Abstract: Snowplow equipment is described which is adapted to be mounted to a road vehicle wherein composite materials are used in the construction of all load bearing structural components of the equipment. Each component is lightweight and has inherent damping characteristics to reduce the transmission of road surface vibrations to the vehicle and to reduce power consumption. Essentially, each component is formed of a sandwich construction of wood and of laminates of glass fibers and resin.

Abstract: A plow blade comprising a forward facing longitudinally curved major portion and a minor blade resiliently and pivotally mounted on the major portion and being disposed between the major portion and the surface to which the plow is applied. Also included in the preferred embodiment is a `reversing` cylinder which is selectably operable to apply a force to urge the minor blade into a selectably rearward angle without inhibiting the resilient movement of the lower portion to respond to surface obstacles by deflecting into a further rearward position. Also provided of the present invention are selectable intermediate minor blade positions, such as perpendicular to the surface, to facilitate removal of residual surface material, e.g. packed snow and ice. Alternate embodiments include a retrofit kit applicable to existing plows to provide the features of the present invention.

Abstract: An attachment for a forklift truck to facilitate the removal or clearing of snow or other materials and debris with the truck, including a frame having two rectangular elongated tubes adapted to receive the tines of the forklift, a plurality of transversely extending crossbars connecting said tubes together, ground-engaging members attached to each tube, a plow blade pivotally attached to the frame, and a shear pin assembly connected between the blade and the frame preventing uneven ground and/or obstructions on the ground from damaging the blade.

Abstract: A groomer attachment for forklift vehicles includes an elongated rigid member having a top and a bottom. A pair of spaced-apart fork receiving pockets are connected to the rigid member. A flexible blade extends from the bottom of the rigid member. Preferably the rigid member has a front and a rear. The attachment then has a pair of spaced-apart flexible blades extending from the bottom of the rigid member, a first blade being adjacent the front thereof and a second blade being adjacent the rear thereof. The rigid member may be channel-shaped.

Abstract: A deformable plow operates off of at least one hydraulic cylinder that extends from a post on the plow frame to a guide bar positioned along the upper edge of a plastic or deformable moldboard.

Abstract: A wear pad assembly for the bottom of a large machine operated device has a number of wear pads, each of which has a number of sections which are compressed and sandwiched together. The sections have an inclined front surface to assist in scooping debris or snow from a floor surface or a street. The sections are mounted in a frame which has a top plate, a pair of end plates which are perpendicular to the top plate, and a pair of rods which extend between the end plates and are parallel each other and to the top plate. The sections may include fabric reinforced rubber, molded rubber, polyurethane, or a combination of these materials.

Abstract: A plow blade assembly including a moldboard, displaceable trip cutting edge connected to the moldboard, a moldboard receiving surface attached to the backside of the moldboard, a trip cutting edge contact surface attached to the backside of the trip blade, and a spring for urging the trip blade into a forward position. The trip cutting edge mechanism, located at the bottom edge of the moldboard, holds the trip cutting edge rigid for plowing but will allow it to give way upon contact with any solid object. The braking mechanism provides a large surface area which protects the trip blade mechanism from damage when the trip blade "bottoms out.

Abstract: A rotary broom is mounted on the front of a vehicle, such as a tractor. The broom can be pivotally raised and lowered as well as pivoted sideways. The broom is rotatably mounted in bearing blocks which are removably supported by a generally C-shaped frame so that the broom can be removed easily for repair or replacement. A hinged hood is located above the broom and can be open for easy access to the broom. The broom is rotated by a central drive located in a middle portion of the broom so that no drive components extend beyond the sides of the frame, to eliminate interference with curbs and the like. The bearing blocks are mounted on extensions below the frame also to reduce possible interference. The broom assembly also has a hydraulic ram with a floating piston which enables the broom to contact the surface being cleaned with less pressure, causing substantially less wear on the broom bristles.

Abstract: The invention consists of a plurality of separate pieces that may be fastened together to create a portable automobile snowplow. Each of the parts is folded in a specified fashion in order to define a particular portion of the snowplow. Then, by means of tabs and slots or other suitable fastening means, the parts may be affixed together. For simplified storage, the parts may be sized in a manner to permit them to be nested within each other.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hand held, readily portable power sweeping tool. The tool includes an elongate boom having a power generation means disposed at one end thereof and a power sweeping means disposed at the other end. Power transmission means extends between the power generation means and the power sweeping means for transmitting power generated by the power generation means to the sweeping means. The sweeping means comprises a pair of drums mounted for rotation by the power transmission means, the drums including a plurality of pliant fins extending radially outwardly therefrom.

