Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02259749 1999-01-19
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
a) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a new or improved
attachment for use with snow handling equipment, and in
particular although not exclusively to an attachment for
mounting on the ends of a snow pusher blade to effect an
increase in the volume of snow which can be contained in front
of the blade. The invention is also useful to provide
attachments which can be mounted on similar equipment such as
the bucket of a wheeled loader or the sides of a snow thrower
machine.
b) Description of the Prior Art
In regions which experience significant snowfalls, a
great deal of energy and expense is required to clear snow off
the surfaces of roads, laneways, driveways and parking lots.
Roadways can be kept clear of snow by making successive passes
with heavy duty snowplows which have angled blades which
displace the snow laterally to one side of the snowplow in a
continuous pass of the latter along the roadway. However
parking lots and the like often cannot be cleared of snow in
the same manner. Often it is necessary to utilize a snowplow
blade carried on a vehicle to clear the snow from across the
parking lot to one location where it can be formed into a
heap, and perhaps later removed by truck. The quantity of
snow that can be displaced or pushed in front of a
transversely arranged snowplow blade is severely limited and
if a large amount of snow is involved the maximum holding
capacity of the blade is exceeded and excess snow spills from
both ends of the blade thus making necessary numerous
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additional passes of the blade before the surface can be
satisfactorily cleared. To some extent this difficulty can be
overcome by increasing the length of the blade, but this
solution comes at a cost in terms of manoeuvrability. A very
wide blade will not be able to operate effectively in
constricted locations, e.g. in attempting to clear snow
between parked cars in a parking lot.
The aim of the present invention is to provide an
improved snow clearing apparatus which will increase the
capacity of snow that can be handled without significantly
affecting the manoeuvrability of the snowplow or the vehicle
upon which it is carried.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides an attachment for mounting on
an end of a transversely elongate implement that is useful for
pushing loose friable material across a ground surface, said
attachment being deployable to increase the material-handling
capacity of said implement and comprising: a mounting bracket
adapted to be fixed on said implement to define a pivot axis
that is generally parallel to the length of said implement; a
plate pivotally carried on said mounting bracket for angular
movement about said pivot axis; and abutment means operatively
associated with said plate and said mounting bracket and
positioned to delimit said angular movement and define a first
limiting position wherein said plate in operation occupies a
deployed position in a generally upright plane with a major
part of said plate at an attitude projecting forwardly of said
implement; said plate being freely pivotable upwardly from
said deployed position.
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The free pivotal mounting of the plate enables it to
accommodate readily to changes in slope of the surface on
which the attachment is operated. For example if a vehicle
equipped with the attachment passes from a downwardly inclined
surface to a horizontal surface, upon meeting the latter the
plate will pivot upwardly and thus avoid gouging into the
horizontal surface. Preferably the front lower corner of the
plate is rounded at a large radius so that when in use the
plate encounters a step or a kerb, the plate can pivot
upwardly freely to avoid damage which might otherwise be
occasioned by impact with such an obstruction.
Preferably the plate has a range of pivotal movement
from its deployed position through at least about 900 to a
retracted position, and a latch arrangement is provided to
secure the plate in its retracted position so that the
implement on which it is attached can be used in a normal mode
of operation without interference from the plate. The
latching means can be spring loaded and arranged to operate
automatically upon movement of the plate to the retracted
position. Alternatively a powered actuator can be provided to
control the latching arrangement.
The invention also includes an implement such as a
snowplow blade in combination with a pair of attachments as
discussed above, arranged one at each end of the snowplow
blade. Such snowplow blades are usually employed in
combination with light trucks, being mounted on usually the
forward end but sometimes the rear end of such trucks and
normally controlled for vertical displacement thereon. When
not required the plates of the attachments can be pivoted
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upwardly to their retracted positions where they are latched,
allowing the snowplow blade to be used in its normal mode of
operation. Movement of the plates from the latched to the
deployed position is effected manually and can be done
quickly.
Mounting of the attachment on the ends of a standard
snowplow blade can be effected relatively simply by welding a
horizontal bracket at each end of the rear side of the blade,
the bracket having a socket for receiving a horizontal pivot
pin that is attached to the plate. The deployed position of
the plate can be defined simply by a lug on the upper rear
portion of the plate which is adapted to engage against the
rear side of the blade. The latching means can simply be a
horizontal pin on the upper rear part of the blade which is
positioned to engage into a hole which is suitably positioned
near the front end of the plate.
