Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~7~
This invention relates to a swing-over snow wing for a
grader or other like vehicle or road machine.
Snow removal in northern areas is a perennnial problem in
the solution of which improved methods and equipment are continuously
being sought. One commonly used implement in snow removal from roads,
etc., is the snow wing. The wing is often used in combination with a
front-mounted blade or the like to enable the machine to sweep a wider
area with the blades and to enable snow to be pushed back beyond
ditches and the like where the machine itself cannot safely travel.
These machines generally have the wing and assembly mounted adjacent
the driver's cab and on the right hand side of the machine. In some
cases a pair of similar wings are mounted on opposite sides of the
machine giving the added versatility of being able to use a wing on
either side without regard to the direction of travel of the machine.
This arrangement is undesirable since generally only one wing can be
used at a time, and thus one wing is generally unproductive at any
given time. At the same time the versatility is useful in a number of
situations. For example, with a heavy snowfall and on a relatively
steep incline, there are obvious advantages in being able to clear
either side of the road while travelling down the incline.
The snow wing of the present invention enables an operator
to position the single wing on either side of the machine without
leaving the cab.
PRIOR ART
Road machines such as graders or the like with hinged
adjustable side wings are well known. For example, such devices are
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dealt with in Canadian patents 318,372; 411,010; and 514,047; and in
U.S. patents 1,964,617; 1,994,817; 2,281,512; and 2,547,680. None of
these deals with a swing-over type snow wing. Generally these patents
deal with arrangements wherein the outer end of the wing is supported
from a vertical post or mast at the side of the vehicle. Such
assemblies tend to be awkward and cumbersome, to obstruct the view of
the operator, and to partially block entry and exit from the vehicle.
In the present inventor's earlier Canadian patent 967,744,
granted May 20, 1975, a swing-over snow wing was described and
claimed. The present invention deals with an improved apparatus of
that type.
SUMMARY OF THE INV~NTION
The present invention in one embodiment utilizes a power
transmission system cooperating with a guide means to achieve the
swing-over capability of the snow wing and provide a much improved
apparatus. In a further embodiment a bell crank arrangement is
utilized to obtain an improved range of movement of the blade.
Thus, the invention provides a swing-over snow wing
apparatus for operation on either side of a grader or like vehicle
comprising a radial arm rotatably mounted at its inner end on a
horizontal axis extending longitudinally from the rear of the vehicle;
a wing blade hingedly mounted on the outer end of said arm, and means
for rotating said arm through about 180 to swing said wing blade
from one side of the vehicle to the other; said means comprising guide
means in the form of a substantially semi-circular frame member and
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power transmission means associated with said radial arm and adapted
to cooperate with said guide means.
In a further embodiment the invention provides a swing-over
snow wing apparatus for operation on either side of a grader or like
vehicle comprising a radial arm rotatably mounted at its inner end on
a horizontal axis extending longitudinally from the rear of the
vehicle; a wing blade rotatably mounted on the outer end of said arm,
and means for rotating said arm through 180 to swing said wing
blade from one side of the vehicle to the other; and wherein said
radial arm has a section forwardly extending from its outer end and
wherein said blade is rotatably attached to said arm for vertical
rotation relative to the plane of said arm by means of two pivotal
connections, a first of said connections comprising a first bracket
secured to the inner end of said blade and rotatably connected to said
forwardly extending section of said arm and the second of said
connections comprising a bell crank bracket rotatably connected at its
centre pivot to said arm and rigidly connected relative to the
direction of rotation to the outer end of said blade by means of a
hinged linkage, the outer pivots of said bell crank bracket connected
2Q to a pair of oppositely acting hydraulic cylinders which are in turn
rotatably secured to said radial arm, whereby the rotation of said
bell crank bracket and hence of said blade can be controlled.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention:
Figure 1 is a rear elevation view of one embodiment of the
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apparatus according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a top plan view of the embodiment of Figure l;
Figure 3 illustrates in elevation detail of two embodiments
A and B of the guide means of the present invention;
Figure 4 shows in elevation detail of the bell crank
mechanism of one embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 5 is a plan view of the embodiment of Figure 4;
Figure 6 illustrates the effect of the bell crank embodiment
of Figure 4 and 5;
Figure 7 illustrates the carrying position of the wing when
not in use.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTI N
With particular reference to Figures 1 and 2, the rear end
of a grader 2 is shown in discontinuous lines. The framework 4 is
attached to the rear end of the frame of grader 2. The particular
configuration of the framework 4 is not of great significance other
than that it be such as to provide support for the radial arm 6 and,
in a preferred embodiment, for the guide member 8.
