SNOW PLOW ROTATING SIDEWALL WITH SUSPENSION

Abstract

A snow plow blade assembly has sidewalls rotating when abutting an obstacle and returning to the default position when not abutting the obstacle anymore. The snow plow blade assembly comprises a central section comprising a pivot axis; sidewall assemblies pivotably mounted to the central section; and suspension assemblies mounted to the central section. The suspension assemblies connect the central section and the sidewall assembly distant from the pivot axis. The suspension assemblies may comprise a hydraulic jack controllable between an extended position and a compact position, wherein the suspension assemblies allows the sidewall assemblies to pivot up to a first angle when contacting an obstacle and to pivot to a second angle greater than the first angle by changing the position of the hydraulic jack.

Claims

1. A snow plow blade assembly comprising: a central section comprising a pivot axis; a sidewall assembly pivotably mounted to the central section and pivotable about the pivot axis; and a suspension assembly mounted to the central section, wherein the suspension assembly connects the central section and the sidewall assembly distant from the pivot axis.

2. The snow plow blade assembly of claim 1, wherein the central section comprises a top edge, and wherein the suspension assembly is mounted to the top edge.

3. The snow plow blade assembly of claim 1, further comprising a link member comprising two pivot mounting members distant from each other, wherein the two pivot mounting members are mounted respectively to the sidewall assembly and the suspension assembly.

4. The snow plow blade assembly of claim 3, wherein the suspension assembly comprises: a rotative damper; and an arm mounted to the rotative damper; wherein one of the two pivot mounting members is connected to the arm.

5. The snow plow blade assembly of claim 3, wherein the link member comprises a hydraulic jack.

6. The snow plow blade assembly of claim 5, wherein the sidewall assembly is controllably pivotable between a pull position and a push position through control of the hydraulic jack between an extended position and a compact position.

7. The snow plow blade assembly of claim 1, wherein the suspension assembly comprises a rotative damper.

8. The snow plow blade assembly of claim 7, wherein the rotative damper comprises a deformable rubber-based component.

9. The snow plow blade assembly of claim 1, wherein the central section and the sidewall assembly further comprise complementary components limiting pivoting of the sidewall assembly relative to the central section.

10. The snow plow blade assembly of claim 9, wherein the complementary components comprise a slot and a lug which is travels in the slot.

11. The snow plow blade assembly of claim 1, wherein the sidewall assembly comprises two sidewall assemblies, wherein each of the two sidewall assemblies pivot independently from each other.

12. A snow plow blade assembly to be mounted to a vehicle, comprising: a central section to be mounted to the vehicle, the central section comprising a pivot axis; a sidewall assembly pivotably mounted to the pivot axis; and a suspension assembly connecting the central section with the sidewall assembly distant from the pivot axis, comprising a link member comprising two pivot mounting members distant from each other mounted respectively to the sidewall assembly and the suspension assembly.

13. The snow plow blade assembly of claim 12, wherein the suspension assembly comprises: a rotative damper; and an arm mounted to the rotative damper; wherein one of the two pivot mounting members is connected to the arm.

14. The snow plow blade assembly of claim 13, wherein the rotative damper comprises a deformable rubber-based component.

15. The snow plow blade assembly of claim 13, wherein the rotative damper is mounted to the central section.

16. The snow plow blade assembly of claim 12, wherein the link member comprises a hydraulic jack.

17. The snow plow blade assembly of claim 16, wherein the sidewall assembly is controllably pivotable between a pulling position and a pushing position through control of the hydraulic jack between an extended position and a compact position.

18. A snow plow blade assembly to be mounted to a vehicle, comprising: a central section to be mounted to the vehicle; a sidewall assembly pivotably mounted to the central section; and a suspension assembly connecting the central section to the sidewall assembly comprising a hydraulic jack which is controllable between an extended position and a compact position, wherein the suspension assembly allows the sidewall assembly to pivot up to a first limit angle when contacting an obstacle and to pivot to a second limit angle greater than the first limit angle when changing position of the hydraulic jack.

19. The snow plow blade assembly of claim 18, wherein the suspension assembly comprises: a rotative damper; and an arm mounted to the rotative damper; wherein the hydraulic jack is connected to the arm.

