Abstract: A grader includes a chassis and a work implement assembly. The work implement assembly has a draft frame pivotally coupled to the chassis, a circle frame coupled to the draft frame for rotation relative thereto to adjust an angular orientation of a moldboard supported by the circle frame, and a mount kit to pivotally retain the circle frame to the draft frame. The draft frame includes a platform having a first side that faces the moldboard, a second side arranged opposite the first side that faces away from the moldboard, and an opening extending through the first and second sides. The circle frame is arranged in confronting relation to the first side of the platform.

Abstract: An attachment system for a work vehicle implement includes an implement attachment assembly. The implement attachment assembly includes a support structure coupled to a receiver assembly. The support structure includes a first mounting feature configured to engage a first corresponding mounting feature extending downwardly from a bottom surface of a work vehicle, and a second mounting feature configured to engage a second corresponding mounting feature extending downwardly from the bottom surface of the work vehicle. The first and second mounting features of the support structure are spaced apart from one another along a longitudinal axis relative to a direction of travel of the work vehicle, and the first and second mounting features of the support structure are configured to substantially block horizontal and vertical movement of the support structure relative to the work vehicle via engagement with the first and second corresponding mounting features of the work vehicle.

Abstract: An attachment system for a work vehicle implement includes an implement attachment assembly. The implement attachment assembly includes a support structure coupled to a receiver assembly. The support structure includes a first mounting feature configured to engage a first corresponding mounting feature extending downwardly from a bottom surface of a work vehicle, and a second mounting feature configured to engage a second corresponding mounting feature extending downwardly from the bottom surface of the work vehicle. The first and second mounting features of the support structure are spaced apart from one another along a longitudinal axis relative to a direction of travel of the work vehicle, and the first and second mounting features of the support structure are configured to substantially block horizontal and vertical movement of the support structure relative to the work vehicle via engagement with the first and second corresponding mounting features of the work vehicle.

Abstract: The disclosure describes, in one aspect, a system and method for controlling a rotation angle of a blade of a motor grader having a front frame operatively coupled to a rear frame at a point defining an articulation angle between the front and rear frames. The control system includes at least one sensor operatively associated with the blade, at least one sensor operatively associated with a wheel, at least one sensor operatively associated with at least one of the front frame or the rear frame, and a controller operatively coupled to the at least one sensors. The controller is adapted to determine a current position of the blade, determine a wheel steering angle, determine an articulation angle, and control the rotation angle of the blade based in part on the wheel steering angle and the articulation angle.

Abstract: A work vehicle comprises a frame, a circle gear mounted to the frame to rotate relative thereto, a moldboard coupled to the circle gear to rotate therewith, and a circle drive gearbox comprising gearing, a first worm, and a second worm, the gearing meshing with the circle gear, the first and second worms meshing with the gearing.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a blade control system for a machine. The blade control system includes an input device configured to actuate a first actuator associated with a first blade end in response to a manual command signal triggered by the input device. Further, a controller configured to receive the manual command signal indicative of the trigger initiated by the input device and actuate a second actuator associated with a second blade end with substantially same velocity as of the first actuator in response to the manual command signal.

Abstract: A skid steer machine having separate left and right hydraulic propulsion units includes an operating ratio change system by which the ratio of the propulsion speed of at least one of the hydraulic propulsion units versus the hydraulic flow directed to the propulsion units can be changed from at least a first ratio to a second ratio and inversely. The operating ratio change system includes an operating ratio change ECU which controls an operating ratio change device to operate in at least a first ratio configuration or a second ratio configuration, and the operating ratio change system operates in an automatic operating mode where the operating ratio change ECU selects the operating ratio according to machine parameters received by the operating ratio change ECU.

Abstract: An adjustable wear assembly for a machine mounting component having a channel is disclosed. The adjustable wear assembly may have a wear insert located within the channel, and an inclined adjustment plate located within the channel in contact with the wear insert. The adjustable wear assembly may also have at least one wedge block located within the channel in contact with the inclined adjustment plate, and a cover connectable to the mounting component to close off a side of the channel.

