Folding blade for a clearing apparatus with a blade

Abstract

A folding blade for a clearing apparatus with a clearing blade includes a folding bar, a lever mechanism for pivotally mounting the folding bar on a base part of the clearing blade, and a spring element for arrangement between the base part and the lever mechanism, for returning the folding bar to an initial position in which the folding bar forms an extension of a blade plate of the clearing blade. The lever mechanism is designed in such a way that the folding bar is pivotable from the initial position to a retracted position along a first pivoting path by overcoming a spring force of the spring element, and that the folding bar is pivotable from the retracted position to the initial position along a second pivoting path due to the spring force.

Claims

1. A folding blade for a clearing apparatus having a clearing blade, the folding blade comprising: a) a folding bar; b) a lever mechanism configured to pivotally mount the folding bar on a base part of the clearing blade; c) a spring element arranged between the base part and the lever mechanism, the spring element configured to return the folding bar to an initial position in which the folding bar forms an extension of a blade plate of the clearing blade; and wherein the lever mechanism is configured such that the folding bar is pivotable from the initial position to a retracted position along a first pivoting path by overcoming a spring force of the spring element, and such that the folding bar is configured to pivot from the retracted position to the initial position along a second pivoting path due to the spring force; and wherein the lever mechanism is configured such that the second pivoting path is different from the first pivoting path.

2. The folding blade according to claim 1, wherein the second pivoting path comprises: a first path section, adjacent the retracted position, in which the pivoting path corresponds to a pure pivotal movement about a single axis of rotation, and a second path section in which the pivoting path corresponds to a superposition of two pivotal movements about two spaced axes of rotation.

3. The folding blade according to claim 1, wherein: the lever mechanism comprises an elbow lever comprising a first elbow lever element hingedly connected to the base part of the clearing blade and comprising a second elbow lever element connected to the folding bar in a rotationally fixed manner, the second elbow lever element and the first elbow lever element are hingedly connected to one another, and the spring element is configured to act on the second elbow lever element.

4. The folding blade according to claim 3, wherein the spring element is configured to act on the second elbow lever element via a deflection mechanism.

5. The folding blade according to claim 4, wherein: the deflection mechanism comprises a deflection lever rotatably mounted on the base part and a coupling rod, the spring element and the coupling rod are mounted on the deflection lever at spaced pivot points, and the coupling rod is pivotally connected to the second elbow lever element.

6. The folding blade according to claim 5, wherein the deflection lever, the coupling rod and the spring element are configured and arranged such that a restoring force on the folding bar in the retracted position is less than in the restoring force in the initial position.

7. The folding blade according to claim 3, comprising a first stop for the first elbow lever element arranged on the base part, wherein in the retracted position the first elbow lever element rests against the first stop.

8. The folding blade according to claim 2, wherein the second elbow lever element comprises a second stop arranged on the base part, the second stop configured such that in a section of the second pivoting path the second elbow lever element is guided by an outer contour of the second stop.

9. The folding blade according to claim 8, wherein, in the initial position, the second stop is configured and arranged to cooperate with the second elbow lever element to prevent movement of the folding bar along the first pivoting path upon a force acting on the folding bar from a rear side of a main plane of the folding bar.

10. The folding blade according to claim 3, comprising a second stop for the second elbow lever element arranged on the base part, the second stop configured such that in a section of the second pivoting path the second elbow lever element is guided by an outer contour of the second stop.

11. The folding blade according to claim 10, wherein, in the initial position, the second stop is configured and arranged to cooperate with the second elbow lever element to prevent movement of the folding bar along the first pivoting path upon a force acting on the folding bar from a rear side of a main plane of the folding bar.

12. A clearing blade, comprising: a folding blade comprising a) a folding bar; b) a lever mechanism configured to pivotally mount the folding bar on a base part of the clearing blade; c) a spring element arranged between the base part and the lever mechanism, the spring element configured to return the folding bar to an initial position in which the folding bar forms an extension of a blade plate of the clearing blade; and wherein the lever mechanism is configured such that the folding bar is pivotable from the initial position to a retracted position along a first pivoting path by overcoming a spring force of the spring element, and such that the folding bar is configured to pivot from the retracted position to the initial position along a second pivoting path due to the spring force; and wherein the lever mechanism is configured such that the second pivoting path is different from the first pivoting path; and wherein the folding blade is pivotally arranged on the clearing blade so as to pivot from an initial position, in which the folding bar of the folding blade forms an extension of a blade plate of the clearing blade, to a retracted position, wherein the folding bar does not enter a path space defined by the clearing blade with the folding blade either during pivoting from the initial position to the retracted position along the first pivoting path or during pivoting from the retracted position to the initial position along the second pivoting path.

