An attachment for a prime mover

Abstract

An attachment (60) for a wheeled work vehicle (2) for clearing snow comprises a support housing (3) which rotatably carries an elongated cylindrical brush (5) and a plough blade (4), with the plough blade (4) and the brush (5) alternately operable between a lower operative state and an upper inoperative state. End elements (62) are pivotally coupled about vertical pivot axes adjacent respective opposite ends (15,16) of the plough blade (4). The end elements (62) are pivotal about a main vertical pivot axis (64) between a plurality of forward and rearward states through respective outward states. A coupling mechanism (7) couples the attachment (1) to the wheeled work vehicle (2) so that the support housing (3) is slewable between a transverse state and respective maximum offset states. When the housing (3) is in the transverse state with the plough blade (4) in the transverse state, the end elements (62) may be configured in a plurality of working states relative to the plough blade (4), for example, with the end elements (62) in respective first forward states, in respective first rearward states and with one of the end elements in an outward state and the other in a first forward or a first rearward state. When the support element (3) is in one of the offset states with the plough blade (4) in a corresponding offset angled state relative to the transverse state, the end elements (62) are operable in a plurality of working states including second forward and rearward states with the end elements extending either forwardly or rearwardly relative to the plough blade (4) and parallel to the direction of normal forward motion of the wheeled work vehicle (2) or in respective outward states extending outwardly and substantially aligned with the plough blade (4).

1 - 72 . (canceled) 
     
     
         73 . An attachment for a prime mover, the attachment comprising a support element, an elongated generally transversely extending cylindrical brush rotatably mounted in the support element about a substantially transversely extending rotational axis, an elongated generally transversely extending plough blade supported on the support element, a pair of end elements located at respective opposite ends of the plough blade, each end element being selectively operable relative to the plough blade in at least a first forward state extending generally forwardly and substantially perpendicularly from the plough blade and a first rearward state extending generally rearwardly and substantially perpendicularly from the plough blade, the end elements being selectively operable in a first working state with both of the end elements in the first forward state, a second working state with both of the end elements in the first rearward state, and a third working state with one of the end elements in the first forward state and the other one of the end elements in the first rearward state, and a coupling means for coupling the support element to a prime mover with the support element in a transverse state and with the plough blade and the brush extending substantially transversely of the direction of normal forward motion of the prime mover. 
     
     
         74 . An attachment for a prime mover as claimed in  claim 73  in which each end element is selectively operable in an outward state with the end element extending generally outwardly from the plough blade and substantially longitudinally aligned with the plough blade, and preferably, the end elements are selectively operable in a fourth working state with one of the end elements in the outward state and the other one of the end elements in one of the first forward state and the first rearward state, and advantageously, the end elements are selectively operable in a fifth working state with both the end elements in the outward state. 
     
     
         75 . An attachment for a prime mover as claimed in  claim 74  in which each end element is selectively operable in a plurality of intermediate states intermediate the outward state and the first forward state, and preferably, each end element is selectively operable in a plurality of intermediate states intermediate the outward state and the first rearward state, and advantageously, each end element is selectively operable in a plurality of intermediate states between the first forward state and the first rearward state. 
     
     
         76 . An attachment for a prime mover as claimed in  claim 73  in which the coupling means is configured for selectively setting the support element relative to the prime mover in the transverse state with the plough blade and the brush in the transverse state extending substantially transversely of the direction of normal forward motion of the prime mover and a maximum offset state with the plough blade and the brush in a maximum offset angled state offset at an angle greater than zero from the transverse state thereof, and advantageously, the offset angle of the plough blade in the maximum offset angled state from the transverse state thereof is at least 10°, and preferably, the offset angle of the plough blade in the maximum offset angled state from the transverse state thereof is at least 20°, and advantageously, the offset angle of the plough blade in the maximum offset angled state from the transverse state thereof is at least 30°, and preferably, the offset angle of the plough blade in the maximum offset angled state from the transverse state thereof is up to 35°. 
     
     
         77 . An attachment for a prime mover as claimed in  claim 76  in which the support element is selectively operable in a plurality of offset states between the transverse state thereof and the maximum offset state thereof with the plough blade and the brush in a corresponding offset angled state, and preferably, each end element is selectively operable in a second forward state extending from the plough blade generally forwardly and substantially parallel to the direction of normal forward motion of the prime mover when the plough blade is in one of the offset angled states up to and including the maximum offset angled state, and advantageously, each end element is selectively operable in a second rearward state extending from the plough blade generally rearwardly and substantially parallel to the direction of normal forward motion of the prime mover when the plough blade is in one of the offset angled states up to and including the maximum offset angled state. 
     
