Support-wheel assembly usable with a snowplow

Abstract

A support assembly for a wing moldboard includes a rearward base securable to a vehicle to pivot about an upright axis, lower and upper booms, a lower-boom mechanical actuator, and a rotation member. The lower boom is pivotably securable to the rearward base. The upper boom has an upper-boom proximal portion pivotably securable to a distal end portion of the lower boom. A lower-boom mechanical actuator drives the lower boom to first and second positions. A rotation member has a proximal portion configured to be operatively engaged with the rearward base, and a distal portion operatively engaged to pivot the upper boom with respect to the lower boom when the lower-boom mechanical actuator drives the lower boom between the first and second positions. A further support assembly for a moldboard includes a support-wheel assembly including a travel-angle frame, a travel-angle actuator, a spindle mount, a spindle, and a wheel-height actuator.

1 .- 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A support-wheel assembly for mounting to a moldboard, the support-wheel assembly comprising:
 a frame base fixed to the moldboard;   a travel-angle frame attached to the frame base to pivot with respect to the moldboard about a travel-angle axis;   a travel-angle actuator configured to pivot the travel-angle frame with respect to the frame base;   a spindle mounted upon the travel-angle frame; and   a wheel rotatably mounted upon the spindle.   
     
     
         30 . The support-wheel assembly of  claim 29 , wherein the travel-angle frame comprises:
 an anchor body configured to engage a distal end of the travel-angle actuator; and   a spindle mount for operatively engaging the spindle, the spindle mount being non-rotatably attached with respect to the travel-angle frame to rotate therewith about the travel-angle axis, so that the travel-angle actuator is configured to drive the travel-angle frame to adjust a travel angle of the wheel.   
     
     
         31 . The support-wheel assembly of  claim 29 , wherein the travel-angle actuator is a cylinder. 
     
     
         32 . The support-wheel assembly of  claim 29 , wherein a proximal end of the travel-angle actuator engages a proximal anchor, the proximal anchor being operatively connected to the moldboard. 
     
     
         33 . The support-wheel assembly of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 a wheel-height actuator configured to move the wheel vertically with respect to the travel-angle frame and thereby to position the wheel at a selected vertical position with respect to the moldboard.   
     
     
         34 . The support-wheel assembly of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 a spindle arm operatively connected to the spindle, the spindle arm defining a spindle portion including the spindle, an intermediate portion extending transversely from the spindle portion, and a mounting portion extending transversely from the intermediate portion, the spindle arm being pivotably mounted in a spindle mount;   wherein the wheel-height actuator is configured to pivot the spindle arm about the spindle mount, rotating the spindle portion of the spindle arm to position the wheel at the selected vertical position.   
     
     
         35 . The support-wheel assembly of  claim 33 , wherein the wheel-height actuator includes a cylinder. 
     
     
         36 . The support-wheel assembly of  claim 34 , further comprising:
 a crank arm extending transversely from the spindle arm, the crank arm having a crank-arm anchor configured to engage a distal end of the wheel-height actuator.   
     
     
         37 . The support-wheel assembly of  claim 33 , wherein a proximal end of the wheel-height actuator engages a wheel-height anchor operatively connected to the travel-angle frame. 
     
     
         38 . A plowing system comprising:
 a vehicle;   a moldboard operatively connected to the vehicle, the moldboard having a wheel-engaging configuration wherein a lower edge of moldboard is placed less than about 18 inches above a level-ground surface; and   a support-wheel assembly for mounting to the moldboard, the support-wheel assembly comprising:
 a frame base fixed to the moldboard; 
 a travel-angle frame attached to the frame base to pivot with respect to the moldboard about a travel-angle axis; 
 a travel-angle actuator configured to pivot the travel-angle frame with respect to the frame base; 
 a spindle mounted upon the travel-angle frame; and 
 a wheel rotatably mounted upon the spindle; 
   wherein the support-wheel assembly is operatively connected to the moldboard to support the moldboard when the moldboard is in the wheel-engaging configuration.   
     
     
         39 . The plowing system of  claim 38 , wherein the travel-angle frame comprises:
 an anchor body configured to engage a distal end of the travel-angle actuator; and   a spindle mount for operatively engaging the spindle, the spindle mount being non-rotatably attached with respect to the travel-angle frame to rotate therewith about the travel-angle axis, so that the travel-angle actuator is configured to drive the travel-angle frame to adjust a travel angle of the wheel.   
     
     
         40 . The plowing system of  claim 38 , wherein the travel-angle actuator is a cylinder. 
     
     
         41 . The plowing system of  claim 38 , wherein a proximal end of the travel-angle actuator engages a proximal anchor, the proximal anchor being operatively connected to the moldboard. 
     
     
         42 . The plowing system of  claim 39 , wherein the support-wheel assembly further comprises a wheel-height actuator configured to move the wheel vertically with respect to the travel-angle frame and thereby to position the wheel at a selected vertical position with respect to the moldboard. 
     
     
         43 . The plowing system of  claim 42 , wherein the support-wheel assembly further comprises:
 a spindle arm operatively connected to the spindle, the spindle arm defining a spindle portion including the spindle, an intermediate portion extending transversely from the spindle portion, and a mounting portion extending transversely from the intermediate portion, the spindle arm being pivotably mounted in a spindle mount;   wherein the wheel-height actuator is configured to pivot the spindle arm about the spindle mount, rotating the spindle portion of the spindle arm to position the wheel at the selected vertical position.   
     
     
         44 . The plowing system of  claim 42 , wherein the wheel-height actuator includes a cylinder. 
     
     
         45 . The plowing system of  claim 43 , wherein the support-wheel assembly further comprises a crank arm extending transversely from the spindle arm, the crank arm having a crank-arm anchor configured to engage a distal end of the wheel-height actuator. 
     
     
         46 . The plowing system of  claim 42 , wherein a proximal end of the wheel-height actuator engages a wheel-height anchor operatively connected to the travel-angle frame.