Work machine with material management during grading operations

Abstract

A work machine including a frame, a drawbar assembly, a circle drive assembly, and a moldboard coupled to the circle drive assembly. A sensor indicative of the heading of the work machine generates a signal as a ground-engaging mechanism moves the frame across the ground surface. A wing blade is pivotally coupled to an end of the moldboard wherein the wing blade is actuated to move to an open position, a closed position, or to a position in between. A controller includes a processor operable to execute a material management algorithm to receive a signal from the sensor indicative of the heading and control the wing blade to move based on the heading for directing the flow of moving material.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to work machines with grading operations, more specifically to construction vehicles that include a blade or a moldboard.BACKGROUND

[0002] When work machines, such as motor graders modify or contour a ground surface, the distribution of materials from the cutting edge of a blade may yield in required repeat passes due to windrows created from spillage over the cutting edge of the blade. For example, when streets are plowed, snow ridge formations from plowing passes require subsequent passes for their removal. In another example, grading operations may yield in spillage around and over a moldboard when contouring the ground surface at larger cutting depths. On the other hand, residential areas encounter more turns along the grading path and varying area widths, or alternatively objects in the path. Most grading work machines, such as motor graders are equipped with a moldboard. However, spillage from both ends of the blade can be a disadvantage in certain situations. Therein lies an opportunity, to improve efficiencies during the plowing, grading,SUMMARY

[0003] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, material management and blade protection on a work machine, such as a motor grader, is shown. The work machine includes a frame extending in a fore-aft direction, a drawbar assembly coupled to the frame, and a circle drive assembly coupled to the drawbar assembly. A ground engaging mechanism is configured to support the frame on a ground surface. A moldboard coupled to the circle drive assembly is configured to grade the ground surface. A sensor for generating a signal indicative of a heading of the work machine is used as the ground-engaging mechanism moves the frame across the ground surface. A moldboard is coupled to the circle drive assembly and configured to grade the ground surface. A wing blade is pivotally coupled to an end of the moldboard wherein the wing blade actuable to move to an open position, a closed position, or to a position in between. A controller is in communication with the sensor. The controller includes a processor and a memory having a material management algorithm stored thereon, wherein the processor is operable to execute the material management algorithm to receive the signal indicative of the heading and control the wing blade to move to the open position, the closed position, or the position in between based on the heading for directing the flow of moving material.

[0004] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the work machine may comprise of a second wing blade pivotally coupled to a second end of the moldboard. The second wing blade is actuated to move to an open position, a closed position, or to a position in between, based on the heading. Alternatively, the second wing blade may be actuated to move in synchrony with the first wing blade.

[0005] According to another aspect of the disclosure, the wing blade is actuable by a first linear actuator and a first linkage mechanism pivotally coupled to a moldboard upper portion on a first end and pivotally coupled to a wing blade upper portion on a second end, wherein the first linear actuator selectively positions the wing blade in a swing gate direction. The swing gate direction is in direction where the outermost edge of the wing blade rotates about a swing mount in a direction transverse to the fore-aft moldboard surfaces.

[0006] The wing blade may be actuable by a second linear actuator and a second linkage mechanism pivotally coupled to the moldboard aft surface on a first end and pivotally coupled to a wing blade upper portion on a second end wherein the second linear actuator selectively positions the wing blade in a drop gate direction. The drop gate direction being the upper most edge of the wing blade rotating about drop mount connected to the moldboard aft surface in a direction of pitch to raise and lower the wing blade from the ground surface.

[0007] The moldboard includes a stop fixedly coupled to a laterally outermost moldboard surface, wherein the stop is configured to prevent movement of the wing blade beyond an inward limit in the inward swing direction. The stop comprises of an arcuate shape configured to mate with the curvature of the moldboard.

[0008] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the work machine further comprises of an object detector for generating an object detection signal indicative of an object in the path of the wing blade as the ground-engaging mechanism moves the frame across the ground surface wherein the wing blade is positioned to move in one of the closed position, the open position, or a position in between based on the object detection signal.

