Patent Publication Number: US-2016237641-A1

Title: Ground working device for a vehicle

Description:
It is known to level land surface by means of scraping or grading, wherein use is made of a (scraping or grading) blade. This blade is moved over the land surface for levelling, wherein it is usually attached to a trailer for a tractive vehicle. The surplus soil is scraped loose by the blade and pushed along until a piece of land is reached where there is a shortage of soil. The scraped-away soil is then deposited there in order to level the land surface. 
     A drawback of this method is that a great mass of soil has to be pushed forward over great distances by the blade. This takes much fuel and requires unnecessary effort from the pulling or pushing vehicle. The present invention therefore has for its object to provide an alternative to the known systems which at least partially obviates the above stated drawbacks. 
     The invention provides for this purpose a ground working device for a vehicle, comprising a scraper plate attachable to the vehicle for the purpose of displacing soil, a base plate extending at an angle relative to the scraper plate for the purpose of forming a carrier in a space enclosed by the scraper plate and the base plate, wherein the base plate is displaceable substantially in the plane in which it extends for the purpose of setting the capacity of the carrier. 
     The ground working device according to the invention makes it possible to change the capacity of the base plate for carrying soil during working of the ground, and to support soil on the base plate instead of pushing it forward. When more soil has to be supported, for instance when a larger amount of soil has to be displaced to a hole in the land, the base plate can be displaced relative to the scraper plate so that more of the base plate protrudes relative to the scraper plate. This part of the base plate can support the soil until that part of the land is reached where the soil is necessary. Here the base plate can then be moved back again, whereby the soil is deposited at the desired location because it is no longer supported by the base plate. The ground working device can for instance be applied on levelling machines, bulldozers, graders, power shovels, and can for instance be mounted on a tractor. The tractor can pull or push the device. The base plate can also consist of different parts which are optionally retractable or extendable and attachable to each other. Retractable base parts provide the advantage that, when the ground working device is not being used, it can be retracted so that it takes up less space in storage or during transport. 
     The base plate can touch the scraper plate on an underside of the scraper plate and can be slidable under the scraper plate. When the base plate and the scraper plate are touching, the amount of soil which can slip through between the base plate and the scraper plate is limited. 
     In order to form the enclosed space the scraper plate and the base plate can form an obtuse angle with each other. There is then an obtuse angle between the scraper plate and the part of the base plate functioning as carrier. The obtuse angle (i.e. an angle of between 90 and 120 degrees, and in particular between 92 and 110 degrees) makes it possible to carry a relatively large amount of soil. During use the scraper plate lies substantially perpendicularly of the ground surface for levelling; the upper side of the base plate then makes substantially an angle of between 0 and 20 degrees, and in particular an angle of between 2 and 10 degrees. The base plate hereby “catches” on or “hacks” into the surface for levelling. 
     The base plate is for instance displaceable between at least two positions, wherein in a first position the capacity of the carrier is zero; and in a second position the capacity of the carrier is such that a determined amount of soil can be carried. In the first position the base plate is displaced such that it is located wholly behind and/or under the scraper plate. A carrier is hereby not available to carry soil and the device functions as conventional scraper plate. However, when the base plate is displaced to the second position, capacity is created because at least a portion of the base plate protrudes relative to the scraper plate. 
     For the purpose of working the ground with the device according to the present invention at least one outer end of the base plate can be configured as blade, for instance for dislodging soil. Such a device is for instance suitable for evening out a piece of land. 
     The scraper plate can be mountable in height-adjustable manner relative to the vehicle. The ground working device as a whole can hereby be adjusted in height in order to modify the amount of ground to be worked. This amount can be adjusted even more precisely in combination with the setting of the base plate. The ground working device is for this purpose coupled to the vehicle by means of for instance one or more hydraulic cylinders. The cylinders can for instance be coupled in a master-slave configuration. 
     For the purpose of supporting and optionally displacing worked soil the scraper plate can be provided with at least two side walls connected to the scraper plate and/or the base plate. These side walls can serve to hold the displaced or carried soil on or in front of the ground working device. The side walls can be connected to the scraper plate, but also to the movable base plate. They can be formed as fixed side wall, but also as door or flap, wherein they can be open in order to guide soil situated outside the surface of the base plate toward the base plate. The side walls can extend further than as well as less far than the base plate. 
     In order to reduce the effect of the transition between the scraper plate and the base plate, at least one outer end of the base plate can be of substantially the same form as the scraper plate. When a portion of the base plate protrudes relative to the scraper plate, the form of the means which works the ground in that case remains substantially the same. 
     The ground working device according to the present invention can also be provided with at least one guide for guiding the displaceable base plate. The guide can also be connected for strengthening purposes to the scraper plate. The guide can for instance consist of a series of bearings in a rail, wherein the base plate can be guided in the plane in which it extends during the movement of the base plate. Displacement can hereby be facilitated and the carrying capacity of the device can be adapted more quickly and smoothly to the circumstances. 
     In an alternative embodiment the base plate is coupled to the device with an alternative mechanical connection, such as with a rod assembly. The base plate can hereby also be guided in the plane in which it extends. 
     In both stated embodiments it is also possible for the base plate to make a combination of a sliding and a rotating movement. The angle relative to the ground surface for levelling can for instance hereby be adjusted, or it is possible to ensure that the base plate does not impede the working of the ground when it is placed behind the scraper plate. 
     The guide can also be provided with a rotary element for rotating the guide and the base plate. The rotary element can be configured to change the orientation of the base plate and the guide relative to the scraper plate. The angle between the ground and the base plate can hereby be adjusted to the conditions. A small angle between the ground and the base plate will for instance encounter a lower resistance from the ground and will have less of a tendency to penetrate into the ground when compared to a larger angle. The angle can be adjusted subject to the soil conditions of the surface for working. 
     For displacement of the base plate the ground working device can be provided with a drive such as a motor or hydraulic cylinders. 
     The invention also relates to a vehicle, such as a tractor, provided with a ground working device according to the present invention. 
    