Abstract: A grader-blade retainer assembly affording side-to-side movement of the blade that provides a compliant attachment of an upper retainer assembly to the grader-blade assembly. An embodiment facilitates adjustment of the retainer assembly, as in the case of wear, without the necessity of hand tools.

Abstract: A motor grader including lift cylinders is described. Each one of lift cylinders is connected to a lifter bracket through first support means, and each other ends of the lift cylinders is connected to a forward position compared to a rear in portion in a draw bar, through second support means. Each one ends and the other end of the lift cylinders are offset from each other with respect to a front-rear direction of the motor grader as viewed from above the motor grader, thereby disposing the pair of lift cylinders inclined in the front-rear direction of the motor as viewed from a side of the motor grader. With this structure, it is possible to obtain the motor grader in which a height position of each end of the lift cylinders can be substantially equal to a height position of the lifter bracket as viewed from the side of the motor grader, and a visibility hindrance by the pair of lift cylinders can extremely be lowered.

Abstract: A ride control arrangement for a machine having a frame, a ripper, a hydraulic actuator operative to move the ripper includes at least one accumulator assembly, and a valve mechanism operatively disposed between the accumulator assembly and the hydraulic actuator to either block or allow fluid communication between the hydraulic actuator and the accumulator assembly. A ride control arrangement for a motor grader with an implement operated by a hydraulic actuator similarly includes at least one accumulator assembly selectively fluidly connected to the hydraulic actuator by way of a valve mechanism.

Abstract: A ride control arrangement for a machine having a frame, a ripper, a hydraulic actuator operative to move the ripper includes at least one accumulator assembly, and a valve mechanism operatively disposed between the accumulator assembly and the hydraulic actuator to either block or allow fluid communication between the hydraulic actuator and the accumulator assembly. A ride control arrangement for a motor grader with an implement operated by a hydraulic actuator similarly includes at least one accumulator assembly selectively fluidly connected to the hydraulic actuator by way of a valve mechanism.

Abstract: A moldboard of a work vehicle comprises a blade and a sideshift rail comprising a bar attached to the blade and a wear strip removably mounted to the bar.

Abstract: An implement pitch-yaw system for effectively and efficiently controlling the pitch of an implement. The implement pitch-yaw system includes a first yaw actuator and a second yaw actuator attached between an implement structure pivotally attached to a support structure and a connecting member slidably attached to the support structure, and a pitch actuator attached between the connecting member and the support structure. The extension/retraction of the pitch actuator moves the yaw actuators accordingly thereby creating the desired pitch movement for the implement structure.

Abstract: A bearing support arrangement for a grader blade uses short stroke hydraulic cylinders to compensate for wear between slide bearings and slide rails of the grader blade. The cylinders are preferably pressurized by grease and a grease fitting is provided for each cylinder to provide convenient access, to allow service by the operator. Preferably the cylinders are located in a generally closed cavity between the bearing support holder and the slide bearing.

Abstract: A grading attachment for a skid steer loader is provided with steerable wheels that are steered by an actuator. The blade of the grading attachment may be rotatable through 360 degrees by a motor and gear assembly. Actuators may be provided to raise, lower and tilt the blade. The actuators may be hydraulic, and may be controlled by switches mounted on sleeves that may be mounted on the control handles of the loader. The switches may control the flow of hydraulic fluid to the actuators by actuating solenoid valves.

Abstract: A grader attachment for a skid steer utilizes the skid steer's auxiliary hydraulics to power an independent hydrostatic steering system for the grader and to control skid steer propulsion and grader blade position. The attachment mounts to the skid steer via a standard mounting connection. The auxiliary hydraulics of the skid steer are routed through a flow control valve and then through a safety valve/back pressure valve before being tapped to control the steering, blade positioning and propulsion systems of the grader. The steering and propulsion systems use a cross bar which connects to the hand control levers of the skid steer. The foot pedal used to control propulsion of the skid steer and attachment has a centering system so that the cylinder goes back to neutral when an operator's foot is removed from the pedal stopping the unit. The blade positioning system utilizes pairs of lift and angle cylinders which allow the blade to be rotated or tilted.

