Patent ID: 7748789

Claim:
A pavement profiler for modifying a surface of existing pavement comprising: a transporter having a frame, a forward and a rearward set of wheels supporting the transporter frame above an existing pavement surface, a motor coupled to the wheels for propulsion of the transporter relative to the pavement surface, a grinding element adapted for smoothing the existing pavement surface, an enclosure generally enclosing the grinding element except on a downward facing side confronting the pavement surface, a source of power coupled to the frame for powering the grinding element, and a positioning mechanism coupled between the transporter frame and the grinding element enclosure for positioning the grinding element relative to the pavement surface, the positioning mechanism comprising: a front support for the enclosure and a front lift mechanism coupled between the transporter frame and the front support for vertically adjusting the position of the front support relative to the transporter frame, a rear support for the enclosure and a rear lift mechanism coupled between the transport frame and the rear support for vertically adjusting the position of the rear support relative to the transporter frame, vertically extending tracks fixed to the transport frame, the rear support including vertically extending rails movable relative to the tracks, the rails being coupled to the rear lift mechanism and, forwardly projecting flanges fixed to the vertically extending rails, each flange having a pivot defining element coupled to the grinding element enclosure to permit the enclosure to pitch relative to the transport frame.