Vehicle mountable plow

Abstract

A plow apparatus is disclosed for mounting on a mobile base, and includes a mount for mounting to a mobile base, a plow having a moldboard having an upper boundary, a plow support assembly mounted on the mount and configured to support the plow on the mount, and a plow adjustment assembly configured to adjust an orientation of the plow. The plow support assembly may be mounted to the plow toward the upper boundary of the plow. The plow adjustment assembly may comprise a tilt assembly that is configured to adjust a tilt orientation of the plow about a longitudinal substantially horizontal axis of the plow. The fluid actuation assembly may be configured to provide fluid to the plow adjustment assembly to orient the plow with respect to the mount, and the fluid actuation assembly is configured to utilize a gas to adjust the orientation of the plow.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The present disclosure relates to vehicle-mountable plows and more particularly pertains to a new vehicle mountable plow having enhanced weight and performance characteristics.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Plows or blades that are mountable on a vehicle have been utilized to push materials such as snow, dirt, gravel, and similar materials. However, the known plow systems have suffered from a number of disadvantages or drawbacks. For example, the plow systems have been relatively heavy, and this factor can restrict the size of the vehicles on which the systems can be used, so only larger vehicles can use such systems and the performance of the vehicle may be affected.

Another drawback has been the vulnerability to damage when immovable objects on the ground are struck by the plow, which has led to the use of spring-release systems and bulkier structures to resist damage, which again leads to heavier system weights.

The vehicle mountable plow according to the present disclosure substantially departs from the conventional concepts and the designs of the known prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of having decreasing weight and enhancing performance.

SUMMARY

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of vehicle mountable plows now present in the prior art, the present disclosure describes a new vehicle mountable plow which may be utilized for enhanced weight and performance characteristics.

The present disclosure relates to a plow apparatus for mounting on a mobile base that includes a mount for mounting to a mobile base, a plow having a moldboard having an upper boundary, a lower boundary, and opposite ends, a plow support assembly mounted on the mount and configured to support the plow on the mount; and a plow adjustment assembly configured to adjust an orientation of the plow. The plow support assembly may be mounted to the plow toward the upper boundary of the plow.

In another aspect of the disclosure, a plow apparatus for mounting on a mobile base includes a mount for mounting to a mobile base, an elongate plow having opposite longitudinal ends, a plow support assembly mounted on the mount and configured to support the plow on the mount, and a plow adjustment assembly configured to adjust an orientation of the plow. The plow adjustment assembly may comprise a tilt assembly configured to adjust a tilt orientation of the plow about a longitudinal substantially horizontal axis of the plow.

In still another aspect, a plow apparatus for mounting on a mobile base that includes a mount for mounting to a mobile base, a plow, a plow support assembly configured to support the plow on the mount, a plow adjustment assembly configured to adjust an orientation of the plow, and a fluid actuation assembly configured to provide fluid to the plow adjustment assembly to orient the plow with respect to the mount. The fluid actuation assembly is configured to utilize a gas to adjust the orientation of the plow.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, some of the more important elements of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional elements of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment or implementation in greater detail, it is to be understood that the scope of the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and implementations and is thus capable of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present disclosure. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

The advantages of the various embodiments of the present invention, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the invention, are disclosed in the following descriptive matter and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will be better understood and when consideration is given to the drawings and the detailed description which follows. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a new vehicle mountable plow apparatus according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a schematic right side view of the plow apparatus, according to an illustrative embodiment, with the plow in a forward position.

FIG. 3 is a schematic right side view of the plow apparatus with the plow tilted partially rearward.

FIG. 4 is a schematic right side view of the plow apparatus with the plow tilted rearward.

FIG. 5 is a schematic left side view of the plow apparatus, according to an illustrative embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic rear side view of the plow apparatus, according to an illustrative embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagrammatic view of the plow adjustment assembly and fluid actuation assembly, according to an illustrative embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 7 thereof, a new vehicle mountable plow embodying the principles and concepts of the disclosed subject matter will be described.

A plow apparatus 10 of the disclosure is suitable for mounting on a mobile base, which may be a vehicle motorize or non-motorized, such as an automobile, truck, all terrain vehicle, utility vehicle, tractor and other vehicles and even mobile bases that are not motorized.

