METHOD AND MEANS FOR POWER MOUNTING AND DISMOUNTING A MATERIALS HANDLING APPARATUS ON A TRACTOR

METHODE ET DISPOSITIF POUR GARNIR ET DEGARNIR UN TRACTEUR D'UN MOYEN MECANIQUE DE MANUTENTION

English Abstract

Abstract of the Disclosure
A method and means for power mounting and dismounting a
materials handling apparatus on a tractor is described which is
particularly well suited for the extremely large tractors of the
four wheel drive presently available. The apparatus comprises a
first U-shaped frame which is adapted to be connected adjacent
the rearward end thereof to the tractor rearwardly of the for-
ward end thereof. The forward end of the U-shaped frame is
adapted to be secured to the tractor adjacent the forward end
thereof. A second U-shaped frame is pivotally secured adjacent
its rearward end to the first frame and has a third frame pivo-
tally secured to the forward end thereof. In one embodiment, a
dozer blade is pivotally secured about a horizontal axis to the
third frame. Power cylinders are provided for: 1) raising and
lowering the dozer blade; 2) angling the dozer blade in two
directions; and 3) raising one end of the dozer blade with res-
pect to the other end. The method of mounting the apparatus on
the tractor comprises the steps of: 1) driving the tractor
adjacent the first frame so that the forward end of the tractor
is disposed forwardly of the rearward end of the first frame;
2) actuating a power cylinder to pivotally move the forward end
of the first frame upwardly relative to the second frame and to
the tractor; 3) driving the tractor forwardly to effect a con-
nection between the forward end of the tractor and the forward
end of the first frame; and 4) actuating the power cylinder to
raise the rearward end of the first frame for connection to the
tractor.

-2-

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive
property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. In combination with a tractor, a first U-shaped
frame means having rearward and forward ends including a
front frame member having a pair of side frame members
secured to the opposite ends therof and extending rearwardly
therefrom, first means adjacent the rearward ends of said
side frame member for connection to the tractor rearwardly of
the forward end thereof, second means adjacent the forward
end of said first frame means for connection to the tractor
adjacent the forward end thereof, a second U-shaped frame
means having rearward and forward ends including a front
frame portion having a pair of side frame portions secured to
the opposite ends thereof and extending rearwardly therefrom,
said front frame portion of said second U-shaped frame means
being positioned forwardly of said front frame member of said
first frame means, said side frame portions of said second U-
shaped frame means being positioned laterally of said side
frame members of said first U-shaped frame means, the
rearward ends of said side frame portions being pivotally
secured, about a horizontal axis, to said side frame members,
first power cylinder means secured to and extending between
said first and second frame means for pivotally moving the
forward end of said second frame means upwardly and
downwardly with respect to said first frame means, a third
frame means pivotally secured, about a vertical axis, to the
forward end of said second frame means, second power cylinder
means secured to and extending between said second and third
frame means for pivotally moving said third frame means with
respect to said second frame means, a materials handling

13

apparatus pivotally secured, about a horizontal axis, to said
third frame means, third power cylinder means secured to and
extending between said materials handling apparatus with
respect to said third frame means.
2. The method of mounting a materials handling support
means on a tractor, said support means being initially
detached from the tractor and including a first frame means
substantially horizontally disposed and ground supported
adapted to be detachably secured to a tractor and a second
frame means operatively pivotally connected to said first
frame means, a power cylinder means pivotally secured to and
extending between said first and second frame means for
pivotally moving said first frame means with respect to said
second frame means, comprising the following steps: driving
the tractor adjacent the support means so that the forward
end of the tractor is positioned forwardly of the rearward
end of said first frame means and so that the forward end of
the tractor is positioned adjacent the forward end of said
first frame means; fluidly connecting the power cylinder
means to a source of power on the tractor; operating the
power cylinder means to pivot said forward end of said first
frame means upwardly with respect to said second frame
means; pivotally mounting said first frame means, adjacent
the forward end thereof, to said tractor; operating the power
cylinder means to pivotally move said first frame means
relative to the tractor so that the rearward end of said
first frame means moves upwardly towards the tractor; and
connecting said first frame means, adjacent the rearward end
thereof, to the tractor.
3. In combination, a tractor having rearward and

