BOX SCRAPER WITH GRADER BLADE ATTACHMENT
A grader blade attachment for a box scraper is disclosed. The box scraper includes a first side wall with a first side bottom edge, a second sidewall with a second sidewall bottom edge, and an open front and a back wall attached to and between the first side wall and the second side wall. The grader blade attachment includes a first side attachment member, a second side attachment member, an elongated blade attachment member, and a grader blade. The first side attachment member is configured to attach to the first side wall. The second side attachment member is configured to attach to the second side wall. The elongated blade attachment member is attached to and between the first side attachment member and the second side attachment. The grader blade is fixedly attached to the blade attachment member and configured to extend across the open front.
The present invention generally relates to grader blade attachments for machines and more particularly to grader blade attachments for box scrapers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONBox scrapers, (also known as box blades) are landscaping or excavating tools which are pulled behind a towing vehicle providing motive power. Box scrapers can be used to grade golf greens, dirt racing tracks, fields, trails, or dirt roads. Box scrapers are usually equipped with a cutting, or grader, blade and several removable digging tools or shanks that are adjustable in height. The shanks serve to rip and loosen the soil to allow the cutting blade to move and level it as the unit is dragged forward. The shanks may be moveable between a functional position and a storage position. Box scrapers may be used for the removal of roots and trash, removing topsoil to establish driveways, cutting or building grades, and leveling building sites. The towing vehicle may be a tractor, ATV, or other vehicle with a towing hitch. Some grading jobs require an additional grader blade and do not require digging tools. Generally, these jobs are accomplished by another tools which is pulled by the vehicle or a specialized vehicle. This can be an added expense.
As can be seen, there may be an ongoing need for a tool which can be pulled by a vehicle which can accomplish grading jobs which require digging tools and one blade, and can accomplish grading jobs which require two blades. There is also an ongoing need for an attachment for a traditional box scraper which will allow it to accomplish grading jobs with two blades.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThis summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described in the detailed description of the invention. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended for determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
In one aspect of the present invention, a grader blade attachment for a box scraper is disclosed. The box scraper is configured to be pulled by a vehicle, and includes a first side wall with a first side bottom edge, a second sidewall with a second sidewall bottom edge, and an open front and a back wall attached to and between the first side wall and the second side wall. The grader blade attachment includes a first side attachment member, a second side attachment member, an elongated blade attachment member, and a grader blade. The first side attachment member is configured to attach to the first side wall. The second side attachment member is configured to attach to the second side wall. The elongated blade attachment member is attached to and between the first side attachment member and the second side attachment member and is configured to extend across the open front. The grader blade is fixedly attached to the blade attachment member and configured to extend across the open front and below the first side bottom edge and the second side bottom edge.
In another aspect of the present invention, a box scraper for pulling with a vehicle is disclosed. The box scraper includes a frame, a first grader blade, and a second grader blade. The frame includes a first side wall with a first side bottom edge, a second sidewall with a second sidewall bottom edge, and an open front and a back wall attached to and between the first side wall and the second side wall, the back wall including a back wall bottom edge. The first grader blade includes a first cutting edge fixedly attached to the back wall. The first cutting edge extends below the back wall bottom edge. The second grader blade includes a second cutting edge, is fixedly attached to the frame, and and extends across the open front. The second cutting edge extends below the first side bottom edge and the second side bottom edge.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.
The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.
Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features. However, any single inventive feature may not address any of the problems discussed above or may only address one of the problems discussed above. Further, one or more of the problems discussed above may not be fully addressed by any of the features described below.
Throughout this description, positional terms such as “front”, “back”, “first side”, “second side”, “interior”, “exterior”, “top”, and “bottom” may be used to describe elements or components in relation to other elements or components. These terms are not used in a manner to limit the invention, but rather to describe relationships between components. Dashed lines are used in some views to illustrate features which would not be visible in the view as the features are blocked by other parts of the apparatus illustrated.
