Snow wing assembly

• US 10,370,811 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2016
• Issued: 08/06/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: May, Michael P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jelani A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wallace, Donald J
• Application Number:
  US15/249,618
• Publication Number:
  US 20160362858A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,072 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 5/061 by scraper blades
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 5/062 by scraper blades displaceable for shock-absorbing purposes
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 5/067 by side-wing snow-plough blades

Abstract

A snow wing assembly for a machine is provided. The snow wing assembly includes a wing blade provided on a first side of the machine. The snow wing assembly also includes a first cylinder coupled to the wing blade. The snow wing assembly further includes a controller coupled to the first cylinder and an articulation determination device. The controller is configured to receive a signal indicative of an articulation of the machine towards a second side from the articulation determination device. The controller is configured to extend the first cylinder freely based on the received signal and an amount of articulation. The controller is also configured to receive a signal indicative of the articulation of the machine towards the first side from the second side from the articulation determination device. The controller is further configured to lock the first cylinder in an extended position based on the received signal.

Claims

1. A snow wing assembly for a machine, the machine including a frame having a first portion and a second portion movably coupled to the first portion, the snow wing assembly comprising:

a first bracket coupled to the first portion;

a second bracket coupled to the second portion;

a wing blade provided on a first side of the machine, the wing blade having a first end and a second end, the first end being movably coupled to the first bracket;

a first cylinder movably coupled between the second bracket and the second end of the wing blade; and

a controller coupled to the first cylinder and an articulation determination device associated with the machine, the controller being configured to;

receive a first signal indicative of a first articulation of the machine toward a second side of the machine from the articulation determination device;

release the first cylinder to move freely based on the first signal and an amount of the first articulation;

receive a second signal indicative of a second articulation of the machine toward the first side from the second side from the articulation determination device; and

lock the first cylinder in an extended position based on the second signal.

2. The snow wing assembly of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive a third signal indicative of a third articulation of the machine toward the second side from the first side from the articulation determination device;

determine an articulated position of the machine toward the first side; and

retract the first cylinder based on the third signal and the articulated position of the machine.

3. The snow wing assembly of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive a third signal indicative of stowing the wing blade;

determine an articulated position of the machine toward at least one of the first side and a center position; and

retract the first cylinder based on the third signal and the articulated position of the machine.

4. The snow wing assembly of claim 1, further comprising a second cylinder coupled between the second bracket and the first cylinder, the second cylinder being adapted to alter an angle of the wing blade with respect to a ground line while maintaining a radial distance between the second end of the wing blade and the second bracket.

5. The snow wing assembly of claim 1, further comprising a linkage assembly coupled between the first bracket and the first end of the wing blade, the linkage assembly being adapted to alter a distance between the first end of the wing blade and the first bracket.

6. The snow wing assembly of claim 1, further comprising a shock absorbing device provided in association with the first cylinder.

7. The snow wing assembly of claim 1, further comprising a valve associated with the first cylinder, the valve being adapted to lock the first cylinder.

8. The snow wing assembly of claim 1, wherein the articulation determination device includes at least one of an accelerometer, a magnetometer, a gyroscope sensor, and a steering position sensor.