Patent Abstract:
A pivot assembly may include first and second subassemblies. The first subassembly may be adapted to be coupled to a frame member and rotationally fixed relative thereto. The first subassembly may include a latch mechanism displaceable between locked and unlocked positions. The second subassembly may be adapted to be coupled to the frame member and may be rotatable relative thereto. The second subassembly may include a power pivot assembly and a cam member. The power pivot assembly may be drivingly engaged with the cam member and operable to rotate the cam member in a first rotational direction to a first position where the cam member urges the latch mechanism into the unlocked position.

Full Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to pivot assemblies, and more specifically to power actuated pivot assemblies. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art. 
         [0003]    Plow systems are commonly used for all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). Current plow systems can require the driver to get off of the vehicle to adjust the pivot angle of the plow blade. A variety of other maintenance equipment used in combination with tractors and/or ATVs, such as lawn cutting and sweeper assemblies, can require a user to manually adjust a rotary orientation of the maintenance equipment. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    Accordingly, a pivot assembly may include first and second subassemblies. The first subassembly may be adapted to be coupled to a frame member and rotationally fixed relative thereto. The first subassembly may include a latch mechanism displaceable between locked and unlocked positions. The second subassembly may be adapted to be coupled to the frame member and may be rotatable relative thereto. The second subassembly may include a power pivot assembly and a cam member. The power pivot assembly may be drivingly engaged with the cam member and operable to rotate the cam member in a first rotational direction to a first position where the cam member urges the latch mechanism into the unlocked position. 
         [0005]    An alternate pivot assembly may include a rotating member, a latch mechanism, and a power pivot assembly. The rotating member may be adapted to be rotatably coupled to a frame member. The latch mechanism may be adapted to be coupled to the frame member and may be displaceable between first and second positions. The latch mechanism may be engaged with the rotating member when in the first position to prevent relative rotation between the rotating member and the frame member. The latch mechanism may be disengaged from the rotating member when in the second position to allow relative rotation between the rotating member and the frame member. The power pivot assembly may include a drive assembly drivingly coupled to the rotating member and operable to displace the latch mechanism between the first and second positions. 
         [0006]    The power pivot assembly may include a motor, a planetary gear assembly, and a housing having a splined inner surface. The motor may be drivingly coupled to the planetary gear assembly and the planetary gear assembly may be engaged with the splined inner surface. The planetary gear assembly is operable to displace the latch mechanism to the second position and to rotate the rotating member relative to the frame member. 
         [0007]    Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a plow mount assembly according to the present disclosure; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a fragmentary perspective exploded view of the plow mount assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a perspective exploded view of a portion of the plow mount assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective exploded view of a power pivot assembly of the plow mount assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a bottom plan view of a portion of the plow mount assembly of  FIG. 1  in a first position; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a bottom plan view of a portion of the plow mount assembly of  FIG. 1  in a second position; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a side view of the plow mount assembly. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. 
         [0017]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , a plow mount assembly  10  may include a frame assembly  12 , a base swivel  14 , and a power pivot assembly  16 . Frame assembly  12  may include a series of tubular frame members  18 ,  20 , a vehicle mounting bracket  22 , and a base plate  24 . Vehicle mounting bracket  22  may provide for mounting of frame assembly  12  to a vehicle and base plate  24  may support base swivel  14  and power pivot assembly  16  thereon, as discussed below. With additional reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , plow mount assembly  10  may further include first, second and third bearing plates  26 ,  28 ,  30 , a coupling plate  31 , first and second stop members  32 ,  34 , first and second support members  36 ,  38 , first and second pivot arms  40 ,  42  forming a latch mechanism, a lock plate assembly  44 , a drive plate  46  and a cam member  48 . 
         [0018]    As best shown in  FIG. 3 , base swivel  14  may include a plate member  49  having arms  50 ,  52  extending upwardly from opposite sides thereof. Plate member  49  may include a central aperture  54  and a series of slots  56  extending therethrough. Aperture  54  may be generally circular and may have a diameter similar to an outer diameter of first bearing plate  26 . Base swivel  14  may be disposed adjacent to the upper surface of base plate  24 , having first bearing plate  26  disposed within aperture  54 , such that base swivel  14  is rotatable relative to base plate  24  about first bearing plate  26 . Coupling plate  31  may be disposed between base swivel  14  and drive plate  46 . 
