Plow assembly

A snow plow comprising:

• a plow including a blade operable to contact a ground surface to facilitate moving snow;
• an actuator including a piston and a rod, the piston coupled to the rod and operable to move the rod, the actuator operable to move the blade from a first position to a second position in response to movement of the rod, wherein the actuator includes a compressible gas in contact with the piston and operable to bias the piston and the rod such that the actuator biases the blade toward a bias position, wherein the actuator is operable to receive hydraulic fluid;
• and
• a control system operably coupled to the actuator, the control system configured to direct the actuator to move the blade from the first position to the second position based on an operator input, the control system configured to direct supply of hydraulic fluid to the actuator.

A snow plow system for a vehicle, the snow plow system comprising:

• a plow including a main plow with a first side and a second side opposite each other with a blade disposed between the first and second sides, the blade operable to contact a ground surface to facilitate moving snow;
• a plow interface operable to support the plow;
• a lift actuator operable to raise and lower the plow relative to the ground surface;
• a first actuator coupled to a first plow portion of the plow, the first actuator including a first piston and a first rod, the first piston coupled to the first rod and operable to move the first rod, the first actuator including compressible gas in contact with the first piston and operable to bias the first piston and the first rod such that the first actuator is biased toward a first biased position, the first actuator operable to move from the first biased position toward a first unbiased position in response to application of a first force on the first plow portion, wherein the first actuator is operable to receive hydraulic fluid;
• a second actuator coupled to a second plow portion of the plow, the second actuator including a second piston and a second rod, the second piston coupled to the second rod and operable to move the second rod, the second actuator including compressible gas in contact with the second piston and operable to bias the second piston and the second rod such that the second actuator is biased toward a second biased position, the second actuator operable to move from the second biased position toward a second unbiased position in response to application of a second force on the second plow portion;
• and
• a control system operably coupled to the first and second actuators, the control system configured to direct the first actuator to move from the first biased position to a third unbiased position, the control system configured to direct the second actuator to move from the second biased position to a fourth unbiased position, the control system configured to direct supply of hydraulic fluid to the actuator.

A snow plow system for a vehicle, the snow plow system comprising:

• a plow including a main plow with a first side and a second side opposite each other with a blade disposed between the first and second sides, the blade operable to contact a ground surface to facilitate moving snow;
• a plow interface operable to support the plow;
• a lift actuator operable to raise and lower the plow relative to the ground surface;
• a first actuator coupled to a first plow portion of the plow, the first actuator including compressible gas operable to bias the first actuator toward a first biased position, the first actuator operable to move from the first biased position toward a first unbiased position in response to application of a first force on the first plow portion;
• a second actuator coupled to a second plow portion of the plow, the second actuator including compressible gas operable to bias the second actuator toward a second biased position, the second actuator operable to move from the second biased position toward a second unbiased position in response to application of a second force on the second plow portion;
• a control system operably coupled to the first and second actuators, the control system configured to direct the first actuator to move from the first biased position to a third unbiased position, the control system configured to direct the second actuator to move from the second biased position to a fourth unbiased position;
• a receiver coupled to one of the vehicle or the main plow, the receiver defining an opening for a receiver interface, the receiver interface being movably supported by the receiver along a longitudinal axis of the receiver;
• the receiver interface being coupled to the other of the vehicle or the main plow that is connected to the receiver;
• and
• a third actuator coupled between the vehicle and the main plow, the third actuator operable to move the receiver interface along the longitudinal axis of the receiver, the third actuator operable to move the main plow proximally and distally with respect to the vehicle as the third actuator moves the receiver interface along the longitudinal axis.

A snow plow system for a vehicle, the snow plow system comprising:

• a plow including a main plow with a first side and a second side opposite each other with a blade disposed between the first and second sides, the blade operable to contact a ground surface to facilitate moving snow;
• a plow interface operable to support the plow;
• a lift actuator operable to raise and lower the plow relative to the ground surface;
• a first actuator coupled to a first plow portion of the plow, the first actuator including compressible gas operable to bias the first actuator toward a first biased position, the first actuator operable to move from the first biased position toward a first unbiased position in response to application of a first force on the first plow portion;
• a second actuator coupled to a second plow portion of the plow, the second actuator including compressible gas operable to bias the second actuator toward a second biased position, the second actuator operable to move from the second biased position toward a second unbiased position in response to application of a second force on the second plow portion;
• a control system operably coupled to the first and second actuators, the control system configured to direct the first actuator to move from the first biased position to a third unbiased position, the control system configured to direct the second actuator to move from the second biased position to a fourth unbiased position;
• a receiver coupled to one of the vehicle or the main plow, the receiver defining an opening for a receiver interface, the receiver interface being movable within the receiver along a longitudinal axis of the receiver;
• the receiver interface being coupled to the other of the vehicle or the main plow that is connected to the receiver;
• wherein the first actuator is coupled between the vehicle and the main plow, wherein the first actuator is operable to move the receiver interface along the longitudinal axis of the receiver, wherein the first actuator is operable to move the main plow proximally and distally with respect to the vehicle as the first actuator moves the receiver interface along the longitudinal axis;
• and
• wherein, in response to the main plow encountering an obstruction, the first and second actuators retract.