13. The clearing blade according to claim 12, further comprising: a central receiving opening configured to receive at least one of a blower wheel and a snow blower wheel, a first folding blade arranged on a first side of the receiving opening, a second folding blade arranged on a second side of the receiving opening, and wherein the folding bars of the first folding blade and the second folding blade are arranged to extend into an area below the receiving opening.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043] Further advantages features and details of the various embodiments of this disclosure will become apparent from the ensuing description of a preferred exemplary embodiment or embodiments and further with the aid of the drawings. The features and combinations of features recited below in the description, as well as the features and feature combination shown after that in the drawing description or in the drawings alone, may be used not only in the particular combination recited but also in other combinations on their own without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

[0044] The following is an advantageous embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein:

[0045] FIG. 1 depicts an oblique view of an embodiment of the folding blade according to the invention;

[0046] FIG. 2 depicts an exploded view of the lever mechanism of the folding blade;

[0047] FIG. 3A and 3B depict a side view of the folding blade in the initial position and in the retracted position;

[0048] FIGS. 4A-E depict the motion sequence of the folding blade when it pivots back after hitting an obstacle; and

[0049] FIGS. 5A-E depict the motion sequence of the folding blade during return to the initial position.

[0050] In principle, the same parts are given the same reference signs in the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0051] As used throughout the present disclosure, unless specifically stated otherwise, the term “or” encompasses all possible combinations, except where infeasible. For example, the expression “A or B” shall mean A alone, B alone, or A and B together. If it is stated that a component includes “A, B, or C”, then, unless specifically stated otherwise or infeasible, the component may include A, or B, or C, or A and B, or A and C, or B and C, or A and B and C. Expressions such as “at least one of” do not necessarily modify an entirety of the following list and do not necessarily modify each member of the list, such that “at least one of “A, B, and C” should be understood as including not only one of A, only one of B, only one of C, or any combination of A, B, and C.

[0052] FIG. 1 shows an oblique view of an example of the folding blade according to the invention, viewed laterally from the rear. The example relates to a clearing apparatus with a clearing blade width of 220 cm, but the folding blade shown can also be used for larger and smaller clearing blade widths. The folding blade 1 is arranged on the clearing blade 2 and comprises two folding bars 6 made of steel. Visible in FIG. 1 is the right half of the clearing blade up to a central blower wheel housing 3. The left side is essentially symmetrical to the right side and comprises its own folding bar 6, whereby in the initial position shown, the two folding bars 6 meet in the center up to a distance of approx. 5-10 mm.

[0053] The folding blade 1 comprises a base part 5, the folding bar 6 and a lever mechanism 10, via which the folding bar 6 is connected to the base part 5 or the clearing blade 2, respectively. For this purpose, two bearing plates 7, 8 in particular are welded to the clearing blade 2. Further bearing points are formed on the base part 5. The lever mechanism 10, which is described in more detail below in connection with FIG. 2, is acted upon by a hollow rubber spring 30 acting as a compression spring and being pivotably mounted on the clearing blade 2 via a spring guide rod 31. The spring guide rod 31 presses on a contact roller 41, which is mounted at one end of a deflection lever 40. The deflection lever 40 is pivotably mounted on the clearing blade 2 between the bearing plates 7, 8 and comprises two parallel, essentially triangular lever plates 40a, 40b, which are connected to one another in the region of the three corners via axles; the contact roller 41 is mounted on one of these axles. At the end opposite the contact roller 41, the deflection lever 40 is pivotably connected to a coupling rod 45 via an axle 42. This is designed as a steel profile with two bearing tubes welded to each end and acts on the lever mechanism 10, as described in detail below.

[0054] The lever mechanism 10 is described in more detail with reference to the exploded view in FIG. 2. It consists largely of steel components. It comprises two lever elements 11, each comprising two lateral lever arms 11a, 11b which are connected to each other by a connecting plate 11c. The connecting plates 11c are screwed by means of several screws to one each of two fastening plates 6a welded to the folding bar 6 The folding bars 6 can thus be easily replaced as soon as they are worn out.

[0055] An axle 12 is mounted at the free ends of the lever arms 11a, 11b of each lever element 11. Via this, a rotary arm 13 is pivotably mounted at its first end on the lever element 11. The rotary arm 13 comprises a bearing tube 13a and two lever arms 13b, 13c arranged non-rotatably on the bearing tube 13a. The bearing tube 13a accommodates the axle 12. The lever element 11 and the rotary arm 13 thus form an elbow lever, and the axle 12 forms the axis of rotation of the elbow lever. At the second end of the rotary arm 13, an axle 14 is mounted on the lever arms 13b, 13c. Via this, the rotary arm 13 is pivotably mounted on the base part 5 of the folding blade 1 (see FIG. 3A, 3B).

[0056] A further axle 46 is mounted between the two lever elements 11, on which the coupling rod 45 is pivotably mounted. The various axles are each accommodated in plain bearings formed by bearing bushes made of a polyoxymethylene copolymer (POM-C).

