Wing for an implement

Abstract

Wing component for use with an implement that is coupleable with a power machine. The wing component includes a stationary portion configured to be mounted to the implement and having a wing support. A wing portion is slidably coupled to the wing support such that the wing portion is configured to move laterally relative to the wing support. A biasing mechanism is coupled to the wing portion and is configured to provide a biasing force to bias the wing portion relative to the wing support.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wing that is removably mountable to an implement comprising:
 a stationary portion configured to be mounted to the implement and having a wing support;   a wing portion slidably coupled to the wing support such that the wing portion is configured to move laterally relative to the wing support; and   a biasing mechanism coupled to the wing portion and configured to provide a biasing force to bias the wing portion relative to the wing support.   
     
     
         2 . The wing of  claim 1 , wherein the stationary portion is configured to be mounted to a side wall of the implement. 
     
     
         3 . The wing of  claim 2 , wherein the stationary portion includes a mounting plate configured to be positioned adjacent and substantially parallel to the side wall of the implement, and wherein the wing support extends from the mounting plate at an angle. 
     
     
         4 . The wing of  claim 3 , wherein the wing portion is allowed to move in a plane that is parallel to a surface of the wing support. 
     
     
         5 . The wing of  claim 4 , wherein the wing portion is slidably coupled to the wing support such that the wing portion is prevented from movement in directions other than in the plane that is parallel to the surface of the wing support. 
     
     
         6 . The wing of  claim 1  wherein the stationary portion is configured to be mounted to the implement and is substantially perpendicular to a lateral plane along which the implement is attached to a power machine. 
     
     
         7 . The wing of  claim 1 , wherein the biasing mechanism comprises a spring member coupled between the wing portion and the wing support. 
     
     
         8 . The wing of  claim 1  and further comprising a sliding mechanism slidably coupling the wing portion to the wing support. 
     
     
         9 . The wing of  claim 8 , wherein the sliding mechanism is a bearing captured in an aperture formed into the wing support. 
     
     
         10 . The wing of  claim 1 , and further comprising an indicator wherein the wing portion is configured to move laterally relative to the wing support along a range of movement, and wherein an indicator provides a visual indication of the position of the wing portion relative to the available range of motion. 
     
     
         11 . An implement configured to be mounted to a power machine, the implement comprising;
 a frame;   a wing support fixedly coupled to the frame and extending outward at an angle relative to the frame;   a wing portion slidably coupled to the wing support such that the wing portion is configured to move laterally relative to the wing support; and   a biasing mechanism coupled to the wing portion and configured to provide a biasing force to bias the wing portion relative to the wing support.   
     
     
         12 . The implement of  claim 11 , wherein the wing portion is allowed to move in a plane that is parallel to a surface of the wing support. 
     
     
         13 . The implement of  claim 12 , wherein the wing portion is slidably coupled to the wing support such that the wing portion is prevented from movement in directions other than in the plane that is parallel to the surface of the wing support. 
     
     
         14 . The implement of  claim 11 , wherein the frame includes an attachment structure extending along a lateral plane for mounting the implement to a power machine and wherein the wing support includes a first portion that extends perpendicularly with respect to the lateral plane and a second portion that extends at an angle to the first portion. 
     
     
         15 . The implement of  claim 11 , wherein the biasing mechanism comprises at least one spring member coupled between the wing portion and the wing support. 
     
     
         16 . The implement of  claim 11  and further comprising a sliding mechanism slidably coupling the wing portion to the wing support. 
     
     
         17 . The implement of  claim 11 , wherein the wing portion is configured to move laterally relative to the wing along a range of movement, and further comprising an indicator that provides a visual indication of the position of the wing portion relative to the available range of motion. 
     
     
         18 . The implement of  claim 17  wherein the indicator includes an aperture form in the second portion and a tab that extends through and moves within the aperture. 
     
     
         19 . The implement of  claim 11  wherein the implement is one of a bucket, a snowblade, a sweeping implement, and a snowblower. 
     
     
         20 . The implement of  claim 11 , wherein the frame includes a material handling mechanism and wherein the wing portion is disposed at an angle with respect to the frame so as to engage and urge material toward the material handling mechanism. 
     
     
         21 . A wing for an implement comprising:
 a stationary member;   a moveable portion moveable relative to the stationary member along a range of movement; and   a position indicator configured to provide a visual indication of the position of the wing portion relative to the available range of motion.   
     
     
         22 . The wing of  claim 21  and further comprising a biasing mechanism coupled to the moveable portion and to the stationary member and configured to provide a biasing force to bias the moveable portion relative to the stationary member. 
     
     
         23 . The wing of  claim 22 , wherein the stationary member further comprises a wing support configured to be mounted to the implement, and wherein the moveable portion is configured to move laterally relative to the wing support. 
     
     
         24 . The wing of  claim 23 , wherein the stationary member further comprises a mounting plate configured to be positioned adjacent and substantially parallel to a side wall of the implement, and wherein the wing support of the stationary member extends from the mounting plate at an angle. 
     
     
         25 . A wing for mounting on an implement comprising:
 a stationary portion capable of being coupled to the implement;   a moveable portion that is moveable relative to the stationary portion along a range of movement; and   wherein the wing is configured to be coupled to each of first and second sides of the implement and provide a visual indication to an operator of the position of the moveable part within the range of motion when attached to either of the first and second sides of the implement without modification of the wing.   
     
     
         26 . The wing of  claim 25  and further comprising:
 first and second position indicators configured to provide a visual indication of the position of the wing portion relative to the available range of motion; and 
 wherein the first position indicator is visible when the wing is mounted on a first side of the implement and the second position indicator is visible when the wing is mounted on a second side of the implement.