EP1050626A2

EP1050626A2 - Apparatus for support and suspension of a snowplough blade

Info

Publication number: EP1050626A2
Application number: EP00109096A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Carlo Assaloni
Original assignee: OFFICINE ASSALONI Srl
Current assignee: OFFICINE ASSALONI Srl
Priority date: 1999-05-04
Filing date: 2000-05-03
Publication date: 2000-11-08
Anticipated expiration: 2020-05-03
Also published as: DE60026192D1; ITBO990212A1; ITBO990212A0; EP1050626B1; EP1050626A3; DE60026192T2; IT1309691B1

Abstract

An apparatus for support and suspension of a snowplough blade includes a structure (35) fastened to a fore part of a vehicle. The apparatus includes also means for supporting the blade, first power means (70), which cooperate with the supporting means, so as to lower and raise the blade, thus defining the blade two external positions, use and non-use, respectively. Second power means (90) change the inclination of the blade with respect to the vehicle movement direction. Stabilizing means stabilize the blade in the non-use position. The supporting means include at least one upper arm (36), which is connected to the structure (35) and the blade (40). Stabilizing means include an extension (82), extending from the upper arm and turned upwards, and a plate (80), which is fastened to the structure and which forms a seat (81) firmly coupling with the extension (82) after the blade has reached its non-use position (I).

Description

The present invention relates to machines for clearing snow, particularly to an apparatus for support and suspension of a snowplough blade.
It is known that the snowplough blade, situated in front of a related vehicle, works in the region of the road surface.
The road unevenness causes stresses to the blade, and consequently to the whole vehicle, thus creating dangers for the driver.
This drawback has been overcome by supporting the blade so that it can oscillate slightly with respect to a vertical plane. In this way, the snowplough follows the road unevenness.
When the vehicle moves with the blade in non-use configuration, the blade is raised from the road surface, and the more advanced technical solutions limit the blade oscillation amplitude, when in non-use position.
The document EP 0 362 837 describes an apparatus for support and suspension of a snowplough blade.
This apparatus includes a plate, which can be fastened to the vehicle.
The inner ends of two "V"-like frames are fastened to the plate, so that the "V"-like frames oscillate with respect to the relative transversal axes.
The ends of the frames form a collar.
An upright of the snowplough blade supporting structure is articulated to said collars along transversal axes, so as to allow the blade to oscillate with respect to a vertical plane.
The upright is equipped with an extension which, when the blade is raised, engages with a relative seat made in the blade frame, so as to limit the blade oscillation in vertical plane.
Consequently, the blade is locked directly to the upright.
The object of the present invention is to propose an apparatus for support and suspension of a snowplough blade, which optimizes the blade dynamic positioning during the use thereof and which stabilizes the blade in raised position while the vehicle to which it is fastened moves in out-of-operation condition.
Another object of the present invention is to propose an apparatus, which stabilizes the blade by locking the means supporting the blade directly to the structure fastened to the vehicle.
A further object of the present invention is to propose an apparatus obtained by simple elements, which are easy to assemble and maintain.
The above mentioned objects are obtained in accordance with the contents of the claims.
The characteristic features of the invention will be pointed out in the following description of a preferred, but not unique embodiment, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures 1A, 1B show schematic lateral views of the proposed apparatus respectively in use and non-use positions;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the part of apparatus, which supports the snowplough blade;
Figure 3 is a lateral, partially sectional view of a particular H of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a section view taken along IV-IV in Figure 3;
Figure 5 shows the extreme positions of the snowplough blade oscillation in a vertical plane;
Figure 6 is a view of a possible variation of the means stabilizing the snowplough blade when raised to the non-use position.

With reference to the above mentioned figures, the reference numeral 30 indicates a vehicle, in front of which a carrying structure 35 is fastened in known way.
The reference numeral 40 indicates schematically a snowplough blade; the proposed apparatus 100 is positioned between the snowplough blade 40 and the structure 35.
The apparatus 100 includes:

an upright 41, which supports the snowplough blade 40 in known way;
means 42 for adjusting the snowplough blade 40 inclination with respect to a vertical plane;
an upper arm 36 fastened to the structure 35 and the upright 41 respectively by first linking means 37A, and second linking means 37B;
a lower arm 38 fastened to the structure 35 and the upright 41 respectively by third linking means 39A, and fourth linking means 39B;
hydraulic power means 70, which are situated between the structure 35 and the upper arm 36 for raising and lowering the upright 41 - blade 40 assembly;
means 50 for locking and releasing the upper arm 36 to and from the structure 35;
hydraulic power means 90, which are situated between the structure 35 and the blade 40 for orienting the blade 40.