Abstract: A secondary snow removal structure is attached to the back of a primary snow removal device. The secondary structure includes a plurality of individual fingers positioned and arranged to extend below the level of the lower edge of the primary snow removal device for engagement with the surface being cleaned. A separate spring biasing means is provided for each finger for independently extending each finger to follow uneven portions of the surface being cleaned and thereby loosen and remove residual snow and ice compacted and left by the primary device.

Abstract: A snow plow assembly has a frame with a rear portion adapted for attachment to a motor vehicle and a blade assembly adapted for rotation about a vertical axis with respect to the front portion of the frame. Two ends of a chain are attached to the blade assembly on either side of the vertical axis. The middle section of the chain can slide in a track (e.g. an arcuate tube) attached to the frame. The yaw angle of the blade is adjustably controlled by sliding the chain with respect to the track. Means are also provided for adjustably securing the chain to the track after the desired angle for the blade has been obtained. In addition, the blade assembly can include means for permitting rotation of said blade about a horizontal axis. In this embodiment, two lever arms extend upward from the blade assembly on opposite sides of the vertical axis. The upper end of each lever arm is attached to one end of the chain.

Abstract: A plow is constructed of a curved high density polyethylene moldboard and frame assembly. The moldboard can be constructed with a mounting collar that slides over and grips the frame or with the frame molded into and encapsulated by the polyethylene. A scraper blade is attached to the bottom of the frame for increasing the moldboard's ridigity and/or securing the moldboard to the frame.

Abstract: A plow assembly useful for moving material from surfaces such as roadways in various selectable discharge directions includes a moldboard assembly and pivotable frame. The moldboard assembly is capable of being oriented in a right side discharge or a left side discharge in response to pivoting movement of the pivotable frame. A tripping mechanism is included to prevent damage of the plow assembly from obstacles located on the plowing surface. A cutting edge of the plow assembly is secured to the moldboard assembly by a wedge mechanism thus allowing quick cutting edge replacement.

Abstract: An offal scraper is provided for motorized farm implements and includes a rigid deck, skirt and resilient scraping element which form a cup shaped scraper for containing and pushing offal. The deck has a semicircular shape including a curved rear edge and a substantially flat upper mounting surface. The skirt drapes downwardly from the curved rear edge and provides a curvilinear mounting surface to which the scraper element is affixed. The scraper element takes the shape of the curved mounting surface and can be moved along a supporting floor surface in a squeegee type fashion. A second scraper element can be affixed to the front edge of the deck providing a second scraping action. Various attachment structures can be affixed to the upper mounting surface on the deck.

Abstract: To the front of the snow removing vehicle, a snow plow having a variable curved surface is mounted. The curved surface of the plow is varied by use of universal joints and telescopic cylinders. The curved surface of the plow is varied according to the snow removal conditions.

Abstract: A snow sweeper roller is mountable on a streetcleaning vehicle so that it is suspended and is vertically swingable and rotatable about a horizontal longitudinal shaft capable of being set oblique to the lengthwise direction of the vehicle on its under side. To avoid damage to a curb-end bearing of the sweeper roller, the bearing is provided with a guard on the outside of which has a forward cone converging towards the axis of the bearing shaft. The guard is mounted centrically rotatable on a cover of the bearing of the sweeper roller.

Abstract: A snowthrower (10) having an improved impeller (20). Impeller (20) preferably includes a central rotating shaft (34) which fixedly supports at either end thereof an end member (46) and rotatably supports proximate its center a center bracket (48) wherein elements (46) and (48) support one or more one-piece flexible curved paddles (36). In operation, when rotating impeller (20) encounters a foreign object (70), shaft (34) and end members (46) continue to turn while center bracket (48) rotates to some degree on shaft (34) to allow the center sections (38) of paddles (36) to twist and flex relative to shaft (34) and end members (46), thereby permitting center sections (38) of paddles (36) to easily ride up and over obstruction (70). This minimizes the shock associated with impact of the rotating impeller (20) with obstruction (70), and prevents stalling of the prime mover (18) of snowthrower (10).

