Pivotally mounted ripping teeth assembly on dozer blade

• US 4,407,080 A
• Filed: 07/01/1981
• Issued: 10/04/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/1978
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donald B. Mann
• Original Assignee: Donald B. Mann
• Inventors: Mann, Donald B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eickholt, E. H.
• Application Number:
  US06/279,549
• Time in Patent Office: 825 Days
• Field of Search: 37/117.4, 37/2 R, 37/DIG. 3, 37/DIG. 12, 37/118 R, 37/141 R, 414/685, 414/912, 172/815, 172/701.1
• US Class Current: 37/405
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/7609 Scraper blade mounted forwardly of the tractor on a pair of pivoting arms which are linked to the sides of the tractor, e.g. bulldozers
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/8155 provided with movable parts, e.g. cutting discs, vibrating teeth or the like
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 414/125 Combined or convertible implements

Abstract

This invention is an attachment to heavy equipment blades and has a set of ripping teeth projecting downwardly from a pivoting support frame. The frame ordinarily extends downwardly from the pivotal hanger along the front of the blade, with the teeth projecting beyond the lower edge of the blade. As the vehicle, such as a bulldozer, moves forward, the teeth rip, as would teeth which were rigidly secured to the blade. However, as the vehicle moves backward, the teeth and frames swing forward in a floating motion, preventing the teeth from fracturing while allowing the blade to scrape. In a preferred embodiment, the frame includes two end members, each having an ear which curves rearwardly toward the blade. Each bracket releasably receives a forwardly projecting hanger mounted on the upper surface of the blade. The hanger and brackets contain aligned apertures through which a pin is releasably inserted to secure the frame to the blade. With gussets, the frame may be wider than the blade.

Claims

1. In an assembly adapted to be pivotally secured to a blade on heavy equipment, such as a bulldozer, in either a deployed or undeployed position, and including a rigid rectangular frame having (i) a plurality of teeth projecting from one transverse edge and (ii) mounting means for pivotally securing the frame to the blade, the improvement comprising:

a tubular mounting sleeve secured to the edge of the frame opposite the teeth and a pair of forwardly projecting hangers fastened to the upper edge of the blade at opposite sides thereof, each hanger being releasably received by ears which are secured to the upper edge of the blade and receiving a pin projecting from opposite ends of the mounting sleeve so that the frame may be pivoted between the deployed position in which the frame lies along the front face of the blade and the undeployed position in which the frame projects upwardly above the upper edge of the blade.

2. In an assembly adapted to be pivotally secured to a blade on heavy equipment, such as a bulldozer, in either a deployed or undeployed position, and including a rigid rectangular frame having (i) a plurality of teeth projecting from one transverse edge and (ii) mounting means for pivotally securing the frame to the blade, the improvement comprising:

a tubular mounting sleeve secured to the edge of the frame opposite the teeth and a pair of forwardly projecting hangers fastened to the upper edge of the blade at opposite sides thereof, each hanger receiving a pin projecting from opposite ends of the mounting sleeve so that the frame may be pivoted between the deployed position in which the frame lies along the front face of the blade and the undeployed position in which the frame projects upwardly above the upper edge of the blade, said pins being slidably received in the hangers and the inwardly projecting end of each pin having a circumferential groove for receiving a set screw threaded in a bore through the mounting sleeve so that set screws contact the pins within the grooves to secure the pins to the sleeves while allowing the pins to rotate in the hangers.

3. In an assembly adapted to be pivotally secured to a blade on heavy equipment, such as a bulldozer, in either a deployed or undeployed position, and including a rigid rectangular frame having (i) a plurality of teeth projecting from one transverse edge and (ii) mounting means for pivotally securing the frame to the blade, the improvement comprising:

a tubular mounting sleeve secured to the edge of the frame opposite the teeth and a pair of forwardly projecting hangers fastened to the upper edge of the blade at opposite sides thereof, each hanger receiving a pin projecting from opposite ends of the mounting sleeve so that the frame may be pivoted between the deployed position in which the frame lies along the front face of the blade and the undeployed position in which the frame projects upwardly above the upper edge of the blade, said assembly extending outwardly from sides of the blade and the frame having gussets to reduce transverse stresses on the hangers by positioning the frame against the sides of the blade.

4. In an assembly adapted to be pivotally secured to a blade on heavy equipment, such as a bulldozer, and including (i) a rigid rectangular frame having a pair of rigid, elongated side members and a plurality of teeth projecting downwardly from a lower edge of the frame, and (ii) mounting means for pivotally securing the frame to the blade, the improvement comprising:

an ear secured to the upper end of each side member to curve upwardly and rearwardly toward the blade; and

a pair of spaced hangers projecting forwardly from the upper edge of the blade and capable of being pivotally secured to the ears, whereby the rearward curvature of the ears minimizes the necessary projection distance of the hanger, thereby minimizing the moment arm of the hangers with respect to transverse forces applied to the assembly.

5. The assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein each ear includes a pair of spaced, upwardly and rearwardly projecting bracket members having axially aligned apertures, and wherein each hanger projects between the bracket members and has an aperture positionable in axial alignment with the apertures of the bracket members, and the assembly further includes a cylindrical pin for each hanger releasably insertable through the apertures to secure the frame to the blade, but to allow pivoting of the assembly with respect to the blade.

6. The assembly of claim 4, further including a rigid rise extension panel projecting upwardly from the upper edge of the blade between the hangers to prevent objects from being propelled over the upper edge of the blade.

7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the side edges of the rise extension panel are beveled inwardly toward its upper edge to deflect objects falling on the rise extension panel transversely away from the rise extension panel.

8. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the side members project downwardly to form end teeth at the lower edge of the frame so that the end teeth and end members form a unitary structure to maximize the strength of the frame and teeth.