20. The snow plow blade assembly of claim 18, wherein the sidewall assembly comprises two sidewall assemblies, wherein each of the two sidewall assemblies is pivotable up to the first limit angle independently from each other.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] Further features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in combination with the appended drawings, in which:

[0030] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the front of an snow plow blade assembly in accordance with an embodiment;

[0031] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of components of the snow plow blade assembly of FIG. 1 according to the identification of the view provided on FIG. 1;

[0032] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the front of the snow plow blade assembly of FIG. 1;

[0033] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of components of the snow plow blade assembly of FIG. 1 to 3 according to the identification of the view provided on FIG. 3 with some components depicted as an exploded view;

[0034] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the back of the snow plow blade assembly of FIGS. 1 and 3;

[0035] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of components of the snow plow blade assembly of FIGS. 1 to 5 according to the identification of the view provided on FIG. 5;

[0036] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the suspension assembly of the snow plow blade assembly of FIGS. 1 to 5;

[0037] FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the suspension assembly of FIG. 7;

[0038] FIG. 9 is a picture showing the rotative damper is in a neutral position;

[0039] FIG. 10 is a picture showing the rotative damper is in a shock absorbing position;

[0040] FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view of a snow blade assembly in accordance with an embodiment with hydraulic hoses and mounting components mounted thereto;

[0041] FIG. 12 is a rear perspective view of a snow blade assembly in accordance with an embodiment in a wide position;

[0042] FIG. 13 is a rear perspective view of a snow blade assembly in accordance with an embodiment with the hydraulic jacks extended for snow pulling operations with one of the side walls undergoing an external torque;

[0043] FIG. 14 is a front perspective view of the snow blade assembly of FIG. 13;

[0044] FIG. 15 is a rear perspective view of the snow blade assembly of FIG. 13 with the hydraulic jacks compressed for snow pushing operations with one of the side walls undergoing an external torque; and

[0045] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a suspension assembly in accordance with another embodiment.

[0046] It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features are identified by like reference numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0047] The realizations will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying figures, in which realizations are illustrated. The foregoing may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the illustrated realizations set forth herein.

[0048] With respect to the present description, references to items in the singular should be understood to include items in the plural, and vice versa, unless explicitly stated otherwise or clear from the text. Grammatical conjunctions are intended to express any and all disjunctive and conjunctive combinations of conjoined clauses, sentences, words, and the like, unless otherwise stated or clear from the context. Thus, the term or should generally be understood to mean and/or and so forth.

[0049] Recitation of ranges of values and of values herein or on the drawings are not intended to be limiting, referring instead individually to any and all values falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value within such a range is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. The words about, approximately, or the like, when accompanying a numerical value, are to be construed as indicating a deviation as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art to operate satisfactorily for an intended purpose. Ranges of values and/or numeric values are provided herein as examples only, and do not constitute a limitation on the scope of the described realizations. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., such as, or the like) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the exemplary realizations and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the realizations. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any unclaimed element as essential to the practice of the realizations. The use of the term substantially is intended to mean for the most part or essentially depending on the context. It is to be construed as indicating that some deviation from the word it qualifies is acceptable as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art to operate satisfactorily for the intended purpose.

[0050] In the following description, it is understood that terms such as first, second, top, bottom, above, below, and the like, are words of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting terms.

[0051] The terms top, up, upper, bottom, lower, down, vertical, horizontal, interior and exterior and the like are intended to be construed in their normal meaning in relation with normal installation of the product, with indication of front referring to the same orientation as the snow plow on which would be mounted the present snow plow blade assembly and down to the component of the snow plow blade assembly intended to contact or to be about the ground.

[0052] It should further be noted that for purposes of this disclosure, the term coupled means the joining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or movable in nature and/or such joining may allow for the flow of fluids, electricity, electrical signals, or other types of signals or communication between two members. Such joining may be achieved with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being attached to one another. Such joining may be permanent in nature or alternatively may be removable or releasable in nature.

[0053] In realizations, there are disclosed components of a snow plow and more particularly of a snow plow blade assembly, aka a blade assembly.

