Support apparatus for securing a material moving wing plow relative to a vehicle

Abstract

A support apparatus is disclosed for securing a material moving wing plow relative to a vehicle. The support apparatus includes a trailing link having a first and a second end. The first end of the trailing link is pivotally connected to the vehicle about a first pivotal axis. A support arm is provided for supporting the wing plow. The support arm is pivotally secured to the second end of the trailing link about a second pivotal axis. The first and second pivotal axes are disposed spaced and parallel relative to each other so that the support arm is dragged by and trails from the vehicle so that during a plowing operation, the wing plow supported by the support arm moves smoothly over the material being moved so that a potentially dangerous diving of the wing plow into the material in a vicinity of the support arm is avoided.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a support apparatus for securing a material moving wing plow relative to a vehicle.

More specifically, the present invention relates to a support apparatus for securing a material moving wing plow relative to a vehicle in which the support apparatus includes a trailing link having a first and a second end.

2. Background Information

Wing plows are often used for removing snow from the hard shoulder of a highway. They are also used for smoothing limestone or other materials during a road making or road repairing operation. The wing plow extends laterally from the side of a vehicle and includes a brace or braces for supporting the outboard end of the wing plow.

Various support arrangements have been proposed for supporting the inboard end of the wing plow. Such support arrangements usually include means for raising or lowering the wing plow because when the wing plow is not being used, the wing plow must be in a raised disposition when the truck or other vehicle is moving so that the wing plow is not in contact with the ground.

Many wing plow support arrangements employ pairs of parallel arms extending laterally outwards from the front nearside of a vehicle. The arrangement is such that in operation, the wing plow is permitted to rise and fall as it moves over the material being moved and with the bottom working edge of the wing plow remaining substantially parallel to the surface of the material.

However, with the aforementioned prior art wing plow support arrangements, there is a strong tendency for the working edge of the wing plow nearest to the vehicle to sink or dive into the material being moved. When this happens and the inboard end of the wing plow dives, the outboard end of the wing plow violently flies upwards and often causes damage to the side of the vehicle.

The present invention overcomes the aforementioned problem by providing a trailing link mechanism such that the inboard end and/or the outboard end of the wing plow is supported by a support arm which in turn is supported by trailing links rather than the prior art laterally extending links

Consequently, by the provision of the trailing links according to the present invention, the inventors have found that in actual trials, the wing plow moves remarkably smoothly over various materials being moved and that such trailing links avoid the potentially dangerous problem caused by diving of the wing plow at the inboard end thereof.

Therefore, it is a primary feature of the present invention to provide a support apparatus for securing a material moving wing plow relative to a vehicle that overcomes the problems associated with prior art wing plow supports.

Another feature of the present invention is to provide a support apparatus for securing a material moving wing plow relative to a vehicle which avoids diving of the wing plow into material in the vicinity of the support apparatus.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art by a consideration of the detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention contained herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a support apparatus for securing a material moving wing plow relative to a vehicle. The support apparatus includes a trailing link having a first and a second end. The first end of the trailing link is pivotally connected to the vehicle about a first pivotal axis. A support arm is provided for supporting the wing plow. The support arm is pivotally secured to the second end of the trailing link about a second pivotal axis. The first and second pivotal axes are disposed spaced and parallel relative to each other so that the trailing link trails from and is dragged by the vehicle so that during a plowing operation, the wing plow supported by the support arm moves smoothly over the material being moved so that a potentially dangerous diving of the wing plow into the material in a vicinity of the support arm is avoided.

In a more specific embodiment of the present invention, the support apparatus includes a plate which has a first and a second side and a top portion and a bottom portion. The first end of the trailing link is pivotally connected to the top portion of the plate such that the first end of the trailing link is disposed adjacent to the first side of the plate.

Moreover, a beam is rigidly secured to the vehicle and to the second side of the plate such that the beam extends between the vehicle and the plate.

In a first embodiment of the present invention, a casing is provided for the slidable reception therein of the plate.

Also, an actuator is connected between the vehicle and the plate for controllably and slidably moving the plate relative to the casing.

Additionally, a control device is controllably connected to the actuator for controlling an elevation of the plate relative to the vehicle for permitting the wing plow to perform a benching operation.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the support apparatus includes a further trailing link having a first and a second extremity. The first extremity of the further trailing link is pivotally connected to the vehicle about a third pivotal axis.