14

forward ends and a source of hydraulic power, a pair of
cylindrical members secured to and extending horizontally
outwardly from opposite sides of the tractor adjacent the
forward end thereof, a pair of laterally spaced mounting
means secured to said tractor rearwardly of said cylindrical
members, a first generally U-shaped and horizontally disposed
frame means having rearward and forward ends comprising a
laterally extending front frame member having side frame
members secured to the opposite ends thereof and extending
rearwardly therefrom, first and second uprights secured to
said first frame means adjacent the forward end thereof, each
of said uprights having a rearwardly presented opening for
removably receiving one of said cylindrical members, said
side frame members being operatively detachably secured to
said mounting means, a second generally U-shaped and
horizontally disposed frame means having rearward and forward
ends comprising a laterally extending front portion having
side portions secured to opposite ends thereof and extending
rearwardly therefrom, the rearward ends of said side portions
being pivotally secured to said side frame members rearwardly
of the forward ends thereof, a first hydraulic cylinder means
operatively connected to said first and second frame means
for raising and lowering said second frame means with respect
to said first frame means, a substantially vertically
disposed third frame means pivotally secured, about a
vertical axis, to the forward end of said second frame means,
and a materials handling means operatively secured to said
third frame means.
4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said materials
handling means comprises a dozer blade operatively secured to


said third frame means, and a second hydraulic cylinder means
operatively secured to and extending between said second
frame means and said dozer blade for pivotally moving said
dozer blade relative to said second frame means.
5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said second
hydraulic cylinder is secured to said second frame means and
said third frame means.
6. The combination of claim S wherein said dozer blade
is pivotally secured, about a horizontal axis, to said third
frame means, and a third hydraulic cylinder means secured to
and extending between said dozer blade and said third frame
means for pivotally moving said dozer blade relative to said
third frame means.
7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said first
hydraulic cylinder means comprises first and second hydraulic
cylinders having upper and lower ends and being secured at
their upper ends to said uprights and secured at their lower
ends to said second frame means.
8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said second
hydraulic cylinder means comprises third and fourth hydraulic
cylinders secured to said side portions and opposite ends of
said third frame means.
9. The combination of claim 3 wherein a grille guard
is provided at the forward end of said first frame means.
10. The combination of claim 3 wherein first and second
rub bars are secured to the outer forward ends of said side
frame members and extend downwardly therefrom, said side
portions of said second frame means having third and fourth
rub bars secured thereto which slidably engage said first and
second rub bars respectively to prevent objectionble twisting

16


movement of said second frame means with respect to said
first frame means.
11. The combination of claim 4 wherein threadably
adjustable shoe devices are mounted at the lower outer ends
of the dozer blade for adjusting and limiting the penetration
of the blade into the ground.
12. The combination of claim 3 wherein said laterally
spaced mounting means are secured to the tractor frame and
rear axle.

17

Description

s~

~ETHOD A~D MEANS FOR POWER MOUNTING AND DISMOUNTING A
MAT~RIALS HANDLING APPARAT~S Ol~ A TRACTOR
This invention relates to a method and means for mount-
ing a materials handling apparatus such as a dozer blade on an
extremely large tractor.
Many types of devices have been previously devised for
mo~mting materials handling apparatus such as loaders or the like
on tractors. One s~ch example is United States ~atent No.
3,324,954 which has met with considerable success. The advent
of tremendously large tractors such as the Versatile 800 and the
Steiger Cougar make it desirable to provide an improved method
and means for mounting materials handling equipment such as dozer
blades or the like thereon.
In desi~ning an apparatus for mounting a dozer blade or
the like on an extremely large tractor, several factors must be
considered. The main factor to be considered is the strength of
the mounting structure and the actual mounting of the structure
on the tractor. It is highly undesirable to drill holes or the
like in the tractor frames for mounting equipment thereon. A
second factor to be considered is the ease of attaching and
removing the apparatus. If the apparatus is difficult to mount
on the tractor, the apparatus will meet with little success
since it is desirable to be able to quickly remove the apparatus
from the tractor to enable the tractor to be used for other tasks.
Therefore, it is a principal object of the invention to
provide an improved method and means for mounting a materials
handling apparatus on a tractor.
A further object of the invention is to provide an
improved method and means for mounting a dozer blade apparatus
on a tractor.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a