     
         78 . An attachment for a prime mover as claimed in  claim 76  in which the end elements are selectively operable in a sixth working state with one of the end elements in the second forward state, and the other one of the end elements in the second rearward state, and preferably, the end elements are selectively operable in a seventh working state with one of the end elements in the outward state, and the other one of the end elements in one of the second forward state and the second rearward state, and advantageously, the end elements are selectively operable in an eighth working state with both of the end elements in the second forward state, and preferably, the end elements are selectively operable in a ninth working state with both of the end elements in the second rearward state, and advantageously, each end element is operable from the first forward state to the first rearward state through the second forward state, the outward state and the second rearward state. 
     
     
         79 . An attachment for a prime mover as claimed in  claim 73  in which the end elements are urgeable between the first forward state and the first rearward state independently of each other, and advantageously, each end element is pivotally coupled relative to the plough blade about a main pivot axis, and is pivotal between the first forward state and the first rearward state about the main pivot axis, and preferably, the main pivot axis, about which each end element is pivotally coupled relative to the plough blade, comprises a substantially horizontally extending main pivot axis, and advantageously, the main pivot axis, about which each end element is pivotally coupled relative to the plough blade, comprises a substantially vertically extending main pivot axis. 
     
     
         80 . An attachment for a prime mover as claimed in  claim 73  in which a main urging means is provided for urging the end elements between the first forward state and the first rearward state, and preferably, a pair of the main urging means is provided, one main urging means being provided for each end element, and advantageously, each main urging means is configured to act between the plough blade and the corresponding end element, and preferably, each main urging means is coupled to one of the plough blade and the corresponding end element through a linkage, and advantageously, each main urging means is coupled to the corresponding end element through the corresponding linkage, and preferably, each main urging means is coupled to the plough blade, and advantageously, each main urging means comprises a main urging ram. 
     
     
         81 . An attachment for a prime mover as claimed in  claim 73  in which each end element comprises an extension blade, and preferably, each end element comprises a plate member, and advantageously, each end element comprises a planar plate member. 
     
     
         82 . An attachment for a prime mover as claimed in  claim 73  in which each end element is of arcuate cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         83 . An attachment for a prime mover as claimed in  claim 73  in which the transverse cross-section of each end element is substantially similar to the transverse cross-section of the plough blade, and advantageously, the plough blade is of arcuate transverse cross-section. 
     
     
         84 . An attachment for a prime mover as claimed in  claim 73  in which the plough blade is urgeable relative to the support element between a lower operative state engageable with material to be ploughed and an upper inoperative state raised above the material, and advantageously, the brush is urgeable relative to the support element between a lower operative state for brushing material from a surface and an upper inoperative state raised above the surface, and preferably, the plough blade and the brush are alternately operable in the operative state and the inoperative state, so that when one of the brush and the plough blade is in the operative state thereof, the other one of the brush and the plough blade is in the inoperative state thereof, and advantageously, the plough blade and the brush are simultaneously operable in the respective inoperative states, and preferably, the plough blade and the brush are simultaneously operable in the operative state. 
     
     
         85 . An attachment for a prime mover as claimed in  claim 84  in which a first actuator means is provided for urging the plough blade relative to the support element between the operative state and the inoperative state thereof, and preferably, a second actuator means is provided for urging the brush relative to the support element between the operative state and the inoperative state thereof. 
     
     
         86 . An attachment for a prime mover as claimed in  claim 73  in which the coupling means comprises a mounting element adapted for coupling to the prime mover and a load bearing arm coupling the support element to the mounting element, and preferably, the load bearing arm is pivotally coupled to the mounting element about a substantially vertically extending first pivot axis, and is pivotally coupled to the support element about a substantially vertically extending second pivot axis, and advantageously, a link arm is pivotally coupled to the first mounting element about a substantially vertically extending third pivot axis and is pivotally coupled to the support element about a substantially vertically extending fourth pivot axis, the first and third pivot axes being spaced apart from each other, and the second and fourth pivot axes being spaced apart from each other, and preferably, the spacing between the first and third pivot axes is different to the spacing between the second and fourth pivot axes for controlling movement of the support element relative to the prime mover between the transverse state and the maximum offset state so that the plough blade remains substantially within the tracks defined by wheels of the prime mover as the support element is being urged between the transverse state and the maximum offset state, and advantageously, a third actuator means is provided for urging the support element between the transverse state and the maximum offset state, and preferably, the third actuator means comprises an actuator ram configured to act between one of the mounting element and the support element, and one of the load bearing arms and the link arm. 
     
