US3454110A - Saddle structure for earth grader - Google Patents

Description

y8, 6 P. E. HANSER' 3,454,110

SADDLE STRUCTURE FOR EARTH GRADER Filed June 21, 1966 Sheet of 2 c IO '0 m m m N O I Q m p N 6 6 3 o (0 a O N 70 IO N INVENTOR. PAUL E. HANSER BY 4 M ATTORN'EY l July 8; 1969 P. E. HANSER 3,454,110

SADDLE STRUCTURE FOR EARTH GRADER Filed June 21, 1966 v Sheet 3 of 2 INVENTOR. PAUL E. HANSER /IMAM W ATTORNE United States Patent 3,454,110 SADDLE STRUCTURE FOR EARTH GRADER Paul Edmund Hanser, Moline, Ill., assignor to Deere & Company, Moliue, 111., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 21, 1966, Ser. No. 559,159 Int. Cl. E02f 3/12 US. Cl. 172-793 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A saddle structure for a motor grader that includes a vertically disposed downwardly opening U-shaped track structure extending around the main fore-and-aft beam with an annular recess in a vertical face thereof. A transverse implement supporting beam positioned above the track structure with depending portions residing in the recess for guiding the transverse beam angularly, and a hydraulic locking device for locking the transverse beam structure against movement on the track structure.

This invention relates to an earth grader and more particularly to the saddle structure on the longitudinal main beam of the grader that conventionally angles the blade.

Normally a road grader or scraper is composed of a fore-and-aft extending main beam that is supported at its front and rear ends by wheels, one set of which is traction wheels. The beam overlies and suspends a grader blade that may be shifted transversely as well as angled vertically so that various grades and cuts may be made. The means of suspending the blade generally includes a transverse beam structure that is carried on the main fore-andaft beam and a pair of vertically disposed hydraulic cylinders that have lower ends connected to the blade structure. Often times the transverse beam structure is adapted to move angularly about the fore-and-aft extending main beam. It is the main object of the present invention to provide an improved saddle structure that permits the transverse beam structure to rotate or angle about the fore-and-aft extending main beam.

Specifically it is an object of the invention to provide an angular-shaped track that is supported transversely on the main fore-and-aft extending beam with annular grooves on opposite radial faces thereof. A transverse beam is positioned above the track and has depending wall structure disposed adjacent opposite sides of the track. The wall structures have internal guide means extending into the annular grooves for guiding the transverse beam structure around the track. The annular track has angularly spaced openings therein that receive pins carried on the depending walls. The pins are actuated by hydraulically operated rams and are inserted or withdrawn from the openings in the track as desired.

It is a further object of the invention to provide in the depending wall facing the operators station on the grader openings through which the hydraulically operated locking pins may be viewed from the operators station.

It is a further object of the invention to provide the annular track to have an open underside so that it may be removed from the main fore-and-aft extending beam. The fore-and-aft extending beam has upwardly facing ledges and the annular track has cooperating downwardly facing ledges that rest upon the ledges on the main fore-and-aft beam. The two ledges are detachably interlocked.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the nature of the invention is better understood from the following description and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

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FIG. 1 is a front and side perspective view of the main portions of the road grader.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the road grader taken substantially along a vertical transverse plane just forwardly of the saddle structure and looking rearwardly.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the structure shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side and rear perspective view of a portion of the saddle and main beam structure.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

The grader is composed of a rearwardly positioned tractor 10 having two sets of transversely spaced traction wheels 11 and a pair of front steerable wheels, one of which is shown at 12. Interconnecting the tractor and the front steerable wheels 12 is a fore-and-aft extending main beam 13 that is rectangular in cross section; having vertical side Walls 14, 15 and horizontal upper and lower walls 16, 17 respectively. An operators station 18 is supported on the rear end of the main beam 13. Suitable controls and steering mechanism are provided adjacent the operators station 18 so that an operator may operate the various hydraulic units of the grader as well as steer the grader.