~.,Y
--3--

~ 3~3 S~ ~


means for mounting a materials handling apparatus on a tractor
which does not require that objectionable holes be drilled
in the tractor frame.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a
method xnd means for quickly power mounting a materials handling
apparatus on a tractor.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a
method and means for mounting a dozer blade apparatus on a
tractor which is durable.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a
means for mounting a dozer blade apparatus on a tractor wherein
high ground clearance is provided when the apparatus is mounted
on the tractor.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a
means for mounting a dozer blade apparatus on a tractor which
transmits stress forces imposed on the blade to the axle of the
tractor.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a
means for mounting a dozer blade apparatus on a tractor which
includes a grille guard.
These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled
in the art.
This invention consists in the construction, arrange-
ments and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby
the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully
set forth, specifically pointed out in the claims, and illus-
trated in the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a rear perspective view of the dozer blade
apparatus:
Figure 2 is a top view of the dozer blade a~paratus:

Figure 3 is a partial top view of the dozer blade
mounted on a tractor with the broken lines il]ustrating the
pivotal movement of the blade:
Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on lines
4-4 of Figure 2:
Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on lines 5-5 of
Figure 3:
Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on lines 6-6 of
Figure 2:
Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken on lines
7-7 of Figure 6:
Figure ~ is a front view of the dozer blade mounted on
a tractor with the broken lines illustrating the tilting move-
ments of the blade: .
Figure 9 is a partial side view illustrating the dozer
blade being mounted on a tractor:
Figure 10 is an exploded perspective view of the mount-
ing brackets which are secured to the tractor frame and axle:
Figure li is a view similar to Figure 9 illustrating a
further step in the mounting sequence:
Figure 12 is a partial perspective view of the means for
mounting the rearward end of one side of the dozer blade to the
tractor:
Figure 13 is a view similar to Figure 9 and 11 illustra-
ting a further step in the mounting sequence; and
Figure 14 is an enlarged sectional view taken on lines
14-14 of Figure 13.
The numeral 10 refers generally to the dozer blade
apparatus of this invention while the numeral 12 refers to a
tractor of the type previously described. While the drawings




--5--

illustrate that the apparatus 10 includes a dozer blade 14, it
should be understood that the blade 14 may be removed from the
apparatus and other materials handling equipmen* mounted thereon
such as buckets, fertili~er tanks, etc. However, it should be ~,
noted that the preferred embodiment is that illustrated in the
drawings.
Apparatus 10 generally comprises a U-shaped frame means
16 comprising a front frame member 18 having side frame members
20 and 22 secured to the opposite ends thereof and extending
rearwardly therefrom. Upstanding supports or stanchions 24 and
26 are secured to the forward ends of side frame members 20 and
22. Stanchions 24 and 26 are provided with rearwardly presented
semi-circular openings 28 and 30 formed therein adjacent the
lower rearward ends thereof. Brace 32 is secured to and extends
between the upper ends of stanchions 24 and 26 as illustrated
in the drawings. It is preferred that a grille guard apparatus
be provided between stanchions 24 and 26 to protect the grille
of the tractor. The grille guard has been omitted from the
drawings to facilitate illustration of related structure.
The rearward ends of side frame members 20 and 22 are
provided with downwardly extending supports or feet 34 and 36
which are adapted for ground engagement. Shaft 38 is secured to
and extends between the rearward ends of side frame members 20
and 22 and has its opposite ends positioned outwardly of side
frame members 20 and 22 as illustrated in the drawings. Pipe
40 is secured to and extends between side frame members 20 and
22 forwardly of shaft 38 and also has its opposite ends posi-
tioned outwardly of the side frame members 20 and 22.
The numeral 42 refers generally to a second U-shaped
frame means generally comprising a front frame member 44 having



--6--

~S~35C~q3
side frame members 46 and 48 secured to opposite ends thereof
and extending rearwardly therefrom. As seen in the drawings,
the rearward ends of side frame members 46 and 48 are pivotally
mounted on the outer ends of pipe 40. Side frame members 46
and 48 are provided with cylinder support channels 50 and 52
extending outwardly therefrom. The rearward or base ends of
hydraulic cylinders 54 and 56 are pivotally secured to the
channels 50 and 52 respectively.
The upper or base ends of cylinders 58 and 60 are pivo-

