BACK FILL ATTACHMENT FOR A DRAFT VEHICLE

• US 3,797,582 A
• Filed: 10/30/1972
• Issued: 03/19/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James L. Couch
• Original Assignee: James L. Couch
• Inventors: Couch, James L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellegrino, Stephen C.
• Application Number:
  US05/301,764
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 172/447,446,786,502,668,694,692,691,742,466,448,439,451
• US Class Current: 172/445.2
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 31/00 Drags graders for field cultivators graders in general E02F
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/7627 with the scraper blade adjustable relative to the frame about a vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/815 Blades; Levelling or scarifying tools E02F3/40 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 5/223 for back-filling in association with trench excavators E02F5/12

Abstract

A back fill attachment is provided for a draft vehicle. The attachment is especially useful to back fill soil removed from trenches in the laying of gas lines, water lines, electric lines and other conduits. The attachment also may be used to back fill soil removed from excavations made for general construction purposes, and to level or contour soil in land filling or landscaping operations. In one preferred embodiment, the attachment comprises an adjustable back fill blade which is adapted to be attached to a tractor having a three point hitch. The blade may be adjusted in a number of positions and the attachment is sufficiently versatile to meet a variety of different back filling, leveling, and contouring requirements.

Claims

1. A back fill attachment for a tractor having a three-point hitch comprising an elongated tongue member having first and second end portions, means for attaching the first end portion of the tongue to the three-point hitch of the tractor, the said means for attaching the tongue including a hitching member carrying spaced first, second and third hitching means, the first and second hitching means being carried by the hitching member below the third hitching means, the first, second and third hitching means being adapted to be attached to the three-point hitch of the tractor, an elongated cross bar having first and second end portions, means for movably mounting the cross bar on the second end portion of the tongue, the cross bar being mounted between its first and second end portions and the said mounting means therefor allowing movement of the cross bar about a generally upright axis and in a generally horizontal plane, first adjustment means for adjusting the angular relationship of the cross bar and the tongue, means for retaining the cross bar and the tongue in said adjusted angular relationship, a sectional back fill blade including independent elongated first and second blade sections, means for movably mounting the first blade section on the first end portion of the cross bar, the said mounting means for the first blade section allowing movement of the first blade section about a generally upright axis and in a generally horizontal plane, means for movably mounting the second blade section on the second end portion of the cross bar, the said mounting means for the second blade section allowing movement of the second blade section about a generally upright axis and in a generally horizontal plane, the said mounting means for the cross bar and the said mounting means for the first and second blade sections allowing each of the cross bar, the first blade section and the second blade section to be rotated through a 360* arc, second adjustment means for adjusting the angular relationship of the cross bar and the first blade section and for securely retaining the same in said adjusted position, and third adjustment means for adjusting the angular relationship of the cross bar and the second blade section and for securely retaining the same in said adjusted position, each of said cross bar, first blade section and second blade section being independently movably mounted by their respective mounting means and each of said first, second and third adjustment means being independently adjustable whereby each of said cross bar, first blade section and second blade section may be moved in a generally horizontal plane, adjusted in a desired angular relationship with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tongue and then securely retained in said desired angular relationship, the first and second blade sections being mounted on their respective mounting means so as to provide inner and outer end portions of unequal length, the outer end portion of each of the first and second blade portions being longer than the inner end portions thereof whereby the first and second blade sections may be adjusted in a desired angular relationship, first, second and third elongated support means having first and second end portions, the first, second and third support means extending between the said hitching member and the second end portion of the tongue and being angularly disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tongue, the first end portions of each of the first, second and third support means being joined to the said hitching member, and the second end portions of each of the first, second and third support means being joined to the second end portion of the tongue.

2. The back fill attachment of claim 1 wherein the first end portions of the first, second and third support means are joined to the hitching member in the general vicinity of the said first, second and third hitching means respectively.

3. The back fill attachment of claim 1 wherein the first and second hitching means are located in a generally horizontal plane and the third hitching means is located in a plane which passes through each of the first and second hitching means and extends upward therefrom.

4. The back fill attachment of claim 1 wherein the first and second hitching means are located in a generally horizontal plane, the third hitching means is located in a plane which passes through each of the first and second hitching means and extends upward therefrom, and the first end portions of the first, second and third support means are joined to the hitching member in the general vicinity of the said first, second and third hitching means respectively.

5. The back fill attachment of claim 4 wherein the said third support means includes a flexible support means which is adjustable in effective length and a rigid support means, and the said flexible support means and the said rigid support means are detachably joined on at least one end to the said hitching member and the second end of the tongue whereby at least one end of one of said flexible and rigid support means may be detached and the remaining one of said flexible and rigid support means may be used alone.

6. The back fill attachment of claim 4 wherein the said hitching member includes upper and lower portions, the first and second hitching means are carried by the said lower portion and the third hitching means is carried by the said upper portion, and means for movably mounting the said upper portion above the said lower portion whereby the said upper and lower portions are in spaced relationship, the means for mounting the said upper portion allowing movement thereof about an axis which extends generally transversely with respect to the tongue whereby the third hitching means carried thereby may be moved back and forth in the general direction of the longitudinal axis of the tongue to provide flexibility.

