ROADWAY CLEARING DEVICE

Abstract

A roadway clearing device includes a plurality of rotatable members for dislodging material (snow or ice) from a roadway and a conveyer disposed rearward of the rotatable members to collect and laterally discharge material from the roadway. The device may include a plurality of shovel members disposed rearward of the conveyor to divert material from the roadway to the conveyor for lateral discharge. The rotatable members and/or shovel members may be disposed for separate movement from corresponding downward positions to upward positions relative to an interconnected support frame. Spring-loaded, extensible members may be provided to bias the rotatable members and/or shovel members to their corresponding downward positions. The rotatable members and/or shovel members are supportably and pivotably interconnected to a common support frame so as to separately pivot upward relative to the support frame from their respective downward positions, facilitating dislodgement, diversion, collection and discharge of material from a roadway.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to the removal of material from a roadway, and more particularly, to a roadway clearing device for dislodging and removing snow, ice and combinations thereof from a roadway surface.

BACKGROUND

Roadway clearing devices are employed to clear a variety of materials located on roadways, including snow, ice and combinations thereof. In that regard, it is typical to utilize trucks and/or other heavy machinery (e.g., front-end loaders) equipped with plows, roller brushes or snow throwers to remove snow from a roadway. For example, a dump truck having a front-end plow or roller brush may be deployed on a roadway to push snow from a roadway to a roadway shoulder. However, in many instances plows, roller brushes and snow throwers cannot remove compacted snow/ice that has formed on a roadways because the compacted snow/ice becomes densely bonded to itself and the roadway surface. Further, increasing levels of traffic on roadways may exasperate the formation of compacted snow/ice because snow cannot be cleared from the roadway prior to traffic driving over the snow causing the snow to become more compacted and/or otherwise freeze in a compacted state.

Typically, compacted snow and ice removal has been addressed by the use of melting materials, such as salt, to help melt and/or otherwise loosen such compacted material from a roadway. In some circumstances, salt and/or sand is also spread on roadways to increase traction on snow/ice that has accumulated on roadway surfaces. However, the use of such materials has been associated with rust formation on vehicles and negative environmental impacts (e.g. water and air pollution). Further, sand only covers the already compacted snow/ice, which may insulate the compacted layer, thereby resulting in the compacted snow/ice remaining on the roadway longer than if no sand had been used.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of improved roadway clearing devices are disclosed herein.

In one embodiment, a roadway clearing device may include a plurality of rotatable members supportively disposed in a row at a front end of the device and rollable along a roadway to dislodge material from the roadway, and a conveyer disposed rearward of the plurality of rotatable members for collecting and laterally discharging material from the roadway. Additionally, the device may include a plurality of shovel members supportably disposed in another row rearward of the conveyer to divert material from the roadway to the conveyer for collection and lateral discharge.

In some implementations, each of the plurality of rotatable members may be disposed for separate movement away from corresponding downward positions (e.g. pivotal movement away from corresponding downward positions and forwardly away from the conveyor), and may each be separately biased to assume the corresponding downward position. In turn, the conveyer may be disposed to maintain an elevated position relative to at least a portion of each rotatable member of the plurality of rotatable members when the rotatable member is moved away from the corresponding downward position.

In contemplated embodiments, each of the plurality of rotatable members may be disposed to be separately pivotable about a common support axis and may be provided with a separate axle for rotation of the rotatable members about separate corresponding axle axes. For example, a center axis of each rotatable member may be co-aligned with a corresponding axle axis for the rotatable member.

In contemplated implementations, the device may include a frame, wherein for each rotatable member of the plurality of rotatable members, the device may further include a corresponding support member supportably and pivotably interconnected to the frame along a common support axis, with the corresponding axle supported by the support member, and a corresponding spring-loaded, extensible member supportably and pivotably interconnected to the corresponding support member for biasing the rotatable member toward the corresponding downward position. Additionally, for each rotatable member of the plurality of rotatable members the device may further include a corresponding vibration dampening member interposed at an interconnection between the corresponding support member and the frame.

In some implementations, each rotatable member of the plurality of rotatable members may be of a cylindrical configuration and may include a plurality of outwardly projecting teeth extending about and across the rotatable member for enhanced dislodgement of material from a roadway. Further, for each rotatable member the corresponding plurality of outwardly projecting teeth may each be of an inverted V-shaped configuration, thereby further facilitating penetration in to and dislodgement of material from a roadway. More particularly, the outwardly projecting teeth may penetrate and break free ice and/or compacted snow that has accumulated on the roadway.

In contemplated embodiments, the plurality of shovel members may be provided for separate movement away corresponding downward positions (e.g. pivotal movement away from corresponding downward positions and rearwardly away from the conveyor), and may each be separately biased to assume the corresponding downward position. In turn, the conveyer may be disposed to maintain an elevated position relative to at least a portion of each shovel member when the shovel member is pivoted away from the corresponding downward position.

