Plow Blade Assembly

Abstract

A plow blade assembly includes a moldboard adapter plate, a cover plate, and an articulating blade mounted between the moldboard adapter plate and the cover plate. The articulating blade includes a bushing assembly mounted therein, wherein the bushing assembly includes an elastomeric bushing and a non-elastomeric spacer non-centrally located in the elastomeric bushing. In one aspect, the non-elastomeric spacer is positioned adjacent a top edge of the elastomeric bushing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A plow blade assembly, comprising:
 a moldboard adapter plate;   a cover plate; and   an articulating blade mounted between the moldboard adapter plate and the cover plate, the articulating blade including a bushing assembly mounted therein, wherein the bushing assembly includes an elastomeric bushing and a non-elastomeric spacer non-centrally located in the elastomeric bushing.   
     
     
         2 . The plow blade assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the moldboard adapter plate includes a first aperture and the cover plate includes a second aperture, the first aperture and the second aperture being generally axially aligned with the non-elastomeric spacer of the bushing assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The plow blade assembly of  claim 2 , wherein a mounting bolt extends through the first aperture, second aperture, and the non-elastomeric spacer for connecting the moldboard adapter plate, cover plate, and the articulating blade. 
     
     
         4 . The plow blade assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the non-elastomeric spacer is positioned adjacent a top edge of the elastomeric bushing. 
     
     
         5 . The plow blade assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric bushing is generally square. 
     
     
         6 . The plow blade assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the non-elastomeric spacer is generally square. 
     
     
         7 . The plow blade assembly of  claim 6 , wherein a top portion of the non-elastomeric spacer is generally contiguous with a top edge of the elastomeric bushing. 
     
     
         8 . The plow blade assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the articulating blade is structured and arranged for movement relative to the moldboard adapter plate and cover plate. 
     
     
         9 . The plow blade assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the non-elastomeric spacer has a thickness greater than a thickness of the elastomeric bushing. 
     
     
         10 . The plow blade assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the articulating blade includes a bottom surface containing a plurality of hard inserts for contacting a surface. 
     
     
         11 . An articulating blade for a plow blade assembly, the articulating blade comprising:
 a blade segment having a bottom surface for contacting a surface; and   a bushing assembly mounted in the blade segment, wherein the bushing assembly includes an elastomeric bushing and a non-elastomeric spacer non-centrally located in the elastomeric bushing.   
     
     
         12 . The articulating blade of  claim 11 , wherein the non-elastomeric spacer is positioned adjacent a top edge of the elastomeric bushing. 
     
     
         13 . The articulating blade of  claim 11 , wherein the elastomeric bushing is generally square. 
     
     
         14 . The articulating blade of  claim 13 , wherein the non-elastomeric spacer is generally square. 
     
     
         15 . The articulating blade of  claim 14 , wherein a top portion of the non-elastomeric spacer is generally contiguous with a top edge of the elastomeric bushing. 
     
     
         16 . The articulating blade of  claim 11 , wherein the non-elastomeric spacer has a thickness greater than a thickness of the elastomeric bushing. 
     
     
         17 . The articulating blade of  claim 11 , wherein the bottom surface of the articulating blade contains a plurality of hard inserts for contacting the surface. 
     
     
         18 . An articulating blade for a plow blade assembly, the articulating blade comprising:
 a first blade segment having a bottom surface for contacting a surface, the first blade segment further having a first angled chamfer formed on an end thereof; and   a second blade segment adjacent the first blade segment also having a bottom surface for contacting the surface, the second blade segment further having a second angled chamfer formed on an end thereof,   wherein the first angled chamfer and the second angled chamfer are structured and arranged for cooperating with each other to provide for variable degrees of movement of the first blade segment and the second blade segment relative to one another.   
     
     
         19 . The articulating blade of  claim 18 , wherein the first blade segment includes a bushing assembly mounted in the first blade segment, wherein the bushing assembly includes an elastomeric bushing and a non-elastomeric spacer non-centrally located in the elastomeric bushing. 
     
     
         20 . The articulating blade of  claim 18 , wherein the second blade segment includes an additional bushing assembly mounted in the second blade segment, wherein the additional bushing assembly includes an elastomeric bushing and a non-elastomeric spacer non-centrally located in the elastomeric bushing.