Abstract:
A blade and mount that allows the blade angle to be adjusted without allowing the blade to either interfere with other parts of a prime mover to which it is attached, or requiring the blade to be positioned further from the center of the chassis of such prime mover. The blade is constructed using a unique arrangement of apertures on a connection structure so that it can be mounted to any machine in a manner that allows the blade angle to be adjusted while maintaining clearance to more than a single component.

Description:
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
         [0001]    Not Applicable  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to machines for excavating soils as necessary in construction projects. More specifically it relates to a machine that is adapted specifically for excavations with a blade attachment for replacing soils previously excavated and additionally for contouring the surface.  
           [0003]    Machines have been developed for general excavation, and are generally known as Excavators, an example being a mini-excavator  110  as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3. The mini-excavator  110  has evolved to include 2 basic parts, an undercarriage or chassis  112  and turret/turntable  116 . The undercarriage  112  includes the main frame  111  and typically tracks  113 . It supports the turret/turntable  116  and typically also supports a backfill blade  130 .  
           [0004]    Backfill blade  130  is supported on frame  134 , which is mounted to the main frame  111 , rotating about axis  136 , and is positioned with cylinder  132 .  
           [0005]    The upper structure, turret or turntable  116  includes the power unit, typically a diesel engine and hydraulic system, the operator&#39;s station  114 , and a backhoe  120  mounted on a pivot  122 . The turntable, it is able to rotate fully, mounted to the undercarriage  112  at the swivel joint, supported by a slew bearing. The swivel joint supports the turret  116  and further provides a valve to provide a flow path for oil to be transferred from the pump, a component of the power unit, to the track drive motors and cylinder that positions the backfill blade  130 . This valve is constructed to allow the turret to rotate freely.  
           [0006]    The operator&#39;s station  114  is mounted on the turret  116 , and the pivot  122  for the backhoe  120  is positioned directly in front of the operator&#39;s station. This arrangement provides good visibility of the backhoe  120 . As can be seen in FIG. 2 the backfill blade  130  is positioned close to the turret  116 . Positioning the backfill blade as illustrated is desirable for several functional reasons.  
           [0007]    The use of blades is common on many types of machines. The mounting structure often includes the ability to adjust the angle of the blades relative to the machine chassis. Looking at a top view, blades are known to pivot about an axis to control what is referred to as the blade angle, for instance as defined in SAE J/1SO 7134 for Graders. The control of the blade angle allows the blade to engage the soils in a way that the material is moved in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of the machine. This angled positioning of the blade greatly enhances the utility of a blade.  
           [0008]    Prior art excavators have not provided control of the blade angle, at least partially due to the need to position the blade close to the center of gravity of the machine. There is a need for an adjustable blade that can be mounted to an excavator.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    According to the present invention there is provided a modification to a mini-excavator, providing a blade and mount that allows the blade angle to be adjusted without allowing the blade to either interfere with the turret, or requiring the blade to be positioned further from the center of the chassis.  
           [0010]    An additional object of the present invention is to provide a blade that can be mounted to any machine in a manner that allows the blade angle to be adjusted while maintaining clearance to more than a single component.  
           [0011]    Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a prior art machine adapted for general excavation known as a mini-excavator;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a top view of a prior art machine adapted for general excavation known as a mini-excavator;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is a partial bottom isometric view of a prior art machine adapted for general excavation known as a mini-excavator;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a partial bottom isometric view of a mini-excavator configured with a mount for a backfill blade of the present invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 is a top view of a mini-excavator of the present invention and a backfill blade of the present invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIGS. 5 a - 5   d  are top views illustrating the backfill blade of the present invention in a variety of positions;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6 is a top view of a preferred embodiment of the backfill blade of the present invention;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIGS. 7 a - 7   d  are top views illustrating the backfill blade of the present invention in a variety of positions;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 8 is a top view of an alternate embodiment similar to the embodiment of FIG. 6, but forming the connection structure with two plates instead of four; and  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 9 is a view along line  9 - 9  of FIG. 8 showing the double plates embodiment of FIG. 8. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0022]    Referring now to the drawings, like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views. The included drawings reflect the current preferred and alternate embodiments. There are many additional embodiments that may utilize the present invention. The drawings are not meant to include all such possible embodiments.  
         [0023]    The backfill blade  200  illustrated in FIG. 4 is adapted to mount onto the blade frame  234  of excavator  110  in a manner that provides the ability for the blade angle to be adjusted. The blade frame  234  is mounted to main frame  111  in the same as that shown in the prior art, including the ability to rotate about pivot axis  136 . The blade frame  234  is raised and lowered with the same lift cylinder  132 , not shown in this figure, in order to control the height of the blade, or the depth of cut.  
         [0024]    Blade frame  234  includes two apertures or holes  236  and  238 , each defining an axis of rotation. Blade  200  includes first and second pairs of mating arcuate plates  202   a  - 202   b  and  204   a - 204   b  each spaced to fit over the blade frame  234 . Each pair of mating arcuate plates further includes respective paired apertures  210   a - 210   b  and  220   a -  220   b . This relationship is shown in FIG. 6.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 5 further illustrates the blade  200  with plates  202   a  and  204   a . Each plate includes a pivot aperture or hole,  210   a  and  220   a  respectively. These pivot apertures or holes  210   a  and  220   a  are spaced apart a distance D 1  which corresponds to the distance between apertures  238  and  236  in blade mount frame  234 .  
