Abstract: A work vehicle comprising a frame supported by a ground engaging device. A boom assembly is coupled to the frame. A boom cylinder is coupled to the frame and the boom assembly. An attachment coupler is coupled to a distal portion of the boom assembly. At least one tilt cylinder is coupled to the boom assembly and the attachment coupler. An attachment is coupled to the attachment coupler. The attachment comprises an attachment frame coupled to the attachment coupler. The attachment frame has a lower portion and an upper portion. A joint is coupled to the lower portion of the attachment frame and a blade. The joint has an upper surface and a lower surface positioned a distance from the surface. An angle cylinder is coupled to the lower portion of the attachment frame and a dozer blade. A portion of the angle cylinder is positioned below the upper surface.

Abstract: A back guard for a loader bucket is removably mountable to the bucket and can accommodate buckets having different widths. A bucket assembly that includes the bucket and the back guard can accommodate stacked items, such as wood, for transport on the loader bucket. It has a back plate sufficiently strong to hold debris, while not obstructing the vision of the tractor operator. The back plate is slideably disposed relative to left and right supports that are mountable, respectively to the left and right sides of the bucket to provide a sliding mechanism. Each side of the back guard can accept additional implementations, such as left and right side guards useful for further containing the items in the bucket, so that more items can be transported. A method of forming the back guard includes welding components thereof.

Abstract: Snowplow apparatus comprises a connecting frame having a rearward mount with means for removable attachment to a motor vehicle at two spaced-apart points, and at least one forward mount with means for attachment to a snowplow. The connecting frame includes a first horizontal hinge adjacent the rearward mount and a second horizontal hinge adjacent the forward mount, a pivot axis of the first hinge and a pivot axis of the second hinge extending transverse to a central longitudinal axis of the vehicle. A snowplow, including at least one elongate snowplow blade, is attached to the connecting frame at the forward mount. A first powered mechanism raises and lowers the snowplow about the pivot axis of the first hinge and a second powered mechanism pivots the snowplow about the pivot axis of the second hinge, thereby adjusting the orientation of the snowplow blade with respect to the road when in the lowered operative position.

Abstract: Excavator that comprises a drive unit, an excavator tool and a mounting device for the excavator tool and wherein the mounting device comprises at least two arms that are arranged to be connected to the excavator tool. The excavator comprises resilient portions located in at least two different locations in which the resilient portions are arranged to allow the excavator tool to move in at least one plane relative to the drive unit when the excavator tool is mounted on the mounting device and thereby allow the excavator tool to oscillate in the at least one plane.

Abstract: A support frame assembly for supporting a plow, or another front-mounted implement, on a small vehicle such as an all-terrain vehicle (“ATV”) is provided. The frame assembly comprises a front portion and a rear portion. The front portion is typically raised with respect to the rear portion, allowing the plow to be pivotally attached to the front of the frame assembly at a higher location. The rear portion comprises a locking mechanism allowing the frame assembly to be easily mounted to the underside of the vehicle. A releasing mechanism, operatively connected to the locking mechanism, allows for the easy removal of the frame assembly from the vehicle.

Abstract: Excavator (10) that comprises a drive unit (11), an excavator tool (12) and a mounting device (14) for the excavator tool (12), which mounting device (14) comprises at least two arms (30) that are arranged to be connected to the excavator tool (12). The excavator (10) comprises resilient means (38) that are located in at least two different locations (A, B), which resilient means (38) are arranged to allow the excavator tool (12) to move in at least one plane (20) relative to the drive unit (11) when said excavator tool (12) is mounted on the mounting device (14) and thereby allow the excavator tool (12) to oscillate in said at least one plane.

Abstract: A float mechanism for movably attaching an implement to a vehicle has a mounting frame that connects onto the vehicle and a fixed frame that affixes to the implement. A pivot bracket pivotally attaches to one of the frames and is slidably connected to the other to accommodate a limited degree of translational motion. The pivot bracket can slidably connect to the frame by a pair of guides in combination with a pair of sleeves. Rotational motion between the fixed frame and the mounting frame can be limited by slots in one of the frames that are slidably engaged by a stabilizing element on the other frame. When the stabilizing element is a horizontal bar, it can engage a pair of vertical slots. To optionally eliminate the free motion between the frames, movable blocks can be employed to limit the motion of each stabilizing element in its slot.