In some implementations, each of the plurality of shovel members may be separately pivotable about a common first support axis. As noted, the device may include a frame, and in turn each of the plurality of shovel members may be supportably and pivotably interconnected to the frame along the common first support axis (e.g. pivotably interconnected to the frame at or near a top end of each shovel member). Additionally, for each of the plurality of shovel members, the device may further include a corresponding spring-loaded, extensible member supportably and pivotably interconnected to the frame along a common second support axis (e.g. pivotably interconnected to the frame at or near a top end of each extensible member), and pivotably interconnected to the corresponding shovel member (e.g. pivotably interconnected at or near a bottom end of each extensible member at or near a bottom end of the shovel member), for biasing the shovel member to the corresponding downward position. In one approach, the common second support axis may be provided at an elevated, rearward position relative to the common first support axis, thereby facilitating the application of the biasing forces by the extensible members and the rearward pivotal movement of the shovel members.

In some arrangements, each of the plurality of shovel members may be configured to define a corresponding arcuate, or concave, surface facing the conveyer and extending about a portion of the conveyor when the shovel member is located in the corresponding downward position. Further, each shovel member may be configured to include a tapered bottom end portion and a scraper blade connected thereto.

As noted, the device may comprise a frame, and in turn, the conveyer may comprise a screw conveyer having a rotatable shaft supportably and rotatably interconnected to the frame, and a helical flute interconnected to and extending about and along the rotatable shaft so as to direct material collected from a roadway along the shaft for sider discharge upon rotation of the shaft. In the later regard, the device may also include a drive device (e.g. a motor) operatively interconnected to the shaft of the screw conveyer for driven rotation of the shaft.

Embodiments further include at least one rotatable wheel disposed rearward of the plurality of shovel members at a rear end of the device for supporting the device via rollable engagement with and along a roadway surface. As noted, the device may include a frame, and in turn, for each rotatable wheel the device may include a corresponding support arm supportably interconnected to the frame, wherein the rotatable wheel is supportably and rotatably interconnected to the corresponding support arm.

Numerous additional features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the embodiment descriptions provided herein below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a roadway clearing device, illustrating schematic attachment to an automated vehicle for forward/rearward advancement.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, illustrating travel paths for material dislodged from a roadway and diverted for collection and lateral discharge.

FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a side view of an exemplary rotatable member, corresponding support member, and corresponding spring-loaded, extensible member of the embodiment of FIG. 1, illustrating pivotal movement of such components from a first, downward position to a second, upward position.

FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of the spring-loaded, extensible member shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, illustrating separate movement of each of a plurality of rotatable members over a roadway surface.

FIG. 8 is a back view of a conveyer of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a side view of an exemplary shovel member of the embodiment of FIG. 1, illustrating pivotal movement of the shovel member from a first, downward position to a second, upward position.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the shovel member shown in FIG. 9, illustrating pivotal movement of the shovel member to traverse an object located on a roadway.

FIG. 11 is a side view of the shovel member shown in FIG. 9, illustrating pivotal movement of the shovel member to traverse a surface discontinuity of a roadway.

The implementations disclosed herein are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings. Like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a roadway clearing device 100 interconnected to an automated vehicle 110. The roadway clearing device 100 may be provided for ready interconnection to and disconnection from the automated vehicle 110. When the roadway clearing device is interconnected to the automated vehicle 110, the automated vehicle 110 may advance the roadway clearing device 100 in forward and reverse directions along a roadway surface S, wherein the roadway clearing device 100 is operable to dislodge, divert, collect and discharge material (e.g. ice and/or snow) from the roadway.

Reference in now made to FIGS. 2 and 3, which illustrate a plurality of rotatable members 10 disposed in a row at a front end of the roadway clearing device 100 (e.g., eight rotatable members 10 shown in the illustrated embodiment). The rotatable members 10 are operable to break, fracture, and otherwise dislodge material (e.g. ice and/or snow) from a roadway. Further, the roadway clearing device 100 includes a conveyer 30 that is disposed rearward of the plurality of rotatable members 10. The conveyer 30 is operable to collect dislodged material and to discharge the material to the side of the roadway clearing device 100. The conveyer 30 may be rotated by a drive device 38 (e.g. a motor) to laterally discharge the material.

As shown in FIG. 3, the roadway clearing device 100 also includes a plurality of shovel members 50 (e.g. six shovel members 50 shown in the illustrated embodiment) disposed in a row at least partially rearward of the conveyer 30. The shovel members 50 are provided to scrape and/or otherwise divert material from a roadway surface S to the conveyer 30 for collection and side discharge.

