Towed snowplow and method for plowing snow from pavement

Abstract

The present invention relates to a snowplow arranged to be towed behind a vehicle. The towed snowplow comprises: a frame removably securable to the vehicle; at least one moldboard mounted to said frame and extending under said frame; and at least one pivotable side wing plow mounted to one side of the frame and configurable between a non-operative configuration and a snow plowing configuration in which the at least one pivotable side wing plow extends laterally from the side of the frame. It also relates to a method for plowing snow using a towed snowplow.

1 . A snowplow arranged to be towed behind a vehicle, comprising
 a frame removably securable to the vehicle and having a longitudinal axis;   at least one moldboard mounted to said frame and extending under said frame; and   at least one pivotable side wing plow mounted to one side of the frame and configurable between a non-operative configuration and a snow plowing configuration in which the at least one pivotable side wing plow extends laterally from the side of the frame.   
     
     
         2 . The snowplow as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one pivotable side wing plow is translatable laterally with respect to the frame between a retracted configuration and an expanded configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The snowplow as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the at least one pivotable side wing plow is mounted to said frame through an attachment assembly comprising at least one translatable arm slidably mounted to the frame and at least one linear actuator operatively connected to the frame and the at least one translatable arm to translate the at least one translatable arm between the retracted configuration and the expanded configuration, wherein the at least one pivotable side wing plow has a distal end operatively connected to the at least one translatable arm. 
     
     
         4 . The snowplow as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one pivotable side wing plow is mounted rearwardly of the at least one moldboard. 
     
     
         5 . The snowplow as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one side wing plow comprises a proximal end pivotally connected to the frame and a distal end, the distal end being connected rearwardly to the frame with respect to the proximal end. 
     
     
         6 . The snowplow as claimed in  claim 5 , further comprising non-steerable wheels mounted to the frame and supporting the frame on a ground surface and wherein the proximal end of the at least one pivotable side wing plow is connected forwardly of the non-steerable wheels and at least one of the at least one moldboard is mounted forwardly of the non-steerable wheels. 
     
     
         7 . The snowplow as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one pivotable side wing plow in the snow plowing configuration and the at least one moldboard define an oblique angle with the longitudinal axis of the frame. 
     
     
         8 . The snowplow as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one moldboard is selectively configurable in a snow plowing configuration and a non-operative configuration. 
     
     
         9 . The snowplow as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one granular material bin mounted to an upper surface of said frame. 
     
     
         10 . The snowplow as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the towing engine comprises an articulated trailer coupling and a rearmost axle, the articulated trailer coupling being mounted forwardly of the rearmost axle, and the snowplow comprises a towing engine coupling engageable and detachably securable to the articulated trailer coupling. 
     
     
         11 . The snowplow as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the at least one moldboard is mounted rearwardly of the towing engine coupling. 
     
     
         12 . The snowplow as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a front section of the frame is superposed to a rear section of the towing engine when secured together. 
     
     
         13 . A combination of a towing engine and a towed snowplow, wherein the towing engine comprises a fifth-wheel coupling and the towed snowplow comprises a frame with a coupling pin removably engageable with the fifth-wheel coupling and a longitudinal axis; at least one moldboard mounted to said frame and extending under said frame; and
 at least one pivotable side wing plow mounted to one side of the frame and configurable between a non-operative configuration and a snow plowing configuration in which the at least one pivotable side wing plow extends laterally from the side of the frame.   
     
     
         14 . The towing engine and towed snowplow combination as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the at least one pivotable side wing plow is translatable laterally with respect to the frame between a retracted configuration and an expanded configuration. 
     
     
         15 . The towing engine and towed snowplow combination as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the at least one pivotable side wing plow is mounted to said frame through an attachment assembly comprising at least one translatable arm slidably mounted to the frame and at least one linear actuator operatively connected to the frame and the at least one translatable arm to translate the at least one translatable arm between the retracted configuration and the expanded configuration, wherein the at least one pivotable side wing plow has a distal end operatively connected to the at least one translatable arm. 
     
     
         16 . The towing engine and towed snowplow combination as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the at least one pivotable side wing plow is mounted rearwardly of the at least one moldboard. 
     
     
         17 . The towing engine and towed snowplow combination as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the at least one side wing plow comprises a proximal end pivotally connected to the frame and a distal end, the distal end being connected rearwardly to the frame with respect to the proximal end. 
     
     
         18 . The towing engine and towed snowplow combination as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising non-steerable wheels mounted to the frame and supporting the frame on a ground surface and wherein the proximal end of the at least one pivotable side wing plow is connected forwardly of the non-steerable wheels and at least one of the at least one moldboard is mounted forwardly of the non-steerable wheels. 
     
     
         19 . The towing engine and towed snowplow combination as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the at least one pivotable side wing plow in the snow plowing configuration and the at least one moldboard define an oblique angle with the longitudinal axis of the frame. 
     
     
         20 . The towing engine and towed snowplow combination as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the at least one moldboard is selectively configurable in a snow plowing configuration and a non-operative configuration. 
     
     
         21 . The towing engine and towed snowplow combination as claimed in  claim 13 , further comprising at least one granular material bin mounted to an upper surface of said frame. 
     
     
         22 . The towing engine and towed snowplow combination as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the towing engine comprises a rearmost axle with the fifth-wheel coupling being mounted forwardly of the rearmost axle and at least one of the at least one moldboard is mounted rearwardly of the pin coupling and wherein a front section of the frame is superposed to a rear section of the towing engine when secured together. 
     
     
         23 . A method for plowing snow from pavement, the method comprising:
 towing a frame behind a towing engine from a fifth wheel coupling; and   lowering at least one moldboard mounted to said frame and extending under said frame and at least one pivotable side wing plow mounted to one side of the frame from a non-operative configuration into a snow plowing configuration wherein the at least one moldboard and the at least one pivotable side wing plow removes snow from pavement and the at least one pivotable side wing plow extends laterally from the side of the frame.   
     
     
         24 . The method as claimed in  claim 23 , further comprising:
 translating laterally the at least one pivotable side wing plow with respect to the frame between a retracted configuration and an expanded configuration and further comprising spreading at least one granular material from at least one granular material bin mounted to an upper surface of said frame.