Patent Publication Number: US-6662478-B1

Title: Grading bucket

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 (e) to, and hereby incorporates by reference, U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/271,361, filed Feb. 23, 2001 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to attachments for utility vehicles, and, in particular, this invention relates to attachments for utility vehicles enabling precision grading to be conducted. 
     2. Background of the Invention 
     Utility vehicles are frequently used to grade topsoil, e.g., at sites where landscaping or construction activities are occurring. When used for this purpose, buckets, or scoops, are attached to the utility vehicles. These buckets usually have a front edge, or lip, which is the only surface adapted to make cuts into soil being graded. When using a prior art combination of a utility vehicle and bucket without the presence of this invention, the bucket, when being operated substantially horizontally to the soil being graded, can cut into the soil only when traveling forward. The prior art combination is further limited by a difficulty to control the depth of the cut being made. When being operated in a rearward direction in a horizontal orientation, the prior art bucket can level and compact the soil, but cannot make a cut. When the front of the prior art bucket is tilted toward the soil being graded, the bucket can make cuts even in compacted soils when being operated in a forward direction and can only level and compact the graded soil when being operated in a rearward direction. However, it is often difficult to control the degree of tilt, hence the depth of cut being made. Thus, when being used to grade soil, the prior art combinations are limited to making cuts in only when being operated in a forward direction, often with choppy, uneven results because of the difficulty in controlling the depth of the cut being made. The prior art combinations are further limited to only leveling and compacting soil when traveling in a rearward direction. 
     There is then a need for a utility bucket attachment to enable precision grading to occur when the utility vehicle is driven in either direction. There is another need for a utility bucket attachment with a grading blade with two operable grading edges, the grading blade being detachable so as to use either grading edge or so as to be replaced. There is still another need for a utility bucket attachment with a vertically adjustable grading blade. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention substantially meets the aforementioned needs of the industry by providing a grading assembly, the grading assembly including a detachable grading element and a securing assembly. The grading element may define generally opposed first and second grading edges. The securing assembly may be configured for securing the grading element so that either the first or second grading edges thereof are in a grading position. The securing assembly may be attachable to a utility bucket and may include first and second holders and an adjusting mechanism. The first and second holders may be operably attached to a rear portion of the utility bucket in a spaced-apart relationship, so as to accommodate and secure the grading element therebetween. A plurality of gussets may be used to attach and further brace the first holder or the second holder to the utility bucket. The adjusting mechanism may include an adjustment member, which may be attachable in rigid juxtaposition to the grading element. In one embodiment, the adjustment member is attached to the grading element by one or more bolts. The adjustment member may define a pair of openings accommodating the bolts, thereby attaching the adjustment member to the grading element. The adjustment member may further define another opening accommodating another bolt, which may be threadably received within a nut, the nut attached to the adjustment member. The grading element may be adjusted vertically by rotating the other bolt, thereby displacing the adjustment member vertically as the second bolt rotating the contacts a plate affixed to the utility bucket and oriented orthogonally with respect to the second bolt. In the context of the present invention, the grading element, with two generally opposed grading edges, may be removed for repair, replacement or rotation, thereby using either grading edge. 
     It is a first object of the present invention to provide a grading assembly to enable a utility bucket to be used for precision grading when the utility vehicle is operated in either the forward or rearward direction. 
     It is a second object of the present invention to provide a grading assembly having a grading blade with a pair of generally opposed grading edges, the grading assembly configured so that either grading edge can be used. 
     It is a third object of the present invention to provide a grading assembly having a grading blade, which is removable, thereby enabling repair or replacement. 
     It is a fourth object of the present invention to provide a grading assembly with a vertically adjustable grading element. 
     It is a fifth object of the present invention to provide a grading assembly with a continuously adjustable grading element. 
     It is a sixth object of the present invention to provide a grading assembly, which is mountable to a rear portion of the utility bucket. 
     It is a seventh object of the present invention to provide a grading assembly, which is mounted and braced to a rear portion of a utility bucket, so that the grading element is stable under a variety of soil types and conditions. 
