US1796166A - Snow-packing machine - Google Patents

Description

March 10, 1931. J SHARP 1,796,166

SNOW PACKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 9. 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY March 1 0, 193 1. SHARP 1,796,166

SNOW PACKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 9. 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY March 10, 1931 A, SHARP 1,796,166

SNOW PACKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 9. 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ATTORNEY March 10, 1931, I J SHARP 1,796,166

SNOW PACKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 9. 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 a T Q {Zia 9. 9.

ATTORNEY March 10, 1931. J A, SHARP 1,796,166

SNOW PACKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 9, 1929 5-She6tS-Sh980 5 HJL INVENTOR ATTO R NEY Patented Mar. 10, 1931 PATENT OFFICE JAMES A. SHARP, OF HAMILTON, NORTH DAKOTA SNOW-PACKING MACHINE Application filed December 9, 1929. Serial No. 412,827.

This invention relates to snow packing machines, and has as its primary object to provide a means especially designed for use in localities where the snow lies on the roads for B as many as five months each winter and where it is practically impossible to clear the roads of the snow so that the road may be used for travel. It is true that snow plows have been employed for the purpose of clear- 110 ing the road, temporarily of snow, by casting the snow to one side of the road or to both sides of the road, but this only results in the accumulation of more snow in a very short time, and a road thus repeatedly cleared be '15 comes impassable for automobile and truck travel. In View of the foregoing the present invention hasas its primary object to provide a snow plow which will when drawn over the I road, pack the snow in such a manner that "-2 traflic may travel over the road with substantially the same facility as though the road was not covered with snow.

In order to accomplish the results above outlined, the invention further contemplates 13.5 the provision of a machine of this type em- .bodying a number of units, each performing a different function with the final result that the snow which is accumulated on a road surface may, as stated be so packed and :1 leveled as to permit the ready passage of tralfie thereover. I

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction, and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts,

to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing my invention in detail, refer ence will be had to' the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughoutthe several views, and in which Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the snow packing machine embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the machine.

Figure 3 isa bottom plan View of the machine.

' Figure 4 is a vertical transverse sectional View taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 1. 7

Figure 5 is a similar view on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a similar view on the line 6-6 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a similar view on the line 77 of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a similar view on the line 8-8 of Figure 1.

The mechanism of the machine is supported by runners, indicated by the numerals 1 andthese runners are of wood and provided upon their lower curved forward end portions with shoes 2 of strap iron to prevent wear of the runners and facilitate the passage thereof over the snow. The runners are connected at their forward ends by a cross beam 3, and at their rear ends by a cross beam 4, and two other cross beams 5 and 6 are mounted at their ends upon the upper sides of the runners 1 and secured thereto, and longitudinal beams 7 are secured at their ends to the under sides of the cross beams 5 and 6 and are parallel to and suitably spaced from the respective runners 1. The cross beam 3 constitutes means for the attachment of draft chains or other connections whereby the machine maybe drawn by horses.

The unit of the machine which first func- 7 tions, as the machine is drawn overthe snow covered highway, is in the nature of a snow distributor which comprises a wooden oblong rectangular blade, indicated by the numeral 8, and which blade has secured to its rear side, metal plates 9 having forwardly extending wings 10 of substantially triangular form, which wings are pivotally connected by bolts 11 to the runners 1 and thus support the blade 8 of the distributor, the lower edge of the blade being beveled in a rearward direction as indicated by the numeral 12 and a bar 13 of metal beingsecured to the front face of the blade and extending along the lower edge thereof to prevent wear.

The numeral 14 indicates one of a number of hand levers which are mounted within a cab 15 mounted upon the longitudinal beam 16, in turn mounted upon the cross beams 5 and 6 intermediate the ends thereof. A crank arm 17 extends from the lower end of the lever and a connecting rod 18 is connected to the rear end of the crank arm and at its lower end to the rear side of the distributor blade 8,, at a point near the upper edge thereof, as indicated by the numeral 19. The adjustment of-the lever l l, of course,eifectsraising or lowering movement of the'distributor blade 8, and this blade is designed to level the surface of the snow by evenly distributing the r i to impose a 'oertain'weight upon the blades same over the road surface.

