US2908090A - Snow plow - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 13, 1959 Filed Jan. 17. 1958 F. J. EIFEL SNOW PLOW 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. FZ4NC/5 J. E/FEL v BY W ATTORNEYS Oct. 13, 1959 F. ,1. EIFEL SNOW PLOW 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 17, 1958 0 INVENTOR. F/eA/vc/5 J, E/FEL Ava/2H5 7 5 States Patent -2,9 s,090 ,sNoW..P ow I j Eranci s JwEife l, Lakewood, Ohio Application January 17, 1958, Serial No. 7094561 "@claim (ct-3e53,

- lfllhis inyentiom.relates to snow plows and more par- ,;ticularly tot srio .pIQwsMparticuIarly suitable for use a h i ham -en sid a- Manytattempts have ,beennnade to provide, an .eflicient Wand effective snow-plow- .which is ,practicable for use for idewalks, ..driyeway s,;,pathsand:the like about hpug e nyidezenfirnproved more effective and efficient self conta|i I3.d,.=;WhQQ16d' SIIOWTQ PIOW. -Another object of .my-in nventiomqi arr-provide; a snow,pl ow =w.hich is particularly ,a dapted .forguserin. clearipg snow from sidewalks, drivedhealike, andfis,v particularly adapted to be effectively ;efli ciently peratedbyya ;-single;.opeuator.

tA s t i ll lfurthei'robjeet-Ofrny invention-is the provision agayssandrpathways aroundr ,and about: homes, residences .lta fa ane n an perati on andis readilyw-adjusted so astto be useful trio clearing tboth.-sn1o0th .;and. solidtand rough and/ or ten s fa e I rl stillaanothen-opjecLpf-my invention is the; provision of a snow plow having ;,pl owing.-action-in;-one direc- ,,tion.,yvhich is; part-icularly.;adapted wtoclear and collect zgsnow fromgadjacent buildings walls fences-and similar t mitt qn I Qt her-objects ofmy invention vare.ithe;provision of a plowafor,usearoundthomes;residences and the like iris-fixedly,radiustalblegso as to iolosely clear snow p s as tp rarse the; leading e,dge oftthe; plowggin orderto avoid goyging;. rgugh or sofesurfiaces; whiehgis; strong and'rigid Je twi rel tve yrecenennicallymanufac ur s le gwhichaeflec -ively; removessnowand like, rorn mediately adjacent walls, buildings, 4 arzobstructionswwithoutpilingthe snow -gga lt rthe me; rwhichyis fQQIPXZOOf dIlglISfi and conli and/Wh ch. 'a1 hG Igh ,useful-;for.manualz operaiifin. st d l edwho p ovided witmmowrmea aid etrdafiacilita erthes movement; thereof,- and/tor WhiOh= has tissihteinsizonezorwmore ofthe faboveobjects and adramntas 7 efies'etandrother objects and advantages of-my invenersiion wisflaappear from' the following description of a preiefetred forr'n thereof, reference being had to the accompanying dra-win'gs which: M i L e i 191 Yi smbOdYiQaa.Pr f rre -f01m f 'YZ QW g.h .,same inaraised position plow whichw-is particularly. adapted {for oneresidencesand sirnilar locations. Diificulty has i invention to curve the prow 7 and the sides+8 and1r10 :the plow in a lowered I I \Petentedr-QQ 1,3, ,1, 9,5,9

l 1 with .certainparts broken away to better show. the

structure thereof. a

Figure 3 is an elevation similar to, FigureQ Z buowith position for clearing smooth .-.01'

.hard surfaces.

gouge and dig into; the rough and soft surfaces, gand/or to .inefiiciently clean. the smooth and hard-surfaces.

My invention provides a rugged, eflieient snowplow which is readily adjusted, by the operator, so as tohave direct control with and efficiently and closely'clean smooth and flat. areas andso as to raisethe plorwp-row relative to' the surface being cleaned so as to avoid gouging or digging into rough or soft areas. 7 Further; a snow plow embodying myinvention is particularly adapted for cleaning-andremoving snow from immediately adjacent walls, buildings, fences and the like.

