Grading tool compatible with light duty work machine

A tow-behind grading tool comprising:

• a frame extending between a hitch coupled with the frame at a forward frame location and a ground contacting member rotatably coupled with the frame at a rearward frame location;
• a first adjustment mechanism rotatably coupled with the frame at a first frame location intermediate the forward frame location and the rearward frame location and being adjustable to increase and decrease in length;
• a lever rotatably coupled with the frame at a second frame location intermediate the first frame location and the rearward frame location, the lever including a first arm extending from a fulcrum at the second frame location and rotatably coupled with the first adjustment mechanism and a second arm extending from the fulcrum;
• a suspension assembly rotatably coupled with the second arm of the lever, the suspension assembly including a spring operably coupled with the lever;
• a grading box assembly rotatably coupled with the frame at a third frame location intermediate the forward frame location and the rearward frame location and rotatably coupled with the suspension assembly, the spring being compressible to accommodate relative motion between the lever and the grading box assembly;
• a second adjustment mechanism coupled with the frame, coupled with the grading box assembly and being adjustable to selectably increase and decrease in length effective to vary front-to-rear pitch of the grading box assembly relative to the frame;
• a fixation member coupled with the grading box assembly and engageable with the frame to selectably fix a first side of the grading box assembly vertically relative to the frame while allowing vertical movement of a second side of the of the grading box assembly relative to the frame;
• wherein the suspension comprises first and second shafts rotatably coupled with the grading box assembly, first and second slots provided in the first and second shafts respectively, first and second moveable collars moveable along a length of the first and second shafts respectively, first and second springs surrounding the first and second shafts respectively, and a lateral member passing through openings in the first and second moveable collars, passing through the first and second slots and rotatably coupled with the lever.

An apparatus comprising:

• a frame extending between a forward frame location and a rearward frame location;
• a ground contacting member rotatably coupled with the frame;
• a lever rotatably coupled with the frame at a first location intermediate the forward frame location and the rearward frame location, the lever including a first arm extending forward from a fulcrum at the first frame location a second arm extending rearward from the fulcrum;
• a first adjustment mechanism rotatably coupled with the frame at a second location intermediate the forward frame location and the rearward frame location, rotatably coupled with the first adjustment mechanism and being adjustable to apply force to rotate the lever relative to the frame;
• a suspension rotatably coupled with the second arm of the lever, the suspension including a spring operably coupled with the lever;
• a grading box rotatably coupled with the frame at a third frame location intermediate the forward frame location and the rearward frame location and rotatably coupled with the suspension, the spring being deformable to accommodate relative motion between the lever and the grading box;
• a second adjustment mechanism coupled with the frame, coupled with the grading box and being adjustable to selectably increase and decrease in length effective to vary the pitch of the grading box relative to the frame;
• a fixation member coupled with the grading box and engageable with the frame to selectably vertically fix a first side of the grading box relative to the frame while allowing movement of a second side of the of the grading box relative to the frame;
• wherein, with the fixation member coupled with the frame, adjustment of the length of the first adjustment mechanism is effective to vary a side-to-side roll of the grading box.