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US 12,152,355 B2Granted
Roadway debris clearing system
AssigneeI.C. Innovations, Inc.
InventorsGeorge Bergeron, Ryan Davids
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure relates generally to a roadway debris clearing system that can be concealed within, or behind, a standard push bumper of a safety patrol vehicle. The roadway debris clearing system may include a debris clearing device that is disposed between the vehicle motor and the front bumper. The debris clearing device can be deployed from a retracted position to an extended position where the device is capable of pushing debris from a roadway. The debris clearing device, when in the retracted position, may be concealed behind the front bumper of the vehicle. The roadway debris clearing system includes a camera system to observe an area in front of the vehicle as well as under the front bumper while clearing debris using the debris clearing device.
Claims20
A debris clearing device for a vehicle, comprising:
- a blade assembly, comprising:
- a front blade portion having a front surface facing a front of the blade assembly and a rear surface facing a rear of the blade assembly, the front blade portion extending a width from a first end to a second end and extending a height from an upper edge to a lower edge;
- a first angled blade portion attached to the front blade portion at the first end and disposed at a first angle relative to the front blade portion such that the first angled blade portion extends away from a center of the blade assembly in a first direction running to the rear of the blade assembly;
- and
- a second angled blade portion attached to the front blade portion at the second end and disposed at a second angle relative to the front blade portion such that the second angled blade portion extends away from the center of the blade assembly in a second direction running to the rear of the blade assembly;
- and
- a blade mount assembly, comprising:
- a lift frame pivotally attached via a first set of lift arm ends to the rear surface of front blade portion and extending a length to the rear of the blade assembly and away from the rear surface of front blade portion terminating at a second set of lift arm ends;
- and
- an actuator mount attached to the rear surface of the front blade portion and comprising a recess that receives a portion of a lift actuator,
- wherein the blade mount assembly pivotally attaches to a frame of the vehicle via the second set of lift arm ends, wherein the debris clearing device is moveable between a retracted state and a deployed state by actuating the lift actuator engaged with the actuator mount, wherein, in the retracted state, the debris clearing device is maintained in a raised position behind a front bumper of the vehicle and the lower edge of the front blade portion is disposed adjacent to a lowermost edge of the front bumper, wherein, in the deployed state, the debris clearing device is maintained in a lowered position behind the front bumper and the lower edge of the front blade portion is disposed a distance away from the lowermost edge of the front bumper exposing a portion of the front blade portion in a space between the lowermost edge of the front bumper and a roadway surface.
8 more elements
A roadway debris clearing system, comprising:
- a debris clearing device for a vehicle, comprising:
- a blade assembly, comprising:
- a front blade portion having a front surface facing a front of the blade assembly and a rear surface facing a rear of the blade assembly, the front blade portion extending a width from a first end to a second end and extending a height from an upper edge to a lower edge;
- a first angled blade portion attached to the front blade portion at the first end and disposed at a first angle relative to the front blade portion such that the first angled blade portion extends away from a center of the blade assembly in a first direction running to the rear of the blade assembly;
- and
- a second angled blade portion attached to the front blade portion at the second end and disposed at a second angle relative to the front blade portion such that the second angled blade portion extends away from the center of the blade assembly in a second direction running to the rear of the blade assembly;
- and
- a blade mount assembly, comprising:
- a lift frame pivotally attached via a first set of lift arm ends to the rear surface of front blade portion and extending a length to the rear of the blade assembly and away from the rear surface of front blade portion terminating at a second set of lift arm ends, wherein the blade mount assembly pivotally attaches to a frame of the vehicle via the second set of lift arm ends;
- and
- an actuator mount attached to the rear surface of the front blade portion;
- and
- a lift actuator comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is attachable to a frame of the vehicle, wherein the second end is engaged with the actuator mount, and wherein the lift actuator is moveable between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein, in the retracted position, the lift actuator maintains the blade assembly of the debris clearing device in a raised position behind a front bumper of the vehicle in a retracted state such that the lower edge of the front blade portion is disposed adjacent to a lowermost edge of the front bumper, wherein, in the extended position, the lift actuator maintains the blade assembly of the debris clearing device in a lowered position behind the front bumper of the vehicle in a deployed state and the lower edge of the front blade portion is disposed a distance away from the lowermost edge of the front bumper exposing a portion of the front blade portion in a space between the lowermost edge of the front bumper and a roadway surface.
10 more elements
A roadway debris clearing system, comprising:
- a vehicle, comprising:
- a frame;
- and
- a front bumper attached to the frame, the front bumper comprising a bumper height running from an uppermost edge to a lowermost edge, wherein an area between the lowermost edge and a roadway surface defines a clearance distance for the front bumper;
- a debris clearing device, comprising:
- a blade assembly, comprising:
- a front blade portion having a front surface facing a front of the blade assembly and a rear surface facing a rear of the blade assembly, the front blade portion extending a width from a first end to a second end and extending a height from an upper edge to a lower edge;
- a first angled blade portion attached to the front blade portion at the first end and disposed at a first angle relative to the front blade portion such that the first angled blade portion extends away from a center of the blade assembly in a first direction running to the rear of the blade assembly;
- and
- a second angled blade portion attached to the front blade portion at the second end and disposed at a second angle relative to the front blade portion such that the second angled blade portion extends away from the center of the blade assembly in a second direction running to the rear of the blade assembly;
- and
- a blade mount assembly, comprising:
- a lift frame pivotally attached via a first set of lift arm ends to the rear surface of front blade portion and extending a length to the rear of the blade assembly and away from the rear surface of front blade portion terminating at a second set of lift arm ends, wherein the blade mount assembly pivotally attaches to the frame of the vehicle via the second set of lift arm ends;
- and
- an actuator mount attached to the rear surface of the front blade portion;
- and
- a lift actuator comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is attached to the frame of the vehicle, wherein the second end is engaged with the actuator mount, and wherein the lift actuator is moveable between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein, in the retracted position, the lift actuator maintains the blade assembly of the debris clearing device in a raised position behind the front bumper of the vehicle in a retracted state such that the lower edge of the front blade portion is disposed adjacent to a lowermost edge of the front bumper, wherein, in the extended position, the lift actuator maintains the blade assembly of the debris clearing device in a lowered position behind the front bumper of the vehicle in a deployed state and the lower edge of the front blade portion is disposed a distance away from the lowermost edge of the front bumper exposing a portion of the front blade portion in a space between the lowermost edge of the front bumper and a roadway surface.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.