Debris Mover for Mounting on Highway Trucks

Abstract

A debris removal apparatus can be mounted on the front of a suitable vehicle for movement over the surface of the highway. The apparatus is formed with a central member and opposing wings pivotally mounted on the sides of the central member. The wings are independently pivotally movable by hydraulic cylinders forwardly and rearwardly of the central member to permit a selective placement of the debris on the shoulder of the highway. Hydraulic cylinders also control the vertical positioning of the apparatus between a lowered operative position and a raised transport position. Openings in the structure of the apparatus are covered with a rigid mesh that allows the passage of air through the apparatus, but not debris. The lower edge of the central member and wings are provided with a detachable wear strip. A control mechanism limits the speed of the vehicle when the apparatus is in the operative position.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A debris moving apparatus for removing debris from a highway surface to a position along the side of the highway, comprising:
 a central member supporting a mounting mechanism for connection thereof to a highway truck, said central member including a lift cylinder interconnecting with the mounting mechanism to enable vertical movement of the central member relative to said mounting mechanism between a raised transport position and a lowered operating position;   a pair of opposing side members pivotally connected to laterally opposing ends of said central member, each said side member including a swing cylinder interconnecting the corresponding said side member and said central member to affect pivotal movement of said side members; and   a control system operatively connected to said lift and swing cylinders to prevent movement of said central and side members when said debris moving apparatus is being transported at a speed greater than a predetermined speed of movement.   
     
     
         2 . The debris moving apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said swing cylinders are operable to move the respective said side members between positions pivoted rearwardly of said central member and positions pivoted forwardly of said central member. 
     
     
         3 . The debris moving apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said central member and said side members are formed with openings therein to form air vents allowing the flow of air through said central and side members while being transported in said raised transport position. 
     
     
         4 . The debris moving apparatus of  claim 1  wherein each of said side members and said central member includes a detachable wear member connected thereto along a lowermost edge of said side and central members. 
     
     
         5 . The debris moving apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said wear members are bolted onto a frame member corresponding to each of the respective said members and said central member. 
     
     
         6 . The debris moving apparatus of  claim 1  wherein at least one of said central member and said side members has mounted thereon a camera operatively connected to a monitor to provide an operator of said debris moving apparatus a view of debris being engaged thereby when said debris moving apparatus is moved into said lowered operative position. 
     
     
         7 . The debris moving apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said control system prevents forward movement of said central member above said predetermined speed of movement when moved to said lower operative position. 
     
     
         8 . The debris moving apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said side members are independently movable through operation of the corresponding said swing cylinder. 
     
     
         9 . The debris moving apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said mounting mechanism further includes a four-bar linkage interconnecting said mounting mechanism and said central member so that said central member will remain in a vertical orientation during movement between said raised transport position and said lowered operative position. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for removing debris from the surface of a highway, comprising:
 a vertically oriented central member;   a mounting mechanism adapted for connection to a snow plow mount on a suitable vehicle, said mounting mechanism being supported on a rearward side of said central member;   a pair of hydraulic lift cylinders interconnecting said mounting mechanism and said central member to affect vertical movement of said central member between a raised transport position and a lowered operative position;   a pair of side members pivotally connected, respectively, to laterally opposing ends of said central member, said side members being vertically movable with said central member, but pivotally movable relative to said central member about respective vertical pivots; and   a hydraulic swing cylinder connected, respectively, between each side member and said central member to control pivotal movement of said side members.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  further comprising a control system operatively associated with said hydraulic lift and swing cylinders to prevent movement of said central and side members when said debris moving apparatus is being transported at a speed greater than a predetermined speed of movement. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said control system is further operable to limit forward movement of said apparatus for removing debris from the surface of the highway only when the suitable vehicle is being operated below said predetermined speed of movement when said central and side members are in said lowered operative position. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein at least one of said central member and said side members has mounted thereon a camera operatively connected to a monitor to provide an operator of said apparatus a view of debris being engaged thereby when said debris moving apparatus is moved into said lowered operative position. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein each of said side members and said central member includes a detachable wear member connected thereto by bolts along a lowermost edge of said side and central members to a frame member thereof. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for displacing debris on a highway surface onto a shoulder of the highway, comprising:
 a vertically oriented central member having a mounting mechanism attached on a rearward surface thereof to affect mounting of said central member onto a suitable vehicle;   hydraulic lift cylinders interconnecting said mounting mechanism and said central member to affect vertical movement of said central member between a lowered operative position and a raised transport position;   first and second wing members pivotally connected to opposing sides of said central member;   a swing cylinder interconnecting each of said wing members and said central member to affect pivotal movement of said first and second wing members relative to said central member, each said swing cylinder being operative independently of the opposing said swing member to permit selective orientation of said wing members to control placement of the highway debris, each of said first and second wing members being independently selectively movable to positions forwardly and rearwardly of said central member; and   openings formed in said central member and said wing members for the passage of air through the apparatus when said central member is placed into said raised transport position.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein a portion of said openings is covered with a rigid mesh to prevent debris from passing through said openings. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15  further comprising:
 a control mechanism operatively connected to said lift cylinders and said swing cylinders to limit the speed of movement of said suitable vehicle below a predetermined speed of movement when said central member is placed into the lowered operative position. 
 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein said control mechanism prevents the operation of said lift cylinders and said swing cylinders when said central member is raised vertically above said lowered operative position and when said suitable vehicle is being operated at a speed of movement greater than said predetermined speed of movement. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein each of said side members and said central member includes a detachable wear member connected thereto by bolts along a lowermost edge of said side and central members to a frame member thereof.