Control means for a snow plow

Claim 1

A device for controlling the position of a plow blade of the type hydraulically lifted and lowered by gravity, said blade being attached to and driven by a vehicle having a front, said device comprising: a. a first cylinder secured onto said vehicle; b. ram means in said first cylinder and connected to said blade for raising said blade when pressurized liquid is introduced into said first cylinder to move said ram means from said cylinder; c. a supply of liquid; d. a pump means having an inlet communicated with said supply and an outlet for pressurized liquid; e. means adjacent the front of the vehicle for driving said pump means; f. a first conduit connecting said outlet and said first cylinder; g. first valve means in said first conduit and having a first position connecting said outlet with said first cylinder and a second position blocking communication of said outlet and said first cylinder; h. a second conduit communicating said first cylinder with said supply; i. second valve means in said second conduit and having a first position with said first cylinder communicated with said supply and a second position blocking communication between said first cylinder and said supply; j. a pressure relief means in said first conduit and between said first valve means and said outlet for allowing flow to said supply when pressure in said first conduit exceeds a given value; k. a control means located remote from said first and second valve means for controlling said first and second valve means, said control means including: i. a first electrical solenoid means secured adjacent to said first valve for selectively moving said first valve means between said first and second positions of said first valve means; ii. a second electrical solenoid means secured adjacent to said second valve for selectively moving said second valve means between said first and second positions of said second valve means; iii. manually operated means located remote from said vehicle front for controlling said first and second electrical solenoid means; iv. said manually operated means having first and second selectable conditions; v. first control means for causing said first electrical solenoid means to shift said first valve means into said first position of said first valve means when said manually operated means is in said first condition; vi. second control means for causing said second electrical solenoid means to shift said second valve means into said second position when said manually operated means is in said first condition whereby operation of said pump means causes movement of said ram from said first cylinder and raising of said blade; and, vii. third control means for causing said second electrical solenoid means to shift said second valve means into said first position of said second valve means when said manually operated means is in said second condition whereby the weight of said blade can force said ram into said first cylinder and allow lowering of said blade; and, l. said cylinder, ram means, pump means, first electrical solenoid means and second electrical solenoid means being joined as a unit and secured adjacent said front of said vehicle.

Claim 2

A device for controlling the position of a plow blade of the type hydraulically lifted and lowered by gravity, said blade being attached to and driven by a vehicle having a front, said device comprising: a. a first cylinder secured onto said vehicle; b. ram means in said first cylinder and connected to said blade for raising said blade when pressurized liquid is introduced into said first cylinder to move said ram means from said cylinder; c. a supply of liquid; d. a pump means having an inlet communicated with said supply and an outlet for pressurized liquid; e. means adjacent the front of the vehicle for driving said pump means; f. a first conduit connecting said outlet and said first cylinder; g. first valve means in said first conduit and having a first position connecting said outlet with said first cylinder and a second position blocking communication of said outlet and said first cylinder; h. a second conduit communicating said first cylinder with said supply; i. second valve means in said second conduit and having a first position with said first cylinder communicated with said supply and a second position blocking communication between said first cylinder and said supply; j. a pressure relief means in said first conduit and between said first valve means and said outlet for allowing flow to said supply when pressure in said first conduit exceeds a given value; k. a control means located remote from said first and second valve means for controlling said first and second valve means, said control means including: i. a first electrical solenoid means secured adjacent to said first valve for selectively moving said first valve means between said first and second positions of said first valve means; ii. a second electrical solenoid means secured adjacent to said second valve for selectively moving said second valve means between said first and second positions of said second valve means; iii. manually operated means located remote from said vehicle front for controlling said first and second electrical solenoid means; iv. said manually operated means having first and second selectable conditions; v. first control means for causing said first electrical solenoid means to shift said first valve means into said first position of said first valve means when said manually operated means is in said first condition; vi. second control means for causing said second electrical solenoid means to shift said second valve means into said second position when said manually operated means is in said first condition whereby operation of said pump means causes movement of said ram from said first cylinder and raising of said blade; and, vii. third control means for causing said second electrical solenoid means to shift said second valve means into said first position of said second valve means when said manually operated means is in said second condition whereby the weight of said blade can force said ram into said first cylinder and allow lowering of said blade; and, l. said cylinder, ram means, pump means, first electrical solenoid means and second electrical solenoid means being joined as a unit and secured adjacent said front of said vehicle.

Claim 9

A device for changing the angular position of a plow blade with respect to a vehicle on the front of which the blade is mounted, said device comprising: a. first cylinder means for receiving pressurized liquid; b. second cylinder means for receiving pressurized liquid; c. ram means operable by liquid in said first and second cylinder means for changing the position of said blade in a first direction when liquid is forced into said first cylinder means and for changing the position of said blade in a second direction when liquid is forced into said second cylinder means; d. a supply of liquid; e. an externally mounted pump means secured to the front of said vehicle having an inlet connected to said supply and an outlet for pressurized liquid; f. a first conduit connected with said outlet; g. a second conduit connected to a sump for liquid; h. first valve means having a first position with said first conduit connected to said first cylinder means and said second conduit connected to said second cylinder means and a second position with said first conduit connected to said second cylinder means and said second conduit connected to said first cylinder means; i. an electrical solenoid means for selectively shifting said first valve means between said first and second positions; and, j. a second valve means for selectively connecting said first conduit to said ouTlet of said pump and third valve means in said second conduit and having a first position allowing flow through said second conduit and a second position blocking flow through said second conduit and means responsive to pressure in said first conduit for shifting said third valve means into said first position and means for causing said third valve means normally to assume said second position.

