Snow plow having reversible wings

Abstract

An improved apex snow plow having reversible wings is disclosed in which each wing frame is constructed to be used on either side of the snow plow to eliminate the need for two separately designed and constructed snow plow wings. The reversible wings are easily secured to the center portion of the snow plow and are removable to facilitate replacement. The reversible wings of the snow plow of the present invention can be arranged into any desired configuration via a hydraulic system positioned near the bottom of each wing, thereby allowing each wing to be lighter than and more effective than conventional apex snow plow blade designs.

1 . A snow plow wing for use in either the right or the left side wing position of an articulated snow plow assembly, said wing comprising: 
 a frame having front and rear sides, and top and bottom portions including: 
 (a) a first horizontal member having first and second ends and a plurality of apertures formed therein;  
 (b) a second horizontal member having first and second ends and a plurality of apertures formed therein, wherein said apertures in said second horizontal member are arranged in a mirror image configuration to said apertures in said first horizontal member;  
 (c) a first vertical member connecting said first horizontal member to said second horizontal member at said first ends thereof, respectively; and  
 (d) a second vertical member connecting said first horizontal member to said second horizontal member at said second ends thereof, respectively, said second vertical member including a connecting member used to pivotally connect said second vertical member to either right or the left side wing position of an articulated snow plow assembly;  
 wherein said top and bottom portions of said frame are structurally symmetrical about an axis extending from said first vertical member to said second vertical member such that said can be used on either the right or the left side wing position of an articulated snow plow assembly by inverting said top and bottom portions of said frame.  
   
   
   
       2 . A snow plow wing as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said first horizontal member is a U-shaped channel configured with the U facing upwardly, and wherein said second horizontal member is a U-shaped channel configured with the U facing downwardly.  
   
   
       3 . A snow plow wing as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said first horizontal member includes first, second, third and fourth sets of apertures formed therein and said second horizontal member includes first, second, third and fourth sets of apertures formed therein, wherein said first, second, third and fourth sets of apertures formed in said second horizontal member are arranged in a mirror image configuration to said first, second, third and fourth sets of apertures in said first horizontal member.  
   
   
       4 . A snow plow wing as defined in  claim 3 , further comprising at least one shoe support removably attached to said frame at said bottom portion thereof using at least one of said first, second, third and fourth sets of apertures formed in one of said first and second horizontal members.  
   
   
       5 . A snow plow wing as defined in  claim 3 , further comprising mounting hardware removably attached to said rear side of said frame at said bottom portion thereof using at least one of said first, second, third and fourth sets of apertures formed in one of said first and second horizontal members, said mounting hardware being used to attach a movement mechanism to said frame.  
   
   
       6 . A snow plow wing as defined in  claim 3 , further comprising a rear scraper extending along one of said first and said second horizontal members and removably attached to said rear side of said frame at said bottom portion thereof using at least one of said first, second, third and fourth sets of apertures formed in the one of said first and second horizontal members.  
   
   
       8 . A snow plow wing as defined in  claim 3 , further comprising a wearstrip extending and removably attached to said front side of said frame at said bottom portion thereof using at least one of said first, second, third and fourth sets of apertures formed in one of said first and second horizontal members.  
   
   
       9 . A snow plow wing as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said first vertical member is an arcuate-shaped rib member extending from said first end of said first horizontal member to said first end of said second horizontal member.  
   
   
       10 . A snow plow wing as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said second vertical member is a rectangular support member having front and rear faces and opposing side edges and wherein said connecting members including a plurality of tubular hinge pieces secured to one of said side edges.  
   
   
       11 . A snow plow wing as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a moldboard section secured to said front side of said frame extending from said first horizontal member to said second horizontal member and from said first vertical member to said second vertical member.  
   
   
       12 . A snow plow wing as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said first and second horizontal members and said first and second vertical members are all made of steel and are welded together to form said frame of said snow plow wing.  
   
