Ripper assembly with direct load path

Abstract

A work vehicle, such as a motor grader, comprises a frame, a ripper, a tie bar attached to the frame, and a four-bar linkage attached to and disposed between the ripper and the tie bar for transferring a load between the ripper and the frame via the four-bar linkage and the tie bar. The four-bar linkage and the tie bar are co-planar with respect to a plane within which the four-bar linkage is movable relative to the frame. A toolbar for the ripper is also disclosed.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A ripper for use with a work vehicle, comprising a toolbar supporting a number of teeth adapted to break up earth material upon movement of the ripper in a forward direction by the work vehicle, the toolbar comprising a V-shaped leading edge defined by an underside surface and an inclined surface sloping upwardly and rearwardly from the underside surface at an acute angle thereto. 
     
     
         19 . The ripper of  claim 18 , wherein the acute angle is between about 30° and about 60°. 
     
     
         20 . A motor grader comprising a ripper assembly including the ripper of  claim 18 . 
     
     
         21 . A work vehicle comprising a ripper assembly including the ripper of  claim 18 . 
     
     
         22 . The work vehicle of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a frame;   a first tie bar attached to the frame; and   a first four-bar linkage attached to and disposed between the ripper and the first tie bar for transferring a first load between the ripper and the frame via the first four-bar linkage and the first tie bar, the first four-bar linkage and the first tie bar being co-planar with respect to a first plane within which the first four-bar linkage is movable relative to the frame.   
     
     
         23 . The work vehicle of  claim 22 , wherein the first four-bar linkage comprises a pivot joint to which the first tie bar is pivotally attached. 
     
     
         24 . The work vehicle of  claim 22 , wherein the first four-bar linkage comprises a first bar, a second bar, and a pivot joint interconnecting the first bar, the second bar, and the first tie bar. 
     
     
         25 . The work vehicle of  claim 22 , wherein the first four-bar linkage comprises a ground bar, a grounded bar, and a pivot joint interconnecting the ground bar, the grounded bar, and the first tie bar. 
     
     
         26 . The work vehicle of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a second tie bar attached to the frame; and   a second four-bar linkage attached to and disposed between the ripper and the second tie bar for transferring a second load between the ripper and the frame via the second four-bar linkage and the second tie bar, the second four-bar linkage and the second tie bar being coplanar with respect to a second plane within which the second four-bar linkage is movable relative to the frame.   
     
     
         27 . The work vehicle of  claim 26 , wherein, in a plan view of the ripper assembly, the first and second four-bar linkages and the first and second tie bars are, respectively, in-line with one another. 
     
     
         28 . The work vehicle of  claim 26 , wherein the first and second planes are parallel to a fore-aft axis of the work vehicle. 
     
     
         29 . The work vehicle of  claim 26 , wherein each of the first and second four-bar linkages comprises a pivot joint, the first tie bar being pivotally attached to the pivot joint of the first four-bar linkage, and the second tie bar being pivotally attached to the pivot joint of the second four-bar linkage. 
     
     
         30 . The work vehicle of  claim 26 , wherein each of the first and second four-bar linkages comprises a first bar, a second bar, and a pivot joint, the pivot joint of the first four-bar linkage interconnecting the first bar of the first four-bar linkage, the second bar of the first four-bar linkage, and the first tie bar, and the pivot joint of the second four-bar linkage interconnecting the first bar of the second four-bar linkage, the second bar of the second four-bar linkage, and the second tie bar. 
     
     
         31 . The work vehicle of  claim 26 , wherein each of the first and second four-bar linkages comprises a ground bar, a grounded bar, and a pivot joint, the pivot joint of the first four-bar linkage interconnecting the ground bar of the first four-bar linkage, the grounded bar of the first four-bar linkage, and the first tie bar, and the pivot joint of the second four-bar linkage interconnecting the ground bar of the second four-bar linkage, the grounded bar of the second four-bar linkage, and the second tie bar. 
     
     
         32 . The work vehicle of  claim 31 , further comprising a first hydraulic cylinder attached to the pivot joint of the first four-bar linkage and a second hydraulic cylinder attached to the pivot joint of the second four-bar linkage. 
     
     
         33 . The work vehicle of  claim 22 , further comprising a hydraulic cylinder for moving the ripper relative to the frame.