JP2000160526A - Method for improving grounding force control and snow removing accuracy of cutting edge or snow brush - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To detect an abrasion condition of a cutting edge or a snow brush as well as to set proper replacing time by a whole stroke position detecting sensor installed in a caster wheel lifting hydraulic cylinder by improving proper grounding force control and snow removing accuracy by grounding force balance between a caster wheel, the cutting edge or the snow brush by automatic control lifting actuation of the caster wheel. SOLUTION: A lifting adjusting mechanism of a caster wheel 11 holds proper grounding force of a cutting edge 2 or a snow brush and the caster wheel 11 by the action of a proportional solenoid relief valve and the action of a caster wheel lifting hydraulic cylinder 7 by an operation command of an automatic control part on the basis of signals of a whole stroke position detecting sensor 7B installed in the caster wheel lifting hydraulic cylinder 7 and a pressure detecting sensor arranged in a hydraulic circuit.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for controlling a contact force of a cutting edge or a snowbrush and a method for improving snow removal accuracy. The present invention relates to an automatic grounding force control based on a grounding force balance between the caster wheel and the cutting edge or the snowbrush by automatically controlling the raising and lowering operation of the caster wheel disposed on the back of the snow plow or the snowbrush support frame of the snow removal device. The present invention also relates to the purpose of improving snow removal accuracy and to detecting the wear state of a cutting edge or a snowbrush by a full stroke position detection sensor mounted on a hydraulic cylinder for elevating and lowering a caster wheel and setting an appropriate replacement time.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, this type is as follows. Conventionally, the lifting mechanism of the caster wheel mounted on the back of the snow plow or snowbrush support frame is a manual adjustment type with screws etc.,
The method of fitting the cutting edge or the snowbrush to the ground surface is such that the cutting edge or the snowbrush ground surface is initially brought into contact with the road surface and the caster wheel ground surface is slightly lifted. This means that the cutting edge or snowbrush wear is considered in advance in order to reduce the frequency of manual adjustment, and since the caster wheel is not grounded, the snow plow or the snowbrush and the snowbrush support frame etc. All loads are applied to the cutting edge or snowbrush. For this reason, the grounding force of the cutting edge or the snowbrush is increased, and wear is promoted more than necessary as the snow removal operation progresses. Eventually, as the cutting edge or snowbrush wear progresses due to the snow removal work, it will match the contact surface of the caster wheel, but as the snow removal work continues, the cutting edge or snowbrush wear further progresses,
Since a slight gap is formed between the road surface and the cutting edge or the ground surface of the snowbrush with respect to the ground surface of the caster wheel, the snow removal accuracy is reduced. Therefore, manual adjustment is performed again. Further, as the cutting edge or the snowbrush wears, the cutting edge fixing base or the snowbrush support frame may eventually be worn.

[0003]

The above-mentioned prior art has the following problems. The conventional raising and lowering operation of the caster wheel is of a manual adjustment type using a screw or the like. For this reason, in the snow removal work, the adjustment of the contact force with the caster wheel due to the wear progress of the cutting edge or the snowbrush is performed on the road each time, and therefore, in consideration of the interruption of the work due to climatic conditions and other passing vehicles, It is also of great concern from the prevention of personal injury to the operator or accidental contact with the vehicle. In addition, in the initial setting by raising and lowering the caster wheel, in order to reduce the frequency of manual adjustment of the caster wheel, the ground surface of the caster wheel is slightly lifted, and the cutting edge or the initial wear of the snowbrush is expected in advance. This is to increase the ground contact force of the snowbrush to accelerate wear and is not economical. Further, in order to prevent wear of the cutting edge fixing base or the snowbrush support frame due to advancing wear of the cutting edge or the snowbrush, visual inspection is frequently performed, which is troublesome.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of such problems of the prior art, and has as its object to provide the following. 1. In the present invention, the caster wheel lifting and lowering adjustment mechanism abolishes the manual adjustment type using screws, etc.
Based on the signals of the full-stroke position detection sensor mounted on the hydraulic cylinder for raising and lowering the caster wheel and the pressure detection sensor disposed in the hydraulic circuit, the proportional electromagnetic relief valve is operated by a calculation command of the automatic control unit. By checking the wear condition of the cutting edge or the snowbrush, and by the action of the caster wheel elevating hydraulic cylinder, an appropriate grounding force between the cutting edge or the snowbrush and the caster wheel is maintained. In the operation during the snow removal operation, the road condition such as a fresh snow surface, a compacted snow surface, and the amount of snow is grasped, and the selector switch provided in the control box is automatically controlled by a switching operation adapted to the road condition. The operation of the proportional electromagnetic relief valve causes the operation of the caster wheel lifting hydraulic cylinder to maintain the cutting edge and the proper grounding force of the caster wheel. 2. In order to prevent the cutting edge or the pedestal for fixing the cutting edge or the snowbrush support frame from being worn due to the progress of the wear of the cutting edge or the snowbrush, the signal of the full stroke position detection sensor mounted on the hydraulic cylinder for raising and lowering the caster wheel is used. By displaying the abrasion state of the cutting edge or the snowbrush at an easy-to-see position (for example, a control box) in the driver's cab on the basis of the above, it is possible to replace at an optimal time.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above object, the present invention is as follows. In the first invention, the caster wheel 11 is moved up and down by expansion and contraction of a caster wheel lifting hydraulic cylinder 7 equipped with a full stroke position detection sensor 7B in a raising and lowering mechanism of the caster wheel 11 mounted on the back of the snow plow 1. In the hydraulic lifting control mechanism, a proportional electromagnetic relief valve 15 is disposed in a hydraulic circuit that lowers the hydraulic cylinder 7 for raising and lowering the caster wheel, and the caster is controlled by a pressure detection sensor 14 disposed in the same circuit. The caster wheel lifting / lowering hydraulic cylinder 7 is appropriately lowered by the action of the proportional electromagnetic relief valve 15 based on an appropriate transmission command calculated by the automatic control unit 19 based on the ground force signal of the wheel 11, and the caster wheel 11 And cutting edge 2 of snow plow 1 A positive ground force is configured grounded power control and snow accuracy method of cutting edge so as to accurately hold.

