EP0140139B1 - Smooth shield for a snow vehicle - Google Patents

Description

The above invention relates to a smoothing plate for a snow vehicle, which is pivotably mounted on the vehicle frame via a circular arc-shaped guide part in a plane aligned parallel to the vehicle frame and whose useful width is equal to or less than the width of the snow vehicle.

Slatted signs for snow vehicles which are essentially U-shaped have already become known. These slatted signs are mounted in front of the snow vehicle, on a frame that can be moved up and down, and the slatted sign is usually associated with hydraulic devices in order to incline the sign forwards or backwards, in order to thus determine the cutting angle in relation to the snow field. Furthermore, the sign can be rotated to the left or to the right about a vertical axis, and finally there is the possibility of bending the sign both to the right and to the left about a horizontal axis.

The known slatted signs have a width that usually corresponds to or exceeds the width of the vehicle. For this reason, these slatted signs are. extremely heavy. On the other hand, it would be desirable for snow vehicles that are used for snow grooming to reduce the weight of the machine parts.

If a smooth sign is provided,. the width of which corresponds approximately to the width of the snow vehicle, it is also not possible to avoid the formation of lateral snow tracks, which are formed by lateral displacement of the snow by the shield. These side-mounted snow attachments are not only unattractive, they are also not flattened by the caterpillars of the snow vehicle, so that they can be eliminated by a second subsequent finishing process.

For the known glazed signs, it is also provided that the fulcrum around the vertical axis of the sign storage is provided in the immediate vicinity of the sign, so there is the disadvantage that when the sign is rotated about this point, the usable area of the sign is substantially reduced ( in projection) compared to the actually usable surface of the smoothing plate (if it were aligned perpendicular to the direction of travel of the machine). Furthermore, this known embodiment has the disadvantage that the slatted plate is rotated during a rotational movement to the inside of the vehicle, e.g. when negotiating a curve.

Furthermore, for a plate of the known type which can be rotated about a vertical axis and in which the axis of rotation is arranged directly behind the plate, it is absolutely essential that this pivot point and thus the smooth plate itself is arranged at a certain distance from the front of the vehicle thus allowing an unimpeded pivoting of the shield with the desired angle of attack. This requires the provision of a pick-up arm that projects freely from the frame of the vehicle to a certain extent. As a result, undesirable stresses on the actual vehicle frame and an undesired pendulum movement of the entire snow vehicle about a pendulum axis arranged transversely to the direction of travel occur, and difficulties arise during steering during the leveling process.

From the prior art (DE-OS 31.38.666) a space bucket for a vehicle, e.g. an earthmoving machine has become known in which the space bucket is mounted on the vehicle frame via an arcuate guide part.

In this known embodiment, however, the pivot point of the space bucket is provided behind the bucket, which leads to an arcuate guide with a relatively small radius of curvature. It can be seen from the description of DE-OS 31.38.666 that the lateral displacement of the space shovel can be kept as low as possible in the known device.

In the case of the above invention, opposite measures have been taken, the pivot axis of the smooth plate is relatively far in front of the plate. This leads to a circular arc-shaped guide part with a large swivel radius and the guide part is designed with a flat curve, so that when the sign is pivoted in the desired manner, a very pronounced lateral shift of the spatial sign to the outside occurs.

The object of the above invention is to propose a slatted shield for a snow vehicle with which the disadvantages of the prior art can be avoided and, above all, to propose a much lighter slatted shield with which it is possible, however, to avoid the formation of undesired side snow tracks with certainty , and that it will also be possible to store the slatted sign in the immediate vicinity of the bow of the vehicle.

The object according to the invention is achieved in that the storage of the smoothing plate takes place via the circular arc-shaped guide part directly in front of the bow of the vehicle frame and the smoothing plate with the aid of two working cylinders arranged symmetrically to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, each acting on the vehicle frame and on the smoothing plate, around an axis oriented perpendicular to the vehicle frame is movable along the guide part and this axis lies in front of the smooth plate.

With this embodiment, a much lighter construction of the slatted plate is made possible. The formation of undesired snow tracks on the side can be avoided and the provision of a long holding arm which projects freely from the bow of the snow vehicle is avoided.

It is particularly advantageous for the smooth plate to have an arch-shaped guide on its side facing the snow vehicle. This arcuate guide is slidably received by a number of rollers and support rollers which are rotatable about vertical axes.

Further advantages of the invention can be found in the following description, the subclaims and the drawings.

