US2322998A

US2322998A - Road grader

Info

Publication number: US2322998A
Application number: US323586A
Authority: US
Inventors: Franklin E Arndt
Original assignee: Galion Iron Works & Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: Galion Iron Works & Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1940-03-12
Filing date: 1940-03-12
Publication date: 1943-06-29
Anticipated expiration: 1960-06-29

Description

June 29, 1943. F. E. ARNDT 2,322,993

' ROAD GRADER Filed March 12, 1940 I 6 Sheets-Sheet l FRANKLIN E. ARNDT,

ay 'w' F. E. ARNDT ROAD GRADER Filed March 12, 1940 6 Shee ts-Sheet June 29, 1943. F. E. ARNDT ROAD GRADER Filed March 12, 1940 6 Shepts-Sheet. 3

June 29, 1943. ARND-T I 2,322,998

ROAD GRADER Filed March 12, 1940 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 I25 HG 12a I I IIO\ mi f/vvE/vTaR FRANKLIN E. ARNo-l;

ATT'Y June 29, 1943. I F. E. ARNDT 2,322,998

ROAD GRADER Filed March 12, 1940' e shgets-sheet s r i m E c Q E w 5 5 I k Q o vw Q S Q 9 E g o h m Q g m r h 0 9 F N m 3 u & F 0% E I: 0 N Q E {,9

6 0- N N (I) m N I o o 8 //YVEN7'OR.'

F ANKLIN E ARNDT,

Patented June 29, 1943 ROAD GRADER Franklin E. Arndt, Galion, Ohio, assignor to The Galion Iron Works & Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Ohio Application March 12, 1940, Serial No. 323,586

9 Claims.

My invention relates to a road grader, and one of its objects is the provision of improved and efficient mean for mechanically adjusting the moldboard of the road grader to a steep bank-cutting position at either side of the machine and holding the moldboard in such adjusted position during operation.

A further object of the invention is the provision ofmechanism for leaning the wheels of a road grader comprising .arcuate gear with limit stops at the ends thereof to prevent the overrunning of an actuating pinion.

Another object of the invention is the provision of improved mechanism for connecting the front end of the drawbar of a road grader to the front end of the main frame with such flexibility as to facilitate the adjustment of the drawbar from a position under the main frame to an upright position at either side thereof.

A further object of the invention is the pro shifting of the rear end of the vehicle frame rela- .tive to the rear. axle of ,the road grader.

Another object of the invention is the provision of improved resiliency for the support. of the operator at the rear end of the machine.

A further object of the invention is the provision of improved resilient counter-balancing mechanism effective not only when the grader blade is under the machine but also when it is in bank sloping position at either side of the machine.

More particularly it is the object of the present invention to provide hangers each comprising a tube open at both ends with a rod sliding entirely through the same and held in adjusted position by a pin inserted through an aperture in the tube and one of the series of apertures in the rod.

It is also the object of the invention to provide in a bank sloping machine, a longitudinal rock shaft connected-by a radial arm at its front end through a link to one side of the rear end of the drawbar for co-operation with links each extensible in length for adjusting the grader blade to an upright position with its cutting edge spaced from the path of travel of the machine.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a rock shaft pivotally mounted on the vehicle frame of the road grader in such a low position as to permit the outer end of a radial arm connected to the rock shaft to be swun to such an elevated position as to elevate the drawbar from theroadway as to enable co-operation with extensible hangers to adjust the moldboard or grader blade from a position under the machine to a steep bank sloping position with ample clearance for the heel of the blade when so adjusted.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter, the novel features and combinations being set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figs. 1 and 2, placed end to end, show a side elevation of the road grader embodying my improvements;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the operation of the steering unit;

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view taken onth line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevational view taken on the line '5-5 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of the circle mounted on the rear end of the T-shaped drawbar;

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevational view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. '7, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9--9 of Fig. 7, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 10 is a rear elevational view of the road grader with the grader blade in steep bank-cutting position, with the heel of the cutting blade entirely outside of the path of travel of the machine and With the delivery edgeof the moldboard inside of the path of travel of the adjacent rear wheel;

Fig. 11 is a rear view of the machine with the moldboard in its entirety outside of the path of travel of the machine with the cutting edge in substantially upright position;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged rear view of the rear wheel leaning mechanism and mechanism for shifting the rear end of the frame laterally relative to the rear wheels;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged side elevation to illustrate a the mechanism for effecting leaning of the rear axis of the rock shaft of the laterally shifting mechanism enables the outer end of the radial crank arm to be lifted to such an elevated position as to be above a horizontal plane extending through the actuating rock shaft; and.