[0009] According to another aspect of the disclosure, the processor is operable to execute the material management algorithm only when the moldboard is position in a damage avoidance range relative to the frame, wherein the damage avoidance range is at most 30 degrees from the default moldboard position.

[0010] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the wing blade is actuated by the first linear actuator in an inward swing direction to engage with a support surface of the first linkage mechanism prior to actuating a second linear actuator to pitch the wing blade upwards with a second linkage mechanism as the wing blade remains engage with the support surface.

[0011] Other features and aspects will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description, claims, and accompanying drawings.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The detailed description of the drawings refers to the accompanying figures.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a side view of a work machine with a wing blade.

[0014] FIG. 2A is an overhead view of the work machine of FIG. 1 with a wing blade in the closed position.

[0015] FIG. 2B is an overhead view of the work machine of FIG. 1 with a wing blade in the open position.

[0016] FIG. 3A is a perspective rear view of a portion of the moldboard with a wing blade in a first embodiment in the closed position in the swing gate direction.

[0017] FIG. 3B is a perspective front view of a portion of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3A with the wing blade in the closed position in the swing gate direction.

[0018] FIG. 3C is a perspective front view of a portion of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3A with the wing blade in the open position in the swing gate direction.

[0019] FIG. 4A is a perspective rear view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3A with the wing blade in the open position in the swing out direction.

[0020] FIG. 4B is a perspective rear view of a portion of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3A with the wing blade lifted in the drop gate direction.

[0021] FIG. 4C is a perspective front view of a portion of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3A with the wing blade the wing blade lifted in the drop gate direction.

[0022] FIG. 5A is a perspective rear view of a portion of the moldboard with a wing blade in a second embodiment with mobility in only the swing gate direction.

[0023] FIG. 5B is a perspective front view of a portion of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5A.

[0024] FIG. 6A is a perspective rear view of a portion of the moldboard with a wing blade in a second embodiment with mobility in only the drop gate direction.

[0025] FIG. 6B is a perspective front view of a portion of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6A.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] FIG. 1 illustrates a work machine 10 having a frame 15 that includes a front frame 20 and a rear frame 25. The work machine 10 is illustrated as a motor grader 30. Other types of work machines 10 are contemplated by this disclosure including skid steers, compact track loaders, and crawlers, for example. A ground engaging mechanism 35 is coupled to the front frame 20 and the rear frame 25 and configured to support the front frame 20 and the rear frame 25 above the ground 40 and to move the work machine 10 along the ground 40 in a direction or heading 45. Heading 45 typically refers to the direction or orientation the work machine 10, or in the present application, the frame 15 is moving as known by a person of skill in the art. Note that a moldboard may be angled in a tilt, pitch, rotate, and side-shift direction but still maintain a heading correlating to the frame 15. A heading 45 of a work machine 10 can have an operational impact depending on how the moldboard 175 interacts with surface being graded. For example, in “crab steering” or in a “crab steering mode”, the front and rear wheelsets are not in line, but still parallel to one another. In this position, the motor grader moves along a line that is not parallel to the work machine axis.

[0027] The illustrated ground engaging mechanism 35 is a wheel sets 50. Alternatively, the ground engaging mechanism may be tracks (not shown). The wheel sets 50 include front wheels 55 for supporting the front frame 20 and left and right tandem sets of rear wheels 60 for supporting the rear frame 25. An operator station 65 is coupled to the frame 15. A power source 70 is also coupled to the frame 15 to power a drive train and one or more hydraulic pumps 75, which pressurize hydraulic fluid in a hydraulic circuit to move hydraulic actuators.

[0028] A heading sensor 80 is configured for generating a signal indicative of the heading 45 of the work machine 10 as the ground engaging mechanism 35 moves the frame 15 across the ground surface 40. The heading sensor 80 may be removably or fixedly coupled to the top portion of the operator station 65 wherein the heading 45 of the work machine 10 may be derived by known positions of each respective actuator, articulation sensors, and steering sensors. In another embodiment, the heading sensor 80 may be directly coupled to the moldboard 175 (such as an IMU) to sense the heading 45 of the moldboard 175.

