Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02228103 1998-O1-28
1 FIELD OF THE INVENTION
2 The present invention relates to a box scraper which can be pulled by a
3 tractor and used for breaking up hard ground, for earth moving, for leveling
4 and the like.
6 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
7 The invention was originally developed in connection with breaking up
8 and removing moguls and built-up layers of frozen animal waste in northern
9 cattle feed lots.
It is common practice in cattle feed lot operations to feed the animals at
11 long trouc,~hs (referred to as feed bunks). During feeding, the cattle
commonly
12 drop waste. Under cold weather conditions, the waste freezes and begins to
13 build up, often in the form of humps or moguls. These slippery humps are
14 hazardous for the cattle. As a result, it becomes necessary for the feed
lot
operator to periodically break up and remove frozen waste and associated
16 straw and earth, to bring the surface of the lot down to a desirable level
17 elevation.
18 The implement commonly used for this function has long been a
19 backhoe. However this is a machine which many feed lot operators do not
own - thE~y have to pay for a contractor to truck a backhoe in and carry out
the
21 work. This is expensive to do.
22 Front end loaders are common equipment at feed lots, but they are not
23 very useful for this purpose. The loader bucket tends to slide over the
hard,
24 slippery, frozen material.
2
CA 02228103 1998-O1-28
1 It was the original objective in developing the present invention to
2 provide sin implement, usable with a tractor and affordable for feed lot
3 operators, which could effectively penetrate, break up and remove the frozen
4 waste. -This was achieved. However, once developed and tested, the
implement has been found to also be useful for other applications such as
6 earth moving and leveling.
7
8 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
9 The implement developed in accordance with the invention comprises,
when in a~ level position:
11 ~ A substantially horizontal, thick steel blade carrying forwardly
12 projecting, spaced apart ripper teeth (collectively referred to as the
13 blade/tooth assembly);
14 ~ A heavy steel box formed by rear and side walls and a front wall
extending down only partway, so that the box is open-bottomed and
16 has a transversely extending opening at its bottom front end;
17 ~ The blade extends across the bottom of the opening and is
18 connected with the lower front segments of the side walls;
19 ~ The box is pivotally connected at the front to a rigid beam assembly
?0 which functions as a hitch for connection with the hitch of a tractor;
~'.1 ~ The box is also connected at the rear with a pivoting wheel
2 assembly. The wheel assembly preferably comprises a frame
a3 pivotally connected with the rear wall of the box. The frame carries
~4 one or more wheels. A hydraulic cylinder means is pivotally
connected at its lower end to the wheel frame and at its upper end
3
CA 02228103 1998-O1-28
1 to the box rear wall. The cylinder assembly can be extended or
2 contracted to raise or lower the box from the rear end;
3 ~ A pivotally connected hydraulic cylinder means is angled up from
4 the hitch to the front of the box;
~ The pivot connection of the hitch with the box and the pivot
6 connections of the front cylinder means with the box and hitch thus
7 form a "three point connection" so that the front cylinder means can
8 be used to tilt the box from the front end;
9 ~ Thus the rear and front cylinder assemblies can be independently
used to tilt the box and raise or lower its rear end, to orient the
11 blade and teeth downwardly with part of the box weight pressing
12 down on the blade. In addition the cylinder assemblies can be
13 adjusted to substantially level the box for collecting broken material;
14 ~ The rear wheel assembly inherently also acts as a gauge wheel for
the box. It controls the cutting depth or elevation of the bladeltooth
16 assembly;
17 ~ The rear wheel assembly and front hitch suspend the box between
18 them and prevent the downwardly slanted bladeltooth assembly
19 from diving downwardly as the implement is advanced; and
~'0 ~ An internal downwardly slanted second blade is connected with the
2.1 rear portion of the box, so as to protrude below the bottom rim of
~2 the box, transversely to the direction of advance.
