US3898753A

US3898753A - Snow plow apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3898753A
Application number: US385477A
Authority: US
Inventors: Roy W Kinnunen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-08-03
Filing date: 1973-08-03
Publication date: 1975-08-12
Anticipated expiration: 1992-08-12
Also published as: CA986710A

Abstract

A snow plow having a blade formed of two blade segments is disclosed, the angle of the segments with respect to each other being adjustable from inside or outside the cab of the vehicle to which the plow is attached. The blade segments are joined by a novel hinging assembly which allows the segments to pivot freely as the angle is changed. The particular curvature of the blade results in the snow being forced over and out of the path of the plow during snow-removal operations.

Description

United States Patent Kinnunen Aug. 12, 1975 SNOW PLOW APPARATUS 3,762,077 10 1973 Henry et al. 37 50 [76] Inventor: Roy W. Kinnunen, 2l 18 E. Front FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Ashland, 54806 286,800 3/1953 Switzerland 37 42 R [22] Filed: Aug. 3, 1973 Primary Examiner-E. H. Eickholt [21] APP]' N07 385477 Attorney, Agent, or FirmFrederick L. Bergert [52] US. Cl 37/46; l72/802 [57] ABSTRACT l5 IIBL A Snow p o having a blade formed of two lade Seg [58] Field of Search 7/4- ,1 6-502, mems is disclosed, the angle of the Segments with 37/42 42 72/80 spect to each other being adjustable from inside or outside the cab of the vehicle to which the plow is at- [56] References cued tached. The blade segments are joined by a novel UNITED STATES PATENTS hinging assembly which allows the segments to pivot 1,867,186 7/ 1932 Soule et al. 37/44 freely as the angle is changed. The particular curva- 1,957,lO3 5/1934 Frink i t 37/42 R ture of the blade results in the snow being forced over 2,778,126 Shannon 3 37/42 R and out of the path of the plow during snow-removal 3,157.099 11/1964 Ulrich 172/802 Operations 3,378 ()84 4/1968 Ulrich 37/46 X 3,670,825 6/1972 Asal et al. 37/42 R X 4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures N I I7 29 7 o 20 I0 v I5 t I5 I L 'J' 5? I 22 I O n SNOW PLOW APPARATUS BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION by a novel hinging assembly, the blade being of a par- 1 ticular curvature designed to throw the snow up and over the plow and with the blade segments being adjustable from either inside or outside the cab of the vehicle to which the plow is attached.

Previous adjustable snow plows have included apparatus such as that described in US. Pat. No. 1,453,811, in which two mold-boards are hinged together and capable of being positioned at various angles with respect to each other by means of a cable and push frame arrangement located adjacent the blades. Other snow plow apparatus is described in US. Pat. No. 1,997,001, in which the blade sections may be set at various angles and held in position by bracing struts located on the sides of the tractor. In the apparatus disclosed in US. Pat. No. 2,428,131, a rotatable screw arrangement is provided for adjusting the position of the snow plow blades with respect to each other. In each of these prior art devices, the operator must remove himself from the interior of his vehicle and manually operate the equipment to position the snow plow blades.

By the present invention there is provided a snow plow having an adjustable blade, with the blade being adjustable from inside or outside the cab of the vehicle by hydraulic or other suitable means. The adjustable snow plow of the present invention includes a blade in the form of two blade segments of equal length joined by a unique hinging assembly. The blade is provided with a curved configuration which is designed to roll the snow over and out of the path of the plow. The hinged arrangement of the blade provides two blade segments whose angle with respect to each other is adjustable from either inside or outside of the cab. Adjustment from inside the cab is provided by means such as a hydraulic system including a source of fluid under pressure, the hydraulic system being operated by a twoway valve inside the cab. The snow plow of the present invention is particularly appropriate for use with trucks or four-wheel drive vehicles.

The blade portion of the present snow plow is easily adjustable from a V or retracted position, to accomplish such tasks as the opening of roads and widening of same, to a flat or straight position for clearing large areas such as parking lots. In the V position, the plow blade has much greater strength than it does in the flat position, the plow being capable of moving much larger quantities of snow with the blade in the V position, since the plow pushes the snow to both sides whilc allowing the vehicle to which it is attached to move along a straight path. With the plow blade in the V" position, the plow is therefore particularly useful for the making of roads, opening and widening of driveways, breaking up snow banks and scraping down mats of frozen snow or slush. The flat position of the blade, on the other hand, is especially suited for such tasks as the clearing of large areas of snow and the spreading and grading of sand and gravel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The advantages of the present invention will become more understandable from the following description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the snow plow of the present invention with the blade segments in the flat or fully opened position;

