RU2316627C2 - Snow-plough machine blade holder - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: devices for surface cleaning of snow.

SUBSTANCE: blade holder comprises beam with the first fastening member, which may be connected to lower edge of snow-plough, and with the second fastening member adapted to be brought into contact with rear blade side. Blade holder also has active member including substantially parallel upper and lower sides. Active member connects two other members and has stiffening means created on lower side thereof.

EFFECT: improved cleaning efficiency for any surface.

12 cl, 21 dwg

Description

The present invention relates to a beam-shaped knife holder that attaches the knife to the lower edge of the snow thrower, so that the knife can be mounted sharp or straight with respect to the base and can be tilted back while the beam is subject to uniform load, thereby preventing damage in the event of a collision with an obstacle, and automatically restore its cutting angle after passing the obstacle.

Firstly, the invention is intended for use on a snow removal device comprising a plow wing with a snow scraper or a snow knife, which is supported by a car holder or device of a similar type, and which in its lower part comprises at least one knife for contact with soil with its cutting edge and providing action, cutting snow and, if necessary, raises snow. This device is typically made of a plurality of relatively short knives that are mounted next to each other along the lower edge of the snow removal device.

It is desirable that the device be able to remove essentially all the loose snow lying on the road, i.e. as much as possible snow lying in depressions, for example in a road rut, to ensure traffic safety. This means that the blades of the snow removal device must be able to work in close contact with the road, which can be achieved if they are pliable attached to the lower part of the plow and thus can be individually tilted relative to the lower part of the plow. It is also desirable that the device be able to cut or scrap snow or ice from the road. Moreover, it should be possible to carry out the above snow removal at high speed. It is not necessary to say that snow removal under such conditions exposes both the snowblower and the holder of this device to severe stresses, as a result of which they can be damaged if the knife hits an immovable obstacle, such as protruding gutters, sidewalk edges and railway tracks .

To protect the device and the device holder from damage that occurs when colliding with an obstacle, it is known from the prior art that the knife should be mounted with the possibility of turning back against the action of the spring on the hinge located above the knife. In this case, the knife should be oriented essentially vertically to the road, thus making it possible to move the lower edge of the knife back / up without the need for a lifting movement of the device. It is impossible to position the knife at a clearly positive angle with respect to the vertical plane, i.e. when the lower edge of the knife protrudes forward in the direction of travel. With this design, the knife has a scraper effect on the road, thus making it necessary to relatively tightly press the knife against the road to ensure good snow removal results. The design also leads to a limitation of the dropping ability.

Prior art means for protecting devices and device holders when the knife is located at an acute angle of cutting to the road is disclosed in WO 95/23894. The knife is pivotally attached to the front end of the forward swing arm. In the event of a collision with an obstacle, the knife can be folded back under the action of the spring, while the pivot arm rises under the action of another spring. In this design, the knife has a positive angle relative to the vertical plane and also vertical compliance on the road. However, the disadvantage is the fact that the knife cannot be tilted and therefore the compliance that is required to obtain a good snow removal effect on a rutted road is not ensured. In addition, the mechanical structure requires frequent repairs and maintenance, as it undergoes heavy wear and is easily damaged in such environmental conditions.

SE 507556A discloses a device that solves many of the aforementioned problems and provides a sturdy construction that ensures that the knife has a certain degree of flexibility on the road and that can be folded up / back in a collision with an obstacle. The device includes a three-sided hollow beam, which due to its shape can bend and then restore its shape after passing an obstacle. The disadvantage of this three-sided hollow beam, however, is that there is a risk of uneven beam tension in a collision with an obstacle. This means that in some cases the action in the beam is absorbed by only a small part of the beam, whereby this part is subjected to great stress. Another disadvantage of this device is that it only works for plows in which a good throwing ability is desired, i.e. the knife should have an acute angle with respect to the road. If the device will be used for road cleaning or any other cleaning, where the vertical arrangement of the knife is preferable, the compliance on the basis is poor.

