WORK MACHINE WITH A GRADING BLADE ATTACHMENT HAVING A KNOCK DOWN BLADE ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A grading blade attachment for a work machine comprising an attachment frame including an upper attachment frame portion and a rear attachment frame portion wherein the upper attachment frame portion has a frame length extending forward from the rear attachment frame portion. The attachment further includes a coupler bracket, a pivot beam, a left wheel assembly, a right wheel assembly, a grading blade, and a knock down blade. The knock down blade assembly is movably coupled to the upper attachment frame portion between an operative position and an inoperative position. The knock down blade assembly including a knock down blade positioned fore of the wheel assemblies connected to the upper attachment frame portion when in the operative position.

Claims

1. A grading blade attachment for a work machine, comprising: an attachment frame including an upper attachment frame portion and a rear attachment frame portion, the upper attachment frame portion having a frame length coupled to and extending forward from the rear attachment frame portion; a coupler bracket including an attachment interface for coupling the grading blade attachment to the work machine; a pivot beam extending transversely to the frame length and coupled to the upper attachment frame portion; a left wheel assembly and a right wheel assembly coupled to the pivot beam on opposing ends of the upper attachment frame portion; a grading blade extending transversely to the frame length, the grading blade aft of the wheel assemblies and coupled to the rear attachment frame portion; and a knock down blade assembly coupled to the upper attachment frame portion and movable between an operative position and an inoperative position, wherein a knock down blade is positioned fore of the wheel assemblies when in the operative position.

2. The grading blade attachment of claim 1 wherein the knock down blade assembly comprises: a left lift arm and a right lift arm pivotally coupled to the opposite sides of the upper attachment frame portion at a first lift arm ends, and coupled to the knock down blade at a second lift arm ends; an upper attachment frame support beam straddling a left beam of the upper attachment frame portion and a right beam of the upper attachment frame portion; a lift arm support beam straddling the left lift arm and the right lift arm, the lift arm support beam traverse to a longitudinal length of the upper attachment frame portion; and an actuator longitudinally oriented and pivotally coupled to the lift arm support beam on a first actuator end and pivotally coupled to the upper attachment frame support beam on a second actuator end; wherein retraction of the actuator lifts the knock down blade towards the inoperative position.

3. The grading blade attachment of claim 2, wherein the left lift arm and the right lift arm are pivotally coupled about a lift arm pivot axis, wherein extension and retraction of the actuator pivots the left lift arm and the right lift arm about the pivot axis.

4. The grading blade attachment of claim 3, wherein retraction of the actuator rotates the left lift arm and the right lift arm at least twenty degrees.

5. The grading blade attachment of claim 2, wherein the upper attachment frame portion is a single-piece component.

6. The grading blade attachment of claim 1, wherein an actuator is communicatively coupled to a controller, wherein the controller is configured to selectively activate a portion of a hydraulic system related to movement of the actuator upon receiving a user input request from a user input interface.

7. The grading blade attachment of claim 1, wherein the upper attachment frame portion comprises: a first upper attachment frame portion; a second upper attachment frame portion pivotally coupled to the first upper attachment frame portion at an upper attachment frame folding axis; wherein rotating the second upper attachment frame portion about the upper attachment frame folding axis lifts the knock down blade towards the inoperative position.

8. The grading blade attachment of claim 7, wherein an actuator couples the first upper attachment frame portion to the second upper attachment frame portion wherein extension and retraction of the actuator rotates the knock down blade about the upper attachment frame folding axis between the inoperative position and the operative position.

9. The grading blade attachment of claim 1, wherein the knock down blade is no greater than a length of the grading blade in a direction transverse to the frame length.

10. The grading blade attachment of claim 7, wherein the knock down blade is fixedly coupled to second upper attachment frame portion.

11. A work machine with a grading blade attachment, comprising: a frame supported by a plurality of ground-engaging units, the ground-engaging units configured to support the frame on a surface; a boom assembly coupled to the frame, the boom assembly having a pair of boom arms pivotally coupled to the frame and movable relative to the frame by a pair of boom hydraulic actuators; an attachment coupler coupled to a distal portion of the pair of boom arms, the attachment coupler movable relative to the frame by a pair of attachment pitch hydraulic actuators; and an attachment including an upper attachment frame portion and a rear attachment frame portion, the upper attachment frame portion having a frame length extending forward from the rear attachment frame portion; a coupler bracket including an attachment interface for coupling the grading blade attachment to the work machine; a pivot beam extending transversely to the frame length and coupled to the upper attachment frame portion; a left wheel assembly and a right wheel assembly coupled to the pivot beam on opposite sides of the upper attachment frame portion; a grading blade extending transversely to the frame length, the grading blade aft of the wheel assemblies and coupled to the rear attachment portion; and a knock down blade assembly movable coupled to the upper attachment frame portion between an operative position and an inoperative position, the knock down blade assembly including a knock down blade connected to the upper attachment frame portion and positioned fore of the wheel assemblies when in the operative position.

