FOLDING WING PLOW

Abstract

The present invention relates to a snow plow assembly for a vehicle comprising a snow plow frame that is attachable to an associated vehicle. The snow plow blade is attachable to the snow plow frame and has a snow plow surface for use in plowing associated snow. An end gate is pivotally attached to at least one distal end of the snow plow blade. The end gate has a snow plow surface for use in plowing associated snow. A hydraulically operable adjustment mechanism is operatively attached to the snow plow blade and the end gate. The adjustment mechanism releasably secures the end gate in at least three different positions relative to the snow plow blade. A pivotally connected stop assembly means is operably attached to the snow plow blade and the end gate by a hydraulically operable adjustment mechanism.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to the field of excavating and more particularly to snow and ice removal using a detachable plow moldboard or blade having articulating wing extensions or end gates and a wheel protection system for limiting the rotation of the end gates depending on the plow orientation.

BACKGROUND

It is common practice to remove snow from streets, parking lots, and other vehicular travelled areas through the use of a vehicle mounted snow plow blade moveable to different angles to direct snow from the area in front of the vehicle to either or both sides of the vehicle.

Typically, snow plow blades are mounted to a vehicle transversely of the direction of travel. While plows are sometimes rear mounted, for example, on tractors, usually snow plow blades are mounted forwardly of the vehicle such as a front end loader so that a travel path is cleared for the plow vehicle as the operator removes the snow. Most snow plow blades are C-shaped in cross-section about a vertical plane containing the direction of travel. Each such plow thus follows a contour that is an arcuate section of a cylindrical shell.

The mounting structures for the above-described snow plows include rigid assemblies which position the plow blade at a selected orientation with respect to the direction of travel. Mounts may include hydraulic systems that operate to cant or angle the blade at various obtuse angles with respect to the direction of travel. Thus, an operator can tilt the blade over a variety of angles with respect to the direction of travel in order to direct materials gathered by the plow blade. Thus, the operator can direct the materials either to the left side of the vehicle or to the right side of the vehicle depending on how the blade is canted.

Snow plow blades may also be equipped with moveable wing extensions or end [swing] gates added to the distal ends of the snow plow blade to increase plowing effectiveness or change its performance. The end gates are adapted to provide a wide variety of blade configurations and angular dispositions of the end gates relative to the main plow blade. The end gates can typically pivot through 180 degrees such that each end gate can be positioned at 90 degrees to the main plow blade, either forwards or rearwards, or to an angle anywhere between.

The need for wider snow plows to be more efficient is growing because most areas used to transport heavy equipment are designed for narrow widths of approximately 11.5 feet (3.5 metres).

Snow plows with articulating end gates must be configured to prevent a rearward positioned end gate from contacting the tire of the vehicle when the plow blade is angled with and an end gate is positioned rearward the main blade.

The mechanical linkage stops used with some existing snow blades having end gates are nonadjustable, prone to buckling due to their length and can be difficult to set. Other methods include long struts and linkages that can be complex to set-up and easily bent.

The present disclosure provides an adjustable stop assembly by means of a hydraulic cylinder (per side) that allows multiple end gate positions, and that can be set from the vehicle. An adjustable rotating stop assembly allows the vehicle operator to set the end gate to precise positions as the environs to be plowed require.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, the disclosure provides a snow plow assembly for a vehicle comprising a snow plow frame that is attachable to an associated vehicle. The snow plow blade is attachable to the snow plow frame and has a snow plow surface for use in plowing associated snow, the snow plow blade comprising upper and lower edges and first and second ends. An end gate is pivotally attached to at least one distal end of the snow plow blade. The end gate has a snow plow surface for use in plowing associated snow. A hydraulically operable adjustment mechanism is operatively attached to the snow plow blade and the end gate. The adjustment mechanism releasably secures the end gate in at least three different positions relative to the snow plow blade. A pivotally connected stop assembly means is operably attached to the snow plow blade and the end gate. A hydraulically operable adjustment mechanism is operatively attached to the snow plow blade and the stop assembly means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An embodiment will now be described in detail by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of one end of the snow plow blade and end gate, illustrating the gate in a closed position.

FIG. 2A is a top view of the plow and gate of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2B is a top view of one end of the snow plow blade and end gate, illustrating the gate in full rearward position, known as fully open.

FIG. 3 is a top view of one end of the snow plow blade and end gate with the gate open to stop (stop assembly is in fully extended position).

FIG. 4 is a top view of one end of the snow plow blade and end gate with the gate open to stop (stop assembly is in second extended position).

FIG. 5 is a top view of one end of the snow plow blade and end gate, with the gate open to stop (stop assembly is in first extended position).

FIG. 6 is a top view of one end of the snow plow blade and end gate, with the gate open to stop (stop assembly is in standard position).

FIG. 7 is a top view of the main plow blade angled left, with the right gate open 90 degrees and the left gate open to a stop position.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the main plow blade angled left with both gates closed.

FIG. 9 is a top view of the main plow blade angled left, with gates open to full width.

FIG. 10 is a top view of the main plow blade angled right, with the left gate open 90 degrees and the right gate open to a stop position.

FIG. 11 is a top view of the main plow blade angled right, with both gates closed.

FIG. 12 is a top view of the main plow blade angled right, with both gates open to full width.

FIG. 13 is a top view of the main plow blade in a straight position (perpendicular to vehicle), with both gates closed.

FIG. 14 is a top view of the main plow blade in a straight position, with booth gates open to 180 degrees.

FIG. 15 is a top view of the main plow blade in a straight position, with the gates open to full width (aligned with main blade).

