BACK DRAG SYSTEM FOR PLOW TRIP BLADE

Embodiments of the innovation relate to a plow comprising a plow and a trip blade mechanism coupled to a plow body, the trip blade mechanism comprising a trip blade hingedly coupled to a base of the plow body and a blade return device coupled between the plow body and the trip blade. The plow comprises a back drag system coupled to the trip blade mechanism and configured to dispose the trip blade between a first plowing position relative to the plow body and a second back drag position relative to the plow body.

BACKGROUND

Conventional plows are configured to push or direct these materials from a particular area to a destination. For example, as the operator drives the vehicle forward, the plow pushes the material along the forward direction of travel in order to clear the material from a given area. However, for relatively small areas, such as driveways, the plow operator can be limited in his ability to manipulate the plow the materials. For example, in the case where a large volume of snow is located in a relatively small driveway, the plow operator may be unable to push the snow to a free or otherwise available location. As such, the operator may utilize a back drag procedure to pull the snow from the area.

During a back dragging procedure, a vehicle operator drives the vehicle in a reverse direction of travel and can utilize the plow to pull material from a given area. In one arrangement, the operator can utilize the bottom edge of a conventional plow to remove the material, such as snow, from the area. For example, the operator can position the front of the vehicle adjacent to a volume of material, can lower the plow into the volume, and can drive the vehicle in reverse, thereby causing the rear portion of the plow to pull the material from the area. In another arrangement, the operator can install a back drag plate onto a lower edge of the plow. Typically, the back drag plate is hinged and rotatable when connected to the rear base portion of the plow. During operation, the operator can lower the plow and back drag plate into a volume of material and can drive the vehicle in reverse, thereby causing the back drag plate to pull the material from the area.

SUMMARY

Conventional back dragging mechanisms can suffer from a variety of deficiencies. As provided above, an operator can utilize the rear portion of the plow to pull material, such as snow, from a given area. However, the plow typically defines a curved geometry that is configured to push, rather than pull, material. As such, a conventional plow can be relatively inefficient in back dragging material from a given area, thereby requiring the operator to attempt several passes over the same area to remove the material.

Also, as provided above, the operator can install a back drag plate onto the plow which is designed for use during a back drag procedure. However, conventional back drag plates are relatively heavy and add to the overall weight of the plow. Further, because these back drag plates are typically hingedly and rotatably connected to the plow in a free-floating manner, sudden vehicle stops can cause the plates to swing against, and impact, the plow, thereby raising safety and potential damage concerns.

By contrast to conventional back dragging mechanisms, embodiments of the present innovation relate to a back drag system for a trip blade of a plow. The back drag system is configured to position a trip blade between a first, forward plowing position, and a second, reverse back drag position. For example, the back drag system includes a back drag mechanism coupled to the trip blade of the plow and an actuation mechanism, such as a winch, coupled to the back drag mechanism. In one arrangement, the back drag mechanism is configured as a horizontally-oriented plate and is disposed between the trip blade and a base portion of a blade return device, such as a set of compression springs or a hydraulic piston, carried by the plow. In another arrangement, the back drag mechanism is configured as a set of vertically-oriented plates coupled to the trip blade and disposed in proximity to the blade return device carried by the plow.

In use, the operator can raise the plow away from a road or plowing surface and can activate the actuation mechanism to cause the back drag mechanism to rotate the trip blade toward a rear portion of the plow. When the trip blade reaches an extended back drag position relative to the plow, the back drag system maintains the blade return device in a compressed state, which mitigates rotation of the trip blade toward a front portion of the plow during a back drag procedure. With such positioning, the back drag system orients the trip blade to define a back drag angle relative to the rear portion of the plow. As such, during a back drag procedure, as an operator drives the vehicle in a reverse direction, the back drag system configures the trip blade to capture and pull a volume of material from a given area in a relatively efficient manner. Following completion of the back drag procedure, the operator can activate the actuation mechanism to cause the back drag mechanism to rotate the trip blade toward a front portion of the plow to a plowing position. Accordingly, the back drag system can be utilized by conventional plows to provide efficient removal of material from a relatively tight area. Additionally, installation of the back drag mechanism does not substantially increase the weight of the plow.

Embodiments of the innovation relate to a plow comprising a plow and a trip blade mechanism coupled to a plow body, the trip blade mechanism comprising a trip blade hingedly coupled to a base of the plow body and a blade return device coupled between the plow body and the trip blade. The plow comprises a back drag system coupled to the trip blade mechanism and configured to dispose the trip blade between a first plowing position relative to the plow body and a second back drag position relative to the plow body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present innovation relate to a back drag system for a trip blade of a plow. The back drag system is configured to position a trip blade between a first, forward plowing position, and a second, back drag position. For example, the back drag system includes a back drag mechanism coupled to the trip blade of the plow and an actuation mechanism, such as a winch, coupled to the back drag mechanism. In one arrangement, the back drag mechanism is configured as a horizontally-oriented plate and is disposed between the trip blade and a base portion of a blade return device, such as a set of compression springs or a hydraulic piston, carried by the plow. In another arrangement, the back drag mechanism is configured as a vertically-oriented plate coupled to the trip blade and disposed in proximity to the blade return device carried by the plow.