Abstract: An auger in a self-propelled snow removing machine including a running mechanism drivable by an engine, and a snow blower for discharging snow collected by the auger, comprises an auger cover disposed on a front portion of the snow removing machine, an auger output shaft disposed transversely in the auger cover and drivable by the engine, and at least one blade mounted on the auger output shaft and having an outer peripheral edge forming a substantially continuous helix around the auger output shaft. The blade comprises a plurality of mutually separate fins having outer peripheral edges jointly forming the helix and made of a resilient steel material.

Abstract: An apparatus for working the surfaces (4) of traffic areas (5) comprises a oll (16) rotatably drivable about a substantially horizontally extending axis (17), this roll carrying along its periphery working elements acting on the surface (4) to be treated. The roll (16) is supported with respect to the frame (1) of the apparatus by adjustable servo members (21) and is additionally tiltable about an axis that is perpendicular to the axis of rotation (17) of the roll (16) and is oriented essentially horizontally. Furthermore, a rotary brush (101) is disclosed for the working of traffic areas and for removing layers from the surface, exhibiting a brush core (102) with working elements attached to the latter.

Abstract: An auxiliary road wiper plow for a motor vehicle is provided and consists of an arm member pivotally connected at one end to underside of an auxiliary frame member which is mounted to underside of frame of the motor vehicle forward of a wheel. A road engageable member is connected to other end of the arm member and positioned at a 45.degree. angle thereto. A road engageable member is connected to other end of the arm member at a 45.degree. angle thereto. A mechanism is also provided for lowering and raising the road engageable member so that it can be selectively engageable with road surface beneath the motor vehicle in front of the wheel for removing snow and water therefrom.

Abstract: The apparatus for clearing a trafficked surface such as a road, express highway and airport runway of snow, slush, water, dirt and the like comprises a framework in which two rotatable drums are mounted and around which a conveyor belt for the material to be cleared movable transverse to the direction of travel or inclined in the operating location is guided. The conveyor belt is movable into a position inclined at an acute angle with respect to the normal of the trafficked surface. One of two strands of the conveyor belt is contactable on the trafficked surface while the other oppositely movable strand of the conveyor belt is liftable from the trafficked surface.

Abstract: An attachment scraper assembly for clearing offal and the like from barns. A bracket assembly is connected to a scraper element that is formed from a vehicle tire. To affix the scraper assembly to the bucket of a front end loader, the operator inserts the lower wall of the bucket under an elevated, downwardly facing and rearwardly, downwardly sloping support surface of the bracket assembly. The scraper assembly will be firmly suspended between the support surface and a rear edge of the scraper element when the bucket is raised. The scraper assembly may thus be attached to, and detached from, a bucket without requiring the operator to dismount the front end loader.

Abstract: A scraper for use with a two point bucket hitch of a tractor. The scraper provides a resiliently deformable blade depending below a rigid blade so that the deformable blade might be independently used by regulating blade height above a surface. The scraper has a primary medial blade member with pivotally connected lateral wing blade members on each side, which may be independently moved. The lateral wings releasably carry inwardly projecting tines to releasably engage and support coherent masses of material such as baled hay. A releasably attachable bottom pan converts the blade structure to a bucket. The scraper is particularly adapted to move animal excrement over flat surfaces of agricultural structures for accumulation and remove it therefrom for disposition.

Abstract: An improved single stage snowthrower (2) includes an open front portion (14) having a rotatable impeller (30) contained therein. Impeller (30) contains at least one outwardly extending paddle (32) having a complex curved shape. Paddle (32) includes a central snowthrowing section (34) which is curved forwardly from its midpoint to each side thereof to be concave with this central section (34) extending over at least the middle 50 percent of the entire paddle's length. Two end sections (36) fill out the remaining length of paddle (32) and are shaped to function as augers for moving a relatively small volume of snow inwardly onto the central snowthrowing section (34). Improved impeller (30) can be used with an inverted funnel-shaped collecting chamber (22) located in the rear wall (18) of front portion (14) of snowthrower (2). Collecting chamber (22) is sized and shaped to approximate the size and shape of the inwardly tapered stream which is thrown off central section (34).

Abstract: The sweeping brush of the machine is composed of two or more parts in order to maintain a constant pressure of the sweeping brush against the ground, to achieve faster clearance of the snow, and to avoid downtime for adjustments. These brush parts are swivellable relative to one another in a vertical plane. The common raising and lowering movement of the individual parts is controlled by a cylinder-piston unit, and the piston acting upon the brush parts is always impinged upon by a pressure opposite to the direction of movement. The individual brush parts may be connected to one another by torsion bars.

