Blade Angle Adjustable In A Horizontal Plane Patents (Class 172/818)
  • Patent number: 11078648
    Abstract: A method is disclosed. The method may include controlling a leading edge of an implement of a machine using a first control loop to cause the implement to align to a defined design plan; controlling a trailing edge of the implement of the machine using a second control loop to cause the implement to align to the defined design plan; and selectively altering a gain to the second control loop based on a detected deviation of the implement from the defined design plan to increase an angle of approach, using the first control loop, when the implement is positioned above the defined design plan and decrease the angle of approach, using the first control loop, when the implement is aligned to the defined design plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Jason Knowles
  • Patent number: 8731784
    Abstract: A blade control system of the present invention includes an angle obtaining part, an open ratio setting part and a lift cylinder controlling part. The angle obtaining part is configured to obtain an angle of a lift frame with respect to a designed surface. The open ratio setting part is configured to set an open ratio based on the angle. The lift cylinder controlling part is configured to open a proportional control valve at the open ratio for elevating the blade when a distance between the designed surface and an edge of a blade is determined to be less than or equal to a threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Hayashi, Kenjiro Shimada, Kenji Okamoto
  • Patent number: 8292000
    Abstract: An earth moving device for a working vehicle, in which earth and sand flowing rearward over an earth moving blade does not enter through a gap between a bush and a piston rod into an angle cylinder tube. An angle cylinder is formed by including an angle cylinder rod and an angle cylinder tube. The angle cylinder rod is pivotably supported on a vertically movable frame, and the angle cylinder tube is pivotably supported on the earth moving blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Yanmar Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Souta Takami, Akashi Ikematsu, Katsuyoshi Tsujimura, Yoshihiro Hayami, Kanako Koyama
  • Patent number: 8272451
    Abstract: A blade apparatus for a work vehicle comprises a blade and first and second link anchors mounted to the blade. Each link anchor comprises a plurality of mounting points for adjusting the pitch of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Steven Jay Ditzler
  • Patent number: 7588088
    Abstract: A motor grader has a control system in which the manner of controlling the blade position differs depending upon whether the blade is to be moved vertically or is to be maintained at a generally constant level and cross slope. First and second hydraulic valves control the flow of hydraulic fluid to the first and second hydraulic cylinders which raise and lower respective ends of the blade. An inclinometer provides an inclinometer output indicating the inclination of the blade along its length with respect to horizontal. The control system includes a first hydraulic cylinder position sensor for determining the extension of the first hydraulic cylinder. The control system further includes a control that is responsive to a control input specifying the desired height and cross slope of the blade, to the first hydraulic cylinder position sensor, and to the inclinometer output. The control provides valve control signals to the first and second hydraulic valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Catgerpillar Trimble Control Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Mark Zachman
  • Patent number: 6957505
    Abstract: A blade attachment for an off-road vehicle such as an ATV is provided. A mounting frame is pivotally connected at its rearward end to the ATV rearwardly of the forward end thereof. A hinge plate is pivotally mounted, about a vertical axis, to the forward end of the mounting frame and has the blade of this invention mounted thereon to enable the blade to be pivoted left, right, or positioned in a straight position. The blade is locked in its various positions by a blade position lever. The blade position lever is automatically moved to its unlocked position when the blade is moved upwardly to a predetermined position and is automatically moved towards its locked position when the blade is moved downwardly to a predetermined height. A winch is operatively connected, in a slip clutch fashion, to the hinge plate to enable the blade to be pivotally moved, about a vertical axis, between its various angular positions, when the blade position lever is in its unlocked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Cycle Country Accessories Corporation
    Inventor: Chadron D. Moffitt
  • Patent number: 6843002
    Abstract: A blade attachment for an off-road vehicle such as an ATV is provided. A mounting frame is pivotally connected at its rearward end to the ATV rearwardly of the forward end thereof. A hinge plate is pivotally mounted, about a vertical axis, to the forward end of the mounting frame and has the blade of this invention mounted thereon to enable the blade to be pivoted left, right, or positioned in a straight position. The blade is locked in its various positions by a blade position lever. A linkage is mounted on the forward end of the push tube assembly which is operatively connected to the blade position lever for moving the blade position lever between its locked and unlocked positions. The blade position lever is automatically moved to its unlocked position upon the linkage engaging the underside of the ATV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Cycle Country Accessories Corporation
    Inventor: Chadron D. Moffitt
  • Patent number: 6659194
    Abstract: A blade angle adjustment system for adjusting the angle of the blade with respect to the body of a bulldozer. The blade angle adjustment system includes a pair of sleeve assemblies each being designed for being slidably coupled to one of a pair of lifting arms of the bulldozer. Each of the sleeve assemblies comprises a mounting member coupled to a main portion of an associated one of the sleeve assemblies whereby the mounting member is designed for pivotally receiving one of a pair of pivot arms each of the sleeve assemblies is designed for being coupled to one of a pair of extending rams of the bulldozer whereby lengthening of one of the extending rams slides the associated one of the sleeve assemblies along the associated one of the lifting arms for changing angle the blade with respect to a body of the bulldozer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Inventor: Samuel C. Thompson
