Patent Publication Number: US-7900382-B2

Title: Apparatus and method for cutting a pathway

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/018,750 filed on Jan. 3, 2008 which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for building sidewalks and roads and more particularly to an apparatus for cutting a pathway for a sidewalk or road. 
     DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
     Sidewalks or pathways existed in Roman times as elevated stone walkways alongside the streets where honorable citizens could walk safely and unsoiled by spattered mud from hurrying legionnaires and chariots. Today, in the United States, the most common type of sidewalk or pathways consists of a poured concrete ribbon with cross-lying strain relief grooves. In addition, brick sidewalks or pathways are found in some urban areas, usually for aesthetic purposes. One element almost all sidewalks or pathways have in common is the need to dig into the ground so the foundation of the sidewalk or pathways can be created. Unfortunately, there is not a relatively easy method or system of digging into the ground when creating relatively long sidewalk or pathways. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     In a particular illustrative embodiment, a system is disclosed that includes a path cutter that is pulled by a tractor. The path cutter includes a cutting edge to cut a path and loosen earth. The path cutter also includes a moldboard angled such that any earth  5  loosed by the moldboard and the cutting edge is pushed towards the center of the moldboard. The width of the cut path is adjusted by an adjustment member attached to the cutting edge and the moldboard. A first auger moves the earth, weeds, rocks and other material loosed by the cutting edge and the moldboard to a front conveyor belt powered by a first orbit motor. The material on the first conveyor belt is transferred to a second  10  conveyor belt by a second auger. The second conveyor belt is powered by a second orbit motor. The material on the second conveyor belt is discharged away from the cut path. 
     In a particular illustrative embodiment, a method is disclosed that includes identifying an area to cut a path and determining a path route. A path cutter is set up to cut the path with a desired width and depth. The width of the path is determined by adjusting an adjustment member on the path cutter wherein the adjustment member contains a cutting edge and a moldboard. The depth of the path is determined by the amount of hydraulics used to support the weight of the path cutter. For example, the deeper the path to be cut, the less the hydraulics are used to support the path cutter and the more the weight of the path cutter is unsupported, resulting in a deeper path cut. The shallower the path to be cut, the more the hydraulics are used to support the path cutter and the more the weight of the path cutter is supported, resulting in a shallower path cut. The path cutter is pulled along the path route to cut the path and the path cutter contains the adjustment member, a first auger to move material loosened by the cutting edge and the moldboard to a first conveyor belt, and a second auger to move the loosened material on the first conveyor belt to a 25 second conveyor belt. The material on the second conveyor belt is then discharged away from the cut path. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a particular illustrative embodiment of a system to cut a path in the ground; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a particular illustrative embodiment of a system to cut a path in the ground; and 
         FIG. 3  is a flow diagram of a particular illustrative embodiment of a method of receiving cutting a path in the ground. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized. It is also to be understood that structural, procedural and system changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. For clarity of exposition, like features shown in the accompanying drawings are indicated with like reference numerals and similar features as shown in alternate embodiments in the drawings are indicated with similar reference numerals. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an illustrative embodiment of a path cutter that cuts a path for a sidewalk or road is depicted and generally designated  100 . The path cutter  100  is attached to a tractor  102  by attachments means  122 . In a particular embodiment, the tractor  102  is capable of relatively low speeds, contains hydraulic outlets that can supply sufficient pressure to allow path cutter  100  to function, and contains outputs on the hydraulic and electrical switches of the tractor  102  to facilitate the installation of a bank of controls for the hydraulic lines. The hydraulic outlets are used at least to control the depth the path cutter  100  will cut the path. The deeper the path to be cut, the less the hydraulics are used to support the path cutter  100  and the more the weight of the path cutter  100  is unsupported, resulting in a deeper path cut. The shallower the path to be cut, the more the hydraulics are used to support the path cutter  100  and the more the weight of the path cutter  100  is supported, resulting in a shallower path cut. The depth of the path to be cut is determined by the supported weight of the path cutter  100  and means other than hydraulics may be used to support the path cutter  100 . 
     In a particular embodiment, the tractor  102  contains at least three hydraulic outlets. In another particular embodiment, the tractor  102  contains a hydraulic system that is capable of producing about 30 gallons of hydraulic fluid a minute at about 2800 pounds of pressure. In another particular embodiment, the tractor  102  is a John Deer 6420 with an IVT-transmission and can maintain a relatively slow constant speed with a creeper transmission. The attachments means  122  is of sufficient strength to allow the tractor  102  to pull the path cutter  100 . 