With further reference to FIG. 1, a side cross-sectional view of the roadway clearing device 100 illustrates one of the plurality of rotatable members 10 for dislodging material from a roadway surface S, the conveyer 30 to collect and laterally discharge the material, and one of the plurality of shovel members 50 to divert material from the roadway surface S to the conveyer 30. The rotatable members 10, conveyer 30 and shovel members 50 may be supportably interconnected to a frame 5, and the frame 5 may be interconnected to and disconnected from the automated vehicle 110. The frame 5 disposes the rotatable members 10, conveyer 30 and shovel members 50 in co-relation to each other. In particular, in the illustrated embodiment, the frame 5 positions the conveyer 30 at an elevated position relative to the plurality of rotatable members 10 and the plurality of shovel members 50.

Turning again to FIG. 2, each of the rotatable members 10 may be interconnected to the frame 5 in a manner that allows for separate, movement relative to the frame 5. In the illustrated arrangement, each rotatable member 10 is supportably and pivotably interconnected to the frame 5 by a corresponding support member 12 and a corresponding extensible member 14. Each support member 12 enables the corresponding rotatable member 10 to move relative to the frame 5 so that the rotatable member 10 can move upward from and downward to a “home” downward position. Each extensible member 14 pivotably interconnects to a corresponding support member 12 at one end and to the frame 5 at another end along a common support axis, and acts to downwardly bias the corresponding support member 12 and therefore the corresponding rotatable member 10 to the downward position. In this regard, each extensible member 14 is operable to urge a corresponding rotatable member 10 toward a roadway surface so as to maintain contact with material on the roadway surface, while also allowing the rotatable member 10 to move upward against the bias force applied by the corresponding extensible member 14 in response to changes in the roadway profile (e.g. when passing over a bump, rock, etc.). In one approach, the extensible members 14 may be spring-loaded.

As shown in FIGS. 2-4, each support member 12 may include a corresponding pair of side support plates 13 positioned on opposing sides of a corresponding rotatable member 10. A corresponding axle 16 extends between each pair of support plates 13, and the rotatable member 10 is mounted on the axle 16 for rotation about a corresponding axle axis. As may be appreciated, each rotatable member 10 may rotate separately from other rotatable members 10 of the plurality of rotatable members 10. The rotatable members 10 may be of a cylindrical configuration, wherein a center axis of each rotatable member 10 may align with the axle axis of its corresponding axle 16.

As noted above, each support member 12 enables the corresponding rotatable member 10 to move relative to the frame 5 so that the rotatable member 10 can move upward from and downward to a downward position. In that regard, and with reference to FIG. 4, support plates 13 may be provided with corresponding pivotal attachment members 20 for pivotal interconnection to the frame 5 along a common support axis. For example, each of the pivotal attachment members 20 may be defined by a bushing/bearing/mount shaft arrangement that interfaces with a corresponding mount bracket 5a of frame 5, as shown in FIG. 3. In turn, each rotatable member 10 of the plurality of rotatable members 10 may pivot upward and downward relative to frame 5 and separately from other ones of the rotatable members 10.

Further, and with specific reference to FIG. 2, each support member 12 may include a corresponding mount 24 for pivotal interconnection to a corresponding extensible member 14. The mount 24 may include a crossbar 24a that is interconnected at opposing ends to and between each support plate 13 of the corresponding support member 12, and that pivotally attaches to the corresponding extensible member 14. In the later regard, each mount 24 may further include a bracket 24b fixedly interconnected to the corresponding crossbar 24a, wherein the bracket 24b may be pivotally interconnected to a first end of the corresponding extensible member 14 via a pivotal attachment member 24c, e.g. via a bushing/bearing/mount shaft arrangement.

In some embodiments, the components comprising each support member 12 may be fixedly interconnected, e.g. welded, via fasteners (e.g., bolts and nuts), a combination of these fastening mechanisms and/or the like. In that regard, the support member 12 may form a rigid structure for pivotally interconnecting the corresponding rotatable member 10 to the frame 5 at the corresponding pivotal attachment 20 and via the corresponding biasing mount 24 and pivotally interconnected, corresponding extensible member 14.

In the later regard, and as shown in FIG. 4, each extensible member 14 may comprise a second end that may be supportably and pivotally interconnected to the frame 5 along a common support axis by a corresponding pivotal attachment member 22, e.g. via a bushing/bearing/mount shaft arrangement. In turn, each pivotal attachment member 22 enables the corresponding extensible member 14 to pivot relative to the frame 5, separate from pivotal movement of other ones of the extensible members 14. As may be appreciated, the combination of pivotal attachment members 20, 22 and 24c facilitates upward and downward movement of a corresponding support member 12 and rotatable member 10.