Abstract: A bearing support arrangement for a grader blade uses short stroke hydraulic cylinders to compensate for wear between slide bearings and slide rails of the grader blade. The cylinders are preferrably pressurized by grease and a grease fitting is provided for each cylinder to provide with convenient access, to allow service by the operator. Preferrably the cylinders are located in a generally closed cavity between the bearing support holder and the slide bearing.

Abstract: A circle drawbar assembly uses a series of hydraulic cylinders disposed within the circle member and attached to the drawbar frame to rotate the circle member. These cylinders can also be used to lock the circle member in a desired position. The cylinders preferably are secured to the drawbar frame at a position close to but offset from the axis of rotation of the circle member. The cylinders rotate with rotation of the circle member.

Abstract: A construction vehicle has a working appliance such as a blade, which is mounted on a vehicle frame such that it can pivot in the vertical direction about a first axis and it can pivot about a second axis substantially perpendicular thereto, for which purpose at least one hydraulic device is provided. The position of the axis about which the working appliance can pivot can be varied in relation to the vehicle frame.

Abstract: A bearing support arrangement for a grader blade uses short stroke hydraulic cylinders to compensate for wear between slide bearings and slide rails of the grader blade. The cylinders are preferrably pressurized by grease and a grease fitting is provided for each cylinder to provide with convenient access, to allow service by the operator. Preferrably the cylinders are located in a generally closed cavity between the bearing support holder and the slide bearing.

Abstract: An actuator for raising and lowering a blade mounted to a vehicle. A winch assembly is mounted to the blade and is powered by the vehicle battery. The motor has a low amperage draw and has a gear reduction unit to provide mechanical advantage. The cable extending from the winch is arranged to have a double pull to provide an additional mechanical advantage.

Abstract: A mid-chassis, underbody plow or scrapper blade is mounted under a vehicle chassis to be folded upwardly for storage when not in use. The blade is also mounted to permit the outer ends of the blade to move vertically. Pneumatic pressure actuators mounted on either side of the center line of the vehicle apply pressure through pivot arms to the respective ends of the blade to control the scrapping action. The support structure for the blade swings upwardly to achieve a two-stage storage which increases the elevation of the blade when folded.

Abstract: A mid-chassis, underbody plow or scrapper blade is mounted under a vehicle chassis to permit the outer ends of the blade to move vertically. Pneumatic pressure actuators mounted on either side of the center line of the vehicle apply pressure to the respective ends of the blade to control the scrapping action.

Abstract: An apparatus for coupling a blade assembly to a vehicle includes a circle assembly having a circle member. The apparatus further includes a plate having a passageway extending therethrough, the circle member being movable relative to the plate. The apparatus also includes a first wear strip positioned within the passageway, the first wear strip being located in contact with the circle member. The apparatus further includes a shim positioned within the passageway, the shim being located in contact with the wear strip. A method for coupling a blade assembly to a vehicle is also disclosed.

Abstract: Flexibility of operation is added to a vehicle (10) having a vehicle frame (12) with an operator area (18) and front and rear wheels (14), (16), a power tool (32), a pair of outrigger arms (48) pivoted to the frame (12) and hydraulic cylinders (62) extending between the frame (12) and the arms (48) by providing a ground engaging tool (70), (168), (172), (192) mounted on at least one of the arms (58).

Abstract: An apparatus, for stabilizing a plowing implement mounted on a motor vehicle, comprising a rigid stabilizer member having first and second opposed ends. One end of the stabilizer member supports an attachment device for attaching the stabilizer member to a plowing frame secured to a motor vehicle. The attachment device allows pivoting motion of the stabilizer member relative to the plowing frame. The second end of the stabilizer member has an abutment surface for abutting against a pivotable portion of the plowing implement when the plowing implement is raised into travel position. The stabilizer member is pivotable into an inoperative position where complete freedom of movement of the plow is achieved and an operative position by a control mechanism. When the stabilizer member is in its operative position, the abutment surface abuts against a pivotable portion of the plowing implement to minimize undesired bouncing of the plowing implement while the vehicle is traveling on a roadway.

