(51) Int.Cl.³

E 01 H 5/06

(19) Federal Republic of Germany

[emblem]

German Patent Office

(12) Offenlegungsschrift

[= Published Patent Application]

(11) DE 32 05 974 A1

(21) Application number: P 32 06 874.4

(22) Filing date: February 19, 1982

(43) Disclosure date: September 1, 1983

(71) Applicant: Häring, Theodor, 7891 Dettighofen, DE

(72) Inventor: Same as the applicant.

(54) Snow Plow

The share (1) of the snow plow is provided at its lower end with an impact strip (2), which is held in working position by a torsion spring (5). When the impact strip strikes an obstacle, it can pivot rearwards about the axle (3). So that it does not have to raise the plow during this pivoting motion, it is held together with the return spring of a rocker (4), which allows the strip to be raised during the pivoting motion. The gap (S), which remains as a result of this structural arrangement between the lower edge of the plow share (1) and the upper side of the strip (2) is bridged by a rubber element (12). The rubber element (12) serves at the same time as a return spring for the rocker (4). Instead to this configuration, a separate return spring can also be attached.

(32 05 974)

[see figure]

DE 32 05 974 A1

Federal Government Printing Office 07.83 308 035/135 6/50

Theodor Häring

D-7891 Dettighofen, FRG

Patent Claims

1. Snow plow with a share metal plate, at the bottom of which is hinged an impact strip, which is held in its working position by a prestressed return spring,

characterized in

that the impact strip (2) is mounted on a rocker (4), which is hinged in a pivotable manner to the plow share (1) and which is held in its working position by a prestressed return spring (12, 21), the pivot axle (8) of the rocker being arranged behind the joint (3) of the impact strip (2); and that a rubber element (12, 20) bridges the gap (S) between the working face of the share metal plate (1) and the working face of the impact strip (2).

2. Snow plow, as claimed in claim 1, characterized in

that the rubber element (12), covering the gap, is designed as the return spring for the rocker (4).

3. Snow plow, as claimed in claim 1, characterized in

that a helical tension spring (21), which is mounted on the backside of the rocker (4), holds the rocker in its working position.

4. Snow plow, as claimed in claim 1, characterized in

that a compression spring, which holds the rocker in its working position, is mounted in front of the pivot axle (8) of the rocker (4).

[signature] Theo Häring

Theodor Häring

D-7891 Dettighofen, FRG

Snow Plow

The invention relates to a snow plow with a share metal plate, at the bottom of which is hinged an impact strip, which is held in its working position by a prestressed return spring.

State of the Art

Snow plows that are used for clearing roads usually have an impact strip, which is mounted on the bottom end of the metal plate of the plow share. The impact strip is an interchangeable part that is subject to wear. Impact strips, which are mounted securely on the metal plate of the plow share, have the drawback that the plow hits hard the parts that protrude slightly from the road surface - such as a shaft cover - and, in so doing, damages the road paving, or the plow itself is damaged.

In order to remedy this drawback there exist a variety of solutions. The most obvious one is to make the impact strip of rubber. However, this solution can be used only under certain conditions, for example, in order to clear soft snow and sleet.

Furthermore, it has been proposed to connect the plow to the pushing vehicle by means of a parallelogram linkage with upwardly directed guides. When the impact strip strikes an obstacle, the plow rises by itself. However, at the same time the entire weight of the plow share or the elements of said plow share have to be lifted, plus the force of a contact spring has to be overcome.

Another solution is to attach in an articulated manner the impact strip at the bottom end of the plow share and to hold it in its working position by means of a prestressed return spring.

Since in the working position the impact strip is at an obtuse angle to the road surface and upon striking an obstacle pivots rearwards, said impact strip has to raise the plow share during this pivoting motion. Therefore, the result is a sizable push; and there is the risk of damaging the road paving.

Object of the Invention

The object of the invention is to improve a snow plow of the latter type so that when the pivotable impact strip hits an obstacle, the resulting impact is as small as possible.