   
       13 . A reversible wing for use in a hinged snow plow system comprising: 
 a frame including a first U-shaped channel member having first and second ends and front and rear portions, a second U-shaped channel member having first and second ends and front and rear portions, an outside vertical support member extending from said first end of said first U-shaped channel member to said first end of said second U-shaped channel member and an inside vertical support member extending from said second end of said first U-shaped channel member to said second end of said second U-shaped channel member, said inside vertical support member including a connection mechanism;    wherein said frame is symmetrical about a horizontal axis extending from said inner vertical member to said outer vertical member, said frame having a first position wherein said first U-shaped channel member is configured U-shape facing upwards and a second, mirror-image position wherein said first U-shaped channel member is configured U-shape facing downwards.    
   
   
       14 . A reversible wing as defined in  claim 13 , wherein said first U-shaped channel member includes first, second, third and fourth sets of apertures formed therein and said second U-shaped channel member includes first, second, third and fourth sets of apertures formed therein, wherein said first, second, third and fourth sets of apertures formed in said second U-shaped channel member are arranged in a mirror image configuration to said first, second, third and fourth sets of apertures in said first U-shaped channel member.  
   
   
       15 . A reversible wing as defined in  claim 14 , further comprising at least one shoe support removably attached to one of said first and said second U-shaped channel members at said rear portion thereof using one of said first, second, third and fourth sets of apertures formed therein.  
   
   
       16 . A reversible wing as defined in  claim 14 , further comprising mounting hardware removably attached to one of said first and said second U-shaped channel members at said rear portion thereof using one of said first, second, third and fourth sets of apertures formed therein, said mounting hardware being used to attach a movement mechanism to the reversible wing.  
   
   
       17 . A reversible wing as defined in  claim 14 , further comprising a rear scraper extending along one of said first and second U-shaped channel members and removably attached to said rear portion of the one of said first and said second U-shaped channel members using at least one of said first, second, third and fourth sets of apertures formed therein.  
   
   
       18 . A reversible wing as defined in  claim 16 , further comprising a wearstrip extending along one of said first and second U-shaped channel members and removably attached to said rear portion of the one of said first and said second U-shaped channel members using at least one of said first, second, third and fourth sets of apertures formed therein.  
   
   
       19 . A reversible wing as defined in  claim 13 , wherein said first and second U-shaped channel members and said outside and inside vertical members are all made of steel and are welded together to form said frame of said snow plow wing.  
   
   
       20 . A reversible wing as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a moldboard section secured to said frame extending from said front portion of said first U-shaped channel member to said front portion of said second U-shaped channel member and from said outside vertical member to said inside vertical member.  
   
   
       21 . A snow plow wing for use in either the right or the left side wing position of an articulated snow plow assembly, said wing comprising: 
 a generally rectangular wing frame having top and bottom portions and left and right vertical sides, said wing frame having a first horizontal member located at one of said top and said bottom portions and a second horizontal member located at the other of said top and said bottom portions, said frame having a first position wherein said first horizontal member is located at said top portion thereof and a second position wherein said second horizontal member is located at said top portion thereof;    wherein said bottom portion of said frame is substantially a mirror image of said top portion of said frame taken across a horizontal plane extending from a midpoint of said left vertical side to a midpoint of said right vertical side.    
   
   
       22 . A snow plow wing as defined in  claim 21 , wherein one of said left and said right sides include a hinge connection for removably attaching said wing to the right or the left side wing position of the articulated snow plow assembly.  
   
   
       23 . A snow plow wing as defined in  claim 21 , wherein said first horizontal member is a U-shaped channel configured with the U facing upwardly when said frame is in said first position, and wherein said second horizontal member is a U-shaped channel configured with the U facing downwardly upwardly when said frame is in said first position.  
   
   
       24 . A snow plow wing as defined in  claim 21 , wherein said first horizontal member contains a first set of apertures formed therein and said second horizontal member contains a first set of apertures formed therein and wherein said frame further comprises a shoe support removably attached one of said first and second horizontal members using said first set of apertures formed therein.  
   
   
       25 . A snow plow wing as defined in  claim 21 , wherein said first horizontal member contains a second set of apertures formed therein and said second horizontal member contains a second set of apertures formed therein and wherein said frame further comprises mounting hardware removably attached to one of said first and second horizontal members using said first set of apertures formed therein, said mounting hardware being used to attach a movement mechanism to said frame.  
   
