GB2137266A

GB2137266A - Snow plough

Info

Publication number: GB2137266A
Application number: GB08402049A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Ellis Davies
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-01-26
Filing date: 1984-01-26
Publication date: 1984-10-03
Also published as: GB8402049D0

Abstract

A snow plough, which may have a handle 9 or be mounted on the lift arms of a tractor, comprises a planar shovel member 1 provided with an upstanding oblique deflector 5 of V or other form. The member 1 shown is rectangular and has wedge-shaped side plates 3. In a modification, Fig. 3, the deflector 19 comprises a planar or curved plate which can be swung to either side about a central pivot 21 and locked by bolts 25. In a further modification a V-shaped deflector as in Fig. 1 has releasably pivoted to its apex a further deflector plate which can be swung to either of the leading corners of the shovel member. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Snow plough The present invention relates to a snow plough for use in clearing snow either domestically or on a large scale.

Snow ploughs are usually used for clearing roads of snow to allow traffic to pass normally therealong. Such snow ploughs usually comprise an elongate plough member which is fixed to the front of a vehicle e.g. tractor or lorry, and angled with respect to the longitudinal axis i.e. direction of travel, of the vehicle.

Thus, as such modified vehicles move along a snow bound road, the plough member pushes by brute force and inertia, the snow to the side of the road. However, if the weight of snow in front of the vehicles is sufficient, the vehicle will be forced to stop, its wheels or tracks usually spinning. In such an event the snow plough vehicle can only reverse, if then possible, and effectively charge at the snow to try to force a path through. Large snow fans can of course be used to blow dry snow to the sides of the road. However, these are very expensive.

Domestically, snow ploughs are not used, a home-owner using a spade to clear snow. This is a long tedius task, even when merely clearing a path for access.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a snow plough which can be used to advantage both domestically when used by hand, and on a large scale when coupled to a vehicle.

According to the present invention there is provided a snow plough comprising a generally planar member with a deflector member secured to the surface thereof, said deflector member being spaced rearwardly from a front leading straight edge of the planar member and extending both upwardly from the surface of said generally planar member and away from said leading straight edge.

Thus, by virtue of the present invention, the planar member can be moved along the ground at an inclined angle thereto, so that the snow is lifted off the ground and passes up at least part of the planar member before it is deflected by the deflector member to one or other, or both, sides of the planar member.

The snow is thus positively detached from the ground and thereby broken up to a certain extent, before it is deflected to the side of the plough.

If the snow is wet and forms a blockage to the plough, the plough can be lifted to thus lift the snow on the planar member and break up any connection with any snow in front of the planar member. The snow on the planar member is then deflected to the sides, by the deflector member, under the force of gravity as the plough is lifted towards a vertical position.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention for use, for example, on a hydraulic lifting arm assembly on the front of a tractor or other vehicle, comprises a rectangular planar member, preferably made of metal, on the surface of which planar member a V-shaped deflector member made of sheet material, preferably metal, is secured. The V-shaped deflector member has an apex edge which extends substantially vertically from the surface of the said planar member, the apex edge pointing towards the straight edge of the planar member, which is, in use, the leading edge of the plough. In use on, for example, a tractor, the leading edge is engaged or located just above the surface of the ground with the planar member angled to the surface of the ground.As the tractor moves forwards, so the snow will move up the planar member and be deflected to either side of the apex edge of the V-shaped member, i.e. to the sides of the tractor. If the weight of snow effectively halts the tractor, the hydraulic arm assembly can be used to lift the plough and break up the snow, the snow falling to either side of the tractor by virtue of the V-shaped deflector member. Thus, the plough can effectively dig through a snowdrift if forward power is not sufficient.

When used domestically, the snow plough of the present invention is preferably of the same basic construction as described hereabove for use on a tractor. Additionally the planar member has wedge-shaped side plates which depend from the sides of said planar member and which engage the surface of the ground. These side plates support the planar member in an inclined position relative to the ground with the leading edge of the planar member touching or adjacent to the ground.

Attached to and extending from the rear of the planar member is a handle by means of which the plough can be manually pushed forwards and lifted upwards to break up snow, as and when required. The side plates grip the ground as the plough is pushed forward, thus holding the plough in a straight line.

As an alternative to the generally V-shaped deflector member described hereabove, the deflector member can take any desired shape.

