Patent Application
20250154742
The present disclosure relates to grader machines, such as motor graders, that grade and level a work surface. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to system for retaining a moldboard to a grader machine and which employs one or more bump stops for better cushioning and durability, improved impact loading, and reduced cylinder wear.
Grader machines, also referred to as motor graders, are typically used to displace, distribute, and/or mix a material, such as soil, over a work surface to grade the work surface. Grader machines commonly employ a blade, also referred to as a moldboard, which may be used to engage the work surface to carry out the aforementioned functions on the work surface. Grader machines may include actuators that provide for lateral movement (e.g., blade sideshift) and/or tiltable movement (e.g., blade angle) of the blade with respect to the work surface, further enabling the aforementioned functions.
During operations of the grader machine, loading of the blade (e.g., from forces external to the machine) is applied at multiple locations and/or from multiple directions. For example, the loading may cause the blade to be pushed and/or re-oriented to a deviated position (e.g., from an intermediate position, also referred to as a working position). Movement of the blade to the deviated position can result in damaging impacts to one or more components (e.g., brackets) associated with the blade and can result in wear caused by the full extension of one or more cylinders associated with the blade.
In one aspect, the disclosure is directed towards a system for retaining a moldboard to an implement frame of a grader machine. The system includes one or more brackets, one or more actuators, and one or more bump stops. The brackets are coupled to a backside of the moldboard and are coupled to the implement frame about an axis. The actuators are coupled to respective brackets and are configured to tilt the brackets with respect to the implement frame about the axis to articulate the moldboard with respect to the implement frame. The bump stops are coupled to the implement frame and are configured to contact the respective brackets when the moldboard articulates from an intermediate position to one or more deviated positions.
In another aspect, the disclosure relates to a method for cushioning a movement of a moldboard of a grader machine during machine operation. The method includes coupling brackets to an implement frame of the grader machine about an axis and to a backside of the moldboard; coupling actuators to respective brackets, with the actuators being configured to tilt the brackets with respect to the implement frame about the axis to articulate the moldboard with respect to the implement frame; and coupling bump stops to the implement frame such that the bump stops contact the respective brackets when the moldboard articulates from an intermediate position to one or more deviated positions to limit further deviation of the moldboard at the deviated positions.
In yet another aspect, the disclosure is directed to a grader machine. The grader machine includes a chassis, a drawbar extending from the chassis, a circle rotatably supported with respect to the drawbar, an implement frame (including one or more arms) extending from the circle; a moldboard configured to engage and grade a work surface underlying the grader machine, and a system for retaining the moldboard to the implement frame. The system includes one or more brackets, one or more actuators, and one or more bump stops. The brackets are coupled to a backside of the moldboard and are coupled to the implement frame about an axis. The actuators are coupled to the respective brackets and are configured to tilt the brackets with respect to the implement frame about the axis to articulate the moldboard with respect to the implement frame. The bump stops are coupled to the implement frame and are configured to contact the respective brackets when the moldboard articulates from an intermediate position to one or more deviated positions.
Reference will now be made in detail to specific embodiments or features, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Generally, corresponding reference numbers may be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or corresponding parts, e.g., 1, 1′, 1″, 101 and 201 could refer to one or more comparable components used in the same and/or different depicted embodiments.
Referring to
As an example, the traction devices 112 may include one or more front wheels 112′ disposed towards a front end 116 of the grader machine 100 and one or more back wheels 112″ disposed towards a back end 120 of the grader machine 100. The terms ‘front’ and ‘back’, as used herein, are in relation to an exemplary direction of travel of the grader machine 100, and the same is represented by an arrow, T, in
To grade and/or level the work surface, the grader machine 100 may include an implement system 136, which may also be referred to as a drawbar-circle-blade (DCB) arrangement and/or a grader group of the grader machine 100. The implement system 136 may be supported by the chassis 128. Further, the implement system 136 may include a drawbar 140, a circle assembly 144, and a moldboard assembly 148, as shown, all of which may function in concert with one another to help the grader machine 100 perform the grading operation on the work surface 108.
