Spreader/grader with adjustable transverse blades

• US 5,397,200 A
• Filed: 09/27/1993
• Issued: 03/14/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James C. Seal
• Original Assignee: James C. Seal
• Inventors: Seal, James C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Britts, Ramon S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LISEHORA, JAMES
• Application Number:
  US08/126,567
• Time in Patent Office: 533 Days
• Field of Search: 404/96, 404/118, 404/106, 172/393, 172/445.1, 172/684.5, 172/741, 172/744, 172/448
• US Class Current: 404/118
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/7627 with the scraper blade adjustable relative to the frame about a vertical axis

Abstract

A spreader/grader attachable to a three point hitch of a tractor and including a pair of longitudinally extending, parallel, transversely spaced side pans or frame members oriented in fixed relation to each other and operatively connected to a three point hitch. Extending between the side pans or frame members is a plurality of transverse blades for engaging a soil surface in order to perform various earth working functions. The blades include a support structure and attachment arrangement at each end thereof for connection with the side pans or frame members to enable the blades to be oriented in a fixed or varied relation to the frame members or adjustable in relation to the frame members to orient either end of a blade forwardly or rearwardly in relation to the other end and either end of the blade upwardly or downwardly in relation to the other end and to vary the angle of a blade about a longitudinal axis with respect to a horizontal plane to vary the angle of attack of the blade in relation to the soil surface in order to provide effective grading, spreading and other earth working functions.

Claims

1. A spreader/grader for attachment to a three point hitch of a tractor for various earth working functions and comprising:

a rigid frame, means on said frame for connection with a three point hitch of a tractor, and means on said frame for engaging a soil surface and performing earth working functions, said frame comprising a pair of rigid side frame members, a plurality of torque bars rigidly interconnecting said side frame members and maintaining the side frame members in rigid, spaced parallel relation for movement along a ground surface when in a lowered position and elevated above the ground surface when in an elevated position, said means engaging a soil surface comprising at least one blade assembly extending transversely between said side frame members, said blade assembly having two ends and including an elongated blade support having a downwardly and forwardly inclined flange and an earth working blade attached to said flange, each said end of said blade assembly including a bracket longitudinally telescopic in relation to the blade support and at least one mounting bolt securing each of said brackets to said blade and to said blade support, each bracket including a plurality of apertures capable of receiving said at least one mounting bolt and thereby providing length adjustment to said blade support assembly, said spreader/grader further comprising means for connecting the brackets to the side frame members, said means for connecting the brackets including means permitting independent adjustment of each end of the blade assembly forwardly and rearwardly in relation to the other end of the blade assembly.

2. The spreader/grader as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for connecting the brackets to the side frame members further includes means for enabling variation in an angular relation of the blade about a transverse, generally horizontal axis and adjustment of either end of the blade vertically.

3. The spreader/grader as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for connecting each of said brackets to the side frame members includes a pair of U-shaped clevises having a pivotal connection with each other about an axis generally perpendicular to a transverse axis and a pivotal connection with the bracket and a pivotal connection with a side frame member about an axis generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the blade.

4. The spreader/grader as defined in claim 3 wherein the longitudinally telescopic adjustable connection of the bracket to the blade support enables the blade assembly to be oriented with either end of the blade assembly forwardly or rearwardly of the other end with the adjustment of the brackets compensating for increased effective length of the blade assembly when oriented in various angular relations to the side frame members with one end of the blade assembly forwardly or rearwardly of the other.

5. The spreader/grader as defined in claim 4 wherein each of said side frame members includes a hanger plate oriented along an inner surface thereof, means vertically adjustably supporting the hanger plate in relation to the side frame member, one of said clevis members being pivotally connected to said hanger plate and side frame member for vertical adjustment therewith thereby enabling either end of the blade assembly to be vertically adjusted in relation to the other end with the longitudinal telescopic adjustment of the bracket in relation to the blade support compensating for the increased effective length of the blade assembly when either end of the blade assembly is vertically adjusted in relation to the other end.

6. The spreader/grader as defined in claim 5 wherein each of said side frame members includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced, vertically elongated slots, a bolt extending through said one clevis, said hanger plate and a selected slot in the side frame member to enable vertical adjustment of the hanger plate and the end of the blade assembly, fore and aft adjustment of the hanger plate and the end of the blade assembly by extending the bolt through a selected vertical slot in the side frame member and pivotal movement of the blade assembly about an axis generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the blade.

7. The spreader/grader as defined in claim 6 wherein said means connecting the brackets to the side frame members includes an end plate on an outer end of each bracket, said end plates being rigidly connected to said brackets in angular relation to a transverse axis perpendicular to said side frame members, each of said side frame members including a plurality of longitudinally spaced vertical slots therein receiving a bolt extending through the end plate and side frame member to enable vertical adjustment of each end of the blade assembly, said brackets being selectively mounted on opposite ends of the blade assembly to enable the blade assembly to be rigidly fixed in oppositely oriented angular relation to said side frame members.

8. The spreader/grader as defined in claim 1 wherein a plurality of blade assemblies are disposed between said side frame members with the connection between the blade assemblies and side frame members enabling the blade assemblies to be oriented in various angular positions with the opposite ends of the blade assemblies being adjusted forwardly and rearwardly of the frame members and either end of the blade assemblies adjusted vertically in relation to the frame assemblies and each blade assembly being adjusted about a generally transverse axis extending between the side frame members to vary the angular orientation of the blade in relation to the soil surface.

9. An earth working implement comprising a frame, means on said frame for connection with a vehicle, and means on said frame for engaging a soil surface and performing earth working functions, said frame comprising a pair of rigid side frame members, means rigidly interconnecting said side frame members and maintaining them in rigid, spaced parallel relation for movement along a ground surface when in a lowered position and elevated above the ground surface when in an elevated position, said means engaging a soil surface comprising at least one blade assembly extending transversely between said side frame members, said blade assembly having two ends and including an elongated blade support, an earth working blade attached to said blade support, each end of said blade assembly including a bracket extending outwardly from the blade supporting, first fastening means detachably securing the blade support and brackets and second fastening means detachably securing the brackets to said side frame members, each said second fastening means enabling variation in the angular relation of the blade about a transverse, generally horizontal axis and enabling adjustment of each end of the blade vertically, and said first fastening means and said second fastening means cooperating with one another to provide independent adjustability of each end of the blade assembly forwardly and rearwardly.

10. The earth working implement as defined in claim 9 wherein each said second fastening means includes a pair of U-shaped clevises having pivotal connection with each other about an axis generally perpendicular to a transverse axis and a pivotal connection with the bracket and a pivotal and vertically adjustable connection with a side frame member about an axis generally parallel to a transverse axis of the blade.

11. The earth working implement as defined in claim 9 wherein each said second fastening means includes an end plate rigidly mounted on an outer end of said bracket in angular relation to a longitudinal axis of the blade assembly, and bolt means detachably connecting said end plates to said side frame members to enable the brackets to be switched from one end to the other of said blade assembly to enable the blade assembly to be positioned in opposite angled relation in relation to said side frame members.