CA2723630C - Snow plow assembly - Google Patents
Snow plow assembly Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2723630C CA2723630C CA2723630A CA2723630A CA2723630C CA 2723630 C CA2723630 C CA 2723630C CA 2723630 A CA2723630 A CA 2723630A CA 2723630 A CA2723630 A CA 2723630A CA 2723630 C CA2723630 C CA 2723630C
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- Prior art keywords
- blade
- mounting plate
- connector bars
- plow
- elongated
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Classifications
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
- E01H—STREET CLEANING; CLEANING OF PERMANENT WAYS; CLEANING BEACHES; DISPERSING OR PREVENTING FOG IN GENERAL CLEANING STREET OR RAILWAY FURNITURE OR TUNNEL WALLS
- E01H5/00—Removing snow or ice from roads or like surfaces; Grading or roughening snow or ice
- E01H5/04—Apparatus propelled by animal or engine power; Apparatus propelled by hand with driven dislodging or conveying levelling elements, conveying pneumatically for the dislodged material
- E01H5/06—Apparatus propelled by animal or engine power; Apparatus propelled by hand with driven dislodging or conveying levelling elements, conveying pneumatically for the dislodged material dislodging essentially by non-driven elements, e.g. scraper blades, snow-plough blades, scoop blades
- E01H5/063—Apparatus propelled by animal or engine power; Apparatus propelled by hand with driven dislodging or conveying levelling elements, conveying pneumatically for the dislodged material dislodging essentially by non-driven elements, e.g. scraper blades, snow-plough blades, scoop blades by snow-plough blades tiltable for shock-absorbing purposes
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
- E01H—STREET CLEANING; CLEANING OF PERMANENT WAYS; CLEANING BEACHES; DISPERSING OR PREVENTING FOG IN GENERAL CLEANING STREET OR RAILWAY FURNITURE OR TUNNEL WALLS
- E01H5/00—Removing snow or ice from roads or like surfaces; Grading or roughening snow or ice
- E01H5/04—Apparatus propelled by animal or engine power; Apparatus propelled by hand with driven dislodging or conveying levelling elements, conveying pneumatically for the dislodged material
- E01H5/06—Apparatus propelled by animal or engine power; Apparatus propelled by hand with driven dislodging or conveying levelling elements, conveying pneumatically for the dislodged material dislodging essentially by non-driven elements, e.g. scraper blades, snow-plough blades, scoop blades
- E01H5/061—Apparatus propelled by animal or engine power; Apparatus propelled by hand with driven dislodging or conveying levelling elements, conveying pneumatically for the dislodged material dislodging essentially by non-driven elements, e.g. scraper blades, snow-plough blades, scoop blades by scraper blades
- E01H5/062—Apparatus propelled by animal or engine power; Apparatus propelled by hand with driven dislodging or conveying levelling elements, conveying pneumatically for the dislodged material dislodging essentially by non-driven elements, e.g. scraper blades, snow-plough blades, scoop blades by scraper blades by scraper blades displaceable for shock-absorbing purposes
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Architecture (AREA)
- Civil Engineering (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
- Cleaning Of Streets, Tracks, Or Beaches (AREA)
Abstract
A snow plow for a motorized vehicle comprises a plow body securable to the motorized vehicle; a blade having a lower edge engageable with a road surface; and a blade attachment assembly including at least one connector bar, a plurality of elongated members insertable in elongated apertures defined in one of a mounting plate secured to the plow body and the plow body and vertically displaceable therein, the elongated members being securable to the blade and to the at least one connector bar, and biasing elements securable to one of the at least one connector bar and the blade and biasing the blade in a lowered configuration.
Description
SNOW PLOW ASSEMBLY
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The technical field relates to snow plows for motorized vehicles and, more particularly, to snow plow assemblies and to a method for mounting same on a motorized vehicle.
BACKGROUND
During snow clearing operations, snow plows frequently strike obstacles, such as frozen debris or objects concealed beneath the snow (e.g. road curbs, rocks, raised or cracked road situations, debris, and manhole covers). Therefore, snow plow blades are mounted to the snow blow bodies with mechanisms allowing vertical displacement of the blade upon striking such obstacles and to return to an operative and lowered configuration after encountering an obstacle There is thus a need for a mechanism which is efficient for vertical displacement upon striking road obstacles and which ensures that the blade returns to the operative and lowered configuration thereafter.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an aim of the present invention to address the above mentioned issues.
According to a general aspect, there is provided a snow plow for a motorized vehicle, the snow plow comprising: a plow body securable to the motorized vehicle; a blade having a lower edge engageable with a road surface; and a blade attachment assembly including at least one connector bar, a plurality of elongated members insertable in elongated apertures defined in one of a mounting plate secured to the plow body and the plow body and vertically displaceable therein, the elongated members being securable to the blade and to the at least one connector bar, and at least one biasing element securable to at least one of the at least one connector bar and the blade and biasing the blade in a lowered configuration.
OR File No. 55457486-1CA - 1 -In an embodiment, the biasing elements are securable to one of the plow body and the mounting plate and the at least one connector bar. The biasing elements can comprise spring elements having a first end securable to a respective one of the at least one connector bar and a second end securable to the one of the plow body and the mounting plate. The at least one connector bar and the one of the plow body and the mounting plate can comprise holder plates extending rearwardly for supporting the spring elements.
In an embodiment, the plow body comprises the mounting plate extending in a lower portion, the elongated apertures extending through the mounting plate.
In an embodiment, the blade comprises a plurality of blade sections disposed in a longitudinally adjacent relationship, forwardly of the plow body. The elongated members can comprise fasteners and at least two fasteners secure each one of the blade sections to the one of the plow body and the mounting plate and to each one of the at least one connector bar. Each one of the blade section can be associated to a respective one of the at least one connector bar.
In an embodiment, elongated members comprise bolts securable to the blade and the at least one connector bar.
In an embodiment, the blade attachment assembly further comprises a plurality of sleeve members insertable in a respective one of the elongated apertures and surrounding a respective one of the elongated members.
In an embodiment, the at least one connector bar comprises a plurality of connector bars disposable in a longitudinally adjacent relationship, rearwardly of the one of the plow body and the mounting plate, each one of the connector bars having a male member at a first longitudinal end and a corresponding female member at a second longitudinal end, opposed to the first longitudinal end, the female member being insertable in the male member of an adjacent connector bar.
According to another general aspect, there is provided a motorized vehicle comprising a snow plow as described above.
OR File No. 55457486-1CA -2 -According to still another general aspect, there is provided a snow plow assembly securable to a snow plow body, the snow plow assembly comprising: a blade having a lower edge engageable with a road surface; and a blade attachment assembly including at least one connector bar, a plurality of elongated members insertable in elongated apertures extending through one of the plow body and a mounting plate secured to the plow body, the elongated members being vertically displaceable in the elongated apertures, securable to the blade and to the at least one connector bar, and at least one biasing element securable to at least one of the at least one connector bar and the blade biasing the blade in a lowered configuration.
In an embodiment, the biasing elements are securable to the one of the plow body and the mounting plate. The biasing elements can comprise spring elements having a first end securable to one of a respective one of the at least one connector bar and the blade and a second end securable to the one of the plow body and the mounting plate. The first end of the spring elements can be securable to the at least one connector bar and the at least one connector bar and the one of the plow body and the mounting plate comprise holder plates extending rearwardly for supporting the spring elements.
The snow plow assembly can further comprise the mounting plate securable to a lower portion of the plow body and having the elongated apertures extending thereth roug h.
In an embodiment, the blade comprises a plurality of blade sections disposed in a longitudinally adjacent relationship, forwardly of the plow body.
The elongated members can comprise fasteners and at least two fasteners secure each one of the blade sections to the one of the plow body and the mounting plate and to each one of the at least one connector bar. Each one of the blade section can be associated to a respective one of the at least one connector bar.