[0054] It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features are identified by like reference numerals.

[0055] Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 to 6, a snow plow blade assembly 100 is adapted to be mounted to a snow plow, aka vehicle (not depicted), with the snow plow blade assembly 100 comprising on its rear wall 106 a pair of holder assemblies 150 adapted for the snow plow to hold the snow plow blade assembly 100.

[0056] Referring additionally to FIG. 11, the snow plow blade assembly 100 comprises mounting components 169 mounted to the holder assemblies 150 providing an interface between the snow plow and the snow plow blade assembly 100 for mounting the latter to the former.

[0057] The snow plow blade assembly 100 further comprises hydraulic hoses 161 to be connected and powering hydraulic jacks 160 as explained hereinafter.

[0058] The snow plow blade assembly 100 comprises a central section 120 and, on each side, a pivotable side member 140 mounted to the central section 120.

[0059] Referring additionally to FIG. 12, the central section 120 is controllable between a narrow configuration, depicted on FIG. 1, and a wide configuration, depicted on FIG. 12. Accordingly, the central section 120 comprises a central structure 190 and two side structures 192 slidable relative to the central structure to provide a width-controllable operating edge and surface.

[0060] The pivotable side member 140 is mounted to a drum 142 having its rotation driven by a hydraulic jack 160. According to an embodiment, the hydraulic jack 160 is more generically referred to as a link member.

[0061] Each one of the pivotable side member 140 comprises a vertical extension 144 and a horizontal extension 146 adapted for a sidewall 130 to be mounted thereto.

[0062] The pivotable side member 140 comprises a top slot 154 and a bottom slot 156 through which a top lug 134 and a bottom lug 136 extends to mount the sidewall 130 to the pivotable side member 140. The slots 154, 156 provide channels for the lugs 134, 136 to travel thereby allowing movements of the sidewall 130 relative to the pivotable side member 140, and thereby allowing the sidewalls 130 to freely respond to the unevenness of the ground according to the length of the channels. The slots 154, 156 and lugs 134, 136 define thus complementary components cooperating to allow limited relative displacement.

[0063] The snow plow blade assembly 100 comprises the pair of sidewalls 130, each sidewall 130 being mounted to a pivotable side member 140.

[0064] It is worth noting that the lugs 134, 136 extend outwardly, limiting the contact of the snow with the lugs 134, 136 and the slots 154, 156 and thus mitigating risks of having snow stuck in the slots 154, 156 that would limit the efficiency the lugs 134, 136 traveling in the slots 154, 156 and accordingly movements of the sidewall 130.

[0065] The snow plow blade assembly 100 further comprises a hydraulic jack 160 comprising two pivot mounting members 166, 168 (see FIGS. 2 and 6 respectively) through which the hydraulic jack 160 is mounted. The hydraulic jack 160 is mounted at one end (the top end 162) to a low displacement point (as will be explained below) and at a bottom end 164 where it is connected with the drum 142. The hydraulic jack 160 travels between a compact position (depicted on FIGS. 1 to 5, 11, 12 and 15) and an extended position (depicted on FIGS. 13 and 14). In the compact position, the hydraulic jack 160, having the bottom end 164 in its highest position, forces the drum 142 in a first angle resulting in the horizontal extension 146 to be substantially horizontal. In the extended position, the bottom end 164 of the hydraulic jack 160 is forced farther downward, resulting in the drum 142 rotating to an angle where the extensions 144, 146 are rotated until the vertical extension 144 extends backward and the horizontal extension 146 extends in a steep angle relative to the horizontal.

[0066] Referring particularly to FIGS. 13 to 15, the hydraulic jacks 160 provides a control over the rest position, aka position free of external torque resulting from obstacles, of the sidewall 130 of the snow plow blade assembly 100. In the compressed position, depicted on FIG. 15, the hydraulic jacks 160 result in an edge of the sidewalls 130 abutting the ground frontward of the snow plow blade assembly 100, position adapted to push the snow (i.e., in a push position). In the extended position, depicted on FIGS. 13 and 14, the hydraulic jacks 160 result in an edge of the sidewalls 130 to abut the ground rearward from the snow plow blade assembly 100, position adapted to pull the snow.

