Adjustable Blade Means

Abstract

This invention is a blade means readily attachable to a tractor and having a blade structure interconnected to an angle adjustment means and a tilt adjustment means to rotate the blade means about horizontal and vertical axes to achieve the desired angular relationship. More particularly, this invention is a blade means readily raised in a common horizontal plane and actuated by hydraulic means for rotation of a blade member about vertical and horizontal axes.

Description

Numerous types of bulldozer-type blade structures are known to the prior art connectable to tractor structures or the like for various grading purposes. However, the prior art devices are not easily connected to existing tractor structures nor operably to have a blade member readily movable about vertical and horizontal axes, but instead require substantial effort to obtain blade adjustment which is necessary for various grading operations depending upon the terrain encountered. Additionally, the prior art devices are not operable to sustain the tremendous vertical and horizontal loads thereon while utilizing means for providing for rapid adjustment about vertical and horizontal axes.

In one preferred embodiment of this invention, an adjustable blade means is provided which is readily connected as through parallel lift arms and an adjustable leveling link in a three-point manner to a tractor structure for raising and lowering the same while maintaining such in a parallel horizontal plane. The blade means includes a support means having one end attachable to the tractor structure and the opposite end connected to a blade assembly plus an angle adjustment means and a tilt adjustment means connected to the support means and operably connected to the blade assembly for moving the same about vertical and horizontal axes, respectively. The support means includes a lateral support assembly adapted to be connected to lift arms of the tractor structure, a vertical support assembly adapted to be connected to the leveling link of the tractor structure, and a base assembly interconnecting the lateral support assembly and the vertical support assembly extended rearwardly therefrom. The lateral and vertical support assemblies are constructed of heavy box style steelplate so as to achieve the desired vertical and horizontal rigidity necessary in bulldozing operations. The blade assembly includes a blade structure mounted through a connector assembly to a support post which extends substantially vertically and is mounted within an upright sleeve member of the base assembly. The connector assembly includes a support shaft connected through a plate member to the blade structure and mounted within a housing structure so that the interconnected blade structure and support shaft is rotatable about a horizontal axis. Also, the support post is rotatable about a vertical axis to provide for multiple, infinitely, variable positions of the blade structure. The angle adjustment means includes an upper, horizontally extended securing plate anchored to the upper end of the support post, an actuator arm secured to the upper most end of the support post, and the arm is operably connected to a piston and cylinder assembly so as to rotate the interconnected actuator arm, support post, and blade structure about a vertical axis. Additionally, the angle adjustment means includes a pair of lock brackets having pins mountable through openings and to be placed within aligned openings in the horizontal securing plate for anchoring the same in a given rotational position after operation of the piston and cylinder assembly. The tilt adjustment means includes a vertical securing plate secured adjacent an outer end of the support shaft having the outermost end secured to an actuator member which is connected to a tilt piston and cylinder assembly. Additionally, anchor brackets are secured to the connector assembly of the blade assembly to receive locking pins therethrough into aligned openings in the vertical securing plate whereupon the blade structure is secured in a desired tilt position on actuation of the tilt piston and cylinder assembly to position the same about a horizontal axis.

One object of this invention is to provide a blade means overcoming the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art devices.

Another object of this invention is to provide a blade means readily connectable in a three-point manner to a conventional tractor structure and having means thereon for readily moving a blade assembly about horizontal and/or vertical axes.

Still, a further object of this invention is to provide a blade means including a box-type structure support means provided with a kickstand assembly supporting the same when not in use; a blade assembly connected to the support means; an angle adjustment means operably connected to the blade assembly to pivot the same about a vertical axis; and a tilt adjustment means connected to the blade assembly readily operable to rotate the same about a horizontal axis so as to provide infinitely variable positions of the blade assembly for the most efficient usage thereof.

Still, another object of this invention is to provide a blade means of rigid construction so as to sustain the vertical and horizontal loads encountered in earthmoving operations and having structure providing for the immediate and positive adjustment of the blade assembly.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a blade means readily attachable to conventional tractor structures, being of rigid construction relatively economical to manufacture, simple in operation, and substantially maintenance free.

