WO1980001182A1

WO1980001182A1 - Bulldozer blade assembly for a compactor

Info

Publication number: WO1980001182A1
Application number: PCT/US1978/000203
Authority: WO
Inventors: F Kokaly
Original assignee: Caterpillar Tractor Co; F Kokaly
Priority date: 1978-12-11
Filing date: 1978-12-11
Publication date: 1980-06-12

Abstract

A diagonal brace (60) is provided for attaching a bulldozer blade (40) to a vehicle (10). One end (62) of the brace (60) is connected to one end (42) of the bulldozer blade (40) and the other end (64) of the brace (60) is connected to a wheel cleaning assembly (30) of the vehicle (10). The brace (60) extends diagonally from the blade (40) to the wheel cleaning assembly (30) on the opposite side of the vehicle (10). The brace (60) provides a rigid link which absorbs transverse forces, such as those forces encountered when the bulldozer blade (40) encounters a stationary object.

Description

Bulldozer Blade Assembly For A Compactor

Technical Field This invention relates to braces for attaching bulldozer blades to vehicles, and more particularly to diagonally positioned braces.

Background Art

It. is common practice, particularly on large bulldozer blades, to provide a diagonal brace angularly extending between the blade and main frame of the vehicle. Such a brace resists horizontal movement of the blade when horizontal forces are subjected upon the blade during operation, such as when a rock, stump, or other stationary object is encountered. A typical brace is described in U,S. Patent

No. 3,825,074 granted to Robert Stedman and Robert Purcell on July 23, 1974. This brace is connected to the right end of the blade and to the main frame of the track-type tractor at a location between the tracks. In this manner horizontal forces are transmitted through the brace to the main frame so that the brace acts as a rigid link which resists horizontal motion of the blade.

Because it is desirable to move the blade vertically up and down, the brace is pivotally connected. The blade end of the link moves with the blade and sweeps out an arc as the blade moves vertically. There is a problem which is encountered , however . The brace sweeps out an arc which means that the end of the brace is not always the same distance from the tracks, frame or other reference point. This requires that ample clearance exist between the push arms, which connect the blade to the frame, and the frame or tracks to prevent interference when the blade, and consequently the push arms, move laterally.

Horizontal braces, as described in U.S. Patent No. 3,941,195 granted to Robert Stedman on March 2, 1976 also require ample clearance because of the arc swept out by the brace.

Dual diagonal braces are described in U.S. Patent No. 3,025,620 which issued t,o Richard K. Liess on March 20, 1962. These are braces connected to the push arms and to the bulldozer blade, but these braces are not connected to the main frame and cannot transmit lateral forces from the blade to the frame. When the braces are connected to the push arms, lateral forces are transmitted to the push arms causing the push arms and the blade to move laterally. When this happens the push arms can bind on the frame or other parts of the vehicle.

In earth compactors which are equipped with bulldozer blades, a short brace is attached, as previously described, to the blade and frame between the wheels since there is no other place to connect the brace. Some compactors have a wheel cleaning assembly connected about each wheel. One such compactor is described in U.S. Patent No. 3,554,101 which issued on January 12, 1971 to Gerald E, Grant and Victor Randour. Unfortunately, these wheel cleaning assemblies are supported by the wheel axle and are not strong enough to support a brace. Therefore, the brace is connected between the wheels to the frame. It is therefore desirable to have a brace which acts as a rigid link to horizontal blade motion but which poses no interference problems. It is also desirable to have a brace connected in such a manner that it is longer than braces connected to the frame between the wheels to thereby sweep out an arc that requires minimum clearance. Disclosure of Invention

In one aspect of the present invention, a vehicle has first and second wheels, first and second assemblies associated with a respective wheel and each having a front member and a rear member, and a bull¬dozer blade connected to one of the front members by a diagonal brace at a location toward the side of the wheel opposite the end of the bulldozer blade to which the brace is connected. The diagonal brace is longer because it is connected towards the outside of the wheel rather than the inside of the wheel and absorbs horizontal forces when the bulldozer blade encounters a stationary object.