~3 The implement (referred to as a box scraper or scraper-ripper) is usually
~4 operated in two passes. On the first pass, the rear cylinder means is
~5 expanded and the front cylinder means is contracted to thereby tilt the box
4
CA 02228103 1998-O1-28
1 forward, slant the bladeltooth assembly downwardly and position it at the
2 desired cutting depth. The tractor is then advanced with the bladeltooth
3 assembly breaking up the ground through which it passes. The hitch and rear
4 wheel assembly function to keep the bladeltooth assembly at the desired
elevation. The broken material flows in a strip over the blade and drops back
6 onto the undisturbed ground as the box passes over it. On the second pass,
7 the cylinder assemblies are adjusted so that the box is brought to a
generally
8 level condition - usually it is laid flat on the ground. The bladeltooth
assembly
9 is now out of the broken material but the second blade penetrates into it.
When they unit is now advanced on the second pass over the same path, the
11 broken material curls up the second blade and rear wall and drops forward
to
12 be trapped in the box. After the second pass, the box can then be moved to
a
13 dumping location. To unload the contents, the cylinder means are adjusted
to
14 raise the box so that it can be driven away, leaving the broken material on
the
ground to~ be subsequently removed by a front end loader or the like.
16 Broadly stated, the invention is directed to a box scraper which, when
17 level, connprises: an open-bottomed box having side, front and rear walls,
the
18 front wall extending down only part way to leave a lower front opening
19 extending across the box, the box having a bottom rim and comprising a rear
~0 end portiion and a front end portion, the box further forming an internal
~1 chamber; a substantially horizontal bladeltooth assembly mounted to the
~2 box and .extending across the lower front opening, said assembly comprising
~3 a blade connected with the side walls at their lower front segments, said
blade
~?4 carrying a plurality of forwardly directed ripping teeth spaced apart
along its
?5 length; a downwardly slanted second blade mounted to the box rear end
5
CA 02228103 1998-O1-28
1 portion and extending transversely of the box chamber, said second blade
2 protruding beneath the box bottom rim; a hitch assembly comprising
3 elongatecl rigid beam means pivotally connected at its rear end with the box
4 front portion above the blade/tooth assembly, said hitch assembly having
means ai: its front end for connection with a pulling vehicle; first cylinder
6 means having a first end connected to the box front end portion at a point
7 above thE; beam means and a second end pivotally connected with the beam
8 means, thereby forming part of a three point connection between the hitch
9 assembly and the box; and a wheel assembly having at least one rotatable
wheel and a member for pivotally mounting the wheel to the box rear end
11 portion, said wheel assembly further comprising second cylinder means
12 having an upper end pivotally connected to the box rear end portion and a
13 lower end pivotally connected to the member; so that, in a first pass mode,
the
14 first and second cylinder means may be adjusted to tilt the box forwardly,
to
lower and downwardly slant the bladeltooth assembly and to bring part of the
16 box weight to bear on the bladeltooth assembly, whereby if the scraper is
17 pulled forwardly the bladeltooth assembly will penetrate and break up the
18 ground to form a strip of broken material which passes over the blade and
19 through the open bottom of the box to be re-deposited on the unbroken
0 ground while the hitch assembly and wheel assembly suspend the box with its
~1 blade maintained at the desired depth; and so that, in a second pass mode,
22 the box rnay be leveled by adjusting the first and second cylinder means so
3 that the bladeltooth assembly is substantially out of the ground while the
24 second blade penetrates the broken material, whereby when the scraper is
again pulled forwardly the second blade will cause the broken material to
6
CA 02228103 1998-O1-28
1 collect in the box chamber so that it may be carried along with the box; and
so
2 that, in an unloading mode, the box may be lifted by adjusting the first and
3 second cylinder means to leave the collected material on the ground as the
4 scraper is. pulled away.