The support arm is pivotally secured to the second extremity of the further trailing link about a fourth pivotal axis. The arrangement is such that the first, second, third and fourth pivotal axes are disposed spaced and parallel relative to each other so that the support arm is dragged by and trails from the vehicle so that during a plowing operation, the wing plow supported by the support arm moves smoothly over the material being moved so that a potentially dangerous diving of the wing plow into the material in a vicinity of the support arm is avoided.

Furthermore, a distance between the first and third pivotal axes is substantially the same as a further distance between the second and fourth pivotal axes. The arrangement is such that regardless of an elevational disposition of the wing plow relative to the material being moved, an angle of attack of the wing plow relative to the material being moved remains substantially constant so that the support arm moves smoothly over the material being moved so that a potentially dangerous diving of the wing plow into the material in a vicinity of the support arm is avoided.

Also, a spacing between the first and second pivotal axes is substantially the same as a further spacing between the third and fourth pivotal axes so that regardless of an elevational disposition of the wing plow relative to the material being moved, an angle of attack of the wing plow relative to the material being moved remains substantially constant. The arrangement is such that the support arm moves smoothly over the material being moved so that a potentially dangerous diving of the wing plow into the material in a vicinity of the support arm is avoided.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the support apparatus includes a lever which has a first and a second termination. The lever is pivotally secured to the plate about the first pivotal axis. The first pivotal axis is disposed between the first and second terminations of the lever. The second termination of the lever defines a cradle for selectively supporting the second end of the trailing link.

A moving device is connected to the first termination of the lever for rotating the lever about the first pivotal axis. The arrangement is such that in a first disposition of the lever, the moving device rotates the lever so that the second termination of the lever supports and cradles the second end of the trailing link.

However, in a second disposition of the lever, the second termination of the lever is moved by the moving device away from the second end of the trailing link so that the support arm floats relative to the second termination of the lever.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a sprocket is rigidly connected to the vehicle, the sprocket being disposed concentrically about the first pivotal axis.

Moreover, a further sprocket is rigidly connected to the support arm, the further sprocket being disposed concentrically about the second pivotal axis.

A looped chain cooperates with the sprocket and the further sprocket so that when the trailing link pivots about the first pivotal axis, the trailing link rotates relative to the sprocket such that the sprocket urges the chain to correspondingly rotate the further sprocket relative to the second end of the trailing link. The arrangement is such that the support arm and the wing plow secured thereto maintain a substantially constant angle of attack of the wing plow relative to the vehicle regardless of an elevation of the wing plow relative to the material to be moved. Thus, during a plowing operation, the wing plow supported by the support arm moves smoothly over the material being moved so that a potentially dangerous diving of the wing plow into the material in a vicinity of the support arm is avoided.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the support apparatus for securing a material moving wing plow relative to a vehicle includes a trailing link having a first and a second end, the first end of the trailing link being pivotally connected to the vehicle about a first pivotal axis. A further trailing link has a first and a second extremity, the first extremity of the further trailing link being pivotally connected to the vehicle about a third pivotal axis. A support arm is provided for supporting the wing plow, the support arm being pivotally secured to the second end of the trailing link about the second pivotal axis. The support arm is pivotally secured to the second extremity of the further trailing link about a fourth pivotal axis and the first, second, third and fourth pivotal axes are disposed spaced and parallel relative to each other. The arrangement is such that the trailing link and the further trailing link trail from and are dragged by the vehicle so that during a plowing operation, the wing plow supported by the support arm moves smoothly over the material being moved so that a potentially dangerous diving of the wing plow into the material in a vicinity of the support arm is avoided.

In one configuration of the support apparatus according to the present invention, the trailing link is disposed in a vicinity of a front of the vehicle.

In another configuration of the support apparatus according to the present invention, the trailing link is disposed in a vicinity of a back of the vehicle.

In yet another configuration of the support apparatus according to the present invention, the trailing link is disposed between the front and the back of the vehicle.

Many modifications and variation in the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art by a consideration of the detailed description contained hereinafter taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings which show a preferred embodiment of the present invention. However, such modifications and variations fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. Included in such modifications would be the provision of a ram operably connected to a source of compressed air or any other type of ram such as an electrically operated ram or a mechanically operated lifting mechanism.