[0029] Now referring to 2A and 2B, with continued reference to FIG. 1, the drawbar assembly 105 is coupled to the front frame 20. A drawbar 110 of the drawbar assembly 105 is mounted to a front location 115 of the front frame 20, having a forward end 120 of the drawbar coupled to the front frame 20 by a ball and socket arrangement 125 and having opposite left and right rear regions 130 suspended from an elevated central section 135 of the front frame 20. Left and right first actuators 140 either raise or lower the drawbar 110. A side shift linkage arrangement 145 is coupled between the elevated central section 135 of the front frame 20 and a rear location 150 of the drawbar assembly 105 and includes a side swing hydraulic actuator 155.

[0030] A circle drive assembly 160 is coupled to the drawbar assembly 105. The circle drive assembly 160 can include a rotatable circle member 165 coupled to the drawbar assembly 105. The circle drive assembly 160 can be rotatable about a rotation axis 170 in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction in the direction of yaw.

[0031] The moldboard 175 (hereinafter also referred to as “blade”) is coupled to the circle drive assembly 160 of the work machine 10 and configured to move the ground material 92 on the ground 40. The ground material 92 may be snow, rock, sand, aggregate, or other material. A circle drive actuator 180 may be coupled to the moldboard 175 or the circle drive assembly 160. The circle drive actuator 180 is configured to rotate the moldboard 175.

[0032] The motor grader's moldboard 175 multiple means of adjustment is directed depending on the intended job and the ground material 92. The moldboard 175 can be raised or lowered as little as a fraction of an inch. It can be set at any angle and be pitched forward or back. The sharper the angle, the more ground material 92 will spill off the heel of the moldboard 175. A moldboard's angle greater than zero in relation to a center axis extending in a direction of fore-aft of the work machine refers to the toe being closer to the front wheelset 50 and the heel being closer to the rear wheelset 60. For example, in FIG. 2A the wing blade 186 is located in a heel position. In contrast, the wing blade 185 is located in the toe position. With a moldboard 175 straight across (zero degrees, i.e. is perpendicular to the axis of the frame), the effect is the same as bulldozing or pushing material straight ahead. This “bulldozing” position may also be referred to herein as the default moldboard position 415. A “square blade” position refers to a blade angle being thirty degrees or less from the default moldboard position 415. Raising and lowering the moldboard 175 determines the depth of cut. Lowering the moldboard 175 sufficiently will inhibit materials from flowing underneath the moldboard's wear surface. Ground material 92 cut with the blade lowered will be spilled off the heel to form a windrow. Therefore, raising the blade determines whether the material is cast into windrows or spread evenly. When the heel of the blade is raised sufficiently, ground material 92 will spill out underneath it and be spread along the surface by the forward movement (or heading 45) of the moldboard 175. As detailed below, the addition of adjustable wing blades advantageously enables improved control by increasing the volume of ground material 92 to be carried during grading operations or alternatively allowing spillage to occur for windrow formation. This will depend on the degree of engagement of one or more wing blades (185, 186), on each end of the moldboard 175, with the ground surface 40.

[0033] With reference to FIGS. 2-5, a first wing blade 185 is pivotally coupled to an end 210 of the moldboard 175 wherein the first wing blade 185 is actuated to move to an open position 201, a closed position 202, or to a position in between 203. A controller 295 is in communication with the heading sensor 80. The controller 295 includes a processor 290 and a memory 285 having a material management algorithm 280 stored thereon. The processor 290 is operable to execute the material management algorithm 280 to receive the signal 205 indicative of the heading 45 from the sensor 80, and control the wing blade (185, 186) to an open position 201, a closed position 202, or a position in between 203 based on the heading 45, for directing the flow 275 of moving ground material 92.

