GB2135368A

GB2135368A - Snow clearing apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2135368A
Application number: GB08315431A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Edward Guest
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-02-22
Filing date: 1983-06-06
Publication date: 1984-08-30
Also published as: GB8315431D0

Abstract

Snow clearing apparatus comprises a plough (2) which is adapted to fit to the front of a tractor (1). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Snow clearing apparatus This invention relates to snow clearing apparatus.

Purpose built snow clearing apparatus is well known and comprises manuaily operable apparatus or power driven apparatus for large scale snow clearing work. Such apparatus is quite satisfactory for use in countries like Canada or Scandinavian countries where heavy snow falls are inevitable and occur predictably during every winter season.

In countries like Great Britain however the expense of purchasing purpose built snow clearing apparatus is rarely justifiable since in most areas heavy snow falls occur infrequently and consequently expensive snow clearing apparatus would lie idle for most of the time.

In this country in particular, the responsibility for snow clearing lies with the local authorities and since local authorities have in general relatively small budgets, the problem is compounded, with the result that no purpose built snow clearing apparatus is purchased and thus when heavy snow falls do occur, chaos results because the equipment to deal with it is just not available.

Additionally, in some areas where heavy snow falls are quite common and where consequently municipal equipment is made available, some sections of the community are nevertheless unable to benefit from such available equipment.

One good example is Scottish hill farmers. For these folk and people in similar circumstances, it is essential to keep farm roads and tracks open so that food can be made available to livestock, but often enough, farm roads cannot be reached by municipal snow clearing workers and many folk like these cannot afford their own purpose built power driven snow clearing apparatus.

It is an object of the present invention to provide snow clearing apparatus which facilitates at least to some extent alieviation of the foregoing problems.

According to the present invention snow clearing apparatus comprises a plough which is adapted to fit to the front of a tractor.

The plough is relatively inexpensive to produce and would be fitted to a tractor only when needed.

Thus the capital cost of purpose built power driven snow clearing apparatus is avoided and it will be appreciated that when the plough is not attached to the tractor, the tractor will naturaliy be available for normal useage.

The plough preferably comprises a V-shaped front part adapted to cut through snow.

The V-shaped front part may be arranged to extend to define side portions which in use ie alongside the tractor to which the plough is attached and which served to push snow cut by the V-shaped front part to one side so as to clear a path through the snow to be cleared, as a tractor to which in use the plough is attached, is driven forward.

The plough may include at least one bracket which is adapted to bolt onto a tractor.

The bracket or brackets may be designed so as to fit to standard tractor load coupling points.

The plough may be provided with rolled over upper edges which serve in use to compact snow cleared. The plough may be made of steel.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described solely by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Figure 1 is a somewhat schematic view of a snow plough fitted to a tractor, and; Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of a snow plough having an alternative shape.

Referring now to Figure 1, a tractor 1 of conventional design has fitted thereto a steel snow plough 2 comprising a front V-shaped section 3 and a pair of side portions 4 and 5 which extend from the V-shaped section 3 alongside the tractor 1.

In use of the apparatus shown, when the tractor 1 is driven forward, the V-shaped section 3 cuts easily through the snow and the side portions 4 and 5 extending therefrom serve to push the snow to one side so as to clear a path.

Although not shown in Figure 1, the snow plough is secured to the tractor conveniently using standard load mounting points by means of brackets (not shown) secured rigidly to the plough on the inside thereof.

As an alternative to the plough 2 of Figure 1 a snow plough 6 as shown in Figure 2 may be fitted to the tractor 1, or to any other vehicle. The snow plough 6 has rolled over upper edges 7 which serve in use to compact snow cleared.

Various modifications may be made to the apparatus shown without departing from the scope of the invention and for example the shape and configuration of the front section and side portions may be altered to some extent whereby a wider swaith may be cut through snow to be cleared.

It will be appreciated that by utilising apparatus as just before described which can simply and quickly be attached to the front of a tractor, snow clearing is facilitated without the expense associated with purpose built power driven snow clearing equipment.

1. Snow clearing apparatus comprising a plough which is adapted to fit to the front of a tractor.

2. Snow clearing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plough comprises a V-shaped front part adapted to cut through snow.