Fig, 15 is a sectional elevation of a portion of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows As shown in Fig. 2, the main supporting frame I5 is upwardly arched and is supported at its rear end on its wheels I6 and at its front end on the wheels I? (Figs. 1, 4 and 5). The frame I5 is shown in Fig. 11 as comprising spaced-apart longitudinal side beams I8, 18, and as shown in Fig. 2 these spaced-apart side beams are connected by the tubular cross braces I9, 29 and 2|. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the front and rear wheels are preferably of metal so that the rims thereof will be sufliciently thin to be able to dig into the road surface when the wheels are leaned in such direction as to resist lateral skidding when the moldboard is in steep bank-cutting position,

such as that shown in Fig. or Fig. 11, and under operation by movement of the whole machine along the roadway, as will be more fully explained hereinafter.

The machine shown in theaccornpanying drawings includes mechanism for the steering of the front wheels, the leaning of the front wheels, the

leaning of therear wheels, the shifting of the rear end of the main frame laterally relatively to the rear wheels, the shifting of the moldboard'laterally and movement thereof to bank sloping position, and the adjustment and locking of the circle shown in Fig. 7. All of the controls extend to a single operators station or platform 22 at the rear end of the machine, as shown in Figs. 2, 10 and 11. Although I have shown in the accompanying drawings a pull type of road working machine comprising a tongue 23 to the front end of which is adapted to be connected a pulling tractor, it should be understood that my improvements hereinafter described are also useful in a 'power grader comprising a power plant connected to the rear traction wheelsfor moving the entire machine along the roadway.

The front wheel steering mechanism comprises a driving sprocket 24 meshing with a chain 25, the ends of which are connected by means of

links

26 and 21 to the bolster 28 mounted on the front axle 29. As shown in Fig. 4, the rear ends of the

links

26, 21 have eyes 39, 3! which interloop the U-bolts 32. As shown in Figs. 4' and 5, the U-

bolts

32, 33 extend through openings in the

plates

34, 35 and 96, 31 on opposite sides of the

channels

38, 39 of the bolster 28. The lower ends of the

channels

33, 39 are bolted to the angle irons '49, 4!, and

theplates

3t, 95 and 36, 31 are at the same time bolted to the angle irons 4!], 4!.

The bolster has surmounted thereon a cap 42 which "has a central opening in its top. It will'thus be seen that the bolster 28 and the front axle tree form a single rigid structure for supporting on the wheels H, frame l5.

The tubular tongue 23 has rigidly secured. to the rear end thereof a vertical plate 43. A tube 44 is H the front end of the vehicle secured as by welding to the rear end of the plate 43, and plates 45, 46 are welded to the lower and upper edges of the plate 43 and the lower and 7 upper ends of the tube 44.

The

bracket bearing 48 is secured rigidly to the cap 42 of the bolster 28. A hearing rod 49 may be dropped through the bracket bearing 48, the opening in the plate 46, the tube 44, and the opening in the plate with the lower end of the rod 49 in the cup bearing 41. The rod 49 may then be pinned to the bracket bearing 48.

Fig. 3 shows diagrammaticallythe advantage of the pivot rod 49 being placed'in advance of the center of the steering post 50. The pulling tractor illustrated in dotted lines at 5! exerts a straight-line pull through the tongue 23 on the pivot 49 but at the same time there is a com- 52 extending forwardly from the center 50 of the steering post. The pull on the pivot point 49 aids in steering the steering unit in an anti-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3.

When the steering wheel 53 at the rear of the machine (Figs. 2, 10 and 11) is rotated, the shaft 54 will transmit rotary motion through the

universal joints

55, 56, 51 and the links 58, 59 to the worm gearing in the casing 60 and thus, rotate the sprocket 24 meshing with the chain'25 and thereby swing the tongue 23 in one direction or the other relatively to the front wheels. A counterbalancing spring BI is connected to the tongue 23 intermediate its ends and also to a swiveled connection 62 at the top of the pos 50, as shown in Fig. 1.

In order to effect adjustment of the leaning of the front wheels [1, the crank 63 (Figs. 10, 11-) is so manipulated as to secure rotation of the

links

64, 55, 66, 61, 68, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5. The rotation of these links will rotate the worm 69 and the worm wheel 10 with which it meshes. Keyed to the worm' wheel 10 is a pinion H which meshes with the arcuate rack 12, as shown in Fig. 5. The worm 69 and worm wheel 15 are mounted in the casing 73 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

The shaft I4 to which the worm wheel and the pinion H are keyed, extends rearwardly so that the pinion II meshes with the underside of the arcuate rack 12. As shown in Fig. 5, the arcuate rack 12 is secured to and suspended from the cross link 15, the ends of which are pivoted at 16, 16 to the upper ends of the arms 11, 11, the latter being pivoted on longitudinal axes at I8, 78 to the ends of'the axle-tree 29. The lower ends of the arms 11, TI carry the axles on which the wheels I1, I! are journaled.

