Back to results
US 7,114,270 B2Granted
Plow mounting apparatus and method
AssigneeThe Louis Berkman Company
InventorRobert L. Potak
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A plow mounting assembly is provided for removably attaching a plow blade to the front end of a vehicle. The plow mounting assembly includes a frame assembly semi-permanently connected to a front end of an associated vehicle. A blade assembly includes a plow blade and a grasping assembly in a closed position removably connected to the frame assembly.
Claims58
A plow mounting assembly for removably attaching a plow blade to the front end of a vehicle, the plow mounting assembly comprising:
- a frame assembly semi-permanently connected to a front end of an associated vehicle, the frame assembly including a lower portion and an upper portion spaced from the lower portion;
- and
- a blade assembly including:
- a plow blade, and
- a grasping assembly in a closed position removably connected to the frame assembly, the grasping assembly includes at least one lower hook and at least one upper hook that together grasp the frame assembly when the grasping assembly is in the closed position;
- wherein the lower portion is engaged by the at least one lower hook and the upper portion includes:
- a first angled section engaged by a first hook of the at least one upper hook;
- a second angled section engaged by a second hook of the at least one upper hook;
- and
- wherein the first and second angled sections together form a V-shape that generally centers the blade assembly relative to the frame assembly.
7 more elements
A plow mounting assembly comprising:
- a frame assembly semi-permanently connected to a front end of an associated vehicle;
- and
- a blade assembly including:
- a plow blade,
- a grasping assembly in a closed position removably connected to the frame assembly,
- a mounting beam attached to a nonplowing surface of the plow blade,
- a lift bar pivotally connected to the grasping assembly by a first pivot pin, and
- a frame member connecting the mounting beam to the lift bar, the frame member including a second pivot pin oriented parallel to a height of the grasping assembly for connecting the frame member to the mounting beam, and a third pivot pin oriented perpendicularly relative to a height of the plow blade for rotatably connecting the frame member to the lift bar.
5 more elements
A plow mounting assembly for releasably connecting a plow blade to a vehicle, the mounting assembly comprising:
- a frame semi-permanently mounted on the vehicle, the frame having a first portion and a second portion spaced from the first portion a preselected distance;
- and
- a blade assembly including:
- a grasping assembly in a closed position removably connected to the frame assembly,
- a plow frame member,
- a plow blade pivotally connected to the grasping assembly by first, second and third pivot pins, the plow blade having a mounting beam attached to a nonplowing surface thereof, the mounting beam pivotally connected to the frame member by the second pivot pin oriented approximately parallel with a height of the plow blade for allowing the plow blade to be positioned at varying angles relative to a front of a vehicle when the plow blade is connected to the vehicle,
- a lift bar pivotally connected to the frame member by the third pivot pin oriented approximately perpendicularly relative to a height of the plow blade for allowing the plow blade to float to a position generally parallel with the ground when the plow blade is connected to the vehicle, and
- an engaging member pivotally connected to the lift bar by the first pivot pin for allowing the plow blade to be positioned at varying distances from the ground, and
- wherein the grasping assembly has a pair of spaced first hooks adjacent the engaging member and a pair of second hooks spaced apart from the pair of first hooks.
6 more elements
A plow mounting assembly for removably attaching a plow blade to the front end of a vehicle, the plow mounting assembly comprising:
- a frame assembly semi-permanently connected to a front end of an associated vehicle;
- and
- a blade assembly including:
- a plow blade, and
- a grasping assembly in a closed position removably connected to the frame assembly;
- wherein the frame assembly includes an M-shaped portion for centering the blade assembly relative to the frame assembly.
3 more elements
A plow mounting assembly for removably attaching a plow blade to the front end of a vehicle, the plow mounting assembly comprising:
- a frame assembly semi-permanently connected to a front end of an associated vehicle;
- a blade assembly including a plow blade and a grasping assembly in a closed position removably connected to the frame assembly, the grasping assembly having a lower clamp, an upper clamp and a hydraulic cylinder extending between the lower clamp and the upper clamp for moving the grasping assembly between the closed position and an open position, the cylinder having an elongated tubular portion depending from one of the lower hook and the upper hook, and an elongated cylindrical portion telescopingly receiving in the tubular portion and depending from the other one of the lower clamp and the upper clamp, the cylindrical portion extending from the tubular portion when the grasping assembly is in the open position and the cylindrical portion retracted within the tubular portion when the grasping assembly is in the closed position;
- and
- a locking device for locking the grasping assembly in the closed position, the locking device including:
- a first locking arm extending from a distal end of the tubular portion and having a hole therethrough;
- a second locking arm adjacent said other one of the lower clamp and the upper clamp and having a hole therethrough, the holes of the first and second locking arms in registry with one another when the grasping assembly is in the closed position;
- and
- a lock insertable through the holes when in registry with one another for locking the grasping assembly in the closed position, the lock removable from the holes when the grasping assembly is to be moved to the open position.