FIG. 2 is a side view in elevation of the snow plow shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view in elevation of the snow plow shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the snow plow of the present invention, showing the blade segments in a retracted or V-position;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the snow plow of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of a motor vehicle, showing a portion of the apparatus of the present invention installed therein.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, snow plow apparatus 10 is provided for attachment to a vehicle for removal of snow from the path thereof. The apparatus 10 includes a plow blade having two blade segments 14, preferably of steel construction, with the front portion of the inner end 24 of each segment 14 being provided with a plurality of outwardly disposed spaced annular flanges 34 which mesh with corresponding outwardly disposed spaced annular flanges in the inner end portion 24 of the other segment 14. Insertion of a pin 23 into the cylinder formed by the meshed annular flanges 34 results in the blade segments 14 being interlocked in a hinged joint 39 with the segments 14 being pivotal horizontally around the joint in order to allow the angle between the blade segments to be varied,

Welded or otherwise suitably attached to the rear surface of each blade segment 14 is a housing 16, preferably of steel plate, which is contiguous with the blade segments 14 and which extends laterally from the inner end 24 to the midportion of each segment 14. The inner ends 24 of the blade segments 14 with attached housing 16 form an angular configuration, when viewed from above, as shown in FIG. 1, with the hinged joint 39 between blade segments 14 as the point from which the inner ends 24 are angularly disposed with regard to each other, when the plow is in the flat or fully opened position. The slot or opening which is thus formed between the blade segments 14 will, of course, be reduced in size as the blade segments are displaced from the flat position to the retracted or V-position. The opening between blade segments 14 should be of a size sufficient to allow the segments to close upon each other so as to be angularly displaced to the desired extent. One size for the opening which has been used with. good results is that in which the inner ends 24 form an angle of 60 with respect to each other when the plow blades are in the flat configuration. As shown in FIG. 4, with the blade fully retracted, the slot between blade segments 14 has been completely closed, since the inner ends 24 of the blade segments 14 are in engagement with each other.

formed of angle iron or other durable material, the

frame including two horizontally-disposed longitudinal push bars 12 with lugs 13 for pivotal attachment of the frame to a motorized vehicle. The push bars 12 are pivotally connected to brackets 15 which, in turn, are pivotally connected to braces 19 which are attached, as by welding, in a contiguous, parallel relationship with the inner ends 24 of the blade segments 14 and plow housing 16, the braces 19 extending inwardly beyond the housing 16 toward the brackets 15 a distance sufficient to allow the brackets 15 to pivot freely on the inner ends of the braces 19 without being interrupted by the housing 16, when the angle between blade segments 14 is changed. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the brackets 15 are substantially perpendicular to the blade segments 14 when the plow is in the flat, fully opened position, while the brackets have their braceconnected ends displaced inwardly between the push bars 12 to lie directly behind the engaged inner ends 24 of the blade segments 14 when the plow 10 is in the V- position. Cross bar 21 is fixedly attached between the mid-portions of the push arms 12. The previously described arrangement of the push bars 12 with the pivotally attached brackets 15 and braces 19 allows freedom of movement of the inner ends 24 of the blade segments 14 when changing the angle between segments while providing a reinforcing action at the rear of the center portion of the blade when the plow is in operation. This reinforcing action is attributable primarily to the location of the brackets 15 with respect to the blade segments 14 in both the flat and V-positions, the particular angle of the brackets 15 with the blade segments 14 as described having been found to produce the maximum support for the blade segments 14 in each position. The relative positions of these various members in the different blade angle configurations is clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. A support member 18 is attached, as by welding, to the outer ends of the push bars 12, member 18 having a vertically inclined portion for attachment thereto of a chain which is employed in raising and lowering the plow as described hereinafter. Two plow shoes 57 are bolted to the rear portion of the housing on either side.

A horizontally-disposed side brace 17 is provided between each arm l2 and the corresponding extreme end of the plow housing 16, each side brace 17 being pivotally attached by pins or other suitable rneans to the respective arm 12 and to a bracket 58 mounted on the housing 16. A bracket is attached at the mid-portion of each side brace 17 and extends upwardly to a point of pivotal attachment on a connecting bar 22 mounted on the upper portion of the housing 16. The point of attachment of each bracket 20 to the housing 16 is preferably directly above the point of attachment of the respective side brace 17 to the housing 16, in order to provide the necessary structural rigidity of support frame to blade. Each side brace 17 is provided with a plurality of holes 29 to allow the braces 17 to be locked into position at various angles by removing the pin connecting the side brace 17 to its respective arm 12, positioning the brace 17 with another hole 29 over the pin hole in the push arm 12 and reinserting the pin.

