Grading tools for work machines and operation thereof

• US 9,609,796 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2014
• Issued: 04/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABI Attachments Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ABI Attachments Incorporated
• Inventors: Keigley, Kevin V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Will, Thomas B
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mitchell, Joel F.
• Application Number:
  US14/513,332
• Publication Number:
  US 20150107861A1
• Time in Patent Office: 903 Days
• Field of Search: 172197
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 31/00 Drags graders for field cultivators graders in general E02F
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 63/108 on the front part
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 63/111 regulating working depth of implements
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/7609 Scraper blade mounted forwardly of the tractor on a pair of pivoting arms which are linked to the sides of the tractor, e.g. bulldozers
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/7672 with the scraper blade being pivotable about a horizontal axis disposed parallel to the blade
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/815 Blades; Levelling or scarifying tools E02F3/40 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/844 for positioning the blade, e.g. hydraulically

Abstract

One embodiment includes a grading tool structured for attachment to a work machine. The grading tool includes a frame, ground contacting wheels coupled with the frame, a comb coupled with the frame and extending from a first end of the frame, and a coupling member coupled with the frame and structured to be accessible from a second end of the frame. When the ground contacting wheels are in contact with the ground a depth of penetration of the comb into the ground surface is adjustable by changing the pitch of the grading tool.

Claims

1. A grading tool structured for attachment to a work machine, the grading tool comprising:

a frame having a width extending from a first side frame member to a second side frame member and a length extending form a front frame member to a rear frame member;

first and second ground contacting wheels coupled with the frame at first and second locations spaced apart along the width of the frame, the first and second ground contacting wheels being rotatable relative to the frame about an axis extending along the width of the frame, the axis being positioned rearward from a first end of the frame and forward of a second end of the frame;

a comb coupled with the frame and extending from the first end of the frame;

a coupling member coupled with the frame and positioned closer to the second end of the frame than the first end of the frame; and

a double-hinged drag bar assembly including

a plurality of arms rotatably coupled with the frame by respective first hinges,

a carrier member coupled with the plurality of arms, the carrier member extending downward from the plurality of arms toward an underlying ground surface, extending along the width of the frame, and including a back surface extending vertically toward the underlying ground surface and facing reward toward the rear frame member,

a drag bar rotatably coupled with the carrier member by a second hinge, the drag bar including an upper portion coupled with the second hinge and extending along the width of the frame from a first position adjacent the first side member to a second position adjacent the second side member, a lower portion extending from the first position to the second position and defining a plurality of teeth extending downward from the upper portion, and a front facing surface facing forward toward the back surface of the carrier member,

wherein the drag bar is freely rotatable about the second hinge from a first position in which front facing surface of the drag bar is aligned with and contacts the back facing surface of the carrier member to limit rotation of the drag bar to a second position in which the front facing surface is spaced apart from the back facing surface, and

wherein all portions of the drag bar rotate together such that rotation of any of the plurality of teeth causes corresponding rotation of all of the plurality of teeth.

2. The grading tool of claim 1 wherein when the ground contacting wheels are in contact with the ground surface a depth of penetration of the comb into the ground surface is adjustable by changing a pitch of the frame relative to the ground contacting wheels by applying force to the coupling member.

3. The grading tool of claim 2 comprising a plurality of scarifying shanks adjustably coupled with and extending downward from the frame and positioned rearward of the comb and forward of the drag bar.

4. The grading tool of claim 1 wherein the front facing surface is planar and the rear facing surface is planar.

5. The grading tool of claim 1 wherein the drag bar is a straight structure without bends.

6. A work machine provided with the grading tool according to claim 1, the work machine further comprising a tool mount coupled with the coupling member, a first actuator configured to apply force to selectably raise and lower the grading tool relative to the work machine in an active mode and to allow the grading tool to passively raise and lower relative to the work machine in response to external force in a float mode, and a second actuator configured to selectably change a pitch of the grading tool relative to the work machine in both the active mode and the float mode.

7. The work machine of claim 6 wherein when the first actuator is configured in the float mode with the ground contacting wheels in contact with the ground surface, a depth of penetration of the comb into the ground surface is adjustable by the second actuator changing the pitch of the grading tool relative to the work machine.

8. The grading tool of claim 1 further comprising a backstop member extending in a direction along the width of the frame, a hydraulic actuator configured to raise and lower the backstop member relative to the frame, and a plurality of scarifying teeth coupled with the backstop member, wherein raising and lowering the backstop member relative to the frame with the hydraulic actuator is effective to vary the depth of penetration of the scarifying teeth into the ground surface.

9. A grading tool for attachment to a work machine, the grading tool comprising:

a frame having a width extending from a first side to a second side and a length extending form a front of the frame to a back of the frame;

first and second ground contacting wheels coupled with and rotatable relative to the frame at spaced apart positions along the width of the frame;

a front ground engaging tool coupled with the frame and extending from the front of the frame;

a coupling member coupled with the frame and positioned at the back end of the frame; and

a double-hinged drag bar assembly including

a plurality of arms rotatably coupled with the frame by first hinges,

a carrier member coupled with the plurality of arms, the carrier member extending downward from the plurality of arms toward an underlying ground surface and extending along the width of the frame,

a drag bar rotatably coupled with the carrier member by a second hinge, the drag bar including an upper portion coupled with the second hinge and extending along the width of the frame, and a lower portion extending along the width of the frame and extending downward from the upper portion,

wherein the drag bar is unbiased relative to the carrier member and freely rotatable about the second hinge from a first position in which front facing surface of the drag bar is aligned vertically and contacts the carrier member to limit rotation of the drag bar to a second position in which the drag bar is rotated away from the carrier member, and

wherein the drag bar rotates about the second hinge as a unitary structure such that rotation of any of portion of the drag bar rotates all portions of the drag bar.

10. The grading tool of claim 9 wherein the lower portion of the drag bar defines a plurality of teeth extending downward from the upper portion.

11. The grading tool of claim 10 wherein the plurality of teeth extend downward past the carrier member toward an underlying ground surface.

12. The grading tool of claim 9 wherein the plurality of teeth penetrate vertically into the underlying ground surface in the first position and rest at an angle against the underlying ground surface in the second position.

13. A work machine provided with the grading tool according to claim 9, the work machine coupled with the coupling member.

14. The grading tool of claim 9 further comprising a backstop member extending along the width of the frame, a hydraulic actuator configured to raise and lower the backstop member relative to the frame, and a plurality of scarifying teeth coupled with the backstop member, wherein raising and lowering the backstop member relative to the frame with the hydraulic actuator is effective to vary the depth of penetration of the scarifying teeth into the ground surface.

15. The grading tool of claim 9 wherein the front ground engaging tool comprises a comb.