Retention assembly for grader machine blade

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12018453-B2
Application number	US-202117242692-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 28, 2021
Priority date	Dec 12, 2017
Publication date	Jun 25, 2024
Grant date	Jun 25, 2024

Abstract

A retention assembly to slidably retain a blade to a support bracket of a grader machine. The retention assembly includes a yoke adapted to be coupled to the support bracket, and the yoke includes a base wall, a first sidewall extending directly from the base wall, the first sidewall being configured to face the blade, and a second sidewall extending directly from the base wall, the second sidewall configured to face away from the blade and spaced apart from the first sidewall to define a cavity therebetween, along with the base wall. A retainer extends from at least one of the first sidewall, the second sidewall, and the base, and a bearing arrangement is received within the cavity and adapted to support the blade for sliding movement of the blade relative to the bearing arrangement. The retainer engages the bearing arrangement and retains the bearing arrangement within the cavity.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A retention assembly to slidably retain a blade to a support bracket of a grader machine, the retention assembly comprising:
a yoke adapted to be coupled to the support bracket,
the yoke including:
a base wall,
a first sidewall extending directly from the base wall,
the first sidewall being configured to face the blade, and

a second sidewall extending directly from the base wall,
the second sidewall being configured to face away from the blade and spaced apart from the first sidewall to define a cavity therebetween,

along with the base wall; and

a block received within the cavity,
the block including:
an indentation defined along and throughout a length of the block, and
a receptacle that is recessed into the block below a top of the indentation; and

a wear strip adapted to be interposed between the block and the blade to provide a support surface for the blade to slide relative to the wear strip,
the wear strip including:
at least a first portion that corresponds to a first shape of a profile of the indentation, and
a second portion that corresponds to a second shape of the receptacle,
the second shape being different from the first shape.

2. The retention assembly of claim 1 , wherein the yoke further includes a shaft portion extending outwardly from the second sidewall, and
wherein the shaft portion is adapted to pass through an opening of the support bracket for coupling the yoke to the support bracket,
the shaft portion defining an end remote to the second sidewall.

3. The retention assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a pin extending from at least one of the first sidewall, the second sidewall, or the base wall.

4. The retention assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a pin that extends between the first sidewall and the second sidewall.

5. The retention assembly of claim 1 , wherein the receptacle is shorter in length than the length of the block.

6. The retention assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first shape is a V-shape.

7. The retention assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second shape is a concave bowl shape.

8. The retention assembly of claim 1 , wherein lateral ends of the wear strip abut against wall margins of the block.

9. The retention assembly of claim 1 , wherein the length of the block is equal to a length of the yoke.

10. A blade assembly for a grader machine, the blade assembly comprising:
a blade adapted to engage a work surface;
a support bracket adapted to be coupled to a pair of arms extending from a circle member of the grader machine;
a yoke coupled to the support bracket, and slidably engaged with the blade, the yoke including:
a base wall,
a first sidewall extending directly from the base wall and facing the blade, and
a second sidewall extending directly from the base wall and facing away from the blade and spaced apart from the first sidewall to define a cavity therebetween, along with the base wall; and

a roller bearing adapted to engage the blade,
the roller bearing including:
a through hole defining an axis of rotation,
a first frusto-conical portion having a first narrowed portion, and
a second frusto-conical portion having a second narrowed portion arranged proximate to the first narrowed portion,
the first frusto-conical portion and the second frusto-conical portion defining a V-shaped profile.

11. The blade assembly of claim 10 ,
wherein the support bracket includes an opening,
wherein the yoke further includes a shaft portion extending perpendicularly outwardly from the second sidewall,
wherein the shaft portion passes through the opening and defining an end remote to the second sidewall, and
wherein the blade assembly further includes a collar coupled to the end to secure the yoke to the support bracket.

12. The blade assembly of claim 10 , further comprising:
a pin extending from at least one of the first sidewall, the second sidewall, or the base wall.

13. The blade assembly of claim 10 , further comprising:
a pin that extends between the first sidewall and the second sidewall.

14. The blade assembly of claim 10 , further comprising:
a first wear insert positioned between the roller bearing and the first sidewall; and
a second wear insert positioned between the roller bearing and the second sidewall.

15. A grader machine, comprising:
a support bracket;
a yoke configured to be coupled to the support bracket,
the yoke including:
a base wall,
a first sidewall extending directly from the base wall,
a second sidewall extending directly from the base wall and spaced apart from the first sidewall to define a cavity therebetween, along with the base wall, and
a shaft portion extending outwardly from the second sidewall;

a block received within the cavity,
the block including:
an indentation defined along and throughout a length of the block, and
a receptacle that is recessed into the block below a top of the indentation; and

a strip including:
at least a first portion that corresponds to a first shape of a profile of the indentation, and
a second portion that corresponds to a second shape of the receptacle,
the second shape being different from the first shape.

16. The grader machine of claim 15 ,
wherein the support bracket includes an opening, and
wherein the shaft portion passes through the opening and defines an end remote to the second sidewall.

17. The grader machine of claim 15 , further comprising:
a pin extending from at least one of the first sidewall, the second sidewall, or the base wall.

18. The grader machine of claim 15 , wherein the strip is a wear strip engaged with the block and having a V-shaped profile.

19. The grader machine of claim 15 , further comprising:
a collar that is coupled to an end of the shaft portion and is configured to secure the yoke to the support bracket; and
a retainer pin configured to pass through diametrically opposed holes formed in the collar.

20. The grader machine of claim 15 , further comprising:
a collar that is coupled to an end of the shaft portion and is configured to secure the yoke to the support bracket; and
a retainer pin configured to retain the collar to the end of the shaft portion by passing through a hole formed at the end of the shaft portion.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Harshman Nathaniel Keith
• Costner Iii James David
• Cox David L
• Kovalick Benjamin J
• Koehne Tanner Cade

Classifications

• E02F3/844

  for positioning the blade, e.g. hydraulically · CPC title

• A01B15/02

  Plough blades; Fixing the blades · CPC title

• E02F3/7636 Primary

  Graders with the scraper blade mounted under the tractor chassis · CPC title

• E02F3/815

  Blades; Levelling {or scarifying} tools {(E02F3/40 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• A01B59/064

  for connection to the front of the tractor · CPC title