Although in the drawings, the trailing links are shown as being disposed approximately parallel relative to each other, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention includes arrangements in which the trailing links are not disposed parallel relative to each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a support apparatus according to the present invention for securing a material moving wing plow relative to a vehicle;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the support apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the arrangement shown in FIGS. 1 to 3;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the support apparatus shown in FIG. 3 but viewed from the opposite side;

FIG. 6 is a similar view to that shown in FIG. 5 but shows the lever in a second disposition thereof;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a similar view to that shown in FIG. 7 but shows the trailing link rotated;

FIG. 9 is a front view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the present invention.

Similar reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the various Figures and embodiments of the drawings with suffixes added thereto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a support apparatus generally designated 10 according to the present invention for securing a material moving wing plow 12 relative to a vehicle 14. As shown in FIG. 1, the support apparatus 10 includes a trailing link generally designated 16 having a first and a second end 18 and 20 respectively. The first end 18 of the trailing link 16 is pivotally connected to the vehicle 14 about a first pivotal axis 22. A support arm 24 is provided for supporting the wing plow 12. The support arm 24 is pivotally secured to the second end 20 of the trailing link 16 about a second pivotal axis 26. The first and second pivotal axes 22 and 26 respectively are disposed spaced and parallel relative to each other so that the support arm 24 is dragged by and trails from the vehicle 14 so that during a plowing operation, the wing plow 12 supported by the support arm 24 moves smoothly over the material 28 being moved so that a potentially dangerous diving of the wing plow 12 into the material 28 in a vicinity of the support arm 24 is avoided.

In a more specific embodiment of the present invention, the support apparatus 10 includes a plate generally designated 30 which has a first and a second side 32 and 34 respectively and a top portion 36 and a bottom portion 38. The first end 18 of the trailing link 16 is pivotally connected to the top portion 36 of the plate 30 such that the first end 18 of the trailing link 16 is disposed adjacent to the first side 32 of the plate 30.

Moreover, a beam 40 is rigidly secured to the vehicle 14 and to the second side 34 of the plate 30 such that the beam 40 extends between the vehicle 14 and the plate 30.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, a casing 42 is provided for the slidable reception therein as indicated by the arrow 44 of a block 41 with the beam 40 and the plate 30 secured thereto.

Also, an actuator 46 is connected between the vehicle 14 and the block 41 for controllably and slidably moving the plate 30 relative to the casing 42 as indicated by the arrow 44.

Additionally, a control device 48 is controllably connected to the actuator 46 for controlling an elevation of the plate 30 relative to the vehicle 14 for permitting the wing plow 12 to perform a benching operation.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the support apparatus shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the support apparatus 10 includes a further trailing link generally designated 50 having a first and a second extremity 52 and 54 respectively. The first extremity 52 of the further trailing link 50 is pivotally connected to the vehicle 14 (shown in FIG. 1) about a third pivotal axis 56.

The support arm 24 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 is pivotally secured to the second extremity 54 of the further trailing link 50 about a fourth pivotal axis 58. The arrangement is such that the first, second, third and fourth pivotal axes 22, 26, 56 and 58 respectively are disposed spaced and parallel relative to each other so that the support arm 24 is dragged by and trails from the vehicle 14 so that during a plowing operation, the wing plow 12 supported by the support arm 24 moves smoothly over the material 28 being moved so that a potentially dangerous diving of the wing plow 12 into the material 28 in a vicinity of the support arm 24 is avoided.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3, a distance D between the first and third pivotal axes 22 and 56 respectively is substantially the same as a further distance D1 between the second and fourth pivotal axes 26 and 58 respectively.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the arrangement shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. As shown in FIG. 4, the arrangement is such that regardless of an elevational disposition of the wing plow 12 relative to the material 28 being moved, an angle of attack A of the wing plow 12 relative to the material 28 being moved remains substantially constant so that the support arm 24 moves smoothly over the material 28 being moved so that a potentially dangerous diving of the wing plow 12 into the material 28 in a vicinity of the support arm 24 is avoided.

