US3208166A

US3208166A - Snow plow with interceptor blade mounted on front face thereof

Info

Publication number: US3208166A
Application number: US253415A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ann L Proulx
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-01-23
Filing date: 1963-01-23
Publication date: 1965-09-28
Anticipated expiration: 1982-09-28

Description

A. L- PROULX SNOW PLOW WITH INTERGEPTOR BLADE MOUNTED ON FRONT FACE THEREOF 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 23, 1963 111d L Frank ,wflg

Se t. 28, 1965 A. L. PROULX 3,208,165

SNOW PLOW WITH INTERCEPTOR BLADE MOUNTED ON FRONT FACE THEREOF Filed Jan. 23, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

@A. P'WIIZI all ab! iy & 41/5/14 filwy Sept. 28, 1965 A. L. PROULX 3,208,166

SNOW PLOW WITH INTERCEPTOR BLADE MOUNTED 0N FRONT FACE THEREOF Filed Jan. 23, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IS'G'q I M, 37 3s United States Patent 0 3,208,166 SN'SW PLOW WITH INTERCEPTOR ELABEE MOUNTED ON FRONT FAiIE THEREOF Ann L. Prouix, 16 Berry St., North Andover, Mass. Filed Jan. 23, 1963, Ser. No. 253,415 9 Claims. (Ci. 37-42) This invention relates to attachment for a snow plOW. More particularly it relates to an interceptor blade adapted to be hingedly mounted on a snow plow blade and to cooperate therewith when lowered into operative position to prevent the passage of snow from the blade into an opening such as that made for a driveway or a walk in a previously formed bank of snow.

Heavy duty snow plows such as those designed to clear highways in the northern states are so shaped as to lift the snow from the pavement as the plow advances and to transfer the snow so lifted in a rolling tumbling action to the exit side of the blade where the snow is deposited in a continuous mound or bank. To accomplish this the snow plow in vertical cross-section is generally shaped like a capital letter C and is mounted on the truck or tractor (generally on the front) so that it is ofiFset at a substantial angle from a position transverse to the path of travel. The plow may be so mounted in the case of a straight blade that the snow is deposited either to the right or to the left, or it may be fashioned in the shape of a V in which case the snow is deposited both on the right and the left. Although reversible straight blade plows (i.e. plows that can be positioned to deposit the snow either to the right or to the left) are sometimes used, most straight blade plows are designed either one way or the other with the height of the blade increasing substantially toward the discharge side to avoid the possibility of snow spilling back over the top of the blade.

The rolling tumbling motion imparted to the snow tends to compact the snow and as a result especially where multiple passes are required to clear the full width of a roadway a substantial bank of compacted snow is formed along the shoulders of the road. Once such a bank has been established a substantial quantity of snow accumulates in front of the blade. The reason for this is that the only way that the snow can be pushed off of the roadway by the action of the plow blade is when there is a sufiicient quantity of snow in front of the blade that a portion of this quantity of snow will in the rolling tumbling action be lifted over the top of the pre-existing bank. In other words after a bank has been established the bank itself acts as a barrier to the further dischcrge of snow from a plow running with its side next to that bank until such time as the plow blade contains enough snow in front of it to force some of that snow over the top of the bank. When there is a substantial bank of snow along the shoulder of the road a substantial quantity of snow is accumulated in front of the blade.

A major annoyance occurs whenever under such conditions a snow plow full of snow meets a place along the road Where the preexisting bank of snow along the shoulder has been removed. This occurs for example where a cleared driveway or walkway intersects the roadway. In the presence of a gap in this preexistent bank of snow the full load of compacted snow carried in front of the blade is discharged from the blade and is deposited in the gap normally in a pile substantially as tall, at least for the first several feet, as the pre-existing bank.

More than a mere annoyance this can be the cause of substantial expense to a road maintaining authority, especially one that is responsive to the will and the desires of householders served by it. Such authorities have found it to be advisable, if not necessary, especially when the roadway is being rewidened to its full width after a succession of storms, to accompany the plow vehicle with a crew of men equipped with shovels or loading devices to clear the snow so deposited out of driveways, walkways and other openings along the road which are too narrow for the plow vehicle itself to maneuver in.