Thus the framework 4 in the embodiment shown includes the
vertical hollow structural sections 10 connected to the grader frame.
The sections 10 carry the transverse members 12 and 13 from the former
of which longitudinally extending arms 14 emanate. Members 12 and 13
also carry centrally located transverse plate 15. The outer
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ends of arms 14 in turn support the vertical arms 16 and the
transverse members 17, 19 and 21. The transverse plate 15 and member
21 provide bearing support for the centrally located longitudinally
extending horizontal shaft 18~
The basic swing-over capability of the snow wing is achieved
by rotation of the radial arm 6 about the shaft 18. The radial arm 6
is a hollow structural section pivoted at its inner end on the shaft
18 and being of such a length that its outer end at any appropriate
point in its rotation extends beyond the vehicle wheels in order to
avoid interference with the wheels in operation. At its outer end the
radial arm 6 has a forwardly extending section 20 giving the radial
arm 6 an overall L-shaped configuration. The section 20 is also a
hollow structural section rigidly secured to the outer reach of the
arm 6 and at substantially a right angle thereto.
The means for effecting rotation of the radial arm 6 about
the shaft 18 includes a substantially semi-circular guide member 8
preferably secured to the framework 4 between the radial arm 6 and the
rear of the vehicle 2. The radial arm 6 has associated with it power
transmission means which cooperates with guide member 8 to effect
rotation.
Thus in the preferred embodiment illustrated in Figure 1 the
radial arm 6, which, as indicated, is preferably a hollow structural
section, has secured within it a power transmission means comprising a
hydraulic motor 22 and a gear reducer 24. The gear reducer 24 turns
the shaft 26 which extends through the side of radial arm 6 and drives
exterior to the arm 6 a gear wheel 28. Gear wheel 28 is in opera-
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tional engagement with guide means 8.
For this purpose guide member 8 in the embodiment
illustrated in Figure 1 and in detail in Figure 3A has secured to the
semi-circular periphery thereof a roller chain 30. The driven gear
wheel 28 is in the form of a sprocket which engages the roller chain
30 to thereby cause the radial arm 6 to rotate on the shaft 18.
While the power transmission means 22 and the gear reducer
24 are preferably respectively an hydraulic motor and a worm-type
reducer, any other suitable power transmission means is acceptable.
In a further preferred embodiment as illustrated in Figure
3B the semi-circular member 8 is provided with gear teeth 32 around
its inner edge, and the gear wheel 28 engages the teeth to cause the
radial arm 6 to rotate on the shaft 18. Clearly this embodiment
requires that power transmission means 22 be located such that shaft
26 and gear wheel 28 pass through the side of radial arm 6 at a point
different from the case where the roller chain 30 is utilized on the
outside of the guide 8. The gear teeth 32 could as well replace the
roller chain 30 in Figure 3A.
While the guide means 8 has been referred to as
semi-circular or substantially semi-circular, these terms should both
be taken to include the preferred embodiment wherein guide means 8
encompasses somewhat more tllan 180 . This allows the radial arm 6
to reach a point in its rotation somewhat below the horizontal, as
illustrated, for example, in Figure 1. This provides clear advantages
in terms of positioning the wing for some operating positions,
enabling the wing, for example, when used with the bell crank
arrangement to be described below, to operate horizontally on the
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surface over which the machine is moving.
~ lile the arrangement provided allows for the positioning of
radial arm 6 for operating purposes at any desired point on guide
means 8, it also permits the arm 6 to be moved to a vertical or near
vertical position for convenient transport. The snow wing 38 in this
situation is folded by means of the mechanism to be described to a
position such that the longitudinal axis of the wing is parallel to
that of the machine. The mechanism can be locked in this position for
travelling by means of a locking pin inserted through hole 33 in guide
means 8 and a cooperating hole through radial arm 6. This position is
illustrated in Figure 7.