Brief Description of Drawings FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of an earth compactor equipped with a bulldozer blade and a diagonal brace; and

FIG. 2 is a side view of the earth compactor of FIG. 1.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Referring to FIG, 1, a vehicle, such as an earth compactor 10, has a main frame 12 with first and second earth compacting wheels 14,16 attached to the frame 12 as is well known in the art. The first or right wheel 14 is positioned to the right of the main frame 12 while the second or left wheel 16 is positioned to the left of the main frame 12. A longitudinal axis 18 divides the main frame 12 and compactor 10 into left and right portions with the left portions being to left of the axis 18 and right portions being to the right of the axis 18.

A wheel cleaning assembly 20 is associated with the first wheel 14 for removing earth and debris from the wheel 14. The cleaning assembly 20 includes a front member 22 which is positioned forward of the first wheel 14 and a rear member 24 which is positioned rearward of the first wheel 14. A plurality of cleaning elements 26 are attached to each member 22,24 for removing debris. The front and rear members 22,24 are each connected to the main frame 12, preferably by bolts or the like.

Similarly, a wheel cleaning assembly 30 is associated with the second wheel 16 for removing earth and debris from the wheel 16. The cleaning assembly 30 includes a front member 32 which is positioned forward of the second wheel 16 and a rear member 34 which is positioned rearward of the second wheel 16. A plurality of cleaning elements 36 are attached to each member 32,34 for removing debris. The front and rear members

32,34 are each connected to the main frame 12, preferably by bolts or the like.

The front members 22,32 can be separate, individual members constructed of strong, durable material such as steel or can be connected members constructed of a continuous steel material. Connected members are preferred for maximum strength. Similarly, the rear members 24,34 can be separate or unitary. A bulldozer blade 40 is attached to the compactor 10 and is positioned forward of the wheels 14,16 as is known in the art. The first or right end portion 42 of the blade 40 is connected by a push arm 44 to the rear member 24. The push arm 44 is pivotally connected to the rear member 24 and blade 40 by universal joints or the like so that the blade 40 can move vertically. Similarly, the second or left end portion 52 of the blade 40 is pivotally connected to the rear member 34 by push arm 54. A pair of lift cylinders (not shown) are connected to the blade 40 for vertically moving the blade as is known in the art. A brace 60 has a first enά portion 62 and a second end portion 64. The first end portion 62 is connected to a selected one 42 of the first and second end portions 42,44 of the bulldozer blade 40 on one side of the vehicle 10. The second end portion 64 of the brace 60 is connected to a selected one 32 of the front members 22,32 of the first and second wheel cleaning assemblies, 20,30 on the opposite side of the vehicle 10. The second end portion 64 is connected to the selected front member 32 at a location toward. the side of the associated wheel 16 that is opposite the selected end portion 42 of the blade 40. The brace 60 extends diagonally from the selected end portion 42 of the blade 40 to the selected front member 32. As shown in FIG. 1, the brace 60 has its right end 62 connected to the right end 42 of the blade 40 and its left end 64 connected to the left front member 32. The brace 60 can also be connected with its left end 64 connected to the left end 52 of the blade 40 and its right end 62 connected to the right front member 22, if desired.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the brace 60 is connected to the blade 40 and front member 32 by pivotal connections 66 so that one end 62 of the brace 60 traces a vertical arc as it moves in response to vertical movement of the bulldozer blade 40. The brace 60 is disposed generally horizontally when the blade 40 is in its normal ground engaging position. By this construction, the brace 60 vertically rotates but provides a rigid link between the blade 40 and front member 32 which resists horizontal motion.

By connecting the brace 60 to the front member 32 at the extreme left hand position, the brace 60 has a longer length than if it were connected nearer the axis 18 of the vehicle 10. In this manner, the movement of the first end 62 of the brace 60 more nearly approximates a straight line than when the brace 60 is shorter.

