Systems and methods of segmented anti-slabbing for milling machines

Abstract

Anti-slabbing systems and methods for counteracting slabbing of a substrate being cut by a rotary cutter of a milling machine may include a plurality of anti-slab segments biased downwardly and independently vertically movable relative to a frame of the milling machine. The anti-slabbing systems and methods may further include segment biasing mechanisms connecting the anti-slab segments to frame of the milling machine. The segment biasing mechanisms may control a slabbing opposition force applied to uncut material of the substrate underlying the milling machine. The anti-slabbing systems and methods may further include an anti-slabbing mechanism comprising a base plate, plow, and/or skids.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An anti-slabbing system for a milling machine with a frame and a rotatable cutter housed within a cutting chamber and configured to cut material of a substrate underlying the milling machine, the system comprising:
 a plurality of segment biasing mechanisms coupled to the frame of the milling machine; and   a plurality of anti-slab segments, each segment being connected to one of the plurality of segment biasing mechanisms such that each segment is biased downward and independently vertically movable relative to the frame of the milling machine,   wherein the plurality of anti-slab segments is positioned in front of the cutting chamber of the milling machine for applying a slabbing opposition force to uncut material of the substrate as the rotatable cutter cuts material of the substrate.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an anti-slabbing mechanism coupled to the frame of the milling machine and including an upwardly oriented base plate extending across a front side of the cutting chamber of the milling machine.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the base plate of the anti-slabbing mechanism is positioned behind the plurality of anti-slab segments. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the anti-slabbing mechanism further includes a forwardly projecting plow. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein one of the plurality of anti-slab segments is positioned in front of the base plate of the anti-slabbing mechanism and alongside the forwardly projecting plow of the anti-slabbing mechanism. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of segment biasing mechanisms comprises a spring. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of anti-slab segments further includes a skid. 
     
     
         8 . A milling machine for cutting material of an underlying substrate comprising:
 a frame;   a rotatable cutter housed within a cutting chamber; and   an anti-slabbing system including:
 a plurality of segment biasing mechanisms coupled to the frame, and 
 a plurality of anti-slab segments, each segment being connected to one of the plurality of segment biasing mechanisms such that each segment is biased downward and independently vertically movable relative to the frame, 
 wherein the plurality of anti-slab segments is positioned in front of the cutting chamber of the milling machine for applying a slabbing opposition force to uncut material of the substrate as the rotatable cutter cuts material of the substrate. 
   
     
     
         9 . The milling machine of  claim 8 , wherein the anti-slabbing system further includes:
 an anti-slabbing mechanism coupled to the frame and comprising an upwardly oriented base plate extending across a front side of the cutting chamber.   
     
     
         10 . The milling machine of  claim 9 , wherein the base plate of the anti-slabbing mechanism is positioned behind the plurality of anti-slab segments. 
     
     
         11 . The milling machine of  claim 9 , wherein the anti-slabbing mechanism further comprises a forwardly projecting plow. 
     
     
         12 . The milling machine of  claim 11 , wherein one of the plurality of anti-slab segments is positioned in front of the base plate of the anti-slabbing mechanism and alongside the forwardly projecting plow of the anti-slabbing mechanism. 
     
     
         13 . The milling machine of  claim 8 , wherein one of the plurality of segment biasing mechanisms comprises a spring. 
     
     
         14 . The milling machine of  claim 8 , wherein one of the plurality of anti-slab segments further includes a skid. 
     
     
         15 . A method of applying a slabbing opposition force to uncut material of a substrate underlying a milling machine with a frame and a rotatable cutter housed within a cutting chamber and configured to cut material of the substrate, the method comprising:
 downwardly biasing a plurality of anti-slab segments coupled with and independently vertically movable relative to the frame of the milling machine,   wherein the anti-slab segments are positioned in front of the cutting chamber of the milling machine.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein downwardly biasing the plurality of anti-slab segments is accomplished using segment biasing mechanisms coupled to the frame of the milling machine. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein one of the segment biasing mechanisms is a spring. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein one of the segment biasing mechanisms is a hydraulic cylinder. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the hydraulic cylinder is remotely controlled. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 providing an anti-slabbing mechanism coupled to the frame of the milling machine,   wherein the anti-slabbing mechanism comprises an upwardly oriented base plate extending across a front side of the cutting chamber of the milling machine, and   wherein the base plate of the anti-slabbing mechanism is positioned behind the plurality of anti-slab segments.