Gravel blade system

Abstract

An adjustable blade system is provided. The blade system includes opposed first and second blade sets, each being adjustable to form respective V shapes such that, together, the blade sets form an adjustable W shape. The blade system includes a support system for connecting the blade system to a tractor or other equipment. The blade system includes an adjustment system for selectively adjusting the blade sets relative to the support system, thereby facilitating movement of the blade sets between various configurations. The blade system is configured to selectively move from a straight configuration to various W configurations, as desired or required, thereby changing the width and other geometrical aspects of the blade system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A blade system comprising:
 a support system; and   a first blade set coupled to said support system, said first blade set comprising:
 a primary blade having opposed outer and inner ends, said primary blade being functionally coupled to said support system; and 
 a secondary blade having opposed outer and inner ends, said outer end of said secondary blade being rotatably coupled to said support system, and said inner end of said secondary blade being rotatably coupled to said inner end of said primary blade, 
   wherein said first blade set is moveable between a straight configuration and a funneling configuration, and   wherein said inner edges of said primary and secondary blades are positioned aft of said outer edges of said primary and secondary blades when said first blade set is in the funneling configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The blade system of  claim 1 , further comprising an adjustment system for controlling an angle of said primary blade relative to said support structure. 
     
     
         3 . The blade system of  claim 1 , further comprising a first adjustment arm extending between said primary blade of said first blade set and a support beam of said support system, thereby functionally coupling said primary blade to said support beam. 
     
     
         4 . The blade system of  claim 3 , wherein said first adjustment arm is telescopically coupled with said support beam. 
     
     
         5 . The blade system of  claim 4 , further comprising a biasing member coupled with said support beam and said first adjustment arm, said biasing member being configured for selectively moving said first adjustment arm relative to said support beam. 
     
     
         6 . The blade system of  claim 5 , wherein said biasing member is a hydraulic cylinder. 
     
     
         7 . The blade system of  claim 5 , wherein said biasing member is configured for selectively inhibiting movement of said first adjustment arm relative to said support beam. 
     
     
         8 . The blade system of  claim 5 , further comprising a gap filler extending between said primary and secondary blades. 
     
     
         9 . The blade system of  claim 5 , further comprising a second blade set coupled to said support system, said second blade set comprising:
 a primary blade having opposed outer and inner ends, said primary blade being functionally coupled to said support system; and   a secondary blade having opposed outer and inner ends, said outer end of said secondary blade being rotatably coupled to said support system, and said inner end of said secondary blade being rotatably coupled to said inner end of said primary blade,   wherein said second blade set is moveable between a straight configuration and a funneling configuration,   wherein said inner edges of said primary and secondary blades are positioned aft of said outer edges of said primary and secondary blades when said second blade set is in the funneling configuration, and   wherein the blade system is in a straight configuration when said first and second blade sets are each in respective straight configurations, and   wherein the blade system is in a W configuration when said first and second blade sets are each in respective funneling configurations.   
     
     
         10 . The blade system of  claim 9 , further comprising first and second gap fillers, said first gap filler extending between said primary and secondary blades of respective first and second blade sets. 
     
     
         11 . A blade system comprising:
 a support system; and   first and second blade sets coupled to said support system, each blade set comprising:
 a primary blade having opposed outer and inner ends, said primary blade being functionally coupled to said support system; and 
 a secondary blade having opposed outer and inner ends, said outer end of said secondary blade being rotatably coupled to said support system, and said inner end of said secondary blade being rotatably coupled to said inner end of said primary blade, 
   wherein said first and second blade sets are each moveable between respective straight and funneling configurations,   wherein the blade system is in a straight configuration when said first and second blade sets are in respective straight configurations, and   wherein the blade system is in a W configuration when said first and second blade sets are in respective funneling configurations.   
     
     
         12 . The blade system of  claim 11 , further comprising an adjustment system for controlling an angle of each primary blade relative to said support structure. 
     
     
         13 . The blade system of  claim 11 , further comprising first and second adjustment arms extending between a support beam of said support system and respective primary blades of said first and second blade sets, thereby functionally coupling said primary blades to said support beam. 
     
     
         14 . The blade system of  claim 13 , wherein said first and second adjustment arms are telescopically coupled with said support beam. 
     
     
         15 . The blade system of  claim 14 , further comprising first and second biasing members coupled with said support beam and respective first and second adjustment arms, said first and second biasing members being configured for selectively moving respective first and second adjustment arms relative to said support beam. 
     
     
         16 . The blade system of  claim 15 , wherein said first and second biasing members are hydraulic cylinders. 
     
     
         17 . The blade system of  claim 15 , wherein said biasing member is configured for selectively inhibiting movement of said first adjustment arm relative to said support beam. 
     
     
         18 . The blade system of  claim 15 , further comprising first and second gap fillers, said first gap filler extending between said primary and secondary blades of respective first and second blade sets. 
     
     
         19 . A method of adjusting a blade system, the blade system comprising:
 a support system; and   a first blade set coupled to the support system, the first blade set comprising:
 a primary blade having opposed outer and inner ends, the primary blade being functionally coupled to the support system; and 
 a secondary blade having opposed outer and inner ends, the outer end of the secondary blade being rotatably coupled to the support system, and the inner end of the secondary blade being rotatably coupled to the inner end of the primary blade, 
   wherein the method comprises rotating the primary blade of the first blade set relative to a support beam of the support system so as to increase or decrease a depth of a V shape created by the first blade set.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the blade system further comprises a second blade set, and wherein the method further comprises moving a primary blade of the second blade set relative to the support beam of the support system so as to increase or decrease a depth of a V shape created by the second blade set, the method further comprising adjusting the first and second blade sets simultaneously such that increasing and decreasing the respective depths of the respective V shapes of the first and second blade sets adjusts a W shape of the blade system.