As a result there have been numerous attempts to equip the plow blade itself with a device to prevent the spillage of any substantial quantity of snow into openings such as driveways and walkways. As far as I know none of these has been successful and their lack of success is due to a variety of reasons. Thus any such device mounted on the face of the plow blade tends to interfere with the normal action of the blade interrupting the rolling, tumbling action of the snow trapped by the blade thus reducing the ethciency of the blade. Such a device is likely to be rendered inoperative because of an accumulation of ice and compacted snow. Such a device mounted behind the blade coming into operative position through a slot in the blade tends to be rendered inoperative by accumulations of compacted snow or ice in the slot. Such a device mounted at the edge of the blade on the discharge side tends to be rendered inoperative by the constant abrasion of the plow against the ice hardened and compacted pre-existing mounds of snow along the shoulders of the roadway.

It is the object of this invention to provide a positive means remotely controlled by the plow operator and operable even under the most adverse conditions to prevent the emptying of snow collected in front of the snow plow blade into cleared areas such as walks and driveways. It is a further object of this invention to provide such means which does not interfere with the normal operation of the plow.

The present invention will better be understood by reference to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical elevation along line 11 of FIG. 2 showing a typical plow blade with the interceptor blade of the invention in operative position.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the plow blade of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is the top view of the plow blade.

In the drawings a conventional, heavy duty right hand straight snow plow blade this being the most common variety) is represented at 11. Blade 11 may be mounted in a conventional way on a conventional vehicle and for this reason neither the mounting nor the vehicle is shown since neither is involved in the present invention. It is important to note, however, that the plow blade as shown is oriented as if it were mounted, the long side of the sheet in the drawing being parallel to the vertical axis in FIGS. 1 and 2 and parallel to the horizontal axis in FIG. 3, the front being at the bottom in the latter view.

The means for preventing the discharge of snow into openings comprises an interceptor blade 12 hingedly mounted on the front face of plow blade 11. Blade 12 is formed of steel plate of substantial thickness%" being satisfactory under most conditionsand is mounted on hinge 13 in such manner that it may be reciprocated between an elevated position and a depressed or operative position as shown in FIG. 1.

Pin 14 of hinge 13 is supported in such manner that when the bottom of plow blade 11 is in its fully depressed position pin 14 is both horizontal to the ground and perpendicular to the straight line path of travel of the plow along the ground. Pin 14 is supported by two laterally spaced collars l5 and 16 mounted respectively on

brackets

17 and 18 which in turn are welded to the face of plow blade 11 just below the top edge of the blade.

Brackets

17 and 18 are both preferably provided with integral vertical and lateral braces as shown in order to insure the alignment of hinge 13 even under the forces exerted thereon when interceptor plate 12 is moved into an operative position.

Interceptor plate 12 is provided with a transverse collar 19 adapted to receive pin 14 and to lie between

collars

15 and 16. Collar 19 is mounted through plate 12 transverse thereto near the upper inner edge thereof (as shown in solid lines in FIG. 1). Preferably pin 14 is provided long enough to protrude beyond the outer edge of both brackets, collar 15 and bracket collar 16 and is held in place by

collars

15 and 22 which are placed over the protruding ends of pin 14 and are fastened thereto by set screws. In a typical arrangement pin 14 is 1%" in diameter and 16 inches long;

collars

15, 16 and 19 are each 4 inches long and

collars

21 and 22 each 2 inches long.

When mounted on hinge 13 interceptor plate 12 lies in a plane vertical to the ground (when the plow is fully depressed) and parallel to the straight line direction of the travel of the vehicle. Interceptor plate 12 can be moved from a position where rear wall 23 is substantially in contact with the face of plow blade 11 to a position where rear wall 23 is substantially parallel to the ground and extending in the direction of travel of the plow blade. Preferably interceptor plate 12 is formed so that the rear wall 23 conforms to the shape of the face of plow blade 11. Bottom surface 24 is generally parallel to the ground when rear wall 23 is in substantial contact with the face of plow blade 11 and the forward edge 25 of plate 12 extends outwardly and upwardly, plate 12 at its upper edge being substantially wider than at its lower edge. Bottom surface 24 is provided with a steel shoe 26 to protect plate 12 from excess abrasive wear. The bottom of shoe 26 is raisedabove the ground level, i.e. the level of the bottom of blade 11 (a distance of 2 to 6 inches and preferably about 4 inches).