It can readily be seen by referring to Fig. 5 that when the worm 69 is turned, the wheels l1, I1 will be leaned in either direction while remaining in parallelism. It should be particularly noted that the bracket 19 which carries the rack 12 on its lower side, has its end portions curved at 80, 80 with the inner under surfaces approximately conforming to the circumference of the pinion H. The

arcuate extensions

80, 8!] prevent the pinion H from overunning the arcuate rack 12 to such an extent as to move from under the'bracket 19. In other words, the arcuate extensions act as limit stops as to th leaning of the wheels ll, I1 because when the pinion 1| moves against the under sides of the

arcuate extensions

80, 80, the latter will act as limit stops positively preventing the pinion H from being rotated any farther, if any of its teeth are still inmesh with any of the teeth of the arcuate rack. If the pinion 1| runs entirely out of mesh with the arcuat rack 72, such arcuate extensions '80,

'80 will still act as limit stops because they will bar.

slide along the bottom arcuate surfaces of the extensions 80 without making any progress, but nevertheless when the pinion 1| is reversed its teeth will immediately re-mesh with the arouate rack 12 so that the leaning of the wheels I1, I1 may b reversed. When the moldboard is operated in steep bank-cutting position, the leaning of the front wheels will be held in adjusted position by reason of the self-locking nature of the worm gearing 69, 10. It will thus be seen that irrespective of the relative positions of the pinion H and arcuate rack 12 the front wheels will be able to resist the lateral thrust exerted on the machine during operation of the moldboard along a steep bank at one side of the path of travel of th machine.

The drawbar 8| as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. comprises a narrow elongated front end 82 connected by an intermediate curved portion to a rear horizontal T-shaped frame which carries the circle 63. As shown in Fig. 7, the drawbar may comprise two

angle iron

84, 84 welded together with their horizontal flanges at the bottom so that a plate 85 may be welded along th upper 'of the steering post 50 a short distance above the plate 86 are the legs of a U-bolt 88, the free ends of which are threaded to receive the nuts 89, 89. The U-bolt 88 interloops the eye-bolt 90 the forward end of which is adapted to fit into an armate recess 9|, as shown inFig. 6. The rear end of the eye-bolt 90 is provided with a shank 92 I which is swiveled in the socket 93 which is secured to the bottom of the front end of the draw- The rear end of the shank 92 is threaded at 94 to receive a, nut 95 which may be locked in adjusted position with the flange 96 on the shank 92 resting against the forward end of the socket 93. It will thus be seen by referring to Figs. 1 and 6 that the drawbar 8| may turn on its swiveled comiection at 92, 93 relatively to the steering post 50 and moreover the drawbar 8| may swing laterally upon an upright axis at 9| along the U-bolt 88. Furthermore, the drawbar 8| may swing up and down while the eye-bolt 90 is pivoted on the U-bolt 88 and in the arcuate recess 9|.

It should be particularly noted that the steering post 50 is rigidly connected to the forward ends of the channel beams I8, I9 and therefore to the forward end of the main frame. The universal connection at the forward end of the drawbar' 8| is therefore in reality connected to the front end of the main frame and the parts are so closely related that no relative vibration between them is possible irrespective of the various high lift grading positions to which the grader blade has been adjusted.

nevertheless the drawbar 8| may always be maintained in rigid connection to the main frame during grading operations and bank sloping operations.

The circle 83, as shown in Figs. 2 and 7, carries the moldboard 91 by means of the

arms

98, 98. Mounted on the cross-piece 99 at the rear end of the drawbar are circumferentially spaced retaining plates I00, IOI as shown in the bottom plan view of Fig. '1. Abutments I02, I03 are welded to the bottom of the cross-piece 99. Slotted wedge plates I04, I05 are located between the abutment plates I02, I03 and the slidable abutment plates I06 are each located on top of the plates I00 and IOI. Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 7.

The plates I00 and I0| are in fixed relation to the cross-piece 99 when the bolts I01, I01 are tightened in place. The plates I00, I0| are adapted to overlap the flange I08 of the circle but the latter is free to slide along these plates I00 and IOI when the circle rotating mechanism is operated. The plates I06 have enlarged openings for the bolts I01, so that they may engage the inner edges of the flange I08 of the circle. This is effected by means of the wedges I04, I05 which engage the inner edges of the plates I06 when the bolts I01 are loosened. That is to say, when the bolts I09, I09 areloosened as well as the bolts I01, I01, the wedges I04, I05 may be moved tangentially of the center of the circle along the abutments I02, I03, thereby forcing the outer edges of the plates I06 against the inner edges of the flange I08. After this has been done the bolts may be re-tightened.

