GB2487454A

GB2487454A - Snow ploughing arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2487454A
Application number: GB201120279A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Torquil James Ross-Martin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-11-23
Filing date: 2011-11-23
Publication date: 2012-07-25
Also published as: GB201019843D0; GB2485786A; GB201120279D0

Abstract

The arrangement comprises a plough blade 3 which may be connected to the tyre, road wheel, stub axle, half shaft or hub assembly 5 of a vehicle via a mechanical linkage. The linkage is preferably arranged to secure the blade to the wheel fixing bolts/studs/lugs of the vehicle by means of a flange plate 7, the linkage including a rotational bearing 8 which, in use, is aligned with the wheel rotational axis so that the wheel and blade can rotate independently of one another. The blade is preferably significantly narrower than the width of the vehicle, with a number of wheels on a vehicle being provided with an assembly. The blade may bear upon the ground under the action of gravity or may be pushed down by a friction or spring element. The blade may alternatively comprise a brush or auger. Also claimed is a vehicle and snow plough arrangement.

Description

Lightweight VehideMounted SnOw Plough Number of Claims: 22 * Number of Figures: 8

Summary of Figures

* Figure 1: Preferred embodiment of fixed blade wheel mounted snow plough assembly.

Figure 2: Example embodiment of rotational joint between arm and plough blade.

* 20 Figure 3: Illustration of plough blades fitting beneath body of car.

Figure 5: Plan view showing alternative blade Orientations to move snow inwards *.*. * -or outwards and scrape with plain or rubber strip edge of blade.

* Figure 6: Schematic rotating snow moving auger belt driven from wheel.

: * Figure 7: Illustration of de-icer spray nozzle installation on snow plough equipped * 25 vehicle.

* Figure 8: Illustration of single flange plate design to accommodate a wide range of wheel fixing stud/bolt patterns! 0* * ! -

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DESCRIPTION

Babkground The principle of using an angled blade or rotating brushes or blades pushed along ahead of, or drawn behind, a vehicle to clear snow from roadways and paths is well known and many such ploughs suitable for mounting to tractors, trucks and utility vehicles exist and are in use.

In generai, developed geographical areas that are prone to significant snow fall are well served with such vehicles and devices to keep roads and municipal a!eas such as airports and parking lots etc open: However in places where snowfall is not a common event or where the area to be cleared for vehicles is small or little used, it can be difficult to justify provision, operation and maintenance of special snow ploughing vehicles and expensive.equipment.

In principle, readily available conventional vehicles, automobiles for example, could be utilized to mount snow ploughing equipment. However mounting to a typical automotive chassis is very difficult because access is poor, no provision has been made in the vehicle design and there is no standardization in the location of suitably strong mOunting points etc. Where public roads must be cleared of snow it is normally necessary to clear the full width of any carriage way that is to be kept open, so as to accommodate the *. : 20 range of wheel track width of vehicles that may pass (from motorcycles, tricycles * and small cars to large trucks). Thus road clearance snow ploughs must be * large, strong and inevitably heavy. However on private driveways or other : ** locations where there is little variation in vehicle dimension, few vehicles pass or * nearly identical vehicles follow very consistent paths (as is the case with automatically guided vehicles in Personal Rapid Transit systems), it may be sufficient to clear snow only from the narrow parts of the roadway on which vehicle's tyres will actually run. ln such case much smaller and lighter snow ploughs, not much wider than a vehicle's tyres, might be employed to good effect.

Although snow chains may be utilized to provide traction on snow covered roads without clearing the surface (when the snow is say no more than 50mm deep), they are time consuming and awkward to fit and remove and can only be used * When driving on snow covered surfaces. It would therefore at times be beneficial to drivers if they could carry some form of easily fitted snow plough in their vehicles and easily fit it when required, in preference to fitting snow chains, when depth of snow is not excessive.

Summary of the Invention*

According to one aspect of the present invention there is prOVided a snow plough arrangement suitable for attachment to a wheeled vehicle which operates on a substantially smooth and hard surface (for example an automobile operating on a * paved road), wherein the ènow plough mechanism comprises (i) a plough blade; and (ii) a mechanical linkage arranged for fastening the plough blade to the wheeled vehicle, * wherein said mechanical linkage is arranged for fastening the plough blade to the road wheel, half shaft or hub assembly of the wheeled vehicle. S. *

* S. -

20 Description *

* S * s** * : ** The principle invention Lclaimed here is that of mounting a snow plough * arrangement directly to a vehicle's road wheel assembly, which is both standardized and of necessity of high strength (and thus capable of reacting ploughing loads).

