Material pusher with improved structure

Abstract

A pusher for snow or other material includes a blade including a front surface for moving material and an opposite rear surface, and upper and lower edges. A wiper is secured to the lower edge of the blade. Left and right sidewalls are connected to opposite sides of the blade. The sidewalls are each arranged transverse to the blade and define chain-engaging apertures. Left and right skid-shoe assemblies are connected respectively to the left and right sidewalls and slidably support the blade above a surface to be cleared. A plurality of cross-supports are connected to the rear surface of the blade and extending between the left and right sidewalls. A coupler structure is connected to the rear face of the pusher and defines a pick-up location adapted to be engaged by an associated pusher-moving machine for operative connection of the blade to the pusher-moving machine.

1 . A pusher comprising: 
 a blade including a front surface for moving material and an opposite rear surface, and upper and lower edges;    a wiper secured to the lower edge of the blade;    left and right sidewalls connected to opposite sides of the blade, said sidewalls each arranged transverse to the blade;    left and right skid-shoe assemblies connected respectively to the left and right sidewalls, said left and right skid-shoe assemblies cooperating with each other to slidably support the blade above a surface to be cleared;    a plurality of cross-supports connected to the rear surface of the blade and extending between the left and right sidewalls;    a coupler structure comprising: (i) a plurality of coupler ribs that are connected to and extend between at least some of the cross-supports; and, (ii) a pick-up location adapted to be engaged by an associated pusher-moving machine for operative connection of the blade to the associated pusher-moving machine.    
   
   
       2 . The pusher as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said coupler structure comprises a plurality of coupler ribs that extend between and interconnect at least two of the cross-supports wherein said pick-up location comprises an open slot defined by said coupler ribs, said slot adapted to receive a bucket lip.  
   
   
       3 . The pusher as set forth in  claim 2 , further comprising a plurality of chain-engaging apertures defined in each of the left and right sidewalls, each chain-engaging aperture adapted to receive and selectively retain an associated chain used for retaining the pusher to an associated pusher-moving machine.  
   
   
       4 . The pusher as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein said cross-supports comprise first, second and third cross-supports, and wherein: 
 said coupler ribs each extend between and interconnect the first and second and third cross-supports.    
   
   
       5 . The pusher as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein: 
 said first, second and third cross-supports are arranged parallel to each other; and,    said coupler ribs are arranged parallel to each other and perpendicular to said first, second and third cross-supports.    
   
   
       6 . The pusher as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the coupler ribs are interconnected to each other by a first and second cross-bars each spaced outwardly from the rear surface of the blade, and wherein said first and second cross-bars are located on opposite sides of said open slot.  
   
   
       7 . The pusher as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the coupler ribs are each defined from planar sections of steel plate.  
   
   
       8 . The pusher as set forth in  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 a first set of reinforcement ribs each connected to and extending between the first and second cross-supports; and,    a second set of reinforcement ribs each connected to and extending between the second and third cross-supports.    
   
   
       9 . The pusher as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 left and right sidewall gussets connected between the front surface of the blade and the left and right sidewalls, respectively, said sidewall gussets each comprising a chisel-shaped body comprising a sloped face and first and second sidewalls.    
   
   
       10 . The pusher as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the left and right sidewall gussets are each defined as a one-piece construction from a bent steel plate.  
   
   
       11 . The pusher as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the left and right sidewalls comprise respective sidewall flanges projecting outwardly therefrom and wherein said left and right skid-shoe assemblies each comprise a rib and a wear-shoe connected to the rib, said ribs of said left and right skid-shoe assemblies connected to and abutted with the sidewall flanges of the left and right sidewalls, respectively.  
   
   
       12 . The pusher as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the rib of each skid-shoe assembly comprises an upper edge that lies parallel to a primary portion of the wear-shoe connected to the rib, said primary wear-shoe portion adapted to lie flat on and slidably support the blade above a surface being cleared, wherein said sidewall flanges of the left and right sidewalls are abutted with the upper edge of the ribs of the left and right skid-shoe assemblies, respectively.  
   
   
       13 . The pusher as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein, for both the left and right skid-shoe assemblies, the primary wear-shoe portion extends rearwardly outward relative to the rear surface of the blade to a terminal location that is spaced from said wiper sufficiently so that said terminal location is vertically with or outwardly beyond the pick-up location of the coupler structure.  
   
   
       14 . The pusher as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the terminal location of the wear-shoe of each of the left and right skid-shoe assemblies is spaced at least 12 inches from the wiper.  
   
