US3866341A

US3866341A - Scraper bucket with tiltable axle assembly

Info

Publication number: US3866341A
Application number: US363474A
Authority: US
Inventors: Joe H Fabrygel
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-05-24
Filing date: 1973-05-24
Publication date: 1975-02-18
Anticipated expiration: 1992-02-18

Abstract

An earth moving device for use with a tractor or the like including a scraper bucket connected with an axle assembly formed by first and second interconnected axle members with height adjustment members for adjusting the height of said scraper bucket and tilt elements cooperating with said height adjustment members to move said scraper bucket to a tilted position.

Description

[ 1 Feb. 18, 1975 United States Patent Fabrygel [21] Appl. No.: 363,474

'imary Examiner-Edgar S. Burr Axsislun! Examiner--13. H. Eickholt ABSTRACT [56] References Cited axle members with height adjustment members for adjusting the height of said scraper bucket and tilt ele- UNITED STATES PATENTS ments cooperating with said height adjustment mem bers to move said scraper bucket to a tilted position.

Davenport 20 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENIED FEB] 8 ms I 3,866,341 SHEETEUFZ SCRAPER BUCKET WITH TILTABLE AXLE ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved earth moving device which includes a scraper bucket means that can be pivoted between load and dump positions, moved upwardly and downwardly and can be tilted to at least one side. The earth moving device of the preferred embodiment of this invention in-.

cludes a scraper bucket pivotally mounted within a main frame that is adapted for connection to a tractor or the like. The scraper bucket is movable between load and dump positions by a hydraulic actuator. The scraper bucket and main frame is supported for movement by pivotal connection of the main frame to an axle and wheel assembly. Height adjustment means are provided for adjusting the over-all height of the scraper bucket and main frame member. Further, tilt means are provided for cooperating with the height adjustment means to move the scraper bucket to a tilted position. The axle assembly of the preferred embodiment of this invention includes first and second axle means that are operably interconnected for rotational movement with respect to each other to a tilted position. The scraper bucket and main frame member is pivotally connected to the axle assembly and means are provided for moving the main frame member and scraper bucket with the axle assembly to the tilted position. A hydraulic actuator is attached to the main frame member and to the axle assembly for cooperating with the tilt means to move the scraper bucket upwardly or downwardly to a down tilted position. The scraper bucket is moved downwardly to an intermediate position without tilting by means of a lock mechanism which locks the first and second axle means against rotational movement with respect to each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top view of the earth moving device of the preferred embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along lines 22 of FIG. 1 illustrating pivotal movement of the scraper bucket between load and dump positions and positions therebetween;

FIG. 3 is a rear view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1 of the earth moving device; and

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the apparatus which provides for the tilting of the scraper bucket.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, the letter E generally designates an earth moving device or scraper of the preferred embodiment of this invention. The earth scraper E includes a substantially square-shaped main frame member 10 which may be formed of pipe or the like. The main frame member 10 includes a front section 10a, side sections 10b and and a rear section 10d. The main frame member 10 may be made from a single piece of pipe which is bent at three corners and welded at the fourth corner in order to form such a squareshaped configuration. A connecting bar or pipe member 11 extends forwardly from the front frame section 10a and is further supported by braces such as 11a and 11b which are welded to the connecting pipe member 11 and the front frame section 10a. A swivel hitch 12 is bolted or otherwise connected onto the connecting pipe member 11 for connection to any suitable pulling vehicle such as a tractor or the like. The swivel hitch 12 is used so that the scraper bucket means 14, which includes the main frame member 10 and a scraper bucket B, are free to rotate or tilt in a manner to be described hereinafter.

The scraper bucket B includes a flat bottom 15a integrally connected with a curved rear portion 15b. A transverse bar is connected to the scraper

bucket side walls

15d and 15e. The transverse bar 150 is braced by

rods

16a and 16b which are welded to the rear end bucket portions 15b and to the bar 150. The transverse bar 150 includes end portions 17a and 17b which are journaled into

housings

18a and 18b mounted onto the

side frame sections

10b and 10c, respectively. The

housings

18a and 18b may include bearings or other suitable support mechanisms for cooperating with the bar end portions 17a and 17b, respectively, to mount the scraper bucket'B for movement. A scraper blade 19 is mounted onto the front end portion of the scraper bucket bottom 15a. The'scraper blade 19 is of conventional construction and is conventionally mounted onto the blade bottom 150 such that the blade may be easily replaced if necessary.

