Abstract:
A plow blade assembly is disclosed that allows the centerline of the plow blade to be moved transversely about the centerline of a plowing vehicle. The operator can extend the end of the plow blade past the side of the plowing vehicle and in front of the vehicle tires. By positioning the blade to one side of the vehicle, the operator can prevent snow from rolling off the end of the plow blade and coming into contact with the vehicle tires and provide a greater distance between the outside edge of the plow blade and the side of the vehicle, including any extending mirrors. The assembly can control the angle of the blade relative to the longitudinal axis of the plowing vehicle and control the position of the blade relative to the centerline of the vehicle. A controller in the vehicle allows the operator to independently position the blade.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present disclosure relates to the field of plows and plow assemblies and more particularly to a moveable snow plow.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Traditional snow plow blades when attached to a plowing vehicle are capable of being raised and lowered and can be rotated about a vertical axis to direct snow to the left or right of the plowing vehicle. A controller inside the vehicle allows the operator to position the blade in a desired orientation. These plow assemblies, however, do no have the ability to move the entire snow plow blade left or right of the center of the vehicle. A problem with these types of plow systems is that snow rolling off the end of the plow blade often curls behind the plow blade and deposits in front of the wheels of the plowing vehicle. This is undesirable because the vehicle wheel compacts the snow on the surface being plowed and reduces vehicle traction.  
           [0003]    The size of a snow plow blade is typically chosen based on the weight carrying capacity of the plowing vehicles and the type of the anticipated plowing. A narrow plow blade allows an operator to carefully clear driveways and other narrow spaces, whereas a wider plow can be used to clear wider areas such as parking lots. A draw back to a narrow plow is that the edge of the plow blade may not extend past the vehicles side mirrors, which can present a problem when trying to remove snow along a garage or other structure. A draw back to a wider plow blade is that it can make navigating narrow spaces and driving in traffic more difficult.  
           [0004]    Some plow assemblies provide a forward extending gate to catch snow rolling off the snow blade. However, these types of assemblies do not allow the operator to move the edge of the plow blade to enable the operator to remove snow along a garage or other structure.  
           [0005]    Some plow assemblies have a support member extending from and attached to the front of the vehicle. The support member is pivotable with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the vehicle and has a snow plow blade attached to it at its remote end. These assemblies typically employ four pistons for offsetting the plow from the central longitudinal axis of the vehicle so that the plow is positioned in front of the tire path of and ahead of the direction of travel of the vehicle. A first set of the pistons is coupled between the vehicle and the structural member and a second set of pistons is coupled between the structural member and the plow blade. The first set of pistons is used to adjust the angle of the support member to the vehicle and the second set of pistons is used to adjust the angle of the plow blade to the support member. The centerline of the plow can be moved relative to the centerline of the plowing vehicle, but the centerline must move in an arcuate path and requires four pistons.  
           [0006]    A prior art snow plow blade  100  is shown in FIG. 1. The plow blade may be an “M” series plow available from Fisher Engineering of Rockland, Me. The plow blade  100  may be made of a curved piece of steel  102  having a front surface  102 A for contacting snow to be plowed and a rear surface  102 B. A plurality of stiffening ribs  108 A-H may be secured, preferably welded, to the back surface  102 B and a horizontal stiffening rib  108 J may extend along the top edge of the plow blade.  
           [0007]    A trip-edge  104  may be provided along the bottom edge of the plow blade. When the trip edge strikes an obstacle, the lower edge trips back, compressing one or more of the springs  112 A-D on the black side of the plow. When the obstacle is cleared, the springs  112 A-D return the trip-edge to its normal position. The springs  112 A-D extend between the trip edge  104  and gussets  114 A-D secured, preferably welded, to the back surface of the plow blade. A pair of anti-wear shoes  106 A and  106 B may extend beyond the lower surface of the trip-edge  104 . The height of the anti-wears shoes may be adjustable. Edge markers  110 A and  110 B may be coupled to the horizontal stiffening rib  108 J to mark the ends of the plow blade  100 . A pair of horizontal ribs  116  and  118  may extend along a length of the rear surface of the plow blade  100 . The upper rib  116  may have a plurality of holes  116 A,  116 B, and  116 C and the lower rib  118  may have vertically aligned holes  118 A,  118 B, and  118 C respectively. Holes  116 A and  118 A and holes  116 B and  118 B may be used to couple the plow blade  100  to a pair of controllable actuators  250 A and  250 B (see FIG. 3).  