In an embodiment, the elongated members can comprise bolts securable to the blade and the at least one connector bar.
OR File No. 55457486-1CA - 3 -In an embodiment, the blade attachment assembly can further comprise a plurality of sleeve members insertable in a respective one of the elongated apertures and surrounding a respective one of the elongated members.
In an embodiment, the at least one connector bar comprises a plurality of connector bars disposable in a longitudinally adjacent relationship, rearwardly of the one of the plow body and the mounting plate, each one of the connector bars having a male member at a first longitudinal end and a corresponding female member at a second longitudinal end, opposed to the first longitudinal end, the female member being insertable in the male member of an adjacent connector bar.
According to a further general aspect, there is provided a method for securing a blade to a plow body of a motorized vehicle, the method comprising: providing elongated apertures in one of the plow body and a mounting plate secured to the plow body; superposing the blade to a first face of the respective one of the plow body and the mounting plate and securing the blade to the respective one of the plow body and the mounting plate by inserting elongated members secured to the blade into the elongated apertures, the elongated members being displaceable vertically in the elongated apertures; superposing at least one connector bar to a second face of the plow body, opposed to the first face, and securing the elongated members to the at least one connector bar; securing at least one biasing element to at least one of the at least one connector bar and the blade in a configuration that biases the blade in a lowered configuration.
The method can further comprise securing the biasing elements to the one of the plow body and the mounting plate.
In an embodiment, the biasing elements comprise spring elements having a first end and a second end, the method further comprising securing the first end to a respective one of the at least one connector bar and securing the second end to the one of the plow body and the mounting plate.
The method can further comprise securing the mounting plate to a lower portion of the plow body and providing the elongated apertures in the mounting plate.
OR File No. 55457486-1CA - 4 -According to another general aspect, there is provided a snow plow for a motorized vehicle having a plow body. The snow plow comprises: a blade having a lower edge engageable with a road surface; and a blade attachment assembly including a plurality of connector bars, each one having a male member at a first longitudinal end and a corresponding female member at a second longitudinal end, opposed to the first longitudinal end, a mounting plate securable to the plow body in a lower portion thereof and forwardly of the plurality of connector bars, the mounting plate including a plurality of spaced-apart elongated blade apertures extending therethrough and a plurality of spaced-apart plow apertures engageable by mechanical fasteners to secure the mounting plate to the plow body, a plurality of elongated members insertable in the elongated blade apertures defined in the mounting plate and vertically displaceable therein, the elongated members being securable to the blade and to a respective one of the plurality of connector bars, and at least one biasing element securable to the respective one of the plurality of connector bars and the mounting plate and biasing the blade in a lowered configuration, the plurality of connector bars being configured in a longitudinally adjacent relationship with the female member being inserted in the male member of an adjacent one of the connector bars.
According to still another general aspect, there is provided a motorized vehicle comprising a snow plow as described above.
According to further general aspect, there is provided a snow plow assembly securable to a snow plow body. The snow plow assembly comprises: a blade having a lower edge engageable with a road surface; and a blade attachment assembly including connector bars, each one having a male member at a first longitudinal end and a corresponding female member at a second longitudinal end, opposed to the first longitudinal end, a mounting plate securable to a lower portion of the plow body and including a plurality of spaced-apart elongated blade apertures extending therethrough and a plurality of spaced-apart plow apertures engageable by mechanical fasteners to secure the mounting plate to the plow body, a plurality of elongated members insertable in the elongated blade - 4a -apertures extending through the mounting plate, the elongated members being vertically displaceable in the elongated blade apertures, securable to the blade and to a respective one of the connector bars, and at least one biasing element securable to the respective one of the connector bars and the mounting plate and biasing the blade in a lowered configuration, the connector bars being configured in a longitudinally adjacent relationship with the female member being inserted in the male member of an adjacent one of the connector bars.
According to another general aspect, there is provided a method for securing a blade to a plow body of a motorized vehicle. The method comprises: providing elongated blade apertures in a mounting plate; superposing the blade to a first face of the mounting plate and securing the blade to the mounting plate by inserting elongated members secured to the blade into the elongated blade apertures, the elongated members being displaceable vertically in the elongated blade apertures; superposing at least one connector bar to a second face of the mounting plate, opposed to the first face, and securing the elongated members to the at least one connector bar; securing at least one biasing element to the at least one connector bar in a configuration that biases the blade in a lowered configuration; and securing the mounting plate to a lower portion of the plow body by engaging mechanical fasteners through a plurality of spaced-apart plow apertures defined in the mounting plate and corresponding apertures defined in the lower portion of the plow body.
- 4b -BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a rear elevation view of a scraper blade and a blade attachment assembly in accordance with an embodiment, wherein opposed ends of two adjacent blade sections are configured in a raised configuration and adjacent ends of the two adjacent blade sections are configured in a lowered and operative configuration;
Fig. 2 is a section view along section lines A-A of the scraper blade and the blade attachment assembly shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a section view along section lines B-B of the scraper blade and the blade attachment assembly shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 4 is a rear elevation view of the scraper blade and the blade attachment assembly shown in Fig. 1, wherein opposed ends of two adjacent blade sections are configured in a lowered and operative configuration and adjacent ends of the two adjacent blade sections are configured in a raised configuration;
Fig. 5 is a section view along section lines C-C of the scraper blade and the blade attachment assembly shown in Fig. 4;
Fig. 6 is a section view along section lines D-D of the scraper blade and the blade attachment assembly shown in Fig. 4;
Fig. 7 is an elevation view of a connector bar of the blade attachment assembly shown in Fig. 1 in accordance with an embodiment; and Fig. 8 is an elevation view of a mounting plate of the blade attachment assembly shown in Fig. 1 in accordance with an embodiment.
It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features are identified by like reference numerals.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Snow plows (not shown) are mounted to motorized vehicles (not shown). They can be mounted either beneath, forwardly or rearwardly of the vehicle. Snow plows have a plow body (not shown) which can either be a one-way plow, a reversible OR File No. 55457486-1CA - 5-plow, a side mount wing plow, an underbody plow, a rear grader, and the like.
It can be substantially straight or have a curvature defined therein. For instance and without being limitative, the plow bodies can be mounted in a conventional manner on the front end of a vehicle such as a truck, a tractor or any other suitable vehicle.
Plow bodies have a scraper blade 26, such as the one shown in the accompanying drawings and, more particularly, on Figs. 1 to 6, mounted to a lower portion thereof. The scraper blade 26 has a lower edge 27 configured to be in contact with a road surface. In the embodiment shown, the scraper blade 26 includes a plurality of scraper blade sections 26a mounted in a longitudinally adjacent relationship to the lower section of the plow body. The scraper blade sections 26a are typically mounted to a front face of the plow body.
One skilled in the art will appreciate that the number and the length of the scraper blade sections 26a can vary. Furthermore, in a non-limitative alternative embodiment, the scraper blade can be single piece along the plow body.
As it will be described in more details below, the scraper blade 26 and the scraper blade sections 26a can be mounted directly to the plow body or indirectly through a mounting plate 44 secured to the plow body.
As it will be described in more details below, the scraper blade sections 26a can move substantially vertically relatively to the plow body when striking an obstacle.
The scraper blade sections 26a are mounted to the plow body through a blade attachment assembly 28 allowing this substantially vertical movement.
In the embodiment shown, the blade attachment assembly 28 includes a mounting plate 44 (Fig. 8) secured either to the front face or the rear face of the plow body, a plurality of connector bars 30 (Fig. 7) which are juxtaposed to the rear face of the mounting plate 44, close to a lower portion thereof. The connector bars 30 are mounted in a longitudinally adjacent relationship. In the embodiment shown, one connector bar 30 is associated to each scraper blade section 26a. Furthermore, the connector bars 30 have substantially the same length as the scraper blade sections 26a. Each connector bar 30 has a male member 36 at a first longitudinal end and a corresponding female member 38 at a second longitudinal end, opposed to the first OR File No. 55457486-1CA - 6 -longitudinal end, the female member 38 being insertable in the male member 36 of an adjacent connector bar 30, as it will be described in more details below.