  • Patent number: 6354383
    Abstract: An attachment device for attaching an implement to an attachment plate for a vehicle. The attachment device includes at least two sets of two or more arms, each arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of each arm being operably coupled to the implement and the second end of each arm being operably coupled to the attachment plate, wherein the two sets of two or more arms allow the implement to be tilted such that a first end of the implement may be raised to a higher vertical position than a second end of the implement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Inventor: Harold D. Muilenburg
  • Patent number: 6247540
    Abstract: A blade pitch indicator is releasably secured to a linear actuator in the form of a turnbuckle. The blade pitch indicator comprises a cover having protrusions forming arrow points that line up with a line of demarcation on the linear actuator. Indicia is associated with the protrusions to provide blade pitch positioning information to the operator. The turnbuckle is provided with two moveable yokes and a stationary threaded shaft. The threaded shaft is rotated to extend and retract the yokes, thereby adjusting the pitch position of the bulldozer blade. The threaded shaft is provided with a multifaceted nut in the form of a hexagonal nut that is engaged by a wrench to rotate the threaded shaft. The hexagonal nut is provided with an aperture through which a pin is inserted releasably securing the cover to the turnbuckle. The arrow points of the protrusions line up with the base end of the yokes to indicate the bulldozer blade's pitch position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Larry Joseph Clemen, Gregory G. Miller, Preston Harold Roberts
  • Patent number: 6163987
    Abstract: A removable blade assembly with an attachment arm slidably mounted over the support boom of a trencher machine. The attachment arm is stabilized in place on the support boom with pressure point bolts. From the attachment arm extend an angle support and an extending support block to stabilize a stabilization post leading to the blade-pivot assembly. The blade-pivot assembly includes a blade assembly pivotally mounted on a triangular-shaped housing frame. The blade can be swiveled in each direction from the trencher machine to backfill debris as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Inventor: Robert Albert Schommer
  • Patent number: 6112145
    Abstract: A blade control system is configured to control the spatial orientation of an earthmoving blade mounted on a frame of an earthmoving machine for working a surface of earth to a desired shape. The blade slope angle required to maintain a selected cross-slope angle is calculated and the blade slope is then controlled so that the sensed blade slope angle is substantially equal to the calculated blade slope angle. The method and apparatus of the present invention is capable of maintaining the desired cross-slope even when the motorgrader is steered through a turn. The control system includes an input circuit, a sensor system and a processor. The input circuit is arranged to generate an output signal representative of the desired shape of the surface of earth to be worked. The sensor system includes a first sensor coupled to the frame of the earthmoving machine to generate a first signal indicative of a longitudinal slope angle of the frame with respect to horizontal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Spectra Precision, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Eugene Zachman
  • Patent number: 6035944
    Abstract: A plow blade mounting system for mounting an adjustable V-plow blade on any wheeled or tracked vehicle having a vertical lift mechanism including arms extending forwardly of the vehicle. A rear mounting plate assembly has a first swivel plate adapted for attachment to the vertical lift mechanism and a pivot member secured to the first swivel plate. A second swivel plate is pivotally mounted on a pivot member, and a T-frame assembly is securely mounted on the second swivel plate and has a forwardly projecting end and a triangularly shaped plate member secured to the second swivel plate and the T-frame. A hydraulic actuator extends between the first and second swivel plates for effecting relative rotating movement of the first swivel plate relative to the second swivel plate about the pivot member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: M. J. Electric, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Joseph Neuner, Robert E. Plumley
  • Patent number: 5984018
    Abstract: A dozing system that enables automatic control for all kinds of soil properties and less frequently requires manual control intervention. The system is designed such that the blade is lifted or lowered at a start of excavation in dozing operation in an automatic drive mode such that the actual cutting angle .theta. of a blade detected by an actual cutting angle detector becomes coincident with a target cutting angle (maximum cutting angle) .theta..sub.0 preset by a target cutting angle setting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Yamamoto, Hidekazu Nagase
  • Patent number: 5924496
    Abstract: Top link assemblies for a construction machine are typically used to adjust the pitch angle of a cutting edge of a blade. The present top link assembly has an elongated member and a block member connected to the blade and a frame, respectively, of the machine. The elongated member has upper and lower surfaces defined on a body portion and a pair of spaced openings therethrough. The block member has a lower surface substantially coplanar with the lower surface of the elongated member and a pair of spaced threaded openings therein substantially coaxial with the pair of openings in the elongated member. A pair of spacers having notched end portions are disposed in a stacked relationship on the upper surface of the elongated member. A pair of threaded bolts extend through the notched end portions of the spacers and the openings in the elongated member for threading into the block member, to secure the top link assembly at a first predetermined length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Brian C. Buchanan, Paul J. Staebler, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5853051
