Abstract: A work equipment includes: a drawbar having a drawbar plate; a bearing having an outer ring which is fixed to a lower surface of the drawbar plate, and an inner ring which is disposed inside the outer ring and is connected to the outer ring so as to be rotatable in a peripheral direction with respect to the outer ring; and a circle having a circle plate that is fixed to a lower end of the inner ring over the peripheral direction, an outer peripheral-side wall portion that is connected to an outer peripheral side of the circle plate and has a cylindrical shape surrounding the bearing from an outer peripheral side, and an inner circumferential-side wall portion protruding from the upper surface of the circle plate between the bearing and the outer peripheral-side wall portion, extends in the peripheral direction, and faces the outer ring in the radial direction.

Abstract: The work equipment for a motor grader includes: a rotary machine main body for rotating an outer gear engaging with an inner gear provided on an inner peripheral surface of an inner ring of a bearing; and a rotary machine lubrication unit provided on a gear cover in a circle rotary machine and for supplying a lubricant to a space, wherein the gear cover is provided in the rotary machine main body, covers the outer gear from the outer peripheral side thereof, forms the space between the outer gear and the gear cover, and is fixed to a drawbar plate.

Abstract: A work equipment for a motor grader comprising: a drawbar including: a drawbar plate and an outer peripheral-side rib that is integrally fixed to the drawbar plate so as to protrude from a lower surface of the drawbar plate; and a circle including a circle plate that protrudes outside of the outer peripheral-side rib in the radial direction and forms a lower-side gap between a lower end of the outer peripheral-side rib and the circle plate; and an outer peripheral-side wall portion that is connected to the outer peripheral side of the circle plate, has a cylindrical shape surrounding the outer peripheral-side rib from an outer peripheral side of the outer peripheral-side rib, and forms a clearance between the lower surface of the drawbar plate and the outer peripheral-side wall portion.

Abstract: A grading machine includes a machine body, a grading blade supported by a circle, a drawbar connecting the grading blade and the circle to the machine body, and a circle drive system. The circle drive system includes a circle drive motor and a gear box. The gear box is configured to engage with and rotate the circle relative to the drawbar around a circle axis. The circle drive motor includes an axis of rotation that is perpendicular to the circle axis, and the gear box includes an axis of rotation that is parallel to the circle axis.

Abstract: A motor grader includes a work implement supported by a frame, a controller, and a circle drawbar assembly for controlling the work implement. The circle drawbar assembly includes a drawbar frame, a circle member coupled to the drawbar frame, and a drive arrangement coupled to the drawbar frame and the circle member for rotation thereof about the circle axis. The drawbar arrangement a first hydraulic cylinder and a second hydraulic cylinder pivotally coupled to the drawbar frame at a first location and a second location, respectively, on their respective first portions, and pivotally coupled to the circle member at a common third location on their respective second portions. A control arrangement extends and retracts the hydraulic cylinders in timed relationship to rotate the circle member about the circle axis.

Abstract: A circle rotator of a motor grader includes a worm, a worm wheel and a shaft. The worm wheel has an inner peripheral portion, an outer peripheral portion enclosing the inner peripheral portion from outside, and a plurality of first clutch discs to be spline-coupled to the inner peripheral surface of the inner peripheral portion. The inner peripheral portion is made of a material harder than a material of which the outer peripheral portion is made.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a circle drive assembly for a motor grader. The circle drive assembly includes a circle member being rotatable about a rotation axis, a first hydraulic cylinder and a second hydraulic cylinder for rotatably driving the circle member, and a first and second coupling mechanisms. The first hydraulic cylinder has a first end coupled to the first coupling mechanism and the second hydraulic has a second end coupled to the second coupling mechanism. The first coupling mechanism and second coupling mechanism can be controllably moved between a clamped position and an unclamped position. The first hydraulic cylinder rotatably drives the circle member when the first coupling mechanism is in the clamped position and the second hydraulic cylinder rotatably drives the circle member when the second coupling mechanism is in the clamped position.

