The present invention relates generally to material handling equipment, and more particularly to a plow with a hitch mechanism configured to be easily and quickly coupled to a vehicle and the plow including independently moveable wings.
It is known that plows, for example snow plows, are bolted to supports which are typically welded to the chassis of a vehicle, for example a truck. It is also known that a plow support can be bolted to the chassis of a vehicle. Since plows typically weigh hundreds of pounds, positioning the plow for attachment to the vehicle can be difficult. It is particularly difficult to maneuver a snow plow in the cold and snow of winter.
It is also known to provide a plow with wings. Typically, the wings move in a horizontal direction to extend the width of the plow working width. It is also known to provide a plow wings that move in response to a pivoting movement of the central plow. In some cases the movement of the wing is facilitated by linkage such as cables, coupled to the wing and central plow such that that the wing moves in response to the central plow movement.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a plow hitch mounting mechanism which is easy to maintain and that the process of connecting and disconnecting the plow to or from the vehicle is simple and easy to use by one person without assistance. It is also desirable to provide a plow including wings that move independently of the main or central plow.
The apparatus of the present disclosure must also be of construction which is both durable and long lasting, and it should also require little or no maintenance to be provided by the user throughout its operating lifetime. In order to enhance the market appeal of the apparatus of the present disclosure, it should also be of inexpensive construction to thereby afford it the broadest possible market. Finally, all of the aforesaid advantages should be achieved without incurring any substantial relative disadvantage.
The disadvantages and limitations of the background art discussed above are overcome by the present invention.
There is provided a snow plow including an articulated wing blade. The snow plow includes a hitch frame nose assembly configured to couple to a vehicle. The hitch frame nose assembly includes a chassis coupler at each end of a hitch frame tube with each chassis coupler including a traverse pin. Each of the chassis couplers are configured to attach to a vehicle chassis. A plow frame is included with the plow frame having a front portion and a rear portion. A central plow blade is coupled to the front portion of the plow frame. The central plow blade includes a first and a second end, with each central plow blade end including a wing blade. Each wing blade is configured to selectively move independently of the central plow blade from a first position to a second position about a vertical axis parallel with each of the first and second ends of the central plow blade. A lift bar assembly is coupled to the rear portion of the plow frame. The lift bar assembly includes a pair of notched members with each notched member aligned with a corresponding chassis coupler of the hitch frame nose assembly. Each of the notched members is configured to engage the traverse pin in each of the chassis couplers, wherein the snow plow is pivotally coupled to the vehicle. In another embodiment, the snow plow is configured wherein each wing blade is moveable more than 90 degrees about the respective vertical axis.
There is also provided a plow including a quick connect/disconnect hitch coupled to a plow frame. The plow includes a central plow blade which couples to the plow frame. The central plow blade has a first end and a second end. A wing blade is coupled to each of the first and second ends of the central plow blade. Each wing blade is configured to independently pivot, from a first position to a second position more than 90 degrees relative to the central plow blade, about a vertical axis parallel with the end of the central plow blade. In one embodiment, the wing blade, in the first position, is longitudinally aligned with the central plow blade in a straight line. The plow may include an actuator mechanism coupled to the central plow blade and at least one of the wing blades. The actuator mechanism moves the wing blade to one of the first and second position independent of the position of the central plow blade.
The apparatus of the present disclosure is of a construction which is both durable and long lasting, and which will require little or no maintenance to be provided by the user throughout its operating lifetime. The apparatus of the present disclosure is also of inexpensive construction to enhance its market appeal and to thereby afford it the broadest possible market. Finally, all of the aforesaid advantages and objectives are achieved without incurring any substantial relative disadvantage.
These and other advantages of the present invention are best understood with reference to the drawings, in which:
There is disclosed a snow plow 50 for mounting on a vehicle 60 with a quick connection/disconnect hitch 70 (more fully described below). The quick connect/disconnect hitch 70 facilitates the easy connection, i.e., without tools and disconnection of the snow plow 50 from the vehicle 60.
Referring to
Each chassis coupler 108 is a formed U-shaped channel with outward extending flanges. The flanges 110 are configured to provide a mounting surface for the chassis coupler 108 to facilitate coupling of the chassis coupler 108 to the vehicle chassis 60. Each flange 110 defines a plurality of apertures 112 to facilitate bolting of the chassis coupler 108 to the vehicle chassis 60. The apertures 112 may be configured as circles or slots. Each side 114 of each chassis coupler 108 further defines a pair of slots 116 extending longitudinally along and through each side 114 of the chassis coupler 108. The slots 116 facilitate the coupling of the hitch frame tube 102 to each of the chassis couplers 108 comprising the hitch frame nose assembly 100. Each chassis coupler 108 may be provided with slots 116 on each side 114 of the chassis coupler 108 to facilitate manufacturing and assembly by providing commonality of parts. Each chassis coupler 108 is also provided with an end-stop coupled to each of the flanges 110 proximate the front end 120 of the chassis coupler 108. The end-stop 118 assists in positioning the chassis coupler 108 on the vehicle chassis 60. Each chassis coupler 108 also defines a substantially V-shaped notch 122 to accommodate a lock hook pivot more fully described below. Each chassis coupler 108 also includes a traverse pin 124 which extends through both sides 114 of the chassis coupler 108. Traverse pin 124 is secured to the chassis coupler 108 by a nut threadingly fastened to the traverse pin 104. The nut may further be welded to the chassis coupler 108 to further secure the traverse pin 124. A portion 128 of the traverse pin extends beyond the side 114 of the chassis coupler 108 and is configured to engage a locking hook more fully described below.