A power actuator means generally designated as 20 is pivotally mounted onto the front, connecting frame member 11 and onto the tranverse bucket bar 15c in order to move the scraper bucket B between the load position shown in solid lines in FIG. 2 and designated as L and the dump position shown in scored lines in FIG. 2 and designated as D. The actuator means 20 includes a double-acting hydraulic cylinder 20a pivotally mounted onto the front, frame connecting member 1 l by any suitable means such as a pin and lug connection generally designated at 20b. The rod 20c is attached with a piston (not shown) mounted within the cylinder 20a and further is pivotally connected at 20d to the transverse bucket rod 150. The rod 200 is movable between extended and retracted positions by the application of hydraulic fluid under pressure to the hydraulic cylinder 20a in a well known manner. Hydraulic lines such as 20e and 20f are attached with the cylinder 20a in order to. deliver fluid under pressure from any suitable source of pressurized hydraulic fluid to the cylinder 20a. The source for the hydraulic fluid is not shown and may be mounted upon the tractor or other pulling vehicle or upon the earth scraper E.

The power actuator or hydraulic jack 20 pivots the scraper bucket B between the load position L and the dump position D. Proper application of hydraulic fluid under pressure to the hydraulic cylinder 20a will cause the piston rod 20 to extend thereby causing the bucket B to move to the load position L; further application of hydraulic fluid to the remaining end of the hydraulic cylinder 20a will cause the piston rod 20 to retract thereby pivoting the bucket B to the dump position D, or any position therebetween.

A stud 21a is welded or otherwise attached to the curved rear portion 15b of the scraper bucket B. A bolt 21b is threadedly mounted therein such that the bolt may be rotated to various positions with respect to the stud 21a. A stop member or stud 21c is welded or otherwise attached to the rear frame section d in position such that the stud 21a or bolt 21b rests on the stud member 210 when the scraper bucket B is in the load position L. The actual angular position of the bottom a of the bucket B in the load position can be varied by varying the position of the bolt 21b in the stud 21a. In other words, if it is desired to place the scraper bucket in a slightly raised or angular position with respect to the ground such as illustrated at L in FIG. 2, the bolt 21b is rotated clockwise to screw further into the stud 21a such that the end of the bolt 21b engages the stop member 210 and supports the bucket B in a slightly higher or more angular position such as L.

An axle assembly generally designated as 25 is mounted in pivotal connection with the main frame 10 for rollably supporting the earth scraper E. The axle assembly includes a first axle member 26 operably connected with a second axle member 27. The first axle member 26 includes a first, hollow shaft 26a which is welded or otherwise attached to a link 26b. The link 26b connects the hollow shaft 26a with axle portion 260 which is welded or otherwise attached to the bottom portion of the link. The second axle member 27 includes a second shaft member 27a which is mounted within the first shaft member 26a. The second shaft member 27a is welded or otherwise attached to an axle link 27b, which connects with axle portion 270 at its lower end. In this manner, the axle member 27 is mounted for pivotal, rotational movement with respect to the first axle member 26. The axle portion 26c supports a wheel 32 and axle portion 27b supports wheel 33.

Connection means generally designated as connects the rear section 10b of the main frame member 10 with the axle assembly 25 such that the axle assembly 25 is mounted for pivotal movement with respect to the main frame 10; however, the connection means 30 connects the axle assembly 25 with the main frame member 10, and thus with the scraper bucket B, such that the scraper bucket B is tiltable with the axle assembly 25. The connection means 30 includes an l-beam 30a welded or otherwise attached to the rear frame section 10d. A mounting sleeve 30b is mounted with the underside of the l-beam 30a and, a U-shaped connecting pipe 300 is mounted within the sleeve 30b for pivotal movement. A U-shaped bar 30d is attached to the end portions 300' of the connecting pipe member 300 by welding or other suitable means and, the bar 30d is welded or otherwise attached to the first shaft member 26a, again by welding or other suitable means.