Wheeled mobile loaders having large capacity buckets
are often used in snow clearing operations, particularly where
the snow has to be loaded into trucks for transport to a dump
site. One embodiment of the invention is specifically
designed for use with the bucket of such a loader and
comprises at each end of the bucket a mounting bracket in the
form of a plate that is secured to the cheek of the loader
bucket along the front end of the cheek (which can be
reinforced by addition of a strengthening plate) and also near
the rear of the cheek. Since it is not permissible to
obstruct the interior space of the bucket by an elongate
mounting bracket, the pivot axis in this arrangement is
defined by an axially-short large-diameter bearing on the
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mounting plate received within a similar shaped opening in
the attachment plate, there being abutment means acting
between the mounting plate and the attachment plate to
define a range of pivotal movement delimited by a deployed
position and a retracted position. Latching means in this
arrangement is preferably provided by a powered actuator
controlling a pin engageable with an aperture in the
attachment plate. Movement of the attachment plate between
its deployed and retracted positions can be effected by
tilting the bucket about a horizontal axis using the bucket
mounting control linkage, the attachment plate being acted
upon by gravity to be moved in the desired direction in
response to such tilting of the bucket.
Another aspect of the invention provides an
attachment for mounting on an end of a transversely elongate
implement that is useful for pushing loose friable material
across a ground surface, said attachment being deployable to
increase the material-handling capacity of said implement
and comprising: a mounting bracket adapted to be fixed on
one end of said implement to define a horizontal pivot axis
that is generally parallel to the length of said implement;
a plate pivotally carried on said mounting bracket and being
constructed and arranged for selectively positioning in a
deployed, operative position for use and in a retracted,
inoperative position for non-use, in said deployed,
operative position said plate being freely pivotable about
said horizontal pivot axis through a predetermined range of
angular movement from said deployed, operative position in
the direction of said retracted, inoperative position, in
said retracted, inoperative position said plate being
secured so as to prevent angular movement of said plate,
said plate in use being positioned outboard of and with a
major face thereof closely adjacent said one end of the
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implement; and abutment means operatively associated with
said plate and said mounting bracket and positioned to
delimit said range of angular movement.
A further aspect of the invention provides an
attachment for mounting on an end of a transversely elongate
implement that is useful for pushing loose friable material
across a ground surface, said attachment being deployable to
increase the material-handling capacity of said implement
and comprising: a mounting bracket adapted to be fixed on
one end of said implement to define a horizontal pivot axis
that is generally parallel to the length of said implement;
a plate pivotally carried on said mounting bracket and being
constructed and arranged for selectively positioning in a
deployed, operative position for use and in a retracted,
inoperative position for non-use, said plate including a
first edge, a second edge, and a rounded comer therebetween,
said first edge being forwardly facing with said plate in
said deployed, operative position and said second edge being
forwardly facing with said plate in said retracted,
inoperative position, in said deployed, operative position
said plate being freely pivotable about said horizontal
pivot axis through a predetermined range of angular movement
between said deployed, operative position and said
retracted, inoperative position, in said retracted,
inoperative position said plate being secured so as to
prevent angular movement of said plate, said plate in use
being positioned outboard of and with a major face thereof
closely adjacent said one end of the implement; and abutment
means operatively associated with said plate and said
mounting bracket and positioned to delimit said range of
angular movement.
A still further aspect of the invention provides
an attachment for mounting on an end of a transversely
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elongate implement that is useful for pushing loose friable
material across a ground surface, said attachment being
deployable to increase the material-handling capacity of
said implement and comprising: a mounting bracket adapted to
be fixed on one end of said implement to define a horizontal
pivot axis that is generally parallel to the length of said
implement; a plate pivotally carried on said mounting
bracket for free pivotal angular movement about said
horizontal pivot axis through a predetermined range, said
plate in use being positioned outboard of and with a major
face thereof closely adjacent said one end of the implement;
abutment means operatively associated with said plate and
said mounting bracket and positioned to delimit said range
of angular movement and define a first limiting position
wherein said plate in operation occupies a deployed position
in a generally upright plane in close proximity to the
implement end and with a major part of said plate at an
attitude projecting forwardly of said implement, said plate
in use being freely pivotable upwardly from said deployed
position; and latching means selectively engageable to latch
said plate in a retracted position that is angularly
displaced from said deployed position, said latching means
being adapted to engage automatically upon movement of said
plate to said retracted position.