tally secured to the upper ends of stanchions 24 and 26 respec-
tively and extend downwardly therefrom as seen in the drawings.
The lower ends of the cylinder rods of the cylinders 58 and 60
are pivotally secured to side frame members 46 and 48 respectively
for raising and lowering the forward end of frame means 42 rela~
tive to frame means 16.
Support 62 is secured to and extends forwardly from the
center portion of front frame member 44 and has a vertically
disposed pipe portion or pivot pin 64 mounted therein. Frame
means 66 is mounted on the upper and lower ends of pipe portion
64 for pivotal movement with respect thereto. Frame means 66
includes upper and lower frame members 68 and 70 having end
frame members 72 and 74 secured to the opposite ends thereof
and extending therebetween.
Dozer blade 14 includes spaced apart posts 76 and 78
positioned at the rearward side thereof and which are spaced
rearwardly with respect thereto. The posts 76 and 78 are bolted
to the dozer blade 14 at the uppèr and lower ends thereof. The
opposite ends of frame means 66 is received between the posts
76 and 78 and the dozer blade as illustrated in the drawings.
As seen in Figure 7, dozer blade 14 has a rearwardly extending

~5~5~13
pipe portion 80 which is rotatably embraced by pipe portion 82
secured to frame means 66 to provide a pivotal connection, about
a horizontal axis, between frame means 66 and the dozer blade
14. The forward or rod ends of hydraulic cylinders 54 and 56
are pivotally connected to the lower outer ends of frame means
66 as seen in the drawings. Hydraulic cylinder 84 is pivotally
connected at its upper end to the upper rearward end of dozer
blade 14 and has its lower rod end pivotally connected to one
end of frame means 66 adjacent the point of connection between
hydraulic cylinder 56 and frame means 66. As illustrated in the
drawings, dozer blade 1-4 is provided with downwardly extending
and threadably adjustable shoe devices 86 and 88 which serve as
fine adjustments to limit the penetration of the blade into the
ground.
Rub bars 90 and 92 are secured to the forward ends of
side frame members 20 and 22 and extend downwardly therefrom.
~ub bars 94 and 96 (not shown) are secured to the inner forward
ends of side frame members 46 and 48 and extend upwardly there-
from for sliding engagement with the rub bars 90 and 92 to
prevent damaging twisting movement between the frame means 42
and frame means 16 should one corner of the dozer blade strike
an obstruction or the like.
A front mounting assembly 98 secured to the forward end
of the tractor generally comprises a front portion 100 having
side portions 102 and 104 extending rearwardly from the rearward
ends thereof. The rearward ends of side portions 102 and 104
are clamped onto the side frames of the tractor by means of a
bar 106 positioned at the inside surface of the side frame of
the tractor and having bolts extending through the upper and
lower ends thereof which are received by the upper rearward and




-R-

~5~35~gO

and upper lower ends of the side portion 10~. Other suitable
mounting bolts may be extended through the side portions 102 and
lQ4 and received by openings provided in the side frame of the
tractor. Side portions 102 and 104 are provided with outwardly ~,
extending shaft stubs 108 and 110 which are adapted to be received
by the openings 28 and 30 in stanchions 24 and 26 respectively.
Rear mounts 112 and 114 are secured at each side of the
tractor frame rearwardly of the forward end thereof. Each of the
rear mounts 112 and 114 comprises a vertically disposed outer bar
116 having an inner bar 118 positioned at the inside surface of
the tractor frame and bolted to the upper and lower ends of the
bar 116 by bolts. The lower ends of outer bars 116 are provided
with downwardly presented openings 120 which are adapted to
receive the opposite ends of shaft 38. Bolt 122 is adapted to
be extended through the lower end of the outer bar 116 to main-
tain the shaft 38 in the opening 120 as seen in Figure 12. Outer
bar 116 is also secured to the tractor axle by bracket 121 which
extends rearwardly therefrom to transmit shock imposed on the
apparatus to the tractor axle rather than the tractor frame.
All of the hydraulic cylinders disclosed herein are
adapted to have quick couplers provided thereon to enable the
hydraulic cylinders to be quickly and easily connected to the
tractor hydraulic system or to a hydraulic pump operated by the
tractor engine.
Assuming that the apparatus 10 is positioned on the
ground and detached from the tractor, as seen in Figures 1, 5
and 9, the normal method of mounting the same is as follows.
The tractor 12 is driven forwardly with respect to the apparatus
10 as seen in rigure 9 so that the rearward end of the frame
means 16 is positioned rearwardly of the forward end of the