6 DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
7 Figure 1 is a side view of the scraper;
8 Figure 2 is a top view of the scraper;
9 Figure 3 is a rear view of the scraper, showing the rear wheel
assembly;
11 Figure 4 is a front view of the scraper;
12 Figure 5 is a simplified side view showing the tractorlscraper unit in the
13 first pass mode, with the box steeply downwardly tilted so that the
bladeltooth
14 assembly is breaking up material which is being laid back down on the
undisturbed ground by passing through the open bottom of the box;
16 Figure 6 is a simplified side view showing the unit in the second pass
17 mode, with the box slightly upwardly tilted so that the bladeltooth
assembly is
18 out of the ground and the second blade is penetrating the broken material
and
19 causing it to curl up and be collected and carried by the box as it
advances;
Fic,~ure 7 is a simplified side view showing the unit with the box in an
21 intermediate downwardly tilted position with both blades operative - this
mode
22 can be used to both cut and pick up material at the same time. It is used
in
23 soft ground and in a scraping leveling function; and
24 Figure 8 is a simplified side view showing the unit with the box raised to
leave collected material on the ground as the scraper moves away.
7
CA 02228103 1998-O1-28
1 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
2 Having reference to the drawings, a box-type scraper 1 is shown. It is
3 designed to be pulled by a tractor 2 or like vehicle.
4 The scraper 1 comprises a box 3 having a front hitch 4 and rear wheel
assembly 5.
6 The box 3 is generally rectangular in configuration. It comprises a rear
7 wall 6 and a pair of parallel, forwardly projecting side walls 7. The box 3
has
8 an open top 8 and bottom 9. A partial front wall 10 connects the front
portions
9 7a of they side walls 7 at their upper ends. Thus an opening 11 extends
across the bottom front end of the box 3.
11 The bladeltooth assembly 12 extends across the bottom of the opening
12 11 and connects the side walls 7 at their lower front end segments 7b. The
13 assembly 12 comprises a blade 13 carrying a plurality of attached ripper
teeth
14 14 (otherwise known as "grousers"). The ripper teeth 13 are spaced apart
along the blade's length. When the box 3 is in a level or horizontal position,
16 the blade 13 and teeth 14 are slightly downwardly slanted.
17 The scraper is intended for heavy duty use. In addition, the blade/tooth
18 assembly 12 is to be capable of being forced into and through very hard
19 material. And finally the box 3 is to supply the forcing weight for the
blade/tooth assembly 12. It follows that the box, blade and teeth should be
21 formed using heavy steel plate and reinforcing beams, such as is commonly
22 used in the construction of highway earth-moving equipment.
8
CA 02228103 1998-O1-28
1 A downwardly slanted second blade 15 extends across the bottom
2 lower end of the box chamber 16 at its rear and is connected to the lower
rear
3 portions 7 c of the side walls 7 and the rear wall 6. The blade 15 protrudes
4 beneath the bottom rim 17 of the box 3.
A hitch 4 extends forwardly from the box 3. The hitch shown
6 comprises a pair of side beams 18 pivotally connected by pins 18a to the box
7 front end portion 3a. The side beams 18 are inwardly forwardly converging to
8 form a V-shaped frame 19. A reinforcing central beam 20 connects with the
9 side beams 18 at the apex and is pivotally connected by a pin 20a at its
rear
end with the box front end portion 3a. The rear pivot connections of the
11 beams 18, 20 are positioned above the blade 3.
12 Right and left hydraulic cylinders 21,22 are each pivotally connected at
13 their ends by pins 21 a, 22a and 21 b, 22b with the box front end portion
3a
14 and the adjacent side beam 18. Thus each side beam and its associated
cylinder is connected with the box 3 to provide a three-point connection.
16 Expansion or contraction of the cylinders 21, 22 wil I cause the box 3 to
pivot
17 or tilt about the front pins 18a, 20a.
18 The hitch 4 has a tongue 23 pivotally mounted to its front end 4a by a
19 horizontal pivot pin 24. The tongue 23 is pivotally connected to the
tractor
hitch 25 by a vertical pin 26. Thus the scraper 1 can follow and turn with the
21 tractor 2 pulling it.
