Abstract: The present invention consists of a mobile device that can be attached to the underside of existing mining machines thus eliminating the large number of ground levelling machines used in the mine, and increasing both air quality and worker productivity. This device, attached to the underside of a mining machine, making it possible to level areas that are inaccessible to conventional graders, and is specially designed for use in such places. Its low profile allows the invention to fit perfectly into the space available beneath such machines, in contrast to conventional equipment normally attached to graders, consisting of a vertical blade that is too large for the space between the front and rear wheels of a mining machine. Moreover, thanks to the positioning of its anchors, the invention adjusts automatically to ground conditions, in contrast to a vertical blade which must be adjusted regularly. Finally, the device requires no mechanical maintenance mad costs less than conventional graders.

Abstract: An apparatus for retaining a grader blade includes a support bracket, a first upper retainer secured to the support bracket and a second upper retainer secured to the support bracket. The apparatus also includes a first lower retainer secured to the support bracket, the first lower retainer being movable relative to the first upper retainer, and a second lower retainer secured to the support bracket, the second lower retainer being movable relative to the second upper retainer. The apparatus further includes a first adjustment member which contacts the first lower retainer, wherein rotation of the first adjustment member causes movement of the first lower retainer relative to the first upper retainer, and a second adjustment member which contacts the second lower retainer, wherein rotation of the second adjustment member causes movement of the second lower retainer relative to the second upper retainer. A method of retaining a grader blade relative to a support bracket is also disclosed.

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

Abstract: A motor grader includes a work implement operating device which permits operation of a plurality of direction control valve with reduced number of operation levers. The motor grader includes a wheeled body for traveling and carrying at least one work implement, at least one operation lever operable in a first direction for electrically generating a first operation command signal and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction for generating a second operation command signal and a mode selector selectable at least between a first mode and a second mode for generating a mode selection signal. A controller receives the first and second operation command signals and the mode selection signal for controlling different motor grader functions depending upon an input combination of the first and second operation command signals and the mode selection signal.

Abstract: A grader blade unit is provided for ready attachment to small tractors in place of an underslung mower deck. A grader blade is attached to a turntable for pivotable adjustment to selected angular settings. An extensible draw bar affixed to the turntable has a front mounting yoke at its forward end. A rear mounting yoke is affixed to the turntable. The front and rear mounting yokes are adjustable in width and the drawbar is adjustable in length so as to accommodate the mounting links of different tractors. Wing sections hingedly connected to the opposite ends of the central blade are adjustable to selected angular positions relative to the central blade. Foot stirrups are removably affixed to the blade for controlling the slope of the blade in use.

Abstract: A mounting frame for a moldboard of a motor grader is provided with first and second retainers having V-shaped notches that cooperate with V-shaped engagement portion located on the mounting rails of the moldboard. Each of the V-shaped notches are provided with first and second wear strips defining the wings of the V-shaped notch. The wear strips have a sliding surface in sliding contact with the mounting rails and a contact surface which contacts the adjoining wear strip in the V-shaped notch. Locating protuberances are located at each end of the wear strips and cooperate with retainer clips to hold the wear strips in proper position. The ends of the wear strips are also provided with abutment surfaces which contact the base of the retainer clips.

Abstract: A work vehicle and method for assembling the vehicle with a ring gear that is rotatably supported by a frame of the vehicle through contact only with bearing strips which maintain the ring gear against movement in any direction other than rotationally about the ring gear axis. The bearing strips may be made of organic plastic or metal.

Abstract: An attachment for tractors including a pair of elongate support members attached at their forward ends to the tractor frame and at their rearward ends to the tractor's three point hitch arms. A blade assembly is carried by the elongate members and is adjusted vertically or inclined transversely to the tractor centerline by adjustment of three point hitch components. The blade of the assembly is also rotatable about a vertical pivot with a locking mechanism provided for the blade. A tractor mounted bracket removably mounts the forward ends of the elongate support members.

