Plow Blade with Water Passageway

Abstract

A plow blade having a fluid passageway and points of fluid ejection is produced with basic manufacturing processes allowing for efficient production. The blade construction has a multiple component assembly for providing the ability to rebuild a blade and replacing a portion of the blade that may be worn. In another aspect of the invention a process of ejecting a specific fluid at specific points along a plow blade the desirable characteristics are maximized, while the volume of ejected fluid is minimized. This method is adaptable in static plowing and vibratory plowing utilities since lubricating the sides of the blade/chute that come into contact with the ground with fluid has been found to greatly reduce the amount of drag (friction).

1 - 5 . (canceled) 
   
   
       6 . A plow for use in installing utility lines in the ground comprising;
 (a) a leading edge section comprising:
 i) a front edge; and 
 ii) a surface opposite the front edge including a sealing surface and fluid passage void. 
   (b) a blade comprising a front surface, a top end and a bottom end;   (c) a manifold comprising a front surface and a rear surface with apertures passing from the front surface to the rear surface;   (d) wherein a fluid passage is defined by the fluid passage void of the leading edge section and the front surface of the manifold when the leading edge section is secured to the front surface of the manifold such that the terminal end of the apertures at the front side of the manifold align with the fluid passage void of the leading edge sections.   
   
   
       7 . A plow for use in installing utility lines into the ground comprising:
 a) a blade having a top, a bottom, a one side and an another side, a front and a rear;   b) a chute disposed behind the blade near the rear edge thereof, the chute having a top portion and a bottom portion and at least one channel between the top portion and the bottom portion thereof for receiving at least one utility line in the top portion above ground and a bottom portion below ground;   c) an earth engaging leading edge section operatively disposed in front of the blade for cutting through the ground as the blade is forced through the ground;   d) the rear edge of the leading edge section having a longitudinally disposed groove therein;   e) a sealing surface disposed on each side of the longitudinally disposed groove;   f) wherein the sealing surface is operatively attached to at least a portion of the front portion of the blade whereby a passageway is formed between the rear edge of the leading edge section and the front of the blade; and   g) at least one outlet leading from the passageway to a place adjacent the bottom of the blade and leading edge whereby fluid in the passageway will lubricate the leading edge section and blade as leading edge and blade pass through the ground.   
   
   
       8 . The plow of  claim 7  wherein the passageway of the plow is sealed on the edges thereof by a weld between the leading edge section and the front of the blade. 
   
   
       9 . The plow of  claim 7  wherein the passageway of the plow is sealed by a tube disposed in at least a portion of the groove. 
   
   
       10 . The plow of  claim 7  wherein the passageway is connected to a source of liquid above the ground, whereby the liquid will flow to said at least one outlet to lubricate the leading edge section and blade as leading edge and blade pass through the ground. 
   
   
       11 . The plow of  claim 8  wherein the passageway is connected to a source of liquid above the ground, whereby the liquid will flow to said at least one outlet to lubricate the leading edge section and blade as leading edge and blade pass through the ground. 
   
   
       12 . The plow of  claim 9  wherein the passageway is connected to a source of liquid above the ground, whereby the liquid will flow to said at least one outlet to lubricate the leading edge section and blade as leading edge and blade pass through the ground. 
   
   
       13 . The plow of  claim 7  including a plurality of other outlets fluidly connected to said passageway are disposed between the blade and the leading edge section. 
   
   
       14 . The plow of  claim 13  wherein said other outlets are disposed in spaced relationship to each other between the top and bottom of the blade. 
   
   
       15 . The plow of  claim 13  wherein some of the other outlets are on said one side of the blade and others of the other outlets are on said another side of the blade. 
   
   
       16 . A plow for use in installing utility lines into the ground comprising:
 a) a blade having a top, a bottom, a one side and an another side, a front and a rear;   b) a chute disposed behind the blade near the rear edge thereof, the chute having a top portion and a bottom portion and at least one channel between the top portion and the bottom portion thereof for receiving at least one utility line in the top portion above ground and a bottom portion below ground;   c) an earth engaging leading edge section operatively disposed in front of the blade for cutting through the ground as the blade is forced through the ground;   d) the front of the blade having a longitudinally disposed groove therein;   e) a sealing surface disposed on each side of the longitudinally disposed groove;   f) wherein the sealing surface is operatively attached to at least a front of the blade whereby a passageway is formed between the rear edge of the leading edge section and the front of the blade; and   g) at least one outlet leading from the passageway to a place adjacent the bottom of the blade and leading edge section whereby fluid in the passageway will lubricate the leading edge section and blade as leading edge and blade pass through the ground.   
   
   
       17 . A plow for use in installing utility lines into the ground comprising:
 a) a blade having a top, a bottom, a one side and an another side, a front and a rear;   b) a chute disposed behind the blade near the rear edge thereof, the chute having a top portion and a bottom portion and at least one channel between the top portion and the bottom portion thereof for receiving at least one utility line in the top portion above ground and a bottom portion below ground;   c) an earth engaging leading edge section operatively disposed in front of the blade for cutting through the ground as the blade is forced through the ground;   d) the rear edge of the leading edge section having a longitudinally disposed groove therein;   e) a sealing surface disposed on each side of the longitudinally disposed groove;   f) wherein the sealing surface is operatively attached to at least a portion of the front portion of the blade whereby a passageway is formed between the rear edge of the leading edge section and the front of the blade; and   g) at least one outlet leading from the passageway to a place adjacent the bottom of the blade and leading edge whereby fluid in the passageway will lubricate the leading edge section and blade as leading edge and blade pass through the ground.   h) a passage extending between the blade and the chute, said passage being fluidly connected to said passageway.   
   
   
       18 . The plow of  claim 17  wherein the passage is fluidly connected to a source of liquid above the ground, whereby the liquid will flow through said passage to said passageway and to said at least one outlet to lubricate the leading edge section and blade as leading edge and blade pass through the ground. 
   
   
       19 . The plow of  claim 16  wherein said other outlets are disposed in spaced relationship to each other between the top and bottom of the blade. 
   
   
       20 . The plow of  claim 16  wherein some of the other outlets are on said one side of the blade and others of the other outlets are on said another side of the blade. 
   
   
       21 . The plow of  claim 17  wherein said other outlets are disposed in spaced relationship to each other between the top and bottom of the blade. 
   
   
       22 . The plow of  claim 17  wherein some of the other outlets are on said one side of the blade and others of the other outlets are on said another side of the blade. 
   
   
       23 - 39 . (canceled)