Surface Treatment Apparatus

Abstract

A surface treatment apparatus in the form of an attachment for use with mobile hydraulic equipment which incorporates one or more grinding head. The apparatus incorporates components such as a gimbal and a linkage which further enhance the ability of the grinding head to achieve uniform surface treatment results on uneven surfaces. The linkage may also serve as a lever to prop up the weight of the apparatus on the surface and thereby allowing personnel safe and convenient access to service abrasive tooling bits on the underside of the grinding head. The purpose of such an apparatus is to achieve greater productivity without sacrificing quality of surface treatment finished results when treating a surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A surface treatment apparatus, comprising:
 at least one machine coupler interface; and   at least one linkage pivotally attached to said machine coupler interface; and   at least one frame pivotally attached to said linkage; and   at least one gimbal pivotally attached to said frame; and   at least one grinding head pivotally attached to said gimbal.   
     
     
         2 . The surface treatment apparatus in  claim 1  which includes:
 a lever; and 
 a pivoting point on the said machine coupler interface which is the fulcrum of said lever, and is configured such that, when the said machine coupler interface is tilted it contacts the effort arm of said lever, and it applies an input force upon the effort arm of said lever, and the load arm of said lever contacts said frame, and applies an output force upon said frame, so as to raise or lower the said frame. 
 
     
     
         3 . The surface treatment apparatus in  claim 2  wherein said linkage and the said lever are one and the same. 
     
     
         4 . The surface treatment apparatus in  claim 2  wherein the effort arm of said lever is of a geometry such that when the said machine coupler interface is positioned within close proximity to a surface the said effort arm contacts the said surface and the surface supports weight of said frame by way of leverage. 
     
     
         5 . The surface treatment apparatus in  claim 4  wherein at least one wheel is attached to said lever effort arm as an extension of the effort arm. 
     
     
         6 . The surface treatment apparatus in  claim 1  wherein said linkage is affixed to said frame by means of pins supported by at least one bearing that permits angular rotation about a central point in two orthogonal directions. 
     
     
         7 . The surface treatment apparatus in  claim 1  which has a plurality of gimbals attached to said frame. 
     
     
         8 . The surface treatment apparatus in  claim 7  wherein there are a plurality of planetary grinding heads attached to said gimbals. 
     
     
         9 . The surface treatment apparatus in  claim 1  wherein said frame has a plurality of mounting holes for attaching said gimbal at different positions on the frame. 
     
     
         10 . The surface treatment apparatus in  claim 1  wherein said grinding heads are receive an input torque from hydraulic motors. 
     
     
         11 . The surface treatment apparatus in  claim 1  wherein said grinding heads are receive an input torque from electric motors.