AU2010225451B2

AU2010225451B2 - A grader blade assembly

Info

Publication number: AU2010225451B2
Application number: AU2010225451A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Miguel Guimaraes; Quintin Nienaber
Original assignee: CQMS Pty Ltd
Current assignee: CQMS Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2009-03-16
Filing date: 2010-03-16
Publication date: 2014-11-13
Anticipated expiration: 2030-03-16
Also published as: AU2010225451A1; WO2010105293A1

Abstract

A grader blade assembly comprising a grader blade having a grader body and at least one projection extending outwardly from the grader body to form at least one pick aperture; at least one pick located in the at least one pick aperture; and at least one lock attached to the grade blade body; wherein the lock abuts the at least one pick to prevent removal of the at least one pick from the at least one pick aperture.

Description

WO 2010/105293 PCT/AU2010/000304 1 A GRADER BLADE ASSEMBLY FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a grader blade assembly. In particular, although not exclusively, the invention relates to a grader blade assembly used on earth graders However, it should be appreciated that the grader blade assembly may be used for on other types of graders such as snow ploughs. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION In mine sites throughout the world, large vehicles are required to transport materials from the mine site. Roads are built for this purpose. However, as the roads are only temporary structures, roads are built from dirt and toped gravel instead of more permanent materials, such as asphalt. With large vehicles travelling over the roads, the roads often deteriorate over time. Graders are used to repair the roads. Graders often use a variety of different grader blade assemblies which often include the use of a number of picks which are mounted to a grader blade. Picks are use to scarify the road surface. The size and spacing of the picks is varied depending on the road material to be scarified. This necessitates a large variety of specific grader blades being produced to cater for a variety of pick shapes and sizes. Grader blades are generally cast and heat treated. The casting process is often conducted in a large number of stages. After casting has been completed, heat treatment then needs to be carried out. Straightening of the grader blade is then required. Accordingly, producing a grader blade is time consuming and costly. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to overcome or at least alleviate one or more of the above problems and/or provide the consumer with a useful or commercial choice. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION In one form, although it need not be the only or indeed the broadest form, the invention resides in a grader blade assembly comprising: WO 2010/105293 PCT/AU2010/000304 2 a grader blade having a grader body and at least one projection extending outwardly from the grader body to form at least one pick aperture; at least one pick located in the at least one pick aperture; and at least one lock attached to the grade blade body; wherein the lock abuts the at least one pick to prevent removal of the at least one pick from the at least one pick aperture. The grader body may have an upper portion and a lower portion, with the lower portion being stepped inwardly with respect to the upper portion to create a grader body bearing face. The lock may abut the grader body bearing face. Typically, there are a plurality of projections which extend outwardly from the grader body. Normally there are central projections and end projections. The central projections may be substantially T-shaped in transverse cross-section. The end projections, located at ends of the grader blade, may be substantially L-shaped in transverse cross-section. Normally, there are a plurality of pick apertures. Each pick aperture may carry a single pick. However, it should be appreciated that a single pick aperture may have two or more picks positioned within the pick aperture. Typically, each pick aperture is formed by two projections. Each aperture may be substantially T-shaped in transverse cross-section. The lock may abut at least two picks. Typically, the lock abuts three picks or more picks. The lock may be removably attached to the grader blade. Mechanical fasteners and/or adhesives may be used for this purpose. The pick may include a pick body and at least one engagement member. The engagement member may be located within the at least one pick aperture. The engagement member may include at least one web that is connected to the pick body and at least one flange that is connected to the web to form at least one slot. In another form, the invention resides in a pick for location within a grader blade having a grader body and at least one projection extending WO 2010/105293 PCT/AU2010/000304 3 outwardly from the grader body to form at least one pick aperture, the pick comprising: a pick body to contact a surface to be graded; and an engagement member attached to the pick body for location within a pick aperture of a grader blade. The engagement member may include at least one web that is connected to the pick body and at least one flange that is connected to the web to form at least one slot. In yet another form, the invention resides in a grader blade comprising: a grader body; and at least one projection extending outwardly from the grader body to form at least one pick aperture. Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS To assist in understanding the invention and to enable a person skilled in the art to put the invention into practical effect, embodiments of the invention will be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a grader blade assembly according to first embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 is a front view of a grader blade assembly according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a back view of a grader blade assembly according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a side view of a grader blade assembly according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 5 is a top view of a grader blade assembly according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 6 is a bottom view of a grader blade assembly according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1; WO 2010/105293 PCT/AU2010/000304 4 FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a grader blade according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 8 is a front view of a grader blade according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 9 is a back view of a grader blade according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a lock according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 11 is a further perspective view of a lock according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a pick according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 13 is a further perspective view of a pick according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 14 is a front view of a pick according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 15 is a back view of a pick according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 16 is a side view of a pick according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a grader blade assembly according to first embodiment of the invention; and FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a lock according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 17. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIGS. 1 to 6 show an embodiment of a grader blade assembly 10 for hard earth graders. The grader blade assembly 10 includes a grader blade 20, four locks 30 and twelve picks 40. The grader blade 20, shown in more detail in FIGS. 7 to 9, is formed from a grader body 21. The grader body 21 has an upper portion 22 and a lower portion 23 which is stepped inwardly with respect to the upper portion 22. That is, the lower portion 23 is thinner than the upper portion 22. This creates a WO 2010/105293 PCT/AU2010/000304 5 grader body bearing face 23A. A series of attached holes 24 extend through the upper portion 22 of the grader body 21. Typically, the attachment holes 24 are used to attach the grader blade 20 to a mouldboard of an earth road grader. A series of lock holes 25 are located through the lower portion 23 of the grader blade 20. The lock holes 25 are used to attach the lock 30 to the grader blade 20. A series of projections 26 project outwardly from the lower portion 23. There are two types of projections 26, namely, central projections 27 and end projections 28. The end projections 28 are located at each end of the lower portion 23 of the grader blade 20 whilst the central projections 27 are located between the end projections 28. The end projections 28 are L-shaped in transverse cross-section whilst the central projections 27 are T-shaped in transverse cross-section. A pick aperture 29 is formed between each two adjacent projections 26. There are twelve pick apertures 29 in the embodiment shown. However, it should be appreciated that the number of pick apertures 29 may be varied in accordance with design requirements. The pick apertures 29 are T shaped in transverse cross-section. The lock 30, shown in more detail in FIGS. 10 and 11, is formed from a lock body 31 from which extend two spigots 32. A channel 33 is formed in the end of each of the spigots 32 for location of a circlip (not shown). It should be appreciated that the spigots 32 may be varied to use other fasteners. For example, the spigot 32 may be threaded so that a nut can be screwed onto the spigot 32. Each pick 40, shown in more detail in FIGS. 11 to 16, is formed from a pick body 41, a central web 42, an end web 43 and a flange 44. The central web 42 extends down the centre of a rear face of the pick body 41 and is joined to the flange 44. Similarly, the end web 43 extends along the top of the rear face of the pick body 41 and is joined also to the flange 44. The flange 44 extends along approximately half of the central web 42 leaving part of the central web 42 exposed. Two slots 45 are formed on each side of the central web 42 WO 2010/105293 PCT/AU2010/000304 6 between the flange 44 and the pick body 41. A face plate 46 and a heal plate 47 are removably fixed to a working end of the pick body 41. The face plate 46 and heal plate 47 are made from tungsten carbide. However, it would be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that other materials may be suitable. It should also be appreciated that the shape and size of the pick body 41 may be changed depending on design requirements. In order to assemble the grader blade assembly 10, each pick 40 is located within their respective pick aperture 29. This is achieved by placing the exposed part of the central web 42 of the pick 40 into the pick aperture 29 between the two adjacent projections 26 until the flange 44 of the pick 40 touches the lower portion 23 if the grader blade 20. The pick 40 is then moved downwardly so that the part of the two projections 26 become lodged within respective slots 45 in the pick 40. The pick 40 is moved downwardly until the two projections 26 abut against the end web 43. As the flange 44 is larger than the distance between the two projections 26, the pick 40 is held in position within the pick aperture 29. This process is repeated until all twelve picks are located within respective pick apertures. Once the picks 40 are located within the pick apertures 29, the locks 30 are locked to the grader blade 20. Each lock 30 is locked to the grader blade 20 by positioning the two spigots 32 in respective lock holes 25 in the lower portion 23 of the grader blade 20. The spigots 32 are longer than the thickness of the lower portion 23 so that channels 33 located end of the spigots 32 are accessible. Circlips (not shown) are then placed on the channels 33 on the spigots 32 to fasten the lock 30 to the grader blade 20. Once the locks 30 are fastened to the grader blade 20, the lock 30 abuts both the bearing facing face 23A of the grader blade 20 and the end webs 43 of the picks 40. This arrangement prevents the picks 40 from being dislodged from the pick apertures 29. Further, any lateral force which is applied to picks 40 is translated through the picks 40, into the lock body 31 and through the grader blade 20. FIGS. 17 and 18 show a second embodiment of a grader blade WO 2010/105293 PCT/AU2010/000304 7 assembly which is a slight variation of the first embodiment of the grader blade assembly. In this embodiment of a grader blade assembly, each lock 30 is used to hold four picks 40 in position. The lock is again held in position via two spigots 32. A spigot hole 34 is formed through the end of each of the spigots 32 for location of a spigot pin 35. The grader blade assembly provides are number of advantages. The grader blade can be manufactured from material which comes in a base shape. The base shape is machined to produce a grader blade more cost effectively. Further, the grader blade can be used to mount a variety of different shaped and sized picks. Hence, if a surface that is to be graded requires different picks, only the picks need to be replaced, not the entire grader blade assembly. Also, the picks can be removed quickly and easily as removal of a single lock allows three picks to be removed instead of a lock for each pick. It should be appreciated that the above method of assembly can be changed as would be obvious to a person skilled in the art. For example, three picks may be positioned and then a lock fastened to the grader blade. It also will be appreciated that various other changes and modifications may be made to the embodiment described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A grader blade assembly comprising: a grader blade having a grader body and at least one projection extending outwardly from the grader body to form at least one pick aperture; 5 at least one pick located in the at least one pick aperture; and at least one lock attached to the grader blade body; wherein the lock abuts the at least one pick to prevent removal of the at least one pick from the at least one pick aperture.