The lift bar assembly 130 includes a pair of lift bar support members 132 maintained in a spaced apart relationship and coupled to a lift bar approximate the top of each lift bar support member 132. A light bar brace 136 approximate the lower end of each lift bar support member 132 facilitates maintenance of the spaced apart relationship of the lift bar support member 132. A pair of lift bar lugs 138 are coupled to each lift bar support member 132 approximate the light bar brace 136. (Also see
Referring to
Each notch member 146 includes a pair of tapered side members 148 with each tapered side member 148 defining a notch 150. Each notch 150 is configured to engage the traverse pin 124 positioned between the two sides 114 of each chassis coupler 108. Each notch member 146 also includes a plate member 152 fastened to the top portion of each of the tapered side members 148, typically by welding a plate member 150 to each tapered side member 148. The plate member provides additional reinforcement for the notch member 146 and defines with the two tapered side members 148 an inverted U-shape assembly. With the notch member 146 engaged with the chassis coupler 108 the pivot for the quick connect/disconnect hitch 70 formed by the engagement of the notch 150 with the traverse pin 124 is enclosed within the two facing u-shaped assemblies.
Each notched member 146 further includes a locking hook 154 pivotally coupled to a hook pivot 156. The hook pivot 156 extends through each of the tapered side members 148 of each notch member 146. The locking hook 154 moves about the hook pivot 156 in response to movement of the hitch locking lever 158 as the hitch locking lever 158 moves about a lever pivot 160. The hitch locking lever 158 is coupled to the locking hook 154 by a lock linkage 162. The operation of the locking mechanism 144 will be explained below.
The orientation of the locking hook 154 and the notch member 146 is such that when the notch member 146 is inserted into the chassis coupler 108 the locking hook is positioned outside of the unshaped chassis coupler 108 and positioned to selectively engage the portion 128 of the traverse pin 124 that extends beyond the side 114 of the chassis coupler 108. It should be understood that there is a locking hook 154 on each of the notch members 146 which engages the traverse pin 124 extending beyond the side 114 of each of the chassis couplers 108 that are part of the hitch frame nose assembly 100. The locking hook 154 locks the lift bar assembly 130 to the hitch frame nose assembly 100.
Locking mechanism 144 also includes a lock support bracket 164 which is coupled to each of the lift bar support members 132. A preferred embodiment provides that a pair of lock support brackets 164 are coupled to each side of the corresponding lift bar support member 132. (
The operation of coupling the quick connect/disconnect hitch 70 to the vehicle chassis 60 will now be described with reference to
To complete the locking maneuver of the locking mechanism 144, the hitch locking lever 158 is moved to a second locked position 178 which forces the hitch locking lever 158 to move over center of the lever pivot 160 as illustrated in
As described above, the locking mechanism 144 includes a lock hook 154 on each side of the lift bar assembly 130 and are coupled together to simultaneously operate with movement of the hitch locking lever 158.
The lift bar assembly 130 is coupled to a plow frame 170. The lift bar assembly 130 is provided with a pair of lift bar lugs 138 coupled to the lift bar brace 136 and to each of the lock support brackets 164 on both sides of the lift bar assembly 130 (see
A plow frame 170 is configured substantially in the form of a letter A with the plow frame 170 including a front portion 175 and a rear portion 177. The plow frame 170 includes two side member 196, 198 which form the sides of the A-shape with a traverse brace tube 200 coupled to each of the side members 196, 198. The side members 196, 198 and the traverse brace tube 200 are conventional steel square tubing, however, it is contemplated that other cross-section configured tubes, for example circular or triangular, can be used. Coupled to the front portion 175 of the plow frame 170 is a swing frame pivot assembly 185. The swing frame pivot assembly includes a top plate 187 and a bottom plate 189. Each of the plates 187, 189 defines an orifice configured to receive a swing frame pivot pin 190. The swing frame pivot assembly 185 is further coupled to each of the side members 196, 198 of the plow frame 170 by a pair of side support brackets 192, 194 which are configured to couple to each of the top plate 187, the bottom plate 189 and one of the side members of the plow frame 170.
In one embodiment, a portion of the top plate 187 is bent downwardly at a 90 degree angle to extend the top plate 187 to the bottom plate 189 with that portion of the top plate configured to define an angled pocket to receive each of the side members 196, 198 of the plow frame 170. See
Coupled to the traverse brace tube 200 are lift cylinder mounts 206 and a pair of swing cylinder mounts 202 and 204. Lift cylinder mounts 206 are aligned to couple the lower end of the lift cylinder 142 which is coupled to the upper lift cylinder mount 140 on the lift bar 134.