    
     
       The invention will now be elucidated with reference to the following non-limited to figures. Herein: 
         FIG. 1A  shows a ground working device according to the present invention in a first position; 
         FIG. 1B  shows a ground working device according to the present invention in a second position; 
         FIG. 1C  shows a ground working device according to the present invention in a third position between the first and second positions; 
         FIG. 2A  shows a ground working device provided with side walls attached to the base plate; 
         FIG. 2B  shows a ground working device provided with side walls attached to the scraper plate; 
         FIG. 3A  shows schematically a translating and rotating movement which a base plate of a ground working device according to the present invention can make; and 
         FIG. 3B  shows a side view of a land working device according to the present invention configured to make the movement of  FIG. 3A . 
     
    
    
       FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C  show a ground working device ( 1 ) according to the present invention. The figure shows a levelling shovel ( 1 ) for a vehicle comprising a scraper plate ( 2 ) attachable to the vehicle for displacing soil; a base plate ( 3 ) extending at an angle (a) relative to scraper plate ( 2 ) for the purpose of forming a carrier ( 4 ) in a space enclosed by scraper plate ( 2 ) and base plate ( 3 ); wherein base plate ( 3 ) is displaceable substantially in the plane (A) in which it extends for the purpose of setting the capacity of carrier ( 4 ). 
       FIG. 1A  shows ground working device ( 1 ) in a first position in which base plate ( 3 ) is located in its entirety behind and/or under scraper plate ( 2 ). The capacity of the carrier is hereby lost and the worked soil cannot be supported and carried by the carrier. 
       FIG. 1B  shows ground working device ( 1 ) in a second position in which at least a large part of base plate ( 3 ) protrudes relative to scraper plate ( 2 ). This provides for a relatively large soil capacity of carrier ( 4 ). 
       FIG. 1C  shows ground working device ( 1 ) in the third position wherein a part of base plate ( 3 ) protrudes relative to scraper plate ( 2 ). The capacity of carrier ( 4 ) in this arrangement lies between the capacity of the positions shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B . 
       FIG. 2A  shows a ground working device ( 1 ) according to the present invention provided with side walls ( 5 ). The figure shows a levelling shovel ( 1 ) for a vehicle, comprising a scraper plate ( 2 ) attachable to the vehicle for the purpose of displacing soil; a displaceable base plate ( 3 ) for forming a carrier ( 4 ) in a space enclosed by scraper plate ( 2 ) and base plate ( 3 ). The space is further enclosed by side walls ( 5 ) which are attached to base plate ( 3 ). Side walls ( 5 ) co-displace with base plate ( 3 ) when it is displaced. 
       FIG. 2B  shows a ground working device ( 1 ) according to the present invention provided with side walls ( 5 ). The figure shows a levelling shovel ( 1 ) for a vehicle, comprising a scraper plate ( 2 ) attachable to the vehicle for the purpose of displacing soil; a displaceable base plate ( 3 ) for forming a carrier ( 4 ) in a space enclosed by scraper plate ( 2 ) and base plate ( 3 ). Side walls ( 5 ) are attached to scraper plate ( 2 ) for a fixed attachment irrespective of the position of base plate ( 3 ). This arrangement is advantageous when use is made of a push shovel construction, wherein the base plate makes a substantially straight movement.  FIG. 3A  shows a schematic side view of a device according to the present invention wherein the base plate can make a combination of a sliding (A) and a rotating movement (B). The angle relative to the ground surface for levelling can for instance be hereby adjusted, or it is possible to ensure that the base plate does not impede the working of the ground when it is placed behind the scraper plate. 
       FIG. 3B  shows a side view of a device ( 6 ) according to the present invention suitable for making the movement shown in  FIG. 3A . Device ( 6 ) comprises for this purpose a guide ( 7 ) which extends over a substantially straight path but which has a curvature at an outer end thereof. 
     In addition to the shown embodiments many variants of the present invention can be envisaged, all of which are deemed to fall within the scope of protection as defined in the following claims.