US 8,944,178 B1Granted

Tongue pulled spreader and grader with auxiliary electric motor for lowering or raising wheels

AssigneeDomor Equipment, LLC

InventorRichard A. Seal

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A tongue pulled spreader and grader system having a pair of spaced apart sidewalls and cross beams to define a frame portion, a plurality of moveable or fixed blades extending between the sidewalls, each blade positionable along the length of each sidewall and fixed in position at a predetermined angle; a tongue for mounting the frame to the rear of a vehicle; a pair of wheels positioned on an axle on either side of the sidewalls; means for manually or hydraulically extending the wheels to a down position to make contact with a surface in order to transport the spreader and grader and for retracting the wheels to an up position so that the spreader and grader can undertake the grading process. The spreader and grader can attach to and be operated by ATVs, SUVs, light trucks, lawn tractors, sub compact tractors, side by side ATVs and fork trucks.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A tongue-pulled spreader and grader system, comprising:

a. a frame, having a pair of spaced apart sidewalls;
b. at least one blade positioned between the sidewalls for making contact to a surface to be graded;
c. an axle spanning across and positioned above the sidewalls, the axle having first and second ends;
d. a brace mounted on each of the first and second ends of the axle, at a first end of each brace, with a second end of each brace being secured to a rotatable wheel;
e. a mounting member extending from a midpoint of the axle at a first end of the mounting member and pivotably mounted to a cross brace secured to the frame at a second end of the mounting member;
f. a mechanically electrically driven motor mounted on the frame and connecting to the mounting member for imparting movement to the mounting member which imparts rotational movement to the axle so that the wheels are rotated upward from a first position resting on the surface to a second position above the surface and above a level of the blade, wherein the blade is simultaneously lowered to cut into the surface as the frame is pulled along the surface;
and
g. the electrically driven motor further imparting rotation of the axle in an opposite direction to move the wheels from the second position above the blade to return to the first position resting on the surface wherein the at least one blade is also simultaneously raised to a position no longer in contact with the surface.

5 more elements

A spreader and grader system, comprising:

a. a frame, having a pair of spaced apart sidewalls;
b. one or more blades positioned between the sidewalls for making contact to a surface;
c. an axle having first and second ends spanning across and positioned above the sidewalls;
d. a brace mounted on each of the first and second ends of the axle at a first end of each brace and secured to a rotatable wheel at a second end of each brace;
e. a mounting member extending from a midpoint of the axle at a first end of the mounting member and pivotably mounted to a cross brace secured to the frame at a second end of the mounting member;
f. an electrically driven motor mounted on the frame, the electrically driven motor connecting to the mounting member for imparting movement to the mounting member for imparting rotational movement to the axle so that the wheels are rotated upward from a first position resting on the surface to a second position above the surface and above the one or more blades to lower the one or more blades to cut into the surface, as the frame is pulled along the surface;
g. the electrically driven motor further imparting rotation of the axle in an opposite direction to move the wheels from the second position above the one or more blades to return to the first position resting on the surface wherein the one or more blades are raised to a position no longer in contact with the surface.

4 more elements

A spreader and grader system, comprising:

a. a frame, having a pair of spaced apart sidewalls;
b. at least one blade positioned between the sidewalls for making contact to a surface;
c. an axle having first and second ends spanning across and positioned above the sidewalls;
d. a brace mounted on each of the first and second ends of the axle at a first end of each brace and secured to a rotatable wheel at a second end of each brace;
e. a mounting member extending from a midpoint of the axle at a first end of the mounting member and pivotably mounted to a cross brace secured to the frame at a second end of the mounting member;
f. a motor, powered by an electrical line, wherein the motor is mounted on the frame and connected to the mounting member for imparting movement to the mounting member which imparts rotational movement to the axle so that the wheels are rotated upward from a first position resting on the surface to a second position above the surface and above the blade to allow the blade to cut into the surface as the frame is pulled along the surface;
g. the motor further imparting rotation of the axle in an opposite direction to move the wheels from the second position above the blade to return to the first position resting on the surface;
and
h. the spreader and grader operable by an electrical tower providing power to the electrical line.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/033,294Filed 20 Sep 2013 · continuation
Priority: 23 Sep 2010
Granted: 3 Feb 2015
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

E02F 3/7663
Graders, bulldozers, or the like with scraper plates or ploughshare-like elements ; Levelling scarifying devices: graders with the scraper blade…
E02F 3/8157
Blades; Levelling or scarifying tools: shock absorbers; Supports, e.g. skids, rollers; Devices for compensating wear-and-tear, or the like
E02F 9/024
Travelling-gear, e.g. associated with slewing gears: with laterally or vertically adjustable wheels or tracks
E02F
Dredging