CROWNING GRADER ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A crowning grader assembly connects with a machine to grade a road or driveway. The crowning grader assembly has a rear drive mount and a forward drive mount. The grader assembly is configured to be selectively connected to the machine and be pushed forward from the rear drive mount or be connected to the machine and be pulled forward from the forward drive mount. The grader assembly has components that allow the blade of the grader assembly to be moved or set to a desired angle through the use of various actuators to set a desired crowning angle of the blade to impart to the road during operation of the grader assembly.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/425,415 filed on Nov. 15, 2022; the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure is directed to a grader assembly that utilizes a blade to grade a road or driveway.

BACKGROUND ART

Off-road work vehicles of various types may have one or more implements for carrying out various work operations. Motor graders, for example, may have a blade, sometimes referred to as a “moldboard,” for performing ground clearing or smoothing operations of a work site.

A work site may be prepared using a plurality of such work vehicles, each with a respective grading implement. However, sometimes there is only a single machine at a particular work site. This machine may be a skid steer style device or can be a tractor with a traditional three point hitch assembly.

Yet, different types of graders can be used depending on the machine that connects to the grader.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

What is needed is a universal crowning grader assembly that has multiple drive mounts that allows the crowning grader assembly to connect with different machines that are available at the work site. Then, the crowning grader assembly can be used to grade a road or driveway. The crowning grader assembly of the present disclosure addresses this and other issues by providing a crowning grader assembly that may have a rear drive mount and a forward drive mount. This allows the grader assembly to be connected to a machine and be pushed forward from the rear drive mount or be connected to a machine (the same machine or a different machine) and be pulled forward from the forward drive mount. The present disclosure also teaches a grader assembly having components that allow the blade of the grader assembly to be moved or set to a desired angle through the use of various actuators or other mechanical mechanisms. For example, the grader assembly has a variety of actuators to move the blade to set a desired crowning angle for the road. Alternatively, the blade may be manually moved. Additionally, the blade may be moved relative to a direction that extends front-to-back on the grader assembly. Further optionally, the blade may be moved relative to a direction that extends side-to-side on the grader assembly.

In one aspect, an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may provide a crowning grader assembly, or simply, a grader assembly comprising: a front end opposite a rear end defining a first direction therebetween, and a first side opposite a second side defining a second direction therebetween, and a top opposite a bottom defining a third direction therebetween, wherein the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction are orthogonal to each other; a frame including a first side member, a second side member, a rear member, and a front member, wherein the first side member and the second side member extend in the first direction between the front end to the rear end, wherein the rear member and the front member extend in the second direction between the first side member and the second side member; a moveable blade coupled to the frame, wherein the moveable blade is positioned between the first side member and the second side member and is positioned between the rear member and the front member, and the moveable blade having a first side and a second side, wherein at least one of the first side and the second side the moveable blade is moveable relative to the third direction; at least one drive mount coupled to one of the rear member and the front member, wherein the at least one drive mount is configured to couple with a machine to move the grader assembly forward in the first direction. This exemplary embodiment or another exemplary embodiment may further provide a first blade mount coupled to the first side member, wherein the first side of the moveable blade is coupled to the first blade mount; and a second blade mount coupled to the second side member, wherein the second side of the moveable blade is coupled to the second blade mount. This exemplary embodiment or another exemplary embodiment may further provide that the second blade mount is disposed rearward from the first blade mount relative to the first direction. This exemplary embodiment or another exemplary embodiment may further provide a length of the moveable blade that extends from the first side of the moveable blade to the second side of the moveable blade, wherein the length of the moveable blade lies along a blade axis; a transverse axis of the grader assembly extending in the second direction; an angle defined between the moveable blade axis and the transverse axis, wherein the angle is adjustable relative to the first direction depending on an orientation of the moveable blade relative to one of the first blade mount and the second blade mount, wherein the angle is adjustable between about 15 degrees and 25 degrees. This exemplary embodiment or another exemplary embodiment may further provide that one of the first mount and the second mount is a slide mount adapted to slide the moveable blade in the first direction to adjust the angle between the blade axis and the transverse axis. This exemplary embodiment or another exemplary embodiment may further provide a length of the moveable blade that extends from the first side of the moveable blade to the second side of the moveable blade, wherein the length of the moveable blade lies along a blade axis; a lower edge of the moveable blade; a lower horizontal plane of the grader assembly; a crowning angle defined between the lower edge of the moveable blade and the horizontal plane, wherein the crowning angle is adjustable depending on an orientation of the lower edge relative to the horizontal plane, wherein the angle is adjustable in response to actuation of moveable blade from at least one component coupled to one of the first side mount and the second side mount. This exemplary embodiment or another exemplary embodiment may further provide a manual jack coupled with the first mount and the first side of the moveable blade, wherein actuation of the manual jack raises and lowers the lower edge of the moveable blade. This exemplary embodiment or another exemplary embodiment may further provide a hydraulic actuator coupled with the second mount and the second side of the moveable blade, wherein actuation of the hydraulic actuator raises and lowers the lower edge of the moveable blade. This exemplary embodiment or another exemplary embodiment may further provide a support flange that is part of the first mount, wherein the support flange defines a slot; a slide bracket coupled to the support flange, wherein the slide bracket slides in the third direction along or within the slot, wherein the slide bracket is coupled with the first side of the moveable blade, and the lower edge of the moveable blade moves in the third direction in response the slide bracket being slid along or within the slot. This exemplary embodiment or another exemplary embodiment may further provide a support flange that is part of the second mount, wherein the support flange defines a slot; a slide bracket coupled to the support flange, wherein the slide bracket slides in the third direction along or within the slot, wherein the slide bracket is coupled with the second side of the moveable blade, and the lower edge of the moveable blade moves in the third direction in response the slide bracket being slid along or within the slot. This exemplary embodiment or another exemplary embodiment may further provide a rear drive mount coupled to the rear member to allow the grader assembly to be pushed forward from the rear end; and a forward drive mount coupled to the front member to all the grader assembly to be pulled forward from the front end. This exemplary embodiment or another exemplary embodiment may further provide an actuator, wherein the moveable blade is moveable in the first direction in response to movement of the actuator. This exemplary embodiment or another exemplary embodiment may further provide a sensor to gather data pertaining to surrounding environment or operation of the grader assembly, wherein sensed data is evaluated and processed with machine learning to predict or identify underlying patterns and relationships of sensed data pertaining to surrounding environment or operation of the grader assembly.

In another aspect, another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may provide a method of operation for a grader assembly comprising: selectively coupling a machine to one of a rear drive mount and a front drive mount on a grader assembly, wherein the rear drive mount and the front drive mount are coupled to a frame including a first side member, a second side member, a rear member, and a front member, wherein the first side member and the second side member extend in a first direction between the front end to the rear end, wherein the rear member and the front member extend in a second direction between the first side member and the second side member, and the frame including a top opposite a bottom defining a third direction therebetween, wherein the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction are orthogonal to each other; moving at least one side of a moveable blade in the third direction, wherein the moveable blade is coupled to the frame and positioned between the first side member and the second side member and positioned between the rear member and the front member; setting a lower edge of the moveable blade at a crowning angle, wherein the crowning angle is defined between a horizontal plane and the lower edge; wherein if the machine was selectively coupled to rear drive mount of the grader assembly, then pushing the grader assembly in the first direction via the machine; and wherein if the machine was selectively coupled to the front drive mount of the grader assembly, then pulling the grader assembly in the first direction via the machine; and grading a road with the moveable blade set at the crowning angle. This exemplary embodiment or another exemplary embodiment may further provide moving a first side of the blade member in the third direction, wherein the first side of the moveable blade moves relative to a first blade mount coupled to the first side member, wherein the first side of the moveable blade is coupled to the first blade mount; and moving a second side of the blade member in the third direction, wherein the second side of the moveable blade moves relative to a second blade mount coupled to the second side member, wherein the second side of the moveable blade is coupled to the second blade mount, wherein the second blade mount is disposed rearward from the first blade mount relative to the first direction. This exemplary embodiment or another exemplary embodiment may further provide actuating a manual jack coupled to the first blade mount to impart movement in the third direction to the first side of the moveable blade. This exemplary embodiment or another exemplary embodiment may further provide sliding a slide bracket along a support flange that is part of the first blade mount, wherein the slide bracket includes a pin that travels between bounded ends of a slot defined in the support flange; and wherein the bounded ends of the slot bound a maximum position and a minimal position of the lower edge at the first side of the moveable blade that define a range of travel of the lower edge at the first side of the moveable blade in the third direction, wherein the range of travel extends from two inches below the bottom to one inch above the bottom. This exemplary embodiment or another exemplary embodiment may further provide actuating a hydraulic actuator coupled to the second blade mount to impart movement in the third direction to the second side of the moveable blade. This exemplary embodiment or another exemplary embodiment may further provide sliding a slide bracket along a support flange that is part of the first blade mount, wherein the slide bracket includes a pin that travels between bounded ends of a slot defined in the support flange; wherein the bounded ends of the slot bound a maximum position and a minimal position of the lower edge at the second side of the moveable blade that define a range of travel of the lower edge at the second side of the moveable blade in the third direction, wherein the range of travel extends from four inches below the bottom to one and a half inches above the bottom. This exemplary embodiment or another exemplary embodiment may further provide moving at least one side of a moveable blade in the first direction, wherein the moveable blade is coupled to the frame and positioned between the first side member and the second side member and positioned between the rear member and the front member; wherein the moveable blade includes a length that extends from the first side of the moveable blade to the second side of the moveable blade, wherein the length of the moveable blade lies along a blade axis; and adjusting an angle defined between the moveable blade axis and a transverse axis of the grader assembly that extends in the second direction, wherein the angle is adjustable between about 15 degrees and 25 degrees.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Sample embodiments of the present disclosure are set forth in the following description, are shown in the drawings and are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.