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-S H. * The invention is applicable to a wide variety of vehicles, including but not limited to automobiles and Personal Rapid Transport vehiOles. Patent US3608216 provides an extensive summary of the state of prior art in the design and application of snow ploughs for fitment to automobiles but does not realize the possibility of thisapproach: The snow plough arrangement is suitable for attachment to a wheeled vehicle which operates on,a substantially smooth and hard surface (for example an automobile operating on a paved road).

The snow plough mechanism comprises (i) a plough blade; and (ii) a mechanical linkage arranged for fastening the plough blade to the wheeled vehicle.

The mechanical linkage is arranged for fastening the.plough blade to the tyre, road wheel, stub axle, half shaft or hub assembly of the wheeled vehicle.

In embodiments, the mechanical linkage is arranged for fastening the plough blade to the road wheel, half shaft or hub assembly of an individual wheel of the wheeled vehicle.

In embodiments, the mechanical linkage is a rotating pad associated with a Wheel of the wheeled vehicle. In embodiments, that rotating pa is a rotating hub assembly, a rotating half shaft or a rotating road wheel.

in embodiments, attachment of the plough blade to the wheeled vehicle does not °. 20 compromise the rotating of the wheel of that vehicle in normal use thereof.

* In embodiments, the mechanical linkage is arranged for connecting to the road * wheel fixing bolts, studs or lugs of the wheeled vehicle. *e..

* In embodiments, the mechanical linkage includes a rotating bearing whose axis is aligned with the wheel rotational axis such that the wheel of the wheeled

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vehicle can rotate independently from the plough blade and the plough blade can be rotated about the wheel rotational axis.

in embodiments, the mechanical linkage for connecting to the road wheel utilizes a slotted flange plate so designed that all commonly used automotive 4 or 5 stud wheel bolt patterns can be accommodated using a single common flange plate design whereby utilization of 3 (out of the 4 or 5) of the fixing bolts results in the mechanical linkages rotating bearing being aligned with the wheel rotational axis.

In embodiments, the plough blade locates directly ahead of the wheel of the wheeled vehicle to which it attaches and i!.wide enough to clear snow across the width of the associated wheel but is significantly narrower than the overall vehicle width. . In embodiments, the plough blade is attached to a steered wheel on the vehicle and the implement is steered with the wheel.

In embodiments, the snow plough arrangement includes a ploughing mechanism (or associated) support features bear directly on the ground subh that the plough blade under the action of gravity (and possibly also the vertical component of the.

ploughing reaction forces) closely follows the surface contour of the road ahead of the vehicle wheel.

In embodiments, the snow plough arrangement has guiding and supporting features such as low friction sliding surfaces, curved or angled edges or rollers on the ploughing mechanism which assist the plough mechanism in sliding over the ground and riding up over small obstacles and irregularities. An advantage of : ** this feature isthat it allows the plqugh blade to optimally align with the road I...

surface even in situations where substantial camber of the road surface is present and I or to compensate for any change in wheel camber as the vehicle is steered and br the suspension of the vehicle moves. S.. S.

In embodiments, the snow plough arrangement allows rotation of the ploughing mechanism about an axis substantially parallel with the road surface and perpendicular to the wheel rotational axis such that the plough can follow the camber of the road irrespective of wheel camber..

In embodiments, the rotating bearing joint additionally provides a (possibly uni-directional) friction or spring element to assist in pushing the plough blade down against the road surface.

In embodiments, the snow, plough arrangement incorporates a drive mechanism, such a belt, and pulley or chain and sprocket, used to drive rotating brushes or 10., auger blades, where wheel rotation is used to provide the drive power.

In embodiments, the snow plough arrangement incorporates load limiting features such as shear bolts, friction joints, sprung catches or Weak sections such that the maximum load that the plough blade can transmit into the wheel/hub assembly is limited to acceptable levels.