Height adjustment means generally designated as 34 are provided for moving the scraper bucket B upwardly and downwardly. The height adjustment means 34 includes a power actuator or hydraulic jack 35 pivotally connected to the main frame 10 and to the first shaft member 26a of the first axle member 26. The power actuator 35 includes a double-acting hydraulic cylinder 35a pivotally mounted onto the rear frame section 10d.

A vertical support housing 36 includes an opening to receive lugs 35b mounted on the hydraulic cylinder 35 and, a pin 36a is mounted in the vertical support housing 36 in pivotal connection with the lugs 35b in order to pivotally mount the double-acting hydraulic cylinder 35a. The double-acting hydraulic cylinder 35a is of the type well known in the art and includes hydraulic fluid lines 37a and 37b mounted at opposite ends of the cylinder in order to extend and retract rod 35, which is mounted by means of a piston (not shown) for slidable movement within the hydraulic cylinder 35a. The hydraulic lines 37a and 37b may actually be housed within the tubular frame member 10 and extend to a suitable source of pressurized hydraulic fluid, which may be mounted on the tractor or on the earth scraper E, itself.

The first hollow shaft member 26a includes an arcuate opening or slot 26d machined into the shaft at approximately the center thereof. Lock lugs 26e and 26f are welded or otherwise attached to the shaft member 26a on either side of the opening 26d, each lock lug including an opening therein. A center lug 27b is welded onto the second, inside shaft member 27a in position to extend outwardly through the first shaft member opening 26d. The center second shaft lug includes a first opening 27e and a second opening 27f.

Rod 350 of the power actuator 35 includes opposing mounting lugs 35d adapted to be placed on either side of the first opening 272 in the center lug 27d of the sec ond shaft member 27a such that a pin (not shown) may be mounted through the aligned openings in the lugs in order to pivotally mount the rod 35c for movement pivotally with respect to the center lug 27d. Thus, with the proper utilization of hydraulic fluid under power in the hydraulic cylinder 35a in a well known manner. the piston rod 350 may be caused to extend thereby moving the main frame 10 and the scraper bucket B mounted thereon upwardly such that the over-all height of the bucket B is increased. Retraction of the piston rod 35c causes the center lug 27d and thus the second shaft member 270 to pivot or rotate in the direction of arrow 38 thereby causing the axle link 27b to pivot or rotate downwardly in the direction of arrow 39, which in turn causes or allows the axle portion 270 and the rear wheel 33 mounted thereon to tend to move upwardly in the direction of arrow 40. Upward movement of the wheel 33 causes the first and

second shaft members

26a and 27a to move to an angular or tilted position.

Tilt means generally designated as 41 includes the function and structure of the

axle members

26 and 27 and the power actuator 35 is causing the second shaft 27a and thus the second axle member 27 to rotate or pivot with respect to the first shaft member 26a. The tilt means 41 further includes a first stop member or lug 42a welded onto the l-beam 30a and having a bolt 42b mounted for threadable movement therethrough. A second stop member 42c is welded or otherwise attached onto the U-shaped beam 30d in a position of alignment with the bolt 42b and slot member 42a.

The function of the tilt means 41 may be described in its cooperative use with the elements of the height adjustment means 34 in the following manner. The scraper bucket B may be described as being movable vertically between three basic positions. The first position may be described as being the DOWN position whereinthe bucket is placed on the ground at a tilted position for scraping the ground and thus collecting earth within the bucket B. The second position is a slightly higher position, which may be called the IN- TERMEDIATE" position. By definition, the INTER- MEDIATE position is that position where the bolt 42b in the stop member 42a first begins or ceases operative attachment or engagement with the second stop member 420. The third position is a position higher than the INTERMEDIATE position and may be herewith designated as an UP position.

The scraper bucket B is moved from the DOWN po sition to the UP position or from the INTERMEDIATE position to the UP position by causing the piston rod 35c of the hydraulic jack 35 to extend outwardly. The bucket B is maintained in a substantially horizontal position as viewed from the rear as the bucket B is moved upwardly from the INTERMEDIATE to the UP position by extension of the rod 35c of the hydraulic jack 35. Thus, in the UP position, the bucket B is in a horizontal plane as viewed from the rear of the earth scraper E.