The lower edge of the mounting plate 44 extends above the lower edge 27 of the scraper blade 26 or scraper blade sections 26a in such manner that solely the lower edge 27 of the scraper blade 26 or scraper blade sections 26a is in contact with the road surface.
The scraper blade sections 26a are secured to their respective connector bars through fasteners 40 and, more particularly, bolts which extend in elongated apertures 42 extending throughout the mounting (or support) plate 44 mounted to the plow body or directly throughout the plow body, as it will be described in more details below. The fasteners 40 are vertically displaceable within the elongated apertures 42. Therefore their diameter is shorter than the length of the elongated apertures 42 along a substantially vertical axis. In the embodiment shown, the fasteners 40 are surrounded by a sleeve member 46 (Figs. 3 and 6) and, more particularly a bushing, in the elongated apertures 42 to smoothen their displacement in the elongated apertures 42. In an embodiment, the bushing 46 is a metal bushing.
A first end of the fasteners 40 is secured or adjacent to the scraper blade 26 while the second end, opposed to the first end, is secured to the connector bar 30.
Between the first and the second ends, the fasteners 40 extend through the elongated apertures 42 defined in the mounting plate 44 mounted to the plow body or directly in the plow body.
In the embodiment shown, the scraper blade sections 26a and the connector bars 30 have apertures which extend therethrough and through which the fasteners 40 also extend to assemble the blade attachment assembly 28.
In a first embodiment, the mounting plate 44 is secured to the lower portion of the plow body by any suitable method such as and without being limitative welding, fasteners such as bolts, etc. The elongated apertures 42 are defined and extend throughout the mounting plate 44. The elongated aperture 42 extends from the front face 50 to the rear face 52 of the mounting plate 44. In a second and alternative embodiment wherein the scraper blade 26 or the scraper blade sections 26a is OR File No. 55457486-1CA - 7 -mounted directly to the plow body, the elongated apertures 42 can be defined and can extend throughout the lower portion of plow body directly. As for the first embodiment described above, the apertures extend from the front face to the rear face of the plow body.
The mounting plate 44 can be part of the plow body or the blade attachment assembly 28.
In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1, 4, and 8, the mounting plate 44 has substantially circular apertures 54 defined in its upper portion. The circular apertures 54 are mounted in register with corresponding apertures (not shown) defined in the lower portion of the plow body. The mounting plate 44 and the plow body are secured together with fasteners, such as bolts, inserted in the apertures 54 defined in the mounting plate 44 and in the plow body and which are in register. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the mounting plate 44 and the plow body can be secured together by any other suitable method.
The scraper blade sections 26a are vertically displaceable relatively to the plow body since the fasteners 40 are slidably inserted in the elongated apertures 42, i.e.
the fasteners 40 are slidably inserted in the elongated apertures 42 but not directly secured to the mounting plate 44, if any, or the plow body. The scraper blades can move between a raised configuration wherein the fastener(s) 40 abut(s) the upper end of the elongated aperture(s) 42 and a lowered and operative configuration wherein the fastener(s) 40 abut(s) the lower end of the elongated aperture(s) 42.
In the embodiment shown, each scraper blade section 26a has two fasteners 40 inserted in the elongated apertures 42 defined in the mounting plate 44, each fastener 40 being located close to a respective end of the scraper blade section 26a.
One skilled in the art will appreciate that the scraper blade sections 26a can have more than two fasteners 40 inserted in the elongated apertures 42 defined in the plow body or the mounting plate 44, if any.
Each fastener 40 moves substantially independently in the elongated apertures 42. The scraper blade section 26a can be configured in a slanted configuration, upon striking an obstacle, wherein one end of the scraper blade section 26a is configured OR File No. 55457486-1CA - 8 -in a substantially raised configuration and the other and opposed end of the scraper blade section 26a is configured in a substantially lowered configuration.
More particularly, Fig. 1 shows a configuration wherein the adjacent ends of two adjacent scraper blade sections 26a are configured in a lowered and operative configurations with the fasteners 40 abutting a lower end of the elongated apertures 42 while the two distal ends of the two adjacent scraper blade sections 26a are configured in a raised configuration with the fasteners 40 abutting an upper end of the elongated apertures 42. In the configuration shown in Fig. 4, the adjacent ends of two scraper blade sections 26a are configured in a raised configuration with the fasteners 40 abutting an upper end of the elongated apertures 42 while the two distal ends of the two adjacent scraper blade sections 26a are configured in a lowered, operative configuration with the fasteners 40 abutting a lower end of the elongated apertures 42.
Fig. 3 shows one fastener 40 abutting a lower end of the elongated aperture 40 and simultaneously configuring at least a section of the scraper blade section 26a in a lowered, operative configuration. On the opposite, Fig. 6 shows one fastener abutting an upper end of the elongated aperture 40 and simultaneously configuring at least a section of the scraper blade section 26a in a raised configuration.
As mentioned above, the fasteners 40 are also secured to the connector bars 30, which are positioned on the rear face of the mounting plate 44. Therefore, the connector bars 30 move simultaneously with their respective scraper blade sections 26a relatively to the mounting plate 44 and the plow body.
To ensure that the connector bars 30 and their respective scraper blade sections 26a return in the lowered and operative configuration, the blade attachment assembly 28 includes biasing elements 60 secured to the connector bars 30 and biasing the latter towards the lowered and operative configuration. In a particular embodiment, the biasing members 60 are also secured to the mounting plate 44.
If the blade attachment assembly 28 is directly mounted to the plow body, i.e.
without mounting plate 44, the biasing members are secured to the plow body.
OR File No. 55457486-1CA - 9 -In the embodiment shown, the biasing elements 60 are spring members and more particularly, helical spring members, having a first end secured to a rear face 62 of the connector bars 30 and a second and opposed end secured to the rear face of the mounting plate 44, if any. In their compressed configuration, their associated scraper blade section 26a is configured in a raised configuration while in their original, extended configuration, their associated scraper blade section 26a is configured in the lowered, operative configuration. When compressed, the biasing member 60 exerts a force on their respective connector bar 30 to return to its original and lowered configuration. Simultaneously, the scraper blade section 26a associated with the connector bar 30 returns to the lowered, operative configuration since the scraper blade section 26a is connected to the connector bar 30 through the fasteners 40 slidably inserted in one of the elongated apertures 42. The biasing members 60 ensure that the scraper blade 26 or the scraper blade sections 26a return to the lowered, operative configuration.
In the embodiment shown, the biasing members 60 are mounted to two holder plates 64 extending and attached to the connector bars 30 and the mounting plate 44. If the blade attachment assembly 28 is directly mounted to the plow body, i.e.
without mounting plate 44, one of the holder plates 64 is secured to a rear face of the plow body. The holder plates 64 extend substantially perpendicularly to their respective connector bar 30 and to the mounting plate 44. They extend rearwardly of their respective connector bar 30 and to the mounting plate 44. Each pair of holder plates 64 supports a biasing member 60.
One skilled in the art will appreciate that other types of biasing members 60 can be used and that the biasing members 60 can be mounted differently to the blade attachment assembly components and to the plow body or the mounting plate 44, if any. For instance and without being limitative, air-cushion shock absorbers (or air shock) can be used.
In an alternative and non-limitative embodiment, the biasing member 60 can be a leaf spring (i.e. arch-shaped spring) (not shown) connecting two ends of a connector bar 30 or two connector bars 30. The center of the arc can be attached to the plow body or the mounting plate 44, if any.