Such an improvement will protect not only the road paving, but also the plow itself.

The Invention

The invention solves the problem with a snow plow of the above described type, which is characterized in that the impact strip is mounted on a rocker, which is hinged in a pivotable manner to the plow share and which is held in its working position by a prestressed return spring. In this case the pivot axle of the rocker is arranged behind the joint of the impact strip; and a rubber element bridges the gap between the working face of the metal plate of the plow share and the working face of the impact strip. The rocker also allows the impact strip, which is mounted in a pivotable manner on said rocker, to rise during the pivoting motion.

Thus, it is no longer necessary to raise the entire plow, but rather just the rocker. The impact strip can be divided, for example, into 50 cm wide sections over the width of the plow share, said width

ranging from two to seven meters, as a function of the size of the plow share. In this case each section is provided with its own rocker.

The Drawing

The drawings show embodiments of the inventive subject matter. In particular,

Figures 1 and 2 are sectional views of a part of the plow share with the impact strip, mounted in an articulated manner on the bottom end, in operation and upon striking an obstacle.

Figures 3 and 4 are alternatives to the Figures 1 and 2.

\

Description of the Invention with Reference to the Drawings

In Figures 1 and 2 the reference numeral 1 denotes a curved metal plate of a plow share, which is reinforced with ribs on the backside, whereas the reference numeral 2 denotes an impact strip, which can be pivoted about an axle 3.

The axle 3 is fastened to a rocker 4. A prestressed torsion spring 5 is mounted on the axle 3. Similarly the hinged parts 6 that are mounted on the axle carry a plate 7, to which is screwed the interchangeable impact strip that is designed as a part subject to wear. The hinged parts 6 are designed in such a manner that they form a stop and hold the spring 5 under prestress. The rocker 4 can be pivoted with the impact strip, which is connected in an articulated manner to said rocker, and the torsion spring about an axle 8 as a whole unit. The two side parts of the rocker 4 are connected securely together by means of a tube 9. The axle 8 is fastened between two lateral metal plates 10, which are welded to the backside of the share metal plate 1 and are elongated downwards. The gap S, which remains between the bottom end of the plow share metal plate 1 and the rocker 4 owing to this arrangement, is prestressed by a rubber element, held in the U-shaped strips 11, and forces the rocker 4 against the stop 13, which is mounted on the metal plates 10.

Figure 2 shows what happens when the impact strip strikes an obstacle H. The strip 2 is stopped, while the plow is pushed further ahead. As a result, the impact strip pivots about the axle 3 counter to the force of the torsion spring 5.

At the same time the axle 3 moves upwards, an action that causes the rocker 4 to pivot upwards and, as a result, causes the rubber element 12 to deform.

The dashed lines in Figure 2 show the end position of the impact strip on overcoming the obstacle. When the obstacle is overcome, the spring 5 and the rubber element 12, which acts as the spring, return the strip into its working position, according to Figure 1.

The alternative, depicted in Figures 3 and 4, differs from the above described embodiment in that the gap is covered, in fact, by a rubber element 20, but the necessary return force of the rocker 4 is delivered by a spring 21. The spring 21 is hinged on either one side metal plate or both side metal plates of the rocker. To this end, said side metal plates are somewhat elongated. The upper end of the spring 21 is hinged to an angle iron 22.

Figure 4 depicts a situation similar to the one in Figure 2. In this case one can see that the rubber element 20 bends and, in so doing, can exert only a very small return force on the rocker 4.

The tensile force of the spring 21 brings the rocker back into its working position, so that it rests against the stop 13. Instead of being hinged to the side metal plates 4 of the rocker, the return spring 21 can also be hinged to the connecting tube 9 of said rocker.

Instead of a helical tension spring, hinged to the backside of the rocker, a compression spring, which is disposed in front of the axle 8 and is braced against the bottom end of the plow share, can also be used.

Number: 32 05 974

Int. Cl.³ : E 01 H 5/06

Application date: February 19, 1982

Disclosure date: September 1, 1983

[see figure]