System and method for actuating moldboard for work machine

Abstract

A system for actuating a moldboard for a work machine includes a linkage defining a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The linkage is movably coupled with a first moldboard section proximal to the first end. The linkage is movably coupled with a second moldboard section proximal to the second end. The system also includes an actuator including a cylinder adapted to be coupled with a portion of the work machine and a rod member coupled with the linkage. During a raising operation of the moldboard, the linkage and the actuator raise the second moldboard section until the second moldboard section at least partially engages with the first moldboard section post which the linkage and the actuator simultaneously raise each of the first moldboard section and the second moldboard section.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for actuating a moldboard for a work machine, the moldboard including a first moldboard section and a second moldboard section that is movable relative to the first moldboard section, the system comprising:
 a linkage defining a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the linkage is movably coupled with the first moldboard section proximal to the first end, and wherein the linkage is movably coupled with the second moldboard section proximal to the second end; and   an actuator including a cylinder adapted to be coupled with a portion of the work machine and a rod member coupled with the linkage, wherein, during a raising operation of the moldboard, the linkage and the actuator raise the second moldboard section until the second moldboard section at least partially engages with the first moldboard section post which the linkage and the actuator simultaneously raise each of the first moldboard section and the second moldboard section.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein, during a lowering operation of the moldboard, the linkage and the actuator lower each of the first moldboard section and the second moldboard section simultaneously until the first moldboard section contacts a ground surface post which the linkage and the actuator further lower the second moldboard section into the ground surface. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the linkage has a circular through-hole defined proximal to the first end, and wherein the linkage has an elongated slot defined proximal to the second end. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  further comprising a first fastener adapted to be received in the circular through-hole to couple the linkage with the first moldboard section and a second fastener adapted to be received in the elongated slot to couple the linkage with the second moldboard section, wherein, when the moldboard is raised or lowered, the second fastener is slidable within the elongated slot to compensate for a change in a distance between the first fastener and the second fastener. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first moldboard section includes at least one limit stop, and wherein, during the raising operation of the moldboard, the at least one limit stop is adapted to engage with the second moldboard section to allow each of the first moldboard section and the second moldboard section to be raised together. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is a hydraulic actuator. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the rod member of the actuator is connected to the linkage at a location that is proximal to the second end of the linkage and distal from the first end of the linkage. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the linkage is adapted to rotate relative to the first moldboard section proximal to the first end of the linkage, and wherein the linkage is adapted to slide relative to the second moldboard section proximal to the second end of the linkage. 
     
     
         9 . A moldboard for a work machine, the moldboard comprising:
 a first moldboard section having a first width;   a second moldboard section that is movable relative to the first moldboard section, the second moldboard section has a second width that is lesser than the first width;   a linkage defining a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the linkage is movably coupled with the first moldboard section proximal to the first end, and wherein the linkage is movably coupled with the second moldboard section proximal to the second end; and   an actuator including a cylinder coupled with a portion of the work machine and a rod member coupled with the linkage, wherein, during a raising operation of the moldboard, the linkage and the actuator raise the second moldboard section until the second moldboard section at least partially engages with the first moldboard section post which the linkage and the actuator simultaneously raise each of the first moldboard section and the second moldboard section.   
     
     
         10 . The moldboard of  claim 9 , wherein, during a lowering operation of the moldboard, the linkage and the actuator lower each of the first moldboard section and the second moldboard section simultaneously until the first moldboard section contacts a ground surface post which the linkage and the actuator further lower the second moldboard section into the ground surface. 
     
     
         11 . The moldboard of  claim 9 , wherein the linkage has a circular through-hole defined proximal to the first end, and wherein the linkage has an elongated slot defined proximal to the second end. 
     
     
         12 . The moldboard of  claim 11  further comprising a first fastener received in the circular through-hole to couple the linkage with the first moldboard section and a second fastener received in the elongated slot to couple the linkage with the second moldboard section, wherein, when the moldboard is raised or lowered, the second fastener is slidable within the elongated slot to compensate for a change in a distance between the first fastener and the second fastener. 
     
     
         13 . The moldboard of  claim 9 , wherein the first moldboard section includes at least one limit stop, and wherein, during the raising operation of the moldboard, the at least one limit stop is adapted to engage with the second moldboard section to allow each of the first moldboard section and the second moldboard section to be raised together. 
     
     
         14 . The moldboard of  claim 9 , wherein the actuator is a hydraulic actuator. 
     
     
         15 . The moldboard of  claim 9 , wherein the rod member of the actuator is connected to the linkage at a location that is proximal to the second end of the linkage and distal from the first end of the linkage. 
     
     
         16 . The moldboard of  claim 9 , wherein the moldboard defines a first moldboard end and a second moldboard end, wherein the first moldboard section extends from the first moldboard end to the second moldboard end, and wherein the second moldboard section extends, at least partially, from the second moldboard end towards the first moldboard end. 
     
     
         17 . A method for actuating a moldboard for a work machine, the moldboard including a first moldboard section and a second moldboard section that is movable relative to the first moldboard section, the method comprising:
 actuating an actuator of the moldboard, wherein the moldboard includes a linkage defining a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the linkage is movably coupled with the first moldboard section proximal to the first end, wherein the linkage is movably coupled with the second moldboard section proximal to the second end, and wherein the actuator includes a cylinder coupled with a portion of the work machine and a rod member coupled with the linkage;   raising, via the linkage and the actuator, the second moldboard section until the second moldboard section at least partially engages with the first moldboard section; and   simultaneously raising, via the linkage and the actuator, each of the first moldboard section and the second moldboard section after the second moldboard section at least partially engages with the first moldboard section.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising:
 simultaneously lowering, via the linkage and the actuator, each of the first moldboard section and the second moldboard section until the first moldboard section contacts a ground surface; and 
 lowering, via the linkage and the actuator, the second moldboard section into the ground surface after the first moldboard section contacts the ground surface. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of simultaneously raising, via the linkage and the actuator, each of the first moldboard section and the second moldboard section further includes engaging at least one limit stop of the first moldboard section with the second moldboard section to allow each of the first moldboard section and the second moldboard section to be raised together. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the linkage has a circular through-hole defined proximal to the first end, wherein the linkage has an elongated slot defined proximal to the second end, and wherein the moldboard includes a first fastener received in the circular through-hole to couple the linkage with the first moldboard section and a second fastener received in the elongated slot to couple the linkage with the second moldboard section, the method further comprising causing the second fastener to slide within the elongated slot, during the raising or lowering of the moldboard, to compensate for a change in a distance between the first fastener and the second fastener.