     
         87 . An attachment for a prime mover as claimed in  claim 73  in which the prime mover comprises a wheeled work vehicle, and preferably, the wheeled work vehicle comprises a forward part and a rearward part pivotally coupled together about a substantially vertically extending pivot axis for facilitating steering of the wheeled work vehicle. 
     
     
         88 . A prime mover comprising the attachment as claimed in  claim 73 , and preferably, the prime mover comprises a wheeled work vehicle, and advantageously, the wheeled work vehicle comprises a forward part and a rearward part pivotally coupled together about a substantially vertically extending pivot axis for facilitating steering of the wheeled work vehicle. 
     
     
         89 . A method for operating an attachment coupled to a prime mover by a coupling means, wherein the attachment comprises a support element, an elongated generally transversely extending cylindrical brush rotatably mounted in the support element about a substantially transversely extending rotational axis, an elongated generally transversely extending plough blade supported on the support element, a pair of end elements located at respective opposite ends of the plough blade, each end element being selectively operable relative to the plough blade in at least a first forward state extending generally forwardly and substantially perpendicularly from the plough blade and a first rearward state extending generally rearwardly and substantially perpendicularly from the plough blade, the method comprising operating the coupling means to set the support element in a transverse state with the plough blade and the brush extending substantially transversely relative to the direction of normal forward motion of the prime mover, and operating the end elements into one of a first working state with both of the end elements in the first forward state, a second working state with both of the end elements in the first rearward state, and a third working state with one of the end elements in the first forward state and the other one of the end elements in the first rearward state. 
     
     
         90 . A method as claimed in  claim 89  in which each end element is selectively operable in an outward state with the end element extending generally outwardly from the plough blade and substantially longitudinally aligned with the plough blade, and advantageously, the end elements are selectively operated in a fourth working state with one of the end elements in the outward state and the other one of the end elements in one of the first forward state and the first rearward state, and preferably, the end elements are selectively operated in a fifth working state with both the end elements in the outward state, and advantageously, each end element is selectively operated in one of a plurality of intermediate states between the first forward state and the first rearward state. 
     
     
         91 . A method as claimed in  claim 89  in which the coupling means is selectively operable in one of the transverse state with the plough blade and the brush in the transverse state extending substantially transversely of the direction of normal forward motion of the prime mover and a maximum offset state with the plough blade and the brush in a maximum offset angled state offset at an angle greater than zero from the transverse state thereof, and preferably, the support housing is selectively operable into one of a plurality of offset states between the transverse state thereof and the maximum offset state thereof with the plough blade and the brush in a corresponding offset angled state, and advantageously, each end element is selectively operable in a second forward state extending from the plough blade generally forwardly and substantially parallel to the direction of normal forward motion of the prime mover when the plough blade is in one of the offset angled states up to and including the maximum offset angled state, and each end element is selectively operable in a second rearward state extending from the plough blade generally rearwardly and substantially parallel to the direction of normal forward motion of the prime mover when the plough blade is in one of the offset angled states up to and including the maximum offset angled state, and preferably, the end elements are selectively operated in a sixth working state with one of the end elements in the second forward state, and the other one of the end elements in the second rearward state, and preferably, the end elements are selectively operated in a seventh working state with one of the end elements in the outward state, and the other one of the end elements in one of the second forward state and the second rearward state, and advantageously, the end elements are selectively operated in an eighth working state with both of the end elements in the second forward state, and preferably, the end elements are selectively operated in a ninth working state with both of the end elements in the second rearward state. 
     
     
         92 . A method as claimed in  claim 89  in which the plough blade is selectively urgeable relative to the support element into a lower operative state engageable with material to be ploughed from an upper inoperative state raised above the material, and preferably, the brush is selectively urgeable relative to the support element into a lower operative state for brushing material from a surface to an upper inoperative state raised above the surface, and advantageously, the plough blade and the brush are alternately operated in the operative state and the inoperative state, so that when one of the brush and the plough blade is in the operative state thereof, the other one of the brush and the plough blade is in the inoperative state thereof, and preferably, the plough blade and the brush are simultaneously operated in the respective inoperative states, and advantageously, the plough blade and the brush are simultaneously operated in the operative state.