Concrete breaker and method

Abstract

A concrete breaker includes a wheeled frame having front and rear wheels, a blade frame pivotally mounted to the wheeled frame between the front and rear wheels, and a heavy concrete breaking blade slideably mounted to the blade frame for busting concrete. The blade frame is pivotally moveable by a hydraulic cylinder assembly over-center to a stable transport position, and further is moveable over-center to an upright position on the wheeled frame for use. Wheels on the blade frame rest on the concrete being broken and support the operating weight of the blade frame and the blade when the blade is in use. The blade frame is moveable relative to the wheeled frame to reduce transmission of vibration from the blade and blade frame to the wheeled frame. The hydraulic cylinder assembly is connected between the blade frame and the wheeled frame and acts as a draw-bar-like member during use of the concrete breaker to overcome torsional forces on the blade frame as wheels on the blade frame engage rough terrain such as broken or irregular concrete under the blade frame. A hydraulic system is connected to the blade to raise the blade to a lifted position, and includes a double line discharge to exhaust hydraulic fluid from the cylinder without restriction when the blade is hydraulically released and dropped onto the cement to break the cement.