           [0008]    The controllable actuator  250 A and  250 B are preferably hydraulic pistons having a body portion  254  and an extendable rod  256 . A pin  236  may be inserted through the hole  116 A, a hole  258 A in the controllable actuator  250 A, and then through the hole  118 A to couple the controllable actuator  250 A to the plow blade  100 . Likewise, a pin  236  may be inserted through the hole  116 B, a hole  258 B in the controllable actuator  250 B, and then through the hole  118 B to couple the controllable actuator  250 B to the plow blade  100 . A retainer  238  may prevent removal of the pins  236 . A hollow cylinder  120  may be aligned with the holes  116 C and  118 C and extend between the upper rib  116  and the lower rib  118 . A first horizontal plate  122  with a hole  122 A having a vertical axis may be aligned with hollow cylinder  120 . A second horizontal plate  124  with a hole  124 A having a vertical axis may also be aligned with hollow cylinder  120 . A pivot pin  214  (see FIG. 2) may be inserted through the vertically aligned holes  124 A,  116 C,  118 C, and  122 A and hollow cylinder  120  to rotatably couple the plow blade  100  to a cooperating A-frame  200  (see FIG. 2).  
           [0009]    A prior art A-frame  200  is shown in FIG. 2. The A-frame  200  may be available from Fisher Engineering of Rockland, Me. as part number 26090 RD or 26410 HD. The A-frame may be made up of structural member  202 A,  202 B, and  202 C. A pair of tabs  204 A and  204 B may extend from the structural member  202 C for rotatably coupling the A-frame to a frame assembly (not shown) that may be fixedly secured to the frame of the plowing vehicle. The shape and configuration of the tabs  204 A and  204 B may depend on the A-frame manufacture and model number. A lift arm  206  may also be rotatably coupled to an upper portion of the frame assembly. A first end of a controllable actuator  270  (see FIG. 4), preferably a hydraulic piston, may be coupled to a tab  234  on the lift arm  206  and the second end of the controllable actuator may be coupled to the structural member  202 C. As the lift arm  206  is moved upward by the controllable actuator  270 , a chain  208  urges the A-frame to rotate upward. Likewise the A-frame lowers as the lift arm  206  is lowered. A first end of the chain  208  may be coupled to a loop (not shown) secured to the A-frame  200 . The chain  208  may then be threaded through a loop  220  coupled to the lift arm  206 , through a loop  210  coupled to the A-frame  200  and the loose end of the chain  208  may be secured in a slot in a tab  212  coupled to the frame assembly.  
           [0010]    A first pair of horizontal plates  230 A may be secured, preferably welded, to the A-frame  200  along a rear portion of the A-frame on a first side and a second pair of horizontal plates  230 B may be secured, preferably welded, to the A-frame  200  along a rear portion of the A-frame on a second side. The plates  230 A and  230 B may have a pair of vertically aligned holes  232  for coupling the controllable actuators  250 A and  250 B to the A-frame  200 . Pin  236  inserted through the vertically aligned holes  232  and a hole  252 A in the controllable actuator  250 A may couple the controllable actuator  250 A to the A-frame  200 . Likewise a pin  236  inserted through the vertically aligned holes  232  and a hole  252 B in the controllable actuator  250 B may couple the controllable actuator  250 B to the A-frame  200 .  
           [0011]    A hollow cylinder  216  may be vertically aligned and coupled, preferably welded, to a front portion of the A-frame  200  along an upper surface. The first hollow cylinder  216  may be supported by a pair of gussets  218 . A second hollow cylinder  224  may be vertically aligned with the first hollow cylinder  216  and coupled, preferably welded, to a front portion of the A-frame  200  along a lower surface. To couple the plow blade  100  to the A-frame  200 , the hollow cylinders  216  and  224  on the A-frame  100  are first vertically aligned with the holes  124 A,  116 C and  122 A on the plow blade  100  and then the pivot pin  214  is insert therein. A retainer pin  226  may prevent removal of the pivot pin  214 .  
           [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 shows a hydraulic pump  264  coupled to the controllable actuators  250 A through a hose  262 A and a coupling  260 A, to controllable actuator  250 B through a hose  262 B and a coupling  260 B, and to controllable actuator  270  (see FIG. 4) through a hose  262 C and a coupling  260 C. The hydraulic pump  264  may be secured to the frame assembly and receive signals from a controller located in the plowing vehicle. The controller may signal the hydraulic pump  264  to either pump fluid into or out of a controllable actuator. The hydraulic pump  264  may be coupled to a pair of opposing controllable actuator, for example  250 A and  250 B. As fluid is pumped out of controllable actuator  250 A it may be pumped into controllable actuator  250 B. The hydraulic pump  264  may allow fluid to flow from controllable actuator  250 A to controllable actuator  250 B and vice versa in the event the plow blade  100  strikes a non-moveable object such as a telephone pole or a curb.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0013]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a snow plow assembly having an A-frame securable to a vehicle, a plow, and a coupling assembly. The coupling assembly being located between the A-frame and the plow. The coupling assembly having a first member, a second member, and a first controllable actuator. The first member being couplable to the A-frame and slidably coupled to the second member. The second member further coupleable to the plow. The first controllable actuator being coupled to the first member and the second member and configured to urge the second member to move relative to the first member.  