In general, the plow apparatus 10 may include a mount 12 for mounting to a mobile base, a plow 14, a plow support assembly 16 configured to support the plow on the mount, a plow adjustment assembly 18 configured to adjust an orientation of the plow, and a fluid actuation assembly 20 configured to provide fluid to the plow adjustment assembly to orient the plow with respect to the mount.

In greater detail, the mount 12 may comprise a mounting assembly configured to removably mount on a receiver on a vehicle or other mobile base, although it will be realized that other types of mounting structures may also be employed. The mounting assembly 12 may comprise a base portion 22 for mounting on the mobile base and an upper portion 24 mounted on the base portion 22.

The base portion 22 of the mounting assembly 12 may in turn include a receiver mount 26 for removably coupling to a hitch receiver on the mobile base, and a base member 28. The receiver mount 26 may extend rearwardly from the base member 28 and may terminate in a free end that is suitable for insertion in the receiver of a hitch. This feature of the apparatus 10 permits a highly versatile style of mounting, as many vehicles are adaptable to include a receiver hitch mount of the type compatible with the receiver mount 26. This style of mounting also typically permits mount and dismount to be accomplished with the insertion and withdrawal of a pin extending through the receiver mount 26 and the receiver hitch. The receiver mount 26 may include a tube member 30 and a flange member 32 that is mounted on the tube member. The flange member 32 may be located toward a forward end of the tube member, and may include a pair of laterally-spaced ears 34.

In various embodiments of the apparatus 10, the position of the base member 28 with respect to the receiver mount 26 is adjustable, and may be vertically adjustable with respect to the receiver mount when the receiver mount is oriented for normal mounting on a hitch receiver. The base member 28 may include a plurality of mounting holes that provide different mounting locations for the base member on the receiver mount. The upper portion 24 may be mounted on the base portion 22 and may extend upwardly from the base portion. The upper portion 24 may provide a mounting point for various elements of the plow apparatus described elsewhere in this disclosure.

The plow 14 of the plow apparatus 10 provides the primary surfaces for engaging materials that are to be moved by the apparatus. The plow 14 may comprise a plow assembly. The plow assembly 14 may comprise a moldboard 36 that has an upper boundary 38, a lower boundary 40, and opposite ends 42, 43. The moldboard 36 has a front 44 and a rear 48. The front 44 may have a concave front surface for receiving and guiding the material to be moved by the plow apparatus 10. In greater detail, the moldboard 36 may comprise a plow frame 48, a skin 50 mounted on the plow frame, and a cutting edge 52 positioned adjacent to the lower boundary 40 of the moldboard. The cutting edge 52 may be mounted on the plow frame 48.

The plow 14 may further comprise an upper attachment structure 54 that is mounted on the moldboard 36, and the structure 54 may be mounted on the plow frame 48 toward the upper boundary 38 of the moldboard. The plow 14 may also include a lower attachment structure 56 mounted on the moldboard 36. The lower attachment structure 56 may be mounted on the plow frame 48, and may be located closer to the lower boundary 40 of the moldboard 36 than the upper attachment structure 54. In some embodiments, the upper 54 and lower 56 attachment structures are located on an upper half of the moldboard 36 adjacent to the upper boundary 38, and in other embodiments the upper 54 and lower 56 attachment structures are located on an upper quarter of the moldboard 36.

The plow support assembly 16, which may be utilized to support the plow 14 on the mount 12 and thus may be mounted on the mount, may also be pivotable with respect to the mount, and may be pivotable about a substantially horizontal axis with respect to the mount. Additionally, the plow 14 may be mounted on the plow support assembly 16, and also may be pivotable with respect to the plow support assembly, and may pivot about a horizontal axis.

The plow support assembly 16 may be mounted to the plow 14 toward the upper boundary 38 of the plow, and the plow support assembly is preferably mounted to the plow at a location that is closer to the upper boundary than the lower boundary 40 of the plow, and is most preferably (although not critically) mounted on the plow adjacent to the upper boundary. The mounting of the plow support assembly 16 toward the upper boundary 38 of the plow 14 can provide significant benefits. This character of mounting permits the plow 14 to be tilted about an axis that is relatively high with respect to the ground surface when the cutting edge 52 is rested on the ground surface.

