Adjustable, pivotable blade for bulldozers and the like

An adjustable blade apparatus for use with an earth moving vehicle, such as a bulldozer or the like, comprising:

• a support assembly, including a connecting frame member, supported relative to the vehicle such that the connecting frame is movable as a unit in a single vertical plane when the vehicle is in a horizontal position;
• an earth moving blade movably secured to the connecting frame;
• means independent of the earth moving blade for moving the connecting frame in said vertical plane without changing the orientation, other than the vertical position, of the earth moving blade secured thereto;
• means independent of the connecting frame moving means for moving the earth moving blade relative to the connecting frame, wherein said blade moving means includes means for moving the blade in a first plane relative to the connecting frame member and a second plane which is at right angles to the first plane, wherein the blade is rotatably connected in the vicinity of one end thereof to the connecting frame member and wherein said means for moving the blade in a first plane includes a first hydraulic cylinder connected between the connecting frame member at a point substantially removed from the rotatable connection of the blade element and the blade at a selected point substantially removed from the one end thereof, and wherein the blade is pivotably connected in the vicinity of said one end thereof to the connecting frame member in the immediate vicinity of the rotatable connection thereof, and wherein the means for moving the blade in a second plane includes a second hydraulic cylinder connected between the connecting frame member in the vicinity of the pivotable connection of the blade and thereto and the blade at a point substantially removed from the one end thereof.