US 6,178,669 B2 · Plow hitch assembly for vehicles

Abstract

A hitch assembly provides removable connection of a plow assembly to a push beam assembly installed on a vehicle. The hitch assembly includes a draw latch assembly which engages the push beam assembly and pulls the plow assembly into position for pivotal attachment of the plow assembly to the vehicle. The draw latch assembly is activated by a power source, such as an hydraulic cylinder, and is further interconnected with a lift arm assembly such that further extension or activation of the hydraulic cylinder results in a raising or lowering of the plow blade. Also included is an easy connection and release mechanism for inserting and retracting pivot pins through corresponding brackets on the lift arm assembly and push beam assembly. A light tower assembly is removably attached to the push beam assembly such that when the plow is not in use, only the push beam assembly and its mounting brackets remain on the vehicle in a position below and rearward of a front bumper of the vehicle.

Claims66

Dependent claims

A hitch assembly adapted for mounting a plow on a vehicle, the vehicle having a frame and a bumper, and a push beam assembly being secured to the frame of the vehicle, said hitch assembly comprising:

a lift arm assembly having a first end and a second end, said first end of said lift arm assembly adapted for connection with a plow blade, said second end of said lift arm assembly adapted to removably and pivotally connect to the push beam assembly;
a draw latch assembly which selectively pulls said lift arm assembly toward the push beam assembly and pivots said lift arm assembly relative to the push beam assembly to vertically move the plow blade;
and
a power source interconnected with said lift arm assembly and said draw latch assembly, said power source operable to at least partially move at least one portion of said draw latch assembly such that said draw latch assembly engages the push beam assembly and pulls said lift arm assembly toward the push beam assembly, said power source further operable to at least partially pivot said lift arm assembly relative to the push beam assembly and said at least one portion of said draw latch assembly to pivot and vertically move the plow blade.

1 more element

A hitch assembly adapted for mounting a plow on a vehicle, the vehicle having a frame and a bumper, said hitch assembly comprising:

a push beam assembly adapted to attach to the frame of the vehicle, said push beam assembly including at least two first mounting flanges extending outwardly therefrom at spaced positions, each said first mounting flange having a first mounting opening therethrough;
a lift arm assembly having a first end and a second end, said first end of said lift arm assembly adapted for connection with a plow blade, said second end of said lift arm assembly being adapted to removably and pivotally connect to said push beam assembly, said second end of said lift arm assembly including at least two second mounting flanges, each of said second mounting flanges having a second mounting opening therethrough;
at least two coaxial mounting pins which pivotally attach said lift arm assembly to said push beam assembly such that said lift arm assembly pivots relative to said push beam assembly about a first pivot axis defined by said at least two mounting pins, each of said at least two mounting pins at least initially positioned adjacent one of said second mounting openings on said lift arm assembly and removably insertable through a corresponding pair of said first and second mounting openings of said push beam assembly and said lift arm assembly when said first mounting openings are aligned with said second mounting openings;
and
a mounting lever pivotable about a lever axis in a first direction and a second direction, said first direction being generally opposite said second direction, said mounting lever interconnected with said at least two mounting pins such that said at least two mounting pins engage said second mounting openings of said lift arm assembly and said first mounting openings of said push beam assembly to pivotally secure said lift arm assembly to said push beam assembly in response to a rotational movement of said lever in said first direction, said at least two mounting pins being withdrawn from said first mounting openings so as to detach said lift arm assembly from said push beam assembly in response to a rotational movement of said lever in said second direction.

2 more elements

A plow connection assembly adapted for mounting a plow on a vehicle, the vehicle having a center, a frame and a bumper, said plow connection assembly comprising:

a push beam assembly adapted to be secured to the frame of the vehicle, said push beam assembly positioned inward of the bumper toward the center of the vehicle;
a lift arm assembly having a first end and a second end, said first end of said lift arm assembly adapted for connection with a plow blade, said second end of said lift arm assembly adapted to removably and movably connect to said push beam assembly;
a draw latch assembly pivotally interconnected to said lift arm assembly, said draw latch assembly extending from said second end of said lift arm assembly and operable to pivot relative to said lift arm assembly so as to engage said push beam assembly and pull said lift arm assembly toward said push beam assembly for connection thereto.

A hitch assembly adapted for mounting a plow on a vehicle, the vehicle having a frame and a bumper, said hitch assembly comprising:

a push beam assembly adapted to attach to the frame of the vehicle, said push beam assembly including at least two first mounting flanges projecting outward therefrom at spaced positions, each said first mounting flange having a first mounting opening therethrough;
a lift arm assembly having a first end and a second end, said first end of said lift arm assembly being adapted for connection with a plow blade, said second end of said lift arm assembly being adapted to removably and pivotally connect to said push beam assembly, said second end of said lift arm assembly including at least two second mounting flanges, each of said second mounting flanges having a second mounting opening therethrough;
a draw latch assembly which selectively pulls said lift arm assembly toward said push beam assembly to align said first and second mounting openings and pivots said lift arm assembly relative to said push beam assembly to vertically move the plow blade;
a power source interconnected with said lift arm assembly and said draw latch assembly, said power source being operable to at least partially move at least one portion of said draw latch assembly such that said draw latch assembly engages the push beam assembly and pulls said lift arm assembly toward the push beam assembly, said power source being further operable to at least partially pivot said lift arm assembly relative to said push beam assembly and said at least one portion of said draw latch assembly so as to pivot and vertically move the plow blade;
and
at least two coaxial mounting pins for pivotally attaching said lift arm assembly to said push beam assembly such that said lift arm assembly is pivotable relative to said push beam assembly about a first pivot axis defined by said at least two mounting pins, each of said at least two mounting pins at least initially positioned adjacent one of said first and second mounting openings on said first and second mounting flanges and removably insertable through a corresponding pair of said first and second mounting openings of said push beam assembly and said lift arm assembly when said first and second mounting openings are aligned.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Plow hitch assembly for vehicles

Life of this patent

Plow hitch assembly for vehicles

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims66