U.S. patent application number 14/069800 was filed with the patent office on 2014-02-27 for support apparatus for securing a wing plow.
This patent application is currently assigned to Monroe Truck Equipment, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Monroe Truck Equipment, Inc.. Invention is credited to Andrew Holverson, John Hromadka.
Application Number | 20140054052 14/069800 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45525541 |
Filed Date | 2014-02-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140054052 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Holverson; Andrew ; et
al. |
February 27, 2014 |
Support Apparatus For Securing A Wing Plow
Abstract
A support apparatus for securing a wing plow relative to a
vehicle having a front and a rear includes a mounting member
rigidly secured with respect to the vehicle. A first trailing link
is pivotally secured to the mounting member. A second trailing link
pivotally is secured to the mounting member. A support arm for
supporting the wing plow is pivotally secured to at least one of
the first trailing link and the second trailing link. During
operation of the wing plow, the first and second trailing links
trail away from the mounting member in a direction substantially
parallel to a forward direction of vehicle travel.
Inventors: |
Holverson; Andrew; (Mineral
Point, WI) ; Hromadka; John; (Gratiot, WI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Monroe Truck Equipment, Inc. |
Monroe |
WI |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Monroe Truck Equipment,
Inc.
Monroe
WI
|
Family ID: |
45525541 |
Appl. No.: |
14/069800 |
Filed: |
November 1, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
12804948 |
Aug 2, 2010 |
8596376 |
|
|
14069800 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
172/305 ;
172/297 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E01H 5/067 20130101;
E02F 3/7627 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
172/305 ;
172/297 |
International
Class: |
E01H 5/06 20060101
E01H005/06; E02F 3/76 20060101 E02F003/76 |
Claims
1. A support apparatus for securing a wing plow relative to a
vehicle having a front and a rear, the support apparatus
comprising: a mounting member rigidly secured with respect to the
vehicle; a first trailing link pivotally secured to the mounting
member; a second trailing link pivotally secured to the mounting
member; and a support arm for supporting the wing plow, the support
arm being pivotally secured to at least one of the first trailing
link and the second trailing link; wherein, during operation of the
wing plow, the first and second trailing links trail away from the
mounting member in a direction substantially parallel to a forward
direction of vehicle travel.
2. The support apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first trailing
link, the second trailing link, and the support arm are configured,
respectively, to pivot around one or more substantially parallel
axes substantially perpendicular to the forward direction of
vehicle travel.
3. The support apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a vehicle
connection member, the vehicle connection member being rigidly
secured to the vehicle; wherein the mounting member is rigidly
secured to the vehicle connection member.
4. The support apparatus of claim 3 wherein the mounting member
includes one or more plate portions, and one or more vertical edges
included in the one or more plate portions are substantially
perpendicular to a portion of the vehicle connection member.
5. The support apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a third
trailing link pivotally secured to the mounting member, the third
trailing link being configured to move substantially in parallel
with the first trailing link.
6. The support apparatus of claim 5 further comprising: a fourth
trailing link pivotally secured to the mounting member, the fourth
trailing link being configured to move substantially in parallel
with the second trailing link
7. The support apparatus of claim 5 wherein the third trailing link
forms a unified linkage body with the first trailing link.
8. The support apparatus of claim 6 wherein the fourth trailing
link forms a unified linkage body with the second trailing
link.
9. The support apparatus of claim 6 wherein the mounting member
includes a first and a second plate portion, wherein the first and
third trailing links are pivotally secured to the first plate
portion and the second and fourth trailing links are pivotally
secured to the second plate portion.
10. The support apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a
hydraulic ram having a first and a second end; wherein the first
end is rotatably mounted with respect to the mounting member, the
rotatable mounting of the first end substantially preventing
translation of the first end with respect to one or more of the
first and the second trailing links; and wherein the second end
pivotally cooperates with one or more of the first and the second
trailing links to move the support arm relative to the mounting
member.
