Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
rA
21~884~
~PPLIC~TION FOR PATENT
INVENTOR: BARRY L. CRITZ
RICHARD A. SEAL
INVENTION: IMPROVED COMBINATION SPREADER/GRADER
APPARATUS
SPECIFICATION:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
1. Field Of The Invention:
The apparatus of the present invention relates to
road working e~uipment. More particularly, the present
invention relates to an improved spreader/grader for
working road surfaces, including the ability to angularly
adjust the spreader/grade~: blades in relation to the
frame during operation of the apparatus.
2. General Back~round:
In the construction or maintenance of land in
general, and particularly roadbeds, it is desirous to
have the ability to level the surface of the land, or
roadbed, to make travel thereupon more efficient and
easier. The present state of the art allows a mechanical
spreader/grader to be pulled by a tractor or like
vehicle, the spreader/grader having one or more blades
along its base which cuts into the roadbed or land
surface, and attempts to level the surface as the
apparatus is pulled along. One such patented piece of
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equipment is disclosed and claimed in U.S. Patent
4,320,988, issued James Seal, which provides a
spreader/grader attacha~le to a tractor, with the
apparatus having a plurality of blades movably
positionable between a pair of upright sidewalls, with
the cutting edges of the blades rotatable about an axis
to adjust their angular relationship to the surface to be
graded, and the blades adjustable up and down to change
the depth of the grading. The existing spreader/grader
has shortcomings in that the blades are installed at a
fixed angle to the length of the side wall. Optimum
performance can not be achieved unless the blade angle
with respect to the side wall is ad~ustable to
accommodate the grading or spreading conditions.
Further, the side walls in the rear of the
spreader/grader are inclined away from the rear cutting
blade, this does not allow the rear cutting edge to be
placed close to a surface such as a wall.
Therefore, it would be advantageous to have
introduced into the art a spreader/grader apparatus which
improves upon the current state of the art, and which
offers a more simplified, yet more functional
spreader/grader, which solves the problems in the art.
Other prior art spread/graders are noted in the art, and
together with the aforementioned Seal apparatus, will be
listed in the prior art statement filed with this
application.
Other objects of the invention will be obvious to
those skilled in the art from the following description
of the invention.
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8UMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION:
The apparatus of the present invention solves the
problems in the art in a simple and straightforward
manner. What is provided is an improved spreader/grader
apparatus having a pair of substantially parallel
sidewalls, spaced apart, and supporting at least two
spreader/grader blades therebetween. There would be
provided a hydraulic or manual adjustment member
connected to at least one end of each of the cutting
blades, for allowing the one end to be movably adjusted
along the length of the sidewalls, so that the blades may
be moved from a position substantially perpendicular to
the length of the sidewall, to an angular position
relative to the length of the sidewall, so as to provide
a means to prevent material from being deposited evenly
behind the spreader/grader, but to slide along the
angulated blade and be deposited in a greater proportion
on one side of surface being graded to produce a crowning
effect such as is desirable on a road surface.
Further there is provided a frame along the front
end of the apparatus to allow it to be connected to a
tractor for pulling the apparatus along the surface. The
spreader/grader would also include a brazed, hardened
surface along each underside of each sidewall, to prevent
excessive wear to the apparatus as it is dragged along
the ground.
Further there is provided an attachment to the
principal apparatus, allowing the apparatus to be
utilized on a sharp incline and supported by a wheel
member, as the spreading/grading process is taking place.
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Therefore, it is a principal object of the present
invention to provide a spreader/grader apparatus which
includes the ability to change the angular relationship
between the grader blade and the frame, for allowing
graded material to be moved outside the frame of the
apparatus;
It is a further principal object of the present
invention to provide a spreader/grader apparatus which
allows for the grading/spreading of material in a single
direction with fixed blades in relation to the surface
being graded;
It is a further object of the present invention to
provide a spreader/grader apparatus which has an improved
frame design in order to facilitate grading/spreading of
the surface material;
It is a further object of the present invention to
provide a spreader/grader apparatus which provides an
attachment to facilitate spreading/grading along an
inclined surface;
It is a further object of the present invention to
provide a spreader/grader apparatus which provides that
the sidewalls be shaped in such a manner, that the rear
edge of the sidewalls be angulated in substantially the
angular configuration of the blade, so as to allow the
apparatus to be positioned against a flat wall or the
like for optimum grading or spreading to that point; and
It is a further object of the present invention to
provide a spreader/grader apparatus which could provide
a pair of stationary blades which would be perpendicular
to the sidewalls for the spreading function, and means
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for angulating the blades in relation to the sidewalls to
achieve the optimum grading function.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGs:
For a further understanding of the nature and
objects of the present invention, reference should be had
to the following detailed description taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like
parts are given like reference numerals, and wherein:
FIGURE 1 illustrates an overall view of the
preferred embodiment of the present invention with the
blades in the perpendicular configuration in relation to
the frame;
FIGURE 2 illustrates an overall view of the
preferred embodiment of the present invention with the
blades in the angulated configuration in relation to the
frame;
FIGURES 3 and 4 illustrate top view of the
configurations illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2,
respectively;
FIGURE 5 illustrates a cross-section view of one of
the grading/spreading blades in the apparatus of the
present invention;
FIGURE 6 illustrates a cross section view of one of
the sidewall frame members in the apparatus of the
present invention;
FIGURE 7 illustrates a side view of the apparatus of
the present invention;
FIGURES 8 and 9 illustrate front and top views
respectively of the attachment for cutting along inclined
surfaces in the apparatus of the present invention; and
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FIGURE 10 illustrates a partial view of the
attachment o~ the wheel member onto the attachment frame
in the apparatus of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT:
FIGURES 1 through 7 illustrate the preferred
embodiment of the present invention by the numeral 10.
