US 11,866,891 B2
Adjustable pitch rotor for milling applications
Nicholas B. Johnson, Dayton, MN (US)
Assigned to Caterpillar Paving Products Inc., Brooklyn Park, MN (US)
Filed by Caterpillar Paving Products Inc., Brooklyn Park, MN (US)
Filed on Oct. 13, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/500,707.
Prior Publication US 2023/0112546 A1, Apr. 13, 2023
Int. Cl. E01C 23/088 (2006.01); E01C 23/12 (2006.01); B28D 1/18 (2006.01)
CPC E01C 23/088 (2013.01) [E01C 23/127 (2013.01); B28D 1/188 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A rotor for a milling machine, the rotor having a longitudinal axis, the rotor comprising:
an inner drum having a hollow cylindrical shape and an inner drum outer surface; and
an outer shell comprising:
a first outer shell portion with a first set of drum cutting assemblies having first cutting bits extending outward from a first shell portion outer surface, wherein each of the first cutting bits is longitudinally spaced from longitudinally adjacent first cutting bits by a pitch distance, and
a second outer shell portion with a second set of drum cutting assemblies having second cutting bits extending outward from a second shell portion outer surface, wherein each of the second cutting bits is longitudinally spaced from longitudinally adjacent second cutting bits by the pitch distance,
wherein, when the first outer shell portion and the second outer shell portion are mounted to the inner drum outer surface in a first pitch configuration, each of the first cutting bits is longitudinally aligned with a corresponding one of the second cutting bits such that first grooves milled in a work surface by the rotor are spaced by the pitch distance, and
wherein, when the first outer shell portion and the second outer shell portion are mounted to the inner drum outer surface in a second pitch configuration, each of the first cutting bits is longitudinally spaced from longitudinally adjacent second cutting bits by one-half of the pitch distance such that second grooves milled in the work surface by the rotor are spaced by one-half of the pitch distance; and
wherein the first outer shell portion moves parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rotor relative to the second outer shell portion between the first pitch configuration and the second pitch configuration.