Abstract: Flexible suspension of colter element (1) of a snowplough furnished with a body (5), a blade (3) as its extension, colter element (1) that gets in contact with the surface to be ploughed, where for the colter element (1) a tilt suited for the purpose is arranged, a.o. a cutting angle. Colter element (1) is fitted to dodge an obstacle in its cutting angle by backing up, whereby the fixing arrangement of colter element (1) has an open space formed for moving plate (13) fitted as extension of the colter element, in which space said moving plate is arranged to glide, and the arrangement includes a spring organ (9) the spring impact of which is arranged to hinder the colter element from backing up.

Abstract: A self-adjusting snow plow for use with pickup trucks, SUVs, all-terrain vehicles or other land vehicles. The snow plow includes a mounting apparatus for attachment to a vehicle and a plow blade, preferably including a mold board and a retention apparatus assembly. The retention apparatus assembly disengageably secures the plow blade to the mounting apparatus when the plow blade is in a snow displacement position. The snow plow further includes an elongated strap selectively connectable between the plow blade and the mounting apparatus in at least one position, wherein the position is a constrained orientation wherein the elongated strap resists upward movement of the plow blade when the plow blade is disengageably secured to the mounting apparatus or an elevated orientation, wherein the elongated strap suspends the plow blade a desired distance from the ground to prevent the plow blade from contacting the ground and/or snow on the ground.

Abstract: A snow plow for attachment to a vehicle, preferably an all terrain vehicle, the snow plow including a mounting apparatus having a mounting frame, the mounting frame including at least one mounting upright. The snow plow further including a plow blade. The preferred plow blade has a mold board including a main surface, a back surface and a plate secured proximate the back of the mold board, the plow also has a rubber scraper proximate the main surface and a retention apparatus constructed and arranged to disengageably secure the plow blade with the mounting upright; wherein the retention apparatus allows the plow blade to pivot with respect to the mounting upright such that the rubber scraper can pivot away from the mounting upright when the plow blade is in a working orientation and the vehicle moves in a direction rearward from the plow blade.

Abstract: A plow blade float attachment for preventing damage to a side deflector on a plow blade. The plow blade float attachment includes an arm member pivotally attached to a deflector member of a plow blade, a contact member attached to the arm member, a guide member attached to the deflector member for slidably receiving a distal portion of the arm member, and a bias member attached between the deflector member and the arm member for applying a downward bias force to the arm member.

Abstract: A snowplow assembly comprises a lift frame and A-frame operably pivotally connected together and an actuator operably connected between the lift frame and A-frame for effecting relative pivotal movement between the lift frame and A-frame. A plow blade includes a blade frame. The blade frame includes a tube of circular cross section which is operably pivotally connected to the A-frame. The tube is pivotally received by a quadrant, which is operably connected to the A-frame. A resilient element is operable between the blade frame and A-frame normally biasing a lower edge of the plow blade forwardly. The resilient element is an elastomeric loop. The pivotal connection of the plow blade to the A-frame in combination with the resilient element provides a trip function of the plow blade. The plow blade is a composite. The circular tube of the blade frame provides torsional stiffness to the composite blade.

Abstract: A resilient loader attachment system for allowing a loader attachment device to be utilized without the direct weight of the tractor placed upon a work area. The resilient loader attachment system includes an attachment structure for securing to a loader of a tractor, a frame extending from the attachment structure, a pair of upper guide plates and a pair of lower guide plates movably positioned within the frame in a vertical manner, a plurality of compression springs or dampener cylinders positioned between the frame and the guide plates, and an attachment device attached to the distal ends of the guide plates. The guide plates are able to move upwardly and downwardly, and rotate within the frame for reducing the effectively force of the loader and tractor during the usage of an attachment device such as but not limited to a concrete screed.

Abstract: A mounting arrangement for a moldboard includes a pair of arms having resilient members which are received within a mounting member. The resilient members enable the arms and the moldboard to pivot about the mounting member in the event that an obstruction is encountered by the moldboard. The mounting arrangement for the moldboard includes a series of holes whereby the orientation of the moldboard to the surface to be plowed may be adjusted.

Abstract: A mounting arrangement for a moldboard includes a pair of arms having resilient members which are received within a mounting member. The resilient members enable the arms and the moldboard to pivot about the mounting member in the event that an obstruction is encountered by the moldboard. The mounting arrangement for the moldboard includes a series of holes whereby the orientation of the moldboard to the surface to be plowed may be adjusted.