           [0014]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a coupling assembly, having a first member, a second member and a controllable actuator. The first member is linearly slidably relative to the second member along a first axis. The controllable actuator is coupled to the first member and the second member to urge the second member to move relative to the first member along a linear path. The first member further having a hole for pivotably coupling the first member to an A-frame about a second axis, the second axis generally perpendicular to the first axis. The second member having at least one hole for coupling the second member to a plow.  
           [0015]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a snow plow controller having a first actuator for raising the snow plow off the ground, a second actuator for causing the snow plow to rotate about a vertical axis, and a third actuator for causing the snow plow to move in a plane parallel with the vertical axis.  
           [0016]    It is still another object of the present invention to provide a fluid steering assembly, comprising a first port coupleable to a hydraulic pump, a second port coupleable to a first piston, a third port coupleable to a second piston, and a switch coupling the first port to the second port as long as a first signal is received and coupling the first port of the third port in the absence of the first signal.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]    Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent in the following detailed description thereof when read in conjunction with the appended drawings wherein the same reference numerals denote the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art snow plow blade;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a prior art “A” frame;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 3 is a plan view of the plow blade and “A” frame of FIGS. 1 and 2;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 4 is a side view of the plow blade and “A” frame of FIGS. 1 and 2;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 5 is an exploded plan view of a snow-plow assembly consistent with the present invention;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 6 is a side view of the assembly of FIG. 5;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 7 is a side view of a first component of the assembly taken through line  7 - 7  in FIG. 5;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 8 is a side view of a second component of the assembly taken through line  8 - 8  in FIG. 5;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 9 is a simplified hydraulic schematic useable with the plow assembly of FIG. 3;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 10 is a simplified hydraulic schematic consistent with the present invention  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 11 is a simplified schematic of a fluid steering assembly consistent with the present invention; and  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 12 is a controller consistent with the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0030]    The general arrangement of the elements is shown most clearly in FIGS. 5 and 6. A snow plow assembly includes an A-frame  200  pivotable securable to a vehicle, a plow  100  and a coupling assembly disposed between the A-frame  200  and the plow  100 . The A-frame is preferably removeable securable to the vehicle. The A-frame  200  is preferably pivotable about the vehicle about a horizontal. The coupling assembly may include a first member  300 , a second member  370 , and a controllable actuator  350 . The first member  300  may be coupleable to the A-frame and slidably coupled to the second member  370 . The second member  370  may be coupleable to the plow  100 . The first controllable actuator  350 , preferably a hydraulic piston, may be coupled to the first member  300  and the second member  370 . The controllable actuator  350  may be configure to urge the second member  370  to move relative to the first member  300 . In an alternative embodiment, the second member may be urged to move relative to the first member by a rotatable screw, a cable, a rack and pinion moved by a motor or other suitable means of urging a second member to move relative to a first member.  
         [0031]    The first member  300  (see FIG. 7) may include a first plate  330  having a first pair of horizontally aligned hollow cylinders  334 A and  334 B (located on a first side  330 A) spaced from a second pair of horizontally aligned hollow cylinders  336 A and  336 B by a distance D. The interior dimension of the hollow cylinders  334 A,  334 B,  336 A and  336 B are sized to allow rods  376  and  374  respectively slide therein. A second plate  332  may extend outward from the first side  330 A. The plate may have a hole  332 A. A third plate  316  and a fourth plate  318  may extend outwardly from a second side  330 B of plate  330 . The plates  316  and  318  may be made from a section of U-shaped channel stock. The vertical distance between the plates  316  and  318  allows for the controllable actuators  250 A and  250 B to extend therein. Plate  316  may have a pair of spaced holes  316 A and  316 B and plate  318  may have a pair of spaced holes  318 A and  318 B that are vertically aligned with the holes  316 A and  316 B. Holes  316 A,  316 B,  318 A and  318 B are preferably spaced to align with controllable actuators  250 A and  250 B. Pivot pins  236  may be used to couple the plates  316  and  318  to the controllable actuators  250 A and  250 B. Retainer  238  may prevent removal of the pins  236 . A fourth plate  322  and a fifth plate  324  may also extend outwardly from the second side  330 B of plate  330 . Plate  322  may have a hole  322 A vertical aligned with a corresponding hole  324 A in plate  324 . The holes may be sized to allow passage of pivot pin  214  to pass therethrough. The vertical distance between the plates  322  and  324  corresponds generally to the distance from the top of cylinder  216  to the bottom of cylinder  224 . When the plate  330  is coupled to the A-frame and the controllable actuators  250 A and  250 B, the plate can be raised and lowered and rotated left and right about a vertical axis.  