In order to provide full flexibility of operations of the
snow wing, provision is preferably made for two axes of rotation of
the wing about the radial arm 6. Thus, in the preferred embodiment a
pair of axially aligned longitudinally disposed (relative to the
direction of travel of the machine) pivot pins 34 and 36 are suitably
supported near the outer extremity of the arm 6, pin 36 extending
through the forward end of section 20 of arm 6. The axis of pins 34
and 36 provides a fixed axis of rotation about which the wing 38 can
be angled into and out of the plane of L-shaped radial arm 6.
The pin 36 is preferably of a configuration having a
perpendicular portion 40 beyond the forward end of section 20 of arm 6
to provide a variable pivotal axis. The wing 38 can thereby be angled
relative to the longitudinal axis of the machine 2. This axis will
vary with rotation of pin 36.
The wing 38 is rotatably attached to pins 34 and 36 by means
of brackets 42 and 44 respectively.
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The bracket 42 includes a bell crank like device 46
illustrated in detail in Figures 4 and 5. The intermediate pivot 48
of the bell crank 46 rotates about pin 34. The two outer ends 66 and
68 of the bell crank 44 are rotatably connected at pins 62 and 64 to
piston rods 58 and 60 of hydraulic cylinders 54 and 56. The cylinders
54 and 56 are in turn pivotally connected at pins 50 and 52 to the
side of radial arm 6.
The bracket 44 as illustrated in Figure 2, is connected to
the pin 36 so as to be rotatable with that pin about the axis through
pins 34 and 36 and also to be rotatable about the perpendicular
portion 40 of pin 36. The bracket is rigidly fixed to wing 38 near
the inner end thereof.
Movement of the wing 38 about the two axes of rotation is
accomplished through a linkage consisting of hydraulic cylinder 70,
members 72 and 74, and bracket 76. The cylinder 70 is rotatably
attached at one end at 78 to bracket 44, member 72 is rotatably
attached at one end at 80 to bracket 42 and member 74 is rotatably
attached at one end at 82 to bracket 76, which bracket is rigidly
fixed to wing 38 near the outer end of the wing. Piston rod 84
associated with cylinder 70 is rotatably connected at 86 to the other
ends of members 72 and 74 to complete the linkage.
In operation the angle of wing 38 relative to the
longitudinal axis of the machine 2 is controlled by the hydraulic
cylinder 70 and its associated piston rod 84. Extension of rod 84
will act via members 72 and 74 on the outer end of wing 38 to cause
rotation of the wing about the axis through the part 40 of the pin 36,
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thus increasing the angle o~ illustrated in Figure 2. Retraction of
piston rod 84 will have the opposite effect, decreasing angle Cy.
The angle ~ of the longitudinal axis of wing 38 relative to
the plane of L-shaped radial arm 6 is controlled by the hydraulic
cylinders 54 and 56 and their associated piston rods 58 and 60. The
rods 58 and 60 move in opposed relation such that when one of the two
is being retracted the other is being extended and vice versa.
Thereby rotation is effected of brackets 42 and 44 about the common
axis through pins 34 and 36. Thus through the linkage described above
to bracket 76 at the outer end of the wing 38 and the direct
connection of bracket 44 to the inner end of wing 38, the angle ~ as
illustrated in Figure 6 can be varied.
It should be noted that in the specific manner of rotation
illustrated in the drawings, there is a degree of interaction between
the two modes of movement of the wing 38. Thus assuming a constant
amount of rotation of bracket 42, as the angle C~ is decreased the
maximum effective value attainable by angle ~ is also necessarily
decreased. Thus the angle ~ will always be limited in its upper value
by the angle C~ except in the case where the angle Cy is 90 . In that
case the angle ~ is limited only by the amount of rotation of bracket
42. It should also be noted that the converse is not true. That is,
the angle ~ in no way limits the angle c~.
The preferred maximum value for c~is 80 and fo ~ ,
60.
All of the functions discussed above are preferably
hydraulically controlled from the machine cab.
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While the invention has been described in detail in respect
of the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that i, is not
intended to limit the invention to those embodiments. On the contrary
it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and
equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the
present invention.
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