The first linking means 37A are not shown in detail and include a ball joint.
The second linking means 37B include (see Figure 2):

a body 61 fastened to the upright 41 by a hinge pin 62 having vertical axis W;
a fork 63 fastened to the upper arm 36 and fixed to the body 61 by a hinge pin 64 having axis Y crosswise to the upper arm 36.

The third linking means 39A include a pair of coaxial hinge pins 65 with transversal axis, only one of which is seen in Figures 1A, 1B.
The fourth linking means 39B include:

a body 71 fastened to the upright 41 by a hinge pin 72 having vertical axis, coinciding with the hinge axis W of the pin 62;
a fork 73 fastened to the body 71 by a hinge pin 74 having transversal axis;
a pin 75, fastened to the lower arm 38 and rotatably engaged by the head 73A of the fork 73. The axis K of the pin 75 is normal with respect to the transversal axis of the pin 74;
an upper half-shell 76 fastened to the head 73A of the fork 73;
a lower half-shell 77, lying in the same plane as the upper one and fastened to the lower arm 38.

It is to be pointed out that the two half-shells do not form a full ring, so as to allow the lower arm 38 to oscillate with respect to the axis K in one direction or the other by a few grades, e.g. 4 - 5° in both directions with respect to the zero position.
The means 50 for locking and releasing the upper arm 36 to and from the structure 35 include:

a plate 80 formed by two parts 80A and 80B, inclined one with respect to the other, with the first part 80A being fastened in known way to the top of the structure 35 and with the second part 80B being oriented upwards and having a through hole 81;
an extension 82 fastened to the upper part of the upper arm 36 and turned upwards, formed by a cylindrical base 82A, having a section complementary to the hole 81 area and a conical top section 82B.

The extension 82 is positioned in such a way as to enter the hole 81 of the second part 80B due to upwards rotation of the arm 36.
It is to be pointed out that the first hydraulic means 70 are fastened from one side to the structure 35 and from the other side to the upper arm 36 by linking means 70A, 70B, similar to the above mentioned first and second linking means 37A, 37B, i.e. formed by a ball joint.
The means 42 for adjusting the blade 40 inclination with respect to a vertical plane include two groups of holes 91A, 91B, made in the strengthening ribbing 40A of the blade and positioned in parts opposite with respect to the blade transversal oscillation axis.
The holes of each group of holes are arranged along a circumference arc, centered on the blade transversal oscillation axis.
The upright 41 features, made therein, two threaded holes, not shown, centered on the above mentioned circumference arc in parts opposite with respect to the above mentioned axis.
It is possible to define three positions (inclinations) of the blade by a pair of fixing means, e.g. bolts 92, using corresponding pairs of the holes 91A, 91B.
Consequently, a fairly good variation of the blade inclination is obtained.
Now, operation of the proposed apparatus will be described.
The hydraulic means 90 drive the upright 41 - blade 40 assembly into rotation with respect to the vertical axis W, so as to define the blade inclination with respect to the vehicle 30 movement direction, while the means 42 adjust the blade position with respect to a vertical plane.
At this point, the hydraulic means 70 drive the upper arm 36 into downward rotation, so as to define the blade lowered use position O (Figure 1A).
If the road surface is even, the blade 40 assumes the configuration indicated with P in Figure 5.
If the road surface is uneven, the blade 40 follows the unevenness, since the upright 41 - blade 40 assembly can oscillate with respect to the pin 75 in any direction between two extreme positions P1, P2 (Figure 5).
The point, in which the upper arm is fastened to the upright 41, indicated with Z in Figure 5, describes a circumference arc centered on the pin 75.
This is possible due to the first and second linking means 37A, 37B and change of the upper arm 36 geometry.
When the blade 40 is no more used, the hydraulic means 70 drive the upper arm 36, together with the upright 41 - blade 40 assembly, into upwards rotation until the extension 82 couples with the hole 81 (non-use position I, Figure 1B).
Due to the coupling of the extension 82 with the hole 81, the upper arm 36 cannot oscillate about its axis.
It is to be pointed out that the upper arm is fastened to the structure 35, which makes the whole assembly (i.e. the arm 36, the plate 80, the structure 35) extremely compact.
Consequently, when in the non-use position I, the upright 41 - blade 40 assembly cannot oscillate with respect to a vertical plane, which is extremely advantageous when the apparatus 100 moves with the blade being kept raised.
The configuration described above forms a "profile" coupling between the extension 82 fastened to the upper arm 36 and a seat 81 made in an element (in the described case the plate 80) fastened to the structure 35.
The section of the base 82A can be of any shape, e.g. pentagonal, ovoid, elliptic, and the like, and the section of the hole 81 must be complementary therewith.
Figure 6 shows another embodiment of the means stabilizing the blade 40 raised, non-use position, in a section view taken along a plane perpendicular to the upper arm 36.
According to this embodiment, the stabilizing means include a plate 101, which is fastened to the upper part of the structure 35 and has a overturned "U"- shape with divergent wings, to which panels 102A, 102B made of a suitable synthetic or gum-like material are fastened.
The panels 102A, 102B form a "profile" seat, which couples with a complementary wedge-like extension 103 fastened to the upper arm 36.
Pads 103A, 103B made of e.g. polyzene are fastened to the outer sides of the wedge.
In the embodiment of the Figure 6, the upper arm 36 cannot oscillate about its axis, which stabilizes the non-use configuration of the upright 41 - blade 40 assembly.