Yet another aspect of the invention provides a
vehicle comprising a horizontally oriented bucket of D-
shaped profile, said bucket being carried upon an adjustable
linkage which is operable to effect lifting and lowering
movements of the bucket, and also to effect tilting
movements of the bucket about a horizontal axis located to
the rear of the bucket, each end of said bucket comprising a
D-shaped cheek plate, each said cheek plate having attached
thereto a mounting bracket in the form of a plate rigidly
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secured to the cheek plate, said mounting bracket having on
a lateral outward side thereof in the vicinity of the lower
edge of the bucket an annular bearing surface adapted to
support a complementary bearing surface formed in an
attachment plate that is arranged in a vertical orientation
adjacent and in overlapping relation to the respective
bucket end, said attachment plate being freely pivotable
about said bearing surface; abutment means associated with
each said mounting plate and said attachment plate
respectively and defining a range of pivotal movement of
said attachment plate relative to said mounting plate, one
end of said range defining a deployed position for said
attachment plate wherein it extends generally forwardly of
said bucket, and a second end of said range defining a
retracted position of said attachment plate wherein it
projects upwardly and rearwardly relative to the lower edge
of said bucket, said attachment plate when in said deployed
position being freely pivotal in one direction upwardly
about said bearing surface, said vehicle further including
power actuated latching means for engaging said attachment
plate in said retracted position.
Still another aspect of the invention provides an
attachment for mounting on an end of a transversely elongate
implement that is useful for pushing loose friable material
across a ground surface, said attachment being deployable to
increase the material-handling capacity of said implement
and comprising: a mounting bracket adapted to be fixed on
one end of said implement to define a horizontal pivot axis
that is generally parallel to the length of said implement;
a plate pivotally carried on said mounting bracket and being
constructed and arranged for selectively positioning in a
deployed, operative position for use and in a retracted,
inoperative position for non-use, in said deployed,
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operative position said plate being freely pivotable about
said horizontal pivot axis through a predetermined range of
angular movement from said deployed, operative position in
the direction of said retracted, inoperative position, in
said retracted, inoperative position said plate being
secured so as to prevent angular movement of said plate,
said plate in use being positioned outboard of and with a
major face thereof closely adjacent said one end of the
implement.
A yet further aspect of the invention provides an
attachment for mounting on an end of a transversely elongate
implement that is useful for pushing loose friable material
across a ground surface, said attachment being deployable to
increase the material-handling capacity of said implement
and comprising: a mounting bracket adapted to be fixed on
one end of said implement to define a horizontal pivot axis
that is generally parallel to the length of said implement;
a plate pivotally carried on said mounting bracket said
plate being freely pivotable about said horizontal pivot
axis through a predetermined range of angular movement said
plate in use being positioned outboard of and with a major
face thereof closely adjacent said one end of the implement;
and abutment means operatively associated with said plate
and said mounting bracket and positioned to delimit said
range of angular movement.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will further be described, by way of
example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings
wherein:
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Figure 1 is a somewhat schematic view of an
embodiment of the invention shown mounted on a snowplow
blade carried by a light truck;
Figure 2 is an exploded fragmentary rear
perspective view showing a portion of the snowplow blade;
Figures 3A to 3D are somewhat schematic views at a
perspective corresponding to Figure 2 but to a smaller scale
showing different operative positions of the attachment;
Figure 4A is a side view of a bucket loader
indicating the range of movement of the bucket thereof;
Figure 4B is a slightly enlarged fragmentary view
indicating movement of the bucket of the loader;
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Figures 5A and 5B are side views showing the
attachment mounted on a loader bucket;
Figure 5C is an enlarged view of a portion of Figure
5A;
Figure 5D is a sectional view taken on the line VD-
VD in Figure 5C;
Figure 6 is a somewhat schematic perspective view of
the attachments mounted on a loader bucket;
Figure 7 is a rear perspective view corresponding to
Figure 5A showing a modified attachment;
Figure 8 is a side elevation of a modified
attachment plate; and
Figure 9 is a plan view of the modified attachment
plate of Figure 8.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to Figure 1, a light truck that is
schematically indicated at 10 carries at the front end thereof
a horizontal transversely arranged snowplow blade 12 supported
on the truck by a linkage 14 which is capable of limited
movement, e.g. to effect raising and lowering of the snowplow
blade. At each end of the snowplow blade is an attachment 16
in accordance with the present invention. Each attachment 16
comprises a vertically oriented plate 18 carried on a
horizontally projecting pivot pin 20 which is fixed thereto as
by welding, the pin being located near the rear end of the
plate, and the plate having a rectangular outline as shown
with a rounded lower front corner 22. Near the upper end of
the rear edge of the plate is a laterally inwardly projecting
lug 24.
