Spreader/grader system

• US 8,393,406 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2010
• Issued: 03/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Ag Concepts, Inc.
• Original Assignee: DoMor Equipment, LLC
• Inventors: Seal, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): MCGOWAN, JAMIE LOUISE
• Application Number:
  US12/916,791
• Publication Number:
  US 20120048578A1
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 172/445.1, 172/684.5, 172/799.5, 172/393, 404/96, 404/118, 404/119
• US Class Current: 172/393
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/7627 with the scraper blade adjustable relative to the frame about a vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/7631 with the scraper blade adjustable relative to the frame about a horizontal axis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/494 Fluidic or fluid actuated device making

Abstract

An improved spreader/grader system, which includes a frame having a pair of parallel sidewalls; a plurality of spreader/grader blades positioned between the sidewalls and secured within a slot along the length of each of the sidewalls, each blade having a lower edge for spreading or grading a surface upon which the spreader/grader rests; a hydraulic cylinder attached to each end of each blade to allow each blade to be moveable along the length of the sidewall in a parallel or non-parallel relationship as desired by the operator; and a hydraulic cylinder system for attaching the frame to a vehicle, such as a tractor, for pulling the spreader/grader during the spreading/grading process. The blades of the spreader/grader may alternatively be secured in fixed positions between the sidewalls of the frame with a bolt/nut combination.

Claims

1. An improved spreader/grader system, comprising:

a. a frame having a pair of parallel first and second sidewalls;

b. at least two spreader/grader blades having a lower edge for spreading or grading a surface upon which the spreader/grader rests, and the blades positioned parallel or non-parallel to one another between the sidewalls, with each end of the blades capable of being secured to each of the sidewalls in multiple positions;

c. first and second continuous slots formed in each of the sidewalls to allow a first end of each of the blades to slide along the first slot;

d. a hydraulic cylinder mounted to at least one of the parallel sidewalls and to the first end of at least one of the blades to move that end of the blade along the length of the first slot in the multiple positions;

e. a second end of the blade engaged through the second slot and secured to the sidewall to allow the second end of the blade to rotate as the first end moves along the first slot; and

f. means for attaching the frame to a vehicle, such as a tractor, for pulling the spreader/grader during the spreading/grading process.

2. The system in claim 1, wherein the blades are secured to the frame at a point of rotation through bolting or like attachment.

3. The system in claim 1, wherein the second end of the blade may be secured to a hydraulic cylinder mounted in a second sidewall while the first end of the blade may be secured to the first sidewall to allow the first end of the blade to rotate.

4. The system in claim 1, wherein each end of each blade may be fixed and moveable along the length of the sidewall through the use of hydraulic cylinder attached to each end of each blade.

5. An improved spreader/grader system, comprising:

a. a frame having parallel first and second sidewalls;

b. at least two spreader/grader blades positioned between the first and second sidewalls with each blade having first and second ends secured within a slot along the length of each of the first and second sidewalls, and with each blade having a lower edge for spreading or grading a surface upon which the spreader/grader rests;

c. a hydraulic cylinder mounted on at least one parallel sidewall and attached to the first end of each blade to allow each blade to be moveable along the length of the slot in the first sidewall in a parallel or non-parallel relationship as desired by the operator;

d. the second end of each blade engaged through a second slot and secured to the second sidewall at a point of rotation to allow the second end of each blade to rotate as the first end of each blade moves along the first slot; and

e. means for attaching the frame to a vehicle, such as a tractor, for pulling the spreader/grader during the spreading/grading process.

6. The system in claim 5, wherein the means for attaching the frame to the tractor comprises a hydraulic cylinder which has the ability to lift and lower the frame from and onto the surface to be graded.

7. The system in claim 5, wherein there may be provided at least three spreader/grader blades, each operable by a hydraulic cylinder mounted on the sidewalls of the frame.

8. An improved spreader/grader system, comprising:

a. a frame having parallel first and second sidewalls;

b. a plurality of spreader/grader blades positioned between the first and second sidewalls and secured within a slot along the length of each of the sidewalls, each blade having a lower edge for spreading or grading a surface upon which the spreader/grader rests;

c. a hydraulic cylinder mounted on each parallel sidewall and attached to each end of each blade to allow each blade to be moveable along the length of the sidewall in a parallel or non-parallel relationship to one another as desired by the operator; and

d. a hydraulic cylinder for attaching the frame to a vehicle, such as a tractor, for pulling the spreader/grader and for lifting and lowering the frame from the surface during the spreading/grading process.

9. A method of fabricating and operating a spreader/grader system, comprising:

a. providing a frame having a pair of first and second parallel sidewalls;

b. positioning a plurality of spreader/grader blades between the sidewalls, the blades secured within a slot along the length of each of the sidewalls, each blade having a lower edge for spreading or grading a surface upon which the spreader/grader rests;

c. mounting a hydraulic cylinder on at least one of the sidewalls, the hydraulic cylinder attached to a first end of one of the blades;

d. mounting a second end of the at least one blade to a point of rotation on a second sidewall to allow the second end of said blade to rotate as the first end of the blade is moved by the hydraulic cylinder; and

e. utilizing the hydraulic cylinders to move each blade along the length of the sidewall in a parallel or non-parallel relationship to one another as desired by the operator.

10. The method in claim 9, further comprising the step of providing a hydraulic cylinder for attaching the frame to a vehicle, such as a tractor, for pulling the spreader/grader and for lifting and lowering the frame from the surface during the spreading/grading process.

11. The method in claim 9, further comprising the step of mounting a second hydraulic cylinder on a first sidewall to a first end of a second blade and mounting a second end of the second blade to a point of rotation on the second sidewall.