Wing plow post

A wing plow post and method of manufacturing the post is disclosed. The post is intended for attaching a wing plow to vehicle for moving material, such as snow. The links of the post are parallel to the angle of the wing plow when the plow is in the plowing position to minimize stress on the post and frame of the vehicle. The post includes a float collar on the hydraulic lift cylinder to provide free floating of the toe end of the wing plow. It allows a wing plow to move over road surfaces and limit the stress on both the post itself and the frame of the vehicle to which the post is attached. Further, the present invention also allows power to be provided by a hydraulic cylinder in the downward direction to the toe end of the wing plow.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a support for attaching a wing plow to a vehicle used for a wing plow application such as a truck, loader, or grader. Wing plows are typically used for removing snow from pavement and road shoulders. They can also be used for leveling materials during road construction, repair, or construction. The wing plow extends laterally from the side of a vehicle and includes a brace or braces for supporting the outboard end, also referred to as the heel, of the wing plow. Most supports use plates fastened to the vehicle frame, typically with bolts and nuts. Attached to the plates, a tube extends laterally towards the wing plow. Such support arrangements attach the heel of the wing plow to a push beam, typically with a spring mechanism to absorb shock from the wing plow contacting the roadway. A hydraulic cylinder is commonly used to raise the heel of the wing plow.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Numerous configurations have been used for supporting the inboard end, also referred to as the toe, of the wing plow. This portion of the wing plow undergoes extreme stress and wear while in operation. Most supports use plates fastened to the vehicle frame, typically with bolts and nuts. Attached to the plates, a tube extends laterally towards the toe of the wing plow. Various methods of bracing these arrangements are also implemented. Such support arrangements usually include a means for raising or lowering the wing plow because when the wing plow is not being used, the wing plow should be in a raised position when the vehicle is moving to eliminate contact with the ground and avoid damage to the wing plow, support, or vehicle. These configurations are also subject to substantial wear and fatigue at the toe of the wing plow due to stresses caused by their inability to raise and lower over rough terrain. Most support arrangements have a very limited ability to float over these surfaces. Some wing plow supports use various styles of links or armatures extending laterally outwards from the front side of a vehicle to the toe of the wing plow. This allows the wing plow to rise and fall as it moves with the material being moved and with the lower edge of the wing plow remaining substantially parallel to the surface of the material and provide optimal plowing.

U.S. Patent Publication US2012/0024551 discloses one potential solution to the above mentioned problem by providing a trailing link mechanism such that the toe of the wing plow is supported by a support arm which in turn is supported by trailing links rather than the prior art laterally extending links or armature.

Yet, U.S. Patent Publication US2012/0024551 still has several drawbacks, including lateral stress on the links perpendicular to the vehicle. U.S. Patent Publication US2012/0024551 is also configured so that lateral stress will cause the trailing links to rub against its plates, causing wear on the links. U.S. Patent Publication US2012/0024551 also cannot provide downward pressure from the hydraulic cylinder to the lifting mechanism, and is unable to free the links in the event of the plow remaining in the upright carrying position when the operator wants to engage it. The operator has to manually force it down by hand.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,581,307 extends out perpendicular to the truck and uses a hydraulic lift cylinder that is fixed to the linkage on both ends. The armature of this design is also wider at the base end and narrower at the plow pivot end forming an A-frame. U.S. Pat. No. 6,581,307 mounts the wing plow on a vertical wing positioning bar. Further, U.S. Pat. No. 6,581,307 uses elastic bushings in the wing plow pivot points.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,581,307 by extending perpendicular to the vehicle, the lateral stress will be greater putting more pressure and wear on the pivot points of the linkage. Furthermore, by fixing the hydraulic lift cylinder to the linkage at both ends, it uses a vertical wing positioning bar for the wing to float on. In the case of the wing plow needing more float, the hydraulic cylinder may include a one-way valve. The armatures typically remain in a fixed position while plowing.

