Blade levelling apparatus and mounting system

Abstract

A levelling apparatus, typically as used on tractors, excavators and skid-steer vehicles includes 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.

Claims

1. A blade leveling assembly for mounting to a vehicle, the blade leveling assembly comprising: a body mounting portion; and a blade body portion configured to be rotated such that a general plane of the blade body portion is rotatable from a level position relative to the body mounting portion, wherein the body mounting portion is interconnected by at least four fixed length connecting linkages, each of the fixed length connecting linkages being connected to the body mounting portion at one end thereof by a first pivotable connection and connected to the blade body portion at another end thereof by a second pivotable connection, at least two of the at least four fixed length connecting linkages comprising a first set of interconnecting linkages connected such that the respective pivotable connection at each of the first set of interconnecting linkages is an equivalent distance from the middle of the blade leveling assembly when viewed in plan and the blade body portion is in the level position, at least two of the at least four fixed length connecting linkages comprising stabilizing linkages extending between the body mounting portion and blade body portion, when viewed in plan, at an angle relative to the at least two fixed length linkages of the first set of interconnecting linkages, the stabilizing linkages being connected to the body mounting portion at one end thereof by a third pivotable connection and connected to the blade body portion at another end thereof by a fourth pivotable connection, the body mounting portion and the blade body portion being additionally connected by a pair of adjustable length connecting linkages comprising linear actuators positioned on either side of the middle of the blade leveling assembly when viewed in plan, each end of each of the linear actuators being connected to the body mounting portion and blade body portion respectively by a fifth pivotable connection, each of the fifth pivotable connections of the linear actuators being an equivalent distance from the middle of the blade leveling assembly when viewed in plan when the blade body portion is in the level position, a pivotable connection point of each of the ends of each of the linear actuators being vertically separated in elevation when the blade leveling assembly is viewed from the side, interaction of the fixed length connecting linkages and the adjustable length connecting linkages allows relative movement of the blade body portion relative to the body mounting portion, the relative movement comprising: (i) vertical translational movement of the blade body portion relative to the body mounting portion, and (ii) rotational movement of said blade body portion, relative to said body mounting portion, about an axis normal to the general plane of the blade body portion, and wherein the first set of interconnecting linkages in combination with the angled stabilizing linkages resist lateral translational movement of said blade body portion relative to said body mounting portion.

2. The blade leveling assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein one or more of the pivotable connections on one or more of the fixed length connecting linkages and the adjustable length connecting linkages respectively comprises a spherical rod end joint.

3. The blade leveling assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the spherical rod end joint is configured to allow a central fastening element to pass therethrough, the central fastening element being configured to be fastened to either said body mounting portion or the blade body portion to which said spherical rod end joint is attached.

4. The blade leveling assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein, when the blade body portion is in the level position, the central fastening element is configured to pass through the respective spherical rod end joint, and is configured be aligned and fastened horizontally.

5. The blade leveling assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein, when the central fastening element is for one of the connecting linkages other than one of the stabilizing linkages, the central fastening element is aligned and fastened perpendicularly to the middle axis of the blade leveling assembly when viewed in plan.

6. The blade leveling assembly as claimed in claim 4, further comprising at least one stabilizing linkage fastening element for a respective one of the stabilizing linkages, the at least one stabilizing linkage fastening element being aligned at an angle diagonal to the middle axis of the blade leveling assembly when viewed in plan.

7. The blade leveling assembly as claimed in claim 5, further comprising at least one stabilizing linkage fastening element for a respective one of the stabilizing linkages, the at least one stabilizing linkage fastening element being aligned at an angle diagonal to the middle axis of the blade leveling assembly when viewed in plan.

8. The blade leveling assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein one or more of the third and fourth pivotable connections of the stabilizing linkages are at identical elevations when viewed from the side and the blade body portion is level.

9. The blade leveling assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stabilizing linkages are at different elevation from other ones of the fixed length linkages when the blade body portion is level.