    
    
     These and other objects, features, and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the description which follows, when considered in view of the accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded view of one embodiment of the present grading assembly; 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of an adjustment member of the embodiment of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross sectional side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 mounted to a rear portion of a utility bucket; 
     FIG. 4 is a rear view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 mounted on the utility bucket of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. I mounted on the utility bucket of FIG. 3; and 
     FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. I mounted on the utility bucket of FIG.  3 . 
    
    
     It is understood that the above-described figures are only illustrative of the present invention and are not contemplated to limit the scope thereof 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION/DRAWINGS 
     Comprehension of this invention can be gained through reference to the drawings in conjunction with a thorough review of the following explanation. All dimensions of the components in the attached figures may vary with a potential design and the intended use of an embodiment of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     A grading assembly of the present intention is indicated generally at  100  in the drawings. The grading assembly  100  operationally attaches to a utility bucket, indicated at  102 . The utility bucket, in turn, is operationally attached to a utility vehicle, such as a “skid steer.” It is understood that the utility bucket depicted is only one example of several utility buckets to which the present grading assembly can be mounted and that persons of ordinary skill in the art will readily comprehend how to mount the present grading assembly to many other utility bucket embodiments. The grading assembly  100  may include a grading element, such as a blade  110 . The blade  110  is operationally attached to the utility bucket  102  with a securing assembly  112 . The securing assembly  112 , in turn, includes respective first and second holders  114  and  116  and one or more adjusting mechanisms  118 . 
     The blade  110  displays respective first and second surfaces  122  and  124  and opposing first and second edges  126  and  128  and may define one or more apertures  130 . The first and second edges  126  and  128  are beveled in this embodiment. However, one or both of the edges  126  and  128  may be orthogonal to one or both of the surfaces  122  and  124  in other embodiments. Moreover, in some embodiments it may be advantageous for other geometries to be present proximate the first and/or second edges  126  and  128 , e.g., serrated, fluted. The apertures  130  are generally square in the embodiment depicted, but may have other geometries, e.g., round, slotted. If present, slotted geometries would enable an alternate depth-adjusting mechanism (discussed below). While the blade  110  can have various dimensions, a thickness of ⅝ inch has been found to be satisfactory. However, a person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the thickness of the blade  110  could be altered to accommodate other variables, e.g., utility bucket dimensions, texture and/or degree of compaction of soil to be graded. The width of the blade  110  is determined by the dimensions of the utility bucket to which the present blade is to be mounted. 
     The first holder  114  displays respective first and second surfaces  136  and  138  (not shown) and opposing first and second edges  140  and  142 . One or more slots  144  extend from the first edge  140  and a plurality of recesses, e.g., recesses  146 ,  148 , and  150 , extend from the second edge  142 . Alternately, the cross-sectional geometry of the slots may be round, square, or the like if an alternate depth-adjusting mechanism (discussed below) is employed. 
     The second holder  116  displays respective first and second surfaces  154  and  156  and generally opposing first and second edges  158  and  160 , respectively. One or more slots  162  may be defined proximate the first edge  158  and one or more recesses, e.g., recesses  164 ,  166 , and  168 , may extend from the second edge  160 . Alternately, the cross-sectional geometry of the slots may be round, square, or the like, if an alternate depth-adjusting mechanism (discussed below) is employed. The slots  144  and  162  of the first and second holders  114  and  116  are dimensioned and disposed to align with the apertures  130  of the blade  110  and the recesses  146 ,  148 , and  150  of the first holder  114  are dimensioned and disposed to align with the respective recesses  164 ,  166 , and  168  of the second holder  116  in this embodiment. 