Also, as shown in FIG. 3, a spacing S between the first and second pivotal axes 22 and 26 respectively is substantially the same as a further spacing S1 between the third and fourth pivotal axes 56 and 58 respectively. The arrangement is such that regardless of an elevational disposition of the wing plow 12 as shown in FIG. 4 relative to the material 28 being moved, the angle of attack A of the wing plow 12 relative to the material 28 being moved remains substantially constant. The arrangement is so that the support arm 24 moves smoothly over the material 28 being moved such that a potentially dangerous diving of the wing plow 12 into the material 28 in a vicinity of the support arm 24 is avoided.

As shown in FIG. 3, the support apparatus 10 includes a lever 60 which has a first and a second termination 62 and 64 respectively.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the support apparatus shown in FIG. 3. but viewed from the opposite side. As shown in FIG. 5, the lever 60 is pivotally secured to the plate 30 about the first pivotal axis 22. The first pivotal axis 22 is disposed between the first and second terminations 62 and 64 respectively of the lever 60. The second termination 64 of the lever 60 defines a cradle 68 for selectively supporting the second end 20 of the trailing link 16.

A moving device 70 is connected to the first termination 62 of the lever 60 for rotating the lever 60 about the first pivotal axis 22 as indicated by the arrow 72. The arrangement is such that in a first disposition of the lever 60 as shown in FIG. 5, the moving device 70 rotates the lever 60 so that the second termination 64 of the lever 60 supports and cradles the second end 20 of the trailing link 16.

FIG. 6 is a similar view to that shown in FIG. 5 but shows the lever 60 in a second disposition thereof. As shown in FIG. 6, in a second disposition of the lever 60, the second termination 64 of the lever 60 is moved by the moving device 70 away from the second end 20 of the trailing link 16 so that the support arm 24 floats relative to the second termination 64 of the lever 60.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, a sprocket 74 is rigidly connected to the vehicle 14a, the sprocket 74 being disposed concentrically about the first pivotal axis 22a.

Moreover, a further sprocket 76 is rigidly connected to the support arm 24a, the further sprocket 76 being disposed concentrically about the second pivotal axis 26a.

FIG. 8 is a similar view to that shown in FIG. 7 but shows the trailing link 16 rotated. As shown in FIG. 8, a looped chain 78 cooperates with the sprocket 74 and the further sprocket 76 so that when the trailing link 16a pivots about the first pivotal axis 22a, the trailing link 16a rotates relative to the sprocket 74 such that the sprocket 74 urges the chain 78 to correspondingly rotate the further sprocket 76 relative to the second end 20a of the trailing link 16a. The arrangement is such that the support arm 24a and the wing plow 12a secured thereto maintain a substantially constant angle of attack Aa of the wing plow 12a relative to the vehicle 14a regardless of an elevation of the wing plow 12a relative to the material 28a to be moved. Thus, during a plowing operation, the wing plow 12a supported by the support arm 24a moves smoothly over the material 28a being moved so that a potentially dangerous diving of the wing plow 12a into the material 28a in a vicinity of the support arm 24a is avoided.

FIG. 9 is a front view of the apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 9, the moving device 70 moves the first termination 62 of the lever 60 between the positions of the lever 60 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 respectively.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 10, the support apparatus 10b for securing a material moving wing plow 12b relative to a vehicle 14b includes a trailing link 16b having a first and a second end 18b and 20b respectively. The first end 18b of the trailing link 16b is pivotally connected to the vehicle 14b about a first pivotal axis 22b. A further trailing link 50b has a first and a second extremity 52b and 54b respectively. The first extremity 52b of the further trailing link 50b is pivotally connected to the vehicle 14b about a third pivotal axis 56b. A support arm 24b is provided for supporting the wing plow 12b, the support arm 24b being pivotally secured to the second end 20b of the trailing link 16b about a second pivotal axis 26b. The support arm 24b is pivotally secured to the second extremity 54b of the further trailing link 50b about a fourth pivotal axis 58b. The arrangement is such that the first, second, third and fourth pivotal axes 22b, 26b, 56b and 58b respectively are disposed spaced and parallel relative to each other. The arrangement is such that the trailing link 16b and the further trailing link 50b trail from and are dragged by the vehicle 14b so that during a plowing operation, the wing plow 12b supported by the support arm 24b moves smoothly over the material 28b being moved so that a potentially dangerous diving of the wing plow 12b into the material 28b in a vicinity of the support arm 24b is avoided.