S~
tractor and so that the shaft stubs 108 and 110 are positioned
adjacent the rearward ends of the stanchions 24 and 26. The "
hydraulic cylinders 58 and 60 are then operatively connected to
the source of hydraulic power which is then actuated to cause the ,~
cylinders 58 and 60 to be extended so that the forward end of
frame means 16 pivotally move upwardly with respect to the ground
and with respect to the frame means 42. The cylinders 58 and 60
are actuated until the openings 28 and 30 in stanchions 24 and
26 are positioned forwardly of shaft stubs 108 and 110. The
tractor is then driven forwardly with respect to the apparatus
10 so that shaft stubs 108 and 110 are pivotally received by the
openings 28 and 30 as seen in Figure 11. The hydraulic cylinders
58 and 60 are then retracted which causes the rearward end of
frame means 16 to be pivotally moved upwardly with respect to
the tractor since the frame means 16 is pivoting about the stubs
108 and 110. The cylinders 58 and 60 are retracted until the
outer ends of the shaft 38 are ~eceived by the openings 120 in
outer bars 116 of the rear mounts 112 and 114. Bolts 122 are then
positioned in the lower ends of the outer bars 116 to maintain
the rearward end of the frame means 16 in the rear mounts. The
remaining hydraulic cylinders are then connected to the source of
hydraulic power if the connection was not made at the time of
originally connecting the cylinders 58 and 60 to the power system.
~ hus, with the apparatus mounted on the tractor, the
operation of hydraulic cylinders 58 and 60 causes the frame means
42 and the dozer blade to be raised and lowered with respect to
the tractor. Operation of hydraulic cylinders 54 causes one end
of the dozer blade 14 to be moved forwardly or rearwardly with
respect to the frame means 42 due to the pivotal connection of
the frame means 66 with respect to the frame means 42 about pin




--10--

5~
64. Actuation of hydraulic cylinder 56 likewise causes the
other end of the dozer bla~e 14 to be moved forwardly or rear- ,
wardly with respect to the tractor or second frame means 42.
Hydraulic cylinders 54 and 56 are of the double acting type but ~
operate n connection with each other so that when one cylinder
extends, the other cylinder closes and vice versa.
Actuation of hydraulic cylinder 84 causes the pivotal
movement of dozer blade 14 about the pipe portion 82 so that one
end of the dozer blade is raised or lowered with respect to the
tractor with the other end of the dozer blade being conversely
raised and lowered. Thus, the hydraulic cylinders included on
the apparatus permit the dozer blade to be raised and lowered,
angled in either direction and tilted in either direction.
The a~paratus is removed from the tractor by first lower-
ing the dozer blade into ground engagement. Bolts 122 are then
removed from the rear mounts 112 and 114 with the hydraulic
cylinders 58 and 60 being extended which causes the rearward end
of the frame means 16 to be lowered downwardly into ground engage-
ment. The tractor is then moved rearwardly with respect to the
20 apparatus so that shaft stubs 108 and 110 move out of engagement
with the openings 28 and 30 in the stanchions 24 and 2~. Hydrau-
lic cylinders 58 and 60 are then retracted so that the forward
end of frame means 16 is lowered downwardly relative to the
tractor. If desired, it is not necessary to lower the forward
end of the frame means 16 after the shaft stubs 108 and 110 have
been removed from the stanchions 24 and 26. Once the apparatus
has been removed from the tractor, it is desirable to lower the
frame means 16 relative to the frame means 42 so that the cylin-
der rods of cylinders 58 and 60 are not unduly exposed to the-
elements. The hydraulic hoses are then disconnected and the

~5~5~0
tractor may be backed rearwardly from the apparatus and used
for other purposes.
It can be seen that the tractor, with the apparatus
removed therefrom, may perform other functions since the front ,~
and rear mounts do not interfere with normal tractor operations.
It can also be seen that the front and rear mounts are mounted on
the tractor without modification of the tractor and without -the
necessity of drilling holes or the like in the tractor frame.
The front and rear mounts are also adjustably mounted on the
frame which permits the mounts to be used on a variety of differ-
ent tractors.
The construction of the apparatus is such that high ground
clearance is provided when the apparatus is mounted on the
tractor.
Thus it can be seen that the apparatus accomplishes at
least all of its stated objectives.