Abstract: A DCM circle shoe for a motor grader is disclosed. The DCM circle shoe may have a base having a mounting surface, and a lip portion protruding from the base at an end of the base opposite the mounting surface in a direction generally parallel with the mounting surface. The DCM circle shoe may also have a wear insert mounted at a distal edge of the lip portion, the wear insert having an outer wear surface oriented at an oblique angle relative to the mounting surface of the base.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a circle drive assembly for a motor grader. The circle drive assembly includes a circle member being rotatable about a rotation axis, a first hydraulic cylinder and a second hydraulic cylinder for rotatably driving the circle member, and a first and second coupling mechanisms. The first hydraulic cylinder has a first end coupled to the first coupling mechanism and the second hydraulic has a second end coupled to the second coupling mechanism. The first coupling mechanism and second coupling mechanism can be controllably moved between a clamped position and an unclamped position. The first hydraulic cylinder rotatably drives the circle member when the first coupling mechanism is in the clamped position and the second hydraulic cylinder rotatably drives the circle member when the second coupling mechanism is in the clamped position.

Abstract: A motor grader includes a frame, a work implement, a lifter guide, a lifter bracket and a lift cylinder. The lifter guide is joined to the frame and encloses the frame. The lifter bracket encloses the lifter guide. The lift cylinder is attached to the lifter bracket for driving the work implement. The lifter guide includes an annular portion and a first leg portion, the annular portion enclosing an outer periphery of the frame. The first leg portion is continuous to an inner periphery of the annular portion. The first leg portion protrudes from the annular portion in a side view, and the first leg portion is welded at an outer edge to the frame.

Abstract: Mounting arrangement includes a drawbar assembly universally coupled to a longitudinally extending front frame portion of a machine proximal to a front wheel and a distance rearward from the wheel. An implement mounting bracket pivotably coupled to the assembly defines an articulation axis. First and second hydraulic actuators advance respective power links coupled to the mounting bracket to rotate the mounting bracket about the articulation axis. Respective idler links limit the movement of the actuators and power links.

Abstract: A DCM circle shoe for a motor grader is disclosed. The DCM circle shoe may have a base having a mounting surface, and a lip portion protruding from the base at an end of the base opposite the mounting surface in a direction generally parallel with the mounting surface. The DCM circle shoe may also have a wear insert mounted at a distal edge of the lip portion, the wear insert having an outer wear surface oriented at an oblique angle relative to the mounting surface of the base.

Abstract: A motor grader is equipped with a circle drive arrangement including a variable displacement motor capable of operating at a high speed for driving the circle at a high speed, as when the blade is elevated above the ground and the grader is turning around for reversing the operation of the blade, and capable of operating at a high torque for driving the circle to change the angle of operation of the blade relative to the grader frame when the blade is in ground contact.

Abstract: Mounting arrangement includes a drawbar assembly universally coupled to a longitudinally extending front frame portion of a machine proximal to a front wheel and a distance rearward from the wheel. An implement mounting bracket pivotably coupled to the assembly defines an articulation axis. First and second hydraulic actuators advance respective power links coupled to the mounting bracket to rotate the mounting bracket about the articulation axis. Respective idler links limit the movement of the actuators and power links.

Abstract: A full support bearing for a grader circle including a first radial groove in a cylindrical portion of the circle includes a group of inserts forming a second support groove within the first radial groove. It also includes circle supports sized and shaped such that the gap between any two circle supports is small. The circle supports are arranged along a circumference of the circle and rigidly attached to a draw bar. The arrangement results in virtual 360 degree circle support, lower loads, and smaller material deflections at all loaded areas, and significantly increased durability due to a resultant reduction in wear rates.