FIG. 1 (FIG. 1) is top front isometric view of a crowning grader assembly grader assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 (FIG. 2) is a top plan view of the exemplary grader assembly.

FIG. 3 (FIG. 3) is a first side elevation view of the exemplary grader assembly.

FIG. 4 (FIG. 4) is a second side elevation view of the exemplary grader assembly.

FIG. 5 (FIG. 5) is a bottom plan view of the exemplary grader assembly.

FIG. 6 (FIG. 6) is a front elevation view of the exemplary grader assembly.

FIG. 7 (FIG. 7) is a rear elevation view of the exemplary grader assembly.

FIG. 8A (FIG. 8A) is a side elevation view of the exemplary grader assembly coupled with a machine at a rear drive mount.

FIG. 8B (FIG. 8B) is an enlarged cross section view of a second mount taken along line 8B-8B in FIG. 2.

FIG. 8C (FIG. 8C) is an enlarged cross section view of a first mount taken along line 8C-8C in FIG. 2.

FIG. 8D (FIG. 8D) is an operational front elevation view depicting a lower edge of the moveable blade being moved in a first movement relative to ground or a horizontal plane.

FIG. 8E (FIG. 8E) is an operational front elevation view depicting the lower edge of the moveable blade being moved in a second movement relative to ground or the horizontal plane.

FIG. 9 (FIG. 9) is a side elevation view of the exemplary grader assembly coupled with a machine at a forward drive mount.

FIG. 10 (FIG. 10) is a top plan view of another exemplary embodiment of the grader assembly having other components to move the moveable blade in the first direction.

Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1-FIG. 10 depict a crowning grader assembly, or simply a grader assembly, generally at 10. Grader assembly 10 includes a front end 12 opposite a rear end 14 defining a first direction 13 therebetween, and a first side 16 opposite a second side 18 defining a second direction 15 therebetween, and a top 20 opposite a bottom 22 defining a third direction 17 therebetween. The first direction 13, the second direction 15, and the third direction 17 are orthogonal to each other and may be considered cardinal coordinate directions or planes.

Grader 10 includes a frame 24 having a first side member 26, a second side member 28, a rear member 30, and a front member 32. The first side member 26 and the second side 28 member extend in the first direction 13 between the front end 12 and the rear end 14. The rear member 30 and the front member 32 extend in the second direction 15 between the first side member 26 and the second side member 28.

Grader assembly 10 has a width measured in the second direction 15 from the first side member 26 to the second side member 28. The width of the grader assembly 10 may be in a range from about 75 inches to about 100 inches. In one particular example, the width of the grader assembly 10 is about 87 inches. Grader assembly 10 may have a height measured in the third direction 17 extending from the bottom 22 to the uppermost portion of handle 82 on jack 62. The overall height may be in a range from about 25 inches to about 30 inches. In one particular example, the height is about 27.5 inches. Grader assembly 10 may have a length measured in the first direction 13 from the front end 12 to the rear end 14 that is in a range from about 40 inches to about 80 inches. In one particular embodiment, the length of the grader assembly 10 is about 60 inches.

Grader 10 includes at least one drive mount 36 coupled to one of the rear member 30 and the front member 32. The at least one drive mount 36 is configured to be coupled with a machine to move the grader assembly 10 forward in the first direction 13. In the shown configuration, the at least one drive mount may have two drive mounts. Namely, a rear drive mount 38 coupled to the rear member 30 to allow the grader assembly 10 to be pushed forward from the rear end 14 and a front drive mount 40 coupled to the front member 32 to all the grader assembly 10 to be pulled forward in the first direction 13 from the front end 12. Thus, grader assembly 10 may be selectively coupled to a machine to allow an operator to selectively choose whether to push grader assembly 10 via rear drive mount 38 or pull grader assembly 10 via front drive mount 40.

Grader 10 includes a moveable blade 34 coupled to the frame 24. The moveable blade 34 is positioned between the first side member 26 and the second side member 28. The moveable blade 34 is positioned between the rear member 30 and the front member 32. The moveable blade 34 is moveable in at least the first direction 13 and the third direction 17 when the frame 24 is stationary or moving forward in the first direction 13. The moveable blade may also be optionally moveable in the second direction 15. Moveable blade 34 has a face or front surface, which may be concavely curved and shaped to move material when grader assembly 10 is in operation to grade a surface, such as a roadway, driveway or the like.

Moveable blade 34 has a length measured from the first side 42 to the second side 44. In one particular embodiment, the length of the moveable blade 34 may be in a range from about 70 inches to about 95 inches. In one particular embodiment, the length of the moveable blade 34 is 84 inches from its first side 42 to its second side 44.

Grader assembly 10 includes a first blade mount 46 and a second blade mount 48. The first blade mount 46 is coupled to the first side member 26. The second blade mount 48 is coupled to the second side member 28. Moveable blade 34 includes a first side 42 of the moveable blade 34 and a second side 44 of the moveable blade 34. The first side 42 of the moveable blade 34 is coupled to the first blade mount 46 and the second side 44 of the moveable blade 34 is coupled to the second blade mount 48. In one exemplary embodiment, the second blade mount 48 is disposed rearward (i.e., closer to rear end 14) from the first blade mount 46 relative to the first direction 13.

FIG. 2 depicts the length of the moveable blade 34 extends from the first side 42 of the moveable blade 34 to the second side 44 of the moveable blade 34. Given that the second blade mount 48 is positioned rearward of the first blade mount 46, the length of the moveable blade 34 extends from adjacent the front end 12 to adjacent the rear end 14 in addition to extending between the first side 16 and the second side 18 of grader assembly 10. Stated otherwise, the blade 34 extends diagonally across the width of grader assembly 10. The length of the moveable blade 34 lies along a blade axis 50. A transverse axis 52 of the grader assembly 10 extends parallel to the second direction 15. An angle 54 is defined between the moveable blade axis 50 and the transverse axis 52. The angle 54 is adjustable depending on an orientation of the moveable blade 34. In one exemplary embodiment, the angle 54 is adjusted by moving the first side 42 of moveable blade 34 and the second side 44 of the moveable blade 34 relative to one of the first blade mount 46 and the second blade mount 48, respectively. For example, the first side 42 of moveable blade 34 may be moved forward or backward parallel to the first direction 13. Alternatively, second side 44 of the moveable blade 34 34 may be moved forward or backward parallel to the first direction 13. The angle 54 is adjustable between about 15 degrees and 25 degrees. One exemplary manner to effectuate the adjustability of the angle 54 is to provide one of the first mount 46 and the second mount 48 (or both) in the form of a slide mount that is configured to slide the moveable blade 34 in the first direction 13 to adjust the angle 54 between the blade axis 50 and the transverse axis 52. Other embodiments can provide stationary side mounts that are coupled with actuators, such as hydraulic, mechanical, or electrical actuators, to push or pull the sides of the moveable blade while the mount remains stationary.

