Snowplow with Side Shield

Abstract

This present invention relates to an improved snowplow system for commercial snowplow trucks. The snowplow system includes a snowplow blade, a mechanical side shield that raises or lowers into a position generally perpendicular or orthogonal to the snowplow blade. The side shield prevents selective and intermittent snow displacement from one side of the plow blade for an effective snowplowing process that avoids snow discharge in undesirable areas. The side shield features a retraction and activation control inside the snowplow truck cab, along with three adjustable speed settings to accommodate snow conditions and vehicle speed. A hydraulic mechanism and a rotating actuator are present for rotation of the snowplow blade and the side shield.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A snowplow blade system for use with a plow vehicle, the snowplow blade system comprising:
 a blade with vertical reinforcing ribs;   a side shield extending forward from a first end of said blade;   wherein said side shield includes an actuator for selective movement of said side shield from a first retracted position to a second deployed position;   wherein said first position of said side shield enables sideways discharge of snow during use of the snowplow blade system; and   wherein said second position of said side shield prohibits sideways discharge of snow during use of the snowplow blade system.   
     
     
         2 . The snowplow blade system of  claim 1 , wherein said selective movement of said side shield is intermittent from said first position to said second position. 
     
     
         3 . The snowplow blade system of  claim 2  further comprising a speed controller for controlling the speed of said selective movement of said side shield from said first position to said second position. 
     
     
         4 . The snowplow blade system of  claim 3 , wherein said selective movement of said side shield is repeated continuously from said first position to said second position during use of the snowplow blade system. 
     
     
         5 . The snowplow blade system of  claim 1 , wherein said side shield is orthogonal to said blade. 
     
     
         6 . The snowplow blade system of  claim 1  further comprising a hydraulic cylinder for controlling a position of said blade. 
     
     
         7 . The snowplow blade system of  claim 6 , wherein the actuation of said side shield is independent of the controlling said position of said blade. 
     
     
         8 . The snowplow blade system of  claim 7 , wherein the actuation of said side shield is dependent on the controlling said position of said blade. 
     
     
         9 . The snowplow blade system of  claim 3 , wherein said controlling the speed of said selective movement of said side shield from said first position to said second position is based on the snow conditions during use of the snowplow blade system. 
     
     
         10 . The snowplow blade system of  claim 3 , wherein said controlling the speed of said selective movement of said side shield from said first position to said second position is based on the speed of the plow vehicle during use of the snowplow blade system. 
     
     
         11 . A method of selectively blocking a discharge of snow from one side of a snowplow blade, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing said snowplow blade with a side shield attachment connected to a side of said snowplow blade, wherein said side shield includes a straight vertical edge, a curved edge, and a pair of lateral edges;   said side shield extends forward of and generally orthogonal to said snowplow blade;   actuating said side shield for selective movement of said side shield from a first retracted position to a second deployed position;   wherein said first position of said side shield enables sideways discharge of snow during use of the snowplow blade; and   wherein said second position of said side shield prohibits sideways discharge of snow during use of the snowplow blade.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising a step of converting said snowplow blade to a partial pusher box plow blade when said side shield is in said second position. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said actuating of said side shield is intermittent from said first position to said second position. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising a speed controller for controlling said actuating of said side shield from said first position to said second position. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said actuating of said side shield is repeated continuously from said first position to said second position during use of the snowplow blade system. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising a hydraulic cylinder for controlling a position of said snowplow blade. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said actuating of said side shield is independent of said controlling said position of said snowplow blade. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said actuating of said side shield is dependent on said controlling said position of said snowplow blade. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said controlling said actuating of said side shield from said first position to said second position is based on the snow conditions during use of said snowplow blade. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said controlling said actuating of said side shield from said first position to said second position is based on the speed of a plow vehicle with said snowplow blade mounted thereto.