         [0026]    Each arcuate plate includes additional holes. Plate  202   a  includes additional apertures or holes  212   a ,  214   b , and  216   c . Plate  204   a  includes additional apertures or holes  222   a ,  224   a  and  226   a . These additional holes are located on an arc, centered about the pivot hole  210   a  or  220   a  in the opposite plate  202   a  or  204   a  as is best shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 6 also shows that holes  212   a ,  214   b , and  216   c  are located on an arc about hole  220   a , while holes  222   a ,  224   a , and  226   a  are located on an arc about hole  210   a . Referring to FIG. 4 it can be seen that for each hole  222   a ,  224   a , and  226   a  in plate  204   a  there is a corresponding hole directly below it respectively in plate  204   b . For each hole  212   a ,  214   a , and  216   a  in plate  202   a  there is a corresponding hole directly below it respectively in plate  202   b.    
         [0027]    [0027]FIGS. 5 a - 5   d  illustrate the blade installed onto the blade mount frame  234 . In FIG. 5 a  the blade is mounted at an angle of 0. A first pin, not shown, is inserted through hole  210   a  in plate  202   a , through aperture  236  of blade mount frame  234 , and through hole  210   b  of plate  202   b . A second pin, not shown, is inserted through hole  220   a  of plate  204   a , through aperture  238  of blade mount frame  234 , and through hole  220   b  of plate  204   b . Both pins are then secured. In order to adjust the blade angle the second pin is removed, and the blade  200  rotated about the center of aperture  236  until the hole  222   a  aligns with aperture  238 . The second pin is then reinserted and secured, thus securing the blade  200  at a first blade angle as illustrated in FIG. 5 b . This process can be repeated to increase the blade angle by aligning hole  224   a  with aperture  238  and reinserting the pin as illustrated in FIG. 5 c , or by aligning hole  226   a  with aperture  238  and reinserting the pin as illustrated in FIG. 5 d.    
         [0028]    The blade can be angled in the opposite direction by leaving the second pin installed through holes  220   a , aperture  238 , and hole  220   b , defining a pivot axis shown in FIG. 5 a , while aligning holes  210   a ,  212   a ,  214   a  or  216   a  with the aperture  236 . This will allow the angle of blade  200  to be substantially opposite to the respective angle of blade  200  shown in FIGS. 5 b - 5   d.    
         [0029]    The geometry of the holes as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 illustrates that the blade  200  can only pivot around one axis at a time, either the axis of holes  236 ,  210   a  and  210   b  or the axis about holes  238 ,  220   a  and  220   b.    
         [0030]    [0030]FIGS. 7 a - 7   d  illustrate the blade installed onto the blade mount frame  234 . In FIG. 7 a  the blade is mounted at an angle of zero (0). A first pin, not shown, is inserted through hole  1210   a  in plate  1202   a , through aperture  236  of blade mount frame  234 , and through hole  1210   b  of plate  1202   b . A second pin, not shown, is inserted through hole  1220   a  of plate  1204   a , through aperture  238  of blade mount frame  234 , and through hole  1220   b  of plate  204   b . Both pins are then secured.  
         [0031]    In order to adjust the blade angle, the second pin is removed and the blade  1200  is rotated about the center of aperture  236  until the hole  1222   a  aligns with aperture  1238 . The second pin is then reinserted and secured, thus securing the blade  1200  at a first blade angle as illustrated in FIG. 7 b . This process can be repeated to increase the blade angle by aligning hole  1224   a  with aperture  238  and reinserting the pin as illustrated in FIG. 7 c , or by aligning hole  1226   a  with aperture  238  and reinserting the pin as illustrated in FIG. 7 d.    
         [0032]    This procedure described in the two paragraphs above with respect to FIGS. 7 a - 7   d  is substantially the same for arranging blade  200  in these same orientations by only using the holes  210   a  and  210   b  of plates  202   a  and  202   b  respectively.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate another embodiment wherein two plates are used instead of four arcuate plates. FIGS. 8 and 9 show the blade  2200  with plates  2202   a  and  2202   b . Plate  2202   a  includes a pivot holes,  2210   a  and  2220   a  respectively. These pivot holes  2210   a  and  2220   a  are spaced apart a distance D 1  which corresponds to the distance between apertures  238  and  236  in blade mount frame  234 .  
         [0034]    Each plate  2202   a  and  2202   b  includes additional holes. Plate  2202   a  includes additional holes  2212   a ,  2214   b , and  2216   c . Plate  2202   a  includes additional holes  2222   a ,  2224   a  and  2226   a . These additional holes are located on an arc, centered about the pivot hole  2210   a  or  2220   a  in the opposite side just like the relationship of holes shown in FIG. 6.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 8 also shows that holes  2212   a ,  2214   b , and  2216   c  are located on an arc about hole  2220   a , while holes  2222   a ,  2224   a , and  2226   a  are located on an arc about hole  210   a . Referring to FIG. 9 and comparing it to FIG. 4 of the first embodiment it can be appreciated that for each hole  2222   a ,  2224   a , and  2226   a  in plate  2204   a  there is a corresponding hole directly below it respectively in plate  2204   b . For each hole  2212   a ,  2214   a , and  2216   a  in plate  2202   a , there is a corresponding hole directly below it respectively in plate  2202   b.    
         [0036]    Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.