Blade levelling apparatus with provision for mounted accessories
AssigneeProgressive IP Limited
InventorRodney Warwick SHARP
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to levelling apparatus, typically as used on tractors, excavators and skid-steer vehicles, and references the levelling assembly and mounting options including directly to the existing blade of vehicles as well as other mounting arrangements. Preferred embodiments of a levelling apparatus include a blade body portion and body mounting portion connected by an arrangement of fixed and adjustable linkages, preferably hydraulic, to allow movement of the blade body portion (relative to the body mounting portion) in substantially an up and down direction, as well as rotational movement about an axis perpendicular to the general plane of an attached blade.
Claims18
A blade leveling assembly comprising a body mounting portion and a blade body portion;
- said two body portions being connected by body connecting linkages which allow a substantially up and down vertical movement of the blade body portion, relative to the body mounting portion, and in which the inclination of a blade associated with the blade body portion remains substantially the same regardless of its vertical position;
- the body connecting linkages also allowing a rotational movement of the blade body portion, relative to the body attachment portion, about a rotational axis substantially perpendicular to the general plane of said blade;
- said body connecting linkages including linear actuators, there being at least one being present either side of the middle of the blade levelling assembly when viewed in plan;
- said body connecting linkages also including at least one pivot-ended stabilising linkage either side of the middle of the levelling assembly when viewed in plan;
- and wherein the body connecting linkages assist in maintaining relative movement of the body portions to within the rotational and vertical movements as defined above;
- there being provided on the blade body portion side supporting elements, positioned at the side edges of the blade body portion;
- said leveling assembly also including a rotatable accessory mounting portion in turn comprising a transverse accessory mount capable of at least partial rotation about an axis parallel to the general plane of the blade,
- said rotatable portion being positioned forward of the blade, and above the level of the blade,
- there being included mount rotation means controlling the rotational attitude of said transverse accessory mount.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.