Each of the side members 196, 198 of the plow frame 170 include an adjustment lug 172 at the rear portion 177 of the plow frame 170. Each adjustment lug 172 includes a plurality of orifices 179 aligned vertically and configured to receive a bolt 232 which will couple the plow frame 170 to the lift bar lugs 138 on the lift bar assembly 130. As best seen in
A swing frame 208 is pivotally coupled to the swing frame pivot assembly 184 of the plow frame 170 (see at least
The swing frame 208 includes a pivot 230 positioned in a center portion 214 of the swing frame tube 208. The pivot 230 couples to the swing frame pivot assembly 184 of the plow frame 170 with the swing frame pivot pin 190.
The swing frame tube 109 also supports a pair of swing cylinder mounts 236 mounted on the swing frame tube 209 with each swing cylinder mount 236 positioned between the center portion 214 of the swing frame tube 209 and one end 210, 212 of the swing frame tube 209. (See
The central plow blade 250 is coupled to the swing frame 208 pinning the plow blade to each of the trip spring brackets 240 at the blade pivot mount 226 on each of the trip spring brackets 220. A pivot pin is received in a pivot aperture 234 and is typically secured in place by a cotter pin (not shown). It is contemplated that other means of fastening the pivot pin can be used such as a bolt and nut.
Also coupled to the trip spring bracket 220 is a cushion trip plate 280. The cushion trip plate 280 is configured with a pair of oversize bolt apertures 240 to accommodate a socket or other tool for manipulating a cushion bolt 238 to secure a cushion block 228 to the cushion mount 222. The cushion block 228 is substantially a rectangular shaped block of polyurethane or other high density resilient material. The cushion block 228 is used to absorb the impact of the plow blade 250 (see
It is also contemplated that a back cushion (not shown) similar to the cushion block 228 can be coupled, for example by bolting, to a blade stop 282 at a lower end of each of the trip spring brackets 220. The back cushion is configured to ameliorate vibration and damage to the central plow blade 250 if the plow blade contacts an obstruction during operation.
The cushion block 228 is rectangular in shape and provides a relatively large area to distribute the force exerted upon the cushion block 228 when the blade 250 moves back to its trip return position by action of the return springs 284. The relatively large cushion bolt aperture 240 allows a user to easily access the cushion bolts 238 when servicing the cushion block. Servicing of the cushion block 228 can be accomplished, for example, replacing the cushion block without having to remove the central plow blade 250 from the swing frame 208. However, a slight forward rotation of the central plow blade 250 must be provided to remove the cushion block from between the cushion mount 222 and the cushion trip plate 280.
A wing wear strip 304 is coupled to a wing blade 300. A wing wear strip 306 is also coupled to the central plow blade 250. Each of the wing wear strip 304, 306 are configured with an angled facing portion that that meet in the front side when the wing blade 300 is in the second or folded position and meet in the back side when the wing blade 300 is in the first or straight position. (See
Referring now to
Referring to
Referring now to
As shown in
Referring now to
Each actuation mechanism 320 includes an actuation bracket coupled to the central plow blade 250 (see
Each of the wing blades 300 can be moved, by a user of the plow 50 independent of each other and independent of the central plow blade 250. In other words, the position of the wing blade 300 is not dependent upon the position of the central plow blade 250 or the other wing blade on the opposite end of the plow blade 250. In operation, the user of the plow 50 can configure the plow assembly 260 in any position suitable for the type of material such as snow and terrain in which the plow is being operated. One convenient configuration of the plow blades is to have each of the wing blades 300 move to their second position during movement of the plow and hitch to the worksite. It should also be understood that the wing blade can be fitted with a blade extension which would further extend the reach of the wing plow in a typical horizontal aspect.
As illustrated in
For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” means the joining of two components (electrical or mechanical) directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or moveable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two components (electrical or mechanical) and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or the two components and any additional member being attached to one another. Such adjoining may be permanent in nature or alternatively be removable or releasable in nature.
Although the foregoing description of a quick connect/disconnect hitch and a plow with independently moveable wings has been shown and described with reference to particular embodiments and applications thereof, it has been presented for purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the particular embodiments and applications disclosed. It will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art that a number of changes, modifications, variations, or alterations to the hitch or plow as described herein may be made, none of which depart from the spirit or scope of the present invention. The particular embodiments and applications were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such changes, modifications, variations, and alterations should therefore be seen as being within the scope of the present invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.
This patent application is related to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled “Snow Plow Jack Stand,” co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled “Removable And Storable Wings For A Snow Plow Blade And Snow Removal System Used Therewith,” co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled “Snow Plow Blade Including Nut Retaining Plate,” co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled “Plow Quick Connect/Disconnect Hitch Mechanism,” and co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled “V-Plow,” all of which patent applications were filed on Jun. 17, 2008, and all of which patent applications are assigned to the assignee of the present application, and all five of which patent applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.