FIGURES 8 through 10 illustrate the attachment member
which will be discussed further.
Turning now to FIGURES 1 through 7, grader/spreader
apparatus 10 would comprise first and second upright
sidewall frame members 12, 14 respectively. Each
sidewall 12, 14 would further comprise a central metal
sidewall 16, enclosed in a track 18 along its entire
perimeter. Track 18 would include an outer surface 20,
the lower face 22 of which defines the means upon which
the apparatus 10 would mové along a surface to be graded
or spread. As is seen in FIGURES 1 and 6, there would be
included a second outer layer of hardened metal 26, (See
FIG. 2) secured through welding or the like to lower face
22 of track 18 to reduce the wear of the lower face 22
while the apparatus is move along the ground.
It should be noted that the configuration of each of
the sidewall frame members 12, 14 is more in the shape of
a parallelogram than a rectangle, with the forward edge
28 of each of the sidewalls 12, 14 inclined slightly
rearward, and the rear edge 30 inclined slightly forward.
This configuration is important in guiding the apparatus
10 along the surface, and properly engaging the surface
23 which is being graded or spread.
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As seen in the FIGUR-3S, the forward most portion 36
of apparatus 10 includes a means for strengthening the
overall apparatus 10, and affording an attachment means
to a tractor or the like vehicle which would pull the
apparatus. This means includes a pair of parallel bars
38, 40, which would preferably be hollow square bar,
welded at their ends to the side walls 12, 14 to provide
structural integrity to the apparatus, and to maintain
the sidewalls 12, 14 spaced apart along their length.
Further as seen in detail in FIGURES 1 and 2, the bars
38, 40 would be interconnected by a pair of support
members 42, 44. Also, forward bar 38 would further
include a pair of mounting brackets 46, 48, for attaching
a tractor hitch 45 (phantom view) thereto. Brackets 46,
48 are provided with a port 50 for providing attachment
to the hitch 45. Likewise the forward ends 49 of each bar
42, 44 would also include a port 50 for boltingly
engaging the tractor hitch 45 to the apparatus for
pulling it. Further there is illustrated a centrally
provided mounting hitch 52 secured to forward bar 38,
with hitch 52 including a connecting rod 54 extending
from the upper end 56 of hitch 52 to the central point of
bar 40, so that when it is hitched to a tractor, there is
established a "three point hitch" between the tractor and
the apparatus. In this manner the tractor operator can
maneuver the apparatus upward and downward as needed
during the grading/spreading process.
Turning now to the grading/spreading function of
apparatus 10, reference is made to FIGURES 1 through 4 in
particular. As seen in these figures, there is provided
a pair of spaced apart blades 60, 62 extending between
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the parallel side walls 12, 14. Each blade 60, 62, would
be utilized to smooth the surface being graded during use
of the apparatus. As illustrated, and as seen in detail
in FIGURE 5, the blades 60, 62 would further comprise a
length of iron 63 extending between the two sidewalls 12,
14. Each blade 60, 62 would be secured against a length
of angle iron 65, through a series of bolts 67 along its
length. Further each blade 60, 62 would provide a lower
cutting edge 69 for digging into the surface 23 to be
lo graded. As illustrated, particularly in FIGURE 5, the
blade members 60, 62 would be secured to the angle iron
65 so that the blades 60, 62 extends to a point somewhat
below the angle iron 65, so that as it is pulled along
surface 23, the blade is actually digging into the
surface in order to smooth it out. There is further
provided a support member 68 welded between the two faces
of the angle iron 65, so as to provide the necessary
support as the blades 60, 62 plows through the surface
23.
The length of angle iron 65 to which each blade is
bolted would provide a stable mounting base 64 for each
blade 60, 62 along its entire length. The first end 66
of the angle iron 65 would be hingedly secured at point
71 to the lower face 22 of sidewall 14. The second end
73 of each angle iron 65 would be allowed to move along
substantially the entire length of sidewall 12, from a
first position perpendicular to the side walls 12, 14
(See FIGURES 1, 3) to a second position where the base
64 has been moved to an angle in relation to sidewalls
12, 14 (See FIGURES 2, 4). The ability of the blades 60,
62 to be moved from the first and second positions serves
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as a means to adjust the blades to facilitate movement of
the graded/spreaded material away from the cutting blades
and outside the framework of the apparatus. This
eliminates the accumulation of graded material against
the forward part of the blade.