OR File No. 55457486-1CA - 10 -In the embodiment described above, each blade section 26a and each connector bar 30 is associated with two biasing members 60. However, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the number of biasing member 60 associated with each blade 26, blade section 26a and/or connector bar 30 can vary. For instance and without being limitative, each blade section 26a and each connector bar 30 can be associated with one biasing member centrally mounted.
As mentioned above, each connector bar 30 has a male member 36 at a first longitudinal end and a corresponding female member 38 at a second longitudinal end, opposed to the first longitudinal end, the female member 38 being insertable in the male member 36 of an adjacent connector bar 30. The complementary male and female members 36, 38 provided on opposed ends of the connector bars 30 and engageable with the complementary member of an adjacent connector bar 30 ensure that the connector bars 30 and their associated scraper blade section 26a return in the operative, lowered configuration after striking an obstacle. The biasing force associated to a biasing member 60 of an adjacent connector bar 30 is also applied on the adjacent connector bar 30 and forces the latter to return to the operative, lowered configuration since all connector bars 30 are connected together through the male-female members 36, 38. Therefore, if one scraper blade section 26a is temporarily configured in the raised configuration, its return to the operative, lowered configuration is urged by a combination of the biasing members 60 directly associated therewith and by the biasing members 60 associated with the adjacent connector bars 30, through the male and female connections 36, 38 between adjacent connector bars 30.
One skilled in the art will appreciate that the shape of male and female members 36, 38 can vary from the ones shown in the figures.
In the embodiment shown, a fastener 40 is associated with each biasing member 60. The biasing members 60 are mounted outwardly of the fasteners 40, i.e.
they are mounted closer to the connector bar ends. In alternative and non-limitative embodiments, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the number of fasteners 40 and biasing members 60 associated with each connector bar 30 of the blade OR File No. 55457486-1CA -11 -attachment assembly 28 can differ. Furthermore, the position of the fasteners 40 and the biasing members 60 on the connector bars 30 can also differ.
In the embodiment described above in reference to the figures, the mounting plate 44 mounted to the plow body is single piece along the length of the plow body.
In an alternative embodiment (not shown), one skilled in the art will appreciate that the mounting plate 44 can be divided in a plurality of mounting plate sections, each being secured to the plow body.
In the embodiment described above in reference to the figures, there is one fastener 40 inserted in each elongated aperture 42 but one skilled in the art will appreciate that more than one fastener 40 can be inserted in each elongated aperture 42. Furthermore, other fasteners 40 than bolts can be used to secure the scraper blade sections 26a to the connector bars 30 and the mounting plate 44, if any, to the plow body. In a non-limitative alternative embodiment (not shown), one skilled in the art will appreciate that the mounting plate 44 can be welded to the plow body.
One skilled in the art will appreciate that the blade attachment assembly 28 can be mounted to any suitable plow body.
In a non-limitative alternative embodiment (not shown), one skilled in the art will appreciate that the scraper blade 26 and/or the connector bar 30 can be single piece along the plow body.
In a non-limitative alternative embodiment (not shown), one skilled in the art will appreciate that the length of the scraper blade sections 26a and/or connector bars can vary along the plow body.
In a non-limitative alternative embodiment (not shown), one skilled in the art will 25 appreciate that the one connector bar can be associated with each fastener or elongated members extending throughout the mounting plate 44 or the plow body.
As detailed above, the longitudinally adjacent connector bars can be engaged with one another through corresponding and engageable male-female members.
However, one skilled in the art will appreciate that, in a non-limitative alternative 30 embodiment (not shown), the longitudinally adjacent connector bars can be spaced OR File No. 55457486-1CA - 12 -apart from and/or not engaged with one another. Therefore, the shape of the connector bars can vary from the one shown in the accompanying drawings.
In a non-limitative alternative embodiment (not shown), one skilled in the art will appreciate that the connector bars can be mounted to the front face of the plow body or the mounting plate 44, if any. Therefore, the corresponding blade or blade sections is mounted to the rear face of the plow body or the mounting plate 44, if any. The biasing members can be mounted either to the front face or the rear face of the plow body or the mounting plate 44, if any. They can have a first end attached to the blade or the connector bar and a second end attached to the plow body or the mounting plate 44, if any.
In the embodiment described above, the biasing members are attached to the holder plates mounted to the connector bars and the mounting plates. However, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the holder plates can be mounted to the blade and the plow body, the connector bars and the plow body, the mounting plate and the blade, or any combination thereof.
Several alternative embodiments and examples have been described and illustrated herein. The embodiments of the invention described above are intended to be exemplary only. A person of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate the features of the individual embodiments, and the possible combinations and variations of the components. A person of ordinary skill in the art would further appreciate that any of the embodiments could be provided in any combination with the other embodiments disclosed herein. It is understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or central characteristics thereof. The present examples and embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein. Accordingly, while the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of the invention. The scope of the invention is therefore intended to be limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.
OR File No. 55457486-1CA - 13 -
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The technical field relates to snow plows for motorized vehicles and, more particularly, to snow plow assemblies and to a method for mounting same on a motorized vehicle.
BACKGROUND
During snow clearing operations, snow plows frequently strike obstacles, such as frozen debris or objects concealed beneath the snow (e.g. road curbs, rocks, raised or cracked road situations, debris, and manhole covers). Therefore, snow plow blades are mounted to the snow blow bodies with mechanisms allowing vertical displacement of the blade upon striking such obstacles and to return to an operative and lowered configuration after encountering an obstacle There is thus a need for a mechanism which is efficient for vertical displacement upon striking road obstacles and which ensures that the blade returns to the operative and lowered configuration thereafter.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an aim of the present invention to address the above mentioned issues.
According to a general aspect, there is provided a snow plow for a motorized vehicle, the snow plow comprising: a plow body securable to the motorized vehicle; a blade having a lower edge engageable with a road surface; and a blade attachment assembly including at least one connector bar, a plurality of elongated members insertable in elongated apertures defined in one of a mounting plate secured to the plow body and the plow body and vertically displaceable therein, the elongated members being securable to the blade and to the at least one connector bar, and at least one biasing element securable to at least one of the at least one connector bar and the blade and biasing the blade in a lowered configuration.
OR File No. 55457486-1CA - 1 -In an embodiment, the biasing elements are securable to one of the plow body and the mounting plate and the at least one connector bar. The biasing elements can comprise spring elements having a first end securable to a respective one of the at least one connector bar and a second end securable to the one of the plow body and the mounting plate. The at least one connector bar and the one of the plow body and the mounting plate can comprise holder plates extending rearwardly for supporting the spring elements.
In an embodiment, the plow body comprises the mounting plate extending in a lower portion, the elongated apertures extending through the mounting plate.
In an embodiment, the blade comprises a plurality of blade sections disposed in a longitudinally adjacent relationship, forwardly of the plow body. The elongated members can comprise fasteners and at least two fasteners secure each one of the blade sections to the one of the plow body and the mounting plate and to each one of the at least one connector bar. Each one of the blade section can be associated to a respective one of the at least one connector bar.
In an embodiment, elongated members comprise bolts securable to the blade and the at least one connector bar.
In an embodiment, the blade attachment assembly further comprises a plurality of sleeve members insertable in a respective one of the elongated apertures and surrounding a respective one of the elongated members.
In an embodiment, the at least one connector bar comprises a plurality of connector bars disposable in a longitudinally adjacent relationship, rearwardly of the one of the plow body and the mounting plate, each one of the connector bars having a male member at a first longitudinal end and a corresponding female member at a second longitudinal end, opposed to the first longitudinal end, the female member being insertable in the male member of an adjacent connector bar.
According to another general aspect, there is provided a motorized vehicle comprising a snow plow as described above.