One particularly useful configuration of deflector member is an elongate member of planar or curved transverse cross section. This deflector member may be fixedly secured to the planar member, e.g. welded, though preferably this deflector member is pivotally mounted about its mid-point in the central region of the planar member of the plough, so as to be pivotable to one of at least two positions to deflect snow either to the right or to the left of the plough as the plough is moved forwards.

This pivotable deflector member may be locked in either of these positions by suitable bolts.

Alternatively, to produce the same adjustment to provide for deflection to one or other side of the plough, the V-shaped deflector member of the above described embodiment can be modified by pivotally mounting a planar flap member at the apex of the V-shaped deflector member. Thus, the flap member may be pivoted and locked, preferably by suitable bolts, to either side region of the planar member to be in line with one or other side face of the V-shaped deflector member.

Further, the flap member may be detachable to thus improve the adaptability of a particular plough.

The present invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention for manual use; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a plough according to the present invention, mounted on a tractor; Figure 3 is a perspective view of an alternative form of plough constructed according to the present invention; and Figure 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2.

The plough shown in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings comprises a rectangular planar member 1 from the side edges of which depend wedge-shaped side plates 3, integrally formed with said planar member 1. Integrally connected, e.g. welded, to said planar member 1 is a V-shaped deflector member 5 which presents an apex edge 7 in approximately the centre of the planar member 1, said apex edge pointing in the intended direction of travel of the plough. A handle 9 is secured to the rear of the plough.

In use, the lower edges 4 of side plates 3 engage the ground so that leading edge 2 is adjacent to or in contact with the ground. By pushing the plough forwards using the handle 9, leading edge 2 cuts into the snow and the snow is moved up the inclined planar member 1, and deflected to the sides of the plough by the V-shaped deflector member 5.

If forward movement of the plough is prevented by the weight of snow in its path, the plough can be lifted like a spade to positively break up the snow. Besides holding the planar member 1 in an inclined position, the side plates 3 grip the ground as the plough is moved forwards, preventing the plough from twisting.

The snow plough constructed according to the present invention and illustrated in Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings, comprises solely the planar member 11 and V-shaped deflector member 1 3. The planar member 11 is mounted on the hydraulic lifting arm assembly 15 of a tractor 1 7. The hydraulic lifting arm assembly 1 5 holds the planar member 11 firmly in an inclined position, as illustrated, so that as the tractor 1 7 moves forwards, the leading edge 1 2 cuts into the snow and the snow moves up the planar member 11 and is deflected to the sides by Vshaped deflector member 1 3. If the weight of snow in the path of the plough is sufficient to stop the tractor, the hydraulic lifting arm assembly 1 5 can be activated to lift the plough and break up the snow. As the plough is lifted, any snow on the plough will move under gravity along planar member 11 and be deflected to the sides of the tractor by the Vshaped deflector member 1 3. The plough can then be lowered to the illustrated position (Fig. 2) and the plough and tractor can move further forward to either repeat the cutting and lifting procedure or to continue forward if the weight of snow allows.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig. 3, the deflector member 1 9 is in the form of a planar, generally rectangular, elongate member. Alternatively, this deflector member 1 9 may be curved, if so desired. This planar elongate deflector member 1 9 is pivoted about its middle region, on a spindle 21 secured to the central region of the planar member 23. Thus the deflector member 1 9 can be pivoted to deflect snow to one or other side of the plough. Preferably bolts 25 are provided to lock the deflector member 19 in the desired pivotal positions.

When used manually this plough preferably incorporates the side wedges 3 of Fig. 1 to prevent the weight of the snow from deflecting the plough from its desired path of travel.

The plough shown in Fig. 4 is a modified form of the embodiments shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This plough comprises a planar member 27 of generally rectangular shape, with a V-shaped deflector member 29 mounted thereon as in Figs. 1 and 2. Additionally, a rectangular, planar flap member 31 is pivotally mounted on the apex 33 of the V-shaped member 29 so that the flap member 31 can be pivoted to either position 33 or 35 shown by dashed lines, to be in line with either face 37, 39 of the V-shaped member 29. The flap member 31 can be locked in the desired position by bolt 41 engaging in either hole 43 or 45 in planar member 47. The plough can therefore be adjusted to provide deflection to the desired side of the plough. Further, the flap member 31 may be detachable to add to the versatility of the plough.

