US2643472A - Bulldozer - Google Patents

Description

J. W. MERZ June 30, 1953 BULLDOZER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 12, 1949 I U360 M/lerz memo):

Gttorneg J. W. MERZ BULLDOZER June 30, 1953 Filed Sept. 12, 1949 2 Sh eets-Sheet 2 m wr r m 3 ([050 M/Verz Patented June 30, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BULLDOZER John W. Merz, Belton, Mont.

Application September 12, 1949, Serial No. 115,224

7 Claims. (01. 37-144) This invention relates to a bulldozer and it is one object of the invention to provide the bulldozer with a blade which is mounted at the front of a truck and consists of companion blades which are pivoted at inner ends to a mounting and may be angularly adjusted relative to each other and also raised or lowered.

Another object of the invention is to provide bulldozer blades which are moved to angularly adjusted positions by hydraulic members carried by a mounting frame so formed and so associated with the blades that as one blade is swung forwardly the other will be swung rearwardly, thus allowing the two blades to be shifted from a position in which they diverge rearwardly to a position in which they are in longitudinal alignment transversely of the truck and then to a position in which they converge rearwardly towards their pivoted inner ends. It will thus be seen that the blades may be adjusted from a rearwardly diverging position for scraplng material towards opposite sides of a road to a position in which they extend in alignment across a road either diagonally or at any other desired angle and then to a position for scraping material towards their pivoted inner ends and filling hollows in the road.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bulldozer having blades pivoted at their inner ends to a frame which extends across the front of a truck or tractor and so mounted that either end may be raised or lowered and the frame and the blades disposed transversely of a road at a vertical incline.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bulldozer formed of parts which are very strong and not liable to become broken when subjected to rough use.

With these and other objects in view the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing the improved bulldozer mounted across the front of a truck.

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the improved bulldozer and the front end portion of a truck to which it is attached.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the frame which carries the blades and the adjustable mounting means for blades. v

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view upon an enlarged scale taken along the line 44 of Figure 2.

Fig. 5 is a front view showing a shield attached to one of the blades for use when scraping snow v the yokes.

2 from a road and delivering the snow at one side of the road.

This bulldozer has a blade which is indicated in general by the numeral 5 and consists of companion sections or blades 2 and 3 which are arcuate vertically, as shown in Figure 1, and at their inner ends carry rearwardly projecting segmental hinge plates 4 and 5. These hinge plates are of duplicate formation and size, the plate 4 being carried by the blade 2 and free from the blade 3 and the plate 5 being carried by the blade 3 and free from blade 2. A pin 6 by means of which the blades are pivotally mounted at their inner ends passes through the hinge plates and through openings 1 formed at front ends of the tapered portions 8 which project forwardly midway the width of the upper and lower plates 9 of a frame Ill.

The plates 9 of the frame lil are substantially crescent shaped with their concaved edges presented rearwardly and their arms or tapered portions 8 projecting forwardly and through ends or opposite sides of the plates are passed pins 1 I, there also being a vertically disposed pin I2. The pins ii carry loosely mounted sleeves ill from which extend forwardly projecting upper and lower arms or links M terminating in vertical sleeves 5 at their outer ends. Sleeves It at' inner ends of links ll fit between the sleeves l5 where they are loosely mounted about pins l8 which pass through the sleeves as well as through ears at upper and lower ends of yokes l9 and pivotally connect the links IT with the links or arms [4 as well as pivotally mounting At their outer ends the links [1 formed with vertically disposed sleeves 2B which fit between ears 2! projecting rearwardly from outer ends of the blades 2 and 3 and through which pins 22 are passed to pivotally connect the links with the blades. The yokes H are mounted at outer ends of piston rods 23 projecting from outer ends of cylinders 2% which have their inner ends pivoted upon the pin i2 and when the pistons are forced outwardly the companion links M and H will be swung about their pivot pins H and i8 and spread apart so that ends of the two blades will be shifted forwardly to a position in which they extend in alignment transversely of the bulldozer and forwardly to such an extent that the blades converge to their pivotally mounted inner ends. Therefore the blades 2 and 3 may form a blade I having rearwardly diverging sections 2 and 3, or a V-shaped blade having rearwardly converging sections, and also form a long blade extending straight across the bulldozer. If so desired one piston rod may be shifted outwardly while the other moves inwardly or remains in a fully retracted position and a long straight blade I formed which extends diagonally in a direction transversely of the bulldozer.