OR File No. 55457486-1CA -2 -According to still another general aspect, there is provided a snow plow assembly securable to a snow plow body, the snow plow assembly comprising: a blade having a lower edge engageable with a road surface; and a blade attachment assembly including at least one connector bar, a plurality of elongated members insertable in elongated apertures extending through one of the plow body and a mounting plate secured to the plow body, the elongated members being vertically displaceable in the elongated apertures, securable to the blade and to the at least one connector bar, and at least one biasing element securable to at least one of the at least one connector bar and the blade biasing the blade in a lowered configuration.
In an embodiment, the biasing elements are securable to the one of the plow body and the mounting plate. The biasing elements can comprise spring elements having a first end securable to one of a respective one of the at least one connector bar and the blade and a second end securable to the one of the plow body and the mounting plate. The first end of the spring elements can be securable to the at least one connector bar and the at least one connector bar and the one of the plow body and the mounting plate comprise holder plates extending rearwardly for supporting the spring elements.
The snow plow assembly can further comprise the mounting plate securable to a lower portion of the plow body and having the elongated apertures extending thereth roug h.
In an embodiment, the blade comprises a plurality of blade sections disposed in a longitudinally adjacent relationship, forwardly of the plow body.
The elongated members can comprise fasteners and at least two fasteners secure each one of the blade sections to the one of the plow body and the mounting plate and to each one of the at least one connector bar. Each one of the blade section can be associated to a respective one of the at least one connector bar.
In an embodiment, the elongated members can comprise bolts securable to the blade and the at least one connector bar.
OR File No. 55457486-1CA - 3 -In an embodiment, the blade attachment assembly can further comprise a plurality of sleeve members insertable in a respective one of the elongated apertures and surrounding a respective one of the elongated members.
In an embodiment, the at least one connector bar comprises a plurality of connector bars disposable in a longitudinally adjacent relationship, rearwardly of the one of the plow body and the mounting plate, each one of the connector bars having a male member at a first longitudinal end and a corresponding female member at a second longitudinal end, opposed to the first longitudinal end, the female member being insertable in the male member of an adjacent connector bar.
According to a further general aspect, there is provided a method for securing a blade to a plow body of a motorized vehicle, the method comprising: providing elongated apertures in one of the plow body and a mounting plate secured to the plow body; superposing the blade to a first face of the respective one of the plow body and the mounting plate and securing the blade to the respective one of the plow body and the mounting plate by inserting elongated members secured to the blade into the elongated apertures, the elongated members being displaceable vertically in the elongated apertures; superposing at least one connector bar to a second face of the plow body, opposed to the first face, and securing the elongated members to the at least one connector bar; securing at least one biasing element to at least one of the at least one connector bar and the blade in a configuration that biases the blade in a lowered configuration.
The method can further comprise securing the biasing elements to the one of the plow body and the mounting plate.
In an embodiment, the biasing elements comprise spring elements having a first end and a second end, the method further comprising securing the first end to a respective one of the at least one connector bar and securing the second end to the one of the plow body and the mounting plate.
The method can further comprise securing the mounting plate to a lower portion of the plow body and providing the elongated apertures in the mounting plate.
OR File No. 55457486-1CA - 4 -According to another general aspect, there is provided a snow plow for a motorized vehicle having a plow body. The snow plow comprises: a blade having a lower edge engageable with a road surface; and a blade attachment assembly including a plurality of connector bars, each one having a male member at a first longitudinal end and a corresponding female member at a second longitudinal end, opposed to the first longitudinal end, a mounting plate securable to the plow body in a lower portion thereof and forwardly of the plurality of connector bars, the mounting plate including a plurality of spaced-apart elongated blade apertures extending therethrough and a plurality of spaced-apart plow apertures engageable by mechanical fasteners to secure the mounting plate to the plow body, a plurality of elongated members insertable in the elongated blade apertures defined in the mounting plate and vertically displaceable therein, the elongated members being securable to the blade and to a respective one of the plurality of connector bars, and at least one biasing element securable to the respective one of the plurality of connector bars and the mounting plate and biasing the blade in a lowered configuration, the plurality of connector bars being configured in a longitudinally adjacent relationship with the female member being inserted in the male member of an adjacent one of the connector bars.
According to still another general aspect, there is provided a motorized vehicle comprising a snow plow as described above.
According to further general aspect, there is provided a snow plow assembly securable to a snow plow body. The snow plow assembly comprises: a blade having a lower edge engageable with a road surface; and a blade attachment assembly including connector bars, each one having a male member at a first longitudinal end and a corresponding female member at a second longitudinal end, opposed to the first longitudinal end, a mounting plate securable to a lower portion of the plow body and including a plurality of spaced-apart elongated blade apertures extending therethrough and a plurality of spaced-apart plow apertures engageable by mechanical fasteners to secure the mounting plate to the plow body, a plurality of elongated members insertable in the elongated blade - 4a -apertures extending through the mounting plate, the elongated members being vertically displaceable in the elongated blade apertures, securable to the blade and to a respective one of the connector bars, and at least one biasing element securable to the respective one of the connector bars and the mounting plate and biasing the blade in a lowered configuration, the connector bars being configured in a longitudinally adjacent relationship with the female member being inserted in the male member of an adjacent one of the connector bars.
According to another general aspect, there is provided a method for securing a blade to a plow body of a motorized vehicle. The method comprises: providing elongated blade apertures in a mounting plate; superposing the blade to a first face of the mounting plate and securing the blade to the mounting plate by inserting elongated members secured to the blade into the elongated blade apertures, the elongated members being displaceable vertically in the elongated blade apertures; superposing at least one connector bar to a second face of the mounting plate, opposed to the first face, and securing the elongated members to the at least one connector bar; securing at least one biasing element to the at least one connector bar in a configuration that biases the blade in a lowered configuration; and securing the mounting plate to a lower portion of the plow body by engaging mechanical fasteners through a plurality of spaced-apart plow apertures defined in the mounting plate and corresponding apertures defined in the lower portion of the plow body.
- 4b -BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a rear elevation view of a scraper blade and a blade attachment assembly in accordance with an embodiment, wherein opposed ends of two adjacent blade sections are configured in a raised configuration and adjacent ends of the two adjacent blade sections are configured in a lowered and operative configuration;
Fig. 2 is a section view along section lines A-A of the scraper blade and the blade attachment assembly shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a section view along section lines B-B of the scraper blade and the blade attachment assembly shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 4 is a rear elevation view of the scraper blade and the blade attachment assembly shown in Fig. 1, wherein opposed ends of two adjacent blade sections are configured in a lowered and operative configuration and adjacent ends of the two adjacent blade sections are configured in a raised configuration;
Fig. 5 is a section view along section lines C-C of the scraper blade and the blade attachment assembly shown in Fig. 4;
Fig. 6 is a section view along section lines D-D of the scraper blade and the blade attachment assembly shown in Fig. 4;
Fig. 7 is an elevation view of a connector bar of the blade attachment assembly shown in Fig. 1 in accordance with an embodiment; and Fig. 8 is an elevation view of a mounting plate of the blade attachment assembly shown in Fig. 1 in accordance with an embodiment.
It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features are identified by like reference numerals.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Snow plows (not shown) are mounted to motorized vehicles (not shown). They can be mounted either beneath, forwardly or rearwardly of the vehicle. Snow plows have a plow body (not shown) which can either be a one-way plow, a reversible OR File No. 55457486-1CA - 5-plow, a side mount wing plow, an underbody plow, a rear grader, and the like.
It can be substantially straight or have a curvature defined therein. For instance and without being limitative, the plow bodies can be mounted in a conventional manner on the front end of a vehicle such as a truck, a tractor or any other suitable vehicle.
Plow bodies have a scraper blade 26, such as the one shown in the accompanying drawings and, more particularly, on Figs. 1 to 6, mounted to a lower portion thereof. The scraper blade 26 has a lower edge 27 configured to be in contact with a road surface. In the embodiment shown, the scraper blade 26 includes a plurality of scraper blade sections 26a mounted in a longitudinally adjacent relationship to the lower section of the plow body. The scraper blade sections 26a are typically mounted to a front face of the plow body.