The bucket B is moved from the UP position to the INTERMEDIATE position by causing the rod 35c to retract within the hydraulic cylinder a. During this movement from the UP to the INTERMEDIATE position, the bucket again remains in a level or horizontal position as viewed from the rear of the device. How ever, in the INTERMEDIATE position, the stop members or lugs 42a and 420 become operably connected, engaged or joined by the bolt 42b such that the main frame member and thus the bucket B is prevented from further pivotal movement with respect to the first and

second axle members

26 and 27, respectively.

The bucket B may be moved from the INTERMEDI- ATE position to the DOWN, tilted position. The bucket B is moved downwardly to the DOWN, tilted position in the following manner. Further retraction of the piston rod 350 causes the second shaft member 27a to rotate in the direction of arrow 38 thereby causing the axle link 27b to rotate or pivot counterclockwise (FIG. 4) thus moving upwardly the axle portion 270 in the wheel 33 mounted thereon. Of course, this upward movement of the wheel 33 causes the bucket B to tilt downwardly on the right side in the direction of arrow 42 as depicted in FIG. 3. Obviously, the DOWN position may consist of a practically infinite number of tilted positions with respect to the earth, depending upon the amount of retraction of the piston rod 35c of the hydraulic jack 35.

Referring to movement of the scraper bucket B in the main frame downwardly from the UP position, it is noted that the INTERMEDIATE position, that is, the position in which tilting begins, may be adjusted. Further, the degree of tilting may also be adjusted. Adjustments to the position at which tilting begins as the bucket B moves downwardly as well as adjustments to the degree of tilting of the bucket B in the DOWN position is accomplished by adjusting the bolt B in its vertical relationship and position in the stop member 42a. If the bolt 42b is screwed further inwardly such that the end thereof extends further downwardly from the first stop member 42a, the bolt will engage and apply pressure to the second stop member 42c at a higher point (thus changing this INTERMEDIATE position) as the bucket B moves downwardly as the piston 35c retracts. It is further noted that the bolt 42b also affects the angle or degree oftilt that occurs with the bucket B and axle assembly 25 in the DOWN position. Thus when the bolt 42b further separates the stop members 42a and 420, it is noted that retraction of the piston 35c causes a greater degree of rotation of the second shaft member 27a thereby causing a greater amount of tilt. In this manner, the angle of tilt as well as the position at which tilting begins as the bucket moves downwardly is adjustable. The stop members 42a and 420 with the bolt 42b therebetween serve to lock the main frame 10 and thus the bucket B for movement with the axle assembly to the DOWN position. With the bolt 42 in engagement with the stop member 42c, further pivotal movement of the U-shaped tubular frame connecting member 300 is prevented such that the bucket B and the main frame 10 tilts with the tilting of the first and

second axle members

26 and 27, respectively.

The bucket B can also be moved downwardly to the INTERMEDIATE position while maintaining a horizontal or level position as viewed from the rear. This is accomplished by inserting a lock pin 45 through openings in the lock lugs 26c and 26f and through the second opening 27e in the center lug 27d mounted on the second shaft member 27a. In this manner, rotation or pivotal movement between the second shaft member 27a and the first, hollow shaft member 26a is prevented. With the first and second shaft members locked against pivotal movement, retraction of the cylinder 35c will cause the bucket B to be moved downwardly in a horizontal plane as viewed from the rear of the device all the way from the UP position to the INTERME- DIATE position, which is adjustable by adjusting bolt 42b.

In operation and use of the earth scraper device E of the preferred embodiment of this invention, the swivel hitch 12 is attached to a tractor or the like such that the scraper bucket B of the main frame member 10 as well as the axle assembly 25 is free to move between horizontal and tilted positions. Secondly, the hydraulic lines 20f for the first power actuator and the hydraulic lines 37a and 37b for the second actuator 35 are connected to a suitable source of hydraulic fluid under pressure such that the actuators can be operated as desired. Generally, the earth scraper E is moved from location to location with the bucket B in the main frame 10 in the UP position, with the rod 350 extended. When it is desired to scrape the ground with the bucket B in a horizontal position as viewed from the rear, the lock pin 45 is inserted as previously described to prevent rotation between the shaft members 270 and 26a. Beginning with the bucket B in the UP position, hydraulic fluid under pressure is applied through the line 37a into the bottom portion of the hydraulic cylinder 35a thereby causing retraction of the piston rod 35c and thus downward movement of the bucket B to the IN- TERMEDIATE position to scrape the earth. As previously mentioned, the actual vertical position or height of the bucket B in the INTERMEDIATE position is adjustable simply by controlling the amount of retraction of the piston rod 35c. Thereafter, the tractor or other pulling device pulls the earth scraper E along the earth collecting dirt, rocks or other matter. After sufficient location and the hydraulic actuator 20 is activated to pivot the bucket B to the dump position D.

