# US 2025/0154742 A1 · Grader machine including moldboard mounting assembly with bump stops > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2025/0154742 A1 - Document ID: US20250154742A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/508,276 - Filed: 2023-11-14 - Published: 2025-05-15 - Earliest claimed: 2023-11-14 - Assignees: Caterpillar Inc. - Applicants: Caterpillar Inc. - Inventors: Benjamin Joseph Kovalick; Nathaniel Keith Harshman; Bruce Raymond Vahling - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250154742A1 ## CPC - E02F 3/8157: {Shock absorbers; Supports, e.g. skids, rollers; Devices for compensating wear-and-tear, or the like} - E02F 3/764: {with the scraper blade being pivotable about a vertical axis} - E02F 3/7645: {with the scraper blade being pivotable about a horizontal axis disposed parallel to the blade} - E02F: DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING (winning peat E21C49/00) ## Abstract A system for retaining a moldboard to an implement frame of a grader machine 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for retaining a moldboard to an implement frame of a grader machine, the system comprising: one or more brackets coupled to a backside of the moldboard, and coupled to the implement frame about an axis; one or more actuators coupled to respective brackets, of the one or more brackets, the one or more actuators being configured to tilt the one or more brackets with respect to the implement frame about the axis to articulate the moldboard with respect to the implement frame; and one or more bump stops coupled to the implement frame and configured to contact the respective brackets when the moldboard articulates from an intermediate position to one or more deviated positions. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein each bracket, of the one or more brackets, includes a body defining an inner periphery with a first surface and a second surface, and a corresponding bump stop, of the one or more bump stops, contacts the first surface at a first deviated position, of the one or more deviated positions, and contacts the second surface at a second deviated position, of the one or more deviated positions. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the inner periphery defines at least one peripheral edge surface extending between the first surface and the second surface, the at least one peripheral edge surface defines an indentation extending into the body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein each bump stop, of the one or more bump stops, includes a bump stop piece, a sleeve inserted into the bump stop piece, and a pin passing through the sleeve, and wherein the pin is secured to and spans between a first wall and a second wall of the implement frame to retain the corresponding bump stop piece therearound and within a gap defined between the first wall and the second wall of the implement frame. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein each bracket of the one or more brackets includes a first plate and a second plate coupled together and spaced apart from each other and defining a space therebetween, the space provides passage to a corresponding actuator, of the one or more actuators, and the corresponding actuator is coupled to one or more of the first plate or the second plate at a swivel joint and is coupled to the implement frame at a pivot location. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more bump stops are one or more resilient bump stops. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more bump stops are made from one or more of rubber, ebonite, polyurethane, or mild steel. ### Claim 8 A method for cushioning a movement of a moldboard of a grader machine during machine operation, the method comprising: coupling one or more brackets to an implement frame of the grader machine about an axis and to a backside of the moldboard; coupling one or more actuators to respective brackets, of the one or more brackets, the one or more actuators being configured to tilt the one or more brackets with respect to the implement frame about the axis to articulate the moldboard with respect to the implement frame; and coupling one or more bump stops to the implement frame such that the one or more 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 one or more deviated positions. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein each bump stop, of the one or more bump stops, includes a bump stop piece, a sleeve inserted into the bump stop piece, and a pin passing through the sleeve, and the coupling the one or more bump stops to the implement frame includes: securing the pin to each of a first wall and a second wall of the implement frame such that the pin spans between the first wall and the second wall of the implement frame; and retaining a corresponding bump stop piece around the pin and within a gap defined between the first wall and the second wall of the implement frame. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein each bracket of the one or more brackets includes a first plate and a second plate coupled together and spaced apart from each other and defining a space therebetween and coupling the one or more actuators to the respective brackets includes: passing a corresponding actuator, of the one or more actuators, through the space; and connecting the corresponding actuator to one or more of the first plate or the second plate at a swivel joint. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 further including connecting the one or more actuators to the implement frame at respective pivot locations. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein each bracket, of the one or more brackets, includes a body defining an inner periphery with a first surface and a second surface, and a corresponding bump stop, of the one or more bump stops, contacts the first surface at a first deviated position, of the one or more deviated positions, and contacts the second surface at a second deviated position, of the one or more deviated positions. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the inner periphery defines at least one peripheral edge surface extending between the first surface and the second surface, the at least one peripheral edge surface defines an indentation extending into the body. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more bump stops are one or more resilient bump stops; and the one or more bump stops are made from one or more of rubber, ebonite, polyurethane, or mild steel. ### Claim 15 A grader machine, comprising: 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 defining a backside and a frontside with respect to the grader machine and configured to grade a work surface underlying the grader machine; and a system for retaining the moldboard to the implement frame, the system comprising: one or more brackets coupled to the backside of the moldboard, and coupled to the implement frame about an axis; one or more actuators coupled to respective brackets, of the one or more brackets, the one or more actuators being configured to tilt the one or more brackets with respect to the implement frame about the axis to articulate the moldboard with respect to the implement frame; and one or more bump stops coupled to the implement frame and configured to contact the respective brackets when the moldboard articulates from an intermediate position to one or more deviated positions. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The grader machine of claim 15, wherein each bracket, of the one or more brackets, includes a body defining an inner periphery with a first surface and a second surface, and a corresponding bump stop, of the one or more bump stops, contacts the first surface at a first deviated position, of the one or more deviated positions, and contacts the second surface at a second deviated position, of the one or more deviated positions. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The grader machine of claim 16, wherein the inner periphery defines at least one peripheral edge surface extending between the first surface and the second surface, the at least one peripheral edge surface defines an indentation extending into the body. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The grader machine of claim 15, wherein each bump stop, of the one or more bump stops, includes a bump stop piece, a sleeve inserted into the bump stop piece, and a pin passing through the sleeve, and wherein the pin is secured to and spans between a first wall and a second wall of the implement frame to retain the corresponding bump stop piece therearound and within a gap defined between the first wall and the second wall of the implement frame. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The grader machine of claim 15, wherein wherein each bracket of the one or more brackets includes a first plate and a second plate coupled together and spaced apart from each other and defining a space therebetween, the space provides passage to a corresponding actuator, of the one or more actuators, and the corresponding actuator is coupled to one or more of the first plate or the second plate at a swivel joint and is coupled to the implement frame at a pivot location. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The grader machine of claim 15, wherein the one or more bump stops are one or more resilient bump stops; and the one or more bump stops are made from one or more of rubber, ebonite, polyurethane, or mild steel.