In embodiments, the load limiting feature is achieved via the blade end of the -, snow plough arrangement becoming detached from the mechanical linkage connecting it to the wheel/hub assembly. In preferred embodiments where this' is this is the case, the geometry of the linkage between the wheel/hub and the snow plough blade is such that, when the blade becomes detached, the part that 20,, remain attached to the wheel/hub assembly is sufficiently short that it cannot come in to contact with the road surface and the part (including the blade) that' * , has become detached is sufficiently low that it can pass safely under the vehicle *o.s.

without contacting the vehicle body.. * S. * S * S...

In embodiments, a fixed brush is used in place of a plough blade. * S * S..

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In embodiments, the snow plough blade can be inverted such that it's angle relafive to the direction of travel is changed. For example it, can be set to either.

push snow outwards from under the vehicle or inwards under it.

In embodiments, the snow plough blade can be inverted such that either top or bottom edge of the blade can be used, so as to prolong life or offer alternative blade characteristics (eg metal scraping edge vs. rubber scraping edge or different angle between the blade face and the ground)..

In embodiments, a delivery means is provided to the snow plough arrangement to deliver a de-icing chemical liquid in the vicinity of the snow plough (either directly onto the road surface behind the plough or indirectly onto the tyre, plough or brush assembly).

In embodiments, the snow plough blade issufficiently low and compact as to fit between the car body and the road surface.

In embodiments, there is provided a vehicle and snow plough arrangement comprising (a) a wheeled vehicle having plural wheels; and * (b) one or more snow plough mechanisms attaching to said wheeled vehicle.

In embodiments, individual plough mechanisms are provided for two or more of said plural wheels

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*5St55 * 20 In embodiments, individual plough mechanisms arC provided for two or more of : *.* the plural wheels on common axles and are angled so as to push snow inward S...

towards the middle of the vehicle. *5 * * * * SS. p 8

In ernbothments, the snow plough blades can'be swapped between left hand and, right hand side of the vehicles such that they can be set to either push snow outwards from under the vehicle or inwards under it.

Figure 1 shows the basic features of such a snow plough mechanism fitted to a vehicle's wheel assembly, utilizing the vehicle's wheel mounting bolts as* attachment points; The rigid scraper blade (3), under action of gravity, sits on the road surface (1) upon which the vehicle wheel assembly (2) runs. The scraper blade (3) has an arm (4) attached to it which connects it to the wheel's hub assembly (5). This arm (4) reacts forces, generated by the blade's ploughing 10' action, back into the hub assembly, and so allows the vehicle to propel the plough. Special double ended mounting bolt assemblies (6) are used to fasten the wheel assembly (2). to the hub assembly (5) in place of the vehicles normal wheel, bolts. Each special bolt assembly not only clamps the wheel (2) to the hub (5) but also provides the means of mounting the plough assembly flange plate (7) to the hub (5). The flange plate (7) fits over the bolts (6) and is clamped between shoulders on the bolts (6) and nuts fitted to them. An alternative to the use of special bolts (6) is to utilize longer bolts (of a standard type). These would pass through the flange plate (7), tubular spacers and then the wheel (2) before threading into the hub (5). They would thus effectively clamp the flange plate and wheel to the hub.

The flange plate (7) carries a spindle (8) aligned with the wheel's rotational axis.

A rotational bearing (9) mounted on the spindle (8) connects the arm (4) to the * hub assembly (5) such that both the arm and blade assembly and the wheel assembly.are able to rotate independently about the wheel rotational axis. * S. * * S

The arm (4) incorporates an additional rotational joint (10) between itself and the plough blade (3). This enables rotation of the blade (with respect to the arm) about an axis (11) that is normal to the wheel rotational axis and substantially

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horizontal This enables the blade (3) to align its bottom edge to the road surface.

(1), independent of wheel and ro?d surface camber.

Figure 2 shows representative construction of joint (10) incorporating pin (15) on arm and socket (16) on blade. An R clip (17). passing through holes in the socket 5. wall and engaging a circumferential groove in the pin retains the pin in the socket but allows the blade to be easily assembled and dissembled from the arm.

Referring back to Figure 1, the blade (3) is fitted with a flexible rubber strip (1 3 along one edge. By means of 160 degree rotation about joint (10) the blade (3) may be fitted either way up such that either the.rigid blade edge (3) or the flexible blade edge strip (13) contact the ground (1). This also has the effect of reversing the ploughing angle (the horizontal angle.betweenthe blade face and the normal direction of movement). Thus blade edge configuration can be.

changed and ploughing.angle,reversed.