In some arrangements, vibration dampening members (e.g. elastomeric members) may be interposed between each support member 12 and one or more of the corresponding, pivotal interconnections to frame 5.

Reference is now made to FIG. 5 which illustrates an example of pivotal movement of an exemplary rotatable member 10 of roadway clearing device 100 from a first, downward position to a second, upward position. As shown, pivotal movement of the rotatable member 10 is facilitated by pivotal movement of a corresponding support member 12 and corresponding extensible member 14, and by a change in length of the corresponding extensible member 14. In the downward position, rotatable member 10 is in contact with a roadway surface S. In this downward position, extensible member 14 has a first length 15a in an extended position and biases the rotatable member 10 toward the roadway surface S.

As an interconnected, automated vehicle 110 (e.g. as shown in FIG. 1) advances the roadway clearing device 100, the rotatable member 10 may pivot to a second, upward position in response to passing over an elevated surface ES at an offset height H (e.g. defined by material located on roadway surface S and/or a discontinuity of the roadway surface S). In moving to the second, upward position, the support member 12 pivots about both the pivotal attachment members 20, 24c. That is, as rotatable member 10 advances along an elevated surface ES located (e.g. resulting from snow and/or ice accumulation on the roadway surface S) the support member 12 pivots about the pivotal attachment member 20 interconnected to frame 5 (not shown) and about the pivotal attachment member 24c interconnected to the first end of extensible member 14. In conjunction with such movement, the extensible member 14 also pivots relative to both the support member 12 and the frame 5 (not shown). In conjunction with such pivotal movement, the extensible member compresses to assume a second length 15b which is shorter than the first length noted above. Thus, in the second, upward position, the axle 16 is located at an elevated position (e.g. corresponding with offset height H) relative to the position of the axle 16 in the first, downward position.

As the rotatable member 10 pivots from the first, downward position to the second, upward position, the extensible member 14 continues to bias, and may actually apply increasing downward force on the rotatable member 10. In this regard, the extensible member 14 not only acts to keep the rotatable member 10 in contact with the roadway surface S and elevated surface ES, but may further apply increasing forcing to facilitate ice and/or snow dislodgement as the automated vehicle 110 advances the roadway clearing device 100 in either forward or reverse directions.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, an exemplary extensible member 14 may be of a spring-loaded configuration. For example, the spring-loaded extensible member 14 may include a piston 17 having a first end portion 17a defining a first end of the extensible member 14 and a second end portion 17b located within a cylinder 19, wherein an end portion 19a of the cylinder 19 defines a second end of the extensible member 14. A compression spring 23 may be located over and along the piston 17 and cylinder 19, wherein the first end portion 17a of piston 17 includes a compression surface 25 and the end portion 19a of cylinder 19 includes a compression surface 26 for engaging and thereby compressing spring 23 therebetween. In that regard, when a corresponding rotatable member 10 moves from a first, downward position to a second, upward position, as described in relation to FIG. 5 above, the second end portion 17b of piston 17 advances within the cylinder 19 and the first end portion 17a of piston 17 acts upon and thereby compresses spring 23 so as to effect a decrease in length of the extensible member 14. In turn, an as noted above, the extensible member 14 may increase the downward force on the rotatable member 10 and thus on material accumulated on a roadway surface. As such, as a rotatable member 10 is moved over accumulated roadway material, it may exert a greater force on areas of the roadway that have greater amount of accumulated material. Concomitantly, the roadway clearing device 100 may apply less force to portions of a roadway surface with lesser accumulated material, thereby preserving the integrity of clear portions of the roadway surface S.

In some embodiments, the piston 17 and cylinder 19 may be provided to dampen the reaction of the spring 23. For example, the piston 17 and cylinder 19 may provide a gas compression shock mechanism to reduce vibration and/or shock forces that may result from sudden movement of the rotatable member 10. In some embodiments, the extensible member 14 may also include dampening members located at either or both ends thereof. In these examples, the dampening members may provide further shock absorbing and/or vibration damping characteristics.

Reference is now made to FIG. 7, which illustrates separate movement of different ones of the plurality of rotatable members 10 of roadway clearing device 100 as they traverse material M on a roadway surface S. The frame 5 of roadway clearing device 100 may be supported above and advanced along the roadway surface S by an automated vehicle 110 (e.g. as shown in FIG. 1). As illustrated in FIG. 7, material M accumulated on the roadway surface 3 may not be of a uniform profile or depth across a given section of road. As such, different portions of the material M across a section of roadway surface 3 may vary in distance from the frame 5.

