Scraper attachment for skid steer vehicle

Abstract

The present invention includes a scraper attachment for a skid steer vehicle. The scraper attachment includes a frame for attachment to a fixed boom mechanism of the skid steer vehicle and an articulated blade. The articulated blade has first and second portions mounted on the frame for pivoting about a substantially horizontal axis transverse to the articulated blade. Each of the first and second portions of the articulated blade is adapted for pivotable movement about a common pivot between a raised position, substantially above a home position, a home position, which is substantially horizontal, and a lowered position, substantially below the home position. Each portion is also independently positionable in at least one position between the raised position and the lowered position. The articulated blade is positionable for engagement with the friable material as the vehicle travels over the friable material for moving a part of the friable material to shape the friable material in accordance with a pre-determined design. A leveling device attached to each of the first and second portions of the articulated blade is also included to provide an operator with a visual indication of the respective position of each of the first and second portions of the articulated blade.

1 . A scraper for moving friable material, the scraper comprising: 
 a frame adapted for attachment to a skid steer vehicle;    an articulated blade having first and second portions mounted on the frame, wherein the articulated blade is pivotable about a first axis substantially horizontal and transverse to the articulated blade, and wherein the first and second portions are pivotable about a second axis substantially horizontal and substantially perpendicular to the first axis.    
   
   
       2 . The scraper as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first and the second portions are pivotable from a home position to a raised position.  
   
   
       3 . The scraper as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the first and second portions are operable to form a substantially flat surface in the friable material when in the home position.  
   
   
       4 . The scraper as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the first and second portions are operable to form a concave surface in the friable material when in the raised position.  
   
   
       5 . The scraper as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the first and second portions are pivotable independently of one another.  
   
   
       6 . The scraper as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the first and second portions are further pivotable to a lowered position.  
   
   
       7 . The scraper as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the first and second portions are operable to form a convex surface in the friable material when in the lowered position.  
   
   
       8 . The scraper as recited in  claim 7 , further including a first leveling device attached to the first portion and a second leveling device attached to the second portion.  
   
   
       9 . The scraper as recited in  claim 8 , wherein a position of the first and second leveling devices relative to one another is visible to an operator during operation.  
   
   
       10 . The scraper as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the first and the second leveling devices are in a first position relative to one another when the first and second portions are in the raised position.  
   
   
       11 . The scraper as recited in  claim 10 , wherein when the first and second leveling devices are in the first position, the first and second leveling devices are pointing inward toward a center of the skid steer vehicle in relation to one another.  
   
   
       12 . The scraper as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the first and second leveling devices are in a second position relative to one another when the first and second portions are in the home position.  
   
   
       13 . The scraper as recited in  claim 12 , wherein when the first and second leveling devices are in the second position, the first and second leveling devices are substantially parallel to one another.  
   
   
       14 . The scraper as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the first and second leveling devices are in a third position relative to one another when the first and second portions are in the lowered position.  
   
   
       15 . The scraper as recited in  claim 14 , wherein when the first and second leveling devices are in the third position, the first and second leveling devices are pointing outward from a center of the skid steer vehicle in relation to one another.  
   
   
       16 . The scraper as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the skid steer vehicle includes a fixed boom lift mechanism and the frame is attached to the fixed boom mechanism.  
   
   
       17 . A scraper for moving friable material, the scraper comprising: 
 a frame adapted for attachment to a fixed boom mechanism; and    an articulated blade having first and second portions mounted on the frame, wherein the articulated blade is pivotable about a first axis substantially horizontal and transverse to the articulated blade; and wherein the first and second portions are pivotable about a second axis substantially horizontal and substantially perpendicular to the first axis.    
   
   
       18 . The scraper as recited in  claim 17 , further including the fixed boom mechanism.  
   
   
       19 . The scraper as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the fixed boom mechanism includes a pair of arms pivotably mounted to either side of a skid steer vehicle.