If it is desired to utilize the scraper bucket B in the DOWN tilted position, the lock pin 45 is removed before the bucket B is moved downwardly such that the bucket B is moved to the DOWN, tilted position as previously described.

It is noted that the earth scraper E has been described as being usable with a tractor or the like, it should be movement between said scraper bucket means and said axle assembly, said actuator means including limit means limiting pivotal movement between said scraper'bucket means and said axle assembly and power means causing relative rotation between said first and second axle means to move said axle means and said scraper bucket means to a down. tilted position.

2. The structure set forth in claim I, wherein said acunderstood that the earth scraper E can be made self 10 tumor means i l d propelled as desired simply by mounting and permanently attaching the device to some type of cab or other self-propelled unit. While the earth scraper E has been described herein with a particular type of dirt collecting bucket B, it should be understood that the same principles and concepts of height, angle and tilt adjustment may be provided to other types of scraper buckets which are used for moving earth.

The exact nature of the hydraulic system has not been previously described. Two systems are of particular interest here. In the first system each of the hydraulic jacks are connected separately to one or more hydraulic pumps and a valve system so that the jacks can be independently operated. In the second system, one hydraulic power source is used with a single valve, and a first hydraulic line extends from the hydraulic power source to the dump side 20' ofjack 20 and to the UP side 35 ofjack 35. A second hydraulic line extends from the hydraulic power source to the load or level side 20" on the jack 20 for the bucket B and to the DOWN side 35 of the jack 35. Thus hydraulic fluid delivered with pressure through the first-mentioned hose causes the frame 10 to be moved to the RAISE position; continued application of fluid through the first line then causes the jack 20 to move the bucket B to dump position. The jack 35 is pressurized first since it offers less resistance to movement than jack 20. Similarly, fluid under pressure through the second line will cause the frame to move to an INTERMEDIATE or DOWN position and then the bucket B to return to a load or level position. Again the jack 35 is fully actuated before hydraulic pressure is applied to jack 20 due to the fact that the jack 35 can he moved with less pressure.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are illustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the size, shape and materials as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim: 1. An earth moving device adapted for use in conjunction with a tractor or the like, comprising:

scraper bucket means for receiving and dumping earth, said scraper bucket means including means for attaching said device to a tractor or the like;

an axle assembly including first and second axle means having wheels mounted therein to rollably support said device, and means mounting said first and second axle means for relative rotational movement to a tilted position;

connect means mounting said scraper bucket means and said axle assembly for pivotal movement with respect to each other; and

actuator means mounted with said scraper bucket means and said axle assembly for raising and lowering said scraper bucket means by effecting pivotal 7 said power means including a power unit connected to said scraper bucket means and said axle assembly for moving said axle assembly to said tilted position by effecting relative rotation between said first and second axle means; and

said limit means including means locking said scraper bucket against pivotal movement with respect to said axle assembly whereby said scraper bucket means is moved with said axle assembly to said tilted position.

3. The structure set forth in claim 1, including:

lock means for locking said first and second axle means against rotational movement.

4. The structure set forth in claim 1, including:

said connect means includes means connecting said scraper bucket means and said axle assembly for joint movement with said first and second axle means to a tilted position.

5. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said scraper bucket means includes:

a main frame member adapted for connection to said tractor or the like;

a scraper bucket and bucket mount means mounting said scraper bucket for pivotal movement with respect to said main frame member; and

a power unit mounted with said main frame member and with said scraper bucket for pivoting said scraper bucket to load and dump positions and positions therebetween.

6. The structure set forth in claim 5, including:

means for adjusting said load position of said scraper bucket.

