Grading apparatus and framework therefor

Land grading apparatus of the kind comprising an earth cutting blade structure mounted on a wheeled carrier intended to be towed behind a prime mover vehicle for grading operations, wherein the earth cutting blade structure comprises an earth cutting blade and an earth carrying means positioned behind the cutting blade, the earth cutting blade structure being in the form of an elongate structure extending transversely of the direction in which the carrier is to be towed and is incorporated in a rigid elongate framework also comprising a first elongate tubular member spaced above the cutting blade structure in generally parallel relationship therewith, a second elongate tubular member spaced rearwardly from the cutting blade structure with reference to the towing direction in generally parallel relationship with the cutting blade structure, and a pair of framework end structures each interconnecting the ends of the cutting blade structure and said tubular members at a respective end of the framework;

• wherein the carrier comprises a wheeled axle extending across the apparatus behind said framework and the framework is suspended from a beam extending over a midpart of the framework longitudinally of the towing direction, which beam is supported at its rear end from said axle via a fluid ram unit and is pivotally connected at its forward end to an elongate rigid member for connection to the towing vehicle whereby, in operation of the apparatus, the framework can be raised and lowered relative to the ground by operation of the ram unit;
• and wherein there are linkage connections between the rear axle and the second elongate tubular element of the framework effective to resist rearward movement of the framework relative to the axle but permitting raising and lowering movements of the framework on operation of the ram unit, one of the linkage connections being positioned to one end of the framework and incorporating actuator means such that it is actuable to raise and lower that end of the framework to enable lateral trimming of the cutter blade structure.