Search

BR-102020020846-B1 - LEVELING MACHINE, AND METHOD FOR SERVICING A LEVELING MACHINE

BR102020020846B1BR 102020020846 B1BR102020020846 B1BR 102020020846B1BR-102020020846-B1

Abstract

GRADER AND METHOD FOR SERVICING A GRADER. Graders, mounting kits for graders, and methods for servicing graders are described herein. A grader includes a chassis and a work implement assembly. The work implement assembly has a traction frame pivotably coupled to the chassis, a circle frame coupled to the traction frame for rotation relative to it to adjust the angular orientation of a moldboard supported by the circle frame, and a mounting kit for pivotally retaining the circle frame to the traction frame. The traction frame includes a platform having a first side that faces the moldboard, a second side arranged opposite the first side that faces away from a moldboard, and an opening that extends through the first and second sides. The circle frame is arranged facing the first side of the platform.

Inventors

  • John Gundupalli
  • Basuraj Hippargi

Assignees

  • DEERE & COMPANY

Dates

Publication Date
20260317
Application Date
20201009
Priority Date
20191217

Claims (13)

  1. 1. Grader, characterized in that it comprises: a chassis (102, 104); a work implement set (120, 520, 720) including a draw frame (210, 510, 710) pivotally coupled to the chassis (102, 104), a circle frame (250, 550, 750) coupled to the draw frame (210, 510, 710) for rotation relative to it to adjust an angular orientation of a moldboard (122) supported by the circle frame (250, 550, 750), and a mounting kit (260, 560, 760) for pivotally retaining the circle frame (250, 550, 750) to the draw frame (210, 510, 710), wherein the draw frame (210, 510, 710) includes a platform (212, 512, 712) having a first side that is turned towards the moldboard (122), a second side arranged opposite the first side that is turned away from the moldboard (122), and an opening (218) extending through the first and second sides, wherein the circular frame (250, 550, 750) is arranged in relation to the first side of the platform (212, 512, 712) and includes a circular wheel (652) having teeth (654) circumferentially arranged on an outer perimeter thereof, wherein the mounting kit (260, 560, 760) includes a plurality of retaining sets (262A, 262B, 262C, 262D, 562A, 562B, 562C, 562D, 862) at least partially positioned in the opening (218) which are accessible from the second side of the platform (212, 512, 712), wherein the work implement assembly (120, 520, 720) includes a drive assembly (252, 552) to drive the rotation of the circle frame (250, 550, 750) relative to the traction frame (210, 510, 710), wherein the drive assembly (252, 552) includes a drive unit (118, 554) and a disc (658) coupled to the drive unit (118, 554) so that the drive unit (118, 554) drives the rotation of the disc (658) and the circle frame (250, 550, 750) in use of the grader, wherein the drive unit (118, 554) is mounted on the second side of the platform (212, 512, 712) and the disc (658) is mounted on the first side of the platform (212, 512, 712), wherein the disc (658) is arranged in contact with the outer perimeter of the wheel (106, 108) so that the disc (658) interacts with one or more of the teeth (654) to drive the rotation of the circle frame (250, 550, 750) in use of the grader.
  2. 2. Leveler according to claim 1, characterized in that the traction frame (210, 510, 710) includes a ring (220, 820) extending outward away from the second side of the platform (212, 512, 712) and around the opening (218), and wherein each of the plurality of retaining sets (262A, 262B, 262C, 262D, 562A, 562B, 562C, 562D, 862) is coupled to an inner surface of the ring (220, 820) for movement relative to the same along the inner surface during rotation of the circle frame (250, 550, 750) relative to the traction frame (210, 510, 710).
  3. 3. Leveling device according to claim 2, characterized in that each of the plurality of retaining assemblies (262A, 262B, 262C, 262D, 562A, 562B, 562C, 562D, 862) includes a retaining housing (364) and a wear pad (380, 480, 482) arranged between the retaining housing (364) and the inner surface of the ring (220, 820) to minimize direct contact between the inner surface and the retaining housing (364) during the movement of the retaining housing (364) relative to the ring (220, 820) along the inner surface.
  4. 4. Leveling device according to claim 3, characterized in that each of the plurality of retaining sets (262A, 262B, 262C, 262D, 562A, 562B, 562C, 562D, 862) includes a support arranged in contact with the circle frame (250, 550, 750), a plurality of fasteners (366, 382, 384) each extending through the support and arranged in contact with the retaining box (364), and a plurality of adjusting nuts (386, 388) each receiving a corresponding one from the plurality of fasteners (366, 382, 384), and wherein the plurality of adjusting nuts (386, 388) are movable along the plurality of fasteners (366, 382, 384). 382, 384) to adjust the position of the retainer box (364) with respect to the inner surface of the ring (220, 820) and to facilitate access to the wear pad (380, 480, 482) from the second side of the platform (212, 512, 712).
  5. 5. Leveler according to claim 1, characterized in that the traction frame (210, 510, 710) includes a ring (220, 820) extending outward away from the second side of the platform (212, 512, 712) and around the opening (218), wherein each of the plurality of retainer assemblies (262A, 262B, 262C, 262D, 562A, 562B, 562C, 562D, 862) includes a retainer housing (364) that is coupled to an inner surface of the ring (220, 820) for movement relative to the same along the inner surface during rotation of the circle frame (250, 550, 750) relative to the traction frame (210, 510, 710), and in whereby each of the plurality of retainer sets (262A, 262B, 262C, 262D, 562A, 562B, 562C, 562D, 862) includes a plurality of fasteners (366, 382, 384) that extend through the retainer box (364) and into the circle frame (250, 550, 750) and are accessible from the second side of the platform (212, 512, 712).
  6. 6. Leveling device according to claim 5, characterized in that the plurality of fasteners (366, 382, 384) of each of the plurality of retaining sets (262A, 262B, 262C, 262D, 562A, 562B, 562C, 562D, 862) includes three fasteners (366, 382, 384).
  7. 7. Leveling device according to claim 6, characterized in that the plurality of retaining sets (262A, 262B, 262C, 262D, 562A, 562B, 562C, 562D, 862) includes four retaining sets (262A, 262B, 262C, 262D, 562A, 562B, 562C, 562D, 862).
  8. 8. Leveler according to claim 1, characterized in that the traction frame (210, 510, 710) includes a ring (220, 820) extending outward away from the second side of the platform (212, 512, 712) and around the opening (218), wherein each of the plurality of retainer assemblies (262A, 262B, 262C, 262D, 562A, 562B, 562C, 562D, 862) includes a retainer housing (364) which is arranged in contact with the circle frame (250, 550, 750) and coupled to an inner surface of the ring (220, 820) for movement relative to the same along the inner surface during rotation of the circle frame (250, 550, 750) with respect to the traction frame (210, 510, 710), and wherein each of the plurality of retainer assemblies (262A, 262B, 262C, 262D, 562A, 562B, 562C, 562D, 862) includes a first wear pad (380, 480, 482) arranged between the retainer box (364) and the second side of the platform (212, 512, 712) to minimize direct contact between the retainer box (364) and the traction frame (210, 510, 710) during movement of the retainer box (364) relative to the ring (220, 820) along the inner surface.
  9. 9. Leveler according to claim 8, characterized in that each of the plurality of retainer assemblies (262A, 262B, 262C, 262D, 562A, 562B, 562C, 562D, 862) includes a second wear pad (380, 480, 482) arranged between the first side of the platform (212, 512, 712) and the circle frame (250, 550, 750) to minimize direct contact between the traction frame (210, 510, 710) and the circle frame (250, 550, 750) during rotation of the circle frame (250, 550, 750) relative to the traction frame (210, 510, 710).
  10. 10. Leveler according to claim 9, characterized in that the first wear pads (380, 480, 482) of the plurality of retainer assemblies (262A, 262B, 262C, 262D, 562A, 562B, 562C, 562D, 862) are accessible from the second side of the platform (212, 512, 712) and the second wear pads (380, 480, 482) of the plurality of retainer assemblies (262A, 262B, 262C, 262D, 562A, 562B, 562C, 562D, 862) are accessible from an outer periphery of the traction frame (210, 510, 710) and the circle frame. (250, 550, 750).
  11. 11. Method for servicing a grader including a chassis (102, 104), a traction frame (210, 510, 710) coupled to the chassis (102, 104), a circle frame (250, 550, 750) coupled to the traction frame (210, 510, 710) for rotation relative to it, and a mounting kit (260, 560, 760) for pivotally retaining the circle frame (250, 550, 750) to the traction frame (210, 510, 710), the method characterized in that it comprises: accessing, from one side of a platform (212, 512, 712) of the traction frame (210, 510, 710) which is facing away from a moldboard (122) of the leveler, a plurality of retaining assemblies (262A, 262B, 262C, 262D, 562A, 562B, 562C, 562D, 862) of the mounting kit (260, 560, 760) which are at least partially positioned in an opening (218) of the platform (212, 512, 712) extending through one side of the platform (212, 512, 712) and through another side of the platform (212, 512, 712) arranged opposite to one side; accessing, from one side of the platform (212, 512, 712), a drive unit (118, 554) of a drive assembly (252, 552) which drives the rotation of the circle frame. (250, 550, 750) in relation to the traction frame (210, 510, 710) in use by the grader and is mounted on one side of the platform (212, 512, 712); access, from the other side of the platform (212, 512, 712), a disc (658) mounted on the other side of the platform (212, 512, 712) which is actuated by the drive unit (118, 554) to cause the rotation of the circle frame (250, 550, 750) in use by the grader; and disassemble at least partially one or more of the plurality of retaining assemblies (262A, 262B, 262C, 262D, 562A, 562B, 562C, 562D, 862), wherein access to the disc (658) mounted on the other side of the platform (212, 512, 712) includes access to a circular wheel (652) having teeth (654) circumferentially arranged on an outer perimeter thereof, which is disposed in contact with the disc (658) on the outer perimeter.
  12. 12. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that at least partially disassembling one or more of the plurality of retainer assemblies (262A, 262B, 262C, 262D, 562A, 562B, 562C, 562D, 862) includes adjusting a position of a retainer housing (364) of at least one of the plurality of retainer assemblies (262A, 262B, 262C, 262D, 562A, 562B, 562C, 562D, 862) relative to a ring (220, 820) extending outward away from one side of the platform (212, 512, 712) to access a first wear pad (380, 480, 482) arranged between the retainer housing (364) and the ring (220, 820).
  13. 13. Method according to claim 12, characterized in that at least partially disassembling one or more of the plurality of retainer assemblies (262A, 262B, 262C, 262D, 562A, 562B, 562C, 562D, 862) includes accessing a second wear pad (380, 480, 482) arranged between the retainer housing (364) of at least one of the plurality of retainer assemblies (262A, 262B, 262C, 262D, 562A, 562B, 562C, 562D, 862) and the traction frame (210, 510, 710) and a third wear pad (380, 480, 482) arranged between the second side of the platform (212, 512, 712) and the circle frame (250, 550, 750).

