Grader machine including moldboard mounting assembly with bump stops

Abstract

A system for retaining a moldboard to an implement frame of a grader machine includes one or more brackets, one or more actuators, and one or more bump stops. The brackets are coupled to a backside of the moldboard and are coupled to the implement frame about an axis. The actuators are coupled to respective brackets and are configured to tilt the brackets with respect to the implement frame about the axis to articulate the moldboard with respect to the implement frame. The bump stops are coupled to the implement frame and are configured to contact the respective brackets when the moldboard articulates from an intermediate position to one or more deviated positions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for retaining a moldboard to an implement frame of a grader machine, the system comprising:
 one or more brackets coupled to a backside of the moldboard, and coupled to the implement frame about an axis;   one or more actuators coupled to respective brackets, of the one or more brackets, the one or more actuators being configured to tilt the one or more brackets with respect to the implement frame about the axis to articulate the moldboard with respect to the implement frame; and   one or more bump stops coupled to the implement frame and configured to contact the respective brackets when the moldboard articulates from an intermediate position to one or more deviated positions.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein
 each bracket, of the one or more brackets, includes a body defining an inner periphery with a first surface and a second surface, and   a corresponding bump stop, of the one or more bump stops, contacts the first surface at a first deviated position, of the one or more deviated positions, and contacts the second surface at a second deviated position, of the one or more deviated positions.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the inner periphery defines at least one peripheral edge surface extending between the first surface and the second surface, the at least one peripheral edge surface defines an indentation extending into the body. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each bump stop, of the one or more bump stops, includes a bump stop piece, a sleeve inserted into the bump stop piece, and a pin passing through the sleeve, and
 wherein the pin is secured to and spans between a first wall and a second wall of the implement frame to retain the corresponding bump stop piece therearound and within a gap defined between the first wall and the second wall of the implement frame.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein
 each bracket of the one or more brackets includes a first plate and a second plate coupled together and spaced apart from each other and defining a space therebetween,   the space provides passage to a corresponding actuator, of the one or more actuators, and   the corresponding actuator is coupled to one or more of the first plate or the second plate at a swivel joint and is coupled to the implement frame at a pivot location.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more bump stops are one or more resilient bump stops. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more bump stops are made from one or more of rubber, ebonite, polyurethane, or mild steel. 
     
     
         8 . A method for cushioning a movement of a moldboard of a grader machine during machine operation, the method comprising:
 coupling one or more brackets to an implement frame of the grader machine about an axis and to a backside of the moldboard;   coupling one or more actuators to respective brackets, of the one or more brackets, the one or more actuators being configured to tilt the one or more brackets with respect to the implement frame about the axis to articulate the moldboard with respect to the implement frame; and   coupling one or more bump stops to the implement frame such that the one or more bump stops contact the respective brackets when the moldboard articulates from an intermediate position to one or more deviated positions to limit further deviation of the moldboard at the one or more deviated positions.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein
 each bump stop, of the one or more bump stops, includes a bump stop piece, a sleeve inserted into the bump stop piece, and a pin passing through the sleeve, and   the coupling the one or more bump stops to the implement frame includes:
 securing the pin to each of a first wall and a second wall of the implement frame such that the pin spans between the first wall and the second wall of the implement frame; and 
 retaining a corresponding bump stop piece around the pin and within a gap defined between the first wall and the second wall of the implement frame. 
   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein each bracket of the one or more brackets includes a first plate and a second plate coupled together and spaced apart from each other and defining a space therebetween and coupling the one or more actuators to the respective brackets includes:
 passing a corresponding actuator, of the one or more actuators, through the space; and   connecting the corresponding actuator to one or more of the first plate or the second plate at a swivel joint.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  further including connecting the one or more actuators to the implement frame at respective pivot locations. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein
 each bracket, of the one or more brackets, includes a body defining an inner periphery with a first surface and a second surface, and   a corresponding bump stop, of the one or more bump stops, contacts the first surface at a first deviated position, of the one or more deviated positions, and contacts the second surface at a second deviated position, of the one or more deviated positions.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the inner periphery defines at least one peripheral edge surface extending between the first surface and the second surface, the at least one peripheral edge surface defines an indentation extending into the body. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein
 the one or more bump stops are one or more resilient bump stops; and   the one or more bump stops are made from one or more of rubber, ebonite, polyurethane, or mild steel.   
     
     
         15 . A grader machine, comprising:
 a chassis;   a drawbar extending from the chassis;   a circle rotatably supported with respect to the drawbar;   an implement frame, including one or more arms, extending from the circle;   a moldboard defining a backside and a frontside with respect to the grader machine and configured to grade a work surface underlying the grader machine; and   a system for retaining the moldboard to the implement frame, the system comprising:
 one or more brackets coupled to the backside of the moldboard, and coupled to the implement frame about an axis; 
 one or more actuators coupled to respective brackets, of the one or more brackets, the one or more actuators being configured to tilt the one or more brackets with respect to the implement frame about the axis to articulate the moldboard with respect to the implement frame; and 
 one or more bump stops coupled to the implement frame and configured to contact the respective brackets when the moldboard articulates from an intermediate position to one or more deviated positions. 
   
     
     
         16 . The grader machine of  claim 15 , wherein
 each bracket, of the one or more brackets, includes a body defining an inner periphery with a first surface and a second surface, and   a corresponding bump stop, of the one or more bump stops, contacts the first surface at a first deviated position, of the one or more deviated positions, and contacts the second surface at a second deviated position, of the one or more deviated positions.   
     
     
         17 . The grader machine of  claim 16 , wherein the inner periphery defines at least one peripheral edge surface extending between the first surface and the second surface, the at least one peripheral edge surface defines an indentation extending into the body. 
     
     
         18 . The grader machine of  claim 15 , wherein each bump stop, of the one or more bump stops, includes a bump stop piece, a sleeve inserted into the bump stop piece, and a pin passing through the sleeve, and
 wherein the pin is secured to and spans between a first wall and a second wall of the implement frame to retain the corresponding bump stop piece therearound and within a gap defined between the first wall and the second wall of the implement frame.   
     
     
         19 . The grader machine of  claim 15 , wherein
 wherein each bracket of the one or more brackets includes a first plate and a second plate coupled together and spaced apart from each other and defining a space therebetween,   the space provides passage to a corresponding actuator, of the one or more actuators, and   the corresponding actuator is coupled to one or more of the first plate or the second plate at a swivel joint and is coupled to the implement frame at a pivot location.   
     
     
         20 . The grader machine of  claim 15 , wherein
 the one or more bump stops are one or more resilient bump stops; and   the one or more bump stops are made from one or more of rubber, ebonite, polyurethane, or mild steel.