One skilled in the art will appreciate that the number and the length of the scraper blade sections 26a can vary. Furthermore, in a non-limitative alternative embodiment, the scraper blade can be single piece along the plow body.
As it will be described in more details below, the scraper blade 26 and the scraper blade sections 26a can be mounted directly to the plow body or indirectly through a mounting plate 44 secured to the plow body.
As it will be described in more details below, the scraper blade sections 26a can move substantially vertically relatively to the plow body when striking an obstacle.
The scraper blade sections 26a are mounted to the plow body through a blade attachment assembly 28 allowing this substantially vertical movement.
In the embodiment shown, the blade attachment assembly 28 includes a mounting plate 44 (Fig. 8) secured either to the front face or the rear face of the plow body, a plurality of connector bars 30 (Fig. 7) which are juxtaposed to the rear face of the mounting plate 44, close to a lower portion thereof. The connector bars 30 are mounted in a longitudinally adjacent relationship. In the embodiment shown, one connector bar 30 is associated to each scraper blade section 26a. Furthermore, the connector bars 30 have substantially the same length as the scraper blade sections 26a. Each connector bar 30 has a male member 36 at a first longitudinal end and a corresponding female member 38 at a second longitudinal end, opposed to the first OR File No. 55457486-1CA - 6 -longitudinal end, the female member 38 being insertable in the male member 36 of an adjacent connector bar 30, as it will be described in more details below.
The lower edge of the mounting plate 44 extends above the lower edge 27 of the scraper blade 26 or scraper blade sections 26a in such manner that solely the lower edge 27 of the scraper blade 26 or scraper blade sections 26a is in contact with the road surface.
The scraper blade sections 26a are secured to their respective connector bars through fasteners 40 and, more particularly, bolts which extend in elongated apertures 42 extending throughout the mounting (or support) plate 44 mounted to the plow body or directly throughout the plow body, as it will be described in more details below. The fasteners 40 are vertically displaceable within the elongated apertures 42. Therefore their diameter is shorter than the length of the elongated apertures 42 along a substantially vertical axis. In the embodiment shown, the fasteners 40 are surrounded by a sleeve member 46 (Figs. 3 and 6) and, more particularly a bushing, in the elongated apertures 42 to smoothen their displacement in the elongated apertures 42. In an embodiment, the bushing 46 is a metal bushing.
A first end of the fasteners 40 is secured or adjacent to the scraper blade 26 while the second end, opposed to the first end, is secured to the connector bar 30.
Between the first and the second ends, the fasteners 40 extend through the elongated apertures 42 defined in the mounting plate 44 mounted to the plow body or directly in the plow body.
In the embodiment shown, the scraper blade sections 26a and the connector bars 30 have apertures which extend therethrough and through which the fasteners 40 also extend to assemble the blade attachment assembly 28.
In a first embodiment, the mounting plate 44 is secured to the lower portion of the plow body by any suitable method such as and without being limitative welding, fasteners such as bolts, etc. The elongated apertures 42 are defined and extend throughout the mounting plate 44. The elongated aperture 42 extends from the front face 50 to the rear face 52 of the mounting plate 44. In a second and alternative embodiment wherein the scraper blade 26 or the scraper blade sections 26a is OR File No. 55457486-1CA - 7 -mounted directly to the plow body, the elongated apertures 42 can be defined and can extend throughout the lower portion of plow body directly. As for the first embodiment described above, the apertures extend from the front face to the rear face of the plow body.
The mounting plate 44 can be part of the plow body or the blade attachment assembly 28.
In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1, 4, and 8, the mounting plate 44 has substantially circular apertures 54 defined in its upper portion. The circular apertures 54 are mounted in register with corresponding apertures (not shown) defined in the lower portion of the plow body. The mounting plate 44 and the plow body are secured together with fasteners, such as bolts, inserted in the apertures 54 defined in the mounting plate 44 and in the plow body and which are in register. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the mounting plate 44 and the plow body can be secured together by any other suitable method.
The scraper blade sections 26a are vertically displaceable relatively to the plow body since the fasteners 40 are slidably inserted in the elongated apertures 42, i.e.
the fasteners 40 are slidably inserted in the elongated apertures 42 but not directly secured to the mounting plate 44, if any, or the plow body. The scraper blades can move between a raised configuration wherein the fastener(s) 40 abut(s) the upper end of the elongated aperture(s) 42 and a lowered and operative configuration wherein the fastener(s) 40 abut(s) the lower end of the elongated aperture(s) 42.
In the embodiment shown, each scraper blade section 26a has two fasteners 40 inserted in the elongated apertures 42 defined in the mounting plate 44, each fastener 40 being located close to a respective end of the scraper blade section 26a.
One skilled in the art will appreciate that the scraper blade sections 26a can have more than two fasteners 40 inserted in the elongated apertures 42 defined in the plow body or the mounting plate 44, if any.
Each fastener 40 moves substantially independently in the elongated apertures 42. The scraper blade section 26a can be configured in a slanted configuration, upon striking an obstacle, wherein one end of the scraper blade section 26a is configured OR File No. 55457486-1CA - 8 -in a substantially raised configuration and the other and opposed end of the scraper blade section 26a is configured in a substantially lowered configuration.
More particularly, Fig. 1 shows a configuration wherein the adjacent ends of two adjacent scraper blade sections 26a are configured in a lowered and operative configurations with the fasteners 40 abutting a lower end of the elongated apertures 42 while the two distal ends of the two adjacent scraper blade sections 26a are configured in a raised configuration with the fasteners 40 abutting an upper end of the elongated apertures 42. In the configuration shown in Fig. 4, the adjacent ends of two scraper blade sections 26a are configured in a raised configuration with the fasteners 40 abutting an upper end of the elongated apertures 42 while the two distal ends of the two adjacent scraper blade sections 26a are configured in a lowered, operative configuration with the fasteners 40 abutting a lower end of the elongated apertures 42.
Fig. 3 shows one fastener 40 abutting a lower end of the elongated aperture 40 and simultaneously configuring at least a section of the scraper blade section 26a in a lowered, operative configuration. On the opposite, Fig. 6 shows one fastener abutting an upper end of the elongated aperture 40 and simultaneously configuring at least a section of the scraper blade section 26a in a raised configuration.
As mentioned above, the fasteners 40 are also secured to the connector bars 30, which are positioned on the rear face of the mounting plate 44. Therefore, the connector bars 30 move simultaneously with their respective scraper blade sections 26a relatively to the mounting plate 44 and the plow body.
To ensure that the connector bars 30 and their respective scraper blade sections 26a return in the lowered and operative configuration, the blade attachment assembly 28 includes biasing elements 60 secured to the connector bars 30 and biasing the latter towards the lowered and operative configuration. In a particular embodiment, the biasing members 60 are also secured to the mounting plate 44.
If the blade attachment assembly 28 is directly mounted to the plow body, i.e.
without mounting plate 44, the biasing members are secured to the plow body.
OR File No. 55457486-1CA - 9 -In the embodiment shown, the biasing elements 60 are spring members and more particularly, helical spring members, having a first end secured to a rear face 62 of the connector bars 30 and a second and opposed end secured to the rear face of the mounting plate 44, if any. In their compressed configuration, their associated scraper blade section 26a is configured in a raised configuration while in their original, extended configuration, their associated scraper blade section 26a is configured in the lowered, operative configuration. When compressed, the biasing member 60 exerts a force on their respective connector bar 30 to return to its original and lowered configuration. Simultaneously, the scraper blade section 26a associated with the connector bar 30 returns to the lowered, operative configuration since the scraper blade section 26a is connected to the connector bar 30 through the fasteners 40 slidably inserted in one of the elongated apertures 42. The biasing members 60 ensure that the scraper blade 26 or the scraper blade sections 26a return to the lowered, operative configuration.