         [0019]    Drive plate  46  may be disposed adjacent to an upper surface of base swivel  14  and may include a plate member  58  having arms  60 ,  62  extending upwardly from opposite sides thereof and a flange portion  64  extending from a side between arms  60 ,  62 . Arms  60 ,  62  may generally oppose inner surfaces of arms  50 ,  52  of plate member  49 . Plate member  58  may include a central aperture  66  extending therethrough and a series of slots  68  extending through flange portion  64  and generally aligned with slots  56  in plate member  49 . Aperture  66  may be generally circular and may have a diameter similar to an outer diameter of second bearing plate  28 . Second bearing plate  28  may be disposed within aperture  66 , such that drive plate  46  is rotatable thereabout. 
         [0020]    With additional reference to  FIGS. 2 and 5 , lock plate assembly  44  may be disposed adjacent to an upper surface of drive plate  46  and may include first and second plates  70 ,  72  fixed to one another. First plate  70  may include first and second arcuate-shaped apertures  74 ,  76  generally opposite one another, a central aperture  78 , and a series of slots  80  extending therethrough and aligned with slots  68  in drive plate  46 . Second plate  72  may include a generally circular central opening  82  having first and second sets of teeth  84 ,  86  generally opposite one another formed on an inner circumference thereof adjacent first and second arcuate portions  88 ,  90 . Second plate  72  may further include a series of slots  92  extending therethrough and aligned with slots  80  in first plate  70 . 
         [0021]    First and second stop members  32 ,  34 , first and second support members  36 ,  38 , first and second pivot arms  40 ,  42 , and cam member  48  may be disposed within lock plate assembly  44 . More specifically, stop members  32 ,  34  may have generally arcuate bodies and may be disposed adjacent to arcuate portions  88 ,  90  of second plate  72 . Outer circumferential surfaces of stop members  32 ,  34  may form bearing and guide surfaces for rotation of lock plate assembly  44  thereabout, as discussed below. First and second support members  36 ,  38  may have generally arcuate bodies and may be disposed within first and second arcuate-shaped apertures  74 ,  76  of first plate  70 . Outer and inner circumferential surfaces of support members  36 ,  38  may form bearing and guide surfaces for rotation of lock plate assembly  44  thereabout, as discussed below. First and second pivot arms  40 ,  42  may be disposed within second plate  72  adjacent to first and second sets of teeth  84 ,  86 , best shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0022]    First and second pivot arms  40 ,  42  may be generally similar to one another, therefore, only first pivot arm  40  will be discussed in detail with the understanding that the description applies equally to second pivot arm  42 . First pivot arm  40  may include an aperture  93  having a pin  94  extending therethrough and through an aperture  95  in first support member  36 , rotatably coupling first pivot arm  40  thereto. First pivot arm  40  may further include first and second end portions  96 ,  98 . First end portion  96  may include a recess  100  therein and second end portion  98  may include teeth  102  for engagement with teeth  84  in second plate  72 , as discussed below. 
         [0023]    Cam member  48  may be disposed within a central portion of second plate  72  and may include a central portion  104  having first and second arms  106 ,  108  extending radially outwardly therefrom. Central portion  104  may include an aperture  110  ( FIG. 2 ) generally aligned with aperture  78  in first plate  70 . Arms  106 ,  108  may include arcuate radially outer surfaces for slidable engagement with arcuate inner surfaces of stop members  32 ,  34 , as discussed below. 
         [0024]    With additional reference to  FIG. 2 , power pivot assembly  16  may be disposed adjacent to an upper surface of lock plate assembly  44 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , power pivot assembly  16  may include a motor assembly  112 , a gear housing assembly  114 , and a gear assembly  116 . Motor assembly  112  may include a motor  118  and a drive gear  122 . Drive gear  122  may be in a driven engagement with motor  118 . Gear housing assembly  114  may include an end plate  124  and a gear housing  126 . End plate  124  may be fixed to an upper portion of gear housing  126  and may have motor  118  fixed thereto. End plate  124  may include an aperture  127  allowing engagement between motor  118  and drive gear  122 . Gear housing  126  may include a generally cylindrical body having a splined inner surface  128 , which may operate as a ring gear, as discussed below. 
