4 . The milling attachment as in  claim 1  wherein the discharge baffle comprises a lower baffle and an upper baffle, the lower baffle and the upper baffle overlap slidably to maintain an overlapping relationship such that the height of the discharge baffle is extendable and retractable. 
     
     
         5 . The milling attachment as in  claim 4  wherein the milling attachment further comprises an upper slot and a lower slot and the discharge baffle further comprises a hinge pin, a slot pin and a slide pin, the discharge baffle pivots about the hinge pin, the slot pin being disposed to move within the upper slot, the slide pin being disposed to move within the lower slot. 
     
     
         6 . The milling attachment as in  claim 5  wherein the milling attachment further comprises a baffle actuator and the lower slot is curvilinear, the baffle actuator being connected to the slot pin and causes the pivoting of the discharge baffle about the hinge pin by moving of the slot pin within the upper slot. 
     
     
         7 . The milling attachment as in  claim 6  wherein the baffle actuator automatically initiates pivoting of the discharge baffle when a threshold resistance in the rotation of the milling drum is sensed and maintained for a predetermined amount of time. 
     
     
         8 . The milling attachment as in  claim 2  wherein the bit access assembly comprises a bit access hatch and an extendable/retractable cylinder, the extendable/retractable cylinder being connected between the hood and the bit access hatch. 
     
     
         9 . The milling attachment of  claim 8  wherein the extendable/retractable cylinder is a hydraulic cylinder that automatically opens the bit access hatch momentarily and then automatically closes the bit access hatch when a predetermined pressure is exceeded at the bit access hatch, such momentary opening and automatic closing of the bit access hatch minimizes damage to the bit access hatch when an obstruction passes through the milling attachment. 
     
     
         10 . The milling attachment of  claim 3  wherein the connection securing assembly comprises a retention tether with a proximal end and a distal end, an actuator, and a fastener, the proximal end of the retention tether being connected to the actuator and the distal end of the retention tether being connected to the fastener. 
     
     
         11 . The milling attachment of  claim 10  wherein milling attachment further comprises a bucket slot, the retention tether wraps around the backside of the bucket of the host vehicle and the fastener grasps the upper edge of the bucket, and the actuator pulls the retention tether taut about the backside of the bucket to secure the bucket within the bucket slot. 
     
     
         12 . The milling attachment of  claim 10  wherein the retention tether comprises at least one of a chain and a metal cable. 
     
     
         13 . The milling attachment of  claim 10  wherein the fastener is a hook. 
     
     
         14 . The milling attachment of  claim 10  wherein the milling attachment further comprises an eyelet end through which the retention tether passes, the eyelet end restrains the lateral displacement of the retention tether to inhibit the retention tether from slipping off the rear side of the bucket. 
     
     
         15 . A milling attachment for connection to a host vehicle, the host vehicle having a bucket to engage the milling attachment for propelling the milling attachment, the milling attachment comprising:
 a milling drum that is adjustably movable to determine milling depth;   a hood and a bit access assembly that provides access to the milling drum;
 a discharge baffle disposed rearward of the milling drum and pivotally adjustable to maintain a desired space between the milling drum and the discharge baffle as the milling drum is moved; 
   a baffle actuator for causing the pivoting of the discharge baffle; and   a connection securing assembly for securing the connection of the host vehicle to the milling attachment.   
     
     
         16 . The milling attachment as in  claim 15  wherein the discharge baffle comprises a lower baffle and an upper baffle, the lower baffle and the upper baffle overlap slidably to maintain an overlapping relationship such that the height of the discharge baffle is extendable and retractable. 
     
     
         17 . The milling attachment as in  claim 16  wherein the milling attachment further comprises an upper slot and a lower slot and the discharge baffle further comprises a hinge pin, a slot pin and a slide pin, the discharge baffle pivots about the hinge pin, the slot pin being disposed to move within the upper slot, the slide pin being disposed to move within the lower slot, the baffle actuator automatically initiates pivoting of the discharge baffle when a threshold resistance in the rotation of the milling drum is sensed and maintained for a predetermined amount of time. 
     
     
         18 . A method for enhancing the performance of a milling attachment for connection to a host vehicle with a bucket and for inhibiting job down time, the milling attachment having a milling drum that is adjustably movable to determine milling depth, a hood and a bit access assembly that provides access to the milling drum, a discharge baffle disposed rearward of the milling drum and pivotally adjustable to maintain a desired space between the milling drum and the discharge baffle as the milling drum is moved, and a baffle actuator for causing the pivoting of the discharge baffle, the method comprising the steps of:
 sensing a threshold resistance in the rotation of the milling drum;   determining whether the threshold resistance is maintained for a predetermined amount of time; and   automatically activating the baffle actuator to pivot the discharge baffle to relieve the resistance sensed.   
     
     
         19 . A method as in  claim 18  wherein the bit access assembly further comprises a bit access hatch and an extendable/retractable cylinder, the extendable/retractable cylinder being connected between the hood and the bit access hatch, the method further comprising the steps of:
 determining that a predetermined pressure is exceeded at the bit access hatch; 
 momentarily opening the bit access hatch by automatically activating the extendable/retractable cylinder to relieve the pressure at the bit access hatch; and 
 automatically closing the bit access hatch thereafter. 
 
     
     
         20 . A method as in  claim 19  wherein the milling attachment further comprises a bucket slot and a connection securing assembly for securing the connection of the host vehicle to the milling attachment, the connection securing assembly comprising a retention tether with a proximal end and a distal end, an actuator, and a fastener, the proximal end of the retention tether being connected to the actuator and the distal end of the retention tether being connected to the fastener, the method further comprising the steps of:
 inserting the bucket of the host vehicle into the bucket slot; 
 wrapping the retention tether around the backside of the bucket; 
 positioning the fastener to grasp the upper edge of the bucket: and 
 activating the actuator to pull the retention tether taut about the rear side of the bucket to secure the bucket within the bucket slot.