[0067] Referring additionally to FIGS. 7 to 8, the snow plow blade assembly 100 comprises, mounted to the top edge 122 of the central section 120, a suspension assembly 170 allowing changes in the angle of the sidewalls 130 relative to the ground without changing the length of the hydraulic jack 160.

[0068] The suspension assembly 170 further dampens movements of the hydraulic jack 160 when the sidewalls 130 are forced to change position when undergoing unevenness and to help return the top end 162 of the hydraulic jack 160, thus also the sidewalls 130, to their default position.

[0069] The suspension assembly 170 comprises a casing assembly 180 comprising a mounting member 182 and a damper housing 184. The casing assembly 180 is adapted to be mounted to the top edge 122 of the central section 120 about the hydraulic jack 160.

[0070] According to realizations, the casing assembly 180 comprises one, two or more components, with the components being affixed permanently to each other (for example, as depicted, with the mounting member 182 and the damper housing 184 being welded together), or alternatively with removable fixations in order to be dismantled when required.

[0071] The casing assembly 180 is further mounted to the top edge 122 of the central section 120 with appropriate fixations, for example using bolts 186 and/or bolt and nut assemblies 188.

[0072] The suspension assembly 170 comprises a rotative damper 172 mounted to the damper housing 184, with the interior wall 185 of the damper housing 184 cooperating with the external face 173 of the rotative damper 172 in order to prevent the whole rotative damper 172 from rotating when undergoing an external torque.

[0073] According to a preferred realization, the rotative damper 172 is a Rubber Suspension Unit, thus a deformable rubber-based component, of type DR-A from Rosta? (https://www.rosta.ch/en/products/docs/Rubber-Suspension-Technology/fr/01_GFE_DR-A_F_web.pdf) that is adapted to damp torques.

[0074] The suspension assembly 170 further comprises a damping arm 174 mounted at the damping end 176 to the rotative damper 172 and at the distant end 178 to the top end 162 of the hydraulic jack 160 through its pivot mounting member 166.

[0075] According to a realization, the damping arm 174 is mounted to the rotative damper 172 through the use of four (4) bolt and nut assemblies 188. However, other solutions are herein contemplated to assemble the damping arm 174 and the rotative damper 172 depending for example on the characteristics of the rotative damper 172 selected to form part of the suspension assembly 170.

[0076] Through the mounting of the damping arm 174 to the rotative damper 172, the suspension assembly 170 thereby provides a pivot axis to the damping arm 174 that travels between a first limit angle (a limit top position of its distant end 178, see FIG. 9 where the rotative damper 172 is in a neutral position) and a second limit angle (a limit bottom position of the its distant end 178, see FIG. 10, where the rotative damper 172 is in a shock absorbing position), with the damping arm 174 tending to return automatically to a default angle somewhere between these limit angles. According to an embodiment, the second limit angle is greater than the first limit angle. These limit angles, in cooperation with the slots 154, 156 through their dimensions, limit the changes the sidewalls 130 will undergo in their positions and angles.

[0077] The top position of the distant end 178 further provides a fix position for the pivot mounting member 168 of the top end 162 of the hydraulic jack 160 while extending thereby forcing the bottom end 164 to travel downward once the limit position of the distant end 178 of the damping arm 174 is reached, allowing to controllably rotate the drum 142 and thus the sidewalls 130.

[0078] Referring now to FIG. 16, according to another realization, the suspension assembly 170 comprises a two-jaws casing assembly 181 comprising a mounting jaw 183 and a compression jaw 187. The mounting jaw 183 is adapted to be mounted to the top edge 122 of the central section 120 about the hydraulic jack 160. The rotative damper 172 is laid over the mounting jaw 183. The compression jaw 187 is afterward mounted to the mounting jaw 183 to maintain the rotative damper 172 in place therebetween.

[0079] Referring to FIG. 7, it is worth noting that the pivot mounting member 168 of the bottom end 164 of the hydraulic jack 160 is mounted to the vertical extension 146 about the periphery of the drum 142. Such a mounting allows the vertical extension 146 to operate over the drum 142 to force its rotation upon changes in the length of the hydraulic jack 160.

