Plow assembly

Abstract

A snow plow having a wing that is rotatably coupled to a side of a primary plow, and configured to rotate about a first axis substantially parallel to the side of the primary plow. A portion of the wing is operable to rotate about a second axis that is non-parallel to the first axis, where the portion is operable to rotate upward about the second axis relative to the ground in response to the wing encountering an obstruction. A snow plow having a receiver coupled to a surface of the primary plow and an actuator coupled to the receiver. The receiver allows the snow plow to move proximally and distally with respect to a vehicle.

1 . A linkage for a snow plow comprising:
 a cylinder including a first cylinder end and a second cylinder end;   a piston movable within the cylinder between the first cylinder end and the second cylinder end;   a rod coupled to the piston, the rod including a rod end movable relative to the second cylinder end; and   a compressible gas in contact with the piston and operable to bias the piston and the rod such that the linkage biases a plow portion of the snow plow to a bias position, wherein the cylinder is operable to receive hydraulic fluid to move the piston and the rod such that the plow portion of the snow plow moves away from the bias position.   
     
     
         2 . The linkage of  claim 1  wherein the linkage is coupled to an accumulator operable to store compressible gas and in fluid communication with the compressible gas of the linkage. 
     
     
         3 . The linkage of  claim 1  wherein the rod end is coupled to the plow portion of the snow plow. 
     
     
         4 . The linkage of  claim 1  wherein the compressible gas biases the rod end away from the second cylinder end to bias the linkage toward an extended position. 
     
     
         5 . The linkage of  claim 4  wherein the hydraulic fluid is operable to move the rod end toward the second cylinder end to move the linkage toward a retracted position. 
     
     
         6 . The linkage of  claim 1  wherein the plow portion is a blade of the snow plow. 
     
     
         7 . The linkage of  claim 1  wherein the linkage is operably coupled to a control system, wherein the control system is configured to direct supply of hydraulic fluid to the cylinder. 
     
     
         8 . The linkage of  claim 1  wherein the linkage is an actuator operable to move the plow portion of the snow plow from a first position to a second position. 
     
     
         9 . A snow plow assembly including the linkage of  claim 1 , the snow plow assembly comprising:
 a blade operable to contact a ground surface to facilitate moving snow, the blade coupled to one end the linkage;   a plow support coupled to an opposite end of the linkage;   a vehicle support removably coupled to the plow support; and   a control system operably coupled to the linkage, the control system configured to direct the linkage to move the blade from a first position to a second position, the control system configured to direct supply of hydraulic fluid to the actuator.   
     
     
         10 . The snow plow assembly of  claim 9  wherein the linkage is coupled to the blade via a connection that is maintained by a pin. 
     
     
         11 . The snow plow assembly of  claim 10  wherein the snow plow includes multiple connection points for connecting the linkage to the snow plow via the pin. 
     
     
         12 . The snow plow of  claim 9  wherein the linkage is operable to automatically retract in response to application of force on blade. 
     
     
         13 . A method of operating a linkage for a snow plow, the method comprising:
 providing a cylinder and a piston within the cylinder that is movable between a first cylinder end and a second cylinder end, wherein a plow portion of the snow plow is coupled to the piston via a rod;   expanding compressible gas against the piston to move the piston from the first cylinder end to the second cylinder end such that the plow portion is moved via movement of the piston and the rod; and   supplying hydraulic fluid into the cylinder to move the piston from the second cylinder end to the first cylinder end such that the plow portion is moved via movement of the piston and the rod.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  comprising:
 providing an accumulator in fluid communication with the cylinder; and 
 receiving compressible gas in the accumulator from the cylinder. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the plow portion is coupled to the plow portion of the snow plow. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  comprising biasing, via expansion of compressible gas, a rod end of the rod away from the second cylinder end. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said supplying hydraulic fluid includes compressing the compressible gas via movement of the piston from the second cylinder end to the first cylinder end. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said supplying hydraulic fluid includes supplying hydraulic fluid to a side of the cylinder proximal to the second cylinder end. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13  comprising connecting the rod to a connector of the snow plow via a pin. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  comprising moving a connection to the snow plow via removal and reinstallation of the pin at a different location with respect to the snow plow.