This sliding movement of the second end 73 of each
blade base 64 would be facilitated either through manual
movement by the operator, or as seen in the drawings
through the use of hydraulic means. As illustrated in
FIGURES 1 through 4, the hydraulic means would comprise
a hydraulic cylinder 80 mounted onto the outer face 17 of
sidewall 12, with the piston 82 of cylinder 80 extendable
along the length of the sidewall 12. Each blade 60, 62
would include an attachment arm 85 extending through a
continuous slot 87 in sidewall 12, and each arm 85
connected via a rod 89 to maintain them spaced apart.
The end 91 of piston 82 would be engaged to the forward
most arm 85, so that as the piston 82 is fully retracted,
as seen in FIGURE 1, the blades 60, 62 are positioned in
the first position, perpendicular to sidewall
configuration. When the hydraulic cylinder is activated,
as in FIGURE 2, the piston 82 has been extended, (arrow
83) which in turn, carries with it the two arms 85
mounted to each blade mount 64, thus moving the blades to
the fully angulated position. Of course, during
operation, the operator may extend the piston as far out
as he feels it should be, thus allowing in adjustability
of the blades from the fully retracted to the fully
extended, and points in between. Of course, if this were
to be accomplished manually, that is without the
hydraulics, the blades would have to be secured through
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bolting or the like at each point that the operator would
want to fix their angular position during use.
However, in the preferred embodiment it is foreseen that
hydraulics would be the preferred means to adjust the
position of the blades.
It should be made clear that the blades 60, 62,
although adjustable in their relation to the sidewalls
lengths, are not adjustable in terms of their angular
relation to the surface to be graded. As seen in FIGURE
lo 5, there is no provision for rotating the blades about
their axis to affect the cutting angle into the surface,
nor may the blades by rotated to allow for reversing the
apparatus to grade in the opposite direction. Although
this may be a limitation, the manner of construction in
the preferred embodiment provides a simplified
construction, which is very strong, and affords the
angular grading as mentioned earlier, which is a great
asset to the state of the art.
Reference is now made to FIGURES 8 through 10 which
provide for an attachment means for allowing the
grader/spreader 10 to be used easily upon an inclined
surface. As illustrated, the overall frame 15 would be
provided, however, including two important attachment
members. The first member is a cutting blade 100, which
is constructed identical to cutting blades 60, 62
previously discussed. However cutting blade 100 would
further include a pair of mounting arms 104, 106, each
arm comprising a first upright portion 108, with a
mounting arm portion 110 extending therefrom. Each of
the ends of the arm portions 110 would slidable engage
into the s~uare bores 112 of the front parallel bars 38,
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212~840
40, so that once in position, would allow the blade 100
to be positioned as seen in FIGURE 9. Further, to support
the second side of the frame 15, there would be provided
a wheel member 114, comprising a wheel 116, mounted to a
mounting arm 118, so that the end of the arm 118 would
also slidingly engage into the square bore 112 of support
bar 38. Once configured, the frame 15 would be fully
supported, with the blade 100 cutting into the surface 23
at one side of the frame 15, and the second side of the
frame supported by the wheel 116 rolling along the
surface 23. Of course, when the job was complete, the
blade 100 and wheel 116 would simply be disengaged, and
the frame 15 would return to its principal embodiment to
be dragged along the surface 23, with blades 60, 62
15 cutting the surface.
Glossary of ~erms:
grader/spreader apparatus 10
sidewall frame members 12, 14
overall frame 15
central sidewall 16
outer face 17
track 18
outer surface 20
lower face 22
surface 23
hardened metal 26
forward edge 28
rear edge 30
forward portion 36
parallel bars 38, 40
support members 42, 44
tractor hitch 45
mounting brackets 46, 48
forward ends 49
port 50
mounting hitch 52
connecting rod 54
upper end 56
blades 60, 62
iron length 63
angle iron 65
bolts 67
support member 68
lower cutting edge 69
mounting base 64
first end 66
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point 71
second end 73
hydraulic cylinder 80
piston 82
arrow 83
attachment arm 85
slot 87
rod 89
end 91
cutting blade 100
mounting arms 104, 106
upright portion 108
arm portion 110
bores 112
wheel member 114
wheel 116
mounting arm 118
Because many varying and different embodiments may
be made within the scope of the inventive concept herein
taught, and because many modifications may be made in the
embodiments herein detailed in accordance with the
descriptive re~uirement of the law, it is~ to be
understood that the details herein are to be interpreted
as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
What is claimed as invention is:
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