CA3025237A1

CA3025237A1 - Folding wing plow

Info

Publication number: CA3025237A1
Application number: CA3025237A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Chase Budrow; Mark Stairs; Tony Pelkey; Benjamin Craig; Bradley Hallet
Original assignee: Craig Manufacturing Ltd
Current assignee: Craig Manufacturing Ltd
Priority date: 2018-11-26
Filing date: 2018-11-26
Publication date: 2020-05-26

Abstract

A snow plow assembly is provided 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. A stop assembly lug, releasably secures a stop assembly strut in at least two 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 cam follower mechanism. .

Description

FOLDING WING PLOW
TECHNICAL FIELD
[001] 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

[002] 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.

[003] 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.

[004] 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.

[005] 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.

[006] 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).

[007] 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.

[008] 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.

[009] The present disclosure provides a stop assembly by means of a cam-follower (per side). An adjustable rotating stop assembly allows the vehicle operator to set the end gate to precise positions as the environs to be plowed require, without the concern of the plow contacting the machine.
SUMMARY

[0010] 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 cam-follower mechanism is operatively attached to the snow plow blade and the end gate. The mechanism releasably secures the end gate in at least two 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 cam-follower mechanism is operatively attached to the snow plow blade and the stop assembly means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] An embodiment will now be described in detail by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0012] Figure 1 is an isometric view of one end of the snow plow blade and end gate, illustrating the gate in a closed position.

[0013] Figure 2A is a top view of the plow and gate of Figure 1.

[0014] Figure 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.

[0015] Figure 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).

[0016] Figure 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).

[0017] FIG. 5 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.

[0018] FIG. 6 is a top view of the main plow blade angled left with both gates closed.

[0019] FIG. 7 is a top view of the main plow blade angled left, with gates open to full width.

[0020] FIG. 8 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.

[0021] FIG. 9 is a top view of the main plow blade angled right, with both gates closed.

[0022] FIG. 10 is a top view of the main plow blade angled right, with both gates open to full width.

[0023] FIG. 11 is a top view of the main plow blade in a straight position (perpendicular to vehicle), with both gates closed.

[0024] FIG. 12 is a top view of the main plow blade in a straight position, with booth gates open to 180 degrees.

[0025] FIG. 13 is a top view of the main plow blade in a straight position, with the gates open to full width (aligned with main blade).

[0026] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the snow plow blade of the present disclosure in a straight position.

[0027] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the snow plow blade of the present disclosure in an angled position.

[0028] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the snow plow blade of the present disclosure in an angled position with both gates parallel to the machine.

[0029] FIG. 17 is a close - up view of the stop assembly lug and the strut assembly in a first fully extended position.

[0030] FIG. 18 is a close - up view of the stop assembly lug and the strut assembly in a second fully extended position.

[0031] FIG. 19 is a close-up view of the stop assembly lug and the strut assembly in the first fully extended position, with the top plate of the stop assembly lug hidden from view to display the 2 positions in the strut assembly.

[0032] FIG. 20 is a close-up view of the stop assembly lug and the strut assembly in in an unactuated position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] The description, which follows, and the embodiments described therein, is 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.

[0034] Shown in Figure. 1 is one end of the main blade and end gate 1, illustrating the configuration of main hinge pins 2, a stop assembly lug 3, an upper hydraulic cylinder for articulating end gate 1, a strut assembly for actuating the stop assembly, stop assembly pin 5, stop assembly guide roller/lug 6, stop cam plate 7, and stop cam follower 8.

[0035] Referring to Figures 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 1800 of rotation and should not interfere with a tire.

[0036] Referring to Figure 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.

[0037] The stop assembly lug is attached to a stop assembly strut. The stop assembly strut position can be manually adjusted by means of removing the retaining bolt from the bottom of the stop assembly lug pin, then pulling the pin up and out of both the stop assembly lug, and the stop assembly strut within. The stop assembly lug can then be manually pulled to another desired position on the stop assembly strut, by lining up corresponding holes and reinserting the adjustment pin into a different hole location and in turn returning the retaining bolt to the bottom of the adjustment pin.

[0038] The multiple positions in the stop assembly strut enables the operator to further control the angle at which the end gate stops, the stop assembly lug holes are set to allow intervals of approximately 10 degrees.

[0039] Figure 3 shows the plow main blade rotated to the right and the end gate 1 opened up to the stop assembly lug 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 assembly lug 3. A stop assembly strut 4, stop assembly guide roller/lug 6, stop cam follower 8, and stop cam plate 7, are used to rotate the stop assembly lug 3. The stop assembly strut 4 is retained on the plow main blade by a stop assembly guide roller/lug 6. The stop assembly strut 4 provides a pushing force, as the stop cam follower 8 moves along the stop cam plate 7, rotating about the stop assembly guide roller/lug, force is transferred to the stop assembly pin 5 which in turn rotates the stop assembly lug 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.

[0040] Figure 4 depicts the stop assembly lug 3 adjusted to the second extended position, limiting the end gate 1 from rotating to the position viewed in FIG.3. The stop assembly lug 3 is adjusted by removing the stop assembly pin 5, and setting the stop assembly lug 6 to the desired position.

[0041] Figures 5 to 20 show the snow plow of the present invention in various operating positions

[0042] 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.

[0043] 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, strut and cam plate geometry (4, 7), plate thickness and hardness (1, 3, 4, 7), strut retention points (4), boss sizes (1, 3), pin sizes (2, 5, 6), size of end gate (1), size of plow moldboard and stop lug geometry (3). Control valves can also vary.

[0044] 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 a stop assembly lug, the stop assembly lug releasably secures a stop assembly strut in at least two 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 cam-follower mechanism.