Abstract: In accordance with an example embodiment, a work vehicle may include a vehicle positioning system providing a vehicle position signal, a ground-engaging blade moveable by blade actuators, a blade sensing system providing a blade position signal, and a controller in communication with the vehicle positioning system, the blade actuators, and the blade sensing system. The controller may be configured to receive the vehicle position signal, receive the blade position signal, determine a target blade position using the vehicle position signal and a stored maintenance pass, the stored maintenance pass indicative of a past position of the blade associated with a past position of the vehicle for a plurality of past vehicle positions, and control the blade actuators to move the blade toward the target blade position.

Abstract: A motor grader has a control system in which the manner of controlling the blade position differs depending upon whether the blade is to be moved vertically or is to be maintained at a generally constant level and cross slope. First and second hydraulic valves control the flow of hydraulic fluid to the first and second hydraulic cylinders which raise and lower respective ends of the blade. An inclinometer provides an inclinometer output indicating the inclination of the blade along its length with respect to horizontal. The control system includes a first hydraulic cylinder position sensor for determining the extension of the first hydraulic cylinder. The control system further includes a control that is responsive to a control input specifying the desired height and cross slope of the blade, to the first hydraulic cylinder position sensor, and to the inclinometer output. The control provides valve control signals to the first and second hydraulic valves.

Abstract: A box scraper attachment is provided for mounting on the boom arms of a skid-steer vehicle or the like. The box scraper attachment includes a main frame having castor wheel assemblies mounted at the forward end thereof. A box scraper is selectively vertically movably secured to the main frame and is selectively pivotally movably secured to the main frame.

Abstract: A towable scraper system for contour surface grading. The system includes a rigid chassis member that has a coupler configured for attachment to a conventional three-point tractor hitch. A scraper blade is pivotally suspended from the rigid chassis member and is equipped with a blade motivator for causing an angular rotation of the blade around an axis aligned with a towing direction. A lift assembly raises and lowers the rigid chassis member to control a height of the scraper blade relative to a work surface to be graded. The towable scraper system is provided with a carriage assembly that offers rolling support for the rigid chassis as it moves over the work surface. The carriage assembly is pivotally coupled to the rigid chassis at a location opposed to the coupler and is configured for angular rotation around a second axis aligned with the towing direction.

Abstract: An intuitive control for a motor grader controls the blade high lift assembly by adjustment of a miniature representation available at the operator's station. This miniature representation allows the direction of adjustment of various hydraulic components to be made by moving the representation in the desired directions. The control is intuitive in that it corresponds to the actual high lift assembly. A similar miniature representation can be used for controlling the steering of the motor grader.

Abstract: A motor grader is provided with an adjustable drawbar and circle support assembly. The assembly includes a circle support for mounting a moldboard or blade for rotation about an upright axis, and an extensible and retractable drawbar having one end associated with the circle support and another end adapted for pivotal connection to the main frame of the motor grader. The drawbar is preferably hydraulically actuatable to move the circle support fore and aft along the longitudinal length of the motor grader main frame to provide longitudinal adjustment of the grader blade.

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: A scraper apparatus is disclosed for mounting under a body of a truck. The apparatus includes a table having a forward and a trailing end. The forward end is pivotally secured to the body of the truck. The arrangement is such that the table is permitted to pitch relative to the body of the truck. A bearing is secured to the table and is disposed between the forward and the trailing ends. A mold board scraper is disposed below and supported by the table with the mold board scraper being rotatably secured to the table by the bearing. A hydraulic cylinder secured to the mold board scraper rotates the scraper relative to the table and an actuator pivots the table for controlling the pitch of the table and the mold board secured to the table so that scraping of snow, ice and gravel regardless of the level thereof relative to the truck is permitted.

Abstract: A blade assembly of a motor grader includes a drawbar frame adapted for mounting to the motor grader and a circle frame adapted for mounting a blade thereto. A number of shoe assemblies are mounted to the drawbar frame in a circular array and support the circle frame and blade for rotational movement against the drawbar frame. The circle frame includes a circular frame portion and a number of ring gear segments mounted to the circular portion in a circular array. Each of the ring gear segments includes gear teeth adapted for engaging drive means of the drawbar frame. The circular portion and the ring gear segments define an assembly slidingly received between the shoe assemblies and the drawbar frame. The circular portion is slidingly received against the shoe assemblies, and the ring gear segments are slidingly received against the drawbar frame. Bearing members are disposed between the circular portion and the shoe assemblies and between the ring gear segments and the drawbar frame.

Abstract: A grading attachment for loader type utility vehicles is provided. The attachment secures to the front of the loader and has an overarching beam which ends in a set of ground engaging wheels. A drawbar is secured to the front of the beam at a ball and socket joint and movably retained at the back of the beam by a vertical channel so that the drawbar can be readily exchanged for another similar drawbar. The drawbar has a sleeve into which a mounting pin may be secured so as to permit the attaching and detaching of a grading implement.

