Swivel plow feet

Abstract

Swivel plow feet for a plow have a shaft rotatably connected to a foot portion at a joint; the foot portion with a convex shaped surface for engaging the plowed surface. In embodiments, the shaft is received in a bushing fixed to the plow frame, with the vertical height adjustment of the plow feet with respect to the plow provided by a series of selectable holes in the shaft that cooperate with a pair of aligned holes in the bushing on the plow frame with a pin extendable through the aligned holes. The dome shape portion having a skid surface on a lower end and a unitary central hub with a recess for receiving the lower end of the shaft on an opposite upper end. The lower end of the shaft rotatably retained in the recess of the central hub. The flange end of the shaft may engage one or more bearings in the hub and the hub may have a grease fitting providing a grease pathway to the recess with the bearings and lower end of the shaft.

1 . A swivel plow foot comprising a shaft sized for being received in a bushing of a plow frame, the shaft having a plurality of spaced through holes transverse to an axis of the shaft for receiving a pin for positioning the height of the plow foot with respect to the bushing of the plow frame, the swivel plow foot further comprising a foot portion swivelably attached to a lower end of the shaft at a swivel joint, the foot portion having a convex shaped skid surface. 
     
     
         2 . The swivel plow foot of  claim 1 , wherein the foot portion comprises a bowl shaped skid portion having the convex skid surface, the foot portion further comprising a hub portion unitary with the skid portion extending centrally upward from the skid portion opposite the convex skid surface, the hub portion having a central recess with the lower end of the shaft retained therein. 
     
     
         3 . The swivel plow foot of  claim 2 , wherein the lower end of the shaft has a diametrically enlarged portion positioned and retained in the hub portion. 
     
     
         4 . The swivel plow foot of  claim 3 , wherein the diametrically enlarged portion is configured as a flange, the flange engaged with a bearing seated in the recess. 
     
     
         5 . The swivel plow foot of  claim 4 , wherein the bearing is configured as a bushing positioned about the shaft and abutting the flange, and wherein the swivel plow foot further comprises a thrust washer seated on a floor of the recess and engaged with the flange. 
     
     
         6 . The swivel plow foot of  claim 3 , further comprising a grease fitting providing a grease pathway to an interior of the hub. 
     
     
         7 . The swivel plow foot of  claim 5 , further comprising a grease fitting providing a grease pathway to an interior of the hub. 
     
     
         8 . The swivel plow foot of  claim 1  in combination with a second swivel plow foot and in further combination with the plow frame, the plow frame having a pair of fixed bushings to receive the plow foot and the second plow foot. 
     
     
         9 . The swivel plow foot of  claim 1 , wherein the concave surface has a centrally positioned flattened region. 
     
     
         10 . A plow with a pair of swivel plow feet attached thereto, the plow comprising:
 a plow frame supporting a plow blade, a lower cutting edge piece attached to the plow blade, the lower cutting edge piece defining a lower margin of the plow, the plow frame having a pair of bushings with upright holes for receiving plow feet shafts, one of the bushings located on the left side of the plow and the other of the pair of bushings located on the right side of the plow;   each of the pair of swivel feet comprising a shaft that is vertically adjustable within one of the respective bushings of the plow frame and that that has a lower end that extends into and is retained in an upwardly facing hub of a foot portion, the foot portion having a downwardly facing convex surface, the foot portion rotatable about the shaft extending therein.   
     
     
         11 . The plow of  claim 10 , wherein each of the foot portions has a grease fitting attached to the respective hub. 
     
     
         12 . The plow of  claim 10 , wherein the shaft of each of the pair of swivel feet has a lower flange positioned in the respective hub portions, and wherein each of the shafts have a bearing positioned between said shaft and an interior wall of the hub portion. 
     
     
         13 . The plow of  claim 12 , wherein bearing is a sleeve extending around the shaft above the flange. 
     
     
         14 . The plow of  claim 12 , wherein each of the pair of swivel feet has a thrust bearing positioned at a lower end of the shaft, the thrust bearing seated on a floor of the respective hub recess. 
     
     
         15 . The plow of  claim 10 , wherein each of the swivel feet further comprises a respective grease fitting that provides a grease pathway to a joint defined by the connection of the respective shaft with the respective hub. 
     
     
         16 . A swivel plow foot comprising a shaft that is vertically adjustable within a bushing of a plow and that that has a lower end that extends into and is retained in an upwardly facing hub of a foot portion, the foot portion having a downwardly facing convex surface, the foot portion rotatable about the shaft extending therein. 
     
     
         17 . The swivel plow foot of  claim 16 , wherein the lower end has a flange, the flange engaged with a bearing in the hub of the foot portion. 
     
     
         18 . The swivel plow foot of  claim 17 , wherein the bearing is a bushing positioned on the shaft above the flange and wherein the swivel plow foot further comprises a thrust bearing positioned between the flange and a floor of a recess in the hub. 
     
     
         19 . The swivel plow foot of  claim 16 , wherein the hub has a grease fitting that provides a pathway to the interior of the hub. 
     
     
         20 . The swivel plow foot of  claim 17 , wherein the hub has a grease fitting that provides a pathway to the interior of the hub.