Abstract: By providing the work blade of a grader with a hydraulic regulation system where pressure limiting valves (14, 15, 16, 17) guide pressure reducing valves (10, 11, 12, 13) a constant pressure regulation of the work blade is achieved so that the work pressure set by the operator from his cab is maintained almost independent of the irregularities of the underlying surface.

Abstract: A grader has a grader blade which can be pressed against the ground or lifted off it by means of piston-cylinder drives. To be able to vary the downard pressure of the grader blade in its float position, either the piston chamber or the piston ring chamber of each drive can be charged with a working fluid under pressure when the grader blade is in the float position, so that the corresponding drive exerts a force on the grader blade which increases or decreases the downward pressure of the grader blade on the ground. While still allowing the grader blue to follow the contour of the ground.

Abstract: A drag-type road grader including a skewable frame and a plurality of blade assemblies extending transversely across the frame. A tongue assembly is mounted on the frame and includes hydraulic cylinders for skewing the frame to alternative parallelogram-shaped configurations whereby the blade assemblies are angled with respect to the direction of travel. Retractible wheel assemblies are provided for transporting the grader in a non-working mode.

Abstract: The grading vehicle has a grading blade which is guided displaceably on the frame of the vehicle transverse to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. In order to obtain automatic readjustment of the guidance of the blade upon the occurrence of wear and play in the guidance, the blade is displaceable, by means of two guide ledges which extend horizontally on the blade and are spaced vertically from each other, between upper and lower slide pieces, the lower slide pieces being movable vertically and being pushed by spring force against the lower guide ledge of the blade.

Abstract: A locking mechanism is provided for an apparatus having a first member movable relative to a second member providing a plurality of spaced holes therein including: a housing secured to the first member; a lock pin extendably retractably mounted in the housing for insertion into the holes in the second member; and a powered control circuit having an actuated member movably mounted within the housing and connected to the lock pin, the actuator member providing differential force applying surfaces selectively exerting a predetermined locking force to hold the lock pin in the holes and a lower indexing force permitting substantially unrestricted relative movement between the first and second members and automatic insertion of the pin into one of the aligned holes.

Abstract: A motor grader has improved support structure for mounting the grader blade on the circle blade support arms and for controlling blade tilt. A bearing housing structure consists of a transverse structural member with integral upright bearing housings at its two ends, is slightly shorter than the space between the support arms, and is carried on pivots at the lower ends of the arms with facing bearings so the bearing housing structure reinforces the arms against lateral deflection. The grader blade support rails extend through upper and lower jaws in the bearing housings with the weight of the blade carried in bearing plates in the upper jaws and the lower rail guided between parallel upright bearing plates in the lower jaw which is otherwise free of contact with the lower jaw. Blade tilt is controlled by a single hydraulic cylinder pivotally mounted on the circle midway between the arms with its piston rod pivotally connected to the transverse structural member.

Abstract: An improved support for mounting the grader blade assembly of a motor grader on depending support arms of the motor grader circle. A bearing housing structure which is several times wider than the height of the blade assembly consists of a transverse hollow structural member with integral upright bearing housings at its ends which are substantially wider than and pivoted on the arms so the structure may be tilted. Forwardly open lower jaws in the bearing housings have planar top and rear surfaces and front lower webs which are generally complementary to surfaces of a lower support rail on the blade assembly; and forwardly open upper jaws provide upper and lower front webs and a planar rear surface which are generally complementary to surfaces of an upper support rail on the blade assembly. Working forces are transmitted from the rails through the jaws and bearing housings to the support arms; and vertical forces are transmitted almost exclusively through the lower jaw.