U.S. Patent Publication US2013/0160333 uses a rotating mount located on plates parallel to the vehicle. The rotating mount trails the vehicle and does not extend laterally. U.S. Patent Publication US2013/0160333 configuration causes the wing plow to trip forward when striking an immobile object. U.S. Patent Publication US2013/0160333 has a hydraulic lift cylinder that is directly connected to the trailing lift arm. It uses a chain or slotted cam to create the float for the wing plow.

U.S. Patent Publication US2013/0160333 rotating mount trails the vehicle and does not extend laterally. Furthermore, U.S. Patent Publication US2013/0160333 uses a rotating mount that trips over every obstacle, causing the plow wing to remain in the tripped position thus, affecting the function of the wing plow. U.S. Patent Publication US2013/0160333 uses a substantially different method to create the wing plow float that puts a great amount of stress on one connection point.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The inventor of the present invention has found that arrangement of the links of the post to be parallel to the angle of the wing plow when in the plowing position minimizes the stress at the toe end of the wing plow and results in the smoothest flow and operation. Therefore, the primary feature of the present invention is to provide a wing plow support apparatus that minimizes the stress at the toe end of a wing plow by arranging links in a substantially parallel alignment with the wing plow when the wing plow is in the plowing position.

Another feature of the present invention is to provide a wing plow support that has built in float to allow the plow to move with variations in the ground or material being moved. Further, the present invention allows power to be provided by a hydraulic cylinder in the downward direction of the toe end of the wing plow. Other features of the present invention include a bushing system compromising of one bushing in each side plate and one bushing in the connection arm for each link pivot axis with the ability to provide grease for each link axis as well as extension of side plates to prevent unnecessary wear on the links. The present invention also provides locking collars to secure the pivot bolts. Further, the extended side plates also cover the lift pin connected to the hydraulic cylinder and prevent it from falling out during operation. The configuration of the extended side plates also protects the hydraulic cylinder by limiting the travel of the front vertical plate. Another feature of the present invention is to provide access to the internal parts without having to take the wing plot support apart.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One embodiment of the present invention is a mechanism that allows a wing plow to be attached to the frame of a vehicle700[FIGS. 13 and 18], typically a large truck, for the movement of material, usually snow. A preferred embodiment of the invention utilizes welding to attach several of the components but is not necessarily so limited; other methods of connecting components include glue, fasteners, pins, and other methods of attachment not mentioned. Further, several components can be molded in a single unibody constructions. The embodiment [FIG. 1] consists of a tube10connected to the vehicle700. Various mounting practices have been utilized to connect wing post tubes to a vehicle700. The tube10extends outwards toward the direction of the toe end of the wing plow. A vertical plate16is secured to the end of the tube10and braced [FIG. 3] by a front plate20and rear plate30. Extending out laterally side plates40,41are fixed to the vertical plate16and align the post assembly with the wing plow when it is in its operating position. The side plates40,41hold bushings50,51,52, and53for two link arm pivot points. Located on bushings50,52are bolt head collars60,61. The side plates40,41are also affixed by two internal braces70,80. The middle brace70is configured in such away to allow access to the hydraulic cylinder. The lower brace80is angled downward to allow snow and debris to fall out of the assembly. Also mounted on the vertical plate16and tube10[FIG. 2] are the hydraulic cylinder connection ears90,91.

The upper connection arm [FIG. 4] consisting of two side links100,101that are secured by bushings110,111. Located in bushing110,111are grease fittings152,153. Additionally, cylinder pin bushings140,141are in side links. Located in each of these cylinder pin bushings140,141are grease fittings150,151.

A hydraulic cylinder160[FIG. 5] is mounted to the post assembly by a pin170. Attached to the live end of the hydraulic cylinder160is a float collar180. Further grease fittings190and191are mounted in the float collar180. As shown in [FIG. 6] the side view of assembly with the hydraulic cylinder160mounted in position. The extended side plate has cutouts165and166to allow the hydraulic hoses to move with the hydraulic cylinder160during operation. Also shown, is the bottom hole167to access the lower connection point of the hydraulic cylinder160. This hole allows for easier maintenance to remove connection pin. The hydraulic cylinder160connects to the upper arm175[FIG. 7] by pin200. Collar210secures the pin in the assembly with bolt220. Spacers230,231mount on the pin between the connection arm sides and prevent lateral movement by the cylinder.