Various other objects, advantages, and features of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following discussion, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the blade means of this invention, illustrated as secured to a tractor structure;

FIG 2 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of an angle adjustment means of the blade means of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating the attachment of the blade means of this invention to a tractor structure having a raised position thereof indicated in dotted lines;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the blade means of this invention, illustrating the rotational adjustment about a vertical axis;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the adjustment means of the blade means of this invention;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 6--6 in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary elecational view illustrating the adjustment of the blade means of this invention for rotation about a horizontal axis.

The following is a discussion and description of preferred specific embodiments of the new blade means of this invention, such being made with reference to the drawings, whereupon the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts and/or structure. It is to be understood that such discussion and description is not to unduly limit the scope of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail and in particular to FIG. 1, the blade means of this invention, indicated generally at 12, is shown as attached to a tractor structure 14 in a three-point manner. More particularly, the tractor structure 14 is provided with parallel, rearwardly extended lift arms 16 pivotally connected to tractor body 17 at one end and having the opposite end pivotally connected to the blade means 12. A pair of hydraulically movable actuator means (not shown) are provided; each connected to one of the lift arms 16 for pivotally moving the same about a horizontal axis. A central, adjustable leveling link member 18 is provided which is readily attachable to the blade means 12 and acting on operation of the actuator means and upward pivotal movement of the lift arms 16 to maintain the blade means 12 in a parallel horizontal plane during its vertical movement. (See FIG. 3).

The blade means 12 includes a main rigid support means 20; a blade assembly 22 connected to the rearward portion of the support means 20; an angle adjustment means 24 mounted upon the support means 20 and operably connected to the blade assembly 22 for movement about a vertical axis; and a tilt adjustment means 26 connected to the blade assembly 22 for movement about a horizontal axis.

The support means 20 includes a base assembly 27; a lateral support assembly 28 connected to the base assembly 27 and additionally pivotally connected to the lift arms 16 of the tractor structure 14; a vertical support assembly 30 secured to the base assembly 27 and adapted to be connected to the adjustable leveling link 18; and a kickstand assembly 31 connected to the lower surface of the base assembly 27 for supporting the same when not attached to the tractor structure 14.

The base assembly 27 is preferably of a heavy gauge steel being of a rectangular tube shape having a forward section 32 and a rearward section 34 interconnected as by bolt members 35 and rigid flange members 37. This operates to achieve the desirable length of the overall base assembly 27 as the same can be altered on various lengths of the rearward section 34. The end of the rearward section 34 is provided with a pointed end portion 38 and an opening 39 therein provided with a downwardly depending sleeve member 41 to receive and support the blade assembly 22 as will become obvious.

The lateral support assembly 28 includes on each side of the base assembly 27, upper and lower triangular-shaped plate members 43 and 44 interconnected as by a support plate 46 and secured as by welded to upright sidewalls 47 of the forward section 32. The outermost ends of the lateral support assembly 28 is provided with parallel bracket members 49 having holes therein adapted to receive a connector pin 51 for pivotally connecting the same to respective ones of the lift arms 16. It is noted that this enclosed boxlike structure of the lateral support assembly 28 provides substantial rigidity and presents a neat appearing structure.

The vertical support assembly 30 is also of a boxlike structure having sidewall members 53 interconnected by an inclined support member 54 secured as by welding to the upper surface of the forward section 32 of the base assembly 27. An upper corner portion, indicated at 56, of the vertical support assembly 30 is provided with aligned openings 58 to receive a connector or anchor pin 59 therethrough for attachment to the free end of the adjustable leveling link 18.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the kickstand assembly 31 is provided with a downwardly depending leg member 61 secured to the base assembly 27 adjacent the forward end having a stand member 63 connected thereto. More particularly, the stand member 63 is provided with an L-shaped leg section 64 having its upper portion welded to a U-shaped connector portion 65. The connector portion 65 is secured as by a connector shaft 67 to the downwardly extended leg section 64 so the same is movable thereabout from the vertical position on FIG. 6 to an upper, nonuse, locked position adjacent the lower surface of the base assembly 27. It is seen that a spring member 68 is operable to maintain the same in the desired upper or lower positions as by forcing the same into engagement with detents (not shown) on the mating surface of the leg section 64 and the connector portion 65.