Moveable blade 34 also includes a lower edge 56 that defines portion of the front surface or face of blade 34. There is also a lower horizontal plane 58 of the grader assembly 10. A crowning angle 60 (FIG. 8D and FIG. 8E) is defined between the lower edge 56 of the moveable blade 34 and the horizontal plane 58. The crowning angle 60 is adjustable depending on an orientation of the lower edge 56 relative to the horizontal plane 58. The crowning angle 60 is adjustable in response to actuation of moveable blade 34 from at least one component coupled to or defining one of the first side mount 46 and the second side mount 48.

For example, at the first side mount 46, there may be a manual jack 62 coupled with the first mount 46 and the first side 42 of the moveable blade 34. In this example, actuation of the manual jack 62 raises and lowers the lower edge 56 of the moveable blade 34 to adjust the crowning angle 60. In another example, at the second side mount 48, there may be a hydraulic actuator 64 coupled with the second side mount 48 and the second side 44 of the moveable blade 34. In this example, the hydraulic actuator 64 raises and lowers the lower edge 56 of the moveable blade 34 to adjust the crowning angle 60. While one manual actuator and one hydraulic actuator is shown, it is to be understood that other types of mechanical actuators, electrical actuators, or non-mechanical and non-electrical actuators could be utilized. Further, although the actuators are shown herein as different types (i.e., one is a manual jack and one is a hydraulic actuator), it is to be understood that both actuators could be of the same type (i.e., both could be hydraulic or both could be manual). In the shown embodiment, the acutators are each positioned rearward of the blade 34 so as to not interfere with the operation of the blade when it performs the grading or crowning function. However, it may be possible to reconfigure the structural arrangement of the actuators to position one or both of them forward of the blade. Additionally, it may be possible to reconfigure the structural arrangement of the actuators to position one or both of them outwardly to the side of the blade 34.

In one embodiment, the manual actuator is manual jack 62, however other types of manual actuators could be used. For example, in lieu of the manual jack 62, there are several other types of manual actuators that could be used to move a side of the moveable blade in the third (vertical) direction in the described grader assembly 10. Some examples include: a hand crank mechanism can be used to manually rotate a shaft connected to the blade, allowing for vertical movement of the blade 34; a screw mechanism, such as a lead screw or ball screw, can be turned manually to move the blade vertically by converting rotational motion into linear motion; various types of levers and linkages can be designed to provide mechanical advantage and allow manual control of the blade's vertical position; a handwheel connected to a vertical adjustment mechanism can be turned manually to raise or lower the blade in the third direction; a manually operated hydraulic hand pump can be used to power a hydraulic cylinder connected to the blade, controlling its vertical movement; a ratchet and pawl mechanism can be used to incrementally adjust the blade's vertical position, providing control in the third direction; or a manually adjustable cam mechanism can be designed to lift or lower the blade in the third direction when turned.

In one embodiment, the hydraulic actuator 64 could be substituted for another type of non-manual actuator. There are there are several other types of non-manual actuators that could be used to move a side of the moveable blade in the third (vertical) direction in the described grader assembly in lieu of actuator 64. For example, electric actuators use electric motors to drive linear or rotational movement, and they can be used to move the blade vertically in the third direction; pneumatic actuators use compressed air to generate linear or rotary motion, providing a means to move the blade vertically; solenoid actuators use electromagnetic forces to create linear motion and can be used to control the vertical movement of the blade; piezoelectric actuators use piezoelectric materials to generate precise and fine movements, making them suitable for adjusting the blade's position in the third direction; linear motors use electromagnetic principles to produce linear motion and can be employed to move the blade vertically in the third direction; a mechanical linkage driven by an electric or rotational motor can be used to move the blade vertically, providing precise control; a rotary actuator can be adapted to provide a vertical movement for the blade by converting rotational motion to linear motion; or a gear mechanism, such as a rack and pinion, can be motorized to move the blade vertically by converting rotational motion to linear movement.

Frame 24 is defined by the first side member 26, the second side member 28, the rear member 30 and the front member 32 connected together to form a rigid structure that is generally rectangular. Frame 24 defines an interior space 66. The moveable blade 34 is located within the interior space 66. Further the actuators may also be positioned within the interior space.

With continued reference to frame 24, the first side member 26 includes a rear end 68 and a forward end 70. The lower surface of the first side member 26 may include or may be defined by a wear bar or wear pad 72 that extends between the rear end 68 and forward end 70. Rear member 30 is rigidly secured to the first side member 30 adjacent the rear end 68 thereof. Forward member 32 is rigidly secured adjacent to the first side member 26 adjacent the forward end 70 thereof. Rear member 30 and forward member 32 extend in the second direction 15 towards the second side 18 of grader assembly 10. In one particular embodiment, the length of the rear member 30 and the length of the front member 32 are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the length of the first side member 26. Second side member 28 has a rear end that is rigidly connected with the rear member 30 and a forward end that is rigidly connected with the forward member 32. Similar to the first side member 26, the second side member 28 may have a wear pad 72 extending from the rear end to the forward end of the second side member 28.

Rear member 30 is a rigid structure extending between the first side member 26 and the second side member 28. On the rear member 30 is the at least one drive mount 36, and more particularly, the rear drive mount 38. The rear drive mount 38 extends rearward in the first direction 13 from the rear surface of rear member 30. Rear drive mount 38 is a rigid plate defining a standard skid steer bracket. The rear drive mount 38 enables a skid steer attachment to enable a machine, such as a skid steer or a tractor having a skid steer coupler, to connect with grader assembly 10 and push the grader assembly 10 forward in the first direction 13 from the rear.

Although the rear drive mount 38 is exemplified as a skid steer bracket/mount. Other types of mounts are entirely possible. Each mount type that can be the rear drive mount 38 has its own structural configuration and method of attachment. Some alternative rear drive mount types include the following. Rear drive mount 38 could be a three-point hitch mount, which usually comprises of two lower arms extending from the rear member of the frame and a top link extending from the top or rear member. The lower arms attach to the vehicle's three-point hitch, providing stability and allowing the vehicle to push the grader assembly 10 forward. Alternatively, rear drive mount 38 could be a front loader mount, which usually includes brackets or arms extending from the front member of the frame. The brackets or arms attach to the front loader of the vehicle, enabling the vehicle to push the grader assembly 10 forward. Alternatively, rear drive mount 38 could be a tractor mount, which usually includes a rear hitch plate or structure on the rear member of the grader frame. The rear hitch plate or structure is attached to the tractor's hitch, allowing the tractor to push the grader assembly 10 forward. Alternatively, rear drive mount 38 could be a hydraulic quick coupler mount. This mount includes a hydraulic quick coupler mechanism on the rear or front member of the frame. The hydraulic quick coupler connects to a compatible hydraulic system on the vehicle, enabling hydraulic power for pushing the grader assembly forward. Alternatively, rear drive mount 38 could be a pintle hitch mount, which has a pintle hook or loop on the rear member of the frame. The pintle hook is attached to a pintle hitch on the vehicle, allowing the vehicle to push the grader assembly 10 forward.

The at least one drive mount 36 additionally includes the forward drive mount 40 that is mounted or coupled to the forward member 32. In one particular embodiment, the forward drive mount 40 is a three-point hitch assembly. The forward drive mount 40 may be supported by support members 74 that extend in the first direction 13 between the forward member 32 and the rear member 30. The forward ends of the support members 74 define two of the three contact points for the three-point hitch assembly of the forward drive mount 40. The third contact point of the three-point hitch assembly may be defined by a member offset from the two contact points on the support members 74. In the shown embodiment, the third point of the three-point hitch is positioned above the two points relative to the third direction. However, it would be possible for the hitch to be inverted if required to meet the application specific needs of a complementary hitch on the machine pulling the grader 10 when selectively chosen by the operator. Three-point hitch assembly defining the forward drive mount 40 is located centrally between the first side member 26 and the second side member 28 relative to the second direction 15. In the shown embodiment, the moveable blade 34 is positioned below the support members 74 relative to the third direction 17.