Abstract: A motor grader circle drive has an internal spur gear secured to the circle, and the internal gear is driven by one or two barrel worm gears, each of which in turn is driven from a hydraulic motor by an input worm and an input spiral gear keyed to the barrel worm gear, each barrel worm gear is journalled on a spindle in a support and is free to move endwise between a pair of radial flanges while being centered by a pair of belleville spring washers so as to compensate for backlash in each barrel worm gear and to permit substantially even distribution of driving force between the barrel worm gears when two are used. This structure operates at very low tooth pressures so as to permit the barrel worm gear to be made of a relatively soft material such as heat treated aluminum. The support, worm gear and input gears are made as a prefabricated sub-assembly, which is easily installed or removed; and using a soft material which wears much faster than the internal gear protects the latter from wear.

Abstract: A motor grader is provided with a unitary circle drawbar and circle mounting structure in which the drawbar is a box-like beam which increases in width from front to rear, with the rearward portions of the beam top and side plates forming the forward part of the circle mounting structure which also serves as an integral circle drive housing that is fully enclosed except for a forward opening through which a driving connection is made with an internal gear on the circle. The rearward part of the circle mounting structure is semi-annular, is a hollow rectangle in cross-section with an external top flange, and has its front end integrally connected to the drive housing with the lower part of which is defines an outwardly open annular channel in which the circle is rotatably supported.

Abstract: Structure for fastening the blade of a motor grader to a support carried on the vehicle while enabling sideward sliding movement of the blade includes support brackets each of which has a slot for receiving a slide rail that is secured along the back of the blade. To sustain wear and to facilitate compensating adjustments for such wear, a pair of replaceable wear strips are situated in each slot between the bracket and rail. The two wear strips are locked together by interleaved portions and each has an angled end portion abutting a separate side surface of the bracket. This construction locks the wear strips in place without requiring any additional fastening means to prevent wear strip movement out of the slots during sliding movement of the blade and rails. The pair of wear strips may have similar configurations enabling interchanging of the two strips after a period of time to distribute wear more evenly.

Abstract: A three-point mounting hitch for supporting an implement beneath a tractor and between the front and rear wheels thereof includes an upright rear frame member connectible with the tractor three-point hitch and a horizontal implement supporting frame member at the lower end of the rear frame member extended forwardly below the tractor. The implement is raised and lowered as a unit assembly with the three-point hitch into and out of an operating position. A belt drive mechanism on the hitch connects the tractor power take-off unit to the implement drive shaft.

Abstract: A ring gear bearing arrangement for motorgraders and method for assembling the vehicle with a ring gear that is rotatably supported by a frame of the vehicle through contact only with organic plastic bearing strips which maintain the ring gear against movement in any direction other than rotationally about the ring gear axis.

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

Abstract: Motor graders have a longitudinal main frame which carries a circle mounting bar that pivots on a horizontal axis at a connecting end and that has a carrying portion remote from its connecting end. A circle rotates on a vertical axis on the mounting bar carrying portion, and a grader blade is mounted on the circle. The present improved circle mounting bar is a box-like beam with internal vertical webs, and the beam increases in width from its connecting end toward a carrying portion of box-like cross section which is a separate part integrally welded to the beam. The shape of the beam in plan is intermediate between an isosceles triangle with its apex at the connecting end and a parabola with its apex at said end so as to give optimum uniformity of stress, throughout the length of the mounting bar, to both vertical and lateral forces.

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

Abstract: A motor vehicle has a cab that has forward observation windows in the front wall on opposite sides of the main frame below the windshield, and an access door at one side with cab side windows in the door and on the opposite side. A pivoted, outwardly opening window structure may be used in either location. The window structure has a lock to secure it in any desired position between a sealed closed position and a fully open position. The lock operates by clamping onto a hinge pin, and is readily manually manipulated from inside the cab. As used on a forward observation window, the pivot axis is so located that opening the window does not interfere with a windshield wiper arm and blade for the window that occupies a generally upright parked position near the main frame.

Abstract: The motor grader drawbar assembly has a blade mounted on a circle gear and a drive gear selectively rotates the circle gear and the blade via a pinion gear engaged with the circle gear and mounted on a rotatable shaft. A slip clutch is interposed between the drive gear and the shaft to allow relative movement therebetween when a preselected torque is exceeded, as when the blade hits an obstruction. A pressure plate overlies the slip clutch and may be adjusted to change the preselected torque required.