Foldable blade

Abstract

A foldable blade having foldable wing portions for use in earth moving machinery. The foldable wing portions include a locking mechanism which enables the foldable wing portions to be locked in a folded position or an extended position. The locking mechanism is robust thus ensuring that the wing portions will be able to withstand considerable forces without collapsing during the pushing, scraping or transporting processes. The locking mechanism includes a locking pin assembly which is easy to lock and unlock, and also allows the foldable wing portions to be rotatable.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A foldable blade, comprising: 
 a main body portion;    at least one side foldable wing portion rotatably mounted to a side of the main body portion between a first position in substantial alignment with the main body portion and a second position rearwardly of the main body portion;    a first locking assembly having a pin assembly and being positioned between the main body portion and the at least one side foldable wing portion, the first locking assembly locking the at least one side foldable wing portion in the first position and the second position;    a second locking assembly having a pin assembly and being positioned between the main body portion and the at least one side foldable wing portion proximate to the first locking assembly, the second locking assembly locking the at least one side foldable wing portion in the first position.    
     
     
         2 . The foldable blade of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one foldable wing portion includes two foldable wing portions rotatably mounted on opposing sides of the main body portion.  
     
     
         3 . The foldable blade of  claim 1 , wherein the first locking assembly includes: 
 a top plate fixed to the main body portion, the top plate having a first aperture and a second aperture;    a bottom plate fixed to the main body portion, the bottom plate having a first aperture and a second aperture;    an intermediate plate positioned between the top plate and the bottom plate, the intermediate plate having a first aperture and a second aperture,    a pivoting pin extending through the first aperture of the top plate, the intermediate plate and the bottom plate.    
     
     
         4 . The foldable blade of  claim 3 , including a bearing positioned within the first aperture of the intermediate plate and extending about the pivoting pin, the at least one side foldable wing portion being rotated about the pivoting pin.  
     
     
         5 . The foldable blade of  claim 3 , including a guide plate having an elongated slot, the pivoting pin extending within the elongated slot.  
     
     
         6 . The foldable blade of  claim 3 , including a pin extending through the second aperture of the top plate, the intermediate plate and the bottom plate when the side foldable wing portion is in the first portion.  
     
     
         7 . The foldable blade of  claim 3 , wherein the top plate and the bottom plate include an ear portion remote from the first and second apertures of the top plate and the bottom plate.  
     
     
         8 . The foldable blade of  claim 7 , wherein the top plate and the bottom plate each include a third aperture positioned on the ear portion of the top plate and the bottom plate, respectively, and the intermediate plate includes a third aperture positioned remote from the first aperture and the second aperture of the intermediate plate.  
     
     
         9 . The foldable blade of  claim 8 , including a locking pin extending through the third aperture of the top plate, the intermediate plate and the bottom plate when the at least one side foldable wing portion is in the second position.  
     
     
         10 . The foldable blade of  claim 8 , wherein: 
 the first aperture of the top plate, the intermediate plate and the bottom plate remain in alignment when the at least one side foldable wing portion is in the first position and the second position;    the second aperture of the top plate, the intermediate plate and the bottom plate remain in alignment when the at least one side foldable wing portion is in the first position;    the third aperture of the top plate, the intermediate plate and the bottom plate remain in alignment when the at least one side foldable wing portion is in the second portion; and    the first, second and third apertures of the top plate and the bottom plate remain in alignment when the at least one side foldable wing portion is in the first position and the second position.    
     
     
         11 . The foldable blade of  claim 3 , wherein the second locking assembly includes; 
 a recess portion mounted on the main body portion;    an aperture positioned through the recess portion;    a lock bar having a portion extending through the recess portion when the at least one side foldable wing portion is in the first position; and    a lock bar aperture located on the lock bar and in alignment with the aperture of the recess portion when the at least one side foldable wing portion is in the first position.    
     
     
         12 . The foldable blade of  claim 11 , including a lock bar pin extending through the aperture of the recess portion and the lock bar aperture when the at least one side foldable wing portion is in the first position.  
     
     
         13 . The foldable blade of  claim 10 , wherein the aperture of the recess portion is located at a remote end of the recess portion and the aperture of the lock bar extends longitudinally through the lock bar and is aligned with the aperture of the recess portion.  
     
     
         14 . A foldable blade, comprising: 
 a main body portion;    a foldable wing portion rotatably mounted to a side of the main body portion between a first position in substantial alignment with the main body portion and a second position rearwardly of the main body portion; and    a locking mechanism positioned between the main body portion and the foldable wing portion, the locking mechanism includes a first locking assembly and a second locking assembly, the foldable wing portion being rotated about the first locking assembly and being locked in the first position by the first locking assembly and the second locking assembly and further being locked in the second position by the first locking assembly.    
     
     
         15 . The foldable blade of  claim 14 , wherein the first locking assembly includes: 
 a top plate having a first aperture, a second aperture and a third aperture;    a bottom plate having a first aperture, a second aperture and a third aperture;    an intermediate plate positioned between the top plate and the bottom plate and having a first aperture, a second aperture and a third aperture,    a pivoting pin extending through the first aperture of the top plate, the intermediate plate and the bottom plate.    
     
     
         16 . The foldable blade of  claim 15 , including a bearing positioned within the first aperture of the intermediate plate and extending about the pivoting pin, the foldable wing portion being rotated about the pivoting pin.  
     
     
         17 . The foldable blade of  claim 15 , including a guide plate having an elongated slot, the pivoting pin extending within the elongated slot.  
     
     
         18 . The foldable blade of  claim 15 , including: 
 a first pin extending through the second aperture of the top plate, the intermediate plate and the bottom plate when the foldable wing portion is in the first portion; and    a third pin extending through the third aperture of the top plate, the intermediate plate and the bottom plate when the foldable wing portion is in the second portion.    
     
     
         19 . The foldable blade of  claim 18 , wherein the top plate and the bottom plate include an ear portion remote from the first and second apertures of the top plate and the bottom plate, the third aperture of the top plate and the bottom plate are located on the ear portion.  
     
     
         20 . The foldable blade of  claim 15 , wherein the second locking assembly includes; 
 a recess portion mounted on the main body portion;    an aperture positioned through the recess portion;    a lock bar having a portion extending through the recess portion when the at least one side foldable wing portion is in the first position; and    a lock bar aperture located on the lock bar and in alignment with the aperture of the recess portion when the at least one side foldable wing portion is in the first position.    
     
     
         21 . A method of folding and locking a foldable blade into a retracted position, comprising the steps of: 
 removing a first pin from an aligned first aperture of a top plate, an intermediate plate and a bottom plate of a first locking assembly;    removing a second pin from an aligned first aperture and a second aperture of a second locking assembly;    extending outward a side wing of the foldable blade;    rotating the side wing rearwardly about a pivot pin of the first locking assembly to a rear portion of the foldable blade;    aligning a second aperture of the top plate, the intermediate plate and the bottom plate of the first locking assembly with one another; and    inserting a third pin through the aligned second apertures of the top plate, the intermediate plate and the bottom plate.