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On the rear side of the snowplow blade a metal
sleeve 26 is affixed in a horizontal orientation, this sleeve
being designed to receive the pivot pin 20 in rotatable
fashion. In the installed condition an annular groove 28 near
the free end of the pivot pin is engaged by a locking pin 30
which is insertable through the sleeve 26 to the position
shown in Figure 2.
When thus installed, the plate 18 is freely
rotatable on the blade 12 about the axis of the pivot pin 20.
The lug 24 on the plate is positioned to cooperate with the
rear edge 32 of the snowplow blade 12 to define a limiting
position in the range of pivot of movement, this limiting
position corresponding to the deployed position wherein the
plate 18 extends forwardly of the blade 12, the lower edge of
the plate being substantially horizontal, and the plate being
urged into this position by the force of gravity.
As best seen in Figure 2, a spring-loaded latch pin
34 is positioned at the top corner of the blade 12 and is
urged horizontally outwardly by an associated spring 36. In
the front part of the plate 18 is a socket in the form of a
hole 38 sized to receive the latch pin 34 and located in a
registering position such that when the plate 18 is pivoted
upwardly through a range of 90 from its deployed position,
the hole 38 comes into register with the latch pin 34 so that
the plate can be latched in its upstanding retracted position.
In this connection it is noted that the front end of the latch
pin is chamfered as at 34A such that when contacted by the
upper edge 19 of the plate as the latter is swung upwardly,
the latch pin 34 is cammed aside axially to permit continued
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movement of the plate, the latch pin automatically engaging
the hole when the latter is moved into register with it.
From the foregoing it will be appreciated that in
operation, with both of the plates 18 in the horizontally
deployed position, the snowplow blade can push in front of it
a very large quantity of snow. Without the plate 16, the
quantity of snow that could be moved would be severely limited
by escape of snow from both ends of the snowplow blade 12.
This problem is counteracted by the deployed plates 18 since
they delimit a very large volume in front of the blade 12, so
that no snow will escape from the blade laterally until after
this volume has been completely filled and an additional
volume has accumulated in front of it. For a typical truck-
mounted snow blade as shown in Figure 1 having a height of 28
inches and a length of 96 inches, attachment plates 18 of a
size 18 x 30 inches, will easily increase the snow pushing
capacity, i.e. the amount of snow that can be carried in front
of the blade without spilling from the sides thereof, by at
least about 100%.
It will be understood that the attachments 16 can be
used singly or in unison. In some situations it may be
desirable to displace snow laterally to one side of the
snowplow blade, and in that event the apparatus would be
operated with the plate 18 on that side in its retracted
position. In other situations it may be desirable to operate
the snowplow blade 12 with both of the plates 18 in the
retracted position e.g. when the blade 12 is employed in a
reverse mode to draw snow or ice away from a wall.
The vastly increased capacity of the snowplow blade
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in moving snow is achieved without increasing the length (i.e.
the transverse dimension) of the blade so that the blade as
disclosed can still be operated in relatively restricted
confines, e.g. when clearing snow from vacant bays between
parked cars in a parking lot, or in narrow laneways etc.
Further embodiments of the invention are shown in
Figures 4 through 7, these embodiments showing the attachment
of the invention provided on the bucket of a wheeled loader.
