Improvements in & relating to grading apparatus for vehicles

Abstract

Grader Apparatus for attachment to a vehicle has a main body portion coupled to a blade body portion by multiple linkages. These include primary load bearing links which connect to the blade portion aligned in a vertical z-axis allows rotation of the blade portion thereabout. Adjustable length actuators allow rotational yaw control about the z-axis. Adjustable roll actuators connect between an extension of the main body portion and the blade body portion to control its elevation and roll angle. Other embodiments allow lateral shifting of the blade body portion, and include an improved slope sensor catering for yaw with roll combinations.

1 - 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . A grader assembly suitable for use on a vehicle, said grader assembly comprising:
 a main body portion attachable to a vehicle, and   a blade body portion connected to rotate about a vertical rotational z-axis;   the main body portion and blade body portion connected by at least two primary load links spanning between the main body portion and blade body portion, the connection of at least one said primary load link being to a pivotable connection point lying on the blade body portion's said vertical rotational z-axis,   there being at least one adjustable length positional link spanning between, and pivotably connected to, said main body portion and blade body portion,   the blade body portion including or having provision for a ground working assembly.   
     
     
         33 . The grader assembly as claimed in  claim 32 , further comprising a vertical planar arrangement of two said primary load links situated such that one is substantially one above the other, and
 in which said arrangement of two primary load links lie substantially in a vertically plane, and each have pivotable connections at each end to the respective body portions they connect to.   
     
     
         34 . The grader assembly as claimed in  claim 32 , further comprising a triangular arrangement of two of said primary load links which, when viewed in plan, extending outwardly from their pivotable connection point to either the main body portion or blade body portion so as to pivotably connect to the alternate body portion outwardly of its middle (also when viewed in plan). 
     
     
         35 . The grader assembly as claimed in  claim 34  in which said two primary load links of the triangular arrangement lie substantially within a horizontal plane when the lower edge of the blade portion is parallel to horizontal ground. 
     
     
         36 . The grader assembly as claimed in either  claim 34 , further comprising at least one additional primary load link located, when viewed from the side, either or both above and below the plane of said triangular arrangement of two primary load links, and which pivotably connect to a point lying on the vertical rotational z-axis of the blade body portion. 
     
     
         37 . The grader assembly as claimed in  claim 32 , further comprising at least one adjustable yaw controlling linkage extending between the main body portion and blade body portion, whose adjustment in length effects rotation of the blade body portion about its vertical rotational z-axis. 
     
     
         38 . The grader assembly as claimed in  claim 37  in which said at least one adjustable yaw controlling linkage lies outwardly, when viewed in plan, of a saggital vertical plane intersecting the blade body portion's vertical rotational z-axis. 
     
     
         39 . The grader assembly as claimed in  claim 32  in which there is a forward extending mounting point associated with the main body portion, and wherein there is present at least one adjustable roll controlling linkage connected to said forward extending mounting point and extending outwardly therefrom when viewed in plan to a connection point on the blade body portion. 
     
     
         40 . The grader assembly as claimed in  claim 39  in which a said at least one adjustable roll controlling linkage lies substantially within a vertical plane passing through the blade body portion. 
     
     
         41 . The grader assembly as claimed in  claim 39  in which there are a pair of the at least one adjustable roll controlling linkages, one disposed either side of their connections to said forward extending mounting portion. 
     
     
         42 . The grader assembly as claimed in  claim 39 , further comprising:
 a vertical planar arrangement of two said primary load links situated such that one is substantially one above the other, wherein said arrangement of two primary load links lie substantially in a vertically plane, and each have pivotable connections at each end to the respective body portions they connect to, and   at least one adjustable side-shift controlling linkage which connects to the blade body portion on or near its vertical rotational z-axis, and at its alternate end to the main body portion at a point outwardly of a vertical saggital plane passing through said vertical rotational z-axis.   
     
     
         43 . The grader assembly as claimed in  claim 39  in which an adjustable controlling linkage comprises an actuator. 
     
     
         44 . The grader assembly as claimed in  claim 32  in which the bottom edge of the blade body portion comprises any one or more of: a levelling blade, dual levelling blades for bidirectional levelling, a rotary powered accessory, a brush, and a rake. 
     
     
         45 . The grader assembly as claimed in  claim 44  in which a feature on the bottom edge of the blade body portion can be replaced or substituted. 
     
     
         46 . The grader assembly as claimed in  claim 32  in which the main body portion includes a forwardly extending mounting arm, and there is also provided at the forward end of the arm a wheeled carriage assembly. 
     
     
         47 . The grader assembly as claimed in  claim 46  in which said forwardly extending mounting arm is adjustable in length. 
     
     
         48 . The grader assembly as claimed in  claim 32  in which the main body portion includes a quick hitch mounting arrangement to a vehicle. 
     
     
         49 . The grader assembly as claimed in  claim 32 , further comprising a stabilized slope sensor assembly comprising a sensor portion, and sensor mounting portion;
 said sensor mounting portion pivotably attached to said blade body portion to allow rotation about a vertical axis either substantially coaxial or parallel to said blade body portions vertical rotational z-axis;   said sensor mounting portion also attached to a point on the grader assembly preventing rotation of the sensor portion, about a vertical axis, relative to the main body portion during yaw rotational adjustments of the blade body portion;   the arrangement further defined such that the sensor rotates about a horizontal axis in response to roll rotational adjustments of the blade body portion, and   in which said sensor portion is a slope sensor oriented, when viewed from above, substantially along a transverse axis and is restricted in position within the coronal plane during either or both roll and yaw adjustments of the blade body portion relative to the main body portion.   
     
     
         50 . The grader assembly as claimed in  claim 49  in which the sensor mounting portion comprises an arm extending between the main body portion and blade body portion, said arm falling substantially within or parallel to the sagittal plane of the grader assembly. 
     
     
         51 . A grader assembly suitable for use on a vehicle, said grader assembly comprising:
 a main body portion attachable to a vehicle, and   a blade body portion connected to rotate about a vertical rotational z-axis;   the main body portion and blade body portion connected by at least two lower fixed length primary load links spanning between the main body portion and blade body portion in a triangular arrangement, when viewed in plan, and wherein the connection of said two lower primary load links being to a pivotable connection point lying on, or close to, the blade body portion's said vertical rotational z-axis,   there also being at least one upper primary load link, located elevated above said two lower primary load links when viewed from the side, a said upper primary load link spanning between the main body portion and blade body portion and connecting to said blade body portion by a pivotable connection on or close to said vertical rotational z-axis;   there also being at least a forward extending portion of said main body portion which extends over the blade body portion, and wherein there are two roll control linkages positioned one either side of said forward extending portion when viewed in plan, and which each said roll control linkage extends from said forward extending portion to a point on said blade body portion which is spaced distally outwardly of the roll control linkage's pivotal connection to the forward extending portion when viewed in plan, and in which their connection to said blade body portion is also a pivotable connection;   there being at least one adjustable length positional link spanning between, and pivotably connected to, said main body portion and blade body portion,   the blade body portion including or having provision for a ground working assembly.