The reason for providing the gap between the bottom edge of plate 12 and the ground, and for having the upper end of plate 12 extend a substantial distance further forward than the lower end is to permit a small amount of spillage of snow from the plow when interceptor plate 12 is lowered to its operative position. As explained above, the plow blade is designed to spill snow to the side and if this action is prevented in its entirety the tumbling action of the snow in front of the blade is likely to be interrupted. When this happens the tumbling mass of snow is converted into a stationary mass which may be too dense and heavy for the plow vehicle to move. Under the arrangement described excess amounts of snow can be spilled from the plow blade even when the blade is in its operative position. However, this spillage can occur only at a lower level near the ground. Spillage at an upper level near the top of the blade is prevented by the fact that the snow rising over the top of the tumbling mass is deflected by the upper extended portion of the plate and returned to a position in front of the plow blade. Thus when the plate is in operative position the major proportion of the snow trapped by the blade is retained in front of the blade, but a sufficient amount is released near the bottom of the blade to prevent any interruption of the tumbling action of the mass of snow in front of the blade. To be sure a small pile of snow three or four inches high may be deposited in openings along the road but small piles of this size may be crossed easily and with no difficulty both by pedestrians and motor vehicles, and therefore normally need not be removed.

The shape of interceptor plate 12 has rather carefully been worked out for maximum efficiency. Using as a base for such measurements (since rear wall 23 necessarily has an irregular shape in order to conform generally to the shape of the forward surface of blade 11) a line extending vertically to bottom surface 24 at the point of intersection of bottom surface 24 with rear wall 23 it will be noted that the upper edge extends approximately raised position as shown in phantom in FIG. 1.

twice as far forward of this vertical line as bottom surface 24 and that this forward extension of the upper surface ahead of such line is at least 75% and preferably at least about of the height of the plate. Thus in a typical interceptor plate designed for use with a snow plow blade having a height of about 48" overall at the location of the interceptor plate, plate 12 is 40 inches high with its bottom surface 4 inches above the ground and extending 16 inches ahead of the intersection of the bottom surface with rear wall 23. The upper edge extends 36 inches ahead of the vertical line drawn from the intersection of bottom surface 24 and rear wall 23. In this preferred arrangement the center of pin 14 is located in the projection of the top edge approximately 5 inches ahead of the intersection of the vertical line with the projection of the top edge.

Plate 12 is mounted as near to the edge of plow blade 11 as possible. It is preferable, but not necessary, to provide a stop 27 welded to the face of blade 11 in such manner as to abut the lower outside edge of shoe 26 when plate 12 is in its operative position. The function of stop 27 is to absorb some of the force exerted against plate 12 by the trapped snow, which force otherwise might tend to warp plate 12 or distort hinge 13. Stop 27 extends forward of blade 11 just far enough to make good supporting contact with shoe 26 in order to avoid undue interference with the plows action.

Retractable means indicated at 28 are provided for raising and lowering plate 12. Means 28 are mounted between a bracket 2? extending above the top of blade 11 at a point directly above and behind blade 11 and a point near the upper outer edge of plate 12. As shown means 28 comprise a double acting air cylinder 31 pivotally mounted at one end on bracket 29, with piston rod 32 pivotally mounted on the interceptor plate 12 at 33. Cylinder 31 is activated by a valve not shown mounted in the vehicle cab and is connected thereto by

air hoses

34 and 35. Instead of being pneumatically actuated, means 28, as is well known in the art, can be hydraulically actuated or electromagnetically actuated equally as well. Indeed it is preferable to employ the same actuating means for raising and lowering plate 12 as is used for raising and lowering plow blade 11.

The normal position of plate 12 is in the upper or In order to normally retain plate 12 in an elevated position a pair of

springs

36 and 37 angularly mounted between

tabs

38 and 39 fastened to the opposite sides of plate 12 near the upper edge of plate 12 and a corresponding pair of

hooks

41 and 42 mounted on the top surface of plow blade 11 are provided.

Springs

36 and 37 are so selected and adjusted as to provide sufficient restraining force to maintain plate 12 in the elevated position even in the absence of actuating pressure to cylinder 31.