[0034] A second wing blade 186 is pivotally coupled to the second end 220 of the moldboard 175 wherein the second wing blade 186 is actuated to move to an open position 201, a closed position 202, or to a position in between 203 based on the heading 45 for directing the flow 275 of moving material 92.

[0035] This second wing blade 186, pivotally coupled to the second end 220 of the moldboard 175, may although not required, be actuated to move in synchrony with the first wing blade 185. Depending on the intended operation (such as cutting versus fine precision grading), the angle of the moldboard 175 relative to the axis of the work machine, and the heading 45, the option of the engagement of only one wing blade becomes advantageous. For example, a sharper angle positioning of the moldboard 175 during a cutting operation will result in increased spillage over the heel of the moldboard, requiring engagement of primarily the wing blade at the heel. Alternatively, both wing blades (185) may engage with the ground surface 40 during a material spreading operation when “bulldozing”.

[0036] The first wing blade 185 and the second wing blade 186 as they are structurally similar and substantially mirror (although not required) one another, are collectively referred to as wing blade(s) (185,186). The wing blade (185, 186) is actuable by a first linear actuator 225 and a first linkage mechanism 230 pivotally coupled to a moldboard upper portion 235 on a first end 240 and pivotally coupled to a wing blade upper portion 245 on a second end 250.

[0037] This processor 290 is operable to execute the material management algorithm 280 to actuate the first linear actuator 225 to rotate the wing blade (185, 186) about the swing mount 305 in response to the signal 205 indicative of the heading 45 for maintaining the current position of the wing blade (185, 186) in parallel with the heading 45.

[0038] The swing gate direction 300 comprises of the outermost edge 265 of the wing blade (185, 186) rotating about a swing mount 305 in a direction transverse to the fore-aft moldboard surface 310. Alternatively, the first linear actuator 225 may be selectively controllable for moving the wing blade (185, 186) in either an inward swing direction 255 or an outward swing direction 260 along a swing gate path 267, whereby an outermost edge 265 of the wing blade rotates about a generally vertical swing axis 272 relative to the moldboard 175 in a direction generally transverse 310 to a fore-aft direction 307 of the moldboard 175.

[0039] The wing blade (185, 186) is further actuable by a second linear actuator 315 and a second linkage mechanism 320 pivotally coupled to a moldboard aft surface 325 on a first end 330 and pivotally coupled a wing blade upper portion 245 on a second end 335. The second linear actuator 315 selectively positions the wing blade (185, 186) in the drop gate direction 340. The drop gate direction 340 is the upper most edge 345 of the wing blade rotating about a drop mount 350 connected to the moldboard aft surface 325 in a direction of pitch 355 to raise and lower the wing blade (185, 186) from the ground surface 40.

[0040] The moldboard 175 further includes a stop 360 (previously also referred to as a support surface 360) fixedly coupled to a laterally outermost moldboard surface 365, wherein the stop 360 is configured to prevent movement of the wing blade (185, 186) beyond an inward limit 375 in the inward swing direction 255. The stop 360 includes an arcuate shape 380 configured to mate with the curvature of the moldboard 175.

[0041] The stop 360 follows a curvature of the moldboard 45 and stops the wing blade (185, 186) from rotating past the stop 360. This mechanical limit advantageously the potential for damage because of lateral ground loads, when the wing blade is in use. The wing blade (185, 186) is positioned parallel to the heading 45 of the work machine 10. The sensor solutions used to determine the work machine heading 45, would control the angle of the wing blade (186, 186) to stay parallel with the machine heading 45 to minimize lateral ground loads.

[0042] Furthermore, the second linear actuator 315 automatically adjusts the position of the wing blade (185, 186) to align the wear surface 370 of the wing blade (185, 186) to the ground surface 40. The wear surface 370 is the edge in contact with the ground surface 40 during operation. This wear surface 370 is similar to the wear surface of the moldboard 175. Both may be consumed with use, eventually needing replacement.