In one configuration of the support apparatus 10 according to the present invention, the trailing link 16 is disposed in a vicinity of a front of the vehicle 14.

In another configuration of the support apparatus 10 according to the present invention, the trailing link 16 is disposed in a vicinity of a back of the vehicle 14.

In yet another configuration of the support apparatus 10 according to the present invention, the trailing link 16 is disposed between the front and the back of the vehicle 14.

Additionally, as shown in the drawings, each of the pivotal axes 22, 26, 56 and 58 is provided with grease points as shown. The pivotal axes 22, 26, 56 and 58 are generated by an interaction of a concentric hub pivotally encased within the ends 18 and 20 and extremities 52 and 54 respectively of the links 16 and 50 respectively. Although such moving parts may be lubricated by means of a coaxial grease point and communicating grease channel connected by a radial bore for permitting a flow of lubricant to the moving parts, in practice, it has been found advantageous to have the respective ends and extremities of the links bored coaxially with the respective pivotal axes so that the bores interact with the shank portions of the respective anchor bolts. In this way, the grease point is aligned with a radial bore for supplying lubricant to the interacting surfaces as shown in the various Figs. of the drawings.

In operation of the present invention, the wing plow 12 is supported at the inboard end thereof by the support arm 24. In turn the support arm 24 is pivotally supported by the trailing end and extremity 20 and 54 of the trailing links 16 and 50 so that when the leading edge of the wing plow 12 comes into contact with the material 28 to be moved, the wing plow supported by the trailing links 16 and 50 is able to move the material 28 without any tendency for such inboard end of the wing plow to dig in or dive into the material 28 because the wing plow 12 is being dragged relative to the vehicle 14 via the trailing links that maintain the angle of attack of the leading edge of the wing plow 12 substantially constant.

The present invention provides a unique arrangement that avoids the problem of having the inboard end of the wing plow diving into the material.

Claims

1. A support apparatus for securing a material moving wing plow relative to a vehicle, said support apparatus comprising: a trailing link having a first and a second end, said first end of said trailing link being pivotally connected to the vehicle about a first pivotal axis; anda support arm for supporting the wing plow, said support arm being pivotally secured to said second end of said trailing link about a second pivotal axis, said first and second pivotal axes being disposed spaced and parallel relative to each other so that said trailing link trails from and is dragged by the vehicle so that during a plowing operation, the wing plow supported by said support arm moves smoothly over the material being moved so that a potentially dangerous diving of the wing plow into the material in a vicinity of said support arm is avoided.

2. A support apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including: a plate having a first and a second side and a top portion and a bottom portion, said first end of said trailing link being pivotally connected to said top portion of said plate such that said first end of said trailing link is disposed adjacent to said first side of said plate.

3. A support apparatus as set forth in claim 2 further including: a beam rigidly secured to the vehicle and to said second side of said plate such that said beam extends between the vehicle and said plate.

4. A support apparatus as set forth in claim 2 further including: a casing for the slidable reception therein of said plate;an actuator connected between the vehicle and said plate for controllably and slidably moving said plate relative to said casing.

5. A support apparatus as set forth in claim 4 further including: a control device controllably connected to said actuator for controlling an elevation of said plate relative to the vehicle for permitting the wing plow to perform a benching operation.

6. A support apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including: a further trailing link having a first and a second extremity, said first extremity of said further trailing link being pivotally connected to the vehicle about a third pivotal axis;said support arm being pivotally secured to said second extremity of said further trailing link about a fourth pivotal axis, said first, second, third and fourth pivotal axes being disposed spaced and parallel relative to each other so that said trailing links trail from and are dragged by the vehicle so that during a plowing operation, the wing plow supported by said support arm moves smoothly over the material being moved so that a potentially dangerous diving of the wing plow into the material in a vicinity of said support arm is avoided.

7. A support apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein a distance between said first and third pivotal axes is substantially the same as a further distance between said second and fourth pivotal axes so that regardless of an elevational disposition of the wing plow relative to the material being moved, an angle of attack of the wing plow relative to the material being moved remains substantially constant so that said support arm moves smoothly over the material being moved so that a potentially dangerous diving of the wing plow into the material in a vicinity of said support arm is avoided.

