Ground Scraper

Abstract

A ground scraper ( 10 ) comprises a bowl ( 12 ) for holding excavated ground material, a cutting edge ( 14 ) mounted at an open side of the bowl for excavating the ground material, a hitch assembly ( 56 ) pivotally coupled to the bowl for coupling the ground scraper to a powered vehicle and an apron ( 44 ) pivotally mounted to the bowl for closing the open side of the bowl. An axis of rotation ( 50 ) of the apron is substantially parallel to, forward of and above a longitudinal axis of the cutting edge. The axis of rotation is located in a plane extending from the cutting edge and the plane is inclined between 15° and 30° to a vertical plane extending from the cutting edge.

1 . A ground scraper comprising:
 a bowl for holding excavated ground material;   a cutting edge mounted at an open side of the bowl for excavating the ground material;   a hitch assembly pivotally coupled to the bowl for coupling the ground scraper to a powered vehicle; and   an apron pivotally mounted to the bowl for closing the open side of the bowl;   wherein an axis of rotation of the apron is substantially parallel to, forward of and above a longitudinal axis of the cutting edge, the axis of rotation located in a plane extending from the cutting edge and the plane inclined between 15° and 30° to a vertical plane extending from the cutting edge.   
   
   
       2 . The ground scraper of  claim 1 , wherein the plane extending from the cutting edge is inclined between 18° and 27° to the vertical plane extending from the cutting edge. 
   
   
       3 . The ground scraper of  claim 1 , wherein the plane extending from the cutting edge is inclined at 26° to the vertical plane extending from the cutting edge. 
   
   
       4 . The ground scraper of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one hydraulic ram coupled between the hitch assembly and the bowl for adjusting a height of the bowl relative to the hitch assembly and the ground. 
   
   
       5 . The ground scraper of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one hydraulic ram is coupled to a draft tube of the hitch assembly. 
   
   
       6 . The ground scraper of  claim 1  further comprising a frame attached to, and rearward of, the bowl and at least one pair of offset wheels pivotally mounted to the frame. 
   
   
       7 . The ground scraper of  claim 6 , wherein the frame comprises an upper frame member having an upwardly tapering cross section. 
   
   
       8 . The ground scraper of  claim 6 , wherein the frame comprises a lower frame member having a downwardly tapering cross section. 
   
   
       9 . The ground scraper of  claim 6 , wherein the frame comprises a pair of substantially vertical frame members extending between an upper frame member and a lower frame member, the at least one pair of offset wheels pivotally mounted between the substantially vertical frame members. 
   
   
       10 . The ground scraper of  claim 9 , wherein the substantially vertical frame members taper upwardly from a mounting point of the at least one pair of offset wheels. 
   
   
       11 . The ground scraper of  claim 9 , wherein the substantially vertical frame members taper downwardly from a mounting point of the at least one pair of offset wheels. 
   
   
       12 . The ground scraper of  claim 1 , wherein a mounting point for at least one hydraulic ram coupled between the bowl and the apron is in substantially the same plane as the axis of rotation of the apron. 
   
   
       13 . The ground scraper of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one hydraulic ram coupled between the hitch assembly and the bowl and the at least one hydraulic ram coupled between the bowl and the apron are interchangeable. 
   
   
       14 . The ground scraper of  claim 1 , further comprising a guard detachably mountable to sidewalls of the bowl to prevent overflow of excavated material from the rear of the bowl. 
   
   
       15 . The ground scraper of  claim 1 , further comprising a detachable wall portion to enable the apron to be attached and detached from the bowl. 
   
   
       16 . The ground scraper of  claim 1 , wherein an operator of the powered vehicle has a line of sight to the cutting edge when the apron is in an open position. 
   
   
       17 . The ground scraper of  claim 1 , wherein an operator of the powered vehicle has a line of sight to the bowl when the apron is in an open position.