Any of the above embodiments of the present invention can be fitted to a J.C.B. or any other earth moving tractor, the snow plough being attached to the hydraulic lifting assembly. The hydraulic lifting assembly then holds the plough in the desired position as the J.C.B. or tractor moves fowards, and it is envisaged that snow 4ft.-5ft. deep, can be cleared at a speed of between 4 and 1 2 m.p.h. This is with an 8ft. snow plough. If deeper drifts are encountered the plough digs in and can be lifted by the hydraulic as sembly. The J.C.B. or tractor can then reverse and snow can then be moved to a different location. Alternatively, the J.C.B. or tractor remain in position and the snow can be deflected to one or the other side, or both sides, of the path of the plough, by the deflection member, by lifting the plough towards the vertical.

Thus, the present invention provides a snow plough which is efficient to use and which is readily applicable to domestic as well as large scale use. The snow moves up the inclined planar member of the plough and is thus positively detached from the ground and adjacent snow before it is deflected to the sides or side of the plough.

Claims

1. A snow plough comprising a generally planar member with a deflector member secured to the surface thereof, said deflector member being spaced rearwardly from a front leading straight edge of the planar member and extending both upwardly from the surface of said generally planar member and away from said leading straight edge.

2. A snow plough as claimed in claim 1, in which the deflector member is generally Vshaped with the apex of the V-shape pointing towards said leading straight edge.

3. A snow plough as claimed in claim 2, in which the apex of the V-shape extends substantially vertically with respect to the surface of the planar member.

4. A snow plough as claimed in claim 2 or 3, in which the planar member is generally rectangular and the apex of the V-shape is located in the central region of the planar member.

5. A snow plough as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, in which a planar, generally rectangular flap member is pivotally attached to the apex region of the V-shaped deflector member.

6. A snow plough as claimed in claim 5, in which the flap member can be pivoted to either of two positions in which the flap member is in line with a face of the V-shaped deflector member, securing means retaining the flap member in the chosen position.

7. A snow plough as claimed in claim 6, in which the securing means is a bolt provided on the flap member and engageable in holes or recesses in the planar member.

8. A snow plough as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 7, in which the flap member is detachably attached to the apex region of the V-shaped member.

9. A snow plough as claimed in claim 1, in which the deflector member is an elongate rectangular, planar member which is mounted on the said generally planar member so as to be pivotable about an axis which is substantially perpendicular to said generally planar member and which extends parallel to the plane of said deflector member and transversely of said deflector member in the middle region of said deflector member.

10. A snow plough as claimed in claim 1, in which the deflector is an elongate curved plate member which is mounted on said generally planar member so as to be pivotable about an axis which is substantially perpendicular to said generally planar member and which extends transversely of the plate member in the middle region of the plate member, parallel to the surface of the plate member.

11. A snow plough as claimed in claim 9 or 10, in which the generally planar member is rectangular and said axis passes through the central region of the planar member.

1 2. A snow plough as claimed in any one of claims 9, 10 or 11, in which securing means are provided for locking the deflector member in the desired pivotal position, angled with respect to said straight edge of said generally planar member.

1 3. A snow plough as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the generally planar member has two parallel side edges from which depend wedge-shaped side plates, the side plates tapering towards said leading straight edge.

14. A snow plough as claimed in claim 13, in which a handle is attached to the generally planar member and extends rearwardly of the plough with respect to said leading straight edge.

1 5. A snow plough as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, when mounted on a hydraulic lifting assembly of an automotive vehicle.

1 6. A method of operating a snow plough as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, said method comprising the steps of locating the plough with said generally planar member inclined to the ground and with said leading straight edge adjacent to or in contact with the ground, and moving the plough forwards so that the snow will move up the planar member and be deflected by the deflector member.

1 7. A method as claimed in claim 16, further including the step of lifting the plough upwards so that the snow on the planar member is separated from the snow on the ground, and can move along the planar member under the effect of gravity, and be deflected to one or other, or both sides of the plough.

18. A method as claimed in claim 16, further including the step of lifting the plough upwards so that the snow on the planar member is separated from the snow on the ground, and moving the plough to a different location where the snow is discharged from the planar member.

1 9. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 6 to 18, in which the plough is attached to the hydraulic lifting assembly of a J.C.B. or earth moving tractor, the hydraulic lifting assembly holding the plough in the desired position whilst the plough is moving forwards, and also lifting the plough when required.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19, in which the plough is arranged to plough through snow located to the side of the tractor or J.C.B.

21. A snow plough constructed substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

22. A method of operating the snow plough claimed in claim 18, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.