Abstract: A mounting arrangement for a moldboard includes a pair of arms having resilient members which are received within a mounting member. The resilient members enable the arms and the moldboard to pivot about the mounting member in the event that an obstruction is encountered by the moldboard such as during snow and ice removal.

Abstract: A plow blade is described which has first and second sections, e.g., a moldboard and a trip board, which are rotatable with respect to each other and maintained in a desired angular relationship with respect to each other via an elastic torsion joint. The elastic torsion joint includes an elongated inner member at least partially surrounded by an elongated outer sleeve. Resilient elastic cushioning wedges (e.g., elastomeric wedges) are situated between the inner member and outer sleeve in such a manner that rotation of the inner member with respect to the outer sleeve compresses the cushioning wedges and elastically resists rotation. The inner member and outer sleeve are respectively affixed to the moldboard and trip board (or vice versa) so that when the trip board strikes an obstruction and is biased with respect to the moldboard, the elastic torsion spring resiliently yields, and then causes the trip board to snap back to its original position with respect to the moldboard once the obstruction is removed.

Abstract: The present new, improved rock screed bucket has a solid rectangular back plate together with a framework having a rectangular bottom and a pair of generally triangular shaped sides. The solid rectangular back plate acts as a backstop. The rectangular bottom supports a heavy duty grading screen. A mounting frame is mounted to the rear of the solid rectangular back plate through a plurality of shock absorbing spacers. The conventional arm structures and conventional hydraulic system of a conventional tractor or skid loader connect to the mounting frame. By rapidly moving the conventional arm structure and conventional hydraulic system any material in the rock screed bucket can be shaken and thus screened. In a second embodiment, a hydraulic shaker may be attached to the top of the rock screed bucket to shake the rock screed bucket. The hydraulic shaker is conventional and derives its power from the conventional hydraulic system of the tractor or skid loader.

Abstract: An articulated dozer blade system for vehicles for performing dozing operations using an articulated blade capable of a variety of blade configurations. The inventive device includes an articulated dozer blade portions pivotally mounted together and mounted to a central pivot member. The central pivot member is mounted to a support structure by a bifurcated pivot mounting comprised of spaced fork members having a pivot rod which passes through the outer walls of the central pivot member. Blade positioning members secure the blade portions at a user-selected setting.

Abstract: An apparatus for permitting the pitch of a dozer blade to change automatically during blade use includes a blade member including a housing having a housing wall and a blade attachment portion. An anchor member including a rod is telescoped to the housing and has a rod attachment portion and a retainer attached to the rod. A compression spring is in the housing and exerts force on the wall and the retainer. The rod and blade attachment portions are thereby urged closer to one another and the blade is automatically tipped rearwardly to a "semi-carry" position. During digging with the blade lower edge, the spring allows the blade to tip forwardly. A method for automatically adjusting the blade pitch is also included.

Abstract: A snowplow blade assembly is provided wherein the plow blade is provided at its opposite ends with snow deflectors. Preferably the snowplow blade assembly is also provided at its opposite ends with pivotable end extensions to which the snow deflectors are attached. Preferably each end extension is pivotable through an angle greater than about 175.degree. from a fully extended and retained blade end extending configuration to a fully folded and retained blade length reducing and extension storage configuration. Each snow deflector comprises a base, a deflector plate that is pivotable relative to the base, a biasing member, an anchor for fastening the springs to the base, and arm members for connecting the springs with the deflector plate so that the deflector plate is biased into an open but deflectable configuration relative to the base. The snow deflector components are arranged and configured to move snow without becoming snow bound.

Abstract: A groomer attachment for forklift vehicles includes an elongated rigid member having a top and a bottom. A pair of spaced-apart fork receiving pockets are connected to the rigid member. A flexible blade extends from the bottom of the rigid member. Preferably the rigid member has a front and a rear. The attachment then has a pair of spaced-apart flexible blades extending from the bottom of the rigid member, a first blade being adjacent the front thereof and a second blade being adjacent the rear thereof. The rigid member may be channel-shaped.

Abstract: A sugar cane piler having a mechanical spring suspension device connected between the piler and the front end of the loader, the device including a precompressed spring to absorb a major portion of the weight of the piler and reduce the force of the piler acting on the ground. The device permits the piler to readily float over the ground and minimizes penetration of the piler's tips into the ground.