10. The blade leveling assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fixed length linkages of the first interconnecting set are parallel with the stabilizing linkages when viewed from the side and the blade body portion is level.

11. The blade leveling assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a wheeled carriage assembly on a first side of the blade body portion opposite a second side of the blade body portion at which the body mounting portion is disposed.

12. The blade leveling assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the wheel carriage assembly is pivotable about a vertical axis.

13. The blade leveling assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the blade leveling assembly is configured to be attached to a vehicle.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a partial plan view of one preferred embodiment of the present invention,

(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in an alternative configuration,

(3) FIGS. 3a-3c are front views of the embodiment of FIG. 1, where FIG. 3a illustrates the blade in a lowered position (about a forward axis), FIG. 3b illustrates the blade in a raised position (about a forward axis), and FIG. 3c illustrates the blade in an inclined position (about a forward axis),

(4) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention in a folded configuration,

(5) FIG. 5 is a side diagrammatic view of the embodiment of FIG. 4,

(6) FIG. 6 is a side diagrammatic view of FIG. 4 in an extended configuration,

(7) FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the embodiment in FIG. 6,

(8) FIG. 8 is a side diagrammatic view of a further embodiment of the present invention attached to the existing blade of a vehicle, and

(9) FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(10) With reference to the drawings, and by way of example only, there is provided a levelling assembly (generally indicated by arrow 1) comprising a body attachment portion (generally indicated by arrow 2) and a blade body portion (generally indicated by arrow 3);

(11) the two body portions (2, 3) being connected by body connecting linkages (5-7) which allow a substantially translational movement of the blade body portion (3), substantially parallel and relative to the blade body portion (2)—see for instance FIGS. 3a and 3b; the body connecting linkages (5-7) also allowing a rotational movement of the blade body portion (3), relative to the body attachment portion (2), about a rotational axis substantially in the direction of forward travel (9) of the assembly (1)—see for instance FIG. 3c;

(12) said body connecting linkages including linear actuators (5a, b), there being at least one linear actuator (5) being present either side of the middle (10) of the levelling assembly (1) when viewed in plan;

(13) said body connecting linkages (5-7) also including at least one pivot-ended stabilising linkage (6-7) either side of the middle (10) of the levelling assembly (1) when viewed in plan;

(14) and wherein the body connecting linkages (5-7) assist in maintaining relative movement of the body portions to as described above.

(15) The body attachment portion (2) includes a quick-hitch arrangement (4) such as commonly used on skid-steer tractors.

(16) In the illustrated embodiment (1) there are two hydraulically controlled upper linear actuators (5a, b) which can be independently controlled to alter the relationship of each end of the blade portion (3) relative to the body attachment portion (2). This is best illustrated in FIG. 2, where right hand actuator (5b) is contracted relative to left hand actuator (5a) to adopt a configuration such as shown in FIG. 3c. While lower linkages (7) may comprise connecting arms, these may also comprise hydraulically controlled lower linear actuators which work in cooperation with actuators (5) to allow the blade body portion to adopt the configurations shown in FIG. 3, and combinations thereof. This arrangement can also allow for alteration of the inclination of the blade (11) about a transverse axis, under the control of the operator.

(17) The stabilising linkages, pivot-ended linkages (6a, b) (7a, b) have ball joint ends where they attach to at least one of the body portions (2, 3) which is necessary to allow for the permitted relative movements of the body portions (2, 3). In the present invention a spherical bush is used in the joints—this joint (14) can be clearly seen in the stabilising arms (6) where they (in this embodiment) attach to a central mounting point (15) on the body mounting portion (2).

(18) The geometry of the remaining connecting linkages (stabilising arms (6-7)) assist in maintaining the relationship between the two body portions (2, 3) as movement occurs (such as shown in FIG. 3). In this arrangement the distance of separation between the body portions (2, 3) remains substantially the same, as does their relative forward/rearward inclinations (i.e. inclination being rotation about a transverse axis) relative to each other (though some flexibility is allowed here in the design of the geometry in various embodiments).

