Self-propelled concrete saw with forward motion speed control system

Abstract

The present invention provides a forward motion speed control system for a self-propelled concrete saw, a self-propelled concrete saw equipped with a forward motion speed control system and a method of controlling the forward motion speed of a concrete saw during a cutting or scoring operation. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the forward motion speed control system senses and monitors the speed of a power plant transmitting rotational energy to a saw blade and adjusts the forward motion speed of the self-propelled concrete saw to maximize the forward motion speed of the self-propelled concrete saw while maintaining the speed of the power plant in a peak operational range.

1 . A system for controlling the forward motion speed of a self-propelled propelled concrete saw equipped with a power plant for transmitting rotational energy to a saw blade during an operation to cut or score concrete, asphalt, stone or other hard surface, the system comprising: 
 a concrete saw comprising a saw blade;    a prime mover comprising a hydraulic motor;    a first sensor configured to: 
 measure a first operational parameter of the concrete saw that correlates to the rotational speed of the saw blade; and  
 provide a first output signal representative of a rotational speed value for the saw blade; and  
   a controller configured to: 
 receive the first sensor output signal from the first sensor; and  
 generate a first controller output signal to a prime mover that propels the concrete saw to: 
 increase the forward motion speed of the self-propelled concrete saw when the rotational speed value of the saw blade is greater than or equal to a predetermined maximum rotational speed value;  
 decrease the forward motion speed of the self-propelled concrete saw when the rotational speed value of the saw blade is less than or equal to a predetermined minimum rotational speed value; or  
 maintain the forward speed of the self-propelled concrete saw when the rotational speed value of the saw blade is between the predetermined minimum rotational speed value and the predetermined maximum rotational speed value.  
 
   
   
   
       2 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the first operational parameter is the speed of the power plant transmitting rotational energy to the saw blade.  
   
   
       3 . (canceled)  
   
   
       4 . The system according to  claim 1  further comprising a second sensor configured to: 
 measure a second operational parameter of the concrete saw that correlates to the cutting depth of the saw blade; and    provide a second output signal representative of a cutting depth value for the saw blade; wherein the controller is configured to:    receive the second sensor output signal from the second sensor;    compare the second sensor output signal with a predetermined minimum cutting depth value; and    only when the cutting depth value is less than the predetermined minimum cutting depth value, generate a second controller output signal to the prime mover in preference to the first controller output signal to decrease the forward motion speed of the self-propelled concrete saw.    
   
   
       5 . A system for controlling the forward motion speed of a self-propelled propelled concrete saw equipped with a power plant for transmitting rotational energy to a saw blade during an operation to cut or score concrete, asphalt, stone or other hard surface, the system comprising: 
 a concrete saw comprising a saw blade;    a prime mover comprising a hydraulic motor;    a prime mover governor that limits the forward motion speed of the concrete saw from exceeding a predetermined maximum forward motion speed;    a first sensor configured to: 
 measure the speed of the power plant transmitting rotational energy to the saw blade that correlates to the rotational speed of the saw blade; and  
 provide a first output signal representative of a rotational speed value for the saw blade;  
   a second sensor configured to: 
 measure a second operational parameter of the concrete saw that correlates to the cutting depth of the saw blade; and  
 provide a second output signal representative of a cutting depth value for the saw blade; and  
   a controller configured to: 
 receive the first sensor output signal from the first sensor and generate a first controller output signal to a hydraulic motor prime mover that propels the concrete saw to: 
 increase the forward motion speed of the self-propelled concrete saw when the rotational speed value of the saw blade is greater than or equal to a predetermined maximum rotational speed value;  
 decrease the forward motion speed of the self-propelled concrete saw when the rotational speed value of the saw blade is less than or equal to a predetermined minimum rotational speed value; or  
 maintain the forward speed of the self-propelled concrete saw when the rotational speed value of the saw blade is between the predetermined minimum rotational speed value and the predetermined maximum rotational speed value; and  
 
 receive the second sensor output signal from the second sensor;  
 compare the second sensor output signal with a predetermined minimum cutting depth value; and  
 only when the cutting depth value is less than the predetermined minimum cutting depth value, generate a second controller output signal to the prime mover in preference to the first controller output signal to decrease the forward motion speed of the self-propelled concrete saw.  
   