[0043] The work machine 10 may further comprise an object detector 400 for generating an object detection signal 405 indicative of an object 407 in the path of the wing blade (185, 186) as the ground-engaging mechanism 35 moves the frame 15 across the ground surface 40 wherein the wing blade (185, 186) is positioned to move in one of the closed position 202, the open position 201, or a position in between 203 based on the object detection signal 405. Use of sensors for object detection may include global positioning systems, cameras, radar, sonic, and lidar to detect driveways, intersections, and other obstacles that would automate movement of the wing blade(s). During cutting operations when grading (as opposed to spreading), the moldboard's tip angle is typically positioned with the cutting edge (wear surface) at ninety degrees to the ground surface 40. In this position, downward pressure on the moldboard places less stress on the cutting edge, providing the tendency of the moldboard 175 to “ride” over objects, which helps avoid damage. The object detector 400 advantageously improves the coordination of positioning the wing blades during grading operations, especially when cutting. Furthermore, the sensor combination (object detector 400 and heading sensor 80) can be used to limit potential damage when operating next to obstacles (e.g. a curb, driveways, etc.).

[0044] The processor 290 is operable to execute the material management algorithm 280 only when the moldboard 175 is positioned in a damage avoidance range 410 relative to the frame 15, wherein the damage avoidance range is at most 30 degrees from a default moldboard position 415. This damage avoidance range 410 was also previously described as the “square blade” position.

[0045] Each wing blade (175, 176) is actuated by the first linear actuator 225 in an inward swing direction 225 to engage with a support surface 360 of the first linkage mechanism prior to actuation of a second linear actuator 315 to pitch 355 the wing blade upwards with a second linkage mechanism 320 as the wing blade remains engaged with the support surface 360.

[0046] An electronic processor 290 is provided and configured to perform an operation by monitoring movement of the bucket 12 relative to the frame 15 and automatically vibrating the bucket 12 when a movement threshold is reached. The electronic processor 290 may be arranged locally as part of the utility vehicle 10 or remotely at a remote processing center (not shown). In various embodiments, the electronic processor 290 may comprise a processor, a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a controller, a central processing unit, a programmable logic array, a programmable logic controller, or other suitable programmable circuitry that is adapted to perform data processing and / or system control operations. The electronic processor 290 executes or otherwise relies upon computer software applications, components, programs, objects, modules, or data structures, etc. Software routines resident in the included memory of the electronic processor 30 or other memory are executed in response to signals received.

[0047] The computer software applications, in other embodiments, may be located in the cloud (e.g., a server or other remote computer arrangement). The executed software includes one or more specific applications, components, programs, objects, modules, or sequences of instructions typically referred to as “program code”. The program code includes one or more instructions located in memory and other storage devices which execute the instructions which are resident in memory, which are responsive to other instructions generated by the system, or which are provided by an operator interface operated by the user (e.g., located in the operator station 65 coupled to the frame 15 or at a remote location). The electronic processor 290 is configured to execute the stored program instructions.

[0048] FIGS. 5A and 5B shown an embodiment with the wing blade functional configured to move in only the swing gate direction 300. FIGS. 6A and 6B show an embodiment with the wing blade functional configured to move in only the drop gate direction 340. This is contrary to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3A-4C which discloses a wing blade movable in both the swing gate direction 300 and the drop gate direction 340.

[0049] Without in any way limiting the scope, interpretation, or application of the claims appearing below, a technical effect of one or more of the example embodiments disclosed herein is increased productivity by eliminating “clean-up” passes and enabling the movement of more material than a standard moldboard alone. Another technical effect is the use of sensors coupled to the work machine 10 to protect components and avoid damage from objects in the travel path. Another technical effect is improved grading operations with increased efficiency and productivity because of the afore-mentioned attributes. Additionally, the embodiments are easily adaptable to current production work machines.

