Snow plow

Abstract

A plow blade assembly is disclosed that allows the centerline of the plow blade to be moved transversely about the centerline of a plowing vehicle. The operator can extend the end of the plow blade past the side of the plowing vehicle and in front of the vehicle tires. By positioning the blade to one side of the vehicle, the operator can prevent snow from rolling off the end of the plow blade and coming into contact with the vehicle tires and provide a greater distance between the outside edge of the plow blade and the side of the vehicle, including any extending mirrors. The assembly can control the angle of the blade relative to the longitudinal axis of the plowing vehicle and control the position of the blade relative to the centerline of the vehicle. A controller in the vehicle allows the operator to independently position the blade.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A snow plow assembly, comprising: 
 a frame securable to a vehicle;    a plow; and    a coupling assembly disposed between the frame and the plow, the assembly comprising a first member, a second member, and a first controllable actuator, the first member coupleable to the frame and slidably coupled to the second member, the second member coupleable to the plow, the first controllable actuator coupled to the first member and the second member and configured to urge the second member to move relative to the first member.    
     
     
         2 . The snow plow assembly of  claim 1  wherein the frame is removeable securable to the vehicle  
     
     
         3 . The snow plow assembly of  claim 1  wherein the frame is pivotably securable to the vehicle about a horizontal axis  
     
     
         4 . The snow plow assembly of  claim 1  wherein the plow is pivotable about a vertical axis.  
     
     
         5 . The snow plow assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first controllable actuator is a hydraulic piston.  
     
     
         6 . The snow plow assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a second controllable for urging the coupling assembly to rotate about a vertical axis.  
     
     
         7 . The snow plow assembly of  claim 1  wherein the second controllable actuator is a hydraulic piston.  
     
     
         8 . The snow plow assembly of  claim 7  wherein the second controllable actuator is a bi-directional hydraulic piston.  
     
     
         9 . The snow plow assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a fluid steering assembly to selectively direct hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic pump to either the first controllable actuator or the second controllable actuator based on a received signal.  
     
     
         10 . The snow plow assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first member moves linearly relative to the second member.  
     
     
         11 . The snow plow assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first members comprises a hole for pivotably coupling the first member to the A-frame about a vertical axis.  
     
     
         12 . The snow plow assembly of  claim 1  wherein the second member comprise at least one hole for coupling the second member to the plow.  
     
     
         13 . The snow plow assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a fluid steering assembly, comprising, 
 a first port coupleable to a hydraulic pump;  
 a second port coupleable to the first controllable actuator;  
 a third port coupleable to the second controllable actuator; and  
 a switch for alternatively coupling the first port to the second port or coupling the first port of the third port based on a received signal.  
 
     
     
         14 . The snow plow assembly of  claim 13  wherein the switch couples the first port to the second port when a first signal is received and couples the first port to the third port in the absence of the signal.  
     
     
         15 . The snow plow assembly of  claim 1  wherein the framw is an A-frame.  
     
     
         16 . An coupling assembly, comprising: 
 a first member, a second member and a controllable actuator, the first member linearly slidably relative to the second member along a first axis, the controllable actuator coupled to the first member and the second member to urge the second member to move relative to the first member along a linear path, the first member having a hole for pivotably coupling the first member to an A-frame about a second axis, the second axis generally perpendicular to the first axis, and the second member having at least one hole for coupling a plow thereto.    
     
     
         17 . The coupling assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the first member further comprises a hole for coupling the first member to a controllable actuator coupled to the A-frame.  
     
     
         18 . The coupling assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the controllable actuator is a hydraulic piston.  
     
     
         19 . The coupling assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the hydraulic piston is bi-directional.  
     
     
         20 . A snow plow controller, comprising: 
 a first actuator for raising the snow plow off the ground;    a second actuator for causing the snow plow to rotate about a vertical axis; and    a third actuator for causing the snow plow to move in a plane parallel with the vertical axis.    
     
     
         21 . A snow plow controller, comprising: 
 a first actuator for raising the snow plow off the ground;    a second actuator; and    a third actuator for causing the snow plow to rotate about a vertical axis when the second actuator is in a first position and for causing the snow plow to move in a plane parallel with the vertical axis when the second actuator is in a second position.