Abstract: A ski run snow preparation apparatus having a snow-contacting blade which flexes laterally to provide an arcuate snow-contacting surface. The blade is pivotally mounted to a frame which is adapted to be secured upon the towing mechanism of a suitable tracked vehicle. Also mounted upon the frame is a remotely controllable mechanism, including a pair of hydraulic motors, to adjust the tilt of the snow-contacting blade in relation to the snow surface. The blade may operate under its own weight and that of the towing mechanism, or may be forceably pressed into the snow, as by vehicle mounted hydraulic motors provided to raise and lower the towing mechanism.

Abstract: An improved single stage snowthrower (2) includes an open front portion (14) having a rotatable impeller (30) contained therein. Impeller (30) contains at least one outwardly extending paddle (32) having a complex curved shape. Paddle (32) includes a central snowthrowing section (34) which is curved forwardly from its midpoint to each side thereof to be concave with this central section (34) extending over at least the middle 50 percent of the entire paddle's length. Two end sections (36) fill out the remaining length of paddle (32) and are shaped to function as augers for moving a relatively small volume of snow inwardly onto the central snowthrowing section (34). Improved impeller (30) can be used with an inverted funnel-shaped collecting chamber (22) located in the rear wall (18) of front portion (14) of snowthrower (2). Collecting chamber (22) is sized and shaped to approximate the size and shape of the inwardly tapered stream which is thrown off central section (34).

Abstract: A snow plow is provided comprising a steel member having a mold board at its lower end. A snow plow blade extends below the mold board. The snow plow blade comprises a sheet of lightweight material, preferably urethane. This sheet is resistant to corrosion from moisture and salt and to road abrasion. The sheet has a front surface and a back surface, each of which extends from the top of the sheet to the bottom of the sheet to define the thickness of the blade. The thickness is relatively constant. The bottom of the blade is defined by a relatively straight edge for better snow removal. A steel reinforcing bar is mounted in a groove in either the front or the back surface of the sheet. Bolt means mount the steel bar to the sheet and also to the plow.

Abstract: The clearing appliance has a number of clearing elements (4) mounted so that they can rotate on a support beam (3). The clearing elements are arranged one after the other in a line and are offset transversely with respect to one another. The axes of rotation of the clearing elements (4) are angled in relation to the appliance longitudinal axis and the clearing elements (4) are tilted relative to the horizontal plane. Each clearing element (4) is concave in shape, and the concave side points downwards and forwards and comprises an outer ring (17) made of elastic material in the form of a truck tire cut in half perpendicular to its axis of rotation.

Abstract: A hand operated snow thrower has an impeller with blade mounts that allow the blades to be easily removed, yet effectively retained with the blade mount. The impeller includes a rigid rotor that is rotatably driven by the snow thrower. The rotor has three blade mounts, each blade mount having a blade supporting surface. The blade supporting surface has an inner edge and an outer edge. A retainer extends over the inner edge of the supporting surface to define a channel. A slot extends from the supporting surface rearwardly into the rotor. The flexible blade that is mounted to the impeller has a flange that is received within the slot. The blade has an inner edge that is received within the channel.

Abstract: A snow removal bar for the snow removal plate of a snow plow consists of a rubber or plastic element which is reinforced with steel plates on both sides thereof, and which has an upper edge mounted on the lower edge of the snow removal plate with screws. Hard material elements, preferably metal or corundum, are embedded in the rubber or plastic element.

Abstract: An improved single stage snowthrower (2) includes an open front portion (14) having a rotatable impeller (30) contained therein. Impeller (30) contains at least one outwardly extending paddle (32) having a complex curved shape. Paddle (32) includes a central snowthrowing section (34) which is curved forwardly from its midpoint to each side thereof to be concave with this central section (34) extending over at least the middle 50 percent of the entire paddle's length. Two end sections (36) fill out the remaining length of paddle (32) and are shaped to function as augers for moving a relatively small volume of snow inwardly onto the central snowthrowing section (34). Improved impeller (30) can be used with an inverted funnel-shaped collecting chamber (22) located in the rear wall (18) of front portion (14) of snowthrower (2). Collecting chamber (22) is sized and shaped to approximate the size and shape of the inwardly tapered stream which is thrown off central section (34).