Adjustable grader-spreader bar

• US 6,308,785 B1
• Filed: 05/24/2000
• Issued: 10/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rod Earl Rhoden
• Original Assignee: Rod Earl Rhoden
• Inventors: Rhoden, Rod Earl
• Primary Examiner(s): PEZZUTO, ROBERT ERIC
• Application Number:
  US09/578,803
• Time in Patent Office: 524 Days
• Field of Search: 172/252, 172/254, 172/392, 172/393, 172/445.1, 172/737, 172/738, 172/744, 172/684.5, 172/799.5, 372/66, 372/68, 372/71, 372/72, 404/118, 404/101, 404/110, 404/105
• US Class Current: 172/393
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 31/00 Drags graders for field cultivators graders in general E02F
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 63/1115 using a mechanical ground contact sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 63/22 operated by hydraulic or pneumatic means
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/187 solely for spreading-out or striking-off deposited mixtures, e.g. spread-out screws, strike-off boards

Abstract

An adjustable grader-spreader bar with a three-point hitch has a blade frame assembly comprised of a plurality of blade frames, each blade frame having a blade edge fastened at the bottom. The blade frames are slideably connected so that the blade frames have an adjustable overlap. Actuating devices, such as hydraulic rams, are used to extend or retract the blade frames, so that the width of the of the adjustable grader-spreader bar may either be increased or decreased as required for the particular application. Ground engaging skids are attached to each side of the blade frame assembly. The vertical position of each ground engaging skid may be adjusted to raise or lower each side of the adjustable grader-spreader bar. Actuating devices, such as electrical motors, are used to change the vertical position of the ground engaging skids.

Claims

1. A towable adjustable grader-spreader bar for use on a ground surface comprising:

(a) a blade frame assembly, oriented transverse to the direction of travel of the grader-spreader bar, the blade frame assembly comprising a plurality of blade frames;

(b) a plurality of blade edges, such that a blade edge is fastened to the bottom of each blade frame;

(c) means for slideably connecting adjacent blade frames to one another so that the blade frames have an adjustable overlap with respect to one another;

(d) actuating means for sliding the blade frames to change the total width of the adjustable grader-spreader bar;

(e) a left ground engaging skid attached to the left side of the blade frame assembly;

(f) a right ground engaging skid attached to the right side of the blade frame assembly; and

(g) hitching means for connecting the grader-spreader bar to a towing vehicle.

2. The adjustable grader-spreader bar of claim 1, wherein the hitching means comprises a three-point hitch assembly attached to the front center of the blade frame assembly.

3. The adjustable grader-spreader bar of claim 1, wherein the means for slideably connecting adjacent blade frames comprises a plurality of front stabilizers and a plurality of rear stabilizers, each stabilizer connected to adjacent blade frames, so that the grader-spreader bar maintains the necessary rigidity through the entire range of width adjustments of the grader-spreader bar.

4. The adjustable grader-spreader bar of claim 1, wherein the actuating means for sliding the blade frames comprises a plurality of hydraulic actuating rams.

5. The adjustable grader-spreader bar of claim 1 further comprising elevating means for adjusting the vertical positions of the left and right ground engaging skids, so that the elevation of the cutting edges with respect to the ground surface may be adjusted on either side of the adjustable grader-spreader bar.

6. The adjustable grader-spreader bar of claim 5, wherein the elevating means for adjusting the vertical positions of the left and right ground engaging skids comprises a screw jack connected to each ground engaging skid.

7. The adjustable grader-spreader bar of claim 6, wherein an electrical motor is coupled with each screw jack so that each ground engaging skid may be automatically raised or lowered.

8. A towable adjustable grader-spreader bar for use on a ground surface comprising:

(a) a blade frame assembly, oriented transverse to the direction of travel of the grader-spreader bar, the blade frame assembly comprising a left blade frame, a right blade frame, and a center blade frame;

(b) a left blade edge fastened to the bottom of the left blade frame, a right blade edge fastened to the bottom of the right blade frame, and a center blade edge attached to the center blade frame;

(c) means for slideably connecting the left blade frame to the center blade frame so that the overlap between the left blade frame and the center blade frame is adjustable;

(d) means for slideably connecting the right blade frame to the center blade frame so that the overlap between the right blade frame and the center blade frame is adjustable;

(e) actuating means for sliding the left blade frame to adjust the overlap between the left blade frame and the center blade frame;

(f) actuating means for sliding the right blade frame to adjust the overlap between the right blade frame and the center blade frame;

(g) a left ground engaging skid attached to the left blade frame;

(h) a right ground engaging skid attached to the right blade frame; and

(i) hitching means for connecting the grader-spreader bar to a towing vehicle.

9. The adjustable grader-spreader bar of claim 8, wherein the hitching means comprises a three-point hitch assembly attached to the center blade frame.

10. The adjustable grader-spreader bar of claim 8, wherein the means for overlappingly connecting the left blade frame to the center blade frame comprises a front stabilizer, an upper rear stabilizer, and a lower rear stabilizer, each stabilizer connected to the left blade frame and the center blade frame, each stabilizer connected so that the grader-spreader bar maintains the necessary rigidity through the entire range of width adjustments of the grader-spreader bar.