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the snow plow blade of the present disclosure in a straight position.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the snow plow blade of the present disclosure.in an angled position.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the snow plow blade of the present disclosure.in an angled position with a rearward opened end gate.

FIG. 19 is a close-up view of the stop lug assembly and the stop slide assembly in a first extended position.

FIG. 20 is a close-up view of the stop lug assembly is a close-up view of the stop lug assembly and the stop slide assembly in a full extended position.

FIG. 21 is a close-up view of the stop lug assembly is a close-up view of the stop lug assembly and the stop slide assembly in a second extended position.

FIG. 22 is a close-up view of the stop lug assembly is a close-up view of the stop lug assembly and the stop slide assembly in a standard position.

FIG. 23 is a close-up underside view of the stop lug assembly showing the lynch pins positioned through the adjustment pins.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The description, which follows, and the embodiments described therein, are provided by way of illustration of an example, or examples of particular embodiments of principles and aspects of the present invention. These examples are provided for the purposes of explanation, and not of limitation, of those principles and of the invention. In the description that follows, like parts are marked throughout the specification and the drawings with the same respective reference numerals.

Shown in FIG. 1 is one end of the main blade and end gate 1, illustrating the configuration of main hinge pins 2, a stop lug assembly 3, an upper hydraulic cylinder for articulating end gate 1, a hydraulic cylinder 4 for operating the stop assembly, stop assembly pin 5, adjustable side slide assembly 6, stop assembly adjustment pins 7, cylinder mount lugs 6 and cylinder mount pin 9.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the end gate 1 is in a fully closed position facing straight forward. The stop lug assembly 3 is pulled back and not needed with the plow in this position. With the plow in the straight forward position the end gate 1 should be allowed a full 180° of rotation and should not interfere with a tire.

Referring to FIG. 2B, end gate 1 is in a fully open position and abuts against the stop lug assembly 3. The compression of the piston in the upper hydraulic cylinder articulates end gate 1.

The stop lug assembly has a stop slide assembly disposed therein. The slide assembly position can be manually adjusted by means of removing two lynch pins from the bottom of the two slide adjustment pins, then pulling the two adjustment pins up and out of both the stop lug assembly and the slide assembly within. The slide assembly can then be manually pulled to another desired position within the stop lug assembly, by lining up corresponding holes and re-inserting the adjustment pins into different hole locations and in turn returning the lynch pins to the bottom of the adjustment pins.

The adjustable slide assembly enables the operator to further control the angle at which the end gate stops, the stop lug assembly holes are set to allow intervals of approximately 10 degrees.

FIG. 3 shows the plow main blade rotated to the right and the end gate 1 opened up to the stop lug assembly 3 in its fully extended position. The upper hydraulic cylinder used to rotate the end gate 1 supplies a pulling force bringing the end gate 1 in contact with the stop lug assembly 3. A hydraulic cylinder 4 is used to rotate the stop lug assembly 3. The hydraulic cylinder 4 is mounted to the main plow blade by two cylinder mount lugs 8 and a cylinder mount pin 9. The hydraulic cylinder 4 provides a pushing force transferring to the stop assembly pin 5 which in turn rotates the stop lug assembly 3 about the main hinge pin 2, interfering with and limiting the end gate 1 rotation, thereby providing protection for the tires on the vehicle.

FIG. 4 depicts the stop lug assembly 3 adjusted to the second extended position, allowing the end gate 1 to rotate farther. The stop lug assembly 3 is adjusted by removing the two stop assembly adjustment pins 7 and setting the adjustable slide assembly 6 to the desired position.

Shown in FIG. 5 is the stop lug assembly 3 set in its first extended position, allowing increased end gate 1 rotation.

FIG. 6 shows the stop lug assembly 3 in its standard position. This position allows the end gate 1 to rotate parallel to the machine, but no farther, thereby preventing interference with the tires.

FIGS. 7 to 23 show the snow plow of the present invention in various operating positions.

While the principles of the invention have been shown and described in connection with specific embodiments, it is to be understood that such embodiments are by way of example and are not limiting. As is evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the present invention are not limited by the particular details of the mobile stand illustrated in the drawings. Other modifications and applications, or equivalents, will occur to those skilled in the art.

By way of example only, changes that can be made to this above described embodiment without differing from the principle of the invention would include, cylinder size and geometry (4), plate thickness and hardness (1,3,6,8), cylinder connection points (4), boss sizes (1,3,8), pin sizes (2,5,7,9), size of end gate (1), size of plow moldboard and stop lug geometry (3,6). Control valves, proximity sensors and stroke sensors can also vary.

The terms “having”, “comprising” and “including” and similar terms as used in the foregoing specification are used in the sense of “optional” or “may include” and not as “required”. Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the present construction will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the specification and attached drawings. All such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims that follow. The scope of the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the full scope consistent with the claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically so stated, but rather one or more.

Claims

1. A snow plow assembly for a vehicle comprising:

a snow plow frame that is attachable to an associated vehicle;

a snow plow blade that is attachable to the snow plow frame and that has a snow plow surface for use in plowing associated snow, the snow plow blade comprising upper and lower edges and first and second ends;

an end gate pivotally attached to at least one distal end of the snow plow blade and that has a snow plow surface for use in plowing associated snow;

a hydraulically operable adjustment mechanism that is operatively attached to the snow plow blade and the end gate, the adjustment mechanism releasably secures the end gate in at least three different positions relative to the snow plow blade;

a pivotally connected stop assembly means that is operably attached to the snow plow blade and the end gate by a hydraulically operable adjustment mechanism.