7. The structure set forth in claim 1, including:

said first axle means including a first shaft member;

and

said second axle means including a second shaft member; and

means mounting said second shaft member within said first shaft member for rotational movement between a level and a tilted position.

8. The structure set forth in claim 7, including:

means locking said scraper bucket means for movement with said first shaft member for moving said scraper bucket means to said tilted position.

9. The structure set forth in claim 5, including:

- said first axle means including a first shaft member;

said second axle means including a second shaft member; and

said axle assembly including means mounting said second shaft member within said first shaft member for rotational movement with respect to each other to a tilted position.

10. The structure set forth in claim 9, wherein:

said power means includes a hydraulic cylinder assembly attached to said main frame member and to said second shaft for moving said scraper bucket and main frame member upwardly and downwardly.

11. The structure set forth in claim 9, wherein said limit means further includes:

means on said main frame member for engaging said first shaft member to cooperate with said power means to move said first and second shaft members and said scraper bucket to a tilted position.

12. The structure set forth in claim 10, including:

a lug attached to said main frame member for locking said main frame member for movement with said first and second shaft members;

said hydraulic cylinder assembly moving said main frame member and said scraper bucket from an up position downwardly to an intermediate position wherein said lug engages said first shaft member for movement therewith; and

said hydraulic cylinder assembly moving said first and second shaft members and said main frame member and scraper bucket locked for movement therewith, from said intermediate position to said tilted position.

13. The structure set forth in claim 12, including:

said lug including means-for adjusting the intermediate position in which said lug engages said first shaft member as said main frame member is moved downwardly.

14. The structure set forth in claim 13, including:

said lug including means for adjusting the tilt angle of said scraper bucket in said tilted position.

15. The structure set forth in claim 7, including:

said first shaft member having a hollow portion therein; and

said second shaft member being mounted'in said hollow portion of said first shaft member for pivotal movement with respect to said first shaft member.

16. A ground contouring implement, comprising:

scraper bucket means;

an axle assembly supporting said scraper bucket means for movement across the ground to be contoured and swingably coupled with said bucket means for shifting of the latter toward and away from the ground during swinging of said axle assembly;

a power unit coupled with said axle assembly and said scraper bucket means for effecting powered raising and lowering of said scraper bucket means;

said axle assembly including a first and a second relatively shiftable axle means;

limit means mounted with said bucket means and said first axle means for precluding further swinging of said first axle means with respect to said scraper bucket means at one end of the path of travel of said axle means; and

said power unit intercouplingsaid second axle means and said bucket means, said power unit moving said axle assembly and scraper bucket means to a down tilted position with said limit means precluding relative swinging of said scraper bucket means and said axle assembly by shifting said second axle means with respect to said first axle means.

17. In a ground contouring implement as claimed in claim 16, wherein:

said first and second axle means include a pair of relatively rotatable members connected to said limit means and said power unit, respectively.

18. In a ground contouring implement as claimed in claim 16, wherein:

retaining means is operable to selectively hold said first and second axle means locked together. 19. In a ground contouring implement as claimed in claim 16, wherein:

claim 2, wherein:

said first shaft portion further includes lug means projecting outwardly therefrom for receiving a releasably mounted pin which extends through said lug means on said first shaft portion and through said crank element extending from said second shaft portion.

Claims

1. An earth moving device adapted for use in conjunction with a tractor or the like, comprising: scraper bucket means for receiving and dumping earth, said scraper bucket means including means for attaching said device to a tractor or the like; an axle assembly including first and second axle means having wheels mounted therein to rollably support said device, and means mounting said first and second axle means for relative rotational movement to a tilted position; connect means mounting said scraper bucket means and said axle assembly for pivotal movement with respect to each other; and actuator means mounted with said scraper bucket means and said axle assembly for raising and lowering said scraper bucket means by effecting pivotal movement between said scraper bucket means and said axle assembly, said actuator means including limit means limiting pivotal movement between said scraper bucket means and said axle assembly and power means causing relative rotation between said first and second axle means to move said axle means and said scraper bucket means to a down, tilted position.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said actuator means includes: said power means including a power unit connected to said scraper bucket means and said axle assembly for moving said axle assembly to said tilted position by effecting relative rotation between said first and second axle means; and said limit means including means locking said scraper bucket against pivotal movement with respect to said axle assembly whereby said scraper bucket means is moved with said axle assembly to said tilted position.

