Backhoe attachments, backhoe apparatus attached to an snowplow adapted automobile, and method of use therefor

Abstract

The field of the present invention provides for a large automobile that has already been adapted for snow plowing, but having the snow plow removed is then has a folding backhoe apparatus attached to the snow plow attachment points. In a preferred aspect an adapter plate is use and the end of the backhoe can either have a forward or reverse position backhoe shovel (or bucket) attached or have an adapter apparatus that can accept different utility tips such as a post digger drill, a jack hammer or a rake. In a further aspect, snow plow attachment points are attached to an adapter mechanism that can be attached to either a single arm backhoe or a double arm backhoe apparatus.

1 . An apparatus for adapting snow plow truck equipment to provide multiple purpose equipment that be can substituted for other single purpose equipment, wherein the multiple purpose equipment capabilities are provided by directly or indirectly attaching equipment apparatus portions to existing snow plow points of attachment and thereby providing a multipurpose equipment member selected from the group consisting of backhoe equipment, drill, jack hammer, rake, pavement roller, soil tamper and the like that can be easily transported by a snow plow truck to various locations instead of transporting and using single purpose equipment. 
   
   
       2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein heavy snow plow trucks are adapted for such addition purpose apparatus. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the heavy snow plow trucks can utilize off-road tractor-like tires that can replace ordinary tires for the trip to a job site, or may be attached to the vehicle at the job site as a replacement for ordinary tires. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein mechanical attachments for hydraulic, electric, or a combination thereof portions of a backhoe arms apparatus a backhoe apparatus according to the invention, which may include hydraulic pistons and levers whose purpose is to lift and lower the backhoe framework or to manipulate the bucket at one end of the backhoe apparatus are attached directly to existing attachment points on a snow plow truck or are indirectly attached through an intermediate adapter apparatus that are attached to existing mounting points. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the hydraulic fluid system is attached to the existing hydraulic system of the snow plow truck, or has a separate system. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein quick release mechanical, electrical, or hydraulic attachments are utilized to attach apparatus to the snow plow truck and thereby expedite equipment changes. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein control of multipurpose equipment attached to a snow plow truck is actuated by an equipment operator from inside or outside of the snow plow truck, and wherein such multipurpose equipment apparatus either has its own controls or may plug into a harness that communicates with a cab portion of the snow plow truck. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the cab interior of the snow plow truck is adapted to provide a harness or plug for certain controls, which may be interchangeable or swapped out depending upon the type of equipment that is attached and in use with the snow plow truck. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a large snow plow truck is adapted into a backhoe apparatus having one or more arms with a removable bucket at one end of the backhoe arms apparatus, and wherein the bucket can be replaced with other shaped buckets or may be replaced with interchangeable apparatus that can provide other functional equipment at one end of the backhoe arms that are selected from the group comprising a drill, jack hammer, rake, pavement roller, soil tamper and bucket style jaws. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more arms of the backhoe apparatus portion of the equipment can be folded down and collapsed at the front of the truck in order to make it easier to operate the snow plow truck on the open highway with apparatus attached and can be locked in position during transportation. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the bucket at the end of the backhoe arms may be either a single bucket or a dual jaws bucket type, and the bucket may be narrow or wide and shallow or deep, depending upon whether one or two arm backhoe apparatus are attached to it and desired use for the bucket. 
   
   
       12 . A method for adapting snow plow truck equipment to provide multiple purpose equipment that be can substituted for other single purpose equipment, wherein the multiple purpose equipment capabilities are provided by directly or indirectly attaching equipment apparatus portions to existing snow plow points of attachment and thereby providing a multipurpose equipment member selected from the group consisting of backhoe equipment, drill, jack hammer, rake, pavement roller, soil tamper and the like that can be easily transported by a snow plow truck to various locations instead of transporting and using single purpose equipment. 
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein heavy snow plow trucks are adapted for such addition purpose apparatus and heavy snow plow trucks can utilize off-road tractor-like tires that can replace ordinary tires for the trip to a job site, or may be attached to the vehicle at the job site as a replacement for ordinary tires. 
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein mechanical attachments for hydraulic, electric, or a combination thereof portions of a backhoe arms apparatus a backhoe apparatus according to the invention, which may include hydraulic pistons and levers whose purpose is to lift and lower the backhoe framework or to manipulate the bucket at one end of the backhoe apparatus are attached directly to existing attachment points on a snow plow truck or are indirectly attached through an intermediate adapter apparatus that are attached to existing mounting points. 
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the hydraulic fluid system is attached to the existing hydraulic system of the snow plow truck, or has a separate system, and wherein quick release mechanical, electrical, or hydraulic attachments are utilized to attach apparatus to the snow plow truck and thereby expedite equipment changes. 
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein control of multipurpose equipment attached to a snow plow truck is actuated by an equipment operator from inside or outside of the snow plow truck, and wherein such multipurpose equipment apparatus either has its own controls or may plug into a harness that communicates with a cab portion of the snow plow truck. 
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the cab interior of the snow plow truck is adapted to provide a harness or plug for certain controls, which may be interchangeable or swapped out depending upon the type of equipment that is attached and in use with the snow plow truck. 
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein a large snow plow truck is adapted into a backhoe apparatus having one or more arms with a removable bucket at one end of the backhoe arms apparatus, and wherein the bucket can be replaced with other shaped buckets or may be replaced with interchangeable apparatus that can provide other functional equipment at one end of the backhoe arms that are selected from the group comprising a drill, jack hammer, rake, pavement roller, soil tamper and bucket style jaws. 
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the one or more arms of the backhoe apparatus portion of the equipment can be folded down and collapsed at the front of the truck in order to make it easier to operate the snow plow truck on the open highway with apparatus attached, and wherein the bucket at the end of the backhoe arms may be either a single bucket or a dual jaws bucket type, and the bucket may be narrow or wide and shallow or deep, depending upon whether one or two arm backhoe apparatus are attached to it and desired use for the bucket. 
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the backhoe apparatus may be transported within the rear of the truck and a winch may be utilized to remove equipment at or near the job site for mounting upon the front of the snow plow truck.