         [0025]    Gear assembly  116  may include a series of compound planetary gears  130 ,  131 ,  133 ,  135  rotatably coupled to respective cages  132 ,  137 ,  139 ,  141 . Cages  132 ,  137 ,  139 ,  141  each may include lower plates  134 ,  143 ,  145 ,  147  having driven gears  136 ,  149 ,  151 ,  153  coupled thereto for rotation therewith. Planetary gears  130 ,  131 ,  133 ,  135  may be engaged with splined inner surface  128  of gear housing  126 , as discussed below. Driven gear  136  may extend axially beyond gear housing  126  and may be drivingly engaged with cam member  48 . More specifically, aperture  110  in cam member  48  may include a splined inner surface  138  engaged with driven gear  136 , causing rotation of cam member  48  with driven gear  136 , as discussed below. 
         [0026]    Gear housing  126  ( FIG. 4 ) may include a series of apertures  111  aligned with a series of apertures  113  in first plate  70  ( FIG. 2 ). Pins  117  ( FIG. 2 ) may be located in apertures  111  and apertures  113 , fixing first plate  70  for rotation with gear housing assembly  114 , as discussed below. Third bearing plate  30  may include a central aperture  140  having gear housing  126  located therein. A circumferential surface  142  of aperture  140  may provide a bearing surface for gear housing  126 , as discussed below. 
         [0027]    Third bearing plate  30  may include a series of apertures  144  disposed about a circumferential portion thereof and aligned with a series of apertures  146 ,  148  in support members  36 ,  38 , a first series of apertures  150 ,  152  in stop members  32 ,  34 , a first series of apertures  154  in second bearing plate  28 , a first series of apertures  157  in coupling plate  31 , a first series of apertures  155  in first bearing plate  26 , and a first series of apertures  156  in base plate  24 . A first series of fasteners  158  may pass through apertures  144 ,  146 ,  148 ,  150 ,  152 ,  154 ,  155 ,  156 ,  157  and may receive nuts  160  on ends thereof, fixing first, second and third bearing plates  26 ,  28 ,  30 , first and second stop members  32 ,  34 , and first and second support members  36 ,  38  to base plate  24 . 
         [0028]    More specifically, first series of apertures  157  in coupling plate  31  may include a threading. First series of fasteners  158  may threadingly engage first series of apertures  157 . Power pivot assembly  16 , third bearing plate  30 , lock plate assembly  44 , first and second support members  36 ,  38 , cam member  48 , first and second stop members  32 ,  34 , stop first and second pivot arms  40 ,  42 , second bearing plate  28 , drive plate  46 , and coupling plate  31  may be fixed to one another by the threaded engagement between first series of fasteners  158  and coupling plate  31 . Threaded ends of fasteners  158  may pass though apertures  155  in first bearing plate  26  and apertures  156  in base plate  24 . Fasteners  158  may then receive nuts  160  on ends thereof. Therefore, first, second and third bearing plates  26 ,  28 ,  30 , first and second stop members  32 ,  34 , first and second support members  36 ,  38  may form a first subassembly that is rotationally fixed relative to base plate  24 . 
         [0029]    A second set of fasteners  162  may extend through a second series of apertures  163  in stop members  32 ,  34 , a second series of apertures  165  in second bearing plate  28 , a second series of apertures  159  in coupling plate  31 , a second series of apertures  167  in first bearing plate  26 , and a second series of apertures  169  in base plate  24 . Second set of fasteners  162  may receive nuts  164  on ends thereof, further securing stop members  32 ,  34 , second bearing plate  28 , and first bearing plate  26  to base plate  24 . Base swivel  14 , power pivot assembly  16 , lock plate assembly  44 , drive plate  46 , and cam member  48  may be rotatable relative to base plate  24  and may form a second subassembly that is rotatable relative to base plate  24 , as discussed below. Base swivel  14 , lock plate assembly  44 , and drive plate  46  may form a plow rotating member. 
         [0030]    With reference to  FIG. 5 , an initial orientation of lock plate assembly  44  is illustrated and generally corresponds to a straight orientation of base swivel  14  seen in  FIG. 1 . In the initial orientation, cam member  48  is generally centered between stops  166 ,  168  of stop members  32 ,  34  and teeth  102  of pivot arms  40 ,  42  are biased into engagement with teeth  84  in second plate  72  through biasing members  170 ,  172  acting on pivot arms  40 ,  42 . In this initial orientation, lock plate assembly  44  is generally rotatably fixed relative to base plate  24  since pivot arms  40 ,  42  are coupled to support members  36 ,  38  which are fixed to base plate  24 . However, lock plate assembly  44  may be rotated in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, as discussed below. For exemplary purposes, rotation of lock plate assembly  44  in the counterclockwise direction is discussed below. 