As previously discussed, the plurality of rotatable members 10 may be disposed in a row at a front end of the roadway clearing device 100 and each rotatable member 10 may be provided to separately move from a downward position to an upward position, e.g. via pivotal movement as described in relation to FIG. 5. As such, as an automated vehicle 100 advances the roadway clearing device 100 across a roadway surface S with material M accumulated thereupon (e.g. compacted snow/ice), each rotatable member 10 may automatically assume an optimal position. That is, each rotatable member 10 may automatically adjust to the profile or depth of the material M contacted by the given rotatable member 10. In that regard, as the rotatable members 10 are advanced over roadway material M, areas on the roadway surface S with greater accumulation of material M may result in a greater degree of upward movement of the rotatable member(s) 10 engaging such area. As described, differing degrees of upward movement of the rotatable members 10 is facilitated by pivoting corresponding support members 12 and corresponding extensible members 14 to differing degrees relative to the frame 5, and compressing the springs 23 of the extensible members 14 to differing degrees. In the later regard, each rotatable member 10 is separately biased downward to maintain contact with the underlying material M.

With further reference to FIGS. 2-4 and as described above, the rotatable members 10 may each be of a cylindrical configuration and may each be mounted on a different, corresponding axle 16 that is mounted to a different corresponding support member 12. In turn, in the illustrated embodiment, each of the eight rotatable members 10 may separately rotate and pivot relative to frame 5. In some embodiments, cylindrical rotatable members 10 may have a plurality of teeth 18 (e.g., teeth having an inverted V-shaped configuration) forming a series of peaks and valleys extending across the width and about the outer circumference of the rotatable members 10. As such, the teeth 18 may function to increase breaking, fracturing, cracking and other mechanisms of dislodgement of material accumulated on a roadway surface S.

In various embodiments, the teeth 18 may be formed from a hardened material (e.g. a hardened steel). In some embodiments, the teeth 18 may have the same height or varying heights relative to each other (e.g., a higher peak followed by a lower peak in a repeating pattern). In yet other embodiments, the teeth may have tread-like patterns.

In some implementations, each of the rotatable members 10 may be formed from multiple parts, for example, to facilitate removal for maintenance and/or replacement. Arrangements include rotatable members 10 formed from two half circles that assemble together around a respective axle 16. Other implementations of rotatable members 10 include outer teeth 18 that are detachable from a central portion of the rotatable member s10. For example, the teeth 18 may be formed from a harder material to increase dislodgment of material from the roadway, while an inner portion of the rotatable member 10 may be formed from a different material having increased wear properties, vibration damping characteristics and/or otherwise having increased elastic compression compared to the teeth 18. For example, inner portions of rotatable members 10 may comprise iron alloys and/or the like to reduce vibration. Such embodiments may also facilitate maintenance of the rotatable member 10 and allow high wear portions such as the teeth 18 to be replaced without having to replace the entire corresponding rotatable member 10.

In yet other implementations, rotatable members 10 may comprise non-cylindrical configurations. For example, the rotatable members 10 may be of an octagon configuration. Such configurations may increase pressure transfer to material accumulated on a roadway surface 3, thereby increasing dislodgement of accumulated material, while still facilitating rolling movement of the rotatable members 10 along the roadway surface 3.

As noted above and illustrated by FIG. 3, embodiments of the roadway clearing device 100 include a conveyer 30 disposed rearward of the plurality of rotatable members 10. As illustrated by the directional arrows depicted in FIG. 3, as roadway clearing device 100 advances on a roadway rotatable members 10 are operable to dislodge material from a roadway, shovel members 50 are operable to divert the material upwardly and/or forwardly to conveyor 30, and conveyer 30 is operable to collect and laterally discharge the material.

As further shown in FIG. 3, embodiments of the conveyer 30 may include a rotatable shaft 32 supportably and rotatably interconnected to the frame 5, and helical flutes 34 extending along the rotatable shaft 32. Further, and as noted above, a drive device 38 may be provided for rotating the conveyer 30. In some implementations, the rotatable shaft 32 may be supportably and rotatably interconnected to the frame 5 by rotatable mounts 36 located on opposing ends of the rotatable shaft 32, wherein the drive device 38 is interconnected the rotatable mount located at one end of the rotatable shaft 32 and the other end of the rotatable shaft 32 is provided with an opening for material discharge. The rotatable mounts 36 may include bearings, bushings, or the like.

As noted, the conveyer 30 may be supportably and rotatably interconnected to the frame 5 to dispose the conveyer 30 at an elevated position relative to at least a portion of each of the rotatable members 10 in at least their downward positions and/or relative to at least a portion of each of the shovel members 50 their downward positions. In contemplated implementations, the conveyer 30 may be further disposed to maintain an elevated position relative to at least a portion of each of the rotatable members 10 and/or at least a portion of each the shovel members 50 as such members move upward from their biased, downward positions relative to frame 5. For example, the conveyer 30 may be maintained at an elevated position above a roadway surface S even when one or more rotatable members 10 and/or shovel members 50 is pivoted upward (e.g. fully pivoted upward) relative to the frame 5.