The loader 40 is shown in Figure 4A and is of well known form
including a large capacity bucket 42 of D-shaped profile which
is carried on a powered linkage 44 by means of which the
bucket can be tilted, raised and lowered. Figure 4A shows in
broken lines how the bucket can be manipulated about a
horizontal axis 46 by the linkage 44. As shown particularly
in Figures 5 and 6, in this embodiment an attachment plate 118
is mounted on each side of the bucket 42. Specifically, an
elongate mounting plate 48 is secured to each D-shaped cheek
plate 50 of the bucket 42 by threaded fasteners such as heavy
duty bolts 56 two of which are mounted near the rear and two
near the front of the bucket as shown in Figures 5B, 5C and
5D. Additionally, the mounting plate 48 carries a pair of
laterally projecting lugs 58 (Figures 5C, 5D) which abut at
spaced apart locations against the front of the reinforced
edge 52 of the bucket and help to support the plate against
rearwardly directed loads.
As shown in Figures 5C and 5D, the attachment plate
118 lies flat against the mounting plate 48 and is guided for
pivotal movement about the axis of a large diameter bearing
ring 60 which is securely fixed to the mounting plate 48 by an
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annular welding bead 62. The bearing ring has an integral
circular end wall 61 which lies against the bucket cheek 50 as
is secured thereto by two of the threaded bolts 56 which
penetrate aligned holes in the wall 61 and in the bucket cheek
50. The bearing ring 60 has a large outside diameter, e.g.
from 4 to 12 inches, and has a short axial length and is
formed integrally with an abutment plate 64 located at the
laterally outer end of the bearing ring 60 and which serves to
retain the plate 118 on the bearing ring 62 against the outer
surface of the plate 48. From the foregoing it will be
evident that the bolts 56, as well as providing a secure
attachment of the front end of the mounting plate 48 to the
bucket, also provide a secure mounting for the abutment plate
64, the latter confining the plate 118 against the mounting
plate 48 while providing adequate clearance to enable pivoting
of the plate 118 about the outer cylindrical surface of the
bearing ring 60. The plate 64, as best seen in Figure 5C has
a generally arcuate edge surface 68 at opposite ends of which
are defined rounded notches 70, 72. The notches cooperate
with a solid lug 74 which is welded on the plate 118 and
define limiting positions in the range of pivotal movement of
the plate about the bearing ring 60. The notches 70, 72 co-
act with the lug 74 to define a range of pivotal movement of
the plate of about 90 from a deployed position as shown in
Figure 5B wherein the plate extends substantially horizontally
forwardly, to a retracted position shown in Figure 5A wherein
the plate 118 extends vertically upwardly to the rear of the
lower edge of the bucket.
As with the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3, the
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attachment plate 118 has a rounded large radius lower front
corner 122 to enable the plate to pivot upwardly from its
deployed position when an obstacle is encountered. The lower
front edge portion of the plate 118 will be subject to wear
through contact with the ground surface, and to reduce this
wear, a carbide runner 113 is provided along the lower front
edge portion of the plate 118. This carbide runner is formed
of short sections of carbide welded, brazed or otherwise
attached to the plate 118.
To retain the plate 118 in its retracted position a
latching arrangement is provided comprising a laterally
projecting latching pin 76 (Figures 5A, 5B) carried on a power
actuator 78 mounted on the plate 48 and positioned at the rear
of the bucket 42 and connected for operation from the cab of
the loader vehicle 40. In the embodiment shown the actuator
78 is air powered, the pin 76 being spring-loaded towards its
extended position from which it can be withdrawn under the
control of an air supply delivered to the actuator. Obviously
other types of fluid-powered, electrical or mechanical
actuators could also be employed. An aperture 80 is
positioned on the plate 118 so as to lie in register with the
latching pin 76 when the plate occupies its retracted limiting
position as shown in Figure 5A, in which position the latching
pin 76 can be extended by the actuator 78 to latch the plate
in the retracted position. When the pin 76 is withdrawn, the
plate 118 is freed for movement between its two limiting
positions. It will be understood that the precise location of
the aperture 80 will depend upon the location of the pivot
axis and of the latching pin 76, and these locations will to
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some extent be determined by the physical characteristics of
the bucket 42 upon which the attachment is to be mounted. To
accommodate various possibilities in the positioning of the
latching pin 76, the aperture 80 is provided in a lug plate 81
which is designed to be attached to the plate 118 as by
welding 83 once the position of the actuator 78 has been
established.
