The present invention is directed to levelling apparatus, typically as used on tractors, excavators and skid-steer vehicles, and references the levelling assembly and mounting options including directly to the existing blade of vehicles as well as other mounting arrangements. Preferred embodiments of a levelling apparatus include a blade body portion and body mounting portion connected by an arrangement of fixed and adjustable linkages, preferably hydraulic, to allow movement of the blade body portion (relative to the body mounting portion) in substantially an up and down direction, as well as rotational movement about an axis perpendicular to the general plane of an attached blade.

A reconfigurable material moving attachment for a vehicle includes a blade having a blade working face directed toward a front of the blade; and a coupling mechanism for reversibly mounting the blade to the vehicle. The coupling mechanism includes a first coupling portion fixed to the blade and a second coupling portion attachable to the vehicle. The second coupling portion is releasably interconnectable with the first coupling portion in: (i) a forward pushing configuration, in which the blade working face is directed away from the vehicle for pushing of the blade during forward operation of the vehicle to collect and push material in a material collection space adjacent the blade working face, and (ii) a back-dragging configuration, in which the blade working face is directed toward the vehicle for pulling of the blade during reverse operation of the vehicle to collect and back drag material in the material collection space.

A grading tool comprises a frame extending between a hitch and a ground contacting member. A first adjustment mechanism and a lever are coupled with the frame. A suspension assembly including a spring is coupled with the lever. A grading box assembly is coupled with the frame and with the suspension assembly. The spring is compressible to accommodate motion between the lever and the grading box assembly. A second adjustment mechanism is coupled with the frame and the grading box assembly and is adjustable to selectably increase and decrease in length. A fixation member is coupled with the grading box assembly and is selectably coupleable with the frame to fix a first side of the grading box assembly vertically relative to the frame while allowing vertical movement of a second side of the of the grading box assembly relative to the frame.

A grader and slope scraping control method and device include a grader having a front frame; a blade mounted on the front frame, an attitude of the blade is adjustable; an actuator for adjusting the attitude of the blade; a first angle detecting member for detecting a first inclination angle in a front and rear direction of the grader relative to a horizontal plane and a second inclination angle in a left and right direction relative to a horizontal plane; a blade detecting member for detecting attitude information of the blade relative to the front frame; and a controller, for obtaining an actual slope angle based on the first inclination angle, second inclination angle and attitude information, and make the actuator adjust attitude of the blade to a target slope angle when the actual slope angle is inconsistent with the preset target slope angle.

Disclosed is a method for automatically controlling a blade of a motor grader. At least one global navigation satellite system (GNSS) antenna and at least one inertial measurement unit (IMU) are mounted on the motor grader. No GNSS antenna is mounted on the blade; and no pole is used for mounting. With each GNSS antenna, GNSS navigation signals are received, and a position of each GNSS antenna is computed. With each IMU, three orthogonal accelerations and three orthogonal angular rotation rates are measured. With at least one processor, a blade position and a blade orientation are computed, based at least in part on the GNSS and IMU measurements. The blade elevation and the blade slope angle (and, in some embodiments, the blade side shift) are automatically controlled, based at least in part on the computed blade position, the computed blade orientation, and a digital job site model.

An implement has a frame. First and second shafts are mounted to the frame and rotate along coaxial longitudinal center axes. A tilt actuator is operatively connected between the first and second shafts such that as the tilt cylinder moves from an expanded to a contracted position, it rotates the first shaft in a first direction and the second shaft in an second opposite direction; and from a contracted to an expanded position, it rotates the first shaft in the second direction and the second shaft in the first direction, thereby changing the tilt of the implement. A height actuator is operatively connected between the frame and the tilt actuator and drives the first and second shafts in the same direction to change the height of the implement.

The present invention is directed to levelling apparatus, typically as used on tractors, excavators and skid-steer vehicles, and references the levelling assembly and mounting options including directly to the existing blade of vehicles as well as other mounting arrangements. Preferred embodiments of a levelling apparatus include a blade body portion and body mounting portion connected by an arrangement of fixed and adjustable linkages, preferably hydraulic, to allow movement of the blade body portion (relative to the body mounting portion) in substantially an up and down direction, as well as rotational movement about an axis perpendicular to the general plane of an attached blade.

A levelling apparatus, typically as used on tractors, excavators and skid-steer vehicles, and references the levelling assembly and mounting options including directly to the existing blade of vehicles as well as other mounting arrangements is provided. Preferred embodiments of a levelling apparatus include a blade body portion and body mounting portion connected by an arrangement of fixed and adjustable linkages, preferably hydraulic, to allow movement of the blade body portion (relative to the body mounting portion) in substantially an up and down direction, as well as rotational movement about an axis perpendicular to the general plane of an attached blade.

An earth working implement has a main frame, a main blade supported on the main frame transversely to the forward direction, and two wing blades pivotally supported at opposing ends of the main blade for movement between forward and rearward projecting orientations. A tilt actuator controls angular orientation of the main blade relative to the main frame about a lateral axis. Two rear wheels support the rear end of the frame for rolling along the ground. A hitch arm extends forwardly from a pivotal connection of the main frame for connection to a towing vehicle so as to vary in angular orientation relative to the main frame independently of the main blade. Furrow openers in a laterally spaced apart row are movable relative to the main frame between a working position protruding below the cutting edge of the main blade and a raised storage position.

A grading implement features a frame with at least one movable section carried by a main frame section. Each movable section is movable relative thereto between a storage position and a working position reaching further laterally outward from the main section to increase a working width of the implement. An underside of each movable section features a respective blade adjustably mounted thereto for selective adjustment between different relative blade positions relative to the movable section. One embodiment features outboard blades on two movable sections, inboard blades on another two movable sections, and a rear blade mounted centrally on the main section behind the inboard and outboard blades. A dust suppression system features spray nozzles distributed across the main frame section behind the blades, and storage tanks mounted atop the main section so that weight of the dust suppression agent provides extra downforce to the blades.