   
       15 . The pusher as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said left and right skid-shoe assemblies each comprise a wear-shoe having a primary portion that slidably supports the blade above a surface to be cleared, and wherein the sidewalls comprise upper edges that are parallel to the primary wear-shoe portions of the left and right skid-shoe assemblies, respectively, to provide a visual indication to an operator as to the orientation of the primary wear-shoe portions.  
   
   
       16 . The pusher as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said blade comprises first, second and third blade sections, said first blade section pivotally connected to a first lateral side of the second blade section and the third blade section pivotally connection to a second lateral side of the second blade section, wherein said left and right sidewalls are connected respectively to the first and third blade sections and said coupler structure is connected to said second blade section.  
   
   
       17 . The pusher as set forth in  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 a first fold-lock for holding the first blade section in a first or second position relative to the second blade section, wherein said first and second blade sections are aligned with each other in the first position and angled relative to each other in the second position; and,    a second fold-lock for holding the third blade section in a first or second position relative to the second blade section, wherein said second and third blade sections are aligned with each other in the first position and angled relative to each other in the second position.    
   
   
       18 . The pusher as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein: 
 the first fold-lock comprises a first lock bar connected to the second blade section and movable between raised and lowered positions, said first lock bar, when in said lowered position, engaging and preventing pivoting movement of the first blade section relative to the second blade section, said lock bar allowing pivoting movement of the first blade section relative to the second blade section when in its raised position; and,    the second fold-lock comprises a second lock bar connected to the second blade section and movable between raised and lowered positions, said second lock bar, when in said lowered position, engaging and preventing pivoting movement of the third blade section relative to the second blade section, said lock bar allowing pivoting movement of the third blade section relative to the second blade section when in its raised position.    
   
   
       19 . The pusher as set forth in  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 first and second open-locks connected to the second blade section and adapted for selectively capturing the first and third blade sections, respectively, when the first and third blade sections are pivoted into alignment with the second blade section; and,    a fold-lock having a first portion connected to the left sidewall and a second portion connected to the right sidewall, wherein said first and second portions of the fold-lock are selectively engageable with each other when said first and third blade sections are pivoted relative to the second blade section into opposed facing relation with each other.    
   
   
       20 . The pusher as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of coupler ribs comprise first and second JRB-style coupler ribs that are connected to and extend between at least some of the cross-supports, wherein the first and second JRB-style coupler ribs cooperate to define said pick-up location as a female portion of a JRB-style quick coupler.  
   
   
       21 . The pusher as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said coupler structure comprises three separate coupler structures and wherein said pick-up location comprises three different pick-up locations defined respectively by said three separate coupler structures, wherein said three separate coupler structures are each defined by at least three of said plurality of coupler ribs  
   
   
       22 . A fixed-angle pusher for moving material laterally when said pusher is moved forwardly in an operative direction of movement, said pusher comprising: 
 a blade including a front surface for moving material and an opposite rear surface, and upper and lower edges;    a wiper secured to the lower edge of the blade;    left and right sidewalls connected to opposite sides of the blade and arranged parallel to the direction of operative movement, said sidewalls each arranged transverse to the blade, wherein said second sidewall trails said first sidewall with respect to the direction of operative movement, and wherein said first sidewall projects outwardly from said front surface of said blade more than said second sidewall projects outwardly from said front surface of said blade;    left and right skid-shoe assemblies connected respectively to the left and right sidewalls, said left and right skid-shoe assemblies cooperating with each other to slidably support the blade above a surface to be cleared;    a plurality of cross-supports connected to the rear surface of the blade and extending between the left and right sidewalls;    a coupler structure comprising: (i) at least one wedge-shaped coupler plate connected to and projecting outwardly from one of said cross-supports; (ii) a plurality of first and second coupler ribs that are connected to said at least one wedge-shaped coupler plate, said first and second coupler ribs defining a pick-up location adapted to be engaged by an associated pusher-moving machine for operative connection of the blade to the associated pusher-moving machine, wherein a distance between said pick-up location and said blade decreases as a distance between said pick-up location and said second sidewall decreases.    
   
   
       23 . The fixed-angle pusher as set forth in  claim 22 , wherein the left and right sidewalls comprise respective sidewall flanges projecting outwardly therefrom and wherein said left and right skid-shoe assemblies each comprise a rib and a wear-shoe connected to the rib, said ribs of said left and right skid-shoe assemblies connected to and abutted with the sidewall flanges of the left and right sidewalls, respectively.  
   