The blade assembly 22 includes a blade structure 71 secured by connector assembly 72 to an upright support post 74. The support post 74 is extended vertically within the sleeve member 41 to provide a main support structure for rotating the blade structure 71 about a vertical axis. The lower end of the support post 74 is connected to a support plate 76 and housing 77 of the connector assembly 72. The housing 77 is connected by a cylindrical member 78 and a mounting bracket 79 to the blade structure 71. The blade structure 71 is provided with a substantially conventional blade member 81 having an arcuate forward portion indicated at 83 for grading purposes. An attachment bracket 85 and support angle 86 is secured to the back side of the blade member 81 for attaching to the mounting bracket 79. The blade member 81 is supported vertically through a support shaft 88 which is mounted within the cylindrical member 78 having its forward end secured to the blade member 81.

The angle adjustment means 24 includes a horizontal securing plate 89 anchored to the upper end of the support post 74; an actuator arm 91 secured to the uppermost end of the support post 74; a piston and cylinder assembly 92 operably connected to the actuator arm 91; and anchor brackets 93 secured to the top surface of the base assembly 27 provided with lock pins 94 for securing the blade assembly 22 in a given adjusted position. The horizontal securing plate 89, as shown in FIG. 5, is adapted to rest upon the top surface of the base assembly 27 and having a plurality of predetermined spaced openings 95 therein to receive respective ones of the lock pins 94 therethrough. The actuator arm 91 is of an irregular shape having opposed L-shaped potions 97, each with a hole 98 to receive one end of a piston rod 99 of the piston and cylinder assembly 92. It is seen that movement of the actuator arm 91 operates to also move the support post 74 and interconnected blade assembly 22. The piston and cylinder assembly 92 includes a main cylinder 101 secured by a bracket 103 to a support blade 105 secured to the base assembly 27 and having a piston (not shown) mounted within the cylinder member 101 and connected to the piston rod 99. It is seen that the piston and cylinder assembly 92 could have the piston rod 99 connected to the other end of the actuator arm 91 from that shown in FIG. 1 for extended movement so as to obtain any desired rotational position about a vertical axis.

As shown in FIG. 5 the tilt adjustment means 26 includes a vertical securing plate 107 anchored on an outer portion of the support shaft 88 and having anchor brackets 109 in an overlying relationship relative thereto. The outer end of the support shaft 88 is provided with a laterally extended actuator member 110. The outer end of the actuator member 110 is provided with an opening 112 to be connected to a piston rod 114 of a second piston and cylinder assembly 116. The piston and cylinder assembly 116 is provided with a cylinder member 118 having one end secured by a bracket 119 to a support member 121 secured to the connector assembly 72. It is seen that fluid lines 124 and 126 are operably connected to both piston and cylinder assemblies 92 and 116 to act on the opposite sides of the piston member (not shown) for moving the same in the desired direction. Additionally, the tilt adjustment means 26 is provided with lock pin members 128 operable to be placed within holes in the anchor brackets 109 and into aligned holes in the vertical securing plate 107 to hold same in a given rotational position about the axis of the support shaft 88.

In use and operation of the blade means 12 of this invention, it is seen that the same may be readily supported on a given surface through the use of the kickstand assembly 31. More particularly, the kickstand assembly 31 is operable to be extended in a substantially vertical plane and held there through the use of the interlocking features and the spring member 68. In this position, it is obvious that the tractor structure 14 can be backed into the position as shown in FIG. 1 and readily attached to the lift arms 16 through the respective attachment brackets 49 and cooperating connector pins 51. Additionally, the adjustable leveling link 18 is attached to the vertical support assembly 30 through the use of the connector pins 59 in a substantially conventional manner. Thereupon, it is obvious that the actuator means 91 through the lift arms 16 may be operable to pivot same upwardly to raise the blade assembly 22 to the desired vertical height as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3. It is obvious that this will operate to set the desired depth of grading.

