TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to grading machines, and more particularly, to a support assembly for a grading machine.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to mobile machines that are used in grading. Grading machines, such as motor graders, are typically used to cut, spread, or level material that forms a ground surface. To perform such earth sculpting tasks, grading machines include a blade, also referred to as a moldboard or implement. The blade moves relatively small quantities of earth from side to side, in comparison to a bulldozer or other machine that moves larger quantities of earth. Grading machines are frequently used to form a variety of final earth arrangements, which often require the blade to be positioned in different positions and/or orientations depending on the sculpting task and/or the material being sculpted. The blade is supported and positioned by various components, including a drawbar and a circle. The circle may be rotated relative to the drawbar in order to adjust a blade angle, for example, via a circle drive pinion engaging with teeth on the circle to rotate the circle. Debris, such as dirt, rocks, or grease, may accumulate and/or damage the circle teeth and/or the circle drive pinion. Covering the circle teeth and/or the circle drive pinion may reduce the likelihood of damage, but may increase the weight of the grading machine and/or may impede the ability to inspect, repair, and/or replace the circle teeth, the circle drive pinion, or other components of the machine.

U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0135866, published on May 21, 2015 (“the '866 publication”), describes a sealed guard for a motor grader. The '866 publication includes a circle having a circle gear connected to a frame for rotation relative to the draft frame. A circle drive mounted to the draft frame may include a pinion engaging the circle gear to rotate the circle relative to the draft frame. The guard of the '866 publication may provide a radial cover of the circle gear and the pinion. The guard may be, for example, sheet metal. A seal may provide a sealed connection between the guard and the circle. However, the guard of the '866 publication may not effectively seal the circle teeth from debris, may become dented or damaged due to debris (e.g., rocks) striking or colliding with the guard, and/or may impede an operator's ability to inspect, repair, and/or replace the circle teeth, the circle drive pinion, or other components of the machine.

The support assembly for a grading machine of the present disclosure may solve one or more of the problems set forth above and/or other problems in the art. The scope of the current disclosure, however, is defined by the attached claims, and not by the ability to solve any specific problem.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, a grading machine may include a machine body, a blade assembly, a circle supporting the blade assembly and including a plurality of teeth, a drawbar assembly connecting the circle to the machine body, and a cover plate coupled to a bottom portion of the drawbar assembly. The drawbar assembly may include a plurality of blocks, and the cover plate may be configured to be coupled to the drawbar assembly via the plurality of blocks.

In another aspect, a grading assembly may include a drawbar assembly, a circle having a plurality of circle teeth on an inward face, a blade assembly coupled to the circle, and a cover plate. The drawbar assembly may include a plurality of blocks on a inward face of the drawbar assembly. The cover plate may be coupled to the drawbar assembly via the plurality of blocks, and the cover plate may cover a circumferential gap between the circle and the drawbar assembly.

In yet another aspect, a drawbar assembly may include a drawbar, a yoke plate, a circular extension portion extending downward from the drawbar, and a plurality of blocks on an inward face of the extension portion.

