Adzer machine having a head assembly with a cylindrical drum

Abstract

A head assembly for an adzer machine includes a drum housing having a top end, a bottom end, a first side end, a second side end, a front end and a back end, the drum housing forming a drum chamber including an open bottom end. The head assembly further includes a cylindrical adzer drum located within the drum chamber and having a rotation axis extending between the first and second ends, and a plurality of drum bits located on the cylindrical adzer drum. The head assembly also includes a motor coupled to the drum housing and drivingly connected to the cylindrical drum.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A head assembly for an adzer machine, comprising:
 a drum housing having a top end, a bottom end, a first side end, a second side end, a front end and a back end, the drum housing forming a drum chamber including an open bottom end;   a cylindrical adzer drum located within the drum chamber and having a rotation axis extending between the first and second side ends;   a plurality of drum bits located on the cylindrical adzer drum; and   a motor coupled to the drum housing and drivingly connected to the cylindrical drum.   
     
     
         2 . The head assembly of  claim 1 , wherein, the motor is located above the top end of the drum housing. 
     
     
         3 . The head assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the motor is a hydraulic motor. 
     
     
         4 . The head assembly of  claim 1 , further including a pair of height adjustment brackets coupled to the top end of the drum housing. 
     
     
         5 . The head assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the top end includes a planar top wall portion, an angled front wall portion, and an angled rear wall portion. 
     
     
         6 . The head assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising: a belt transmission assembly located on the first side end and drivingly connecting the motor to the cylindrical adzer drum. 
     
     
         7 . The head assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a chamber vent connection located on the first side end. 
     
     
         8 . The head assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the vent connection includes an opening and a tube; wherein the tube includes a bend to direct the tube parallel the first side end and toward the top end of the drum housing. 
     
     
         9 . The head assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the front end is generally planar and extends generally parallel to the rotation axis; wherein the back end includes a wall angled away from the rotation axis. 
     
     
         10 . The head assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the front end is located closer to the rotation axis than the back end. 
     
     
         11 . The head assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical drum includes a length of less than approximately 56.5 inches. 
     
     
         12 . The head assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical adzer drum is configured to move with the drum housing; wherein the head assembly further comprises one or more hydraulic cylinders and one or more arms; wherein the one or more hydraulic cylinders and one or more arms are configured to selectively move the head assembly. 
     
     
         13 . A head assembly for an adzer machine, comprising:
 a drum housing having a top end, a bottom end, a first side end, a second side end, a front end and a back end, the drum housing forming a drum chamber including an open bottom end;   a cylindrical adzer drum located within the drum chamber and having a rotation axis extending generally parallel to the surface to be adzed;   a plurality of drum bits located on the cylindrical adzer drum; and   a motor located above the drum housing and drivingly connected to the cylindrical drum, the motor having a drive shaft that is parallel to the rotation axis of the cylindrical adzer drum.   
     
     
         14 . The head assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the motor is a hydraulic motor. 
     
     
         15 . The head assembly of  claim 13 , further including a pair of height adjustment brackets coupled to the top end of the drum housing. 
     
     
         16 . The head assembly of  claim 13 , further comprising: a belt transmission assembly located on the first side end and drivingly connecting the motor to the cylindrical adzer drum. 
     
     
         17 . The head assembly of  claim 13 , further comprising a chamber vent connection located on the first side end. 
     
     
         18 . The head assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the cylindrical drum includes a length of less than approximately 56.5 inches. 
     
     
         19 . An adzer machine, comprising:
 a first machine end and a second machine end, and a machine frame;   at least one rail wheel configured to ride on a railroad rail, the at least one rail wheel located on a first side of the machine;   at least one motive track for propelling the machine along the railroad rail, the at least one motive track located on a second side of the machine; and   an adzer head assembly comprising:
 a drum housing having a top end, a bottom end, a first side end, a second side end, a front end and a back end, the drum housing forming a drum chamber including an open bottom end; 
 a cylindrical adzer drum located within the drum chamber and having a rotation axis extending between the first and second side ends; 
 a plurality of drum bits located on the cylindrical adzer drum; and 
 a motor coupled to the drum housing and drivingly connected to the cylindrical drum; 
   wherein the adzer head assembly is selectively movable with respect to the machine frame.   
     
     
         20 . The adzer machine of  claim 19 , further including a plurality of arms pivotally connecting the adzer head assembly to the frame of the machine, and plurality of hydraulic cylinders for selectively moving the head assembly with respect to the machine.