Aggregate grading machine

• US 6,322,287 B1
• Filed: 04/10/2000
• Issued: 11/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James E. Yelton
• Original Assignee: James E. Yelton
• Inventors: Yelton, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Neuder, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Singh, Sunil
• Application Number:
  US09/546,698
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 404/84.05, 404/84.1, 404/84.2, 404/84.5, 404/84.8, 404/85, 404/86, 404/92, 404/96, 404/98, 404/101, 404/102, 404/104, 404/113, 404/114, 404/118, 404/119
• US Class Current: 404/118
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 19/15 for laying-down uncoated stone or similar materials, or for striking-off or spreading same without compacting, e.g. for crushed rock base courses, sand cushions for paving E01C19/466 , E01C19/52 take precedence; distributing E01C19/20; laying down and rolling E01C19/482

Abstract

A grading machine includes a forwardly projecting frame partially supported by a small tractor. A blade assembly on the frame disperses and strikes off aggregate for subsequent paving along a course. The blade assembly of the apparatus is indirectly supported by linear actuators in turn supported by a shoe which travels along the aggregate surface. Adjustable indicators on the flame indicate the relationship of the aggregate surface to a desired aggregate height with subsequent operation of the actuators lifting or lowering the blade assembly to raise or lower the blade assembly strike off action for return of the indicators to a predetermined relationship to guides, shown as concrete forms, extending along the course of the aggregate being laid. A vibratory compactor trails the shoe and may move about multiple axes. The shoe supported actuators may be operated in a uniform or differential manner, the latter resulting in transversely tilting the blade assembly for transverse sloping of the aggregate surface. Powered arms on the tractor may lift and lower the grading apparatus for transport to and from work sites.

Claims

1. A machine for grading aggregate along a course on a ground surface, said machine comprising,

a prime mover,

a frame carried by the prime mover and projecting forwardly therefrom in the direction of travel,

blade assembly means on said frame for dispersing aggregate across the course providing an aggregate layer of selected depth,

a shoe yieldably mounted on the frame for travel along the surface of the dispersed aggregate layer,

actuator means coupling said shoe to the frame,

control means activated by an operator of the prime mover to simultaneously vary the vertical distance between said shoe and the frame and the vertical distance between the frame carried blade assembly means and the ground surface to vary the depth of the aggregate layer, and

indicator means on the frame for travel along the course in proximity to a fixed height reference with the vertical relationship of the indicator means to the fixed height reference being indicative of the depth of the aggregate layer relative the desired depth of aggregate.

2. The machine claimed in claim 1 wherein said prime mover includes powered lift arms, means coupling said lift arms to said frame for transport of the frame in an elevated manner to a job site.

3. The machine claimed in claim 2 additionally including pivot means adjacent the interface of the prime mover and said frame and about which the frame may be lifted by said lift arms.

4. The machine claimed in claim 1 wherein the shoe and the actuator means at least partially support the frame and blade assembly during grading of aggregate.

5. The machine claimed in claim 4 additionally including a compactor, links coupling the compactor to the frame.

6. The machine claimed in claim 5 wherein said links include bearings permitting displacement of the compactor about multiple axes.

7. The machine claimed in claim 1 wherein said indicator means includes an angular end segment for travel along the fixed height reference.

8. The machine claimed in claim 7 wherein said indicator means additionally includes rod members, means coupling said rod members for axial positioning of at least one rod member to locate the angular end segment proximate the fixed height reference prior to a grading operation.

9. The machine claimed in claim 1 wherein said shoe is of plate configuration, said actuator means including multiple actuators each oppositely offset from the machine center line.

10. The machine claimed in claim 9 wherein said control means includes individual controls on the prime mover for each of said actuators to permit positioning of the blade assembly about an axis substantially parallel to the course of machine travel.

11. A grading apparatus for loose aggregate for attachment to the forward end of a prime mover, said apparatus comprising,

a frame,

means for attaching the frame to the forward end of the prime mover driven by an operator for forward travel along a course,

a blade assembly on the frame for striking off and dispersing aggregate along the course in a layer of desired depth,

a shoe located traversely below said frame for travel along the surface of the layer of aggregate,

linear actuated means connected to said shoe and to said frame and at least partially supporting the frame,

control means for extension and retraction of said linear actuator means to vary the vertical distance between the shoe and the frame and between the blade assembly and a ground surface to vary the depth of the aggregate layer by blade assembly action,

indicator means carried by said frame for travel proximate a fixed reference with the vertical spacing of the indicator means to the fixed reference indicative of aggregate depth, and

a compactor, links coupling the compactor to said frame.

12. The grading apparatus claimed in claim 11 wherein said links include bearings permitting displacement of the compactor about multiple axes.

13. The grading apparatus claimed in claim 11 wherein said shoe is of plate configuration, said linear actuator means including multiple actuators each oppositely offset from the apparatus center line.

14. The grading apparatus claimed in claim 13 wherein said control means includes individual controls for each of said linear actuators for enabling inclined positioning of the frame mounted blade assembly in a plane transversely of the apparatus center line to incline the surface of the aggregate layer.

15. An apparatus for attachment to a prime mover for forward travel along a course for the grading of aggregate along the course, and along a fixed reference adjacent the course, said apparatus including,

a frame having a forwardly mounted blade assembly for dispersing and striking off aggregate across the course,

a shoe yieldably carried by the frame and transversely disposed below the frame aft of the blade assembly for substantially planar contact with the aggregate,

adjustable means attached to the shoe and the frame for lifting or lowering the frame and attached blade assembly to vary the depth of the aggregate,

indicator means on the frame for travel proximate the fixed reference and adjacent the course,

a compactor, links coupling the compactor to said frame,

said adjustable means operable to lift or lower the frame and the attached blade assembly carried thereby to position the indicator means at a desired vertical relationship from the fixed reference, and

control means actuated by an operator of the apparatus to vary the vertical distance between the shoe and the frame and hence the vertical distance between the blade assembly and a ground surface to vary the depth of the aggregate layer.