Pivotal sleigh shovel

Abstract

A sleigh shovel is provided. The shovel includes a push bar assembly, and a sleigh pivotally connected to the push bar assembly. The sleigh is operable between a loading configuration for containing and transporting material therein, and a discharging configuration, where the sleigh is pivoted upwardly for discharging the material therefrom. The shovel also includes a discharge mechanism operatively connected to the push bar assembly and operable for moving the sleigh between the loading and discharging configurations. The discharge mechanism has a lever mechanism configured to engage and pivot the sleigh between the loading and discharging configurations, an actuation mechanism operatively connected to the lever mechanism to induce rotation of the lever mechanism, and an actuating handle connected to the push bar assembly and adapted to operate the actuation mechanism. The discharge mechanism is adapted to pivot and discharge the sleigh upon operation of the actuating handle.

1 . A pivotal sleigh shovel comprising:
 a push bar assembly having an upper end and a lower end opposite the upper end;   a sleigh pivotally connected to the lower end of the push bar assembly, the sleigh having side panels and a bottom panel extending between the side panels for defining a volume therebetween, the sleigh being operable between a loading configuration for containing and transporting material within the volume, and a discharging configuration, where the sleigh is pivoted upwardly for discharging the material from within the volume;   a discharge mechanism operatively connected to the push bar assembly and configured for moving the sleigh between the loading configuration and the discharging configuration, the discharge mechanism comprising:
 a rotatable handle pivotally connected to the push bar assembly about a first pivoting axis, the rotatable handle being movable along a rotating path between a first position and a second position to generate an input rotation; 
 a lever mechanism pivotally connected to the push par assembly about a second pivoting axis and adapted to pivot the sleigh towards the loading configuration, the lever mechanism having a load end configured to apply a force on the sleigh upon rotation of the lever mechanism about the second pivoting axis; and 
 a transmission assembly operatively coupled between the rotatable handle and the lever mechanism, the transmission assembly being configured to transfer the input rotation to the lever mechanism to engage the lever mechanism in rotation about the second pivoting axis, the transmission assembly being tuned to divide the input rotation during a first segment of the rotating path, and to multiply the input rotation during a second segment of the rotating path. 
   
     
     
         2 . The pivotal sleigh shovel of  claim 1 , wherein, when in the loading configuration the sleigh rests on the push bar assembly, and in the discharging configuration the sleigh is pivotally rotated away from the push bar assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The pivotal sleigh shovel of  claim 1 , wherein, when in the loading configuration, the bottom panel is substantially parallel to a ground surface, and in the discharging configuration the sleigh is pivoted forwardly by an angle of inclination between 0° and 90°. 
     
     
         4 . The pivotal sleigh shovel according to  claim 1 , wherein the push bar assembly comprises spaced-apart longitudinal members and a transversal member extending between the longitudinal members at the upper end of the push bar assembly, each side panel of the sleigh being pivotally connected to a corresponding one of the longitudinal members proximate the lower end of the push bar assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The pivotal sleigh shovel according to  claim 4 , wherein the side panels comprise respective fins extending outwardly therefrom, the fins being adapted abut on a corresponding one of the longitudinal members when the sleigh is in the loading configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The pivotal sleigh shovel according to  claim 4 , wherein the transmission assembly comprises:
 a proximal shaft operatively coupled to the rotatable handle and extending between the longitudinal members along the first pivoting axis;   a distal shaft operatively coupled to the lever mechanism and extending between the longitudinal members along the second pivoting axis;   a connecting rod having a first end pivotally connected to the proximal shaft and a second end pivotally connected to the distal shaft;   wherein rotation of the rotatable handle engages the proximate shaft in rotation about the first pivot axis, which engages the connecting rod in rotation, which in turn engages the distal shaft in rotation about the second pivoting axis for actuating the lever mechanism.   
     
     
         7 . The pivotal sleigh shovel according to  claim 6 , wherein the transmission assembly further includes a proximal cam rotatably mounted to the proximal shaft and a distal cam rotatably mounted to the distal shaft, and wherein the connecting rod is connected to and extends between the proximal cam and the distal cam. 
     
     
         8 . The pivotal sleigh shovel according to  claim 7 , wherein, when in the loading configuration, the proximal cam is oriented substantially in alignment with a lengthwise axis extending between the upper end and the lower end of the push bar assembly, and the distal cam is oriented transversely relative to the lengthwise axis, and wherein, when in the discharging configuration, the proximal cam is oriented transversely relative to the lengthwise axis. 
     