One of the objectives of the present invention is to solve the above problems and provide a knife holder that has a smooth arc shape when exposed to a load and has the same mobility and suppleness on the road, regardless of the cutting angle. The invention is shown in embodiments with an acute angle and a right angle. Regardless of the cutting angle, the knife holders can be attached to different types of plows using the same connecting profile. In most cases, snow removal is carried out under a contract by the main contractor, which concludes agreements with small transport contractors. This means that a transport contractor can receive very different tasks year after year: in one year, cleaning salty busy roads and in another year, cleaning small roads with snowy carriageways or streets in municipalities. Due to various tasks, the transport contractor must have at least two types of plows that are expensive. With the knife holder in accordance with the invention, the plow does not need to be replaced, and replacing the knife holder will give the plow new properties.

The invention is based on the idea of using a malleable material for the manufacture of a knife holder, which acts as a pressure spring along the length of the knife and presses the knife in the direction of contact at a cutting angle to the base, so that the knife can follow the profile of the base in the vertical direction and provide tight contact in ruts and ledges of the roadway.

The knife holder orientates the knife at an arbitrary angle of cutting, which leads to good cleaning and throwing ability, and at the same time to the flexible use of devices. The knife leans back when it encounters fixed obstacles such as gutters, sidewalk edges, etc., and automatically restores the working position after passing the obstacle. This is achieved by adapting the active element in case of overload pressure to deviation (bending outward), so that the knife is temporarily deflected back and then returns to its working position due to the elasticity of the element.

The invention solves the aforementioned problems by holding a knife holder containing a beam having an active element with a stiffening element and a second fastening element that allows the knife to be set to a cutting angle in the range from 0 to 90 degrees, in accordance with the attached claims.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 - knife holder in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a view from the side of the plow.

Figa-b - cross-section of the knife holder along the lines aa and bb.

Figure 3 is a bottom view of the knife holder.

Fig. 4a is a side cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a knife holder.

Fig.4b - knife holder of Fig.4A when moving on an uneven base.

Fig. 4c shows the knife holder of Fig. 4a when the knife encounters an obstacle.

Fig. 5a shows the knife holder of Fig. 4a in cross section through a stiffener.

Fig.5b - the knife holder of Fig.4A and the stiffening element when moving on an uneven base.

Fig. 5c shows the knife holder of Fig. 4a and a stiffener when the knife encounters an obstacle.

Fig. 6a is a side cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a knife holder.

Fig.6b - knife holder of Fig.6A when moving on an uneven base.

6c shows the knife holder of FIG. 6a when the knife encounters an obstacle.

Figa - the knife holder of Figa in cross section through the stiffener.

Fig.7b - the knife holder of Fig.6a and the stiffening element when moving on an uneven base.

Fig. 7c shows the knife holder of Fig. 6a and a stiffener when the knife encounters an obstacle.

8a-b are a knife holder attached to a plow according to the first and second embodiments.

9a-b are alternative embodiments of a knife holder.

Figure 10 - plow wing with many knives located next to each other.

Figure 1 shows a knife holder in accordance with the invention. The holder contains a beam (1) with fasteners (3, 4) for connection with a plow (6) and a knife (7). The beam also contains an active element (5) with an upper side (51) and a lower side (52). The active element (5) connects the other two elements (3, 4). The beam further comprises two stiffening elements (8) located on the underside (52). Fig. 2a shows a cross-section of the beam along line AA. For a beam having the desired bending and pivoting properties, the upper side (51) and the lower side (52) are substantially parallel. Fig.2b shows a cross-section of the beam along the line BB in one of the elements (8) of the stiffness. The stiffening elements (8) balance the bending resistances of the beam, so that the beam will take a smooth arc shape when a load is applied to it. They are located close to the center of the beam to facilitate the tendency to deformation, which is favorable for contact of the knife with the roadway, especially on roads with ruts and ledges. The stiffening elements (8) are preferably made as an integral part of the beam. Figure 3 shows the beam (1) from the bottom with the beveled surfaces (81) of the stiffeners (8) towards the lower side (52).