8. A support apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein a spacing between said first and second pivotal axes is substantially the same as a further spacing between said third and fourth pivotal axes so that regardless of an elevational disposition of the wing plow relative to the material being moved, an angle of attack of the wing plow relative to the material being moved remains substantially constant so that said support arm moves smoothly over the material being moved so that a potentially dangerous diving of the wing plow into the material in a vicinity of said support arm is avoided.

9. A support apparatus as set forth in claim 2 further including: a lever having a first and a second termination, said lever being pivotally secured to said plate about said first pivotal axis which is disposed between said first and second terminations of said lever, said second termination defining a cradle for selectively supporting said second end of said trailing link;a moving device connected to said first termination of said lever for rotating said lever about said first pivotal axis such that said moving device rotates said lever between a first disposition thereof in which said second termination of said lever supports and cradles said second end of said trailing link and a second disposition of said lever in which said second termination of said lever is moved away from said second end of said trailing link so that said support arm floats relative to said second termination of said lever.

10. A support apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including: a sprocket rigidly connected to the vehicle, said sprocket being disposed concentrically about said first pivotal axis;a further sprocket rigidly connected to said support arm, said further sprocket being disposed concentrically about said second pivotal axis;a chain cooperating with said sprocket and said further sprocket so that when said trailing link pivots about said first pivotal axis, said trailing link rotates relative to said sprocket such that said sprocket urges said chain to correspondingly rotate said further sprocket relative to said second end of said trailing link so that said support arm and the wing plow secured thereto maintain a substantially constant angle of attack of the wing plow relative to the vehicle regardless of an elevation of the wing plow relative to the material to be moved so that during a plowing operation, the wing plow supported by said support arm moves smoothly over the material being moved so that a potentially dangerous diving of the wing plow into the material in a vicinity of said support arm is avoided.

11. A support apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said trailing link is disposed in a vicinity of a front of the vehicle.

12. A support apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said trailing link is disposed in a vicinity of a back of the vehicle.

13. A support apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said trailing link is disposed between a front and a back of the vehicle.

14. A support apparatus for securing a material moving wing plow relative to a vehicle, said support apparatus comprising: a trailing link having a first and a second end, said first end of said trailing link being pivotally connected to the vehicle about a first pivotal axis;a further trailing link having a first and a second extremity, said first extremity of said trailing link being pivotally connected to the vehicle about a third pivotal axis;a support arm for supporting the wing plow, said support arm being pivotally secured to said second end of said trailing link about a second pivotal axis; andsaid support arm being pivotally secured to said second extremity of said further trailing link about a fourth pivotal axis, said first, second, third and fourth pivotal axes being disposed spaced and parallel relative to each other so that said trailing link and said further trailing link trail from and are dragged by the vehicle so that during a plowing operation, the wing plow supported by said support arm moves smoothly over the material being moved so that a potentially dangerous diving of the wing plow into the material in a vicinity of said support arm is avoided.