   
       26 . A snow plow wing as defined in  claim 21 , wherein said first horizontal member contains a third set of apertures formed therein and said second horizontal member contains a third set of apertures formed therein and wherein said frame further comprises a rear scraper extending removably attached to said frame at said bottom portion thereof using said third set of apertures in one of said first and second horizontal members.  
   
   
       27 . A snow plow wing as defined in  claim 21 , wherein said first horizontal member contains a fourth set of apertures formed therein and said second horizontal member contains a fourth set of apertures formed therein and wherein said frame further comprises a wearstrip extending and removably attached to said frame at said bottom portion thereof using said fourth set of apertures formed in one of said first and second horizontal members.  
   
   
       28 . A snow plow wing as defined in  claim 21 , wherein said left vertical member is an arcuate-shaped rib member extending from said first horizontal member to said second horizontal member.  
   
   
       29 . A snow plow wing as defined in  claim 28 , wherein said right vertical member is a rectangular support member having front and rear faces and opposing side edges including a plurality of tubular hinge pieces secured to one of said side edges.  
   
   
       30 . A snow plow wing as defined in  claim 21 , further comprising a moldboard section secured to said frame extending from said first horizontal member to said second horizontal member and from said right vertical member to said left vertical member.  
   
   
       31 . A snow plow wing as defined in  claim 21 , wherein said first and second horizontal members and said left and right vertical members are all made of steel and are welded together to form said frame of said snow plow wing.  
   
   
       32 . In a snow plow assembly having a snow plow frame for detachable installation at the front of a vehicle, a blade mounting structure which is mounted onto the snow plow frame which supports a snow plow blade therefrom, said snow plow blade comprising: 
 a blade center component having first and second mounting surfaces; and    a first wing component having first and second horizontal members and opposing first and second vertical sides, said first wing component being structurally symmetrical about an axis extending from substantially a midpoint of said first vertical side to substantially a midpoint of said second vertical side allowing said first wing component to be pivotally secured to either said first or said second mounting surfaces of said blade center component at one of said first and said second vertical sides thereof.    
   
   
       33 . A snow plow blade according to  claim 32 , wherein said first wing component further comprises a moldboard section extending from said first horizontal member to said second horizontal member and from said first vertical side to said second vertical side.  
   
   
       34 . A snow plow blade according to  claim 32 , wherein said first wing component further comprises mounting hardware for a shoe support removably mounted to one of said first and said second horizontal members.  
   
   
       35 . A snow plow blade according to  claim 32 , wherein said first wing component further comprises mounting hardware for a hydraulic cylinder removably mounted to one of said first and said second horizontal members.  
   
   
       36 . A snow plow blade according to  claim 32 , wherein said first wing component further comprises a wearstrip removably mounted to one of said first and said second horizontal members, said wearstrip used to remove snow from a ground level surface.  
   
   
       37 . A snow plow blade according to  claim 32 , wherein said first wing component furthers comprises a rear scraper removably mounted to one of said first and said second horizontal members, said wearstrip used to remove snow from a ground level surface.  
   
   
       37 . A snow plow blade according to  claim 32 , wherein one of said first and said vertical sides includes a plurality of hollow tubular members mounted thereto for pivotally securing said first wing component to said blade center component.  
   
   
       38 . A snow plow blade according to  claim 32 , further comprising a second wing component substantially identical to said first wing component, said second wing component including first and second horizontal members and opposing first and second vertical sides, wherein said second wing component is structurally symmetrical about an axis extending from substantially a midpoint of said first vertical side to substantially a midpoint of said second vertical side allowing said second wing component to be pivotally secured to either said first or said second mounting surfaces of said blade center component at one of said first and said second vertical sides thereof.  
   