The knife holder can be attached to the lower edge (6) of the snow removal device using, for example, a bolted connection (31). The first fastener (3) may comprise, for example, a steel guide that is fastened by means of a casting operation and has threaded holes or, as shown in FIGS. 1-2, bolts (31) that are secured by the casting operation and are optionally reinforced with steel guide (32) or washer. In the drawings (see FIG. 4), this lower edge (6) is a substantially vertical mounting surface (61) to which a first fixing element (3) is attached. A substantially horizontal surface (62) is located above the knife holder, which passes into a substantially vertical plow knife (63). On figa-b presents General views attached to the plow of the knife holder in accordance with the two shown options for implementation.

The second fastener (4) is used for fastening the knife (7). Thus, this part of the beam is in contact with the rear side of the knife, and holes (40) are formed in its lower part for fixing the knife (7) by means of fastening (41). The knife can be mounted in the traditional way, for example, with a key and a key bolt (41), and the knife can be a revolving knife with mounting holes arranged in pairs.

Figures 4-5 show a first embodiment of the invention. The holder comprises a beam (1) having a first fastening element (3), here in the form of a bolt connection (31), which is adapted for fastening to the lower edge (6) of the snow removal device; a second fastener (4), which is designed to contact the rear side of the knife (7); and an active element (5) connecting the other two elements (3, 4). Means (41) are located on the second fastener (4) for attaching the knife to the beam (1). The shape of the second fastening element (4) provides a cutting angle (A) for the knife (7). This angle can vary from 0 to 90 degrees; in practice, from 20 to 90 degrees. In the embodiment of FIGS. 4-5, the knife has a cutting angle of about 90 degrees. The shape of the second fastener (4) does not affect the functioning of the holder to any significant extent. The active part of the structure is the active element (5), which is also shown in FIGS. 4b, 5b, 6b and 7b. The drawings show that the beam (1) is vertically movable to ensure appropriate contact with the ground.

5 shows a cross section of a stiffener (8) located on a beam in accordance with the first embodiment. The stiffening elements (8) contribute to a uniform load on the entire beam. Without stiffening elements (8), when a load is applied, there is a danger of beam bending in one place. With stiffening elements (8), the beam will have a weak arched shape when a load is applied. The stiffening elements (8) also produce the additional force required to return the knife to its working position after unloading after passing through a fixed obstacle. The beam (1) is equipped with two stiffening elements (8), but depending on the length, hardness of the material and other factors, their number may be greater. In embodiments, the stiffeners are shown as an integral part of the same material as the knife holder, but they can also be made of other materials, such as metal, cast or otherwise attached to the knife holder.

6-7 show a second embodiment of the invention. The holder comprises a beam (1) having a first fastener (3), which is adapted for fastening to the lower edge (6) of the snow removal device; a second fastener (4), which is adapted for contact with the rear side of the knife (7); and an active element (5) connecting the other two elements (3, 4). In this embodiment, the knife has a sharp cutting angle (A).

Figures 4 s, 5 s, 6 s and 7 s show that the active element (5) moves upward when the knife hits an obstacle. The active element (5) will bend upward, while the fastener (4) will bend forward / up due to the upward force created by the knife due to its vertical rise. The movement is enhanced by the torque generated by the active element (5). The knife acquires an angle of friction. After passing an obstacle, the knife holder returns to its working position. To provide the necessary space for moving the active element, there is an empty space (9) between the upper side (51) of the active element and the horizontal surface (62) of the snow removal device. The shield (13) is designed to prevent the filling of the space (9) with snow or ice. In embodiments, this flap (13) is part of a knife holder and suitably made of the same material. When the knife holder moves, the guard (13) slides along the plow (63) and prevents the filling of space (9) with snow. It is also possible to place the flap on the snowblower with the possibility of sliding along the holder.

The main feature of the two shown embodiments is that the holder attaches the knife (7) to the lower edge (6) of the snow thrower so that the knife is at an angle (A) of cutting relative to the base. To prevent damage in a collision with an obstacle, the knife tilts back and automatically restores its cutting angle after passing the obstacle. The active part of the holder is the active element (5), which is made of an elastic polymer material. The active element (5) provides lateral elasticity and longitudinal flexibility of the second fastening element (4).

