Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SNOWPLOW BLADE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to snowplows, and is more particularly
directed to a snowplow blade.
BACKGROUND
Snowplows are used for moving snow and ice from roadways.
However, clearing of snow and ice from roads in winter conditions with
standard
snowplows often results in the accumulation of snow and the formation of
packed
and hardened snow windrows on the side of the road.
When a vehicle loses control on the road, these snow windrows can lead tipping
over of the vehicle, thus blocking at least one lane on the road.
In other circumstances, these snow windrows sometimes even become launching
ramps for projecting an out of control vehicle over road guard rails, thus
sometimes even leading to losses of life.
Accordingly, there is a need for a snowplow blade that addresses at least one
of
the above-mentioned problems.
SUMMARY
An object of the invention is to provide a snowplow blade that addresses at
least
one of the above-mentioned needs.
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According to the present invention, there is provided a snowplow blade
removably
attachable to a vehicle for contacting and plowing associated snow over a road
guard rail as the vehicle moves, the snowplow blade including:
-a snowplow surface defining a trajectory for displacement of the snow
between a lower substantially front-facing road-contact edge and an upper
substantially side-facing outlet edge; and
-an interface member providing removable attachment of the snowplow
surface to the vehicle,
wherein the upper side-facing outlet edge is sized and positioned to project
snow
above a top surface of the road guard rail.
According to the present invention, there is provided a snowplow blade
removably
attachable to a vehicle for contacting and plowing associated snow over a road
guard rail as the vehicle moves, the snowplow blade comprising:
a snowplow surface defining a trajectory for displacement of the snow
between a lower substantially front-facing road-contact edge and an upper
substantially side-facing outlet edge;
an interface member providing removable attachment of the snowplow
surface to the vehicle; and
a vertical side cutting edge for vertically cutting snow windrows, a front
edge
of the vertical side cutting edge extending perpendicularly upwards with
respect to a direction of travel of the front-facing road-contact edge, the
front edge of the vertical side cutting edge being in register with the front-
facing road-contact edge,
wherein the upper side-facing outlet edge is sized and positioned to project
snow
above a top surface of the road guard rail.
In an embodiment, the snowplow blade further includes a plurality of apertures
formed in the snowplow surface providing air inlets at a bottom of the
snowplow
surface, creating an air cushion for facilitating displacement of snow along
the
trajectory on the snowplow surface.
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In an embodiment, the snowplow blade is removably attachable to a front of a
vehicle.
In another embodiment, the snowplow blade is removably attachable to a rear of
a
vehicle.
In an embodiment, the snowplow blade further includes a skid assembly
positioned along the cutting edge for facilitating skidding thereof.
According to the present invention, there is also provided a kit adapted to
fit onto a
snowplow blade for contacting and plowing associated snow over a road guard
rail
as the vehicle moves, the snowplow blade comprising a lower substantially
front-
facing road-contact edge and an upper substantially side-facing outlet edge,
the kit
comprising:
-an adapter assembly removably attachable to the snowplow blade, the
adapter assembly being sized and positioned such that the front-facing
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road-contact edge of the snowplow blade is raised with respect to a road
surface and the upper side-facing outlet edge is positioned to project snow
above a top surface of the road guard rail.
In some embodiments, the adapter assembly further comprises a plurality of
apertures in a bottom portion thereof providing air inlets and creating an air
cushion for facilitating displacement of snow along a trajectory on the
adapter
assembly.
In another embodiment, the adapter assembly further comprises a skid assembly
positioned along a cutting edge of the adapter assembly for facilitating
skidding
thereof.
In an embodiment, the adapter assembly further comprises a vertical side
cutting
edge for vertically cutting snow windrows.
Some objects, advantages and other features will become more apparent upon
reading the following non-restrictive description of certain optional
configurations,
given for the purpose of exemplification only, with reference to the
accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better
understood with reference to the description in association with the following
Figures, in which similar references used in different Figures denote similar
components, wherein:
Figure 1 is a front view of a snowplow blade in relation with a road guide
rail, in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a side view of the snowplow blade shown in Figure 1;
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Figure 3 is a top view of the snowplow blade shown in Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a front view of a snowplow blade, in accordance with another
.. embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 5 is a side view of the snowplow blade shown in Figure 4; and
Figure 6 is a top view of the snowplow blade shown in Figure 4.
Figure 7 is a perspective view of a kit attached to a prior art snowplow blade
in
accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 8 is an exploded view of the kit and snowplow blade shown in Figure 7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In the following description, the same numerical references refer to similar
.. elements. Furthermore, for the sake of simplicity and clarity, namely so as
to not
unduly burden the figures with several references numbers, not all figures
contain
references to all the components and features, and references to some
components and features may be found in only one figure, and components and
features of the present disclosure which are illustrated in other figures can
be
easily inferred therefrom. The embodiments, geometrical configurations,
materials
mentioned and/or dimensions shown in the figures are optional, and are given
for
exemplification purposes only.
Furthermore, although the present invention may be used with a snowplow, for
example, it is understood that it may be used with other types of vehicles,
for other
purposes. For this reason, expressions such as "snowplow blade", "snowplow
vehicle", etc. as used herein should not be taken as to limit the scope of the
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present invention to being used with a snowplow vehicle in particular. These
expressions encompass all other kinds of materials, objects and/or purposes
with
other types of vehicles with which the present invention could be used and may
be
useful.
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In addition, although the optional configurations as illustrated in the
accompanying
drawings comprises various components and although the optional configurations
of the snowplow blade as shown may consist of certain geometrical
configurations
as explained and illustrated herein, not all of these components and
geometries
are essential and thus should not be taken in their restrictive sense, i.e.
should not
be taken as to limit the scope of the present disclosure. It is to be
understood that
other suitable components and cooperations thereinbetween, as well as other
suitable geometrical configurations may be used for the snowplow blade, and
corresponding parts, as briefly explained and as can be easily inferred
herefrom,
without departing from the scope of the disclosure.
