Dual blade unit

• US 7,942,209 B1
• Filed: 06/15/2009
• Issued: 05/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gary Volz, Shane Volz
• Original Assignee: Gary Volz, Shane Volz
• Inventors: Volz, Shane, Volz, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): PEZZUTO, ROBERT ERIC
• Application Number:
  US12/484,570
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 172/197, 172/445.1, 172/445.2, 172/199, 172/684.5, 172/685, 172/799.5, 172815-820, 172/792, 172/795, 172/796, 372/31, 372/35, 37266-268, 372/81, 374/44, 374/45
• US Class Current: 172/197
• 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: E02F 3/8155 provided with movable parts, e.g. cutting discs, vibrating teeth or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/962 Mounting of implements directly on tools already attached to the machine E02F3/404 and E02F3/8152 take precedence

Abstract

An apparatus for earth working or material moving includes a first and a second blade oriented substantially parallel to one another. The two blades each have non-working blade faces positioned adjacent one another and working blade faces opposite one another. The two blades are moveable with respect to one another in the vertical direction, but fixed to one another in the horizontal direction. In this way, the working face of a first blade may be used in a first direction, and the working face of a second blade may be used in a second direction. The dual blade unit may be pivotally connected to an extending arm so that the angle of the first and second blades with respect to the direction of travel may be adjusted to the specifications of the user.

Claims

1. A blade unit comprising:

a. a hitch member, wherein said hitch member is configured to be attachable to a prime mover;

b. an extending arm, wherein a first end of said extending arm is operably engaged with said hitch member;

c. a first blade, wherein said first blade is operably engaged with a second end of said extending arm;

d. a second blade, wherein said second blade is substantially parallel to said first blade, wherein said second blade is pivotally affixed to said first blade such that the vertical position of said second blade with respect to said first blade may be adjusted, and wherein the horizontal position of said second blade with respect to said first blade is fixed; and

,

e. a translator, wherein said-translator is positioned between said first blade and said second blade, wherein a first side of said translator is pivotally affixed to said first blade, and wherein a second side of said translator is pivotally affixed to said second blade.

2. An apparatus for earth working, said apparatus comprising:

a. a hitch member, wherein said hitch member is configured to be attachable to a prime mover;

b. an extending arm, wherein said extending arm has a first and second end, wherein said first end is rigidly affixed to said hitch member;

c. a first blade, said first blade comprising;

i. a blade pivot pin protruding upwardly therefrom, wherein said extending arm second end is pivotally engaged with said blade pivot pin;

ii. at least one link connector fashioned on a non-working face of said first blade;

iii. at least one blade cylinder connector fashioned on said non-working face of said first blade;

iv. at least one translator connector fashioned on said non-working face of said first blade;

d. a second blade, said second blade comprising;

i. at least one link connector fashioned on a non-working face of said second blade;

ii. least one translator connector fashioned on said non-working face of said second blade;

e. at least one blade link having first and second ends, wherein said blade link first end is pivotally attached to said at least one link connector in said first blade, and wherein said blade link second end is pivotally attached to said at least one link connector in said second blade;

f. at least one translator, said at least one translator comprising;

i. at least one outer portion with first and second ends wherein said outer portion first end is pivotally mounted to said at least one translator connector in said first blade, and wherein said outer portion second end is pivotally mounted to said at least one translator connector in said second blade;

ii. a central portion, wherein said at least one outer portion is affixed to said central portion;

iii. a translator cylinder connector, wherein said translator cylinder connector is affixed to said central portion; and

g. at least one blade cylinder having first and second ends, wherein said blade cylinder first end is pivotally connected to said at least one blade cylinder connector in said first blade, and wherein said blade cylinder second end is pivotally connected to said translator cylinder connector.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said hitch member is further defined as comprising:

a. a top mount, wherein a first end of said top mount is affixed to said extending arm, and wherein a second end of said top mount attaches to a prime mover;

b. a horizontal mount, wherein said horizontal mount is affixed to said extending arm and oriented substantially perpendicular thereto; and

c. at least one cross brace, wherein said at least one cross brace is affixed to both said top mount and said horizontal mount.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising:

a. an angle cylinder mount affixed to said horizontal mount of said hitch member;

b. an angle cylinder connector affixed to said first blade; and

c. an angle cylinder, wherein a first end of said angle cylinder is pivotally engaged with said angle cylinder mount, and wherein a second end of said angle cylinder is pivotally engaged with said angle cylinder connector.

