Blade assembly having socket support plate

Abstract

A blade assembly is disclosed for a machine. The blade assembly may include a blade having a front surface configured to move a load of material, and a rear surface opposite the front surface. The blade assembly may also include a socket mounted to the rear surface and configured to receive a component associated with a linkage arrangement that connects the blade to the machine. The blade assembly may further include a support plate attached at a first end to the rear surface and at a second end to the socket. A gap may be provided between the support plate and the rear surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A blade assembly for a machine, comprising:
 a blade having:
 a front surface configured to move a load of material; and 
 a rear surface opposite the front surface; 
   a socket mounted to the rear surface and configured to receive a component associated with a linkage arrangement that connects the blade to the machine; and   a support plate attached at a first end to the rear surface and at a second end to the socket, wherein a gap is provided between the support plate and the rear surface.   
     
     
         2 . The blade assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the support plate includes a flat surface at the first end that is configured to be attached to the rear surface and extend in a widthwise direction of the blade. 
     
     
         3 . The blade assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the flat surface extends generally parallel to a bottom edge of the blade. 
     
     
         4 . The blade assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the support plate further includes a curved surface at the second end configured to be attached to an exterior surface of the socket and at least partially circumferentially surround the exterior surface of the socket. 
     
     
         5 . The blade assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the curved surface is attached to the exterior surface of the socket at a location between a proximal end of the socket and a distal end of the socket. 
     
     
         6 . The blade assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the flat surface is connected to the rear surface at a location that is gravitationally higher than where the curved surface is connected to the exterior surface of the socket. 
     
     
         7 . The blade assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the support plate has a generally planar body. 
     
     
         8 . The blade assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the flat surface and the curved surface are generally aligned in the same plane along the support plate. 
     
     
         9 . The blade assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the support plate includes first and second side edges extending away from the socket in a widening direction, such that a width of the support plate increases from the second end to the first end. 
     
     
         10 . The blade assembly of  claim 9 , wherein a widthwise extent of the support plate is greater than a widthwise extent of the socket. 
     
     
         11 . The blade assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the support plate is mounted at an angle of about 20-40° with respect to the rear surface. 
     
     
         12 . A blade assembly for a machine, comprising:
 a blade having:
 a front surface configured to move a load of material; and 
 a rear surface opposite the front surface; 
   a socket mounted to the rear surface and configured to receive a component associated with a linkage arrangement that connects the blade to the machine.; and   a support plate attached at a first end to the rear surface and at a second end to the socket, wherein the support plate includes:
 a flat surface at the first end that is configured to be attached to the rear surface and extend in a widthwise direction of the blade; and 
 a curved surface at the second end configured to be attached to an exterior surface of the socket and at least partially circumferentially surround the exterior surface of the socket. 
   
     
     
         13 . The blade assembly of  claim 12 , wherein a gap is provided between the support plate and the rear surface. 
     
     
         14 . The blade assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the flat surface extends generally parallel to a bottom edge of the blade. 
     
     
         15 . The blade assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the curved surface is attached to the exterior surface of the socket at a location between a proximal end of the socket and a distal end of the socket. 
     
     
         16 . The blade assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the flat surface is connected to the rear surface at a location that is gravitationally higher than where the curved surface is connected to the exterior surface of the socket. 
     
     
         17 . The blade assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the flat surface and the curved surface are generally aligned in the same plane along the support plate. 
     
     
         18 . The blade assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the support plate includes first and second side edges extending away from the socket in a widening direction, such that a width of the support plate increases from the second end to the first end. 
     
     
         19 . The blade assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the support plate is mounted at an angle of about 2.0-40° with respect to the rear surface. 
     
     
         20 . A machine, comprising:
 a frame;   a traction device connected to the frame and configured to propel the machine;   a blade having:
 a front surface configured to move a load of material; and 
 a rear surface opposite the front surface; and 
   a spherical ball connected at a first end to the frame and at a second end to the blade;   a socket mounted to the rear surface and configured to receive the spherical ball to form a ball-and-socket joint; and   a support plate attached at a first end to the rear surface and at a second end to the socket, Wherein a gap is provided between the support plate and the rear surface.