Background of the Invention During the construction of roads and highways, large volumes of aggregate having specific gradation and compaction specifications are required for producing a firm, stable and moisture resistant load bearing road bed. The road bed in most cases comprises a subgrade, a subbase and a base layer over which a bituminous surface is spread.

Aggregate meeting the specifications for roadway construction is usually produced by crushing rock material in a stationary crushing machine that is permanently located at a remote site where a large volume of such suitable rock material is in existence. A site having such suitable material is usually remotely located from the site of the roadway under construction, thereby requiring that the aggregate be loaded on to trucks and transported to the roadway construction site as required.

The present invention reduces the cost, transportation and timing or schduling of rock deliveries to the roadway site during the initial stages of roadway construction by providing a self-propelled rock crushing machine capable of producing aggregate on site which meets the specifications for the initial subgrade layer of the roadbed from native material found within the

roadway right-of-way. The self-propelled rock crusher can readily travel along the length of the roadway to scoop-up and crush rock material which has been loosened and collected into windrows by earth moving equipment such as graders or the like. The rock crusher then deposits the crushed material on the surface of the roadway for subsequent spreading and compaction.

The present invention is an improvement over my invention disclosed in United States Patent No. 6,626, 608. In particular, the present invention includes paddles which improve over my prior broom roller for loading the scoop, and includes improved efficient tail screening in the preferred embodiment.

Summary of the Invention A tractor unit tows a rock crushing apparatus mounted on a separate frame. The tractor unit is conventionally pivotally mounted to the frame so as to provide mobility for the frame. The tractor unit has positioned within reach of the operator an electrical control panel through which the crushing apparatus can be remotely operated and regulated. An auxiliary control panel may be located near the aft portion of the frame for easy access by ancillary personnel. Hydraulic controls permit the operator to raise or lower the forward end of the frame to control the position of an inlet portion of the crushing apparatus relative to the ground surface of the roadway.

The crushing apparatus is operated by a number of electrical motors which receive electrical power from a diesel generator mounted on the rear frame. The electrical motors drive several rock moving conveyors to transport material to be crushed from the surface of the roadbed to a first coarse rock crusher then to a second fine rock crusher for deposition to the ground. Also mounted on the frame, in proximity to the diesel generator, are separate compartments containing transformers, breakers and relays as would normally be associated with an electric drive system.

In summary, the mobile rock crusher of the present invention for crushing raw rock

material which has been windrowed on a roadway in the translation path of the crusher includes a rigid supporting structure, which includes a frame, and translation means for allowing translation of the frame over the roadway. A selectively actuable scoop is pivotally mounted to the frame for selectively actuable lowering over the roadway into sliding engagement with, so as to collect, the windrowed raw rock material onto the scoop. A first conveyor is mounted to the frame. An upstream loading end of the first conveyor cooperates with the scoop for conveying the raw rock material from the scoop onto a first screen at a downstream depositing end of the first conveyor.

The first screen is for screening larger diameter material from smaller diameter material in the raw rock material so that the smaller diameter material falls through the first screen. The larger diameter material translates over the first screen so as to fall into a first crusher mounted to the frame beneath the first screen. A second conveyor mounted to the frame beneath the first crusher is for conveying crushed material from the first crusher into a second crusher mounted to the frame for crushing the crushed material for deposition from the second crusher onto the roadway. The first conveyor may be pivotally mounted to the frame and selectively actuable so as to pivot the scoop and first conveyor into engagement with the roadway. One or more of the aforementioned screens may be provided with operator controlled vibratory means for more efficient separation of larger diameter material from smaller diameter material.

In another embodiment, a tail or second screen is mounted to the frame and beneath a downstream depositing end of the second conveyor. The tail screen is for screening further fines from the crush. The tail screen may be inclined so that the crush slides from the tail screen into the second crusher. A first conduit may be mounted beneath the first screen for directing the smaller diameter material out from a flow path of the larger diameter material passing into the first crusher so that the smaller diameter material falls to the roadway. A second conduit may be mounted beneath and aft of the tail screen for directing the fines out of a flow path of the crush so as to fall to the roadway.

A hopper may be mounted at the depositing end of the first conveyor, the hopper for directing the raw rock material for deposit onto the first screen. A hopper conveyor may also

be mounted under the depositing end of the first conveyor so that the first screen is fed by the hopper conveyor. The hopper conveyor may translate the raw rock material in a forward direction relative to the forward end of the frame. A first guide may be mounted beneath the depositing end of the first conveyor and in inclined opposed relation to the first screen so as to channel the raw rock material into the first crusher. A second guide may be mounted in inclined opposed relation to the tail screen for channelling the crush along the flow path of the crush.