[0050] As used herein, “e.g.” is utilized to non-exhaustively list examples and carries the same meaning as alternative illustrative phrases such as “including,”“including, but not limited to,” and “including without limitation.” Unless otherwise limited or modified, lists with elements that are separated by conjunctive terms (e.g., “and”) and that are also preceded by the phrase “one or more of” or “at least one of” indicate configurations or arrangements that potentially include individual elements of the list, or any combination thereof. For example, “at least one of A, B, and C” or “one or more of A, B, and C” indicates the possibilities of only A, only B, only C, or any combination of two or more of A, B, and C (e.g., A and B; B and C; A and C; or A, B, and C).

[0051] Those having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that terms such as “above,”“below,”“upward,”“downward,”“top,”“bottom,” etc., are used descriptively for the figures, and do not represent limitations on the scope of the disclosure, as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, the teachings may be described herein in terms of functional and / or logical block components and / or various processing steps. It should be realized that such block components may be comprised of any number of hardware, software, and / or firmware components configured to perform the specified functions.

[0052] Terms of degree, such as “generally”, “substantially” or “approximately” are understood by those of ordinary skill to refer to reasonable ranges outside of a given value or orientation, for example, general tolerances or positional relationships associated with manufacturing, assembly, and use of the described embodiments.

[0053] While the above describes example embodiments of the present disclosure, these descriptions should not be viewed in a limiting sense. Rather, other variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A work machine comprising:a frame extending in a fore-aft direction;a drawbar assembly coupled to the frame;a circle drive assembly coupled to the drawbar assembly;a ground engaging mechanism configured to support the frame on a ground surface;a moldboard coupled to the circle drive assembly and configured to grade the ground surface;a sensor for generating a signal indicative of a heading of a work machine as the ground-engaging mechanism moves the frame across the ground surface;a wing blade pivotally coupled to an end of the moldboard, the wing blade actuated to move to an open position, a closed position, or to a position in between; anda controller in communication with the sensor, the controller including a processor and a memory having a material management algorithm stored thereon, wherein the processor is operable to execute the material management algorithm to receive the signal indicative of the heading and control the wing blade to move to the open position, the closed position, or the position in between based on the heading for directing the flow of moving material.

2. The work machine of claim 1 further comprising:a second wing blade pivotally coupled to a second end of the moldboard, the second wing blade actuated to move to an open position, a closed position, or to a position in between, and the second wing blade controlled to the open position, the closed position, or the position in between based on the heading.

3. The work machine of claim 1 further comprising:a second wing blade pivotally coupled to a second end of the moldboard, the second wing blade actuated to move in synchrony with the first wing blade.

4. The work machine of claim 1, wherein the wing blade is actuable by a first linear actuator and a first linkage mechanism pivotally coupled to a moldboard upper portion on a first end and pivotally coupled to a wing blade upper portion on second end, the first linear actuator selectively positioning the wing blade in a swing gate direction.

5. The work machine of claim 4, wherein the swing gate direction comprises of the outermost edge of the wing blade rotating about a swing mount in a direction transverse to a fore-aft moldboard surface.

6. The work machine of claim 5, wherein the processor is operable to execute the material management algorithm to actuate the first linear actuator to rotate the wing blade about the swing mount in response to the signal indicative of the heading for the maintaining the current position of the wing blade in parallel with the heading.

7. The work machine of claim 1, further comprising:a linkage mechanism having a first end pivotably coupled to a moldboard upper portion, and a second end pivotably coupled to a wing blade upper portion;a first linear actuator selectively controllable for moving the wing blade in either an inward swing direction or an outward swing direction along a swing gate path whereby an outermost edge of the wing blade rotates about a generally vertical swing axis relative to the moldboard in a direction generally transverse to a fore-aft direction of the moldboard.

8. The work machine of claim 4, wherein the wing blade is further actuable by a second linear actuator and a second linkage mechanism pivotally coupled to a moldboard aft surface on a first end and pivotally coupled to a wing blade upper portion on second end, the second linear actuator selectively positioning the wing blade in a drop gate direction, the drop gate direction being the upper most edge of the wing blade rotating about drop mount connected to the moldboard aft surface in a direction of pitch to raise and lower the wing blade from the ground surface.

