DIRT ROAD SMOOTHING APPARATUS

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to excavating devices for leveling or forming roads. More specifically, the invention encompasses an apparatus utilizing adjustably fixed blades engaged to a structural 5 frame with a movable yoke for towing and a pair of wheels, pivotally arranged, manually positioned beneath the frame for towing or rotated above for leveling.

BACKGROUND ART 10 .Previously there have been numerous apparati developed for removing, rearranging and leveling soil in areas of land and more particularly roadbeds. . A level using a plurality of angulated blades mounted in longitudinal spaced relationship with the individual blades relocating the soil in a lateral direction during passage over 15 ground surface is well known in the art. There have been observed two basic methods utilized to level ground. The first contains the forementioned plurality of blades and is characterized by U.S. Patent 3,047,969 issued to Purdy in which a hydraulic system raises and lowers a plurality of wheels necessitating a prime mover having 20 that capability. The blades are rigidly fixed within the confines ø, of the frame. Similarly, Patent 3,063,178 Purdy improves the blade by providing a trip mechanism but still requires hydraulics to elevate the wheels. Patent 3,052,998 of Childers teaches a geometrically arranged blade relationship with a fixed open gate on 25 the longitudinal axis for the final soil movement into a windrow or berm, also hydraulically operated wheels.

The second method deals with a single scoop or bucket device

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2 that is adjusted by various arrangements to individually remove the soil and relocate it by tilting or tripping the scoop at the desired time and place. Rεpresentive of this art are U.S. Patents 2,503,638 Shuey, 2,732,640 Kirchner and 2,787,066 issued to Johnson.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The invention provides a leveling apparatus for use on dirt roads that have become worn and rutted as a result of adverse weather conditions. Many leveling devices have been developed for construct- ing roadbeds and leveling areas of farm land for planting and irriga¬ tion. The inherent problem with these devices is that they were developed for use with large prime movers such as tracked vehicles or in case of agricultural equipment farm tractors. In most cases these vehicles are equipped with hydraul c systems allowing the wheels to be elevated or adjusted by hydraulic pressure. Even further, the levelers are large and bulky and move large quantities of soil in one pass over a given area. ^' The need has long existed for a leveler that may be towed behind an over-the-road vehicle, such as a light duty pick-up truck or passenger car for existing roadbeds that need only surface leveling.

The instant invention fills this need, therefore, the primary object is to provide a two wheeled towable leveler that may be used in the operating position while leveling and also towed in trailer fashion to and from the workplace with a state of the art over- the- road vehicle.

An important object provides retractable running gear in the form of wheels connected by a rigid axle with a manual spring loaded lever that may be easily rotated by the operator by pivoting the lever 180 degrees. The lever arm and fulcrum arrangement provide sufficient mechanical advantage to overcome the weight of the frame. Still another object lies in the use of a ball hitch coupler on a pivotal yoke allowing the leveler to be towed by any vehicle provided with a conventional hitch ball not limiting the prime mover to a special attaching device or other power assist mechanisms. Still another object includes an improvement on the length of the final blade, which is rotated upward locating the berm of soil

or other road material leaving the leveler to be in line for the next pass or to be extended and leave the berm at the edge of the road. This rotatable blade also provides retraction for reducing the overall width of the leveler to the legal limits for over-the- road transportation while providing the maximum width during operation. Yet another object provides removable and individually adjust¬ able cutting blades for the surfaces in contact with the roadbed. The vertical surfaces may be adjusted to compensate for wear on the exposed edge and the horizontal surfaces provide a flat wear plate. Both blades are interchangeable and, therefore, the vertical blade may be interchanged with the horizontal and also be reversed providing a number of fresh edges and all blades need not be replaced simultaneously.

A further object allows the leveler to be simply and easily constructed providing a device that is within the economic reach of private road owners and land developers.

Still another object lies in the geometrical orientation of the blades in relation to the side runners. As they are all on the same plane, the -side runners act as a float to not only contain the material inside the apparatus but create the leveling effect allowing the blades to cut into high points and drop material into the low profile of the roadbed.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a partial isometric view of the preferred embodi¬ ment. FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the invention.

FIGURE 3 is a side view of the invention with the running gear and yoke hitch coupler in the leveling position.

FIGURE 4 is a side view of the invention with the running gear and yoke hitch coupler in the towing position. FIGURE 5 is a partial view taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 2 depicting the pivot lever in the towing position.