Therotatable circle carries a segmental arcuate rack. IIO with which meshes the pinion III as shown in Fig. 7. The pinion II I is connected to the lower end of a shaft, the upper end of which is connected by means of worm gearing through the link mechanism I I2, gearing I I3 and a flexible shaft I I 4 to the gear mechanism in the casing I I5 of Fig. 11 for actuation by means of the lever 63 I when the latter is set in a predetermined position. Thismechanism operated by the lever 63 may be such as that illustrated in the patent to Arndt, No. 2,012,463, granted Aug. 27, 1935, for an improve ment in Road planer or drag.

Mechanism for locking the circle in adjusted,

position comprises a pawl II6 which is pivotally mounted on the

drawbar frame members

84, 84 for up and down pivotal movement on the axis I I1 shown in Fig. 8. An arm |I8 extends from the pawl II6 into position for connection by means of a restoring spring I I9 to the bracket I20. I The casting I2 I is provided with a journal bearing I22 for the transverse shaft I I1. An arcuate extension I23 overlaps the flange I08 as shown in Fig. 8. An abutment plate I06 engages the cylindrical abutment surface I24 at the inner edge of the circle 83 adjacent the flange I08. It will thus be seen that the abutment plates I06, I06, I06 engage the inner edge or cylindrical abutment surface I24 of the flange I08 so as-to properly hold the circle for circular adjustment in fixed relation to the T-shaped drawbar. The

' bracket casting |2I as well as the abutment plate I23 overlapping the flange I08.

cross-piece 33 of the T-shaped drawbar.

enedso as to hold the plates I06, I06, I06 in close fitting relation to the cylindrical abutment surface I24 with the retaining plates I00, IOI and Inasmuch as Fig. '7 is a bottom plan view, it can readily be seen that the circle when in adjusted position is supported from the T-shaped drawbar by means of the retaining plates I00, IOI and I23 which are extended under the flange I08.

Thejspring I I9 acts on the arm I I8 to move the toothed pawl I I6 into mesh with the arcuate rack I I0, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. By pulling the handle I26 at the operators station (Fig. 2), the links I21, I28 may be actuated so as to move the bell crank I23 on its pivot I30 and thereby exert a forward pull on the link ;I3I which is connected to the upper end of the lever IIB. In this manner the pawl -I I6 is pulled down and released from the arcuate rack IIO. I

While the operator holds the pawl I I6 released by pulling on the handle I26 he may adjust the lever 63 (Fig. 10) into such position as to enable him to operate the links I32, I33v so as to secure transmission through thegearing II3 by actuation of the worm gearing inthe casing I34 and thus effect rotation of the pinion III to in turn rotate the circle 83.. .In'this manner the operator at his station may swing the moldboard 91 to a desired angle relative to the path of travel of the machine, while the moldboard remains under the machine as shown in Fig. 2, in road grading position. I 1

The moldboard maybe adjusted in elevation and in inclination transversely of the roadway by means of structure comprising the extensible hangers I35, one locatedon one side of the machine and the other located on the opposite side of the machine. Each hanger comprises a rod ;through,the registering apertures to hold the hanger I35 at adjusted length.

To the upper end of the tubular member I39 of the hanger I35 is secured a socket I42 for receiving a ball which is mounted on the stem I43, this stem being in turn mounted on a radial arm I44 which extends outwardly'and laterally from i the rock shaft I745. This rock shaft is journaled in the bearing I46 which is secured to the bracket I41 extending laterallyfromthe main frame a substantial distance. The rear end of the rock shaft I45 is journaled in the bearing I48 mounted on the upright I49 of a U-shaped frame secured to the spaced-apart channel beams I 8, I8 by means of the cross piece I50. It should be understood thatflahanger similar to that designated I35 in Fig. 2 is also located on the opposite side of the machine and connected to a radial arm at the forward .end of a rock shaft similar to that designated I45 (seeFig. 14). I 1

The rear end of the rockshaft I45 is connected ,to worm gearing in the casing I5I' and a large -wheel .152 as shown in Fig. 11 is-connected to such worm gearing to enable the operator at the operators stationto rock the shaft I45: and thus lift or .10wer,thehanser l35. .The hanger on.

v of the main framethat sideof the machine opposite to that shown in Fig. 2| is provided with a perforated rod capable of extending entirely through a tubular member, and suchhanger on the opposite side of the machine.is providedwith a pin for holding the hanger at adjusted length. The hanger on the opposite side of the machine may be operated by the wheel I53 connected to worm gearing in the casing I5I', which is mounted. on the upright I43 of the U-shaped framemounted on the channels I0,- IB. By referring to Fig. 11, it can readilybe seen that the rock shafts I on opposite sides of the machine are each spaced substantial distances from the sides of the main frame because of the brackets I41 which extend laterally from the main frame, as illustrated in Fig. 14.