A box scraper owner may want to enhance the grading capability of his/her tool without having to completely replace it, and without losing its' current capabilities and functions. A grader blade attachment may be attached (and then detached) instead, to an already existing box scraper. Of course the, box scraper with a second grader blade may be manufactured as a single new unit as well.
Referring now to
The frame 102 may also include a front frame member 162, and hitch frame members 166. The front frame member 162 may be fixedly attached to and extend between the first side wall 112 and the second side wall 114. The hitch frame members 166 may be fixedly attached to the back wall 108 and be supported by the front frame member 162. The frame 102 may have a frame interior 104 generally being enclosed by the first side wall 112, the second sidewall 114, the open front 110, and the back wall 108, and a frame exterior 106 generally being the environment surrounding the box scraper 100. A hitch 164 may be fixedly attached to the hitch frame members 166 and couple the box scraper 100 to the vehicle 172 for towing. Digging tools 168 may be attached to the front frame member 162 in a storage position, and may be adjustable to one or more functional positions at one or more heights.
The frame 102 may be formed of a solid material which can withstand grading and other operations performed by the box scraper. In an exemplary embodiment, the frame 102 may be formed of sheet metal cut, bent, and/or welded into the desired shape. The sheet metal may be steel or a steel alloy. The frame may be painted to withstand the environment and for ornamental reasons. In other embodiments, other manufacturing processes such as casting, bolting, or riveting may be used as is known in the art.
The back wall 108 may include a first side edge 118, a second side edge 120, a top edge 122, an exterior surface 124 (shown in relation to
The first side wall 112 and the second side wall 114 may each include a first side edge 140 152, a second side edge 142 154, a top edge 144 156, an exterior surface 146 158, and an interior surface 148 160. The first side edges 140 152 may be fixedly attached to the back wall first and second side edges 118 120 at a generally perpendicular angle. The first side wall 112 and the second side wall 114 may be generally rectangular in shape and formed of sheet metal. In some embodiments the intersection between the second side edge 142 154 and the top edge 144 156 may be curved and arcuate. The first side wall 112 and the second side wall 114 may include bolt apertures (not shown) through which bolt and nut assemblies 170 may be inserted to fixedly attach the grader blade attachment 200 to the box scraper 100.
The grader blade attachment 200 may include a first side attachment member 202 configured to attach to the first side wall 112; a second side attachment member 204 configured to attach to the second side wall 114; an elongated blade attachment member 206 (shown and explained in relation to
The first side attachment member 202 may include bolt apertures 226 (shown and described in relation to
The box scraper 100 with grader blade attachment 100 is illustrated being pulled by vehicle 172. Vehicle 172 may be a backhoe loader, a tractor, a wheel loader, a tracked loader, or any other vehicle 172 which could be used to pull the box scraper 100 with grader blade attachment 100.
Referring now to
The second side attachment member 204 may be a mirror image of the first side attachment 202; and include a second side plate 228 with an interior surface 232 and exterior surface 234, and a bottom plate 230 with a top surface 236 and a bottom surface 238. The second side attachment member 204 may be formed and be composed of materials similar to the first side attachment member 202. When the grader blade attachment 200 is fixedly attached to the box scraper 200, the interior surface 232 may abut the exterior surface 158 of the second side wall 114.
The elongated blade attachment member 206 may be fixedly attached to and extend between the first side attachment member 202 and the second side attachment member 204. In one embodiment, the elongated blade attachment member 206 may be welded to the first side attachment member 202 and the second side attachment member 204. A gusset 252 (shown in
The second grader blade 208 may be a blade for grading as known in the art, and may include an exterior blade surface 278 (shown in
Referring now to
First skid member 254 may be fixedly attached to the bottom surface 224 of the first bottom plate 216, and second skid member 266 may be fixedly attached to the bottom surface 238 of the second bottom plate 230. These skid members 254 266 may allow the box scraper 100 with grader blade attachment 200 to move easier and provide a better grade. The first skid member 154 may include a first elongated plate 256 with a first main portion 258 (shown in
Second skid member 266 may be similar to first skid member 254 and may include a second elongated plate 268 with a second main portion 270 and a second angled end 272. The second main portion 270 may include a top surface 274 and a bottom surface (not shown). The second main portion 270 may be fixedly attached to the second angled end 272 at the angle of a. The top surface 274 may be fixedly attached to the bottom surface 238 of the second bottom plate 230.
Referring now to
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An optional elongated opening 132 is illustrated. As the second grader blade 208 cuts the surface the box scraper is pulled over, material may collect in the interior 104 of the box scraper 100. The elongated opening 132 may allow the material to fall out of the interior 104 more quickly. A door assembly 400 as shown in
Referring now to
One or both of the first side plate 214 and the second side plate 228 may be fixedly attached to a second hollow cylindrical member 308. The second hollow cylindrical member 308 may be radially symmetrical around an axis, and have an exterior diameter D2. D2 may be a small amount less than D1. The second hollow cylindrical member 308 may include an exterior surface 310, and a second end 320. The second hollow cylindrical member 308 may include two or more protrusions 312 protruding from the exterior surface 310 in an axial line. The two or more protrusions 312 may be spaced at a distance D4 from each other. D4 may be substantially equal to D3, or a multiple of D3.
The second hollow cylindrical member 308 may be inserted into the first hollow cylindrical member 302 with the protrusions 312 in the primary channel 314. One or both of the second hollow cylindrical member 308 and first hollow cylindrical member 302 may be rotated such that the protrusions 312 slide into secondary channels 316 and are secured. Which secondary channels 316 the protrusions slide into may determine the distance between the first side plate 214 and the second side plate 228.
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It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.
Claims
1. A grader blade attachment for a box scraper configured to be pulled by a vehicle, the box scraper including a first side wall with a first side bottom edge, a second sidewall with a second sidewall bottom edge, and an open front and a back wall attached to and between the first side wall and the second side wall, comprising:
- a first side attachment member configured to attach to the first side wall;
- a second side attachment member configured to attach to the second side wall;
- an elongated blade attachment member attached to and between the first side attachment member and the second side attachment member and configured to extend across the open front; and
- a grader blade fixedly attached to the blade attachment member and configured to extend across the open front and below the first side bottom edge and the second side bottom edge.
2. The grader blade attachment of claim 1, wherein:
- the first side attachment member includes a first side plate and a first bottom plate fixedly attached to form an L cross section, the first side plate fixedly attached to the blade attachment member; and
- the second side attachment member includes a second side plate and a second bottom plate fixedly attached to form an L cross section, the second side plate fixedly attached to the blade attachment member.
3. The grader blade attachment of claim 1, further including a first skid member including a first elongated plate, and a second skid member including a second elongated plate; and
- wherein the first side attachment member includes a first side plate and a first bottom plate fixedly attached to form an L cross section, the first bottom plate fixedly attached to the first skid member; and
- wherein the second side attachment member includes a second side plate and a second bottom plate fixedly attached to form an L cross section, the second bottom plate fixedly attached to the second skid member.
4. The grader blade attachment of claim 3, wherein:
- the first elongated plate includes a first main portion and a first angled end,
- the second elongated plate includes a second main portion and a second angled end;
- the first bottom plate is fixedly attached to the first main portion; and
- the second bottom plate is fixedly attached to the second main portion.
5. The grader blade attachment of claim 1, wherein the blade attachment member includes a length, and an adjustment mechanism to fixedly vary the length.
6. The grader blade attachment of claim 1, wherein the grader blade includes a width, and a cross section taken along the width is arcuate.