   
   
       6 . A self-propelled concrete saw comprising: 
 a saw blade;    a power plant for transmitting rotational energy to a the saw blade;    a prime mover comprising a hydraulic motor for propelling the concrete saw in a forward motion; and    a system for controlling the forward motion speed of the self-propelled concrete saw, the system comprising: 
 a first sensor configured to: 
 measure a first operational parameter of the concrete saw that correlates to the rotational speed of the saw blade; and  
 provide a first output signal representative of a rotational speed value for the saw blade; and  
 
 a controller configured to: 
 receive the first sensor output signal from the first sensor; and  
 generate a first controller output signal to the prime mover to: 
 increase the forward motion speed of the self-propelled concrete saw when the rotational speed value of the saw blade is greater than or equal to a predetermined maximum rotational speed value;  
 decrease the forward motion speed of the self-propelled concrete saw when the rotational speed value of the saw blade is less than or equal to a predetermined minimum rotational speed value; or  
 maintain the forward speed of the self-propelled concrete saw when the rotational speed value of the saw blade is between the predetermined minimum rotational speed value and the predetermined maximum rotational speed value.  
 
 
   
   
   
       7 . The self-propelled concrete saw according to  claim 6  wherein the first operational parameter is the rotational speed of the power plant transmitting rotational energy to the saw blade.  
   
   
       8 . (canceled)  
   
   
       9 . The self-propelled concrete saw according to  claim 6  further comprising a second sensor configured to: 
 measure a second operational parameter of the concrete saw that correlates to the cutting depth of the saw blade; and    provide a second output signal representative of a cutting depth value for the saw blade; wherein the controller is configured to:    receive the second sensor output signal from the second sensor;    compare the second sensor output signal with a predetermined minimum cutting depth value; and    only when the cutting depth value is less than the predetermined minimum cutting depth value, generate a second controller output signal to the prime mover in preference to the first controller output signal to decrease the forward motion speed of the self-propelled concrete saw.    
   
   
       10 . A self-propelled concrete saw comprising: 
 a saw blade;    a power plant for transmitting rotational energy to a saw blade;    a prime mover comprising a hydraulic motor for propelling the concrete saw in a forward motion;    a prime mover governor that limits the forward motion speed of the concrete saw from exceeding a predetermined maximum forward motion speed; and    a system for controlling the forward motion speed of the self-propelled concrete saw, the system comprising: 
 a first sensor configured to: 
 measure the rotational speed of the power plant transmitting rotational energy to the saw blade of the concrete saw that correlates to the rotational speed of the saw blade; and  
 provide a first output signal representative of a rotational speed value for the saw blade;  
 
 a second sensor configured to: 
 measure a second operational parameter of the concrete saw that correlates to the cutting depth of the saw blade; and  
 provide a second output signal representative of a cutting depth value for the saw blade; and  
 
 a controller configured to: 
 receive the first sensor output signal from the first sensor; and generate a first controller output signal to the prime mover to: 
 increase the forward motion speed of the self-propelled concrete saw when the rotational speed value of the saw blade is greater than or equal to a predetermined maximum rotational speed value;  
 decrease the forward motion speed of the self-propelled concrete saw when the rotational speed value of the saw blade is less than or equal to a predetermined minimum rotational speed value; or  
 maintain the forward speed of the self-propelled concrete saw when the rotational speed value of the saw blade is between the predetermined minimum rotational speed value and the predetermined maximum rotational speed value; and  
 
 receive the second sensor output signal from the second sensor; compare the second sensor output signal with a predetermined minimum cutting depth value; and  
 only when the cutting depth value is less than the predetermined minimum cutting depth value, generate a second controller output signal to the prime mover in preference to the first controller output signal to decrease the forward motion speed of the self-propelled concrete saw.  
 
