WO2018002578A1

WO2018002578A1 - Dozer blade assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2018002578A1
Application number: PCT/GB2017/051677
Authority: WO
Inventors: James Simpson; Jonathan Taylor
Original assignee: Pearson Engineering Ltd
Priority date: 2016-06-29
Filing date: 2017-06-08
Publication date: 2018-01-04
Also published as: GB2555370B; GB2555370A; GB201611304D0

Abstract

A vehicle dozer blade assembly is provided and comprises a blade which is movable between a raised, stowed position and a lowered, dozing position. The blade is turnable in a first direction relative to the dozing position to a stabilising position, and turnable in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, relative to the dozing position to an earth anchoring position.

Description

DOZER BLADE ASSEMBLY

The present invention relates generally to a vehicle dozer blade and particularly to a dozer blade providing a multiplicity of functions.

The present invention provides a vehicle dozer blade assembly comprising a blade which is movable between a raised, stowed position and a lowered, dozing position, the blade being turnable in a first direction relative to the dozing position to a stabilising position, and turnable in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, relative to the dozing position to an earth anchoring position.

The dozer blade of the present invention therefore provides at least four different functions from the same apparatus. A first function allows the blade to be stowed i.e. a "driving position" so that the vehicle can move unencumbered.

A second function is a dozing function, allowing earth moving/shifting with or without ground penetration.

A third and fourth function is alternatively provided by tuning the blade either in a first direction to a stabilising position, or in a second direction to provide an earth anchoring position.

I In earth anchor mode the blade can be used to hold a vehicle static in order to provide a platform for different operations (e.g. winching) in a wide range of ground conditions. For example, the blade may be movable so that it is at an extreme angle and therefore digs into the ground. The blade may include a surface which in the anchoring position is generally vertical or just over vertical so that it digs into the ground. The vehicle may be raised up during this process.

In stabilising mode the blade is pushed down and raises the vehicle off the ground. In some embodiments stabilisers are provided at an opposite end of the vehicle and the front and rear of the vehicle are raised up. This could be useful, for example, if a crane was provided on the vehicle.

The assembly may include an upper actuator connected to an upper end connection point on the bucket and operable to turn the bucket between the stabilising and anchoring positions.

The actuator may retract to turn the bucket to the stabilising position and extend to turn the bucket to the anchoring position.

In some embodiments the blade assembly may be mounted or mountable on the front, rear or sides of a vehicle. One more assemblies may be provided on a vehicle.

In some embodiments the blade may include a flat, the flat being orientatable so as to be substantially parallel with the ground in the stabilising position. The load is thereby distributed over a large area. In some embodiments the blade can be moved from the stowed position to a manually lowered position. For example, in some embodiments a manual valve is provided which allows the blade to be lowered under gravity (self weight).

In some embodiments a winch is provided (on the vehicle or on the blade).

The winch may be obscured by the blade when in the stowed position and becomes accessible when in the manually lowered position.

The blade may be connected or connectable to a vehicle via a boom, a lift actuator and a pitch actuator. One or more boom and one or more actuators may be provided. In some embodiments one boom and two pairs of actuators are used. The blade may be connectable to a vehicle by: i) one or more fixed length arms extending from a lower end of the blade to the vehicle; ii) one or more first actuators extending from the lower end of the blade to the vehicle and iii) one or more second actuators extending from an upper end of the blade to the vehicle. Different configurations of actuators are possible.

In some embodiments a pair of arms, a pair of first actuators and a pair of second actuators is provided. Providing two pairs of actuators, for example, allows the dozing position to be changed. The fixed length arm (boom) may attach to the vehicle at a first point and the actuators may attach to the vehicle at a second point. The first point may be lower down on the vehicle than the second point. In some embodiments a single boom is provided; in other embodiments a pair of booms is provided.

In some embodiments corresponding pairs of booms and actuators are provided.

The boom/s and the actuators may be attached to the vehicle. The boom/s may attach to the vehicle at a first point and the actuators may attach to the vehicle at a second point.

The pitch and/or lift actuators may be connected to the vehicle. The pitch actuator/s may be connected to the boom/s.

The pitch and lift actuators may be connected to the boom/s.

The pitch and lift actuators may be connected concentrically at one end thereof (for example the end remote from the bucket).

The boom/s may be a fixed length.

The actuators may comprise rams, pistons, cylinders, screw jacks or the like. The blade may further comprise a vehicle recovery feature, for example one or more towing eyes. In some embodiments the blade covers recovery features on the vehicle itself when in the stowed position, so the vehicle recovery feature may be duplicated on the blade.