     The path cutter contains a cutting edge  104 , a moldboard  106 , an adjustment member  108 , a first auger  110 , a first orbit motor  112 , a front conveyor belt  114 , a second auger  116 , a second orbit motor  118 , a rear conveyor belt  120 , hydraulic lines (not shown), and electrical lines (not shown). The hydraulic lines and electrical lines are not shown in the interest of clarity and conciseness and one skilled in the art would know the location of the hydraulic and electrical lines. The cutting edge  104  is about 1 foot to about 7 feet in width and is attached to adjustment member  108 . In a particular embodiment, the cutting edge  104  is similar to a circular disk that rotates and cuts into the ground as it is pulled or moves along the ground. In another particular embodiment, the cutting edge  104  is similar to a moldboard. In a particular embodiment, the cutting edge  104  is angled such that any earth loosed by the cutting edge  104  is pushed towards the relative center of the path cutter  100 . In use, the cutting edge  104  cuts at a depth of at least 20 about 1 inch into the ground. In a particular embodiment, the depth the cutting edge  104  cuts into the ground is dependent on the power of the tractor  102 , the amount of hydraulics or other means used to support the path cutter  100 , and the conditions of the ground. The cutting edge  104  is used to create a clean smooth edge to the path and helps prepare the ground for moldboard  106 . 
     The moldboard  106  is proximate to the cutting edge  104  and is attached to the adjustment member  108 . In a particular embodiment, the side of the moldboard  106  can at least partially overlap the relative center of the moldboard  106 . In another particular embodiment, the moldboard  106  is similar to a grater blade and can cut a path at least about 1 inch deep into the ground. The depth of the path into the ground depends on the power of the tractor  102 , the amount of hydraulics or other means used to support the path cutter  100 , and the conditions of the ground. For example, if most of the path cutter&#39;s weight is supported by the hydraulics, then the path is relatively shallow. If very little of the path cutter&#39;s weight is supported by the hydraulics, then the path is relatively deep. The moldboard  106  has a curved profile and is thick enough to incur the stress or force of cutting the path. In a particular embodiment, the moldboard  106  is relatively concave or slightly concave. In another particular embodiment, the thickness of the moldboard  106  is at least about ¼ of an inch thick. In a particular embodiment, the moldboard  106  has two leading edges on each side that are curved outward and in use, help remove the earth proximate to 10 the cutting edge  104 . The moldboard  106  is angled such that any loose earth weeds, rocks and other material in contact with the moldboard  106  is pushed towards the center of the path cutter  100 . 
     The adjustment member  108  is used to adjust the width of the path being cut. In a particular embodiment, the width of the path depends on how short or how long the width of the moldboard  106  can be adjusted. For example, if the moldboard  106  has three sections of equal length and the outside sections can overlap at least a portion of the middle section, then the width of the path can range from the entire length of the three sections to about ⅓ of the entire length of the three sections because the two outer sections can overlap or slide over the center section. The adjustment member  108  contains an outer tube  124  that is attached to the attachment means  122  and an inner tube  126  that fits inside the outer tube  124 . The inner tube  126  is attached to the cutting edge  104  and the moldboard  106 . To adjust the width of the path being cut, the inner tube  126  is slid in or out of the outer tube  124  until the desired width is achieved. Then the inner tube  126  is secured to the outer tube  124  such that the inner tube  126  can no longer slide in or out of the outer tube  124 . 
     The auger  110  pushes the earth, weeds, rocks and other material loosened by the cutting edge  104  and the moldboard  106  towards the relative center of the moldboard  106 . As the loosened earth weeds, rocks and other material collects or piles up at the moldboard  106 , the material rises up on the moldboard  106  and moves towards the front conveyor belt  114 . In a particular embodiment, the auger  114  is powered by and operationally connected to the first orbit motor  112 . 
     The front conveyor belt  114  is located behind the cutting edge  104  and the mull board  108  moldboard  106 . In a particular embodiment, the front conveyor belt  114  is about 4 feet 5 wide and about 4 feet in length however, the front conveyor belt  114  could be almost any length and width that would allow the path cutter  100  to function and the specific length and width of the front conveyor belt  114  depends on the requirements of the task. In a particular embodiment, the front conveyor belt  114  is located generally at the top center of the moldboard  106 . The front conveyor belt  114  collects the earth, weeds, rocks and other 10 material loosed by the cutting edge  104  and the moldboard  106  and carries the earth, weeds, rocks and other material towards the rear conveyor belt  120 . The front conveyor belt  114  is angled less than about 45 degrees horizontally. In a particular embodiment, the front of the front conveyor belt  114  is as close to the cut path as operationally possible to catch the material that collected at and overflowed over the moldboard  106 . The front  15  conveyor belt  114  is powered by and operationally connected to the orbit motor  112  and the speed of the front conveyor belt  114  can vary depending on the motor used and the specific requirement for the desired task. In a particular embodiment, the front conveyor belt  114  is hydraulically controlled from inside the cab of tractor  102 . The front conveyor belt  114  carries the collected material towards the second auger  116  and the rear conveyor belt  120 . 