11. A support apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mounting member has
an upper portion and a lower portion, the first trailing link being
pivotally secured to the upper portion of the mounting member, and
the second trailing link being pivotally secured to the upper
portion of the mounting member.
12. A support apparatus of claim 1 wherein the support arm being
pivotally secured to the first trailing link and to the second
trailing link.
13. A support apparatus for securing a wing plow relative to a
vehicle, said support apparatus comprising: a beam having a first
and a second end, the beam being rigidly secured to the vehicle; a
mounting body having an upper portion and a lower portion, the
mounting body being rigidly secured to the beam; a first trailing
link pivotally secured to the upper portion of the mounting body
about a first pivotal axis; a second trailing link pivotally
secured to the lower portion of the mounting body about a second
pivotal axis; a third trailing link pivotally secured to the upper
portion of the mounting body about the first pivotal axis; a fourth
trailing link pivotally secured to the lower portion of the
mounting body about the second pivotal axis; and a support arm for
supporting the wing plow, the support arm being pivotally secured
to the first trailing link about a third pivotal axis, the second
trailing link about a fourth pivotal axis, the third trailing link
about the third pivotal axis, and the fourth trailing link about
the fourth pivotal axis; wherein the first, second, third and
fourth pivotal axes are spaced and parallel relative to each other
so that when the vehicle moves in a forward direction, said third
and fourth pivotal axes trail behind said first and second pivotal
axes relative to said forward direction of the vehicle.
14. The support apparatus of claim 13 wherein the mounting body
includes a first and a second plate portion, the second plate
portion being disposed between the first plate portion and the
vehicle, the first and second trailing links being pivotally
secured to the first plate portion, and the third and fourth
trailing links being pivotally secured to the second plate
portion.
15. The support apparatus of claim 13 wherein the support arm
includes a first arm component and a second arm component, the
first and second arm components being fixably connected to each
other, the first arm component being pivotally secured to the first
trailing link about the third pivotal axis and the second trailing
link about the fourth pivotal axis, and the second arm component
being pivotally secured to the third trailing link about the third
pivotal axis and the fourth trailing link about the fourth pivotal
axis.
16. The support apparatus of claim 13 further comprising: a
hydraulic ram having a first and a second end; wherein the first
end is rotatably mounted with respect to the mounting body; and
wherein the second end pivotally cooperates with one or more of the
first and the third trailing links to move the support arm relative
to the mounting member.
17. A support apparatus for securing a wing plow relative to a
vehicle having a front and a rear, the support apparatus
comprising: a mounting member rigidly secured with respect to the
vehicle; a trailing link pivotally secured to the mounting member;
a support arm for supporting the wing plow, the support arm being
pivotally secured to the trailing link, wherein, during operation
of the wing plow, the trailing link trails away from the mounting
member in a direction substantially parallel to a forward direction
of vehicle travel.
18. The support apparatus of claim 17 wherein the trailing link is
a first trailing link, and a second trailing link is pivotally
secured to the mounting member mounting member, wherein, during
operation of the wing plow, the second trailing link is
substantially parallel to the first trailing link.
19. The support apparatus of claim 18 further comprising: a third
trailing link pivotally secured to the mounting member, the third
trailing link being configured to move substantially in parallel
with the first trailing link.
20. The support apparatus of claim 19 further comprising: a fourth
trailing link pivotally secured to the mounting member, the fourth
trailing link being configured to move substantially in parallel
with the second trailing link.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of application Ser. No.
12/804,948, which was filed on Aug. 2, 2010 and fully incorporated
herein by reference.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not applicable.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention relates to a support apparatus for
securing a wing plow relative to a vehicle used for a wing plow
application such as a truck, a loader or a grader.
[0004] More specifically, the present invention relates to a
support apparatus for securing a material moving wing plow relative
to a vehicle used for a wing plow application such as a: truck, a
loader or a grader.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Wing plows are often used for removing snow from the hard
shoulder of a highway. They are also used for smoothing limestone
or other materials during a road-making or road repairing
operation. The wing plow extends laterally from the side of a
vehicle and includes a brace or braces for supporting the outboard
end of the wing plow.