In some embodiments, the drive device 38 may comprise an electrical or gas powered motor, e.g. an electrical motor where the electrical power is supplied by the automated vehicle 110 and/or supplied from an independent power source. In other implementations, the drive device 38 may be powered through hydraulic or pneumatic lines supplied by the automated vehicle 110.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 8, various embodiments may include a two-pulley/belt drive device 38, and a conveyer 30 having helical flutes 34 interconnected to and extending about and along a length of a shaft 32 to direct and laterally discharge material from the roadway clearing device 100 on a desired side thereof. The helical flutes 34 may be integrally formed with the shaft 32 and arranged such that rotation of the shaft 32 rotates the helical flutes 34 to advance the material along the shaft 32 in a desired direction. In some embodiments, the shaft 32 and helical flutes 34 may comprise separate parts that are rigidly connected through welding, fasteners, and/or the like.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 3, 9, 10 and 11 which illustrate an embodiment of an exemplary one of the plurality of shovel members 50 of the roadway clearing device 100. Each of the shovel members 50 may be interconnected to the frame 5 in a manner that allows for separate movement of the shovel member 50 relative to the frame 5. In the illustrated arrangement, a top end of each shovel member 50 is supportably and pivotably interconnected to the frame 5 along a common first support axis by a corresponding pivot attachment 52, e.g. a bushing/bearing/mount shaft arrangement. Further, each shovel member is supportably and pivotably interconnected to the frame 5 at a bottom end via a corresponding spring-loaded, extensible member 54 located therebetween. In the later regard, each extensible member 54 is pivotably interconnected to a corresponding shovel member 50 at a bottom end by a corresponding pivot attachment 58 (e.g. via a bushing/bearing/mount shaft arrangement), and is supportably and pivotably interconnected to the frame 5 along a common second support axis via another corresponding pivot attachment 56 (e.g. via a bushing/bearing/mount shaft arrangement). As shown, the common second support axis may be provided at an elevated, rearward position relative to the common first support axis, thereby facilitating the application of biasing forces by the extensible members 14 and the rearward pivotal movement of the shovel members 50.

As may be appreciated, each spring-loaded, extensible member 54 acts to downwardly bias the corresponding shovel member 50 to a first, downward position relative to frame 5. In this regard, each extensible member 54 is operable to urge a corresponding shovel member 50 toward a roadway surface so as to maintain contact with material M on the roadway surface, while also allowing the shovel member 50 to move upward to a second, upward position against the bias force applied by the corresponding extensible member 54 in response to changes in the roadway profile (e.g. when passing over compacted ice/snow, an obstacle such as a rock, a roadway discontinuity, etc.).

Each shovel member 50 may include a shovel body 50a and a scraper 50b. For each shovel member 50, the corresponding extensible member 54 biases the scraper 50b toward the roadway surface 3. In turn, as a roadway clearing device 100 is moved along a roadway, material M is diverted from the roadway surface 3 by the scraper 50b, along the shovel body 50b and fed into the conveyer 30. For example, as the roadway clearing device 100 is advanced along a roadway surface 3, material M may begin to accumulate in front of the shovel member 50. As the roadway clearing device 100 continues to advance more material M will accumulate and the material M may be forced upward and thereby diverted along the shovel member 50 toward the conveyor 30. In that regard, the shovel body 50a of each shovel member 50 may have an arcuate, or concave, surface that faces and extends about at least a portion of the conveyer 30 so as to guide material M into regions between the helical flutes 34 of the conveyer 30. As more material M moves up the arcuate surface of the shovel body 50a such material M will begin to accumulate into and directed by the conveyer 30 for lateral discharge away from the roadway clearing device 100. As shown, shovel body 50a may include a bottom tapered portion for enhanced interconnection to scraper 50b.

In some embodiments, and as shown in FIG. 9, when each shovel member 50 is biased to a first, downward position the corresponding scraper 50b engages or nearly engages a roadway surface S. In the downward position, the corresponding shovel body 50a presents an arcuate, or concave, surface that faces and extends about a portion of the conveyor 30. Further the corresponding extensible member 54 may be in an extended position having an extended, first length. With the accumulation of material M in front of each shovel member 50, the material M may apply an increasing force against the shovel member 50, and in turn, against the downward biasing force applied by the corresponding spring-loaded, extensible member 54, so as to cause the shovel member 50 and the extensible member 54 to move upward relative to the frame 5. In particular, in conjunction with such movement, the shovel member 50 may pivot upward and away from the conveyor 30 about the pivot attachment 52. Further the spring-loaded, extensible member 54 may pivot upward and away from the conveyor 30 about the pivot attachment 56 against the biasing force applied thereby. Stated differently, shovel member 50 may pivot rearwardly and upwardly relative to the frame 5 to a second, upward position in which the scraper 50b is located a distance above the roadway surface S. In this upward position the spring-loaded, extensible member 54 may have a reduced, or compressed, second length which is less than the above-noted first length. In turn, at least a portion of the accumulated material M and/or other obstruction(s) that caused the shovel member 50 to pivot upward may pass under the shovel member 50, thereby reducing any potential for undesirable damage. Further, in the upward, second position the arcuate surface of the shovel body 52 may be pivoted away from the conveyer 30 to provide a greater distance therebetween to accommodate accumulated material M and/or roadway obstructions/discontinuities.

