Abstract: A plow assembly for vehicles, such as pickup trucks and tractors, or bulldozers or graders, for moving snow or other plowable materials has at least one extendable, forwardly pivotable plow wing which is pivotable at a hinge at one end of a main plow for movement between an aligned position and a forwardly angled position in which the plow wing front surface extends at an angle to the plow front surface. The plow wing includes an inner and outer portion, whereby the outer portion is slidably mounted to the inner portion for sliding movement along the inner portion between a retracted and an extended position. One or more actuators, such as fluid power cylinders or the like, are connected to the plow wing to move the wing between the retracted, extended, aligned and forwardly angled positions. In one preferred embodiment, an extendable plow wing is pivotally mounted on each end of the main plow with a pair of fluid cylinders connected to each of the respective plow wings.

Abstract: A plow assembly for vehicles such as pickup trucks and tractors for moving snow or other materials, as well as for bulldozers, graders and the like for excavating and grading dirt, sand, gravel or other plowable materials, has at least one extendable, forwardly pivotable plow wing which is extendable on one end of a main plow by sliding movement along the front of the plow between a retracted and an extended position. The plow wing is also pivotally mounted on a hinge for movement between an aligned position and a forwardly angled position in which the plow wing front surface extends at an angle to the plow front surface. At least one fluid power cylinder is connected to the plow wing to move the wing between the retracted, extended, aligned, and forwardly angled positions. In the preferred embodiment, an extendable plow wing is included on each end of the main plow with a pair of fluid cylinders connected to each of the respective plow wings.

Abstract: A concrete placing apparatus is provided for placing uncured concrete on a support surface, such as an elevated deck of a building. The apparatus comprises a movable base unit and a movable support unit, with a conduit assembly extending therebetween. A supply end of the conduit assembly is positioned at the base unit and is connected to a supply line for uncured concrete or other material, while a dispensing end of the conduit assembly is supported by the movable support and extends outwardly therefrom to dispense uncured concrete or other material through a discharge outlet. The movable support is movable arcuately and/or radially relative to the base unit to dispense the concrete in a generally uniform manner over a targeted area. The apparatus may further include a plowing and/or screeding device at the discharge outlet to grade, level, compact and smooth the concrete as it is placed.

Abstract: A plow support assembly provides support of a plow assembly when the plow assembly is disconnected from a vehicle. The support assembly includes a support foot and is operable to move the support foot to a lowered, support position whereby the support foot engages the ground or support surface. The support assembly includes a control device which is operable to limit the downward movement of the support foot in response to a signal indicative of the support foot engaging the support surface, such that movement of the support foot is stopped once the support foot contacts a support surface or ground. The signal may be provided by a switch which is operable to communicate the signal in response to detection of a threshold position of the support foot, engagement of the support foot with the support surface, or a threshold hydraulic fluid pressure within the actuator, respectively.

Abstract: A snow groomer includes a movable platform, a prime mover mounted to the platform and a grooming drum rotatably driven by the prime mover for rotation in a direction opposite the traveling direction of the snow groomer. The grooming drum includes axially spaced apart and radially protruding ribs that extend circumferentially around the drum. The ribs include circumferentially spaced apart apertures and the apertures of each rib are aligned with the apertures of the other ribs. Elongated cutting teeth extend through the apertures of the ribs and have a cross-sectional area that is smaller than the apertures such that the cutting teeth are free to vibrate within the apertures as the drum rotates, thereby enhancing the pulverization of chunks of snow and ice.

Abstract: A concrete placing machine includes a wheeled base unit and a concrete placing pipe assembly extending from the base unit. The base unit includes a lower wheeled portion and an upper swivel portion. An hydraulic swivel device is provided between an hydraulic pump at the upper swivel portion and hydraulically operated devices at the lower portion of the base unit, in order to facilitate communication of pressurized hydraulic fluid between the pump and hydraulic devices, while allowing 360 degrees of rotation of the upper swivel portion relative to the lower wheeled portion. The hydraulic swivel device further provides a passageway therethrough for a concrete connector pipe to connect the pipe assembly at the upper swivel portion to a supply pipe connected to the lower wheeled portion, whereby the upper swivel portion and the pipe assembly are also rotatable with respect to the lower wheeled portion and the supply pipe.