The means of actuating the blade may be hydraulically and/or pneumatically and/or electrically.

The blade may further comprise a travel lock. For example, the blade may be movable to the stowed position by hydraulic/pneumatic means and then a pin or the like is used to mechanically lock the blade in position to stop it from falling if the hydraulics/pneumatics fail.

The present invention also provides a vehicle fitted with a dozer blade as described herein.

Different aspects and embodiments of the invention may be used separately or together. Further particular and preferred aspects of the present invention are set out in the accompanying independent and dependent claims. Features of the dependent claims may be combined with the features of the independent claims as appropriate, and in combination other than those explicitly set out in the claims. The present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures I A to I D show a vehicle fitted with a blade assembly formed in accordance with the present invention and in stowed, dozing, stabilising and anchoring positions;

Figure 2 is a side view of the vehicle of Figure I A;

Figure 3 is a side view of the vehicle of Figure 2 prior to being manually lowered;

Figure 4 is a side view of the vehicle of Figure 3 in a manually lowered position; Figure 5 is a side view of the vehicle of Figure I B; Figure 6 is a side view of the vehicle of Figure I C; Figure 7 is a side view of the vehicle of Figure I D;

Figure 8 is a side view of a vehicle formed in accordance with the present invention performing a parallel lift operation; and

Figures 9 to 12 show different example linkage arrangements usable with embodiments of the present invention. Example embodiments are described below in sufficient detail to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to embody and implement the systems and processes herein described. It is important to understand that embodiments can be provided in many alternate forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples set forth herein.

Accordingly, while embodiments can be modified in various ways and take on various alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and described in detail below as examples. There is no intent to limit to the particular forms disclosed. On the contrary, all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the appended claims should be included. Elements of the example embodiments are consistently denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the drawings and detailed description where appropriate. The terminology used herein to describe embodiments is not intended to limit the scope. The articles "a," "an," and "the" are singular in that they have a single referent, however the use of the singular form in the present document should not preclude the presence of more than one referent. In other words, elements referred to in the singular can number one or more, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes," and/or "including," when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, items, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, items, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein are to be interpreted as is customary in the art. It will be further understood that terms in common usage should also be interpreted as is customary in the relevant art and not in an idealised or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

In the following description, all orientational terms, such as upper and lower are used in relation to the drawings and should not be interpreted as limiting on the invention.

In Figures I A to I D there is shown a vehicle 10 fitted with a dozer blade assembly 20. The blade is shown in stowed, dozing, stabilising and anchoring positions described in more detail below.

In Figure 2 the stowed/driving position is illustrated. The blade is stowed when not in any of the operational positions.

The assembly 20 includes a blade (or bucket) portion 22.

The blade assembly 20 includes a lower fixed length arm or boom 24 which is pivotally connected to a first connection point 25 on the vehicle at one end and pivotally connected to a lower end connection point 26 of the blade at its other end.

The blade 22 is further connected to the vehicle by a first piston 30, which extends from the lower end connection point 26 of the bucket to a second connection point 27 on the vehicle. The blade 22 is further connected to the vehicle by a second piston 32. The piston 32 extends from the second connection point 27 on the vehicle (i.e. the same part of the vehicle as the first piston) to an upper end connection part 36 of the bucket. Travel lock pins are provided to prevent misuse.

In different embodiments (see for example Figures 9 to 12 below) different linkage arrangements may be used. In Figures 3 and 4 the bucket is manually lowered, for example if access to a winch is required.

In Figure 3 straps 35 connect to a strap eye 40 on the either side vehicle and to the fixed arm 24. A manual release valve is then opened and the blade falls to the position shown in Figure 4, where it is held by the straps. It will be noted that in the manually lowered position of Figure 4 the vehicle's own towing eye 42 is revealed. The bucket 22 is also provided with such a towing eye 41 which reproduces the vehicle towing eye when the blade assembly is in the stowed position (i.e. when the vehicle towing eye is obscured by the bucket).

From the stowed position in Figure 2 the blade can be moved to the dozing position shown in Figure 5. The arms 24 pivots down; the pistons 30, 32 also pivot and extend. The blade can now be used for dozing operations. The blade is positioned to allow clearance of obstacles from the ground; and dozing with ground penetration. In this embodiment the piston 30 can be set to "float" i.e. free to move (and the piston 32 would be locked). This allows the weight of the blade to follow the ground surface in use.

