Blade for a work vehicle

Abstract

A blade for a work vehicle may include a front wall, a back wall, a first support, a second support, and a third support. The front wall may be for engaging material to be moved. The back wall may be positioned at a distance from the front wall. The first support may be positioned between the front wall and the back wall and connected to the front wall and the back wall. The second support may be positioned between the front wall and the back wall and connected to the front wall and the back wall. The third support may positioned between the front wall and the back wall and connected to the front wall and the back wall.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A blade for a work vehicle comprising:
 a front wall for engaging material to be moved;   a back wall positioned at a distance from the front wall;   a first support positioned between the front wall and the back wall and connected to the front wall and the back wall;   a second support positioned between the front wall and the back wall and connected to the front wall and the back wall; and   a third support positioned between the front wall and the back wall and connected to the front wall and the back wall.   
     
     
         2 . The blade of  claim 1 , wherein the first support and the second support are included in a first support assembly, the first support assembly further comprises a first bend, and the first bend is positioned on the first support assembly between the first support and the second support. 
     
     
         3 . The blade of  claim 2 , wherein the first support assembly further comprises a leg and a second bend, the first bend is positioned on the first support assembly between the first support and the leg, the leg is positioned on the first support assembly between the first bend and the second bend, and the second bend is positioned on the first support assembly between the leg and the second support. 
     
     
         4 . The blade of  claim 1 , wherein the first support and the second support are included in a first support assembly and the first support assembly has a V-shaped or C-shaped cross section. 
     
     
         5 . The blade of  claim 1 , wherein the lateral length of each of the first support, second support, and third support is at least twice the minimum distance between the front wall and the back wall. 
     
     
         6 . The blade of  claim 5 , wherein the lateral length of each of the first support, second support, and third support is at least ten times the minimum distance between the front wall and the back wall. 
     
     
         7 . The blade of  claim 1 , wherein the first support, second support, and third support are enclosed in an interior volume of the blade. 
     
     
         8 . The blade of  claim 7 , wherein the interior volume is substantially water-tight. 
     
     
         9 . The blade of  claim 7 , wherein the interior volume is bounded at least in part by the front wall, the back wall, a first side wall positioned at a first lateral end of the blade, a second side wall positioned at a second lateral end of the blade opposite the first lateral end, a top wall positioned at a first vertical end of the blade, and a bottom wall positioned at a second vertical end of the blade opposite the first vertical end. 
     
     
         10 . The blade of  claim 7 , wherein the interior volume is bounded at least in part by the front wall, the back wall, a first side wall affixed to a first lateral end of the front wall, a second side wall affixed to a second lateral end of the front wall opposite the first lateral end, a top wall affixed to a first vertical end of the front wall, and a bottom wall affixed to a second vertical end of the front wall opposite the first vertical end. 
     
     
         11 . The blade of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first support, second support, and third support is affixed to the front wall and the back wall. 
     
     
         12 . The blade of  claim 11 , wherein each of the first support, second support, and third support is affixed to at least one of the front wall and the back wall. 
     
     
         13 . The blade of  claim 11 , wherein the first support is a first leg included in a first support assembly, the first support assembly comprises the first leg, a second leg, and a third leg, the first leg is affixed to the front wall, the second leg is positioned on the first support assembly between the first leg and the third leg, the second leg is affixed to the first leg and the third leg, and the third leg is affixed to the front wall. 
     
     
         14 . A blade for a work vehicle comprising:
 a front wall for engaging material to be moved;   a back wall positioned at a distance from the front wall; and   a support positioned between the front wall and the back wall and connected to the front wall and the back wall, the support enclosed in an interior volume of the blade bounded at least in part by the front wall and the back wall.   
     
     
         15 . The blade of  claim 14 , wherein the interior volume of the blade is substantially water-tight. 
     
     
         16 . The blade of  claim 14 , wherein the interior volume is bounded at least in part by the front wall, the back wall, a first side wall positioned at a first lateral end of the blade, a second side wall positioned at a second lateral end of the blade opposite the first lateral end, a top wall positioned at a first vertical end of the blade, and a bottom wall positioned at a second vertical end of the blade opposite the first vertical end. 
     
     
         17 . The blade of  claim 14 , wherein the interior volume is bounded at least in part by the front wall, the back wall, a first side wall affixed to a first lateral end of the front wall, a second side wall affixed to a second lateral end of the front wall opposite the first lateral end, a top wall affixed to a first vertical end of the front wall, and a bottom wall affixed to a second vertical end of the front wall opposite the first vertical end. 
     
     
         18 . The blade of  claim 14 , wherein the support is a first support, the blade further comprises a second support and a third support, the second support is positioned between the front wall and the back wall, the second support is connected to the front wall and the back wall, the third support is positioned between the front wall and the back wall, the third support is connected to the front wall and the back wall, and the second support and the third support are enclosed in the interior volume of the blade bounded in part by the front wall and the back wall. 
     
     
         19 . A blade for a work vehicle comprising:
 a front wall for engaging material to be moved;   a first side wall positioned at a first lateral end of the blade;   a second side wall positioned at a second lateral end of the blade opposite the first lateral end;   a top wall positioned at a first vertical end of the blade;   a bottom wall positioned at a second vertical end of the blade opposite the first vertical end;   a back wall positioned at a distance from the front wall so as to create a volume bounded by the front wall, the back wall, the first side wall, the second side wall, the top wall, and the bottom wall;   and   a support positioned within the volume, the support connected to the front wall and the back wall.   
     
     
         20 . The blade of  claim 19 , wherein the support comprises a first leg, a second leg, and a third leg, the first leg is affixed to the front wall, the second leg is positioned on the support between the first leg and the third leg, and the third leg is affixed to the front wall.