Abstract: A concrete placing apparatus is provided for placing uncured concrete on a support surface, such as an elevated deck of a building. The apparatus comprises a base unit and a movable support, with a conduit assembly extending therebetween. A supply end of the conduit assembly is positioned at the base unit and is connected to a supply line for uncured concrete or other material, while a dispensing end of the conduit assembly is supported by the movable support and extends outwardly therefrom to dispense uncured concrete or other material through a discharge outlet. The movable support is movable arcuately and/or radially relative to the base unit to dispense the concrete in a generally uniform manner over a targeted area. The apparatus may further include a screeding device at the discharge outlet to grade, level, compact and smooth the concrete as it is placed.

Abstract: A plow support assembly provides support of a plow assembly when the plow assembly is disconnected from a vehicle. The support assembly includes a support foot and is operable to move the support foot to a lowered, support position whereby the support foot engages the ground or support surface. The support assembly includes a control device which is operable to limit the downward movement of the support foot in response to a signal indicative of the support foot engaging the support surface, such that movement of the support foot is stopped once the support foot contacts a support surface or ground. The signal may be provided by a switch which is operable to communicate the signal in response to detection of a threshold position of the support foot, engagement of the support foot with the support surface, or a threshold hydraulic fluid pressure within the actuator, respectively.

Abstract: A hitch assembly provides removable connection of a plow assembly to a push beam assembly installed on a vehicle. The hitch assembly includes a draw latch assembly which engages the push beam assembly and pulls the plow assembly into position for pivotal attachment of the plow assembly to the vehicle. The draw latch assembly is activated by a power source, such as an hydraulic cylinder, and is further interconnected with a lift arm assembly such that further extension or activation of the hydraulic cylinder results in a raising or lowering of the plow blade. Also included is an easy connection and release mechanism for inserting and retracting pivot pins through corresponding brackets on the lift arm assembly and push beam assembly. A light tower assembly is removably attached to the push beam assembly such that when the plow is not in use, only the push beam assembly and its mounting brackets remain on the vehicle in a position below and rearward of a front bumper of the vehicle.

Abstract: A hitch assembly provides removable connection of a plow assembly to a push beam assembly installed on a vehicle. The hitch assembly includes a draw latch assembly which engages the push beam assembly and pulls the plow assembly into position for pivotal attachment of the plow assembly to the vehicle. The draw latch assembly is activated by a power source, such as an hydraulic cylinder, and is further interconnected with a lift arm assembly such that further extension or activation of the hydraulic cylinder results in a raising or lowering of the plow blade. Also included is an easy connection and release mechanism for inserting and retracting pivot pins through corresponding brackets on the lift arm assembly and push beam assembly. A light tower assembly is removably attached to the push beam assembly such that when the plow is not in use, only the push beam assembly and its mounting brackets remain on the vehicle in a position below and rearward of a front bumper of the vehicle.

Abstract: A plow assembly for vehicles such as pickup trucks and tractors for moving snow or other materials has at least one extendable, forwardly pivotable plow wing which is extendable on one end of a main plow by sliding movement along the front of the plow between a retracted and an extended position in which the plow wing is generally aligned with the plow front surface. The plow wing is also pivotally mounted on a hinge for movement between the extended position and a forwardly angled position in which the plow wing front surface extends at an angle to the plow front surface. A pair of fluid power cylinders are connected to the plow wing to move the wing between the retracted, extended and forwardly angled positions. In the preferred embodiment, an extendable plow wing is included on each end of the main plow with a pair of fluid cylinders connected to each of the respective plow wings.

Abstract: A quick hitch-unhitch attachment for mounting a snow working implement on a vehicle, comprising a vehicle mount attachment (VMA) frame secured to the vehicle, has a pair of spaced sockets which are positioned below and behind the vehicle bumper when mounted on the vehicle. A first pair of reaction bearing surfaces are aligned with and to the rear of the spaced sockets and a transverse latch bar means extends transversely of the sockets. An intermediate support frame has a rearward end with a pair of latching arms extending in a rearward direction and in general alignment with the sockets, respectively. Each latching arm has a further reaction bearing surface for bearing against respective ones of the first pair of reaction bearing surfaces. A support frame has a forward end attached to the snow working implement and a rearward end pivotally connected to the intermediate frame for rotation about a horizontal axis.