9
CA 02228103 1998-O1-28
1 A rear wheel assembly 5 extends from the box rear section 36. As
2 shown, support lugs 30 extend from the box rear wall 6. The end lugs 30
3 carry bearing assemblies 31. A horizontal shaft 32 is supported by the
4 bearing assemblies 31 for rotation. A rearwardly extending member or frame
33 is connected with the shaft 32. A pair of wheels 34 are rotatably mounted
6 to the frame 33.
7 A pair of spaced apart lugs 35 extend rearwardly from the top portion
8 6a of the box rear wall 6. A pair of spaced apart lugs 36 extend upwardly
9 from the shaft 32. A second hydraulic cylinder 37 is pivotally connected at
its
ends with the lugs 35, 36 by pins 38, 39. The cylinder 37 can extend or
11 contract to rotate the shaft 32 and attached frame 33 and wheels 34 about
12 their connection with the box 3. The cylinder 37 can be locked to lock the
13 wheels 34 at a desired elevation.
14 The rear wheel assembly 5 has been mounted centrally to the rear end
wall 6 of the box 3. This enables the box 3 to be brought close to feed bunks.
16 However, the wheels 34 and supporting structure could be alternatively
17 mounted to the side walls 7 if desired.
18 The hydraulic hoses (not shown) of the tractor 2 will be connected to
19 actuate the front and rear cylinders 21, 22, 37 in a conventional manner.
Having reference to Figures 5 - 7, the operation of the scraper 1 on the
21 first pass will now be described. For penetrating and breaking up a strip
of
22 ground, the box 3 is tilted relatively steeply, as shown in Figure 5, to
bring the
23 bladeltooth assembly 12 down and tilt it downwardly. This is achieved by
24 expanding the rear cylinder 37 and contracting the front cylinders 21, 22.
The
unit (tractor 2 and scraper 1 ) is then advanced. The ripper teeth 14 and
blade
CA 02228103 1998-O1-28
1 13 break up the ground. The broken material flows over the blade 13 and
2 drops back down through the box open bottom 9 onto the undisturbed ground.
3 The tractor 2, hitch 4 and locked cylinders 21, 22 form a front support; the
4 frame 33, wheels 34 and locked cylinder 37 form a rear support - these
supports function to suspend the box 3 so that the advancing downwardly
6 slanted blade 13 can't draw down or dive into the ground.
7 On the second pass, illustrated in Figure 6, the front cylinders 21, 22
8 are expanded and the rear cylinder 37 contracted to generally level the box
3
9 and adjust the elevation of the rear blade 15 so that its bottom edge is
brought
to about the cutting elevation of the first pass. In many situations the box 3
11 can be lowered so that its bottom rim rests on the ground - the rear wheels
34
12 may be out of contact with the ground. As the unit is advanced, the broken
13 material curls up along the rear blade 15 and box rear wall 6 and cascades
14 forwardly to collect in the advancing box chamber 16.
The elevation and tilt of the box 3 can be adjusted to suit the situation.
16 In Figure 7, the box 3 is tilted less severely forward (in comparison to
Figure
17 5) for use in softer ground. In this mode the rear blade 15 is close to the
18 cutting pane and the ground is both broken and collected in one pass.
19 To discharge collected broken ground, the rear cylinder 37 is expanded
as shown in Figure 8 to raise the rear of the box 3 high, so that it can be
21 driven over the collected load of broken material 40.
22 Advantages
23 The invention is characterized by certain advantages, more particularly:
24 ~ The scraper can be modest in size and thus provides an affordable
implement for a farm or feed lot operation;
11
CA 02228103 1998-O1-28
1 ~ It can be used to break up ground, frozen or soft, and then operated
2 to collect the broken material, level the ground as it passes over it
3 and convey the collected material to a dumping location or spread it
4 thinly elsewhere;
~ It is unlikely to get plugged or stuck and can work in wet or dry
6 conditions; and
7 ~ Once set at a cutting depth, it is maintained at that depth until the
8 cylinders are adjusted.
9 The foregoing has described applicant's specific best mode of the
invention. The scope of the invention is set forth in the claims now
following.
12