   
   
   
       11 . A method of controlling the forward motion speed of a self-propelled propelled concrete saw equipped with a power plant for transmitting rotational energy to a saw blade during an operation to cut or score concrete, asphalt, stone or other hard surface, the method comprising: 
 providing a self-propelled concrete saw comprising a power plant and a prime mover, wherein the prime mover comprises a hydraulic motor;    measuring the rotational speed of the power plant transmitting rotational energy to the saw blade of the concrete saw that correlates to the rotational speed of the saw blade using a first sensor;    transmitting a first output signal representative of a rotational speed value for the saw blade to a controller configured to receive the first sensor output signal from the first sensor; and    sending a first controller output signal from the controller to a prime mover that propels the concrete saw to: 
 increase the forward motion speed of the self-propelled concrete saw when the rotational speed value of the saw blade is greater than or equal to a predetermined maximum rotational speed value;  
 decrease the forward motion speed of the self-propelled concrete saw when the rotational speed value of the saw blade is less than or equal to a predetermined minimum rotational speed value; or  
 maintain the forward speed of the self-propelled concrete saw when the rotational speed value of the saw blade is between the predetermined minimum rotational speed value and the predetermined maximum rotational speed value.  
   
   
   
       12 - 13 . (canceled)  
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 11  further comprising: 
 measuring a second operational parameter of the concrete saw that correlates to the cutting depth of the saw blade using a second sensor;    transmitting a second output signal representative of a cutting depth value for the saw blade to the controller;    comparing the second sensor output with a predetermined minimum cutting depth value; and    only when the cutting depth value is less than the predetermined minimum cutting depth value, sending a second controller output signal to the prime mover in preference to the first controller output signal to decrease the forward motion speed of the self-propelled concrete saw.    
   
   
       15 . A system for controlling the forward motion speed of a self-propelled concrete saw equipped with a power plant for transmitting rotational energy to a saw blade during an operation to cut or score concrete, asphalt, stone or other hard surface, the system comprising: 
 a concrete saw comprising a saw blade;    a first sensor configured to: 
 measure the speed of the power plant transmitting rotational energy to the saw blade that correlates to the rotational speed of the saw blade; and  
 provide a first output signal representative of a rotational speed value for the saw blade; and  
   a controller configured to: 
 receive the first sensor output signal from the first sensor; and  
 generate a first controller output signal to a hydraulic motor prime mover that propels the concrete saw to: 
 increase the forward motion speed of the self-propelled concrete saw when the rotational speed value of the saw blade is greater than or equal to a predetermined maximum rotational speed value;  
 decrease the forward motion speed of the self-propelled concrete saw when the rotational speed value of the saw blade is less than or equal to a predetermined minimum rotational speed value; or  
 maintain the forward speed of the self-propelled concrete saw when the rotational speed value of the saw blade is between the predetermined minimum rotational speed value and the predetermined maximum rotational speed value.  
 
   
   
   
       16 . A self-propelled concrete saw comprising: 
 a saw blade;    a power plant for transmitting rotational energy to a saw blade;    a hydraulic motor prime mover for propelling the concrete saw in a forward motion; and    a system for controlling the forward motion speed of the self-propelled concrete saw, the system comprising: 
 a first sensor configured to: 
 measure a rotational speed of the power plant transmitting rotational energy to the saw blade of the concrete saw that correlates to the rotational speed of the saw blade; and  
 provide a first output signal representative of a rotational speed value for the saw blade; and  
 
 a controller configured to: 
 receive the first sensor output signal from the first sensor; and  
 generate a first controller output signal to the prime mover to: 
 increase the forward motion speed of the self-propelled concrete saw when the rotational speed value of the saw blade is greater than or equal to a predetermined maximum rotational speed value;  
 decrease the forward motion speed of the self-propelled concrete saw when the rotational speed value of the saw blade is less than or equal to a predetermined minimum rotational speed value; or  
 maintain the forward speed of the self-propelled concrete saw when the rotational speed value of the saw blade is between the predetermined minimum rotational speed value and the predetermined maximum rotational speed value.