• Fig. 1 schematisch ein herkoemmliches bekanntes Glaetteschild, mit dem zugeordneten Schwenklager:
• Fig. 2 schematisch das erfindungsgemaesse Glaetteschild, entsprechend der vorstehenden Erfindung;
• Fig. 3 in Draufsicht das erfindungsgemaesse Glaetteschild in senkrechter Anordnung gegenueber der Laengsachse des Fahrzeuges; *.
• Fig. 4 das Glaetteschild gemaess Fig. 3, nach einer Verschwenkung nach links;
• Fig. 5 das Glaetteschild gemaess Fig. 3, nach einer Verschwenkung nach rechts;
• Fig. 6 schematisch das erfindungsgemaesse Glaetteschild mit der Schwenklagerung, zusammen mit der am Hauptrahmen des Fahrzeuges schwenkbar angeordneten Vorrichtung zum Heben und Senken des Schneeschildes;
• Fig. 7 zeigt ein Ende des Glaetteschildes mit einer Vorrichtung zum wahlweisen Vergroessern der Arbeitsbreite des Schneeschildes;
• Fig. 8 zeigt ein Endstueck des Glaetteschildes mit der vollstaendig ausgefahrenen Vorrichtung zum Vergroessern der Arbeitsbreite.
• Fig. 9 zeigt schematisch eine Ausfuehrungsform des Glaetteschildes eines Schneefahrzeuges, das an den Seiten enden mit Zusatzschildern ausgeruestet ist; und
• Fig. 10 zeigt eine Ansicht, teilweise im Schnitt, entlang der Linie 11-11 der Fig. 9 eines Schildendes.

The subject matter of the invention will now be described in more detail using an exemplary embodiment and shown in the drawings. Show it:

• 1 schematically shows a conventional known slatted plate with the associated pivot bearing:
• Fig. 2 shows schematically the smooth plate according to the invention, according to the above invention;
• 3 shows a plan view of the slatted shield according to the invention in a vertical arrangement with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle; *.
• FIG. 4 the smoothing plate according to FIG. 3, after pivoting to the left;
• FIG. 5 the smoothing plate according to FIG. 3, after pivoting to the right;
• 6 schematically shows the smoothing plate according to the invention with the swivel bearing, together with the device for lifting and lowering the snow blade, which is pivotably arranged on the main frame of the vehicle;
• 7 shows one end of the snow blade with a device for selectively increasing the working width of the snow blade;
• 8 shows an end piece of the smoothing plate with the fully extended device for increasing the working width.
• Fig. 9 shows schematically an embodiment of the slatted plate of a snow vehicle, which is equipped with additional plates at the ends; and
• Fig. 10 shows a view, partly in section, along the line 11-11 of Fig. 9 of a shield end.

As can be seen from FIG. 1, the known smooth plate 1 is received by a vertically arranged pivot axis 2, which is arranged in the immediate vicinity of the plate 1, on the side of the smooth plate which is assigned to the vehicle 3.

The slatted shield 1 can be arranged perpendicular to the direction of travel F, or the slatted shield can be pivoted to the right or to the left about the pivot axes 2. In order to enable a swiveling of the shield 1, which is wider than the vehicle 3, with the desired inclination, as is shown with dash-dotted lines, it is absolutely necessary to provide the slatted shield with a certain distance (a) in front of the bow of the vehicle 3 .

2 shows the smooth plate 4 according to the invention.

This smooth plate is less wide than the vehicle 5 and is firmly connected on its rear side with an arcuate guide 6. The center of rotation C of the guide 6 is located in front of the smooth shield 4 at a considerable distance from the front of the snow vehicle 5.

The slatted shield 4 is arranged at a smaller distance (b) in front of the bow of the snow vehicle 5.

A comparison of the representations in FIGS. 1 and 2 shows that when driving through a curve in the direction of arrow f, the angular position of the conventional smooth shield 1 (FIG. 1) entails an undesired shift of the shield projection in the direction of the inside lane of the snow vehicle brings. In contrast, in the new embodiment of the shield (FIG. 2) according to the invention, the inclination of the slatted shield 4 causes the projection to shift in the opposite direction to the radius of the curve.

As can be seen from FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the whole of the slatted plate 4 is received by a frame arm 7 which is mounted so as to be pivotable about the axis x.

The frame arm 7 is pivotally connected to the main frame of the snow vehicle (not shown) with the aid of known means. Two hydraulic cylinders 8 and 9 are operatively connected to the slatted plate 4 and provide for the inclination to the right or to the left, the slatted plate performing a pivoting movement about the pivot point C. On the front, the frame arm 7 has a number of rollers and support rollers 10, which are arranged rotatably about vertical axes. Between the rollers 10, the curved guide 6 is freely movable.

The guide 6 is advantageously carried out by means of bent sheet steel parts and has e.g. horizontally arranged stiffening ribs 11. The stiffening ribs 11 take on their front hinges 12, 13 and 14, which are provided with a horizontally arranged axis of rotation, thus, with the aid of hydraulic cylinders 15, to give the slatted plate an inclination, and in order to give the slatted plate 4 the desired cutting angle with respect to it To impress snow surface. In a manner known per se, a hydraulic cylinder 16 is also provided, with which the front part of the shield 4 can be pivoted about an axis Y, which corresponds to the longitudinal axis of the snow vehicle.

In Fig. 3 the smooth plate 4 is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Y of the vehicle.

