Articulated vehicle having an adjustable grader blade thereon

Claim 2

A vehicle comprising an articulated vehicle frame, said frame comprising a rear frame section, a forward frame section, and means pivotally connecting said frame sections accommodating relative swinging movement therebetween about an upright axis; means connected to said forward frame section for producing such relative swinging between the fRame sections; power-driven rear ground support means mounted on and supporting the rear frame section for travel over the ground; steerable front ground support means; means mounting said front ground support means on said forward frame section for movement relative to said forward frame section longitudinally thereof to permit positioning of said front ground support means in different adjusted positions; means for holding said front ground support means in a given adjusted position; an elongated grader blade; and means supporting said blade on said rear frame section for travel with said rear frame section.

Claim 3

The vehicle of claim 1, which further comprises a boom pivotally connected to and extending forwardly in the vehicle along said forward frame section for raising and lowering about a substantially horizontal pivot axis, and a loader bucket mounted adjacent the forward end of the boom for raising and lowering therewith, said boom in a lowered position holding the bucket directly in front of the front ground support means.

Claim 4

The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said mounting means comprises an elongated member to which said front ground support means is joined, and receiving means telescopically receiving said member joined to said forward frame section, said member being movable in said receiving means along a path substantially paralleling the longitudinal axis of the forward frame section.

Claim 5

The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said means for holding said front ground support means comprises a fluid-operated ram actuatable to move the support means under power.

Claim 6

A vehicle comprising an articulated vehicle frame, said frame comprising a rear frame section, a forward frame section, and means pivotally connecting said frame sections accommodating relative swinging movement therebetween about an upright axis, means connected to said forward frame section for producing such relative swinging between the frame sections; power-driven rear ground support means mounted on and supporting the rear frame section for travel over the ground; steerable front ground support means mounted on and supporting the forward frame section for travel over the ground; an elongated grader blade, and means supporting said grader blade on said rear frame section for travel therewith, said grader blade including a pair of elongated blade sections extending laterally to opposite sides of said rear frame section and pivot means interconnecting said blade sections accommodating swinging of said blade sections relative to each other about a pivot axis extending longitudinally of the vehicle, said means supporting said grader blade comprising adjustable linkage means accommodating selective positioning of said grader blade relative to said rear frame section.

Claim 7

A vehicle comprising an articulated vehicle frame, said frame comprising a rear frame section, a forward frame section, and means pivotally connecting said frame sections accommodating relative swinging movement therebetween about an upright axis, means connected to said forward frame section for producing such relative swinging between the frame sections; power-driven rear ground support means mounted on and supporting the rear frame section for travel over the ground; steerable front ground support means mounted on and supporting the forward frame section for travel over the ground; an elongated grader blade, and means supporting said grader blade on said rear frame section for travel therewith, said grader blade including a pair of elongated blade sections extending laterally to opposite sides of said rear frame section and pivot means interconnecting said blade sections accommodating swinging of said blade sections relative to each other about a pivot axis extending longitudinally of the vehicle, said means supporting said grader blade comprising adjustable linkage means accommodating selective positioning of said grader blade relative to said rear frame section.

Claim 8

The vehicle of claim 5, wherein said adjustable linkage means comprises a pair of fluid-operated rams, one for each blade section, each being mounted at one of its ends on a blade section and at the other of its ends on said rear frame section, a pair of thrust bars, one being connected to an projecting rearwardly from each blade section and having rear extremities mounted on said rear frame section, and a stabilizing bar interposed between said grader blade and rear frame section.

Claim 9

The vehicle of claim 5, wherein said grader blade is extensible and further comprises an extensible blade portion mounted adjacent and end of one of said blade sections for telescopic movement longitudinally of said blade section and outwardly beyond said end of the blade section.

Claim 10

A vehicle comprising a rear frame section, power-driven rear ground support means mounted on and supporting the rear frame section for travel over the ground; a forward frame section connected to said rear frame section and extending forwardly and downwardly from its connection with said rear frame section, a clearance space being provided between said forward frame section and the ground adjacent where tHe forward frame section is connected to said rear frame section, front ground support means; means mounting said front ground support means on said forward frame section for movement relative to said forward frame section and longitudinally thereof to permit positioning of said front ground support means in different adjusted positions, means for holding said front ground support means in a given adjusted position; a grader blade mounted on the vehicle and disposed under said front frame section in said clearance space; an elongated boom pivotally connected to and extending forwardly in the vehicle along said forward frame section for raising and lowering about a substantially horizontal pivot axis, and a loader bucket mounted adjacent the forward end of the boom for raising and lowering therewith, said boom in a lowered position extending forwardly and downwardly along the forward frame section to hold the bucket directly in front of said front ground support means.

Claim 11

A vehicle comprising a rear frame section, power-driven rear ground support means mounted on and supporting the rear frame section for travel over the ground; a forward frame section connected to said rear frame section and extending forwardly and downwardly from its connection with said rear frame section, a clearance space being provided between said forward frame section and the ground adjacent where tHe forward frame section is connected to said rear frame section, front ground support means; means mounting said front ground support means on said forward frame section for movement relative to said forward frame section and longitudinally thereof to permit positioning of said front ground support means in different adjusted positions, means for holding said front ground support means in a given adjusted position; a grader blade mounted on the vehicle and disposed under said front frame section in said clearance space; an elongated boom pivotally connected to and extending forwardly in the vehicle along said forward frame section for raising and lowering about a substantially horizontal pivot axis, and a loader bucket mounted adjacent the forward end of the boom for raising and lowering therewith, said boom in a lowered position extending forwardly and downwardly along the forward frame section to hold the bucket directly in front of said front ground support means.

