Patent Publication Number: US-2009223091-A1

Title: Vehicle mountable plow

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     The present disclosure relates to vehicle-mountable plows and more particularly pertains to a new vehicle mountable plow having enhanced weight and performance characteristics. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Plows or blades that are mountable on a vehicle have been utilized to push materials such as snow, dirt, gravel, and similar materials. However, the known plow systems have suffered from a number of disadvantages or drawbacks. For example, the plow systems have been relatively heavy, and this factor can restrict the size of the vehicles on which the systems can be used, so only larger vehicles can use such systems and the performance of the vehicle may be affected. 
     Another drawback has been the vulnerability to damage when immovable objects on the ground are struck by the plow, which has led to the use of spring-release systems and bulkier structures to resist damage, which again leads to heavier system weights. 
     The vehicle mountable plow according to the present disclosure substantially departs from the conventional concepts and the designs of the known prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of having decreasing weight and enhancing performance. 
     SUMMARY 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of vehicle mountable plows now present in the prior art, the present disclosure describes a new vehicle mountable plow which may be utilized for enhanced weight and performance characteristics. 
     The present disclosure relates to a plow apparatus for mounting on a mobile base that includes a mount for mounting to a mobile base, a plow having a moldboard having an upper boundary, a lower boundary, and opposite ends, a plow support assembly mounted on the mount and configured to support the plow on the mount; and a plow adjustment assembly configured to adjust an orientation of the plow. The plow support assembly may be mounted to the plow toward the upper boundary of the plow. 
     In another aspect of the disclosure, a plow apparatus for mounting on a mobile base includes a mount for mounting to a mobile base, an elongate plow having opposite longitudinal ends, a plow support assembly mounted on the mount and configured to support the plow on the mount, and a plow adjustment assembly configured to adjust an orientation of the plow. The plow adjustment assembly may comprise a tilt assembly configured to adjust a tilt orientation of the plow about a longitudinal substantially horizontal axis of the plow. 
     In still another aspect, a plow apparatus for mounting on a mobile base that includes a mount for mounting to a mobile base, a plow, a plow support assembly configured to support the plow on the mount, a plow adjustment assembly configured to adjust an orientation of the plow, and a fluid actuation assembly configured to provide fluid to the plow adjustment assembly to orient the plow with respect to the mount. The fluid actuation assembly is configured to utilize a gas to adjust the orientation of the plow. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, some of the more important elements of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional elements of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment or implementation in greater detail, it is to be understood that the scope of the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and implementations and is thus capable of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present disclosure. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     The advantages of the various embodiments of the present invention, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the invention, are disclosed in the following descriptive matter and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure will be better understood and when consideration is given to the drawings and the detailed description which follows. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view of a new vehicle mountable plow apparatus according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic right side view of the plow apparatus, according to an illustrative embodiment, with the plow in a forward position. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic right side view of the plow apparatus with the plow tilted partially rearward. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic right side view of the plow apparatus with the plow tilted rearward. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic left side view of the plow apparatus, according to an illustrative embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic rear side view of the plow apparatus, according to an illustrative embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic diagrammatic view of the plow adjustment assembly and fluid actuation assembly, according to an illustrative embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 7  thereof, a new vehicle mountable plow embodying the principles and concepts of the disclosed subject matter will be described. 
     A plow apparatus  10  of the disclosure is suitable for mounting on a mobile base, which may be a vehicle motorize or non-motorized, such as an automobile, truck, all terrain vehicle, utility vehicle, tractor and other vehicles and even mobile bases that are not motorized. 
     In general, the plow apparatus  10  may include a mount  12  for mounting to a mobile base, a plow  14 , a plow support assembly  16  configured to support the plow on the mount, a plow adjustment assembly  18  configured to adjust an orientation of the plow, and a fluid actuation assembly  20  configured to provide fluid to the plow adjustment assembly to orient the plow with respect to the mount. 
     In greater detail, the mount  12  may comprise a mounting assembly configured to removably mount on a receiver on a vehicle or other mobile base, although it will be realized that other types of mounting structures may also be employed. The mounting assembly  12  may comprise a base portion  22  for mounting on the mobile base and an upper portion  24  mounted on the base portion  22 . 