3. Snow clearing apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the V-shaped front part is arranged to extend to define side portions which in use lie alongside the tractor to which the plough is attached and which serve to push snow cut by the V-shaped front part to one side so as to clear a path through snow to be cleared, as the tractor to which in use the plough is attached, is driven forward.

4. Snow clearing apparatus as claimed in any

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Snow clearing apparatus This invention relates to snow clearing apparatus. Purpose built snow clearing apparatus is well known and comprises manuaily operable apparatus or power driven apparatus for large scale snow clearing work. Such apparatus is quite satisfactory for use in countries like Canada or Scandinavian countries where heavy snow falls are inevitable and occur predictably during every winter season. In countries like Great Britain however the expense of purchasing purpose built snow clearing apparatus is rarely justifiable since in most areas heavy snow falls occur infrequently and consequently expensive snow clearing apparatus would lie idle for most of the time. In this country in particular, the responsibility for snow clearing lies with the local authorities and since local authorities have in general relatively small budgets, the problem is compounded, with the result that no purpose built snow clearing apparatus is purchased and thus when heavy snow falls do occur, chaos results because the equipment to deal with it is just not available. Additionally, in some areas where heavy snow falls are quite common and where consequently municipal equipment is made available, some sections of the community are nevertheless unable to benefit from such available equipment. One good example is Scottish hill farmers. For these folk and people in similar circumstances, it is essential to keep farm roads and tracks open so that food can be made available to livestock, but often enough, farm roads cannot be reached by municipal snow clearing workers and many folk like these cannot afford their own purpose built power driven snow clearing apparatus. It is an object of the present invention to provide snow clearing apparatus which facilitates at least to some extent alieviation of the foregoing problems. According to the present invention snow clearing apparatus comprises a plough which is adapted to fit to the front of a tractor. The plough is relatively inexpensive to produce and would be fitted to a tractor only when needed. Thus the capital cost of purpose built power driven snow clearing apparatus is avoided and it will be appreciated that when the plough is not attached to the tractor, the tractor will naturaliy be available for normal useage. The plough preferably comprises a V-shaped front part adapted to cut through snow. The V-shaped front part may be arranged to extend to define side portions which in use ie alongside the tractor to which the plough is attached and which served to push snow cut by the V-shaped front part to one side so as to clear a path through the snow to be cleared, as a tractor to which in use the plough is attached, is driven forward. The plough may include at least one bracket which is adapted to bolt onto a tractor. The bracket or brackets may be designed so as to fit to standard tractor load coupling points. The plough may be provided with rolled over upper edges which serve in use to compact snow cleared. The plough may be made of steel. One embodiment of the invention will now be described solely by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Figure 1 is a somewhat schematic view of a snow plough fitted to a tractor, and; Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of a snow plough having an alternative shape. Referring now to Figure 1, a tractor 1 of conventional design has fitted thereto a steel snow plough 2 comprising a front V-shaped section 3 and a pair of side portions 4 and 5 which extend from the V-shaped section 3 alongside the tractor 1. In use of the apparatus shown, when the tractor 1 is driven forward, the V-shaped section 3 cuts easily through the snow and the side portions 4 and 5 extending therefrom serve to push the snow to one side so as to clear a path. Although not shown in Figure 1, the snow plough is secured to the tractor conveniently using standard load mounting points by means of brackets (not shown) secured rigidly to the plough on the inside thereof. As an alternative to the plough 2 of Figure 1 a snow plough 6 as shown in Figure 2 may be fitted to the tractor 1, or to any other vehicle. The snow plough 6 has rolled over upper edges 7 which serve in use to compact snow cleared. Various modifications may be made to the apparatus shown without departing from the scope of the invention and for example the shape and configuration of the front section and side portions may be altered to some extent whereby a wider swaith may be cut through snow to be cleared. It will be appreciated that by utilising apparatus as just before described which can simply and quickly be attached to the front of a tractor, snow clearing is facilitated without the expense associated with purpose built power driven snow clearing equipment. CLAIMS

4. Snow clearing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the plough includes at least one bracket which is adapted to bolt onto a tractor.

5. Snow clearing apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the bracket or brackets are designed to fit to standard tractor load coupling points.

6. Snow clearing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the plough is provided with rolled over upper edges which serve in use to compact snow cleared.

7. Snow clearing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the plough is made of steel.

8. Snow clearing apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.