Referring to Figures 1 to 6, a snowplow blade 10 is shown. The snowplow blade
can be commercialized under the name TheSnowBlowTm. The snowplow blade 10
is removably attachable to a vehicle 12 for contacting and plowing associated
snow over a road guard rail 14 as the vehicle 12 moves. The snowplow blade 10
includes a snowplow surface 16 defining a trajectory for displacement of the
snow
between a lower substantially front-facing road-contact cutting edge 18 and an
upper substantially side-facing outlet edge 20. An interface member 22
provides
removable attachment of the snowplow surface 16 to the vehicle 12. The upper
side-facing outlet edge 20 is sized and positioned to project snow above a top
surface of the road guard rail 14, thus reducing the accumulation of snow at
the
base of the guard rail 14.
In an embodiment, the snowplow blade 10 further includes a plurality of
apertures
23 formed in the snowplow surface 16 providing air outlets for facilitating
displacement of snow along the trajectory on the snowplow surface.
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In an embodiment, the snowplow blade is removably attachable to a front of a
vehicle.
In another embodiment, the snowplow blade is removably attachable to a rear of
a
vehicle.
In an embodiment, the snowplow blade further includes a skid assembly 24
positioned along the cutting edge for facilitating skidding thereof.
Preferably, the snowplow blade interface member is attached to displacement
mechanisms or pistons to displace the blade laterally or vertically.
The apertures 23 effectively provide an air cushion on the blade for
facilitating
sliding of snow on the snowplow surface 16.
The snowplow blade can be offered in right-sided and left-sided configurations
depending on the side of the vehicle on which the blade is to be installed.
After a standard snowplow vehicle has carried out its normal route along a
road, a
snow windrow is formed on the side of the road, sometimes in front of guard
rails.
The standard snowplow blade can then be replaced with a snowplow blade in
accordance with the present invention. The same vehicle can then travel once
again along the same route and remove or at least vertically cut the
accumulated
.. and hardened windrow.
The removed windrow is thus ejected beyond the side of the road surface and
liberates the area beside any steel guard rails. The guard rails can therefore
continue to play its road safety role.
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Preferably, the snowplow surface further comprises a vertical side cutting
edge 26
for vertically cutting snow windrows. The vertically cut snow windrow that is
hardened can effectively play the role of a naturally snow-formed guard rail.
In some embodiments, the snowplow blade can further include a proximity
detection sensor system and associated warning system for detecting the
proximity of guard rails or other similar side road structures such as Jersey
barriers or New Jersey walls.
In another embodiment of the present invention shown in Figures 7 and 8, a kit
can be provided to adapt a prior art snowplow blade and give the blade the
above-
mentioned characteristics and features. The kit includes an adapter assembly
30
removably attachable to the snowplow blade 32, the adapter assembly 30 being
sized and positioned such that the front-facing road-contact edge of the
snowplow
blade 32 is raised with respect to a road surface and the upper side-facing
outlet
edge is positioned to project snow above a top surface of the road guard rail.
In an embodiment, the adapter assembly 30 further includes a skid assembly 24
positioned along a cutting edge for facilitating skidding thereof.
In an embodiment, the adapter assembly 30 further includes a plurality of
apertures 23 providing air outlets for facilitating displacement of snow along
the
trajectory on the adapter assembly 30.
Preferably, the adapter assembly 30 further includes a vertical side cutting
edge
26 for vertically cutting snow windrows.
In the example shown in Figures 7 and 8, the prior art snowplow blade includes
opposite side edges defining a front opening height ranging between 26" and
39".
The adapter assembly 30 in this case can include structures that define a
front
opening having a height of 28" on one side and 36" on the opposite side. The
width L of the opening can range between 44" and 72". The adapter assembly 30
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can deflect the snow at about a 300 angle, up to 36" above the road surface.
Of
course, in other implementations of the present invention, these dimensions
can
vary to be adapted to the specific snowplow blade being used and the road
infrastructure in which the kit or snowplow blade will be operated.
In some implementations, the adapter assembly is attached to springs,
displacement mechanisms or pistons to displace the blade and attached adapter
assembly laterally or vertically.
The snowplow blade and/or kit according to the present invention provides a
rapid,
safe and economical way of clearing snow from roads. Indeed, a vehicle
equipped
with such a blade can travel much more rapidly than a vehicle equipped with a
snow blower that is often used to carry out similar tasks. Roads can therefore
be
liberated from snow clearing operations under shorter delays. In other cases,
a
vehicle equipped with the above-described blade can be more efficient as it
can
travel greater distances and provide longer distances of improved cleared
roads.
Cost savings result from reduced fuel consumption of a vehicle with a snowplow
blade instead of a snow blower and from avoiding the use of safety personnel
and
associated equipment or vehicles that are typically required when using a snow
blower.
The snowplow blade and/or kit according to the present invention provides an
economical way of clearing snow from roads as standard snowplow blades often
result in an accumulation of snow windrows that exert a pressure that squeezes
and damages guard rails, thus reducing their safety efficacy and sometimes
leading to their replacement. The snowplow blade according to the present
invention reduces this accumulation of snow windrows that damage guard rails.
The reduction or removal of snow windrows at the foot of guard rails also
helps
sun and warm temperatures melt any remaining snow or ice on the side of the
road, while also liberating the side of the road to allow water to flow away
therefrom.
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Of course, numerous modifications could be made to the above-described
configurations without departing from the scope of the disclosure.