Extending longitudinally of the rear portion of the main frame is a rock shaft I54 which at its outer end has a radial crankarm I55 which is provided at its outer end with a ball and socket joint connection I 56 with one end of the link- I51, the other end of which is;conn ected by the ball and socket joint I58 tothe ballcarrier I38 mounted at one side of the rear end portion of the drawbar. The front end of the rock shaft I54 is journaled inth'e bearing 159 which is supported on the cross-piece I60 secured to and extendingbetween the channels. I8, I8 of the main frame.

The rear end of the rock shaft I54 is journaled in the bearing I6I mounted on the sub-frame I62 which is secured to and extends transversely between thechannels I8, I8 of the main frame. 1, The rear end of the rock shaft I54 is connected to interlocking worm gearing in the casing I63. A wheel I64 is connected to a worm in the gear .casing I65 (Fig. 10). When the wheel I64 is rotatedby the operator at his station the rock shaft I54-may berotated in one direction or the other to swing the arm I55 upwardly toward one beam vor the other'of the spaced-apart beams of the main frame. As shown in Fig. 14, the crank arm I55 may be; rotated so that the ball and socket joint I56 maybe projected beyond either side In fact, the radial arm I55 maybe rotated through an angle of more than one hundred and eighty degrees so that the ball and socket joint I56 may be elevated to such a position that it lies in or abovea horizontal plane extending through thehorizontal lower edges of :the channels I8, I8. a

- By adjusting the. hanger I35 so that it will be ofmaximumlength on that side of the machine from which the arm I55 is moved and by adjusting the hanger I35 on the other side of the machine to a minimum length the rotation of the rockshafts I45 may co -operate with the rotation of the rock shaft I 54 to move the moldboard into the steep bank-cutting position shown in Fig. 11. That is to say, by providing hangers of the construction shown at I 35 in Fig. 2 and locating them .substantially beyond the sides of themachine, they may. be capable of cooperating with the crank arm I55 having the wide angle of the movement above described, to move the moldboardentirely out beyond the path oftravel of the machine as shown in Fig. 11. Since the hangers are provided with tubular elements I39, with rods I36 capable of being moved entirely through the tubular members and having the arm I55 swingable through such a large angle in either direction, themoldboard maybe adjusted to its upright position shown in Fig. ,11, at either side of the machine. $0 also-the moldboard may be adjusted to the positionishown in Fig. 10 on the lefthand side of the machine as well as on the righthand side thereof. In fact the hangers I35, I35 may be adjusted to such lengths that the moldboard may be adjusted from the road grading position shown in Fig. 2 to the steep bank-sloping position shown in Fig. 10 without changing the length of either hanger. However, before the moldboard is moved to its upright position shown in Fig. 11, the upper hanger is shortened to its minimum length and the lower hanger is lengthened to its maximum length.

Spaced-apart rearward extensions I66, I61 are provided with guides for the rear axle-tree I68 comprising the spaced-apart angle irons I69, I10. Between these angle irons and secured thereto is located a casing I1I for worm gearing which is connected to the link I12 which extends upwardly and transversely, as shown in Fig. 10, to the upright rotary rod I13 journaled in the bearings of the brackets I14, I15 which are mounted on the rear side of the gear casing I'I. A crank I16 is connected to the upper end of the rotary rod I13 (Fig. and when this crank is turned the worm gearing in the casing I1I may be operated to rotate the pinion I11 which extends rearwardly of the cross-piece I10 of the rear axletree I68.

The pinion I11 meshes with an arcuate rack I18 which is mounted on the cross-piece I19. At the ends of the arcuate rack I18 are located arcuate limit stops I80 and I8I to prevent the pinion 111 from overrunning the ends of the rack I18. The construction and operation are similar to those described in connection with the structure mounted on the front wheel steering unit for leaning the front wheels, as shown in Fig. 5.

As shown in Figs. 10 and 12, rotation of the pinion I11 will move the rack I18 bodily with the cross-piece I19 because the frame of the rack I 18 is bolted at I82, I83 to the cross-piece I19.

The ends of the cross-piece I19 are pivotally connected at I84, I85 to the upper ends of the arms I86, I81 which are pivoted at I88, I89 on longitudinal axes to the outer ends of the arcuate extensions I90, I9I at the outer ends of the rear axle-tree I68. The arms I86, I81 carry the axles on which the wheels I6, I6 are journaled. It will thus be seen that the movement transversely of the machine of the cross-piece I19 will adjust the leaning of the rear wheels but the arcuate limit stops I80, I8I will limit the leaning ofthe wheels and prevent the pinion I11 from overruning the rack I18. The worm gearing in the casing I1I is self-locking and consequently when the operator releases the crank I16, the leaning of the rear wheels will be locked in adjusted positions.