In conventional plows, common practice is to employ a tilt axis that is relatively close to the ground, and when the moldboard hits an unmovable object on the ground the plow tips forward to allow the snowplow to pass over the object. However, if the object is taller than the height of the tilt axis, it is possible that damage will occur to the plow unit or vehicle at the weakest point. In contrast, in the plow apparatus 10 utilizing the relatively high position of the connection between the plow 14 and the plow support assembly 16, the plow 14 has an increased ability to allow the moldboard to trip over a relatively taller object without causing damage to the plow. Further, a larger area is created behind the moldboard 36 to accumulate material being plowed when back dragging the plow without crowding the support assembly 16. Also, the lower boundary 40 of the moldboard 36 may be angled rearwardly to reduce drag when the vehicle on which the plow apparatus 10 is mounted is driven down the road. Still further, the ground clearance of the support assembly 16 is enhanced when the plow 14 is moved over curbs and other obstacles.

The plow support assembly 16 may comprise a main member 58 that extends forwardly from the mount 12. The main member 58 has a forward end 60 and a rearward end 62, and the rearward end 62 may be mounted on the mount 12 and the forward end 60 may be mounted on the plow 14. The rearward end 62 is preferably pivotally mounted on the mount, and may be pivotable about a substantially horizontal axis. The plow 14 may be pivotable with respect to the forward end 60 of the main member 58, and the plow may be pivotable about a substantially horizontal axis with respect to the main member 58.

A secondary member 64 may be included in the plow support assembly 16, and may be mounted on the main member 58. The secondary member 64 may be pivotable with respect to the main member, and may pivot about a substantially vertical axis. The secondary member 64 may be mounted to the plow 14, and may be mounted thereto in a pivotable manner so that the secondary member is pivotable about a substantially horizontal axis. The secondary member 64 may extend generally transverse to the main member 58. The secondary member has opposite ends 66, 67, and each of the opposite ends may be pivotally mounted on the plow.

The plow adjustment assembly 18 may provide a degree of adjustment to the orientation of the plow 14. The plow adjustment assembly 18 may be configured to utilize a fluid to adjust the orientation of the plow, and most preferably the fluid has a degree of compressibility, and comprises a gas. In many suitable embodiments, the gas is environmental air that has been suitably filtered (e.g., dried) prior to introduction into the system.

The plow adjustment assembly 18 may include one or more assemblies that adjust various aspects of the orientation of the plow 14. In various embodiments of the plow apparatus 10, the plow adjustment assembly includes a lift assembly 70 that is configured to adjust a height orientation of the plow 14 above, for example, the ground surface on which the mobile base rests. The lift assembly 70 may act between the mount 12 and the plow support assembly 16, and accordingly the lift assembly 70 may be mounted on the mount and on the plow support assembly. The lift assembly 70 may comprise a mounting 72 mounted on the mount 12 and a mounting 73 mounted on the plow support assembly. The lift assembly 70 may also include an extendible and contractible apparatus 74 that is mounted on the mounting 72 on the mount and the mounting 73 on the plow support apparatus. The extendible and contractible apparatus 74 may be extendable to move the mounting 72 and the mounting 73 away from each other, to thereby cause the plow to lower or move closer to the ground surface. The extendible and contractible apparatus 74 may be contractible to move the mounting 72 and the mounting 73 toward each other, to thereby cause the plow to raise or move away from the ground surface.

The plow adjustment assembly 18 may also include a tilt assembly 76 that is configured to adjust an orientation of the plow about a transverse axis which may be a substantially horizontal axis. The tilt assembly 76 may act between the plow support assembly 16 and the plow 14, and thus may be mounted on the plow support assembly and the plow. The tilt assembly 76 may include a mounting 78 mounted on the plow support assembly and a mounting 79 mounted on the plow. The mounting 79 on the plow 14 may be mounted on the upper attachment structure 54 of the plow. The tilt assembly may further include an extendible and contractible apparatus 80 mounted on the mounting 78 on the plow support assembly and the mounting 79 on the plow. The extendible and contractible apparatus 80 may be extendable to move the mounting 78 on the plow support assembly and the mounting 79 on the plow away from each other to, for example, tilt the plow 14 forward so that the cutting edge 52 moves in a rearward direction. The extendible and contractible apparatus 80 may be contractible to move the mounting 78 and the mounting 79 toward each other to, for example, tilt the plow 14 backward so that the cutting edge 52 moves in a forward direction.