Suspended beneath the main beam 13 is a grader blade 19 suitably carried, in conventional manner, by a circle 20 having an internal gear, not shown, but suitably controlled for rotation by a hydraulic rotary motor, indicated by its housing 21. A beam structure is positioned above the longitudinal beam 13- and has opposite ends thereof projecting transversely outwardly of the beam 13. The beam structure 25 is composed basically of a downwardly opening U-shaped structural plate 26 with foreand-aft spaced apart walls 27, 28. Trunnion blocks 29', 30 are welded to the internal surfaces of the transverse beam portion 26 adjacent opposite ends thereof. The trunnions receive horizontal and transversely outwardly projecting swivel pins, shown partially at 31, 32, carrying yokes 33, 34. Swiveled on the yokes 33, 34 are vertically disposed extensible and retractable links or hydraulic cylinders 35, 36 that have their rod ends connected to structure on the circle 20'. Welded to and projecting forwardly from the Wall 28 is a reinforcing structural member 40 that includes in part a semicircular or semiannular portion 41 and an outwardly and downwardly extending arm portion 42. The arm portion 42 has a ball section 43 of a ball-and-socket joint at its lower end. A third hydraulic cylinder 44 extends from the ball 43 transversely beneath the main beam 13 to a lower end connected to the circle structure 20-. As is clearly apparent, the hydraulic cylinders 35, 36 and 44 operate to raise and lower and tilt the blade 19.

The transverse beam structure 25 is supported on the main fore-and-aft extending beam 13 by means of an annular track member that extends around the beam 13 and opens downwardly so as to permit the track member 50 to be removed. The side walls 14, 15 have outwardly projecting ledge members 51, 52. Cast integral with the track 50 are a pair of ledge members 53, 54 that face downwardly and are supported on the lower ledge members 51, 52. Suitable bolts 55 detachably but rigidly connect the ledge members 53, 54 to the ledge members 51, 52.

As may best be seen from viewing FIG. 6, the track is I-shaped in cross section having annular grooves 60, 61 in its front and rear radial faces respectively. The flange 63 between the respective grooves 60, 61 has a plurality of angularly spaced pin receiving openings 64.

Fixed to the semicircular structural member 41 on opposite sides thereof is a pair of hydraulically operated locking pin structures 65. Each structure 65 includes a head plate 66 that has its outer edges bolted, as at 67, to the structural member 41. The plate 66 bears against a fluid cylinder 68. The forward end of the cylinder 68 bears against the end of a sleeve 69 extending fore-andaft through the semicircular structural portion 41 and the wall portion 28. The forward end of the sleeve 69 operates as a boss portion that is inserted in the groove 61 and operates as a guide Within the groove 61. A snap ring 70 is fitted on the outer surface of the sleeve 69 and limits its inward travel in respect to the groove 61. The sleeve 69 carries a locking pin 72 having a forward tapered end 73 that is received in the openings 64 of the track, the openings 64 being also tapered in accordance with the taper of the pin end 73. The forward end of the pin 72 extends through the guide 69 and into the cylinder 68. A sealing ring 74 is positioned on the extreme forward end of the pin 72. A similar sealing ring 75 is slidably positioned, in respect to the pin 72, adjacent the end of the sleeve 69. A fluid passage 76 is provided in the cylinder 68 between the rings 74, 75 so that fluid may be moved into the cylinder to thereby move the pin 72 axially to unlock the entire saddle structure 25 to permit angular movement in respect to the track structure 50.

The wall 27 that faces the operators station 18 has a pair of openings 80 in alignment with the locking structure 65 and particularly in alignment with the pin 72. The purpose of the openings 80 is to permit the operator to view the positions of the pins 72 in respect to the respective openings 64. Thus, the operator may determine whether the pins 72 are properly aligned with the openings 64 and also whether the pins 72 are in their locked or unlocked position in respect to the openings 64. Suitable guide blocks 81 are fixed to the front wall 27 and are positioned just outwardly of the openings 80. The blocks engage the outer edge of the track 50 and generally hold the track in proper fore-and-aft alignment in respect to the transverse beam structure 25. The forward end of each of the pins 72 is provided with an axial opening 84 that receives a pilot rod 83 fixed to the central portion of the end plate 66. The pilot 83 operates to stabilize the pin 72 in its axial movement and has an axial fluid passage through which hydraulic fluid may move to and from the opening 84. Thus movement of fluid into opening 84 will force the pin 72 into a locked position in respect to the track 50.