5. The apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising hydraulic conduit, wherein said hydraulic conduit fluidly connects said at least one blade cylinder to a source of pressurized fluid.

6. The apparatus according to claim 2 further defined so that the maximum vertical difference between said first blade and said second blade is eighteen inches.

7. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said hitch member is further defined as being adapted for attachment to a conventional three-point hitch.

8. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said hitch member is further defined as being adapted for attachment to the front of a prime mover.

9. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said at least one blade cylinder is further defined as being powered by a pressurized liquid.

10. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said at least one blade cylinder is further defined as being configured as a screw jack.

11. An apparatus for earth working, said apparatus comprising:

a. a hitch member, wherein said hitch member is configured to be attachable to a prime mover;

b. an extending arm, wherein said extending arm has a first and second end, wherein said first end is rigidly affixed to said hitch member;

c. a first blade, said first blade comprising;

i. a blade pivot pin protruding upwardly therefrom, wherein said extending arm second end is pivotally engaged with said blade pivot pin;

ii. four link connectors fashioned on a non-working face of said first blade, wherein said four link connectors are grouped in two pairs, and wherein said blade pivot pin is positioned between said two pairs of link connectors along the length of said first blade;

iii. a first and second blade cylinder connector fashioned on said non-working face of said first blade, wherein said blade pivot pin is positioned between said first and second blade cylinder connectors along the length of said first blade;

iv. four translator connectors fashioned on said non-working face of said first blade, wherein said four translator connectors are grouped in two pairs, and wherein said blade pivot pin is positioned between said two pairs of translator connectors along the length of said first blade;

d. a second blade, said second blade comprising;

i. four link connectors fashioned on a non-working face of said second blade, wherein said four link connectors of said second blade are in an opposed orientation to said four link connectors of said first blade;

ii. four translator connectors fashioned on said non-working face of said first blade, wherein said four translator connectors of said second blade are in an opposed orientation to said four translator connectors of said first blade;

e. four blade links each having second ends, wherein each said blade link is pivotally affixed at either end thereof to a blade link connector of said first blade and the opposing blade link connector of said second blade;

f. a first translator comprising;

i. a central portion;

ii. two outer portions affixed at either end of said central portion, wherein each said outer portion has first and second ends, wherein each said outer portion is pivotally affixed at either end thereof to one translator connector of said first blade and the opposing translator connector of said second blade;

iii. a translator cylinder connector, wherein said translator cylinder connector is affixed to said central portion, and wherein said first translator is positioned on a first side of said blade pivot pin;

g. a second translator comprising;

i. a central portion;

ii. two outer portions affixed at either end of said central portion, wherein each said outer portion has first and second ends, wherein each said outer portion is pivotally affixed at either end thereof to one translator connector of said first blade and the opposing translator connector of said second blade;

iii. a translator cylinder connector, wherein said translator cylinder connector is affixed to said central portion, and wherein said second translator is positioned on a second side of said blade pivot pin; and

h. two blade cylinders each having first and second ends, wherein a first blade cylinder is pivotally connected at either end thereof to one blade cylinder connector in said first blade and said translator cylinder connector of said first translator, and wherein a second blade cylinder is pivotally connected at either end thereof to one blade cylinder connector in said first blade and said translator connector of said second translator.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said four link connectors, said first and second blade cylinder connectors, and said four translator connectors of said first blade are further defined as being integrally formed with said first blade.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said four link connectors and said four translator connectors of said second blade are further defined as being integrally formed with said second blade.

14. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said two outer portions of said first and second translators are further defined as being welded to said central portions of said first and second translators, respectively.

15. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said two blade cylinders are further defined as being powered by pressurized fluid.