CA3158580A1

CA3158580A1 - Pivoting snowplow

Info

Publication number: CA3158580A1
Application number: CA3158580A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Jocelyn Cote
Original assignee: W Cote Et Fils Ltee
Current assignee: W Cote Et Fils Ltee
Priority date: 2019-11-21
Filing date: 2020-11-19
Publication date: 2021-05-27
Also published as: WO2021097574A1

Abstract

Pivoting vehicle-mountable snowplow including: a frame, a blade coupled to the frame, and a pivot system including a fixed or hydraulic arm linking the frame to the blade. The pivot system includes a pair of springs at a distal end of the fixed or hydraulic arm. The pivot system is configured to allow the blade to pivot from a neutral position to a tilted position in reference to a horizontal axis running transversely across the snowplow via compression of one of the springs upon the blade riding over a surface with a different angle compared to the vehicle. The pivot system is configured to revert the blade from the tilted position back to the neutral position via extension of one of the springs upon the blade ceasing to ride over said surface. The fixed or hydraulic arm forms an acute angle with respect to the horizontal axis.

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION
PIVOTING SNOWPLOW
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a pivoting snowplow.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Snowplows are used to remove snow and ice from outdoor surfaces such as streets, sidewalks, and driveways. They are either mountable on or integrated into a vehicle and typically include a frame and a blade. Their frames often include multiple adjustment means to raise, lower and angle the blade, and suspension means such as springs or hydraulic cylinders allow the blade to articulate when necessary. While some snowplows include basic pivoting systems such as ball joints and rubber cushions to allow the blade to maintain its horizontal position, there is a need for a more advanced leveling system that can respond to inconsistent surfaces and improve the snow plow's performance on surfaces of varying heights such as streets and sidewalks.

[0003] In addition, while sidewalks are typically plowed by smaller vehicles with widths narrow enough so that they can drive with all wheels on the sidewalk, it often occurs that larger plow-mounted vehicles are tasked with plowing a sidewalk despite being too wide to completely fit on it. As such, there is a need for a snowplow that can be optimized for plowing sidewalks despite only having some of its wheels on the sidewalk while its other wheels are on the adjacent street.

[0004] Known in the art, there is US10119233 (HOLMAN) that discloses a plow assembly for a vehicle. The plow assembly includes a mounting structure configured to mount at a vehicle, a support structure and an accessory or plow. The support structure includes a vehicle end and an attaching end, with the vehicle end attached to the mounting structure via a cushioning assembly. The accessory or plow is pivotally attached at the attaching end of the support structure and is pivotable about a generally vertical axis. The cushioning assembly includes (i) a first element attached at the vehicle end of the support structure, (ii) a second element attached at the mounting structure, and (iii) a plurality of resilient elements disposed between the first element and the second element.

[0005] Also known in the art, there are US8875419 (SCHMEICHEL), U58453358 (ROPOG) U57171770 (SCHULTZ), U56928757 (BLOXDORF), which disclose different snowplows.

[0006] The known prior art snowplows use relatively complex designs that require plurality of parts that increase costs. There is therefore a need in the field of a simpler and efficient snowplow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] In order to address the above and other drawbacks, there is provided a pivoting, vehicle-mounted snowplow for clearing a surface comprising a frame mounted to the vehicle, a blade operatively coupled to the frame, and a pivot system comprising a fixed arm linking the frame to the blade via a first bracket operatively connected to the frame and a second bracket operatively connected to the blade, the pivot system further comprising a pair of springs at a distal end of the fixed arm and positioned on either side of the second bracket, wherein the pivot system is configured to allow the blade to pivot from a neutral position to a tilted position in reference to a horizontal axis running transversely across the snowplow via compression of one of the springs upon the blade riding over a surface with a different angle compared to the vehicle, and wherein the pivot system is configured to revert the blade from the tilled position back to the neutral position in reference to the horizontal axis via extension of one of the springs upon the blade ceasing to ride over said surface with a different angle compared to the vehicle, said fixed arm forming an acute angle with respect to said horizontal axis.

[0008] There is also provided a pivoting, vehicle-mounted snowplow for clearing a surface comprising a frame mounted to the vehicle, a blade operatively coupled to the frame, and a pivot system comprising a hydraulic arm linking the frame to the blade via a first bracket operatively connected to the frame and a second bracket operatively connected to the blade, the pivot system further comprising a pair of springs at a distal end of the hydraulic arm and positioned on either side of the second bracket, wherein the pivot system is actuatable via a fluid supply to the hydraulic arm to pivot the blade in reference to a horizontal axis running transversely across the snowplow, wherein the pivot system is configured to allow the blade to pivot from a neutral position to a tilted position in reference to the horizontal axis via compression of one of the springs upon the blade riding over a surface with a different angle compared to the vehicle, and wherein the pivot system is configured to revert the blade from the tilted position back to the neutral position in reference to the horizontal axis via extension of one of the springs upon the blade ceasing to ride over said surface with a different angle compare to the vehicle, said hydraulic arm forming an acute angle with respect to said horizontal axis.