Abstract: A blade lift and support system for a road grader is taught which is of simplified construction and improved geometry. According to one embodiment, the adjustment of the beam and associated grader blade is fully hydraulically controlled including locking of the beam in a desired position and maintaining the beam position by an hydraulic fluid lock. This preferred arrangement permits full power adjustment of the high-lift while the blade is in a lifted condition. The particular beam shape improves the position of the cylinders to effect positioning the blade for working.

Abstract: A height control device for attachment to the end of a grader blade of a motor grader. A gage portion of the device is adjustable for the desired depth of a cut the blade will make with reference to a curb upon which the gage rides.

Abstract: The specification discloses a new blade positioning apparatus for use in motor graders, that provides improved visibility and allows the operator to easily control the elevation, transverse inclination, and position of the scraper blade beneath the machine. The device comprises a transverse "W" shaped beam pivotally mounted to the upper surface of the support frame of the grader to allow partial rotation of the beam about the main frame. A link member passes beneath the frame of the grader and is secured to the beam member, such that the beam and link members encircle the frame. The link member cooperates with a releasable lock mechanism for securing the beam member at selected adjusted positions relative to the support frame. According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the lock mechanism includes a bar lock pivoted at one end beneath the frame of the grader and is received in tapered notches provided in the link.

Abstract: A scraper blade attachment including a blade assembly located between the front and rear wheels of the tractor and supported by forwardly extending rail members swingably coupled to the forward end of a tractor frame. The rail members and the blade assembly are vertically positioned as well as transversely inclined by hydraulic cylinders supported by the tractor frame. Box beam sections of the scraper blade assembly adjustably receive the rail members. Similarly, an anti-sway assembly is also adjustably mounted on the scraper blade assembly and extends rearwardly for pivotal coupling to the tractor frame. A blade swing cylinder is also supported by the anti-sway assembly.

Abstract: A double arch center frame employs a depending center arch to mount by a ball and socket connection the leading end of a draw bar and yoke assembly. Bell cranks pivotably mounted to yoke plates borne by the arched center frame intermediate of the center arch and the rear arch have arms pivotably coupled to respective hydraulic lift cylinders disposed on opposite sides of the center frame and to a link member common to the bell cranks. A side shift hydraulic cylinder is pivotably connected at one end to one side of a subframe rotatably supporting a mold board assembly and at the other end to the link member intermediate of its pivot connections to the second arm of the bell crank members.

Abstract: An articulating grader comprises a rear driver section which has an engine and hydraulic pump arrangement for driving a pair of wheels on each side. A chassis frame includes lower frame members for supporting a mold board assembly which is controlled and set in angularity and vertical movement but supported from a frame support member on the top by a hydraulic piston and cylinder and guide member arrangement, whereby after adjustment the mold board may be moved upwardly vertically and again moved back down to original position without disturbing the setting. A front articulating frame supports steerable wheels controlled by hydraulic power steering.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with an improvement in a motor grader which comprises a powered vehicle having a main grader frame extending forwardly therefrom, the frame being supported adjacent its forwardmost end by ground engaging wheels, a circle drawbar mounted below the frame intermediate a power unit for the vehicle and the ground engaging wheels, a circle member mounted below the circle drawbar, gear wheels for rotating the circle member relative to the circle drawbar, a blade mounted to the circle member and therebelow, a first hydraulic cylinder rotatably mounted at a first end thereof adjacent the frame and at a second end thereof adjacent a periphery of the circle drawbar, and a pair of second hydraulic cylinders rotatably mounted adjacent a first end thereof adjacent the periphery of the drawbar and adjacent a second end thereof adjacent the frame. The improvement of the invention allows operation of the motor grader at a reduced bank cut angle of the blade to a surface being graded.

Abstract: A motor grader comprises a frame having a circle drawbar mounted thereunder. A normally horizontally disposed mold board or blade is attached to the circle drawbar for multi-directional movements relative thereto and relative to the frame of the motor grader. A pair of generally vertically disposed hydraulic cylinders have their rod ends pivotally connected to the circle drawbar and their housings universally connected to a pair of indexing discs rotatably mounted on either side of the frame. A detent is reciprocally mounted on the frame to engage one of a plurality of circularly disposed recesses formed in each indexing disc. A first link is pivotally interconnected between the frame and a second link which is further pivotally connected to the circle drawbar. A cylinder is pivotally interconnected between the circle drawbar and the first link whereby the blade may be side shifted and disposed substantially vertically on either side of the frame.

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.

Abstract: A hydraulic control system for use for precise control of the height of the earth working blade on road graders, and in particular for use in combination with road graders that are automatically controlled. The control system is selectively operable, and when engaged will permit only simultaneous movement of the two cylinders used for controlling the depth of the earth working blade.

Abstract: a grader blade actuator comprises a frame, a pair of pivot arms connected to said frame, a link member pivotally interconnecting the arms, a blade member, and a diagonal fluid cylinder connecting the link member to the blade member. The blade actuator further comprises a pair of fluid lift cylinders which are of a construction sufficient for connecting each pivot arm to a respective end portion of the blade member.One or both of the lift cylinders has two or more spaced apart releasable connectors 48 and 50 or 48' and 50' which are selectively connectable to the respective pivot arm for providing vertical positioning of the blade member.