The drawbar 140 may include a first end 152 pivotally coupled to a front end 156 of the chassis 128 and a second end 160 disposed away from the front end 156 of the chassis 128. In other words, a portion of the drawbar 140, defining the second end 160, may extend (e.g., extend away) and be disposed remote relative to the front end 156 of the chassis 128. As an example, the second end 160 of the drawbar 140 may extend rearwards or backwards towards the operator cab 132 of the grader machine 100. Further, the second end 160 of the drawbar 140 may be movably supported at another portion (such as a mid-portion 164) of the chassis 128. For example, the second end 160 of the drawbar 140 may be coupled to the mid-portion 164 of the chassis 128 via one or more actuators, such as an actuator 168, as exemplary shown in
Referring to
The implement frame 176 may be fixedly coupled to the circle 172 to rotate with a rotation of the circle 172, relative to the drawbar 140. Also, the implement frame 176 may extend away from the circle 172. As an example, the implement frame 176 may include one or more arms, e.g., a pair of arms, or as shown in
With regard to the first arm 184 of the implement frame 176, the first arm 184 may include a first wall 204 and a second wall 208, although the first arm 184 (and/or the second arm 188) may include lesser or higher number of walls. The first wall 204 and the second wall 208 may be coupled fixedly together (e.g., by welding or fastening) to each other. The second wall 208 may be spaced apart from the first wall 204 to define a gap, G, with respect to the first wall 204. The second arm 188 may include similar such walls, but they are not discussed or described as one or more features of the first wall 204 and the second wall 208 may be applicable to the walls of the second arm 188, as well.
Referring to
The moldboard 212 may include a ground engaging tool adapted to engage the materials over the work surface 108 so as to grade and level the work surface 108. The moldboard 212 may define a backside 220 and a frontside 224 with respect to the grader machine 100, as exemplarily shown in
The moldboard 212 may be moved to a host of work related positions with respect to the chassis 128 and/or to the work surface 108. For example, the moldboard 212 may be raised or lowered relative to the work surface 108 by raising and lowering the second end 160 of the drawbar 140 relative to the chassis 128, e.g., by use of the actuator 168. Further, the moldboard 212 may be rotated about the rotation axis 180 as the circle 172 may be rotated about the rotation axis 180. The moldboard 212 may also be tilted or articulated to change the angle or orientation at which the moldboard 212 may intersect and/or engage with the work surface 108 during the grading operation. A variety of other orientations of the moldboard 212, including a tilting of the moldboard 212, such as about a longitudinal axis 228 of the grader machine 100 (see
In some embodiments, the moldboard 212 may be configured to also slide in a lateral direction relative to the longitudinal axis 228 and the chassis 128 of the grader machine 100. Such sliding motion of the moldboard 212 may be exemplarily achieved by hydraulic actuation and/or by a rack and pinion mechanism (not shown). To achieve such sliding motion, the moldboard 212 may include rails 232 (e.g., a first rail 232′ and a second rail 232″) (see
Further, during operations of the grader machine 100, a loading of the moldboard 212 (e.g., from forces external to the grader machine 100) may be applied at multiple locations (e.g., at a lower edge 236 of the moldboard 212) and/or from multiple directions. Such loading may cause the moldboard 212 to be pushed and/or re-oriented to a deviated position, e.g., from an intermediate position or a working position. In this regard, the positions of the moldboard 212 in
The system 216 may include one or more brackets—e.g., a first bracket 240 and a second bracket 244 (see
The first bracket 240 may be a single integral piece coupled to the backside 220 of the moldboard 212. In this regard, the first bracket 240 may include one or more bearing arrangements, e.g., a first bearing arrangement 260 and a second bearing arrangement 264. The bearing arrangements, e.g., the first bearing arrangement 260 and the second bearing arrangement 264, may respectively receive portions of the rails, e.g., the first rail 232′ and the second rail 232″, such that the rails 232 can slide within the first bearing arrangement 260 and the second bearing arrangement 264 and with respect to the implement frame 176 (e.g., with respect to the first arm 184 of the implement frame 176), allowing the moldboard 212 to slide generally laterally (e.g., to execute a lateral movement) with respect to the implement frame 176, the chassis 128, and/or also with respect to the longitudinal axis 228.
