Shouldering board assembly
AssigneeSoterran Group, LLC
InventorsChase Zacharias, Josh DeBoer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A grading assembly for simultaneously grading a road and a shoulder is disclosed. The grading assembly can comprise a main moldboard that is elongate along a first longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end. The grading assembly can further comprise a shouldering moldboard that is elongate along a second longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end. A linkage can pivotably couple the shouldering moldboard to the main moldboard at the second end of the main moldboard so that the shouldering moldboard is movable relative to the main moldboard about and between a stowed position and a fully deployed position. An actuator can be configured to pivot the shouldering moldboard relative to the main moldboard by the linkage.
Claims18
An attachment for coupling to a main moldboard that is elongate along a first longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end of the main moldboard, wherein the main moldboard has a front face and an opposed rear face, wherein the main moldboard has a front-to-rear axis that is perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis and extends through the main moldboard between the front face and the opposed rear face, the attachment comprising:
- a shouldering moldboard that is elongate along a second longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end of the shouldering moldboard;
- a linkage that is configured to pivotably couple the shouldering moldboard to the main moldboard at the second end of the main moldboard so that the shouldering moldboard is movable relative to the main moldboard about and between a stowed position and a fully deployed position, wherein the linkage comprises:
- a first arm that is pivotable relative to the main moldboard about a first pivotal axis;
- and
- a second arm that is pivotable relative to the first arm about a second pivotal axis that is spaced from the first pivotal axis along the first arm;
- and
- an actuator that is configured to pivot the shouldering moldboard relative to the main moldboard by the linkage, wherein the actuator is a linear actuator that is pivotably coupled to the main moldboard about a third pivotal axis and is pivotably coupled to the second arm about a fourth pivotal axis that is spaced from the second pivotal axis along the second arm.
A grading machine comprising:
- a vehicle;
- and
- a grading assembly comprising:
- a main moldboard that is elongate along a first longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end of the main moldboard, wherein the main moldboard has a front face and an opposed rear face, wherein the grading assembly has a front-to-rear axis that is perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis and extends through the main moldboard between the front face and the opposed rear face;
- a shouldering moldboard that is elongate along a second longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end of the shouldering moldboard;
- a linkage that pivotably couples the shouldering moldboard to the main moldboard at the second end of the main moldboard so that the shouldering moldboard is movable relative to the main moldboard about and between a stowed position and a fully deployed position, wherein the linkage comprises:
- a first arm that is pivotable relative to the main moldboard about a first pivotal axis;
- and
- a second arm that is pivotable relative to the first arm about a second pivotal axis that is spaced from the first pivotal axis along the first arm;
- and
- an actuator that is configured to pivot the shouldering moldboard relative to the main moldboard by the linkage, wherein the actuator is a linear actuator that is pivotably coupled to the main moldboard about a third pivotal axis and is pivotably coupled to the second arm about a fourth pivotal axis that is spaced from the second pivotal axis along the second arm.
A method comprising:
- moving a grading machine, the grading machine comprising:
- a vehicle;
- and
- a grading assembly that is coupled to the vehicle, the grading assembly comprising:
- a main moldboard that is elongate along a first longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end of the main moldboard;
- a shouldering moldboard that is elongate along a second longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end of the shouldering moldboard;
- a linkage that pivotably couples the shouldering moldboard to the main moldboard at the second end of the main moldboard so that the shouldering moldboard is movable relative to the main moldboard about and between a stowed position and a fully deployed position, wherein the linkage comprises:
- a first arm that is pivotable relative to the main moldboard about a first pivotal axis;
- and
- a second arm that is pivotable relative to the first arm about a second pivotal axis that is spaced from the first pivotal axis along the first arm;
- and
- an actuator that is configured to pivot the shouldering moldboard relative to the main moldboard by the linkage, wherein the actuator is a linear actuator that is pivotably coupled to the main moldboard about a third pivotal axis and is pivotably coupled to the second arm about a fourth pivotal axis that is spaced from the second pivotal axis along the second arm;
- and
- moving the grading assembly along a surface to simultaneously grade a road and a shoulder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.