I prefer that a snowplow embodying my'invention be powered by the operator and -LfOI' convenience-will--so describe my plow, however it is to be understoodthat snow plows embodying myinventionm ay be provided with motor means for driving thesame. Further, 'I. prefer suitable material .such as sheet-steel and is disposed so that the apexof the triangle iszat the forward endz'of the plow and forms the prow 7 thereof. The sideszSrand 10 respectively of the triangle and-plow extend rearwardly and outwardly therefrom and.the' .base ofathe triangle forms theback 11 of'thezplow. Thesides 8and .10 and back 11 are preferably and conveniently flat and perpendicular, albeit it is notlwithout the .scopeofmy in orderto induce a rolling action to the :snowas the plow is .advancedshould this-bedesired. S-ides:8t-and '-10 and back 11 are preferably provided with upper. andalower provide. additional strength and rigidity thereto.

*Wheel 4- is-mountedon transverse axle*16.:and pref- -erably isdisposed along=the longitudinal centerline of the=plow justwbehind prow 7. Handles preferably comprises spaced parallel side rails 17 and '19, respectively,

which are rotatably supportedon axle- '16 on either side of wheel 4 and extendupwardly, outwardly and-reap .Wardly therefrom. Handle 5 alsopreferably includes a plurality ofbraces 20 and 22, for example, :whichstrengthenthe handle and. extend transversely between, are secured to, and interconnect rails 17 and '19.

The preferred embodiment of my invention'includes means by which the prow-7 of the plow may be selectively lowered-or. elevated-relative. to the surface being cleaned. Thus, on the one". hand the prow may be elevated so as to provide. a clearance" between the surface and the pro w and preventthe=prow -from-damaging or deleteriously affecting'the surfacetwhenthe same is or" such a'nature as to be damaged i'therebyf i .e.,when--thea;surface-i is or grass. On the other hand, where the surface to be 'clean'ed is smooth and/ or portion of the wheel plow bodyZ so that the axle 16 and body 2 may have verand I also preftical' movement relative to each other erably provide means by which the body' andaxle may be displaced relative to each other and maintained with the is in direct contact therewith axle ina relative. lower position and the body in a v relative raised position.

The diameter of the wheel 4, the disposition of the raised and lowered positions of the axle 16 and the height of the body u said positions is such that when/the axle IS 111 its raised 2 relative to said wheel diameter and position (i.e., thebody is lowered relative thereto) the body is supported by and rests and rides upon the surface being cleaned but when the axle is in its lower position (i.e., the body is raised relative thereto) the lowermost 4 extends below the lower fianges 14 of the body and the body is supported by and on the handle and wheel so that the lower flanges 14 are out of contact with the surface being cleaned when the body is held horizontal (as shown by the dotted lines, Figure 2) or the prow is raised even higher from the surface (as shown by the full lines in Figure 2).

To this end I preferably provide a pair of vertically extending transversely spaced parallel braces 23 and 25 supported by the body '2 adjacent the respective sides thereof and having vertical slots 26 and 28 respectively for the reception of the respective ends'of axle 16. Slots '26 and 28 are of sufficient width to rotatable receive axle 16 and are of sufficient height to provide for the maximum desired relative vertical movement between the axle and the body of the plow. Because of the relative weights of the body and the axle wheel and handle, the body is 'norrnally disposed by gravity in its lower position, i.e., the body rests on the surface to be cleaned and the axle and wheel are displaced upwardly with the wheel just contacting the surface to be cleaned and the axle in an upper position such that the distance between the axle and the surface to be cleaned is substantially equal to the radius of the wheel. In this position, as noted above,

' 2,908,090 V pl are engaged in the respective eyes the body 2 on the handle and is raised from the surface to be cleaned. In order to more rigidly support the body 1n the raised position I preferably also provide an arched brace 44 extending transversely between and secured to the upper flanges 13 of the respective sides of the body 2, substantially in vertical alignment with the axle 16 and detachably interconnect vthe same with the handle as by means of a flat brace 46 detachably' engaging braces 44 and 20. Brace 46 is of such a length as to be placed in tension by and support a part of the weight of the body 2 when the same is supported by the hooks 35, 37, 38 and 40. r

I conveniently provide keeper hooks 47 on brace 22 for holding and retaining brace 46 when the same is not otherwise in use.

In order to provide means whereby a plow embodying my invention readily and easily cleans surfaces immediately adjacent walls, fences and similar obstructions, I

preferably provide wing members 50. and 51, which extend rearwardly and outwardly from the rearward corners 53 and 54 of body 2. Wing members '50'and' 51 are conveniently provided with flanged upper and rear edges and are rigidly supported in place so that by merely drawing the plow backwards with one of the wings immediately adjacent the building or wall the snow may be scooped into the area defined by the two wings 50 and 51 and the back 11 of the plow and may be pulled out of the way or into the position to be moved away by the normal forward operation of the plow.

