Snowplow diagnostic system
First Claim
1. A detection system for a snowplow that is coupleable to a vehicle, comprising.a control system, the control system located within the vehicle and controlling a plurality of components on the snowplow;
- a diagnostic circuit, the diagnostic circuit being coupled between the control system and the snowplow so that the diagnostic circuit detects a condition of the snowplow components; and
an indicator, the indicator being coupled to the diagnostic circuit and indicating the condition of at least one of the snowplow components; and
a relay, the relay coupled between the diagnostic circuit and a lighting system of the vehicle so that the diagnostic circuit can selectively enable and disable the lighting system.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is a snowplow diagnostic and connection system for connecting a snowplow to a vehicle. The system includes an diagnostic circuit and an indicator which detects and indicates the status of various components of the snowplow and its controls. The indicator includes a specific indication of the status of each detected subsystem or each component, as well as providing a general warning if any problem is detected. The indicator has a plurality of LED'"'"'s which individually represent the various subsystems or components. If a problem is detected with any of the subsystems or components, the vehicle'"'"'s headlights are caused to flash, thus alerting the operator.
92 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A detection system for a snowplow that is coupleable to a vehicle, comprising.
a control system, the control system located within the vehicle and controlling a plurality of components on the snowplow; -
a diagnostic circuit, the diagnostic circuit being coupled between the control system and the snowplow so that the diagnostic circuit detects a condition of the snowplow components; and an indicator, the indicator being coupled to the diagnostic circuit and indicating the condition of at least one of the snowplow components; and a relay, the relay coupled between the diagnostic circuit and a lighting system of the vehicle so that the diagnostic circuit can selectively enable and disable the lighting system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A snowplow system for attachment to a vehicle comprising:
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a snowplow, the snowplow including; a blade; a mounting bracket connected to the blade and coupleable to the vehicle; a plurality of hydraulic actuators, the hydraulic actuators selectively causing the blade to move relative to the mounting bracket; a plurality of solenoids, the solenoids coupled to and controlling the plurality of hydraulic actuators; a snowplow lighting system for providing illumination and directional indication; a wire harness coupleable to the vehicle; a control system, the control system located within the vehicle and controlling the solenoids and the snowplow lighting system; a relay, the relay coupled between a power supply and a vehicle lighting system; a diagnostic circuit, the diagnostic circuit being coupled between the vehicle and the snowplow so as to detect the status of the solenoids and the snowplow lighting system; and an indicator, the indicator coupled to the diagnostic circuit and indicating the status of the hydraulic actuators and the lighting system. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A detection system for a snowplow that is coupleable to a vehicle, comprising.
a control system, the control system located within the vehicle and controlling a plurality of components on the snowplow; -
a diagnostic circuit, the diagnostic circuit being coupled between the control system and the snowplow so that the diagnostic circuit detects a condition of the snowplow components; and an indicator, the indicator being coupled to the diagnostic circuit and indicating the condition of at least one of the snowplow components, wherein the diagnostic circuit detects the condition of the components by detecting continuity through each component including at least one solenoid used for controlling a hydraulic actuator and at least one lighting element. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification