US3389482A - Adjustable scraper blade for road motor graders - Google Patents

Description

V. SCHIAVI June 25, 1968 ADJUSTABLE SCRAPER BLADE FOR ROAD MOTOR GRADERS Filed June 25 1965 R .Z W W M M l Z Q a 6 Em Wm M i INNQIIHFTHIIH 0 \\\U A a United States Patent Office 3,389,482 Patented June 25, 1968 3,389,482 ADIUSTAELE SCRAPER BLADE FOR ROAD MOTOR GRADERS Vincent Schiavi, R0. Box 1087, Wilmington, Del. 19899 Filed June 25, 1965, Ser. No. 466,973 2 Claims. (Cl. 172-664) ABTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention comprises motive means for the adjust able scraper blade of road motor graders whereby the pivoted scraping edges of the scraper blade may be more expeditiously actuated, particularly when the scraper blade is being operatively moved by the motor grader over a road surface being treated.

The instant invention relates to adjustable scraper blades used in road-grading of the type shown in my prior Patent No. 3,182,410 issued May 11, 1965.

In the aforementioned patent there is fully set out the function of an adjustable grading blade or scraper for motor graders. While the scraper described and claimed therein has been found highly eflicient and has met an outstanding need in use and has been widely accepted by road-builders, the necessity has become apparent for a scraper blade in which the adjustment of the pivoted scraping edges can be (a) more expeditiously accomplished; (b) effected while the grading blade or scraper is being operatively moved by the motor grader over a road surface being treated. This necessity contemplates a scraper producing a finer adjustment and gradation during the operation under (b) above, while actuation of both pivoted scraping edges takes place simultaneously and uniformly to and from flat to crown grading with various gradations of the latter.

Accordingly, it is an object of the instant invention to provide an adjustable grading blade or scraper for motor graders, whether as original equipment therefor or mounted on the grader moldboard in what has become known as in piggy-back fashion, to accomplish expeditiously and efiiciently the aims and purposes set out in the preceding paragraph.

The above and other objects will be apparent from the detailed description hereinafter appearing when taken in conjunction with the appended drawing forming a part hereof and showing an embodiment of the invention to which attention is now directed and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a scraper or grader blade in which the two-part adjustable lower cutting or scraper portion of the blade is shown in two positions, one position represented by the dotted line.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view on a larger scale of the central portion of the blade showing the fluid motor and its connection to the two pivoted lower scraping edge portions.

FIG. 3 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation taken on line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view showing the fluid motor operatively secured to the stationary portion of the scraper blade; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view thru a pivot pin taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

Turning to the instant drawing and as in my Patent No. 3,182,410, the blade or scraper is designated as 5 and each blade comprises a continuous, stationary, rigid, upper portion or section extending from end to end and a two-part adjustable lower portion comprising identical sections 11 and 11a, each pivoted at an outer end thereof to upper section 10 in a manner to be described hereinafter. This construction is a material departure from the centrally pivoted arrangement of the aforementioned patent, and for a purpose which will appear shortly. Upper section 10 includes a continuously longitudinally extending metal member 12 having a front concave face 13 and a rear convex face 14; a lower generally concavoconvex member 15 broadly similar to member 12, has its upper half welded to rear convex face 14 of the latter in abutting overlapping relationship, see FIG. 3.

The lower or adjustable part of scraper 5, as mentioned, comprises two similar halves 11 and 11a, each pivoted to upper stationary section at the respective outer edges thereof and a description of one of said halves will sufiice for both. Each half comprises a longitudinally-extending metal plate 32, the upper half 33 of which extends vertically into abutting sliding relationship with the inner portion 18 of plate 15. A longitudinal concave-convex metal plate 36 has its upper half in abutting relationship with the rear lower half of plate 32 and is rigidly secured to the latter by a line of welding 37. The upper horizontal part of a concavo-convex metal blade cutting edge 38 is secured to the concave face of plate 36 by a plurality of spaced bolt and nut connections 39 whereby said cutting or scraping edge 38 may be removed and replaced, when desired. The numeral 23 designates one of a number of intermediate reinforcing metal angle bars and it will be seen that all of this structure is more fully described in Patent No. 3,182,410.

Each lower half portion 11-11a is pivoted adjacent an outer edge Sit-50a of stationary blade 10 and more specifically to concavo-convex member 15 thereof, see FIG. 5. It will be seen that upper half 33 of plate 32 has an opening 52 extending horizontally therethrough adjacent its outer edge normal to scraping edge 38; while plate 15 has a similar opening 54. Opening 52 has a short bearing sleeve 55 welded therein; and a similar sleeve 56 is welded within opening 54. The sleeves 5556 are aligned and carry a headed bolt 57 threaded at 58 to receive a nut 59, this construction constituting a hinge or pivot about which a lower scraper half 11-1111 may move.