     The base portion  22  of the mounting assembly  12  may in turn include a receiver mount  26  for removably coupling to a hitch receiver on the mobile base, and a base member  28 . The receiver mount  26  may extend rearwardly from the base member  28  and may terminate in a free end that is suitable for insertion in the receiver of a hitch. This feature of the apparatus  10  permits a highly versatile style of mounting, as many vehicles are adaptable to include a receiver hitch mount of the type compatible with the receiver mount  26 . This style of mounting also typically permits mount and dismount to be accomplished with the insertion and withdrawal of a pin extending through the receiver mount  26  and the receiver hitch. The receiver mount  26  may include a tube member  30  and a flange member  32  that is mounted on the tube member. The flange member  32  may be located toward a forward end of the tube member, and may include a pair of laterally-spaced ears  34 . 
     In various embodiments of the apparatus  10 , the position of the base member  28  with respect to the receiver mount  26  is adjustable, and may be vertically adjustable with respect to the receiver mount when the receiver mount is oriented for normal mounting on a hitch receiver. The base member  28  may include a plurality of mounting holes that provide different mounting locations for the base member on the receiver mount. The upper portion  24  may be mounted on the base portion  22  and may extend upwardly from the base portion. The upper portion  24  may provide a mounting point for various elements of the plow apparatus described elsewhere in this disclosure. 
     The plow  14  of the plow apparatus  10  provides the primary surfaces for engaging materials that are to be moved by the apparatus. The plow  14  may comprise a plow assembly. The plow assembly  14  may comprise a moldboard  36  that has an upper boundary  38 , a lower boundary  40 , and opposite ends  42 ,  43 . The moldboard  36  has a front  44  and a rear  48 . The front  44  may have a concave front surface for receiving and guiding the material to be moved by the plow apparatus  10 . In greater detail, the moldboard  36  may comprise a plow frame  48 , a skin  50  mounted on the plow frame, and a cutting edge  52  positioned adjacent to the lower boundary  40  of the moldboard. The cutting edge  52  may be mounted on the plow frame  48 . 
     The plow  14  may further comprise an upper attachment structure  54  that is mounted on the moldboard  36 , and the structure  54  may be mounted on the plow frame  48  toward the upper boundary  38  of the moldboard. The plow  14  may also include a lower attachment structure  56  mounted on the moldboard  36 . The lower attachment structure  56  may be mounted on the plow frame  48 , and may be located closer to the lower boundary  40  of the moldboard  36  than the upper attachment structure  54 . In some embodiments, the upper  54  and lower  56  attachment structures are located on an upper half of the moldboard  36  adjacent to the upper boundary  38 , and in other embodiments the upper  54  and lower  56  attachment structures are located on an upper quarter of the moldboard  36 . 
     The plow support assembly  16 , which may be utilized to support the plow  14  on the mount  12  and thus may be mounted on the mount, may also be pivotable with respect to the mount, and may be pivotable about a substantially horizontal axis with respect to the mount. Additionally, the plow  14  may be mounted on the plow support assembly  16 , and also may be pivotable with respect to the plow support assembly, and may pivot about a horizontal axis. 
     The plow support assembly  16  may be mounted to the plow  14  toward the upper boundary  38  of the plow, and the plow support assembly is preferably mounted to the plow at a location that is closer to the upper boundary than the lower boundary  40  of the plow, and is most preferably (although not critically) mounted on the plow adjacent to the upper boundary. The mounting of the plow support assembly  16  toward the upper boundary  38  of the plow  14  can provide significant benefits. This character of mounting permits the plow  14  to be tilted about an axis that is relatively high with respect to the ground surface when the cutting edge  52  is rested on the ground surface. 
     In conventional plows, common practice is to employ a tilt axis that is relatively close to the ground, and when the moldboard hits an unmovable object on the ground the plow tips forward to allow the snowplow to pass over the object. However, if the object is taller than the height of the tilt axis, it is possible that damage will occur to the plow unit or vehicle at the weakest point. In contrast, in the plow apparatus  10  utilizing the relatively high position of the connection between the plow  14  and the plow support assembly  16 , the plow  14  has an increased ability to allow the moldboard to trip over a relatively taller object without causing damage to the plow. Further, a larger area is created behind the moldboard  36  to accumulate material being plowed when back dragging the plow without crowding the support assembly  16 . Also, the lower boundary  40  of the moldboard  36  may be angled rearwardly to reduce drag when the vehicle on which the plow apparatus  10  is mounted is driven down the road. Still further, the ground clearance of the support assembly  16  is enhanced when the plow  14  is moved over curbs and other obstacles. 
