Ground engaging tool

Abstract

A ground engaging tool for attachment to a vehicle having a frame defining a base plane for supporting a plurality of sidewalls extending upwardly at an angle relative to the base plane, a wear member connected to the frame having a first cutting edge for working a surface, a pair of outer cutting edges orientated perpendicularly with respect to the base plane, and an accumulator defined by the frame having a plurality of accumulator portions, where each of the accumulator portions are positioned aft of the wear member and between the plurality of sidewalls.

1 . A ground engaging tool for attachment to a vehicle, the ground engaging tool comprising:
 a frame defining a base plane, the frame supporting a plurality of sidewalls extending upwardly at an angle relative to the base plane;   a wear member connected to the frame, the wear member comprising:
 a first cutting edge configured for working a surface; and 
 a pair of outer cutting edges orientated perpendicularly with respect to the base plane, and 
   an accumulator defined by the frame having a plurality of accumulator portions, each of the plurality of accumulator portions positioned aft of the wear member and between the plurality of sidewalls.   
     
     
         2 . The ground engaging tool of  claim 1 , wherein the accumulator includes a plurality of longitudinal members disposed in a front to back direction and cross-members disposed in a transverse direction, the plurality of accumulator members and accumulator cross-members defining the accumulator portions. 
     
     
         3 . The ground engaging tool of  claim 2 , wherein the accumulator members are disposed at an angle relative to the base plane such that material being worked can slide off the accumulator members in use. 
     
     
         4 . The ground engaging tool of  claim 3 , wherein the accumulator members are disposed at an angle of about 45 degrees relative to the base plane. 
     
     
         5 . The ground engaging tool of  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the accumulator cross-members include an accumulator wear member to engage with the ground, the accumulator wear member further comprising a forward facing cutting edge to stabilise the ground engaging tool in use. 
     
     
         6 . The ground engaging tool of  claim 1 , wherein the wear member includes a pair of outer corner tips connected by a central portion. 
     
     
         7 . The ground engaging tool of  claim 6 , wherein each outer corner tip of the pair of outer corner tips includes a sidewall angled to direct material into the accumulator. 
     
     
         8 . The ground engaging tool of  claim 7 , wherein the sidewall of each outer corner tip includes an outer cutting edge. 
     
     
         9 . The ground engaging tool of  claim 8 , wherein each sidewall of each outer corner tip is angled at about 30 degrees relative to the central portion of the wear member, to direct material into the accumulator. 
     
     
         10 . The ground engaging tool of  claim 9 , wherein the outer cutting edges are forward facing cutting edges. 
     
     
         11 . The ground engaging tool of  claim 10 , wherein the central portion is slender relative to the pair of outer corner tips to encourage flow of material into the accumulator. 
     
     
         12 . The ground engaging tool of  claim 11 , wherein the pair of outer corner tips flair upwardly and forwardly relative to the central portion of the wear member to encourage flow of material into the accumulator. 
     
     
         13 . The ground engaging tool of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of sidewalls extend upwardly at an angle between 45° and 85° relative to the base plane. 
     
     
         14 . The ground engaging tool of  claim 1 , wherein the frame further comprises a peripheral frame region to which the wear member is connected, the peripheral frame region extending from the frame at an angle relative to the base plane. 
     
     
         15 . The ground engaging tool of  claim 14 , wherein the peripheral frame region extends from the frame at an angle between 1° and 3° relative to the base plane. 
     
     
         16 . The ground engaging tool of  claim 14 , wherein the peripheral frame region further comprises a bevelled region to which the wear member is connected. 
     
     
         17 . The ground engaging tool of  claim 16 , wherein the bevelled region is bevelled at an angle between 125° and 140° from the base plane. 
     
     
         18 . The ground engaging tool of  claim 1 , further including a coupler pivotally connected to the frame such that the ground engaging tool is movable by a vehicle. 
     
     
         19 . The ground engaging tool of  claim 1 , further including an autonomous levelling system to retain the ground engaging tool at a desired position relative to the ground. 
     
     
         20 . A vehicle comprising the ground engaging tool of  claim 1 .