Apparatus and method for retaining a grader blade
First Claim
1. An apparatus for retaining a grader blade having upper and lower blade rails, comprising:
- support bracket;
a first retainer secured to said support bracket and being positionable in contact with one of said upper and lower blade rails;
a second retainer movable relative to said first retainer and being positionable in contact with the other of said upper and lower blade rails, said first retainer and said second retainer cooperatly to secure said grader blade in fixed relation to said support bracket; and
an adjustment member which contacts said second retainer, said adjustment member having an opening extending therethrough, said opening being eccentrically located relative to a center C of said adjustment member, adjustment member being rotatable in a first direction to cause said second retainer to move towards said first retainer, and in a second direction to cause said second retainer to move away from said first retainer.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for retaining a grader blade includes a support bracket, a first upper retainer secured to the support bracket and a second upper retainer secured to the support bracket. The apparatus also includes a first lower retainer secured to the support bracket, the first lower retainer being movable relative to the first upper retainer, and a second lower retainer secured to the support bracket, the second lower retainer being movable relative to the second upper retainer. The apparatus further includes a first adjustment member which contacts the first lower retainer, wherein rotation of the first adjustment member causes movement of the first lower retainer relative to the first upper retainer, and a second adjustment member which contacts the second lower retainer, wherein rotation of the second adjustment member causes movement of the second lower retainer relative to the second upper retainer. A method of retaining a grader blade relative to a support bracket is also disclosed.
36 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus for retaining a grader blade having upper and lower blade rails, comprising:
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support bracket; a first retainer secured to said support bracket and being positionable in contact with one of said upper and lower blade rails; a second retainer movable relative to said first retainer and being positionable in contact with the other of said upper and lower blade rails, said first retainer and said second retainer cooperatly to secure said grader blade in fixed relation to said support bracket; and an adjustment member which contacts said second retainer, said adjustment member having an opening extending therethrough, said opening being eccentrically located relative to a center C of said adjustment member, adjustment member being rotatable in a first direction to cause said second retainer to move towards said first retainer, and in a second direction to cause said second retainer to move away from said first retainer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for retaining a grader blade having a blade rail, comprising:
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a support bracket; a first upper retainer secured to said support bracket; a second upper retainer secured to said support bracket; a first lower retainer secured to said support bracket, said first lower retainer being movable relative to said first upper retainer, and said first upper retainer and said first lower retainer cooperate so as to secure said blade rail in fixed relation to said support bracket; a second lower retainer secured to said support bracket, said second lower retainer being movable relative to said second upper retainer, and said second upper retainer and said second lower retainer cooperate so as to secure said blade rail in fixed relation to said support bracket; a first adjustment member which contacts said first lower retainer, wherein (1) said first adjustment member has an opening extending therethough, (2) said opening is eccentrically located relative to a first center C1 of said first adjustment member, (3) rotation of said first adjustment member in a first direction causes said first lower retainer to move towards said first upper retainer, and (4) rotation of said first adjustment member in a second direction causes said first lower retainer to move away from said first upper retainer; and a second adjustment member which contacts said second lower retainer, wherein (1) said second adjustment member has an opening extending therethough, (2) said opening is eccentrically located relative to a second center C2 of said second adjustment member, (3) rotation of said second adjustment member in a first direction causes said second lower retainer to move towards said second upper retainer, and (4) rotation of said second adjustment member in a second direction causes said second lower retainer to move away from said second upper retainer. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of adjusting a grader blade relative to a support bracket, with (1) the support bracket having an upper retainer and a lower retainer secured thereto, (2) the support bracket having an aperture defined therein, comprising the steps of:
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positioning said lower retainer at a first position relative to said upper retainer with an adjustment member, wherein (1) said adjustment member is positioned within said aperture defined in said support bracket, (2) said adjustment member has an opening extending therethrough, and (3) said opening is eccentrically located relative to a center C of said adjustment member; supporting the grader blade with said upper retainer and said lower retainer; performing a grading operation with said grader blade after the positioning step; and rotating said adjustment member after the performing step so that said lower retainer is moved to a second position relative to said upper retainer.
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Specification