Grading Attachment for Work Machine

The present disclosure relates to a work machine, and more particularly, to a grading attachment for the work machine.

Work machines, such as excavators and backhoe loaders, are used for a variety of earthmoving operations. For example, such work machines may be used for levelling of material, removal of material, excavation, material handling, cutting, forestry work, demolition, grading, heavy lifting, or mining. Based on a type of work operation that is to be performed, different types of attachments may be coupled with the work machines. For example, a bucket may be coupled with the work machine for excavation or material handling.

Conventionally, such a bucket may also be used for levelling of a ground surface. Specifically, a rear portion of the bucket is used for performing a levelling operation. However, it may be difficult to control the levelling operation due to a design and an orientation of the rear portion of the bucket, which may impact an accuracy and a productivity of the levelling operation. Moreover, continuous friction and wear experienced by the rear portion of the bucket may reduce a service life of the bucket, which is undesirable. Therefore, a tool may be desired to overcome the above-mentioned shortcomings.

U.S. Pat. No. 11,732,629 describes a highway construction rolling forming equipment which structurally comprises a vehicle body, a driving wheel, a front vehicle frame, a rolling roller and a movable adjusting mud scraping assembly, the rolling roller is clamped in the front vehicle frame, the movable adjusting mud scraping assembly is horizontally arranged at the front end of the rolling roller in the axis direction of the rolling roller, and the movable adjusting mud scraping assembly is composed of a driving disc, a scraping mechanism and a locking device. Driving discs are installed at the two ends of the rolling roller in a locked mode through bolts, the two sides of the scraping mechanism abut against the driving discs, and the front end of the locking device is connected with the scraping mechanism on the inner side of the front frame. The scraping mechanism is arranged at the front end of the rolling roller, and the rolling roller is scraped upwards and downwards through the two scraping plates, thus no matter the rolling roller moves forwards or backwards, only one scraping plate abuts against the rolling roller to conduct mud scraping operation in the corresponding direction, and the situation that one scraping plate is subjected to continuous friction and the service life is damaged is avoided.

In an aspect of the present disclosure, a grading attachment for a work machine is provided. The grading attachment includes a frame defining a front end and a rear end. The grading attachment also includes a roller rotatably coupled to the frame proximal to the front end of the frame. The roller is rotatable in a clockwise direction and an anti-clockwise direction about an axis of rotation. The roller defines an outer surface. The grading attachment further includes a scraper assembly coupled to the frame proximal to the front end of the frame. The scraper assembly is offset to the axis of rotation of the roller. The scraper assembly includes a first scraper plate extending along the axis of rotation. The first scraper plate includes a first end surface that is proximal to the outer surface of the roller. The first end surface is adapted to at least partially remove material stuck to the outer surface of the roller. The scraper assembly also includes a second scraper plate extending along the axis of rotation. The second scraper plate is coupled to the first scraper plate and is disposed at an angle relative to the first scraper plate. The second scraper plate includes a second end surface that is proximal to the outer surface of the roller. The second end surface is adapted to at least partially remove material stuck to the outer surface of the roller.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, a work machine is provided. The work machine includes a chassis. The work machine also includes a plurality of ground engaging members coupled to the chassis. The work machine further includes a grading attachment removably coupled to the chassis. The grading attachment includes a frame defining a front end and a rear end. The grading attachment also includes a roller rotatably coupled to the frame proximal to the front end of the frame. The roller is rotatable in a clockwise direction and an anti-clockwise direction about an axis of rotation. The roller defines an outer surface. The grading attachment further includes a scraper assembly coupled to the frame proximal to the front end of the frame. The scraper assembly is offset to the axis of rotation of the roller. The scraper assembly includes a first scraper plate extending along the axis of rotation. The first scraper plate includes a first end surface that is proximal to the outer surface of the roller. The first end surface is adapted to at least partially remove material stuck to the outer surface of the roller. The scraper assembly also includes a second scraper plate extending along the axis of rotation. The second scraper plate is coupled to the first scraper plate and is disposed at an angle relative to the first scraper plate. The second scraper plate includes a second end surface that is proximal to the outer surface of the roller. The second end surface is adapted to at least partially remove material stuck to the outer surface of the roller.

Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to same or like parts.

illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary work machine. The work machinemay be used to perform a variety of earthmoving applications. The work machinemay include an excavator or a backhoe loader. In the illustrated example of, the work machineis embodied as the excavator. Alternatively, the work machinemay include the backhoe loader, a material handler, and the like. Further, the disclosure may be applied to different types of machines used in industries including, but not limited to, earthmoving, construction, transportation, agriculture, forestry, and waste management. Accordingly, the work machinemay be used for performing work operations, such as, levelling, loading, hauling, dumping, filling, cutting, excavating, spreading, compacting, grading, dozing, etc.