In the second invention, the caster wheel 11 is mounted on the rear surface of the snowbrush support frame 21 by extension and contraction of the caster wheel lifting hydraulic cylinder 7 equipped with the full stroke position detection sensor 7B in the lifting mechanism of the caster wheel 11. In the hydraulic lift control mechanism for raising and lowering the hydraulic cylinder, the proportional electromagnetic relief valve 15 is disposed in the hydraulic circuit that lowers the hydraulic cylinder 7 for raising and lowering the caster wheel, and the pressure detection sensor is disposed in the same circuit. Based on the ground force signal of the caster wheel 11 by 14, the caster hole elevating hydraulic cylinder 7 is appropriately lowered by the action of the proportional electromagnetic relief valve 15 by an appropriate transmission command calculated by the automatic control unit 19, Proper connection between caster wheel 11 and snow brush 22 Force which is the configured Snow Brush force control and snow accuracy method for to accurately hold.

[0007] The first invention can be configured as follows. Based on the detection signal of the wear state of the cutting edge 2 by the full stroke position detection sensor 7B mounted on the hydraulic cylinder 7 for raising and lowering the caster wheel, the wear state and the wear of the cutting edge 2 are located at an easy-to-see position in the cab such as a control box. Cutting edge 2 at the best time by displaying the limit position
Are configured to be exchangeable.

[0008] The second invention can be configured as follows. Based on the wear state detection signal of the snow brush 22 by the full stroke position detection sensor 7B mounted on the caster wheel lifting hydraulic cylinder 7, for example, the wear state and wear of the snow brush 22 are located at an easy-to-see position in the cab such as a control box. By displaying the limit position, the snow brush 22 can be replaced at an optimum time.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on embodiments with reference to the drawings. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 7, a swing arm 4 is rotatably fitted to a support boss 3 fixed to a back surface of a snow plow 1 or a snowbrush support frame 21 by bolts. The end of the upper link 5 is rotatably connected to the center curved surface portion by a pin 9, and the other end of the upper link 5 is rotatably connected to the upper portion of the link bracket 8 by a pin 12. . Further, a caster wheel 11 is rotatably fitted to a lower portion of the link bracket 8 by a shaft 10, and a lower link 6 is rotatably connected to a lower portion of the link bracket 8 by a shaft 10. The other end of the lower link 6 is connected to a lower portion of the swing arm 4 by a pin 9. At the upper end of the swing arm 4, a trunnion 7A of a hydraulic cylinder 7 for elevating and lowering a caster wheel equipped with a full stroke position detection sensor is rotatably connected.
The rod at the lower end of the caster wheel lifting / lowering hydraulic cylinder 7 is rotatably connected to the center of the link bracket 8 by a pin 13. With the above-described configuration, the upper link 5 and the lower link 6 are connected to the caster wheel 11 with the upper and lower pins 9 as pivots by the expansion and contraction of the caster wheel lifting hydraulic cylinder 7.
Swings with the rise and fall of In addition, in the snow removal operation, when the course is changed in accordance with the progress of the snow removal vehicle, the caster wheel 11 is swung by the swing arm 4 that is freely rotatably fitted to the support boss 3, and the snow plow 1 is swung.
Is to follow. FIGS. 2 and 8 show the wear range 2 of the cutting edge 2 or the snowbrush 22.
A and 22A and the elevation range 11 of the caster wheel 11
A is shown.