As previously mentioned, the support frame for attaching the snow plow of the present invention to a motorized vehicle includes a set of push bars 12 with lugs 13 for pivotal attachment to the vehicle. In order to raise and lower the snow plow, there is mounted on the front of the vehicle 41, as shown in FIG. 6, a rectangular-shaped frame 25 having welded thereto a series of horizontal cross-bars 59, the frame 25 being mounted on the vehicle 41 by means such as nut-and-bolt attachments to the front bumper system. Mounted on the frame 25 is a lifting device 42, which may be of standard construction, the lifting device including a pivoted arm 26 which is adapted to be raised or lowered by an hydraulic cylinder 27. The forward end of the arm 26 carries a nose chain 31 which is attached to the plow at support member 18. By raising the arm 26, the entire plow is raised by the nose chain 31 so that the plow is lifted clear of the road. Thus the lifting device 42 provides a means of raising or lowering the snow plow so that the blade may engage the road or other surface when it is desired to remove snow and ice therefrom, while the plow may be raised to an inoperative position when the vehicle is not engaged in snow removal activities. The plow should be raised an inch or more above the ground when the angle between blade segments 14 is adjusted manually. It is not necessary, however, to raise the plow when the blade segments 14 are adjusted hydraulically. Auxiliary head lights 28 are mounted on the top of the frame 25 and connected by conventional electric wiring to the electrical system of the vehicle for use in conjunction with the primary head lights of the vehicle.

The plow blade has a curved surface formed in a concave configuration, as viewed from the front, with the curvature of the inner end portion 24 of each blade segment 14 having a smaller radius than the curvature of the outer end so that the snow will tend to move toward the ends and out of the path of the plow. In addition, the center of the curve extends from the lower portion of the inner end 24 of each segment 14 progressively upwardly to the upper portion of the outer end of each segment 14. In this way, the snow is diverted upwardly and outwardly away from the path of the plow.

Horizontal strips 32 formed of angle iron are welded to the back side of each blade segment 14 along the upper and lower edges to reinforce the top and bottom of the blade. An additional metal strip 61 is welded to the top of each blade segment 14 and extends upwardly toward the rear at an angle of about 45 to assist in allowing the snow to be thrown clear when the plow is in use. Also, a hardened steel scraper blade strip 62 approximately 4 inches in width is attached along the lower front edge of each blade segment 14. As shown in FIG. 3, the blade segments 14 are provided with a built-up portion 33 adjacent the inner end portions 24 of each segment 14, this portion 33 being the outer surface of the slot or opening provided between the inner end portions 24 of the blade segments 14 in order to allow the blade segments 14 to close upon each other when the angle between blade segments 14 is varied.

In the embodiment of the present invention as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the blade angle is changed by a hydraulic assembly which allows the operator of the vehicle to adjust the angle between blade segments,14 without leaving the cab. As shown in FIG. 5, this assembly includes a pair of hydraulic cylinders 36 with the outer end of the piston rod 37 of each cylinder 36 being pivotally connected to a respective bracket 38 mounted on the housing 16 of each blade segment 14. The inner ends of the cylinders 36 are pivotally connected to the push bars 12. The hydraulic fluid system for operating the cylinders 36 may be of standard construction, with a hydraulic conduit 43 and 44 being provided from each end of each cylinder 36 and terminating in

coupling elements

45 and 46 of known construction to allow quick connection of the conduits 43 and 44 to conduits located on the vehicle in communication with a source of fluid under pressure.

As shown in FIG. 6, the vehicle 41 is provided at its front end with two

sets

47 and 48 of couplings at the ends of

conduits

49 and 50 extending from a conventional two-way control valve 51 which communicates with a source 52 of fluid under pressure and a sump 53. Two couplings 47 and two couplings 48 are required, one set for linking with the conduits from each of the two cylinders 36 on the snow plow. In order to provide uniform operation of both cylinders 36, the conduits 43 attached to the outer ends of each cylinder 36 are connected to couplings 47, both of which lead to conduit 49, while the conduits 44 attached to the inner ends of the cylinders 36 are both connected to couplings 48 which lead to conduit 50. The source 52 of fluid under pressure may be a pressure tank as shown, with pressure being supplied by any suitable means, such as a pump 54 operated by a fan belt 55 running from the engine 56 of the vehicle 41. The valve 51 is positioned in the vehicle so that it will be within convenient reach of the operator when he sits behind the steering wheel of his vehicle. The two-way control valve 51 allows the operator to vary the blade segments 14 between the V- position and the flat position by changing the valve from one position to the other. With the plow in the V- position, for example, by positioning the valve 51 so that fluid pressure is provided through conduit 50 on the vehicle to conduits 44 on the plow, each piston rod 37 is forced out of its respective cylinder 36 with the result that blade segments 14 are pivoted into the flat or fully opened position. Changing the position of the valve 51 so that fluid pressure is provided through conduit 49 to the outer ends of the cylinders 36 results in the blade segments 14 being returned to the V-position.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the forms hereinbefore described being merely preferred embodiments thereof.