Industrial Applicability In operation, as the compactor 10 moves forward, the bulldozer blade 40 pushes earth thereby providing a level path of earth which is compacted by the wheels 14,16. When a stationary object such as a rock or stump is encountered, forces are subjected upon the blade 40. When the blade 40 squarely strikes the object, the forces are transmitted through the push arms 44,54 to the main frame 12 of the vehicle 10. When the blade 40 obliquely strikes the objects, there are additional forces which tend to move the blade 40 horizontally or transversely in a direction generally perpendicular to the axis 18. This horizontal movement is very undesirable because it damages the pivotal joints connecting the blade to the rear members 24,34. When the pivotal joints are damaged the push arms 44,54 can scrape against other vehicle portions thereby impairing the usefulness and effectiveness of the compactor 10.

The brace 60 acts as a rigid link which transmits these horizontal forces from the blade 40 to the front member 32 and to the main frame 12. Because the pivotal connections 66 do not pivot horizontally or transmit motion horizontally, any horizontal movement of the blade 40 relative to the frame 12 is made against the link 60. The length of the brace 60 is important since the brace 60 must be capable of moving pivotally as the blade 40 is raised or lowered. By connecting the brace 60 at the extreme left of the compactor 10, the arc which is made as the first end 62 moves has a very large radius and more nearly approximates straight line than a shorter brace. As the length of the radius increases the clearance required between the push arms 44,54 and the sides of the compactor decreases because the horizontal movement of the blade 40 is less.

Other aspects, objects and advantages of this invention can be obtained from a study of the drawings, the disclosure and the appended claims.

Claims

1. In a vehicle (10) having a frame (12), first and second wheels (14,16), a first wheel assembly (20) associated with the first wheel (14) and having a front member (22) positioned forward of the first wheel (14) and a rear member (24) positioned rearward of the first wheel (14), a second wheel assembly (30) associated with the second wheel (16) and having a front member (32) positioned forward of the second wheel (16) and a rear member (34) positioned rearward of the second wheel (16), and a bulldozer blade (40) having a first end portion (42) connected to the rear member (24) of the first wheel assembly (20) and a second end portion (44) connected to the rear member (34) of the second wheel assembly (30), the improvement comprising: a brace (60) having a first end portion (62) and a second end portion (64), said first end portion (62) being connected to a selected one (42) of the first and second end portions (42,44) of the bulldozer blade (40) on one side of the vehicle (10), said second end portion (64) being connected to a selected one (32) of the front members (22,32) of the first and second wheel assemblies (20,30) on the opposite side of the vehicle (10), said second end portion (64) being connected to the selected front member (32) at a location toward the side of the associated wheel (16) opposite the selected end portion (42) of the bulldozer blade (40), said brace (60) extending diagonally from the selected end portion (42) of the bulldozer blade (40) to the selected front member (32).

2. A vehicle (10) as set forth in claim 1, wherein the front (22,32) and rear members (24,34) of the first and second wheel assemblies (20,30) are connected to the vehicle frame (12).

3. An earth compactor (10) comprising: a frame (12); first and second wheels (14,16); a first wheel assembly (20) associated with the first wheel (14) and having a front member (22) positioned forward of the first wheel (14) and a rear member (24) positioned rearward of the first wheel (14); a second wheel assembly (30) associated with the second wheel (16) and having a front member (32) positioned forward of the second wheel (16) and a rear member (34) positioned rearward of the second wheel (16); a bulldozer blade (40) having a first end portion (42) connected to the rear member (24) of the first wheel assembly (20) and a second end portion (44) connected to the rear member (34) of the second wheel assembly (30); and a brace (60) having a first end portion (62) and a second end portion (64), said first end portion (62) being connected to a selected one (42) of the first and second end portions (42,44) of the bulldozer blade (40) on one side of the compactor (10), said second end portion (64). being connected to a selected one (32) of the front members (22,32) of the first and second wheel assemblies (20,30) on the opposite side of the compactor (10), said second end portion (64) being connected to the selected front member (321 at a location toward the side of the associated wheel (16) opposite the selected end portion (42) of the bulldozer blade (40), said brace (60) extending diagonally from the selected end portion (42) of the bulldozer blade (40) to the selected front member (32).

4. An earth compactor (10), as set forth in claim 3, wherein the front (22,32) and rear member (24,34) of the first and second wheel assemblies (20,30) are connected to the frame (12).