    Abstract: Top link assemblies for a construction machine are typically used to adjust the pitch angle of a cutting edge of a blade. The present top link assembly has substantially co-planar first and second adjustment plates with each including a pair of slots therein. Joint upper and lower surfaces are defined between the first and second adjustment plates. Upper and lower spacer plates are disposed on the joint upper and lower surfaces, respectively, and each include a pair of openings coaxially aligned with the slots within the first and second adjustment plates. A threaded portion of a bolt extends through the upper spacer plate, first and second adjustment plates and lower spacer plate through the co-axially aligned openings and slots. A nut is tightened on the threaded portion at any one of a plurality of positions along the pair of slots and the desired pitch angle of the cutting edge may be adjusted by loosening the nuts and repositioning at any one of the plurality of positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Caterpillar, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian C. Buchanan, John M. Dickerson, James E. Johnston, Francis G. Snekhaus
  • Patent number: 5634523
    Abstract: A blade device, wherein the angling angle of a blade can be increased and the blade width at the maximum angling is smaller than the chassis width without setting the mount position of the blade too far from a chassis. The connecting position of a joint for connecting a frame and a blade deviates from the crosswise center X--X of a chassis; and an actuator for pivotally moving the blade forward or backward is attached to the frame. As such, good workability of the blade device and good transportability of an earth-moving machine to which the blade device is operably coupled can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Komatsu Seisakusho
    Inventors: Takeshi Kobayashi, Haruo Tomozaki
  • Patent number: 5507352
    Abstract: A dozer blade pitch adjustment apparatus has a mounting lug and a block supported by the lug for setting a dozer blade at a first pitch or a second pitch. In the improvement, the lug has a mounting surface and the block has a first face contacting such mounting surface when the blade is set at the first pitch. A second face of the block contacts the mounting surface when the blade is set at the second pitch. The block has a surface portion between the lugs and such portion faces generally upwardly when the blade is set at either pitch. A new method for changing the pitch of the blade is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Assignee: Case Corporation
    Inventors: Claude M. Frisbee, Ronald H. Werner
  • Patent number: 5488788
    Abstract: Flexibility of operation is added to a vehicle (10) having a vehicle frame (12) with an operator area (18) and front and rear wheels (14), (16), a power tool (32), a pair of outrigger arms (48) pivoted to the frame (12) and hydraulic cylinders (62) extending between the frame (12) and the arms (48) by providing a ground engaging tool (70), (168), (172), (192) mounted on at least one of the arms (58).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1996
    Inventor: Ricky L. Durbin
  • Patent number: 5165191
    Abstract: A quick-convert bucket attachment for front end loaders has hydraulically positioned, interlocking bucket components that may be manipulated by controls at the tractor seat or other convenient location for rapid conversion of the attachment from a general purpose loading bucket to a side-shift angle dozer. The back wall of the bucket is formed by the dozer blade, while the side walls and floor of the bucket are formed by a clam which may be raised into an elevated position to expose the dozer, at which time the dozer may be either maintained in a centered, straight-forward position or shifted laterally into a left or right, obliquely angled position. The dozer blade is completely immobilized and is held solidly against a main base of the attachment when the clam is in its lowered position, thus presenting a rugged bucket capable of functioning in all respects as a conventional loader bucket at that time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1992
    Assignee: William G. Davis
    Inventor: Charles J. Davis
  • Patent number: 4727665
    Abstract: A locking mechanism for a fluid actuated snowplow which automatically locks the moldboard unit of the plow in a desired position and simultaneously therewith relieves the pressure on the fluid drive unit whereby the locking mechanism and not the drive unit accept the plowing stresses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1988
    Assignee: Frink America, Inc.
    Inventor: Jan H. Verseef
  • Patent number: 4487269
    Abstract: An angle adjustment mechanism for an implement mounted on a vehicle, such as a bulldozer having a C-shaped frame which pivotally supports the dozer blade at the forward end of the vehicle for angled movement. The side frame portions include slide members mounted on rails which are pivotally interconnected with one of the opposed sides of the implement. The rails each include a plurality of spaced horizontal slots or openings at predetermined locations, and the channel-shaped slide members each include a downwardly opening slot which is alignable with one of the openings in the rails. The slide members are locked to fix the angled position of the implement by horizontally oriented tapered anchor pins receivable through the slot in the slide member and one of the aligned openings in the rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1984
    Assignee: J. I. Case Company
    Inventor: Claude M. Frisbee
  • Patent number: 4253529
    Abstract: A mounting structure for a dozer frame having a dozer blade supported thereon consists of a pair of rigid links of equal length which are pivotally connected at vertically spaced pivot points on a vehicle frame and have free ends connected to the mounting frame at vertically spaced locations. The spacing between the pivot axes on the mounting frame and the vehicle frame are substantially equal so that the blade does not tilt when moved between raised and lowered positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1978
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1981
    Assignee: J. I. Case Company
    Inventor: Roland N. Nissen