Bulldozer folding blade

A folding blade for a bulldozer comprising:

• a base blade having opposed ends;
• at least one side blade portion rotatably movable about an axis near one end of the base blade;
• the at least one side blade portion rotatably movable relative to the base blade between an extended position and a retracted position;
• the at least one side blade portion including at least one selectably removable pin;
• wherein when installed in one configuration, the at least one pin secures the at least one blade portion in the extended position and in another configuration the at least one in secures the at least one blade portion in the retracted position relative to the base blade;
• and
• wherein the end of the base blade and the at least one blade portion have facing surfaces that abut each other in the extended position;
• and wherein in the extended position the at least one blade portion is oriented in a direction angled from the working surfaces and define a majority proportion of a total surface area of the corresponding end of the at least one blade portion, the abutting facing surfaces providing structural support for the at least one blade portion relative to the corresponding base blade facing surface when the at least one blade portion is in the extended position and operated to push material by the bulldozer;
• wherein first and second pivot arms extend from the abutting surfaces of each of the at least one blade portion such that the at least one blade portion is rotatable relative to the base blade about an axes toward the retracted position, the abutting surfaces of the at least one blade portion, and the base blade are separated by an arc defined by the first pivot arms and the second pivot arms.

A method for folding a bulldozer blade comprising:

• providing a base blade having opposed ends, a first blade portion rotatably movable about an axis near one end of the base blade, a second blade portion rotatably movable about an axis near an end of the base blade opposite the first blade portion, the first blade portion and the second blade portion rotatably movable relative to the base blade between an extended position and a retracted position;
• each blade portion including a selectably removable first pin and a selectably removable second pin;
• removing at least one of installed first pins and second pins from the opposed ends of the base blade;
• rotating the first blade portion and the second blade portion relative to the base blade from the extended position to the retracted position;
• installing the second pins and securing the first and second blade portions in the retracted position
• wherein when installed, the respective first pins secure each of the first blade portion and the second blade portion in the extended position generally aligning working surfaces of the first and second portions and base blade;
• and
• wherein in the retracted position distal ends of the first and second blades are rotated inwardly forward of the base blade, and when installed, the second pins secure each of the first blade portion and the second blade portion in the extended position relative to the base blade.