What is claimed is:

1. A saddle construction for use in a road grader having a fore-and-aft extending main frame, comprising: an annular-shaped upright track supported transversely on the frame and formed about a fore-and-aft axis and having an annular groove recessed in a radial face thereof; a transverse beam positioned above the track having depending structure including fore-and-aft spaced vertical walls adjacent the track; guide means on the walls with at least part thereof extending into the recessed groove for guiding the transverse beam for angular movement around the track; a plurality of angularly spaced openings in the track; pin means carried on the walls for movement into and out of engagement with the openings; hydraulic means on the depending structure for forcibly adjusting the pin means into and out of the openings for locking the structure against movement and for releasing the structure for movement respectively; and transversely spaced connections for depending extensible and retractable links on the transverse beam.

2. A saddle construction for use in a road grader having a fore-and-aft extending main frame, comprising: an annular-shaped track supported transversely on the frame and formed about a fore-and-aft axis and having an annular groove in a radial face; transverse beam strucan annular groove in a radial face; trnsverse bem structure having fo re-and-aft spaced guide means adjacent to and engageable with opposite sides of the track with one of said guide means extending into the annular groove for guiding the transverse beam structure for angular movement around the track; a plurality of angularly spaced openings in the track; pin means carried on the beam structure for movement into and out of engagement with the openings; hydraulic means on the beam structure for forcibly adjusting the pin means into and out of the openings for locking the beam against movement and for releasing the beam structure for movement respectively; and transversely spaced connections for depending extensible and retractable links on the transverse beam structure.

3. The structure as set forth in claim 2 in which the road grader has an operators station rearwardly of the saddle-structure and the beam structure has a vertical Wall on the side of the track facing the operators station with openings therein aligned with the pin means whereby an operator may view the position of the pin means in relation to seating in the respective openings of the track.

4. The structure as set forth in claim 2 in which the pin means are horizontal pins supported to slide axially into and out of engagement with openings in the track, and further characterized by the pins and openings being tapered.

5. The structure as set forth in claim 4 in which the hydraulic means is a hydraulic cylinder supported on one of the walls in axial alignment with the respective pin, and a hydraulically operated ram rigid with the pin re tained in the cylinder.

6. The structure as set forth in claim 2 in which the guide element is a rigid boss projecting from the inner face of one of the vertical walls and which surrounds the pin means.

7. The structure as set forth in claim 2 in which the main frame is a fore-and-aft extending beam, the annular track structure fits on the beam and has an open underside to permit the track to be removed from the beam, the beam has upwardly facing ledges on opposite sides, the track structure has downwardly facing ledges adapted to engage and reside on the ledges of the beam, and means detachably and rigidly interconnecting the ledges to one another.

8. In a motor grader, the combination of a fore-and-aft extending main beam with opposite sides; a pair of horizontal ledges rigid with and projecting from the sides; a transverse downwardly opening member disposed about the beam with downwardly facing ledges engaging and fixedly attached to the aforesaid horizontal ledges, said member having an outer circular-shaped groove recessed in a vertical surface thereof and encompassing the main beam; a transverse beam disposed above the main beam and having fore-and-aft projecting guide means projecting into the recessed groove for guiding the transverse beam for angular movement; and means for locking the transverse beam against movement in respect to the member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,655,743 10/1953 Ross 172-793 2,749,630 6/ 1956 Nave l72803 3,016,636 1/1962 Lado 172793 X 3,038,268 6/ 1962 Vivier 172-793 3,295,878 1/ 1967 Houvener 292-144 3,327,413 6/1967 Brinkmeyer et al. 172793 X ANTONIO F. GUIDA, Primary Examiner.

A. E. KOPECKI, Assistant Examiner.

mg UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, L5 L,l1O Dated 8 July 1969 Inventor(s) Paul Edmund Hanser are in the above-identified patent It is certified that error appe eby corrected as shown below:

and that said Letters Patent are her last line, before "transverse" insert a rm Column 3,

cancel "an annular groove in a radial face;

Column L, line 1, trneverse bem otruc-".

SIGNED AND SEALED QSEAL) Atmst:

'ficlmsrfi M. Fletcher, In 1 E- 'SGHUYLER, JR. Aitesting Officer Q-I- IIML -O Patents

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