         [0031]    Motor  118  may rotate drive gear  122  in a clockwise direction. When drive gear  122  is rotated in a clockwise direction, planetary gears  130 ,  131 ,  133 ,  135  are rotated in a counterclockwise direction. Since lock plate assembly  44  is generally rotationally fixed by pivot arms  40 ,  42  when in the initial orientation, planetary gears  130 ,  131 ,  133 ,  135  may drive cages  132 ,  137 ,  139 ,  141 , and therefore driven gears  136 ,  149 ,  151 ,  153  and cam member  48 , in a clockwise direction. When driven in the clockwise direction, cam member  48  will eventually abut stops  166 ,  168  on stop members  32 ,  34  (seen in  FIG. 6 ), preventing further rotation of cages  132 ,  137 ,  139 ,  141  and cam member  48  relative to base plate  24 . When cam member  48  abuts stops  166 ,  168 , arm  108  of cam member  48  may engage pivot arm  40 , biasing teeth  102  thereof out of engagement with teeth  84  of second plate  72 . Lock plate assembly  44  may then be rotated in a counterclockwise direction. 
         [0032]    As drive gear  122  continues to rotate in a clockwise direction, planetary gears  130 ,  131 ,  133 ,  135  continue to rotate in a counterclockwise direction. However, since cage  132  is fixed against rotation in the clockwise direction due to the engagement between cam member  48  and stop members  32 ,  34 , gear housing  126  is rotated. More specifically, as planetary gears  130 ,  131 ,  133 ,  135  rotate in the counterclockwise direction, the engagement between planetary gears  130 ,  131 ,  133 ,  135  and splined inner surface  128  of gear housing  126  drives gear housing  126  in the counterclockwise direction. Since gear housing  126  is rotationally fixed to lock plate assembly  44 , rotation of gear housing  126  causes rotation of lock plate assembly  44  as well. Rotation of lock plate assembly  44  may be further translated to drive plate  46  through a series of pins  170  ( FIG. 2 ). 
         [0033]    More specifically, slots  80 ,  92  in first and second plates  70 ,  72  may be aligned with slots  68  in drive plate  46  and slots  56  in base swivel  14 . Pins  170  may extend into slots  80 ,  92 ,  68 ,  56 , fixing drive plate  46  and base swivel  14  for rotation with gear housing  126 . Pins  170  may be removed, allowing rotation of lock plate assembly  44  without any corresponding rotation of drive plate  46  or base swivel  14 . 
         [0034]    Lock plate assembly  44  may be returned to the initial orientation corresponding to a generally straight orientation of base swivel  14  shown in  FIG. 5  by rotating drive gear  122  in a counterclockwise direction. More specifically, since pivot arm  42  is engaged with teeth  82  in second plate  72 , lock plate assembly  44  is prevented from rotating in a clockwise direction. Therefore, when drive gear  122  is rotated in a counterclockwise direction while cam member  48  is engaged with stops  166 ,  168 , cam member  48  is rotated in a counterclockwise direction. Once cam member  48  is generally centered between stops  166 ,  168  lock plate assembly  44  is once again oriented in the initial position discussed above. While clockwise rotation of drive gear  122  has been discussed, it is understood that counterclockwise rotation of drive gear  122  will result in opposite clockwise rotation of base swivel  14 . 
         [0035]    With reference to  FIG. 7 , plow mount assembly  10  may be mounted to a vehicle, such as a utility vehicle  200 . Vehicle mounting bracket  22  of plow mount assembly  10  may be coupled to a frame  202  of vehicle  200 . More specifically, vehicle mounting bracket  22  may be laterally fixed relative to frame  202  and vertically pivotable for upward and downward displacement of plow mount assembly  10 . Base swivel  14  may have a plow blade  204  fixed thereto. Plow blade  204  may rotate with base swivel  14  during actuation of plow mount system  10 , as discussed above. Plow mount assembly  10  therefore provides powered rotation of plow blade  204 . 
         [0036]    While shown and described as related to plow mount assembly  10 , it is understood that power pivot assembly  16  may be used in combination with a variety of other tools pivotally coupled to a mounting structure. For example, power pivot assembly  16  may be used in combination with maintenance equipment such as lawn cutting and sweeping assemblies.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4