US 12,338,603 B2
Towed earth moving implement with fixed-winged pitch-adjustable blade assembly
Derek J. Friesen, Crystal City (CA); Sean D. Chevalier, Crystal City (CA); and Harvey G. Bergen, Crystal City (CA)
Assigned to Phiber Manufacturing Inc., Crystal City (CA)
Filed by Phiber Manufacturing Inc., Crystal City (CA)
Filed on Oct. 28, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/513,430.
Prior Publication US 2023/0133831 A1, May 4, 2023
Int. Cl. E02F 3/76 (2006.01); E02F 3/815 (2006.01); E02F 3/84 (2006.01)
CPC E02F 3/7672 (2013.01) [E02F 3/7677 (2013.01); E02F 3/8155 (2013.01); E02F 3/844 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A towed earth moving implement comprising:
a pull tongue running in a longitudinal direction and configured at a front end thereof with a coupling arrangement for connection to a tow vehicle for pulling of the implement in the longitudinal direction;
a blade assembly coupled to the pull tongue and comprising:
a center blade lying transversely of the longitudinal direction and spanning laterally outward from the pull tongue each of two opposing sides thereof; and
a pair of wing blades connected to the center blade at opposing ends thereof on the two opposing sides of the pull tongue and each being oriented in non-parallel relation to the central blade in an orientation angling both forwardly and laterally outward therefrom; and
a wheeled frame on which the blade assembly is carried for rolling travel over an earthen surface workable by the blade assembly;
a pivotal blade-pitch connection between the pull tongue and the blade assembly that defines a blade pitch axis lying transversely of the longitudinal direction, the pivotal blade-pitch connection residing in front of the central blade, and thus in leading relation thereto during towed conveyance of the implement by the tow vehicle;
at least one blade-pitch actuator operable to adjust a pitch angle of the blade, relative to the pull tongue, about the blade pitch axis;
wherein each of the center and wing blades has a respective bottom working edge, and the blade assembly is movable between at least two of the following three operational positions, in each of which the respective bottom working edge of the center blade resides in a horizontal working plane;
a pitch-neutral levelling position in which the respective bottom working edges of the wing blades both reside in the same horizontal working plane as the respective working edge of the center blade;
an upwardly pitched ditching position in which the respective bottom working edges of the wing blades reside in forwardly inclined working planes of forwardly inclined relation to the horizontal working plane; and
a downwardly-pitched crowning position in which the respective bottom working edges of the wing blades reside in forwardly decline working planes of forwardly declined relation to the horizontal reference plane.