Snow plow

• US 4,439,939 A
• Filed: 03/16/1979
• Issued: 04/03/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sno-Way International Inc
• Original Assignee: James R. Blau
• Inventors: Blau, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bratlie, Steven A.
• Application Number:
  US06/021,220
• Time in Patent Office: 1,845 Days
• Field of Search: 37/42 R, 37/42 UL, 37/44, 37/46, 37/47, 37/50, 37/41, 37/231, 37/266, 37/234, 37/235, 37/236, 172/276, 172/801, 172/803, 172/804, 172/805, 172/806, 172/807, 172/809, 172/277
• US Class Current: 37/231
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 5/06 dislodging essentially by non-driven elements, e.g. scraper blades , snow-plough blades, scoop blades

Abstract

A snow plow especially suitable for use with small vehicles, such as cars, is disclosed. The snow plow features a hydraulic system for controlling movement of the plow from side to side as well as for elevating the plow. The snow plow of the present invention also includes a coupling system which permits the plow to be quickly coupled to the vehicle for snow plowing and quick removal of the plow when the vehicle is to be used for its conventional purposes. The hydraulic system may be mounted either on the plow support frame or to the subframe assembly which is attached to the underside of the car.

Claims

1. A snow plow assembly suitable for use with a wheeled vehicle comprising:

a plow support frame adapted for being coupled to a wheeled vehicle, said support frame including an arcuate segment and first cylinder means and second cylinder means for adjusting the horizontal angular orientation of a plow blade;

a plow blade coupled to said plow support frame and to said horizontal angular adjustment means;

vertical adjustment means coupled between the front of said vehicle and a forward portion of said plow support frame to permit vertical adjustment of said plow blade, said vertical adjustment means including a bell crank means and third cylinder means mounted to said plow support frame and having piston rod means coupled to said bell crank means;

a hydraulic system including hydraulic fluid reservoir, pump and valve means mounted to said arcuate segment and coupled by hose means to said horizontal angular adjustment means and to said vertical adjustment means;

control means coupling said vehicle and said hydraulic system for actuating said horizontal angular adjustment means and said vertical adjustment means from the vehicle cab;

said plow support frame further includes a generally triangular frame having first, second and third sides, said first side being pivotally coupled to said vehicle whereby the plow support frame is vertically rotatable with respect to said first side, said plow blade being mounted to the corner of said plow support frame between said second and third sides, each of said cylinder means being pivotally mounted to said first side with said third cylinder means being intermediate said first and second cylinder means;

said snow plow assembly further includes a vehicle subframe rigidly coupled to the underside of said vehicle and including a front member extending across and beneath the front of said vehicle, a pair of spaced apart brackets being located on said front member and having axially aligned holes passing therethrough, said first side of said plow support frame including a pair of bracket plates adapted for being coupled to said spaced apart brackets by pin means;

said plow support frame further includes a bell crank receiving bracket at an area thereof generally adjacent said plow blade;

said bell crank means includes a first generally Y-shaped link member the base of which is pivotally coupled to the front of said vehicle and a second generally L-shaped link member having first and second sides, the end of said first side of said L-shaped link member being coupled between the free ends of said first link member and the end of said second side of said L-shaped link member being pivotally coupled to said piston rod of said first cylinder, the angular corner of said L-shaped link member being pivotally coupled to said bell crank receiving bracket.