Box scraper with grader blade attachment

Abstract

A grader blade attachment for a box scraper is disclosed. The box scraper includes a first side wall with a first side bottom edge, a second sidewall with a second sidewall bottom edge, and an open front and a back wall attached to and between the first side wall and the second side wall. The grader blade attachment includes a first side attachment member, a second side attachment member, an elongated blade attachment member, and a grader blade. The first side attachment member is configured to attach to the first side wall. The second side attachment member is configured to attach to the second side wall. The elongated blade attachment member is attached to and between the first side attachment member and the second side attachment. The grader blade is fixedly attached to the blade attachment member and configured to extend across the open front.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A grader blade attachment for a box scraper configured to be pulled by a vehicle, the box scraper including a first side wall with a first side bottom edge, a second sidewall with a second sidewall bottom edge, and an open front and a back wall attached to and between the first side wall and the second side wall, comprising:
 a first side attachment member configured to attach to the first side wall;   a second side attachment member configured to attach to the second side wall;   an elongated blade attachment member attached to and between the first side attachment member and the second side attachment member and configured to extend across the open front; and   a grader blade fixedly attached to the blade attachment member and configured to extend across the open front and below the first side bottom edge and the second side bottom edge.   
     
     
         2 . The grader blade attachment of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first side attachment member includes a first side plate and a first bottom plate fixedly attached to form an L cross section, the first side plate fixedly attached to the blade attachment member; and   the second side attachment member includes a second side plate and a second bottom plate fixedly attached to form an L cross section, the second side plate fixedly attached to the blade attachment member.   
     
     
         3 . The grader blade attachment of  claim 1 , further including a first skid member including a first elongated plate, and a second skid member including a second elongated plate; and
 wherein the first side attachment member includes a first side plate and a first bottom plate fixedly attached to form an L cross section, the first bottom plate fixedly attached to the first skid member; and   wherein the second side attachment member includes a second side plate and a second bottom plate fixedly attached to form an L cross section, the second bottom plate fixedly attached to the second skid member.   
     
     
         4 . The grader blade attachment of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the first elongated plate includes a first main portion and a first angled end,   the second elongated plate includes a second main portion and a second angled end;   the first bottom plate is fixedly attached to the first main portion; and   the second bottom plate is fixedly attached to the second main portion.   
     
     
         5 . The grader blade attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the blade attachment member includes a length, and an adjustment mechanism to fixedly vary the length. 
     
     
         6 . The grader blade attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the grader blade includes a width, and a cross section taken along the width is arcuate. 
     
     
         7 . The grader blade attachment of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first side attachment member includes a first side plate and a first bottom plate fixedly attached to form an L cross section, the first side plate including bolt apertures for fixedly attaching the first side plate to the first side wall; and   the second side attachment member includes a second side plate and a second bottom plate fixedly attached to form an L cross section, the second side plate including bolt apertures for fixedly attaching the first side plate to the first side wall.   
     
     
         8 . The grader blade attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the grader blade is fixedly attached to the blade attachment member with bolts. 
     
     
         9 . The grader blade attachment of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first side attachment member, the second side attachment member, the elongated blade attachment member, and the grader blade are at least partially formed from steel plate. 
     
     
         10 . The grader blade attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the grader blade includes a cutting edge and the cutting edge extends below the first side bottom edge and the second side bottom edge. 
     
     
         11 . The grader blade attachment of  claim 1 , wherein;
 the elongated blade attachment member includes a bending line dividing the elongated blade attachment member into a first portion and a second portion;   the elongated blade attachment member is bent along the bending line such that the first portion is at an angle with the second portion; and   the grader blade is fixedly attached to the second portion.   
     
     
         12 . A box scraper for pulling with a vehicle, comprising:
 a frame including a first side wall with a first side bottom edge, a second sidewall with a second sidewall bottom edge, and an open front and a back wall attached to and between the first side wall and the second side wall, the back wall including a back wall bottom edge;   a first grader blade with a first cutting edge fixedly attached to the back wall, the first cutting edge extending below the back wall bottom edge;   a second grader blade with a second cutting edge, the second grader blade fixedly attached to the frame and extending across the open front, the second cutting edge extending below the first side bottom edge and the second side bottom edge.   
     
     
         13 . The box scraper of  claim 12 , further including an elongated blade attachment member fixedly attached to and between the first side wall and the second side wall and configured to extend across the open front; and
 wherein the second grade blade is fixedly attached to the elongated blade attachment member.   
     
     
         14 . The box scraper of  claim 12 , wherein the back wall includes a top frame member, a bottom portion, and an elongated opening between the top frame member and the bottom portion and the frame includes a frame interior space and a frame exterior; and
 further including a door rotatably coupled to the top frame member to move between an open position wherein material can move through the elongated opening from the frame interior to the frame exterior, and a closed position in which material is blocked from moving through the elongated opening from the frame interior to the frame exterior by the door; and   further including a door locking mechanism for locking the door in one of the open position and closed position.   
     
     
         15 . The box scraper of  claim 12 , further including
 a first skid member including a first elongated plate, the first skid member fixedly attached to the frame such that the first elongated plate is generally perpendicular to the first side wall and below the first side bottom edge; and   a second skid member including a second elongated plate, the second skid member fixedly attached to the frame such that the second elongated plate is generally perpendicular to the second side wall and below the second side bottom edge.   
     
     
         16 . The box scraper of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the first side wall includes a first side attachment member with a first side plate and a first bottom plate fixedly attached to form an L cross section, the first bottom plate fixedly attached to the first skid member; and   the second side wall includes a second side attachment member with a second side plate and a second bottom plate fixedly attached to form an L cross section, the second bottom plate fixedly attached to the second skid member.   
     
     
         17 . The box scraper of  claim 12 , further including an elongated blade attachment member fixedly attached to and between the first side wall and the second side wall, and configured to extend across the open front; and
 wherein the second grader blade is fixedly attached to elongated blade attachment member.   
     
     
         18 . The box scraper of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the elongated blade attachment member includes a bending line dividing the elongated blade attachment member into a first portion and a second portion;   the elongated blade attachment member is bent along the bending line such that the first portion is at an angle with the second portion; and   the second grader blade is fixedly attached to the second portion.   
     
     
         19 . The box scraper of  claim 12 , further including a hitch configured to attach and detach the box scraper to a vehicle to provide motive power to the box scraper. 
     
     
         20 . The box scraper of  claim 12 , further including one or more digging tools movable between and configured to be secured in a functional and non-functional position.