For added convenience and to render the plow more compact for storage I preferably mount the wings 50 and 51 on the back 11 with hinges 56 and 57 respectively 1 so that the wings may be folded inwardly against the back when desired.

the back and detachably secured to the wings 50and' 51 one or more detachable braces 62 and '63 which'are-ad'apted to be secured to and extend between the wings 50 and 51 when they are open inorder toprovide additional strength and rigidity. Alternatively the wings may be welded to the body of the plow so as to remain in the the plow is adapted for use in cleaning relatively smooth and hard surfaces. 7

. In order to provide means to raise the body and dispose-the axle in a lower position so that the distance between the axle and thelower flange'is less than the radius of the wheel by the amount which it is desired to raise the body above the surface to be cleaned, 1 provide a plurality of hook and eye means carried by the the wings are in the open position.

open position. When'the wings are hinged guard strips 65 and 66 are conveniently mounted on the forward edges of wlngs 50 and 51 respectively and are adaptedto cover the juncture between the wings and plowbody' when In operation and when the plow is to be used'toclear snow from a hard smooth surface the hooks '35, 37', 38 and 40 are detached from the respective eyesand brace 46 is removed from engagement from braces 20 and body and handle respectively and adapted when engaged to support the body in a raised position. I preferably provide four such means in order to support the body evenly, and with sufficient rigidity. To this end I preferably provide one pair of eyes 29 and 31 respectively on the upper flanges 13 of the respective sides 8 and 10 rearwardly of the axle 16 and equidistant from the vertical centerline of the plow and the other pair of eyes 32 and 34 respectively on the upper flange 13 of the back 11 respectively on either side of and equidistant from the vertical centerline of the plow and preferably in vertical alignment withthe vertically adjacent portion of the respective handle rails 17 and 19. Hooks 35 and. 37

are pivotally supported on the respective handle rails 17. and 19 and detachably engage the respective eyes 32 and 34. Hooks 38 and 40 detachably engage eyes 29 and 31 respectively. In order to facilitate engaging the same I prefer to pivotally support hooks 38 and 40 on suitable supports 41 and 43 respectively, which are in turn respectively mounted on handle rails 17 and 19 and extend outwardly therefrom. The respective lengths of the books 35,- 37, 38 and 40 are such that when the hooks 44. The plow is then rused in a conventional manner for normal clearing by pushing the same forwardly. Its strong rigid construction facilitates its ease of useand aids in the rapid and easy removal of'the accumulated snow. When the path to be cleared is of greater width than the plow a pass is made in one direction and then subsequent passes are made either in the same or opposite directions with the prow 7 to one side of the resultant bank of snow so that the snow is pushed away fromthe portion already cleared. When it is desired to clear ad acent a binldmg or wall or if the operator otherwise finds it convenient, he may draw the plow rearwardly, trapping the snow within the wings and back of 'the plow and drawing the same away to any'desired location;

Should it be necessary to clean a rough or soft surf face, hooks 35, 37, 38 and 40 are engaged with the respective eyes and brace 46 is positioned to engage braces 20 and 44. This raises the body} and prow 7 thereby permitting the plow to passover the surface being cleaned to clear the same without the prow engaging or digging into the surface and leaving at most only a .very thin layer of snow on the surface. In this positiontoothe plow may be drawn backwardly eitherto-clear adjacent In such instance I also preferably provide hinged braces 59 and 60 which are secured to a building or wall or otherwise at the discretion of the user.

Modifications, changes nad improvements to the preferred form of my invention herein described may occur to those skilled in the art who come to understand the precepts thereof. Accordingly, I do not care to be limited in the scope of my patent to the specific embodiment of my invention herein described but rather desire that the scope of my patent be limited only by the advance by which my invention has promoted the art.