Claims

Apparatus for support and suspension of a snowplough blade including:

a structure (35) fastened to the fore part of a relative vehicle (30);

means for supporting said blade;

first power means (70) cooperating with said supporting means for lowering and raising said blade thus defining said blade two extreme positions, working and non-use positions, respectively;

second power means (90) for adjusting the inclination of said blade with respect to the vehicle movement direction;

means for stabilizing said blade in the non-use position;

said apparatus being characterized in that said supporting means include at least one upper arm (36) connected to said structure (35) and blade (40) and in that said stabilizing means include an extension (82) made in said upper arm (36) and turned upwards, and a plate (80), which is fastened to said structure (35) and forms a seat (81) which firmly couples with said extension after the blade has reached its non-use position (I).
Apparatus, according to claim 1, characterized in that said extension has a circular base and a conical top section and in that said seat is circular.
Apparatus, according to claim 1, characterized in that the section of said extension is complementary to the profile of the related seat.
Apparatus, according to claim 1, characterized in that the section of said extension is polygonal and the profile of the related seat is complementary thereto.
Apparatus, according to claim 1, characterized in that said extension has a wedge-like shape (103) and the profile of the related seat is complementary thereto.
Apparatus, according to claim 5, characterized in that respective pads (103A,103B) are fastened to the outer sides of said wedge-like extension and in that respective panels (102A,102B) are fastened to the surfaces of the seat corresponding to said wedge-like extension outer sides.
Apparatus, according to claim 6, characterized in that said panels are made of synthetic or gun-like material.
Apparatus, according to claim 1, characterized in that said supporting means include:

an upright (41) for the blade (40) support;

first and second linking means (37A,37B) for connecting said upper arm (36) respectively to said structure (35) and upright (41), said first linking means (37A) being a ball joint and said second linking means (37B) being a two axes, transversal and vertical, double articulation, respectively;

a lower arm (38) hinged to said structure (35) along a transversal axis and fastened to said upright by fourth linking means (39B) featuring a double articulation along two axes, transversal and vertical (W), said vertical axis (W) coinciding with the vertical axis of said second linking means (37B), said fourth linking means (39B) featuring also a pin (75) situated rotatably between said double articulation, with the axis (K) perpendicular to the vertical axis (W) thereof;

means for limiting the mutual oscillation between said pin (75) and said double articulation.
Apparatus, according to claim 8, characterized in that said means for limiting the mutual oscillation between said pin (75) and the double articulation include an upper half-shell (76) fastened to said double articulation and a lower half-shell (77) lying in the same plane as the upper half-shell and fastened to said lower arm (38), with the sum of the angles defined by the two half-shells smaller than 360°.
Apparatus, according to claim 8, characterized in that it includes means for adjusting the position of said blade with respect to a vertical plane, said adjusting means including two series of holes (91A,91B) made in a strengthening ribbing (40A) of the blade and arranged in opposite parts, along a circumference which is centered with respect to the blade transversal oscillation axis, with the holes of each group being connected with a relative hole made in said upright, so as to define a predetermined blade position by engaging said upright with removable fastening means (92).
Apparatus, according to claim 1, characterized in that said first power means (70) are situated between said structure (35) and upper arm (36) and are linked to the latter by relative linking means, said linking means being ball joints.