Patent Publication Number: US-6659194-B1

Title: Blade angle adjustment system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to bulldozer blade angle adjuster devices and more particularly pertains to a new blade angle adjustment system for adjusting the angle of the blade with respect to the body of a bulldozer. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of bulldozer blade angle adjuster devices is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 2,766,536 describes a system for hydraulically adjusting the angle of the blade of a bull dozer. Another type of bulldozer blade angle adjuster device is U.S. Pat. No. 2,224,725 having a device for tilting the blade of the bulldozer. U.S. Pat. No. Des. 143,353 shows a bulldozer. U.S. Pat. No. 6,059,048 has an implement mounting arrangement that allows for adjusting of the angle of the blade of the bulldozer. U.S. Pat. No. 4,201,268 has a mechanism for adjusting the angle, pitch and tilt of a blade of a bulldozer. U.S. Pat. No. 6,105,682 has an apparatus for controlling an earthworking implement. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a system that has certain improved features that allow use of the existing hydraulics of the bulldozer. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention meets the needs presented above by providing a pair of sleeve assemblies that are each slidably coupled one of a pair of lifting arm and coupled to the pivot arms and extending rams for allowing one of the sliding assemblies to be repositioned with respect to other to change the angle of the blade. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new blade angle adjustment system that allows modification of an existing bulldozer without having add additional hydraulic systems to change the angle of the blade. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new blade angle adjustment system that permits the user to change the angle of the blade while the user is positioned in the cab of the bulldozer. 
     To this end, the present invention generally comprises a pair of sleeve assemblies each being designed for being slidably coupled to one of a pair of lifting arms of the bulldozer. Each of the sleeve assemblies comprises a mounting member coupled to a main portion of an associated one of the sleeve assemblies. The mounting member of each of the sleeve assemblies is designed for pivotally receiving one of a pair of pivot arms of the bulldozer whereby each of the pivot arms is pivotable with respect to the associated one of the lifting arms each of the sleeve assemblies is designed for being coupled to one of a pair of extending rams of the bulldozer whereby lengthening of one of the extending rams slides the associated one of the sleeve assemblies along the associated one of the lifting arms for changing the positioning of one of the pivot arms with respect to the other of the pivot arms to angle the blade with respect to a body of the bulldozer. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a new blade angle adjustment system according to the present invention shown in use. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of one of the sleeve assemblies of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a top exploded view of one of the sleeve assemblies of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a bottom view of one of the sleeve assemblies of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a side view of one of the sleeve assemblies of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of one of the sleeve assemblies of the present invention taken along line  6 — 6  of FIG.  3 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 6 thereof, a new blade angle adjustment system embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, the blade angle adjustment system  10  generally comprises a pair of sleeve assemblies  11  each being designed for being slidably coupled to one of a pair of lifting arms of the bulldozer. Each of the sleeve assemblies  11  comprises a mounting member  12  coupled to a main portion  13  of an associated one of the sleeve assemblies  11 . The mounting member  12  of each of the sleeve assemblies  11  is designed for pivotally receiving one of a pair of pivot arms of the bulldozer whereby each of the pivot arms is pivotable with respect to the associated one of the lifting arms, each of the sleeve assemblies  11  is designed for being coupled to one of a pair of extending rams of the bulldozer whereby lengthening of one of the extending rams slides the associated one of the sleeve assemblies  11  along the associated one of the lifting arms for changing the positioning of one of the pivot arms with respect to the other of the pivot arms to angle the blade with respect to a body of the bulldozer. 
     Each of the sleeve assemblies  11  comprises a perimeter wall  14 . The perimeter wall  14  defines a lumen  15  extending through the associated one of the sleeve assemblies  11 . The lumen  15  of each the sleeve assemblies  11  is designed for slidably receiving one of the lifting arms of the bulldozer for permitting the associated one of the sleeve assemblies  11  to be slidably positioned along the associated one of the lifting arms. 
     Each of the sleeve assemblies  11  comprises a medial wall  16 . The medial wall  16  is coupled between an exterior wall  17  and an interior wall  18  of the perimeter wall  14  of the associated one of the sleeve assemblies  11  whereby the medial wall  16  divides the lumen  15  into an upper portion  19  and a lower portion  20 . The lower portion  20  of the lumen  15  is designed for receiving one of lifting arms of the bulldozer. The upper portion  19  of the lumen  15  is designed for permitting hydraulic lines and the associated one of the extending rams of the bulldozer to pass through the sleeve assemblies  11 . The medial wall  16  separates the hydraulic lines from the lifting arm to prevent the hydraulic lines from becoming pinched between the lifting arm and the perimeter wall  14  of the associated one of the sleeve assemblies  1 I 1  and rupturing one of the hydraulic lines. 
     The perimeter wall  14  of the each of the sleeve assemblies  11  comprises a top wall  21 . The top wall  21  extends between a top edge  22  of the exterior wall  17  and an upper edge  23  of the interior wall  18 . The top wall  21  comprises a plurality of access apertures  24  extending through the top wall  21  whereby each of the access apertures  24  are designed for permitting access to the hydraulic lines and the associated one of the extending arms passing through the upper portion  19  of the lumen  15  of the associated one of the sleeve assemblies  11 . 
     Each of the sleeve assemblies  11  comprises a plurality of cover plates  25 . Each of the cover plates  25  is selectively coupled to the top wall  21  of the perimeter wall  14  whereby each of the cover plates  25  is positioned over one of the access apertures  24 . Each of the cover plates  25  is designed for inhibiting debris from becoming lodged in the upper portion  19  of the lumen  15 . 
     Each of the sleeve assemblies  11  comprises a pair of attachment tabs  26 . Each of the tabs outwardly extends from the perimeter wall  14  whereby the attachment tabs  26  are positioned in a spaced relationship. The attachment tabs  26  are designed for being oppositely positioned around one of the extending rams of the bulldozer whereby the attachment tabs  26  are designed for being coupled to the associated one of the extending rams to secure the associated one of the sleeve assemblies  11  to the associated one of the extending rams. 
     Each of the attachment tabs  26  of the sleeve assemblies  11  comprises a bore  27 . The bore  27  of one of the attachment tabs  26  is aligned with the bore  27  of the other of the attachment tabs  26  of the associated one of the sleeve assemblies  11 . The bore  27  of each of the attachment tabs  26  is designed for receiving a mounting pin whereby the mounting pin pivotally couples the associated one of the extending rams to the associated one of the sleeve assemblies  11 . 
     In use, the user disconnects the pivot arms from the lifting arms. Each of the lifting arms is then inserted into the lower portion  20  of the lumen  15  of one of the sleeve assemblies  11 . The each of pivot arms are then coupled to the mounting member  12  of the associated one of the sleeve assemblies  11 . Each of the extending rams of the bulldozer are extended through the upper portion  19  of the lumen  15  and coupled to the attachment tabs  26  of the associated one of the sleeve assemblies  11 . The user can then control the angle of the blade with respect to the body of the bulldozer from the cab by lengthening one of the extending rams and pushing the associated one of the sleeve assemblies  11  along the lifting arm to push one side of the blade ahead of the other to angle to blade with respect to the body of the bulldozer. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.