     In a particular embodiment, the second auger  116  is powered by the second orbit motor  122 . The second auger  116  facilitates the transfer the material collected by the front conveyor belt  114  to the rear conveyor belt  120 . In a particular embodiment, the second auger  116  pushes the material on the front conveyor belt  114  towards the center of the front conveyor belt  114  and the front conveyor belt  114  carries the material onto the 25 rear conveyor belt  120 . In a particular embodiment, the second auger  116  is a combination of a right auger located on the right side of the first conveyor belt  114  and a left auger located on the left side of the first conveyor belt  114 . 
     The rear conveyor belt  120  can be hydraulically rotated about 80 degrees from the proximate center of the path cutter  100  so the loosed material can be discharged to either side of the tractor  102  and off of the cut path. In a particular embodiment, the revolutions per minute of the rear conveyor belt  120  is about ⅓ to about ½ times faster  5  than the revolutions per minute of the first conveyor belt  114 . In one embodiment, the material is discharged into a truck for deposit off site and in one experiment, the path cutter filled a typical tri-axel truck in about 10 minutes. 
     In other embodiments, the mechanism for moving the earth, weeds, rocks and other material loosed by the cutting edge  104  and moldboard  106  may be any mechanism known in the art that would allow the path cutter  100  to function. For example, other means for powering the augers and conveyor belts may be used. In addition, in a particular embodiment, the second conveyor belt  120  may be rotated about 180 degrees from the proximate center of the path cutter  100  such that the second conveyor belt  120  can be stored on the side of the path cutter  100  for relatively easy storage and transport. 
     The speed of the path cutter  100  is determined at least in part by the desired revolutions per minute of the first conveyor belt  114  and the second conveyor belt  120 , the amount of material that can be properly disposed of by the path cutter  100 , the conditions of the earth to be cut, and the speed of the tractor  102 . In a particular embodiment, the speed of the tractor is controlled by a creeper speed mechanism. Tractor transmissions are designed to produce a larger number of gear ratios within a mechanism located between the engine and the final drive or differential mechanism. In the conventional design, the gear arrangement of the transmission may produce a gear reduction or ratio of approximately 9:1 between the speed of the transmission output and the engine speed. Typically, the torque delivery path of a tractor transmission includes a creeper speed mechanism located behind the transmission gear arrangement and before the differential mechanism. The creeper speed mechanism produces an additional speed reduction of about 5:1 between the output of the transmission gear arrangement and the output of the creeper speed mechanism. This combination of speed ratios can produce an overall speed reduction of approximately 45:1 between the output of the creeper speed mechanism and the engine. In another particular embodiment, the path cutter  100  is able to cut about a 45 degree curve or curves in a path. 
       FIG. 3  is a flow diagram of a particular illustrative embodiment of a method of creating a path. First, an area to cut a path is identified, Step  302 . Then a path route is identified, Step  304 . Next the desired width of the path is determined, Step  306 . Then, an adjustment member on a path cutter is adjusted to the desired width of the path wherein the adjustment member contains a cutting edge and a moldboard, Step  308 . Continuing, the desired depth of the path is determined, Step  310 . Next, the proper amount of hydraulics or other amount of support means for the path cutter is determined so the path  10  cutter will cut to the desired depth, Step  312 . Then, the path cutter is pulled along the path route to cut the path, Step  314 . Continuing, the loosened material on a second conveyor belt of the path cutter is discharged away from the cut path, Step  316 . 
     The illustrations of the embodiments described herein are intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of the various embodiments. The illustrations are not intended to serve as a complete description of all of the elements and features of apparatus and systems that utilize the structures or methods described herein. Many other embodiments can be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the disclosure. Other embodiments can be utilized and derived from the disclosure, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Additionally, the illustrations are merely representational and can not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions within the illustrations can be exaggerated, while other proportions can be minimized. Accordingly, the disclosure and the figures are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. 
     One or more embodiments of the disclosure can be referred to herein, individually and/or collectively, by the term “invention” merely for convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of this application to any particular invention or inventive concept. Moreover, although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that any subsequent arrangement designed to achieve the same or similar purpose can be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all subsequent adaptations or variations of various embodiments. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the description. 
     The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b) and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, various features can be grouped together or described in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter can be directed to less than all of the features of any of the disclosed embodiments. Thus, the following claims are incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as defining separately claimed subject matter. 
     The above-disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, and not restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications, enhancements, and other embodiments that fall within the true scope of the present invention. Thus, to the maximum extent allowed by law, the scope of the present invention is to be determined by the broadest permissible interpretation of the following claims and their equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited by the foregoing detailed description.