In order to mount the frame in front of the tractor there have been provided blocks which are secured between the plates 9 by screws 26 and are formed with bores lined by sleeves or bushings 21. Pins 28 pass through the sleeves and have their threaded front ends projecting from the sleeves and carrying nuts 29 which bear against washers 30 and are tightened to hold the pins in place through the sleeves but allow the blocks to turn about the pins and permit limited axial movement of the pins 28. Therefore the frame may be tilted transversely about the pins and disposed either horizontally or at a transverse incline. The rear ends of the pins 28 are enlarged to limit forward movement of the pins through the sleeves and through these enlarged rear ends or heads of the pins are formed vertical bores 3| to receive pins 32 which pass vertically through ears 33 projecting forwardly from lower portions of vertically disposed guide sleeves 34. These sleeves enclose vertical cylinders 35 having piston rods 36 projecting from their upper ends terminating at their upper ends in eyes 31 through which pass pins 38 carried by upper ends of the sleeves transversely thereof. Fluid is forced into and out of the upper and lower portions of the cylinders through tubes 39 and 43 and when the piston rods are shifted longitudinally the sleeves will be shifted vertically and the frame 10 raised or lowered while in a horizontal position or one side of the frame raised and its other side lowered to tilt the frame transversely to an inclined position and thus dispose the blade either horizontally or at an incline causing it to follow the transverse slope of a road from its crown towards its side edges. Stub shafts 4| project rearwardly from the cylinders 35 and are secured to a cross bar 42 of such length that it extends across the front of the truck 43 and has its end portions secured to bars 44 which project rearwardly therefrom and are secured to the chassis bars of the truck. Upper and lower triangular webs 45 and 4B which extend rearwardly from the cylinders above and below their stub shafts longitudinally of the bars 44 brace the cylinders against tilting movement out of a vertical position and in order that the sleeves 34 may be moved vertically without interference by the webs the sleeves are formed in their rear portions with vertically extending slots 41, portions of the slots being widened in order to accommodate the stub shafts 4|, the slot being wide enough to permit sleeve 34 to rotate slightly on the cylinder 35. Since the washer is of the same diameter as the external diameter as the sleeve 21 it may enter the bore of the block 25. Therefore, while the washer prevents the nut 29 from having binding engagement with confronting end of the block, it will allow the pin and the sleeve to have axial movement through the block a distance corresponding to the thickness of the washer and binding will be prevented. It will be understood that the fluid tubes extending from the cylinders 2| and 35 are of sumcient length to reach a source of supply carried by the truck and that suitable valves will be provided within reach of the driver of the truck and thus allow the driver to adjust the frame and the blades according to the needs of the work being done. When snow is being removed from a road a deflector 38, shown in Figure 5, is applied to one of the blades 2 or 3 and thus cause snow moving along the blade to be directed away from the outer end of the blade. It will be understood that a deflector may be applied to each of the blades instead of only to one blade.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A bulldozer attachment for a vehicle comprising a cross bar having means for mounting the same across the front of a vehicle transversely thereof, a frame in front of said cross bar, cylinders mounted vertically at the front of said cross bar with piston rods projecting from their upper ends, sleeves disposed vertically and fitting about said cylinders and having their upper ends connected with upper ends of the piston rods, pins projecting forwardly from said sleeves and pivoted for transverse movement, said frame carrying sleeves extending horizontally in a longitudinal direction and fitting loosely about said pins and mounting the frame for transverse tilting movement to angularly adjusted positions, blades extending transversely of said frame at the front thereof and having their inner ends pivoted to the frame for pivotal movement to angularly adjusted positions, links pivoted to ends of the cross bar and outer ends of said blades respectively and having their inner ends pivotally connected with each other, and cylinders pivoted midway the width of said frame and extending towards opposite sides thereof and having piston rods projecting from their outer ends and each pivotally connected with the inner ends of a companion pair of front and rear links and when shifted longitudinally tilting the links to swing the blades horizontally to angularly adjusted positions.

2. A bulldozer comprising a cross bar adapted to be mounted transversely of a vehicle, a frame in front of said cross bar having upper and lower plates spaced vertically from each other and having portions projecting forwardly midway the width of the frame, members connecting said frame with end portions of said cross bar and mounting the frame for tilting movement to angularly adjusted positions, blades in front of said frame having inner ends meeting at the front ends of the forwardly projecting portions of the said plates, plates projecting rearwardly from inner ends of said blades and pivoted to the said forwardly projecting portions of the upper and lower plates to mount the blades for pivotal movement horizontally to angularly adjusted positions, cylinders pivotally mounted between the plates of said frame and extending towards opposite sides of the frame and having piston rods projecting from their outer ends, vertically disposed yokes at outer ends of the piston rods, and companion front and rear links pivoted respectively to outer ends of the blades and between ends of the upper and lower plates of the frame and extending towards each other with meeting ends of the companion links pivotally connected with the yokes whereby longitudinal movement of the piston rods serves to impart horizontal swinging movement to the links and move the blades to angularly adjusted positions.