     The plow support assembly  16  may comprise a main member  58  that extends forwardly from the mount  12 . The main member  58  has a forward end  60  and a rearward end  62 , and the rearward end  62  may be mounted on the mount  12  and the forward end  60  may be mounted on the plow  14 . The rearward end  62  is preferably pivotally mounted on the mount, and may be pivotable about a substantially horizontal axis. The plow  14  may be pivotable with respect to the forward end  60  of the main member  58 , and the plow may be pivotable about a substantially horizontal axis with respect to the main member  58 . 
     A secondary member  64  may be included in the plow support assembly  16 , and may be mounted on the main member  58 . The secondary member  64  may be pivotable with respect to the main member, and may pivot about a substantially vertical axis. The secondary member  64  may be mounted to the plow  14 , and may be mounted thereto in a pivotable manner so that the secondary member is pivotable about a substantially horizontal axis. The secondary member  64  may extend generally transverse to the main member  58 . The secondary member has opposite ends  66 ,  67 , and each of the opposite ends may be pivotally mounted on the plow. 
     The plow adjustment assembly  18  may provide a degree of adjustment to the orientation of the plow  14 . The plow adjustment assembly  18  may be configured to utilize a fluid to adjust the orientation of the plow, and most preferably the fluid has a degree of compressibility, and comprises a gas. In many suitable embodiments, the gas is environmental air that has been suitably filtered (e.g., dried) prior to introduction into the system. 
     The plow adjustment assembly  18  may include one or more assemblies that adjust various aspects of the orientation of the plow  14 . In various embodiments of the plow apparatus  10 , the plow adjustment assembly includes a lift assembly  70  that is configured to adjust a height orientation of the plow  14  above, for example, the ground surface on which the mobile base rests. The lift assembly  70  may act between the mount  12  and the plow support assembly  16 , and accordingly the lift assembly  70  may be mounted on the mount and on the plow support assembly. The lift assembly  70  may comprise a mounting  72  mounted on the mount  12  and a mounting  73  mounted on the plow support assembly. The lift assembly  70  may also include an extendible and contractible apparatus  74  that is mounted on the mounting  72  on the mount and the mounting  73  on the plow support apparatus. The extendible and contractible apparatus  74  may be extendable to move the mounting  72  and the mounting  73  away from each other, to thereby cause the plow to lower or move closer to the ground surface. The extendible and contractible apparatus  74  may be contractible to move the mounting  72  and the mounting  73  toward each other, to thereby cause the plow to raise or move away from the ground surface. 
     The plow adjustment assembly  18  may also include a tilt assembly  76  that is configured to adjust an orientation of the plow about a transverse axis which may be a substantially horizontal axis. The tilt assembly  76  may act between the plow support assembly  16  and the plow  14 , and thus may be mounted on the plow support assembly and the plow. The tilt assembly  76  may include a mounting  78  mounted on the plow support assembly and a mounting  79  mounted on the plow. The mounting  79  on the plow  14  may be mounted on the upper attachment structure  54  of the plow. The tilt assembly may further include an extendible and contractible apparatus  80  mounted on the mounting  78  on the plow support assembly and the mounting  79  on the plow. The extendible and contractible apparatus  80  may be extendable to move the mounting  78  on the plow support assembly and the mounting  79  on the plow away from each other to, for example, tilt the plow  14  forward so that the cutting edge  52  moves in a rearward direction. The extendible and contractible apparatus  80  may be contractible to move the mounting  78  and the mounting  79  toward each other to, for example, tilt the plow  14  backward so that the cutting edge  52  moves in a forward direction. 
     Significantly, the ability to adjust the tilt of the plow  14  permits the user to adjust the angle of attack of the plow with respect to the ground surface, and the angle of the cutting edge  52  contacting the surface. The user may adjust the tilt, and thus the angle of attack for different conditions, such as the condition of the material to be moved by the plow  14 . For example, the plow  14  may be rolled back with the upper boundary  38  brought back toward the operator in the vehicle (bringing the cutting edge  52  forward) cut hard packed snow or ice off of a surface. This positioning may also be useful in backdragging the plow  14 , which involves pushing the material with the rear  46  of the plow as the supporting vehicle is moved in a rearward direction. Also, the lower boundary  40  may be moved backwardly toward the vehicle to roll soft snow in a forward direction. This capability is in contrast to plows with a fixed angle of attack, which does not permit such adaptation to conditions. 
