Plow Including Independently Movable Wings

Abstract

A plow, including a center blade and an articulated wing blade pivotally attached to each end of the center blade. Each wing blade is configured to selectively move independently of the central plow blade from a first position to a second position about a vertical axis parallel with each of the first and second ends of the central plow blade.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A plow comprising:
 a straight blade;   a wing blade, with the wing blade coupled to an end of the straight blade, wherein a vertical axis is defined at such coupling;   a second wing blade coupled to another end of the straight blade and defining a vertical axis at such coupling and including a second actuator assembly coupled to the second wing blade and the straight blade with the actuator assembly configured to reciprocally move the attached second wing blade from a first position longitudinally aligned with the straight blade to a second position in front of the straight blade that is angularly displaced at least approximately 90 degrees from the first position; and   an actuator assembly coupled to the wing blade and the straight blade, with the actuator assembly configured to reciprocally move the attached wing blade between a first position longitudinally aligned with the straight blade and a second position in front of the straight blade that is angularly displaced at least approximately 90 degrees from the first position;   
       wherein each actuator assembly comprises a wing actuator cylinder with one end of the cylinder operating a wing actuator rod, with the wing actuator rod being coupled to the wing blade. 
     
     
         2 . The plow of  claim 1 , wherein each wing blade is configured to move independently of the other wing and independently of the straight blade about the respective vertical axis of each wing. 
     
     
         3 . The plow of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second actuator assemblies are coupled to a rear portion of the straight blade approximately along a midline of the straight blade between an upper edge and lower edge of the straight blade. 
     
     
         4 . The plow of  claim 1 , wherein the wing actuator rod is configured to transmit a force from the wing actuator cylinder to the wing blade and cause the wing blade to rotate about the vertical axis to the second position in front of the straight blade by at least about 90 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The plow of  claim 4 , wherein the actuator assembly is also configured to move the wing blade between the second position and the first position. 
     
     
         6 . The plow of  claim 1 , further comprising a swing frame coupled to the straight blade and supported from a plow frame, the plow frame being coupled to a quick connect/disconnect hitch used to mount the plow onto a vehicle chassis, the plow further comprising a lift assembly coupled to raise and lower the straight blade. 
     
     
         7 . A plow comprising:
 a straight blade;   a wing blade, with the wing blade coupled to an end of the straight blade, wherein a vertical axis is defined at such coupling;   an actuator assembly coupled to the wing blade and the straight blade, with the actuator assembly configured to reciprocally move the attached wing blade between a first position longitudinally aligned with the straight blade and a second position in front of the straight blade that is angularly displaced at least approximately 90 degrees from the first position; and   an actuator bracket coupled to the straight blade;   
       wherein the actuator assembly has two ends, with one end being coupled to the actuator bracket and the other end coupled to the wing blade; 
       wherein the wing actuator rod transmits a force from the actuator cylinder to the wing blade and causes the wing blade to rotate about the vertical axis between the first position and the second position at least approximately 90 degrees in front of the straight blade. 
     
     
         8 . The plow of  claim 7 , wherein the first position of the wing blade is longitudinally aligned with the straight blade. 
     
     
         9 . The plow of  claim 7 , wherein the actuator bracket is mounted on a rear portion of the straight blade along a midline of the straight blade between an upper edge and lower edge of the straight blade. 
     
     
         10 . The plow of  claim 7 , wherein the actuator assembly is configured to move the wing blade from the second position to the first position. 
     
     
         11 . The force transmitting actuator of  claim 7 , including a second force transmitting actuator coupled to a second wing blade and the straight blade, with the second force transmitting actuator configured to reciprocally move the attached second wing blade between a first position longitudinally aligned with the straight blade and a second position in front of the straight blade that is angularly displaced at least about 90 degrees from the first position. 
     
     
         12 . The force transmitting actuator of  claim 11 , wherein each wing blade is configured to move independently of the other wing and independently of the straight blade about the respective vertical axis of each wing. 
     
     
         13 . A plow comprising:
 a straight blade;   a first wing blade, with the first wing blade coupled to an end of the straight blade, wherein a vertical axis is defined at such coupling and including a first actuator assembly coupled to the first wing blade and the straight blade, with the first actuator assembly configured to reciprocally move the attached first wing blade between a first position longitudinally aligned with the straight blade and a second position in front of the straight blade that is angularly displaced at least approximately 90 degrees from the first position of the first wing blade; and   a second wing blade coupled to another end of the straight blade and defining a vertical axis at such coupling and including a second actuator assembly coupled to the second wing blade and the straight blade with the second actuator assembly configured to reciprocally move the attached second wing blade between a first position longitudinally aligned with the straight blade and a second position in front of the straight blade that is angularly displaced approximately 90 degrees from the first position of the second wing blade;   
       wherein each of the first and second wing blades is configured to move independently of the other of the first and second wing blades and independently of the straight blade about the respective vertical axis of each of the first and second wing blades, and wherein the first and second actuator assemblies are coupled to a rear portion of the straight blade along a midline of the straight blade between an upper edge and lower edge of the straight blade, wherein each actuator assembly includes a wing actuator cylinder driving a wing actuator rod, and wherein the wing actuator rods are coupled to the respective one of the first and second wing blades and the straight blade. 
     
     
         14 . The plow of  claim 13 , wherein the wing actuator rod of each actuator assembly is configured to transmit a force from the wing actuator cylinder to the respective one of the first and second wing blades and cause such wing blade to rotate about the vertical axis up to the second position in front of the straight blade by at least about 90 degrees. 
     
     
         15 . The plow of  claim 13 , wherein each actuator assembly is configured to move the respective one of the first and second wing blades between the second position and the first position. 
     
     
         16 . The plow of  claim 13 , further comprising a swing frame coupled to the straight blade and supported from a plow frame, the plow frame being coupled to a quick connect/disconnect hitch used to mount the plow onto a vehicle chassis, the plow further comprising a lift bar assembly coupled to raise and lower the straight blade.