Grader attachment for a skid steer vehicle

• US 6,283,225 B1
• Filed: 01/04/2000
• Issued: 09/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard P. Hermonson
• Original Assignee: Richard P. Hermonson
• Inventors: Hermonson, Richard P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad, Christopher J.
• Application Number:
  US09/477,324
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 172/783, 172/786, 172/787, 172/788, 172/795, 172/798, 172/828, 172/834, 172/817, 172/930, 372/66, 372/70, 372/71, 372/31, 372/35, 372/36
• US Class Current: 172/817
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/3414 the arms being pivoted at the rear of the vehicle chassis, e.g. skid steer loader
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/7663 Graders with the scraper blade mounted under a frame supported by wheels, or the like

Abstract

A grader attachment for a skid steer vehicle. The grader attachment is attachable to the front end of the skid steer vehicle. The grader attachment includes a mounting plate at the rear of the grader attachment for removably attaching the grader attachment to the lift mechanism of the skid steer vehicle. The grader attachment further includes a frame with a plurality of frame members extending longitudinally from the mounting plate in parallel spaced relation for accepting at least three grading blades attached to and extending downwardly from the frame members. The grading blades include a first blade located at the front end of the grader attachment, the first blade angled inwardly from right to left to output a windrow from the left end of the first blade. A second blade is located behind the first blade and positioned to accept the windrow from the first blade, the second blade angled inwardly from left to right to produce a windrow on the right end of the second blade. A third blade is located behind the second blade and positioned to accept the windrow from the second blade, the third blade angled inwardly from right to left to produce a windrow on the left end of the blade. The grader attachment further includes a guide wheel located at the front of the grader attachment, the guide wheel hydraulically powered by a hydraulic cylinder and used for raising and lowering the front end of the grader attachment.

Claims

1. A grader attachment for a skid steer vehicle wherein the skid steer vehicle includes a main body, a lift mechanism attached to a front of the main body, and attachment means extending from the lift mechanism, said grader attachment comprising:

an attachment mechanism for attaching the grader attachment to the front end of the skid steer vehicle, said attachment mechanism including a mounting plate releasably engageable with the lift mechanism;

a frame attached to the attachment mechanism, extending longitudinally therefrom and including at least one wheel rotatably secured at a front end of the frame, the wheel used for raising and lowering the front end of the frame; and

at least three blade members attached to and extending downwardly from the bottom of the frame, the blades being angularly configured with respect to each other on the frame to enable a single pass of the grader attachment to completely level a surface to be graded.

2. The grader attachment of claim 1 wherein the wheel is hydraulically operated by a hydraulic cylinder pivotally connected between a wheel support structure located on the frame at the front end thereof, and a support member spaced from the wheel support structure on the frame.

3. The grader attachment of claim 2 wherein the wheel support structure includes a cylindrical member used to rotatably engage a mounting portion of the wheel to rotatably mount the wheel to the wheel support structure.

4. The grader attachment of claim 2 wherein the hydraulically operated front wheel operates to raise and lower the front end of the grader attachment off the ground.

5. The grader attachment of claim 1 wherein the at least three grading blades are attached to extend downwardly from the frame in a configuration where a first blade located at the front of the grader attachment behind the guide wheel is angled inwardly from right to left, a second blade located behind the first blade extends outwardly to accept the windrow from the first blade, the second blade being angled from left to right, and a third blade located behind the second blade and positioned to accept the windrow from the second blade, the third blade angled from right to left.

6. The grader attachment of claim 5 wherein the third blade includes an extension member located at one end thereof for receiving the windrow of the second blade.

7. The grader attachment of claim 5 wherein the first and third blades are angled at substantially the same angle.

8. The grader attachment of claim 2 wherein the second blade is angled at a angle opposite the first and third blades.

9. A grader attachment for a skid steer vehicle, the skid steer vehicle including a main body, a lift mechanism attached to a front of the main body and attachment means for attaching the grader attachment to the lift mechanism, said grader attachment comprising:

a frame including a plurality of frame members extending longitudinally in parallel spaced relation, a mounting plate for releasably engaging the grader attachment with the front end of the lift mechanism, and at least one cross member connected to said frame members at a front end of the grader attachment;

at least three blades extending downwardly from the frame and arranged in an alternately angularly extending configuration along the frame to enable a single pass of the grader attachment to level a surface to be graded; and

at least one wheel rotatably attached to the cross-member located at the front end of the grader attachment, the wheel being hydraulically operated to raise and lower the front end of the grader attachment off the ground.

10. The grader attachment of claim 9 wherein the frame members are hollow.

11. The grader attachment of claim 10 wherein the lift mechanism comprises a pair of lifting forks extending from a plate attached to the main body, the lifting forks spaced from one another a distance equal to the distance between outermost frame members such that the lifting forks may be received within the outermost frame members to releasably engage the grader attachment with the lift mechanism.