15. A support apparatus for securing a material moving wing plow relative to a vehicle, said support apparatus comprising: a trailing link having a first and a second end, said first end of said trailing link being pivotally connected to the vehicle about a first pivotal axis;a support arm for supporting the wing plow, said support arm being pivotally secured to said second end of said trailing link about a second pivotal axis, said first and second pivotal axes being disposed spaced and parallel relative to each other so that said trailing link trails from and is dragged by the vehicle so that during a plowing operation, the wing plow supported by said support arm moves smoothly over the material being moved so that a potentially dangerous diving of the wing plow into the material in a vicinity of said support arm is avoided;a plate having a first and a second side and a top portion and a bottom portion, said first end of said trailing link being pivotally connected to said top portion of said plate such that said first end of said trailing link is disposed adjacent to said first side of said plate;a beam rigidly secured to the vehicle and to said second side of said plate such that said beam extends between the vehicle and said plate;a casing for the slidable reception therein of said plate;an actuator connected between the vehicle and said plate for controllably and slidably moving said plate relative to said casing;a control device controllably connected to said actuator for controlling an elevation of said plate relative to the vehicle for permitting the wing plow to perform a benching operation;a further trailing link having a first and a second extremity, said first extremity of said trailing link being pivotally connected to the vehicle about a third pivotal axis;said support arm being pivotally secured to said second extremity of said further trailing link about a fourth pivotal axis, said first, second, third and fourth pivotal axes being disposed spaced and parallel relative to each other so that said trailing links trail from and are dragged by the vehicle so that during a plowing operation, the wing plow supported by said support arm moves smoothly over the material being moved so that a potentially dangerous diving of the wing plow into the material in a vicinity of said support arm is avoided;a distance between said first and third pivotal axes is substantially the same as a further distance between said second and fourth pivotal axes so that regardless of an elevational disposition of the wing plow relative to the material being moved, an angle of attack of the wing plow relative to the material being moved remains substantially constant so that said support arm moves smoothly over the material being moved so that a potentially dangerous diving of the wing plow into the material in a vicinity of said support arm is avoided;a spacing between said first and second pivotal axes is substantially the same as a further spacing between said third and fourth pivotal axes so that regardless of an elevational disposition of the wing plow relative to the material being moved, an angle of attack of the wing plow relative to the material being moved remains substantially constant so that said support arm moves smoothly over the material being moved so that a potentially dangerous diving of the wing plow into the material in a vicinity of said support arm is avoided;a lever having a first and a second termination, said lever being pivotally secured to said plate about said first pivotal axis which is disposed between said first and second terminations of said lever, said second termination defining a cradle for selectively supporting said second end of said trailing link; anda moving device connected to said first termination of said lever for rotating said lever about said first pivotal axis such that said moving device rotates said lever between a first disposition thereof in which said second termination of said lever supports and cradles said second end of said trailing link and a second disposition of said lever in which said second termination of said lever is moved away from said second end of said trailing link so that said support arm floats relative to said second termination of said lever.

16. (new claim was 1 in parent) A support apparatus for securing a material moving wing plow relative to a vehicle, said support apparatus comprising: a beam having a first and a second end, said beam being rigidly secured to the vehicle;a plate having a first and a second extremity, said plate being rigidly secured to said beam;a first trailing link pivotally secured to said plate about a first pivotal axis;a second trailing link pivotally secured to said plate about a second pivotal axis; anda support arm for supporting the wing plow, said support arm having a first termination and a second termination, said support arm being pivotally secured to said first trailing link about a third pivotal axis, said support arm being secured to said second trailing link so that during a plowing operation, said first and second trailing links trail away from said plate in a direction which is opposite to a direction of movement of the vehicle such that the wing plow supported by said support arm moves smoothly over the material being moved so that a potentially dangerous diving of the wing plow into the material in a vicinity of said support arm is avoided.

17. A support apparatus as set forth in claim 16 further including: an anchoring plate secured to said first end of said beam for rigidly securing said beam to the vehicle.

18. A support apparatus as set forth in claim 16 further including: a first extension extending from said support arm adjacent to said first termination, said first extension defining a first hole;a second extension extending from said support arm adjacent to said second termination, said second extension defining a second hole;a support pin extending through said first and second holes for locking and supporting the wing plow relative to said support arm.

19. A support apparatus as set forth in claim 16 wherein said support arm being pivotally secured to said second trailing link;

20. A support apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein said support arm being pivotally secured to said second trailing link about a fourth pivotal axis, said first, second, third and fourth pivotal axes being spaced and parallel relative to each other so that when the vehicle moves in a forward direction, said third and fourth pivotal axes trail behind said first and second pivotal axes relative to said forward direction of the vehicle;a further plate having a further first and a further second extremity, said further plate being rigidly secured to said beam between said plate and said first end of said beam;a further first trailing link pivotally secured to said further plate about said first pivotal axis;a further second trailing link pivotally secured to said further plate about said second pivotal axis; andan arm having a further first termination and a further second termination, said arm being pivotally secured to said further first trailing link about said third pivotal axis, said arm being pivotally secured to said further second trailing link about said fourth pivotal axis.

21. A support apparatus as set forth in claim 16 further including: a first extension extending from said support arm adjacent to said first termination, said first extension defining a first hole;a second extension extending from said support arm adjacent to said second termination, said second extension defining a second hole;a support pin extending through said first and second holes for locking and supporting the wing plow relative to said support arm.