12. The work machine of claim 11, wherein the knock down blade assembly comprises: a left lift arm and a right lift arm pivotally coupled to the opposite sides of the upper attachment frame portion at a first lift arm ends, and coupled to the knock down blade at a second lift arm ends; an upper attachment frame support beam straddling a left beam of the upper attachment frame portion and a right beam of the attachment frame portion; a lift arm support beam straddling the left lift arm and the right lift arm, the lift arm support beam traverse to a longitudinal length of the upper attachment frame portion; and an actuator longitudinally oriented and pivotally coupled to the lift arm support beam on a first actuator end and pivotally coupled to an upper attachment frame support beam on a second actuator end, the upper attachment frame support beam straddling a left beam of the upper attachment frame portion and a right beam of the upper attachment frame portion; wherein retraction of the actuator lifts the knock down blade towards the inoperative position.

13. The work machine of claim 12, wherein the left lift arm and the right lift arm are pivotally coupled about a lift arm pivot axis, wherein extension and retraction of the actuator pivots the left lift arm and the right lift arm about the pivot axis.

14. The work machine of claim 13, wherein retraction of the actuator rotates the left lift arm and the right lift arm at least twenty degrees.

15. The work machine of claim 12, wherein the upper attachment frame portion is a single-piece component.

16. The work machine of claim 11, wherein an actuator is communicatively coupled to a controller, the controller configured to selectively activate a portion of a hydraulic system related to movement of the actuator upon a user input request from a user input interface.

17. The work machine of claim 11, wherein the knock down blade is coupled to a wheel axes of the left wheel assembly and the right wheel assembly.

18. The work machine of claim 17, wherein the upper attachment frame portion comprises: a first upper attachment frame portion; a second upper attachment frame portion pivotally coupled to the first attachment frame portion at an upper attachment frame folding axis; wherein rotating the first upper attachment frame portion about the upper attachment frame folding axis lifts the knock down blade towards the inoperative position.

19. The work machine of claim 18, wherein an actuator couples the first upper attachment frame portion to the second upper attachment frame portion and extension and retraction of the actuator rotates the knock down blade between the inoperative position and the operative position.

20. The work machine of claim 11, wherein the knock down blade is no greater than a length of the grading blade in a direction transverse to the frame length.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The detailed description of the drawings refers to the accompanying figures.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a side view of a work machine with a grading blade attachment having a knock down blade assembly.

[0011] FIG. 2 is a side view of a first embodiment of a grading blade attachment with a knock down blade assembly.

[0012] FIG. 3 is a rear isometric view of the first embodiment with the knock down blade in the operative position.

[0013] FIG. 4 is a top view of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3.

[0014] FIG. 5 is a front view of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3.

[0015] FIG. 6 is a side view of a second embodiment of the grading blade attachment with a knock down blade assembly in the operative position.

[0016] FIG. 7 is a side view of the second embodiment of the grading blade attachment with a knock down blade assembly in the inoperative position.

[0017] Like reference numerals are used to indicate like elements throughout the several figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] As used herein, controller is intended to be used consistent with how the term is used by a person of skill in the art, and refers to a computing component with processing, memory, and communication capabilities, which is utilized to execute instructions (i.e., stored on the memory or received via the communication capabilities) to control or communicate with one or more other components. In certain embodiments, the controller may be configured to receive input signals in various formats (e.g., hydraulic signals, voltage signals, current signals, CAN messages, optical signals, radio signals), and to output command or communication signals in various formats (e.g., hydraulic signals, voltage signals, current signals, CAN messages, optical signals, radio signals).