In Fig. 4 the slatted plate is shown in an inclined position, for this purpose the piston 8 is actuated, which causes the arcuate guide 6 to be shifted to the left between the guide and support rollers 10. In contrast, FIG. 5 shows that by actuating the piston 9, the smooth plate 4 is inclined in the opposite direction, in this case the curved guide 6 is shifted to the right.

In Fig. 6, the frame arm 7 of a known snow vehicle is schematically shown, which receives a smooth plate 4. Advantageously, the barrel and support legs 10 are arranged on the front of the frame arm 7 and e.g. in guide grooves, which are identified by a total of 6, and guided by holding and guide ribs 11 or similar means. These ribs are arranged on both sides of the curved guide 6.

As can be seen from FIGS. 7 and 8, the ends of the slatted shield 1 are provided with a suitable profile which serves to receive a small additional shield 20 which is operatively connected to a piston-cylinder unit 21. In the idle position, the piston-cylinder unit is not actuated, and the additional plate 20 is not extended, but is completely absorbed by the profile of the main plate 1. If it becomes necessary to rapidly increase the working width of the main shield 1, it is sufficient to actuate the piston-cylinder unit 21, as shown in FIG. 8, as a result of which the associated piston rod 22 is extended from the hydraulic cylinder. This piston rod is connected in an articulated manner to the additional shield 20 and, when the piston is extended, brings the additional shield 20 into its working position, as a result of which the main shield 1 is expanded to the maximum working width only when necessary.

It can be seen from FIGS. 9 and 10 that the underside of the slatted shield 100 has a construction which is known per se and forms a hollow profile la which serves as a stiffening for the slatted shield 100. The hollow profile la forms a cavity which receives the corresponding additional shield 112 or 113 in a displaceable manner. As already described in the foregoing, each additional shield 112 or 113 has, at its end projecting from the main shield 110, a projecting tab or an arm 110 or 111, this arm being articulatedly connected to the piston rod of a corresponding hydraulic cylinder 108 or 109 .

In the normal case, the additional plates 112, 113 are received by the chamber of the profile piece 1a due to the pistons moving back into the cylinders 108 and 109 and are thus protected from damage. The profile 1 a forms the underside of the slatted shield 100. If it is desired to increase the working width of the slatted shield 100 in order laterally with the protruding end of the shield 100, the track formed by the crawlers of the vehicle, which is schematically marked with L, closes run over, it is sufficient to actuate the hydraulic cylinders 108 and 109 in order to bring about the extension of the additional plates 112, 113 from the corresponding chamber 1a of the main plate 100. The operation of the plates 108 and 109 can take place alternately according to the needs or both cylinders 108, 109 can be operated simultaneously.

The cylinders 108 and 109 are particularly advantageously designed as double-acting cylinders, which makes it possible to act quickly and safely on the extension movement and the insertion movement of the additional plates 112 and 113.

With the above innovation, an extremely cost-effective and simple device is proposed, which is particularly functional and gives the driver of the snow vehicle the ability to quickly enlarge the overall width of the main plate 100.4. This creates the possibility of also influencing snow accumulations that are outside the driving width (L) of the vehicle. This means that the preparation of ski slopes can be carried out much faster and cheaper. In particular, the possibility is created to transport snow piles and snow piles, which extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, from the zone of the vehicle tracks L to the center of the main plate 100, 4.

Claims (5)

1. Smoothing shield (4, 100) for a snow vehicle which is mounted swivellably on the vehicle frame via an arc-shaped guide part (6) in a plane aligned parallel to the vehicle frame, and the useful width of which is equal to orsmallerthan the width of the snow vehicle, characterized in that the mounting of the smoothing shield (4, 100) is effected via the arc-shaped guide part (6) immediately in front of the front end of the vehicle frame and, with the assistance of two working cylinders (9) arranged symmetrically to the longitudinal axis (Y) of the vehicle and acting in each case on the vehicle frame and on the smoothing shield, the smoothing shield is displaceable along the guide part (6) about an axis (C) aligned perpendicular to the vehicle frame and the axis (C) lies in front of the smoothing shield (4, 100).

2. Smoothing shield according to Claim 1, characterized in that the arc-shaped guide part (6) is received displaceably by a number of running and supporting rollers (10) which are mounted rotatably about vertical axes.

3. Smoothing shield according to Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the running and supporting rollers (10) are received by grooves or guide strips which are firmly connected to the arc-shaped guide part (6) of the smoothing shield (4, 100).

4. Smoothing shield according to Claim 1, characterized in that each end of the smoothing shield (4, 100). receives a displaceable additional shield (112, 113) which is in effective connection with piston/cylinder units (21, 22) which serve for displacing the additional shield (112, 113) from a position of rest to a working position.

5. Smoothing shield according to Claim 4, characterized in that each additional shield (112, 113) is received displaceably by hollow reinforcement profile (116) which forms a receiving chamber, and this reinforcement profile is an integral part of the main smoothing shield (4, 100).

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