In Figure 6 the blade assembly is moved to a stabilising position. The piston 30 extends and the piston 32 retracts to turn the bucket. The bucket 22 includes a flat 23, which in the stabilising position is turned so as to lie generally horizontally as shown. The flat 23 rests on the ground and spreads the load of the vehicle weight. The front end of the vehicle is raised up from its suspension to provide a stable base in this way. The bucket is positioned with a flat bottom presented to the ground to allow low ground pressure. Stabilisers (not shown) may be provided at the rear of the vehicle to raise the rear up so that the entire vehicle is lifted.

In Figure 7 the blade 22 is moved to an earth anchoring position. The piston 32 extends and the bucket is turned in the opposite direction as for the stabilising position so that the lower part of the bucket face is generally vertical. The blade is pointed down for ground penetration and presents a flat face to the front for earth anchoring. This means that the blade can dig into the ground to anchor the vehicle in position. The piston/arm arrangement of the blade means that a parallel lift can be achieved, as illustrated in Figure 8.

It is to be noted that co-axial arrangement of pins is not a requirement feature for the linkage to operate. Figures 9 to 12 show four different linkages, each of which would be able to move the blade in a similar fashion. The difference is that depending on the arrangement, the forces may be different, the range of motion will change as well as the behaviour of the linkage kinematics.

Figure 9 shows a linkage with concentric pins for the pitch 1 32 and lift 1 30 actuators connected to the vehicle and for the lift actuator and boom 124 connected to the blade 122.

Figure 10 shows that the pitch actuator 232 could be connected to the boom 224 (instead of the vehicle) and still provide pitch adjustment.

Figure I I shows that the lift actuator 330 could be connected to the boom 324 (instead of the vehicle) and provide lift adjustment.

Figure 12 shows both the pitch 432 and lift 430 actuators connected to the boom 424 (instead of the vehicle) and provide full adjustment.

Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiments shown and that various changes and modifications can be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

I I

Claims

I . A vehicle dozer blade assembly comprising a blade which is movable between a raised, stowed position and a lowered, dozing position, the blade being turnable in a first direction relative to the dozing position to a stabilising position, and turnable in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, relative to the dozing position to an earth anchoring position.

2. A dozer blade assembly as claimed in claim I , in which the assembly includes an upper actuator connected to an upper end connection point on the blade and operable to turn the bucket between the stabilising and anchoring positions.

3. A dozer blade assembly as claimed in claim 2, in which the actuator retracts to turn the bucket to the stabilising position and extends to turn the blade to the anchoring position.

4. A dozer blade assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the blade includes a flat, the flat being orientated so as to be substantially parallel with the ground in the stabilising position.

5. A dozer blade assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the blade can be moved from the stowed position to a manually lowered position.

6. A dozer blade assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the blade is connectable to a vehicle by: i) a boom;

ii) a pitch actuator; and

iii) a lift actuator.

7. A dozer blade assembly as claimed in claim 6, in which a boom or a pair of booms, pitch actuator or a pair of pitch actuators and a lift actuator or a pair of lift actuators is provided.

8. A dozer blade assembly as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, in which the boom/s and the actuator/s attach to the vehicle.

9. A dozer blade assembly as claimed in any of claims 6 to 8, in which the boom attaches to the vehicle at a first point and the actuators attach to the vehicle at a second point.

9. A dozer assembly as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, in which the pitch and/or lift actuators are connected to the vehicle.

10. A dozer assembly as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, in which the pitch actuator is connected to the boom.

1 1. A dozer assembly as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, in which the pitch and lift actuators are connected to the boom.

12. A dozer assembly as claimed in any of claims 6 to I I , in which the pitch and lift actuators are connected concentrically at one end thereof.

1 3. A dozer blade assembly as clamed in any of claims 6 to 12, in which the boom is a fixed length.

14. A dozer blade assembly as claimed in any of claims 6 to 1 3, in which the actuators comprise a cylinder.

1 5. A dozer blade assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a vehicle recovery feature.

1 6. A dozer blade assembly as claimed in claim 1 5, in which the feature comprises one or more towing eyes.

1 7. A dozer blade assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the blade is hydraulically and/or pneumatically and/or electrically actuatable.

1 8. A dozer blade assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a travel lock.

1 9. A vehicle fitted with a dozer blade assembly as claimed in any preceding claim.

20. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 9, fitted with a winch.

2 1. A vehicle as claimed in claim 20, in which the winch is obscured by the blade when in the stowed position and is accessible when in the manually lowered position.

22. A vehicle as claimed in any of claims 19 to 2 1 , in which the dozer assembly is mounted on the front of a vehicle and stabilisers are provided at the rear of the vehicle.