[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates a work machine 100, depicted as a skid steer, with a grading blade attachment 102 operatively coupled about the front of the work machine 100. It should be understood, however, that the work machine 100 could be one of many work machines, including, and without limitation, a compact track loader, a front loader, and other construction work machines. The work machines shown here, has a frame 104 with ground-engaging units 106 configured to support the frame 104 on a ground surface 108. The illustrated ground-engaging units 106 comprises of wheels, but other embodiments can include tracks that engage the ground surface 108. The work machine 100 includes an attachment 102 to allow an operator to engage the surface and cut and move material to achieve simple or complex features on the surface. As used herein, directions with regard to the work machine (e.g. fore-aft direction or longitudinal direction 120) may be referred to from the perspective of facing towards the attachment 102 from the frame 104 of the work machine.

[0020] The work machine 100 comprises of a boom assembly 112 pivotally coupled to the frame 104. A grading blade attachment 102 is pivotally coupled at a forward portion of the boom assembly 112 through an attachment coupler 114, such as Deere and Company's Quik-Tach, which is an industry standard coupler configuration universally applicable to many Deere attachments.

[0021] The boom assembly 112 comprises of a pair of boom arms 116 pivotally coupled to the frame 104 and moveable relative to the frame 104 by a pair of boom hydraulic actuators (not shown), wherein the boom hydraulic actuators may also herein be referred to throughout as lift actuators.

[0022] Now turning to FIGS. 2-7, the grading blade attachment 102 is operable to engage the ground surface 108 and grade, cut, and/or move material to achieve simple or complex features on the ground surface 108. When attached to and operating with a work machine 100, the grading blade attachment 102 may experience movement in three directions, and rotation in three directions. A direction in movement of the grading blade attachment 102 may also be referred to with regard to a longitudinal direction 120, a latitudinal or lateral direction 124, and a vertical direction 126. Rotation for a grading blade attachment 102 may be referred to as roll 128 or the roll direction (tilt), pitch 130 or the pitch direction (lift), and yaw 132 or the yaw direction (angle) or heading.

[0023] The terms distal and proximal may be used herein to describe certain features of the grading blade attachment. The terms distal and proximal are used in relation to the point of view of an operator located on or within the work machine 100. Thus, a proximal end of the grading blade attachment 102 may be the end closest to the operator and the frame 104 of the work machine 100. A distal end of the grading blade attachment 102 may be the end furthest from the operator and the frame 104 of the work machine 100.

[0024] The controller 228 may be in communication with other components on the work machine, such as hydraulic components, electrical components, and operator inputs within an operator station of an associated work machine. The controller 228 may be electrically connected to these other components by a wiring harness such that messages, commands, and electrical power may be transmitted between the controller 228 and the other components. Although the controller 228 is referenced in the singular, in alternative embodiments the configuration and functionality described herein can be split across multiple devices using techniques known to a person of ordinary skill in the art. The controller 228 includes the tangible, non-transitory memory 85 on which are recorded computer-executable instructions, including a predictive maintenance for a track chain undercarriage algorithm. The processor of the controller 228 is configured for executing the predictive maintenance algorithm.

[0025] The controller 228 may be embodied as one or multiple digital computers or host machines each having one or more processors, read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), electrically-programmable read only memory (EPROM), optical drives, magnetic drives, etc., a high-speed clock, analog-to-digital (A/D) circuitry, digital-to-analog (D/A) circuitry, and any required input/output (I/O) circuitry, I/O devices, and communication interfaces, as well as signal conditioning and buffer electronics.

[0026] The grading blade attachment 102 includes an attachment frame that includes an upper attachment frame portion 140 and a rear attachment frame portion 142. The upper attachment frame portion 140 has a frame length 138 coupled to and extending forward from the rear attachment frame portion 142. A pivot beam 144 extends transversely to the frame length 138 and is pivotally coupled to the upper attachment frame portion 140 such that the pivot beam 144 is pivotable about a pivot beam axis 146 (shown in FIG. 5) relative to the upper attachment frame portion 140. The grading blade attachment 102 comprises of a grading blade 136 extending transversely, or substantially transversely to the length 105 of the work machine 100. The orientation of the grading blade 136 relative to the frame 104 is contingent upon the pitch, roll, and yaw. The grading blade assembly 102 further includes a pivot beam 144 which has a left portion 148 and a right portion 150 in opposing directions of the pivot beam axis 146, wherein the pivot beam 144 rotates about the pivot beam axis 146 to enable the stabilizer wheels to adjust according to the tilt of the grading blade 136.