Significantly, the ability to adjust the tilt of the plow 14 permits the user to adjust the angle of attack of the plow with respect to the ground surface, and the angle of the cutting edge 52 contacting the surface. The user may adjust the tilt, and thus the angle of attack for different conditions, such as the condition of the material to be moved by the plow 14. For example, the plow 14 may be rolled back with the upper boundary 38 brought back toward the operator in the vehicle (bringing the cutting edge 52 forward) cut hard packed snow or ice off of a surface. This positioning may also be useful in backdragging the plow 14, which involves pushing the material with the rear 46 of the plow as the supporting vehicle is moved in a rearward direction. Also, the lower boundary 40 may be moved backwardly toward the vehicle to roll soft snow in a forward direction. This capability is in contrast to plows with a fixed angle of attack, which does not permit such adaptation to conditions.

In various embodiments, the plow adjustment assembly 18 may also include a pivot assembly 82 that is configured to adjust a yaw orientation of the plow 12 about, for example, a substantially vertical axis. The pivot assembly 82 may act between the main member 58 of the plow support assembly 16 and the secondary member 64 of the plow support assembly, and thus the pivot assembly 82 may be mounted on the main member 58 and the secondary member 64. The pivot assembly 82 may comprise a mounting 84 mounted on the main member 58 of the plow support assembly and a mounting 85 on the secondary member 64 of the plow support assembly. The pivot assembly 82 may also include an extendible and contractible apparatus 86 that mounted on the mounting 84 on the main member of the plow support assembly and the mounting 85 on the secondary member of the plow support assembly. The extendible and contractible apparatus 86 may be extendable to move the mounting 84 on the main member and the mounting 85 on the secondary member away from each other to, for example, pivot or rotate the plow 14 to the left. The extendible and contractible apparatus 86 may also be contractible to move the mounting 84 on the main member and the mounting 85 on the secondary member toward each other to, for example, pivot the plow 14 to the right.

The respective extendible and contractible apparatus 74, 80, and 86 may be gas actuated, and may be double acting. In various embodiments of the plow apparatus 10, the extendible and contractible apparatus 74, 80, 86 may each comprise a piston and cylinder device.

The plow apparatus 10 may also include a fluid actuation assembly 88 that is configured to provide fluid to the plow adjustment assembly 18 to orient the plow 14 with respect to the mount 12. Although any suitable fluid may be employed to actuate the extendible and contractible apparatus of the plow adjustment assembly 18, it is preferable that a gas, and in most cases environmental air, is employed as the working fluid. This approach has the benefit of reducing the weight of the apparatus 10, as the weight of the fluid is basically eliminated.

Also, the compressibility of a gas provides a degree of spring that is not present with relatively incompressible fluids such as liquids, and this spring character provides some forgiveness in the plow adjustment assembly 18 when, for example, an immovable object is struck by the plow. Also, the ability of the extensible and contractible apparatus to absorb a degree of shock or impact may allow for the use of lighter weight materials than would otherwise be possible, since the materials are protected in some measure from impacts and shocks than would require heavier materials to resist.

The compressibility of the air also allows the extensible and contractible apparatus to be biased so that when reduced resistance is encountered, the apparatus is able to move further in the biased direction without further fluid needed to be added to the apparatus. For example, the extensible and contractible apparatus 74 of the lift assembly may be provided with a sufficient amount of compressed air so that the apparatus 74 pushes the plow 14 against the ground surface, and is able to press the plow 14 further downwardly if the ground surface should drop relative to the position of the plow apparatus 10. The use of air as a working fluid also makes the use of double acting piston and cylinders more practical, and the need for return springs is eliminated.

In some embodiments, the fluid actuation assembly 88 is mounted on the mount 12, and may be located on the upper portion 24 of the mounting assembly. The fluid actuation assembly 88 may include a fluid tank 90 for holding the fluid, such as a gas, for use by the elements of the plow adjustment assembly 18, and may be configured to hold the gas in a compressed condition. Significantly, in various embodiments of the apparatus 10, the fluid tank 90 may be formed by the main member 58 of the plow support assembly 16.