9. The work machine of claim 4, wherein the moldboard includes a stop fixedly coupled to a laterally outermost moldboard surface, wherein the stop is configured to prevent movement of the wing blade beyond an inward limit in the inward swing direction.

10. The work machine of claim 9, wherein the stop includes an arcuate shape configured to mate with the curvature of the moldboard.

11. The work machine of claim 1 further comprising an object detector for generating an object detection signal indicative of an object in the path of the wing blade as the ground-engaging mechanism moves the frame across the ground surface wherein the wing blade is positioned to move in one of the closed position, the open position, or a position in between based on the object detection signal.

12. The work machine of claim 1, wherein the processor is operable to execute the material management algorithm only when the moldboard is positioned in a damage avoidance range relative to the frame, wherein the damage avoidance range is at most 30 degrees from a default moldboard position.

13. The work machine of claim 4, wherein the wing blade is actuated by the first linear actuator in an inward swing direction to engage with a support surface of the first linkage mechanism prior to actuating a second linear actuator to pitch the wing blade upwards with a second linkage mechanism as the wing blade remains engaged with the support surface.

14. A moldboard assembly for a motor grader work machine, the moldboard assembly comprising:a moldboard coupled to the circle drive assembly, the moldboard configured to grade the ground surface;a sensor coupled to the moldboard, the sensor generating a signal indicative of the a heading;a wing blade pivotally coupled an end of the moldboard, the first wing blade actuated to move to an open position, a closed position, or to a position in between; anda controller in communication with the sensor, the controller including a processor and a memory having a material management algorithm stored thereon, wherein the processor is operable to execute the material management algorithm to receive the signal indicative of the heading and control the wing blade to move to the open position, the closed position, or the position in between based on the heading for directing the flow of moving material.

15. The moldboard assembly of claim 14, wherein each wing blade is actuable by a first linear actuator and a first linkage mechanism pivotally coupled to a moldboard upper portion on a first end and pivotally coupled to a wing blade upper portion on second end, the first linear actuator selectively positioning the wing blade in a swing gate direction.

16. The moldboard assembly of claim 15, wherein the swing gate direction comprises of the outermost edge of the wing blade rotating about a swing mount in a direction transverse to a fore-aft moldboard surfaces.

17. The moldboard assembly of claim 16, wherein the processor is operable to execute the material management algorithm to actuate the first linear actuator to rotate the wing blade about the swing mount in response to the signal indicative of the heading for the maintaining the current position of the wing blade in parallel with the heading.

18. The moldboard assembly of claim 14 further comprising:a linkage mechanism having a first end pivotably coupled to a moldboard upper portion, and a second end pivotably coupled to a wing blade upper portion;a first linear actuator selectively controllable for moving the wing blade in eitheran inward swing direction or an outward swing direction along a swing gate path, whereby an outermost edge of the wing blade rotates about a generally vertical swing axis relative to the moldboard in a direction generally transverse to a fore-aft direction of the moldboard.

19. The moldboard assembly of claim 14, wherein the wing blade is actuable by a second linear actuator and a second linkage mechanism pivotally coupled to a moldboard aft surface on a first end and pivotally coupled to a wing blade upper portion on second end, the second linear actuator selectively positioning the wing blade in a drop gate direction, the drop gate direction being the upper most edge of the wing blade rotating about drop mount connected to the moldboard aft surface in a direction of pitch to raise and lower the wing blade from the ground surface.

19. The moldboard assembly of claim 14, wherein the moldboard includes a stop fixedly coupled to a laterally outermost moldboard surface, wherein the stop is configured to prevent movement of the wing blade beyond an inward limit in the in the inward swing direction.

20. The moldboard assembly of claim 15, wherein the wing blade is actuated by the first linear actuator in an inward swing direction to engage with a support surface of the first linkage mechanism prior to actuating a second linear actuator to pitch the wing blade upwards as the wing blade remains engaged with the support surface.

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