Multiple surface moldboard fabricated from a one-piece blank

Abstract

A one-piece blank for a multiple surface moldboard having a top edge, a bottom edge, an upper portion, and a lower portion is disclosed. The stamped one-piece blank has a central body section, and two opposed outer wing sections disposed at right and left ends of the central body section. First and second notches or cutouts are provided, and define the two opposed outer wing sections. The first and second notches are oriented vertically and are generally inverted v-shaped. A rolling operation forms the lower portion of the moldboard into a uniform curved radius, which occurs simultaneously in one operation. A bending operation creates an approximate 30-degree angle (into the curvature), along the top edge of the moldboard, bringing opposing radial lines together. A second bending operation creates a similar approximate 30-degree angle (into the curvature) along the top edge of the moldboard. The one-piece moldboard is finalized by welding the gaps remaining between the moldboard wings and the center section.

1 . A multi-surface moldboard for a dozer U-blade fabricated from a one-piece blank, said one-piece blank having a top edge, a bottom edge, an upper portion, and a lower portion, comprising: a central body section, two opposed outer wing sections disposed at right and left ends of said central body section, said two opposed outer wing sections defined by first and second notches, said notches generally oriented vertically. 
   
   
       2 . The one-piece blank of  claim 1 , wherein said upper and lower portions run substantially horizontally across the entire length of said one-piece blank, whereby the top of said notches define a break line between said upper and lower portions. 
   
   
       3 . The one-piece blank of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second notches each have left and right curved edges, said left curved edge of said first notch being symmetrically opposed to said right curved edge of said second notch, and said right curved edge of said first notch being symmetrically opposed to said left curved edge of said second notch. 
   
   
       4 . The one-piece blank of  claim 1 , wherein the single sheet includes curved and straight sections substantially across an entire length of the sheet. 
   
   
       5 . The one-piece blank of  claim 1 , wherein said upper portion is substantially flat and said lower portion is curved, said flat and curved sections are oriented substantially across the entire length of the blank. 
   
   
       6 . The one-piece blank of  claim 1 , wherein said entire curved lower portion is rolled simultaneously in a moldboard radius-forming operation. 
   
   
       7 . The one-piece blank of  claim 4 , wherein said entire curved lower portion is created simultaneously in a brake press operation. 
   
   
       8 . The one-piece blank of  claim 4 , wherein said entire curved lower portion is created simultaneously in a rolled press operation. 
   
   
       9 . The one-piece blank of  claim 1 , where said one of said two opposing outer wing sections is bent inward approximately 30 degrees from the flat state, such that the final angle between the backside of the center section and the backside of the wing is approximately 210 degrees. 
   
   
       10 . The one-piece blank of  claim 9 , wherein a second vertically directed approximately 30-degree angle is created along said flat upper portion, concavely directed into the curvature of said lower portion of said blank, by a wing-forming operation, thereby bringing the opposing radial lines of said second notch in proximal vicinity. 
   
   
       11 . The one-piece blank of  claim 9 , wherein said first and second vertically directed approximately 30-degree angles are created simultaneously. 
   
   
       12 . The one-piece blank of  claim 1 , wherein one-piece moldboard is finalized by bevel welding the interface remaining between the moldboard wings and the center section 
   
   
       13 . A method of manufacture of the multi-surface moldboard fabricated from a one-piece blank of  claim 1 , comprising the steps of:
 flame-cutting a one-piece blank, said blank having a top edge, a bottom edge, a upper portion, and a lower portion, a central body section, two opposed outer wing sections disposed at right and left ends of said central body section, said opposed outer wing sections defined by first and second notches generally oriented vertically, said upper and lower portions running substantially horizontally across the entire length of said one piece blank;   press braking said lower curved portion of said one-piece blank simultaneously;   bending an approximate 30-degree angle from the remaining flat surface along the top edge of the moldboard, thereby bringing the opposing radial edges of each of said notches together; and   welding the interface remaining between the moldboard wings and the center section.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the bending step bending both wings inward occurs simultaneously.