Caterpillar Inc.

Cnh Industrial America LLC

Bruce Raymond Vahling

Benjamin J Kovalick

Nathaniel Harshman

David Cox

Ernest Everett Stoops

Keith Walter Wendte

Tracey Duane Meiners

William Norbert O'Neill

Nikhil Sharma

Lankesh Mathur Shanmukappa

Davida Ray Reang

Matthew Graham Burnette

Jesse Gerald Grant Fair

Jeremy Wright

Charles B Merriken

Brian R Krug

Garrett R Rausch

Lankesh Kumar Mathur Shanmukappa

In some implementations, a lift assembly for a moldboard of a snow wing assembly of a machine may include a lifting mechanism, coupled to an undercarriage assembly of the machine, configured to lift the moldboard of the snow wing assembly to a bench height associated with the moldboard. The lift assembly may include a hinge rotatably mounted on a bar of the lifting mechanism, wherein the bar defines a first axis, and wherein the hinge is rotatably coupled to the moldboard about a second axis. The lift assembly may include a first rotational mechanism, coupled to the lifting mechanism and the hinge, configured to rotate the hinge and the moldboard about the first axis. The lift assembly may include a second rotational mechanism, coupled to the hinge and the moldboard, configured to rotate the moldboard about the second axis.

Snow wing assembly having independent rotational controls

In some implementations, coupling system for rotatably coupling a moldboard of a snow wing assembly includes a hinge for rotatably coupling the moldboard to a linkage assembly to enable the moldboard to rotate in a first rotational direction, the hinge including a plate having a first face and a second face. The plate includes a first passageway extending between the first face and the second face to facilitate lubricant being supplied to a first interface between the plate and the moldboard. The coupling system may include a pin extending through the moldboard and the plate to rotatably couple the moldboard with the hinge. The pin enables the moldboard to rotate in a second rotational direction about a rotational axis defined by a body of the pin, and the body includes a second passageway extending from a bottom portion of the pin to an outer surface of the pin.

Greaseable hinge for a snow wing

In some implementations, a lift assembly for a moldboard of a snow wing assembly of a motor grader may include a first lifting mechanism mechanically coupled to an undercarriage assembly of the motor grader. The first lifting mechanism may be configured to lift the moldboard of the snow wing assembly a first portion of a bench height associated with the moldboard. The lift assembly may include a second lifting mechanism mechanically coupled to the first lifting mechanism and the moldboard. The second lifting mechanism may be configured to lift the moldboard of the snow wing assembly a second portion of the bench height associated with the moldboard.

Dual stage lift system for a snow wing

In some implementations a lift assembly for a snow wing assembly may include a first lifting mechanism, coupled to the motor grader, configured to lift the snow wing assembly a first portion of a bench height associated with a moldboard via a first hydraulic cylinder. The lift assembly may include a second lifting mechanism, coupled to the first lifting mechanism and the moldboard, configured to lift the moldboard of the snow wing assembly a second portion of the bench height via a second hydraulic cylinder. The lift assembly may include one or more valves included in a hydraulic circuit of the first hydraulic cylinder and the second hydraulic cylinder, configured to divert a flow of hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic circuit away from a first stage hydraulic cylinder and to a second stage hydraulic cylinder, based on a pressure value associated with the first stage hydraulic cylinder.

Cylinder sequencing for a dual stage lift system for a snow wing

A grading machine includes a machine body, a grading blade supported by a circle, a drawbar connecting the grading blade and the circle to the machine body, and a circle drive system. The circle drive system includes a circle drive motor and a gear box. The gear box is configured to engage with and rotate the circle relative to the drawbar around a circle axis. The circle drive motor includes an axis of rotation that is perpendicular to the circle axis, and the gear box includes an axis of rotation that is parallel to the circle axis.