Abstract: A bulldozer is provided with a ground scraping blade. The blade is supported to the chassis of the vehicle by a pivoted frame. The frame can be power displaced relative to the supporting chassis by a first pair of inclined rams, providing translational motion of the blade. A ram power displaces the blade in rotation relative to the pivoted frame. Another ram, extending vertically, interconnect the vertically spaced rear ends of a pair of helicoidal, diverging, sinusoidal arms forming part of the pivot frame with the front ends thereof anchored to the blade in horizontally spaced fashion. Extension of the latter ram induces relative motion of the pair of helicoidal arms so that one lateral side end of the blade will lift exclusively of the opposite lateral side end thereof.

Abstract: A sand trap contouring attachment for a sand trap maintenance machine. A preferred attachment (12) includes a plow blade (30), a pair of blade supports (32) wherein the plow blade (30) is operatively attached to the supports (32) and wherein the supports (32) are pivotally attached to the sand trap maintenance machine (10) frame (18) at pivot points (38). Blade (30) lies at the front of machine (10), pivot point (38) lies at the rear of machine (10), and support arms (32) lie intermediate the blade (30) and pivot points (38). Control member (34) is operatively attached to the supports (32) via links (42) and (44). Control member (34) comprises an operator handle wherein the handle provides an operator gripping surface area right and left of a longitudinal center line of the machine (10). Spring means (36), (37), (39) are operatively connected to the machine (10) and the support arms (32) for biasing the supports (32) and blade (30) away from the ground. Control member (34) is adjustable to two positions.

Abstract: A combined snow plow/winch device is provided which includes a mouldboard for plowing snow and a winch for moving loads, both simultaneously mounted to a front of a vehicle. The mouldboard is pivotally mounted to the vehicle for limited movement about a horizontal axis against a biasing member. The winch includes a cable receiving drum, a cable wound about the drum by rotation of the drum, and drive structure for rotating the drum. The winch is mounted to the vehicle above the horizontal rotation axis of the mouldboard. A fairlead is affixed to the mouldboard above and forward of the horizontal rotation axis. During operation of the winch to move objects, the winch cable passes through the fairlead and exerts a force on the mouldboard such that the mouldboard pivots forward against the biasing member, allowing the cable to be straightened between the drum and the object to be moved.

Abstract: Snow plow apparatus is described having segmented blade means comprising a plurality of bits. Each bit is connected to a vertically disposed shank having a triangular cross-section. The shank is slidably mounted in triangularly-shaped retention means carried by the plow moldboard. Bias means urges the shank and bit to its normal downward position. Each bit is independently mounted so that it can be vertically displaced when it encounters a high point in the roadway or an obstruction. The bias means urges the bit downwardly again when the obstruction is cleared.

Abstract: A snowplow with an extension blade is provided and consists of a main blade and an extension blade horizontally slideable within a track behind the main blade by a hydraulic cylinder assembly, whereby when the extension blade is completely retracted it will be totally behind the main blade. In a modification the extension blade contains individual spring biased vertically extending hands with the purpose of providing needed height when the extension blade is extended.

Abstract: A snowplow with a blade having a lower edge to which several spring flaps are hingeably linked. Reset springs retain the spring flaps in their working positions, and return the spring flaps to their working positions after having been deflected. To prevent overload of the reset springs, each is supported to be movable in the same sense as the pivoting direction of the associated spring flap, so that the increase in spring force, while the spring flap is being deflected, is at least partially counteracted.

Abstract: A reciprocating type of bulldozer blade which blade is mounted on a telescoping member for telescoping engagement with a support arm carried on the bulldozer proper, the improvement including a flywheel disposed on a powered shaft which is rotated, the rotating powered shaft operatively connected to a bulldozer blade through a cam system to provide reciprocal movement of the blade in response to powered shaft rotation. The flywheel provides a more uniform shaft rotation and therefore a greater force on the bulldozer blade as it cycles back and forth. In addition, the relatively telescoping support parts for the blade have provided thereon a supporting instrumentality connected to a stationary portion of the telescoping assembly, and a cylinder having a spring device on the moving reciprocatory part, a shaft extending therebetween so that in combination with the flywheel, additional force is provided on the bulldozer blade by cyclically loading and unloading the spring, which works against the shaft.