[0027] A left wheel assembly 152 is pivotally coupled to the left portion 148 of the pivot beam 144, or more specifically towards the end of the left portion, wherein the left wheel assembly 152 is pivotable about a left wheel axis 154. A right wheel assembly 156 is pivotally coupled to the right portion 150 of the pivot beam 144, or more specifically towards the end of the right portion, wherein the right stabilizer wheel assembly 156 is pivotable about right wheel axis 158.

[0028] The grading blade attachment 102 includes a coupler bracket 160 attached to the rear attachment frame portion 142. The coupler bracket 160 may include an attachment interface 162 for coupling the grading blade attachment 102 to the work machine 100. Specifically, the attachment interface 162 may be operable to engage the attachment coupler 114 of the work machine 100. The attachment's coupler bracket 160 may include a tilt plate extending transversely to the frame length 138 and positioned adjacent to the attachment coupler interface 162. The grading blade attachment 102 also introduces a tilt actuator 180 and pitch actuator 182 as the lift and pitch actuators on the work machine are typically secured during operation of grading blade attachment 102 during a grading operation.

[0029] The grading blade assembly further comprises a knock down blade assembly coupled to the upper attachment frame portion 140 and movable between an operative position 168 and an inoperative position 170. The knock down blade assembly 166 includes a knock down blade 172 positioned fore of the left wheel assembly 152 and the right wheel assembly 156 (collectively referred to as wheel assemblies) when in the operative position 168. The operative position 168 includes engagement of the bottom edge and/or surface 174 of the knock down blade 172 with the ground surface 108. The inoperative position 170 includes a lifting upwards of the knock down blade 172 at least twenty degrees 178 from the ground surface 108 as shown by the dotted lines 178 in FIG. 2.

[0030] Each of the tilt actuator 180 and pitch actuators 182 are hydraulically connected to a proportional relief valve each. The proportional relief valves receive pressurized fluid from a hydraulic pump and directs such fluid to the tilt actuator 180 and the pitch actuators 182. The proportional relief valve may meter such fluid out or control the flow rate of hydraulic fluid to each hydraulic circuit to which it is connected. Furthermore, the proportional relief valve 316 is designed to maintain a consistent pressure by releasing excess fluid when pressure in the system exceeds a certain level. A proportional relief valve may respond to changes in pressure in a linear or proportional manner wherein as the pressure in the system increases, the proportional relief valve will gradually open to release more fluid, and as the pressure decreases, the valve will gradually close to limit fluid flow, thereby advantageously improving precision. The hydraulic actuators such as the pitch actuators 182 and the tilt actuators are coupled to the outlet of the proportional relief valves to regulate fluid flow to control the speed and force of the actuator. The flow rate and thereby pressure is determined by the size of the valve opening. The inclusion of the proportional relief valve coupled to an accumulator advantageously helps keep the system stable and minimizes pressure fluctuations during sudden changes in the ground surface 108 and terrain and maintains a controlled performance of the hydraulic actuators. Contrary to this mechanism, the actuator enabling movement of the knock down blade 172 in one of two directions (i.e. upwards or downwards) comprises of an on/off valve.

[0031] In a first embodiment 200, as shown in FIGS. 1 through 5, the knock down blade assembly 166 comprises of a left lift arm 202 and a right lift arm 204 pivotally coupled to the opposing sides (206a, 206b) of the upper attachment frame portion 140 at a first lift arm ends (208a, 208b), and coupled to the knock down blade 172 at a second lift arm ends (210a, 210b). In this embodiment, the knock down blade assembly 166 also includes an upper attachment frame support beam 212 straddling a left beam 214 of the upper attachment frame portion 140 and a right beam 216 of the upper attachment frame portion 140. The right beam and the left beam form a V-shaped configuration, and the upper attachment frame support beam 212 straddling the beams further provides a central coupling location for mounting an actuator 220 (hereinafter also referred to as the knock down actuator). In an alternative embodiment, it is conceivable that the upper attachment frame portion 140 comprises of a single beam where in a left lift arm 202 and a right lift arm 204 is coupled thereto, wherein the single beam provides a central coupling location for mounting the knock down actuator 220. However, the single beam configuration would yield a different load distribution.