[0009] In embodiments, the hydraulic arm is interchangeable with the fixed arm.

[0010] In embodiments, the snowplow includes a pair of hydraulic cylinders extending vertically with respect to said horizontal axis for adjusting a positioning of the blade.

[0011] In embodiments, there are provided methods for improving a snowplow by installing a pivot system on the snowplow. The pivot system includes a fixed arm or a hydraulic arm.

[0012] Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of specific embodiments thereof, given by way of examples only with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Figures 1A and 1B are a rear perspective view and an enhanced lower view of a typical example of a prior art snowplow.

[0014] Figures 2A and 2B are rear perspective views of a pivoting snowplow in a neutral and a tilted position, respectively, according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] Figure 3 is a rear perspective view of a pivoting snowplow in accordance with an additional illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] Figures 4A and 4B are rear perspective views of the pivoting snowplow of Figure 3 in a tilted position and a neutral position, respectively.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] The present invention is illustrated in further details by the following non-limiting examples.

[0018] Referring first to Figures 1A and 1B, there is shown a typical prior art snowplow 2' that includes a frame 4' and a blade 6' and is mountable to a vehicle (not shown).
Snowplow 2' includes a pair of hydraulic cylinders 8' for adjusting the positioning of the blade 6' and a pair of shock absorbers 10' providing the snowplow 2' with its own suspension system independent of the vehicle's_ A pivot system 12' including a ball joint 14' and a rubber cushion 16' connects the underside of the frame 4' to the blade 6' and allows the blade 6' to pivot about a horizontal axis X' running transversely across the snowplow 2, albeit with a restricted range of motion. In addition, while pivot system 12' allows the blade 6' to respond to any inconsistencies in the surface on which it is travelling, there is no way for an operator to actively control the angle of the blade 6' with respect to horizontal axis X'.

[0019] Referring now to Figures 2A and 2B, there is shown an improved snowplow 2 according to an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. As with the prior art snowplow 2' shown in Figures 1A and 1B, snowplow 2 includes a frame 4 and a blade 6 and is mountable to a vehicle (not shown) via vehicle mount 18. In addition, snowplow 2 includes a pair of hydraulic cylinders 8 for adjusting the positioning of the blade 6 and a pair of shock absorbers 10 providing the snowplow 2 with its own suspension independent of the vehicle. The hydraulic cylinders 8 may extend perpendicularly about a horizontal axis X running transversely across the snowplow 2.
To provide the blade 6 with a greater range of motion with regards to its pivoting about the horizontal axis X, snowplow 2 further includes a pivot system 12 including a fixed arm 20 linking the frame 4 to the blade 6 via a first bracket 22 operatively connected to the frame 4 and a second bracket 24 operatively connected to the blade 6. The fixed arm 20 forms an acute angle with respect to said horizontal axis X to provide a pivoting range of motion to the blade 6. Pivot system 12 further includes a pair of rubber springs 26 at a distal end of fixed arm 20 and positioned on either side of the second bracket 24, allowing the blade 6 to pivot about horizontal axis X with reference to the frame 4, between a neutral position and a tilted position.

[0020] Still referring to Figures 2A and 2B, the improved range of motion of snowplow 2 afforded by the pivot system 12 allows the blade 6 to assume a variety of different positions. As shown in Figure 2A, the default or neutral position of blade 6 is horizontal relative to the horizontal axis X. lithe blade 6 were to be ridden on a "slightly different X-axis", compared to the vehicle (or "vice & versa"), for example a "level" portion of a sidewalk while the vehicle be on the "tilted" portion of the sidewalk, as where it unites a car-driveway to the street, then the pivot system 12 would allow the blade 6 to pivot relative to the horizontal axis X
by a tilted angle A
and by compressing one of the rubber springs 26, as shown in Figure 2B where an object (not shown) has been put under the blade 6, on one side, to simulate the different "X-axis situation".
While Figure 2B shows the blade 6 pivoting to the right side when viewed from the vehicle, the installation of two rubber springs 26 ensures that the blade 6 may pivot in the opposite direction, illustratively to the left when viewed from the vehicle, if the operation gives the opposite situation. Once the "situation" ceases to apply a pivoting force on blade 6, the compressed rubber spring 26 will exert a force against the fixed arm 20 to revert the blade 6 back to its default or neutral position.