5 more elements
A plow mounting assembly comprising:
- a frame semi-permanently mounted on the vehicle, the frame including a lower portion and an upper portion having a V -shape;
- a plow frame member;
- a plow blade pivotally connected to the plow frame member allowing the plow blade to be positioned at varying angles relative to a front of a vehicle when the plow blade is connected to the vehicle;
- a lift bar pivotally connected to the frame member allowing the plow blade to float to a position generally parallel with the ground when the plow blade is connected to the vehicle;
- an engaging member pivotally connected to the lift bar allowing the plow blade to be positioned at varying distances from the ground;
- a first clamp connected to the engaging member for selective engagement with the frame lower portion;
- a second clamp spaced from the first clamp for selective engagement with the frame upper portion;
- the V-shape upper portion for purposes of centering the second clamp on the frame when the plow blade is connected to the frame;
- and
- a hydraulic cylinder between the first and second clamps and selectively movable between an open position and a closed position, in the open position the first and second clamps are spaced a sufficient distance apart to allow the frame semi-permanently mounted on the vehicle to move to a first position between the clamps and a second position away from the clamps, and in the closed position the first and second clamps are capable of holding the frame when the frame is in the first position between the clamps to thereby connect the plow blade to the vehicle.
7 more elements
A plow mounting assembly for selectively connecting, disconnecting and reconnecting a plow blade to a vehicle, the mounting assembly comprising:
- a frame semi-permanently mounted on the vehicle;
- a plow frame member having a forward end and a rearward end;
- a plow blade pivotally connected to the plow frame member adjacent the forward end for allowing the plow blade to be positioned at varying angles relative to a front of a vehicle when the plow blade is connected to the vehicle;
- a lift bar pivotally connected to the frame member adjacent the rearward end for allowing the plow blade to float to a position generally parallel with the ground when the plow blade is connected to the vehicle;
- an engaging member pivotally connected to the lift bar allowing the plow blade to be positioned at varying distances from the ground;
- a first clamp connected to the engaging member adjacent the rearward end of the plow frame member;
- a second clamp spaced vertically upward from the first clamp
- a hydraulic cylinder between the first and second clamps and selectively movable between an open position and a closed position, in the open position the first and second clamps are spaced a sufficient distance apart to allow the frame semi-permanently mounted on the vehicle to move to a first position between the clamps and a second position away from the clamps, and in the closed position the first and second clamps are capable of holding the frame when the frame is in the first position between the clamps to thereby connect the plow blade to the vehicle;
- and
- a guide for centering the plow blade on the frame when the plow blade is connected to the vehicle;
- and
- wherein the second clamp is a pair of hooks and the guide is the hooks and a corresponding V-shaped portion of the frame that urges the hooks to a centered position on the frame when the plow blade is connected to the vehicle.
9 more elements
A plow mounting assembly for selectively connecting, disconnecting and reconnecting a plow blade to a vehicle, the mounting assembly comprising:
- a frame semi-permanently mounted on the vehicle;
- a plow frame member having a forward end and a rearward end;
- a plow blade pivotally connected to the plow frame member adjacent the forward end for allowing the plow blade to be positioned at varying angles relative to a front of a vehicle when the plow blade is connected to the vehicle;
- a lift bar pivotally connected to the frame member adjacent the rearward end for allowing the plow blade to float to a position generally parallel with the ground when the plow blade is connected to the vehicle;
- an engaging member pivotally connected to the lift bar allowing the plow blade to be positioned at varying distances from the ground;
- a first clamp connected to the engaging member adjacent the rearward end of the plow frame member;
- a second clamp spaced vertically upward from the first clamp;
- a hydraulic cylinder between the first and second clamps and selectively movable between an open position and a closed position, in the open position the first and second clamps are spaced a sufficient distance apart to allow the frame semi-permanently mounted on the vehicle to move to a first position between the clamps and a second position away from the clamps, and in the closed position the first and second clamps are capable of holding the frame when the frame is in the first position between the clamps to thereby connect the plow blade to the vehicle;
- and
- a guide for centering the plow blade on the frame when the plow blade is connected to the vehicle;
- and
- wherein the first clamp is a pair of spaced hooks each having an angled portion and the guide is the hooks and a pair of guiding members disposed on the frame, each of said guiding members having an angled portion, the spaced hooks and the guiding members positioned to center the plow blade relative to the frame when the plow blade is connected to the frame.