         [0032]    The second member  370  (see FIG. 8) may include a first plate  372  having a first horizontally aligned rod  374  spaced from a second horizontally aligned rod  376 . The rods may be vertically spaced by a distance D. The ends of rod  374  may be secured in brackets  384  and  386 . The brackets may be secured along the bottom edge of the plate  372 . The first end of rod  376  may be secured in bracket  378  and the second end in bracket  420 . Bracket  378  may be made up of a first element  382  and a second element  378 . The first element  382  may have a hole  382  extending therethrough. The brackets  420  and  378  may be secured along the top edge of the plate  372 , preferably welded. A second plate  388  and a third plate  3902  may extend outwardly from the plate  372 . Plate  390  and may have a pair of spaced holes  390 A and  390 B that are vertical aligned with corresponding holes  388 A and  388 B in plate  388 . The holes may be sized to allow pins  412  to pass therethrough. A retainer  416  may prevent removal of the pins  412 . The holes  390 A and  390 B may be spaced to align with holes  116 A and  116 B on plate  116  on plow blade  100 . The vertical distance between the plates  388  and  390  corresponds generally to the distance from the top of plate  116  to the bottom of plate  118  on the plow blade  100 . Plates  388  and  390  may have cut outs  398  and  400  aligned with ribs  108 C and  108 D. The plate  390  may have a vertically aligned hollow cylinder  392  extending upwardly. The cylinder  392  may be supported by gussets. The opening in the hollow cylinder  392  may be sized to allow a pin  410  to extend therethrough. A retainer  414  may prevent removal of the pins  410 . The pins  410  and  412  fixedly secure the second plate  370  to the plow blade  100 . Rods  374  and  376  extend through brackets  334 A and  334   b  and  336 A and  336 B respectively to slidably couple the first member to the second member.  
         [0033]    In an alternative embodiment, the second member may be welded to the backside of the plow blade  100 .  
         [0034]    The controllable actuator  350  may have a body portion  352  having a bracket  356  secured at a first end and a moveable cylinder  354  extending from a second end. The cylinder may have a bracket  358  at a distal end. The bracket  358  may have a pair of horizontally aligned holes for securing the bracket  358  to bracket  378  on the second member  370  of the coupling assembly. The bracket  356  may have a vertically aligned hole for securing the bracket  356  to bracket  332  on the first member  300  of the coupling assembly. The controllable actuator is preferably a hydraulic piston manufactured by Chief of Romania under part number 214945 and has a 24″ stroke. Other pistons may be used with out departing from the present invention. The controllable actuator  350  may be bi-directional, capable of moving the cylinder  354  in and out. Alternatively, two separate uni-directional pistons may be used without departing from the present invention. The controllable actuator body portion  352  may have a first coupling  360  coupled to a hose  364  and a second coupling  362  coupled to a hose  366 . Operation of the controllable actuator  350  will be discussed below.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 9 is a simplified hydraulic system schematic of the plow assembly of FIG. 3. The hydraulic system includes a hydraulic pump  264 , hydraulic hoses  262 A-C, and controllable actuators  250 A,  250 B, and  270 . The hydraulic pump  264  is powered by a powered supply (not shown) and pumps hydraulic fluid from a reservoir to a controllable actuator. The hydraulic pump  264  receives control signals from a controller  500  typically located inside the plowing vehicle. The controller  500  is capable of raising and lowering a coupled plow blade by pumping hydraulic fluid into or out of controllable actuator  270 . The hydraulic fluid is transported to the controllable actuator  270  through a coupling  264 C located on the hydraulic pump  264 , a hose  262 C and a coupling  260 C located on the controllable actuator  270 . Hydraulic fluid can be transferred from the left controllable actuator  250 A to right controllable actuator  250 B to cause a coupled plow blade to rotate counterclockwise about a vertical axis. Hydraulic fluid may be pumped from the controllable actuator  250 A, through a coupling  260 A, a hose  262 A, and a coupling  264 A located on the hydraulic pump  264  and into the hydraulic pump  264 . Fluid may then be pumped from the hydraulic pump  264 , through a coupling  264 B located on the hydraulic pump  264 , a hose  262 B, a coupling  260 B located on the controllable actuator  250 B and into the controllable actuator  250 B. Likewise a coupled plow may be caused to rotate clockwise by transferring fluid from the right controllable actuator  250 B to the left controllable actuator  250 A.  