Abstract: A winged plow for moving snow or other materials with a vehicle has a support frame pivotally connected with one end of a plow vehicle. An elongated plow blade having two opposing ends is pivotally connected with the terminal end of the support frame for generally horizontal rotation between a centered position with the plow blade oriented generally perpendicular to the support frame and an angled position with the plow blade rotated substantially away from the centered position. One of a pair of plow blade wings is pivotally connected at each of the opposing ends of the plow blade for rotation between a closed position in which the wings project generally forward, the wings and plow blade defining a generally U-shaped assembly, and an open position in which the wings project in generally opposite directions, away from each other, effectively extending the length of the plow blade.

Abstract: A deflection indicating adjustable highway straight-edge. The highway straight-edge is designed to effectively level wet concrete by allowing the user to determine when the device is not straight and provides the user with a means of controlled adjustment for straightening.In the preferred embodiment, a laser light beam and electronic sensing device is used to detect deflection of the straight-edge. Undesirable deflection can be eliminated through the external adjustment of steel tension cables inside the straight-edge tube. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, deflection is detected by means of an electrically conducting wire having contact points to indicate that the straight-edge requires adjustment. In another embodiment, a steel wire or string line stretched tightly inside the straight-edge tube indicates deflection requiring adjustment.

Abstract: A guidance system and method for increasing the accuracy of laser guided machines such as screeds, graders, earth movers, floor saws and floor finishing machines. The system includes a laser beam receiver for sensing a laser reference beam provided off the machine. The laser receiver signals an electrical circuit when the laser beam is sensed in both centered and off-center regions. The electrical circuit operates a controller such as a solenoid operated fluid valve which controls a power source such as a fluid cylinder to move a machine element in one direction, such as raising a concrete screed, when the beam is sensed in the centered region, and in the other direction, such as lowering the screed, when the beam is sensed off-center. The method includes controlling the power source to continuously cycle the machine element between centered and off-centered regions to reduce the dead band, i.e., nonactive tolerance range, of the system.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for pivoting a screed assembly during screeding of placed and/or poured, uncured concrete or like loose, spreadable materials to maintain proper screeding contact by the screeding assembly with the concrete or like material by counteracting the force of concrete or other like material acting against the screed assembly as it is moved along the concrete. The apparatus includes a support, preferably of the self-propelled type, a boom and boom mount, and a pivot between the boom and the screed assembly. The axis of the pivot extends generally perpendicularly to the screeding direction in which the screed sassmblyis moved. A power source, such as a pair of fluid cylinders, rotates the screed about the pivot axis, preferably in response to an electro-hydraulic leveling sensor mounted on the screed. The lateral incline of the screed perpendicular to the screeding direction may be controlled about additional pivot axes orthogonal to the first.

Abstract: A hinged snowplow includes a T-shaped support frame for attachment to a vehicle, the support frame having a free end. A cowling having a pair of extending plow blades pivotally secured thereto, is pivotally secured to the free end so as to pivot in a generally vertical plane about the free end. The cowling has a first stop engageable with the support frame to limit pivotal movement of the cowling about the frame to a first or normal plowing position. A second stop on the cowling is engageable with the support frame to limit the pivotal movement of the cowling about the frame to a second or tipped position. A trip bias mechanism between the frame and the cowling biases the cowling and plow blades to the first position in which the blades are normally positioned for plowing. The cowling and blades are rotated against the trip bias mechanism toward the second, tipped position when the blades hit an obstacle.

Abstract: A self-propelled apparatus and method are disclosed for screeding placed and/or poured, uncured concrete or like loose, spreadable materials without use of prepositioned guides or rails. The apparatus includes a frame supported on hydraulically drive, steerable wheels, a cantilevered boom mounted on the frame, and a hydraulically driven, auger-type, vibratory screed either fixedly mounted or mounted for movement along the boom to spread and smooth the concrete as the screed is moved toward the vehicle. Screed control means are included for automatically adjusting the elevation of the screed relative to a laser beacon reference plane positioned off the apparatus such that the finished height of the concrete or other material is controlled within close tolerances. Preferably, the boom is rotatably mounted on the frame and also may be extended and retracted to properly position the screed and ease movement of the vehicle around fixed obstacles.