11. The adjustable grader-spreader bar of claim 8, wherein the means for overlappingly connecting the right blade frame to the center blade frame comprises a front stabilizer, an upper rear stabilizer, and a lower rear stabilizer, each stabilizer connected to the right blade frame and the center blade frame, each stabilizer connected so that the grader-spreader bar maintains the necessary rigidity through the entire range of width adjustments of the grader-spreader bar.

12. The adjustable grader-spreader bar of claim 8, wherein the actuating means for sliding the left blade frame comprises a left hydraulic actuating ram.

13. The adjustable grader-spreader bar of claim 8, wherein the actuating means for sliding the right blade frame comprises a right hydraulic actuating ram.

14. The adjustable grader-spreader bar of claim 8 further comprising elevating means for adjusting the vertical positions of the left and right ground engaging skids, so that the elevation of the cutting edges with respect to the ground surface may be adjusted on either side of the adjustable grader-spreader bar.

15. The adjustable grader-spreader bar of claim 14, wherein the elevating means for adjusting the vertical positions of the left and right ground engaging skids comprises a screw jack connected to each ground engaging skid.

16. The adjustable grader-spreader bar of claim 15, wherein an electrical motor is coupled with each screw jack so that each ground engaging skid may be automatically raised or lowered.

17. A towable adjustable grader-spreader bar for use on a ground surface comprising:

(a) a blade frame assembly, oriented transverse to the direction of travel of the grader-spreader bar, the blade frame assembly comprising a left blade frame, a right blade frame, and a center blade frame;

a blade frame assembly comprising a left blade frame, a center blade frame, a right blade frame;

(b) a left blade edge fastened to the bottom of the left blade frame, a right blade edge fastened to the bottom of the right blade frame, and a center blade edge attached to the center blade frame;

(c) a left front stabilizer overlappingly connecting the front of the left blade frame to the front of the center blade frame;

(d) a left upper rear stabilizer overlappingly connecting the upper rear of the left blade frame to the upper rear of the center blade frame;

(e) a left lower rear stabilizer overlappingly connecting the lower rear of the left blade frame to the lower rear of the center blade frame;

(f) a right front stabilizer overlappingly connecting the front of the right blade frame to the front of the center blade frame;

(g) a right upper rear stabilizer overlappingly connecting the upper rear of the right blade frame to the upper rear of the center blade frame;

(h) a right lower rear stabilizer overlappingly connecting the lower rear of the right blade frame to the lower rear of the center blade frame;

(i) a left hydraulic actuating ram for sliding the left blade frame;

(j) a right hydraulic actuating ram for sliding the right blade frame;

(k) a left ground engaging skid attached to the left blade frame;

(l) a right ground engaging skid attached to the right blade frame; and

(m) a three-point hitch assembly attached to the front of the center blade frame for connecting the grader-spreader bar to towing means.

18. The adjustable grader-spreader bar of claim 17 further comprising a screw jack attached to each ground engaging skid for adjusting the vertical positions of the left and right ground engaging skids.

19. The adjustable grader-spreader bar of claim 18, wherein an electrical motor is coupled with each screw jack so that each ground engaging skid may be automatically raised or lowered.

20. A towable adjustable grader-spreader bar for use on a ground surface comprising:

(a) a blade frame assembly, oriented transverse to the direction of travel of the grader-spreader bar, comprising a left blade frame, a center blade frame, a right blade frame;

(b) a left blade edge fastened to the bottom of the left blade frame, a right blade edge fastened to the bottom of the right blade frame, and a center blade edge attached to the center blade frame;

(c) a left front stabilizer overlappingly connecting the front of the left blade frame to the front of the center blade frame;

(d) a left upper rear stabilizer overlappingly connecting the upper rear of the left blade frame to the upper rear of the center blade frame;

(e) a left lower rear stabilizer overlappingly connecting the lower rear of the left blade frame to the lower rear of the center blade frame;

(f) a right front stabilizer overlappingly connecting the front of the right blade frame to the front of the center blade frame;

(g) a right upper rear stabilizer overlappingly connecting the upper rear of the right blade frame to the upper rear of the center blade frame;

(h) a right lower rear stabilizer overlappingly connecting the lower rear of the right blade frame to the lower rear of the center blade frame;

(i) a left hydraulic actuating ram for sliding the left blade frame;

(j) a right hydraulic actuating ram for sliding the right blade frame;

(k) rolling means attached to the left blade frame;

(l) rolling means attached to the right blade frame; and

(m) a three-point hitch assembly attached to the front of the center blade frame for connecting the grader-spreader bar to towing means.

21. The adjustable grader-spreader bar of claim 20 wherein the rolling means comprises a wheel assembly.

22. The adjustable grader-spreader bar of claim 20 further comprising a screw jack connected to the rolling means attached to the left blade frame and a screw jack connected to the rolling means attached to the right blade frame, for adjusting the vertical positions of the rolling means attached to the left blade frame and the right blade frame.

23. The adjustable grader-spreader bar of claim 22, wherein an electrical motor is coupled with each screw jack so that the vertical position of the rolling means may be automatically raised or lowered.