Quick mounting snow plow assembly

• US 5,353,530 A
• Filed: 09/02/1992
• Issued: 10/11/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Douglas Dynamics LLC
• Original Assignee: Douglas Dynamics LLC
• Inventors: Pieper, James C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reese, Randolph A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCBEE, J
• Application Number:
  US07/939,331
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 37/231, 37/234, 37/235, 37/236, 37/266, 37/279, 37/270, 37/271, 37/468
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 5/066 Snow-plough blade accessories, e.g. deflector plates, skid shoes

Abstract

Detachably connecting a snow plow assembly (20) to a vehicle (22). The snow plow assembly includes a vehicle mount frame (28) and a lift assembly (30). The mount frame is for connecting to a vehicle frame (26) behind a front bumper (24). The lift assembly includes an A-frame (42) and a lift frame (44) with the forward end (70) of the A-frame for supporting a snow blade (40). Means (75) is provided for pivotally connecting a rear end (74) of the A-frame to the lift frame so that the A-frame is free to rotate relative to the lift frame. Additional means (82) is provided for releasably connecting the lift frame to the mount frame whereby the lift assembly can be attached to or detached from the mount frame as a single unit while leaving the mount frame connected to the vehicle. Preferred embodiments include connecting means (82) being provided with a U-shaped channel (84) having means (88) for horizontally aligning the mount frame relative to the channel when attaching the lift frame to the mount frame, the mount frame provided with means (96) for vertically guiding the U-shaped channel into a slot (104) on the mount frame, the mount frame being connected to the channel by a retractable spring pin (86) and the lift frame including an actuator (56) for raising and lowering the A-frame and the snow blade.

Claims

1. For use with a vehicle having a frame and a front bumper, a snow plow assembly, comprising:

a mount frame for connection to the vehicle frame behind the bumper,

a mount frame for connection to the vehicle frame behind the bumper,

a lift assembly including an A-frame, a lift frame and a snow blade,

the snow blade mounted on the forward end of the A-frame,

the lift frame including means for pivotally connecting the rear end of the A-frame to the lift frame whereby the A-frame is free to rotate relative to the lift frame and means for releasably connecting the lift frame to the mount frame affording removal of the lift assembly from the mount frame as a single unit so as to leave the mount frame on the vehicle, and

the releasably connecting means including a U-shaped channel located at a position behind the vehicle bumper when the lift frame is connected to the mount frame, the channel defined by a pair of upstanding legs connected by a lower bight portion with the legs extending in the direction of travel of the vehicle.

2. The snow plow assembly of claim 1 wherein the mount frame includes means for vertically aligning the mount frame when connecting the lift frame to the mount frame.

3. The snow plow assembly of claim 1 wherein the releasably connecting means includes a retractable pin.

4. The snow plow assembly of claim 1 including an actuator for raising and lowering the A-frame.

5. The snow plow assembly of claim 4 wherein the lift frame includes a lift arm and an intermediate support,

one end of the lift arm pivotally connected to the upper end of the intermediate support,

the other end of the lift arm pivotally connected to one end of the actuator,

the other end of the actuator connected to the lower end of the intermediate support.

6. The snow plow assembly of claim 1 wherein the alignment means includes a plate having a downwardly extending portion.

7. The snow plow assembly of claim 1 wherein the mount frame includes a pushplate for connecting the lift frame to the mount frame.

8. For use with a vehicle having a frame and a front bumper, a snow plow assembly, comprising:

a pair of spaced mount frames for connection to the vehicle frame behind the vehicle bumper,

a lift assembly including an A-frame, a lift frame and a snow blade, the snow blade mounted on the forward end of the A-frame,

the lift frame including means for pivotally connecting the rear end of the A-frame to the lift frame whereby the A-frame is free to rotate relative to the lift frame and means whereby the A-frame is free to rotate relative to the lift frame and means for releasably connecting the lift frame to the mount frames affording removal of the lift assembly from the mount frames as a single unit so as to leave the mount frames on the vehicle,

the pivotally connecting means including a pair of spaced clevises, each side of the rear end of the A-frame connected to one of the clevises,

the releasably connecting means located at a position behind the vehicle bumper when the lift frame is connected to the mount frames,

the releasably connecting means including a pair of spaced U-shaped channels,

each channel including means for horizontally aligning the channel with one of the mount frames when connecting the channels to the mount frames and defined by a pair of upstanding legs connected by a lower bight portion with the legs extending in the direction of travel of the vehicle, and each mount frame including means for vertically aligning the mount frame relative to one of the channels when connecting the channels to the mount frames.

9. For use with a vehicle having a frame and a front bumper, a snow plow assembly, comprising:

a mount frame for connection to the vehicle frame behind the bumper,

a lift assembly including an A-frame, a lift frame and a snow blade,

the snow blade mounted on the forward end of the A-frame,

the lift frame including a clevis for connecting the rear end of the A-frame to the lift frame whereby the A-frame is free to rotate relative to the lift frame and a retractable pin connecting the lift frame to the mount frame affording removal of the lift assembly from the mount frame as a single unit so as to leave the mount frame the mount frame on the vehicle,

the clevis positioned between the pin and the mount frame, and

the pin located at a position behind the vehicle bumper when the lift frame is connected to the mount frame.

10. For use with a vehicle having a frame and a front bumper, a snow plow assembly, comprising:

a mount frame for connection to the vehicle frame behind the bumper,

a lift assembly including an A-frame, a lift frame and a snow blade,

the snow blade mounted on the forward end of the A-frame,

the lift frame including means for pivotally connecting the rear end of the A-frame to the lift frame whereby the A-frame is free to rotate relative to the lift frame to the lift frame whereby the A-frame is free to rotate relative to the lift frame and means for releasably connecting the lift frame to the mount frame affording removal of the lift assembly from the mount frame as a single unit so as to leave the mount frame on the vehicle,

the releasably connecting means located at a position behind the vehicle bumper when the lift frame is connected to the mount frame and including a channel having a pair of spaced guides tapering in an outwardly direction for horizontally aligning the mount frame relative to the channel when connecting the channel to the mount frame.

11. For use with a vehicle having a frame and a front bumper, a snow plow assembly, comprising:

a mount frame for connection to the vehicle frame behind the bumper,

a lift assembly including an A-frame, a lift frame and a snow blade,

the snow blade mounted on the forward end of the A-frame,

the lift frame including means for pivotally connecting the rear end of the A-frame to the lift frame whereby the A-frame is free to rotate relative to the lift frame and means for releasably connecting the lift frame to the mount frame affording removal of the lift assembly from the mount frame as a single unit so as to leave the mount frame on the vehicle,

the releasably connecting means located at a position behind the vehicle bumper when the lift frame is connected to the mount frame and including a channel for horizontally aligning the amount frame relative to the channel when connecting the channel to the mount frame,

the mount frame including means for vertically aligning the mount frame relative to the channel and a pushplate for connecting the channel to the mount frame,

the vertical alignment means including an upper plate spaced from a lower plate for forming a slot,

the lower plate including a downwardly extending portion for guiding the channel into the slot.