Although the forward drive mount 40 is exemplified as a three-point hitch. Other types of mounts are entirely possible. Each mount type that can be the forward drive mount 40 has its own structural configuration and method of attachment. Some alternative forward drive mount types include the following. Forward drive mount 38 could be a drawbar mount, which usually involves a long, horizontal bar or drawbar attached to the front member of the grader frame. The drawbar is connected to the towing vehicle via a hitch, enabling the vehicle to pull the grader assembly 10 forward. Alternatively, forward drive mount 38 could be a gooseneck hitch mount includes a vertical extension or gooseneck attached to the front member of the grader frame. The gooseneck is connected to a gooseneck hitch on the towing vehicle, allowing the vehicle to pull the grader assembly forward. Alternatively, forward drive mount 38 could be fifth wheel hitch mount, which features a fifth wheel coupling mechanism attached to the front member of the grader frame. The fifth wheel is connected to a compatible fifth wheel hitch on the towing vehicle, enabling the vehicle to pull the grader assembly forward. Alternatively, forward drive mount 38 could be pintle hitch mount with a pintle hook or loop on the front member of the grader frame. The pintle hook is attached to a pintle hitch on the towing vehicle, allowing the vehicle to pull the grader assembly forward. Alternatively, forward drive mount 38 could be a tow bar mount which has a rigid or extendable tow bar attached to the front member of the grader frame. The tow bar is connected to a towing vehicle's hitch or tow ball, enabling the vehicle to pull the grader assembly forward.

First member 32 includes a plurality of holders 76 that extend upwardly from the top surface of front member 32. The holders 76 are configured to be connected with ripper shanks 78. Each ripper shank 78 has an upper end that is held or pinned in place at one of the holders 76. In one particular embodiment, at least one, some, or all of the ripper shanks 78 may have a plurality of apertures extending through the body of the ripper shanks in the second direction 15 at various intervals relative to the third direction 17 (i.e., a plurality of distinct vertically aligned through holes). These apertures allows the ripper shanks 78 to be adjustable in the third direction 17 at various increments. In one particular embodiment, the ripper shanks 78 are adjustable at one inch increments relative to the third direction 17. Accordingly, an operator can remove a pin to move the ripper shanks 78 in the third direction 17 (i.e., raise or lower the shanks 78) based on the application specific needs of operating the grader assembly 10. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, there may be instances where there are more holders 76 than there are ripper shanks 78. This allows adjustability for the operator to selectively choose where to place the ripper shanks 78 relative to the second direction 15 along the length of the front member 32 (which is effectively the width of grader assembly 10). Further, it allows the operator to add extra shanks 78 if required to meet certain application specific needs and depending on the material or strata (i.e., the type of roadway material, such as concrete, asphalt, rocks, sub-base or the like) being ripped by the ripper shanks 78.

FIG. 3 depicts that the first mount 46 having the jack 62 is disposed closer to the front end 12 of grader assembly 10 than the rear end 14 albeit behind the blade 34. Jack 62 is connected with a flange bracket 80 that extends upwardly from the top surface of the first side member 26. Flange bracket 80 is a rigid plate having a width oriented in the first direction 13 and a height oriented in the third direction 17. In one particular embodiment, the height of the flange bracket 80 is greater than its width. Jack 62 is mounted to one side of the flange bracket so as to be disposed closer to the interior space 66 of frame 24 than the bracket 80. Jack 62 includes a handle 82 that may rotate about an axis 84 in order to move a lower end 86 in the third direction 17 (i.e., raise or lower the lower end 86). The lower end 86 of jack 62 is coupled, either directly or indirectly, with the first side 42 of the moveable blade 34. Rotation of the handle 82 about the jack axis 84 effectuates the lower end 86 of the jack 62 to translate upward or downward in the third direction 17 in order to adjust the crowning angle 60 of the moveable blade 34. Further, if the jack 62 is substituted for one of the other actuators detailed previously, then the bracket 80 will modified to accommodate that other type of actuator.

FIG. 4 depicts that the hydraulic actuator 64 is disposed within the interior space 66 of frame 24 behind the blade 34. Hydraulic actuator 64 is coupled with the second mount 48 and is either directly or indirectly coupled with the second side 44 of moveable blade 34. Hydraulic actuator 64 is disposed closer to the rear end 14 than the forward end 12. Hydraulic actuator 64 includes a piston and cylinder assembly. One end of the piston and cylinder assembly may be directly or indirectly coupled to the second mount 48 and the other end may be directly or indirectly coupled to the second side 44 of the moveable blade 34. The hydraulic actuator 64 is configured to expand and contract in the third direction 17. Movement of the hydraulic actuator 64 in the third direction 17 effectuates movement of the moveable blade in the third direction 17 (i.e., raises or lowers) to adjust the crowning angle 60. Further, if the actuator 64 is substituted for one of the other actuators detailed previously, then the mount 48 will modified to accommodate that other type of actuator.

FIG. 6 depicts that the lower edge 56 of moveable blade 34 extends downwardly in the third direction 17 below the lower limit of the shanks 78 that are connected to the frame 24. In one embodiment, the lower edge 56 extends about 1 to four inches below the lower limit of shanks 78.

FIG. 8A depicts a machine or device, such as a tractor or other powered driveable machine 118 (such as a skid-steer), regardless of whether it is manned or unmanned, having a coupler 116. Coupler 116 releasably connects with rear drive mount 38. Various hydraulic actuators on the machine 118 may be utilized to tilt or raise the grader assembly when the coupler 116 releasably connects with rear drive mount 38. Coupler 116 is complementary to rear drive mount 38. In one particular embodiment, the coupler 116 and rear drive mount 38 are configured as a conventional skid-steer configuration. When the coupler 116 is connected with the rear drive mount 38, the machine 118 may push the grader assembly, from the rear end 14, forward in the first direction 13.

FIG. 8A also depicts the operation of rotating handle 82 about axis 84 via arrow 120. As described in greater detail herein, the rotation of handle 82 effectuates rotational-to-translational movement of jack 62 to impart movement of the lower edge 56 of moveable blade 34 to adjust the crowning angle 60.

FIG. 8B depicts that the lower end 86 of the jack 62 is connected with a slide bracket 88. Bracket 88 includes a pin 90 that extends in the first direction 13 (into the page shown in FIG. 8B). Pin 90 slides within a slot 92 defined in a support flange 94. Support flange 94 is rigidly secured to an inner surface of the first side member 26 and extends inwardly into the interior space 66 of frame 24. The support flange 94 may be rigidly secured and fixed in a certain position that allows the lower end 86 and pin 90 to move in the third direction 17 relative to support flange 94. In one particular embodiment, the pin 90 is indirectly coupled to the first side 42 of the moveable blade 34. In another particular embodiment, the pin 90 may be directly coupled with the first side 42 of moveable blade 34. Thus, in either coupling configuration, movement of the lower end 86 of jack 62 causes pin 90 to slide within slot 92 in the third direction as indication by arrow 96. Movement of the pin 90 within the slot 92 effectuates movement of the first side 42 of the moveable blade 34 in the third direction 17 as indicated by arrow 98. Movement of the moveable blade 34 in the direction of arrow 98 adjusts the crowing angle 60 near the first side 42 of the moveable blade 34. The slot 92 formed within support flange 94 may be a directly linear slot extending fully through the support flange 94 in the first direction 13. In other embodiments, slot 92 may be formed with a slight curve that effectuates and assist in the tilting of moveable blade relative to an axis extending in the first direction 13.

In one particular embodiment, the movement of jack 62 may adjust the lower edge 56 of the moveable blade 34 to provide a range of travel in the third direction 17 that extends from two inches below the bottom of wear pad 72 to one inch above the bottom of wear pad 72 relative to the third direction 17.

FIG. 8C depicts the second blade mount 48 as comprising a support flange 100 defining a slot 102. A slide bracket 104 is coupled with a support flange 100. Slide bracket 104 includes a pin or screw 106 that slides within slot 102 in the third direction 17. Support flange 100 extends inwardly into the interior space 66 defined by frame 24 from the second side member 28. Support flange 100 is rigidly connected to second side member 28. The slide bracket 104 or the pin 106 is directly or indirectly coupled to the second side 44 of the moveable blade 34.

The hydraulic actuator 64 includes a lower end 108 that is directly or indirectly coupled with the slide bracket 104. Movement of the hydraulic actuator 64 in the third direction 17 is indicated by arrow 109. When the hydraulic actuator 64 moves in the direction of arrow 109, which is parallel to the third direction 17, the slide bracket 104 moves in the third direction 17 as indicated by arrow 110. Slide bracket 104 being indirectly coupled with the second side 44 of the moveable blade 34 causes the lower edge 56 to move in the third direction 17 to adjust the crowning angle 60 as desired by the operator.

FIG. 8C depicts the range of travel of the hydraulic actuator 64 as having a range of travel that may move the lower edge 56 of the moveable blade 34 from one and a half inches below the bottom of wear pad 72 to four and a half inches above the bottom of wear pad 72.

While the jack 62 and the hydraulic actuator 64 have been shown on respective sides 16, 18 or grader assembly 10 it is to be understood that these components may be replaced with similar components. For example, another embodiment of the grader assembly could utilize a hydraulic actuator at both the first mount 46 and the second mount 48 (or any of the other non-manual actuators identified herein). Alternatively, a manual jack, such as jack 62 may be utilized at both the first mount 46 and the second mount 48 (or any of the other manual actuators identified herein). Thus, grader assembly 10 is shown with one of each, namely, a hydraulic actuator 64 and a manual jack 62 (i.e., a manual actuator), so that a reader of the present disclosure will understand that either option is possible and envisioned within the scope of the present disclosure without departing from the teaching herein.

FIG. 8D operationally depicts the movement of moveable blade 34 to adjust, vary, or alter the crowning angle 60. As mentioned herein, the slide bracket 88 slides within slot 92 on support flange 94. The dimension of travel of the slide bracket 88 is bound by the length, shape, and possible curvature of slot 92. FIG. 8D depicts that the lower end 86 of jack 62 is in its uppermost or raised position relative to the third direction 17. Further, as mentioned previously, the range of travel afforded to the lower edge 56 of the moveable blade 34 at the first side 42 thereof is based on the sliding movement of side bracket 88 within slot 92, which can move the lower edge 56 from one inch above the horizontal plane 58 to two inches below the horizontal plane 58 (as shown in FIG. 8E). FIG. 8D depicts the position of the moveable blade 34 having its first side 42 in the upper most or raised position, in which the lower edge 56 at the first side 42 is about one inch above the horizontal plane 58. The position of the moveable blade 34 depicted in FIG. 8D represents after an operator has rotated handle 82 about the jack axis 84, as indicated by arrow 120 (FIG. 8A), which raises or translates the lower end 86 upward in the third direction 17 as indicated by arrow 112. The rotational-to-translational movement of the lower end 86 effectuates the sliding movement of bracket 88 inasmuch as the bracket 88 is rigidly secured to lower end 86. Thus, the slide bracket 88 slides upwardly in the third direction 17 as indicated by arrow 112 within slot 92 in response to an operator rotating handle 82 about axis 84.

With continued reference to FIG. 8D, the second side 44 of moveable blade 34 is shown in a lowered position. Similar to the first side 42 of the moveable blade 34, the second side 44 of the moveable blade 34 is moveable in the third direction between a lowered position and a raised position. FIG. 8D depicts the lowered position of the moveable blade at the second side 44 in which the slide bracket 104, which is part of the collective second mount 48, is at its lowermost path of travel of slot 102. As mentioned previously, the path of travel associated with the second mount 48 enables the second side 44 of the moveable blade at the lower edge 56 to move from one and a half inches below horizontal plane 58 to four and a half inches above horizontal plane 58.

In order to move the slide bracket 104, which is directly or indirectly coupled to the first side 42 of moveable blade 34, to the lowered position, the hydraulic actuator 64 moves a portion thereof downwardly in the third direction 17 and indicated by arrow 114.

Thus, the exemplary operational configuration of FIG. 8D depicts the first side 42 of the moveable blade 34 in a raised positon bound by slot 92 and the second side 44 of the moveable blade 34 in a lowered positon bound by slot 102. Thus, what is shown in FIG. 8D is the operational embodiment in which the lower edge 56 of the moveable blade 34 at the first side 42 thereof, is one inch above plane 58 and the lower edge 56 of the moveable blade 34, at the second side 44 thereof, is one and a half inches below horizontal plane 58.

FIG. 8E depicts that the lower end 86 of jack 62 is in its lowermost or lowered position relative to the third direction 17. Further, as mentioned previously, the range of travel afforded to the lower edge 56 of the moveable blade 34 at the first side 42 thereof is based on the sliding movement of side bracket 88 within slot 92, which can move the lower edge 56 from one inch above the horizontal plane 58 (as shown in FIG. 8D) to two inches below the horizontal plane 58. FIG. 8E depicts the position of the moveable blade 34 having its first side 42 in the lowermost or lowered position, in which the lower edge 56 at the first side 42 is about two inches below the horizontal plane 58. The position of the moveable blade 34 depicted in FIG. 8E represents after an operator has rotated handle 82 about the jack axis 84 in an opposite manner from the rotational direction used to raise the first side 42 of moveable blade 34, which lowers or translates the lower end 86 downward in the third direction 17 as indicated by arrow 122. The rotational-to-translational movement of the lower end 86 effectuates the sliding movement of bracket 88 inasmuch as the bracket 88 is rigidly secured to lower end 86. Thus, the slide bracket 88 slides downward in the third direction 17 as indicated by arrow 122 within slot 92 in response to an operator rotating handle 82 about axis 84.

With continued reference to FIG. 8E the second side 44 of moveable blade 34 is shown in a raised position. Similar to the first side 42 of the moveable blade 34, the second side 44 of the moveable blade 34 is moveable in the third direction between a lowered position and a raised position. FIG. 8E depicts the raised position of the moveable blade at the second side 44 in which the slide bracket 104, which is part of the collective second mount 48, is at its uppermost most path of travel of slot 102. As mentioned previously, the path of travel associated with the second mount 48 enables the second side 44 of the moveable blade at the lower edge 56 to move from one and a half inches below horizontal plane 58 to four and a half inches above horizontal plane 58. Thus, the raised position of FIG. 8E depicts the lower edge 56 at the second side 44 of moveable blade 34 as being four and a half inches above horizontal plane 58.

In order to move the slide bracket 104, which is directly or indirectly coupled to the second side 44 of moveable blade 34, to the raised position, the hydraulic actuator 64 moves a portion thereof upward in the third direction 17 and indicated by arrow 124.

Thus, the exemplary operational configuration of FIG. 8E depicts the first side 42 of the moveable blade 34 in a lowered positon bound by slot 92 and the second side 44 of the moveable blade 34 in a raised positon bound by slot 102. Thus, what is shown in FIG. 8E is the operational embodiment in which the lower edge 56 of the moveable blade 34 at the first side 42 thereof, is two inches below plane 58 and the lower edge 56 of the moveable blade 34, at the second side 44 thereof, is four and a half inches above horizontal plane 58.

FIG. 9 depicts an operational view of the machine 118 or a different machine being used to pull the grader assembly 10 forward from the front 12 of grader assembly 10. The machine 118 may have a rear coupler 126 that couples to the front drive mount 40 on grader assembly 10. The exemplary rear coupler 126 may be a three-point hitch that releasably connects with forward drive mount 40. However as stated previously, any of the identified different types of front drive mounts 40 are entirely possible. Various hydraulic actuators on the machine 118 may be utilized to tilt or raise the grader assembly 10 when the coupler 126 releasably connects with forward drive mount 40. Coupler 126 is complementary to forward drive mount 40. When the coupler 126 is connected with the forward drive mount 40, the machine 118 may pull the grader assembly, from the front end 12, forward in the first direction 13.

FIG. 10 depict an alternative embodiment of grader assembly 10 in which components may be utilized to move the first side 42 and second side 44 of moveable blade 34 in the first direction 13. There may be an actuator 128 coupled, directly or indirectly, to the first side member 26 of frame 24 and an actuator 130 coupled, directly or indirectly, to the second side member 28 of frame. Actuator 128 is coupled, directly or indirectly, to the first side 42 of moveable blade 34. Movement of actuator 128 in the first direction 13 causes the first side 42 of moveable blade 34 to move in the first direction 13. Actuator 130 is coupled, directly or indirectly, to the second side 44 of moveable blade 34. Movement of actuator 130 in the first direction 13 causes the second side 44 of moveable blade 34 to move in the first direction 13. Movement of actuators 128, 130 alters angle 54 between about 15 degrees and 25 degrees.

The grader assembly 10 may additionally include one or more sensors to sense or gather data pertaining to the surrounding environment or operation of the grader assembly 10. Some exemplary sensors capable of being electronically coupled with the grader assembly 10 (either directly connected to the grader assembly 10 or remotely connected thereto) may include but are not limited to: accelerometers sensing accelerations experienced during rotation, translation, velocity/speed, location traveled, elevation gained; gyroscopes sensing movements during angular orientation and/or rotation, and rotation; altimeters sensing barometric pressure, altitude change, terrain climbed, local pressure changes, submersion in liquid; impellers measuring the amount of fluid passing thereby; Global Positioning sensors sensing location, elevation, distance traveled, velocity/speed; audio sensors sensing local environmental sound levels, or voice detection; Photo/Light sensors sensing ambient light intensity, ambient, Day/night, UV exposure; TV/IR sensors sensing light wavelength; Temperature sensors sensing machine or motor temperature, ambient air temperature, and environmental temperature; and Moisture Sensors sensing surrounding moisture levels.

If sensors are utilized to gather data relating to the assembly 10 of the present disclosure, then sensed data may be evaluated and processed with artificial intelligence (AI). Analyzing data gathered from sensors using artificial intelligence involves the process of extracting meaningful insights and patterns from raw sensor data to produce refined and actionable results. Raw data is gathered from various sensors, for example those which have been identified herein or others, capturing relevant information based on the intended analysis. This data is then preprocessed to clean, organize, and structure it for effective analysis. Features that represent key characteristics or attributes of the data are extracted. These features serve as inputs for AI algorithms, encapsulating relevant information essential for the analysis. A suitable AI model, such as machine learning or deep learning (regardless of whether it is supervised or unsupervised), is chosen based on the nature of the data and the desired analysis outcome. The model is then trained using labeled or unlabeled data to learn the underlying patterns and relationships. The model is fine-tuned and optimized to enhance its performance and accuracy. This process involves adjusting parameters, architectures, and algorithms to achieve better results. The trained model is used to make predictions or inferences on new, unseen data. The model processes the extracted features and generates refined output based on the patterns it has learned during training. The results produced by the AI model are refined through post-processing techniques to ensure accuracy and relevance. These refined results are then interpreted to extract meaningful insights and derive actionable conclusions. Feedback from the refined results is used to improve the AI model iteratively. The process involves incorporating new data, adjusting the model, and enhancing the analysis based on real-world feedback and evolving requirements.

The grader assembly 10 may include wireless communication logic coupled to sensors on the grader assembly 10. The sensors gather data and provide the data to the wireless communication logic. Then, the wireless communication logic may transmit the data gathered from the sensors to a remote device. Thus, the wireless communication logic may be part of a broader communication system, in which one or several grader assemblies may be networked together to report alerts and, more generally, to be accessed and controlled remotely. Depending on the types of transceivers installed in the grader assembly 10, the system may use a variety of protocols (e.g., Wifi, ZigBee, MiWi, Bluetooth) for communication. In one example, each of the grader assemblies may have its own IP address and may communicate directly with a router or gateway. This would typically be the case if the communication protocol is WiFi.

In another example, a point-to-point communication protocol like MiWi or ZigBee is used. One or more of the grader assembly 10 may serve as a repeater, or the grader assemblies may be connected together in a mesh network to relay signals from one grader assembly 10 to the next. However, the individual grader assembly 10 in this scheme typically would not have IP addresses of their own. Instead, one or more of the grader assemblies communicates with a repeater that does have an IP address, or another type of address, identifier, or credential needed to communicate with an outside network. The repeater communicates with the router or gateway.

In either communication scheme, the router or gateway communicates with a communication network, such as the Internet, although in some embodiments, the communication network may be a private network that uses transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP) and other common Internet protocols but does not interface with the broader Internet, or does so only selectively through a firewall.

The system that receives and processes signals from the grader assembly 10 may differ from embodiment to embodiment. In one embodiment, alerts and signals from the grader assembly 10 are sent through an e-mail or simple message service (SMS; text message) gateway so that they can be sent as e-mails or SMS text messages to a remote device, such as a smartphone, laptop, or tablet computer, monitored by a responsible individual, group of individuals, or department, such as a maintenance department or a roadway paving crew. Thus, if a particular grader assembly 10 creates an alert because of a data point gathered by one or more sensors, that alert can be sent, in e-mail or SMS form, directly to the individual responsible for fixing it. Of course, e-mail and SMS are only two examples of communication methods that may be used; in other embodiments, different forms of communication may be used.

In other embodiments, alerts and other data from the sensors on the grader assembly 10 may also be sent to a work tracking system that allows the individual, or the organization for which he or she works, to track the status of the various alerts that are received, to schedule particular workers to repair a particular grader assembly 10 or the roadway itself based on when the road was grader by grader assembly 10, and to track the status of those repair jobs. A work tracking system would typically be a server, such as a Web server, that provides an interface individuals and organizations can use, typically through the communication network. In addition to its work tracking functions, the work tracker may allow broader data logging and analysis functions. For example, operational data may be calculated from the data collected by the sensors on grader assembly 10, and the system may be able to provide aggregate machine operational data for grader assembly 10 or group of grader assemblies.

The system also allows individuals to access the grader assembly 10 for configuration and diagnostic purposes. In that case, the individual processors or microcontrollers of the grader assembly 10 may be configured to act as Web servers that use a protocol like hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) to provide an online interface that can be used to configure the grader assembly 10. In some embodiments, the systems may be used to configure several grader assemblies at once. For example, if several grader assemblies are of the same model and are in similar locations in the same location, it may not be necessary to configure the grader assemblies individually. Instead, an individual may provide configuration information, including baseline operational parameters, for several grader assemblies at once.

As described herein, aspects of the present disclosure may include one or more electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, or other similar secondary components and/or systems therein. The present disclosure is therefore contemplated and will be understood to include any necessary operational components thereof. For example, electrical components will be understood to include any suitable and necessary wiring, fuses, or the like for normal operation thereof. Similarly, any pneumatic systems provided may include any secondary or peripheral components such as air hoses, compressors, valves, meters, or the like. It will be further understood that any connections between various components not explicitly described herein may be made through any suitable means including mechanical fasteners, or more permanent attachment means, such as welding or the like. Alternatively, where feasible and/or desirable, various components of the present disclosure may be integrally formed as a single unit.

Various inventive concepts may be embodied as one or more methods, of which an example has been provided. The acts performed as part of the method may be ordered in any suitable way. Accordingly, embodiments may be constructed in which acts are performed in an order different than illustrated, which may include performing some acts simultaneously, even though shown as sequential acts in illustrative embodiments.

While various inventive embodiments have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the function and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the inventive embodiments described herein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the inventive teachings is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific inventive embodiments described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, inventive embodiments may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Inventive embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the inventive scope of the present disclosure.

The above-described embodiments can be implemented in any of numerous ways. For example, embodiments of technology disclosed herein may be implemented using hardware, software, or a combination thereof. When implemented in software, the software code or instructions can be executed on any suitable processor or collection of processors, whether provided in a single computer or distributed among multiple computers. Furthermore, the instructions or software code can be stored in at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium.

Also, a computer or smartphone utilized to execute the software code or instructions via its processors may have one or more input and output devices. These devices can be used, among other things, to present a user interface. Examples of output devices that can be used to provide a user interface include printers or display screens for visual presentation of output and speakers or other sound generating devices for audible presentation of output. Examples of input devices that can be used for a user interface include keyboards, and pointing devices, such as mice, touch pads, and digitizing tablets. As another example, a computer may receive input information through speech recognition or in other audible format.

Such computers or smartphones may be interconnected by one or more networks in any suitable form, including a local area network or a wide area network, such as an enterprise network, and intelligent network (IN) or the Internet. Such networks may be based on any suitable technology and may operate according to any suitable protocol and may include wireless networks, wired networks or fiber optic networks.

The various methods or processes outlined herein may be coded as software/instructions that is executable on one or more processors that employ any one of a variety of operating systems or platforms. Additionally, such software may be written using any of a number of suitable programming languages and/or programming or scripting tools, and also may be compiled as executable machine language code or intermediate code that is executed on a framework or virtual machine.

In this respect, various inventive concepts may be embodied as a computer readable storage medium (or multiple computer readable storage media) (e.g., a computer memory, one or more floppy discs, compact discs, optical discs, magnetic tapes, flash memories, USB flash drives, SD cards, circuit configurations in Field Programmable Gate Arrays or other semiconductor devices, or other non-transitory medium or tangible computer storage medium) encoded with one or more programs that, when executed on one or more computers or other processors, perform methods that implement the various embodiments of the disclosure discussed above. The computer readable medium or media can be transportable, such that the program or programs stored thereon can be loaded onto one or more different computers or other processors to implement various aspects of the present disclosure as discussed above.

The terms “program” or “software” or “instructions” are used herein in a generic sense to refer to any type of computer code or set of computer-executable instructions that can be employed to program a computer or other processor to implement various aspects of embodiments as discussed above. Additionally, it should be appreciated that according to one aspect, one or more computer programs that when executed perform methods of the present disclosure need not reside on a single computer or processor, but may be distributed in a modular fashion amongst a number of different computers or processors to implement various aspects of the present disclosure.

Computer-executable instructions may be in many forms, such as program modules, executed by one or more computers or other devices. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Typically the functionality of the program modules may be combined or distributed as desired in various embodiments.

Also, data structures may be stored in computer-readable media in any suitable form. For simplicity of illustration, data structures may be shown to have fields that are related through location in the data structure. Such relationships may likewise be achieved by assigning storage for the fields with locations in a computer-readable medium that convey relationship between the fields. However, any suitable mechanism may be used to establish a relationship between information in fields of a data structure, including through the use of pointers, tags or other mechanisms that establish relationship between data elements.

All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood to control over dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of the defined terms.

“Logic”, as used herein, includes but is not limited to hardware, firmware, software, and/or combinations of each to perform a function(s) or an action(s), and/or to cause a function or action from another logic, method, and/or system. For example, based on a desired application or needs, logic may include a software controlled microprocessor, discrete logic like a processor (e.g., microprocessor), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmed logic device, a memory device containing instructions, an electric device having a memory, or the like. Logic may include one or more gates, combinations of gates, or other circuit components. Logic may also be fully embodied as software. Where multiple logics are described, it may be possible to incorporate the multiple logics into one physical logic. Similarly, where a single logic is described, it may be possible to distribute that single logic between multiple physical logics.

Furthermore, the logic(s) presented herein for accomplishing various methods of this system may be directed towards improvements in existing computer-centric or internet-centric technology that may not have previous analog versions. The logic(s) may provide specific functionality directly related to structure that addresses and resolves some problems identified herein. The logic(s) may also provide significantly more advantages to solve these problems by providing an exemplary inventive concept as specific logic structure and concordant functionality of the method and system. Furthermore, the logic(s) may also provide specific computer implemented rules that improve on existing technological processes. The logic(s) provided herein extends beyond merely gathering data, analyzing the information, and displaying the results. Further, portions or all of the present disclosure may rely on underlying equations that are derived from the specific arrangement of the equipment or components as recited herein. Thus, portions of the present disclosure as it relates to the specific arrangement of the components are not directed to abstract ideas. Furthermore, the present disclosure and the appended claims present teachings that involve more than performance of well-understood, routine, and conventional activities previously known to the industry. In some of the method or process of the present disclosure, which may incorporate some aspects of natural phenomenon, the process or method steps are additional features that are new and useful.

The articles “a” and “an,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be understood to mean “at least one.” The phrase “and/or,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims (if at all), should be understood to mean “either or both” of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Multiple elements listed with “and/or” should be construed in the same fashion, i.e., “one or more” of the elements so conjoined. Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the “and/or” clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to “A and/or B”, when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as “comprising” can refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other elements); etc. As used herein in the specification and in the claims, “or” should be understood to have the same meaning as “and/or” as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, “or” or “and/or” shall be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, but also including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and, optionally, additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as “only one of” or “exactly one of,” or, when used in the claims, “consisting of,” will refer to the inclusion of exactly one element of a number or list of elements. In general, the term “or” as used herein shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusive alternatives (i.e. “one or the other but not both”) when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as “either,” “one of,” “only one of,” or “exactly one of.” “Consisting essentially of,” when used in the claims, shall have its ordinary meaning as used in the field of patent law.

As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase “at least one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, “at least one of A and B” (or, equivalently, “at least one of A or B,” or, equivalently “at least one of A and/or B”) can refer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, with no B present (and optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B (and optionally including other elements); etc.

As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the term “effecting” or a phrase or claim element beginning with the term “effecting” should be understood to mean to cause something to happen or to bring something about. For example, effecting an event to occur may be caused by actions of a first party even though a second party actually performed the event or had the event occur to the second party. Stated otherwise, effecting refers to one party giving another party the tools, objects, or resources to cause an event to occur. Thus, in this example a claim element of “effecting an event to occur” would mean that a first party is giving a second party the tools or resources needed for the second party to perform the event, however the affirmative single action is the responsibility of the first party to provide the tools or resources to cause said event to occur.

When a feature or element is herein referred to as being “on” another feature or element, it can be directly on the other feature or element or intervening features and/or elements may also be present. In contrast, when a feature or element is referred to as being “directly on” another feature or element, there are no intervening features or elements present. It will also be understood that, when a feature or element is referred to as being “connected”, “attached” or “coupled” to another feature or element, it can be directly connected, attached or coupled to the other feature or element or intervening features or elements may be present. In contrast, when a feature or element is referred to as being “directly connected”, “directly attached” or “directly coupled” to another feature or element, there are no intervening features or elements present. Although described or shown with respect to one embodiment, the features and elements so described or shown can apply to other embodiments. It will also be appreciated by those of skill in the art that references to a structure or feature that is disposed “adjacent” another feature may have portions that overlap or underlie the adjacent feature.

Spatially relative terms, such as “under”, “below”, “lower”, “over”, “upper”, “above”, “behind”, “in front of”, and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if a device in the figures is inverted, elements described as “under” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “over” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “under” can encompass both an orientation of over and under. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. Similarly, the terms “upwardly”, “downwardly”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “lateral”, “transverse”, “longitudinal”, and the like are used herein for the purpose of explanation only unless specifically indicated otherwise.

Although the terms “first” and “second” may be used herein to describe various features/elements, these features/elements should not be limited by these terms, unless the context indicates otherwise. These terms may be used to distinguish one feature/element from another feature/element. Thus, a first feature/element discussed herein could be termed a second feature/element, and similarly, a second feature/element discussed herein could be termed a first feature/element without departing from the teachings of the present invention.

An embodiment is an implementation or example of the present disclosure. Reference in the specification to “an embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “some embodiments,” “one particular embodiment,” “an exemplary embodiment,” or “other embodiments,” or the like, means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments is included in at least some embodiments, but not necessarily all embodiments, of the invention. The various appearances “an embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “some embodiments,” “one particular embodiment,” “an exemplary embodiment,” or “other embodiments,” or the like, are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiments.

If this specification states a component, feature, structure, or characteristic “may”, “might”, or “could” be included, that particular component, feature, structure, or characteristic is not required to be included. If the specification or claim refers to “a” or “an” element, that does not mean there is only one of the element. If the specification or claims refer to “an additional” element, that does not preclude there being more than one of the additional element.

As used herein in the specification and claims, including as used in the examples and unless otherwise expressly specified, all numbers may be read as if prefaced by the word “about” or “approximately,” even if the term does not expressly appear. The phrase “about” or “approximately” may be used when describing magnitude and/or position to indicate that the value and/or position described is within a reasonable expected range of values and/or positions. For example, a numeric value may have a value that is +/−0.1% of the stated value (or range of values), +/−1% of the stated value (or range of values), +/−2% of the stated value (or range of values), +/−5% of the stated value (or range of values), +/−10% of the stated value (or range of values), etc. Any numerical range recited herein is intended to include all sub-ranges subsumed therein.

Additionally, the method of performing the present disclosure may occur in a sequence different than those described herein. Accordingly, no sequence of the method should be read as a limitation unless explicitly stated. It is recognizable that performing some of the steps of the method in a different order could achieve a similar result.

In the claims, as well as in the specification above, all transitional phrases such as “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” “holding,” “composed of,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of” shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases, respectively.