Turning now to FIG. 2, the inner edge of a movable lower half portion 11-11a is designated as and is generally normal to scraping edge 38, said inner edges being spaced as indicated at 71. A vertically extending operating bar 72 has oppositely projecting ears 7344, each ear having central slot 75 or 76. Pins 77 and 78 are integral with lower half portions lit-11a, respectively, each pin projecting forwardly through a slot 75 or 76. Operating bar 72 extends upwardly through a guide opening 79 in metal member 12 so that a section of this bar is forwardly and a section rearwardly of said member, said bar having a slot 80 just below its upper end. A pair of spaced vertical ears 81 are welded to the convex surface 14 of longitudinal member 12, said ears carrying a horizontal pivot pin 82. The numeral 83 designates a pair of spaced, generally L-shaped rockers, the horizontal legs 84 of which extend between cars 81 and are pivoted at one end on pin 82. The opposite ends constituting the corners of the L-shaped rocker, straddle the upper portion of bar 72 and are pivotally connected thereto by a pin 86 passing through slot 80 of said bar. Finally, the vertical legs 87 of the L-shaped rocking members have a horizontal pin 38 adjacent the terminal portions thereof.

The numeral 90 designates a pair of spaced vertical ears, similar to cars 81 and also welded to face 14 of member 12. An hydraulic cylinder 91 has a piston 92 movable therein actuating a piston rod 93 which is pivotally connected by pin 88 to vertical legs 87. The opposite end of cylinder 91 has a bracket 94 rigid therewith hinged to cars 90 by means of pivot pin 95. A pump 96 having a handle 97 for manual actuation is also welded to surface 14 adjacent an outer end thereof and is connected to cylinder 91 by hollow flexible hoses 98 constituting flow lines for an hydraulic fluid. The hydraulic system comprising cylinder 91, piston 92, pump 96 and hoses 98 is equipped with the usual valves and controls (not shown) whereby the flow of the actuating fluid may be controlled to and from cylinder 91. This system is an item readily purchasable in the open market and, of itself, constitutes no material part of the invention; it is only illustrative of one motive means applicable herein.

The scraping edges 38 of scraper 5 for fiat grading will be in the position shown by dotted line 100 in FIG. 1. Movement of piston 92 to the right in FIG. 2 by the pressure of fluid thereagainst will move operating bar 72 upwardly and pivot both lower half portions 11-1111 about respective pivot pins 57 to the full line position of scraper edges in FIG. 1 or to any intermediate position between the dotted and full line positions. As shown, it is con templated that a helper to the motor grader operator walk behind the scraper 5 and operate the handle 97 of pump 96 to change the contour of the scraping edges as required, from fiat to crown or vice versa; this during the movement of the scraper by the motor grader over the road surface being graded.

As indicated, other motive means such as gears and ratchet may be substituted for the hydraulic system shown. It is also visualized that a more sophisticated arrangement, whereby all will be under control of the motor grader operator, may be employed; such as arrangement to include gauges, etc. to visually indicate the degree of movement of the scraper edges, pressure being exerted thereon and so forth.

Accordingly, it is submitted that the aims and objects have becn attained; also that various changes may be made as will occur to those skilled in the art. It is contemplated to cover all such and to be limited in this respect only as may be necessary by the scope of the claims hereto appended.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A scraper blade for a road-grading machine, said blade in operative position being vertical and movable over a road surface to be graded and comprising a transversely-extending stationary upper section having outer edges, a pair of transversely-extending similar lower blade sections together coextensive in length with said upper section, each lower section having a bottom scraping edge, and an outer edge generally normal to said scraping edge, pivot means connecting the outer edge of a lower blade section to an outer edge of the transversely-extending stationary section, said lower blade sections each having an inner edge, said inner edges being spaced and located substantially centrally of the scraper, motive means including an actuating member pivotally secured to said blade sections adjacent the inner edges thereof, said actuating member comprising a vertically movable bar having oppositely-extending transverse ears, said ears each having a slot, said lower blade sections each having a pin adjacent an inner edge and passing thru a slot in one of said ears.

2. The structure of claim 1, said motive means comprising an hydraulic cylinder having a reciprocatable piston, a piston rod movable by said piston, said rod pivotally connected to said vertically movable bar.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,390,479 9/1921 Baker 37-108 XR 2,012,784 8/1935 Barber 37-108 XR 2,310,396 2/1943 Clinkscales 37143 3,182,410 5/1965 Schiavi 37-479 ANTONIO F. GUIDA, Primary Examiner.

R. L. HOLLISTER, ALAN E. KOPECKI,

Assistant Examiners.

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