As shown in Figs. 2, 12 and 13, a rack bar I92 is mounted on the cross-piece I69. Secured to the main frame is a worm gear casing I93. Connected to the worm gear in the worm gear casing I93 is a spur gear I94 in mesh with the rack bar I92. Connected to the worm gearing in the easing I93 is a link I95 which extends upwardly for connection to the lower end of the rod I96 which is journaled in the brackets I91, I98 mounted on the rear side of the worm gear casing I5I. By means of the crank I99 connected to theupper end of the rod I96, the operator at the operators station may drive the spur gear I94 to cause the main frame to travel along the rack I92 and thus adjust the rear end of the main frame along the rear axle-tree and relative to the rear wheels I6, I6.

As shown. in Fig. 2, the operator's platform 22 is pivoted at 200' to the cross-piece I50. The rear end portion of the operators platform 22 is mounted .on spaced-apart springs 20I and these springs in turn are mounted on the inverted U-shaped frame 202 as shown in Figs. 10 and 11. It should be particularly noted, however, by referring to Fig. 2 that the frame 202 is mounted on an angle iron 203 which is secured to the.

spaced-apart rearward extensions I66, I61. Therefore when the rear end of the main frame is shifted relatively to the rear wheels, the frame 202 remains in fixed relation to the main frame. In other words, when the main frame is shifted laterally relatively to the rear axle-tree, the operators platform being in fixed relation to the main frame also moves laterally along the rear axle-tree.

It should be particularly noted that the arcuate extensions I and I9I at the ends of the rear axle-tree I68 are for the purpose of lowering the axles on which the rear wheels I6, I6 are journaled. The spacing between the rear axle-tree and the cross-piece I19 is preserved by inclining downwardly the outer ends of the crosspiece I19 as shown in Figs. 10 and 11. The use of the arcuate extensions I90, I9I to lower the axles on which the wheels I6, I6 are journaled, enables the front wheels and rear wheels to be; interchangeable. That is to say, by having the centers of the rear wheels at the same distances above the supporting surface as the centers of the front wheels, the front and rear wheels are interchangeable and the frame spacing above the supporting surface will be approximately the same at the front end of the machine as at the rear end. At the front end of the machine the front axletree 29 is located at a certain distance from the ground surface, this being approximately from the center of the front wheels I1, I1 to such ground surface, as shown in Fig. 5. At the rear end of the machine in order to preserve this spacing from the ground surface, the rearward extensions I66, I61 from the main frame are at an elevation approximately equal to that of the center of rotation of the rear wheels.

It would be undesirable to omit the arcuate extensions I90, I9I and have the rear axle-tree I68 extend straight across between the centers of the rear wheels because not only would the rearward extensions I66, I61 become too low for the clearing of obstacles on the ground surface, but the rear end of the main frame would become unduly lowered for high lift adjustments of the moldboard. In other words, by providing the arcuate extensions I90, I9I, ample clearance of the extensions I66, I61 from the ground surface is preserved, and moreover the rear end of the main frame is kept at sufficient elevation so that the rock shafts I45 and I54 will be at sufiicient elevations to provide ample clearance for the heel of the moldboard when the latter is moved to steep bank sloping positions. 7

It should be noted that a ball holder similar to that designated I39 in Fig. 2 is also located at the opposite end of the cross piece 99. The link I51 may be connected to the ball holder I38 on one side of the rear end of the drawbar 8I or on the other side of the rear end thereof. When the moldboard is in steep bank-cutting position at either side of the machine it is preferable to have the link I51 act as a suspension rod.

As shown in Fig. 5, the post 50 is provided with a depending bearing 204 in which is journalied the vertical shaft 61. In a circular groove at the lower end of the journal bearing 204 is a washer 205 on which is supported the cup-shaped washer 206.

If desired the washer 205 may be in two semicircular sections easily placed in the circular groove when the cup 206 is slid up along the journal bearing 204. When the cup 206 is permitted to drop down over the semi-circular sections of the washer 205, the latter is locked to the lower end of the bearin 204. Further locking may be effected by passing a wire through holes in the depending skirt of the cup 206 and extending such wire transversely under the lower end of the bearing 204 and twisting together the free ends of the wire. By mean of this arrangement the steering wheel unit maybe removed. from the main frame when desired.