While this description has been in terms of the relation of interceptor plate 12 to a right handed straight blade plow it is obvious that plate 12 can equally as well be mounted on the left hand of a left handed straight blade plow or on either or both sides of a V-shaped plow blade. As mentioned above, the normal operating position of interceptor plate 12 is its raised or elevated position. In this position plate 12 is raised sufiiciently above the road level as not to interfere in any way with the normal action of the plow or with the passage of snow therefrom. Indeed even hinge 13, since it is mounted at the top edge of the plow blade, rarely if ever comes into contact with the snow or ice since it is undesirable to operate a snow plow under conditions wherein the blade is completely full of snow. When approaching an open driveway or walk the snow plow operator merely actuates cylinder 31 thereby depressing plate 12 to its operative position. This prevents the major portion of the snow trapped by the blade from being dumped into the opening. After the plow blade passes the opening the operator raises plate 12 by again actuating cylinder 31 thereby permitting the plow blade to act in its normal way.

I claim:

1. Means aassociated with a vehicle propelled snow plow blade for interrupting the discharge of snow therefrom, said means comprising in combination a fiat plate cooperating with said blade and provided with one edge shaped to conform to the face of said blade when said plate is oriented vertically, plate support means including a hinge element mounted on the face of said blade near the top thereof and cooperating with said plate, said hinged element supporting said plate in alternate positions including an operative position wherein said plate is oriented vertically and extends generally outwardly from the face of said blade with the named edge located adjacent the face of said blade, and an elevated position wherein said named edge is generally parallel to the ground and permitting the reciprocal movement of said plate between said positions, power means mounted on said blade to reciprocate said plate between the operative position and the elevated position, and spring means mounted between said blade and said plate adapted to urge said plate to its elevated position.

2. Means as defined in claim 1, wherein said plate in its operative position extends outwardly from the blade in a plane parallel to the direction of movement of the vehicle.

3. Means as defined in claim 1 wherein said plate is mounted near the discharge edge of said blade.

4. Means as defined in claim 1 wherein said blade is provided near the base thereof with an outstanding brace adapted to lie against the outer side of said plate when said plate is in its operative position.

5. Means as defined in claim 1 wherein said plate is provided with a top and bottom edge extending generally parallel to the ground when said plate is in its operative position, and wherein said top edge extends substantially further forward than the bottom edge.

6. Means as defined in claim 1 wherein said power means includes a double acting position.

7. Means as defined in claim 1 wherein said power means is penuma-tically actuated.

8. Means as defined in claim 1 wherein said power means is hydraulically actuated.

9. Means as defined in claim 1 wherein said support means comprises two support elements with said plate mounted therebetween.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 414,522 11/89 Gordon.

945,088 1/10 Grifi'in. 1,982,219 11/34 McAlister 37l29 X 2,763,943 9/56 Lotz 3742 X 2,964,862 12/60 Lotz 3741 X 2,988,831 6/61 Burns 37--50 3,055,126 9/62 Emhof 3742 BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner. BENJAMIN BENDETT, Examiner.

Claims

1. MEANS AASSOCIATED WITH A VEHICLE PROPPELLED SNOW PLOW BLADE FOR INTERRUPTING THE DISCHARGE OF SNOW THEREFROM, SAID MEANS COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A FLAT PLATE COOPERATING WITH SAID BLADE AND PROVIDED WITH ONE EDGE SHAPED TO CONFORM TO THE FACE OF SAID BLADE WHEN SAID PLATE IS ORIENTED VERTICALLY, PLATE SUPPORT MEANS INCLUDING A HINGE ELEMENT MOUNTED ON THE FACE OF SAID BLADE NEAR THE TOP THEREOF AND COOPERATING WITH SAID PLATE, SAID HINGED ELEMENT SUPPORTING SAID PLATE IN ALTERNATE POSITIONS INCLUDING AN OPERATIVE POSITION WHEREIN SAID PLATE IS ORIENTED VERTICALLY AND EXTENDS GENERALLY OUTWARDLY FROM THE FACE OF SAID BLADE WITH THE NAMED EDGE LOCATED ADJACENT THE FACE OF SAID BLADE, AND AN ELEVATED POSITION WHEREIN SAID NAMED EDGE IS GENERALLY PARALLEL TO THE GROUND AND PERMITTING THE RECIPROCAL MOVEMENT OF SAID PLATE BETWEEN SAID POSITIONS, POWER MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID BLADE TO RECIPROCATE SAID PLATE BETWEEN THE OPERATIVE POSITION AND THE ELEVATED POSITION, AND SPRING MEANS MOUNTED BETWEEN SAID BLADE AND SAID PLATE ADAPTED TO URGE SAID PLATE TO ITS ELEVATED POSITION.