[0006] Various support arrangements have been proposed for
supporting the inboard end of the wing plow. Such support
arrangements usually include means for raising or lowering the wing
plow because when the wing plow is not being used, the wing plow
must be in a raised disposition when the truck or other vehicle is
moving so that the wing plow is not in contact with the ground.
[0007] Many wing plow support arrangements employ pairs of parallel
arms extending laterally outwards from the front nearside of a
vehicle. The arrangement is such that in operation, the wing plow
is permitted to rise and fall as it moves over the material being
moved and with the bottom working edge of the wing plow remaining
substantially parallel to the surface of the material.
[0008] However, with the aforementioned prior art wing plow support
arrangements, there is a strong tendency for the working edge of
the wing plow nearest to the vehicle to sink or dive into the
material being moved. When this happens and the inboard end of the
wing plow dives, the outboard end of the wing plow flies upwards
and often causes damage to the side of the vehicle.
[0009] The present invention overcomes the aforementioned problem
by providing a trailing link mechanism such that the inboard end
and/or the outboard end of the wing plow is supported 15 by a
support arm which in turn is supported by trailing links rather
than the prior art laterally extending links.
[0010] Consequently, by the provision of the trailing links
according to the present invention, the inventors have found that
in actual trials, the wing plow moves remarkably smoothly over
various materials being moved and that such trailing links avoid
diving of the wing plow at the inboard end thereof.
[0011] Therefore, it is a primary feature of the present invention
to provide a support apparatus for securing a material moving wing
plow relative to a vehicle that overcomes the problems associated
with prior art wing plow supports.
[0012] Another feature of the present invention is to provide a
support apparatus for securing a material moving wing plow relative
to a vehicle which avoids diving of the wing plow into material in
the vicinity of the support apparatus.
[0013] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
be readily apparent to those skilled in the art by a consideration
of the detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the
present invention contained herein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] The present invention relates to a support apparatus for
securing a material moving wing plow relative to a vehicle. The
support apparatus includes a beam having a first and a second end,
the beam being rigidly secured to the vehicle. The term vehicle
used throughout the present invention includes a vehicle used for a
wing plow application such as a truck, a loader or a grader or any
other type of vehicle suitable for supporting and operating a wing
plow. A plate having a first and a second extremity is rigidly
secured to the beam. A first trailing link is pivotally secured to
the plate about a first pivotal axis. A second trailing link is
pivotally secured to the plate about a second pivotal axis. A
support arm is provided for supporting the wing plow. The support
arm has a first termination and a second termination and is
pivotally secured to the first trailing link about a third pivotal
axis. Also, the support arm is pivotally secured to the second
trailing link about a fourth pivotal axis. The first, second, third
and fourth pivotal axes are spaced and parallel relative to each
other so that when the vehicle moves in a forward direction, the
third and fourth pivotal axes trail behind the first and second
pivotal axes relative to the forward direction of the vehicle. The
arrangement is such that during a plowing operation, the wing plow
supported by the support arm moves smoothly over the material being
moved so that a potential diving of the wing plow into the material
in a vicinity of the support arm is avoided.
[0015] In a more specific embodiment of the present invention, an
anchoring plate is secured to the first end of the beam for rigidly
securing the beam to the vehicle.
[0016] Also, a further plate has a further first and a further
second extremity. The further plate is rigidly secured to the beam
between the plate and the first end of the beam.
[0017] A further first trailing link is pivotally secured to the
further plate about the first pivotal axis.
[0018] Additionally, a further second trailing link is pivotally
secured to the further plate about the second pivotal axis.
[0019] An arm has a further first termination and a further second
termination. The arm is pivotally secured to the further first
trailing link about the third pivotal axis. Also, the arm is
pivotally secured to the further second trailing link about the
fourth pivotal axis.
[0020] Moreover, a first ear extends from the beam, the first ear
being disposed between the plate and the further plate.
[0021] Furthermore, a second ear extends from the beam, the second
ear being disposed spaced and parallel relative to the first ear.
