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US 11,686,057 B2Granted
Four wheel drive, skid steer snow vehicle with snow plow blade
AssigneeThe Toro Company
InventorThomas M. Rich
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A snow plow is pivotally mounted to a tractor by a compound mount allowing for multiple blade positions. The mount has an inner portion pivotally mounted about a first horizontal axis to the front of the tractor and an outer portion pivotally mounted about a vertical axis to the inner portion. The plow blade is pivotally mounted about a second horizontal axis to the outer portion. Deicer nozzles spray liquid and a spreader distributes salt and other materials in front of the front wheels of the tractor.
Claims39
A snow removal system comprising:
- a skid steer vehicle comprising:
- a frame having a frame front end, a frame rear end, a first side extending between the frame front end and the frame rear end, and a second side extending between the frame front end and the frame rear end,
- a first plurality of rotating elements mounted on the first side of the frame and a second plurality of rotating elements mounted on the second side of the frame, wherein the first plurality of rotating elements and the second plurality of rotating elements are configured to drive the skid steer vehicle over a supporting surface,
- a power source operatively connected to the first plurality of rotating elements and the second plurality of rotating elements,
- controls operatively connected to the power source to control rotation of the first plurality of rotating elements independent of the second plurality of rotating elements, and
- a standing platform arranged rearward of at least a portion of the power source;
- and
- a mount configured to removably connect a snow removal accessory to the frame, the mount comprising:
- a mount rear end connected to the frame at least at a location that is in front of a rearmost rotating element of the first plurality of rotating elements and rearward of at least a first portion of a frontmost rotating element of the first plurality of rotating elements, wherein the mount rear end is pivotable about a first substantially horizontal axis,
- a mount front end positioned at least partially in front of the frame front end, and
- wherein at least a portion of the first substantially horizontal axis is positioned in front of at least a second portion of the frontmost rotating element of the first plurality of rotating elements.
8 more elements
A snow removal system comprising:
- a skid steer vehicle comprising:
- a frame having a frame front end, a frame rear end, a first side extending between the frame front end and the frame rear end, and a second side extending between the frame front end and the frame rear end,
- a first plurality of rotating elements mounted on the first side of the frame and a second plurality of rotating elements mounted on the second side of the frame, wherein the first plurality of rotating elements and the second plurality of rotating elements are configured to drive the skid steer vehicle over a supporting surface,
- a power source operatively connected to the first plurality of rotating elements and the second plurality of rotating elements,
- controls operatively connected to the power source to control rotation of the first plurality of rotating elements independent of the second plurality of rotating elements,
- a standing platform, and
- wherein the controls are mounted atop a substantially vertical structure arranged at least partially in front of at least a portion of the standing platform;
- and
- a mount configured to removably connect a snow removal accessory to the frame, the mount comprising:
- a mount rear end connected to the frame at least at a location that is in front of a rearmost rotating element of the first plurality of rotating elements and rearward of at least a first portion of a frontmost rotating element of the first plurality of rotating elements, wherein the mount rear end is pivotable about a first substantially horizontal axis, and
- a mount front end positioned at least partially in front of the frame front end,
- wherein at least a portion of the first substantially horizontal axis is positioned in front of at least a second portion of the frontmost rotating element of the first plurality of rotating elements.
9 more elements
A snow removal system comprising:
- a skid steer vehicle comprising:
- a frame having a frame front end, a frame rear end, a first side extending between the frame front end and the frame rear end, and a second side extending between the frame front end and the frame rear end,
- a first plurality of rotating elements mounted on the first side of the frame and a second plurality of rotating elements mounted on the second side of the frame, wherein the first plurality of rotating elements and the second plurality of rotating elements are configured to drive the skid steer vehicle over a supporting surface,
- a power source operatively connected to the first plurality of rotating elements and the second plurality of rotating elements,
- controls operatively connected to the power source to control rotation of the first plurality of rotating elements independent of the second plurality of rotating elements, and
- a standing platform arranged rearward of at least a portion of the power source;
- and
- a mount configured to removably connect a snow removal accessory to the frame, the mount comprising:
- a mount rear end connected to the frame at least at a location that is in front of a rearmost rotating element of the first plurality of rotating elements and rearward of at least a first portion of a frontmost rotating element of the first plurality of rotating elements, wherein the mount rear end is pivotable about a first substantially horizontal axis,
- a mount front end positioned at least partially in front of the frame front end, and
- wherein at least a portion of the first substantially horizontal axis is lower in a vertical direction than at least a second portion of the frontmost rotating element of the first plurality of rotating elements.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.