Claim 12

The vehicle of claim 8, which further comprises pivot means connecting said forward and rear frame sections providing an upright pivot axis about which the frame sections may be swung relative to each other, and means for producing such relative swinging therebetween.

Claim 13

The vehicle of claim 9, wherein said front ground support means comprises a steerable ground-engaging means.

Claim 14

In a vehicle frame, an elongated grader blade and means supporting the grader blade on the vehicle frame with such extending transversely of the vehicle, said grader blade comprising a pair of elongated blade sections having one set of ends disposed closely adjacent each other and pivot means connecting said blade sections adjacent their said one set of ends accommodating relative swinging of said blade sections about an axis extending longitudinally of the vehicle, a fluid-powered ram having one end connected to one and its other end connected to the other of said blade sections for swinging them about said axis to various positions relative to each other, for holding said blade sections in any one of said positions, said grader blade further comprising an extensible blade portion mounted on an end of at least one of said blade sections for telescopic movement longitudinally of said blade section outwardly beyond said end of the blade section, and a motor means connected to the extensible blade portion and connected to said one of said blade sections, said motor means being actuable to produce such telescopic movement.

Claim 15

In a vehicle frame, an elongated grader blade and means supporting the grader blade on the vehicle frame with such extending transversely of the vehicle, said grader blade comprising a pair of elongated blade sections having one set of ends disposed closely adjacent each other and pivot means connecting said blade sections adjacent their said one set of ends accommodating relative swinging of said blade sections about an axis extending longitudinally of the vehicle, a fluid-powered ram having one end connected to one and its other end connected to the other of said blade sections for swinging them about said axis to various positions relative to each other, for holding said blade sections in any one of said positions, said grader blade further comprising an extensible blade portion mounted on an end of at least one of said blade sections for telescopic movement longitudinally of said blade section outwardly beyond said end of the blade section, and a motor means connected to the extensible blade portion and connected to said one of said blade sections, said motor means being actuable to produce such telescopic movement.

Claim 16

A vehicle comprising an articulated vehicle frame, said frame comprising a rear frame section, a forward frame section, and means pivotally connecting said frame sections accommodating relative swinging movement therebetween about an upright axis; means connected to said forward frame section for producing such relative swinging between the frame sections; power-driven rear ground support means mounted on and supporting the rear frame section for travel over the ground; steerable front ground support means mounted on and supporting the forward frame section for travel over the ground; an elongated grader blade, and means supporting said grader blade on said rear frame section for travel therewith, said grader blade including a pair of elongated blade sections extending laterally to opposite sides of said rear frame section, pivot means interconnecting said blade sections accommodating swinging of said blade sections relative to each other about a pivot axis extending longitudinally of the vehicle, and power-operated means connected to the blade sections for swinging the blade sections about said pivot axis to various positions relative to each other.

Claim 17

A vehicle comprising an articulated vehicle frame, said frame comprising a rear frame section, a forward frame section, and means pivotally connecting said frame sections accommodating relative swinging movement therebetween about an upright axis; means connected to said forward frame section for producing such relative swinging between the frame sections; power-driven rear ground support means mounted on and supporting the rear frame section for travel over the ground; steerable front ground support means mounted on and supporting the forward frame section for travel over the ground; an elongated grader blade, and means supporting said grader blade on said rear frame section for travel therewith, said grader blade including a pair of elongated blade sections extending laterally to opposite sides of said rear frame section, pivot means interconnecting said blade sections accommodating swinging of said blade sections relative to each other about a pivot axis extending longitudinally of the vehicle, and power-operated means connected to the blade sections for swinging the blade sections about said pivot axis to various positions relative to each other.

Claim 18

In a vehicle, a vehicle frame, an elongated grader blade and means supporting the grader blade on the vehicle frame with such extending transversely of the vehicle, said grader blade comprising a pair of elongated blade sections having one set of ends disposed closely adjacent each other and pivot Means connecting said blade sections adjacent their said one set of ends accommodating relative swinging of said blade sections about an axis extending longitudinally of the vehicle, said means supporting said grader blade comprising a pair of fluid-operated rams, one for each blade section, each ram being mounted at one of its ends on a blade section and having the other of its ends mounted on said vehicle frame, a pair of thrust bars, one bar being connected to and projecting rearwardly from each blade section and said bars having rear extremities pivotally mounted on said vehicle frame, and a stabilizing bar having one end pivotally connected to the grader blade and an opposite end pivotally connected to the vehicle frame.

Claim 19

In a vehicle, a vehicle frame, an elongated grader blade and means supporting the grader blade on the vehicle frame with such extending transversely of the vehicle, said grader blade comprising a pair of elongated blade sections having one set of ends disposed closely adjacent each other and pivot Means connecting said blade sections adjacent their said one set of ends accommodating relative swinging of said blade sections about an axis extending longitudinally of the vehicle, said means supporting said grader blade comprising a pair of fluid-operated rams, one for each blade section, each ram being mounted at one of its ends on a blade section and having the other of its ends mounted on said vehicle frame, a pair of thrust bars, one bar being connected to and projecting rearwardly from each blade section and said bars having rear extremities pivotally mounted on said vehicle frame, and a stabilizing bar having one end pivotally connected to the grader blade and an opposite end pivotally connected to the vehicle frame.