Circle drive system for a grading machine

A grading machine, comprising:

• a grading blade supported by a circle;
• a drawbar connected to the circle;
• and
• at least one circle drive system including a circle drive motor and a gear box, wherein the gear box includes a gear box axis of rotation and is configured to engage with and rotate the circle relative to the drawbar around a circle axis, and wherein the circle drive motor includes an axis of rotation that is perpendicular to the gear box axis and to the circle axis.

A blade positioning system for a grading machine, comprising:

• a circle coupled to a grading blade, wherein the circle is rotatable around a circle axis;
• and
• a circle drive system, including
• a circle drive motor with a motor axis;
• a gear coupling coupled to the circle drive motor;
• and
• a gear box driven by the circle drive motor and the gear coupling, wherein the gear box is configured to engage with and drive a rotation of the circle,
• wherein the motor axis is perpendicular to the circle axis.

A grading machine, comprising:

• a grading blade supported by a circle;
• a drawbar connected to the circle;
• a first circle drive system coupled to a front portion of the circle;
• and
• a second circle drive system coupled to the front portion of the circle,
• wherein each circle drive system includes a circle drive motor and a gear box, wherein each gear box includes a gear box axis of rotation and is configured to engage with and rotate the circle relative to the drawbar around a circle axis, and wherein each circle drive motor includes an axis of rotation that is perpendicular to the gear box axes and to the circle axis, and
• wherein the first circle drive system and the second circle drive system are coupled to the front portion of the circle at laterally offset positions relative to a centerline of the machine.