7. A back fill attachment for a tractor having a three-point hitch comprising an elongated tongue member having first and second end portions, means for attaching the first end portion of the tongue to the three-point hitch of the tractor, the said means for attaching the tongue including a hitching member carrying spaced first, second and third hitching means, the first and second hitching means being carried by the hitching member below the third hitching means, the first, second and third hitching means being adapted to be attached to the three-point hitch of the tractor, the first and second hitching means being located in a generally horizontal plane, the third hitching means being located in a plane which passes through each of the first and second hitching means and extends upward therefrom, the said hitching member also including upper and lower portions, the first and second hitching means being carried by the said lower portion and the third hitching means being carried by the said upper portion, means for movably mounting the said upper portion above the said lower portion whereby the said upper and lower portions are in spaced relationship, the means for mounting the said upper portion allowing movement thereof about an axis which extends generally transversely with respect to the tongue whereby the third hitching means carried thereby may be moved back and forth in the general direction of the longitudinal axis of the tongue to provide flexibility, an elongated cross bar having first and second end portions, means for movably mounting the cross bar on the second end portion of the tongue, the cross bar being mounted between its first and second end portions and the said mounting means therefor allowing movement of the cross bar about a generally upright axis and in a Generally horizontal plane, adjustment means for adjusting the angular relationship of the cross bar and the tongue, means for retaining the cross bar and the tongue in said adjusted angular relationship, a back fill blade, means for mounting the back fill blade on the cross bar, first, second and third elongated support means having first and second end portions, the first, second and third support means extending between the said hitching member and the second end portion of the tongue and being angularly disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tongue, the first end portions of each of the first, second and third support means being joined to the said hitching member in the general vicinity of the said first, second and third hitching means respectively, the second end portions of each of the first, second and third support means being joined to the second end portion of the tongue, the said third support means including a flexible support means which is adjustable in effective length and a rigid support means, and the said flexible support means and the said rigid support means being detachably joined on at least one end to the said hitching member and the second end of the tongue whereby at least one end of one of said flexible and rigid support means may be detached and the remaining one of said flexible and rigid support means may be used alone.

8. The back fill attachment of claim 7 wherein the said lower portion of the hitching member is elongated and has first and second end portions, the said lower portion is joined between its first and second end portions to the first end portion of the tongue, the longitudinal axis of the said lower portion extends generally transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tongue, the said first and second hitching means are carried by the said first and second end portions respectively of the lower portion of the hitching member, the said upper portion of the hitching member includes first and second spaced legs which extend upward and are joined together to form a common portion, the said third hitching means is carried by the said common portion, the means for movably mounting the said upper portion includes first and second mounting elements carried by the first and second end portions of the said lower portion and the first and second legs of the said upper portion respectively, the first end portions of the first and second support means are joined to the first and second end portions of the said lower portion respectively, and the first end portions of the said flexible and rigid third support means are detachably joined to the said common portion of the upper portion of the hitching member.

9. A back fill attachment for a draft vehicle comprising an elongated tongue member having first and second end portions, means for attaching the first end portion of the tongue to the draft vehicle, an elongated cross bar having first and second end portions, means for movably mounting the cross bar on the second end portion of the tongue, the cross bar being mounted between its first and second end portions and the said mounting means therefor allowing movement of the cross bar about a generally upright axis and in a generally horizontal plane, first adjustment means for adjusting the angular relationship of the cross bar and the tongue, means for retaining the cross bar and the tongue in said adjusted angular relationship, a sectional back fill blade including independent elongated first and second blade sections, means for movably mounting the first blade section on the first end portion of the cross bar, the said mounting means for the first blade section allowing movement of the first blade section about a generally upright axis and in a generally horizontal plane, means for movably mounting the second blade section on the second end portion of the cross bar, the said mounting means for the second blade section allowing movement of the second blade section about a generally upright axis and in a generally hOrizontal plane, second adjustment means for adjusting the angular relationship of the cross bar and the first blade section and for securely retaining the same in said adjusted position, and third adjustment means for adjusting the angular relationship of the cross bar and the second blade section and for securely retaining the same in said adjusted position, each of said cross bar, first blade section and second blade section being independently movably mounted by their respective mounting means and each of said first, second and third adjustment means being independently adjustable whereby each of said cross bar, first blade section and second blade section may be moved in a generally horizontal plane, adjusted in a desired angular relationship with respct to the longitudinal axis of the tongue, and then securely retained in said desired angular relationship.

10. The back fill attachment of claim 9 wherein the said mounting means for the cross bar allows the cross bar to be rotated through a 360* arc.

11. The back fill attachment of claim 9 wherein the said mounting means for the first and second blade sections allows the first and second blade sections to be rotated terough a 360* arc.

