Vehicle mountable plow

Abstract

A plow apparatus is disclosed for mounting on a mobile base, and includes a mount for mounting to a mobile base, a plow having a moldboard having an upper boundary, a plow support assembly mounted on the mount and configured to support the plow on the mount, and a plow adjustment assembly configured to adjust an orientation of the plow. The plow support assembly may be mounted to the plow toward the upper boundary of the plow. The plow adjustment assembly may comprise a tilt assembly that is configured to adjust a tilt orientation of the plow about a longitudinal substantially horizontal axis of the plow. The fluid actuation assembly may be configured to provide fluid to the plow adjustment assembly to orient the plow with respect to the mount, and the fluid actuation assembly is configured to utilize a gas to adjust the orientation of the plow.

1 . A plow apparatus for mounting on a mobile base, comprising:
 a mount for mounting to a mobile base;   a plow having a moldboard having an upper boundary, a lower boundary, and opposite ends;   a plow support assembly mounted on the mount and configured to support the plow on the mount; and   a plow adjustment assembly configured to adjust an orientation of the plow;   wherein the plow support assembly comprises upper and lower attachment structures, which are both mounted closer to the upper boundary than the lower boundary, wherein the lower attachment structure is mounted to the plow at a vertical location that is at least partially lower than the upper attachment structure, providing a tilt mechanism with relative movement of the upper and lower attachment structures about respective pivots.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the upper an lower attachment structures are located entirely above a midpoint between the upper and lower boundaries of the plow. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the moldboard of the plow has a width between the upper boundary and the lower boundary, and distances between the upper boundary and the locations of the mounting of the upper and lower attachment structures to the plow are less than approximately half one-quarter of the width of the moldboard. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the plow adjustment assembly is located at a vertical level higher than the plow. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  where the plow adjustment assembly further comprises a tilt assembly configured to adjust a tilt orientation of the plow about a transverse substantially horizontal axis about which the plow tilts with respect to the plow support assembly. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the tilt assembly of the plow adjustment assembly is configured to utilize a gas to adjust the tilt orientation of the plow such that the tilt assembly acts as a spring that absorbs shocks to the plow. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the plow adjustment assembly further includes a pivot assembly configured to adjust a yaw orientation of the plow; and
 wherein the plow adjustment assembly further includes a lift assembly configured to adjust a height orientation of the plow above the ground surface.   
   
   
       8 . A plow apparatus for mounting on a mobile base, comprising:
 a mount for mounting to the mobile base;   an elongate plow having upper and lower boundaries and opposite longitudinal ends;   a plow support assembly mounted on the mount and configured to support the plow on the mount, the plow support assembly comprising upper and lower attachment structures, which are both mounted closer to the upper boundary than the lower boundary, wherein the lower attachment structure is mounted to the plow at a vertical location that is at least partially lower than the upper attachment structure, providing a tilt mechanism with relative movement of the upper and lower attachment structures about respective pivots;   a plow adjustment assembly configured to adjust an orientation of the plow and comprising a tilt assembly configured to adjust a tilt orientation of the plow about a longitudinal substantially horizontal axis of the plow through at least one of the upper or lower attachment structures.   
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the tilt assembly of the plow adjustment assembly is configured to utilize a gas to adjust the tilt orientation of the plow such that the tilt assembly acts as a spring that absorbs shocks to the plow. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the plow support assembly includes a main member pivotally linking the plow to the mount, a main member forming a tank configured to hold a quantity of compressed gas. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the plow adjustment assembly further includes a pivot assembly configured to adjust a yaw orientation of the plow. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the plow adjustment assembly further includes a lift assembly configured to adjust a height orientation of the plow above the ground surface. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the plow support assembly is mounted to the plow toward an upper boundary of the plow. 
   
   
       14 . A plow apparatus for mounting on a mobile base, comprising:
 a mount for mounting to the mobile base;   a plow comprising upper and lower boundaries;   a plow support assembly configured to support the plow on the mount and comprising upper and lower attachment structures, which are both mounted closer to the upper boundary than the lower boundary, wherein the lower attachment structure is mounted to the plow at a vertical location that is at least partially lower than the upper attachment structure, providing a tilt mechanism with relative movement of the upper and lower attachment structures about respective pivots;   a plow adjustment assembly configured to adjust an orientation of the plow; and   a fluid actuation assembly configured to provide fluid to the plow adjustment assembly to orient the plow with respect to the mount;   wherein the fluid actuation assembly is configured to utilize a gas to adjust the orientation of the plow.   
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the plow adjustment assembly comprises:
 a lift assembly configured to adjust a height orientation of the plow above the ground surface;   a tilt assembly configured to adjust an orientation of the plow about a substantially horizontal longitudinal axis; and   a pivot assembly configured to adjust a yaw orientation of the plow.   
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the plow support assembly includes a main member pivotally linking the plow to the mount, the main member forming a tank configured to hold a quantity of compressed gas.