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

Abstract: A circle structure of a motor grader excellent in durability at low maintenance cost. For this purpose, the circle structure includes a drawbar (105), at least one guide shoe (213) attached to the drawbar, an integrated ring-shaped circle gear (211) rotatably supported by the guide shoe, a plurality of circle gear mounting bolts (215) placed at equal pitches on a mounting pitch circle of the circle gear, and a circle (104) which is mounted to the circle gear by the circle gear mounting bolts and rotatable with respect to the drawbar.

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

Abstract: A system and method for automatically moving the blade of a motor grader from a present blade position to a mirror image position. The method includes the steps of: providing an electronic controller, blade controls having position sensors, and an input switch; obtaining information from the position sensors indicating the position of the blade controls; determining the present blade position; receiving an input signal from the input switch requesting a mirror image position; calculating the mirror image position of the present blade position; and producing a control signal for actuating the blade controls to move the blade from the present blade position to the mirror image position.

Abstract: A circle and beam assembly for a motor grader. The circle and beam assembly of the present invention includes a circle from which two beams extend wherein the beams are oppositely disposed. An opening is defined at the lower end of each beam. A hinge rod is received through the openings, and the hinge rod extends beyond each of the beams for receiving a grader blade thereon. The outer diameter of the hinge rod is slightly larger than the diameter of each opening. Each opening is heated to permit the hinge rod to slide therethrough such that upon cooling, the hinge rod is securely held.

Abstract: A scraper apparatus is disposed beneath a truck for moving and scraping materials such as snow and ice. The scraper apparatus includes a moldboard scraper which is disposed beneath the truck for moving and scraping materials. A supporting table is disposed between the scraper and the truck for rotatably supporting the scraper. Also, slidable members extend from the table to the truck for permitting tilting of the table and the scraper secured thereto relative to the truck such that the moving and scraping of the materials is permitted regardless of an angle of the truck relative to a level and disposition of the materials.

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

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

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

Abstract: A moldboard support assembly including a drive frame assembly having one end connectable to the front end of a vehicle. A blade and moldboard support frame is pivotally connected to the other end of the drive frame for pivotal movement about a vertical axis. The blade and moldboard support frame includes a gear segment driven by a worm gear mounted on the drive frame assembly to effect the pivotal movement of the blade and moldboard, and wear pads are mounted on the drive frame assembly and engage surfaces on the moldboard support frame, to thereby maintain the drive frame assembly and moldboard support frame in alignment to insure proper intermeshing of the worm gear and gear segment.

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

Abstract: A scraper blade supporting and positioning assembly is used for mounting a scraper blade on a vehicle having an undercarriage frame and a longitudinal axis corresponding to its direction of travel. The assembly comprises a scraper blade and first and second mounting subassemblies. The first mounting subassembly is pivotally connected to the undercarriage frame and includes a hydraulic cylinder for moving and positioning itself about a first pivot axis defined by the pivotal connection to the undercarriage frame. The first pivot axis is oriented substantially parallel to the plane of the undercarriage frame and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The second mounting subassembly is rigidly connected to the first mounting subassembly and pivotally connected to the scraper blade.

Abstract: A grading vehicle including a bridging vehicle chassis between a front axle and its corresponding wheels and a rear vehicle section having at least one axle with corresponding rear wheels, and control equipment mounted on said chassis, which equipment provides for adjustment in all directions of a grading device suspended therefrom and mounted between the front axle and the rear section of the vehicle, which grading device is connected by a universal joint to the rear section of the vehicle which carries a driving engine, the grading device includes a scraping blade which is of length corresponding substantially to the width of the vehicle, and the front wheels being driven wheels.

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 improved motor grader circle mounting and circle assembly has a mounting in which an annular upright wall with an outwardly extending integral top flange and a removable bottom flange form an outwardly open annular cavity. A circle structure of welded arcuate segments is rotatably mounted between the flanges and cooperates with the wall and flanges to form a close annular lubricant chamber, and a segmental internal ring gear is on the circle structure in the cavity. Renewable segmental lower and upper bearing plates are located between bearing surfaces of the circle mounting and the circle; and a lower oil sealing ring is so located as to permit removal of the bottom flange and lowering of the circle structure to replace all the bearing plates and a segmented upper oil seal without draining the lubricant chamber.

