Support Apparatus For Securing A Wing Plow

Abstract

A support apparatus for securing a wing plow relative to a vehicle having a front and a rear includes a mounting member rigidly secured with respect to the vehicle. A first trailing link is pivotally secured to the mounting member. A second trailing link pivotally is secured to the mounting member. A support arm for supporting the wing plow is pivotally secured to at least one of the first trailing link and the second trailing link. During operation of the wing plow, the first and second trailing links trail away from the mounting member in a direction substantially parallel to a forward direction of vehicle travel.

1 . A support apparatus for securing a wing plow relative to a vehicle having a front and a rear, the support apparatus comprising:
 a mounting member rigidly secured with respect to the vehicle;   a first trailing link pivotally secured to the mounting member;   a second trailing link pivotally secured to the mounting member; and   a support arm for supporting the wing plow, the support arm being pivotally secured to at least one of the first trailing link and the second trailing link;   wherein, during operation of the wing plow, the first and second trailing links trail away from the mounting member in a direction substantially parallel to a forward direction of vehicle travel.   
     
     
         2 . The support apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first trailing link, the second trailing link, and the support arm are configured, respectively, to pivot around one or more substantially parallel axes substantially perpendicular to the forward direction of vehicle travel. 
     
     
         3 . The support apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a vehicle connection member, the vehicle connection member being rigidly secured to the vehicle; 
 wherein the mounting member is rigidly secured to the vehicle connection member. 
 
     
     
         4 . The support apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the mounting member includes one or more plate portions, and one or more vertical edges included in the one or more plate portions are substantially perpendicular to a portion of the vehicle connection member. 
     
     
         5 . The support apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a third trailing link pivotally secured to the mounting member, the third trailing link being configured to move substantially in parallel with the first trailing link. 
 
     
     
         6 . The support apparatus of  claim 5  further comprising:
 a fourth trailing link pivotally secured to the mounting member, the fourth trailing link being configured to move substantially in parallel with the second trailing link 
 
     
     
         7 . The support apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the third trailing link forms a unified linkage body with the first trailing link. 
     
     
         8 . The support apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the fourth trailing link forms a unified linkage body with the second trailing link. 
     
     
         9 . The support apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the mounting member includes a first and a second plate portion, wherein the first and third trailing links are pivotally secured to the first plate portion and the second and fourth trailing links are pivotally secured to the second plate portion. 
     
     
         10 . The support apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a hydraulic ram having a first and a second end; 
 wherein the first end is rotatably mounted with respect to the mounting member, the rotatable mounting of the first end substantially preventing translation of the first end with respect to one or more of the first and the second trailing links; and 
 wherein the second end pivotally cooperates with one or more of the first and the second trailing links to move the support arm relative to the mounting member. 
 
     
     
         11 . A support apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the mounting member has an upper portion and a lower portion, the first trailing link being pivotally secured to the upper portion of the mounting member, and the second trailing link being pivotally secured to the upper portion of the mounting member. 
     
     
         12 . A support apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the support arm being pivotally secured to the first trailing link and to the second trailing link. 
     
     
         13 . A support apparatus for securing a wing plow relative to a vehicle, said support apparatus comprising:
 a beam having a first and a second end, the beam being rigidly secured to the vehicle;   a mounting body having an upper portion and a lower portion, the mounting body being rigidly secured to the beam;   a first trailing link pivotally secured to the upper portion of the mounting body about a first pivotal axis;   a second trailing link pivotally secured to the lower portion of the mounting body about a second pivotal axis;   a third trailing link pivotally secured to the upper portion of the mounting body about the first pivotal axis;   a fourth trailing link pivotally secured to the lower portion of the mounting body about the second pivotal axis; and   a support arm for supporting the wing plow, the support arm being pivotally secured to the first trailing link about a third pivotal axis, the second trailing link about a fourth pivotal axis, the third trailing link about the third pivotal axis, and the fourth trailing link about the fourth pivotal axis;   wherein the first, second, third and fourth pivotal axes are spaced and parallel relative to each other so that when the vehicle moves in a forward direction, said third and fourth pivotal axes trail behind said first and second pivotal axes relative to said forward direction of the vehicle.   
     
     
         14 . The support apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the mounting body includes a first and a second plate portion, the second plate portion being disposed between the first plate portion and the vehicle, the first and second trailing links being pivotally secured to the first plate portion, and the third and fourth trailing links being pivotally secured to the second plate portion. 
     
     
         15 . The support apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the support arm includes a first arm component and a second arm component, the first and second arm components being fixably connected to each other, the first arm component being pivotally secured to the first trailing link about the third pivotal axis and the second trailing link about the fourth pivotal axis, and the second arm component being pivotally secured to the third trailing link about the third pivotal axis and the fourth trailing link about the fourth pivotal axis. 
     
     
         16 . The support apparatus of  claim 13  further comprising:
 a hydraulic ram having a first and a second end; 
 wherein the first end is rotatably mounted with respect to the mounting body; and 
 wherein the second end pivotally cooperates with one or more of the first and the third trailing links to move the support arm relative to the mounting member. 
 
     
     
         17 . A support apparatus for securing a wing plow relative to a vehicle having a front and a rear, the support apparatus comprising:
 a mounting member rigidly secured with respect to the vehicle;   a trailing link pivotally secured to the mounting member;   a support arm for supporting the wing plow, the support arm being pivotally secured to the trailing link, wherein, during operation of the wing plow, the trailing link trails away from the mounting member in a direction substantially parallel to a forward direction of vehicle travel.   
     
     
         18 . The support apparatus of  claim 17  wherein the trailing link is a first trailing link, and a second trailing link is pivotally secured to the mounting member mounting member, wherein, during operation of the wing plow, the second trailing link is substantially parallel to the first trailing link. 
     
     
         19 . The support apparatus of  claim 18  further comprising:
 a third trailing link pivotally secured to the mounting member, the third trailing link being configured to move substantially in parallel with the first trailing link. 
 
     
     
         20 . The support apparatus of  claim 19  further comprising:
 a fourth trailing link pivotally secured to the mounting member, the fourth trailing link being configured to move substantially in parallel with the second trailing link.