   
       24 . The fixed-angle pusher as set forth in  claim 23 , wherein the rib of each skid-shoe assembly comprises an upper edge that lies parallel to a primary portion of the wear-shoe connected to the rib, said primary wear-shoe portion adapted to lie flat on and slidably support the blade above a surface being cleared, wherein said sidewall flanges of the left and right sidewalls are abutted with the upper edge of the ribs of the left and right skid-shoe assemblies, respectively.  
   
   
       25 . The fixed-angle pusher as set forth in  claim 22 , further comprising a plurality of chain-engaging apertures defined in each of the left and right sidewalls, each chain-engaging aperture adapted to receive and selectively retain an associated chain used for retaining the pusher to an associated pusher-moving machine.  
   
   
       26 . A pusher comprising: 
 a blade including a front surface for moving material and an opposite rear surface, and upper and lower edges;    a wiper secured to the lower edge of the blade;    left and right sidewalls connected to opposite sides of the blade, said sidewalls each arranged transverse to the blade;    left and right skid-shoe assemblies connected respectively to the left and right sidewalls, said left and right skid-shoe assemblies cooperating with each other to slidably support the blade above a surface to be cleared;    a plurality of cross-supports connected to the rear surface of the blade and extending between the left and right sidewalls;    a coupler structure comprising: (i) a plurality of coupler ribs that are connected to and extend between at least two of the cross-supports; and, (ii) a pick-up location adapted to be engaged by an associated pusher-moving machine for operative connection of the blade to the associated pusher-moving machine, said pick-up location comprising an open slot adapted to receive a bucket lip.    
   
   
       27 . A pusher comprising: 
 a blade including a front surface for moving material and an opposite rear surface, and upper and lower edges;    a wiper secured adjacent the lower edge of the blade;    left and right sidewalls connected to opposite sides of the blade, said sidewalls each arranged transverse to the blade;    left and right skid-shoe assemblies connected respectively to the left and right sidewalls, said left and right skid-shoe assemblies cooperating with each other to slidably support the blade above a surface to be cleared;    a coupler structure projecting outwardly from the rear surface of the blade and defining a pick-up location adapted to be engaged by an associated pusher-moving machine for operative connection of the blade to the associated pusher-moving machine; and,    at least one chain-engaging aperture defined in each of the left and right sidewalls, said at least one chain-engaging aperture of each sidewall comprising a first region adapted to receive and allow passage of an associated chain and a second region adapted to engage and retain the associated chain for selectively fixedly securing the pusher to an associated pusher-moving machine.    
   
   
       28 . A pusher comprising: 
 a blade including a front surface for moving material and an opposite rear surface, and upper and lower edges;    a wiper secured adjacent the lower edge of the blade;    left and right sidewalls connected to opposite sides of the blade;    left and right skid-shoe assemblies connected respectively to the left and right sidewalls, said left and right skid-shoe assemblies cooperating with each other to slidably support the blade above a surface to be cleared;    a coupler structure operatively connected to the blade and defining a pick-up location adapted to be engaged by an associated pusher-moving machine for operative connection of the blade to the associated pusher-moving machine; and,    wherein the left and right sidewalls comprise respective left and right sidewall flanges projecting outwardly therefrom and wherein said left and right skid-shoe assemblies are abutted with the left and right sidewall flanges and are connected to the left and right sidewalls by bolts, respectively, so that at least some impact forces on said left and right skid-shoe assemblies are transferred to said left and right sidewalls through said left and right sidewall flanges, respectively, to protect said bolts from shearing forces.    
   
   
       29 . A pusher comprising: 
 a blade including a front surface for moving material and an opposite rear surface, and upper and lower edges;    a wiper secured adjacent the lower edge of the blade;    left and right sidewalls connected to opposite sides of the blade, said sidewalls each arranged transverse to the blade;    left and right skid-shoe assemblies connected respectively to the left and right sidewalls, said left and right skid-shoe assemblies cooperating with each other to slidably support the blade above a surface to be cleared;    a coupler structure operatively connected to the blade and defining a pick-up location adapted to be engaged by an associated pusher-moving machine for operative connection of the blade to the associated pusher-moving machine;    wherein said left and right skid-shoe assemblies each comprise a wear-shoe having a primary portion that slidably supports the blade above a surface to be cleared, and wherein the sidewalls comprise upper edges that are parallel to the primary wear-shoe portions of the left and right skid-shoe assemblies, respectively, to provide a visual indication to an operator as to the orientation of the primary wear-shoe portions.