US2281224A - Grader - Google Patents

Description

April 28, 1942- D. F. BAUMGARTNER GRADER Filed May 6, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 1- INVEN Danlzl E Boumga BY M, W *M TTORNEYS.

April 1942- D. F. BAUMGARTNER 2,281,224

GRADER Filed May 6, 1941 4 SheetsSheet 2 I INVENTOR. Daniel E Baumgari'nerr M PM - ATTORNEYS April 28, 1942. D. F. BAUMGARTNER GRADER Filed May 6, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTQR.

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ATTORNEYS.

D. F. BAUMGARTNER 4 Sheets-S 4 GRADEP Filed May 1941 II I 53 27 5955 54 I 5 II W 27 1 l a F H I I H I II H 1 I, U I I L- 4 4 28 1/ II, 6 5

I 22 2| 1 I 3o l6 e4 IN OR- BY M 1m ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 28, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GRADER Daniel F. Baumgartner, Bucyrus, Ohio Application May 6, 1941, Serial No. 392,064

4 Claims.

My invention relates to a grader. It has to do, more particularly, with a road grader which is provided with a scraper blade adapted to operate in a horizontal position or at any desired angle relative to the horizontal.

In the past, several different types of road graders have been provided which have included a scraper blade that could be adjusted from the horizontal position to any desired angular position up to a substantially vertical position. This type of road grader is adapted to be used for grading horizontal road surfaces or for gradin the vertical surfaces of ditches or banks. However, the prior art road graders of this general type have been possessed of certain undesirable features. Usually the scraper blade is carried on a sub-frame which is carried by-a main frame. The sub-frame is ordinarily connected at its front end to the main frame by a, universal joint which is in a fixed position while the rear end of the sub-frame is so mounted thatit can be swung around the main frame to position the scraper blade at the desired angle. With this structure, the sub-frame is not rotated bodily about the main frame, which corresponds to the line of draft or pull, and, consequently, binding and resulting excessive strains will be set up in the subframe, the scraper member and other parts associated with the sub-frame.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a road grader which carries a scraper blade that can be adjusted from a horizontal position to any desired angular position up to a vertical position so that it may be employed for grading horizontal surfaces, such as a roadbed, or angular or vertical surfaces, such as banks or the walls'of a ditch.

Another object of my invention is to provide a road grader of the type indicated in the preceding paragraph wherein the scraper is carried by a sub-frame which is adjustable on the main frame in such a manner that it may be rotated bodily about the longitudinal center line of the main frame, or line of draft or push, so that there will be no binding and resulting excessive strain created in the machine during operation.

Another object of my invention is to provide a machine of the type indicated wherein all of the movable units are hydraulically controlled so that they may be adjusted with ease by thepperator i the surface to be graded. Suspended from the main frame is a sub-frame which carries a scraper blade that is normally transversely disposed and in horizontal position. The front end of the sub-frame is pivotally connected to the main frame and the rear end of the sub-frame is suspended from the main frame by lifting links in such a manner that the sub-frame may be swung towards and away from the main frame. This varies the distance of the scraper blade from the main frame. The sub-frame is supported on the main frame in such a manner that the entire subframe may be bodily revolved around the longitudinal center line of the main frame. This adjustment is for the purpose of moving the scraper blade to any desired angle from a horizontal position to a vertical position. Furthermore, the sub-frame will revolve bodily around the main frame. Therefore, binding and resulting excessive strains will be eliminated from the machine. Thus, the adjusting of the scraper blade between horizontal and vertical positions is accomplished without the use of telescoping or collapsing con necting links on lateral shifts and without shortening or lengthening the lifting links. The scraper blade is carried on the main frame by means which permits swinging of the blade to any desired angle in a horizontal plane. All of the movable units of the machine are preferably controlled hydraulically so that they may be operated with ease.

The preferred embodiment of my invention is illustratedin the accompanying drawings wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a machine constructed according to niy invention.

Figure 2 is alongitudinal sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure 3 through the main frame of my machine.

Figure 3 is a plan view of my invention, showing the scraper blade in horizontal position.

Figure 4 is a similar view of a portion of the machine showing the scraper blade in vertical position.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Figure 6 showing the sub-frame and associated parts of my machine.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of my machine.

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along line 'l'l of Figure 3.

