High speed grader
AssigneeSavannah Forestry Equipment, LLC
InventorDavid W Heckendorf
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A grader to enable high speed grading for gravel or unmade roads having a plurality of grader blades the position of each blade being maintained in a forward most grading position by an hydraulic ram which is hydraulically connected a gas accumulator. The blades are collectively supported by a draft frame the height of which is changeable by a hydraulic ram also coupled to the gas accumulator. Each blade, when in its forward most position, is rearward of the axis of the pivot support for the leg supporting that blade.
Claims23
A towed grader having at least two grader blades, each blade being positioned to effect grading of a surface, each blade being supported by a respective leg for each blade each of which is joined to a support frame by a pivot connection, the position of each blade being maintained in a forward most position by a hydraulic ram the pressure of which is governed by hydraulic pressure of fluid within the ram which fluid is hydraulically connected to an accumulator wherein the accumulator is mounted on the support frame so that the hydraulic pressure in each ram is substantially the pressure within the accumulator.
A towed grader including a hitch point on a draft frame, a hydraulic system having an accumulator mounted on the draft frame, at least one ground engaging wheel supporting the draft frame with respect to the ground, a plurality of grader blades each independently supported so as to present, in a staggered alignment, a grading face each with a lowermost grading edge, each of the blades being supported so as to assume at least two positions relative to the draft frame, a first of these being a grading position, and a second of these being a release position, the release position being achieved when pressure against the blade is in excess of a selected level, and means to lift or lower the blades collectively in the event the grading pressure against two or more of the blades collectively being above a selected pressure.
A towed grader including a hitch point on a draft frame, a hydraulic system having an accumulator mounted on the draft frame at least one ground engaging wheel supporting and defining at least in part the height of the draft frame with respect to the ground, a plurality of grader blades each independently supported so as to present, in a staggered alignment, a grading face each with a lowermost grading edge, each of the blades being supported so as to assume at least two positions relative to the draft frame, a first of these being a grading position, and a second of these being a release position, the release position being achieved when pressure against the blade is in excess of a selected level.
A towed grader including a hitch point on a draft frame, wherein a hydraulic system having an accumulator is mounted on the draft frame, at least one ground engaging wheel supporting and defining at least in part the height of the draft frame with respect to the ground;
- a plurality of grader blades each independently supported so as to present, in a staggered alignment, a grading face each with a lowermost grading edge, each of the blades being supported so as to assume at least two positions relative to the draft frame, a first of these being a grading position and a second being a raised position, the grader being operational at speeds of 10 to 15 kph.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.