In the deployed position of the plate as shown in
Figure 5B, the plate is freely pivotable upwardly about the
bearing ring 60 so that the front end of the plate can rise
when an obstacle such as a kerb stone, or a change in grade is
encountered. Movement of the plate between its deployed and
retracted positions can be effected by manipulation of the
powered linkage 44 of the loader as will be appreciated from a
consideration of Figure 4B. With the latching pin 76
withdrawn, operation of the linkage 44 to swivel the bucket
and the plate 118 counterclockwise from the position shown in
full lines will cause the center of gravity 82 of the plate to
swing to the left as illustrated so that once it has passed
over the axis 46, the plate will be urged by gravity to move
towards its deployed position as shown in broken lines in
Figure 4B. Similarly, reverse pivoting movement of the bucket
42 about the axis 46 will restore the plate from the deployed
position to the retracted position.
The plates 118 at opposite ends of the loader bucket
42 can be operated independently so that the bucket can be
utilized in the configuration where one plate is deployed and
the plate at the opposite side of the bucket is retracted.
A modified arrangement of the abutment means for
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delimiting the range of pivotal movement of the plates 118 is
shown in Figure 7. In this arrangement, there is an abutment
plate 84 the outside of which is of rectangular outline. The
plate 118 is formed with an arcuate slot (not shown) coaxial
with the bearing ring 30, this arcuate slot cooperating with a
lug (not shown) fixed to the inner side of the plate 84 to
delimit the range of pivotal movement of the plate 118 between
the deployed and retracted positions.
The modified attachment plate 218 shown in Figures 8
and 9 is generally similar to that described in relation to
Figures 5 and 6 but is modified to provide increased
flexibility of use. It will be understood from the
description and illustration of the previously discussed
embodiments that in operation the attachment plates mounted at
opposite sides of a snowplow blade or loading bucket will
confine a swath of snow of a width corresponding to that of
the blade or bucket. However where the snowfall to be cleared
is light, i.e. about 6 inches or less, the capacity or power
of the vehicle which drives the blade or bucket is under
utilized, and particularly for use in these circumstances, the
modified attachment plate arrangement 218 of Figures 8 and 9
is provided. Basically this embodiment accomplishes the
object of widening the swath which can be cleared by the blade
or bucket, and to this end the attachment plate 218 is sub-
divided into a relatively short proximal mounting section 219
and a relatively larger distal section 220 which is pivotally
attached to the mounting section on a pivot axis 221 that is
established by a series of hinges 222 mounted on the plate
sections 219 and 220. Each of the sections 219, 220 has on
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the outer surface thereof a longitudinally extending
stiffening rib 224, 226 respectively.
The distal section 220 of the blade can be pivoted
between the coplanar position relative to the mounting section
210 as shown in full lines in Figure 9, and to an angulated
position, shown in broken lines. To control the attitude of
the plate section 220, an elongate rigid strut 228 is
provided, this strut being pivotally attached at opposite ends
to brackets 230, 232 on the plate sections 219, 220. The
strut 228 includes a length adjusting mechanism 234 which can
be actuated to extend the strut to its full length as shown in
Figure 8 or retract it as indicated in broken lines in Figure
9 to effect outwards pivotal movement of the distal plate
section 220. The distal section 220 can be locked in the
coplanar position shown by means of a pin 235 passed through
the jaws of a bracket 236 in which the strut 228 is received,
to prevent pivotal movement of the strut about its rear end.
It should be noted that angulation of the distal
portion 220 of the plate 217 as shown in Figure 9 does not
interfere with the ability of the plate 217 to pivot upwardly
away from the deployed position when an obstacle is
encountered.
The length adjusting mechanism 234 can be provided
in various forms, e.g. as a pneumatic or hydraulic actuator,
or as a mechanical actuator such as a turnbuckle.
In an alternative configuration (not shown) the
strut 228 can be of fixed length with its forward end adapted
for attachment to auxiliary brackets (not shown) spaced
longitudinally towards the hinge 221.
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By such means as described above in relation to
Figures 8 and 9 it is possible to widened the effective swath
of ground that is cleared by a bucket or snow blade provided
with such attachment plates by up to 50%. This feature
greatly increases the productivity of the operating vehicle in
light snow fall conditions.
The attachment is fabricated from any suitable
material. Typically the components will be made from various
grades of tempered steel which may be fabricated by cutting
and interconnected by welding.