The first bracket 240 may be coupled to the implement frame 176, e.g., to the first arm 184 of the implement frame 176, about an axis (e.g., an articulation axis 268 passing through the implement frame 176) so as to be articulatable with respect to the implement frame 176, e.g., to the first arm 184 of the implement frame 176, at an articulation point 272. As an example, the first bracket 240 may be accommodated within the gap, G, (see
Further, the first bracket 240 may include a body 276 defining an inner periphery 280. As an example, the inner periphery 280 may be defined by an opening 284 of the first bracket 240—e.g., the opening 284 may pass through and across a thickness, TK, of the first bracket 240 (see
According to an exemplary construction of the first bracket 240, the first bracket 240 or the body 276 of the first bracket 240 may include or be defined by a first plate 304 and a second plate 308. The first plate 304 and the second plate 308 may be spaced apart from each other to define a space, S, therebetween. Although not limited, the first plate 304 and the second plate 308 may be identical to each other. The first plate 304 and the second plate 308 may also define corresponding apertures, e.g., a first aperture 312 and a second aperture 316, as shown in
The first actuator 248 may be configured to move or tilt the first bracket 240 with respect to the implement frame 176 (or with respect to the first arm 184 of the implement frame 176) about the articulation axis 268 to in turn articulate the moldboard 212, coupled to the first bracket 240, with respect to the implement frame 176. To this end, the first actuator 248 may be coupled with the first bracket 240 (or to one or more of the first plate 304 and the second plate 308) at a swivel joint 324 (e.g., to be swivelable about the swivel joint 324). Also, the first actuator 248 may be coupled to the implement frame 176 (or to the first arm 184 of the implement frame 176) at a pivot location 328 (e.g., to be pivotable about the pivot location 328). The first actuator 248 may be a linearly extendable and retractable actuator and may exemplarily include a cylinder-rod arrangement. The first actuator 248 may be a hydraulically powered actuator, although other types of actuators, e.g., electrically or pneumatically powered actuators, may be contemplated for the application. A linear extension and retraction may enable the first actuator 248 to move or tilt the first bracket 240 with respect to the implement frame 176 about the articulation axis 268 to also articulate the moldboard 212 with respect to the implement frame 176.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring again to
For mounting the system 216 and/or the first bump stop 256 onto the moldboard assembly 148 and thus to also cushion a movement of the moldboard 212 during grader machine operation, an exemplary assembly process is described. According to the exemplarily assembly process, an operator may insert the first actuator 248 into the gap, G, defined between the first wall 204 and the second wall 208 of the first arm 184 of the implement frame 176. Thereafter, the operator may align the holes (see first holes 360′) of the first actuator 248 with the holes (see first holes 360′) of the first arm 184 of the implement frame 176 and may pass the pin (see first pin 352′) through the first holes 360′. In so doing, the first actuator 248 can be coupled to be pivotable about the pivot location 328 with respect to the first arm 184. Next, the operator may align the holes (see second holes 360″) of the first actuator 248 with the holes (see first holes 360″) of the first bracket 240 and may pass the pin (see second pin 352″) through said holes 360″, with the space, S, providing passage to the first actuator 248. In that manner, the first actuator 248 may be coupled to be swivelable about the swivel joint 324 with respect to the first bracket 240.
The bump stop piece 332 (in conjunction with the sleeve 336 inserted into the bore 340 of the bump stop piece 332) may be then placed into the opening 284 defined by the first bracket 240. Thereafter, the first bracket 240 may be varied or moved such that the bore 340 of the bump stop piece 332 (positioned in the opening 284 of the first bracket 240) may be brought into alignment with the slots 348 of the first wall 204 and the second wall 208 of the first arm 184. Once such an alignment is attained, the operator may insert the coupler pin 344 associated with the first bump stop 256 into the slots 348 and into the bore 340 (or into the sleeve 336 inserted within the bore 340). In that manner, the coupler pin 344 may be secured to the first wall 204 and the second wall 208 and may span between the first wall 204 and the second wall 208 of the implement frame 176, in turn also retaining the bump stop piece 332 around the coupler pin 344 and within or in between the first wall 204 and the second wall 208, (e.g., within the gap, G) (see
At this point, owing to the assembly of the first bump stop 256 with the first bracket 240 and the first arm 184, the first bracket 240 may acquire a position in which it, at least in part, is inserted into the gap, G, defined between the first wall 204 and the second wall 208 of the implement frame 176. Once the first bracket 240 is suitably positioned within the gap, G, the operator may align the holes (see second holes 360″′) of the first bracket 240 with the holes (see second holes 360′″) of the first arm 184 and may pass the pin (see third pin 352) through the second holes 360″′ of the first bracket 240 and the first arm 184. In so doing, the first bracket 240 can be coupled to the implement frame 176 about the articulation axis 268 so as to be articulatable about the articulation point 272 with respect to the first arm 184 of the implement frame 176.