This structure permits the front end of the main frame to be maintained in adjusted position during operation of the moldboard while the steering wheel unit is free to move up and down and tilt in opposite directions to the extent allowed by the cup 206 bumping against the bottom of the ring 81. In other words, the steering wheel unit has great flexibility relative to the main frame as it travels over rough ground which has not as yet been acted on by the moldboard.

Upright counterbalancing springs 20'? are mounted at the sides of the vehicle frame and the lower ends of these springs are connected at 208 to anchorages which project laterally from the bottom of the vehicle frame as shown at 209 in Figs. 2 and 15. Segmenta1 sheaves 210 are secured to the shafts I45 to rotate therewith. Flexible connections in-the form of chains 2 extend between the segmental sheaves H and the upper ends of the springs 201, respectively located between its adjacent rock shaft I45 and the vehicle frame in position to enable the springs 20! to counterbalance a part of the weight of the drawbar and moldboard. It should benoted that the sheaves 2 I0 constitute grooved cams on the rock shafts I45. The chains 21I I are connected to these cams and reaved along the grooves thereof, as shown in Figs. 2 and 15. The springs 20'! connect the rear portion of the vehicle frame to the chains 2 at the inner sides of the rock shafts I45 in opposition to the radial arms I 44 to counterbalance the weight exerted by the drawbar and grader blade on the hangers It can readily be seen by comparing Fig. 2 with Fig. that the arm I44 must be moved through a wide angle in order to permit movement of the moldboard from road grading position to steep bank cutting position. By locating the springs at the sides of the machine in upright positions they may be made of sufiicient length to enable them to be effective as counterbalancing springs both when the moldboard is in the road grader position shown in Fig. 2 and when the moldboard is in the steep bank cutting position shown in Fig. 10. When the arm I44 is moved through such wide angle the segmental sheave or grooved cam 2I0 is moved through a like angle and the spring 201 is stretched out until its upper end is at the elevation of the rear end portion of the rock shaft I45. In addition to locating the counterbalancing springs at the sides of the vehicle frame ,so that they may be made of sufiicient length to be most effiicient in a steep bank cutting machine, the springs are in locations where they will not interfere with any of the operating extensions between the operator's station and the adjusting mechanisms on the drawbar.

Obviously those skilled in the art may make various changes in the details and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims hereto appended, and I therefore wish not to be restricted to the precise construction herein disclosed.

Having thus described and shown an embodiment of my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a road grader, the combination with a vehicle frame, of a drawbar flexibly connected at its forward end to said frame, a moldboard carried by said drawbar, longitudinal rock shafts, mechanism for supporting said rock shafts on the rear portion of said frame, crank arms on the forward ends of said rock shafts, hangers connecting said crank arms to opposite sides of the rear portion of said drawbar, mechanism for for rocking said shafts individually to eiTect adjustment of the moldboard relative to said frame,

upright counterbalancing springs at the sides of said frame, mechanism projecting laterally from th bottom of said frame for anchoring the lower ends of said springs, segmental sheaves secured to said rock shafts to rotate therewith, and flexible connections between said segmental sheaves and the upper ends of said springs respectively located between its adjacent rock shaft and the frame in position to enable the springs to counterbalance a part of the weight of the drawbar and moldboard.

2. In a road grader, the combination witlra vehicle frame, of a drawbar flexibly connectedat its forward end to said vehicle frame, a grader blade carried by said drawbar, spaced-apart rock shafts mounted at the sides of said vehicle frame, radial arms at the forward ends of said rock shafts, hangers connecting said arms to the sides of said drawbar, grooved cams on said rock shafts, chains connected to said cams and reaved along the grooves thereof, a transverse crosspiece connected to the underside of said frame, upright springs connecting the said cross-piece under said frame to said chains at the innerf sides of the rock shafts in opposition to the radial arms to counterbalance the weight exerted by the drawbar and grader blade on said hangers, and means comprising worm gearing connected to said rock shafts for operating the same individually.

3. In a road building machine, the combination with a vehicle comprising a supporting frame, of a drawbar connected at its front end to said frame, a moldboard carried by said drawbar, spaced-apart extensible hangers each comprising a rod connected to said drawbar and slidable through a relatively short tube, a rock shaft mounted in the rear portion of said supporting frame, a depending crank arm at the forward end of said rock shaft, a link connecting said crank arm to either one side or the other of the rear end portion of said drawbar, means for holding the hangers at adjusted lengths one relatively long and the other relatively short, mechanism on said supporting frame connected to said hangers to individually actuate the same, and means for rocking said shaft at least to laterally shift the drawbar for co-operation with the actuation of the hangers to effect adjustment of the moldboard in steep bank sloping position at either side of the machine.