The arm incorporates a shear pin arrangement (12) such that the maximum load that can be transmitted from the blade (3) to the hub assembly (5)is limited to a safe level. In the event that excessive load is applied to the blade (3) the arm fails at the shear bolt location, the blade becomes detached (removihg tha load) and the wheélfsuspension/steering etc is not damaged and continues to function properly. The length of the part of the arm that remains attached to the wheel 0 hub is less than the rolling radius of the tyre, such that the its end will not come into contact with the road surface following a failure of the arm at the shear bolt ** location. The height of the shear bolt location above the ground is lower than the *: s* height of the underside of the vehicle body, such that no part of the detached : *... blade assembly will contact the vehicle body following a failure of the arm at the shear bolt location. A loose flexible tether strap (eg nylon webbing or steel wire) may be incorporated linking the two halves of the mechanism across the shear bolt location, such that, should the armfails (eg at the shear bolt location), the s*.

blade assembly remains attached to the vehicle (so that it is not lost or left behind in the road).

The blade (3) also carries possibly adjustable guides (14). These are positioned and shaped so as to allow the blade to ride up over small steps (for example dropped kerbs or raised manhole covers). They may be adjusted to accommodate blade wear, to provide clearance between the blade and the ground (if required) and to provide a hard wearing sliding bearing surface when.--reacting verfical blade forces against the road surface. Alternatively wheels or rollers rather than fixed guides may be employed for any of these functions. Any of these may be attached to the arm, rather than the blade.

An advantage that accrues when locating snow ploughs relative to vehicle wheels is the opportunity to restrict the snow clearance area to that required for the wheel path alone, thus minimizing the quantity of snow that has to be moved such that the ploughing effort is minimized, the size of the obstacle created by ploughed snow is minimized and the aesthetic disruption to the snow áovered landscape is minimized. Thus a further inventive step in the design is the use of narrow ploughing blades located directly in front of vehicle wheels, such that the amount of snow that must be moved to provide a clear path for the wheels is minimized.

Also, because onlja small quantity of snow need normally be moved, it is possible to make the snow plough blade(s) (3) compact such that they are easily.

stored, transported and handled, for fitment and removal, and are able to fit underneath the vehicle (between the vehicle body (15) and the road surface (1)) as shown in figure 3. -- * so -* 5550 -As a consequence, on. a typical car, individual plough blades may be fitted in front of both P0nt and rear wheels ensuring that wheel paths for all tyres are * within the area cleared qi snow (20), even when the vehicle follows a tightly curved path such that the rear axle follows a significantly tighter radius than the :11 front. This is shown in figure 4, which shows a plan view representation of a four wheeled car cornering on a tight radius on snow covered ground (24) with plough blades (3) fitted to all four wheels (2). The pathé followed by the front right, front left, rear right and rear left wheels are indicated by lines (19, 20, 21 and 22) and the areas swept clear of snow by the plough blades cleared of snow are marked (23). Thus a further inventive step is that the blades may be fitted to, and clear the path for, any of the four wheels on at typical standard automobile.

As a further consequent advantage, the compact scraper blades may be angled either inwards (pushing snow inwards underneath the vehicle, so avoiding deposit onto walkways etc alongside the vehicle path) or outwards (pushing snow out either side of the vehicle, so avoiding excessive build-up underneath, when ground clearance may become an issue). In the preferred embodiment, turning the blade upside down changes the lateral direction in which the plough pushes snow such that ploughing direction is changed between moving snow out (to either side of the vehicle) and moving snow in (towards the middle of the vehicle).

Where two assemblies are employed, one on the left hand side of a vehicle and one on the right hand side, blade assembles (3) may be rotated and/or swapped at joint (10) between left and right sides enabling both ploughing direction and blade edge configuration to be independently set. Figures 2 illustrate these configurations for a typical 4 wheeled vehicle seen in plan view with snow plough blades (3) fitted to both of the front wheels (2). The blades are fitted with rubber strips (13) along one edge. These are visible when this is the upper edge of the blade but not visible when this is the lower edge. View A shows the blades configured to push snow inwards under the vehicle, with robber strip (13) Sn... - * 25 upwards and therefore visible. View B shows the vehicle from A reconfigured to :*:. push snow outwards by swapping the blades over, between left and right sideè.