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FIGURE 6 is a partial view taken along lines 6-6 of FIG. 2 depicting the pivot lever in the operating position.

FIGURE 7 is a partial isometric view of the yoke hitch coupler isolated from the leveler.

FIGURE 8 is an isometric view taken along lines 7-7 of FIG. 2.

FIGURE 9 is a partial isometric view of the running gear assembly less wheels and structural frame isolated from the leveler.

FIGURE 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 10-10 of FIG. 2.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring now in detail to the drawings and describing the best mode or preferred embodiment, the invention consists of a structural frame assembly 20 consisting of a pair of longitudinal members 22 preferably angles or channels of ferrous material planar and parallel with spacer member 23 located therebetween at the forward end. In the preferred embodiment one leg of each angle 22 is disposed on the lower horizontal surface.

^• Attached to the frame 20 on -this surface are a plurality of angulated blades 24 (a through d), preferably four. These blades are attached below the frame 20 in longitudinal spaced relationship with an angle of perhaps 70 degrees from the longitudinal members 22. The blades 24 are in angle shape having the leg horizontal at the bottom providing a surface to rest on the roadbed, also a sharp corner at the intersection of the horizontal and vertical leg that acts as a cutting surface. The exposed surfaces of the blades 24 are covered with adjustable blade face shoes 26, best shown in Fig. 8, that pre¬ vent mechanical damage due to the physical abuse of striking hard surfaces such as rocks and concrete on the roadbed. These shoes 26 are of a heat-treated ferrous alloy with slots 28 in the blade for adjustment vertically when wear on the cutting edge is encountered. They are attached with threaded fasteners in the form of plow bolts and may be reversed, removed or replaced as necessary. The bottom surface of the blade 24 also contain skid plate shoes 26 and are interchangeable in shape and provide the wearing surface on the bottom exposed leg. As wear occurs on the flat portion of the lade face 26

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on the bottom and on the edge on the vertically mounted face inter¬ changing allows a new and fresh surface to be exposed in various combinations providing flexability and extended life of the wearing surfaces. A pair of side runners 30 are attached on the curbside and roadside of the invention to alternate blades 24. These runners 30 have an angular shape with a vertical leg up and horizontal leg down, as in the blades 24. The position and surfaces allow a floating effect and maintain the soil or material within the structure during operation and also act as the side structural members of the blade assembly being planar to the blades. The runners 30 also contain skid plate shoes 32 best depicted in Figure 10 contiguous with the bottom leg of identical construction and material as their blade face 26 counterparts. The forward end of the curbside runner 30 further contains a leading blade entrance extension 34 in the form of an angulated plate extending angularly from the runner 30. This extension 34 protrudes above the boxed structure of the invention and introduces soil or material into the device. This provides the entrance of material from the berm deposited by the previous pass of the apparatus and the angle allows the entire apparatus to raise and go over obstructions like rocks or roots, rather than impacting directly upon the front of the runner 30. The trailing angulated blade 24d has a hinged trailing blade window positioning gate 36 that rotates hingedly upward away from the structure. This positioning gate 36 is an extension of the blade but does not necessarily contain a blade face 26. The hinge 38 is located on the upper surface of the blade 24d allowing the pivot point to rotate the gate 36 completely away from the blade. A locking device ^' 40 such as a sliding bolt or over-center hasp holds the gate rididly in place. A gate tensioning member 42 in the form of a rod or other metallic structural shape is rotatably connected on each end to the roadside side runner 30 and gate 36 providing the necessary structural integrity during operation. A swivel joint 44 on each end allows the axial movement with the hinge 38 angularly positioned to maintain the same distal relationship while horizontal or folded vertical. A fastener 46 for each swivel

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joint 44 is attached to the corresponding member, preferably by welding. During operation with the gate down the soil or material is deposited away from the working area in a berm at the side of the roadbed with the gate 36 rotated upwardly over-center. The material is deposited within the dimensional outline of the apparatus allowing the device to smooth the surface up to the edge of an imbutment such as a bridge or hard surfaced road. Further, it allows the overall envelope to be reduced for over-the-road transportation.