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate a shovel member 50 traversing an obstruction O and discontinuity D on a roadway surface S, respectively. When the scraper 50b and/or shovel body 50a engages the obstacle O or discontinuity D, the movement of the shovel member 50 and resistance presented by obstacle O or discontinuity D will result in a force that compresses the spring-loaded, extensible member 54. Concomitantly, the shovel body 50a and scraper 50b will pivot away from the conveyer 30 and a clearance distance C therebetween will increase. Further, such pivotal movement will increase the distance between the roadway surface S and the shovel member 30, thereby reducing any potential for damage to the shovel member 30 as it passes over the obstruction O or discontinuity D.

Reference is again made to FIGS. 1 and 3 which illustrate a support wheel 70 disposed rearward of the plurality of shovel members 50 and interconnected to frame 5 to rollably support a rearward portion of the roadway clearing device 100. In various implementations, the support wheel 70 may be supportably interconnected to the frame 5 by an arm 72 which extends from the rear of the roadway clearing device 110 frame 5 and positions the support wheel 70 rearward of the shovel members 30. The support wheel 70 is rollable along a roadway surface 3 and partially supports the weight of the roadway clearing device 110. In some embodiments, the roadway clearing device 100 includes multiple support wheels 70 and corresponding arms 72 to provide enhanced lateral support across a roadway surface S.

In various arrangements, the roadway clearing device 110 may include one or more automated vehicle front support mount 90 and one or more automated vehicle rear support mount 92. The front support mount(s) 90 may be rigidly coupled to the top of the frame 5 and may pivotally and supportably interconnect to and disconnect from to a front lift arm 112 of the automated vehicle 110. The rear support mount(s) 92 may be rigidly coupled to the top of the frame 5 and may also pivotally and supportably interconnect to and disconnect from the front lift arm 112 of the automated vehicle 110. As shown, the front support mount(s) 90 may be disposed forward of the conveyer 30 and the rear support mount(s) 92 may be disposed rearward of the conveyor 30. In some arrangements, the rear support mount(s) 92 may be provided with an automated displacement device 94 for displacing the support wheel 70 away from a roadway surface S to facilitate rearward movement of the roadway clearing device 100 by an automated vehicle 110.

Plural instances may be provided for components, operations or structures described herein as a single instance. Finally, boundaries between various components, operations, and data stores are somewhat arbitrary, and particular operations are illustrated in the context of specific illustrative configurations. Other allocations of functionality are envisioned and may fall within the scope of the implementation(s). In general, structures and functionality presented as separate components in the example configurations may be implemented as a combined structure or component. Similarly, structures and functionality presented as a single component may be implemented as separate components. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements fall within the scope of the implementation(s).

It will also be understood that, although the terms “first,” “second,” etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first position could be termed a second position, and, similarly, a second position could be termed a first position, without changing the meaning of the description, so long as all occurrences of the “first position” are renamed consistently and all occurrences of the “second position” are renamed consistently. The first position and the second position are both positions, but they are not the same position.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular implementations only and is not intended to be limiting of the claims. As used in the description of the implementations and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will also be understood that the term “and/or” as used herein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

As used herein, the term “if” may be construed to mean “when” or “upon” or “in response to determining” or “in accordance with a determination” or “in response to detecting,” that a stated condition precedent is true, depending on the context. Similarly, the phrase “if it is determined (that a stated condition precedent is true)” or “if (a stated condition precedent is true)” or “when (a stated condition precedent is true)” may be construed to mean “upon determining” or “in response to determining” or “in accordance with a determination” or “upon detecting” or “in response to detecting” that the stated condition precedent is true, depending on the context.

The foregoing description included example systems, methods, techniques, instruction sequences, and computing machine program products that embody illustrative implementations. For purposes of explanation, numerous specific details were set forth in order to provide an understanding of various implementations of the inventive subject matter. It will be evident, however, to those skilled in the art that implementations of the inventive subject matter may be practiced without these specific details. In general, well-known instruction instances, protocols, structures, and techniques have not been shown in detail.