[0032] The knock down blade assembly 166 further includes a lift arm support beam 218 straddling the left lift arm 202 and the right lift arm 204 wherein the lift arm support beam 218 is traverse to the frame length 138 of the upper attachment frame portion 140. The actuator 220 is longitudinally oriented and pivotally coupled to the lift arm support beam 218 on a first actuator end 222 and pivotally coupled to an upper attachment frame support beam 212 on a second actuator end 224. Retraction of the knock down actuator 220 lifts the knock down blade 172 towards the inoperative position 170 (i.e. lift upwards).

[0033] The left lift arm 202 and the right lift arm 204 are pivotally coupled about a lift arm pivot axis 226, wherein extension and retraction of the knock down actuator 220 pivots the lifts arms (202, 204) about the lift arm pivot axis 226.

[0034] Retraction of the knock down actuator 220 rotates the lift arms (202, 204) preferably at least twenty degrees (as seen by the arrow 178 between the dotted lines). In this first embodiment, the upper attachment frame portion 140 is a single piece component. Having an attachment with both a grading blade assembly and a knock down assembly advantageously allows for an operator to incrementally grading an irregular surface having large piles of material to be spread. The knock down blade can perform a rough grading of the large pile by enabling the work machine to push through piles or material, thereby resulting in reduced loads on the grader blade for fine finishing using a smart grade control system. Use of the wheel assemblies for of the work machine further assists in smooth movement to improve stability and performance during fine grading.

[0035] The knock down actuator 220 is communicatively coupled to a controller 228 wherein the controller is configured to selectively activate a portion of a hydraulic system 230 related to movement of the knock down actuator 220 upon a user input request 232 from a user input interface 234. The hydraulic coupling of the knock down actuator with the hydraulic system of the work machine advantageously allows an operator to efficiently switch the knock down blade from an operative position to an inoperative position, and vice versa without egressing the cab.

[0036] In a second embodiment 250, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the knock down blade assembly 166 is coupled to the upper attachment frame portion between an operative position and an inoperative position. Similar to the first embodiment, the knock down blade is positioned fore of the left wheel assembly 152 and the right wheel assembly 156. In this second embodiment 250, the upper attachment frame portion 140 comprises of a first upper attachment frame portion and a second upper attachment frame portion pivotally coupled to the first upper attachment frame portion at the upper attachment frame folding axis. Rotating the second upper attachment frame portion about the upper attachment frame folding axis lifts the knock down blade towards the inoperative position. The upper attachment frame folding axis bi-folds the upper attachment frame. Contrary to the first embodiment, positioning the knock down blade assembly in an inoperative position also moves the left wheel assembly and right wheel assembly in an inoperative position. The extension and retraction of the knock down actuator 220 rotates the knock down blade 172 about the upper attachment frame folding axis 258 between the inoperative position 170 and the operative position 168.

[0037] In both the first embodiment 200 and the second embodiment 250, the knock down blade 172 is no greater than a length of the grading blade 136 in a direction transverse to the frame length 138. More loosely defined, the knock down blade 172 may be equivalent to or shorter than the grading blade 136 in a direction generally transverse to the fore-aft length of the work machine.

[0038] A technical effect of the above-mentioned embodiments enables efficient grading surfaces in small and restricted areas, in indoor areas, and surfaces with obstacles wherein a single attachment allows for rough grading, and subsequent fine grading in areas requiring grading close to obstacles.

[0039] While the above describes example embodiments of the present disclosure, these descriptions should not be viewed in a limiting sense. Rather, other variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure as defined in the appended claims.

[0040] As used herein, e.g. is utilized to non-exhaustively list examples and carries the same meaning as alternative illustrative phrases such as including, including, but not limited to, and including without limitation. Unless otherwise limited or modified, lists with elements that are separated by conjunctive terms (e.g., and) and that are also preceded by the phrase one or more of or at least one of indicate configurations or arrangements that potentially include individual elements of the list, or any combination thereof. For example, at least one of A, B, and C or one or more of A, B, and C indicates the possibilities of only A, only B, only C, or any combination of two or more of A, B, and C (e.g., A and B; B and C; A and C; or A, B, and C).

[0041] Those having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that terms such as above, below, upward, downward, top, bottom, etc., are used descriptively for the figures, and do not represent limitations on the scope of the disclosure, as defined by the appended claims.

[0042] Terms of degree, such as generally, substantially or approximately are understood by those of ordinary skill to refer to reasonable ranges outside of a given value or orientation, for example, general tolerances or positional relationships associated with manufacturing, assembly, and use of the described embodiments.