Apparatus and method for retaining a grader blade

An apparatus for retaining a grader blade having a blade rail, comprising:

• a support bracket;
• a first upper retainer secured to said support bracket;
• a second upper retainer secured to said support bracket;
• a first lower retainer secured to said support bracket, said first lower retainer being movable relative to said first upper retainer, and said first upper retainer and said first lower retainer cooperate so as to secure said blade rail in fixed relation to said support bracket;
• a second lower retainer secured to said support bracket, said second lower retainer being movable relative to said second upper retainer, and said second upper retainer and said second lower retainer cooperate so as to secure said blade rail in fixed relation to said support bracket;
• a first adjustment member which contacts said first lower retainer, wherein (1) said first adjustment member has an opening extending therethough, (2) said opening is eccentrically located relative to a first center C1 of said first adjustment member, (3) rotation of said first adjustment member in a first direction causes said first lower retainer to move towards said first upper retainer, and (4) rotation of said first adjustment member in a second direction causes said first lower retainer to move away from said first upper retainer;
• and
• a second adjustment member which contacts said second lower retainer, wherein (1) said second adjustment member has an opening extending therethough, (2) said opening is eccentrically located relative to a second center C2 of said second adjustment member, (3) rotation of said second adjustment member in a first direction causes said second lower retainer to move towards said second upper retainer, and (4) rotation of said second adjustment member in a second direction causes said second lower retainer to move away from said second upper retainer.

A method of adjusting a grader blade relative to a support bracket, with (1) the support bracket having an upper retainer and a lower retainer secured thereto, (2) the support bracket having an aperture defined therein, comprising the steps of:

• positioning said lower retainer at a first position relative to said upper retainer with an adjustment member, wherein (1) said adjustment member is positioned within said aperture defined in said support bracket, (2) said adjustment member has an opening extending therethrough, and (3) said opening is eccentrically located relative to a center C of said adjustment member;
• supporting the grader blade with said upper retainer and said lower retainer;
• performing a grading operation with said grader blade after the positioning step;
• and
• rotating said adjustment member after the performing step so that said lower retainer is moved to a second position relative to said upper retainer.