As shown in, the work machineincludes a chassis. The work machinealso includes a number of ground engaging memberscoupled to the chassis. In the illustrated example of, the ground engaging membersare embodied as a pair of continuous tracks that rotate to move the work machinein a forward or backward direction on a ground surface. Alternatively, the ground engaging membersmay be any other type of ground engaging members such as, for example, wheels, etc.

The work machinealso includes an operator cabin. An operator may be seated within the operator cabinof the work machinefor controlling the work machine. The operator cabinmay include one or more controls (not shown), such as, joysticks, pedals, levers, buttons, switches, knobs, audio visual devices, operator consoles, a steering wheel, and the like. The controls may enable the operator to control the work machine. Alternatively, the operator may be seated at a remote operator station that is externally located relative to the work machine.

The work machinefurther includes a linkage assemblycoupled to the chassis. The linkage assemblyincludes one or more linkages, for example, a boomthat pivotally moves with respect to the chassisand a stickpivotally coupled to the boom. The work machinefurther includes a pair of boom cylindersC that pivotally move the boomrelative to the chassisand a stick cylinderC that pivotally moves the stickwith respect to the boom.

The work machinealso includes a bladecoupled to the chassisof the work machine. The blademoves pivotally with respect to the chassis. The work machinefurther includes a grading attachmentremovably coupled to the chassisof the work machine. Specifically, the grading attachmentis removably coupled to the chassisvia the linkage assembly. In other examples, the grading attachmentmay be coupled to the chassisof the work machinevia any other suitable linkage arrangement. The work machinefurther includes a couplerthat couples the stickwith the grading attachment. The couplermay include a tilt coupler that may allow rotation and subsequent positioning of the grading attachmentat a number of work positions relative to the stick.

Referring to, perspective views of the grading attachmentare shown. The grading attachmentis used to level, profile, or smooth ground surfaces on which the material is deposited. The grading attachmentincludes a frame. The framedefines a front endand a rear enddisposed opposite to the front end. The front and rear ends,are disposed at opposing ends along a longitudinal axis L-L′ of the grading attachment. The frameof the grading attachmentincludes a coupling structurethat removably couples the grading attachmentwith the linkage assembly. In other words, the grading attachmentis coupled with the coupler(see) via the coupling structure. In the illustrated example of, the coupling structureis defined at a top portion of the frame.

Referring to, the grading attachmentalso includes a rollerrotatably coupled to the frameproximal to the front endof the frame. The rolleris rotatable in a clockwise direction Cand an anti-clockwise direction Cabout an axis of rotation X-X′. The axis of rotation X-X′ is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis L-L′ of the grading attachment. The rollerdefines an outer surface. The outer surfaceof the rollercontacts the ground surface, for example, during a grading/levelling operation. The rollermay spread the material evenly on the ground surface to facilitate levelling/profiling of the ground surface. Moreover, the rollermay also lightly compact the material present on the ground surface.

As shown in, the grading attachmentfurther includes a platecoupled to the frameproximal to the rear endof the frame. The plateis angularly disposed relative to the longitudinal axis L-L′ of the grading attachment. The platedefines an edgethat may contact the ground surface. The edgemay contact material deposited on the ground surface during levelling and/or profiling of the ground surface.

Referring to, when the grading attachmentoperates, some material may stick to the outer surfaceof the roller. If not removed, the material stuck to the rollermay reduce an efficiency of the grading attachment. The grading attachmentfurther includes a scraper assemblycoupled to the frameproximal to the front endof the frame. The scraper assemblyremoves the material from the outer surfaceof the roller. The scraper assemblyis offset to the axis of rotation X-X′ of the roller.

illustrates a perspective view of the scraper assemblyof the grading attachment. Referring to, the scraper assemblyincludes a first scraper plateextending along the axis of rotation X-X′. The first scraper plateincludes a first end surfaceproximal to the outer surfaceof the roller. The first end surfaceat least partially removes the material stuck to the outer surfaceof the roller. The scraper assemblyalso includes a second scraper plateextending along the axis of rotation X-X′. The second scraper plateis coupled to the first scraper plate. The second scraper plateincludes a second end surfaceproximal to the outer surfaceof the roller. The second end surfaceat least partially removes the material stuck to the outer surfaceof the roller.

The scraper assemblyfurther includes a pair of end platesdisposed at opposing ends,of the scraper assembly. The first scraper plateand the second scraper plateextend between the pair of end plates. The scraper assemblyis coupled to the frame(see) of the grading attachment(see) via the pair of end plates. Each end platedefines a pair of slots. In some examples, each of the first scraper plate, the second scraper plate, and the pair of end platesmay be integral with each other. Alternatively, the first scraper plate, the second scraper plate, and the pair of end platesmay be manufactured as separate components that are coupled to each other, for example, by welding.