The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has been described with reference to specific implementations. However, the illustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the implementations to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The implementations were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles and their practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the implementations and various implementations with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

Claims

1. A roadway clearing device, comprising: a plurality of rotatable members supportably disposed in a row at a front end of the device and rollable along a roadway to dislodge material from the roadway;a conveyer supportably disposed rearward of the plurality of rotatable members for collecting and laterally discharging material from the roadway; and,a plurality of shovel members supportably disposed in another row rearward of the conveyer to divert material from the roadway to the conveyer for lateral discharge.

2. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of rotatable members is provided for separate movement away from and is biased to assume a corresponding downward position.

3. A device as recited in claim 2, wherein said conveyer is disposed to maintain an elevated position relative to at least a portion of each rotatable member of the plurality of rotatable members when the rotatable member is moved away from the corresponding downward position.

4. A device as recited in claim 2, wherein each of said plurality of rotatable members is separately pivotable away from the corresponding downward position about a common support axis, and separately rotatable about an axis of separate, corresponding axles.

5. A device as recited in claim 4, wherein said device further comprises a frame, and wherein for each rotatable member of said plurality of rotatable members the device further comprises: a corresponding support member supportably and pivotably interconnected to the frame, wherein the corresponding axle is supportably interconnected to the support member; and,a corresponding spring-loaded, extensible member supportably and pivotably interconnected to said frame, and pivotably interconnected to said corresponding support member, for biasing the rotatable member to the corresponding downward position.

6. A device as recited in claim 5, wherein for each rotatable member of said plurality of rotatable members the device further comprises: a corresponding vibration dampening member interposed at an interconnection between the corresponding support member and the frame.

7. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein each rotatable member of said plurality of rotatable members is of a cylindrical configuration and comprises: a plurality of outwardly projecting teeth extending about the rotatable member.

8. A device as recited in claim 7, wherein for each rotatable member of said plurality of rotatable members the corresponding plurality of outwardly projecting teeth each have an inverted V-shaped configuration that extends across a width of the rotatable member.

9. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of shovel members is provided for separate movement away from and is biased to assume a corresponding downward position.

10. A device as recited in claim 9, wherein said conveyer is disposed to maintain an elevated position relative to at least a portion of each shovel member when the shovel member is moved away from the corresponding downward position.

11. A device as recited in claim 9, wherein each of said plurality of shovel members is separately pivotable away from the corresponding downward position about a common axis.

12. A device as recited in claim 11, wherein said device further comprises a frame, wherein each of said plurality of shovel members is supportably and pivotably interconnected to the frame, and wherein for each of said plurality of shovel members the device further comprises: a corresponding spring-loaded, extensible member supportably and pivotably interconnected to said frame, and pivotably interconnected to said corresponding shovel member, for biasing the shovel member to the corresponding downward position.

13. A device as recited in claim 9, wherein each of said plurality of shovel members is configured to define a corresponding arcuate surface facing said conveyer.

14. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein said device further comprises a frame, and wherein said conveyer is a screw conveyer comprising: a rotatable shaft supportably and rotatably interconnected to said frame; and,a helical flute extending about and along the rotatable shaft.

15. A device as recited in claim 14, further comprising: a drive device operatively interconnected to said shaft of said screw conveyer for driven rotation thereof.

16. A device as recited in claim 1, further comprising: at least one rotatable wheel supportably disposed rearward of said plurality of shovel members at a rearward end of the device and rollable along a roadway.

17. A device recited in claim 16, wherein said device further comprises a frame, and wherein for each rotatable wheel the device further comprises: a support arm supportably interconnected to said frame, wherein the corresponding wheel is supportably and rotatably interconnected to the support arm.

18. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein the device further comprises: a frame, wherein each rotatable member of the plurality of rotatable members is separately, supportably and pivotably interconnected to the frame, wherein the conveyer is supportably and rotatably interconnected to the frame, and wherein each shovel member of the plurality of shovel members is separately, supportably and pivotably interconnected to the frame; and,at least one interconnection member interconnected to the frame and adapted for interconnection to and co-movement with an automated vehicle in either a forward direction or rearward direction along a roadway.

19. A device as recited in claim 18, wherein upon said movement in the forward direction, each rotatable member of the plurality of rotatable members is separately, automatically positionable relative to the roadway in response to engagement with material on a roadway in the path of the rotatable member, and each shovel member of the plurality of shovel members is separately, automatically positionable relative to the roadway in response to engagement with material on a roadway in the path of the shovel member.

20. A device as recited in claim 18, further comprising: at least one rotatable wheel supportably disposed rearward of said plurality of shovel members at a rearward end of the device and rollable along a roadway; and,at least one displacement device operatively interconnected or interconnectable to the frame so that, upon co-movement with an interconnected, automated vehicle in a rearward direction along a roadway, said plurality of shovel members are automatically displaced away from the roadway.