In one embodiment the first crusher may be ajaw crusher and the second crusher may be a roll crusher. In a preferred embodiment the first crusher is forward of the second crusher relative to the forward end of the frame, and the second conveyor transports the crush in a rearward direction.

The rock crusher of the present invention also includes material urging means cooperating with the scoop for urging the raw rock material onto the scoop and the first conveyor.

The material urging means is an actuable paddle roller, rotatably mounted above the scoop. The paddles on the paddle roller are rigid and extend radially outwardly of a drive axle to which they are rigidly mounted. Advantageously, rigid fingers or tines may be mounted to, so as to extend from, the distal ends of the paddles. The fingers or tines may be a spaced array of a plurality of such rigid members, for example three such members, also extending radially of the drive axle.

The rock crusher of the present invention may further include a tractor means mounted to the forward end of the frame : The tractor means may be a self-powered two wheel tractor pivotally mounted to the forward end of the frame. The translation means may be at least one pair of rear wheels mounted on the frame.

Both the screen and the crushers may be hopper-fed from hoppers mounted to catch and channel material moving along the processing path. The screens may have selectively operable vibrators mounted thereto for shaking the screens to assist in screening of the fines through the screens.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the rock crusher of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the rock crusher of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a portion of the broom or paddle roller.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a portion of Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a perspective view illustrating one form of screen vibrating means.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments As seen in Figures 1 and 2, the mobile rock crusher 10 of the present invention may have a tractor means such as the forwardly positioned self-propelled tractor unit 12 which provides self-propelled mobility to a rigid supporting structure which includes frame 14. The supporting structure and Frame 14 is mobile by the operation of translation means such as the pair of rear wheels illustrated, although this is not intended to be limiting. Self contained crushing machinery is mounted on frame 14. The crushing machinery is operated by electricity produced through a

diesel generator 16. Such electricity is firstly directed to conventional transformers, breakers and relays contained in a regulating compartment 18. Secondly, the electricity is routed to control panels 20 and 20a mounted respectively on tractor unit 12 and the aft end of frame 14 within reach of the operator and ancillary personnel (not shown). Control panel 20 allows the electrical power to be selectively provided to electrical motors 50 and 72 which operate the crushing machinery on frame 14. Frame 14 is pivotally mounted or mountable to tractor Ul1it 12 thlough forward yolk 24.

The forward end of yolk 24 is pined to tractor 12 by pin 26. Hydraulic actuators 28 rotate tractor 12 relative to yolk 24 about pin 26. Frame 14 is mounted to yolk 24 on pivot pins 25. A catwalk and handrail system generally identified by numeral 29 permits an operator or ancillary personnel to mount and safely manoeuvre on frame 14 when the crushing machinery is in operation.

As also seen in Figure 3, the crushing machinery includes a first endless belt conveyor 30, mounted generally along the longitudinal median of frame 14. Forward end 30a of first conveyor 3 0 is selectively elevatable in a generally vertically plane by operation of hydraulic cylinder 36 pivotally mounted on forward yolk 24 acting through linkage 34. Linkage 34 includes a rocker arm 34a and rods 34b. Rocker arm 34a is pivotally mounted at one end to yolk 24 and at its other end to a forward end of frame 14 through lifting rods, bars or struts 34b. Actuation of cylinder 36 rotates rocker arm 34a relative to yoke 24 and translates rods 34b resulting in rotation or pivoting of frame 14 about pivot pins 26 to vertically reposition first conveyor 30 and in particular forward end 30a.

As frame 14 is translated forwardly on a translation path in direction A along a roadbed 32, forward end 30a of first conveyor 30 is vertically positioned to scoop windrowed boulders, cobbles or the like (hereinafter rock material 33) which have been loosened from the roadbed and collected into windrows by earth moving equipment (not shown). This material is picked up by a forwardly inclined horizontally disposed platform 3 8, and passes onto forward end 30a of first conveyor 30. As seen in Figure 3a, material urging means such as a hydraulic auger or broom roller 80 may be mounted to frame 14 and hydraulically driven so as to rotate in direction E in co-operation with platform 38. Broom roller 80 assists platform 38 in its function as a scoop

loading material 33 onto the front end 30a of conveyor 30.

As may be seen in Figure 7 paddle roller means 80, includes a plurality of rigid paddles 80a each of which are slightly concave in the direction opposite to the direction of rotation as shown by arrow E. Fingers or tines or other rigid members 100, projecting and extending from the distal end of paddles 80a translate raw rock material 33 from a windrowed position on roadbed 32 onto inclined platform or scoop 38.