Referring to, the first scraper plateis disposed at an inclination angle Arelative to the longitudinal axis L-L′ of the grading attachment. In some examples, the inclination angle Abetween the first scraper plateand the longitudinal axis L-L′ of the grading attachmentlies in a range of 5 degrees and 45 degrees. However, a value of the inclination angle Amay lie outside of the range of 5 degrees and 45 degrees, as per requirements.

Further, the second scraper plateis disposed at an angle Arelative to the first scraper plate. In some examples, the angle Abetween the first scraper plateand the second scraper platelies in a range of 40 degrees and 100 degrees. However, a value of the angle Amay lie outside of the range of 40 degrees and 100 degrees, as per requirements.

As shown in, when the rollerrotates in the anti-clockwise direction C, the first end surfaceof the first scraper platecontacts the material stuck to the outer surfaceof the rollerto facilitate removal of the material from the outer surfaceof the roller. As shown in, when the rollerrotates in the clockwise direction C, the second end surfaceof the second scraper platecontacts the material stuck to the outer surfaceof the rollerto facilitate removal of the material from the outer surfaceof the roller.

Referring now to, the grading attachmentalso includes a number of mechanical fasteners. Each end plateis coupled with the framevia two mechanical fasteners. Thus, the grading attachmentincludes four mechanical fastenersin total. The scraper assemblyis removably coupled to the frameby the number of mechanical fasteners. The mechanical fastenersfurther couple the frameand the end platewith the roller. Specifically, each mechanical fasteneris received within a corresponding slotdefined in the end plate, a corresponding slot (not shown) defined in the frame, and a corresponding slot (not shown) defined in the rollerto facilitate removable coupling of the framewith the rollerand the scraper assembly.

Moreover, the grading attachmentalso includes a number of mechanical fasteners. The rolleris coupled with the framevia four mechanical fasteners. The rolleris removably coupled to the frameby the number of mechanical fasteners. Specifically, each mechanical fasteneris received within a corresponding slot (not shown) defined in the frameand a corresponding slot (not shown) defined in the rollerto facilitate removable coupling of the framewith the roller.

It is to be understood that individual features shown or described for one embodiment may be combined with individual features shown or described for another embodiment. The above-described implementation does not in any way limit the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, it is to be understood although some features are shown or described to illustrate the use of the present disclosure in the context of functional segments, such features may be omitted from the scope of the present disclosure without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure as defined in the appended claims.

The present disclosure relates to the grading attachmentfor the work machine. The grading attachmentmay allow levelling and/or profiling of loose aggregates present on the ground surface without any visibility issues. The grading attachmentdescribed herein may improve an efficiency and a productivity of the operation being performed by the work machine. The grading attachmentis removably coupled to the work machine. Thus, the grading attachmentmay be retrofitted on existing work machines. The grading attachmentincludes the rollerrotatably coupled to the frame. Along with profiling the ground surface, the rolleralso provides compaction of the material present on the ground surface. Specifically, the outer surfaceof the rollerprovides compaction of the material, thereby providing a levelled surface.

The grading attachmentalso includes the scraper assembly. The scraper assemblyincludes the first scraper plateand the second scraper platethat are used for scraping any material that may be stuck to the outer surfaceof the roller. Specifically, the first scraper plateincludes the first end surfaceand the second scraper plateincludes the second end surfacethat removes the material stuck to the outer surfaceof the roller. The first scraper plateremoves the material from the outer surfacewhen the rolleris rotating in the anti-clockwise direction Cl and the second scraper plateremoves the material from the outer surfacewhen the rolleris rotating in the clockwise direction C. Therefore, at a time only one scraper plate,is in contact with the outer surfaceof the roller, which may improve a service life of the scraper assembly. The removal of material from the rollermay increase the productivity of the grading attachment.

Further, while the first scraper platescrapes the material from the roller, some material may deposit on an upper surface of the first scraper plate. The first scraper plateis disposed at the inclination angle Al which may prevent accumulation of any material on the first scraper plate. Specifically, an angled profile of the first scraper platemay cause the material to slide off the first scraper plate. Moreover, the first scraper plateis angled away from the frame, which may cause material to slide away from the frame, thereby preventing accumulation of any material on the frame.

While aspects of the present disclosure have been particularly shown and described with reference to the embodiments above, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various additional embodiments may be contemplated by the modification of the disclosed machines, systems and methods without departing from the spirit and scope of what is disclosed. Such embodiments should be understood to fall within the scope of the present disclosure as determined based upon the claims and any equivalents thereof.