To the extent that the present disclosure has utilized the term “invention” in various titles or sections of this specification, this term was included as required by the formatting requirements of word document submissions pursuant the guidelines/requirements of the United States Patent and Trademark Office and shall not, in any manner, be considered a disavowal of any subject matter.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the description and illustration of various embodiments of the disclosure are examples and the disclosure is not limited to the exact details shown or described.

Claims

1. A grader assembly comprising:

a front end opposite a rear end defining a first direction therebetween, and a first side opposite a second side defining a second direction therebetween, and a top opposite a bottom defining a third direction therebetween, wherein the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction are orthogonal to each other;

a frame including a first side member, a second side member, a rear member, and a front member, wherein the first side member and the second side member extend in the first direction between the front end to the rear end, wherein the rear member and the front member extend in the second direction between the first side member and the second side member;

a moveable blade coupled to the frame, wherein the moveable blade is positioned between the first side member and the second side member and is positioned between the rear member and the front member, and the moveable blade having a first side and a second side, wherein at least one of the first side and the second side the moveable blade is moveable relative to the first direction or the third direction; and

at least one drive mount coupled to one of the rear member and the front member, wherein the at least one drive mount is configured to couple with a machine to move the grader assembly forward in the first direction.

2. The grader assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a first blade mount coupled to the first side member, wherein the first side of the moveable blade is coupled to the first blade mount; and

a second blade mount coupled to the second side member, wherein the second side of the moveable blade is coupled to the second blade mount.

3. The grader assembly of claim 2, wherein the second blade mount is disposed rearward from the first blade mount relative to the first direction.

4. The grader assembly of claim 2, further comprising:

a length of the moveable blade that extends from the first side of the moveable blade to the second side of the moveable blade, wherein the length of the moveable blade lies along a blade axis;

a lower edge of the moveable blade;

a lower horizontal plane of the grader assembly;

a crowning angle defined between the lower edge of the moveable blade and the horizontal plane, wherein the crowning angle is adjustable depending on an orientation of the lower edge relative to the horizontal plane, wherein the angle is adjustable in response to actuation of moveable blade from at least one component coupled to one of the first blade mount and the second blade mount.

5. The grader assembly of claim 4, further comprising:

a manual jack coupled with the first blade mount and the first side of the moveable blade, wherein actuation of the manual jack raises and lowers the lower edge of the moveable blade.

6. The grader assembly of claim 4, further comprising:

a hydraulic actuator coupled with the second blade mount and the second side of the moveable blade, wherein actuation of the hydraulic actuator raises and lowers the lower edge of the moveable blade.

7. The grader assembly of claim 4, further comprising:

a support flange that is part of the first blade mount, wherein the support flange defines a slot that permits a range of travel in the third direction, wherein bounded ends of the slot bound a maximum position and a minimal position of the lower edge at the first side of the moveable blade that define the range of travel for the lower edge at the first side of the moveable blade in the third direction, wherein the range of travel for the lower edge extends from two inches below the bottom of the frame to one inch above the bottom of the frame; and

a slide bracket coupled to the at least one component and the support flange, wherein the slide bracket slides in the third direction along or within the slot in response to movement of the at least one component in the third direction, wherein the slide bracket is directly or indirectly coupled with the first side of the moveable blade, and the lower edge of the moveable blade moves in the third direction in response the slide bracket being slid along or within the slot.

8. The grader assembly of claim 4, further comprising:

a support flange that is part of the second blade mount, wherein the support flange defines a slot that permits a range of travel in the third direction, wherein bounded ends of the slot bound a maximum position and a minimal position of the lower edge at the second side of the moveable blade that define the range of travel of the lower edge at the second side of the moveable blade in the third direction, wherein the range of travel of the second side extends from four inches below the bottom of the frame to one and a half inches above the bottom of the frame; and

a slide bracket coupled to the at least one component and the support flange, wherein the slide bracket slides in the third direction along or within the slot in response to movement of the at least one component in the third direction, wherein the slide bracket is directly or indirectly coupled with the second side of the moveable blade, and the lower edge of the moveable blade moves in the third direction in response the slide bracket being slid along or within the slot.

9. The grader assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a length of the moveable blade that extends from the first side of the moveable blade to the second side of the moveable blade, wherein the length of the moveable blade lies along a blade axis;

a transverse axis of the grader assembly extending parallel to the second direction;

an angle defined between the moveable blade axis and the transverse axis, wherein the angle is adjustable relative to the first direction depending on an orientation of the moveable blade relative to one of the first blade mount and the second blade mount, wherein the angle is adjustable between about 15 degrees and 25 degrees.

10. The grader assembly of claim 9, wherein one of the first blade mount and the second blade mount is a slide mount adapted to slide the moveable blade in the first direction to adjust the angle between the blade axis and the transverse axis.

11. The grader assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one drive mount has two drive mounts including:

a rear drive mount coupled to the rear member to allow the grader assembly to be pushed forward from the rear end; and

a forward drive mount coupled to the front member to all the grader assembly to be pulled forward from the front end.

12. The grader assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

an actuator, wherein the moveable blade is moveable in the first direction or the third direction in response to movement of the actuator.

13. The grader assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor to gather data pertaining to surrounding environment or operation of the grader assembly, wherein sensed data is evaluated and processed with machine learning to predict or identify underlying patterns and relationships of sensed data pertaining to surrounding environment or operation of the grader assembly.

14. A method of operation for a grader assembly comprising:

selectively coupling a machine to one of a rear drive mount and a front drive mount on a grader assembly, wherein the rear drive mount and the front drive mount are coupled to a frame including a first side member, a second side member, a rear member, and a front member, wherein the first side member and the second side member extend in a first direction between the front member to the rear member, wherein the rear member and the front member extend in a second direction between the first side member and the second side member, and the frame including a top opposite a bottom defining a third direction therebetween, wherein the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction are orthogonal to each other;

moving at least one side of a moveable blade in the third direction, wherein the moveable blade is coupled to the frame and positioned between the first side member and the second side member and positioned between the rear member and the front member;

setting a lower edge of the moveable blade at a crowning angle, wherein the crowning angle is defined between a horizontal plane and the lower edge;

wherein if the machine was selectively coupled to rear drive mount of the grader assembly, then pushing the grader assembly in the first direction via the machine;

wherein if the machine was selectively coupled to the front drive mount of the grader assembly, then pulling the grader assembly in the first direction via the machine; and

grading a road with the moveable blade set at the crowning angle.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

moving a first side of the moveable blade in the third direction, wherein the first side of the moveable blade moves relative to a first blade mount coupled to the first side member, wherein the first side of the moveable blade is coupled to the first blade mount; and

moving a second side of the moveable blade in the third direction, wherein the second side of the moveable blade moves relative to a second blade mount coupled to the second side member, wherein the second side of the moveable blade is coupled to the second blade mount, wherein the second blade mount is disposed rearward from the first blade mount relative to the first direction.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

actuating a manual jack coupled to the first blade mount to impart movement in the third direction to the first side of the moveable blade.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

sliding a slide bracket along a support flange that is part of the first blade mount, wherein the slide bracket includes a pin that travels between bounded ends of a slot defined in the support flange; and

wherein the bounded ends of the slot bound a maximum position and a minimal position of the lower edge at the first side of the moveable blade that define a range of travel of the lower edge at the first side of the moveable blade in the third direction, wherein the range of travel extends from two inches below the bottom to one inch above the bottom.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

actuating a hydraulic actuator coupled to the second blade mount to impart movement in the third direction to the second side of the moveable blade.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

sliding a slide bracket along a support flange that is part of the first blade mount, wherein the slide bracket includes a pin that travels between bounded ends of a slot defined in the support flange;

wherein the bounded ends of the slot bound a maximum position and a minimal position of the lower edge at the second side of the moveable blade that define a range of travel of the lower edge at the second side of the moveable blade in the third direction, wherein the range of travel extends from four inches below the bottom to one and a half inches above the bottom.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

wherein the moveable blade includes a length that extends from the first side of the moveable blade to the second side of the moveable blade, wherein the length of the moveable blade lies along a blade axis; and

adjusting an angle defined between the blade axis and a transverse axis of the grader assembly that extends in the second direction, wherein the angle is adjustable between about 15 degrees and 25 degrees.