[0080] Thus, when one of the sidewalls 130 moves, the lugs 134, 136 of the sidewall travel in the slots 154, 156 to their limits after which they push the extensions 144, 146 resulting in small changes in the position of the bottom end 164 and the top end 162 of the hydraulic jack 160; changes in the position of the top end 162 of the hydraulic jack 160 being damped by the damping of the damping arm 174 performed by the rotative damper 172. This solution decreases significantly the impact force of the displacements undergone by the hydraulic jack 160 and the force of the impacts of the lugs 134, 136 in the slots 154, 156 when reaching the end of the channels.

[0081] For illustration purposes, here is an illustration of the functioning of the snow plow blade assembly 100, and particularly the suspension assembly 170 in an exemplary situation, with the description being provided particularly in relation to FIG. 5. When the front edge 132 of the left sidewall 130 contacts an obstacle, the front edge 132 of the sidewall 130 is lifted by the obstacle resulting in the lugs 134, 136 traveling respectively rearward and upward in their respective slots 154, 156. When the lugs 134, 136 reach the end of the channels in their respective slots 154, 156, they push the extensions 144, 146 forcing the hydraulic jack 160 to move to respond. The only movements the fixed-length hydraulic jack 160 may perform is to have the pivot mounting members 166 at the bottom end 164 moving rearward and downward around the drum 142. Accordingly, the pivot mounting member 168 at the top end 162 follows by moving down around the rotative damper 172. With the damping arm 174 being forced to rotate, the rotative damper 172 counter-reacts by damping the rotation of the damping arm 174, and thus the rotation of the sidewall 130.

[0082] According to a realization, the pivotable side member 140 and its sidewall 130 mounted thereto are designed to be a sidewall assembly 135 pivotably mounted about a pivot axis to the central section 120. FIGS. 1 and 3 show a preferred embodiment with two sidewall assemblies that pivot independently from each other.

[0083] According to a realization, the sidewall assembly 135 comprises either a side member 140 and a sidewall 130 fixedly attached to each other or a sidewall 130 pivotably mounted to the central section 120. In the latter case, no combination of slots and lugs are present. Further, rotation of the sidewall 130 enters instantly in the damping zone as the sidewall assembly 135 rotates about the central section 120 when abutting an obstacle with no combination of slots and lugs provides a free-damping zone for the sidewall assembly 135 to rotate.

[0084] Referring to FIGS. 13 to 15, it is worth noting that the sidewalls 130 are pivotable independently from each other. They are pivotable independently when undergoing an external torque resulting from, from example, one of the sidewalls 130 abutting an obstacle. Furthermore, the pivot of a sidewall 130 allowed by the suspension assembly 170 is operative both when the sidewalls 130 are positioned frontward in a push position for push operations, aka when the hydraulic jacks 160 are compressed, and when the sidewalls 130 are positioned rearward in a pull position for pull operations, aka when the hydraulic jacks 160 are extended.

[0085] Further, it is worth noting that in embodiments, such the one depicted on FIG. 13, the snow plow blade assembly 100 comprises an additional damping component, in this case a deformable arm 196 mounted to the sidewall 130 limited in its potential displacements by a bracket 198 also mounted to the sidewall 130. When the sidewall 130 pivots, contact between the extremity of the arm 196 and the pivotable side member 140 damps the displacement through deformation of the arm 196. Further, the arm 196 abutting the bracket 198, and thus demanding an increased force to be deformed from there and beyond, helps the rotative damper 172 in damping the displacement of the pivotable side member 140 reaching its limit.

[0086] The present document finally contemplates solutions wherein no hydraulic jack 160 is present, aka wherein the snow plow blade assembly 100 is designed for push or pull operations only, with a suspension assembly 170 mounted to a fixed-length member mounted in a similar fashion or having a function similar to the hydraulic jack 160 of the present disclosure.

[0087] While preferred embodiments have been described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made without departing from this disclosure. Such modifications are considered as possible variants comprised in the scope of the disclosure.