Abstract: A V-shaped under frame with a transverse rear member connected at its ends to forwardly converging side members has spaced uprights connectable to a truck. Pivots connected in aligned relation on each side member connect to ribs on the convex rear side of right and left moldboards. The inner edges of the moldboards are closely adjacent along their upper portions, but diverge along their lower portions. Backing springs on the side members bias the tops of the moldboards forwardly. A low V-shaped plow point is connected by a strut to the under frame and located within the space left by the diverging lower portions of the moldboards. Roadway engaging shoes are connected to the under frame adjacent each of its three corners.

Abstract: A front-mounted, shock-absorbing attachment means for a snowplow on a vehicle, comprising a substantially vertical front plate with fastening means for detachable mounting of the snowplow. The upper section of the front plate is pivotally secured to the frame of the vehicle, and its lower section, via buffer cylinders adjustable in length and pivotally fastened at one end thereof to the front plate, is supported against the front wheel axle of the vehicle by means of respective brackets which are rigidly clamped to respective brackets which are rigidly clamped to respective leaf spring assemblies in front of the front wheel axle and which rest directly or indirectly against the leaf spring assembly.

Abstract: A plow frame for a front-mounted snowplow, for example, of the type in which the shovel blade can be set in crosswise, diagonal or V-configurations, which via a linkage system with a coupling frame is detachably fastened to a coupling frame on a vehicle. The plow frame has a front part to which the shovel blade is fastened and a rear part to which the linkage system is fastened, said two parts being mutually pivotable about an axis disposed in the direction of movement of the plow. The parts have facing slide plates joined together by a pivot bolt which constitutes said axis of rotation. Each of the slide plates has a pair of opposing projections at the upper and lower sections thereof, respectively, and between said upper and lower projections damper members are provided which preferably are rubber dampers in cylinders.

Abstract: A front end loader has a loading bucket secured to a tractor and a transversely elongate cutter blade closely spaced forward of a lower front edge of the bucket. Improved apparatus for reciprocating the blade in forward and aft directions relative to the front edge of the bucket is disclosed. A force transmitting beam has a resonant frequency with at least one node and first and second anti-nodes at the resonant frequency. A source of vibrations at or near the resonant frequency is coupled to the beam near the first anti-node to vibrate the second anti-node about a neutral position. The beam is secured near one node so as to locate the neutral position of the second anti-node in spaced relationship from the cutting blade within striking distance thereof. The second anti-node thus applies unidirectional force impulses to the blade in a forward direction as the second anti-node vibrates to drive the blade intermittently forward.

Abstract: A mechanism for angling, pitching, and tilting a dozer blade utilized in a conventional bulldozer wherein the blade is pivotally connected by an angling frame to the forward ends of push arms. A tilt-pitch control assembly for the blade is provided including a pitch cylinder, a pitch-tilt cylinder, a torsion bar, and drag link connections. The pitch cylinder and pitch-tilt cylinder are each pivotally attached to the torsion bar by the drag link connections. If a load is applied against one side of the blade, the load is transmitted to the pitch cylinder or pitch-tilt cylinder closest to the loaded side of the blade thereby causing some movement of that cylinder. The cylinder which is under load transmits any movement through its respective drag link connection into a turning movement on the torsion bar.

Abstract: A bulldozer having a transversely elongate cutter blade closely spaced from the bottom edge of the mold board is disclosed. The cutter blade is mounted for reciprocal motion in forward and aft directions relative to the mold board. Unidirectional force impulses are applied to the cutter blade in a forward direction to drive the blade intermittently forward without aft motion. Preferably, the unidirectional force impulses are applied by first and second matched force transmitting beams. Each beam has two divergent approximately straight legs that meet at a juncture to form an acute, approximately 90.degree. angle, a node at the juncture, an input anti-node at the end of one leg, and an output anti-node at the end of the other leg at the input frequency. A source of vibrations at or near the resonant frequency is coupled to the input anti-node and the output anti-node is disposed in spaced aft relationship from the cutter blade within striking distance thereof.

Abstract: The push arms (17) of a bulldozer assembly (12) are mounted outboard of the track roller frames (18) of a tractor (11) and a cushioning cylinder (20) is interconnected between each push arm (17) and track roller frame (18). This arrangement thus avoids the problem of imposing loads on the main frame (15) of the tractor to which the push arms (17) are normally connected and permits cushioned loads to be transmitted to a pivot shaft (45) pivotally mounting the track roller frames (18) on the main frame (15).