Caterpillar Inc.

David Cox

Nathaniel Harshman

Benjamin J Kovalick

Bruce Raymond Vahling

James David Costner, Iii

Nathan Tissier

Ethan Tevis

Michael C Gentle

Tanner Cade Koehne

John William Hoffman

Davida Ray Reang

Andrew Scott Davis

Sean Michael Hayes

Diane Cox

Rena J Kanegae

William Henry Stauch

Glenn Eric Haley

Sean Hayes

Steven Albert Thaxton

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

The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for operating a grading machine. The method includes (i) receiving information indicating a current position of a moldboard of the grading machine; (ii) determining if the moldboard is moving toward an avoidance zone, and the avoidance zone is defined by a distance from a scarifier of the grading machine; and (iii) in response to a determination that the moldboard is moving toward the avoidance zone, adjusting at least one operating parameter of the moldboard or the scarifier of the grading machine.

Damage avoidance systems and methods for motor grader scarifiers

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 computer-implemented method for automatically adjusting a moldboard of a motor grader can include receiving one or more identifiers corresponding to a configuration of the motor grader, and determining, based on the received identifier(s), a first orientation of the moldboard. If the first orientation is not within an operating threshold, the method can further include selecting, based on the one or more identifiers, at least one of a plurality of actuators of the motor grader; and actuating the selected actuator(s) to move the moldboard from the first orientation to a second orientation within the operating threshold.

Systems and methods for automatic moldboard positioning

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

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.

Retention assembly for grader machine blade

A pin for a coupler assembly for rotatably coupling a beam of a circle assembly of a grader machine with a bracket of a moldboard assembly of the grader machine includes a body defining a head portion and a shank portion. The shank portion integrally extends from the head portion. The head portion is adapted to be seated over one or more of the beam and the bracket. The shank portion is adapted to pass through the beam and the bracket to rotatably couple the beam and the bracket about the shank portion. A grease gallery is defined through the head portion, extending into the shank portion. The body defines multiple grease passages branching out from the grease gallery up to corresponding sections of an outer surface of the shank portion where the beam and the bracket are correspondingly adapted to lie in rotatable registration with the shank portion.

Pin for coupler assemblies

A drawbar assembly for a motor grader is provided. The drawbar assembly defines a longitudinal axis and includes a first frame member and a second frame member. The first frame member is adapted to be movably coupled to main frame of the motor grader. The first frame member includes a first base member extending along longitudinal axis and a first mating portion bent away relative to first base member to extend transversely relative to longitudinal axis. The second frame member includes a second base member extending along longitudinal axis and a second mating portion bent away relative to second base member to extend transversely relative to longitudinal axis. The second mating portion is configured to mate with first mating portion to form a connection joint therebetween, facilitating the first frame member and second frame member to be conjoined to together support a circle assembly of the motor grader thereunder.

Drawbar assembly for a motor grader

A blade assembly is disclosed. The blade assembly may include a blade having a surface defined between an upper edge and a lower edge of the blade, the lower edge being associated with a cutting edge, and a wear plate attached to the blade. The wear plate may extend along the surface and terminate short of the lower edge. The wear plate may have a plurality of accumulation members.

Wear plate for a blade

A coupler assembly for rotatably coupling a moldboard of a grader machine includes a bracket, a beam, a pin, a retainer, and an apparatus. The bracket is adapted to support the moldboard. The beam extends from a circle member rotatably coupled relative to a drawbar of the grader machine. The pin is adapted to rotatably couple the bracket and the beam to each other. Further, the pin defines an end adapted to extend outwardly from an assembly of the bracket and the beam. The retainer is adapted to be engaged with the end to retain the pin with the assembly of the beam and the bracket. Moreover, the retainer defines at least one end portion extending outwardly from the end. The apparatus is adapted to be mounted around the pin at the end to shield the at least one end portion of the retainer extending outwardly from the end.

Coupler assembly to rotatably couple brackets to beams

A motor grader includes a frame and an extendable scarifier system supported on the frame. The scarifier system includes first and second drawbar arms coupled to the frame. A carriage is coupled to the first and second drawbar arms. The carriage includes a carriage body having first and second lateral ends. A first extension element is attached to the first lateral end of the carriage body and a second extension element is attached to the second lateral end of the carriage body. The first and second extension elements each supporting at least one tooth.

Extendable scarifier system

A retention assembly, to slidably retain a blade to a support bracket of a grader machine, includes a yoke, a bearing arrangement, and one or more pins. The yoke is adapted to be coupled to the support bracket, and includes a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and a cavity defined therebetween. The first sidewall defines a first thickness and one or more first bores. The second sidewall defines a second thickness and one or more second bores. The second bores are correspondingly co-axial to the first bores. The bearing arrangement is received within the cavity and is adapted to support the blade for a sliding movement of the blade relative to the bearing arrangement. Further, the pins extend correspondingly through at least one of the first bores or the second bores, and into the cavity to engage and retain the bearing arrangement within the cavity.

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 mounting assembly for a blade of a motor grader includes a mounting bracket having a groove, at least one first bore, and a second bore. The mounting assembly includes a wear element disposed in the groove. The wear element includes at least one recess. The wear element is adapted to slidably receive a portion of the blade thereon. The mounting assembly also includes a retention pin disposed in the at least one first bore. The retention pin includes an aperture provided therein. The retention pin is adapted to engage the at least one recess provided on the wear element to limit longitudinal movement of the wear element within the groove. The mounting assembly further includes a lynch pin disposed in each of the second bore and the aperture to limit axial movement of the retention pin within the at least one first bore.

Growing community of inventors

Monticello, IL, United States of America

David Cox