The caster wheel 11 is based on an operation command signal of an automatic control unit 19 based on a signal from the full stroke position detecting sensor 7B and a ground force signal of the caster wheel 11 from the pressure detecting sensor 14, and is used for raising and lowering the caster wheel. It is moved up and down by the expansion and contraction operation of the hydraulic cylinder 7 and adjusts the balance of the grounding force with the cutting edge 2 or the snow brush 22. Also, the caster wheel 11 is moved up and down with the shortening of the caster wheel lifting hydraulic cylinder 7 along with the wear of the cutting edge 2 or the snow brush 22.
It is connected to. Full stroke position detection sensor 7B mounted on caster wheel lifting hydraulic cylinder
The wear condition of the cutting edge 2 or the snowbrush 22 can be checked at any time in the cab by the signal, and the replacement time can be clearly indicated. (For example, in FIG. 6, control box 1
8 is displayed. )

Referring to FIG. 4, a caster wheel 11 is mounted on the back of a snow plow 1 disposed at the tip of a snowplow A traveling in the direction of the arrow. Referring to FIG. 5, the oil supplied from hydraulic pump 17 is configured to extend and retract hydraulic cylinder 7 for raising and lowering the caster wheel by the supply of oil by the switching action of control valve 16. When the hydraulic cylinder 7 for raising and lowering the caster wheel is operated to descend, the condition of the road surface, that is, the new snow surface, the snow-covered road surface, the road surface condition based on the amount of snow, and the like are grasped, and the ground contact force adapted to the road surface is controlled.
By switching the selector switch 20 of FIG. 8, the hydraulic cylinder 7 for elevating and lowering the caster wheel is appropriately lowered by the action of the proportional electromagnetic relief valve 15 via the automatic control unit 19 so as to maintain an appropriate ground contact force.

Referring to FIG. 6, control box 1
When the caster wheel lifting hydraulic cylinder 7 is lowered by operating the caster wheel 8, the grounding force is arbitrarily set by the selector switch 20 of the control box 18, and the caster wheel lifting hydraulic cylinder 7 is operated by the action of the proportional electromagnetic relief valve 15. Is lowered so that the caster wheel 11 can maintain a proper contact force. With respect to the contact force, the contact force of the cutting edge 2 or the snow brush 22 and the contact force of the caster wheel 11 are appropriately distributed and maintained in a well-balanced manner. That is, in the initial stage when the cutting edge 2 or the snow brush 22 is worn and the snow removal accuracy is affected, the contact force of the caster wheel 11 starts to increase, so that the hydraulic circuit that operates the caster wheel lifting hydraulic cylinder 7 operates. Based on the signal of the pressure detection sensor 14 installed at the, the hydraulic cylinder 7 for raising and lowering the caster wheel is appropriately raised to reduce the contact force. Therefore, the grounding force of the cutting edge 2 or the snowbrush 22 and the grounding force of the caster wheel 11 are maintained in a well-balanced manner, and the snow removal accuracy can be improved. Further, the wear state of the cutting edge 2 or the snow brush 22 can be grasped based on the wear state detection signal of the cutting edge 2 or the snow plow 22 by the full stroke position detection sensor 7B mounted on the caster wheel lifting hydraulic cylinder 7. Therefore, it is possible to set an appropriate replacement time.

[0013]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, the following effects can be obtained. 1. Based on the signal from the full stroke position detection sensor of the hydraulic cylinder for raising and lowering the caster wheel and the grounding force signal of the caster wheel from the pressure detection sensor, cutting by the raising and lowering operation of the hydraulic cylinder for raising and lowering the caster wheel by the command signal of the automatic control unit. The contact surface between the edge or snowbrush and the caster wheel maintains the optimal contact force, so that the cutting edge or snowbrush is not worn unnecessarily, which is economical and improves snow removal accuracy. is there. 2. Fixing the cutting edge because it is possible to set the optimal replacement time by grasping the cutting edge or the wear condition of the snowbrush by the signal of the full stroke position detection sensor mounted on the hydraulic cylinder for raising and lowering the caster wheel It does not wear the pedestal or the snowbrush support frame. 3. In snow removal work, it is efficient without interruption because the grounding force of the caster wheel is adjusted, there is no need for the operator to get out of the driver's cab on the road, and the operator's personal injury due to other passing vehicles or to the vehicle concerned It is very effective in preventing contact accidents.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a snow removing operation state in which a cutting edge and a contact surface of a caster wheel match.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a wear range of a cutting edge and a range of elevation of a caster wheel in a snow removing operation state.