         [0036]    The controller  500  may have an “up” actuator  502  for causing a coupled plow to rise, a down actuator  504  for causing a coupled plow to lower, a “right” actuator  506  for causing a coupled plow to rotate clockwise, and a “left” actuator  508  for causing a coupled plow to rotate counterclockwise. The controller  500  may be coupled to the hydraulic pump  264  by a cable  510 . Alternatively, the signals may be sent by radio frequency.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 10 is a simplified hydraulic system schematic consistent with the present invention. The system adds a fourth controllable actuator  350 , a fluid steering assembly  700 , and hoses  264 A′,  264 B′,  364  and  366  to the system schematic shown in FIG. 9 and replaces controller  500  with a controller  600 . Hydraulic hoses  264 A and  264 B are now coupled to the fluid steering assembly  700  at couplings  702 A and  702 B (see FIG. 11) respectively. Controllable actuators  250 A and  250 B are now coupled to the fluid steering assembly  700  at couplings  702 A″ and  702 B″ respectively. Hoses  364  and  366  are coupled at a first end to the fluid steering assembly  700  at couplings  702 A′ and  702 B′ respectively through hoses  264 A′ and  264 B′ respectively. The other end of hoses  364  and  366  are coupled to couplings  360  and  362  on the fourth controllable actuator  350 .  
         [0038]    When fluid is pumped from the hydraulic pump  264  to the controllable actuator  350 , the second member  370  is urged to move relative to the first member  300 . Fluid pumped through coupling  360  causes the plow blade to move perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the plowing vehicle towards the right and fluid pumped through coupling  362  causes the plow blade to move perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the plowing vehicle towards the left. Bushings and/or bearings may be added to allow the moving parts to slide more freely and parts may be coated with a lubricant to reduce friction and help prevent rust or corrosion.  
         [0039]    A cable  604  couples the controller  600  to the hydraulic pump  264  and the fluid steering assembly  700 . A portion  604 A of cable  604  couples the controller  600  to the fluid steering assembly  700  and a portion  604 B couples the controller  600  to the hydraulic pump  264 .  
         [0040]    The controller  600  includes a handle portion  602  and an actuator portion  606 . The actuator portion may have an “up” actuator  610 , a “down” actuator  612 , a “right” actuator  614  and a “left” actuator  616 . The actuators send signals to the hydraulic pump  264 . The controller  600  may also include an actuator  618 . The function of the “right” actuator  614  and the “left” actuator  616  may be changed based on the status of the actuator  616 . The actuator  616  is preferably a momentary actuator, however maintained actuator may be used. When the momentary actuator  618  is not being actuated, a pair of controllable switches  704 A and  704 B in the fluid steering assembly  700  fluidly couple coupling  702 A to coupling  702 ″ and coupling  702 B to coupling  702 B″. The controllable switches preferably work in unison. When the momentary actuator is actuated, a signal may be sent to the fluid steering assembly  700  to toggle the position of controllable switches  704 A and  704 B. During this time, the pair of controllable switches  704 A and  704 B fluidly couple coupling  702 A to coupling  702 ′ and coupling  702 B to coupling  702 B′. The “right” actuator  614  now causes a coupled plow blade to travel linearly to the right and the “left” actuator  616  causes a coupled plow blade to travel linearly to the left. When the actuator  618  is released, the controllable switches  704 A and  704 B in the fluid steering assembly  700  may return to their original position. Using a momentary actuator is preferred over a maintained actuator because if the fluid steering assembly is left in the second position and the coupled plow blade strikes a non-moveable object the first controllable actuator  250 A and the second controllable actuator  250 B may be damaged. Alternatively, the controller  600  may have a dedicated actuator  620  for controlling the side-to-side position of a coupled plow blade.  
         [0041]    Alternatively, actuator  618  may send a signal to the fluid steering assembly  700  to change the state of the switches  704 A and  704 B. In an alternative embodiment, the fluid steering assembly  700  may be separated into two separate enclosures.  
         [0042]    In another alternative embodiment, a hydraulic pump with five or more couplings may be used. This embodiment is less preferred to the hydraulic pump  264  due to cost.  
         [0043]    It should be understood that, while the present invention has been described in detail herein, the invention can be embodied otherwise without departing from the principles thereof, and such other embodiments are meant to come within the scope of the present invention as defined in the following claim(s)