Although there is exemplary description in the present disclosure of the first arm 184 having two walls (e.g., the first wall 204 and the second wall 208), in some embodiments, the first arm 184 may include only a single wall, e.g., only one of the first wall 204 or the second wall 208. Such a configuration of the first arm 184 may depend upon factors, such as the area of application of the grader machine 100, a type of the work surface 108, a specification of the grader machine 100, and/or the like factors. Similar description may be applied to the second arm 188, as well. In effect, references to the first wall 204 and/or the second wall 208 are to be viewed as purely exemplary and/or non-limiting.
In brevity, to cushion a movement of the moldboard 212 during machine operation or grader machine operation, the operator couples the first bracket 240 to the implement frame 176 about the articulation axis 268 and to the backside 220 of the moldboard 212; couples the first actuator 248 to the first bracket 240 to allow the first actuator 248 to tilt the first bracket 240 with respect to the implement frame 176 about the articulation axis 268 and to articulate the moldboard 212 with respect to the implement frame 176; and couples the first bump stop 256 to the implement frame 176. A similar assembly may be contemplated and/or suitably performed to assemble the second bracket 244, the second actuator 252, and the second bump stop (not shown), in suitable correspondence with the second arm 188 of the implement frame 176. Further, the moldboard 212 may be assembled to the first bracket 240 and to the second bracket 244 once both the first bracket 240 and the second bracket 244 have been suitably assembled to the first arm 184 and the second arm 188 in the manner as has been described above.
During operation of the grader machine 100, the moldboard 212 (e.g., the lower edge 236 of the moldboard 212) may be brought into engagement with the work surface 108 (or with materials, such as soil, or the like, present on the work surface 108). Also, the moldboard 212 may be in an intermediate position or a working position. Next, the grader machine 100 may move with respect to the work surface 108, e.g., along direction, T. As the grader machine 100 may move in said direction, T, at an instance, e.g., when the lower edge 236 of the moldboard 212 may encounter a relatively heavy load—e.g., an obstacle in the form of an object, such as rocks, etc., on the work surface 108, the lower edge 236 may be take an impact from such a load, in turn causing the moldboard 212 to be pushed and/or re-oriented (or undesirably articulated about the articulation axis 268) to a deviated position, e.g., the second deviated position (see
At the deviated positions described above, the first bump stop 256 may contact the first bracket 240 (and similarly, or alternatively, the second bump stop, associated with the second arm 188 of the implement frame 176, may contact the second bracket 244). More particularly, the first bump stop 256 may contact the first surface 288 of the first bracket 240 at the first deviated position (see
Such contact of the first bump stop 256 with the first bracket 240 (and of the second bump stop with the second bracket 244) ensures that a stress associated with the impact loading is well dissipated from propagation into one or more of the components of the moldboard assembly 148. Further, the moldboard 212 is limited at the one or more deviated positions, such that the moldboard 212 doesn't deviate further. In that manner, the moldboard 212 is cushioned during grader operation. As a result, a durability and impact loading of the moldboard 212 and various components surrounding the moldboard 212 is improved, actuator wear (e.g., the first actuator wear) is reduced, and a useful work life of the moldboard assembly 148 is enhanced.
Unless explicitly excluded, the use of the singular to describe a component, structure, or operation does not exclude the use of plural such components, structures, or operations or their equivalents. The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and “at least one” or the term “one or more,” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The use of the term “at least one” followed by a list of one or more items (for example, “at least one of A and B” or one or more of A and B”) is to be construed to mean one item selected from the listed items (A or B) or any combination of two or more of the listed items (A and B; A, A and B; A, B and B), unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Similarly, as used herein, the word “or” refers to any possible permutation of a set of items. For example, the phrase “A, B, or C” refers to at least one of A, B, C, or any combination thereof, such as any of: A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; A, B, and C; or multiple of any item such as A and A; B, B, and C; A, A, B, C, and C; etc.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the method and/or system of the present disclosure without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the method and/or system disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope of the disclosure being indicated by the following claims and their equivalent.