4. In a road grader, the combination with a vehicle frame, of a drawbar flexibly connected at its forward end to said frame, a moldboard carried by said drawbar, longitudinal rock shafts, mechanism for supporting said rock shafts on said frame, crank arms on the forward ends of said rock shafts, hangers connecting said crank arms to opposite sides of the rear portion of said drawbar, mechanism for rocking said shafts individually to effect adjustment of the moldboard relative to said frame, upright elongated counterbalancing springs adjacent the sides of said frame, mechanism for anchoring the lower ends of said springs to the rear end portions of said frame, and mechanism for connecting the upper ends of said springs to said rock shafts to effect decreased leverage as the tensions in said springs increase when the drawbar and moldboard are adjusted to predetermined positions.

, 5. In a bank sloping machine, the combination with a wheeled supporting frame, of a drawbar frame, a road-Working implement carried by said drawbar frame, spaced-apart rock shafts mounted on said frame, crank arms at the forward ends of said rock shafts, extensible hangers connecting said crank arms to said drawbar frame, each hanger comprising a tube associated with a rod capable of extending entirely through the same, a third rock shaft mounted on said frame to extend longitudinally thereof, a crank arm at the forward end of said third rock shaft, a link connecting said last-named crank arm to one side of the rear end of said drawbar, and means for actuating said first-named rock shafts individually with the hangers adjusted to different lengths so as to cooperate with the rocking of said third shaft to adjust the m'oldboard to steep bank sloping position at one side of the machine.

6. In a bank sloping machine, the combination with a vehicle frame, of spaced apart rock shafts extending along the sides of said frame, crank arms on the forward ends of said rock shafts, a drawbar flexibly connected at its forward end to said vehicle frame, a grader blade carried by said drawbar, extensible hangers connecting said crank arms to the sides of the rear end portion of said drawbar, each of said hangers comprising a rod slidable through a tube, a third rock shaft extending longitudinally along the mid-portion of said vehicle frame, a laterally swinging crank arm at the forward end of said third rock shaft, a link connecting said last-named crank arm to one side of the rear end of said drawbar, and means individual to each rock shaft for rotating each of said crank arms through 180 to effect adjustment of said grader blade to a steep bank cutting position at one side of the machine.

'7. In a bank sloping machine, the combination with a vehicle frame, of a drawbar connected at its front end to said vehicle frame, a grader blade carried by said drawbar, spaced-apart extensible hangers each comprising a rod connected to said drawbar and slidable through a relatively short tube, a rock shaft mounted in the rear portion of said frame midway between the sides thereof, a depending crank arm at the forward end of said rock shaft, a link connecting said crank arm to one side of the rear end portion of said drawbar, means for holding the hangers at adjusted lengths one relatively long and the other relatively short, spaced-apart rock shafts at the sides of said vehicle frame and extending longitudinally thereof, crank arms connecting the forward ends of said spaced-apart rock shafts to the tubes of said hangers, and means capable of rocking each of the three aforesaid shafts at least to effect laterally shifting of the drawbar for cooperation with the actuation of the hangers to effect adjustment of the grader blade to steep bank cutting position at one side of the machine.

8. In a road grader, the combination with a vehicle frame, of a drawbar flexibly connected at its forward end to said vehicle frame, a grader blade carried by said drawbar, spaced-apart rock shafts mounted at the sides of said vehicle frame, radial arms at the forward ends of said rock shafts, hangers connecting said arms to the sides of the rear end portion of said drawbar, cams secured to said shafts to rock therewith, upright elongated springs, mechanism connecting the lower ends of said springs to said frame, mechanism connecting said cams to the upper ends of said springs to increase the tension in one of said springs when said shafts are rocked to adjust the grader blade to bank-sloping position, and means for rocking said shafts to adjust the elevation of said grader blade against the tensions in said springs.

9. In a road grader, the combination with a vehicle frame, of a U-shaped support secured thereto and comprising upright standards at the sides of said vehicl frame, longitudinal connecting bars between the said upright standards and downwardly sloping beams of the rear portion of said vehicle frame, brackets extending laterally from said vehicle frame, spaced rock shafts journaled to said upright standards and journaled to said brackets to support said rock shafts to extend longitudinally of said vehicle frame, inwardly facing cams on said rock shafts, upright elongated springs, means for connecting the upper ends of said springs to said cams, means for connecting the lower ends of said springs to the lower rear end portion of said vehicle frame, said springs being located adjacent the inner sides of said longitudinal connecting bars, a drawbar flexibly connected at its forward end to said vehicle frame, mechanism comprising hangers connecting said rock shafts to said drawbar, a, road-working implement carried by said drawbar, and means supported by said standards for rocking said shafts to effect adjustment of the road-working implement.

FRANKLIN E. ARNDT.