View C shows the vehicle from A reconfigured to push snow outwards and scrape using the rubber strip by rotating the blades 180 degrees about the : *.. rotational joints (10). View U shows the vehicle from A reconfigured to scrape using the rubber strip (while still pushing snow inwards) by rotating the blades degrees about the rotational joints (10). Thus a further inventive step is that the use of separate plough blades at each wheel allows choice as to whether moved snow is deposited under or alongside the vehicle and that the blades mounting can easily be made configuiable to achieve this.

The snow plough mechanism need not necessarily utilize, fixed blades, it could as an alternative use rotaBng brushes or mechanical augers, in which case. -advantage may be taken of the wheel rotation to provide power to drive the brushes by mechanical or hydrostatic means.' Thus a further inventive step is that a rotating brush or auger system may be powered by the rotation of the 10. vehicle wheels. A representative mechanism to achieve this is shown in figure 6: In this, the arm carrying the scraper blade protrudes forward and carries a bearing (25) in which a shaft (26) rotates about an axis parallel to the rotational axis of the vehicle wheel (2). The shaft carries helically shaped augur blades (27) and a small pulley.(28). The small pulley is, driven by a belt (29) which is driven by a pulley integrated into the flange plate (7),'fitted to, the wheel (2). Thus rotation of the wheel causes the augur to turn at a multiple of the wheel speed.

As a further refinement, shown in figure 7, the snow plough mechanism may be used to mount a de-icing chemical deliveiy system. A spray nozzle (32) is be mounted on the arm (4) behind the blade (3),fed via a pipe (31) connected to a tank and pump (30) carried elsewhere on the vehicle. The spray pattern (33) is arranged to cover the width of area that the wheel (2) will drive onto, immediately in front of the wheel. Since the mechanism remains aligned to the wheel, even S when the wheel is steered, this area can be accurately targeted. Thus a further inventive step is provision of mounting for such a delivery system nozzles, whereby the amount of chemical required is minimized since its delivery can be 0.s targeted precisely at the cleared wheel paths.

Figure BA and 88 illustrates how slots in the flange plate (7) may be arranged --such that, when 3 of the wheel stud/bolt location are used to mount the plate, the plate maintains akgnment between rotational axis of the wheel and the attachment mechanism. In figure 8A slots marked A, B and C. used together allow alignment onto a equispaced 4 bolt or stud PCD while slots marked A, D and E used together allow alignment onto a equispaced 5 bolt or stud PCD using 3 fixings. Thus a flange plate of this design can accommodate the wheel fixing patterns used on nearly all mass produced roadgoing passenger cars. ln figure 88 slots marked A, B and C used together allow alignment onto a equispaced 6 bolt or stud PCD white slots marked Ii, E and F used together allow alignment onto a equispaced 5 bolt or stud PCD; using 3 fixings. Thus a flange plate of this design can accommodate the wheel fixing patterns used on nearly allmass producedsports utility vehicles and light trucks.