Abstract: A tractor grader in which the tractor is lengthened by forwardly spacing the front wheels and having a grader blade mounted between the front and rear wheels. The blade is mounted on a lower turntable and supported adjacent an upper turntable plate by rollers engaging the lower turntable and supported by the upper plate of the turntable. The turntable plate is mounted on a frame universally pivoted at its forward end to the elongated chassis and at its rear by a pair of spaced lift rams.

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: A motor grader including a main frame mounted on steerable wheels, a drawbar frame mounted on the main frame, a working implement carried by a circle gear rotatably mounted on the drawbar frame and a hydraulic control circuit is described. An improvement in the control of the working implement is disclosed in which continuous downward force is exerted on the circle gear at all times during operation by hydraulic rams. Preferred embodiments of the invention are described wherein the force is exerted by hydraulic means including wear surfaces in contact with the circle gear and wherein the hydraulic control circuit is adapted to provide automatic operation.

Abstract: A motor grader comprises a tractor having a frame extending forwardly therefrom and supported on a plurality of road wheels. A first bracket is universally connected to the frame and is pivotally connected to a second bracket, disposed forwardly thereof, by a parallelogram-type linkage. A double-acting hydraulic cylinder is pivotally interconnected between the first and second brackets to selectively pivot the second bracket relative to the first bracket and to maintain the brackets in parallel relationship relative to each other. A mold board is mounted for lateral sliding movements on a support member pivotally connected to a forward end of the second bracket. A pair of cylinders are pivotally interconnected between the second bracket and the support member to selectively pivot the support member and mold board relative to the second bracket.

Abstract: A motor grader including a wheeled main frame and a drawbar structure attached thereto is disclosed wherein a circle-mounted working implement, such as a blade or the like, is supported on the drawbar by improved guide shoes. The improved guide shoes include surfaces in engagement with both upper and lower surfaces of the circle at all times and remotely controlled mechanical apparatus for varying the frictional forces exerted by such guide shoes on the circle, whereby undesirable effects due to wearing of the engaging surfaces in operation are reduced.

Abstract: An improved circle mounting bar and circle assembly for a motor grader includes a beam with a connecting end, and integral with the other end of the beam is a circle carrying structure in which an annular upright wall with an outwardly extending integral top flange and a removable bottom flange forms an outwardly open annular cavity. The circle structure is rotatably mounted between the flanges and cooperates with the wall and flanges to form a closed annular chamber which is sealed by circumferential seals, and an internal ring gear is on the circle structure in the cavity. An opening in the upright wall toward the beam accommodates an input drive element that engages the ring gear, and in that area the upright wall is the outer wall of a sealed housing that houses the input element and also contains lubricant for said element and the ring gear.

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.

Abstract: A control system for circle mounted motor grader blades to enable adjustment of the circle and blade supported thereby about the axis of the circle is disclosed. The system includes a circle holding mechanism for reducing wear between the circle and the mounting structure therefor, which circle holding mechanism also automatically compensates for inaccuracies in operation due to such wear and to the tolerances between the circle and the mounting structure required to facilitate adjustments in the relative positioning thereof. This circle holding mechanism includes a wedge device which forces the circle into a shoe element to hold the circle in fixed relationship with respect to the mounting structure therefor.

Abstract: The motor grader drawbar assembly has a blade mounted on a circle gear and a drive unit operatively connected to the circle gear to selectively rotate it and the blade. A plurality of radially mounted pistons operate against an upright wall of the circle gear to provide a brake and/or locking mechanism. The pistons, and their accompanying cylinders, are mounted in members which also underlie and support the circle gear. Thus, the vertical position of the circle gear is not affected by the braking operation. A hydraulic circuit is provided to alternately operate the drive unit and the braking operation.