Blade motion reduction

• US 7,581,598 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2005
• Issued: 09/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Radke, Daniel Dean, Nagorcka, James Arthur, Allen, Lyal Douglas, Bergquist, Lawrence William
• Primary Examiner(s): PEZZUTO, ROBERT ERIC
• Application Number:
  US11/286,734
• Publication Number:
  US 20060123670A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,378 Days
• Field of Search: 373/66, 374/66, 374/03, 172/784, 172/789, 172/780, 172/447, 172/788, 172/793, 172/819, 172/828, 180/9.44, 180/6.64, 280/461.1, 280/400
• US Class Current: 172/819
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/0841 Articulated frame, i.e. having at least one pivot point between two travelling gear units tractor-trailer combinations B62D53/00

Abstract

An articulated loader has an articulated chassis and corresponding A-frames. The points of the A-frames face each other. The articulated chassis includes a front portion and a rear portion. Likewise, there is a front or first A-frame and a rear or second A-frame. The A-frames are connected to the overall chassis at points close to but offset from the point of vehicle articulation via ball joints and via hydraulic suspension cylinders toward the wider portions of the “A”s. The tracks are independently suspended. The C-frame and blade are mounted to the first A-frame while the controlling cylinders are mounted to the front chassis portion. This allows the blade to follow the tracks or ground and yet stabilize its motion.

Claims

1. An articulated dozer, comprising:

a first chassis portion;

a second chassis portion;

a first A-frame;

a second A-frame;

a C-frame having a first side and a second side;

a first controlling cylinder;

a second controlling cylinder;

a grader blade having a first blade side and a second blade side, the first A-frame attached to the first chassis portion such that lateral movements of the grader blade relative to the first A-frame are constrained and vertical movements of the blade relative to the first A-frame are constrained, the blade being operatively attached to the C-frame, the C-frame being operatively attached to the A-frame, the first controlling cylinder connecting the first blade side to the first chassis portion, the second controlling cylinder connecting the second blade side to the first chassis portion.

2. The articulated dozer of claim 1 further comprising an articulation joint, wherein the first chassis portion is connected to the second chassis portion via the articulation joint.

3. The articulated dozer of claim 2, further comprising a joint, wherein the first A-frame is rotationally connected to the first chassis portion, via the joint, at a location in proximity to the articulation joint.

4. The articulated dozer of claim 3, wherein the joint comprises a first ball joint.

5. The articulated dozer of claim 3, further comprising a second ball joint, wherein the second A-frame is rotationally connected to the second chassis portion via the second ball joint.

6. The articulated dozer of claim 1, wherein a majority a load from the blade is supported by the first A-frame and the second A-frame.