FIG. 3 is a rear view showing a working state of the caster wheel.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a state in which a caster wheel is mounted on a snow plow disposed at the tip of a snow removal vehicle.

FIG. 5 is a hydraulic circuit diagram in a raising and lowering operation of a caster wheel.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of an automatic control system in raising and lowering operation of a caster wheel.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing a snow removal operation state in which the snow brush and the contact surface of the caster wheel match.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing a snow brush wear range and a caster wheel elevating range in a snow removing operation state.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A Snow removal vehicle 1 Snow plow 2 Cutting edge 2A Wear range of cutting edge 3 Support boss 4 Swing arm 5 Upper link 6 Lower link 7 Hydraulic cylinder for elevating caster wheel 7A Trunnion 7B Full stroke position detection sensor 8 Link bracket 9, 12, 13 Pin 10 Shaft 11 Caster wheel 11A Caster wheel up / down range 14 Pressure detection sensor 15 Proportional electromagnetic relief valve 16 Control valve 17 Hydraulic pump 18 Control box 19 Automatic control unit 20 Selector switch 21 Snow brush support frame 22 Snow brush 22A Snow brush wear range

Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Kozo Saito F-term (reference) 2D026 CD01 CG00 in Kyowa Machine Works Co., Ltd.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A caster wheel lifting / lowering hydraulic cylinder (7) mounted with a full stroke position detection sensor (7B) in a raising / lowering mechanism of a caster wheel (11) mounted on the back of a snow plow (1). In a hydraulic lift control mechanism for raising and lowering the caster wheel (11), a proportional electromagnetic relief valve (15) is disposed in a hydraulic circuit for lowering the caster wheel hydraulic cylinder (7). Based on the ground force signal of the caster wheel (11) by the pressure detection sensor (14) disposed in the circuit, the proportional electromagnetic relief valve (15) of the proportional electromagnetic relief valve (15) is generated by an appropriate transmission command calculated by the automatic control unit (19). By the action, the caster wheel elevating hydraulic cylinder (7) is appropriately lowered to operate the caster wheel. Le (11) and snow plow (1)
A method for controlling a contact force of a cutting edge and improving snow removal accuracy, characterized by accurately maintaining a proper contact force with the cutting edge (2). 2. A caster wheel elevating hydraulic cylinder (7) equipped with a full stroke position detection sensor (7B) in an elevating mechanism of a caster wheel (11) mounted on the back of a snowbrush support frame (21). In the hydraulic lift control mechanism for raising and lowering the caster wheel (11), a proportional electromagnetic relief valve (15) is disposed in a hydraulic circuit for lowering the hydraulic cylinder (7) for raising and lowering the caster wheel. Based on the ground force signal of the caster wheel (11) by the pressure detection sensor (14) disposed in the circuit, the proportional electromagnetic relief valve (15) of the proportional electromagnetic relief valve (15) is generated by an appropriate transmission command calculated by the automatic control unit (19). By the action, the caster hole lifting / lowering hydraulic cylinder (7) is appropriately lowered to operate the caster wheel. (11) and Snowbrush (2
2) A method for controlling a ground contact force of a snowbrush and improving snow removal accuracy, wherein the proper ground contact force of 2) is accurately maintained. 3. A cutting edge at a position in the driver's cab that is easy to see, based on a wear state detection signal of the cutting edge (2) by a full stroke position detection sensor (7B) mounted on a caster wheel lifting hydraulic cylinder (7). 2. The control of the contact force of the cutting edge and the accuracy of snow removal according to claim 1, wherein the cutting edge can be replaced at an optimum time by displaying the wear state and the wear limit position of (2). How to improve. 4. A snowbrush is placed in an easily viewable position in a driver's cab based on a wear state detection signal of a snowbrush (22) by a full stroke position detection sensor (7B) mounted on a caster wheel lifting hydraulic cylinder (7). (2
3. The snow brush according to claim 2, wherein the wear condition and the wear limit position are displayed so that the snow brush can be replaced at an optimum time. Method.