It is claimed:

1. A snow plow having an adjustable blade which may be positioned in either a flat, fully opened position or a retracted V-position for use with a lifting device mounted on the front end of a motor vehicle, comprisa. a plow blade formed of two curved blade segments,

the front portion of the inner end of each segment being provided with a plurality of outwardly disposed spaced annular flanges which mesh with corresponding outwardly disposed spaced annular flanges in the inner end portion of the other segment, the two blade segments being joined by a pin having a diameter slightly less than the inner diameter of the cylinder formed by the meshed annular flanges of the two blade segments, so that insertion of the pin into said cylinder results in the blade segments being interlocked in a hinged joint, the inner ends of the blade segments being angularly disposed with respect to each other from the hinged joint when the blade segments are in the flat position to form an opening of a size which is sufficient to allow the blade segments to be adjusted between the flat position and the V-position;

a blade housing secured to the rear surface of each blade segment;

c. a support frame including a pair of horizontal push bars, each push bar having a lug arrangement for mounting on the vehicle and with the push bar being pivotally connected to a respective horizontal bracket pivotally mounted on a brace which is secured to the inner end of one of the blade segments and the adjacent housing; and

d. means attached to the blade housing for varying the angle between blade segments;

the braces connected to the inner ends of the blade segments extending from the blade segments a distance sufficient to allow the brackets to pivot freely on the inner ends of the braces so that the brackets are substantially perpendicular to the blade segments when the plow is in the flat, fully opened position, while the brackets have their brace-connected ends displaced inwardly to lie directly behind the engaged inner ends of the blade segments when the plow is in the V-position.

2. The snow plow of claim 1 wherein the means for varying the angle between blade segments includes a pair of hydraulic cylinders pivotally secured to the sup port frame and with each of the pistons thereof pivotally secured to the housing of a respective blade segment.

3. The snow plow of claim 2 wherein the hydraulic cylinders are hydraulically connected to a two-way valve located in the cab of the motor vehicle, with the valve being connected to a source of fluid under pressure.

4. The snow plow of claim 1 wherein each blade segment is formed in a concave configuration as viewed from the front, the curvature of the inner end portion of each blade segment having a smaller radius than the curvature of the outer end, and wherein the center of the curve extends from the lower portion of the inner end of each segment progressively upwardly to the upper portion of the outer end of each segment, so that the snow will be diverted upwardly and outwardly away from the path of the plow.

Claims

1. A snow plow having an adjustable blade which may be positioned in either a flat, fully opened position or a retracted V-position for use with a lifting device mounted on the front end of a motor vehicle, comprising: a. a plow blade formed of two curved blade segments, the front portion of the inner end of each segment being provided with a plurality of outwardly disposed spaced annular flanges which mesh with corresponding outwardly disposed spaced annular flanges in the inner end portion of the other segment, the two blade segments being joined by a pin having a diameter slightly less than the inner diameter of the cylinder formed by the meshed annular flanges of the two blade segments, so that insertion of the pin into said cylinder results in the blade segments being interlocked in a hinged joint, the inner ends of the blade segments being angularly disposed with respect to each other from the hinged joint when the blade segments are in the flat position to form an opening of a size which is sufficient to allow the blade segments to be adjusted between the flat position and the V-position; b. a blade housing secured to the rear surface of each blade segment; c. a support frame including a pair of horizontal push bars, each push bar having a lug arrangement for mounting on the vehicle and with the push bar being pivotally connected to a respective horizontal bracket pivotally mounted on a brace which is secured to the inner end of one of the blade segments and the adjacent housing; and d. means attached to the blade housing for varying the angle between blade segments; the braces connected to the inner ends of the blade segments extending from the blade segments a distance sufficient to allow the brackets to pivot freely on the inner ends of the braces so that the brackets are substantially perpendicular to the blade segments when the plow is in the flat, fully opened position, while the brackets have their brace-connected ends displaced inwardly to lie directly behind the engaged inner ends of the blade segments when the plow is in the V-position.

2. The snow plow of claim 1 wherein the means for varying the angle between blade segments includes a pair of hydraulic cylinders pivotally secured to the support frame and with each of the pistons thereof pivotally secured to the housing of a respective blade segment.