Paddle roller 80 is rigidly mounted to drive shaft or axle 102, which is rotated by hydraulic motor 104 through a constant velocity joint 106. Drive shaft 102 is mounted to arms 108 which are hingedly mounted to frame 14. Arms 108 allow paddle roller 80 to swing vertically as it meets resistance from the windrowed raw rock material.

Conveyor 30 is manufactured from durable, flexible material as would be known to one skilled in the art. It extends generally across the width of inclined platform 38 and extends rearwardly and upwardly therefrom to its depositing end. Flexible paddles 40 (as better seen Figure 5) mounted about the circumference of conveyor 30 assist in moving the rock material 33 from roadbed 32 up the incline of first conveyor 30 in direction B. Inclined strips of plastic or Teflon-like material 42 mounted to conveyor housing 43 beneath conveyor 30 deform the side edges 44 of conveyor 30 so as to bow conveyor 30 about the longitudinal medial center line of the conveyor to prevent spillage of rock material 33 as it travels along the conveyor. Conveyor 30 deposits rock material 33 from its depositing end into surge hopper 46 in the embodiment of Figure 3, and into housing 46'in the embodiment of Figure 3a. Hopper 46 and housing 46'have sufficient capacity to compensate for variations in the volume of rock material 33 picked up by conveyor 30. Conveyor 30 passes over drive roller 48. Drive roller 48 is driven by electric drive motor 50 via drive belt 50a.

In the embodiment of Figure 3, raw rock material 33 within surge hopper 46 is moved horizontally along the floor thereof, in direction C on a hopper conveyor 54. In one

embodiment, a gate (not shown) may be mounted in the downstream wall of hopper 46. Partially opening or closing the gate regulates the volume of flow of material 33 from the hopper on conveyor 54. Conveyor 54 is driven by electric drive motor 56 via drive belt 56a. Raw rock material 33 exiting from conveyor 54 falls onto a first screen such as a separator or"grizzly"58, comprising a plurality of laterally spaced apart rods 60 as better seen in Figure 4. Separator 58 allows only rock material 33 which has a diameter greater than the lateral distance between the rods 60 to be directed by gravity over the top surface of the separator 58 to a first crush such as a coarse, jaw-type crusher 62 for reduction of rock material 3 3 into smaller sized particles 33'. Jaw crusher 62 is generally in the shape of an inverted cone, one side of which is cyclically agitated by eccentrically lobed shaft 64. In this embodiment, both small diameter material 33 passing through the grid of rods 60 in separator 58, and larger diameter material 33 which passes through jaw crusher 62 (collectively rock material 33'), falls by gravity onto a second conveyor 66. Conveyor 66 carries the smaller diameter rock material 33 rearwardly (relative to the front of frame 14) to a second hopper 68 which feeds material 33'into a second crusher such as a counter-rotating drum crusher 70, also shown in Figures 6 and 8, mounted at the rear of frame 14. Conveyor 66 is driven by electric drive motor 72 via drive belt 72a. Conveyor 66 may also have flexible paddles 40 mounted about its circumference to assist in moving rock material 33'up inclined conveyor 66 in direction D.

As may be noted, in Figures 8 and 9 hopper 68 is fitted with a tail screen 112 and a fines conduit or chute 114. Screen 112 has a plurality of parallel spaced rods 116 which are downwardly inclined so as to extend under the downstream end of conveyor 66. Rock material discharged by conveyor 66 falls onto screen 112. Rock material of a diameter greater than the rod spacing of rods 116 is directed by gravity across screen 112 into drum crusher 70 for further crushing, while material having a diameter less than the rod spacing falls through screen 112 and is directed by chute 114 over the tail end of frame 14 onto the road bed 32.

During operation of mobile rock crusher 10, soil and organic material is often picked up along with the rock material. As the crushed material is progressively reduced in size,

soil and organic fines reduce the efficiency of the screening process. It is therefore advantageous to provide an agitating means for one or both screens, including screen 112. As shown in Figures 8 and 9, rods 116 may be mounted in a frame 120 which allows for movement of rods 116, by way of example, by providing elongated holes 122 on frame 120. Agitating means for rods 116 may, by way of example, be an eccentric shaft 126, which is rotated by hydraulic motor 128. Motor 128 is selectively operated, through a manually operated valve (not shown). The axially aligned ends 126a of shaft 126 are fixed through bearings 128 to a stationary portion of frame 14, while eccentric portion 126b is attached to rods 116.

Push bar 130 positioned at the aft end of frame 14 provides a reinforced contact point for suitable machinery when assisting mobile rock crusher 14 in its forward passage.

Drum crusher 70 is operated by a separate electric drive motor 74. Drum crusher 70 discharges further crushed material 33"meeting the specifications for roadway subgrade directly onto roadbed 32 for spreading and compaction by ancillary road building equipment.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.