Abstract: A motor grader has a circle with integral, depending arms at the rear, and the lower ends of the arms extend forwardly so that blade mountings, comprising bearing housings pivoted at their lower ends to the extremities of the arms, extend upwardly in very close proximity to the fronts of the arms. Two hydraulic cylinder and piston units for tilting the blade mountings are carried in sleeves which are integral with and between the arms, directly behind the upper end portions of the blade mountings, which permits the use of very short stroke pistons that are well protected from damage by earth and rocks piled up by the blade. In addition the units are mounted in spherical bearing and socket means for limited universal movement within the sleeves. Further, the piston rods extend along shallow chords of a circle struck about the pivots which mount the bearing housings, so working forces are applied substantially axially to the piston rods in all positions of the bearing housings.

Abstract: An improved support and bearing for mounting the grader blade assembly of a motor grader on the depending support arms of the motor grader circle. Upright bearing housings are mounted on the arms and positioned forward thereof. Each housing has a forwardly open upper jaw and a forwardly open jaw the interiors of which are lined with anti-friction wear strips, and the blade assembly support rails are slidable in the wear strips, the latter being retained by detachable side plates on the housings. One of the lower wear strips is adjustable to maintain a snug sliding fit between the lower rail and all the wear strips in the lower jaws. The wear strips for the upper jaws are mounted in carriers that are vertically movable in the jaws to accommodate lack of parallelism in the support rails.

Abstract: An improved blade clamping mechanism for a motor grader blade which has blade support rails carried in pivoted blade support means for lateral sliding movement, and in which confining surfaces in the blade support means restrict both vertical and fore-and-aft movement of the rails in the support means. A clamp lever is pivoted on the circle of the motor grader and has a clamp arm which can be turned in a vertical plane against the bottom of the lower support rail with a high mechanical advantage to force the rail against an overlying confining surface; and a single action hydraulic cylinder and piston unit which turns the lever simultaneously presses a clamp shoe against the rear of the upper support rail. The clamps are normally locked by hydraulic pressure on the piston, and released by moving a manually controlled valve to a drain position so that a return spring acting on the clamp shoe can move the shoe and the lever to a release position.

Abstract: A motor grader has a circle which includes integral depending arms at the rear, blade carrying structure is supported forward of the arms on transverse pivots which are at the lower extremities of the arms, and hydraulic cylinder and piston units are supported for limited universal movement in sleeves which are integral with the circle, the pistons of said units being pivotally connected to the blade carrying structure for tilting the latter about the transverse pivots. The cylinder unit supports include flanged collars on the cylinders on which spherical bearings are removably mounted, and bearing sockets in the sleeves consisting of two annular elements which are detachably connected to each other. Flexible dust proofing boots enclose the spherical bearings and sockets; and an interengaging slot and hub restrict rotation of each unit in the sleeve.

Abstract: In a vehicle, such as a motor grader, having a work tool operated by at least one hydraulic cylinder, the position of the work tool being controlled by a main control valve, and the work tool being placed in a float condition by actuation of a second control valve, the improvement wherein the operator may override the float condition by actuation of the main control valve.

Abstract: A bracket is carried by the motor grader and has upper and lower slots formed therein to slidably receive an upper and a lower slide surface respectively of a slide rail arrangement which is secured to the back of the moldboard. A hydraulic jack is attached to the bracket and has an extendable and retractable rod which is operatively associated with a clamp device positioned for direct engagement with the upper slide surface for forcing the lower slide surface into rigid clamping engagement with the lower slot in the bracket upon extension of the rod.

Abstract: A grader of the type including a longitudinal overlying boom connecting a front wheel assembly to a rear tractor unit with a blade carrier frame assembly positioned intermediate the front wheels assembly and the tractor unit. This grader is characterized by a boom which is longitudinally adjustable, laterally swingable and mounted over the cab to allow selective adjustment between a maximum effective wheelbase and a minimum turning radius to allow a lower cab and overall profile of the grader, and to provide an increased effective field of vision to the operator and to provide roll-over protection for the operator. This grader also distinctively includes a blade, the carrier frame of which is rearwardly connected to the tractor unit rather than forwardly to the boom, such as to be pushed by the tractor unit instead of being drawn by the boom, to thus allow a boom of lighter construction.