     Each adjusting mechanism  118  may include a stabilizer such as one or more gussets  178 , an adjustable member such as angle iron  180 , a plate  182 , an adjustable connector such as a bolt  184 , and one or more threaded members such as nut  186  and  187 . Additionally, one or more braces, such as gussets  190 , may be present as well. In the embodiment depicted the gussets  190  are generally triangular. The dimensions of the edges of the gussets  190  may be varied depending on the desired angle at which the present grading system is mounted to the bucket  102 , e.g., 65 (+/−5, 10, 15) degrees from the lower edges ( 278 ,  280 ) of the bucket end plates ( 238 ,  240 ), described more fully below. The gussets  178  are attached to angle iron  180 , e.g., by welds, to provide support and rigidity to the present grading assembly during operation. In this embodiment, the angle iron  180  may be considered to include unitary (or otherwise integral) respective first and second members  194  and  196 . The first and second members  194  and  196  may display respective first surfaces  198  and  200  and second surfaces  202  and  204 . One or more apertures, e.g., apertures  206  and  208  may be defined in the second member  196  and an aperture  210  may be defined in the first member  194 . The apertures  206  and  208  are situated on the second member  196  so as to align with slots  144  and  162  of the first and second holders  114  and  116  and with apertures  130  of the blade  110 . Threads (not shown) may be present proximate the aperture  210 . If threads are present, the nut  186  may not be necessary. 
     The blade  110  is operationally secured between the first and second holders  114  and  116  by aligning the apertures  130  with the slots  144  and  162  of the first and second holders  114  and  116 , then extending connectors, such as bolts  214 , therethrough and securing the bolts with nuts (or lock nuts)  216  and lock washers  218 . When the blade  110  is placed between the first and second holders  114  and  116  as described above, the holders are in a spaced (e.g., about ⅝ inch), generally parallel relation to each other and will allow the blade to be vertically adjusted to desired depths and will further allow the blade to be removed and reinserted as described below. Thusly assembled, the grading element  110  and first and second holders  114  and  116  are mounted to a rear portion of the utility bucket  102  in a manner such as that discussed below. 
     The utility bucket depicted at  102  has a cavity  226  defined by unitarily (or otherwise integrally) joined first, second, and third plates  228 ,  230 , and  232 , respectively. Plates  228  and  230  are joined at a bend  234  and plates  230  and  232  are joined at a bend  236 . The cavity  226  is further defined by end plates  238  and  240 . A front lip  242  is present on the embodiment shown. The second plate  230  may be considered to display respective first and second surfaces  244  and  246 . The plate  228  defines a floor of the bucket cavity and the respective plates  230  and  232  define the rear and upper bounds of the cavity  226 . Wear bars  248 ,  250 , and  252  are present to protect and support the first and second plates  228  and  230 . The wear bars  248 ,  250 , and  252  extend rearwardly from the lip  242  and contain respective bends  254 ,  256 , and  258  so as to support the plate  230 . A mounting assembly  260  is operably attached to the rear of the bucket  102  and includes brackets  262  and  264 . Brackets  262  and  264  are attached and supported by gussets  266 ,  268 ,  270 , and  272 . 
     When the blade  110  and attached first and second holders  114  and  116  are disposed in a rear portion of the utility bucket  102 , the recesses  146 ,  148 , and  150  of the first holder  114  and the recesses  164 ,  166 , and  168  of the second holder  116  will accommodate the respective wear bars  248 ,  250 , and  252 . After the blade  110 , first holder  114 , and second holder  116  are disposed in the rear of the utility bucket  102  as described above, the adjusting mechanisms  118  are attached thereto. The bolt  184  is extended through the aperture  210  and threaded into the nuts  186  and  187 . The nut  186  may then be secured to the first member  194  of the angle iron  180 , e.g., by a weld. Then the gussets  178  are affixed, e.g., by welds to the angle iron  180 . In the embodiment depicted, the gussets  178  are welded to the angle iron  180  on each side of apertures  208  and  210 . Bolts  214  are extended through slots  144  of the first holder  114 , apertures  130  of the blade  110 , slots  162  of the second holder  116 , and apertures  206  and  208  of the angle iron  180 , then secured thereto with nuts  216  and lock washers  218 . The gussets  190  are welded onto the surface  136  of the first holder  114 . The foregoing assembled components are then disposed in a rear portion of the utility bucket  102 , such that free edges of the gussets  190  contact the second surfaces  246  of the plate  230 . The gussets  190  are then attached, e.g., by welding, to the plate  230  and the first and second holders  114  and  116  are also attached, e.g., welded, to the plate  230  such as second edges  142  and  160 . The plate  182  is also attached, e.g., welded, to the plate  230  and first holder  114  so as to be orthogonal to the bolt  184  and to provide a flat surface abutting the bolt  184  when the blade  110  is vertically adjusted. 