In the embodiment shown, the biasing members 60 are mounted to two holder plates 64 extending and attached to the connector bars 30 and the mounting plate 44. If the blade attachment assembly 28 is directly mounted to the plow body, i.e.
without mounting plate 44, one of the holder plates 64 is secured to a rear face of the plow body. The holder plates 64 extend substantially perpendicularly to their respective connector bar 30 and to the mounting plate 44. They extend rearwardly of their respective connector bar 30 and to the mounting plate 44. Each pair of holder plates 64 supports a biasing member 60.
One skilled in the art will appreciate that other types of biasing members 60 can be used and that the biasing members 60 can be mounted differently to the blade attachment assembly components and to the plow body or the mounting plate 44, if any. For instance and without being limitative, air-cushion shock absorbers (or air shock) can be used.
In an alternative and non-limitative embodiment, the biasing member 60 can be a leaf spring (i.e. arch-shaped spring) (not shown) connecting two ends of a connector bar 30 or two connector bars 30. The center of the arc can be attached to the plow body or the mounting plate 44, if any.
OR File No. 55457486-1CA - 10 -In the embodiment described above, each blade section 26a and each connector bar 30 is associated with two biasing members 60. However, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the number of biasing member 60 associated with each blade 26, blade section 26a and/or connector bar 30 can vary. For instance and without being limitative, each blade section 26a and each connector bar 30 can be associated with one biasing member centrally mounted.
As mentioned above, each connector bar 30 has a male member 36 at a first longitudinal end and a corresponding female member 38 at a second longitudinal end, opposed to the first longitudinal end, the female member 38 being insertable in the male member 36 of an adjacent connector bar 30. The complementary male and female members 36, 38 provided on opposed ends of the connector bars 30 and engageable with the complementary member of an adjacent connector bar 30 ensure that the connector bars 30 and their associated scraper blade section 26a return in the operative, lowered configuration after striking an obstacle. The biasing force associated to a biasing member 60 of an adjacent connector bar 30 is also applied on the adjacent connector bar 30 and forces the latter to return to the operative, lowered configuration since all connector bars 30 are connected together through the male-female members 36, 38. Therefore, if one scraper blade section 26a is temporarily configured in the raised configuration, its return to the operative, lowered configuration is urged by a combination of the biasing members 60 directly associated therewith and by the biasing members 60 associated with the adjacent connector bars 30, through the male and female connections 36, 38 between adjacent connector bars 30.
One skilled in the art will appreciate that the shape of male and female members 36, 38 can vary from the ones shown in the figures.
In the embodiment shown, a fastener 40 is associated with each biasing member 60. The biasing members 60 are mounted outwardly of the fasteners 40, i.e.
they are mounted closer to the connector bar ends. In alternative and non-limitative embodiments, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the number of fasteners 40 and biasing members 60 associated with each connector bar 30 of the blade OR File No. 55457486-1CA -11 -attachment assembly 28 can differ. Furthermore, the position of the fasteners 40 and the biasing members 60 on the connector bars 30 can also differ.
In the embodiment described above in reference to the figures, the mounting plate 44 mounted to the plow body is single piece along the length of the plow body.
In an alternative embodiment (not shown), one skilled in the art will appreciate that the mounting plate 44 can be divided in a plurality of mounting plate sections, each being secured to the plow body.
In the embodiment described above in reference to the figures, there is one fastener 40 inserted in each elongated aperture 42 but one skilled in the art will appreciate that more than one fastener 40 can be inserted in each elongated aperture 42. Furthermore, other fasteners 40 than bolts can be used to secure the scraper blade sections 26a to the connector bars 30 and the mounting plate 44, if any, to the plow body. In a non-limitative alternative embodiment (not shown), one skilled in the art will appreciate that the mounting plate 44 can be welded to the plow body.
One skilled in the art will appreciate that the blade attachment assembly 28 can be mounted to any suitable plow body.
In a non-limitative alternative embodiment (not shown), one skilled in the art will appreciate that the scraper blade 26 and/or the connector bar 30 can be single piece along the plow body.
In a non-limitative alternative embodiment (not shown), one skilled in the art will appreciate that the length of the scraper blade sections 26a and/or connector bars can vary along the plow body.
In a non-limitative alternative embodiment (not shown), one skilled in the art will 25 appreciate that the one connector bar can be associated with each fastener or elongated members extending throughout the mounting plate 44 or the plow body.
As detailed above, the longitudinally adjacent connector bars can be engaged with one another through corresponding and engageable male-female members.
However, one skilled in the art will appreciate that, in a non-limitative alternative 30 embodiment (not shown), the longitudinally adjacent connector bars can be spaced OR File No. 55457486-1CA - 12 -apart from and/or not engaged with one another. Therefore, the shape of the connector bars can vary from the one shown in the accompanying drawings.
In a non-limitative alternative embodiment (not shown), one skilled in the art will appreciate that the connector bars can be mounted to the front face of the plow body or the mounting plate 44, if any. Therefore, the corresponding blade or blade sections is mounted to the rear face of the plow body or the mounting plate 44, if any. The biasing members can be mounted either to the front face or the rear face of the plow body or the mounting plate 44, if any. They can have a first end attached to the blade or the connector bar and a second end attached to the plow body or the mounting plate 44, if any.
In the embodiment described above, the biasing members are attached to the holder plates mounted to the connector bars and the mounting plates. However, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the holder plates can be mounted to the blade and the plow body, the connector bars and the plow body, the mounting plate and the blade, or any combination thereof.
Several alternative embodiments and examples have been described and illustrated herein. The embodiments of the invention described above are intended to be exemplary only. A person of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate the features of the individual embodiments, and the possible combinations and variations of the components. A person of ordinary skill in the art would further appreciate that any of the embodiments could be provided in any combination with the other embodiments disclosed herein. It is understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or central characteristics thereof. The present examples and embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein. Accordingly, while the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of the invention. The scope of the invention is therefore intended to be limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.
OR File No. 55457486-1CA - 13 -
Claims (22)
1. A snow plow for a motorized vehicle having a plow body, the snow plow comprising:
a blade having a lower edge engageable with a road surface; and a blade attachment assembly including a plurality of connector bars, each one having a male member at a first longitudinal end and a corresponding female member at a second longitudinal end, opposed to the first longitudinal end, a mounting plate securable to the plow body in a lower portion thereof and forwardly of the plurality of connector bars, the mounting plate extending between the connector bars and the blade, the mounting plate including a plurality of spaced-apart elongated blade apertures extending therethrough and a plurality of spaced-apart plow apertures engageable by mechanical fasteners to secure the mounting plate to the plow body, a plurality of elongated members insertable in the elongated blade apertures defined in the mounting plate and vertically displaceable therein, the elongated members being securable to the blade and to a respective one of the plurality of connector bars, and at least one biasing element securable to the respective one of the plurality of connector bars and the mounting plate and biasing the blade in a lowered configuration, the plurality of connector bars being configured in a longitudinally adjacent relationship with the female member being inserted in the male member of an adjacent one of the connector bars.
a blade having a lower edge engageable with a road surface; and a blade attachment assembly including a plurality of connector bars, each one having a male member at a first longitudinal end and a corresponding female member at a second longitudinal end, opposed to the first longitudinal end, a mounting plate securable to the plow body in a lower portion thereof and forwardly of the plurality of connector bars, the mounting plate extending between the connector bars and the blade, the mounting plate including a plurality of spaced-apart elongated blade apertures extending therethrough and a plurality of spaced-apart plow apertures engageable by mechanical fasteners to secure the mounting plate to the plow body, a plurality of elongated members insertable in the elongated blade apertures defined in the mounting plate and vertically displaceable therein, the elongated members being securable to the blade and to a respective one of the plurality of connector bars, and at least one biasing element securable to the respective one of the plurality of connector bars and the mounting plate and biasing the blade in a lowered configuration, the plurality of connector bars being configured in a longitudinally adjacent relationship with the female member being inserted in the male member of an adjacent one of the connector bars.