3. A bulldozer comprising a frame of a width adapting it to extend across a vehicle at the front thereof, said frame having upper and lower plates spaced vertically from each other and having portions projecting forwardly midway the" width of the frame, blades in front of said frame extending transversely thereof and having inner ends pivoted to the forwardly projecting portions of the plates, cylinders between said plates extending transversely of said frame and pivoted at their inner ends midway the width of the frame in rearwardly spaced relation to the forwardly projecting portions of the plates, piston rods projecting from outer ends of said cylinders and pivoted to inner ends of links having outer ends pivotally connected with the blades and side portions of the frame and serving to swing the blades horizontally to angularly adjusted positions when the piston rods are shifted longitudinally, a cross bar adapted to be mounted across the front of the vehicle, and means connecting said frame with ends of said cross bar and mounting the frame for vertical shifting movement to adjusted positions and for vertical tilting movement to angularly adjusted positions transversely of the vehicle.

4. A bulldozer comprising a frame for extending transversely across the front of a truck, said frame having upper and lower horizontal plates spaced vertically from each other, a. blade at the front of said frame extending transversely thereof, a cross bar of a length adapting it to extend across the front of the truck and being spaced rearwardly from said frame, blocks mounted between end portions of said plates and formed with bores extending longitudinally of the vehicle, cylinders mounted vertically in front of said cross bar and having piston rods projecting upwardly from the cylinders and formed with eyes at their upper ends, sleeves slidable vertically fitting about said cylinders and projecting upwardly therefrom, pins passing transversely through upper end portions of said sleeves and through said eyes and thereby connecting upper ends of the sleeves with upper ends of said piston rods, and pins pivoted to said sleeves for horizontal pivotal movement transversely of the frame and projecting forwardly from the cylinders and rotatably passing through the bores of said blocks to support the frame and pivotally mount opposite sides of the frame for vertical tilting transversely to angularly adjusted positions.

5. A bulldozer attachment for a vehicle comprising a cross bar adapted to be mounted across the front of a vehicle, a frame in front of said cross bar having upper and lower plates, cylinders mounted vertically adjacent opposite ends of said cross bar with piston rods projecting upwardly from their upper ends, sleeves fitting about said cylinders and slidable vertically thereon and having upper ends projecting from the cylinders and connected with upper ends of the piston rods, pins projecting forwardly from said sleeves and pivoted to the sleeves for transverse swinging movement, blocks mounted between the plates of said frame and formed with bores through which said pins pass and mount the frame for vertical transverse tilting movement to angularly adjusted positions when the sleeves are shifted vertically by the piston rods, blades extending transversely in front of said frame and having inner ends pivoted to the frame for pivotal movement forwardly and rearwardly, and means carried by said frame and connected with said blades for moving the blades to angularly adjusted positions.

6. A bulldozer comprising a cross bar adapted to be mounted across the front of a vehicle transversely thereof, a frame mounted in front of said cross bar and having upper and lower horizontal plates spaced vertically from each other, blades in front of said frame extending transversely thereof and having inner ends meeting midway the width of the frame, members projecting rear= wardly from inner ends of said blades and pivoted to the plates of the frame and mounting the blades for pivotal movement forwardly and rearwardly to angularly adjusted positions, cylinders pivotally mounted between the plates of said frame and extending horizontally towards opposite sides of the frame and having piston rods projecting from their outer ends and having yokes at their outer ends, pins carried by the yokes, and companion front and rear links pivoted at inner ends to said pins, said front links extending forwardly from said yokes and having their outer ends pivoted to outer side of said blades, and the rear links having their outer ends pivotally mounted between ends of the upper and lower plates of the frame and together with the companion front links serving to move the blades to angularly adjusted positions when the piston rods are moved longitudinally.

7. A bulldozer including a frame, means for mounting said frame across the front of a vehicle, blades in front of said frame extending transversely thereof and having inner ends meeting midway the width of the frame, plates carried by inner end portions of said blades and extending longitudinally and rearwardly thereof with portions projecting from inner ends of the blades longitudinally thereof, said plates being overlapped and pivoted to said frame and mounting the blades for pivotal movement forwardly and rearwardly, the plate of each blade having its longitudinally projecting portion overlapping the inner end portion of the other blade whereby the plates serve as abutments limiting pivotal movement of the blades relative to each rear surface of the other, and actuating means carried by said frame and connected with said blades for imparting pivotal movement to the blades and holding the blades in angularly adjusted positions.

1 JOHN W. MERZ.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,460,440 Polk July 3, 1923 2,160,596 Le Bleu May 30, 1939 2,173,158 Corbett Sept. 19, 1939 2,218,512 Ball Oct. 22, 1940 2,219,159 Flynn et al. Oct. 22, 1940 2,410,543 Kester Nov. 5, 1946 2,450,200 Locke Sept. 28, 1948

Images