Importance

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Abstract

This invention describes an apparatus for breaking a hard surface such as a concrete road or bridge deck and essentially consists of a support for a torsional spring which is horizontally fixed to the support with a spaced rotational journal so that the torsional spring is mounted substantially horizontally. An oscillating member of desired mass characteristics is attached to the torsional spring with a force generating apparatus such as a hydraulic vibrator on one end of the oscillating member and a road crushing tool on the opposite end of the oscillating member. The oscillating member is attached rigidly to the torsional spring. Apparatus is also provided for positioning the impact or road crushing tool against the surface to be crushed and for maintaining the tool in that position during the crushing operation. The hydraulic vibrator, when it is operated, causes an axial oscillation in the torsional spring/mass system. This axial oscillation is then transferred to an axial oscillation of the impact tool, causing the tool to violently impact the surface to be crushed. The apparatus is preferably operated at the resonant frequency of the spring/mass system to obtain maximum amplitude and a corresponding increase in energy generated in the resonant mode. Other embodiments using the same principal are disclosed.

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First Claim