The plates 118 can be of very large size, and in the
example shown as mounted on a heavy duty bucket loader the
plates have an overall length of 84 to 96 inches and a width
of 48 to 60 inches. Due to their large extent and the fact
that they are supported in operation at just one end, it is
desirable to provide stiffening reinforcement on these plates
to reduce the amount of flexure thereof in operation. As
shown, the plates are of steel sheet (temper plate Tl, or
Algoma QT) of thickness .75 inches and are stiffened by a
welded in place longitudinally extending V-shaped rib 218
(Figure 6) formed of 5/16 inch steel plate. The rib 218 has a
length of approximately 54 to 72 inches or 80% of the length
of the plate 118, and a width of 7 to 9 inches and is welded
around its edges to the outer side of the associated plate 118
to provide the latter with a desired degree of rigidity
without excessively adding to its weight.
The plates 118 as shown in Figures 4 to 7 will have
considerable weight, particularly when used on large capacity
loader buckets, and in these circumstances it may be desirable
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to provide a damper to prevent excessive impacts occurring
between the abutment blade 64 and the lug 74 when the plate
118 is swung between its limiting positions as shown in Figure
4B by rotation of the bucket 42. For this purpose the pivot
mechanism can include a fluid damper (not shown) which will
offer strong resistance against rapid movement of the plate
118 to either of its limiting positions, but which will offer
very little resistance to slow movement of the plate 118. The
fluid damper mounting will include lost motion means to enable
rapid upwards movement of the plate 118 from its deployed
position shown in Figure 5, in the event that the plate
encounters an obstacle such as a curb stone.
In some circumstances e.g. for particularly heavy
plates 118 and where independent control of the position of
these plates at opposite sides is desired, a powered actuator
can be provided. For example there could be provided for each
plate 118 a linkage controlled by a fluid motor such as an air
bag or hydraulic cylinder effective to swing the plate 118
throughout its range of pivotal movement, the linkage
including a lost motion arrangement such as a pin and slot to
enable upwards pivotal movement of the plate from its deployed
position as described above. With this arrangement the bucket
can be operated selectively with both plates deployed, both
plates retracted, or with only one of the plates deployed.
Although shown only in Figure 6, reinforcing ribs
can and preferably will be provided on all embodiments of the
invention including that of Figures 1 to 3. Such ribs are
readily fabricated and installed and provide significant
advantages in providing the plates with an adequate degree of
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stiffness with little increases in weight. Of course the
stiffening ribs can be provided in many forms other than the
straight configuration illustrated in Figure 6.
The attachments discussed in the foregoing can also
be provided in kit form to be retrofitted onto existing
snowplow blades and loader buckets. For example in the
embodiment of Figures 1 to 3 the kit would comprise a pair of
plates 18, pivot pins 20 and attachment sleeves 26 together
with the latch pin assembly 34, 36.
For the embodiment of Figures 4 to 6 an installation
kit for the attachment would comprise a pair of mounting
plates 48 each with its associated bearing ring 60, abutment
plate 64, plate 118 and latching arrangement 76, 78, together
with the associated hardware for connecting the attachment to
the bucket 42. In some situations it is envisaged that the
lower front portion of the bucket cheek will be removed and
replaced by a welded in situ stiffened reinforcing plate to
provide a more solid support for the mounting plate 48 of the
attachment.
As mentioned in the foregoing, particularly for
installation upon loader buckets, it is desirable not to
encroach upon the interior space of the bucket. Likewise it is
desirable to avoid excessive added thickness in the transverse
direction of the bucket. To this end the bearing ring 60 is
minimized in its axial length and is preferably no more than
about 1.5 inches, and more preferably no more than .5 to about
1 inch in this dimension. The small axial length of the
bearing means that the increase in width of the bucket at each
side amounts to no more than about 1.5 to 3 inches, so that
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the attachment does not interfere greatly with normal
operation of the bucket. To provide an adequate bearing
surface for engagement by the bore in the plate 118, the
outside diameter of the bearing ring 60 will be at least 4
inches, and preferably from 6 to 12 inches depending upon the
application.
While certain exemplary embodiments of the invention
are shown in the drawings and described above, it will be
appreciated that the invention is susceptible of many
variations in the details thereof and is not limited to the
precise details disclosed, but rather encompasses all such
arrangements as fall within the scope of the appended claims.
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