The ears are disposed between the plate and the further plate.
[0022] A ram has a first and a second end, the first end of the ram
being pivotally connected to the ears.
[0023] The ram is operably connected to a source of hydraulic
pressure.
[0024] A first stud extends from the first trailing link, the first
stud pivotally cooperating with the second end of the ram.
[0025] Also, a second stud extends from the further first trailing
link, the second stud pivotally cooperating with the second end of
the ram. The arrangement is such that, in operation, when the ram
is actuated by the source of hydraulic pressure, the support arm
and the arm are moved s relative to the beam.
[0026] Additionally, the support arm and the arm remain
substantially parallel to the plate and further plate when moved by
the ram.
[0027] A first extension extends from the support arm adjacent to
the first termination, the first extension defining a first
hole.
[0028] Further, a second extension extends from the support arm
adjacent to the second termination, the second extension defining a
second hole.
[0029] A support pin extends through the first and second holes for
locking and supporting the wing plow relative to the support
arm.
[0030] Many modifications and variation in the present invention
will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art by a
consideration of the detailed description contained hereinafter
taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings which show a
preferred embodiment of the present invention. However, such
modifications and variations fall within the spirit and scope of
the s present invention as defined by the appended claims. Included
in such modifications would be the provision of a ram operably
connected to a source of compressed air or any other type of ram
such as an electrically operated ram or a mechanically operated
lifting mechanism.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0031] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a support apparatus for
securing a material moving wing plow relative to a vehicle
according to the present invention;
[0032] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view partially in section of the wing
plow support apparatus shown in FIG. 1;
[0033] FIG. 3 is a similar view to that shown in FIG. 2 but shows
the location of the ram; and
[0034] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the
present invention.
[0035] Similar reference characters refer to the same parts
throughout the various Figures of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS
[0036] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a support apparatus
generally designated 10 according to the present invention for
securing a material moving wing plow 12 relative to a vehicle 14.
As shown in FIG. 1, the support apparatus 10 includes a beam 16
having a first end 18 and a second end 20, the beam 16 being
rigidly secured to the vehicle 14. A plate 22 having a first
extremity 24 and a second extremity 26 is rigidly secured to the
beam 16. A first trailing link 28 is pivotally secured to the plate
22 about a first pivotal axis 30. A second trailing link 32 is
pivotally secured to the plate 22 about a second pivotal axis 34. A
support arm 36 is provided for supporting the wing plow 12. The
support arm 36 has a first termination 38 and a second termination
40 and is pivotally secured to the first trailing link 28 about a
third pivotal axis 42. Also, the support arm 36 is pivotally
secured to the second trailing link 32 about a fourth pivotal axis
44. The first, second, third and fourth pivotal axes 30, 34, 42 and
44 respectively are disposed spaced and parallel relative to each
other so that when the vehicle 14 moves in a forward direction as
indicated by the arrow 46, the third and fourth pivotal axes 42 and
44 respectively trail behind the first and second pivotal axes 30
and 34 respectively relative to the forward direction 46 of the
vehicle 14. The arrangement is such that during a plowing
operation, the wing plow 12 supported by the support arm 36 moves
smoothly over the material 48 being moved so that diving of the
wing plow 12 into the material 48 in a vicinity of the support arm
36 is avoided.
[0037] In a more specific embodiment of the present invention an
anchoring plate 50 is secured to the first end 18 of the beam 16
for rigidly securing the beam 16 to the vehicle 14.
[0038] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view partially in section of the wing
plow support apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, a
further plate 52 has a further first extremity 54 and a further
second extremity 56. The further plate 52 is rigidly secured to the
beam 16 between the plate 22 and the first end 18 of the beam
16.
[0039] A further first trailing link 58 is pivotally secured to the
further plate 52 about the first pivotal axis 30.
[0040] Additionally, a further second trailing link 60 is pivotally
secured to the further plate 52 about the second pivotal axis
34.