Claim 10

A device for changing the angular position of a plow blade with respect to a vehicle on the front of which the blade is mounted, said device comprising: a. first cylinder means for receiving pressurized liquid; b. second cylinder means for receiving pressurized liquid; c. ram means operable by liquid in said first and second cylinder means for changing the position of said blade in a first direction when liquid is forced into said first cylinder means and for changing the position of said blade in a second direction when liquid is forced into said second cylinder means; d. a supply of liquid; e. an externally mounted pump means secured to the front of said vehicle having an inlet connected to said supply and an outlet for pressurized liquid; f. a first conduit connected with said outlet; g. a second conduit connected to a sump for liquid; h. first valve means having a first position with said first conduit connected to said first cylinder means and said second conduit connected to said second cylinder means and a second position with said first conduit connected to said second cylinder means and said second conduit connected to said first cylinder means; i. an electrical solenoid means for selectively shifting said first valve means between said first and second positions; and, j. a second valve means for selectively connecting said first conduit to said ouTlet of said pump and third valve means in said second conduit and having a first position allowing flow through said second conduit and a second position blocking flow through said second conduit and means responsive to pressure in said first conduit for shifting said third valve means into said first position and means for causing said third valve means normally to assume said second position.

Claim 11

A device for controlling the position of a plow blade of the type hydraulically lifted and lowered by gravity, said blade being attached to and driven by a vehicle having a front, said device comprising: a. a first cylinder secured onto said vehicle; b. ram means in said first cylinder and connected to said blade for raising said blade when pressurized liquid is introduced into said first cylinder to move said ram means from said cylinder; c. a supply of liquid; d. a pump means having an inlet communicated with said supply and an outlet for pressurized liquid; e. means for driving said pump means; f. a first conduit connecting said outlet and said first cylinder; g. first valve means in said first conduit and having a first position connecting said outlet with said first cylinder and a second position blocking communication of said outlet and said first cylinder; h. a second conduit communicating said first cylinder with said supply; i. second valve means in said second conduit and having a first position with said first cylinder communicated with said supply and a second position blocking communication between said first cylinder and said supply; j. a control means for controlling said first and second valve means, said control means including: i. a first electrical solenoid means secured adjacent to said first valve for selectively moving said first valve means between said first and second positions of said first valve means; ii. a second electrical solenoid means secured adjacent to said second valve for selectively moving said second valve means between said first and second positions of said second valve means; iii. manually operated means located remote from said vehicle front for controlling said first and second electrical solenoid means; iv. said manually operated means having first and second selectable conditions; v. first control means for causing said first electrical solenoid means to shift said first valve means into said first position of said first valve means when said manually operated means is in said first condition; vi. second control means for causing said second electrical solenoid means to shift said second valve means into said second position when said manually operated means is in said first condition whereby operation of said pump means causes movement of said ram from said first cylinder and raising of said blade; and, vii. third control means for causing said second electrical solenoid means to shift said second valve means into said first position of said second valve means when said manually operated means is in said second condition whereby the weight of said blade can force said ram into said first cylinder and allow lowering of said blade; and k. at least said cylinder, ram means, pump means, and second electrical solenoid means being joined as a unit and secured adjacent said front of said vehicle.

Claim 12

A device for controlling the position of a plow blade of the type hydraulically lifted and lowered by gravity, said blade being attached to and driven by a vehicle having a front, said device comprising: a. a first cylinder secured onto said vehicle; b. ram means in said first cylinder and connected to said blade for raising said blade when pressurized liquid is introduced into said first cylinder to move said ram means from said cylinder; c. a supply of liquid; d. a pump means having an inlet communicated with said supply and an outlet for pressurized liquid; e. means for driving said pump means; f. a first conduit connecting said outlet and said first cylinder; g. first valve means in said first conduit and having a first position connecting said outlet with said first cylinder and a second position blocking communication of said outlet and said first cylinder; h. a second conduit communicating said first cylinder with said supply; i. second valve means in said second conduit and having a first position with said first cylinder communicated with said supply and a second position blocking communication between said first cylinder and said supply; j. a control means for controlling said first and second valve means, said control means including: i. a first electrical solenoid means secured adjacent to said first valve for selectively moving said first valve means between said first and second positions of said first valve means; ii. a second electrical solenoid means secured adjacent to said second valve for selectively moving said second valve means between said first and second positions of said second valve means; iii. manually operated means located remote from said vehicle front for controlling said first and second electrical solenoid means; iv. said manually operated means having first and second selectable conditions; v. first control means for causing said first electrical solenoid means to shift said first valve means into said first position of said first valve means when said manually operated means is in said first condition; vi. second control means for causing said second electrical solenoid means to shift said second valve means into said second position when said manually operated means is in said first condition whereby operation of said pump means causes movement of said ram from said first cylinder and raising of said blade; and, vii. third control means for causing said second electrical solenoid means to shift said second valve means into said first position of said second valve means when said manually operated means is in said second condition whereby the weight of said blade can force said ram into said first cylinder and allow lowering of said blade; and k. at least said cylinder, ram means, pump means, and second electrical solenoid means being joined as a unit and secured adjacent said front of said vehicle.