2. The grade blade assembly of claim 1 wherein the grader blade body has 10 an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion being stepped inwardly with respect to the upper portion to create a grader body bearing face.

3. The grader blade assembly of claim 2 wherein the lock abuts the grader body bearing face.

4. The grader blade assembly of any one of the preceding claims wherein 15 there are a plurality of projections which extend outwardly from the grader body.

5. The grader blade assembly of any one of the preceding claims wherein there are central projections and end projections.

6. The grader blade assembly of any one of the preceding claims wherein there are a plurality of pick apertures. 20

7. The grader blade assembly of any one of the preceding claims wherein each pick aperture carries a single pick.

8. The grader blade assembly of any one of the preceding claims wherein each pick aperture is formed by two projections.

9. The grader blade assembly of any one of the preceding claims wherein 25 the at least one lock abuts at least two picks.

10. The grader blade assembly of any one of the preceding claims wherein the at least one lock is removably attached to the grader blade body.

11. The grader blade assembly of any one of the preceding claims wherein the pick includes a pick body and at least one engagement member, the 30 engagement member being located within the at least one pick aperture. 2003946vl 9

12. The grader blade assembly of claim 11 wherein the engagement member includes at least one web that is connected to the pick body and at least one flange that is connected to the web to form at least one slot.

13. A pick for location within a grader blade having a grader body and at least 5 one projection extending outwardly from the grader body to form at least one pick aperture, the pick comprising: a pick body to contact a surface to be graded; and an engagement member attached to the pick body for location within one of the at least one pick aperture of the grader blade, 10 wherein the pick is adapted to abut a lock attached to the grader body.

14. A pick of claim 13 wherein the engagement member includes at least one web that is connected to the pick body and at least one flange that is connected to the web to form at least one slot.

15. A grader blade comprising: 15 a grader body; and at least one projection extending outwardly from the grader body to form at least one pick aperture, wherein the grader body is adapted to attach to at least one lock to prevent removal of at least one pick from the at least one pick aperture. 2003946vl