[0021] Referring now to Figure 3, there is shown a snowplow 2 according to an additional embodiment of the present invention. As in the embedment of Figures 2A and 2B, snowplow 2 includes a frame 4 and a blade 6 and is mountable to a vehicle (not shown). In addition, snowplow 2 includes a pair of hydraulic cylinders 8 for adjusting the positioning of the blade 6 and a pair of shock absorbers 10 providing the snowplow 2 with its own suspension independent of the vehicle. To provide the blade 6 with a greater range of motion with regards to its pivoting about horizontal axis X, snowplow 2 further includes a pivot system 12 that includes a hydraulic arm 30 (rather than a fixed arm) linking the frame 4 to the blade 6 via a first bracket 22 operatively connected to the frame 4 and a second bracket 24 operatively connected to the blade 6. The hydraulic arm 30 forms an acute angle with respect to said horizontal axis X
to provide a pivoting range of motion to the blade 6. Pivot system 12 further includes a pair of rubber springs 26 at a distal end of hydraulic arm 30 and positioned on either side of the second bracket 24, allowing the blade 6 to pivot about horizontal axis X by a pivot angle A with reference to the frame 4. Hydraulic arm 30 includes a pair of fluid supplies 32 for actuating the hydraulic arm 30 and pivoting the blade 6 about the horizontal axis X. As a person of skill in the art would understand, to extend of retract the hydraulic arm 30, fluid is simultaneously injected into one of the fluid supplies 32 and removed from the other fluid supply 32, depending on the desired actuation direction. The snowplow 2 according to the embodiment shown in Figure 3 allows for both actuatable pivoting of the blade 6 via the hydraulic arm 30 and pivoting of the blade 6 in response to road inconsistencies.

[0022] Referring now to Figures 4A and 4B, the snowplow 2 of Figure 3 is shown in various position& As shown in Figure 4A, the hydraulic arm 30 can be used to pivot the blade 6 relative to the horizontal axis X. illustratively to the left as viewed from the vehicle. As such, even when the blade 6 were to be ridden on a "quite different X-axis", compared to the vehicle the hydraulic arm 30 will act as did the fixed arm 20 in the embodiment shown in Figures 2A and 26 and one rubber springs 26 (or the other) will compress, if ever needed, leaving the blade 6 in a horizontal position relative to the horizontal axis X of the ground all the time. For example: If a sidewalk needed to have its snow or ice removed and the vehicle to which snowplow 2 is attached is too wide to drive with all of its wheels on the sidewalk, the vehicle's operator would position the vehicle with two wheels on the sidewalk and two wheels on the street. As such, by pivoting the blade 6 towards the sidewalk via hydraulic arm 30, the blade can now be "about level" with the sidewalk. Then, the previously described "rubber-suspended-system", that is still present and fully functional, will take care of any further "level differences" that may happen, as if the vehicle would be riding "completely" on the sidewalk. In this condition, the snowplow 2 would clear the sidewalk of snow and ice more efficiently than if the blade 6 were simply pivoted but without the "rubber-suspension-

[0023] Referring now to Figures 2A-4B, in an embodiment a snowplow 2 can be configured to include a pivot system 12 whereby a fixed arm 20 and a hydraulic arm 30 are interchangeable.
As shown in Figure 3, a bolt 34 may be unscrewed to release the fixed arm 20 and replace it with the hydraulic arm 30, or vice-versa. As such, a kit may be provided which includes the snowplow 2 and its various components as well as both the fixed arrn 20 and the hydraulic arm 30. Such a kit would provide a snow removal operator with the option to easily modify the utility of the snowplow 2.

[0024] The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth in the examples but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.

Claims

PCT/CA2020/051580

1. A pivoting snowplow (2) mountable to a vehicle, comprising:
a frame (4) mountable to the vehicle;
a blade (6) operatively coupled to said frame (4); and a pivot system (12) comprising a fixed arm (20) for linking said frame (4) to said blade (6) via a first bracket (22) operatively connectable to said frame (4) and a second bracket (24) operatively connectable to said blade (6), said pivot system (12) further comprising a pair of springs (26) at a distal end of said fixed an (20) and positioned on either side of said second bracket (24);
wherein said pivot system (12) is configured to allow said blade (6) to pivot from a neutral position to a tilted position in reference to a horizontal axis (X) running transversely across said snowplow (2) via compression of one of said springs (26) upon said blade (6) riding over a surface that defines a tilted angle (A) in the tilted position with respect to a level of the vehicle in the neutral position;
wherein said pivot system (12) is configured to revert said blade (6) from said tilted position back to said neutral position in reference to said horizontal axis (X) via extension of one of said springs (26) upon said blade (6) ceasing to ride said surface ;
and wherein said fixed arm (20) forms an acute angle with respect to said horizontal axis (X).

