MOTOR GRADER SADDLE POSITIONING SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREOF

• US 20200131732A1
• Filed: 10/26/2018
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Zell, Adam, Fochs, Joseph B.
• Granted Patent: US 11,066,809 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/764 with the scraper blade being pivotable about a vertical axis
• 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 3/844 for positioning the blade, e.g. hydraulically
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2041 Automatic repositioning of implements, i.e. memorising determined positions of the implement for dipper-arms or bucket-arms E02F3/434, E02F3/437, E02F3/438, E02F3/439 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2271 Actuators and supports therefor and protection therefor

Abstract

A draft frame positioning system of a motor grader having a main frame includes an adjustable draft frame configured to be moved to one of a plurality of positions and a moldboard coupled to the draft frame. The moldboard is movable based on the position of the draft frame. A saddle assembly is coupled between the draft frame and the main frame, and the saddle assembly includes a first saddle arm, a second saddle arm, and a saddle top member coupled between the first and second saddle arms. A saddle positioning cylinder moves between an extended position and a retracted position, and the cylinder is coupled at one end to the main frame or the saddle top member and at an opposite end to the saddle assembly. A movement of the saddle positioning cylinder induces movement of the draft frame to any of its plurality of positions.

Claims

1. A draft frame positioning system of a motor grader having a main frame, comprising:

an adjustable draft frame configured to be moved to one of a plurality of positions;

a moldboard coupled to the draft frame, the moldboard being movable based on the position of the draft frame;

a saddle assembly coupled between the draft frame and the main frame, the saddle assembly comprising a first saddle arm, a second saddle arm, and a saddle top member coupled between the first and second saddle arms; and

a saddle positioning cylinder configured to move between an extended position and a retracted position, the saddle positioning cylinder being coupled to the main frame or the saddle assembly;

wherein, a movement of the saddle positioning cylinder induces movement of the draft frame to any of its plurality of positions.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the saddle positioning cylinder is coupled at a first end to the first or second saddle arm of the saddle assembly and at a second end to the saddle top member.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the saddle assembly comprises a saddle lock bar pivotally coupled between the first saddle arm and the second saddle arm;

the saddle positioning cylinder coupled to the saddle lock bar.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a first lift cylinder coupled between the first saddle arm and the draft frame;

a second lift cylinder coupled between the second saddle arm and the draft frame; and

a side shift cylinder coupled between the draft frame and the saddle assembly.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein movement of the saddle positioning cylinder induces movement of the draft frame a first non-discrete position to a second non-discrete position.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the saddle assembly does not include a lock bar or locking pin such that the position of the draft frame is not defined by engaging the locking pin with the lock bar.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second saddle positioning cylinder configured to move between an extended position and a retracted position, the second saddle positioning cylinder being coupled to the main frame or the saddle assembly.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the saddle positioning cylinder is coupled to the first saddle arm and the second saddle positioning cylinder is coupled to the second saddle arm.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein:

the saddle positioning cylinder is coupled at one end to the first saddle arm and at an opposite end to the saddle top member or the main frame; and

the second saddle positioning cylinder is coupled at one end to the second saddle arm and at an opposite end to the saddle top member or the main frame.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the movement of the saddle positioning cylinder is independent of the movement of the second saddle positioning cylinder.

11. A draft frame positioning system of a motor grader having a main frame, comprising:

an adjustable draft frame configured to be moved to one of a plurality of positions;

a moldboard coupled to the draft frame, the moldboard being movable based on the position of the draft frame;

a saddle assembly coupled between the draft frame and the main frame, the saddle assembly comprising a first saddle arm, a second saddle arm, and a saddle top member coupled between the first and second saddle arms; and

a first saddle positioning cylinder configured to move between an extended position and a retracted position, the first saddle positioning cylinder being coupled at one end to the main frame or the saddle top member and at an opposite end to the saddle assembly;

a second saddle positioning cylinder configured to move between an extended position and a retracted position, the second saddle positioning cylinder being coupled at one end to the main frame or the saddle top member and at an opposite end to the saddle assembly;

wherein, a movement of the first saddle positioning cylinder is independent of a movement of the second saddle positioning cylinder;

wherein, the movement of either the first or the second saddle positioning cylinder induces movement of the draft frame to one of any of its plurality of positions.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the first saddle positioning cylinder is coupled to the first saddle arm and the second saddle positioning cylinder is coupled to the second saddle arm.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the first saddle arm and the second saddle arm are movable independently of one another.

14. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a first lift cylinder coupled between the first saddle arm and the draft frame;

a second lift cylinder coupled between the second saddle arm and the draft frame; and

a side shift cylinder coupled between the draft frame and the saddle assembly.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein movement of either the first or second saddle positioning cylinder induces movement of the draft frame from a first non-discrete position to a second non-discrete position.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the first saddle positioning cylinder and the second saddle positioning cylinder are coupled to the saddle top member at one end and a respective saddle arm at an opposite end.

17. A motor grader, comprising:

a main frame;

a draft frame adjustably coupled to the main frame, the draft frame configured to be adjusted to any of a plurality of positions;

a moldboard configured to perform a grading operation, the moldboard coupled to the draft frame;

a saddle assembly coupled between the draft frame and the main frame, the saddle assembly comprising a first saddle arm, a second saddle arm, and a saddle top member coupled between the first and second saddle arms;

a saddle positioning cylinder configured to move between an extended position and a retracted position, the saddle positioning cylinder being coupled at one end to the main frame or saddle top member and at an opposite end to the saddle assembly; and

a control system comprising a controller, a saddle positioning sensor, a first saddle arm sensor, and a second saddle arm sensor;

wherein, a movement of the saddle positioning cylinder induces movement of the draft frame to any of its plurality of positions;

wherein, the saddle positioning sensor is electrically coupled to the controller and is configured to detect a position of the saddle positioning cylinder and communicate the position to the controller.

18. The motor grader of claim 17, wherein the position of the draft frame is adjustably controlled automatically via the controller, the controller configured to automatically control movement of the saddle positioning cylinder.

19. The motor grader of claim 17, further comprising:

a second saddle positioning cylinder configured to move between an extended position and a retracted position, the second saddle positioning cylinder being coupled at one end to the main frame or saddle top member and at an opposite end to the saddle assembly; and

a second saddle positioning sensor electrically coupled to the controller and configured to detect a position of the second saddle positioning cylinder;

wherein, a movement of the second saddle positioning cylinder is controlled independently of the saddle positioning cylinder;

wherein, a movement of the second saddle positioning cylinder induces movement of the draft frame.

20. The motor grader of claim 19, wherein:

the saddle positioning cylinder is coupled to the first saddle arm at one end and the saddle top member at the opposite end; and

the second saddle positioning cylinder is coupled to the second saddle arm at one end and the saddle top member at the opposite end;

wherein, movement of either the first saddle arm or the second saddle arm is independently controlled relative to the other.