It is obvious that the hydraulic fluid lines 124 and 126 may be connected to a conventional power source on the tractor structure 14 and operable through control levers (not shown) to actuate the piston and cylinder assemblies 92 and 116 to move the blade assembly 22. First, in order to achieve the desired angular position of the blade member 81 relative to vertical and horizontal axes, it is seen that the lock pins 94 and 128 are removed from possible engagement with respective ones of the horizontal securing plate 89 and the vertical securing plate 107. Thereupon, the piston and cylinder assemblies 92 and 116 can be activated through the hydraulic fluid lines 124 and 126 to extend or retract the piston rods to move the blade assembly 22 to a desired position. Next, the lock pins 94 and 128 are inserted through aligned holes and openings in the securing plates 89 and 107 to anchor the same.

However, it is obvious that for certain grading operations, that the lock pins 94 and 128 can be left out of engagement with the securing plates 89 and 107, respectively so that the same may be readily movable about horizontal and vertical axes on actuation of the control levers.

The blade means of this invention provides a structure readily attachable to conventional tractors to provide a three-point, rigid connection thereto while allowing the same to be raised and lowered and maintained in parallel horizontal planes. The blade means provides ready means for adjusting a blade member about horizontal and vertical axes which is extremely desirable and necessary for numerous grading operations. The blade means of this invention provides a rigid sturdy structure that is relatively economical to manufacture, easy to attach and detach from tractor structures, and provided with power means for readily adjusting a blade member to any desired angular position.

While this invention has been described in conjunction with preferred specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that this description is intended to illustrate the invention, which is defined by the following claims.

Claims

I claim:

1. A blade means adapted to be connected to a tractor structure for earth-moving purposes, comprising:

a. a support means having one end connectable to the tractor structure;

b. a blade assembly connected at the opposite end of said support means, said blade assembly including a support post secured by a connector assembly to a blade member,

c. tilt adjustment means operably connected through a first piston and cylinder assembly which is connected to said blade member and said connector assembly to pivot said blade member about a horizontal axis to achieve a desired tilted position,

d. said blade assembly including said support post rotatably mounted in a sleeve member of said support means, and the lower end of said support post secured through said connector assembly to said blade member,

e. angle adjustment means connected to said support post to rotate same and said blade member about a vertical axis,

f. said tilt adjustment means including a support shaft rotatably mounted in said connector assembly having one end secured to said blade member, and an opposite end secured to a vertical securing plate, an actuator member connected to said support shaft, and said first piston and cylinder assembly connected to said actuator member and a stationary end secured to said connector assembly operable to rotate said support shaft and said blade member about a horizontal axis, and

g. said tilt adjustment means having opposed anchor brackets secured to said connector assembly and a pair of lock pin members to anchor said vertical securing plate to said anchor brackets at a desired rotational position.

2. A blade means as described in claim 1 wherein:

a. said angle adjustment means having an actuator arm secured to the upper end of said support post and a second piston and cylinder assembly connected to said support means and said actuator arm, and

b. said angle adjustment means including a horizontal securing plate secured to said support post to rotate therewith having a plurality of spaced openings therein and opposed anchor brackets secured to said support means to receive lock pins through same and said horizontal securing plate to anchor said blade member in a given adjusted position about a vertical axis.

3. A blade means as described in claim 1, wherein:

a. said actuator member is extended outwardly of said support shaft and having said first piston and cylinder assembly connected to an outer end of said actuator member for ease of pivotal movement, and

b. said angle adjustment means having an actuator arm secured to said support post and an outer end secured to a second piston and cylinder assembly for ease of pivotal movement about a vertical axis.