Extendable wing plow and cart

Abstract

A wing plow system can include a wing plow assembly with a first moldboard assembly and a second moldboard assembly. The first moldboard assembly can include a first moldboard configured to extend away from a vehicle toward a trailing end of the wing plow assembly. The second moldboard assembly can extend from the first moldboard assembly toward the trailing end of the wing plow assembly. The second moldboard assembly can include a second moldboard slidably supported by the first moldboard to be slidable between an extended position and a retracted position, to move the wing plow assembly between an extended configuration and a retracted configuration.

1 . A wing plow system for a vehicle having a vehicle body, the wing plow system comprising:
 a wing plow assembly that defines a leading end and a trailing end, the wing plow assembly including:
 a first moldboard assembly at the leading end of the wing plow assembly, the first moldboard assembly including a first moldboard configured to extend away from the vehicle body toward the trailing end of the wing plow assembly; and 
 a second moldboard assembly that extends from the first moldboard assembly toward the trailing end of the wing plow assembly, the second moldboard assembly including a second moldboard slidably supported by the first moldboard to be slidable between an extended position and a retracted position, to move the wing plow assembly between an extended configuration and a retracted configuration. 
   
     
     
         2 . The wing plow system of  claim 1 , wherein the second moldboard is slidable along a sliding direction between the extended and retracted positions, and overlaps with the first moldboard along the sliding direction in the extended and retracted positions. 
     
     
         3 . The wing plow system of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second moldboards overlap along a slide system that slidable supports the second moldboard relative to the first moldboard. 
     
     
         4 . The wing plow system of  claim 3 , wherein the slide system includes opposed sets of rollers that support the second moldboard relative to the first moldboard, in opposing directions, for sliding movement of the second moldboard relative to the first moldboard. 
     
     
         5 . The wing plow system of  claim 3 , wherein the slide system includes opposing flanges on one of the first or second moldboard assemblies, and wherein the opposing flanges are received into a channel on the other of the first or second moldboard assemblies to slidably support the second moldboard relative to the first moldboard. 
     
     
         6 . The wing plow system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a push arm assembly configured to laterally support the second moldboard relative to the vehicle body.   
     
     
         7 . The wing plow system of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a first coupling arrangement configured to secure the push arm assembly to the vehicle body;   a second coupling arrangement that secures the push arm assembly to the second moldboard; and   a third coupling arrangement configured to secure a leading end of the first moldboard to the vehicle body.   
     
     
         8 . The wing plow system of  claim 7 , wherein the first coupling arrangement includes a hinge having a pivot axis that extends substantially vertically and a rear hinge linkage supported by the hinge and configured to move the trailing end of the wing plow assembly in the vertical direction. 
     
     
         9 . The wing plow system of  claim 7 , wherein the second coupling arrangement includes a mount plug that extends through a rear portion the second moldboard assembly, and a second hinge coupled to the mount plug to pivotably support the wing plow assembly relative to the push arm assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The wing plow system of  claim 7 , wherein the third coupling arrangement includes:
 a front hinge linkage configured to move the leading end of the wing plow assembly vertically; and   a mount plate hinge that supports the wing plow assembly relative to the front hinge linkage and has a pivot axis that extends in the vertical direction.   
     
     
         11 . The wing plow system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an extender assembly configured to extend and retract to move the second moldboard between the extended and retracted orientations.   
     
     
         12 . The wing plow system of  claim 11 , wherein the extender assembly is nested into the second moldboard assembly when the second moldboard is in the retracted position. 
     
     
         13 . The wing plow system of  claim 11 , wherein the extender assembly is part of a first hydraulic system configured to move the second moldboard relative to the first moldboard. 
     
     
         14 . The wing plow system of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a second hydraulic system configured to extend and retract a push arm assembly to move the trailing end of the wing plow assembly laterally relative to the vehicle body; and   a third hydraulic system configured to move the push arm assembly and the trailing end of the wing plow assembly in the vertical direction.   
     
     
         15 . The wing plow system of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a fourth hydraulic system configured to move the leading end of the wing plow assembly in the vertical direction.   
     
     
         16 . The wing plow system of  claim 15 , wherein a plurality of the first, second, third, and fourth hydraulic systems are independently controlled. 
     
     
         17 . The wing plow system of  claim 1 , wherein the wing plow assembly is at least approximately 22 feet long when in the extended configuration. 
     
     
         18 . The wing plow system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a support cart including a first support structure that receives the wing plow assembly and a second support structure that receives push arm assembly of the wing plow system, to simultaneously support and transport the wing plow assembly and the push arm assembly.   
     
     
         19 . A wing plow assembly for a wing plow system, the wing plow assembly comprising:
 a first moldboard extending between a first leading end and a first trailing end, the first moldboard extending from a leading end of the wing plow assembly; and   a second moldboard extending between a second leading end and a second trailing end, the second trailing end extending to a trailing end of the wing plow assembly,   the second moldboard being supported by and slidable relative to the first moldboard between an extended position and a retracted position to move the wing plow assembly between an extended configuration and a retracted configuration.   
     
     
         20 . A method of operating a wing plow system for a vehicle having a vehicle body, the method comprising:
 with a leading moldboard assembly of a wing plow assembly supporting a trailing moldboard assembly of the wing plow assembly, sliding a moldboard of the trailing moldboard assembly relative to a moldboard of the leading moldboard assembly to selectively:
 move the wing plow assembly to a retracted configuration by sliding the moldboard of the trailing moldboard assembly to a retracted position; or 
 move the wing plow assembly to an extended configuration by sliding the moldboard of the trailing moldboard assembly to an extended position.