[0041] An arm 62 has a further first termination 64 and a further
second termination 66. The arm 62 is pivotally secured to the
further first trailing link 58 about the third pivotal axis 42.
Also, the arm 62 is pivotally secured to the further second
trailing link 60 about the fourth pivotal axis 44.
[0042] Moreover, a first ear 68 extends from the beam 16, the first
ear 68 being disposed between the plate 22 and the further plate
52.
[0043] Furthermore, a second ear 70 extends from the beam 16, the
second ear 70 being disposed spaced and parallel to the first ear
68, the ear 70 being disposed between the plate 22 and the further
plate 52.
[0044] FIG. 3 is a similar view to that shown in FIG. 2. However,
FIG. 2 shows for clarity, an actuating ram removed therefrom. As
shown in FIG. 3, a ram 72 has a first and a second end 74 and 76
respectively, the first end 74 of the ram 72 being pivotally
connected to the ears 68 and 70. The ram 72 is operably connected
to a source of hydraulic pressure 78.
[0045] As shown in FIG. 2, a first stud 80 extends from the first
trailing link 28, the first stud 80 pivotally cooperating with the
second end 76 of the ram 72 as shown in FIG. 3.
[0046] Also, as shown in FIG. 2, a second stud 82 extends from the
further first trailing link 58, the second stud 82 pivotally
cooperating with the second end 76 of the ram 72. The arrangement
is such that, in operation, when the ram 72 is actuated by the
source of hydraulic pressure 78, the support arm 36 and the arm 62
are moved as indicated by the arrow 84 relative to the beam 16.
[0047] Additionally, the support arm 36 and the arm 62 remain
substantially parallel to the plate 22 and the further plate 52
when moved as shown by arrow 84 by the ram 72 and by reaction of
the working edge 85 of the wing plow 12 with the material 48 as
shown in FIG. 1.
[0048] As shown in FIG. 3, a first extension 86 extends from the
support arm 36 adjacent to the first termination 38, the first
extension 86 defining a first hole 88.
[0049] Further, a second extension 90 extends from the support arm
36 adjacent to the second termination 40, the second extension 90
defining a second hole 92.
[0050] A support pin 94 extends through the first and second holes
88 and 92 respectively for locking and supporting the wing plow 12
relative to the support arm 36.
[0051] In operation of the support apparatus 10, the anchoring
plate 50 is rigidly secured to the front of the vehicle 14. When
the wing plow 12 is moved laterally outwardly as indicated by the
arrow 96 shown in FIG. 1, away from the vehicle 14 by a hydraulic
cylinder 98 extending between the first termination 38 of the
support arm 36 and an outboard end 100 of the wing plow 12, the
support apparatus 10 supports the wing plow 12 and is attached to
the inboard end 102 of the wing plow 12 by the removable support
pin 94. When the ram 72 is controllably released 10 from the source
of hydraulic pressure 78, the wing plow 12 lowers under gravity
until the working edge 85 of the wing plow 12 contacts the material
48 to be moved. When forward movement of the vehicle 14 as
indicated by the arrow 46 causes the working edge 85 of the wing
plow 12 to engage the material 48, such material 48 is moved.
However, if the working edge 85 of the wing plow 12 encounters
unusual resistance from the material 48, the trailing links 28, 32,
58 and 60 permit the wing plow 12 to smoothly rise and ride over
such unusual resistance in the material 48 rather than permitting
the inboard end 102 of the wing plow 12 to dig into or dive into
such material 48 which often occurs when the prior art laterally
extending links are employed.
[0052] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the
present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, the plate and further plate
22a and 52a respectively are of trapezoidal configuration. Also,
the plates 22a and 52a are joined together by a cover 98.
[0053] Additionally, the second end 76a of the ram 72a is pivotally
connected to a strap 100 extending between the plates 22a and
52a.
[0054] Therefore, the present invention provides a unique wing plow
support arrangement in which the wing plow moves smoothly over the
material being removed while avoiding having the wing plow dive
into the material at the inboard end of the wing plow.
* * * * *