Running gear is affixed rotatably to the frame assembly 20 to provide over-the-road towing and consists of a pair of wheels 48, preferably pneumatic, attached together with a fixed offset axle 50, each end having spindles to receive hubs for the wheels 48. The wheels 48 consist of a hub, to which a tire is mounted, the assembly being secured to the axle 50 with a bearing on the spindle. Figures 5, 6 and 9 illustrate the rotating mechanism that manually lifts the wheels 48 for grading or lowers them for over-the-road towing. The axle 50 is attached to the frame 20 with a pair of reinforcing brackets 52 that are rigidly affixed to the frame. A fulcrum pivot lever.54 in the form of a tubular handle 54a with an offset strut 54b is rotatably coupled to the axle 50 allowing the offset strut 54b to be above the pivot point in the rearward horizontal position and below the point in the forward position. The axle 50 is, therefore, attached at the extended end of the offset strut 54b and also the mating pivot member 57. The fulcrum pivot lever 54 holds the wheel in the raised position by a tension over-center spring 55 that is extended when the lever 54 ^' is rotated and pulls against the pivot lever handle 54a maintaining the raised position of the wheels. A spring yoke 58 attaches the spring 56 to the lever 54 and is in a crescent shape to allow a linear force to be used around the axle 50. The opposite end of the spring is attached to the frame 20 with a spring end bracket 60. The fulcrum pivot lever 54 may further con¬ tain a resilient grip 62 for convenience but is not necessary. An over-center latch 64 locks the handle in place in its over-the-road position maintaining the necessary safety provisions for this type of transportation. Figure 7 best illustrates the yoke hitch coupler 66, which allows the leveler to be towed by an over-the-road vehicle

such as a light duty truck, pick-up or passenger automobile. This hitch coupler 66 is in the shape of an "A" yoke and is preferably constructed with angle members, but may have other shapes such as square or round tubes, channel, I-beam, or any combination of the above. The hitch coupler 66 is rotatably attached to the frame 20 with coupler attaching brackets 68 that are permanently affixed to the frame 20. The location of these brackets 68 is important in that the draft on the hitch coupler 66 provides the appropriate weight balance to the apparatus in how deep the forward blade 24a digs into the road surface. This hitch coupler 68 consists of a pivotal elevating extension frame 70 to which a ball coupler 72 is attached at the intersection of the converging frame members. The ball coupler 72 has a channel shaped body 74 that attaches over the extension frame 70 and a socket 76 that is internally radiused to receive a hitch ball, well known in the art, that is integral with the towing vehicle. The ball diameter may be 476 millimeters (1-7/8 inches), 508 millimeters (2 inches) or 575 millimeters (2-1/8 inches) and still fit the nominal inside diameter of the ball coupler. The ball coupler further contains a radiused jaw that is positioned by a threaded fastener or over-center device that locks into the socket from underneath completely captivating the ball.

The yoke hitch coupler 66 is clamped to the frame 20 for over- the-road operation by a coupler over-center latch 78. This allows the hitch coupler to be part of the frame 20 structurally and elevated to the towing position.

In operation the invention is attached, in towing position, to the vehicle and transported to the workplace where the yoke hitch coupler 66 is released from the frame 20 with the latch 78 providing a swiveling action in all directions from the vehicle to the apparatus. The wheels 48 are then raised by releasing the lever over-center latch 64 and pivoting axially the fulcrum pivot lever 54 approximately 180 degrees. This tensions the over-center spring 56 holding the wheels in the upward position simultaneously dropping the blades 24 to the ground. The apparatus is towed over-the-roadbed where the blades 24 dig into the high points of soil or road material relocating the material in a lateral direction during passage over the surface

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from one successive blade to the other. The side runners 30 act to make the apparatus float over the surface depositing the material cut from the high points into the low areas, thereby smoothing the surface of the roadbed. The berm of surplus material is deposited either in line with the edge of the runners 30 when the positioning gate is down. The attaching location of the yoke hitch coupler 66 in relation of the frame 20 develops the towing speed for the given apparatus depending upon its size and weight. When returning from the workplace the positioning procedure is reveresed for towing. Accessories may be added to the invention such as running and stop lights, license brackets, air or inertia! brakes, platforms for addition of weight, safety chains or other equipment as found in over-the-road trailers.

While the invention has been described in complete detail and pictorially shown in the accompanying drawings, it is not to be limited to such detail. Since many changes and modifications may be in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is described to cover any and all modifications and forms which may come within the language and scope of the claims.

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