In use, the operator can activate the actuation mechanism to cause the back drag mechanism to rotate the trip blade toward a rear portion of the plow. When the trip blade reaches an extended back drag position relative to the plow, the back drag system maintains the blade return device in a compressed state, which mitigates rotation of the trip blade toward a front portion of the plow during a back drag procedure. With such positioning, the back drag system orients the trip blade to define a back drag angle relative to the rear portion of the plow. As such, during a back drag procedure, as an operator drives the vehicle in a reverse direction, the back drag system positions the trip blade to capture and pull a volume of material from a given area in a relatively efficient manner. Following completion of the back drag procedure, the operator can activate the actuation mechanism to cause the back drag mechanism to rotate the trip blade toward a front portion of the plow to a plowing position. Accordingly, the back drag system can be utilized by conventional plows to provide efficient removal of material from a relatively tight area. Additionally, installation of the back drag mechanism does not substantially increase the weight of the plow.

FIGS. 1 and 2illustrates a plow10which includes a plow body11having a front portion12configured to collect and/or displace snow or other materials and a rear portion14configured to be secured to the frame of a vehicle. The plow10also includes a trip blade mechanism16and a back drag system18coupled to the plow body11, according to one arrangement.

In order to mitigate damage to the plow10or the associated vehicle, the trip blade mechanism16is configured to absorb impact loads experienced during operation. For example, when plowing a material such as snow, the plow10may strike a hidden object, such as rocks or other debris concealed beneath a layer of snow. As such, in one arrangement, the trip blade mechanism16includes a trip blade20hingedly coupled to a base of the plow10and to a blade return device21. During operation, as the trip blade20strikes an object, the trip blade16rotates toward the rear portion14of the plow body11about the hinge joint and along direction15. The blade return device21is configured to return the trip blade20from a rotated position to an operational or plowing position, as shown inFIG. 2. For example, the blade return device21can be configured as a set of compression springs22coupled to the rear portion14of the plow10between a plow frame element23and the trip blade20. During operation, as the trip blade20strikes an object and rotates along direction15, the trip blade20compresses the compression springs22which absorb the impact load. The springs22can return to an extended position following impact to dispose the trip blade20to its operational position, as shown inFIG. 2. In another example, the blade return device21can be configured as a set of hydraulic pistons (not shown) configured to absorb an impact load received by the trip blade20and to return the trip blade20to its operational, extended position following impact.

The back drag system18is configured to actuate the trip blade mechanism16to dispose the trip blade20in a back drag position, with additional reference toFIGS. 3 and 4. In one arrangement, the back drag system18includes a back drag mechanism25coupled to the trip blade20of the plow10and an actuation mechanism30coupled to the back drag mechanism25.

The back drag mechanism25can be configured in a variety of ways. In one arrangement, the back drag mechanism25can be configured as a base24, such as a plate, coupled to the trip blade20via pins26,28in a substantially horizontal orientation relative to the trip plate20. With such orientation, as shown inFIG. 1, the back drag mechanism25can be placed in physical communication with the compression springs22. For example, the base24is disposed between the trip blade20and a base portion of each of the compression springs22.

The actuation mechanism30can be configured in a variety of ways. For example, actuation mechanism30can be configured as a winch32and a cable34. The actuation mechanism30is configured to apply or release a load on the back drag mechanism25to cause the trip blade20to rotate relative to the plow10. For example, the cable34of the winch32can be coupled to the base24via a coupling member36which extends from the base24. Activation of the actuation mechanism30causes the winch32to rotate either in a first direction to shorten the length of the cable34and to rotate the trip blade20toward the rear14of the plow10or in a second direction to extend the length of the cable34and to rotate the trip blade20toward the front12of the plow10. The actuation mechanism30can also include a pulley38disposed between the cable34and the coupling member36. The pulley38is configured to reduce the load generated by the winch32on the cable34.

During a conventional plowing operation, as indicated inFIGS. 1 and 2, the back drag system18maintains the trip blade mechanism16in a first position relative to the plow10. For example, in the first positon, the compression springs22are disposed in an uncompressed state and the trip blade20is disposed in a plowing position, as shown. As such, as the vehicle moves the plow10forward along direction40, the plow10collects and pushes material, such as snow, from a given area.