2. The snow plow as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one biasing element comprises a plurality of spaced-apart biasing elements, each one being securable to the mounting plate and the respective one of the plurality of connector bars.
3. The snow plow as claimed in claim 2, wherein the biasing elements comprise spring elements having a first end securable to the respective one of the plurality of connector bars and a second end securable to the mounting plate.
4. The snow plow as claimed in claim 3, wherein the plurality of connector bars and the mounting plate comprise holder plates extending rearwardly for supporting the spring elements.
5. The snow plow as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the blade comprises a plurality of blade sections disposed in a longitudinally adjacent relationship, forwardly of the plow body and the mounting plate.
6. The snow plow as claimed in claim 5, wherein the elongated members comprise fasteners and at least two fasteners secure each one of the blade sections to the mounting plate and to each one of the plurality of connector bars.
7. The snow plow as claimed in one of claims 5 and 6, wherein each one of the blade sections is associated to a respective one of the plurality of connector bars.
8. The snow plow as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the elongated members comprise bolts securable to the blade and the connector bars.
9. The snow plow as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the blade attachment assembly further comprises a plurality of sleeve members insertable in a respective one of the elongated blade apertures and surrounding a respective one of the elongated members.
10. A motorized vehicle comprising a snow plow as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9.
11. A snow plow assembly securable to a snow plow body, the snow plow assembly comprising:
a blade having a lower edge engageable with a road surface; and a blade attachment assembly including connector bars, each one having a male member at a first longitudinal end and a corresponding female member at a second longitudinal end, opposed to the first longitudinal end, a mounting plate securable to a lower portion of the plow body and including a plurality of spaced-apart elongated blade apertures extending therethrough and a plurality of spaced-apart plow apertures engageable by mechanical fasteners to secure the mounting plate to the plow body, a plurality of elongated members insertable in the elongated blade apertures extending through the mounting plate, the elongated members being vertically displaceable in the elongated blade apertures, securable to the blade and to a respective one of the connector bars with the mounting plate being sandwiched between the blade and the connector bars, and at least one biasing element securable to the respective one of the connector bars and the mounting plate and biasing the blade in a lowered configuration, the connector bars being configured in a longitudinally adjacent relationship with the female member being inserted in the male member of an adjacent one of the connector bars.
a blade having a lower edge engageable with a road surface; and a blade attachment assembly including connector bars, each one having a male member at a first longitudinal end and a corresponding female member at a second longitudinal end, opposed to the first longitudinal end, a mounting plate securable to a lower portion of the plow body and including a plurality of spaced-apart elongated blade apertures extending therethrough and a plurality of spaced-apart plow apertures engageable by mechanical fasteners to secure the mounting plate to the plow body, a plurality of elongated members insertable in the elongated blade apertures extending through the mounting plate, the elongated members being vertically displaceable in the elongated blade apertures, securable to the blade and to a respective one of the connector bars with the mounting plate being sandwiched between the blade and the connector bars, and at least one biasing element securable to the respective one of the connector bars and the mounting plate and biasing the blade in a lowered configuration, the connector bars being configured in a longitudinally adjacent relationship with the female member being inserted in the male member of an adjacent one of the connector bars.
12. The snow plow assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the at least one biasing element comprises a plurality of biasing elements securable to the mounting plate.
13. The snow plow assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein the biasing elements comprise spring elements having a first end securable to the respective one of the connector bars and a second end securable to the mounting plate.
14. The snow plow assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein the connector bars and the mounting plate comprise holder plates extending rearwardly for supporting the spring elements.
15. The snow plow assembly as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the blade comprises a plurality of blade sections disposed in a longitudinally adjacent relationship, forwardly of the plow body and the mounting plate.
16. The snow plow assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein the elongated members comprise fasteners and at least two fasteners secure each one of the blade sections to the mounting plate and to each one of the connector bars.
17. The snow plow assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein each one of the blade section is associated to a respective one of the connector bars.
18. The snow plow assembly as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 17, wherein the elongated members comprise bolts securable to the blade and the respective one of the connector bars.
19. The snow plow assembly as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 18, wherein the blade attachment assembly further comprises a plurality of sleeve members insertable in a respective one of the elongated blade apertures and surrounding a respective one of the elongated members.
20. A method for securing a blade to a plow body of a motorized vehicle, the method comprising:
providing elongated blade apertures in a mounting plate;
superposing the blade to a first face of the mounting plate and connecting the blade to the mounting plate by inserting elongated members secured to the blade into the elongated blade apertures, the elongated members being displaceable vertically in the elongated blade apertures;
superposing connector bars to a second face of the mounting plate, opposed to the first face, and securing the elongated members to respective ones of the connector bars;
securing at least one biasing element to respective ones of the connector bars in a configuration that biases the blade in a lowered configuration; and securing the mounting plate to a lower portion of the plow body by engaging mechanical fasteners through a plurality of spaced-apart plow apertures defined in the mounting plate and corresponding apertures defined in the lower portion of the plow body.
providing elongated blade apertures in a mounting plate;
superposing the blade to a first face of the mounting plate and connecting the blade to the mounting plate by inserting elongated members secured to the blade into the elongated blade apertures, the elongated members being displaceable vertically in the elongated blade apertures;
superposing connector bars to a second face of the mounting plate, opposed to the first face, and securing the elongated members to respective ones of the connector bars;
securing at least one biasing element to respective ones of the connector bars in a configuration that biases the blade in a lowered configuration; and securing the mounting plate to a lower portion of the plow body by engaging mechanical fasteners through a plurality of spaced-apart plow apertures defined in the mounting plate and corresponding apertures defined in the lower portion of the plow body.
21. The method as claimed in claim 20, further comprising securing the at least one biasing element to the mounting plate.
22. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the at least one biasing element comprises spring elements having a first end and a second end, the method further comprising securing the first end to a respective one of the connector bars and securing the second end to the mounting plate.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2723630A CA2723630C (en) | 2010-12-03 | 2010-12-03 | Snow plow assembly |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2723630A CA2723630C (en) | 2010-12-03 | 2010-12-03 | Snow plow assembly |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2723630F CA2723630F (en) | 2012-06-03 |
| CA2723630A1 CA2723630A1 (en) | 2012-06-03 |
| CA2723630C true CA2723630C (en) | 2017-04-04 |
Family
ID=46200924
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2723630A Active CA2723630C (en) | 2010-12-03 | 2010-12-03 | Snow plow assembly |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2723630C (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US11946220B2 (en) | 2017-01-05 | 2024-04-02 | 9407-4895 Quebec Inc. | Scraping device for cleaning a roadway surface |
Families Citing this family (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CA2867957A1 (en) | 2014-10-17 | 2016-04-17 | Jimmy Vigneault | Scraper blade device with juxtaposed blade segments having a swivel interconnection between mating edges |
| US10865533B2 (en) | 2017-05-12 | 2020-12-15 | Michael F. Stephan | Flexible snowplow cutting edge |
-
2010
- 2010-12-03 CA CA2723630A patent/CA2723630C/en active Active
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US11946220B2 (en) | 2017-01-05 | 2024-04-02 | 9407-4895 Quebec Inc. | Scraping device for cleaning a roadway surface |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2723630F (en) | 2012-06-03 |
| CA2723630A1 (en) | 2012-06-03 |
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| EEER | Examination request |
Effective date: 20151126 |
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| NARC | Re-examination certificate |
Effective date: 20191001 |
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| NARC | Re-examination certificate |
Effective date: 20191001 |
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| NARC | Re-examination certificate |
Effective date: 20191001 |