Excavating – Snow or ice removing or grooming by portable device – Scraper blade
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-01
2001-06-26
Battson, Victor (Department: 3671)
Excavating
Snow or ice removing or grooming by portable device
Scraper blade
C172S791000, C172S786000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06249992
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a side wing blade assembly for a snow plow vehicle and, more particularly, to a side wing blade assembly for use on a motor grader for plowing snow.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Side wing blade assemblies are extensively used on snow plow vehicles. A typical side wing blade arrangement includes an elongated curved blade and an articulated attachment system for mounting the blade to the vehicle. Typically, a mounting system comprises a coupling for connecting the front end of the blade to a vehicle, and an articulated hanger unit for connecting the rear end of the blade to the vehicle chassis and also for tilting the wing between a plowing position and a retracted position. In the plowing position, the blade extends at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle engaging the road surface, while in the retracted position it is lifted up and extends generally parallel and close to the vehicle cabin.
Many different mounting systems have been tried over the years with changes from steel cables running over sheaves or pulleys to a variety of hydraulic cylinder systems. One such hydraulic cylinder actuated system is shown in Farrell U.S. Pat. No. 4,045,892. This includes a pair of generally vertical posts mounted on the side of the vehicle on which the front and rear of the side wing blade are attached. Not only are the posts intrusive, but with this design, when the blade is in the retracted position, it seriously interferes with the visibility of the vehicle driver.
The assembly shown in Canadian Patent 1,212,540 represents one attempt at solving the problem of obstructed vision. This still utilizes vertical post arrangements for connecting the front end and rear end of the blade to the vehicle. However, the mounting arranging on the vertical posts has been changed such that the blade in retracted position sits at a lower angle to avoid obstructing view of the vehicle driver.
In Thorneloe, U.S. Pat. No. 4,969,280 there is described a side wing assembly having a rear mounting arrangement which permits a controlled blade deflection to reduce the risk of damage to the snow plow or to the side wing assembly itself, when the blade hits an obstacle. This is accomplished by a fluid ram with stops limiting the amount of movement.
Raines et al. Canadian Patent 1,082,545 describes a retractable snow plow wing which does not use a vertical post for the rear attachment assembly. Instead, a telescopic arm is used which can be fixed at different lengths. The raising and lowering of the arm and rear end of the blade is accomplished by way of a hydraulic cylinder. A coil compression spring is utilized in association with the telescopic arm to absorb shock. The design of this patent is another one which seriously obstructs the view of the vehicle driver when the blade is in the retracted position.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved form of side wing plow assembly having a novel form of front mounting for the blade.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved form of rear mounting for the blade which includes a novel shock absorbing linkage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention in its broadest aspect relates to a side wing plow assembly for use on a vehicle comprising an elongated blade, an articulated forward connector assembly for connecting the inner end of the blade to the vehicle and a rear connector assembly for connecting the outer end of the blade to the vehicle rearwardly of the vehicle cab. The articulated forward connector assembly includes a generally vertical inner plate member for attachment to the vehicle frame and a generally vertical outer plate member laterally spaced from the inner vertical plate. A transverse plate member is pivotally connected to the lower regions of the inner and outer plate members. An upper hydraulic cylinder is connected between upper regions of the inner and outer plate members and a lower hydraulic cylinder is connected between an upper region of the inner plate member and a lower region of the outer plate member. The upper cylinder is adapted to tilt the outer plate member and blade, while the lower cylinder is adapted to raise and lower the outer plate member and the blade. A blade support plate is hinged to the outer plate member by means of a vertical hinge, with the blade being connected to the support plate by means of a horizontal pivot pin which allows the blade to swing up and down relative to the support plate. The rear connector assembly includes a telescopic arm pivotally connected at its inner end to the vehicle and pivotally connected at its outer end to the outer end of the blade. This arm includes a hydraulic cylinder for extending and retracting the arm. A further hydraulic cylinder is pivotally connected between the vehicle and an upwardly extending bracket on the telescopic arm, this further hydraulic cylinder being adapted to raise and lower the outer end of the blade.
Preferably the hydraulic cylinder connected between the vehicle and the telescopic arm is connected to the upwardly extending bracket by way of a loose link in the form of a short pivot arm between the bracket and the end of the hydraulic cylinder. This pivot arm is adapted to lie in generally axial alignment with the hydraulic cylinder under normal operation and to swing upwardly into a generally vertical position when the blade encounters an obstacle. This allows the outer end of the blade to jump as much as 32 inches when it hits an obstacle.
The blade connector assemblies of this invention provide a number of advantages. For instance, by using the upper cylinder for tilting the outer plate member, the tilt of the blade can easily be changed. Furthermore, the forward connector assembly is capable of raising the front of the blade without blocking any vision to the side.
In the rear connector assembly, the loose link arrangement is limited in its movement thereby additional pressure can be applied if the blade shows a tendency to jump over hard snow drifts.
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patent: 2524329 (1950-10-01), Richardson
patent: 2750688 (1956-06-01), Grabow
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patent: 3241254 (1966-03-01), Ulrich
patent: 3720010 (1973-03-01), Coates
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patent: 4077139 (1978-03-01), Fagervold et al.
patent: 4096652 (1978-06-01), Raines et al.
patent: 4357766 (1982-11-01), Croteau et al.
patent: 4596081 (1986-06-01), DeBilly et al.
patent: 4744159 (1988-05-01), Houle
patent: 4969280 (1990-11-01), Thorneloe
patent: 5031343 (1991-07-01), Houle et al.
patent: 5048207 (1991-09-01), Verseef
patent: 1082454 (1980-07-01), None
patent: 1212540 (1986-10-01), None
Furber Kenneth Lawrence
Irving Colin Edwin
Irving Donald Edwin
Nickel James Randolph
Battson Victor
Capital I Industries Inc.
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