The fluid actuation assembly 88 may further include a fluid pump 92 for pumping fluid into the fluid tank 90. In some embodiments, the working fluid of the apparatus 10 comprises a gas, and the fluid pump 92 comprises a compressor that pumps compressed gas into the fluid tank. The fluid pump 92 may be mounted on the upper portion 24 of the mount 12. The fluid actuation assembly 88 may also include a valve apparatus 94 configured to direct fluid or gas from the fluid tank 90 to selected ones of the extensible and contractible apparatus 74, 80, 86. The valve apparatus 94 may be mounted on the upper portion 24 of the mount 12.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art in light of the foregoing disclosure, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosed subject matter to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to that fall within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A plow apparatus for mounting on a mobile base, comprising:

a mount for mounting to a mobile base;

a plow having a moldboard having an upper boundary, a lower boundary, and opposite ends;

a plow support assembly mounted on the mount and configured to support the plow on the mount; and

a plow adjustment assembly configured to adjust an orientation of the plow;

wherein the plow support assembly comprises upper and lower attachment structures, which are both mounted closer to the upper boundary than the lower boundary, wherein the lower attachment structure is mounted to the plow at a vertical location that is at least partially lower than the upper attachment structure, providing a tilt mechanism with relative movement of the upper and lower attachment structures about respective pivots.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the upper an lower attachment structures are located entirely above a midpoint between the upper and lower boundaries of the plow.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the moldboard of the plow has a width between the upper boundary and the lower boundary, and distances between the upper boundary and the locations of the mounting of the upper and lower attachment structures to the plow are less than approximately half one-quarter of the width of the moldboard.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plow adjustment assembly is located at a vertical level higher than the plow.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 where the plow adjustment assembly further comprises a tilt assembly configured to adjust a tilt orientation of the plow about a transverse substantially horizontal axis about which the plow tilts with respect to the plow support assembly.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the tilt assembly of the plow adjustment assembly is configured to utilize a gas to adjust the tilt orientation of the plow such that the tilt assembly acts as a spring that absorbs shocks to the plow.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the plow adjustment assembly further includes a pivot assembly configured to adjust a yaw orientation of the plow; and

wherein the plow adjustment assembly further includes a lift assembly configured to adjust a height orientation of the plow above the ground surface.

8. A plow apparatus for mounting on a mobile base, comprising:

a mount for mounting to the mobile base;

an elongate plow having upper and lower boundaries and opposite longitudinal ends;

a plow support assembly mounted on the mount and configured to support the plow on the mount, the plow support assembly comprising upper and lower attachment structures, which are both mounted closer to the upper boundary than the lower boundary, wherein the lower attachment structure is mounted to the plow at a vertical location that is at least partially lower than the upper attachment structure, providing a tilt mechanism with relative movement of the upper and lower attachment structures about respective pivots;

a plow adjustment assembly configured to adjust an orientation of the plow and comprising a tilt assembly configured to adjust a tilt orientation of the plow about a longitudinal substantially horizontal axis of the plow through at least one of the upper or lower attachment structures.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the tilt assembly of the plow adjustment assembly is configured to utilize a gas to adjust the tilt orientation of the plow such that the tilt assembly acts as a spring that absorbs shocks to the plow.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the plow support assembly includes a main member pivotally linking the plow to the mount, a main member forming a tank configured to hold a quantity of compressed gas.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the plow adjustment assembly further includes a pivot assembly configured to adjust a yaw orientation of the plow.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the plow adjustment assembly further includes a lift assembly configured to adjust a height orientation of the plow above the ground surface.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the plow support assembly is mounted to the plow toward an upper boundary of the plow.

14. A plow apparatus for mounting on a mobile base, comprising:

a mount for mounting to the mobile base;

a plow comprising upper and lower boundaries;

a plow support assembly configured to support the plow on the mount and comprising upper and lower attachment structures, which are both mounted closer to the upper boundary than the lower boundary, wherein the lower attachment structure is mounted to the plow at a vertical location that is at least partially lower than the upper attachment structure, providing a tilt mechanism with relative movement of the upper and lower attachment structures about respective pivots;

a plow adjustment assembly configured to adjust an orientation of the plow; and

a fluid actuation assembly configured to provide fluid to the plow adjustment assembly to orient the plow with respect to the mount;

wherein the fluid actuation assembly is configured to utilize a gas to adjust the orientation of the plow.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the plow adjustment assembly comprises:

a lift assembly configured to adjust a height orientation of the plow above the ground surface;

a tilt assembly configured to adjust an orientation of the plow about a substantially horizontal longitudinal axis; and

a pivot assembly configured to adjust a yaw orientation of the plow.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the plow support assembly includes a main member pivotally linking the plow to the mount, the main member forming a tank configured to hold a quantity of compressed gas.