IMPROVEMENTS IN GRADER BLADE ASSEMBLIES

• US 20140338933A1
• Filed: 12/19/2013
• Published: 11/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Craig Harris, Geoff Harris
• Original Assignee: Geoff Harris
• Inventors: HARRIS, Geoff, Harris, Craig
• Granted Patent: US 9,103,100 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 172/1
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/7645 with the scraper blade being pivotable about a horizontal axis disposed parallel to the blade
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/765 with the scraper blade being pivotable about a horizontal axis disposed perpendicular to the blade
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/7654 with the scraper blade being horizontally movable into a position near the chassis
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/8157 Shock absorbers; Supports, e.g. skids, rollers; Devices for compensating wear-and-tear, or the like

Abstract

A grader blade assembly for mounting a blade to a grader comprises at least one bearing plate which reduces vibration of the blade during use and wherein at least one shim is used to reposition the bearing plate as it is subjected to wear. A grader blade assembly may alternatively or additionally include at least one bearing pad which reduces vibration of the blade during use and wherein at least one shim is used to reposition the bearing pad as it is subjected to wear. The shims are flexible and can conform to the contour of the bearing plate or pad and are of the same shape as the plate or pad with which it is to be used.

Claims

1. A grader blade assembly for mounting a blade to a grader comprising:

at least one bearing plate or at least one bearing pad or both for reducing vibration of the blade during use; and

at least one shim for repositioning the or each bearing plate or bearing pad or both.

2. A grader blade assembly according to claim 1 wherein the or each shim is flexible and can conform to a curve of the or each bearing plate or the or each bearing pad or both.

3. A grader blade assembly according to claim 2 wherein the or each shim is the same shape as the or each bearing plate or bearing pad or both with which it is to be used.

4. A grader blade assembly according to claim 3 wherein the or each bearing plate or bearing pad or both and the or each shim have at least one hole therethrough wherein the or each hole in the or each bearing plate or bearing pad or both are aligned with the or each hole in the or each shim, such that they can be bolted to the grader blade assembly in alignment.

5. A grader blade assembly according to claim 4 wherein the or each bearing plate or bearing pad or both and the or each shim each have two holes.

6. A grader blade assembly according to claim 5 wherein the or each bearing pad comprises at least one hook which is adapted to clip into a mating groove in the grader blade assembly to attach the bearing pad thereto.

7. A grader blade assembly according to claim 6 wherein the shims comprise at least one hole for passing the hook through for retaining the shim between the bearing pad and the grader blade assembly.

8. A grader blade assembly according to claim 7 wherein the bearing pad comprises two hooks which clip into mating grooves in the grader blade assembly and the shim comprises two aligned holes through which the hooks can pass.

9. A grader blade assembly according to claim 8 wherein the shims are sprung for biasing the or each bearing plate or bearing pad or both, as they are subjected to wear.

10. A grader blade assembly according to claim 9 wherein the or each shim is made from zinc anneal.

11. A grader blade assembly according to claim 10 wherein the or each shim has a thickness in the range of 0.5 to 1.2 mm

12. A method for adjusting a grader blade assembly comprising the steps of:

removing the or each bearing plate or bearing pad or both from the assembly;

placing the or each shim between the or each bearing plate or bearing pad or both, and the grader blade assembly; and

reattaching the or each bearing plate or bearing pad or both to the grader blade assembly and attaching the or the or each shim therebetween.