9 more elements
A mounting assembly for selectively connecting, disconnecting and reconnecting a plow blade to a vehicle, the mounting assembly comprising:
- a frame semi-permanently mounted on the vehicle;
- a plow frame member;
- a plow blade pivotally connected to the plow frame member allowing the plow blade to be positioned at varying angles relative to a front of a vehicle when the plow blade is connected to the vehicle;
- a lift bar pivotally connected to the frame member allowing the plow blade to float to a position generally parallel with the ground when the plow blade is connected to the vehicle;
- an engaging member pivotally connected to the lift bar allowing the plow blade to be positioned at varying distances from the ground;
- a first clamp connected to the engaging member, wherein the first clamp is a pair of spaced hooks each having a vertical portion and an angled portion;
- a second clamp spaced from the first clamp;
- a hydraulic cylinder between the first and second clamps and selectively movable between an open position and a closed position, in the open position the first and second clamps are spaced a sufficient distance apart to allow the frame semi-permanently mounted on the vehicle to move to a first position between the clamps and a second position away from the clamps, and in the closed position the first and second clamps are capable of holding the frame when the frame is in the first position between the clamps to thereby connect the plow blade to the vehicle;
- and
- the frame including a pair of guiding members each having a vertical portion and an angled portion so that when the plow blade is connected to the frame and misaligned relative to the frame the hooks engage the guiding members and urge the plow blade to a centered position relative to the frame.
7 more elements
A mounting assembly, comprising:
- a frame semi-permanently mounted on the vehicle;
- a plow frame member;
- a plow blade pivotally connected to the plow frame member allowing the plow blade to be positioned at varying angles relative to a front of a vehicle when the plow blade is connected to the vehicle;
- a lift bar pivotally connected to the frame member allowing the plow blade to float to a position generally parallel with the ground when the plow blade is connected to the vehicle;
- an engaging member pivotally connected to the lift bar allowing the plow blade to be positioned at varying distances from the ground;
- a first clamp connected to the engaging member;
- a second clamp spaced from the first clamp;
- a hydraulic cylinder between the first and second clamps and selectively movable between an open position and a closed position, in the open position the first and second clamps are spaced a sufficient distance apart to allow the frame semi-permanently mounted on the vehicle to move to a first position between the clamps and a second position away from the clamps, and in the closed position the first and second clamps are capable of holding the frame when the frame is in the first position between the clamps to thereby connect the plow blade to the vehicle;
- a first hole formed in a portion of the hydraulic cylinder;
- a second hole formed in one of the first and second clamps, the first and second holes aligned with one another when the hydraulic cylinder is in the closed position;
- and
- a lock insertable through the aligned holes for locking the hydraulic cylinder in the closed position and removable when desirable to move the hydraulic cylinder to the open position.
9 more elements
A plow mounting assembly for removably attaching a plow blade to the front end of a vehicle, the plow mounting assembly comprising:
- a frame assembly semi-permanently connected to a front end of an associated vehicle;
- and
- a blade assembly including a plow blade and a grasping assembly in a closed position removably connected to the frame assembly;
- wherein the grasping assembly includes a first clamp and a second clamp spaced from the first clamp, and the first clamp is a pair of spaced hooks each having a vertical portion and an angled portion, the frame assembly includes a pair of guiding members each having a vertical portion and an angled portion, when the plow blade is connected to the frame assembly and misaligned relative to the frame assembly, the hooks engage the guiding members and urge the plow blade to a centered position relative to the frame assembly.
1 more element
A plow mounting assembly for removably attaching a plow blade to the front end of a vehicle, the plow mounting assembly comprising:
- a frame assembly semi-permanently connected to a front end of an associated vehicle;
- a blade assembly including a plow blade and a grasping assembly in a closed position removably connected to the frame assembly;
- and
- at least one centering guide for centering the blade assembly relative to the plow assembly, wherein the at least one centering guide is a pair of upper hooks of the grasping assembly and a corresponding V-shaped portion of the frame assembly that urges the hooks to a centered position on the frame assembly when the plow blade is connected to the vehicle.
1 more element
A plow mounting assembly for removably attaching a plow blade to the front end of a vehicle, the plow mounting assembly comprising:
- a frame assembly semi-permanently connected to a front end of an associated vehicle;
- a blade assembly including a plow blade and a grasping assembly in a closed position removably connected to the frame assembly;
- and
- at least one centering guide for centering the blade assembly relative to the plow assembly, wherein the at least one centering guide is a pair of spaced hooks of the grasping assembly each having an angled portion and a pair of guiding members disposed on the frame assembly, each of said guiding members having an angled portion, wherein the spaced hooks and the guiding members are positioned to center the plow blade relative to the frame when the plow blade is connected to the frame.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.