With reference to the drawings, I have illustrated a road grader comprising generally a main frame unit I, a sub-frame unit 2 and a tractor or power unit 3. The particular construction-cf pair of longitudinally extending channel members 4 disposed with their channeled sides towards each other and secured together by welding or other suitable means. At the forward ends of the channels 4 a tubular bearing member i is mounted thereon and may be suitably anchored in position. At the rear ends of the channels a tubular bearing member I is mounted thereon and may be suitably anchored in position. The tubular bearing member 6 fits within a rearwardly projecting tubular housing 3 which is formed on the upper portion of a frame support 3. The interior of the housing 3 is provided with an annular shoulder I which limits forward movement of the bearing 6 into the housing 8. The housing 3 is split at its upper side and is provided with pairs of lugs 8a which receive bolts by means of which the split portion of the housing may be drawn together to tightly clamp the bearing portion 6 therein. The frame support 3 is provided with a depending yoke portion II which is swiveled thereto by means of a pin I 2. The yoke portion II receives an axle member is which is pivotally connected thereto, as at I4. The axle I3 carries a pair of pneumatically tired wheels l5. Suitable means (not shown) may be provided for steering the wheels l5. Furthermore, the wheels l5 may be of the tilting type if desired.

The bearing sleeve 6 projects rearwardly from the housing 8. This projecting portion of the bearing sleeve receives the forward end of a large longitudinally extending tube or pipe l8 which is rotatable thereon. The rear end of this tube I6 is rotatably carried by a forwardly extending reduced portion of the bearing sleeve 1. The forward end of the tube I6 will bear against the rear end of the housing 3 while the rear end of the tube IE will bear against an annular shoulder I! on the bearing sleeve 1. The bearing sleeve 1 is supported in a forwardly projecting tubular housing IS. The member 1 is held in position within the housing I8 by means of a collar I! which surrounds member l8 and which extends over the shoulder I! of member 1. However, member I may be secured in member l8 by a press fit. The collar I9 is held in position by means of a plurality of circumferentially spaced bolts 20 which extend through openings in the collar and are threaded into the forward edge of member It. The member I! is carried by the upper portion of an A-type frame 2| which extends forwardly and upwardly from the unit 3.

It will be apparent that when the unit 3 moves along, the frame 2| will push the units I and 2 forwardly. The housing 8 serves as a thrust bearing at the forward end of the tube l6 while the bearing sleeve 1 serves as a thrust bearing at the rear end of the tube IS. The tube I8 may be rotated about the channel members 4 and about its own axis. A bolt member 22 passes through the forward end of the housing 8 and is threaded into the block 5, carried by members 4 at the front ends thereof, to aid in positioning the housing I on bearing sleeve 6 and to aid in keeping it in position thereon.

The sub-frame 2 is of substantially Y-shape. Its forward end is pivotally connected, by a universal joint 23, to a yoke member 24. This yoke member 24 depends from a collar 25 which-is clamped to the forward end of the tube It by means of a split clamping portion 28. The rear end of the frame 2 is suspended from the tube II by means of a pair of hydraulic cylinder and piston units 21. Each of the units 21 is pivotally carried by a yoke 28, as at 2!, for swinging laterally of the tube I. The tube IO carries at diametrically opposed points trunnions 30 upon which the yoke members 23 are rotatably mounted. Thus, the units 21 may also swing longitudinally of the tube I4. Each of the units 21 is provided with a piston rod 3| extending from the lower end thereof. The lower end of each rod 3| is pivotally connected, as at 22, to the rear end of the frame 2. Suitable means, to be described later, is provided for controlling the hydraulic fluid supply to the units 21. This means is of such a nature that both units 21 may be operated simultaneously to swing the frame about the universal joint 23 and thereby raise or lower the rear end of the frame while still maintaining it substantially horizontal or it may be operated to selectively control units 21 in such a manner as to raise one side of the rear end of frame 2 and lower the other side thereof. In other words, frame 2 may be raised or lowered without'tilting transversely or it may be tilted transversely as desired.

Theframe 2 at its rear end is provided with the usual type of circle" 33 for supporting the scraper blade 34. The circle33 comprises a circular member 35 which has an inwardly pro-- jecting flange 38 on its upper edge. This flange 36 rests on a plurality of brackets 31 secured to the frame 2 at a plurality of points circumferentially of member 35. The scraper bar 34- is suspended from .member 35 by means of rearwardly and downwardly extending pull bars 38. The lower end of bars 33 is pivotally connected to the blade 34, as at 33, adjacent the lower edge of the blade. At its upper edge the blade is provided with pivoted straps 40 which are provided with a plurality of openings H. A pin may be passed through any one of these openings into an aligning opening in the bar 33. Thus, the blade may be adJustably pivoted on the bars 38 to any desired position and be held in such adjusted position.

The member 35 is adapted to be rotated about its axis to swing the blade 34 in a horizontal plane by means of a cable 42 which passes around the periphery thereof and is held in position thereon by suitable guides. This cable 42 is passed around a sheave 43 which is keyed to a shaft 44 extending into a gear housing 45. The pin 44 carries a pinion 46 within housing 45 which engages a rack bar 41 slidably mounted in a guide 48 secured to the housing. This rack bar 41 forms a portion of a piston rod extending from a hydraulic cylinder and piston unit 49 which is pivotally carried as at 50, by the frame 2. A suitable control for controlling the supply of fluid to the unit 43 is provided which will be explained later. By properly controlling the unit 43 the blade 34 may be swung in a horizontal plane or about the axis of the circle 33.

For rotating the tube I 6 about its axis to revolve the frame 2 about said axis, I provide the following structure. It will be noted that a sheave 5| is formed on the rear end of the tube IS. A cable 52 is passed around this sheave 5|.

The two strands of this cable pass rearwardly over a pair of sheaves 53 which are keyed on a shaft 54 that is transversely disposed and rotatably carried by brackets 55 secured to the frame 2|. Shaft 54 is vertically adjustable in order to adjust the position of the sheaves 53 to provide take-up in the cable. The rear portion of the cable passes around a sheave 56 which is keyed on a shaft 51 that is rotatably carried by the frame 2|. Below the sheave 56 the shaft 51 has a gear 58 keyed thereon. This gear is engaged by a rack bar 59 which forms a part of a piston rod extending from the hydraulic cylinder and piston unit 60. This unit 60 is rigidly carried by the frame 2|. A suitable control, referred to hereinafter, is provided for controlling operation of the unit 60. When the unit 60 is operated, the tube l 6 will be swung about its axis and, consequently, the frame 2 will be revolved bodily about the axis of the tube l6. With this structure the blade 34 may be swung from the horizontal position shown in Figure l and some of the other figures to the vertical position shown in Figure 4 or to any desired intermediate position. In fact, the blade 34 may be swung to a vertical position at the opposite side of the machine from that shown in Figure 4.

When the blade 34 is swung into a vertical position, or approaching a vertical position, at

either side of the machine, it is desirable to have some means for supporting the weight of the frame 2 and the parts carried thereby other than the piston rod 3|. For this purpose I provide a rod 61 which has one end universally connected, as at 62, to the frame .2 and its other end universally connected, as at 63,, to a bracket 64 extending downwardly from the tube Hi. This rod 6| will take the weight off the piston rod 3| and will prevent binding of the piston rods or pistons of the units 21.

When it is desired to use my grader for grading substantially horizontal surfaces, the units 1 21 are controlled to adjust the blade 34 to the proper level. They may be controlled in such a manner that the blade 34 is horizontal or is tilted transversely of the machine to produce a crown on the road surface. The circle 33 may be operated by controlling unit 49 to swing the blade 34 to any desired position about the axis of the circle. When it is desired to use the grader for grading surfaces at an angle relative to the horizontal, the unit 60 is operated to cause the frame 2 to revolve about the axis of the tube I5.

All of the hydraulic cylinder and piston units may be controlled from a central point. The control valves are preferably carried adjacent the operators platform on the frame 2| (Figure 6). Two way valves 21a and 21b are connected to units 21, and similar valves 49a and 60a are provided for controlling the units 49 and 60.

The valves are connected to the various units and to a source of hydraulic liquid in the usual manner.

An important feature of my invention resides in the fact that the frame 2 is revolved bodily around the axis of the tube I 6. The force exerted through the frame 2 to pull the blade 34 along with the main frame I will be exerted on the axis of the frame 2. The pushing force exerted by the unit 3 to move the grader itself along will be exerted along the axis of the unit I. Thus, binding of the various parts of the machine and resulting excessive stresses will be eliminated. Since all parts of the machine are preferably hydraulically operated, the machine may be controlled with ease by the operator from a central location.

Various other advantages will be apparent from the preceding description, the drawings and the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A road grader comprising a main frame, said main frame including a support, a tubular member carried by said support for rotating about its own axis, a sub-frame suspended from said tubular member, said sub-frame having its forward end connected to said tubular member by a universal joint and having its rear end connected to said sub-frame by vertically adjustable means, a scraper blade carried by said sub-frame, and means for rotating said tubular member so that the sub-frame will be revolved about the axis thereof.

2. A road grader according to claim 1 wherein the vertically adjustable means includes hydraulically operated cylinder and piston units.

3. A road grader according to claim 1 wherein the scraper blade is supported on the sub-frame by means of a circle, and hydraulic means for controlling said circle.

4. A road grader comprising a main frame, said main frame including a longitudinally extending beam support, a longitudinally extend ing tubular member carried by said support for rotation about its own axis, a sub-frame suspended from said tubular member, said subframe having its forward end connected to said tubular member by a universal joint and having its rear end connected to said sub-frame by vertically adjustable means permitting transverse tilting of the sub-frame, a scraper blade supported on said sub-frame, said scraper blade being supported by means of a circle permitting swinging of the bladejn a horizontal plane, and means for rotating said tubular member so that the sub-frame will be revolved about the axis thereof.

DANIEL F. BAUMGARTNER.

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