2. The snowplow of claim 1, wherein said springs (26) are made of rubber.

3. The snowplow of claim 1, comprising a pair of hydraulic cylinders (8) extending vertically with respect to said horizontal axis (X) for adjusting a positioning of the blade (6).

4. A pivoting snowplow (2) mountable to a vehicle, comprising:
a frame (4) mountable to the vehicle;
a blade (6) operatively coupled to said frame (4); and a pivot system (12) comprising a hydraulic arrn (30) linking said frame (4) to said blade (6) via a first bracket (22) operatively connected to said frame (4) and a second bracket (24) operatively connected to said blade (6), said pivot system (12) further comprising a pair of springs (26) at a distal end of said hydraulic arm (30) and positioned on either side of said second bracket (24);
wherein said pivot system (12) is actuatable via a fluid supply (32) to said hydraulic arm (30) to pivot said blade (6) in reference to a horizontal axis (X) running transversely across said snowplow (2);

wherein said pivot system (12) is configured to allow said blade (6) to pivot from a neutral position to a tilted position in reference to said horizontal axis (X) via compression of one of said springs (26) upon said blade (6) riding over a surface that defines a tilted angle (A) in the tilted position with respect to a level of the vehicle in the neutral position, wherein said pivot system (12) is configured to revert said blade (6) from said tilted position back to said neutral position in reference to said horizontal axis (X) via extension of one of said springs (26) upon said blade (6) ceasing to ride over said surface ; and wherein said hydraulic arm (30) forms an acute angle with respect to said horizontal axis (X).

5. The snowplow of claim 4, wherein said springs (26) are made of rubber.

6. The snowplow of claim 4, comprising a pair of hydraulic cylinders (8) extending vertically with respect to said horizontal axis (X) for adjusting a positioning of the blade (6).

7. The snowplow of claim 6, wherein said fluid supply (32) to said hydraulic arm (30) is controlled by an operator to actively control an angle of the blade (6) with respect to the horizontal axis (X).

8. A method for improving a snowplow (2) mountable to a vehicle, said snowplow comprising a frame (4) mountable to the vehicle, a blade (6) operatively coupled to said frame (4), a pair of hydraulic cylinders (8) extending vertically for adjusting a positioning of the blade (6), said method comprising: installing a pivot system (12) comprising a fixed arm (20) linking said frame (4) to said blade (6) via a first bracket (22) operatively connected to said frame (4) and a second bracket (24) operatively connected to said blade (6), said pivot system (12) further comprising a pair of springs (26) at a distal end of said fixed arm (20) and positioned on either side of said second bracket (24), said pivot system (12) allowing said blade (6) to pivot from a neutral posftion to a tilted position in reference to a horizontal axis (X) running transversely across said snowplow (2) via compression of one of said springs (26) upon said blade (6) riding over a surface that defines a tilted angle (A) with respect to a level of the vehicle in the neutral position; said pivot system (12) being configured to revert said blade (6) from said tilted position back to said neutral position in reference to said horizontal axis (X) via extension of one of said springs (26) upon said blade (6) ceasing to ride over said surface, said fixed arm (20) forming an acute angle with respect to said horizontal axis (X).

9. A method for improving a snowplow (2) mountable to a vehicle, said snowplow comprising a frame (4) mountable to the vehicle, a blade (6) operatively coupled to said frame (4), a pair of hydraulic cylinders (8) extending vertically for adjusting a positioning of the blade (6), said method comprising: installing a pivot system (12) comprising a hydraulic arm (30) linking said frame (4) to said blade (6) via a first bracket (22) operatively connected to said frame (4) and a second bracket (24) operatively connected to said blade (6), said pivot system (12) further comprising a pair of springs (26) at a distal end of said hydraulic arm (30) and positioned on either side of said second bracket (24), said pivot system (12) being actuatable via a fluid supply (32) to said hydraulic arm (30) to pivot said blade (6) in reference to a horizontal axis (X) running transversely across said snowplow (2), said pivot system (12) allowing said blade (6) to pivot from a neutral position to a tilted position in reference to a horizontal axis (X) running transversely across said snowplow (2) via compression of one of said springs (26) upon said blade (6) riding over a surface that defines a tilted angle (A) in the tilted position with respect to a level of the vehicle, said pivot system (12) being configured to revert said blade (6) from said tilted position back to said neutral position in reference to said horizontal axis (X) via extension of one of said springs (26) upon said blade (6) ceasing to ride over said surface said hydraulic arm (30) forming an acute angle with respect to said horizontal axis (X).