Circle drive system for a grading machine

A wear element for a mounting system for a blade of a motor grader is provided. The wear element extends along a longitudinal axis. The wear element includes a first portion having a first cross-sectional area transverse to the longitudinal axis. The wear element further includes a second portion opposite of the first portion, the second portion having a second cross-sectional area having a V-shape that extends away from the first portion.

Mounting assembly

Retrieval hitch

A grading machine includes a machine body, a grading blade supported by a circle, a drawbar connecting the grading blade and the circle to the machine body, and a circle drive system. The circle drive system includes a circle drive motor with a motor shaft, a gear box, a gear coupling, and a braking mechanism. The gear box is configured to engage with and rotate the circle relative to the drawbar around a circle axis. The braking mechanism is positioned between the circle drive motor and the gear coupling and is configured to selectively engage the motor shaft.

In accordance with one or more aspects, a circle drawbar for a motor grader has a drawbar frame having two elongated members, and a circle frame that has a surface defined by an inner and outer diameter. The circle frame has a circle gear located radially inward of the inner diameter, allowing the circle frame to be rotatable relative to the drawbar frame around an axis of the circle gear. A platform having a top, bottom, and an edge depends from the drawbar frame and covers the circle gear. A debris remover is connected to the platform and removes debris from the surface of the circle frame as the circle frame rotates.

Motor grader circle drawbar debris remover

A sealing assembly for a circle member of a motor grader is provided. The sealing assembly includes a plurality of cover segments disposed adjacent to an inner circumference of the circle member. At least one of the plurality of cover segments defines a gap in association with a component disposed adjacent to the at least one of the plurality of cover segments. The sealing assembly also includes a sealing element removably disposed on the at least one of the plurality of cover segments and extending into the gap. The sealing element is adapted to sealingly engage each of the at least one of the plurality of cover segments and the component.

Sealing assembly

An adjustment system includes an adjustment mechanism disposed in association with a wear element of a blade of a motor grader, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive a signal indicative of actuating the adjustment mechanism. The controller is configured to actuate the adjustment mechanism to force the wear element against a surface of the blade. The controller is configured to release the adjustment mechanism to unforce the wear element against the surface of the blade. The controller is configured to actuate at least one side shift cylinder to move the blade in a first direction. The controller is also configured to actuate the at least one side shift cylinder to move the blade in a second direction. The controller is further configured to lock the adjustment mechanism to retain the wear element against the surface of the blade.

Adjustment system for blade assembly

A v-shaped wear strip includes a v-shaped body defining a longitudinal axis, a first end, and a second end disposed along the longitudinal axis. The v-shaped body includes a first attachment portion defining a first aperture, a first pressing portion that forms a first oblique angle with the first attachment portion at the first end, and a first arcuate portion transitioning from the first attachment portion to the first pressing portion at the first end.

Multipiece v-rail wear strip

A mounting assembly for a blade of a motor grader includes a mounting bracket having a mounting channel. The mounting assembly includes an adjustment block disposed in the mounting channel. The adjustment block includes a mounting groove and at least one slot disposed spaced apart with respect to the mounting groove. The mounting assembly also includes at least one retention plate disposed on the mounting bracket. The at least one retention plate is adapted to engage with the at least one slot provided on the adjustment block. The at least one retention plate is adapted to limit movement of the adjustment block along a longitudinal axis of the adjustment block. The mounting assembly further includes a wear element disposed in the mounting groove provided in the adjustment block. The wear element is adapted to slidably receive a portion of the blade thereon.

A motor grader including a frame and a scarifier system coupled to the frame. The scarifier system includes a first pin member and second pin member both coupled to the frame and interconnected to one another. The scarifier system also includes a first and second arcuate drawbar arms in spaced relation and coupled to the first pin member and a carriage. An actuator is coupled to the first arcuate drawbar arm and the second pin member to rotate the carriage about a pivot axis of the first pin member.

Growing community of inventors

Urbana, IL, United States of America

Bruce Raymond Vahling