[0057] FIGS. 3A, 3B show a side view of the folding blade in the initial position and in the retracted position, respectively. The direction of travel points to the right. In the initial position shown in FIG. 3A, both the front main surface of the base part 5 and the front main surface of the folding bar 6 lie in the extension of the clearing blade 2. They enclose an angle of 45° with the vertical. In the context of the present documents, this angle is defined as “positive”.

[0058] In the initial position, the hollow rubber spring 30 is in the maximum relaxed position. It pushes the deflection lever 40 obliquely downward, counterclockwise to its end position, which is defined by the stop 55 that interacts with the lever plates of the deflection lever 40. The stop 55 is adjustable by means of a set screw, so that the end position of the lever mechanism 10 and thus the end position of the folding bar 6 in the initial position can be adjusted. The coupling rod 45 acts on the lever element 11, which is firmly connected to the folding bar 6 (cf. also FIG. 5E, where the corresponding linkage can be seen), and pushes it together with the folding bar 6 in the direction of travel. In the initial position, the lever element 11 is oriented practically horizontally, while the second element of the elbow lever, the pivoting arm 13 mounted on the base part 5, forms an angle of slightly more than 90° with the lever element 11 and points practically vertically upwards.

[0059] In the retracted position shown in FIG. 3B, the front main surface of the folding bar 6 encloses an angle of −70° with the vertical. It is thus pivoted by 115° with respect to the initial position. Accordingly, the hollow rubber spring 30 is in a compressed position and the deflection lever 40 is pivoted clockwise with respect to the initial position. The axis 12, which forms the axis of rotation of the elbow lever, has moved upwards between the initial position and the retracted position together with the folding bar 6 and it is in contact with the stop 51. The angle between the elements of the elbow lever, i.e. the lever element 11 and the rotating arm 13, is again approximately 90°.

[0060] FIGS. 4A-4E illustrate the movement sequence of the folding blade when it pivots back after hitting an obstacle. The folding blade 1 typically contacts the obstacle 9 with the lower end of the folding bar 6 (FIG. 4A). As long as the obstacle 9 does not exceed a certain height, 30 mm in the example shown, it can be driven over without raising the clearing blade: The folding bar 6 folds back, and the obstacle 9 passes under the base part 5 of the folding blade 1, which is firmly connected to the clearing blade 2. The folding back is triggered by the action of the obstacle 9, which initially causes the folding bar 6 to pivot in a clockwise direction (FIG. 4B). This also causes the lever element 11, which is fixed to the folding bar 6, to rotate clockwise around the axis 12. Due to the elbow lever, the rotating arm 13 thereby moves clockwise around the axis 14, which is fixed to the base part 5, so that the axis of rotation of the elbow lever, the axis 12, and thus the folding bar 6 are moved upwards. This superimposed movement takes place until the rotating arm 13 stops against the corresponding stop 51 (FIG. 4C). Subsequently, a pure rotary movement takes place around the axis 12 of the elbow lever until a sufficient negative pivot angle is reached that the obstacle 9 can be passed (FIGS. 4D, 4E).

[0061] During pivoting-back, the lever element 11 acts on the hollow rubber spring 30 via the coupling rod 45 and the deflection lever 40, compressing the spring.

[0062] FIGS. 5A-5E show the movement sequence of the folding blade when it is returned to the initial position. The return movement takes place due to the spring force of the compressed hollow rubber spring 30. It starts as soon as the force of the obstacle is removed. The hollow rubber spring 30 acts on the deflection lever 40 via the spring guide rod 31 and moves it counterclockwise. This results in a substantially linear compressive force of the coupling rod 45 on the lever element 11, which is fixedly connected to the folding bar 6 (FIG. 5A). Due to

the fact that the rotating arm 13 rests against the stop 51, this initially results in a purely rotational movement about the axis 12, so that the folding bar is pivoted in a counterclockwise direction in the direction of the initial position. As soon as the lever element 11 contacts the stop 53 arranged on the base part 5 of the folding blade 1 (FIG. 5B), the elbow lever is also pivoted about the axis 14 via which the rotary arm 13 is mounted on the base part 5. This results in a superposition of the two pivoting movements, controlled by the downward sliding of the lever element 11 along the stop 53 (FIG. 5C).

[0063] In contrast to the pivoting back as described in connection with FIG. 4, an intermediate position is now reached (FIG. 5D), in which the folding bar 6 has already largely assumed its original pivoting position, but is still in a raised position, above the ground. Finally, the folding bar 6, further guided by the interaction between the lever element 11 and the stop 53, is moved downward in a practically linear movement until it reaches the initial position (FIG. 5E).

[0064] The invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment. In particular, the folding blade can have further movable and/or immovable elements. The geometry of the levers, the bearings and the spring element may be chosen differently. As described above, in particular the lever elements interacting with stops can have a specific outer contour in order to control or influence this interaction.

[0065] In summary, the invention creates a folding blade that provides improved folding bar return and thus better clearing results.