Surface grader attachment for a tractor

Abstract

A surface grader mechanism that is attached to, and dragged behind, tractors or other towing vehicles. This implementation of such a surface grader includes a blade at the leading edge that may be adjusted to any height or any transverse, horizontal angle above the metal grating on the bottom of the surface grader.

Claims

1. A grader/scraper comprising: a) a generally square steel frame; b) an expanded metal grating affixed to a bottom of the steel frame; c) an independent, separately adjustable, unified, flat, linear, steel grading blade affixed to a front of the steel frame when viewed from a side wherein: i) the steel grading blade is configured to be affixed at variable, different heights above a plane of the expanded metal grating; and ii) the steel grading blade is configured to be affixed such that the steel grading blade is transversely at an angle to the plane of the expanded metal grating; and d) an inverted Y-shaped yoke affixed to a top of the front of the steel frame; e) wherein a length and a width of the steel frame when viewed from above are generally the same and the transverse length of the blade is generally the same as the width of the frame when viewed from above.

2. A grader/scraper of claim 1 weighing at least 10 pounds per square foot.

3. A grader/scraper of claim 1 weighing at least 15 pounds per square foot.

4. A grader/scraper of claim 1 weighing at least 20 pounds per square foot.

5. A grader/scraper of claim 1 weighing at least 25 pounds per square foot.

6. A grader/scraper of claim 1 weighing at least 30 pounds per square foot.

7. A grader/scraper of claim 1 wherein the steel grading blade is mounted so that it lies less than one-quarter of an inch above the expanded metal grating.

8. A grader/scraper of claim 1 wherein the steel grading blade is mounted so that it lies less than one-half of an inch above the expanded metal grating.

9. A grader/scraper of claim 1 wherein the steel grading blade is mounted so that it lies less than one inch above the expanded metal grating.

10. A grader/scraper of claim 1 wherein the steel grading blade is mounted so that it lies less than two inches above the expanded metal grating.

11. A grader/scraper of claim 1 wherein the steel grading blade is mounted so that it lies two or more inches above the expanded metal grating.

12. A grader/scraper of claim 1 wherein the steel grading blade may be adjusted to any height above the expanded metal grating.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is a plan view of the frame and smoothing surface of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the frame and smoothing surface of the present invention showing the scraper blade installed at parallel to the steel frame and smoothing surface of the present invention. The level of the earth is shown indicating that the steel grader blade is parallel with level of the earth.

(4) FIG. 3a is a front elevation of the frame and smoothing surface of the present invention showing the scraper blade installed at an angle with respect to the steel frame and smoothing surface of the present invention. The level of the earth is shown indicating that the steel grader blade is not parallel with level of the earth.

(5) FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the frame and smoothing surface of the present invention.

(6) FIG. 5 is a rear elevation of the frame and smoothing surface of the present invention.

(7) FIG. 6 is a plan view of the present invention.

(8) FIG. 7 is a front elevation of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(9) In the following description, numerous specific details regarding possible materials for componentry (e.g., steel, iron, screen) and construction methods (welding, bolting) are set forth. Those skilled in the art will recognize, however, that the invention may be practiced apart from these specific details. In other instances, details well known and widely used in the process of manufacturing such equipment and various miscellaneous components have been omitted, so as not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention.

(10) Turning now to FIGS. 1-7, grader/scraper 100 is constructed of painted or thermally coated steel or iron sheet and mesh. The grader/scraper 100 is affixed to the draw bar of a tractor at mounting point 104. Mounting point 104 is the topmost portion of inverted Y-shaped yoke 102. Mounting point 104 may have three or more pairs of mounting holes drilled or otherwise formed in it providing options for attaching the draw bar from the tractor to cause the grader blade to either cut, float, or tail drag.

(11) Grader/scraper 100 has a steel grader blade 101 mounted transversely at its front, said steel grader blade 101 being approximately as wide in the transverse direction as grader/scraper 100 unit is long. Referring specifically to FIG. 4, when viewed from the side, steel grader blade 101 is mounted essentially perpendicular to the surface of the earth. Grader/scraper 100 is constructed with an extensive smoothing surface 106 behind steel grader blade 101 constructed of expanded metal grating weighing at least 4 pounds per square foot. Such an implementation of grader/scraper 100 weighs at least 10 pounds per square foot, although much heavier embodiments are acceptable. For example, the first embodiment of the present invention weighs approximately 22 pounds per square foot. This weight allows it to maintain a uniform and consistent pressure on the terrain surface whereas a conventional boxscraper attachment is much lighter and only follows, or bounces along, the terrain surface.

(12) Grader/scraper 100 is comprised of steel frame 105 (comprised of 105a, 105b, and 105c) generally square when viewed from above, and approximately as long as it is wide. Affixed to the bottom of steel frame 105 is smoothing surface 106 constructed of expanded metal grating weighing at least 4 pounds per square foot.

(13) Attached to the forward part of steel frame 105 is a reversible steel grader blade 101. Steel grader blade 101 is as wide transversely as is steel frame 105. Steel grader blade 101 is affixed to steel frame 105 so that it is perpendicular to the surface of the earth and slightly above the plane of smoothing surface 106. By this means, steel grader blade 101 disperses larger graded material in front of it and allows only suitably sized graded material to pass underneath it and smoothing surface 106. Steel grader blade 101 may be affixed to steel frame 105 at any one of a series of heights beginning one-quarter inch above the plane of the earth. In the embodiment of the invention disclosed here, steel grader blade 101 is affixed horizontally to steel frame 105 so that it is one-half of an inch above the surface of the earth and lies horizontal to the surface of the earth. In alternative embodiments of the present invention, steel grader blade 101 is affixed to steel frame 105 such that it is not horizontal to the surface of the earth, i.e. it describes an angle with respect to the surface of the earth.

(14) Inverted Y-shaped yoke 102 is positioned vertically from steel frame 105 at the front of the device. Inverted Y-shaped yoke 102 attaches at its bottom to mounting braces 105a that proceed from front 105c of steel frame 105 to rear 105b of steel frame 105. At its top, mounting point 104 is formed such that the draw bar of a tractor may be affixed. Proceeding from the lateral aspects of mounting point 104 of inverted Y-shaped yoke 102 to each mounting brace 105a is a stabilizing chain 103. Mounting point 104 may have three or more pairs of mounting holes drilled or otherwise formed in its upper end providing options for attaching the draw bar from the tractor to cause steel grader blade 101 to either cut, float, or tail drag.

(15) Turning now specifically to FIG. 3, steel grader blade 101 is affixed to steel frame 105 such that it is horizontal to the surface of the earth, i.e. it does not describe an angle with respect to the surface of the earth. Turning now specifically to FIG. 3a, steel grader blade 101 is affixed to steel frame 105 such that it is not horizontal to the surface of the earth, i.e. it describes an angle with respect to the surface of the earth. Indeed, steel grader blade 101 is affixed at an angle relative to the planar angle of steel frame 105. Specifically point “A” is 0.5° lower that point “B”.