The second unit of the machine is designed as a snow or crust cutter and comprises a beam 20 which is provided with hinge members 21 at its ends conn cted to ointle dins V 23 mounted upon the lnner sides or the runners 1 and restrained against displacement by hammer straps 24:, each of whichis likewise secured to a respective runner at one of its ends, and has its other end positioned over a pint-1e pin A number of plates 25'are provided at their forward ends with right 'angularly directed attaching portions 26 which are secured to the rear side of the beam 20 so that the plates, 25 are positioned in spaced parallel. relation to one another throughout the entire'seriesa A weight 27 is mounted upon the beami20 and imposes weight on the beam so as to cause the blades 25 to enter into the snow. A connecting rod 28 is connected at its lower end to the'beam substantially. midway between the ends thereof and at its upper end is connected to one arm of an angle lever mounted upon thefront cross beam 5 and,

to the other end of this angle lever is connected a rod 30 leading to'and-connected to another hand lever, which is indicated by the nu'meral31, and which is locatedbeside the hand lever 14 within the cab 15. The lever 31 constituting means whereby the beam. and

the blades carriedthereby may be raised and lowered. The purpose of the blades is to out into the snow and loosen the same, thereby disintegrating any clods of snow which may be present upon the highway. The third unit of the machine comprises shafts-32 each of which is mounted atone endin one of the beams 7 and at its other end in the respective runner 1 mounted upon each of theseshafts are wheels 33', these wheels being preferably six in number in each series, andyprovided with rims or tires 34, these wheels serving to level and somewhat pack the snow which has been loosened by the blades. 25.

I The fourth unit of the machine is a snow ing curved forward end portions 40 are se curedat their forward ends to the forward another in a series located midway between the runners 1. A weight 42 is arranged upon the upper sidegofthe platform 35 and serves 39 .to cause them to pass through the snow.

"AL connecting rod 43 is connected at-its lower end to the platform 35 near the rear side thereof and substantially midway between the ends of the platform, and is connected at its upper end to one arm 4140f an angle lever,.the other arm 45 of thesaid lever, which leveris mounted .uponthebeam 16 at the rear end thereof, having connected toit a connecting rod 46 which extends forwardly and is connected to a hand lever 47 located within the cab 15 besidethe lever 41.

The fifth unit of the plow is a rutv forming unit which follows the last part of themachineand this unit comprises an oblong rectangular head 48 to the under side of which are secured two relatively spaced shoes 49 which are made of wood and which are of substantiallyflwedge formation and which sides of each shoe and extending around the pointedxend thereof. The head 48 is COI1+ nected by chains 51 with the rear ends of the runners 1, and inorder that the unit may be elevated or tilted, a plate 52'is secured upon the upperside of the head 48 midway between the ends thereof and a connecting link 53 is hinged at its lower end to the forward end of the plate, and is connected at its upper end to one arm 55 of. an angleflever, the other arm of the angle lever, indicated by the numeral 56,.having connected to it the rear end of a 'connecting'rod 57*which extends forwardly and is connected to a'lever 58 located within the cab15 beside the lever 47, the angle lever 56 being mounted for rocking movement upon an upright 49 mounted upon the rear cross beam 4. The shoes 49 are spaced apart the same distance as the wheels of an automobile and-serve toidisplace the snowtin the ruts which have been; formed by the blades 25, wheels 33, and the :blades '39.

The sixth or final ,unit of the machine con-. stitutes a rear drag,jwhich is indicated by the numeral '59 and comprises :an oblong rectangular slab of wood orironwhich is drawn over the'surface of the snow throughthe me dium of chains 60 which are connected to theendof the drag. and to ears 61 upon the rear ends of the runners 1. In order that the drag may readily pass-over the surface of the packed .snow, the drag is formed at its under and forward sides with a rounded surface, indicated by the numeral 62 and it will be observed by reference to Figure 1 that this drag is located rearwardly of the beam of the head 48 carrying the shoes 49 and, by reference to Figure 2 that it is slightly longer than the said head 48. It will be observed by reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing that the rear ends of the chains 60 are connected to eye members 63 at the forward edge of the drag and preferably, similar eye members 64 are arranged at the rear edge of the said drag at the ends thereof so that the drag may be reversed, and when the drag is used to smooth the snow the rounded side 62 is presented forwardly, and when it is used to level the snow and remove waves in the surface thereof and assist in filling up holes in the road, the drag is reversed and theshoes 59 are connected to the eyes 64c and is let down when the drag is employed as a means for pushing the snow from the road, at which time, the chains will be preferably arranged in diagonal crossed relation to each other. When the drag is employed to level off the sides of the road, the chains 60 are arranged diagonally, one chain being secured to the rear end of the right hand runner of the machine and the other chain being secured to the other side of the right hand runner at a point several feet in advance of the rear end of said runner.