   
       39 . A snow plow blade assembly comprising: 
 a blade center component having right and left mounting sides;    a first reversible wing pivotally secured to said blade center component at one of said right and said left sides thereof; and    a second reversible wing pivotally secured to said blade center component at the other of said right and said left sides thereof;    wherein each of said reversible wings includes a frame having a first horizontal member, a second horizontal member, a first vertical member connecting said first horizontal member to said second horizontal at respective ends thereof and a second vertical member connecting said first horizontal member to said second horizontal member at opposite ends thereof, wherein said frame is structurally symmetrical about an axis extending from substantially a midpoint of said first vertical member to substantially a midpoint of said second vertical member allowing each of said first and second reversible wings to be pivotally secured to either of said right and said left sides of said blade center component.    
   
   
       40 . A snow plow blade assembly as defined in  claim 39 , wherein said first and said second horizontal members are U-shaped channels, said second horizontal member being a mirror image of said first horizontal member in said frame.  
   
   
       41 . A snow plow blade assembly as defined in  claim 39 , wherein said first horizontal member contains a first set of apertures formed therein and said second horizontal member contains a first set of apertures formed therein and wherein said frame further comprises a shoe support removably attached one of said first and second horizontal members using said first set of apertures formed therein.  
   
   
       42 . A snow plow blade assembly as defined in  claim 39 , wherein said first horizontal member contains a second set of apertures formed therein and said second horizontal member contains a second set of apertures formed therein and wherein said frame further comprises mounting hardware removably attached to one of said first and second horizontal members using said first set of apertures formed therein, said mounting hardware being used to attach a movement mechanism to said frame.  
   
   
       43 . A snow plow blade assembly as defined in  claim 39 , wherein said first horizontal member contains a third set of apertures formed therein and said second horizontal member contains a third set of apertures formed therein and wherein said frame further comprises a rear scraper extending removably attached to said frame at said bottom portion thereof using said third set of apertures in one of said first and second horizontal members.  
   
   
       44 . A snow plow blade assembly as defined in  claim 39 , wherein said first horizontal member contains a fourth set of apertures formed therein and said second horizontal member contains a fourth set of apertures formed therein and wherein said frame further comprises a wearstrip extending and removably attached to said frame at said bottom portion thereof using said fourth set of apertures formed in one of said first and second horizontal members.  
   
   
       45 . A snow plow blade assembly as defined in  claim 39 , wherein said first and said second wing reversible wings further comprise a moldboard secured to each of said frames respectively.  
   
   
       46 . A snow plow blade for use in a hinged snow plow system having right and left side snow plow blade components, said snow plow blade comprising: 
 a center section having first and second mounting surfaces; and    first and second blade wings, each of said wings including a frame having a top portion and a bottom portion, wherein said top portion of said frame is structurally a mirror image of said bottom portion of said frame; said first blade wing pivotally attached to said center section at either of said first and second mounting surfaces and said second blade wing pivotally attached to said center section at the other of said first and second mounting surfaces.    
   
   
       47 . A method for constructing a reversible wing assembly for use on either the left or the right side of a hinged snow plow blade assembly, said method comprising: 
 providing a first horizontal member having first and second ends and a plurality of apertures formed therein;    providing a second horizontal member having first and second ends and a plurality of apertures formed therein wherein said second horizontal member is a mirror image of said first horizontal member with each of said apertures on said second horizontal member being in mirror image symmetry with said apertures on said first horizontal member;    connecting said first end of said first horizontal member to first end of said second horizontal member using a first vertical member; and    connecting said second end of said first horizontal member to second end of said second horizontal member using a second vertical member, wherein said reversible wing is structurally symmetrical about an axis extending from substantially a midpoint of said first vertical member to a midpoint of said second vertical member.    
   
   
       48 . A method for constructing a hinged snow plow blade assembly comprising: 
 providing a blade center section having first and second mounting surfaces;    providing first and second reversible wing components, each of said wing components having first and second horizontal members and first and second vertical sides, each of said wings being structurally symmetrical about an axis extending from substantially a midpoint of said first vertical side to a midpoint of said second vertical side;    providing each of said second vertical sides of said first and second wing components with a hinge connection mechanism;    pivotally attaching said first wing component at said second vertical side to said first mounting surface of said blade center component using said hinge connection mechanism; and    pivotally attaching said second wing component at said second vertical side to said second mounting surface of said blade center component using said hinge connection mechanism.