I claim:

1. A snow plow comprising a body of generally triangular shape disposed with the apex of the triangle at the center forward portion of the plow and defining the prow, the sides of the triangle defining the sides of the plow and extending rearwardly and outwardly therefrom and the base of the triangle defining the back wall of said plow, vertically extending, transversely spaced parallel braces carried by said body adjacent the respective sides thereof, vertically extending parallel slots in said vertical braces, an axle extending between and having its ends disposed in said slots and being adapted for vertical movement therein, a wheel secured to said axle in longitudinal alignment with said prow of said body, a bifurcated handle rotatably mounted on said axle on either side of said wheel, a pair of transversely spaced parallel eyes carried by said sides equidistantly from the longitudinal centerline of said plow, a second pair of eyes carried by said back wall of said body of said plow and respectively disposed on either side of and equidistantly from the longitudinal centerline of said plow, support members carried by said handle at the respective sides thereof, a pair of hooks rotatably carried by said support members respectively and detachably engaging said first pair of eyes, a second pair of hooks rotatably supported by said handle and detachably engaging said second pair of eyes, an arched brace extending between and secured to said sides in vertical alignment with said axle, a transverse brace carried by said handle, a lifting brace extending between and detachably secured to said arched and transverse braces, wing members hingedly secured to said back wall adjacent said sides respectively, hinged braces secured to said back wall and detachably secured to said wing members respectively and brace means detachably secured to and extending between said wing members, said body of said plow being raised above the periphery of said wheel when said hooks are engaged in said eyes respectively and said lifting brace engages said arched and transverse braces and said body engaging the surface upon which said plow is resting when said hooks and lifting brace are disengaged from said eyes and arched and transverse braces respectively. 7

2. A snow plow comprising a body of generally triangular shape disposed with the apex of the triangle at the center forward portion of the plow and defining the prow, the sides of the triangle defining the sides of the plow and extending reanwardly and outwardly therefrom and the base of the triangle defining the back wall of said plow, vertically extending, transversely spaced parallel braces carried by said body adjacent the respective sides thereof, vertically extending parallel slots in said vertical braces, an axle extending between and having its ends disposed in said slots and being adapted for vertical movement therein, a wheel secured to said axle in longitudinal alignment with said prow of said body, a handle rotatably mounted on said axle, a pair of transversely spaced parallel eyes carried by said sides equidistantly from the longitudinal centerline of said plow, a second pair of eyes carried by said back wall of said body of said plow and respectively disposed on either side of and cquidistantly from the longitudinal centerline of said plow, support members carried by said handle at the respective sides thereof, a pair of hooks rotatably carried by said support members respectively and detachably engaging said first pair of eyes, a second pair of hooks rotatably supported by said handle and detachably engaging said second pair of eyes, Wing members carried by said back wall adjacent said sides respectively and wing support brace means for rigidly holding said wing members in a position extending from said back wall, said body of said plow being supported above the lower periphery of said wheel when said hooks are engaged in said eyes respectively and engaging the surface upon which said plow is resting when said hooks are disengaged from said eyes.

3. The snow plow according to claim 2 in which said wing members are hingedly secured to said back wall and said wing support brace means detachably support said wing members.

4. A snow plow inclding a body, an axle with wheel means mounted thereon, a handle rotatably carried on said axle, means carried by said body for supporting said axle on said body for vertical movement relative thereto, and hook and eye means carried by said handle and body respectively and detachably engaging each other for detachably supporting said body on said handle to display said axle downwardly relative to said body whereby said body is raised above the lower periphery of said wheel means when said hook and eye-means are engaged and said body engages the surface upon which said plow is resting when said hook and eye means are disengaged.

5. A snow plow comprising a body having a prow at the center forward portion thereof, sides respectively extending rearwardly and outwardly therefrom and a back wall interconnecting said sides, an axle having wheel means mounted thereon, means carried by said body for supporting said axle on said body for vertical movement relative thereto, a handle rotatably mounted on said axle, wing members carried by said body and having a position extending outwardly and rearwardly from said back wall, wing support brace means for holding said wing members in said extending position, and means carried by said handle and body respectively for detachably supporting said body on said handle to displace said axle downwardly relative to said body whereby said body of said plow is raised above the lower periphery of said wheel means when said body supportingmeans are attached and engages the surface upon which said plow is resting when said body supporting means are detached.

6. The snow plow according to claim 5 in which said wing members are hingedly secured to said back wall and said wing support brace means detachably support said wing members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 827,542 Lawson July 31, 1906 1,075,154 Mansfield Oct. 7, 1913 1,672,490 Herchert June 5, 1928 1,746,859 Hurd Feb. 11, 1930 2,152,092 Rougier Mar. 28, 1939 2,336,553 Leunis Dec. 14, 1943 2,530,856 Callahan Nov. 21, 1950 2,710,465 Timerson June 14, 1955 2,811,972 Cork Nov. 5, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 617,697 Great Britain Feb. 10, 1949 86,229 Norway Sept. 26, 1955

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