WVhat I claim is 1. In a snow packing machine, runners, a snow distributing blade mounted between the runners, means operable to effect up and down adjustment of the blade, a snow and snow crust cutting unit comprising a cross beam mounted between the runners, and a plurality of spaced blades mounted thereon, the said beam being mounted in rear of the distributing blade, rotary packing wheels mounted in rear ofthe said snow and snow crust cutting blades, a unit for further packing the snow comprising a platform located in rear of said packing wheels, and blades mounted upon the underside thereof, and a rut forming unit comprising a pair of spaced shoes to follow the last mentioned unit and form ruts in the packed snow.

2. In a snow packing machine, runners, a snow distributing blade mounted between the runners, the said blade extending transversely between the runners, a bar extending along the blade at the lower edge thereof, the lower edge of the blade being beveled upwardly and rearwardly from the fcrwarr side of the blade, means operable to effect up and down adjustment of the blade, a snow and snow crust cutting unit comprising a cross beam mounted between the runners and a plurality of spaced blades mounted thereon, the said beam being mounted in rear of the distributing blade, rotary packing wheels mounted in rear of the said snow and snow crust cutting blades, a unit for further packrut forming unit comprising a pair of spaced shoes to follow the last mentioned unit and form ruts in the packed snow.

, 8. In a snow packing machine, runners, a snow distributing blade mounted between the runners, means operable to effect up and down adjustment of the blade, a snow and snow crustcutting unit comprising a cross beam mounted between the runners and a plurality of spaced blades mounted thereon, the said beam being mounted in rear of the distributing blade, the said beam being mounted for upward and downward swinging movement, means operable to swingingly adjust the beam, rotary packing wheels mounted in rear of the said snow and snow crust cutting blades, a unit for further packing the snow comprising a platform located in rear of said packing wheels, and blades mounted upon the underside thereof, and a rut forming unit comprising a pair of spaced shoes to follow the last mentioned unit and form ruts in the packed snow.

4:. I11 a snow packing machine, runners, a snow distributing blade mounted between the runners, means operable to effect up and down adjustment of the blade, a snow and snow crust cutting unit comprising a cross beam mounted between the runners and a plurality of spaced blades mounted thereon, the said beam being mounted in rear of the distributing blade, rotary packing wheels mounted in rear of the said snow and snow crust cutting blades, a unit for further packing the snow comprising a platform located in rear of said packing wheels, and blades mounted upon the under side thereof, means at the forward side of the platform, supporting the platform for upward and downward swinging movement, means operatively connected with the rear portion of the platform and operable to adjust the same to raise and lower the platform, and a rut forming unit comprising a pair of spaced shoes to follow the last mentioned unit and form ruts in the packed snow.

5. In a snow packing machine, runners, a

snow distributing blade mounted between the runners, means operable to effect up and down adjustment of the blade, a snow and snow crust cutting unit comprising a cross beam mounted between the runners and a plurality I the beam, andmeans operable to tilt the said beam, thesaid means having connection with V i the forward portion of the beam.

'6. -na snow packing machine, runners, a snow distributing blade mounted between the runners, means operable to efiect up and down adjustment of the blade, a snow and snow crust cutting unit comprising a cross beam mounted between therunners and a plurality of spaced blades mounted thereon, the said beam being mounte'd in rear of the distributing blade, rotary packing Wheels mounted inrear of the said snow and snoys erust cutting blades, a unit'for further packingthe snow comprising a platform located in rear of said packing Wheels, and blades mounted upon the underside thereof, a rut V forming unit comprising a pair of spaced shoes to followtthelast mentioned unit and form ruts in the packed snow, and a rear drag comprisingan oblong slab ofwood connected with the runners to be drawn in rear of the rut forming unit.

7 Ina snow packing machine, runners, a snow distributing blade mountedbetween the runners, means operable to effect up and down adjustmento-f the blade, asnow and snow crust cuttingunit comprisinga cross beam mounted betWeen-the runners and a plurality of spaced blades mounted thereon, a Weight upon the upper side :of said beam, rotary packing Wheels mounted in rear of the said snow and, snow crust cutting blades, a unit for further packing the snow comprisinga platform located in rear of said packing Wheels, a Weight upon the said platform, and blades, mounted uponlthe underside thereof, and'a rut formingunitcomprising a pair of spaced shoes to'rfollow the lastmentioned unit and formruts in the packed snow.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

' JAMES A. SHARP. V

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