(19) The primary permitted relative movements between the body portions (2, 3) are, when viewed from the front and wherein the body attachment portion (2) is considered fixed in position, relative upward and downward movement of the blade body portion (3) relative to the body attachment portion (2), as well as allowing relative upward and downward movement of each end of the blade body portion (3) relative to the body attachment portion (2)—allowing also for inclination of the blade portion (3) (relative to the body attachment portion (2)), such as shown in FIG. 2.

(20) Accordingly there is provided a precise alteration of the elevation and rotational inclination of the blade relative to the quick hitch (4) (which follows the roll inclination of the vehicle in response to ground contours) without the need for heavy and expensive quick hitch rotational attachments. The arrangement of the illustrated embodiment theoretically provides for faster (quick response movements are important for a moving vehicle) changes to the elevation and rotational inclination of the blade, as well as being much more precise.

(21) The actuators can also be coupled to a laser levelling control system (sensors or emitters can be mounted on arms (not shown) which fix at positions (12) on the blade portion (3)) so that the blade (11) is maintained at true ground elevation and the horizontal, regardless of any pitching and rolling movements of the vehicle to which it (1) is attached. As mentioned above, the quicker responsiveness of the present embodiment also allows the vehicle to travel faster.

(22) Preliminary trials by the inventor, have indicated that the present invention when used with a laser levelling system can level ground to a much higher degree of precision (±3 mm compared to ±10 mm) approximately 12 times faster than when using a similar arrangement with a prior art device. This represents a very significant advance in the art in terms of productivity and precision. Accordingly this also opens the present invention up to other applications where a tool on a moving vehicle needs to be maintained at a precise inclination and elevation.

(23) In FIGS. 4 and 5 we see a folding embodiment of the present invention, where a provided stabilising arm assembly (30) has a folding end portion (31) on which a ground contacting stabilising wheel arrangement (32) is mounted.

(24) In FIG. 5 the reduced front to rear length of the apparatus is evident, as are the potential transport benefits. Similarly, the closer proximity of the blade (11) to the front of the apparatus, for close work, can be gauged.

(25) In FIGS. 6 and 7 we see a further embodiment suitable for attachment to an excavator. Rather than a quick hitch (4) we have an arm arrangement (50) to which is pivotably attached (53) a T-pin (51) comprising a quick hitch adaptor (which may be of different quick connect configurations) to which the quick hitch adaptor (54) of an excavator's (not shown) dipper arm (52) may be attached. This arrangement makes the levelling assembly available for use with excavators, a new and novel arrangement which significantly improves the versatility of both excavators and levelling devices.

(26) In FIGS. 8 and 9 we see an alternative mounting system to the ubiquitous quick hitch (4), the body mounting portion (70) attaching to the existing blade (71) of a vehicle (not shown for simplicity).

(27) Here at least one upper hook portion (72) affixed to the body mounting portion (70) hooks over the top of the existing blade (71). A contacting bar (78) may be provided on the body mounting portion (70) to help accommodate the different curves of blades and reduce possible damage to the blade (71).

(28) A lower hook portion (73) connected by a flexible linkage (74) to an adjustable linking element (75), in turn connected to an element (79) associated with the body mounting portion (70), helps secure the levelling assembly (1) to the existing blade (71) as the adjustable element(s) (75) are tightened. The adjustable element (75) may simply be a turnbuckle in a preferred element, and may be provided with an arm (76) to help tighten the turnbuckle, and provide additional stabilisation when the distal end of the arm (76) is connected to a point (77) on the blade body portion (3) after tightening.

(29) Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention as described herein.

(30) It should also be understood that the term “comprise” where used herein is not to be considered to be used in a limiting sense. Accordingly, ‘comprise’ does not represent nor define an exclusive set of items, but includes the possibility of other components and items being added to the list.

(31) This specification is also based on the understanding of the inventor regarding the prior art. The prior art description should not be regarded as being authoritative disclosure on the true state of the prior art but rather as referencing considerations brought to the mind and attention of the inventor when developing this invention.