In and relating to the working of ground and other surfaces
Ground/face working apparatus ( 1 ) comprises a primary support portion ( 2 ) for mounting to a vehicle and an accessory body portion ( 3 ) including or allowing the attachment of an accessory such as a blade ( 5 ). Multiple fixed length links ( 4 a - c ) allow and limit a degree of relative movement between the accessory body portion ( 3 ) and primary support portion ( 2 ) including lateral, vertical, and roll rotational (about a horizontal longitudinal axis). Control actuators ( 6 a, 6 b ) primarily control the aforesaid rotational and vertical dispositions of the portions ( 2, 3 ) while a side shift variable length link comprising an actuator ( 8 ) affects the amount of lateral movement.
1 . A ground/face working assembly comprising: a pivotable connection arrangement comprising a vehicle support portion comprising a forward extending portion, an intermediate primary support portion pivotably connected to the vehicle support portion by the forward extending portion of the vehicle support portion providing a pivotable connection allowing rotation of the intermediate primary support portion about a substantially vertical axis, and at least two controllable adjustable length links between the vehicle support portion and said intermediate primary support portion providing controllable yaw angle adjustment about said pivotable connection;
an accessory body portion connected to said intermediate primary support portion by two operable adjustable length linkages, pivotably connected to the accessory body portion at or near ends of the accessory body portion, when view in plan view; and
a first fixed length linkage pivotably connected to a point at or near the pivotable connection of the vehicle support portion when viewed in plan view, a relationship between the first fixed length linkage and the two operable adjustable length linkages connected to the accessory body portion allowing sideways shifting, when viewed in plan view, of the accessory body portion relative to the vehicle support portion.
2 . The ground/face working assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least some of the adjustable length linkages control yaw of the intermediate primary support portion and connect to said forward extending portion of the vehicle support portion.
3 . The ground/face working assembly as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising two additional fixed length linkages between said intermediate primary support portion and the accessory body portion, the two additional fixed length linkages being parallel to said first fixed length linkage to the accessory body portion when viewed in plan, and at a different elevation to said first fixed length linkage when viewed from the side.
4 . The ground/face working assembly as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising two independently controllable roll angle adjustable length linkages disposed between said intermediate primary support portion and said accessory body portion, operation of the two independently controllable roll angle adjustable length linkages affecting a roll angle of the accessory body portion relative to the vehicle body portion when viewed from a front.
5 . The ground/face working assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least some of the adjustable length linkages control side-shifting movement of the accessory body portion and pivotably connect to points on the intermediate primary support portion on either side, when viewed in plan, of the substantially vertical axis about which the intermediate primary support portion pivots.
6 . The ground/face working assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the vehicle support portion includes a quick hitch arrangement configured to attach to a vehicle.
7 . The ground/face working assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said adjustable length linkages comprise actuators which are operable by any one of: hydraulics, electrically, and pneumatically.
8 . The ground/face working assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the accessory body portion includes an accessory comprising a blade.
9 . The ground/face working assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the ground/face working assembly is configured to be mounted on a vehicle.