Wing plow

Abstract

A wing plow including a main moldboard; a first side plate secured to a first end of the main moldboard by a first hinge having a first vertical axis of rotation and a second side plate secured to a second opposing end of the main moldboard by a second hinge having a second vertical axis of rotation. The wing plow further includes a first actuator driving the first side plate and a second actuator driving the second side plate. Optionally, a programmable logic controller (PLC) is operably coupled to the first actuator and the second actuator and is programmed to control the first actuator and the second actuator to position the first side plate and the second side plate based on a sensed angle of orientation of the main moldboard and a plurality of modes that are operator selectable.

1 . A wing plow comprising:
 a main moldboard;   a first side plate secured to a first end of the main moldboard by a first hinge having a first vertical axis of rotation;   a second side plate secured to a second opposing end of the main moldboard by a second hinge having a second vertical axis of rotation;   a first actuator driving movement of the first side plate;   a second actuator driving movement of the second side plate; and   a programmable logic controller (PLC) operably coupled to the first actuator and the second actuator and that is programmed to control the first actuator and the second actuator to position the first side plate and the second side plate based on a sensed angle of orientation of the main moldboard and a plurality of modes that are operator selectable.   
     
     
         2 . The wing plow as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of modes is selected from a group consisting of a wing mode, a box mode, a wide mode, a backdrag mode, a stow mode and combinations of the foregoing. 
     
     
         3 . The wing plow as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a slip clutch operably coupled to at least one of the first side plate and the second side plate and adjusted to slip to allow the at least one of the first side plate and the second side plate to yield to mitigate damage if an obstacle is encountered. 
     
     
         4 . The wing plow as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising side plate position sensors sensing a position of at least one of the first side plate and the second side plate relative to the main moldboard, the side plate position sensors being in communication with the PLC. 
     
     
         5 . The wing plow as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a moldboard position sensor sensing a position of the main moldboard, the moldboard position sensor being in communication with the PLC. 
     
     
         6 . The wing plow as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first actuator and the second actuator is coupled to the respective first side plate and second side plate via a gearbox and a slip clutch. 
     
     
         7 . The wing plow as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a control interface selected from a group consisting of a smart phone wirelessly connected to the PLC, a rotating dial, switches and buttons wirelessly or wire connected to the PLC. 
     
     
         8 . The wing plow as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising side plate position sensors that sense a position of at least one of the first side plate and the second side plate relative to the main moldboard, the side plate position sensors being in communication with the PLC wherein the PLC is programmed to return the at least one of the first side plate and the second side plate to a prior orientation upon receiving a sensor signal indicating that the at least one of the first side plate and the second side plate has left the prior orientation in response to the encountering of an obstacle. 
     
     
         9 . The wing plow as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first actuator and the second actuator comprises a linear actuator, a hydraulic actuator, a linear electrical actuator, a hydraulic motor or an electrical motor. 
     
     
         10 . A computer implemented method of controlling a wing plow by application of a programmable logic controller (PLC), wherein the wing plow comprises
 a main moldboard;   a first side plate secured to a first end of the main moldboard by a first hinge having a first vertical axis of rotation;   a second side plate secured to a second opposing end of the main moldboard by a second hinge having a second vertical axis of rotation;   a first actuator driving the first side plate;   a second actuator driving the second side plate; and   wherein the programmable logic controller (PLC) is operably coupled to the first actuator and the second actuator, the computer implemented method programmed into the PLC, comprising:
 controlling the first actuator and the second actuator to position the first side plate and the second side plate based on a sensed angle of orientation of the main moldboard and a plurality of modes that are operator selectable. 
   
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 10 , further comprising receiving an operator selection at the PLC of a plowing mode selected from a group of plowing modes. 
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising presenting to the operator, via the PLC, the group of plowing modes to select from the group consisting of a wing mode, a box mode, a wide mode, a backdrag mode, a stow mode and combinations of the foregoing. 
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 10 , further wherein the wing plow comprises:
 a slip clutch operably coupled to at least one of the first side plate and the second side plate adjusted to slip to allow the at least one of the first side plate and the second side plate to yield to mitigate damage if an obstacle is encountered;   further wherein the wing plow comprises side plate position sensors sensing a position of at least one of the first side plate and the second side plate relative to the main moldboard, the side plate position sensors being in communication with the PLC;   the method further comprising:
 receiving a signal from at least one of the side plate position sensors at the PLC that the position of the at least one of the first side plate and the second side plate relative to the main moldboard is different from a selected position; and 
 controlling at least one of the first actuator and the second actuator to return the first side plate or the second side plate to the selected position. 
   
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 10 , further comprising receiving the operator's selection of one of the plurality of modes at the PLC via a control interface selected from a group consisting of a smart phone wirelessly connected to the PLC, a rotating dial, switches and buttons wirelessly or wire connected to the PLC. 
     
     
         15 . A wing plow comprising:
 a main moldboard;   a first side plate secured to a first end of the main moldboard by a first hinge having a first vertical axis of rotation;   a second side plate secured to a second opposing end of the main moldboard by a second hinge having a second vertical axis of rotation;   a first electrical actuator driving movement of the first side plate;   a second electrical actuator driving movement of the second side plate;   an onboard electrical power source independent of a prime mover power source except for charging providing electrical power to the first electrical actuator and the second electrical actuator; and   at least one slip clutch operably coupled to at least one of the first side plate and the second side plate and adjusted to slip to allow the at least one of the first side plate and the second side plate to yield to mitigate damage if an obstacle is encountered.   
     
     
         16 . The wing plow as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the first electrical actuator and the second electrical actuator comprises a linear actuator or an electrical motor. 
     
     
         17 . The wing plow as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising a control interface operably coupled to at least one of the first electrical actuator and the second electrical actuator and operable from an operator's position of a prime mover to which the wing plow is coupled. 
     
     
         18 . The wing plow as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the onboard electrical power source comprises a storage battery. 
     
     
         19 . The wing plow as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising a third electrical actuator operably coupled to the main moldboard and a prime mover mount that adjusts an angle of orientation of the main moldboard relative to the prime mover mount that is operable from an operator's position of a prime mover to which the wing plow is coupled. 
     
     
         20 . The wing plow as claimed in  claim 19 , further comprising a control interface selected from a group consisting of a smart phone wirelessly connected to a PLC, a rotating dial, switches and buttons wirelessly or wire connected to at least one of the first electrical actuator, the second electrical actuator and the third electrical actuator.