     In various embodiments, the plow adjustment assembly  18  may also include a pivot assembly  82  that is configured to adjust a yaw orientation of the plow  12  about, for example, a substantially vertical axis. The pivot assembly  82  may act between the main member  58  of the plow support assembly  16  and the secondary member  64  of the plow support assembly, and thus the pivot assembly  82  may be mounted on the main member  58  and the secondary member  64 . The pivot assembly  82  may comprise a mounting  84  mounted on the main member  58  of the plow support assembly and a mounting  85  on the secondary member  64  of the plow support assembly. The pivot assembly  82  may also include an extendible and contractible apparatus  86  that mounted on the mounting  84  on the main member of the plow support assembly and the mounting  85  on the secondary member of the plow support assembly. The extendible and contractible apparatus  86  may be extendable to move the mounting  84  on the main member and the mounting  85  on the secondary member away from each other to, for example, pivot or rotate the plow  14  to the left. The extendible and contractible apparatus  86  may also be contractible to move the mounting  84  on the main member and the mounting  85  on the secondary member toward each other to, for example, pivot the plow  14  to the right. 
     The respective extendible and contractible apparatus  74 ,  80 , and  86  may be gas actuated, and may be double acting. In various embodiments of the plow apparatus  10 , the extendible and contractible apparatus  74 ,  80 ,  86  may each comprise a piston and cylinder device. 
     The plow apparatus  10  may also include a fluid actuation assembly  88  that is configured to provide fluid to the plow adjustment assembly  18  to orient the plow  14  with respect to the mount  12 . Although any suitable fluid may be employed to actuate the extendible and contractible apparatus of the plow adjustment assembly  18 , it is preferable that a gas, and in most cases environmental air, is employed as the working fluid. This approach has the benefit of reducing the weight of the apparatus  10 , as the weight of the fluid is basically eliminated. 
     Also, the compressibility of a gas provides a degree of spring that is not present with relatively incompressible fluids such as liquids, and this spring character provides some forgiveness in the plow adjustment assembly  18  when, for example, an immovable object is struck by the plow. Also, the ability of the extensible and contractible apparatus to absorb a degree of shock or impact may allow for the use of lighter weight materials than would otherwise be possible, since the materials are protected in some measure from impacts and shocks than would require heavier materials to resist. 
     The compressibility of the air also allows the extensible and contractible apparatus to be biased so that when reduced resistance is encountered, the apparatus is able to move further in the biased direction without further fluid needed to be added to the apparatus. For example, the extensible and contractible apparatus  74  of the lift assembly may be provided with a sufficient amount of compressed air so that the apparatus  74  pushes the plow  14  against the ground surface, and is able to press the plow  14  further downwardly if the ground surface should drop relative to the position of the plow apparatus  10 . The use of air as a working fluid also makes the use of double acting piston and cylinders more practical, and the need for return springs is eliminated. 
     In some embodiments, the fluid actuation assembly  88  is mounted on the mount  12 , and may be located on the upper portion  24  of the mounting assembly. The fluid actuation assembly  88  may include a fluid tank  90  for holding the fluid, such as a gas, for use by the elements of the plow adjustment assembly  18 , and may be configured to hold the gas in a compressed condition. Significantly, in various embodiments of the apparatus  10 , the fluid tank  90  may be formed by the main member  58  of the plow support assembly  16 . 
     The fluid actuation assembly  88  may further include a fluid pump  92  for pumping fluid into the fluid tank  90 . In some embodiments, the working fluid of the apparatus  10  comprises a gas, and the fluid pump  92  comprises a compressor that pumps compressed gas into the fluid tank. The fluid pump  92  may be mounted on the upper portion  24  of the mount  12 . The fluid actuation assembly  88  may also include a valve apparatus  94  configured to direct fluid or gas from the fluid tank  90  to selected ones of the extensible and contractible apparatus  74 ,  80 ,  86 . The valve apparatus  94  may be mounted on the upper portion  24  of the mount  12 . 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art in light of the foregoing disclosure, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosed subject matter to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to that fall within the scope of the claims.