During a back drag plowing operation, as indicated inFIGS. 3 and 4, the back drag system18can dispose the trip blade mechanism16in a second position relative to the plow10. For example, the vehicle operator can raise the plow10relative to the road or plowing surface47and can activate the actuation mechanism30. The actuation mechanism30generates a load on the back drag mechanism25along direction42, which, in turn, causes the trip blade20to rotate along direction15towards a rear portion14of the plow10. When the trip blade20reaches an extended back drag position relative to the plow10, the back drag system25orients the trip blade20to define a back drag angle46relative to a horizontal (e.g., road or plowing) surface47. For example, the back drag system25can dispose the trip blade20at an angle of between about 45° and 120° relative to the horizontal surface47. Further, the load generated by the actuation mechanism30causes the back drag mechanism25to translate along direction42which causes the base24to compress the compression springs22. When the trip blade20reaches the extended back drag position relative to the plow10, the back drag system18maintains the compression springs22in a compressed state, which mitigates rotation of the trip blade20toward the front portion12of the plow10during a back drag procedure.

Following positioning of the trip blade20in the second, extended position, during operation, the vehicle operator can then lower the plow10relative to the plowing surface and perform a back drag operation. For example, with the trip blade20disposed in the extended position, as the vehicle moves the plow10in a reverse direction, such as along direction44, the trip blade20can pull material, such as snow, from the plowing surface47. As such, the plow10is configured to remove material, such as snow, from a relatively narrow area in an efficient manner.

In one arrangement, the back drag system18can include a trip blade position indicator which is configured to identify the rotational positon of the trip blade20relative to the plow10. In one arrangement, as shown inFIG. 5, the back drag system18can include, as the trip blade position indicator, a visual trip blade position indicator50. For example, the visual trip blade position indicator50can be configured as a rod or shaft having a first end52coupled to the trip blade20and a second end54extending form the plow body11and having markings56,58,60which correspond to the rotational position of the trip blade20relative to the plow body11.

Prior to operation of the back drag system18, the visual trip blade position indicator50is positioned such that only the first marking56is observable by the vehicle operator. Visual identification of the first marking56can indicate to the vehicle operator that the trip blade20is disposed in the operational or plowing position as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2. When the operator engages the back drag system18, as the back drag system18rotates the trip blade20relative to the plow10along direction15, the visual trip blade position indicator50travels along direction65such that the second marking58can be observed by the vehicle operator. Visual identification of the second marking58indicates that the trip blade20is rotating toward the second back drag position as shown inFIGS. 3 and 4. Further operation of the back drag system18causes further translation of the visual trip blade position indicator50along direction65such that the third marking60is observable by the vehicle operator. Such positioning of the second marking58indicates that the trip blade20has rotated toward the second back drag position as shown inFIGS. 3 and 4and that the operator can power down the actuation mechanism30to set the final positon of the trip blade20.

While the trip blade position indicator50is described as a visual indicator, such description is by way of example only. In one arrangement, the trip blade position indicator50can be configured as an electronic or mechanical indicator. Further, in one arrangement, the trip blade position indicator50can include a feedback mechanism which is configured to power down the actuation mechanism30once the trip blade20has rotated toward the second back drag position as shown inFIGS. 3 and 4.

As provided above, the back drag mechanism25can be configured in a variety of ways. In one arrangement, with reference toFIGS. 6-8, the back drag mechanism25can include one or more vertically-oriented plates70. For example, as shown inFIG. 6, each plate70can define a slot72configured to couple with a lip of the trip blade20at a rear portion14of the plow body11. As indicated inFIGS. 7 and 8, such coupling orients the plate70in a substantially vertical orientation relative to the trip plate20and allows the back drag mechanism25to be disposed adjacent to the blade return device21(e.g., compression springs22). Further, each plate70can define an opening74configured to receive a connecting element75, such as a pin. As indicated inFIGS. 7 and 8, the connecting element75is coupled to the first plate70-1and the second plate70-2and disposes the plates70-1,70-2at a distance from each other. The connecting element75extends between the two plates70and is attached to the actuation mechanism30via cable34.

During operation, of the vehicle operator can activate the actuation mechanism30to cause the winch32and cable to generate a load on the connecting element75of the back drag mechanism25. Such loading causes the plates70-1,70-1to rotate the trip blade20towards a rear portion14of the plow10which, in turn, causes the trip blade20to compress the compression springs22. When the trip blade20reaches an extended back drag position relative to the plow10, the back drag system18maintains the compression springs22in a compressed state, which mitigates rotation of the trip blade20toward the front portion12of the plow10during a back drag procedure. Following the back drag procedure, the vehicle operator can activate the actuation mechanism30to cause the winch32and cable to reduce the load on the connecting element75of the back drag mechanism25to position the trip blade20to a plowing position, such as shown inFIG. 7.

While various embodiments of the innovation have been particularly shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the innovation as defined by the appended claims.