7. The grader blade attachment of claim 1, wherein:
- the first side attachment member includes a first side plate and a first bottom plate fixedly attached to form an L cross section, the first side plate including bolt apertures for fixedly attaching the first side plate to the first side wall; and
- the second side attachment member includes a second side plate and a second bottom plate fixedly attached to form an L cross section, the second side plate including bolt apertures for fixedly attaching the first side plate to the first side wall.
8. The grader blade attachment of claim 1, wherein the grader blade is fixedly attached to the blade attachment member with bolts.
9. The grader blade attachment of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first side attachment member, the second side attachment member, the elongated blade attachment member, and the grader blade are at least partially formed from steel plate.
10. The grader blade attachment of claim 1, wherein the grader blade includes a cutting edge and the cutting edge extends below the first side bottom edge and the second side bottom edge.
11. The grader blade attachment of claim 1, wherein;
- the elongated blade attachment member includes a bending line dividing the elongated blade attachment member into a first portion and a second portion;
- the elongated blade attachment member is bent along the bending line such that the first portion is at an angle with the second portion; and
- the grader blade is fixedly attached to the second portion.
12. A box scraper for pulling with a vehicle, comprising:
- a frame including a first side wall with a first side bottom edge, a second sidewall with a second sidewall bottom edge, and an open front and a back wall attached to and between the first side wall and the second side wall, the back wall including a back wall bottom edge;
- a first grader blade with a first cutting edge fixedly attached to the back wall, the first cutting edge extending below the back wall bottom edge;
- a second grader blade with a second cutting edge, the second grader blade fixedly attached to the frame and extending across the open front, the second cutting edge extending below the first side bottom edge and the second side bottom edge.
13. The box scraper of claim 12, further including an elongated blade attachment member fixedly attached to and between the first side wall and the second side wall and configured to extend across the open front; and
- wherein the second grade blade is fixedly attached to the elongated blade attachment member.
14. The box scraper of claim 12, wherein the back wall includes a top frame member, a bottom portion, and an elongated opening between the top frame member and the bottom portion and the frame includes a frame interior space and a frame exterior; and
- further including a door rotatably coupled to the top frame member to move between an open position wherein material can move through the elongated opening from the frame interior to the frame exterior, and a closed position in which material is blocked from moving through the elongated opening from the frame interior to the frame exterior by the door; and
- further including a door locking mechanism for locking the door in one of the open position and closed position.
15. The box scraper of claim 12, further including
- a first skid member including a first elongated plate, the first skid member fixedly attached to the frame such that the first elongated plate is generally perpendicular to the first side wall and below the first side bottom edge; and
- a second skid member including a second elongated plate, the second skid member fixedly attached to the frame such that the second elongated plate is generally perpendicular to the second side wall and below the second side bottom edge.
16. The box scraper of claim 15, wherein:
- the first side wall includes a first side attachment member with a first side plate and a first bottom plate fixedly attached to form an L cross section, the first bottom plate fixedly attached to the first skid member; and
- the second side wall includes a second side attachment member with a second side plate and a second bottom plate fixedly attached to form an L cross section, the second bottom plate fixedly attached to the second skid member.
17. The box scraper of claim 12, further including an elongated blade attachment member fixedly attached to and between the first side wall and the second side wall, and configured to extend across the open front; and
- wherein the second grader blade is fixedly attached to elongated blade attachment member.
18. The box scraper of claim 17, wherein:
- the elongated blade attachment member includes a bending line dividing the elongated blade attachment member into a first portion and a second portion;
- the elongated blade attachment member is bent along the bending line such that the first portion is at an angle with the second portion; and
- the second grader blade is fixedly attached to the second portion.
19. The box scraper of claim 12, further including a hitch configured to attach and detach the box scraper to a vehicle to provide motive power to the box scraper.
20. The box scraper of claim 12, further including one or more digging tools movable between and configured to be secured in a functional and non-functional position.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 6, 2016
Publication Date: Oct 12, 2017
Inventor: Dwayne Atherton (Spring Bay, IL)
Application Number: 15/092,379