The lower connection arm [FIG. 8] consisting of two side links240,241that are rigidly supported by bushings250,251. Located in each bushing [FIG. 9] are grease fittings260and261. Further bracing is provided by brace270affixed to the side links240,241and bushings250,251.

A front vertical plate assembly [FIG. 10] is mounted off of the upper connection arm and the lower connection arm. Two vertical links280,281are fixed about a front plate290. The front plate290includes a cutout to access the hydraulic lift cylinder for maintenance. Additionally, in the vertical links are bushings300,301,302, and303. Bolt collars310,311are mounted on bushings300,303. Located off of the front plate290are three mounting ears321,322, and323and one bottom mounting ear333. Slab pin340attaches a standard wing plow slab350to ears321,322,323, and333. Wing plow slabs350are standard equipment and numerous versions similar in art have been used over the years.

As shown in [FIG. 11] connection bolts360,361,362, and363secure the front vertical plate290to the upper connection arm175and lower connection arm390. Also, connection bolt360attaches the side plates40,41of the upper connection arm175. Connection bolt361attaches the upper connection arm175to the front vertical plate290. Connection bolt363attaches the lower connection arm390to the mounting assembly400. Connection bolt362attaches the lower connection arm390to the front vertical plate290.

Mounting assembly1000[FIG. 12] is connected to a vehicle700. A hydraulic cylinder160lowers the heel end172of the wing plow400. A hydraulic cylinder160[FIG. 14] within the mounting assembly moves and lowers the toe end171of the wing plow400from the storage position and into the operating position [FIG. 15]. The upper connection arm175pivots [FIG. 11] on Axis A372and lowers the front vertical plate290assembly on Axis C374, thus engaging the wing plow and the surface to be plowed. The lower connection arm390moves in accordance to the upper connection arm175on Axis B373and front vertical plate290on Axis D375. As the vehicle700travels the wing plow400is able to maintain contact with the surface. The mounting assembly1000is shown in typical plowing position [FIG. 15]. The float collar180on the hydraulic cylinder160is able to provide a specified amount of free travel, or float185for the wing plow400when in the plowing position. As the driver raises the wing plow400back into the storage position the hydraulic cylinder160pushes the upper connection arm175assembly. The upper connection arm175pivots on Axis A372and raises the front vertical plate290on Axis C374and toe end171of the wing plow400. When taking the wing plow400from the storage position to the operating position it is common for some designs to stick and stay in the upright storage position. The float collar180on the present invention is able to provide down pressure for a set distance and free the assembly [FIG. 16]. Wear to the lower connection arm390against the extended side plates40,41on the mounting assembly1000is reduced because the extended side plates40,41cover the area of travel by the lower connection arm390[FIG. 17].

Various heel supports600[FIG. 12] use plates fastened to the vehicle frame, typically with bolts and nuts. Attached to the plates is a tube extending laterally towards the wing plow400. Such support arrangements attach the heel end of the plow wing172to a push beam500, typically with a spring mechanism to absorb shock caused by the wing plow400contacting the roadway. The heel end172of the wing plow400extends laterally from the side of a vehicle700when in the plowing position. The heel end172of the wing plow400is stored in a semi-upright position next to the vehicle. A hydraulic cylinder160is commonly used to raise and lower the heel of the wing plow400. When the operator engages the wing plow400, the mounting assembly1000folds down to the roadway and extends laterally from the vehicle700forming an angle of wing plow in operation850from the toe end171to the heel172end of the wing plow400and the vehicle700[FIG. 13]. This angle is substantially parallel to the angle of connection link825when the wing plow400is in the plowing position.