     As shown in FIG. 3, the blade  110  is at the top of a substantially continuous adjustment range, with the lower edge  128  of the blade  110  generally parallel with the lower edges  278  and  280  of the end plates  238  and  240 . However, the blade  110 , hence edges  126  and  128 , can be adjusted generally continuously downwardly, e.g., 1½ inches in this embodiment. Adjusting the depths of the blade edges  126  and  128  is effected by loosening the nuts  187  and  216  and rotating the adjusting bolts  184 . In this embodiment, rotating the adjusting bolts  184  clockwise will adjust the blade edges  126  or  128  downwardly. Rotating the adjusting bolts  184  counterclockwise will adjust the blade edges  126  or  128  upwardly (although an operator may have to manually displace the blade  110  upwardly). Upward or downward movement of the blade  110  is effected because the bolts  214  are substantially snugly accommodated within the apertures  130  of the blade  110  and  206  and  208  of the angle iron  180 . Hence, the angle iron  180  and blade  110  are in a substantially rigid and juxtapositional relation. Thus, when moved upwardly or downwardly by rotating the adjustment bolt  184 , the bolts slide within the slots  144  and  162  of the first and second holders  114  and  116 , thereby moving the blade and angle-iron up or down with respect to the stationarily mounted first and second holders  114  and  116 . When the present blade edge is at a desired depth, the bolts  187  and  214  are then tightened to further secure the blade  110  in position. As described above, the apertures  130  may be slotted and the slots  144  and  162  on the holders  114  and  116  may be replaced by round or square apertures. In this alternate embodiment, the adjustment mechanism  118  may not be necessary. Instead, the bolts  214  are loosened, the blade  110  is manually adjusted for the desired depth, and the bolts  214  are then retightened. 
     The blade  110  may be removed and reversed such that either edge  126  or  128  can be used for grading or to allow the blade  110  to be repaired or replaced. To remove the blade  110 , the bolts  214  are loosened from the nuts  216 , then completely removed. Removing the bolts  214  allows the blade  110  to be removed and detaches angle irons  180  therefrom. The blade  110  is then removed, rotated so that the other blade edge  126  or  128  will be used for grading, and reinserted between the holders  114  and  116 . The bolts  214  are then reinserted and tightened onto the nuts  216 . The adjustment bolt  184  is rotated until the edge  126  or  128  is at a desired depth. Then, the bolts  187  and  214  are tightened to hold the blade  110  firmly in place. 
     In use, the present grading assembly permits precision grading to be conducted in either the forward or rearward directions. For example, in the forward direction, the bucket lip  242  is used to grade the soil profile and in the rearward direction the present blade, mounted as explained above, is used to perform the grading operation. The present grading blade can be adjusted to a desired depth, e.g., continuously over a 1½-inch vertical adjustment dimension. Moreover, the present blade can be removed for repair or replacement. 
     With a given blade depth adjustment, a utility vehicle and bucket retrofitted with the present invention may be operated in a forward direction with the front lip slightly elevated to effect a cut with a substantially precise depth determined by the degree of tilt. When operated in this manner, a precise cut and degree of leveling are effected; the lip and blade cooperating to provide a smoother, more uniform cut. Moreover, soil overflow from the cut will be forced into the bucket to be deposited elsewhere, thereby eliminating or minimizing the need for leveling and compaction present in prior art combinations. When buckets retrofitted with the present invention are operated backwardly with the lip tilted downwardly (blade slightly elevated), precision cutting and leveling can also be performed to achieve a smoother grade. When operated in a rearward direction with the front edge more significantly elevated, the blade performs uniform cuts into soils with greater degrees of compaction to result in more precise leveling that heretofore possible. 
     Because numerous modifications of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit thereof, the scope of the invention is not to be limited to the embodiments illustrated and described. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be determined by the appended claims