Back drag system for plow trip blade

Abstract

Embodiments of the innovation relate to a plow comprising a plow and a trip blade mechanism coupled to a plow body, the trip blade mechanism comprising a trip blade hingedly coupled to a base of the plow body and a blade return device coupled between the plow body and the trip blade. The plow comprises a back drag system coupled to the trip blade mechanism and configured to dispose the trip blade between a first plowing position relative to the plow body and a second back drag position relative to the plow body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A plow, comprising:
 a plow body;   a trip blade mechanism coupled to the plow body, the trip blade mechanism comprising:
 a trip blade hingedly coupled to a base of the plow body, and 
 a blade return device coupled between the plow body and the trip blade; and 
   a back drag system coupled to the trip blade mechanism and configured to dispose the trip blade between a first plowing position relative to the plow body and a second back drag position relative to the plow body.   
     
     
         2 . The plow of  claim 1 , wherein the blade return device comprises a set of compression springs disposed between the plow body and the trip blade. 
     
     
         3 . The plow of  claim 1 , wherein the back drag system comprises:
 an actuation mechanism coupled to the plow body; and   a back drag mechanism coupled between the actuation mechanism and the trip blade.   
     
     
         4 . The plow of  claim 3 , wherein the actuation mechanism comprises:
 a winch coupled to the plow body; and   a cable carried by the winch, the cable coupled to the back drag mechanism.   
     
     
         5 . The plow of  claim 3 , wherein the back drag mechanism comprises:
 a base coupled to the trip blade, the blade return device disposed between the base and the plow body; and   a coupling member extending from the base, the actuation mechanism coupled to the back drag mechanism by the coupling member.   
     
     
         6 . The plow of  claim 3 , wherein the back drag mechanism comprises:
 a first plate coupled to the trip blade;   a second plate coupled to the trip blade; and   a connecting element coupled to the first plate and the second plate and disposing the first plate and the second plate at a distance from each other, the actuation mechanism coupled to the back drag mechanism by the connecting element.   
     
     
         7 . The plow of  claim 1 , further comprising a trip blade position indicator coupled to the trip blade, the trip blade position indicator configured to identify a rotational position of the trip blade. 
     
     
         8 . The plow of  claim 7 , wherein the trip blade position indicator comprises:
 a shaft having a first end coupled to the trip blade and a second end extending from the plow body and having a set markings which correspond to the a rotational position of the trip blade.   
     
     
         9 . A back drag system, comprising:
 an actuation mechanism; and   a back drag mechanism coupled to the actuation mechanism and configured to be coupled to a trip blade of a plow;   the actuation mechanism and back drag mechanism configured to dispose the trip blade between a first plowing position relative to the plow and a second back drag position relative to the plow.   
     
     
         10 . The back drag system of  claim 9 , wherein the actuation mechanism comprises:
 a winch coupled to the plow body; and   a cable carried by the winch, the cable coupled to the back drag mechanism.   
     
     
         11 . The plow of  claim 9 , wherein the back drag mechanism comprises:
 a base configured to be coupled to the trip blade; and   a coupling member extending from the base, the actuation mechanism coupled to the back drag mechanism by the coupling member.   
     
     
         12 . The back drag system of  claim 9 , wherein the back drag mechanism comprises:
 a first plate configured to be coupled to the trip blade;   a second plate configured to be coupled to the trip blade; and   a connecting element coupled to the first plate and the second plate and disposing the first plate and the second plate at a distance from each other, the actuation mechanism coupled to the back drag mechanism by the connecting element.   
     
     
         13 . The back drag system of  claim 9 , further comprising a trip blade position indicator configured to be coupled to the trip blade, the trip blade position indicator configured to identify a rotational position of the trip blade. 
     
     
         14 . The back drag system of  claim 13 , wherein the trip blade position indicator comprises:
 a shaft having a first end coupled to the trip blade and a second end extending from the plow body and having a set markings which correspond to the a rotational position of the trip blade.   
     
     
         15 . A method for performing a back drag plowing operation, comprising:
 disposing a plow of a vehicle in a raised position relative to a plowing surface;   activating an actuation mechanism of a back drag system to rotate a trip blade of the plow from a first plowing position relative to the plow body and a second back drag position relative to the plow body;   lowering the plow relative to the plowing surface; and   moving the vehicle in reverse to cause the trip blade to pull material from the plowing surface.