3. The structure set forth in claim 1, including: lock means for locking said first and second axle means against rotational movement.

4. The structure set forth in claim 1, including: said connect means includes means connecting said scraper bucket means and said axle assembly for joint movement with said first and second axle means to a tilted position.

5. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein said scraper bucket means includes: a main frame member adapted for connection to said tractor or the like; a scraper bucket and bucket mount means mounting said scraper bucket for pivotal movement with respect to said main frame member; and a power unit mounted with said main frame member and with said scraper bucket for pivoting said scraper bucket to load and dump positions and positions therebetween.

6. The structure set forth in claim 5, including: means for adjusting said load position of said scraper bucket.

7. The structure set forth in claim 1, including: said first axle means including a first shaft member; and said second axle means including a second shaft member; and means mounting said second shaft member within said first shaft member for rotational movement between a level and a tilted position.

8. The structure set forth in claim 7, including: means locking said scraper bucket means for movement with said first shaft member for moving said scraper bucket means to said tilted position.

9. The structure set forth in claim 5, including: said first axle means including a first shaft member; said second axle means including a second shaft member; and said axle assembly including means mounting said second shaft member within said first shaft member for rotational movement with respect to each other to a tilted position.

10. The structure set forth in claim 9, wherein: said power means includes a hydraulic cylinder assembly attached to said main frame member and to said second shaft for moving said scraper bucket and main frame member upwardly and downwardly.

11. The structure set forth in claim 9, wherein said limit means further includes: means on said main frame member for engaging said first shaft member to cooperate with said power means to move said first and second shaft members and said scraper bucket to a tilted position.

12. The structure set forth in claim 10, including: a lug attached to said main frame member for locking said main frame member for movement with said first and second shaft members; said hydraulic cylinder assembly moving said main frame member and said scraper bucket from an up position downwardly to an intermediate position wherein said lug engages said first shaft member for movement therewith; and said hydraulic cylinder assembly moving said first and second shaft members and said main frame member and scraper bucket locked for movement therewith, from said intermediate position to said tilted position.

13. The structure set forth in claim 12, including: said lug including means for adjusting the intermediate position in which said lug engages said first shaft member as said main frame member is moved downwardly.

14. The structure set forth in claim 13, including: said lug including means for adjusting the tilt angle of said scraper bucket in said tilted position.

15. The structure set forth in claim 7, including: said first shaft member having a hollow portion therein; and said second shaft member being mounted in said hollow portion of said first shaft member for pivotal movement with respect to said first shaft member.

16. A ground contouring implement, comprising: scraper bucket means; an axle assembly supporting said scraper bucket means for movement across the ground to be contoured and swingably coupled with said bucket means for shifting of the latter toward and away from the ground during swinging of said axle assembly; a power unit coupled with said axle assembly and said scraper bucket means for effecting powered raising and lowering of said scraper bucket means; said axle assembly including a first and a second relatively shiftable axle means; limit means mounted with said bucket means and said first axle means for precluding further swinging of said first axle means with respect to said scraper bucket means at one end of the path of travel of said axle means; and said power unit intercoupling said second axle means and said bucket means, said power unit moving said axle assembly and scraper bucket means to a down tilted position with said limit means precluding relative swinging of said scraper bucket means and said axle assembly by shifting said second axle means with respect to said first axle means.

17. In a ground contouring implement as claimed in claim 16, wherein: said first and second axle means include A pair of relatively rotatable members connected to said limit means and said power unit, respectively.

18. In a ground contouring implement as claimed in claim 16, wherein: retaining means is operable to selectively hold said first and second axle means locked together.

19. In a ground contouring implement as claimed in claim 16, wherein: said first axle means including a hollow, first shaft portion for receiving a second shaft portion of said second axle means, said second shaft portion including a crank element which extends through an opening in said first shaft portion for connection with said power means.

20. In a ground contouring implement as claimed in claim 2, wherein: said first shaft portion further includes lug means projecting outwardly therefrom for receiving a releasably mounted pin which extends through said lug means on said first shaft portion and through said crank element extending from said second shaft portion.