     
         9 . The pivotal sleigh shovel according to  claim 6 , wherein the discharge mechanism comprises stoppers connected to the push bar assembly and adapted to limit over-rotation of the rotatable handle when moving from the second position to the first position, and wherein, when in the loading configuration, a longitudinal axis of the connecting rod extends below the first pivoting axis. 
     
     
         10 . The pivotal sleigh shovel according to  claim 1 , wherein the first pivoting axis is positioned proximate to the upper end of the push bar assembly, the second pivoting axis is positioned at an intermediate position between the upper end and lower end of the push bar assembly, and the sleigh is pivotally connected to the push bar assembly at a third pivoting axis defined at the lower end of the push bar assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The pivotal sleigh shovel according to  claim 1 , further comprising a locking mechanism operable between a lock configuration, where the locking mechanism prevents rotation of the sleigh while in the loading configuration, and a release configuration, where the locking mechanism is disengaged, thereby allowing the sleigh to rotate towards the discharging configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The pivotal sleigh shovel of  claim 11 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a latch mounted on the push bar assembly, a locking bolt mounted on the sleigh and positioned to engage the latch when the sleigh is in the loading configuration, and an actuator operable to release the latch to allow the locking bolt to disengage the latch. 
     
     
         13 . The pivotal sleigh shovel of  claim 12 , wherein the actuator comprises an unlocking lever coupled to the rotatable handle, and a cable operatively connecting the unlocking lever to the latch. 
     
     
         14 . The pivotal sleigh shovel according to  claim 1 , wherein the load end of the lever mechanism comprises one or more wheels configured to abut and roll against the bottom panel of the sleigh. 
     
     
         15 . The pivotal sleigh shovel according to  claim 14 , wherein the bottom panel of the sleigh comprises a rear section, a bottom section, and a curved mid-section extending between the bottom section and the rear section, and wherein the wheels are positioned to roll against the curved mid-section of the bottom panel while pivoting the sleigh between the loading configuration and the discharging configuration. 
     
     
         16 . The pivotal sleigh shovel according to  claim 1 , wherein the lever mechanism includes one or more arms extending between the transmission assembly and the sleigh. 
     
     
         17 . The pivotal sleigh shovel according to  claim 16 , wherein the one or more arms are substantially J-shaped. 
     
     
         18 . A pivotal sleigh shovel comprising:
 a push bar assembly having an upper end and a lower end opposite to the upper end;   a sleigh pivotally connected at the lower end of the push bar assembly for containing material;   a discharge mechanism mounted to the push bar assembly, the discharge mechanism comprising:   a rotatable handle operable to generate an input rotation;   a lever mechanism pivotally connected to the push par assembly; and   a transmission assembly operatively connecting the rotatable handle and the lever mechanism, to transfer the input rotation generated by the handle to the lever mechanism;   
       wherein the discharge mechanism is adapted to pivotally rotate the sleigh away from the push bar assembly to discharge the sleigh upon operation of the rotatable handle. 
     
     
         19 . A pivotal sleigh shovel comprising:
 a push bar assembly having an upper end and a lower end opposite to the upper end;   a sleigh pivotally connected to the push bar assembly proximate the lower end thereof, the sleigh being operable between a loading configuration for containing and transporting material therein, and a discharging configuration, where the sleigh is pivoted upwardly for discharging the material therefrom;   a discharge mechanism operatively connected to the push bar assembly and operable for moving the sleigh between the loading configuration and the discharging configuration, the discharge mechanism comprising:
 a lever mechanism pivotally coupled to the push bar assembly and configured to engage and pivot the sleigh between the loading and discharging configurations; 
 an actuation mechanism mounted to the push bar assembly and operatively connected to the lever mechanism, the actuation mechanism being configured to induce rotation of the lever mechanism upon operation thereof; 
 an actuating handle connected to the push bar assembly and adapted to operate the actuation mechanism; 
   
       wherein the discharge mechanism is adapted to pivotally rotate the sleigh away from the push bar assembly to discharge the sleigh upon operation of the actuating handle. 
     
     
         20 . The pivotal sleigh shovel according to  claim 19 , wherein the actuation mechanism comprises an electric motor and a gear box assembly, the gear box assembly being operatively coupled to the lever mechanism such that operation of the actuating handle engages the electric motor in rotation, which engages the gear box assembly in rotation, which in turn engages the lever mechanism in rotation for pivoting the sleigh.