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Claims

CLAIMS1. A show plough arrangement suitable for.attachment to a wheeled vehicle which operates on a substantiaHy smooth and hard surface (for example an automobile operating on a paved road), wherein the snow plough mechanism comprises (i) a plough blade; and (ii) a mechanical.linkage arranged for fastening the plough blade to the wheeled vehicle, wherein said mechanical linkage is arranged for fastening the plough blade to the road wheel, half shaft or hub assembly of the wheeled vehicle.
2. A snow plough arrangement as in claim I where the rhechanica) linkage is arranged for connecting to the road wheel fixing bolts, studs or lugs of the wheeled vehicle.
3. A snow plough arrangement as in claims I or 2, wherein said mechanical iS linkage includes a rotating bearing whose axis is aligned with the wheel rotational axis such that the wheel of the wheeled vehicle can rotate independently from the plough blade and the plough blade can be rotated about the wheel rotational axis.
4 A snow plough arrangement as in claim 3, where in a slotted plate is used to * 20 attach the mechanism to the vehicle's road wheel fixing bolts, studs or lugs with S...* slots in the plate so arranged such that when at least 3 fasteners passing through the slots are utilized, alignment between the mechanical linkage's rotating * bearing's rotational axis and the wheel's rotational axis is maintained irrespective of the pitch circle diameter on which the road wheel's fixing lie, within the range : :" 25 of diameter accomodated by the slotsin the flange plate. 4*.S
5. A snow plough arrangement as in claims 1, 2, 3 or 4 in which the plough blade locates directly ahead of the wheel of the wheeled vehicle to which it attaches and is wide enough to clear snow across the width of the associated whéè( but is significantly narrower than the overall vehicle width.
6. A sn9w plough arrangement as in claim 5 in which the plough blade is attached to a steered wheel on the vehicle and the implement is steered with the wheel.
7. A snow plough arrangement as in claim 5 or 6 including a ploughing mechanism (or associated) support features bear directly on the ground such that the plough blade under the action of gravity (and possibly also the vertcal component of the ploughing reaction forces) closely follows the surface contour of the road ahead of the vehicle wheel.
8. A snow plough arrangement as in claim 7 having guiding and supporting features such as low friction sliding surfaces, curved or angled edges or rollers on the ploughing mechanism which assist the plough mechanism in sliding over the ground and riding up over small obstacles and irregularities.,
9. A snow. plough arrangement as in claim 7 which allowsrotation of the* * ploughing mechanism about an axis substantially parallel with the road surface and perpendicular to the wheel rotational axis such that the plough can follow the camber of the road irrespective of wheel camber.
10. A snow plough arrangement as per claim 3 in which the rotating bearing joint additionally provides a (possibly (mi-directional) friction or spring element to * .* assist in pushing the plough blade down against the road surface. **11: A snow plough arrangement as per claim 3 which incorpOrates a drive mechanism, such a belt and pulley or chain and sprocket, used to drive rotating S..brushes or auger blades, where wheel rOtation is used to provide the drive power.12. A snow plough arrangement as in claim I or 2 incorporating load limiting features such as shear bolts, friction joints, sprung catches pr weak sections such that the maximum load that the plough blade can transmit into the wheellhub assembly is limited to acceptable levels..13. A snow plough arrangement as in claim 12 whereby load limiting is accomplished by the detachment of the blade assembly from the wheel/hub assembly by means of separation of the upper and lower halves of the mechanical linkage joining them, whereby the location of the furthest point of the * upper half is at all times within the projected outer diameter of the road wheel and the upper most point on the lower half is lower than the height of the vehicle body.14. A snow plough arrangement as in claim I or 2 where a fixed brush is used in 15. place of a plough blade.* 15. A snow plough arrangement as in claim I or 2 whereby the snow plough blade can be inverted such that it can be set to either push snow outwards from * under the vehicle or inwards under it.16. A snow plough arrangement as in claim I or 2 where by the snow plough * 20 bladecan be inverted such that either top or bottom edge of the blade' can be * ***** used, so as to prolong life or offer alternative blade characteristics (eg metal scraping edge vs. rubber scraping edge) * 17. A snow plough arrangementas in claims 1 or 2, whereby a delivery means. is provided to deliver a de-icing chemical liquid in the vicinity of the snow plough *. 25 (either directly onto the road surface behind the plough or indirectly onto the tyre, plough or brush assembly).18. A snow plough arrangement as in any of claims Ito 15, whereby the snow plough blade is sufficiently low and compact as to fit between the car body and the road surface: 19. A vehicle and snow plough arrangement comprising (a) a wheeled vehicle having plural wheels; and (b) one or more snow plough mechanisms attaching to said wheeled vehicle.20. A vehicle and snow plough ariangement according to claim 19, whereby individual plough mechanisms are provided for two or more of said plural wheels.21. A vehicle and snow plough arrangement according to either of claims 19 or 20, whereby individual plough mechanisms are provided for two or more of the plural wheels on common axles and are angled so as to push snow inward towards the middle of the vehicle.22. A vehic(e and snow plough arrangement according to any of claims 19 to 21, whereby by the snow plough blades can be swapped between left hand and right hand side of the vehicles such that they can be set to either push snow outwards from under the vehicle or inwards under it. S & * S S * ISS55.55 -* S * 55 * S S S5 S.S 5* * S S is.-5.5S