12. The back fill attachment of claim 9 wherein the said mounting means for the cross bar and the said mounting means for the first and second blade sections allow each of the cross bar, the first blade section and the second blade section to be rotated through a 360* arc.

13. The back fill attachment of claim 9 wherein the first and second blade sections are mounted on their respective mounting means so as to provide inner and outer end portions of unequal length, the outer end portion of each of the first and second blade portions being longer than the inner end portions thereof whereby the first and second blade sections may be adjusted in a desired angular relationship.

14. The back fill attachment of claim 13 wherein the first and second blade sections are provided with replaceable cutting edges which extend along the lower edge portions thereof, and the cutting edges extend outward past the ends of the said outer end portions a substantial distance.

15. The back fill blade of claim 13 wherein the said mounting means for the cross bar and the said mounting means for the first and second blade sections allow each of the cross bar, the first blade section and the second blade section to be rotated through a 360* arc, the outer end portions of the first and second blade sections are moved together to form the general configuration of a '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'V,'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' a plow point is at the base of the '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'V,'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' and the said outer end portions of the first and second blade sections carry means for attaching the plow point thereto.

16. The back fill attachment of claim 9 wherein the draft vehicle is a tractor having a three-point hitch, the said means for attaching the first end portion of the tongue including means for attaching the first end portion of the tongue to the three-point hitch of the tractor, the said means for attaching the first end portion of the tongue also including a hitching member carrying spaced first, second and third hitching means, the first and second hitching means being carried by the hitching member below the third hitching means, the first, second and third hitching means being adapted to be attached to the three-point hitch of the tractor, first, second and third elongated support means having first and second end portions, the first, second and third support means extending between the said hitching member and the second end portion of the tongue and being angularly disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tongue, the first end portions of each of the first, second and third support means being joined to the said hitching member, and the second end portions of each of the first, second and third support means being joined to the second end portion of the tongue.

17. The back fill attAchment of claim 16 wherein the first end portions of the first, second and third support means are joined to the hitching member in the general vicinity of the said first, second and third hitching means respectively.

18. The back fill attachment of claim 16 wherein the first and second hitching means are located in a generally hoirozontal plane and the third hitching means is located in a plane which passes through each of the first and second hitching means and extends upward therefrom.

19. The back fill attachment of claim 16 wherein the first and second hitching means are located in a generally horizontal plane, the third hitching means is located in a plane which passes through each of the first and second hitching means and extends upward therefrom, and the first end portions of the first, second and third support means are joined to the hitching member in the general vicinity of the said first, second and third hitching means respectively.

20. The back fill attachment of claim 19 wherein the said third support means includes a flexible support means which is adjustable in effective length and a rigid support means, and the said flexible support means and the said rigid support means are detachably joined on at least one end to the said hitching member and the second end of the tongue whereby at least one end of one of said flexible and rigid support means may be detached and the remaining one of said flexible and rigid support means may be used alone.

21. The back fill attachment of claim 19 wherein the said hitching member includes upper and lower portions, the first and second hitching means are carried by the said lower portion and the third hitching means is carried by the said upper portion, and means is provided for movably mounting the said upper portion above the said lower portion whereby the said upper and lower portions are in spaced relationship, the means for mounting the said upper portion allowing movement thereof about an axis which extends generally transversely with respect to the tongue whereby the third hitching means carried thereby may be moved back and forth in the general direction of the longitudinal axis of the tongue to provide flexibility.

22. The back fill attachment of claim 19 wherein the said third support means includes a flexible support means which is adjustable in effective length and a rigid support means, the said flexible support means and the said rigid support means are detachably joined on at least one end to the said hitching member and the second end of the tongue whereby at least one end of one of said flexible and rigid support means may be detached and the remaining one of said flexible and rigid support means may be used alone, the said hitching member includes upper and lower portions, the first and second hitching means are carried by the said lower portion and the third hitching means is carried by the said upper portion, and means for movably mounting the said upper portion above the said lower portion whereby the said upper and lower portions are in spaced relationship, the means for mounting the said upper portion allowing movement thereof about an axis which extends generally transversely with respect to the tongue whereby the third hitching means carried thereby may be moved back and forth in the general direction of the longitudinal axis of the tongue to provide flexibility.

23. The back fill attachment of claim 22 wherein the said lower portion of the hitching member is elongated and has first and second end portions, the said lower portion is joined between its first and second end portions to the first end portion of the tongue, the longitudinal axis of the said lower portion extends generally transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tongue, the said first and second hitching means are carried by the said first and second end portions respectively of the lower portion of the hitching member, the said upper portion of the hitching member includes first and second spaced legs which extend upward and are joined together to form a common portion, the said third hitching means is carried by the said common portion, the means for movably mounting the said upper portion includes first and second mounting elements carried by the first and second end portions of the said lower portion and the first and second legs of the said upper portion respectively, the first end portions of the first and second support means are joined to the first and second end portions of the said lower portion respectively, and the first end portions of the said flexible and rigid third support means are detachably joined to the said common portion of the upper portion of the hitching member.