Description

DESCRIPTION FIELD [001] The present description refers generally to construction machines, and more specifically to graders. FUNDAMENTALS [002] Graders, such as motor graders, may include a chassis, a drive frame pivotally attached to the chassis, and a circle frame pivotally attached to the drive frame. One or more systems and/or devices may be employed to pivotally retain the circle frame to the drive frame. In some cases, the servicing and/or maintenance of the system(s) and/or device(s) may present a variety of complications. Consequently, configurations that avoid the shortcomings of that/those system(s) and/or device(s) remain an area of interest. SUMMARY [003] The present description may include one or more of the following features and combinations thereof. [004] According to one aspect of the present description, a grader may include a chassis and a work implement assembly. The work implement assembly may include a draw frame pivotally coupled to the chassis, a circle frame coupled to the draw frame for rotation relative to it to adjust an angular orientation of a moldboard supported by the circle frame, and a mounting kit for pivotally retaining the circle frame to the draw frame. The draw frame may include a platform having a first side that faces the moldboard, a second side arranged opposite the first side that faces away from a moldboard, and an opening that extends through the first and second sides. The circle frame may be arranged facing the first side of the platform. The mounting kit may include a plurality of retaining assemblies at least partially positioned in the opening, which are accessible from the second side of the platform. [005] In some embodiments, the traction frame may include a ring extending outward away from the second side of the platform and around the opening, and each of the plurality of retaining assemblies may be coupled to an inner surface of the ring for movement relative to the same along the inner surface during rotation of the circle frame relative to the traction frame. Each of the plurality of retaining assemblies may include a retaining box and a wear pad arranged between the retaining box and the inner surface of the ring to minimize direct contact between the inner surface and the retaining box during movement of the retaining box relative to the ring along the inner surface. Each of the multiple retainer assemblies may include a support arranged in contact with the circle frame, a multiple of fasteners extending, each, through the support and arranged in contact with the retainer housing, and a multiple of adjusting nuts each receiving a corresponding plurality of fasteners, and the multiple of adjusting nuts may be movable along the multiple of fasteners to adjust the position of the retainer housing relative to the inner surface of the ring and to facilitate access to the wear pad from the second side of the platform. [006] In some embodiments, the traction frame may include a ring that extends outward away from the second side of the platform and around the opening, each of the plurality of retaining assemblies may include a retaining box that is coupled to an inner surface of the ring for movement relative to the same along the inner surface during rotation of the circle frame relative to the traction frame, and each of the plurality of retaining assemblies may include a plurality of fasteners that extend through the retaining box and into the circle frame and are accessible from the second side of the platform. The plurality of fasteners of each of the plurality of retaining assemblies may include three fasteners. The plurality of retaining assemblies may include four retaining assemblies. [007] In some embodiments, the traction frame may include a ring extending outward away from the second side of the platform and around the opening, each of the plurality of retainer assemblies may include a retainer box that is arranged in contact with the circle frame and coupled to an inner surface of the ring for movement relative to the same along the inner surface during rotation of the circle frame relative to the traction frame, and each of the plurality of retainer assemblies may include a first wear pad arranged between the retainer box and the second side of the platform to minimize direct contact between the retainer box and the traction frame during movement of the retainer box relative to the ring along the inner surface. Each of the plurality of retainer assemblies may include a second wear pad arranged between the first side of the platform and the circle frame to minimize direct contact between the traction frame and the circle frame during rotation of the circle frame relative to the traction frame. The first wear panels of the multiple retainer assemblies can be accessed from the second side of the platform, and the second wear pads of the multiple retainer assemblies can be accessed from an outer periphery of the traction frame and the circle fr