Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
In an earthmoving scraper having a bowl with a movable floor section for relatively discharging a payload via an opening through the bottom of the bowl, and a strike-off blade assembly pivotally mounted on said floor section; an improved lift and lock mechanism for said strike-off blade assembly comprising a cam and an aligned roller, one mounted on said bowl and the other mounted on said strike-off blade assembly for engagement as said floor section moves in a direction to close said opening; said cam having a camming surface leading to a recess, with said camming surface configured to cooperate with said roller as said floor moves in said direction to first urge said strike-off blade assembly upwardly against the force of gravity and to then permit said strike-off blade assembly to settle downwardly thereby seating said roller in said recess so that said strike-off blade assembly is then releasably but positively locked in an upper position in which it forms a payload carrying bridge across an otherwise uncovered portion of said opening.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
In an earthmoving scraper having a bowl with a movable floor section for relatively discharging a payload via an opening through the bottom of the bowl, and a strike-off blade assembly pivotally mounted on said floor section; an improved lift and lock mechanism for said strike-off blade assembly comprising a cam and an aligned roller, one mounted on said bowl and the other mounted on said strike-off blade assembly for engagement as said floor section moves in a direction to close said opening; said cam having a camming surface leading to a recess, with said camming surface configured to cooperate with said roller as said floor moves in said direction to first urge said strike-off blade assembly upwardly against the force of gravity and to then permit said strike-off blade assembly to settle downwardly thereby seating said roller in said recess so that said strike-off blade assembly is then releasably but positively locked in an upper position in which it forms a payload carrying bridge across an otherwise uncovered portion of said opening.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein said cam is mounted on said strike-off blade assembly, and said roller is mounted on a fixed portion of said bowl.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
70 words
The improvement of claim 2 wherein said roller has a transversely extending central axis, and said strike-off blade assembly is pivotable relative to said movable floor section about an axis offset to the rear and below said central axis, whereby the weight of said material acting on said strike-off blade assembly when the same is in said upper position urges said cam to return said roller seated within said recess.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein said cam includes upper and lower legs having said recess defined therebetween, said upper leg having a free edge with a lip which extends below at least a portion of roller when the same is seated within said recess, whereby said lip aids in preventing accidental release of said strike-off blade assembly from its upper position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
91 words
The improvement of claim 4 wherein said cam is mounted on said strike-off blade assembly for pivotal movement therewith, said roller is mounted on a fixed portion of said bowl has a transversely extending central axis, and said strike-off blade assembly is pivotable relative to said movable floor section about an axis offset to the rear and below said central axis, whereby the weight of the payload acting on said strike-off blade assembly when the same is in said upper position Urges said cam to retain said roller within said recess.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The improvement of claim 5 wherein said bowl further includes a cutting edge, and the payload carrying bridge provided by said strike-off blade assembly when it is in said upper position is between said floor and said cutting edge.