Towable box grader with electronically controlled continuously variable multi-axis blade system

• US 6,672,401 B1
• Filed: 06/13/2002
• Issued: 01/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Southern Laser, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Southern Laser, Inc.
• Inventors: Crowley, Robert W. II
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzuto, Robert E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pechhold, Alexandra K.
• Application Number:
  US10/170,518
• Publication Number:
  US 20030230421A1
• Time in Patent Office: 572 Days
• Field of Search: 172/780, 172/781, 172/779, 172/783, 172/791, 172/4.5, 172/795, 172/797, 172/799.5, 172/452, 172/663, 172/664, 172/666, 172/810, 172/811, 172/824, 172/825, 172/828, 172/830, 374/35
• US Class Current: 172/799.5
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 31/00 Drags graders for field cultivators graders in general E02F
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/7677 with the scraper blade being pivotable about a horizontal axis disposed perpendicular to the blade

Abstract

A towable scraper system for contour surface grading. The system includes a rigid chassis member that has a coupler configured for attachment to a conventional three-point tractor hitch. A scraper blade is pivotally suspended from the rigid chassis member and is equipped with a blade motivator for causing an angular rotation of the blade around an axis aligned with a towing direction. A lift assembly raises and lowers the rigid chassis member to control a height of the scraper blade relative to a work surface to be graded. The towable scraper system is provided with a carriage assembly that offers rolling support for the rigid chassis as it moves over the work surface. The carriage assembly is pivotally coupled to the rigid chassis at a location opposed to the coupler and is configured for angular rotation around a second axis aligned with the towing direction.

Claims

1. A towable scraper system for contour surface grading, comprising:

a rigid chassis member having a coupler configured for attachment to a three point tractor hitch;

a scraper blade pivotally suspended from said rigid chassis member on a first axis aligned with a towing direction;

a blade motivator for causing an angular rotation of said blade around said fist axis;

a lift assembly for raising and lowering said rigid chassis member to control a height of said blade relative to a work surface to be graded;

a carriage assembly for providing a rolling support for said rigid chassis over said work surface, said carriage assembly pivotally coupled to said rigid chassis on a second axis aligned with said towing direction and at a location opposed to said coupler;

wherein said carriage assembly is configured for angular rotation around a said second axis.

2. The towable scraper system according to claim 1 wherein said blade motivator and said lift assembly are responsive to a control system for continuously controlling said angular rotation and said height of said scraper blade for automatically grading a work surface to a predetermined contour.

3. The towable scraper system according to claim 1 wherein said blade motivator is comprised of a rigid support arm extending above said rigid chassis member and a hydraulic cylinder attached between an upper portion of said rigid support arm and said scraper blade.

4. The towable scraper system according to claim 1 wherein said carriage assembly comprises a carriage frame with at least one wheel rotatably mounted thereto.

5. The towable scraper system according to claim 4 wherein said at least one wheel is rotatably mounted to a wheel frame and said wheel frame is pivotally mounted to said carriage frame.

6. The towable scraper system according to claim 1 wherein said lift assembly is comprised of a lift frame pivotally connected on a proximal end to said rigid chassis member and rigidly connected on a distal end to said carriage assembly.

7. The towable scraper system according to claim 6 wherein said lift frame is pivotally connected to said rigid chassis member on a portion thereof opposed from said coupler.

8. The towable scraper system according to claim 7 wherein said lift assembly is further comprised of rigid support extending above said rigid chassis member and a hydraulic cylinder connected between an upper portion of said rigid support and said distal end of said lift frame.

9. The towable scraper system according to claim 1 wherein said scraper blade is configured as a box scraper.

10. The towable scraper system according to claim 9 wherein said box scraper is bi-directional.

11. A towable scraper system for contour surface grading, comprising:

a control system;

a rigid chassis member having a three-point coupler configured for attachment to a three-point tractor hitch;

a bi-directional box-scraper blade pivotally suspended from said rigid chassis member on a first axis aligned with a towing direction;

a blade motivator for causing an angular rotation of said blade around said first axis;

a lift assembly for raising and lowering said rigid chassis member to control a height of said blade relative to a work surface to be graded, said blade motivator and said lift assembly responsive to said control system for continuously controlling said angular rotation and said height of said bi-directional box scraper blade for automatically grading a work surface to a predetermined contour;

a carriage assembly for providing a rolling support for said rigid chassis over said work surface, said carriage assembly comprising a carriage frame with at least one wheel frame pivotally mounted thereto, and a wheel rotatably mounted to said wheel frame, said carriage frame pivotally coupled to said rigid chassis on a second axis aligned with said towing direction and at a location opposed to said coupler, said carriage frame configured for angular rotation around a said second axis; and

wherein said lift assembly is comprised of a lift frame pivotally connected on a proximal end to said rigid chassis member opposed from said coupler, and rigidly attached on a distal end to said carriage assembly.

12. A towable scraper system for contour surface grading, comprising:

a rigid chassis member having a coupler configured for attachment to a three point tractor hitch;

a scraper blade pivotally suspended from said rigid chassis member and a blade motivator for causing an angular rotation of said blade around an axis aligned with a towing direction;

a lift assembly for raising and lowering said rigid chassis member to control a height of said blade relative to a work surface to be graded;

a carriage assembly for providing a rolling support for said rigid chassis over said work surface, said carriage assembly pivotally coupled to said rigid chassis at a location opposed to said coupler, said carriage assembly configured for angular rotation around a second axis aligned with said towing direction; and

wherein said blade motivator is comprised of a rigid support arm extending above said rigid chassis member and a hydraulic cylinder attached between an upper portion of said rigid support arm and said scraper blade.