At least the active element (5) and preferably also the first and second fasteners are made of an elastic polymer material that provides lateral elasticity and longitudinal flexibility of the beam. As polymeric materials, various types of durable elastomeric materials are suitable, for example urethane rubber and other types of rubber. The preferred type of material is polyurethane.

However, it is preferable to produce the entire beam in one piece from one elastic polymer material, as shown in the drawings. It is particularly preferable to make a beam, for example, from urethane rubber. Urethane rubber should have a Shore hardness of at least 50 °, in some cases preferably 70-90 °.

9a-b show another embodiment of the active element (5). The beam is not continuous, but is provided with a cavity (50), which is filled with a compressible material having other properties than the urethane plastic of which the active element (5) is made. An example of a suitable material for filling the cavity (50) is foam.

Figure 10 is a schematic view of a knife (14) of a plow, on the lower edge of which several knives (7) are installed. Each knife can be installed using a knife holder, which has a length corresponding to the length of the knife. In the working position, the knives must exert suitable contact pressure on the road for efficient cleaning. Due to the elasticity of the beam, the knife is deflected, as shown in the enlarged fragment of figure 10, on an uneven base, for example, due to grooves or protrusions. The active element (5) of the beam acts as a spring and holds the knife in place when exposed to friction on the base and also when the knife deviates laterally.

In the invention, the active element is initially sensitive, i.e. it moves even under very light loads. This provides better road yielding. Close contact with the base can be achieved with relatively little effort, which reduces knife and base wear. The knife holder also provides an easy change in the properties of the plow by changing the angle of cutting of the knife. The knife holder can be made with a knife attached at an arbitrary angle.

Claims (12)

1. Holder for attaching the knife (7) to the lower edge (6) of the snow thrower so that the knife is at an angle (A) of cutting relative to the base and can be tilted back, thereby avoiding damage in a collision with an obstacle, and automatically restores its angle (A) after passing an obstacle containing a beam (1), which includes a first fastener (3), which is designed to be attached to the lower edge (6) of the snow removal device, a second fastener (4), adapted for the act with the rear side of the knife (7), means (41) for attaching the knife to the beam (1), characterized in that the beam further comprises an active element (5), which is designed to install the knife (7) elastically in the vertical direction and has a top side (51) and the lower side (52), and which connects the other two elements (3, 4) and has a stiffening element (8) located on the lower side (52). 2. The holder according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper side (51) and the lower side (52) are essentially parallel. 3. The holder according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the lateral cross-section of the beam (1) on the stiffener (8) is greater than a similar cross-section of the beam on the side of the stiffener (8). 4. The holder according to claim 1, characterized in that at least the active element (5) is made of an elastic polymer material, which provides lateral elasticity and longitudinal compliance of the second fastening element (4), the second fastening element (4) being able to provide for a knife (7) of a cutting angle (A) of 0-90 °, preferably 20-90 °. 5. The holder according to claim 1, characterized in that the beam (1) comprises a shield (13), which, in conjunction with a part of the lower edge (6) of the snow removal device, prevents snow and ice from entering the space (9) above the active element (5) . 6. A holder according to claim 1, characterized in that the first fastening element (3) comprises a substantially vertical side that is adapted to contact with a substantially vertical lower edge of the snow removal device. 7. The holder according to claim 1, characterized in that the beam (1) is completely made of an elastic polymer material. 8. The holder according to claim 4, characterized in that the elastic polymeric materials is polyurethane. 9. The holder according to claim 4, characterized in that the elastic polymer material is urethane rubber with a shore hardness of 50 °. 10. The holder according to claim 4, characterized in that the elastic polymer material is urethane rubber with a shore hardness of 70-90 °. 11. The holder according to claim 1, characterized in that the active element (5) is homogeneous. 12. The holder according to claim 1, characterized in that the active element (5) contains a cavity (50) filled with a compressible material, for example foam.

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